Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Red's promise

Arien grinned and kissed her again. "You can loosen up, you know." He pulled away and then realized the tiger was watching them.

"Ah, right, but you were planning on leaving weren't you? I'd hate to interrupt you in mid-flight..." He released Red from his embrace even as he searched her face for some reassurance that she would say no. But who was he to keep her here? He was just a guy who liked her. A lot.

Red kissed back softly this time then when he pulled away, she felt a tugging at her heart.
"N..no im not going anywhere. In fact i dont even know what your talking about," Red said with a smile as she walked past Arien.
Red was walking towards her home when she looked back at Arien, some kind of happiness sparking in her eyes.
"You coming slow poke?" she said teasingly and kept walking.

Nex ran in front of Bella and Neo. Lets take a different path to home. I think they need some time. Nex thought to Bella and Neo then led them to a different path.

"I'm glad to hear it," Arien said with more feeling than he perhaps intended. "And yes, I'm coming. You just walk too darn fast."

Well maybe he was walking slower than usual; not that he would admit it. Or show pain. Or weakness. He noticed that Bella ran ahead with Nex and Neo and tried to hide his grin. Which he did successfully when he tripped over nothing and jarred his ankle, eliciting a hiss of pain.

Red quickly turned around and walked back to Arien. She bent down to his level.
"Arien are you ok? Need help?" Red said with a little more worry than she wanted to be heard.
Touching Arien's shoulder, Red managed a small smile.

"I'm fine," he muttered, feeling his ankle gently. "It's just a mild sprain. Nothing broken, nothing gained, right?" He didn't voice the fact his brothers would have ridiculed him for teleporting after a girl; but then that would have entailed them knowing that he could teleport.

He looked up when Red touched his shoulder, though, and he smiled faintly. "I can manage, if we walk slower."

Red smiled more then sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Fine. Walking slower it is," she said softly.
Her heart rate sped up everytime he smiled at her and butterflies fluttered in her stomach every time he touched her. Red quickly took her hand from Arien's shoulder as she felt herself beggining to blush.

Arien caught her hand before she could pull it away completely. He traced a finger over her palm and then closed his hand firmly around it as he got to his feet. Again.

Strange, he thought, how he could feel comfortable with her. In all honesty, he had probably fallen for her the moment he met her--tigers and all--but he hadn't recognized it for what it was. He chuckled to himself.

"Sorry," he said, suddenly. "I didn't mean to turn this into an expedition."

Red blushed and bit her lip. Standing up with Arien, she looked at a near-by bush and saw it rustle. Red strung her bow and let an arrow fly before Arien could blink. The bush stopped rustling and Red walked over to it, standing on her tip toes to see behind it.
A hand shot out and jerked Red behind the bush. Red yelped with surprise and was slammed onto her back.
"Im baaack," whispered a familar, threatening voice in Red's ear.
Dread filled her whole body and she went completely pale.
"Ash..." Red spoke barely above a whisper.
"Aw you guessed too soon. And i see you didnt heed my warning on keeping away from people you might have feelings for. I see you found a guy to fall for," she whispered. "He wont last long. You cant keep him safe from me," she hissed before literally dissapearing into dust.
Red's scar made pain shoot through her body worse than before and she knew it was because of Ash's recent presence.
Red shakily sat up, digging her nails into her left shoulder; the pain almost unbearable there.

He'd begun to almost relax when Red suddenly shot an arrow through a bush. He flinched slightly--having not expected her speed or precision.

"What is it?" he started to ask, before she vanished suddenly behind the bush. "Red?!"

He hurried over to the bush to peer around it and saw Red sitting up on the ground. "What happened? Was it..." he hesitated than asked, "was it Ash?"

"Yes.." Red whispered and winced as a burning pain spread from her shoulder out.
Red felt like her whole body was englufed in flames but she did her best to ignore it. Standing up, she looked at Arien.
"Im worried for you Arien... She threatened your life. Arien you have to becareful, even more than ever," she whispered, concern clearly showing in her eyes.

Arien's eyes glittered with anger as he placed his hands on Red's shoulders. "I'm not the one to worry about, Red. Ash hasn't once appeared to me. On the contrary, she seems quite intent on making you miserable." He squeezed softly. "If she's so desperate to make you miserable, the next time she appears, tell her to reveal herself to me. I'll take it from there. Is that clear?" His eyes never left hers the entire time, though his grip remained always gentle.

Red looked away. "I cant do that.. You will be in danger and im not about loose another person i care for," she whispered the last part.
Red clenched her hands into fists as the burning pain got worse. For the first time, Red started to get a high-grade fever and the ground swayed benaeth her feet, but she wasnt about to let it show.

Arien sighed. "Then I guess I have no choice but to never leave your side. If Ash shows up, I'm going to be waiting for her."

He started to release his grip on Red, before frowning. "You feel warm." And then he placed his hand on her forehead. He almost snatched it away.

"Ash!" he bellowed to their surroundings. "If you have a bone to pick with me or Red, the least you can do is face us face-to-face! You're a coward elsewise."

Red scowled. "Im fine Arien," she said defiantly.
Taking a step forward, she stumbled and fell to the ground.
"Damn..." muttered Red.
Using a near-by tree to lean on, she managed to stand up and lean against the tree.

Arien grimaced and offered her a helping hand. "We're gonna make quite a pair," he said, "between my hobbling and your fever...just let me know if you start seeing bright purple griffins or something. Because that'll be a hallucination." Under his breath he added, "I hope to god."

Red hesitated before taking his hand. She nodded and smiled a little at his comment. I wont let you take him from me Ash... Mark my words if you lay a hand on him i will kill you. she thought angrily.
"Arien... Why did you kiss me?" Red whispered as they awkwardly walked through the woods.

Lost in dismal thoughts, he hadn't considered the silence as being awkward until she spoke. Arien glanced at her. "Why? Does the sun need a reason to shine its light upon a flower? Does a man need a reason to kiss a woman he likes?" He shrugged and grinned. "Why did you kiss me back the second time?"

Red blushed and looked away. "Um..maybe cause i like you too.." she murmured just loud enough for Arien to hear.

Patch woke up and looked around, realizing he was still on Bella; his little fluffy tail flicked side to side in happiness.

The two tigers, cat, and wolf made it back to the house before Arien and Red.

Bella sat outside the house, tail wagging as the humans finally appeared.

Arien smiled. "I like the sound of that. Oh look, we're home." He frowned and rubbed a hand over his face. "Huh, it feels weird to say that: Home." And he felt his heart twist a little. He shook his head, determined not to relive the past--he'd already lived it once and damn if that wasn't more than enough.

Red looked at Arien, she could plainly see he had something on his mind but she didnt ask about it. Smiling a little, Red thought about what Arien had said. We're home...

Neo and Nex went inside, Nex plucked Patch off Bella's back. Patch mewled in protest.