Can You Hear Me Calling?

Since that fateful day, Riften had thought and dreamed of nothing else. The slow motion recaptures in his brain played over and over again, each time there was more and more dialogue from the angel herself, and Riften too was becoming more bold, bolder than the sun shining with the brilliant radiance of summer. He had bene through the thick of war and come out the other side practically untouched. He gave all of that gratitude to the angel that had saved his life. He did not know where to find her, but he was roam until he did seek her out. He would do anything to see her, to talk to her, and devote himself to her for the rest of his days. It was a hard turn over from the princess, but she had never returned any of his letters, never sending anything that showed she cared. Now there was a female that was actively saving his life, protecting him from those that wished to skin him alive. How could he not be devoted to her?

Wandering through the lands, he was secured on her scent, trying to find it high and low. Other scents of alluring females tried to whisk him away, but he would not give up, he was like a scent hound on the trail, determined to find his savior. Riften's eyes looked high and low, all around him as he crossed into territories and areas he had never been before. But he was brave, driven by love and determined to let her know just how special and amazing she was to him. She needed to know she was the reason for him to take a breath each day, his reason for joining the army, and why he would be sure to do whatever he could to make her happy. He had already prepared many ballads in his brain, singing them to himself for her, waiting for the moment he would be able to sing to her as a noble knight should.

The sound of rushing water pulled him from his thoughts. It was a good time to stop and get a drink, maybe rest his weary paws a little bit. After moving towards the river and taking a drink, he rested his form upon the ground. It was cool here, cooler temperatures due to the weather conditions as well as the water near him. He was content here, and really gave himself the time to look around the place more than he had before. It was breathtaking.

@Rayne

art: raven & code: clae

The sound of running water would always be her calling. If she decided to drink or bathe in it would often be determined when she actually arrived at the scene. The days were growing colder, but cold water was just as refreshing on the aching muscles of travel just as well as hot water was. Often times she did not find hot enough water, however, so she had grown accustomed to taking cold baths instead. As she grew closer the scent of another caught her attention, it was slightly familiar, but it wasn’t until she saw him that she recognized him immediately. He was at the heart of the battle, the one she had saved from an almost terrible fate, and when she thought they would have to secure blows of fang to flesh—he submit.

”Hey,” she spoke to him softly as she approached, her head lower in alignment with her shoulders to show she meant no harm. ”I’m glad to see you’re doing well! Especially after, well, you know.” Her shoulders dropped lightly at the thought of war. She was no saint, she had left another badly battered, and bloodied, the sight was still so fresh in her head.

Sometimes she didn’t even know what they were fighting for anymore. Would things ever really change? As long as there was a king it would always be bias. She did not see any of those royal heathens pushing their nose into war, no. Instead they watched as those who kissed their toes did all the bidding. How much dead and blood until it was enough? Her lips curled into a frown, her gaze drifted from him as she lost herself in the thought.

Hearing a voice pulled him from his thoughts. His head perked up, and his head rotated to be able to see her from the direction she approached him. They did not get a chance to exchange words on the battlefield, and he worried that he would never have seen her again. He stared at her, his body in some sort of state of shock. His heart started to beat quicker than it had on the battlefield. He looked at her, and was pretty sure that his lower jaw was opening all on its own. The angel spoke to him. He blinked a few times, until finally words slipped out from his lips. "It's you... I..." he stopped himself from continuing to speak, really unsure of what he would say. What do you say to the female that saved your life? "Th...thank you..." He said as he stared up at her.

He was quickly reminded of his manners, and stood up, then bowed his chest to the floor. "You did not have to save me, and yet, you did... What could I ever do to repay you?" Riften was feeling as though his life was sworn to this female, a feeling he had only felt once before. She was here and she was standing in his presence. Would the princess ever be able to give him such a gift? No. She never even replied to his letters. "I am Riften," he said as he finally lifted his head so that he could get a better view of the angel. "May I please know the name of my savior? I wondered if I would ever see you again, or maybe if you even were real. The battle... it was not a place... I just... I am shocked. Why did you choose to save a complete stranger?"

@Rayne

art: raven & code: clae

Rayne hadn't suspected he would be so thrilled to see her, never mind even remember her after all was said and done. So much had happened on that battlefield as well as after, and she knew for a fact it wasn't done yet. When he spoke her ears flicked forward at him, ocean gaze settling on the softness of his features. He was filled with so many questions, rightfully so, and they were valid to ask. Especially the last one. She owed him nothing, she owed none of them anything actually, but the battle was not fair. The man who was going after the boy on the battlefield wanted blood, revenge.

Possibly even death.

Was she any better though? For she too almost brought another man close to death. With a soft sigh she continued on to clear her throat before answering.

"The numbers were uneven," she explained while she looked at him deadpan in the eyes. "They didn't care about you, but they felt power over you in numbers. I wasn't simply going to sit there and watch them rip you to pieces simply because of their God complex." She felt very passionate about the whole thing, but deep down she knew this boy before her was also fighting for a purpose, one that did not align with hers.

"We are not the same you know. What we fight for? I am not on your side," she wished to make it very clear. "Your King doesn't care about you, he wouldn't have fought alongside you in his battle, nor would he have paid your parents out for your funeral if things had gone south you know?" She squinted at him, the despite for the Kings was clear on her tongue. "You're just a number. Just another body." She inhaled a sharp breath.

She had been his savior, and for that, he would allow her intense emotions to roll off his shoulders. She was just passionate about life and living it, he could understand that. She did not side with one side of the war or the other, which was fine - he really didn't either. As Riften listened to her unravel all the drama onto his ears, he sat there, staring at her. She did not share her name, and that was alright. She wanted to remain the perfect and wild angel that she was. Riften gave her a smile regardless, and his tail wagged gently behind himself. The passion that she unveiled to him was something he had only seen when he himself laid it on thick with his own father. He was in awe of her courage, both on the battle and off. She was someone to look up to, someone who put others before herself to protect them from certain doom.

"I was not there for a King." He stated, and his voice was rather low. He wasn't sure if he should tell her his true reasons to be there, or if he should leave it a secret from her perfect ears. Riften decided that he would tell her a little of the truth, blended with a lie. "I did it for love. Someone I love was being harmed and I could not just stand by and do nothing, much like you. I have to admit that... after that day, I have not thought of much else." He didn't know how to say what he wanted to say. He took a moment to think if he had the ability to even share what he was about to do. "I wanted to share something I wrote for you..."

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The words came out really soft, almost inaudible. He was not very brave right now.

"We are still kids, but we're so in love
Fighting against all odds
I know we'll be alright this time
Darling, just hold my hand
Be my girl, I'll be your man
I see my future in your eyes"

It was risky to share the love ballad he had written for her. As the song reached the half way point, his voice got louder. "So.... what do you think?"

[Song is "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran.]
@Rayne

art: raven & code: clae

Love? She squinted at him and from what she could recall from the past fight he was young, and the longer she looked at him the younger he became in her eyes. "Love?" She mirrored in confusion, "What do you know about love?" Rayne didn't mean to come off rude, but what a silly reason to go to war. "Was she fighting along side you in the name of love?" He confused her, why would he do such a thing? But then she thought deeper. What if his love extended to his immediate family, why had she gone right into the pit of pinning it onto someone else, like a woman? "I'm sorry, that was none of my business please disregard," she exhaled a long breath of air and then drew quiet. She didn't want to ask him anymore questions she didn't want the answer to. For now they were safe and that was all that mattered, right? Ears perked forward at the mention of him writing something for her, brows settled with a confused look on her face? Before she could ask what it was, or why, he went on and began to serenade her. She could feel the heat rise in her cheeks as the hairs on the back of her nape stood erect. Immediately she wanted to go into flight mode especially at the bit of love. Wow he moved on quickly. When it ended she still didn't feel herself come down from the embarrassment, but it would have been rude to turn and leave. 'So.....What did you think?' She cleared her throat, unsure of how she was going to proceed. "It uh, it was uh," she blinked at him, "creative, yeah , it was very creative..." Dared she ask, dared she wish to know the answer to her next question. "Why would you write that for me?" "If the accident will."

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She questioned him, much like his own father and for a second, he thought about leaving. But after what she had done for the boy, how could he just up and go off to do something else. Nothing else in his life had meaning. His family had no idea where he was, and he really did not feel like he wanted to be around them. Not after the way Argent had just shown his utter disappointment in the young lad. He was more than just a pup "with a crush". He was a warrior now, he was almost a man, no longer a boy. "I know lots about love. I have seen it, through thick and thin, through trials and tribulations. I watched it wither, and I have watched it grow. I have felt it for myself." He spoke to her pointedly, though not aggressive. It was the truth. He had seen a lot of love and he had watched some of it fail. She questioned him again, and though she waved it off and told him not to answer her, he was going to do it regardless. "No, she was a prisoner, stuck between so many troubles, and I was to save her. But I never got the chance." He dropped his head in submission of the his truth. It may not have been the actual truth, but to him it was. Argent was not always right.

As he serenaded her, he was paying little attention to her behavior, how it was making her feel. He was concerned that it might have come on too strong, but that was the only thing he really knew how to do. Dive head on into his feelings. "You saved my life." He said with a shrug of his shoulders. What more could he say? She had been presumably freaked out from his song he had written for her, and to go into more detail might scare her off. "Nothing made you save me, except for the simple act of kindness from your heart. Something like that should be rewarded. But I have nothing to give, no money, no medals. I only have my thoughts and my words. To write something for you, I was honored to do so." He gave her a smile, as he lifted his head and looked over her. "I feel I will forever be in your debt." He took a moment and recalled that she had not given him her name. Maybe she wanted to remain anonymous to him, but he wished she would not. "May I ask you what your name is?"

@Rayne

art: raven & code: clae

She expected him to get somewhat cross, but he kept his composure, instead correcting her that he did know love and why that would be. She felt for him, really, because passion was something many lacked and he was a character who was able to have so much of it plus some. It was admirable, though not an avenue she could see herself taking especially if she didn't know much of the opposite party. "I'm sorry," she gave him a soft smile, "I can imagine being unable to do what you tried so hard at was frustrating." Rayne was a lot of things, but she was never insensitive. "It was worth more than money or medals anyway," she inhaled a sharp breath, "my name is Rayne, and please, it was the least I could do I would never hold it over your head." He was a pure soul and she hoped for his sake he was able to stay that way. The world being so dark and corrupted was scary enough to live in, never mind trying to be a kind soul in as well. "And what is the name of my bard?" She joked with a soft smile, hoping to ease any tension she may have caused in offense. "If the accident will."

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"It was not easy. I feel a sense of defeat in the matter, honestly." It was true, he had never lied about anything in his life, and Riften would continue to be one to bear the truth to all he spoke to. She thought it to be normal to save a complete stranger. She truly was an angel. Maybe she was his guardian angel? He could not be sure and he would not ask her, for if he did, she might just vanish into thin air. "I am still in your debt, and will be until I can pay you back for the life you have given me." He had a sheepish smile now. His eyes fell over her form, burning her image to his brain. He never wanted to forget what she looked like, smelled like, sounded like. "My name is Riften." Apparently she had not heard him before when he introduced himself, or maybe she was just more focused on trying to break him of the political bonds he did not hold close to his heart. Whatever the reason was, he truly did not mind. "You think of me as a bard?" he asked as the warmth of his cheeks rose. Luckily for him, his cheeks were covered in the soft coat of his fur, shielding his emotions from her. Though he was certain she probably already understood what was happening inside of his head.

@Rayne

art: raven & code: clae

He was persistent, a quality she admired but one that also did make her slightly uncomfortable. She did not want him to feel as if he was indebted to her, nor did she have anything she could ask of him to relieve him from such a debt. She would have done it for anyone else who was worthy of such, living a life given to them. No life deserved to be taken unless they were hell on earths and there were very few circumstances were wolves were capable of being such. Or so in her opinion anyway. “Riften,” she sighed, “you don’t owe me that, I promise. How would you even do that? Pay me back I mean?” She didn’t like being a burden, nor did he like to feel like she was owed anything for a task such as the one at hand now. For the moment she allowed it to pass, but she knew it was not a conversation she was willing to leave for dead as of now. “Bards are quite artistic,” she added with a nod of her head while her gaze then caught the overcast of the shadowed sky. “Seems like it’s going to rain soon, I should probably head home., as should you” With a soft nod of her head she would dismiss herself, but surely she would see him again especially after his devotion to her. exit rayne "If the accident will."

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