Her wounds had healed - all of them - but especially the big one that pulled her lip in a joker-like smirk. She had recently seen her reflection in the water, unsurprisingly finding that the scars would remain there forever. That didn't bother her at all, she was not a vain woman. Beauty had no use in the life of a Rike. As long as she could walk, tear and bite, she was as good as anyone else.

Today she had finished her patrol and her sleuthing. It was night time, and the stars were shining brightly above the valley. It was a rare moment of relaxation, as Erna had found herself dipping in a small hot spring. It was not so much to warm herself, because she had a pelt for that job, but to release the tension out of her muscles.

@Alaric

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the trek to the tundra was one he was familiar with by now, following the stony trail in search of his lover. there was a constant pull, now, to the point that he loathed the return to sand and heat. the desert had always been his home, and he valued his position in the pride, but he wanted her by his side. distance had never been his strong suit; he could not keep her from the prying eyes of others if she was not close. alaric had considered coercing her to join the oasis, but knowing his king's relationship with the sigrun woman stayed his paw. it was a dangerous line he walked, and he did not wish to draw any more attention to his woman. by the time he picked up her scent it was evening, and she was a vision in steamy water and starlight. he did not hesitate to sink in to the springs beside her, striding closer with an audible push of water against his chest. he closes the distance in no time at all, pressing himself, uncaring about personal space when his own personal drug was there.

image by moogle, code by koi

There were many things on her mind, but fear was never one of them. Not when it came to the future. She knew that battle was inevitable, thank god, because otherwise, she'd die out of boredom in this place. While she could understand Odhgrimm's desire to build a stronger army, Erna was a hot-headed creature. The Rike hardly shy away from the battle, but now that their numbers were so scarce the Jarl was seeking to pull them back. It was a sad thing, but she wouldn't dare to overstep an order. Never. The bear-like woman's eyes shot open immediately at the sound of approaching footsteps, narrowing in on the dark silhouette.

She was ready to leap out of the spring and defend herself, but the dark night's mists unveil her lover's handsome face. Her gaze doesn't soften, but her mind relaxes. He slips closer, pressing into her body, immediately releasing the tension within her muscle. You're out late, she teased. What did your King say about your challenge? His closeness was making it difficult to focus, but she was a creature of discipline first and foremost.

@Alaric

_{ART — CODE}

"I was looking for you," he huffed in response, with the slightest edge to his voice that indicated how little he liked having to track her down. He wanted her by his side, permanently, and he loathed that they could not be so. Alaric was an ally of the Rike (of her) but he knew damn well the importance of laying low, of keeping it secret until he could strike again. When he had a crown.... His lip curled at the memory of his defeat but he was distracted, quickly, by her next question. "I had his support before," a shrug, dismissive, not really caring what Seneca thought of his defeat. It had been a good battle to the bitter end, and he had no qualms about losing to a worthy opponent. He did not care about the politics right now, though, not with her there. He rumbled and sought to drag his teeth along the side of her neck, needy and demanding, bored with the idle conversation.

image by moogle, code by koi

Looking for her. The needy woman enjoyed being in the forefront of this powerful man's mind, gleeful to receive his attention and most importantly, his validation. However, the image of that cherry-furred woman plagued her mind and she couldn't forget the back of her neck. Her teeth itched to sink and whisk away the life from her, especially when she thought of Alaric showering her with the same attention he was showering Erna with. I hope I was not easy to find. She responds with a glance towards his amethyst eyes. The Rike woman was always careful where she walked and what tracks she left that could lead to her kin.

The bitterness from the defeated made the wheat man scowl. She observed his reaction, wondering if his male ego had been wounded badly. It wasn't so bad as to have him give up on his pursuit of power, that much she knew. Seneca Miroslav, She had watched him, she had watched everyone. Does he know? She asks idly. About our agreement? The she-wolf smirked. Would this King care? Perhaps he better not know. He didn't seem too close to the Sigrun, but how could Erna know for certain? Even her vast knowledge could have blind spots.

The heat of the springs was not the only thing making her blood boil. When Alaric drew his fangs against her neck she felt her hair stand on end from the wonderful sensation. A purr vibrated from her throat as she let him do as he please - it certainly pleased her.

_{ART — CODE}

His brows furrowed at the tedious questions, but he answered all the same. There was very little he would deny her, though his patience stretched only so far. “harder than I would like,” he grumbled, “I would prefer you always by my side.” he spoke this truth without qualms, pressing against her in the steamy water, aligning their bodies to be side by side as his teeth teased her neck. A sharper pinch of teeth when she carried on about Seneca. “No,” he grunted from within her fur, trailing smaller nips from the initial harsh one. He was pleased to see the lingering marks from their last meeting and he felt a sudden urge to sink his teeth deep in to her flesh and make her bleed again. The talk of another male has him on edge, irritable, and it shows in the roughness of his touch. “Enough,” he hissed, as he abruptly shoved her towards land, out of the heat that was blinding him, eager to sink in to a different kind of heat.

image by moogle, code by koi

Harder than he thought? Good. She was doing a good job then. She was not the romantic type, nor would she ever be. The flutter in her heart was nothing but her ego growing ten times over at his constant yearning for her. She wanted to wrap him in her web even further, to listen to his sweet promises for glory and power.

The wench hissed when his teeth pinched her neck, the feeling a stark contrast with the gentle nibbling until now. She pressed into him, slipping closer to sneak her front paw against his chest, their faces as intimate as possible, as her talons pressed into his skin. She wanted to viciously fuck him here and now, and he seemed to harbor the same thoughts.

Her lover roughly shover her and she grinned wolfishly. Her movements were slow and sultry, purposefully dragging this on to tease him, as Erna climbed out of the warm pool and onto the surface. Water dripped down her socked brown furs and she batted her eyelashes at @Alaric, before slipping down to the stone floor. Her tail lashed, beckoning him closer.

fade to black

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words were forgotten, abandoned, as their bodies sunk in to a different language. he wanted, always, to mark her, to claim her, to tell the world that she was his. His. A possessive surge coursed through his body as she pulled him closer, taunting him and making his blood pound. This dangerous game they played, always balanced on the edge of passion and destruction, was addictive. Her claws pricked the skin of his chest and he curled his lip, a rumbling growl as he shoved against her in answer. She moved slowly and he growled again, a harsher bite to her rump to encourage her to move. He was insistent and brutal, shoving against her, leaving no space to change course. The minute she hit the ground he was on top of her, his teeth sunk deep in to her nape as he took what he always wanted. Insatiable beast that he was. -fade to black-

image by moogle, code by koi