#earthrunes

----------------

Siv was ravished.

She didn't quite see it coming until the time was upon her.

It was her turn for patrol in the cold rain. She was up on the wall. He came to her in the form of a bird of prey, hot fitting, then transformed and took her into his arms and stole her lips. She barely had time to protest, and then when she found the moment to protest- found she didn't want to.

She was half disrobed when she heard someone offer to take the shift... they went inside...never really slowing down just.. tumbling into the dry.

She knows the difference between using a wooden wall or a stone one as a perpendicular bed now, having been delightfully pinned against both.

Siv was not merely reactionary, recalling how she griped and squeezed, and even lightly clawed her vanquisher in return. It did, eventually, get to the floor in front of the fireplace in the bedroom. By the gods she hoped they'd gotten into the right bed room, most embarrassing if not. And yet...now in the lazy afterglow of skin against skin now warm rather than hot, she cant' say she feels ashamed if they get noticed by someone coming in.

She kisses the slight sweat of the neck of her lover, not just to show affection but see if he is dozing. His eyes are half slits, like the cats he often takes the forms of.

His eyes open further, and only now does a slight blush arise on his face, "I missed your company."

Siv breaks out in a soft laugh at that, "I suspected. Oh gods.. I've missed you."

"And I you," He says "You're absence has been felt."

"mom and da? Are ..they okay?" she feels a fool bringing up parents while in the nude, but , she has to ask. Duty perhaps?

"Your mother is teaching Adam, Olgar helped him... but she has taken personal attention." Then he says "Your father is a private man, but I know he would like you to call more"

A wince "I will."

"I didn't mean to lecture," He says.

"My guilt is me on, lover," She says "And this was as much parents choice as mine. I know it was possibly harder on them too." A sigh "So all's quiet? No trouble?"

"Well," he pauses, then "There is some trouble over Connor."

"Connor? What's that scamp up to?" She asks

And he tells her, of the odd eating, the theories and specualtions, the peeing on trees....

and Siv is scrambling to get on clothes "What the hell? You wait till now to tell me about this? "

He catches her waist, "Siv, it is being handled. The Hearth and Mountain both"

"And Gerd? Has anyone told Gerd? She'll never forgive folks if they leave her out of this. Others may think it's just cute, but she really does see her as a brother" Siv says

"Gerd will be informed," Jonas assures.

"See that he is," She says worriedly, then she relaxes a bit, "Aunt Kerri will investigate, she's like Sherlock holmes once she gets into your room. It's why I kept mine a mess all the time, to throw her off the trail or at least slow her down."

He raises a brow. "Reaally?"

"Okay, the real reason is I'm a slob, but that is a benefit TO the slobbishness" Siv says

She rises and sits in his lap, using him as a podium to plan.

"With her working that angle, Gerd can do the talking... she knows him. She can tell if something is going on. But you have to tell her it's not her fault. She is not contagious. She's going to blame herself for being abscent. So you need to convince her to investigate, but not punish herself. Maybe get Dagmar in on this, She and Gerd sometimes check each other."

"I am aware," he says "Are you aware I am not going to step over your father or your aunt in this? THEY are Mountain and Hearth. I will not disrespect that."

She frowns "Taht's not what I meant I..." A bite of her lip "Damn it. I"m trapped here while I'm needed."

"You are needed here" He says protectively, "This is the duty you have chosen, and you need to be here. Trust your lodge to manage. Trust the Hearth to be the expert she is. Your father to be wise, for he is. Trust ME to assist," A look, "You trust me, yes?"

She closes her eyes, and thinks on it, then "Aye, with much." then "But you dont' even agree what I'm doing here, with my goals"

"of course I don't, but I support them anyway" He says "But they make you happy, they seem to give you...something I can't. So , you get it. You'll get it whether I like it or not because it makes you happy. I want you to..." A blush "It is important that you know joy."

Her eyes grow large, "Why?" She demands, "Why is it important?"

"The whys are superfluous" he protests

"Not to me they're not," She puts a hand on his bare chest, "Why is it important?"

"Because a world where Siv Waveborn has no smiles is the worst of all worlds for me," he says "Your tears bring rain to my world, your smiles sunshine, and your laughter is a ilght breeze. You shatter me and piece me together again. I think I love you and I have no power over it."

Siv's eyes grow larger still, and then gentle, but gentle like a building fire, new heat in her, and she kisses him hotly.

He returns it, then when they part for air says "I was once a logical man before I met you."

"Shush," She puts finger to his lips, and presses him down anew to express with her body what he just expressed with words.

............................. (Fade to blue)

Siv almost prances through the hallways happily, almost ignoring August

He is sober, preoccupied even. He carries a sheaf of papers.

And she accidentally bumps and sends them scattering. Only nwo does she focus "Oh my goodness. August.. Baron I mean, so sorry"

"Oof." A grunt as they collide. "No, Captain, my fault. I wasn't paying attention. My apologies."

"How about we share the blame?" She offers

A good natured smile. "Very well."

He picks up his papers.

"I wanted to say, it's great how much folks are including me in here"

"EarthRunes has become a very welcoming place." He agrees.