Swiftcurrent Creek not a miracle in years

The fire had led him here. Across the pale plains in the dark. From one body of water to another, he had followed her, reluctant, and now defensive. If only because he was home now, and it was his duty. Still, Njal trailed along without the swagger his rank afforded. He looked more like a wanderer himself. Dull eyes upon the figure before him, who found her way to the water's edge and traipsed to-and-fro in a state of limbo. Stay here, or pass over the line. Howl, or stay silent. He watched her and felt the pressure in his chest intensify - a sense of worry, guilt, adoration, it was all muddied up inside of him.

Njal breathed the chilled air and got a mouthful of Proudheart's perfume. Somehow, her smell relaxed him - but it was momentary, it passed, leaving him stale and empty. The man was unsure of himself. Left standing alone in the cold with his fire just out of reach. With a careful stride he approached her. Letting out a soft wuff of air to alert her of his presence, if his scent had not already. Regardless, he could not look her in the eye.

Swiftcurrent delivered, before Tuwawi had even howled, and its messenger approached from downwind with a low woof; but the feral woman's steely gaze had already locked on, eyes like knives dissecting their target with pupils as big as moons. She forgot to breath - the air sucked from her lungs - as she studied his carefully chiseled face and brawny musculature. The mountain wolf's silhouette was clear as day, but the red woman was struck in a sense of awe, black lips parted only the slightest amount. Familiarity oozed from his masculine stature, agouti pelt parted in the way she remembered - his handsome face strong, unmoving, and proud... even his diverted golden eyes ushered warmth and vigor.

Electricity flowed liberally through her body as her hair raised. It had been almost a full year... maybe longer... and she pined for his touch, his gaze, his voice... her blood boiling hot from the proximity of its partner -- its aokkatti. "...Palestrike...?" she wheezed in an unexpectedly shaky voice. A few steps were all it took to realize that she hovered dangerously beneath a glass ceiling; ready to crash through.

Tuwawi stood only a few feet adjacent of the sterling granite wolf who she called mate, and felt magnetized by his presence, the light in her face growing visibly as she drew nearer. Her slender face reached out to his broad muzzle carefully... for he felt inexplicably fragile in that moment... and brushed his whiskers with her dark nose, urging him closer.

She hadn't changed.

There was a subtle curve to her figure now, that was an undoubted fact; but Njal did not look upon her in such a way. He watched her face. The spark in her eyes as the pupils dilated, the gasp of her lips as she breathed his name, and then the touch - her touch - upon his skin.

As much as he wanted to hold back, he could not. Njal was powered towards her through the monumental chasm that gapped them; he brought himself so close that his breath played across the curve of her neck, as he ducked and pressed close. A wolfish hug. His chest pressed against her own, mingling silver and copper. His ice and her own fire.

"Proudheart.." He breathed, the name thrumming from his core; lavished with a meek tone. At first Njal didn't know what to say beyond that - he sank to his haunches, breathing her in. He did eventually build up the courage to speak, but he did not sound as confident as he had felt just hours before. "Proudheart I am sorry. I did not mean to leave you behind."

Again, her breath was taken away as the dappled man drew near, their figures coming together like the gears of a cog. At that moment it was as if a dam burst, and the hot blood that had collected in Tuwawi's heart flowed freely through her dilated veins. The sensation was exhilarating - his touch overwhelming. She greedily buried her muzzle into the dense mane of his neck, body trembling as if a long withdrawal was being satisfied at last. Finally. Finally, happiness arrived, and time became infinite.

Njal couldn't be close enough, and she wished she could simply melt into him. His sturdy form sank to the ground as her own limbs threatened to give way. "Proudheart.." he whispered, uttering the name granted by Sterntooth - something that caused her adrenaline to spike as she remembered a time before Neverwinter... before Tartok. She knew then, that her fealty would always be to Njal and him alone. It would branch valleys, oceans, mountains... and never see a dark day in the world again.

His warm breath tickled her neck as he continued, "Proudheart I am sorry. I did not mean to leave you behind," his voice rumbled low, laced with remorse. She frowned, and shared his hurt. "You didn't," she responded, "we were only apart a little while." Tuwawi took a step back to offer a crooked smile, almond eyes shutting as her brow pinched together, emotions and passion running high. There was sadness buried in that expression, questions wondering why he had fled from her twice... but now, they all felt answered -- as if something had been confirmed.

Her figure returned to him, pressing up against his chest once again as her crown buffered his shoulder. Her fangs reached out to bite his neck, offering the slightest pressure as she nipped the loose skin of his nape. Her small body sank into him, and curled between his forelegs as she wrapped around him possessively, engulfing him in flame. "It's been a long time...," she purred, almond eyes studying him. More thoughts queued at the back of her mind, but the moment felt too right, too perfect, to spoil with words. Instead a range of vocals slipped from her throat- low whines and growls as her face pressed into him, contented to stay there forever.

"You didn't," She professed with pursed features, before placing distance between their bodies again.

He ached in that instant. A terrible and deep longing overtook him. But Njal did not move, he gave her the space - believing that she somehow deserved it. He had become a lot more distant from her physically, but now with the woman before him, Njal realized he was emotionally more attuned to things. He felt her hurt, the way he felt his own. Her love came next; under the guise of forgiveness Proudheart drew close again, and she buried herself against him.

"It's been a long time..." Too long. And it was his fault.

They were together. They were more than that, far more. Njal was the mountain that rooted her, and she was his fire - his sun, his stars. Burning for him. How could he have let that go?

Proudheart's warmth overwhelmed him. The entire situation was overwhelming, really. But as she sank against his chest he did not move, save to cradle her close with his body; he would sit with her forever, if she wanted him to. The mountain would never move again if that was what the sun would ask of him.

There was a new conviction in his voice when Njal spoke again. A strength. His rumbling question was muttered softly as if to not break whatever spell she was under, but there was pride there again. His adoration for the woman rolling to the surface.

"Will you stay?"

"Will you stay?" Njal asked, lavishly unfiltered accent rolling off his tongue. Naturally, the answer was already clear. No amount of anything could cause Tuwawi's love, loyalty, or feelings to waver. Finally they were together despite hundred of miles and what felt like a lifetime. From the Seahawk valley, to the Quinaults of Chinook, and between the vast regions of Relic Lore, they had come together once again... as if it was designed. No longer would their feet feel tired, or hearts heavy... for they would shelter each other through the days driven by a bond that ran as deep as blood. Tuwawi reflected Njal's stoic strength in her quicksilver gaze, and together they would craft a life wrought from the very time that always tore them apart. "Always," she responded, admiring his conviction.

Tuwawi carefully preened the downy fur nearest his ears before removing herself from his embrace once again. She shook her body, hairs settling in their untamed places, and took the opportunity to observe her mate with open eyes. She smiled, chest swelling with a pride that felt like fire as her red tail lashed, ready to take on the storm. Together, they would do great things.

"You live here now, in Swiftcurrent?" she asked to confirm, "Would they have room for one more?" Her tongue rolled over her chops, hungry for the new adventure that awaited.

There was room. There would always be room for her; even if Njal had to plead his case to the Alpha. He did not suspect any problems to arise with Tuwawi's admittance in to the ranks. Her question about his new home was met with a small smile, and a nod. This was his home; it had been for a few weeks now, and it would be her's as well. They would start again here. "Come," He ushered with a step back, as he began to escort her. "I will vouch for you if it comes to it." There would be no need, the man assumed. Tuwawi held a certain level of charm that could not go unseen (although he was biased in that view). She was a strong asset to acquire. And the Gamma would see to it that they remain united.

[exit Njal w/ Tuwa?]