Post by Yol Kxetse - Long Tail on Nov 24, 2014 11:27:09 GMT 8
[29/09/2014 2:17:28 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | Levana was up bright and early, before the ekis cawed. She crept out of the medicine house, brushing down her grey breeches, and walked out into the dark night. She stretched and cracked her back, before looking around for the leader. He was always up at this time. And usually, he was expecting her.
So she jogged down to the river they had at the edge of the territory, and sure enough, there he was, doing his own stretches. She smiled, coming over to him. "Good morning, Ta'em," she said softly in the Quixinar's language. She no longer needed the translation mask.-d
[29/09/2014 2:21:38 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| The leader was looking up at the sky, it was early morning for them, which meant the sun was setting, the bright orange light fading away into a purple dusk, the first thing to come out, the every first.. he couldn't help but frown at it as a faint dot of light fly overhead, at speeds.. he couldn't even compahend. He snaped out of it when he heard a greeting from behind him, knowing who it was, he turned and looked at Levana. "Good morning to you too Levana" he greeted back to her, watching as the words that came out of her mouth were his own kinda language, it was remarkable how quickly she could pick it up. -d
[29/09/2014 2:26:25 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | Hey, she didn't attend Cambridge for nothing. She came over closer to him, but it was more to splash her face with water than anything else. She bent over to cup the water in her hands, unaware of how her haunches would appear bigger than usual when she did. She stood back up, looking at him. "Are you about to go out to the forest? May I join?" As the months had passed, she realised how bad Earth had it - they'd royally fucked up. And she dreaded the thought of her term ending here and her having to go back. No trees... Horrible. So she wanted to soak up this opportunity as much as she could.-d
[29/09/2014 2:33:19 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em didn't smile or gave any hint to his mood as he watched Levana as she moved towards the water to splash her face, he was aware that her haunches appeard bigger, only because he hasn't seem them so big before, but other then that, there was no real interest, other then the fact he couldn't deny that she was pretty. "I am, and yes, you may join me" he simply said, before he started to walk away from the tribe, just a walk, not particually feeling upto a run this morning, plus he was sure that Levana didn't like to run around to much without support, or so it seemed. -d
[29/09/2014 2:40:14 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | She walked alongside the leader, remembering the last time she had walked out of the tribe alone. She shuddered. She hoped they wouldn't ever encounter that sarcen again, or anything like it. She fingered the handle of the blade Ta'em had given her and the other humans on their arrival, seeing as they didn't have claws. She felt safer with it, and though she wouldn't admit it readily, she felt infinitely safer with the leader by her side. He was leader for a reason, after all.
"How is Ka'ja doing?" she enquired after the patient. Ka'ja was pregnant with her and Ta'em's second child. Well, her child. Levana was almost certain Kyoki wasn't Ta'em's, though she'd rather plunge that knife into her chest than tell him that.-d
[29/09/2014 2:44:38 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| As they walked, he couldn't help but keep his eyes infront of them, he has seen the forest, seen it's beauty.. his mind was distracted as his eyes started to show, even slightly, how tired he was of doing things for everyone else, all the time. Ta'em was snapped back once more by Levana's voice, he had to clear his throat as it felt blocked by soemthing. "She is handling her mothers pregnancy well, Excited to have a sister or brother, She is.. happier actually, she's been more happy then i've seen in years" he told Levana, even though he didn't know, it was due to a boy that came on the expidition that was causing his daughter to be happy, unknown to him of course. -d
[29/09/2014 2:46:54 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | Levana nodded, before remembering it was a blink for them to understand a nod. So, she did that. "I'm very glad to hear," she said. "And Ka'ja, she's doing well, I trust? Adaman said he would like to check on her soon." Levana kept her eyes to the floor, finding it hard to see. She really needed to see if she could do some surgery on her eyes to fix it. She was sure it was possible. Some light plates behind her irises would work, surely.-d
[29/09/2014 2:50:27 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| The leader kept walking as they spoke, asking how everyone was and everything, he felt differently about everyone, and this is how all converstations about his familt turned out, first they talk about the one he deeply loves, then the one he doesn't exactly love at all. "Ka'ja is fine" he simply put, turning his head to look at the trees, but mostly to turn his head to keep the lack of.. whatever he was suppose to feel for his mate show, but he was sure that it came across in his simple answer. -d
[29/09/2014 2:55:09 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | Levana was an absolute expert on loveless relationships, or ones that didn't work at all. She noticed Ta'em's sharp answer, and said nothing, particularly since she got distracted by something up ahead. In the darkness, she spied movement. She bent down, seeing a small Meesan rabbit a few metres away. But it looked like it wasn't really moving. She stepped forward, and saw that it was lying on its side. It was breathing rapidly and tried to scurry away when it saw her, but it couldn't. She looked to Ta'em. "Could you... turn your lights on?" she asked, her nostrils quivering at the strange way she worded that, but at least she'd be able to see properly.-d
[29/09/2014 2:59:02 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em was distracted in his own thoughts before he felt Levana stop, he looked back at her, before she moved up to him, he wondered if his answer startled her?, but surely she already knew that he and Ka'ja didn't love each other at all, even though they have a child and expecting another, didn't mean they did. "What's wrong?" he asked as his skin started to glow faintly, before slowly turn bright enough for her to see. Ta'em was looking far ahead, unsure of what she saw to ask him to turn on his lights. The lights pulsed with Ta'ems heart beat as his vains glowed brightly, showing where his major blood vains were, his blood glowing inside of him a bright blue. -d
[29/09/2014 3:02:47 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | At the sight of the glow, Levana grew distracted from the rabbit. She turned slowly around to look at Ta'em, and just had to marvel at the beauty of him and his power. She felt rude for staring then, and quickly looked back to the rabbit. "It's hurt," she said, picking up the furry creature with strange, purple eyes. Just like the Quixinars, she was learning to look after all parts of the forest.-d
[29/09/2014 3:06:23 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| The leader found what she was looking at, it was a Rabbit, it was indded hurt. Ta'em watched as Levana picked up the furry creature gently, as she picked it up, he could see clear as day that this creature's leg was broken, turning his head to see where it was rested, he was able to make out how it happened. "It tripped on that root, most likely trying to escape something, It's unfortunant that it's still alive.." he turned to look at the rabit, before reaching to his belt to pull out an elegant looking knife. "It won't survive out here" he told Levana gently. -d
Levana | Looking at the knife, Levana was shocked. "Wait, I thought you taught me to save living creatures?" she asked, arching an eyebrow. She guessed Ta'em didn't realise she could patch animals up, too. "I'll give his leg a..." She didn't know how to say 'splint'. " - I'll bandage him. He'll be fine soon." For now, she put the squirming creature in the small bag she carried around, just like Adaman did. She grabbed some grasses for it to nibble on so it wouldn't freak out too much.d
Ta'em| Ta'em looked at her, seeing how shocked she was, he didn't flinch, it was true, he did say to save living creatures, in this situation, if he was the only one who found the rabbit, he would have killed it, said a prayer, and brought it back for the spirits to decide what to do with it, which usually came down to Ka'ja, Either bury or use it. "Why?" he asked her, he didn't know she could heal animals too.. but that wasn't his question, he wanted to know why and the point of healing animals, they have their own way of survival. -d
Levana | Levana thought for a moment how to answer that question. "Well, I suppose because I come from somewhere with none," she said simply. That ought to keep him from asking anything else. But her thoughts weren't harsh as she looked at him, still glowing. It was intriguing to her, how the Quixinars did that. "How does it work? Do you think and it happens? Or is it just... like blinking?"-d
Ta'em| he looked at her, Puzzled for a moment when she answered him, he closed his eyes for a moment and decided best not to ask anymore questions, he put his knife away. "Acceptable, It's under your care now, Your responciblity" he told her before he looked ahead. "back to the Tribe, or continue walking?" he asked her. -d
Levana | Levana guessed he wanted to stop the questions there. So she let him decide. "Up to you," is what she said, not betraying for a moment her slight disappointment at him not answering her query. She let it go. She would use her knowledge and get the answer elsewhere. Adaman no doubt would prattle off like a shot gun. So why had she asked Ta'em? She didn't know. He was like a wild animal in an arena that seemed so harmless, yet there was still a cage around him that said 'Keep Out'. For that he was immensely intriguing. And she felt certain he knew more things than a lot of the Quixinars. But, then again, that would be more pertaining to the tribe. She wanted to ask another question, but decided against it, feeling the hesitation in the air.-d
Ta'em| Ta'em was actually distracted and forgot her question, he looked at his skin it was such an unremarkable thing, he looked at her. "Sorry, It's pulsing, Adaman told me" he said as he continued to walk away from teh tribe, knowing Levana would follow. "It's our blood that glows, showing out vains.. Adaman says it's useful for telling if a person is poisoned, the light pulses.. because that pulse..." he stoped and looked at Levana, about to tell her something very personal. "This pulse is my heatbeat" he told her almost gently. -d
Levana | Levana glanced at him, looking at the veins. She watched them momentarily, timing it, and then did a quick calculation. "Yes, that's true," she said, "And because it's true, that means your heart is beating... 120 times a minute." She thought that was interesting, considering they weren't doing any strenous activity. Like a human, a Quixinar's heartbeat was at the same rate. She looked up at him, into his ice blue eyes, the left one with that little black mark in it.-d
Ta'em| Ta'em looked at her as she looked at him, watchign his veins pulse with every beat of his heart, It was actually very personal, to watch someones heartbeat infront of them. "This is actually personal for us" he said, meaning Us as in his race, he tried to say it without any emotion, but a little sliped, embaressment maybe?, He looked at her and spoke. "Can i see yours?" he asked, assuming humans had the same ability but never showed it to them. -d
Levana | Levana felt very touched then, that Ta'em had shown her his. Adaman had briefly spoken of how only very, very close friends saw one anothers - usually it was reserved for mates. She wondered how to take that from Ta'em, but when he asked her for hers, she sighed softly. "Humans aren't as wonderful as you," she said. She thought for a moment, and then said, "Put your hand out?" and once he had, she gently took it, her thumb brushing over the soft fleshy pad, before placing it on the left side of her chest. It was the only way he'd feel hers, and with his heightened sense of touch, he would absolutely feel it. And he'd probably feel her own going very fast as well.-d
Ta'em| He looked at her whens he sighed softly, saying that humans aren't as wounderful as him, he wanted to make a remark, but stoped whens he asked for his hand, tilting his head lightly, he couldn't help but express his curiousity as he did. Feeling her take his hand, her skin brushing over the pad.. he shivered slightly, before she placed his hand on the left side of her chest, surprising him, his hand laid just above her.. well her chest, but once he got past that shock, he could feel it, her heartbeating under his pads, he also noted that it was going very fast. "... I believe you to be wonderful Levana.." he said as he kept his hand there for a moment, just feeling her heart beat, the veins on his hand started to pulse just as quickly, his own heart beating in time with hers as he remembered where she was letting him touch her.. he slowly moved his hand away. "Thank you.." he said softly, he couldn't help but not hide what he was feeling, his voice soft and gentle. -d
Levana | Levana blinked at him. "And to you." She'd just gotten valuable information for the book. But amazingly... she didn't care. She didn't want to put it in. She didn't want to write about their veins, she discovered. Fuck. She didn't want to write anything. Because what would writing do? Bring more humans. And she found... she didn't want that, at all.
"It's sweet of you, to say that," she murmured to him at his compliment of her being wonderful. "But humans... we're nothing compared to you." Strong, sure, but take that away they were just a destructive virus.-d
Ta'em| He couldn't help but look at her, using his other paw to feel over the paw pads of his hand that was on her chest, he could faintly still feel her beating heart under them. "You have that right.." he said gently, looking down at his paw, his eyes softened. "To you, we must look so primitive" he let out a rare sigh and looked up at Levana, impressed with how much she had gotten him to get go, how much of his gaurd he has put down because of what she did, his ears going back of their own will now. "You're kind doens't force each other into a loveless mateship" he lightly growled, it was one of the many things he didn't like about his adopted mother. -d
Levana | Levana looked at him quizzically. She gave a snort of laughter - not to be mean, but because of the absurdity of that statement. "Yes, we do," she said simply. "Used to happen all the time. Still happens, really... But actually. These days we get married for love. A love that fades really quickly because we're just too young to know better and we think that it will last forever." She looked at Ta'em gently, taking his hand into her own. She looked over it, the doctor side of her coming out, but her voice was soft, like a mother speaking to a child. "We've got just as many issues as you. If not many more."-d
[29/09/2014 4:12:26 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em looked almost defeated, so the humans still have the same problem as they do.. if not more, he didn't idolize them, but they are stronger both physically and mentally.. they don't even come from this planet for their spirits sake, he let her take his hand in her own, watching her look at his hand. "I think.." his voice was soft, not growling or anything now, he just looked at Levana, taking her in more. "When it comes down to a person, you, still have a choice, like with Alistar, correct?" he had noticed that she wasn't particually with him anymore.. if he only had the choice. "You, as a person, have one thing we don't have" he said softly, seeing if she had looked up at him. "Choice" he told her, he wanted to be a leader, yes that was his choice, but he didn't choose Ka'ja, she was choosen for him, and even then, he had no choice but to be with her only, while she does whatever she pleases. -d
Levana | Flashes of memory of Alistair walked through her mind. Her nose twitched as she thought of all the horrible phrases he said to her, all the slow puttings down he did... "Ta'em," she began, wondering how to word this coherently in their language. "I had a choice. Yes. And I chose wrong. Isn't it awful to know you're the reasons for your failings?" It was how she saw it anyway. But she looked at him steadily. "You have choices, Ta'em. But you're so used to listening to what everyone else says. It's how you were raised. But now you're grown. So what is your choice now?"-d
Ta'em| He looked at her as she began to talk to him, saying that she had a choice, but it was the wrong one, asking how awful it is to know that you're the reason for your failings, he frowned at that, still listening though, when she was done, he moved a paw to lift her chin lightly. "You're not the one at fault, I saw the way Alistar treated you, it was disrespectful, no mate should go though that.." he stoped before thinking how to answer her question. "My choice?.. Levana, you don't understand, I have no choice" he almost growled. "A selfish leader is doomed to fail as a leader, I vowed to my father, Nothing is more important then the tribe, I made my choice a long time ago, Levana.. My life is to my tribe" he said sadly, he forgot he was holding onto her chin lightly, letting her go and turned to sit on a log behind him, needing to sit down, all this emotion was beating him up, it was the reason he kept it all hidden, so he wouldn't get beat up by himself so much. -d
Levana | Levana put her bag down, not noticing as the rabbit sought its escape and was able to limp off, obviously so put off by her 'help'. She came and sat down beside him, coming to take his hand again. "Ta'em," she said softly, "That's /bullshit/." The second word was in Earth's language. Adaman had taught her how to swear, but none of their words seemed to fit what she was trying to convey. Her tone alone with that word would have Ta'em figure it out though. "Yes, of course, put a lot into your tribe. But never, ever everything into it. Because... what does that leave you with, in the end? Personally? I'll tell you - nothing. Believe me. I've lived through that." She squeezed his hand gently, tracing her finger over his veins lightly. They'd darkened now. "I learnt a long time ago to never get full satisfaction from your duty. And you've made the duty your life. Maybe... you need to make something outside of that too, you know?"-d
Ta'em| /Levana.. she doesn't understand/ The thoughts in Ta'ems head were racing as she was trying to undo years of training, years of his acceptance, he shook his head as she said all that to him, he couldn't.. no he wouldn't put himself first of the tribe.. there was no ifs, and or buts about it, as long as he was their leader, he had to do right by them. "There is nothing outside of this Levana.. My loyalty.. is to my people.. to my mate, my daughter.. my unborn child.." he smiled a little when he thought about Kyoki, besides how good the tribe is, she is the only thing he has pride in. "My life outside being a leader.. there is one thing.. being a father to my little girl.." but he shook his head anyway. "I fear the time i could give her isn't enough" he said gently, looking at Levanas hand in his own. -d
[29/09/2014 4:36:26 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | "/Hey/," she murmured. It was a sound that would get him to look at her. She smiled a little. "Well isn't that something? Just focusing on Kyoki for a moment? That isn't out of... possibility, is it? It would take your mind off the tribe for a little while." She sighed, looking down at his hand. "I know I'm just a human doctor, when it comes down to it. But... I know when someone is down. Really down. And you're sounding like one of them."-d
[29/09/2014 11:23:08 PM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | "I know," she murmured. "And I do understand. It is wrong to be selfish. So I think I'm using the wrong word." She looked at him, into
his ice blue eyes. "Just... don't forget about yourself, all right? You can do that, can't you?'-d/fail
[29/09/2014 11:25:02 PM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em hasn't forgotten about himself.. Not to much anyway, He gently wrapped his fingers around Levanas hand, looking back into her eyes as she looked into his. "I haven't, much" he assured her, smiling a gentle smile before he looked at her bag. "Oh.. the rabbits gone" he said as he looked at the tracks it's made to get away from them. -d
[29/09/2014 11:31:22 PM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | She followed his gaze to see the tracks, and groaned. "I was trying to help you! But... whatever. Get eaten." She chuckled softly, before looking back to his hand. She lifted their hands up, noticing the differences. His grey skin, her brown skin. His retractable claws, which weren't visible, as compared to her nails. The pattern of veins, running along his hand like tree roots, while hers were barely visible. His palm pads, black, her flat palms, sandy. "How different we are."-d
[29/09/2014 11:34:19 PM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| He chuckled softly at her reaction. "Such is nature, It's just the Spirits getting the balance" he said after she told the rabbit to get eaten. He watched her as she lifted their hands up, his fingers wrapped around hers as she studied them, he smiled at her when she said, not as a question, but as a statement, how different they are, he looked at her and spoke. "I don't see any difference" he smiled at her -d
[29/09/2014 11:37:52 PM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | Her brown eyes looked into his ice blue ones. Oh yes, there was a lot of difference. Between the humans and the Quixinars. But between her and Ta'em? Maybe not... They were both lonely in their worlds. They understood the same pain. They believed in the same things (to an extent). She quirked a smile. "Hmm, then I was wrong," she murmured.-d
[29/09/2014 11:40:14 PM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em kept his smile as her tree brown eyes stared into his ice blue orbs, He wasn't talking about them as a spieces, we was talkign about him and her, he saw her smile and that.. it made him happy to see her smile. "Not wrong, Just need to look closer" he let out a soft chuckle, a sound he was sure Levana hasn't heard from him thusfar -d
[29/09/2014 11:41:46 PM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | His voice had always sounded as beautiful as the birds in the morning, but his laugh was on a level all by itself. She smiled a little wider. "You have a beautiful laugh," she told him gently, tracing circles on his hand with her thumb. "You know that, right?"-d
[29/09/2014 11:44:06 PM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em looked at Levana as she was thinking, seeing her smile wider though as she spoke, and what she said shocked him more then taking it as a comment. "I.. No, no one has ever said that before" he admitted, feeling her tracing circles on his hand that she held, even though she was stronger then him by far, her touch was more gentle then the breeze he felt right now, sitting with her. "Is it really?" he let out a soft chuckle again. -d
[29/09/2014 11:46:25 PM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | "Mhm," she murmured, still looking at his palm. She was being so gentle with him, for fear of what she could do. She knew the humans were stronger than the Quixinars, though the Quixinars were much faster and lived much longer. Some highs and lows in both their species. "Does this scare you?" she asked out of the blue. "Me holding your hand like this?"-d
[29/09/2014 11:49:01 PM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em knew they lived longer then the humans and that they had the advantage of speed.. but brute strength belonged to the humans, even unarmed they could reaily kill a member of his tribe.. even himself, he looked at Levana when she asked if he was scared. "No" he stated. "Infact.. i think this is the most at peace i've been, besides being with Kyoki" he said gently. -d
[29/09/2014 11:52:00 PM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | The tracing on his palm stopped, and she glanced up at him. She tilted her head a little. "Why?" she asked softly, her eyes raking over him. "Do you have a strange way of living life on the edge of a cliff?" She was joking - her tone was light hearted - so she added in a serious note, "Why do you trust us so much? I mean... Humans are different. In many ways. So... Why?"-d
[29/09/2014 11:54:15 PM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| He looked at her when the tracing on his hand stop, it was soothing, kinda, he looked at her as her own eyes raked over him, asking him questions, the first he gave a soft chuckle again, almost like a whisle, it was him laughing silently, before she got serious, he looked at her, his smile faded. "I don't" he told her, his eyes looking deep into Levana's. "I trust you" he told her. -d
[30/09/2014 12:05:05 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | She felt her heart melt at that moment. She could only smile at him, before she tried to figure out why. And for the life of her, she couldn't. She didn't think she'd done anything different to the other humans. "Would I be risking that trust if I asked why?"-d
[30/09/2014 12:08:29 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em didn't want to answer her question, he shook his head lightly with a slight smile. "You stand up for us, you help my tribe like it's your own, everyone that you see, you treat equaly, which is more then i can say for any other human" he said gently before he smiled. "Also.. I feel good about you Levana, I can't explain why myself, but the spirit inside me tells me to trust you" his smile widened a little before he looked at their hands, he copied her movement, brushing his thumb softly over her hand. -d
[30/09/2014 12:11:21 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | Levana smiled at him, very, very gently squeezing his hand a little more. To her, the pressure was so soft it was like she had just slightly curled her fingers, but he would feel it, she was sure. "I feel good about you, too, Ta'em," she told him. "I have to admit I was..." She gave a laugh which hed no humour. "I was terrified, coming here. Being amongst your tribe. But I'm not at all. Any longer."-d
[30/09/2014 12:16:16 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| he smiled when she did, feeling her gently squeezing his hand, his thumb softly brushing over her skin as she did, he was absolutely sure she was being gentle with his hand, ever so. Ta'em smiled when she said that she felt good about him as well, before she said she had to admit something, he wasn't sure what, until she said that she was terrified to some to their planet and to be amongst his tribe, but saying that she didn't anymore. "I'm happy" he said softly, looking at her face, he felt there was something he wanted to do.. but for the life of him he couldn't think of what it was yet, he just knew the feeling was there. So he let that feeling guild him, he could feeling it moving his body, moving his free hand to her cheek, getting her to look at him before he ever so softly lent in to kiss her. It felt right, the feeling inside him felt sedated once it got what it wanted. -d
[30/09/2014 12:19:37 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | It was instinctual, she supposed. As he leaned in so did she, and their lips met gently. Well this was different. His lips felt just like human ones, but, they weren't. Some inner, logical part of her brain told her to pull away, run, get away. But she ignored it as she kissed him back. She rested her forehead to his after. "I'm assuming this is your way of being happier?" she asked in a whisper.-d
[30/09/2014 12:23:21 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em felt her kissing him back.. he took it as a good sign as their lips parted after a short time, he took in a deep breath as their foreheads rested against each others, he had a smile on his face, his eyes closed. "Sorry, The feeling took hold and I let it do what it wanted.. or what I wanted" he whispered with a soft chuckle, opened his eyes to look into hers. -d
[30/09/2014 12:30:51 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | "Ah, see? Not so hard, is it?" She was about to add something when she looked over Ta'em's head, and gasped. It was really dark now. The tribe would be awake. "I hate to be the one to mention the time, but... everyone will be awake by now. Shouldn't we head back?"-d
[30/09/2014 12:34:31 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| "I think this was a special feeling though" he said as he lifted his head to her question, he blinked at the stars.. For once, he didn't want to go back just yet, even though he knew he should. "No.. I'm sure they will be fine for a little longer" he smiled and placed his forehead back to Levana's, he had a reason to be a little selfish, it was the reason why he wasn't before, no reason to think for himself. -d
[30/09/2014 12:51:00 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana & the others | "Well, in that case," she murmured, tilting his chin to press her lips against his again. She was amazed at herself. She usually wasn't so forward. But she liked Ta'em's touch, she decided. It was exhilarating.
There was the sound of footsteps, which Levana heard once she saw Ta'em's ears prick up. She moved away so quickly from him it was as if someone had struck a match on her, and that was a good thing, for in the distance she saw a light. It was moving. And she knew from Ta'em that having a light out was a recipe for trouble.
And they were speaking the Earth language. Levana swallowed. Humans. She glanced at Ta'em. "Keep quiet," she murmured, unsure of who they were. But the humans were getting tense towards the Quixinars, she knew - some of them, anyway. And she didn't know which side those ones were on.
There were two men and a woman, all part of the military, she could tell from their gruff manner of speaking. Levana touched Ta'em's hand gently, trying to signal to him to turn off his lights in case they saw anything.
"You guys heard from the tribal guys lately?" came the first man's voice.
There was a scoff that almost sounded like a cackle. "Nup. Rex reckons Levana and the rest have gone bush. Pretty big idiots to do that here."
"You know, I heard that Rex is getting pretty peeved with the whole deal... They're not getting any more information from them, even with the human intervention."
"Seriously? Haven't they been out there for like, three years?"
"Yes. They stopped submitting reports. Rex is getting annoyed. There's no point to their research any longer - he'll probably shut them down."
Levana swallowed. Thank God Ta'em didn't speak their language. She nudged him very gently. "We have to go," she said in Quixinian. "Now. You said you trusted me? Well... I don't trust them."-d
[30/09/2014 12:56:38 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em smiled at her reply, before she lifted her chin to press her lips to his again, he smiled and kissed her back before his ears perked at the sound, Levana pulled back quickly.. to quickly, but it was fine, he turned off his lights completely, and did what Levana asked, keeping quite as they stayed hidden. He let out a silent sigh as the humans that are so noisy.. the only thing was that they were talking in english, he caught a word here and there, but only smiple words like you and I, that was it. Ta'em held Levana's hand as they listened in.. well as she listened to them, he was waiting for them to leave. He watched as they left, waiting until they were out of earshot before he spoke up. "What is going on?" he asked her when she nudged him. "Okay.. what was that about?" he asked her as they got up to go back to the tribe. -d
[30/09/2014 1:05:23 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | She pursed her lips, wondering how to phrase this. "They were just making comments on the tribe," she muttered, slightly bitterly. "Just didn't want to hear it any more." Realising how vague that response was, and that Ta'em might worry, she took his hand as they walked. "Don't worry. They're... warriors with no power whatsoever."d
[30/09/2014 1:07:24 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em looked at her as she thought, saying that they were making comments about the tribe, what kinda of comments?, why didn't she want to hear it?, he frowned as she took his hand as they walked, saying that they were warriors with no power. "So why do you lok worried?" he asked her gently, as they got closer to the tribe, the more gaurded he seemed again. -d
[30/09/2014 1:10:54 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana & the others | She hesitated. "Just... Rex being his usual self. You dealt with him - you know how he is," she murmured, hoping that would be the end of the conversation.
Well it was anyway. Levana had let go of Ta'em's hand just as they reached the outskirts of the tribe, and Adaman walked up to them. "There you two are!" he said. "I got worried. Feared a lion had taken you off. Well, really, you."
"I forgot how to laugh," Levana muttered.
Adaman chuckled, before looking to Ta'em. "Just to let you know, Ka'ja is looking for you."-d
[30/09/2014 1:14:06 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em blinked to Levana when she said that he knew how Rex was, as they got close to the tribe, he let her hand go and she did the same, he crossed his arms as he walked, the cape on his back barely touching the ground before he remembered. "Did you grab your bag?" he asked just as Adaman came up to them. "Hmm, I thought you'd know better Adaman, A lion can't make off with me" he said planly as he started to walk by him, before he stoped when Adaman said that Ka'ja was looking for him. "Is she okay?" he asked, turning his head towards Adaman, though not turning his body. -d
Levana & the others | "Medically? She's fine," Adaman said simply. That would give Ta'em all the information he needed.
Levana pretended not to hear the conversation, but she realised with some shock that Ta'em was right. "Crap. Adaman, are you coming to the base today?" she asked, wondering if they were walking together, whether he could go with her to pick up her bag.
Adaman blinked once. "We can go find it." He turned back to his friend. "We'll see you this evening?"-d
[4/10/2014 2:06:25 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| The leader looked at his brother and thought for a moment as Levana swore as she relised that she indeed forgot her bag back where they kissed by that log. "Of course you will, I'll see you then my friend, Levana" he said goodbye to them as he made his way back home to his heavily pregnant mate, On the way, he greeted by his tribe members, he blinked back at them and greeted a few before he walked into his home, not calling out his mates name as he looked around to see if she was inside their home or not. -d
[4/10/2014 2:13:36 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana & the others | Levana and Adaman smiled him off, for different reasons - Adaman as a 'You too', while Levana's was more of a wondering if he had been calling her a friend, or if he had meant 'Adaman, and Levana'.
The two of them set off, hoping to make good headway towards there so they would be back in time. "I'm glad to have you here," Levana said to Adaman, "This forest can be quite fraught, as I've found."
"Wait, you're relying on me to protect you? Well shit - I was relying on you for me!" The two looked at each other and laughed, heading off into the darkness.
Kyoki was on the ground floor of the house, and she looked up when her father came in. She smiled at him. "Hello da," she greeted, but still kept focus on her weaving. She was making a Spirit totem, one that Ka'ja would use in religious ceremonies, and it was clear Ka'ja had told her to make it. She didn't seem that interested in it, honestly. "Ma's upstairs. I think she wanted to talk to you about Levana." Kyoki hesitated, and put the weave down. She beckoned her father over. "I think she wants to tell you that Levana has overstayed her welcome."-d
[4/10/2014 2:18:38 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| The leader looked back as Levana and Adaman went into the forest, he didn't look back for anyone really.
Ta'em smiled at his daughter as she looked up at him when he came into their home. "Hello Kyoki" he said as he made his way over to her, lightly pressing his lips against her hair as she was making a spirit totem.. one he knew she didn't want to make. "Oh" he only said, thinking what to say about that one. "Well i wouldn't worry about it" he said as he looked at the half-hearted half finished totem. "Don't think you're mother would be to impressed with this.." he chuckled softly and rubbed her shoulders before he turned to go up the stairs. "Ka'ja?" he asked as he poked his head above the ladder he climbed to get upto the second level. -d
[4/10/2014 2:21:31 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana & the others | Kyoki chucked the Spirit totem away, deciding she ought to start again. She sighed. "Please change her mind," she murmured as her father walked away.
Ka'ja was lying on their bed, her eyes closed. Her large belly protruded obviously and looked almost painful. But at her mate's voice, her eyes snapped open - she hadn't been sleeping at all. "I wondered where you were," she murmured, turning over to look at him. She hugged her sleeping gown tighter around her, her tail crossing over her legs. "You were gone for a while, I got worried." Now she got worried. She never used to be.-d
[4/10/2014 2:27:32 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| The leader walked over to her, his bare feet slapping softly agaisnt the wooden floor, he looked at her as he sat down near her, using his bet to sit on, looking at his most deffently pregnant mate, her belly was swollen to a size he had only seen a few times, showing no emotion as always as he looked at her, but his eyes snapped at her when she said that she got worried. "Why?" he asked her. "Why would you be worried about me Ka'ja?" he asked it like she shouldn't be, which she shouldn't, the Spirits said he was destined(?) for something great, and he felt like that hasn't happened yet, so he can't die before it's happened, another fact is that Ta'em was very capable of taking care of himself, no matter where he was, or who the enemy was. "There is no need to worry Ka'ja, I was on my patrol" he said simply. -d
[4/10/2014 2:32:13 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana & the others | She looked him up and down, and blinked. She creaked her neck and thought her next sentence through. "I think the humans are done here," she said. She waited for that to sink in for a moment. "They've got what they need. Now they are only here because Levana started that school. Perhaps they need to finish up their mission." Ka'ja looked at Ta'em. She knew he knew that she was right. The Spirits spoke to her after all.-d
[4/10/2014 2:38:48 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em was prepared for this hit, the few seconds he had before coming up here was more then enough. "Ka'ja, it isn't up to me when they are finished, They killed Taron for Spirits sake.." he let a little emotion out then, before he took a breath and calmed down, it still stung.. watching that happen infront of him. "The humans will leave when they are ready to leave, otherwise, we leave them be, I do not want anymore humans here, no more then you do Ka'ja" he looked at her and frowned to show her how serious he was. "But I will not do anything to offend the humans, doing so would be sentencing ourselves to death" The leader looked at his mate before he moved to gently place his hand on her belly, ever so softly, his frown disappeared. "I won't do anything that will cause the humans to attack us, and they are like deer, if we make one wrong move, they will trample us" he finished as he felt her belly softly -d
So she jogged down to the river they had at the edge of the territory, and sure enough, there he was, doing his own stretches. She smiled, coming over to him. "Good morning, Ta'em," she said softly in the Quixinar's language. She no longer needed the translation mask.-d
[29/09/2014 2:21:38 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| The leader was looking up at the sky, it was early morning for them, which meant the sun was setting, the bright orange light fading away into a purple dusk, the first thing to come out, the every first.. he couldn't help but frown at it as a faint dot of light fly overhead, at speeds.. he couldn't even compahend. He snaped out of it when he heard a greeting from behind him, knowing who it was, he turned and looked at Levana. "Good morning to you too Levana" he greeted back to her, watching as the words that came out of her mouth were his own kinda language, it was remarkable how quickly she could pick it up. -d
[29/09/2014 2:26:25 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | Hey, she didn't attend Cambridge for nothing. She came over closer to him, but it was more to splash her face with water than anything else. She bent over to cup the water in her hands, unaware of how her haunches would appear bigger than usual when she did. She stood back up, looking at him. "Are you about to go out to the forest? May I join?" As the months had passed, she realised how bad Earth had it - they'd royally fucked up. And she dreaded the thought of her term ending here and her having to go back. No trees... Horrible. So she wanted to soak up this opportunity as much as she could.-d
[29/09/2014 2:33:19 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em didn't smile or gave any hint to his mood as he watched Levana as she moved towards the water to splash her face, he was aware that her haunches appeard bigger, only because he hasn't seem them so big before, but other then that, there was no real interest, other then the fact he couldn't deny that she was pretty. "I am, and yes, you may join me" he simply said, before he started to walk away from the tribe, just a walk, not particually feeling upto a run this morning, plus he was sure that Levana didn't like to run around to much without support, or so it seemed. -d
[29/09/2014 2:40:14 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | She walked alongside the leader, remembering the last time she had walked out of the tribe alone. She shuddered. She hoped they wouldn't ever encounter that sarcen again, or anything like it. She fingered the handle of the blade Ta'em had given her and the other humans on their arrival, seeing as they didn't have claws. She felt safer with it, and though she wouldn't admit it readily, she felt infinitely safer with the leader by her side. He was leader for a reason, after all.
"How is Ka'ja doing?" she enquired after the patient. Ka'ja was pregnant with her and Ta'em's second child. Well, her child. Levana was almost certain Kyoki wasn't Ta'em's, though she'd rather plunge that knife into her chest than tell him that.-d
[29/09/2014 2:44:38 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| As they walked, he couldn't help but keep his eyes infront of them, he has seen the forest, seen it's beauty.. his mind was distracted as his eyes started to show, even slightly, how tired he was of doing things for everyone else, all the time. Ta'em was snapped back once more by Levana's voice, he had to clear his throat as it felt blocked by soemthing. "She is handling her mothers pregnancy well, Excited to have a sister or brother, She is.. happier actually, she's been more happy then i've seen in years" he told Levana, even though he didn't know, it was due to a boy that came on the expidition that was causing his daughter to be happy, unknown to him of course. -d
[29/09/2014 2:46:54 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | Levana nodded, before remembering it was a blink for them to understand a nod. So, she did that. "I'm very glad to hear," she said. "And Ka'ja, she's doing well, I trust? Adaman said he would like to check on her soon." Levana kept her eyes to the floor, finding it hard to see. She really needed to see if she could do some surgery on her eyes to fix it. She was sure it was possible. Some light plates behind her irises would work, surely.-d
[29/09/2014 2:50:27 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| The leader kept walking as they spoke, asking how everyone was and everything, he felt differently about everyone, and this is how all converstations about his familt turned out, first they talk about the one he deeply loves, then the one he doesn't exactly love at all. "Ka'ja is fine" he simply put, turning his head to look at the trees, but mostly to turn his head to keep the lack of.. whatever he was suppose to feel for his mate show, but he was sure that it came across in his simple answer. -d
[29/09/2014 2:55:09 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | Levana was an absolute expert on loveless relationships, or ones that didn't work at all. She noticed Ta'em's sharp answer, and said nothing, particularly since she got distracted by something up ahead. In the darkness, she spied movement. She bent down, seeing a small Meesan rabbit a few metres away. But it looked like it wasn't really moving. She stepped forward, and saw that it was lying on its side. It was breathing rapidly and tried to scurry away when it saw her, but it couldn't. She looked to Ta'em. "Could you... turn your lights on?" she asked, her nostrils quivering at the strange way she worded that, but at least she'd be able to see properly.-d
[29/09/2014 2:59:02 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em was distracted in his own thoughts before he felt Levana stop, he looked back at her, before she moved up to him, he wondered if his answer startled her?, but surely she already knew that he and Ka'ja didn't love each other at all, even though they have a child and expecting another, didn't mean they did. "What's wrong?" he asked as his skin started to glow faintly, before slowly turn bright enough for her to see. Ta'em was looking far ahead, unsure of what she saw to ask him to turn on his lights. The lights pulsed with Ta'ems heart beat as his vains glowed brightly, showing where his major blood vains were, his blood glowing inside of him a bright blue. -d
[29/09/2014 3:02:47 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | At the sight of the glow, Levana grew distracted from the rabbit. She turned slowly around to look at Ta'em, and just had to marvel at the beauty of him and his power. She felt rude for staring then, and quickly looked back to the rabbit. "It's hurt," she said, picking up the furry creature with strange, purple eyes. Just like the Quixinars, she was learning to look after all parts of the forest.-d
[29/09/2014 3:06:23 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| The leader found what she was looking at, it was a Rabbit, it was indded hurt. Ta'em watched as Levana picked up the furry creature gently, as she picked it up, he could see clear as day that this creature's leg was broken, turning his head to see where it was rested, he was able to make out how it happened. "It tripped on that root, most likely trying to escape something, It's unfortunant that it's still alive.." he turned to look at the rabit, before reaching to his belt to pull out an elegant looking knife. "It won't survive out here" he told Levana gently. -d
Levana | Looking at the knife, Levana was shocked. "Wait, I thought you taught me to save living creatures?" she asked, arching an eyebrow. She guessed Ta'em didn't realise she could patch animals up, too. "I'll give his leg a..." She didn't know how to say 'splint'. " - I'll bandage him. He'll be fine soon." For now, she put the squirming creature in the small bag she carried around, just like Adaman did. She grabbed some grasses for it to nibble on so it wouldn't freak out too much.d
Ta'em| Ta'em looked at her, seeing how shocked she was, he didn't flinch, it was true, he did say to save living creatures, in this situation, if he was the only one who found the rabbit, he would have killed it, said a prayer, and brought it back for the spirits to decide what to do with it, which usually came down to Ka'ja, Either bury or use it. "Why?" he asked her, he didn't know she could heal animals too.. but that wasn't his question, he wanted to know why and the point of healing animals, they have their own way of survival. -d
Levana | Levana thought for a moment how to answer that question. "Well, I suppose because I come from somewhere with none," she said simply. That ought to keep him from asking anything else. But her thoughts weren't harsh as she looked at him, still glowing. It was intriguing to her, how the Quixinars did that. "How does it work? Do you think and it happens? Or is it just... like blinking?"-d
Ta'em| he looked at her, Puzzled for a moment when she answered him, he closed his eyes for a moment and decided best not to ask anymore questions, he put his knife away. "Acceptable, It's under your care now, Your responciblity" he told her before he looked ahead. "back to the Tribe, or continue walking?" he asked her. -d
Levana | Levana guessed he wanted to stop the questions there. So she let him decide. "Up to you," is what she said, not betraying for a moment her slight disappointment at him not answering her query. She let it go. She would use her knowledge and get the answer elsewhere. Adaman no doubt would prattle off like a shot gun. So why had she asked Ta'em? She didn't know. He was like a wild animal in an arena that seemed so harmless, yet there was still a cage around him that said 'Keep Out'. For that he was immensely intriguing. And she felt certain he knew more things than a lot of the Quixinars. But, then again, that would be more pertaining to the tribe. She wanted to ask another question, but decided against it, feeling the hesitation in the air.-d
Ta'em| Ta'em was actually distracted and forgot her question, he looked at his skin it was such an unremarkable thing, he looked at her. "Sorry, It's pulsing, Adaman told me" he said as he continued to walk away from teh tribe, knowing Levana would follow. "It's our blood that glows, showing out vains.. Adaman says it's useful for telling if a person is poisoned, the light pulses.. because that pulse..." he stoped and looked at Levana, about to tell her something very personal. "This pulse is my heatbeat" he told her almost gently. -d
Levana | Levana glanced at him, looking at the veins. She watched them momentarily, timing it, and then did a quick calculation. "Yes, that's true," she said, "And because it's true, that means your heart is beating... 120 times a minute." She thought that was interesting, considering they weren't doing any strenous activity. Like a human, a Quixinar's heartbeat was at the same rate. She looked up at him, into his ice blue eyes, the left one with that little black mark in it.-d
Ta'em| Ta'em looked at her as she looked at him, watchign his veins pulse with every beat of his heart, It was actually very personal, to watch someones heartbeat infront of them. "This is actually personal for us" he said, meaning Us as in his race, he tried to say it without any emotion, but a little sliped, embaressment maybe?, He looked at her and spoke. "Can i see yours?" he asked, assuming humans had the same ability but never showed it to them. -d
Levana | Levana felt very touched then, that Ta'em had shown her his. Adaman had briefly spoken of how only very, very close friends saw one anothers - usually it was reserved for mates. She wondered how to take that from Ta'em, but when he asked her for hers, she sighed softly. "Humans aren't as wonderful as you," she said. She thought for a moment, and then said, "Put your hand out?" and once he had, she gently took it, her thumb brushing over the soft fleshy pad, before placing it on the left side of her chest. It was the only way he'd feel hers, and with his heightened sense of touch, he would absolutely feel it. And he'd probably feel her own going very fast as well.-d
Ta'em| He looked at her whens he sighed softly, saying that humans aren't as wounderful as him, he wanted to make a remark, but stoped whens he asked for his hand, tilting his head lightly, he couldn't help but express his curiousity as he did. Feeling her take his hand, her skin brushing over the pad.. he shivered slightly, before she placed his hand on the left side of her chest, surprising him, his hand laid just above her.. well her chest, but once he got past that shock, he could feel it, her heartbeating under his pads, he also noted that it was going very fast. "... I believe you to be wonderful Levana.." he said as he kept his hand there for a moment, just feeling her heart beat, the veins on his hand started to pulse just as quickly, his own heart beating in time with hers as he remembered where she was letting him touch her.. he slowly moved his hand away. "Thank you.." he said softly, he couldn't help but not hide what he was feeling, his voice soft and gentle. -d
Levana | Levana blinked at him. "And to you." She'd just gotten valuable information for the book. But amazingly... she didn't care. She didn't want to put it in. She didn't want to write about their veins, she discovered. Fuck. She didn't want to write anything. Because what would writing do? Bring more humans. And she found... she didn't want that, at all.
"It's sweet of you, to say that," she murmured to him at his compliment of her being wonderful. "But humans... we're nothing compared to you." Strong, sure, but take that away they were just a destructive virus.-d
Ta'em| He couldn't help but look at her, using his other paw to feel over the paw pads of his hand that was on her chest, he could faintly still feel her beating heart under them. "You have that right.." he said gently, looking down at his paw, his eyes softened. "To you, we must look so primitive" he let out a rare sigh and looked up at Levana, impressed with how much she had gotten him to get go, how much of his gaurd he has put down because of what she did, his ears going back of their own will now. "You're kind doens't force each other into a loveless mateship" he lightly growled, it was one of the many things he didn't like about his adopted mother. -d
Levana | Levana looked at him quizzically. She gave a snort of laughter - not to be mean, but because of the absurdity of that statement. "Yes, we do," she said simply. "Used to happen all the time. Still happens, really... But actually. These days we get married for love. A love that fades really quickly because we're just too young to know better and we think that it will last forever." She looked at Ta'em gently, taking his hand into her own. She looked over it, the doctor side of her coming out, but her voice was soft, like a mother speaking to a child. "We've got just as many issues as you. If not many more."-d
[29/09/2014 4:12:26 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em looked almost defeated, so the humans still have the same problem as they do.. if not more, he didn't idolize them, but they are stronger both physically and mentally.. they don't even come from this planet for their spirits sake, he let her take his hand in her own, watching her look at his hand. "I think.." his voice was soft, not growling or anything now, he just looked at Levana, taking her in more. "When it comes down to a person, you, still have a choice, like with Alistar, correct?" he had noticed that she wasn't particually with him anymore.. if he only had the choice. "You, as a person, have one thing we don't have" he said softly, seeing if she had looked up at him. "Choice" he told her, he wanted to be a leader, yes that was his choice, but he didn't choose Ka'ja, she was choosen for him, and even then, he had no choice but to be with her only, while she does whatever she pleases. -d
Levana | Flashes of memory of Alistair walked through her mind. Her nose twitched as she thought of all the horrible phrases he said to her, all the slow puttings down he did... "Ta'em," she began, wondering how to word this coherently in their language. "I had a choice. Yes. And I chose wrong. Isn't it awful to know you're the reasons for your failings?" It was how she saw it anyway. But she looked at him steadily. "You have choices, Ta'em. But you're so used to listening to what everyone else says. It's how you were raised. But now you're grown. So what is your choice now?"-d
Ta'em| He looked at her as she began to talk to him, saying that she had a choice, but it was the wrong one, asking how awful it is to know that you're the reason for your failings, he frowned at that, still listening though, when she was done, he moved a paw to lift her chin lightly. "You're not the one at fault, I saw the way Alistar treated you, it was disrespectful, no mate should go though that.." he stoped before thinking how to answer her question. "My choice?.. Levana, you don't understand, I have no choice" he almost growled. "A selfish leader is doomed to fail as a leader, I vowed to my father, Nothing is more important then the tribe, I made my choice a long time ago, Levana.. My life is to my tribe" he said sadly, he forgot he was holding onto her chin lightly, letting her go and turned to sit on a log behind him, needing to sit down, all this emotion was beating him up, it was the reason he kept it all hidden, so he wouldn't get beat up by himself so much. -d
Levana | Levana put her bag down, not noticing as the rabbit sought its escape and was able to limp off, obviously so put off by her 'help'. She came and sat down beside him, coming to take his hand again. "Ta'em," she said softly, "That's /bullshit/." The second word was in Earth's language. Adaman had taught her how to swear, but none of their words seemed to fit what she was trying to convey. Her tone alone with that word would have Ta'em figure it out though. "Yes, of course, put a lot into your tribe. But never, ever everything into it. Because... what does that leave you with, in the end? Personally? I'll tell you - nothing. Believe me. I've lived through that." She squeezed his hand gently, tracing her finger over his veins lightly. They'd darkened now. "I learnt a long time ago to never get full satisfaction from your duty. And you've made the duty your life. Maybe... you need to make something outside of that too, you know?"-d
Ta'em| /Levana.. she doesn't understand/ The thoughts in Ta'ems head were racing as she was trying to undo years of training, years of his acceptance, he shook his head as she said all that to him, he couldn't.. no he wouldn't put himself first of the tribe.. there was no ifs, and or buts about it, as long as he was their leader, he had to do right by them. "There is nothing outside of this Levana.. My loyalty.. is to my people.. to my mate, my daughter.. my unborn child.." he smiled a little when he thought about Kyoki, besides how good the tribe is, she is the only thing he has pride in. "My life outside being a leader.. there is one thing.. being a father to my little girl.." but he shook his head anyway. "I fear the time i could give her isn't enough" he said gently, looking at Levanas hand in his own. -d
[29/09/2014 4:36:26 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | "/Hey/," she murmured. It was a sound that would get him to look at her. She smiled a little. "Well isn't that something? Just focusing on Kyoki for a moment? That isn't out of... possibility, is it? It would take your mind off the tribe for a little while." She sighed, looking down at his hand. "I know I'm just a human doctor, when it comes down to it. But... I know when someone is down. Really down. And you're sounding like one of them."-d
[29/09/2014 11:23:08 PM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | "I know," she murmured. "And I do understand. It is wrong to be selfish. So I think I'm using the wrong word." She looked at him, into
his ice blue eyes. "Just... don't forget about yourself, all right? You can do that, can't you?'-d/fail
[29/09/2014 11:25:02 PM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em hasn't forgotten about himself.. Not to much anyway, He gently wrapped his fingers around Levanas hand, looking back into her eyes as she looked into his. "I haven't, much" he assured her, smiling a gentle smile before he looked at her bag. "Oh.. the rabbits gone" he said as he looked at the tracks it's made to get away from them. -d
[29/09/2014 11:31:22 PM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | She followed his gaze to see the tracks, and groaned. "I was trying to help you! But... whatever. Get eaten." She chuckled softly, before looking back to his hand. She lifted their hands up, noticing the differences. His grey skin, her brown skin. His retractable claws, which weren't visible, as compared to her nails. The pattern of veins, running along his hand like tree roots, while hers were barely visible. His palm pads, black, her flat palms, sandy. "How different we are."-d
[29/09/2014 11:34:19 PM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| He chuckled softly at her reaction. "Such is nature, It's just the Spirits getting the balance" he said after she told the rabbit to get eaten. He watched her as she lifted their hands up, his fingers wrapped around hers as she studied them, he smiled at her when she said, not as a question, but as a statement, how different they are, he looked at her and spoke. "I don't see any difference" he smiled at her -d
[29/09/2014 11:37:52 PM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | Her brown eyes looked into his ice blue ones. Oh yes, there was a lot of difference. Between the humans and the Quixinars. But between her and Ta'em? Maybe not... They were both lonely in their worlds. They understood the same pain. They believed in the same things (to an extent). She quirked a smile. "Hmm, then I was wrong," she murmured.-d
[29/09/2014 11:40:14 PM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em kept his smile as her tree brown eyes stared into his ice blue orbs, He wasn't talking about them as a spieces, we was talkign about him and her, he saw her smile and that.. it made him happy to see her smile. "Not wrong, Just need to look closer" he let out a soft chuckle, a sound he was sure Levana hasn't heard from him thusfar -d
[29/09/2014 11:41:46 PM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | His voice had always sounded as beautiful as the birds in the morning, but his laugh was on a level all by itself. She smiled a little wider. "You have a beautiful laugh," she told him gently, tracing circles on his hand with her thumb. "You know that, right?"-d
[29/09/2014 11:44:06 PM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em looked at Levana as she was thinking, seeing her smile wider though as she spoke, and what she said shocked him more then taking it as a comment. "I.. No, no one has ever said that before" he admitted, feeling her tracing circles on his hand that she held, even though she was stronger then him by far, her touch was more gentle then the breeze he felt right now, sitting with her. "Is it really?" he let out a soft chuckle again. -d
[29/09/2014 11:46:25 PM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | "Mhm," she murmured, still looking at his palm. She was being so gentle with him, for fear of what she could do. She knew the humans were stronger than the Quixinars, though the Quixinars were much faster and lived much longer. Some highs and lows in both their species. "Does this scare you?" she asked out of the blue. "Me holding your hand like this?"-d
[29/09/2014 11:49:01 PM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em knew they lived longer then the humans and that they had the advantage of speed.. but brute strength belonged to the humans, even unarmed they could reaily kill a member of his tribe.. even himself, he looked at Levana when she asked if he was scared. "No" he stated. "Infact.. i think this is the most at peace i've been, besides being with Kyoki" he said gently. -d
[29/09/2014 11:52:00 PM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | The tracing on his palm stopped, and she glanced up at him. She tilted her head a little. "Why?" she asked softly, her eyes raking over him. "Do you have a strange way of living life on the edge of a cliff?" She was joking - her tone was light hearted - so she added in a serious note, "Why do you trust us so much? I mean... Humans are different. In many ways. So... Why?"-d
[29/09/2014 11:54:15 PM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| He looked at her when the tracing on his hand stop, it was soothing, kinda, he looked at her as her own eyes raked over him, asking him questions, the first he gave a soft chuckle again, almost like a whisle, it was him laughing silently, before she got serious, he looked at her, his smile faded. "I don't" he told her, his eyes looking deep into Levana's. "I trust you" he told her. -d
[30/09/2014 12:05:05 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | She felt her heart melt at that moment. She could only smile at him, before she tried to figure out why. And for the life of her, she couldn't. She didn't think she'd done anything different to the other humans. "Would I be risking that trust if I asked why?"-d
[30/09/2014 12:08:29 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em didn't want to answer her question, he shook his head lightly with a slight smile. "You stand up for us, you help my tribe like it's your own, everyone that you see, you treat equaly, which is more then i can say for any other human" he said gently before he smiled. "Also.. I feel good about you Levana, I can't explain why myself, but the spirit inside me tells me to trust you" his smile widened a little before he looked at their hands, he copied her movement, brushing his thumb softly over her hand. -d
[30/09/2014 12:11:21 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | Levana smiled at him, very, very gently squeezing his hand a little more. To her, the pressure was so soft it was like she had just slightly curled her fingers, but he would feel it, she was sure. "I feel good about you, too, Ta'em," she told him. "I have to admit I was..." She gave a laugh which hed no humour. "I was terrified, coming here. Being amongst your tribe. But I'm not at all. Any longer."-d
[30/09/2014 12:16:16 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| he smiled when she did, feeling her gently squeezing his hand, his thumb softly brushing over her skin as she did, he was absolutely sure she was being gentle with his hand, ever so. Ta'em smiled when she said that she felt good about him as well, before she said she had to admit something, he wasn't sure what, until she said that she was terrified to some to their planet and to be amongst his tribe, but saying that she didn't anymore. "I'm happy" he said softly, looking at her face, he felt there was something he wanted to do.. but for the life of him he couldn't think of what it was yet, he just knew the feeling was there. So he let that feeling guild him, he could feeling it moving his body, moving his free hand to her cheek, getting her to look at him before he ever so softly lent in to kiss her. It felt right, the feeling inside him felt sedated once it got what it wanted. -d
[30/09/2014 12:19:37 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | It was instinctual, she supposed. As he leaned in so did she, and their lips met gently. Well this was different. His lips felt just like human ones, but, they weren't. Some inner, logical part of her brain told her to pull away, run, get away. But she ignored it as she kissed him back. She rested her forehead to his after. "I'm assuming this is your way of being happier?" she asked in a whisper.-d
[30/09/2014 12:23:21 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em felt her kissing him back.. he took it as a good sign as their lips parted after a short time, he took in a deep breath as their foreheads rested against each others, he had a smile on his face, his eyes closed. "Sorry, The feeling took hold and I let it do what it wanted.. or what I wanted" he whispered with a soft chuckle, opened his eyes to look into hers. -d
[30/09/2014 12:30:51 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | "Ah, see? Not so hard, is it?" She was about to add something when she looked over Ta'em's head, and gasped. It was really dark now. The tribe would be awake. "I hate to be the one to mention the time, but... everyone will be awake by now. Shouldn't we head back?"-d
[30/09/2014 12:34:31 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| "I think this was a special feeling though" he said as he lifted his head to her question, he blinked at the stars.. For once, he didn't want to go back just yet, even though he knew he should. "No.. I'm sure they will be fine for a little longer" he smiled and placed his forehead back to Levana's, he had a reason to be a little selfish, it was the reason why he wasn't before, no reason to think for himself. -d
[30/09/2014 12:51:00 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana & the others | "Well, in that case," she murmured, tilting his chin to press her lips against his again. She was amazed at herself. She usually wasn't so forward. But she liked Ta'em's touch, she decided. It was exhilarating.
There was the sound of footsteps, which Levana heard once she saw Ta'em's ears prick up. She moved away so quickly from him it was as if someone had struck a match on her, and that was a good thing, for in the distance she saw a light. It was moving. And she knew from Ta'em that having a light out was a recipe for trouble.
And they were speaking the Earth language. Levana swallowed. Humans. She glanced at Ta'em. "Keep quiet," she murmured, unsure of who they were. But the humans were getting tense towards the Quixinars, she knew - some of them, anyway. And she didn't know which side those ones were on.
There were two men and a woman, all part of the military, she could tell from their gruff manner of speaking. Levana touched Ta'em's hand gently, trying to signal to him to turn off his lights in case they saw anything.
"You guys heard from the tribal guys lately?" came the first man's voice.
There was a scoff that almost sounded like a cackle. "Nup. Rex reckons Levana and the rest have gone bush. Pretty big idiots to do that here."
"You know, I heard that Rex is getting pretty peeved with the whole deal... They're not getting any more information from them, even with the human intervention."
"Seriously? Haven't they been out there for like, three years?"
"Yes. They stopped submitting reports. Rex is getting annoyed. There's no point to their research any longer - he'll probably shut them down."
Levana swallowed. Thank God Ta'em didn't speak their language. She nudged him very gently. "We have to go," she said in Quixinian. "Now. You said you trusted me? Well... I don't trust them."-d
[30/09/2014 12:56:38 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em smiled at her reply, before she lifted her chin to press her lips to his again, he smiled and kissed her back before his ears perked at the sound, Levana pulled back quickly.. to quickly, but it was fine, he turned off his lights completely, and did what Levana asked, keeping quite as they stayed hidden. He let out a silent sigh as the humans that are so noisy.. the only thing was that they were talking in english, he caught a word here and there, but only smiple words like you and I, that was it. Ta'em held Levana's hand as they listened in.. well as she listened to them, he was waiting for them to leave. He watched as they left, waiting until they were out of earshot before he spoke up. "What is going on?" he asked her when she nudged him. "Okay.. what was that about?" he asked her as they got up to go back to the tribe. -d
[30/09/2014 1:05:23 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana | She pursed her lips, wondering how to phrase this. "They were just making comments on the tribe," she muttered, slightly bitterly. "Just didn't want to hear it any more." Realising how vague that response was, and that Ta'em might worry, she took his hand as they walked. "Don't worry. They're... warriors with no power whatsoever."d
[30/09/2014 1:07:24 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em looked at her as she thought, saying that they were making comments about the tribe, what kinda of comments?, why didn't she want to hear it?, he frowned as she took his hand as they walked, saying that they were warriors with no power. "So why do you lok worried?" he asked her gently, as they got closer to the tribe, the more gaurded he seemed again. -d
[30/09/2014 1:10:54 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana & the others | She hesitated. "Just... Rex being his usual self. You dealt with him - you know how he is," she murmured, hoping that would be the end of the conversation.
Well it was anyway. Levana had let go of Ta'em's hand just as they reached the outskirts of the tribe, and Adaman walked up to them. "There you two are!" he said. "I got worried. Feared a lion had taken you off. Well, really, you."
"I forgot how to laugh," Levana muttered.
Adaman chuckled, before looking to Ta'em. "Just to let you know, Ka'ja is looking for you."-d
[30/09/2014 1:14:06 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em blinked to Levana when she said that he knew how Rex was, as they got close to the tribe, he let her hand go and she did the same, he crossed his arms as he walked, the cape on his back barely touching the ground before he remembered. "Did you grab your bag?" he asked just as Adaman came up to them. "Hmm, I thought you'd know better Adaman, A lion can't make off with me" he said planly as he started to walk by him, before he stoped when Adaman said that Ka'ja was looking for him. "Is she okay?" he asked, turning his head towards Adaman, though not turning his body. -d
Levana & the others | "Medically? She's fine," Adaman said simply. That would give Ta'em all the information he needed.
Levana pretended not to hear the conversation, but she realised with some shock that Ta'em was right. "Crap. Adaman, are you coming to the base today?" she asked, wondering if they were walking together, whether he could go with her to pick up her bag.
Adaman blinked once. "We can go find it." He turned back to his friend. "We'll see you this evening?"-d
[4/10/2014 2:06:25 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| The leader looked at his brother and thought for a moment as Levana swore as she relised that she indeed forgot her bag back where they kissed by that log. "Of course you will, I'll see you then my friend, Levana" he said goodbye to them as he made his way back home to his heavily pregnant mate, On the way, he greeted by his tribe members, he blinked back at them and greeted a few before he walked into his home, not calling out his mates name as he looked around to see if she was inside their home or not. -d
[4/10/2014 2:13:36 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana & the others | Levana and Adaman smiled him off, for different reasons - Adaman as a 'You too', while Levana's was more of a wondering if he had been calling her a friend, or if he had meant 'Adaman, and Levana'.
The two of them set off, hoping to make good headway towards there so they would be back in time. "I'm glad to have you here," Levana said to Adaman, "This forest can be quite fraught, as I've found."
"Wait, you're relying on me to protect you? Well shit - I was relying on you for me!" The two looked at each other and laughed, heading off into the darkness.
Kyoki was on the ground floor of the house, and she looked up when her father came in. She smiled at him. "Hello da," she greeted, but still kept focus on her weaving. She was making a Spirit totem, one that Ka'ja would use in religious ceremonies, and it was clear Ka'ja had told her to make it. She didn't seem that interested in it, honestly. "Ma's upstairs. I think she wanted to talk to you about Levana." Kyoki hesitated, and put the weave down. She beckoned her father over. "I think she wants to tell you that Levana has overstayed her welcome."-d
[4/10/2014 2:18:38 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| The leader looked back as Levana and Adaman went into the forest, he didn't look back for anyone really.
Ta'em smiled at his daughter as she looked up at him when he came into their home. "Hello Kyoki" he said as he made his way over to her, lightly pressing his lips against her hair as she was making a spirit totem.. one he knew she didn't want to make. "Oh" he only said, thinking what to say about that one. "Well i wouldn't worry about it" he said as he looked at the half-hearted half finished totem. "Don't think you're mother would be to impressed with this.." he chuckled softly and rubbed her shoulders before he turned to go up the stairs. "Ka'ja?" he asked as he poked his head above the ladder he climbed to get upto the second level. -d
[4/10/2014 2:21:31 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana & the others | Kyoki chucked the Spirit totem away, deciding she ought to start again. She sighed. "Please change her mind," she murmured as her father walked away.
Ka'ja was lying on their bed, her eyes closed. Her large belly protruded obviously and looked almost painful. But at her mate's voice, her eyes snapped open - she hadn't been sleeping at all. "I wondered where you were," she murmured, turning over to look at him. She hugged her sleeping gown tighter around her, her tail crossing over her legs. "You were gone for a while, I got worried." Now she got worried. She never used to be.-d
[4/10/2014 2:27:32 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| The leader walked over to her, his bare feet slapping softly agaisnt the wooden floor, he looked at her as he sat down near her, using his bet to sit on, looking at his most deffently pregnant mate, her belly was swollen to a size he had only seen a few times, showing no emotion as always as he looked at her, but his eyes snapped at her when she said that she got worried. "Why?" he asked her. "Why would you be worried about me Ka'ja?" he asked it like she shouldn't be, which she shouldn't, the Spirits said he was destined(?) for something great, and he felt like that hasn't happened yet, so he can't die before it's happened, another fact is that Ta'em was very capable of taking care of himself, no matter where he was, or who the enemy was. "There is no need to worry Ka'ja, I was on my patrol" he said simply. -d
[4/10/2014 2:32:13 AM] Keelee Hadland: Levana & the others | She looked him up and down, and blinked. She creaked her neck and thought her next sentence through. "I think the humans are done here," she said. She waited for that to sink in for a moment. "They've got what they need. Now they are only here because Levana started that school. Perhaps they need to finish up their mission." Ka'ja looked at Ta'em. She knew he knew that she was right. The Spirits spoke to her after all.-d
[4/10/2014 2:38:48 AM] Andrew Daley: Ta'em| Ta'em was prepared for this hit, the few seconds he had before coming up here was more then enough. "Ka'ja, it isn't up to me when they are finished, They killed Taron for Spirits sake.." he let a little emotion out then, before he took a breath and calmed down, it still stung.. watching that happen infront of him. "The humans will leave when they are ready to leave, otherwise, we leave them be, I do not want anymore humans here, no more then you do Ka'ja" he looked at her and frowned to show her how serious he was. "But I will not do anything to offend the humans, doing so would be sentencing ourselves to death" The leader looked at his mate before he moved to gently place his hand on her belly, ever so softly, his frown disappeared. "I won't do anything that will cause the humans to attack us, and they are like deer, if we make one wrong move, they will trample us" he finished as he felt her belly softly -d