OOC: This is for DS4 and I for now :> sorry yalls

Caete felt sweat move down his brow as he dueled with Livis, an older Nephilim, one of the protectors of the archives. Livis moved toward him with blinding speed, twisting in the air to slice at Caete with a curved sword, who jumped and rolled under the oncoming Nephilim. Caete was skilled for his age, however Livis had trained for nearly a hundred years, considerably more than Caetes meager seventeen.

Caete snarled and jumped forward, twisting in the air using a concussion along the edge of his double-bladed halberd, Heaven's Wrath. Livis was sent flying but recovered, fanning out his wings and flipping in the air. He heard the other Nephilim chuckle and smiled. "Well Livis? How am I so far?" He watched the other Nephilim as he circled closer, spinning the single curved blade toward him, "Better." With that he surged forward, waving the sword in blinding curves, intended to distract the eyes. But Caetes eyes were some of the best that any Nephilim had, and he saw the blade before Livis could hit him. He slid under Livis' left foot and jumped up locking his legs around the mans neck, flipping him over his face and jumped to slip his knife to the other Nephilim's neck, "Dead!"

Caete laughed at Livis' sour face, "You realize this is the first time I have ever beat you, right?" He grinned, climbing off Livis and pulling him up.

"Well I didnt expect you to pull me off my feet with your legs, young one." He smiled and patted the young mans back, "You make us proud, my boy." Caete smiled out to the small crowd that clapped at his performance, "Thanks Livis. How about one more round, eh? I feel like I have a lot of energy today." He smiled as Livis nodded, and surged forward, swinging Heaven's Wrath as though it were a part of his body.

Blanc paced back and forth, sniffing along the training field, wondering what they would be doing later. He was anxious to go eat, he'd only had four meals and he needed his other three before the end of the night. Though he hovered by Caete's duel, simply because he owed it to his bond to stay near him. He stopped pacing and dropped to the ground, How tiring.

Because of Blanc's size, his species, he rarely found another beast or animal to train with. So he usually spent his time running or fighting with the animated dummies that the sorcerors created for him. However today was a lazy day in Ellesmera, everyone was relaxed, reading in the library or visiting the temples. After all, the Grace Rituals will begin in three days, we must all prepare. He couldn't help but feel excited for the Graces, he intended on making a wish for another of his species to join Ellesmera, though whether they would grant that wish was debatable. He wondered what Caete was wishing for.

Caete saw a flash of black in the corner of his eye and jumped to the side to avoid the blow, glancing up to see Cveti and then Jeria. He grinned, excited that she'd finally found her way there. Though he saw Livis coming back at him again, "Gah!" He slid around, feeling his shoulder nicked by his blade.

"Dont lose your focus Caete!" Livis grinned at him, chuckling, turning his head slightly and seeing Jeria, "Ah I see." He jumped forward, moving to his front. Caete swung Heaven's Wrath and locked blades with Livis, twisting and pushing the blade up, he rammed his shoulder into Livis' chest and stomach, twisting around his side. He pushed Livis down with his arm, and sat on his back. "Dead."

He grinned and let his friend, and elder up. "Thats what you get for making fun of me." He turned his head and grinned wider, "Maybe we should quit for the day, you just got handled by me twice." He chuckled as Livis gave him a playful, cold look. "Don't you pick at me, youngster." He shoved the young mans shoulder as the group clapped. They walked off the field headed for Jeria and Cveti, but hesitated when Blanc padded forward, practically forcing his hunger into Caete's mind. "Alright Blanc! We'll get food soon!" He laughed and patted the huge cat's head.

He smiled and walked up to Jeria, "Hey there, Jeria, Cveti. How are you two? Did you have a nice walk?" He gave her a gentle look, still scrathing Blanc's head. "I look like a mess I'm sure. But would you two like to have dinner? Blanc needs at least three more meals before he sleeps." He chuckled and shook his head, glancing playfully at his bond.

Blanc snorted, sitting on his haunches, He says that as if he doesn't continually snack on a normal day. He nudged Caete's hip, as the Nephilim gave him a glare. "Don't you be mean, or i'll make Tave get you!" Blanc sniffed, As if Livis would allow Tave to attack me. As if on cue, the large shrrg slunk out of the forest to trot up to his bond. He has a point Caete, I doubt Blanc would taste any better than I do. The two large beasts rumbled deep in their chests as they laughed and sat shoulder to shoulder. Showing the others just how large Blanc was.

Jeria couldn't help but grin as Caete saw her and lost his focus. Pretty much happened every time. She stood when he came over, resting a hand on Cveti's side. She smiled at Caete, her amethyst eyes glittering.
"I am doing fine, and yes we did. I even flew a little bit to get here." She said, stretching her wings to either side of her. She had been strengthening them endlessly since arriving in Dy Weldenvarden. Apparently her work had pulled off. Her stomach snarled hungrily. She smiled at Caete sheepishly.
"I could go for some food as well." She said. Cveti huffed, and the gentle air pushed her hair to the side. She grinned at him, then turned back to Caete.

Jeria couldn't help but to smile in return. Her amethyst eyes sparkled at him in amusement, and she extended her wings proudly so he could inspect them.
"You cook. Your food is the best thing I've ever tasted." She said, and grinned. Pride beamed from her face as he praised her. She wasn't vain in that way, it just felt good to hear something kind being said to her, and for something so simple as how well she flew.
"Thanks. I feel a bit tired and my wings ache, but otherwise I'm fine. The more I use my wings the less the scars hurt." She said, and she wouldn't meet his gaze while she said this. When he had found her, Caete had offered to heal her scars, or at least make them less painful for her to bare, but she had refused. She wanted to remember, clearly, what the soldiers at Gil'ead had done to her, so if she ever lost the will to fight, the scars would remind her that she could survive, no matter what. She straightened her shoulders a bit, biting her lip discreetly, but tried not to react as the ten years of her imprisonment flashed through her inner eye. She pushed them back and smiled at Caete.
"Cveti had to lead me here because I got a bit lost. I might go back out and sing for a little while." She said. Singing was a habit of hers that had stuck with her through imprisonment. After a particular brutal beating or torture, she would hum to herself, no matter what her voice sounded like. Now it was one of her favorite pass times, and everyone told her she sounded good. She sighed quietly and wrapped her arms around her torso, something she had fallen into before Caete found her. She looked up at the male Nephilim, and her smile had a bit of melancholy in it. Her stomach snarled again, demanding food, and she couldn't help the warm laughter that bubbled from her chest and made her eyes sparkle.
"We were speaking of food? I think my stomach may separate from my body and go on a feeding rampage if it doesn't get something in it now." She said playfully, and chuckled once more.

"Only on my back where my wings are." She said and frowned slightly, but it was quickly replaced with a smile as Blanc pushed at Caete to hurry up. She laughed at the huge white cat and let Caete pull her along. She felt a slight pride that she didn't flinch at Caete's touch like she had a week or two ago when he'd done something similar. She felt a blush crawl up her neck at his praise for her singing. Her ears turned warm when he asked if she was going to sing at the Ritual.
"It wouldn't be proper. This is my first Ritual since coming back...So many people..." She murmured. So many people she didn't remember. She remembered Caete in flickers, and she always kept the image that had led her to him close in her mind. A friend of Caete's, Niriz, she remembered a bit more clearly, though the memories were still slightly fuzzy. She looked sideways at Caete, a slight smile pulling at her lips. He had been so helpful and protective of her for the first week or two that she'd been back in Du Weldenvarden.
"I doubt my voice is that good, Caete. I don't remember ever having lessons..." She frowned, thinking. No, she didn't remember having singing lessons. She smiled at Caete when he gave her some food options. Her eyes lit up when he mentioned his rice cakes with the sweet glaze.
"Rice cakes, no question. Maybe once we eat I can practice my singing a bit. My voice is still rough. Or maybe Heavenly Light." She said. She didn't like Heavenly Light, but it was a good weapon, since she still had no Rites to her name.

Jeria blushed, her cheeks and ears turning red. She glanced away from Caete and looked at the ground.
"I doubt I'm that good...." She said uncomfortably, shuffling her wings a bit. She looked back up at him and smiled in return, her amethyst eyes sparkling. She stepped toward his back at his offer to fly them both into his house. She grabbed his right shoulder securely with her hand and wrapped her other arm around his waist, positioning her body between his wings so he could still fly.
"That's fine. Do you want me to stand or sit down while you check them?" She asked into his ear.

Jeria's blush went from light red to crimson at his praise. She opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out, and so she just contented herself with hanging on as he flew them to his door. She released him once she felt his feet firmly touch down and stepped to the side for him to open the door. Once inside she again marveled at the interior. It was rare for her to be indoors, though not so much anymore. She was alright so long as she wasn't constricted to move about and spread her wings. She sat on one of the smaller beds and rubbed her arms. Even with as comfortable as she was indoors it still made her uneasy.
"Can Cveti come in somehow? He's too big to get through the door..." she trailed off slightly. "He doesn't have to, if you don't want his feathers everywhere." She said sheepishly.

Jeria looked up as the roof opened up, allowing Cveti to come in. With a loud squawk, the obsidian black eagle landed with a clack of his talons, pushing his head under her hand and purring gently. The female Nephilim looked up at Caete muttering to himself, and grinned, her amethyst eyes sparkling with humor. She laughed, a soothing, warm sound.
"Can I help at all?" She asked, leaning forward as if to stand.

Jeria grinned at Blanc, now used to this sort of teasing. The first time he had said such a thing she had nearly had a panic attack. But now she laughed at the white beast and lightly slapped his shoulder.
"Honestly, Blanc, you'd think Caete never fed you or you never fed yourself." She said, grinning. She turned to Caete and crossed her arms over her chest, scowling playfully at him.
"You always make me dinner, you silly boy." She griped, and huffed. She stood and stalked toward the kitchen, a smile playing at her lips. Her amethyst eyes glittered as she went right up to Caete, arms still crossed.
"I want to help." she insisted, tapping her foot impatiently. Her expression was part scowling, part amused, and part playful.
"I want to practice what you've taught me. And maybe you could look at my scars while I cook." It would help me from going into a panicked breakdown, she thought, but said nothing. Despite everything that she had improved at, it was always right back to square one when someone, it didn't matter who, touched her back, where she couldn't see them.

Caete sighed, placing his hand over his stomach, fighting a laugh, "Fine, but you know how it affects me to let you work." He shook his head, playfully pretending to be offended, "You know how I dislike making you strive to do anything." He finally burst out laughing, grinning at Jeria, "Here you can slice the lemons into quarters, then if you dont mind measuring out the sugar while I start the rice and begin chopping the onions and making cheese rolls."

He nudged her shoulder with his own as he gave her the lemons and a knife, "There you go. And here I go." He placed the rice in the boiling water, then boiled it for two minutes, before reducing the heat and simmering it for seven. He turned to the small cabinets he had, pulling out the flour and getting cooking water out of the basin, mixing it, "You know I've always found something about cooking calming, plus its a great bonding experience," he grinned shyly at Jeria, "Mother always said I was skilled with food." He glanced over at Blanc and Cveti, his large white friend practically glaring at the two Nephilim whom were cooking.

You are so lucky that I don't like the way Nephilim taste. He sniffed and laid down on the floor, watching the food being cooked, It is like he never feeds me. He's never on time with the food, he always procratinates. Its awful traveling with him because he starves me all the time. He sniffed, Its a wonder I can run as fast as I do when he never feeds me. Blanc rested his head on his legs, using his mopey face to gain some form of sympathy from anyone.

Jeria laughed, her amethyst eyes twinkling, and did what he told her to. She held the knife gingerly and always made sure her fingers were out of the way as she cut the lemons apart into quarters. She smiled up at him briefly.
"I know it is a great bonding experience. Remember the first time I tried cooking? It was terrible!" She said, and chuckled. The rice she had tried to make had turned out being a burned lump of mush. She pursed her lips at him.
Much better than skilled, if I do say so myself." She said, and grinned at him. Once she was finished with the lemons she pushed them to Caete and washed her hands in the basin and dried them before she took the sugar and began to measure it out. As she worked with the sugar she began to hum, a habit she fell into whenever she was at peace. She laughed at Blanc.
"You pushy cat. Griping for the food won't make it any faster, so hush. Maybe I'll bargain with Cveti and have him hunt up some meat for you later, and then Caete can make it up especially good for you, alright?" She said to the white beast. She shook her head and went back to humming. After a few more moments she was done with the sugar and set it aside.
"Okay, what now?" She asked eagerly. She glanced around and realized he actually had most of it covered already.
"Would you like to check my back while that finishes up?"

He was just pulling out the cheese and slicing when Jeria asked if he'd like to look at her back. "Sure, how about you pack the cheese into the dough mix then and i'll just put them in when your done?" He grinned at her, trying to seem calm and composed, though he was actually really excited.

"Oh god I remember! It wasn't that bad... I mean... Blanc still ate it... and he's still alive." He grinned and looked impishly at Blanc whom had gobbled the charred mush in an instant, then asked for more. The huge white cat growled lightly, It is not my fault that you Nephilim lack refined tastes. He turned his head and looked away, still moping.

Caete walked smoothly to Jeria's spot in the kitchen, placing the cheese next to her and the dough he just made. He took on in his hand and pushed a thumb into the side of the dough, creating a pocket. He pressed the cheese into the pocket and rolled it back over the side. "Did you see that? Thats how you make them. Simple as that." He grinned and bumped her shoulder, waiting next to her.

Besides I'm not griping. I'm just hungry. Blanc snorted and rolled onto his back, watching them upside down, gently chuckling as objects in the room rattled because of his weight. Hurry and make the cheese rolls. Then feed me. he made a heavier meow sort of noise and watched them, tail flicking back and forth.

Jeria smiled at Caete and nodded, her eyes bright. She covered her mouth and laughed as he tried to minimize criticism for her first attempt at cooking.
"It was terrible, I tell you! I'm surprised Blanc didn't choke on it!" She laughed. Her stomach hurt a bit from laughing so hard. She managed to straighten up enough so she could see Caete as he showed her how to make the cheese rolls. She was still chuckling as she began to push a hole into the dough, insert the bit of cheese, then roll it shut again. Roughly a minute and a half later she was finished and brushed her hands clean on her trousers. She bit her lip, suddenly anxious.
"Do you want me to lay down on my stomach for you to check, or sit up?" She asked.

Jeria smiled, her amethyst eyes gleaming with humor. She relaxed a bit.
"Yes, I remember." she said, and laughed. "I thought he'd rub his tongue raw." She giggled, her shoulders uncoiling. She grabbed Caete's wrist with her hand and pulled him toward one of the smaller beds. She released him, swallowed, then sat on the bed. She twisted and laid down on her stomach, squirming a bit until she was comfortable. She unfurled her wings and let them drape over the edges of the bed on either side of her, feeling her back muscles tense up already with anxiety. She breathed in and out through her nose as deeply as she could, relaxing each part of her body slowly.
"Alright, go ahead." She murmured quietly, closing her eyes to concentrate on her breathing staying even.

Caete smiled as he was dragged to one of the cots, "Yes I know. He was so very afraid that the taste was permanent." he knew that prolonging the small talk would be comforting to her and should relieve her of some stress. He gently pulled her shirt down to inspect the top of the scars. Knotted and coiled around the edges with tension. They had been like this for the last few weeks as she'd worked out the muscles. He gently laid his hands on one tracing it, checking it's tenderness. "They look somewhat looser, Jeria, how taut were they today?" he gently rubbed one of the scars to loosen it up, trying to keep her as calm as possible.

Ooc: bleh short... Sorry :/

Jeria tried to smile at his comment, but by then his touch on her back registered to her brain. She bit her lip to keep it from trembling, though that wouldn't help with her wings. The very tips of her wings, where her feathers were loosest, shook minutely. She inhaled and exhaled slowly through her nose. The muscles on her back trembled slightly from sensitivity as he felt the length of a scar.
"They pulled at my skin when I flew, and their a bit-aah!" She gasped sharply in pain as his fingers drew close to the top of her wings where it attached to her back. Occasionally they had tried to cut her wings off with cruel serrated blades. The scars there were especially tender to the touch. A tear dripped from her eye as she bit her lip to keep from crying.
"Really sensitive there." She managed to gasp out, clenching her eyes shut tight and gripping the edge of the bed hard with her hands.

Jeria cringed at his gentle touch. She knew he was being as gentle as he could, but it still hurt like all get out. She tried to relax her wings, but the pain made it difficult. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, letting the tension in her body drain frfrom her and into the ground. Her limbs relaxed, even her wings, although a bit reluctantly. The female Nephilim sighed.
"I know. I'm trying, it just hurts so much." She said quietly. She sighed. Sometimes she felt like just giving up. The only person that would probably really miss her if she died was Cveti. She closed her eyes as a few tears dripped from the corner of her right eye.
"Caete, why am I trying so hard? My only goal when I got free was to stay alive long enough to find the man in my mind. I wasn't planning on trying to recover or go back to my life. Things will never be normal for me again, no matter how hard I try, so why am I trying at all? I could disappear into the trees today, and no one would miss me." She said softly, her voice slightly muffled by the cot.

Jeria stayed silent, only turning her head to look at Caete when he was quiet. Her warm amethyst eyes gleamed with moisture. Slowly, so she didn't startle him, she pushed herself upright and sat back on her heels, watching him. She extended a wing to him and wrapped it around his shoulders, then pulled him toward her so he would look at her. She shook her head slowly.
"I won't ever be normal again, Caete. Even if my scars gradually fade with time, the scars on my heart will never give me peace. I will always have nightmares, I will always have fears and weaknesses that I didn't before." she said quietly. "When you were touching my wing, gentle as you were, I wanted to strike out, to push you away, and then I wanted to run. I know I can trust you, and I do, with my life, but it is instinct for me now to flee. Fight or flight." She looked away from him now. She wanted to embrace him and say she felt the same, but then again she rarely ever understood her own feelings these days.
"Niriz would understand, Slyth is young, and I'm just a liability to the Queen, an unneeded weakness." she paused briefly to wrap her arms around her torso as she always did when she felt uncomfortable and vulnerable. She looked up, his final words making her feel warm.
"You wouldn't have to stay here, if you didn't want to. You could come with me. It's not just that I don't belong in this world anymore, I don't remember anyone. You and Niriz are the exception, but I don't even remember who my parents are. It hurts me constantly." She stopped suddenly and looked down, a flush reddening her neck and jaw. "No, I'm assuming now. This is your home." she said, ashamed for thinking he might go with her if she left the forest.

Jeria wanted to cry for the way he was supporting her. It was true, what he said. She was making progress. But did she want to make progress? Her life would never be the same again, she knew that right now without even being told, but she could help wishing, hoping, that she would wake, and it was all just a very bad dream. She closed her eyes and rubbed her arms, biting her lip. Her wings trembled a bit. She sniffed quietly.
"Curse them. Curse the men that tortured and violated me." She whispered, then winced. Oops. She'd meant to keep to herself that the men had sometimes gone a step further than simple torture. She shuddered away from the memories, then looked up at Caete.
"I just want to forget." She said quietly. And she did. But more than that, she was angry. Angry and hurt. But she didn't let it show. And perhaps that was why she couldn't let it go and focus on the present; her anger was so carefully buried that she didn't know it existed, and it sat there, waiting for her to acknowledge and expel it. She reached out and touched his shoulder gently.
"I won't leave. Not yet anyway." She murmured. Her expression softened. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him to her. She laid her head on his chest.
"Thank you for supporting me, Caete, even before I found you. I would have given up weeks ago if it hadn't been for your image in my mind."

Jeria bit her lip, squeezing her eyes shut as Caete spoke. Tears welled in her eyes. She had never cried, not even when she first told Caete of what they had done to her, so he would understand why she flinched away from his touch occasionally. She buried her face into his chest, tears running down her cheeks. She could feel him shaking in her embrace, and she tightened her arms around him gently.
"Don't be upset, Caete, please. You have done everything for me. You helped me survive hell itself." She said quietly, the tears trembling in her voice. Her heart ached for him, each beat feeling as if something were constricting around it in her chest. She tightened her hold on him.
"It's my burden to bare, but still you help me bare it. I can never show my thanks enough...Or how much I honestly need your support."

Jeria's tears increased. A sob made her throat close. Her wings trembled from the emotions sweeping through her heart. She lifted her head to look into his dark green eyes. Her own amethyst ones shimmered with moisture.
"Caete....You don't know how much I needed you. How much I still need you. How much I'll...I'll always need you." She said softly. Her cheeks reddened and she dropped her gaze.

Her heart warmed at his words. She sniffed softly, but didn't resist him when he gently pulled her head up, wiping away her tears. She looked into his dark green eyes, the eyes that had encouraged her to go on, to keep going, even when she wanted to drop and just die. Another tear ran slowly from the corner of her eye into her hair. She felt him struggling to breathe and her heart ached again. She tightened her arms around him, wanting to comfort him but she didn't know how. She tilted her head slightly and, very lightly, touched her lips to his, just barely brushing against them.
"Your the only one that could understand." She whispered softly against his skin.

Jeria's heart thudded in her chest, vibrantly alive as it hadn't been since her escape from Gil'aed. She gasped softly when he broke the contact, breathing deeply. Her eyes glittered gently into his, and she smiled slightly.
"It's okay." She murmured in reply to his question. She swallowed hard, suddenly nervous and self conscious.
"Is your heart pounding as hard as mine?" She asked quietly. She lifted a hand and placed it on his chest above his heart. A single tear, this one of fear, ran slowly down her cheek. She didn't want to hurt him. Moisture pooled in her eyes and her lower lip trembled.
"I don't want to hurt you, Caete." She whispered softly.

Jeria hesitated, still unsure of herself. She bit her lip at his question. Gently she lifted a hand and cupped his jaw, pulling his head to the side so he had to look at her. She smiled softly.
"I felt...like my heart had just combusted into flames. Like I could take on the entire land of Alagaësia. I feel alive." She murmured in reply. She could feel his heart hammering under his ribs, feeling as if it was trying to drill its way through. Her heart wasn't much calmer. She didn't know what this was. She had never experienced love before, and so had no idea of what was happening. She wanted to feel that combustion again, the heat in her chest a warming one that took her breath away but still urged her to gasp for more.
"Caete, I...." She hesitated, not knowing how to describe how she felt.

Jeria nodded in understanding, watching his reaction. She smiled a bit and lifted a hand, stroking his burning red face gently. Her legs were going numb, but she didn't really care at the moment.
"Yes." She murmured quietly, her amethyst eyse bright with an emotion that even she couldn't describe. She leaned forward and wrapped her wings around him, so close to him that their noses touched.
"A burning warmth in the heart that spreads into a glow through your entire body?" She ventured, raising one eyebrow slightly. She wanted to feel that soothing warmth again, but wasn't sure how to do that exactly. She contented herself with being in Caete's arms, where she felt safe and...loved?

Jeria shivered at the close contact as his lips grazed her earlobe. She would swear that her heart just skipped a beat. She looked up into his dark green eyes.
"I love this feeling too." She murmured softly. Needing to feel the heat again, the warm, gentle heat that spread from her heart to the tips of her fingers and toes, she tilted her head to the side and pressed her lips to his again. Her heart thudded powerfully in her chest, threatening to break free.
"A very good way." She whispered against his skin, commenting on what he had just said. The female Nephilim wrapped her arms around his neck and opened herself to the warm glow in her heart, pushing aside the fear and worry. She could worry about them later.

Jeria smiled at Caete, her amethyst eyes warm. She too smelt the burning rice. Her stomach growled in response to the thought. She returned the quick kiss and reluctantly released him to the kitchen. She watched him bustle about and check the rice, smiling when he said it was salvageable.
"Good." She said with a wide grin. She idly reached out and stroked Cveti's wing. The obsidian black eagle looked quite pleased with something. She sent him a dirty look and he chuckled. She looked at Caete.
"When will food be ready?" She said eagerly, unable to muffle the growls of hunger emitting from her stomach.

Jeria smiled warmly at Caete, her amethyst eyes glittering gently. Her stomach growled again impatiently. She folded her arms over her abdomen to try and muffle the sound, though to little avail. She grinned sheepishly at Caete.

- - - - - - - - - -

Cveti grinned at the white cat, his green eyes gleaming.
Yes indeed, my friend. They deserve each other. he replied, studying how Jeria and Caete looked with one another. They seemed to be perfect for one another, one needing the support of the other and vice versa.

Caete chuckled again, loosing focus on the rice cakes, and glancing at her, "Jeria, you dont have to wait you know." He smiled, gently putting several on a plate and carrying it to her, "Here, eat while I finish making the rest." He gently kissed her temple, letting her know that it was fine. He moved back to the counter, folding more rice into the lemon sauce. He moved back to the small stone oven and pulled out several small rolls of bread, letting them cool on the counter before he gave her one.

Blanc snuffled and flicked several tail feathers of the large birds, Indeed they do, but still, it took them a rather long time, didnt it? They aren't very good at these sort of things. He rumbled quietly, his version of a laugh.

Jeria smiled up at Caete, feeling a pleasant tingle run down her spine when he kissed her temple. She blushed a light pink and picked up a rice cake, digging in hungrily. When she took a bite out of a roll that he offered her, she rolled her eyes in appreciation.
"Best rolls I've ever had." She mumbled through her mouthful.

- - - - - - - - - -

Cveti ruffled his plumage, twisting his head back to preen at the feathers on his left wing.
Indeed. I was beginning to think they would never figure it out. But then again, who is good at it? He asked rhetorically, and made the soft chittering that took place of laughter..

He chuckled again, bringing the plates back towards the side of the room, setting a dish in front of Blanc and one in front of Cveti, "Now everyone, eat up. I know you're all hungry." He grinned and sat back across from Jeria, "The best, huh?" He smiled and began to eat, happy that the meal was tasty, despite his distractions.

Blanc bolted up when Caete brought his food, You bet I'm hungry. He bent his head, pulling the cakes into his maws, and chewing. He looked affectionately at Caete as he tasted the food, knowing that he couldnt have been luckier to get a bond that knew how to cook.

Jeria smiled at Caete and picked up a rice cake, eating every piece in a few bites.
"Yes, the best." She teased. She paused and tilted her head slightly. She remembered saying that exact phrase a long time ago....Where had she been? She pushed it aside for now and reveled in being with Caete. She scooted around so she sat right next to him hip to hip, nibbling on another roll.

- - - - - - - - - -

Cveti delicately picked up a rice cake and swallowed it whole, feeling a pleasant tingle in his mouth at the flavor. He picked up a roll next. He prummed with delight, a shiver making his plumage tremble.
Definitely the best. He said, grinning at Caete.

Caete smile affectionately, wrapping his arm around Jeria's hip as he ate, "I'm glad that they're the best then." He chuckled at Cveti and Blanc, "Thank you my friends! I'm glad that you enjoy my cooking! At least someone does." He turned his head to look at Jeria, picking up a second roll and chewing on it thoughtfully.

Blanc rumbled with happiness, it was like eating with a family. He was happy and content to simply devour as much food as he could.

Jeria smiled, blushing a light pink, and wrapped her arm around his waist. She was nibbling on her third roll as she leaned her head to the side and nestled it in the hollow of Caete's neck. She closed her eyes, feeling safe.
"How do you feel right now, Caete?" She asked, opening her eyes again. Cveti was thoroughly enjoying his meal, she knew by both his eagerness and the content she felt from him. She looked up at Caete.

Jeria hummed under her breath, the lyrics of a song coming to mind. She pursed her lips in thought, then smiled up at Caete, her amethyst eyes filled with warmth.
"I feel completely safe and loved for the first time, in a very long time." She murmured quietly. She tightened her arm around his waist in a gentle squeeze, pecking his jaw in a light kiss. "Thank you, Caete, for everything that you have done for me and more. I've decided that I will attend the Ritual. I'm going to sing something of my own compilation." She said, and smiled at him. She could feel a bit of smugness coming from her bond, and she glowered at Cveti.
"Shut up, you featherball." She growled at the obsidian black eagle, who just twittered with laughter and continued to eat.

Jeria flushed a light pink as he kissed her cheek, but it was a good blush, not one of embarrassment. She snorted softly at his defense of her bond but didn't reply, too content. She flushed even more at his words of gratitude and at his second kiss to her temple.
"I would never leave you, Caete." She murmured to him. Her lips twitched at his praise of her voice. She doubted that she was that skilled, but she was always selfless, that much she did remember from her pass. She wrapped one arm around his shoulder and snuggled into his embrace, closing her eyes.
"I'm sure she will be." She said. She was tired, though in a good way. She yawned a bit and then sighed with content. A thought came to her. "When is the Ritual, Caete? I'll need to write my song and practice. I might ask Niriz for help with writing it." She mused aloud.

A smile pulled at her lips, though her eyes remained closed.
"I'm glad." She murmured, dozing lightly. She sighed with content when she felt him press his lips to her cheek. It seemed so normal for him to do so. She repositioned, rolling over onto her side and bringing her arm up to pillow her head.
"Hmm...we shall see how well it goes." She sighed. Her lips twitched at his musing. "Me of course. I'll always have time for the one that I love." She said. She was almost asleep, or she would not had been so carefree with her words.

She would have cuffed him on the back of the head with her wing, was he within reach, but she was too deeply asleep to move, so she simply grunted.
"Incorrigible. Yes I do love you." She muttered foggily into her arm. The female Nephilim curled into a ball with her arm under her head, the normal way that she slept, and instantly let herself drift into sleep.

OOC:
So cute. ^.^ You can go to morning if you like, I'm not planning anything for the night. XD

"You are impossible, dear." He smiled as he felt himself drift to sleep, thinking about what would happen tomorrow.

___________________________________________________________

Caete awoke to sunlight burning behind his eyes, and a tuft of fur stuck to his cheek. That meant one of two things, either Blanc had slept next to him at some point, or the large cat had been shedding again. He sat up, groggily pulling the fur off of his cheek. He hadn't been up more than thirty seconds before he was considering going back to sleep.

Jeria's nose tickled. She twitched it, hoping it would go away, but it didn't. She scowled as it tickled again. The urgings of a sneeze began building in her nose, making her eyes squint open. She sat bolt upright just as a huge sneeze exploded from her nostrils, dislodging the feather that had been tickling her nose. She groaned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, trying to wake up. She heard movement somewhere close by.
"Good morning." She said groggily, shuffling her wings slightly behind her. Her right wing was numb; she must have slept on it for a while.

Jeria stretched and yawned, then opened her eyes. She smiled at Caete's groggy expression and hopped of her cot. She padded to him and sat right next to him, gently pulling his head toward her. She pecked her lips onto his, once, twice, and then a third time, then pulled away and grinned at him.
"Even if you wake up with me?" She teased, wrapping one arm around his waist and leaning into him lightly.

Jeria smiled at his retort, her amethyst eyes warm with affection and what she knew now to be love. She chuckled as he eyed the pillow on his cot. Feeling mischievous, she twisted her body so she was laying down on his cot and then pulled him on top of her in the same movement. It was slightly uncomfortable for her wings, but she didn't complain.
"We don't have to get up right away. There's nothing really for us to do...Unless you want to tell everyone?" She said, and smiled teasingly.

Jeria gasped under her breath in surprise when he actually rolled onto her, her eyes widening and then narrowing with mischief. At first her heart pounded, a memory of being suffocated in a similar manner, but after a few moments her heartbeat slowed to a normal rate. His weight made it a bit difficult for her to breathe and she grunted quietly but didn't complain. She was actually quite comfortable, beside being squished. She wrapped her arms around his waist and nuzzled the side of his neck.
"Oh really?" She teased, nipping at his earlobe. "As much as I would actually like to stay like this, my wings are going numb. Mind sitting up so I don't lose feeling in them?" She murmured into his ear, releasing his waist.

Jeria sat up once he had moved and stretched her wings to either side, flexing them in all directions to try and avoid making them get the horrid tingling of blood rushing back into them. She stretched her hands above her head and yawned. She leaned back on her elbows and smiled down at Caete, her amethyst eyes glittering. She laid down with her back to his chest and snuggled close.
"There's no rush. You could probably take a short snooze. I could hum you a song if you like." She offered, pulling his arm around her waist and clasping his hand in her own.

Jeria smiled to herself and settled down, pursing her lips slightly as she ran through the music that she remembered. She stopped at one that seemed appropriate. It was familiar, personal even. She thought about it for a moment, and then it came back to her. Memories were coming back more regularly now, for which she was grateful.
"A lullaby that my mother sang to me when I was little." She said. She closed her eyes and relaxed. She began to hum gently, just loud enough that Caete would be able to hear it but not too loud to keep him awake.

OOC:
This song is similar to the tune I have in my head, if you wanted an example.

Caete was feeling himself drift off to sleep already, even though he slightly wanted to stay up to hear the song, "Thats great, Jer.." Finally he fell asleep.

OOC: Hehe... thats not so bad. Alright, so lets formulate a plan! Where are we going now? :p

Jeria smiled as she heard his breathing deepen. She was enjoying herself, and she was wide awake, so she just kept humming.

OOC:
Well, I'm pondering whether we should tell Niriz now, wait until the Ritual, or what. And I'm also contemplating the same with Jeria's parents, whether she remembers them before, after, or even during the Ritual.

OOC: Well Niriz is easy to tell. She's easy to just pull up randomly. Jeria's parents are probably all over her, huh? Caete's mom and sister would be easy too. One of us could easily control Islanzadi for the Ritual... I'll pm you :p

*skipping forward in time =p* Caete rolled over, feeling the warmth spread to his right arm, and alleving the numbness that had set into his arm. He sat up slightly, blinking several times and glancing to his right, seeing Jeria.

OOC:
Yes, her parents probably will be. Very true. XD And okay.

IC:
Jeria smiled at Caete, her amethyst eyes warm as they met his dark green gaze.
"Are you truly awake this time?" She teased, ruffling his hair playfully with one hand.

OOC:
Short. >.>

Caete sat up, bending his back and feeling it pop, he sighed, content that the tension was out of his spine. He turned to look at Jeria, "Yeah, I'm up. Now its breakfast time!" He playfully grabbed her hand, and brought it to his lips. He kissed her fingers gently and stood, pulling her up with him.

"How about, rolls and fruit? If I have any rolls left that is. You were putting them down like no other last night." He chuckled and fluttered into the kitchen, teasing her lightly. He began pulling fruits out of the cupboards, getting a knife and slicing them open, and then into pieces. He spread the pieces on a dish and retrieved the basket of rolls that he had on the stone oven. He warmed them gently with magic from his hands and placed the basket on the table, along with the fruit.

He glanced to the side of the room and saw several leftover rice cakes, reaching over he grabbed the dish that held them and brought it to the table as well. "See now, nice breakfast, huh?" He grinned at Jeria, knowing she'd enjoy the food.