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 Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:40 pm
 Rowtag paused and stretched, flexing ebony claws into the sand. He'd been training hard that morning and had spent much of the day sleeping to build up strength for a second day. Training was hard, but he was extremely serious about doing it. He had to train to get strong. He had to train to...
No, enough of that at the moment.
Now that he was rested up, the sun was beginning to set, casting the sky with fire. He watched it sinking as he moved towards water, the sweet scent a delight to his nostrils. His throat was parched. He was desperate to quence his thirst and as the water came into glistening view, he thought how beautiful the desert was.
He thought, also, how much this place felt like home.
And the thought scared him.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:48 pm
Zii didn't even know where her youth went... It had gone by so fast. Everything was going by in the blink of a golden eye and yet, she felt like she was going no where. Here she was, padding along with head held high, her golden eyes shining. She had been hanging out with a fellow 'guard' and felt that she would indeed be fit for her future duties.
But lately she had been really grumpy it seemed. It was only because, she had a few things racing through her mind. One, she was watching those around her get closer and closer to their friends until, it seemed that boy's and girls were now becoming older-more mature. It was scary. She had been thinking about Rowtag lately.
She couldn't stop thinking about him actually. It came to the point where she set off this morning with the intent on finding him. When she spotted his lovely merked pelt, she popped up from where she was lounging in the sand and started to follow after him. It was lucky that he was destined to find that water, as she padded as quiet as she could behind him-until-she-was-on-his-butt.
"Hello Rowtag!" She said sweetly.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:56 pm
He jumped, startled by the sudden voice and then turned to see the ghostly-white form of Zii coming up alongside him. His shock turned to amusement and, despite himself, he chuckled. She was good at sneaking but even better at sneaking up on him!
"You're more silent than before, Zii'moto." He complimented. "I'd say you were the finest, stealthies Firekin to ever have walked these sands!" He laughed again, shaking his head - the tresses of his growing mane falling across sky-blue eyes.
He liked being in her company, but at the same time, it made him sad. She was so beautiful. So innocent. And he...what was he? Biting back those thoughts he shot her a tamer looking smile. "How have you been? I take it your training has been going well?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 6:06 pm
Zii sidled up beside him, her white tail curling lightly around her hips as if in a dance. She trotted herself up beside him, her golden eyes soft. "Hehe... I suppose. Perhaps it is only that the world is louder than it used to be... or perhaps I am sneaky..." She said, cocking her head flirtatiously at him. "But, Rowtag... it is obvious you have been practicing... look at your shoulders..." She said, looking him up and down-it was most likely obvious that she was eyeing him up.
"I have been doing well. Starting to fall into my guard duties... I have an older comrade whom has taken me under his wing and shown me a few things... my mentor hasn't had time to do anything with me-so I am learning from other sources." She said, flicking her tail. "How have you been?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 6:14 pm
Oh she was sneaky all right. His eyes sparkled as he cast another smile her way, glad of her company. It was good to relax after a hard day's training and what better way to do it than with a friend? She was pretty much his only friend (not counting siblings) and for that he was very thankful.
He caught her look and blinked, confused. What did that look mean? He'd never really seen it in her eyes before...
His shoulders? Was he really changing that much? He glanced at his shoulders - or as much as he could - and down at his forearms. Yes...he was getting bigger. Stronger too, if the training was saying much. "Practice is important." He replied, smoothly, though wary of that gaze. It had his belly fluttering and he wasn't sure what it meant.
"That's taking the initiative!" He replied. "I'm glad you found a replacement." He blinked then and drew his eyes back to the water, pausing at its edge to drink. Thirst slaked, he lifted his dripping muzzle and glanced at her again.
"Well enough, I suppose." He continued. Though he'd felt on edge these past months, wondering what Rap was up to out there...
"I'm guessing that you've been doing fine. You certainly seem happy."
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 6:19 pm
Zii took a step closer to Rowtag as he bent to drink. She smiled down at him, her gaze taking in his form. He was so handsome... she couldn't help it. She lifted her gaze away quickly when he rose and had to look at something away from him to hide her reddened cheeks. "Eh-oh... yeah. I suppose. I wanted to learn and found a resource in which to study..."I am happy... I guess... just doing the usual... nothing new."
She sat beside him and her eyes took on a new light, a soft one. "Rowtag... we've known each other for a long while haven't we?" She asked, looking up at him from her lowered muzzle. Her front paws kneaded lightly in the sand for a moment.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 6:29 pm
He nodded, understanding and admiring her desire to do whatever it took to continue her learning. She was a good student, skilled in what she did.
His heart gave an odd thump and as she sat beside him he felt the fluttering sensation grow stronger, more apparant. He felt almost light-headed, as if he were going to pass out. What was wrong with him? Was he sick or something?
"We have, I guess." It was a long while, he supposed, since they were both in their teenage years, their childhood almost completely left behind them. And yet, though many Firekin craved for adulthood so that they might rise to their full capabilities, he was almost afraid of that day. The day when his mane was full and his body had finished growing.
Because that meant Rap would be, too, and he'd return and all this would be over. He hated how sad that made him, hated how he couldn't change it.
His eyes softened. "You were the first one to accept me here." He whispered. "I don't know if I ever thanked you for that."
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 6:36 pm
Zii purposefully stepped closer to him, her eyes downcast but her expression not one of sadness. She then flicked her eyes up at him. "No.. I don't think you did... but being my friend was all I needed for thanks." She said softly, almost timidly. "I mean, it was only a matter of time before everyone else realized that you were-well.. special." She said with a smile. "I could see that you were truely a firekin under all the black and red."
She took another step closer. "Rowtag... can I ask you something?" She said, looking a bit hesitant.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 6:59 pm
He grunted. "More Firekin than most." Whoops...did that sound mean? He mentally cursed at himself and shook his head viciously, his ears pinning back. "What I mean is..." Oh what was the point of justifying it now? He'd just be digging a hole.
He looked up at her, feeling nervous again, the fluttering in his stomach ever present. She was so close now. He almost wanted to step back away from her but he seemed strangely rooted to the spot.
"Um...sure."
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Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm
She looked down at her pale feet and gave them a good twist into the sand. Oh, just say it Zii, just tell him already. Just lift your head and say it. She lifted her muzzle, her cheeks turning rosy. "Rowtag."
She took a step closer so that they were all but a breath apart from one another, her golden eyes gazing into his blue ones. She took a deep breath and then with one final sigh, she shut her eyes. "Rowtag... I think I love you..." She said softly.
She felt her cheeks burning hot against the sun.
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:05 am
She...wasn't acting like herself. What was she...? Oh...had she figured something out? Did she know the truth? His heart started beating with panic and fear, desperately seeking some words in which he could cover up what he was going to do.
He was so worked up that he was almost relieved by what she had just declared to him.
She loved him.
Not, "I know what you're doing and I hate you and I'm going to tell everyone and they'll kill you, blah blah blah."
And then her words sank in. She loved him. Thought she loved him, but thinking it was enough. And he realised, with a terrible pang, that he loved her too and whilst this should have been a happy moment, it was mixed with grief and pain, for he knew such a love could only be destroyed.
He was being cruel to her, his one and only dearest friend.
But how could he turn her away now? Now, when she'd said that? His heart was a flutter and his head was spinning with confusion.
He leaned forwards and pressed his nose to hers. "I...uh...I, think maybe...that I...love you too." He replied, slowly, awkwardly.
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:34 am
She wanted to hear him burst forth and scream the loved her too-to declare his undying love for her-to say she was his one and only and all she got was a stuttering response. She looked a bit confused, leaning back to look him over. Maybe loved her? So he didn't know. "Oh." She said simply, her golden eyes taking on a less than joyful hue.
It was too soon. She knew it was too soon to tell him. She looked sideways, her eyes starting to glaze over with perhaps frustrated tears. Not at him but at herself. She blinked, looking at the ground. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything... you don't have to say you l-love me to..." She said softly, looking more and more upset.
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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:58 pm
"N-no. No...Zii, it isn't that." He drew back his head and looked torn. What could he say? What should he say? He peered back at her through tresses of his dark mane and knew, in his heart, that he loved her.
And yet...the words caught in his throat.
"I'm...well...you know guys....we're...we're not very good at this 'feelings' thing." He gave a sort of embarrassed laugh and folded back his ears. "It all happened so...so...quickly and...well..." He trailed again.
"Well...the truth is...I'm...a little...scared..." And he was. Love was a scary thing! So emotional! So...so beautiful and yet so fragile and...and terrible if lost.
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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:04 pm
Zii was torn as well. The male she had grown up with was no longer a friend to her... but something more. At least, she had hoped. She looked over at him with sullen golden eyes. "Oh.." She said softly. She looked down at her feet and sort of kicked the dust, biting her lip.
"Yeah.. I suppose... perhaps I just really really like you Rowtag... I guess love is to strong of a word... I shouldn't have said it... I'm sorry..." She said in the upmost adult fashion she could muster. She sniffed, lifting her chin up for a moment before breaking out into a smile..,
"I'm sorry... I just... well... I dunno... I suppose we are still young... I was just thinking outside my head.... It's nothing... never mind!"
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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:08 pm
He could feel his heart sinking and cursed himself for saying and doing the wrong thing. It was a strong word, but was that bad? Did it not depict how he felt? He stood, shifted awkwardly from one paw to the other and then moved towards her again.
"Don't apologise. It should be me apologising. That's what I admire about you, Zii, how you speak from the heart. I...that's something I need to learn to do." He glanced away briefly, feeling unsure of what to do next.
And then he returned his eyes to her and leaned forwards to lick her on the nose.
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