Chapter Twenty: Alavira's P.O.V.

This amazing tavern is like something out of a book I've heard Zipporah talk about. I'm still new to reading and writing, as far as my brain and handwriting are concerned, but Zip and Ginger said once I feel comfortable enough they would recommend books they like for practice. From the fantastic scenes and, well… nice looking people they talk about from time to time I can't wait to join in on the discussions.

"So Ava, how are you feeling? I didn't go too hard on you in training, did I?" Clover actually sounds worried. The question takes me aback a little, I hadn't even thought twice about it until now. He looks so guilty and I don't want to hurt his feelings even more by telling him I'll have some bruises. It's nothing I can't live with, however.

"No, you didn't. It was a great learning experience! Thank you for not holding back! Although, if I'm being honest…" I can feel the whole table's eyes on me in an instant. Suluk seems to have gone ridged at my side. "I feel bad about putting you in an awkward position, with Suluk I mean. I'm sorry for the trouble." I can't stop my eyes from traveling down to stare at my hands shamefully. If I had known that Suluk was going to act that way, I would have done things differently, or offered someone else for training.

"No need to feel guilty, little human. Suluk is a grown man. He'll get over it. He's just had a stressful week, with the new recruits and updated training schedule for them, is all. He needed to let off some steam. I think we'll stop by the training area later tonight to help him with that." Kierens' even tone and blank face try to reassure me, but I know something else is going on. Although, I don't want to cause any more trouble, so instead I let it go.

"I see. I'm sorry things have been tough this week." I offer my unspoken support to him.

"Don't worry about it. Clover and I are still friends, and everything is fine. So don't worry about anything, alright? I'm glad to see you're improving so rapidly! It won't be long before you've even surpassed the newbies we're watching over!" Suluks' large hand pats my back reassuringly. The warmth soaking into my spine and making me wish for more. Pride fills me a bit at his praise, and Kierens nods from across the table.

"He's right, you know. Your time hunting out in the forest, and being with adventures has served you well for this endeavor. Although I think it would be best if Suluk did not help with your training from here on out. He seems to have a hard time controlling his emotions as of late." Zipporah takes a long sip from her tea and that makes me question a few things. I look between Kieren and Suluk for an answer, although they don't look too keen on giving one.

"Here's your order! Sorry for the wait, we're a bit understaffed tonight. This blasted rain and cold weather always takes a toll around here." The cute, tall, feline waitress sets our food down in front of us with a soft smile. I believe she introduced herself as Mirage.

"That's fine! Everything looks delicious! You never let us down." Ginger smiles brightly back at her, making the female blush softly.

"You all come here often?" She makes small talk as she finishes setting the plates down and reaches for the pitcher that she had set on a nearby table, to start refilling our drinks.

"Most of us do. But, these two" Ginger pats a hand on Clovers back next to her and then nods in my direction. "Are new here! Ava is still new to the city, but I can't believe you've never come here, Clo!" Ginger's amusement peaks as she looks back at a softly blushing Clover.

"Well in that case, welcome! It's wonderful to have you both!" Mirage smiles brightly at us as she looks between Zip and I to grab our drinks. It seems we're the only ones not drinking tonight.

"Thank you." Clover and I say in unison, making each other chuckle lightly.

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Dinner went well, even if Clover and Ginger had a little too much to drink. Poor Zipporah was on her own having to take them to her house for the night, since Clover could barely walk. Luckily she has magic to just carry them in a cocoon of water back to her place, and it was entertaining to watch them be swept up by such a thing. Kieren had to get back to the gate to check on the recruits and make sure "they weren't giving their bedtime babysitter too much trouble", according to him. So that just left me and Suluk. We had talked about going on a nice stroll, but between the chill and oncoming rain I'm starting to doubt that will last much longer.

"Ava? Can I ask you a question and you not hit me?" He chuckles by my side. Drawing my thoughts back to him.

"Maybe?" I tease lightly back, turning to face him now that we're on the edge of town.

"How mad would you be if I flew us back to the house? I'm worried a long walk will have you frozen and soaked. The rain smells like it's rapidly approaching." He looks up to the sky, making the veins and Adam's apple in his throat stick out more in the soft light coming from a shop to our left.

"Well… with that logic I wouldn't be mad. As long as you don't try anything funny, mister." I lightly elbow his side. He laughs out and turns his head slowly towards me, that shine of a challenge and amusement prominent in those emerald gems.

"Well then, hold on tight little one." He breathes out before scooping me up. With a yelp from me and a laugh from him next thing I know we're in the air. THIS IS NOT HOW I THOUGHT THAT WOULD GO! I'm clinging to him for dear life, holding my breath and burying my face in his neck to not see what is happening. My stomach feels as though it was left on the stones back on the ground, while my head feels light as a feather.

"SULUK! I TAKE IT BACK! I'M GOING TO SMACK YOU FOR THAT!" I can't stop from yelling out against the wind as he takes us even higher.

"Ava, look. You'll miss the best part." His laughter subsides as he whispers in my ear. I shake my head in protest, but his gentle encouragement finally wins and I take a peek.

I hate to say that he's right. This is something so beautiful that even my wildest imagination couldn't dream of. Just beyond the dim, gray clouds the last bit of light shines through. It illuminated everything it touches, making the puffy clouds and fading blue sky brighter and a symphony of colors. Where the last bits of light couldn't reach, the moon, in all its glory, is rising. A beacon for the night creatures and people, while a solid reminder for me that it was getting ever closer to my sleeping hours. With one arm firmly wrapped around Suluks neck, I reach out with a shaky hand to touch a cloud. The dark, gray masses just within arms length beneath us. The scent of rain and fresh air is unlike anything I'd ever known. I expect my fingers to meet with a dense, fluffy, soft cloud, but instead I'm slightly disappointed to watch as my fingers slip through and only come back with the feeling of being slightly wet now. Suluks' chuckle catches my attention and I turn my eyes back to him, now curious of what could be so funny.

"I did the same thing on my first flight. I was also disappointed to know the clouds weren't fluffy like I had thought. Well.. most aren't. Every once in a while I find one that's just the right amount of dense and it is soft." He smiles down at me. I can't help but smile back. Between the beautiful scenery, my nerves, and his calm, captivating demeanor I find myself enjoying his company, and this death defying stunt, more and more.

To my dismay we approached my dwelling quicker than I would like to admit. Suluk calling my name grabs my attention, and I can't help the sense of deja vu I experience when our noses brush against each other as my head turns. It's just like that time in the kitchen, except I have nowhere to go. We're still in the air, slowing down for him to land and I can't peel my eyes away and back up like last time. Instead I find myself nose to nose with a dragon, flying in the clouds, about to be dropped off at my doorstep. "Ava?" His voice cracks with something I can't quite make out, but it reminds me of nervousness and unease as he continues to stare into my eyes.

"Suluk?" Is all my brain can think to say at the moment. I find that my entire voice, and what feels like my racing heart, are stuck in my throat at this moment. The scent of campfire, jasmine, and now rain fill my nose as I can't do anything but be drawn towards him.

"Can I ask you a serious question?" His arms tighten around me as his wings slowly draw near, still flapping lazily, as if he's trying to hold us in the air as long as possible. As if he wants this moment to last as long as it can like I'm so desperately craving.

My breath catches and all I can do is nod, not trusting my words. I just know I'll say something stupid right now and ruin this perfectly, amazing, intimate moment. He hesitates, and after all these months I'm starting to realize he only does that around me. It makes my heart skip a beat, while my cheeks heat slightly as that realization washes over me. "I think I might need a reminder of our boundaries again…. Before I kiss you. Or would that be alright now?" The words hang there, thick, and sticky ready to turn into honey or tar depending on my answer. My old reaction would be to make myself as stiff as a board, but I'm finding recently that my body is betraying my mind. My shattered, frozen heart is slowly taking over; like it's trying to mend itself instead of waiting for me. I, unfortunately, understand because I'm slowly growing tired of waiting for me to move out of my own way also.

That's probably why I don't wait. I don't give him an answer he expects. I don't give my brain enough time to give me a novel full of reasons to not do it. I slip my hand from his neck to his cheek, while the other hand grips the sleeve of his shirt to pull myself up slightly. The moment I crash my lips to his, is also to my horror, the same moment we land on the ground harshly; as if his brain stopped working and forgot what we were doing, or that we were in the air. As we land on the ground we're thrown apart with the impact, both landing on the top of the small hill, in the yard of the house. Rolling in the grass slightly as I can't stop the loud, light, laughter from leaving my throat. It makes my belly ache, gripping my middle hard, as tears form in the corners of my eyes, not being able to catch my breath as I lay on the soaked ground. When I'm finally able to turn my head and see Suluk, he looks just as dumb as I do, I'm sure.

He's just laying on the wet grass, mud and left over rain seeping into his clothes, with a dumbfounded expression on his face. That smile, however. Oh that wickedly, bright smile has turned into a wide, goofy, face splitting thing to take center stage. I don't think I've ever seen him so happy and confused at the same time, and all the worries I had seem to melt away at his unspoken fondness for the actions that just occurred. "You still alive over there?" I finally call out to him. Seeming to finally draw him out of his daze, but still not having the energy or will power to move from my drenched spot yet. I can feel the thought lingering in the back of my mind, like an unwanted fog. The thought that if I move from this spot that this feeling will disappear, that what just happened might not be real, or that some kind of consequence will arise. That thought is overshadowed, for now, by pure joy and a racing heart that still hasn't grasped the reality of what I just did.

"Ava?" When I look from the clouds, that seem ready to flood this land at any moment, over to where his voice sounds oddly close, I'm surprised to see he's laying right next to me now. From the look of his clothes it looks like I'm not the only one who doesn't want to stand yet either, it looks like he just rolled over here. I can't even find the will to scold him for it. Seeing him there, next to me, unsure if he's allowed to touch me, head propped up on a hand that keeps lowering slowly, due to his elbow sinking in the mud. His hair is a mess, with small tufts of grass sticking out of it, and eyes solely focused on me; as if he even blinks I'll disappear like a mirage. My heart swells and aches all at once. I can't find the words to tell him my rules have changed, his boundaries have changed, that I've changed.

Instead I do the only thing that hasn't failed me yet. I roll onto my side, eyes focused on his as I slowly lift a hand to caress his face. I never even realized how cold I actually am until his warmth is soothing my shaking fingers. The realization that covers his face is as welcomed as the small nuzzle he does into my palm. His hand comes over to cover mine as his other hand slips around my waist to pull me closer. His eyes slowly trace over my face, making me feel a bit self conscious as he does so. His small smile puts my nerves at ease, at least a little, even as his thumb comes up to slowly trace over my scar. I can't begin to tell if it's my body or his heating up as he softly whispers out, "Beautiful…". I know my cheeks, neck and ears are as red as a ripe tomato; I can feel it so I know he can definitely see it. In order to try and hide my reaction, if I'm going to try and think of an excuse, I lean up slightly to press my lips back to his. Savoring the way he tastes like fresh rain and ale, the way his lips seem to fit perfectly with mine. Doing my best to ignore how my heart seems to shatter in a whole new way, like all the work I've put in to try and help mend it is lost. The flimsy excuses and thin, frayed twine I tried to stitch myself back together with have finally unraveled. Ready to be replaced with something more sturdy and lasting, something that will weather the storms to come and arguments to be had. I can still feel the progress I've made staying behind, all those shattered pieces from before have been mended slightly, so this time there aren't so many pieces to pick up on my own.

We can no longer hide behind excuses and fear of the unknown. We now have to stand out in the sun and rain and accept whatever outcome is held out for us in the end. He knows it too, I can feel the change in his demeanor as his hand grips me a little tighter to pull me closer as time seems to slow and let us have this overdue kiss. This stolen moment, under rain clouds, after a long day; this small, amazing moment right before we have to part and return back to reality.

Suluk seems determined to make this moment last longer than possible as I nearly jump straight up to get away from whatever is slithering around my ankle. Suluk on the other hand is laughing so hard he's wheezing while trying to talk to me. I can't understand a word he's saying, making me irritated, and also giggling a little at his outburst. Looking down I notice he has a tail now. Strong, scaled, thick and green! I'm surprised to see it proportionate to his human form, even more so as I watch it slowly wrap around my ankle. The scales almost feel like velvet when rubbed against my skin in one way. When I try to pull my ankle in the opposite direction I might as well have rubbed it against bark or a grinding stone with how rough it was! I should have known he could do such a thing, since he had his wings out earlier at not only training, but to fly us over here as well.

While I'm so focused on this new discovery I never noticed he's standing and picking me back up with that goofy grin plastered on his face. A small squeak escapes me as I'm back off my feet and in his arms. "What are you doing?!"

"You need to get warm! Taking you inside!" Is all he explains as he walks towards the front door. Just as it begins to rain again, soaking us both. Making him now run to shelter as we can't stop the laughing that happens so naturally tonight between us.