Hot Springs Strings Plucked from my Heart

This is dated a day after the flooding of WR den.
@Jessie

The day was warm and although the air was cooler among the elevated mountains the flowers clinging to the rocky ground bloomed wildly. The breeze, as light as the touch of a feather, barely shifted the petals of the mountain's wild flowers and mosses. A red-tailed hawk cries overhead challenging the winds high above as it climbs higher into the welcoming sky. No clouds were present in the Spring sky as the hawk disappeared over the pass.

A dark shape skirted its way over the rocks painted with blues and yellows by the flowering vegetation clinging to the rocks. The black wolf felt overly hot in the mountain air as the sun beat upon his patchy black coat. The area's where his skin lay exposed were comfortably warm though as he padded along checking out the territory. Elettra's pack were sheltering on the higher ground beneath the mountains after their den had flooded. The dark woman had led the pack there seemingly unfazed by the danger of the flooding. She kept calm during the incident and garnered more respect from Kasai. So in order to help out a little more Kasai had decided to check out some of the territory that loomed above them and make sure no loners were close to the border.

He had finished checking around the border last night and now was curious about the land above them. So the dark wolf climbed high into the mountains. His paws carried Kasai confidently over the rocky terrain as he observed the passing landscape almost in a trance. He didn't realize just how far he'd traveled by the time the scent of water overcame the dark wolfs senses. Kasai snapped out of the trance and stopped in his tracks looking around wondering where exactly he was. The sound of bubbling water tickled his ears while the scent of water invitingly wafted through his nostrils. The dark wolf spotted a smoky blue color glittering to his left and realized quickly that it was the sun reflecting off the surface of water.

Padding forward softly the burnt wolf panted allowing his tongue to loll from his mouth. Kasai was hot, dry, and thirsty. A cool drink would certainly help his parched throat.

As the thirsty man dipped his head and lapped up some water his yellow eyes widened in surprise. The water was very warm! Kasai hovered his nose over the water just feeling the heat pulsing off the water. He had never seen something like this before. Pondering on whether the water was safe to drink Kasai lapped up a little more and was glad that it didn't taste bad. Taste just like any old stream water, just really warm I guess. He quenched his thirst then sat at the waters edge unsure of what to do next. The dark wolf never scented the she wolf as she approached him for the warm water scent was clogging his nose.

(This post was last modified: Jun 29, 2013, 06:02 PM by Hotei.)

Sooo....after the thing with Malia, right? Also, when I wrote the end, I thought of the Lion King.

Jess had been so disappointed when she had found out that she had to leave once she had dropped Malia off to Sloane and Narimé. It made her so sad to have to see her love go, knowing that she was not going to be able to speak to him about why she had come here in the first place. The salt and pepper colored woman moved forward, her muscles flexing as she walked upon the mountain top, taking her time in looking at the sights to see along the way. Eventually she had run into some strong pack borders and backed off, heading towards an area that smelled different. This smell overpowered almost everything else around it. As the scent grew stronger she was surprised when she saw the beautiful area in front of her, but what caught her eye more was the sight of a black male with patching of fur missing in the distance. It was the male that was all hers.

Wagging her tail in joy, she decided to put her scouting and creeping skills. Getting low, she carefully and silently made her way towards her love, her emerald gems shining in glee as she crept closer and closer. She hoped that she would be able to catch him off guard. She had fun when she was able to. When she got close enough, she sat on her haunches for a moment, staring at her lover before jumping forward, her jump as silent as possible. Hopefully, she would be able to pounce on him and the pair would end up in the water. Oh, how she loved messing with him.

A little bit of PP tell me if you want it changed. <3

A fierce snarl erupted from the males muzzle as something behind him pushed the male wolf just hard enough to fall forward. His snarl was cut off when bubbles of warm liquid rushed through his nose and mouth. Coughing and drowning the dark wolf felt the ground slip away under his paws. He fought his way to the surface of the deep end of the spring. Coughing and snarling at the same time just as his dark head burst through the surface, Kasai whipped his head around to look at his attacker.

Staring him in the face after surfacing was the silver head of the she wolf who ran among his dreams. Her green eyes blinked back the water and holding his yellow gaze squarely. His snarl faded into a muted growl as Kasai looked at Jessie mutinously. He was half tempted to dunk the she wolf under after how she almost drowned him. Sputtering a few moutfuls of water out of his lungs the Tainn edged his way towards the bank without saying anything to Jessie. His doggy paddle was a little sloppy after tripping into the water. He could feel a little pain in his leg but was pretty sure that it was just a slight sprain.

"You know you could have drowned me...." His tone was serious but as the black wolf finally hit ground he allowed himself to stop half in and half out of the water. Now with his fur slicked back the black wolfs musculature was clearly visible. Rolling his shoulder Kasai paused allowing the warm water to relax his legs, including the slight injury from before. Kasai's handsome bulk stood there like a statue as he waited for Jessie to say sorry or for her to beat on him for not taking a joke well.

As soon as she came into reassuring contact with him, a large snarl escaped from his mouth. She giggled for a moment, sure that he would not know that that it was her. She instantly regretted it the moment he came up though, for he was still snarling at her… When his eyes made contact with her own, she was pleased to hear the snarl fade away from the empty space separating them. As he submerged from the water, his eyes were instantly drawn to his muscular form, her eyes attaining a certain hunger that hadn’t really been there before, until her eyes went back up to meet his. His rumbling voice caused her head to tilt slightly, lips pursed at what he was saying. Staring into his beautiful yellow orbs, he approached him slowly, her salt-and-pepper colored fur soaking with water as she approached.

When they were finally facing one another, Jessie leaned into her love’s ear, whispering to him, "Well, I guess I’d have to drown myself then. So I could be with you." She then turned her head so that she could see into his eyes before a small smile turned on her lips. "I’m guessing that means you’re not that happy to see me though…so I’ll just be going." Turning on her heels, she started to slowly make her way out of the water, silently hoping that Hotei would stop her and make her stay with him, even if she had almost drowned him. Taking a deep breath she waited patiently for any sign of him speaking to her as she made her way out of the water.

Oh geez..first post -flail- :P

His yellow orbs were locked onto her figure as she headed his way. She moved slowly, tantalizing him--something he hated, because he knew he could do nothing about it. Jessie walked into the water, and for once, she towered over him. The thought brought a small chuckle to his lips, but it was soon smothered by the pounding of his heart as she leaned in. Her soft breath caressed his ear, and he couldn't help the small shiver that overtook his body.

She started to walk away with another playful comment, and he quickly regained his composure, letting a small smirk spread across his muzzle. Lifting himself to all fours, he tried his best to make the water leave his fur. Droplets went everywhere, and once he was satisfied, only little bits of water stuck to his pelt. He made sure no words left his muzzle as he followed her, and once they were on dry ground, he knew it was time for his part of the fun.

With his large bulk, he easily towered over her small figure, and he as he sidled up to her, their fur meshing together, he bent his head to whisper in her ear. "Don't you know I hate it when you play games with me?" His tone was deep, rumbling in her ear as low as a humming engine of a car.

Kasai nipped Jessie's ear gently, and licked the side of her face a couple of times. Chuckling softly, he spoke again. His voice was warm, but serious. "I'm always happy to see you Jessie, don't ever doubt that." He had pulled away, his yellow eyes moving to gaze into her own.

She could easily hear him moving behind her and it was why she stopped slightly, looking over the mountains surrounding them. She could get use to it up here, but she knew that her heart remained in the earthy ground below them. Startled out of her thoughts by a body pressing against hers, she refrained from giggling as his words tickled his ear. The closeness of their bodies was not something that surprised her and Jessie found herself drawing closer to the male, her head instinctually pressing close against his chest so that she could hear his heartbeats. Breathing in his scent she then giggled, remembering how he had taken a major tumbling into the water. His words touched her heart and she moved her head so that she could meet his gaze. "I’ve missed you…" she paused before continuing, "It’s different now that I’m not on the same side of the mountain as you…we won’t be able to see one another anymore."

The huntress had not wished to say the words but the more she thought about what she had said, she knew how right they were. Hotei was back in Willow Ridge while she was in the back of the Lore. Sighing softly, she pressed her smaller head against his chest again, admiring how her small body fit perfectly with his large one. If everything hadn’t been so fucked up since Hotei had left, then maybe…just maybe Ice could have tolerated him better…even gotten along better. She sighed, vanquishing the thoughts of the past and returning to the present as she looked up at her friend, her mate, her other half. She did not know what she would do without him anymore. He already plagued her thoughts as it was and the thoughts of not seeing him anymore was killing her, and it was all because of that heart-staking choice he had made to leave Swift River. Shaking her head, she put on a happy face for her love, not wanting him to be able to see the war playing in her head.

Kasai looked into her jade eyes, one's that seemed to be a open book to him. He sighed and bent to nudge her muzzle with his own. "Have you forgotten how easy you are for me to read?," he rumbled. She couldn't fool him, no matter how hard she tried.

"I have missed you as well. But we will find a way, I know we will. Somehow." He stared into her eyes, and then looked away with a small smile. His stare was in the direction of the lake. It was beautiful and deadly all the same. Now it was beautiful because it looked pristine and clear--calming to a person's eye. But in the blink of an eye, it could turn deadly. Next thing you know, it could have already flooded the surrounding territories.

Still staring at the lake, Kasai spoke. "As much as it hurts and my heart speaks to the contrary, I know leaving Swift River behind was the right thing to do." He turned back to his beloved with a deep sadness plaguing his being. "Even if it meant never seeing you again," he whispered.

The burnt man continued to speak as he looked into her eyes. "I know I hurt you when I left, Jessie. And I don't know if I will ever completely forgive myself for that, but I do know one thing. Like I stated before, we will find a way. I'll make sure of it, I promise." And that single word, promise, sealed the deal. This was a promise he was determined to keep--family curse of being disloyal be damned. His eyes showed clear determination as they locked onto her own.

Look Out!

There are several fresh rabbit tracks in the snow. Hunt Opportunity

As his deep voice rumbled in her ear, she was reminded of the dark, mysterious man she had once met in the Ghastly Woods. Their first encounter had not exactly been peaceful, but they had eventually ended up making due. They had fallen for one another and yet Jessie seemed to have fallen into a much darker pit of love than he had. When he spoke his words of leaving, Jessie’s jaw clenched in anger, his emerald eyes flashing with anger before returning to their sad state. His love had not been enough to stay with her in Swift River and just accept Ice becoming alpha. Even though Ice was no longer with them for the time being, when Hotei made his promise to her, she felt another hot rage burning from her heart. How could he so carelessly fling promises around as he was doing when he had broken the promise that she had been holding on so tightly to at the time. Letting her jaws clamp together tightly, she looked up at him, her emerald eyes glimmering slightly.

Sighing, she turned her head away from him slightly as she spoke again, "You once promised me that you wouldn’t leave me….you promised me, and your broke that promise." Her love had promised her…he had and he had broken some of the trust she had harbored for him. Whipping around to face him, she completely forgot about his easy temper as she let her voice raise, "Why did you break your promise to me?" The Swiftpaw girl did not wish to drive the burnt male away but once again she wanted him to see how hurt she had been. Only now remembering how easy his temper could rise, she waited then, for him to either leave or lash out at her as he had so many time in the past.

Hopefully I kept IC, I'm still trying to get used to playing him :) tell me if I did anything wrong, alright?

Her words as she turned away from him were like daggers right to his heart. Didn't she know that that decision was the hardest thing he ever had to do in his life? Apparently not, for she whipped around and raised her voice. She was angry, he knew. He tried to tell himself to not let it get to him, for she was hurting, but his little pep talk didn't work for long.

Stepping away from her completely so their bodies were no longer touching, his eyes flashed with the rising of his inevitable anger. "Dammit Jessie! Don't you think that was the hardest thing I had to do in my life?!," he roared, his hackles bristling. "My leaving was not due to Swift River, or even Ice himself!" Though he certainly held a part in it, he thought in his head. Forcing his hackles to lower by taking a couple deep breaths, he was soon calm. His countenance was now sad, and his tone held remorse as he continued. "It was because of me and me alone. I would end up hurting you more if I stayed, so that's why I left. I wasn't right in the head. I had to get my shit together, one way or another. I couldn't subject you to that."

Kasai stared at her now, a sad smile tugging at his lips. Padding over to her slowly, he looked down into her eyes. "No matter how many mistakes I do concerning us, please don't ever doubt my love for you. I love you so much that it scares me, Jess." With bated breath, he awaited her reaction. He could never be as vulnerable as he was with Jessie. She could crush him completely with one single word.

(This post was last modified: Dec 31, 2013, 10:25 PM by Hotei.)