brave_kreyu | OOM All Skate Skellig Dream Magic Weirdness -Part 10

"I wonder if the gods see us like that, so very small and far removed from their reality." They are finishing their lunch when Kreyu walks back into the clearing.

SOMEONE went hunting in the ocean and forgot that this shape is covered in feathers. Feathers that are very not water resistant.

She looks rather miserable, but at least her stomach is full.

To his credit, Skellig does not laugh outright. But his eyes widen slightly, then crinkle, and the corners of his mouth pull upwards in what is definitely a smirk he's struggling to force down.

"You see now why I do not often swim, my love."

Not laughing. Definitely not laughing.

"I would offer to preen you," he adds. "But I don't know how long that might take." He walks over to her, beckons for her to lower her head. "Perhaps these just near your eyes."

She lowers her head oh so gently to Skellig. "Forgot," she mumbles.

It will be a relief to get the feathers straightened out around her eyes.

Something in the way they are touching, helping one another, makes Xenophon's heart ache, just a little. "You remind me of my parents, when they were alive," he says, voice quiet.

That comment makes Skellig's spirit brighten slightly, Kreyu will sense it on his energy as he works to add his preening oil to his fingers and then weave her feathers around her eyes back into order.

"Perhaps it will give you inspiration for when you raise children of your own," he says. "If you choose to return to the village once we have straightened out your debts, I'm sure that young woman - Kirke, was it? She seemed to be...interested in you there at the well."

Kreyu closes her eyes, relaxes into his touch.

Xenophon blushes furiously at his mention of Kirke. "I, perhaps?" he stammers. "I will have my sister to think of too. I would see her settled, secure in her future, before I consider taking a wife."

"That is a honorable thing," Skellig says. He will not press on the subject of Kirke again - at least not YET, anyways. No sense in making the remaining flight time of the day uncomfortable or awkward!

Once he has finished to his satisfaction, Skellig leans in and presses his lips to her face. "There. Better. I will do more tonight, if needed, should you stay in this form."

And her feathers should be dry enough now that they can replace the gear rig and once again prepare for takeoff.

"Thank you, love. I should air dry, at least."

They prepare for takeoff and Xenophon is calmer during their rapid rise into the air. Not perfectly calm, but calmer!

"We have covered such a great distance already," Xenophon says. "It is no wonder so many dream of flying, of that freedom."

"We plan to travel a bit after our time in Mycenae," he admits without going into too much detail. "The pull is strong to explore and find new places, experience fresh things."

As he speaks, he is idly preening what feathers he can reach on her neck. Not many, but it's soothing for him as much as it is her, and he doubts it is that distracting.

It is not distracting, and Kreyu quite enjoys it.

"We used to talk about traveling, adventuring when we were children, my sister and I," Xenophon replies. "She wanted to slay monsters and rescue princesses."

He might also be sneaking in some of his Light to mingle with her Karma now and then, just as an added boost - a full day of this form will be taxing on her, and he has PLENTY in his reserves after their escapades yesterday and the night before...

"Smart girl," Skellig laughs. "A much better option than remaining locked within the walls, unable to live the life you desire."

Royalty is tricky - he likes Kreyu's version of 'Goddess' / 'Queen', at least what he has seen so far.

"A difficult thing to be, a princess," Kreyu rumbles. "Married off for politics, often a target for enemies of your family."

"I don't know if she's even thought about that in years," Xenophon admits. "We've had to focus so much on just surviving."

Skellig's Light will be appreciated, a little energy boost.

"That is a feeling I am all too familiar with," Skellig says quietly. He does not elaborate (no need to) on the subject, instead focuses his energy more on their flight.

"Once we have found the man who holds the debts of you and your sister, clear things up... then your attention can shift towards growth and thriving."

"Yes," Xenophon replies. "I, we, will never be able to thank you and Kreyu enough for your help."

The sun is nearing the horizon when Kreyu brings them in for a landing. Time to camp for the night!

"I had hoped to make better time, but I think we will make it by mid-day tomorrow, if the winds cooperate," she grumbles as they are unloading their gear.

"Flying into a headwind is not an easy task, my heart. I think we are both grateful for a safe passage and forward progress."

The last of the gear unloaded, he presses a kiss to her leg where he is nearest.

"We can set up camp," he offers. It will be a simple affair - a bedroll for each and a fire, which Xenophon is already gathering wood for. "I can hear a stream not far off, we can boil some water."

He isn't sure if she wants to hunt again or just curl up in cat form on his 'pillow' and lounge to relax.

"Thank you, love. I would appreciate that." Xenophon has a good eye for finding firewood, so they should have plenty of fuel to cook and get through the night.

Kreyu shifts to her cat shape, represses the urge to lick her fur into order. "Ugh, I'm all....disheveled," she complains. There are a few combs in their supplies that could sort that problem out!

"I will tend to your fur in a moment. Here," he unroll his bedding and fluffs it a bit, patting a space for her to lie down. "Let me get the water gathered, and I'll be back shortly."

By the time he has returned the fire is going, and getting water on to boil and finding something to cook - there are dehydrated things that will come easily back into a more edible form with hot water added - and he fetches a comb from his bag, settles in to stretch out his legs, patting his lap now.

"This will at least be easier than trying to preen all those feathers."

"MUCH easier," Kreyu agrees. She settles onto his lap, careful to keep her claws retracted. She rubs her cheek against his leg, purrs.

Xenophon is working on dinner, this kind of food is the kind of thing he does know how to cook!

(Skellig also knows that Xenophon already feels indebted to THEM, and while he would argue that is unnecessary, he could go until he was blue in the face. So allowing him to cook, at his insistence, helps him feel as if he is at least doing SOMETHING.)

Starting with her chin makes the most sense, so he rubs at that bare handed before moving to work the comb through her fur.

"It is good fortune that the winds have kept the worst of weather at bay," Skellig comments. "We should be able to simply sleep out without needing cover."

Kreyu is purring up a storm, eyes closed. This feels so good, his touch, his warmth, so much more immediate in this shape than it is in her draconic one.

"Most fortunate," she agrees. "Getting soaked again would be quite a miserable experience."

Xenophon is busy working with dinner when Kreyu speaks only loud enough for Skellig to hear. "I hope his sister is still alive and still where she's supposed to be."

"A concern of mine as well," he whispers softly - with both their hearing much better than standard human, they are easily able to speak between themselves.

Skellig has a feeling that this cat shape of hers will become a favorite of his, of only for the closeness it allows when she cannot show her 'true' self.

"I do not know if it would be wise to worry too much until we have arrived in Mycenae," he adds. "But a plan should be considered."

"I could always stick the claws of this shape in some sensitive bits of the contract holder's anatomy," Kreyu offers, tone dark.

She sighs. "If she is already dead, there is nothing we can do. But if she is alive and merely elsewhere, there are many ways information can be acquired."

Kreyu is also enjoying the ability to freely cuddle with Skellig!

"You have many tricks to encourage cooperation at your disposal."

Skellig cringes slightly at the thought of having CLAWS embedded DOWN THERE. Very unpleasant. He most certainly would give up info if that was the case!

"And you are not afraid to use them," he adds, rubbing at her ears.

"I do," Kreyu replies, slightly smug.

Oh, ear rubs are bliss! "Feels good," she murmurs, nearly boneless in his lap.

It is also a very good thing that they got most of their 'quota' for activities handled before they left the Lair - otherwise her purring might cause a bit of a
...stir.

"Are you going to want to eat anything? Or just thrive on my company for the evening?"

"I am still full from my hunt," she murmurs. "And I am most comfortable right here with you."

She's a bit sleepy already, actually. Maybe it's this shape, cats sleep so many hours of the day! She yawns, stretches, then settles herself again.

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