NationStates Jolt Archive

"A splitting headache, and everything I remember is hazy... other than that... I feel fine"

"Good. You had me worried today."

He squeezed her hand tighter,"I noticed as much... oh s**t, I can't believe this happened"

"I can't claim to know exactly what happened, but you're here now, intact, and can come home tonight."

"Everything's very hazy in my mind... I remember everything... but it's like I can't put it into the correct order"

"It will come with time." She reaches out to start stroking his hair. "Just rest."

"Doesn't look like I've got much choice does it?" He smiled, and closed his eyes as she stroked his hair

She continues to stroke his hair, and the agitation she'd been feeling begins to slowly bleed away.

He felt the agitation leave her, and smiled, moving back slightly so that he could sit up,"I hate lying down... for the most part anyway"

"No...you prefer to be on the move."

He was close to tears almost permantely through this exchange... he hadn't cried in so long, but he held them back,"Rhenna... I'm sorry."

It sounded lame, but it was all he could really say

She leaned over and kissed him softly. "You couldn't help losing your memory...and I know how confused you were."

He kissed her lightly,"I was confused... my mind was telling me one thing, my heart the other... I've never felt like that before"

"Then it's a good thing your heart knew me when your head didn't...or getting you to come back might have been significantly more difficult."

"The doctor said that if you hadn't shown up to bring me back, total recall could have taken anything up to six months"

"And who knows what sort of trouble you would have gotten yourself into in the mean time."

"Knowing me... a very large amount of trouble could've been caused"

OOC: Hey guys, I don't know if you've taken a look already but I think you should check out BMGs The Earth Fantastic thread.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=425338

"A very large amount indeed."

OOC: Not interested MM.

IC:He smiled,"Can we get out of here?"

"The doctor said you could come home tonight...but I don't know if it's a good idea to take you home until your memories have cleared up some."

"I remember everything... just not in the right order"

"Then let it sort itself out."

Man, I hate hospitals

"Alright, give it an hour or so"

OOC: Not interested MM.

IC:He smiled,"Can we get out of here?"


OOC: thought I'd make the offer, seemed like the right place for it.

OOC: thought I'd make the offer, seemed like the right place for it.

OOC: Not for me... my only Fantasy Tech is here. Other than that, I'm Future Tech

Man, I hate hospitals

"Alright, give it an hour or so"
"All right. Then we'll go home." She moves to sit on the edge of the bed. "I know you don't like these places, for all the time you spend in them."

"All right. Then we'll go home." She moves to sit on the edge of the bed. "I know you don't like these places, for all the time you spend in them."

"No... I hate them because I've seen too many people die in hospitals."

"Because of what was done at the hospital, or because of what happened prior to that?"

"Because of what was done at the hospital, or because of what happened prior to that?"

"Bit of both in some respects... field hospitals are not the greatest place to treat people, but you make do... you should try and save everyone... not just the ones who you think deserve it"

Yes...in those situations, there are choices that must be made...bitter choices...and the medic feels it most acutely.

There was a bitterness in his voice,"Maybe they do... but Griz was still alive when we brought him in... they could have saved him"

"Griz?"

This was one he'd never told her of.

He shook his head,"It was the last mission I did before being put on Alpha Team with The Master. Griz was team leader for Foxtrot about five years back now... we went out to do a job, simple enough... until that mine went off. Claymore mine, big one, about a pound and a half of Semtex plus around two thousand ball bearings. It tore his legs right off... but he was still alive. By the time we got him back, he was in shock level three, going into four... but his grip was tighter than anyone elses before. They had the technology to save the poor b*****d, but they didn't. No, they patched up a dickhead Major from the 7th Rangers instead... took up more time. And Griz died of his injuries"

"What sort of life would he have lead?"

"Griz was about to retire... it was his last mission. He may have had to live in a wheelchair for the rest of his days... but it's better than being dead"

"We all die at the time we must, James. It is a bitter truth sometimes...but it is so."

"This is why death sucks... but still, it is the way of things. I've never liked hospitals since"

She nods. "Well, you aren't dying here and now."

"Thank god for that," he said, kissing her softly

I held a gun to her head... and yet she's still here for me... I don't deserve her... Vedt would've made a better husband than me

She kisses him back.

OOC: But Vedt can't.

He smiled and brushed a hand across her face and down her back, holding her closer

She rests her head against his shoulder, starting to relax slightly for the first time since she'd felt him disappear.

He smiled, and closed his eyes, having glanced at the clock on the wall.. another hour or so. He slipped back into his sleep, his mind still re-organizing itself

OOC: Just timeskip and wake him

She shakes him gently after an hour. "Come on, sleepy...wake up. You want to get out of here, no?"

"You could say that," he said, only half-awake,"Come on... we'll take the Dauntless to get back"

she nods and gets up.

He led her to the craft, and clambered into the pilots seat, setting the course without really having to look at the consoles. The graceful craft lifted off the pad, and he set the speed to get them back for the early hours of the Kaymirilian morning

She curled up in the Dauntless's second seat and was asleep shortly after they entered the warp.

He looked across at her, and got up to move around, kissing her on the forehead,"Sleep well... you deserve it"

He went to the back of the craft, and sat at one of the consoles,"Computer, access personal records for Cougar, James"

"File is not able to be accessed at this point in time"

He frowned,"Explain"

"File is currently being upgraded"

"Nature of upgrade?"

"That information has been restricted"

"Computer, unlock restriction, authorisation Cougar Pi Four"

"That code does not have the required clearance"

He tapped a few keys,"Computer, can you tell me where the file is now?"

"That information has been restricted"

He sighed,"Time until completion?"

"Five hours, six minutes, thirty-seven seconds"

He closed down the search, and returned to the pilots seat, running peroidic scans as he passed through the systems on the way to Kaymiril, trying to see if he could find his attacker

Rhenna woke up about an hour before they were due to drop out of warp, and she stretched out. "What time is it?"

"About four in the morning... you look like you slept alright"

Better than I thought I ever would on this...thing.

He got up, and moved behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders and rubbing gently,"I know you don't like space travel... but it's better than nothing at all"

She leans forward slightly to let him have an easier time rubbing her back. "It doesn't bother me that much anymore. Somehow, these things manage to hold together."

"We have our ways," he said, rubbing lower down her back, reaching one hand up to unclasp her hair, and letting it cascade down her back, flowing over his hands. He smiled at its softness, and also at the memory of the first time she'd let him do that... the day after they'd got married. Without him realising, his memories had sorted themselves into something resemlbing the correct order. He just continued to massage her lower back, kissing the back of her neck softly, just once, as he did so

A smile touches her lips and tints her voice as she speaks. "You like doing that, don't you, Coguar?"

He smiled back,"Can't I show my wife my affection?"

"Well...it wouldn't hurt."

He poked her softly in the ribs,"Don't complain then"

She turned her head slightly to look at him. "Since when was making an observation complaining?"

"Just making sure you know," he said, smiling and putting his face close to hers

She smiles and touches her forehead to his.

He stood there for a moment, breathing softly,"Now, what does this remind you of?"

She smiles. "That was a wonderful day."

"And to think, it was over a year ago... amazing"

"Almost two years ago, now."

"I know I'm not the greatest husband... but I wouldn't have traded these two years for anything"

"You may not have been the greatest husband...but you've been good enough...:) the best one I've had, anyway. (;)) And these past two years have been very good, for the most part."

He laughed softly, and kissed her,"Well... safe to say that it was a good choice, for the most part"

She kissed him back, then smiled and nodded. "Well, how often have you known me to make a bad one?"

If I'm honest... not very often

She smiles, and kisses him again. "This isn't a decision I'd worry about."

"Good to hear" he said, kissing her back

She lets the kiss linger.

As the kiss wore on slightly longer than normal, the computer started beeping at them. He groaned slightly,"Man, why now?"

"Because it's telling you that we're almost home."

"True enough I suppose"

He slid into the pilots chair, and tapped the console, bringing them out of warp. He took over manual control, and piloted them gently through the atmosphere, landing at Mithdelmar

SS - What doea anybody know of his plans? The only things I know of, are the things everybody knows.

He plans on killing Warfare and throwing him out of creation entirely.

He plans on destroying mortals.

He plans on ruling the other gods with an iron fist.

and there are rumors that he plans on sacrificing his own child on the night of darkness to regain all of his lost powers.

I don't know specifics of his plans, only The Executioner would. You had no need to use necromancy on me to learn of this, I would have told you in life if you had but asked. Any of those forced to serve Kajeenith would.
OOC: *Accusational tone* You Forgot me!

She teleports them both directly to Rendelmar.

He looked at his watch,"it's still only five in the morning"

SS - What doea anybody know of his plans? The only things I know of, are the things everybody knows.

He plans on killing Warfare and throwing him out of creation entirely.

He plans on destroying mortals.

He plans on ruling the other gods with an iron fist.

and there are rumors that he plans on sacrificing his own child on the night of darkness to regain all of his lost powers.

I don't know specifics of his plans, only The Executioner would. You had no need to use necromancy on me to learn of this, I would have told you in life if you had but asked. Any of those forced to serve Kajeenith would.
OOC: *Snobbish tone* We never know when you'll be on. And you neglect the bard arc.

IC:
KVII -- Then may your death be better than your life.

She let the shifter disintegrate, then looks at Renor.

R -- "Looks like a perfect situation to send in a parasite."

KVII -- Then do so.

Renor returns to Rendelmar, and then releases a creature...a vile creature, and puts it under mind control. He then sends it to Kajeenith, to join with its ranks.

He looked at his watch,"it's still only five in the morning"
And I don't have a class until four in the afternoon.

And I don't have a class until four in the afternoon.

He smiled, and took her hand,"Eleven hours to pass"

"We haven't spent that much time together since we were first married."

"We haven't spent that much time together since we were first married."

"Not in one go, no we haven't... where shall we spend it?"

"Not in one go, no we haven't... where shall we spend it?"
Anywhere.

Personally... I think that trip was way too short

She smiles. "Was it too short, or did we merely drop out of warp too soon?"

Kajeenith feels the disentigration of the shifter. He smiles to himself.
"Dance puppets, dance." is all he says.

The creature finds a large War fortress. A very forbidding feeling comes from it. The gate stands wide open. A pair of guards stand at the entrance.

He squeezed her hand,"Both combined"

Kajeenith feels the disentigration of the shifter. He smiles to himself.
"Dance puppets, dance." is all he says.

The creature finds a large War fortress. A very forbidding feeling comes from it. The gate stands wide open. A pair of guards stand at the entrance.
The creature, tall, slender, and lizardlike, slinks up to the fortress, then stands halfway.

Isssss thissssss the fortressssssss of Kajeenithhh? it rasps.

He squeezed her hand,"Both combined"
She kisses him softly. "What should we do about that? Other than going back out into space."

She kisses him softly. "What should we do about that? Other than going back out into space."

He kissed her back,"Oh..I'm sure we can find something"

He kissed her back,"Oh..I'm sure we can find something"
She takes his hand...

He looked at his wife, and saw a glint in her eye,"Now, what might you have in mind?"

Absolutely nothing. Really, if you prefer it, I can spend the day in the library. There's always work to do.

The creature, tall, slender, and lizardlike, slinks up to the fortress, then stands halfway.

Isssss thissssss the fortressssssss of Kajeenithhh? it rasps.


The guard on the left speaks. Both wear burnished steel. a pair of lances stand at their sides, faces hidden in their helmets.

"Yes, this is the Fortress temple of Kajeenith, Dark God of War." The guard says, as though already a member of the damned

The guard on the left speaks. Both wear burnished steel. a pair of lances stand at their sides, faces hidden in their helmets.

"Yes, this is the Fortress temple of Kajeenith, Dark God of War." The guard says, as though already a member of the damned
I have ssssssssenssssssssssssssssed hisssssssss returrrrrrrrn. If a lllong ssssssssssssealeddd Dark WarrrrGod wisssssssssshes to make a reappearanccccccccccccce, he will need conssssssssssssssssiderable help...he will need a being that knowsssssssssss thissssssssss world in all itsssssssss marveloussssssss complexxxxxxxxitiesssssssssss.

OOC: how is talking like that hard?

As she started to walk away, he grabbed her wrist softly and spun her round, picking her up, the weight nothing to him. He kissed her softly,"But, is that really any fun?"

"Not really." She kisses him back. "But it was an option."

"But not a great option"

[QUOTE=Kaymiril]I have ssssssssenssssssssssssssssed hisssssssss returrrrrrrrn. If a lllong ssssssssssssealeddd Dark WarrrrGod wisssssssssshes to make a reappearanccccccccccccce, he will need conssssssssssssssssiderable help...he will need a being that knowsssssssssss thissssssssss world in all itsssssssss marveloussssssss complexxxxxxxxitiesssssssssss.
QUOTE]

If you wish to join him, you must speak with him directly. Find him within, but beware, for the Fortress Temple is laden with traps, and I do not have the power, nor the ability to deactivate them for you. Turn away, turn away now before it is too late. Turn away before your free will is removed, and your tortured in ways unimaginable,for your own sake and safety, please.

"But not a great option"
Then tell me...what do you propose?

If you wish to join him, you must speak with him directly. Find him within, but beware, for the Fortress Temple is laden with traps, and I do not have the power, nor the ability to deactivate them for you. Turn away, turn away now before it is too late. Turn away before your free will is removed, and your tortured in ways unimaginable,for your own sake and safety, please.
Iiiiiiii shhhhhhhhall continnnnnue. Lowering his voice, the lizard lowered his head and looked at the guard. Perhapsssssssssssssssssss...all hope issssssssss not lossssssst for you.

Then tell me...what do you propose?

"Well, firstly I propose we find somewhere a little less open to continue this conversation"

The first trap the lizard man found.was a deep pit with several spikes at the bottom to greet any who happened to fall in. The trap was on the floor and concealed quite nicely.

"Well, firstly I propose we find somewhere a little less open to continue this conversation"
"That sounds like a good idea to start with."

The first trap the lizard man found.was a deep pit with several spikes at the bottom to greet any who happened to fall in. The trap was on the floor and concealed quite nicely.
The lizard poked his head down the hole a little, then sneezed at it, and continued on his way.

"It is a good idea isn't it... imagine if someone walked in now," he laughed, mvoing towards the door,"Where do you think the best place is?"

"It is a good idea isn't it... imagine if someone walked in now," he laughed, mvoing towards the door,"Where do you think the best place is?"
"Probably some place where there is little to no chance of someone walking in."

walking along, the walls decide to smash together unexpectedly. There is very little time for the lizardman to either jump forward, or backwards, but staying there would result in death.

"Probably some place where there is little to no chance of someone walking in."

He smiled,"I think I know a good place"

He carried her out of the main hall, and walked back in a very familar direction,"I'm sure you recognise this"

He smiled,"I think I know a good place"

He carried her out of the main hall, and walked back in a very familar direction,"I'm sure you recognise this"
She smiles. "I might...just a little."

walking along, the walls decide to smash together unexpectedly. There is very little time for the lizardman to either jump forward, or backwards, but staying there would result in death.
It jumps forward, coiling itself up and yanking its tail with it.

She smiles. "I might...just a little."

He smiled, and kissed her as the door opened,"Welcome home"

She smiles. "Shouldn't I be saying that to you?" She kisses him back.

She smiles. "Shouldn't I be saying that to you?" She kisses him back.

"It works both ways"

There is a symbol of death on the new wall where the two collided. It glows strangely, The entire wall does. The wall recedes slowly, but the symbol stays there. from out of it is born a Minotaur. It looks at the lizard as food. It hefts its big axe, having been born with the knowledge of how to weild one, and charges, to slice the lizard in half, and eat it.

There is a symbol of death on the new wall where the two collided. It glows strangely, The entire wall does. The wall recedes slowly, but the symbol stays there. from out of it is born a Minotaur. It looks at the lizard as food. It hefts its big axe, having been born with the knowledge of how to weild one, and charges, to slice the lizard in half, and eat it.
The lizard bolts out of the way quicker than lightening, and launches at the Minotaur, sinking poisonous fangs into flesh.

"It works both ways"
"I suppose it does." She kisses him again. "In any event, it's good to be home."

"I suppose it does." She kisses him again. "In any event, it's good to be home."

"It's always good to be home," he murmered as he allowed the kiss to linger, the door closing behind him...

*Later*
She was laying there beside him, comfortably. "What time is it?" the words are murmured, half asleep, completely content.

He lazily brought his watch into the light, reluctant to move, comfortable with where he was... more particulary, with who he was. He looked at it, and then rolled onto his side to stroke his hand gently up and down her arm,"About twelve"

She smiles softly. "Good...then we don't have to move yet."

He smiled back, and kissed her softly,"Well... I somehow doubt we're complaining"

She kisses him back. "I'm not complaining, in any event."

I never said I was either

She smiles. "I didn't think so."

"Good... oh, Rhenna. Don't let me go flying again... not for a very long time"

"I'll keep that in mind."

"I'm glad... what a nice way to spend these hours. Just lying here, able to talk about anything and everything... to a certain extent

She nods, resettling herself more comfortably.

He saw her move closer to him, and responded in kind, stroking his hand across her cheek and smiling at her

She smiles and reaches up to take his hand.

"What did I do to deserve you?"

She smiles. "If I had to guess, I'd say that you had the nerve to tell me you loved me, after our first encounter."

He smiled,"Doesn't mean I deserve you... you could've easily shot me down"

"I'd reacted badly to you at first...and decided to let you have a chance, rivvil or no...*Lazily reaches out to stroke his hair.* Turns out that for a human, you're a good man."

"Proof that not all humans are as sterotypical as Drow make them out to be... and vice-versa of course."

"Well, I'm hardly an average Drow..." *Tilts her head so that the light glints off the scales on her neck.*

He put out a hand to run it softly across her scales,"They are what makes you unique... and they are part of you... part that I happen to truly like"

"Like them? James, they announce to the entire world that I have monster in my blood...if to rid myself of that, they had to go, I would do that very quickly."

"I know your heritage hangs like a shadow over you... but that's only because you let it. Do you really think that Renor, or Vedt, or Shan, or any of the other students here, or even me, would come near you if you were half the monster you claim these scales make you? They are part of YOU... and people, not just me, love you for who you are. Nothing else. If you got rid of the scales, you'd be ridding yourself of part of yourself"

"The scales don't make the monster...the monster is the cause of the scales." She looks away. "I'd almost forgotten about it...until I went and saw him. Heck, until Derscon, I'd never flown, never had wings or a tail, never spat acid."

He moved to her, and turned her head to face him,"Listen to me. No-one here cares about what you can do because of this so-called monster in your blood that manifests in scales on your skin... it is not your fault that your heritage is one stained by him... you are your own person... seperate to him, and completely different. People believe in you... I believe in you"

She looks up and into his eyes, searching.

"Listen to me... we all saw him. He tried to to kill you, because you fought him. You fought him and you won. You are not a monster like he was... you are a seperate being, one that is kind and loving and willing to help anyone in need. It's not what you look like or what is carried into your blood that matters to people. It is what you do for these people that makes a difference. You've always used your dragon side to aid this country... to aid the universe as we know it... and you know it. People love you for who YOU are... not what you are, but who you are. Nothing more, nothing less"

There was a conviction in his voice that she hadn't heard before, one that carried his very soul woven into the words

She looks at him for a few moments, then smiles. "Thank you."

He smiled, and breathed freely again,"Now do you believe what I've been telling you?"

She nods and kisses him.

He kissed her back, letting it linger, and putting a hand softly on her scales on her shoulders

She lets it linger for however long it does, content to be there.

After a while, he broke the kiss, but continued to stay close, enjoying the closeness,"Can I be honest with you?"

"Always."

"I never thought that I could ever be like this, with anyone. I closed the world off, locked myself away from relationships... I want to thank you"

She smiles softly. "I never thought a relationship of mine would end up like this, either. Don't thank me for this, Cougar...you're the one that was brash enough to start it...and without a beginning, how can something continue?"

"It can't... at least this one got a chance to continue"

"Yes...and it will continue...for many centuries yet."

"Many... and hopefully... happy centuries"

She smiles. "Don't just hope for happiness, James."

"Oh, I don't hope for it... it's something that could happen, but only time will tell"

She kisses him softly. "It will happen."

nerds.

nerds.
OOC: Actually no, my score was 25% - wannabe nerd. So ssssssssccccccccccrew you

IC: He smiled, and kissed her back,"I know that"

She cuddles in closer

He smiled, and put his arms round her,"Enjoying yourself, no?"

"I've been less comfortable in my lifetime."

He laughed softly,"As have I... as have I"

She could feel herself starting to drift off to sleep, and spent a few minutes contemplating whether she should or not.

"Go on, y'know you want to," he murmered softly, his eyes almost closed

"All right...you're right." She lets herself drift off.

He sighed slightly, and closed his eyes, quickly following suit to her

At 3:45, D'anthe nudges Rhenna.

Good morning, sleepy. It is time to get up.

*Coming awake only slightly*

"What now, D'anthe?"

Cougar put his palm on D'anthe's head, and pushed lightly,"We're comfortable, and sleepy"

The raven backed away and bit Cougar, then cawed at Rhenna again.

"Okay, okay, I'm up." She gets up and begins to get ready for the class. "I'll be back in a couple of hours." She leans down and kisses him. "Go back to sleep."

"Easy to say, slightly more difficult to do*kisses her*Alright, see you soon"

As he spoke, White Flame danced around his finger, healing the cut that D'anthe had left him with,Little sod... damn birds, more trouble than their worth... wonder how Rosie would take to him

As Rhenna left, D'anthe flew up and perched on her shoulder.

Cougar rolled onto his back, but was asleep fairly swiftly

She comes back an hour and a half later, and sends D'anthe off before opening the door. She looks at him for a few moments, smiling slightly. I'll admit, it looked a little cuter when his hair was longer...but he looks better overall with shorter hair. She considers leaving him asleep and going to do some of the ever-present work, but decides against it, and lays down beside him. If this doesn't wake him, he'll sleep better.

He stirred, and something fell out of his hand as it opened, as if by reflex. It was the Cougar pendent, somehow having transferred from around his neck to his hand. It lay on the sheets, glinting in the light

He never takes these off... She picked up the pendants, looking at them for a minute or so before gently slipping them back around his neck. I wonder when he did that...

He stirred slightly once more, and his eyes cracked open,"Good evening"

She smiles. "Hello. I didn't mean to wake you."

"I know... wasn't really sleeping anymore, just a light doze now... I doubt I'll be sleeping tonight"

"Yes...you got quite a bit of sleep during the day. I don't really need sleep tonight, either."

He sat up, and smiled,"I might take in some late night training"

"I'll probably go to the library and catch up on some work."

"To each their own," he said, getting up and dressed as he did so. He took some time to stretch his muscles, then noticed something on his back,"That's odd"

*Cranes her neck to look.* "What is?"

"Looks like a burn mark or something... never seen it before"

Well, from what I heard, you were in a space battle. Come here, let me see it.

He went back, and sat on the edge of the bed

She sits up and looks at the 'burn mark,' putting her fingers just off its edges to see if it gave off the heat that a burn does.

It does, and he winces when she touches it,"Feels like a phaser burn or something"

She casts a healing spell, curing the burn. "Yes...it hurts...I know."

"Do you want me to take a look at yours?"

"Sure...it shouldn't be too bad, though...it hit on a patch of scales."

She lays down on her stomach to let him look.

He took a look,"It's large, but as you said, hit scales, so the damage is only slight"

He conjured up the White Flame in his hand, and pushed it into the wound, causing it to dance with flame briefly, causing a slight twinge of pain before dissipating and leaving no wound

A little pain meant little, and she sat back up. "That feels much better."

The Minotaur roared with pain, and ripped the lizard man out off his fleash, taking a chunk of his fleash with him, and prooceeding to bite down on the lazard man's head.

A little pain meant little, and she sat back up. "That feels much better."
OOC: Lazard, eh Warhaven :p

IC: "Good... Mith did manage to teach me something"

OOC: Lazard, eh Warhaven :p

IC: "Good... Mith did manage to teach me something"
OOC: *Ish a reptile*

IC: "You told Renor when you first came that you knew it could heal...and Aras...was a legend, both as a teacher of healers, and as a healer herself."

The Minotaur roared with pain, and ripped the lizard man out off his fleash, taking a chunk of his fleash with him, and prooceeding to bite down on the lazard man's head.

The lizard pulled his neck back the whole way, avoiding the teeth, then brought up his tail to stab into the Minotaur's eye.

OOC: *Ish a reptile*

IC: "You told Renor when you first came that you knew it could heal...and Aras...was a legend, both as a teacher of healers, and as a healer herself."


"I'm no born healer... quite the opposite... but theres no harm in trying your hand at something other than death"

"True...but remember...Death herself was a healer, once."

"A source of great irony... but not amusement."

"Yes...come on, we'd better be getting up."

"Normally, I'm used to hearing that in the mornings... but that's the price you pay for sleeping through the day*gets up, then bends down to kiss her*I'll be in one of the training rooms... most likely the ones I'm normally in"

"Okay. If I need to find you, I'll know where to look." She kisses him back. "Just don't hurt yourself."

He smiled as he finished with his shirt buttons and picked up his Gunblade,"I'll be fine, don't worry"

With that, he headed out the door, and went off to find a room to practice his sword skills. He found one, and began going through his normal routinue with the blade,Been a while since this has seen battle... too long some might say... still, when Kajeenth shows his face, I'm sure it'll get more than I know what to do with

Rhenna gets up and goes to the library.

After prehaps an hour or so, he found himself thinking of bringing his pet cat to Rendelmar. He knew she hated it at the Council without him... so he went and got her.

Back within five minutes, he brought with him a mostly-black cat, whose fur, although dark, was not jet black, but was instead an odd mixture of black, brown, and a few patches of white littered around. He sat, crossed legged, on the floor of the training room, the cat sniffing around, getting a feel for it's new enviroment. Eventually, she returned, and rubbed her cheek across the back of his hand. He opened his eyes, looked down, and smiled, extending his hand, palm down, for Rosie to stroke herself against. She did so, and he closed his eyes, meditating on his power, finding new channels in his body to focus the energy.

Doctors are right... pets do help you concentrate... and lower blood pressure when needed

A cloaked and masked figure passed by the door, then looked in and chuckled. He went in and knelt, holding out a gloved hand to the cat.

"So, Rhenna is sleeping, then?"

Rosie recoiled briefly from the strangers hand, then crept forward to rub herself against it. Cougar didn't open his eyes, preferring to use his ablity to see the world around him via the Flame,"No... she said she was going to the libary... get some work done"

Renor stroked the cat breifly. "How much sleep has she gotten today?"

"About two hours on the way back from Snake Eater Prime... another three this afternoon"

He stands. "Then she needs another four. I'll go make her take them."

This time, Cougar did open his eyes,"Care to explain why?"

"She had some fairly extensive scale damage. Long periods of rest after a lot of damage is accumulated quickly helps to flush her system of the hormone that causes them to break."

Cougar turned his eyes downwards, a slight catch in his voice,"I should start learning these things really..."

"I'm not surprised she didn't tell you. It irritates her immensely when we make her rest."

He thought about this,"I think I've already done enough for twenty-four hours... irritating her is the last thing on my to do list right now... you'd best go tell her"

Renor scratches the cat behind the ears, then leaves.

Cougar sighed, rubbed his hand over the cat's arched back, and closed his eyes once more. He would remain that way until the early hours of the morning

Rhenna comes in at around four. "Well, good morning."

He opened his eyes, and looked around briefly, smiling,"Good morning to you as well... I trust he found you"

Rosie, on the other hand, scampered over to Rhenna, an odd thing for any cat to do. Cougar laughed at this,"Looks like you've made a friend"

She leans down and picks the cat up. "Hello, Rosie." She goes and sits next to him. "Renor? He can find anyone, anywhere, any time." She shrugs.

"I decided I had to bring her here... wonder what D'anthe will do"

"Who knows? Although, if they decide to really fight, your cat will likely die. Either that, or lose an eye or foot. D'anthe can get nasty."

"I doubt she'll go for him," he said, clicking his fingers. Rosie sprang off Rhenna's shoulder, and jumped up onto his outstretched arm, moving up it settle on his shoulder. He put his other arm round Rhenna's waist, and sat a little closer,"I take it you got the sleep then"

"When Renor gives an order, you don't question it. Although it was odd, waking up without you there."

"It's an odd feeling when I do it without you there... but sometimes odd things just happen"

She nods.

"Question. Can she just wander round, or should I keep her contained for a little while?"

"She can wander around, but anyone who sees her will likely mess with her. We don't have cats here."

He laughed,"I'll keep her with me for the time being then, she can get to know the place"

Sounds like a plan.

He smiled, and kissed her softly,"It's good to be home"

She smiles and kisses him back. "Yes...welcome home...for the second time in twenty-four hours."

His face fell slightly, and he stood up, his back to her. Rosie jumped off his shoulder, and wandered round, rubbing herself against his legs.

"Why do I do it?"

She stands up and puts a hand on his arm. "What's wrong?"

"I wasn't just focusing my power last night. Rendelmar at night... it's so quiet. You can think things through so clearly, go over everything in your head without disturbances of any real importance, for the most part. So, I got to thinking... and I found on overriding theme for the past two years"

"And?"

"All I've done... is hurt you. In one way or another. But it's always the same"

James, we've had this conversation before.

"Maybe we have... but I still do it"

She puts her head on his shoulder. "Yes, you're trouble...but so is D'anthe, and I keep him around."

He smiled slightly, and kissed her,"So you do"

She kisses him back. "Like I've told you before...I don't doubt this decision."

"I'd be a fool if I did doubt it," he said, glancing at his watch as he did so

"What time is it?"

"About four thirty in the morning. Still early"

She nods. "The day won't start for a while yet."

He smiled, and turned to face her, putting his arms around her,"It's a shame we don't get more time together than we do"

She smiles at him. "Yes...but unfortunately, that is the life we lead...always so busy..."