A Beacon in the Storm

[Riamah]

She looked at Ace as Vulpesen answered the question and gave him a very dirty look.

"You stinker."

They would all hear it, but there was no real heat or anger in the words. Not much humor though either. When he said the last bit of an answer though, Ra let out a little sigh herself and probably blush a bit more.

"At least somebody likes the way I look when I blush."

Now that humor was back and she owed him for making her blush more than twice tonight. She didn't let go of him though and maintained the what she thought of as more like a hug with him.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

In response to her words, Ace simply opened his mouth in a wide panting smile, his bright eyes glinting with mischievous mirth. "So I've been telling him." A part of him wanted to allow the connection to continue, just so he could continue to see that look on her face. Still, manners still dictated many of his actions and as such, he closed his mind off to the ashlan, causing the sight to vanish from his mind. "I doubt I'm the only one." There was a smile in his voice as he slowed Shadow back to her normal page, not wanting to tire her out. Looking to the side, he did however see that his reaction had gotten them to the canyon a bit quicker than expected. "Hmm..."

 

[Riamah]

"You knew you were doing too!"

Letting out a purely fake huff of irritation, Ra looked away from Ace.

"Well to be fair, there's nobody that's gotten me to blush as much as you have in one day. So you may be the only one."

It was truth in what she said. It took a lot to get to her, but when it came to emotions closer to the heart, she didn't know what to do. His tone indicated he was smiling though. In slowing Shadow down, they had sped past the castle without either of them noticing and were in the canyons.

"I wonder what they eat out here?"

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen chuckled as she chastised Ace who simply trotted across the tail to curl up innocently against her. Cheeky bastard. Just looking out for you! "Really? Well, that's a shame." Despite his word, he couldn't help but gleam some happiness from her statement, happiness that would become a bit evident as his tail unfurled to wag between them, snaking through the air as he surveyed the canyon. "Probably try to snag those gulls and Fish you were talking about."

 

[Riamah]

Adjusting her position just slightly to allow Ace the room the curl up against her, her kept her arms around Vulpesen.

"Yes, well, keeping people away from doesn't allow for such opportunities to happen."

Rivers made canyons, so maybe...she pointed in the direction of where she landed her ship the first time ever coming to Vjun. Before she had learned what she was, when she really was just a neutral apprentice. A time when she was learning about Jedi and sith, their beliefs and codes.

"There is a large rock formation in the middle of that canyon there. I'm sure the canyon is large enough to go through the sea and maybe they would hide there."

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

He nodded and stopped Shadow at the edge of the canyon as he leaned over slightly to peer down onto the stone. "Seems about as good an idea as anywhere else." Dropping off off Shadow, he turned and offered Ra a hand down form the Fox's back. "Should probably go through on foot. I don't think any Vjun fox would stick around if it caught sight of her coming towards it."

 

[Riamah]

He stopped Shadow and got down like he had spent a lifetime doing it. Turning around, he offered his hand to help her down. Taking it with a smile meant only for him, she landed on the ground in front of him. This was the first time they had been this close face to face and even though it was a simple helping of her climb down, Ra still blushed very slightly at their proximity.

"Agreed. I know I would be uncertain to say the least to see her heading my way. Even if she was calm."

Looking at Shadow, she rested her other hand not holding Vulpesen's on her side for a moment.

"Thank you, Shadow. She can understand me right?"

He had spoken in another language to her before, so Ra was uncertain.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Oblivious at the moment that she had kept a hold of his hand, Vulpesen acted fairly normally, even if he found himself grinning at her blush. Rude as it might have been, Ace had set Vulpesen to ease by showing that he wasn't the only one who was enjoying his and Ra's time together. "She'll understand some things, or at least the basic ideas of them." Shadow's tails wagged a bit as Ra started to pet her, the five appendages causing a constant swishing sound.

 

[Riamah]

Smiling at his words and his grin, Ra stopped petting Shadow and looked up at her back. It was the last place Ace had been seen and she wondered if he had wondered off somewhere or if he was still up there.

Looking back at Vulpesen, "where did that little devil go?"

The sound of Shadow's tails filled the air around them. It was obvious she had liked the petting given to her. Making a note of this, Ra would spend some time with her later. Give her more attention.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen grinned and reached up, taking the edge of his coat. "If I had to guess." Pulling it back, he looked down. Sure enough, Ace's head was poking out of one of his pockets,t he rest of his body curled up behind its cover. "Lazy." Walking over, Vulpesen peered into the open canyon, his tail swishing a bit behind him. "Good thing I'm not afraid of heights. Shall we set off?"

 

[Riamah]

Ra let out a little "ugh" sound when Ace was revealed to be hiding in the breast pocket of Vulpesen and shook her head. When he moved away to go peer over the edge of the canyon, he tugged Ra along with him since neither one had let go of holding hands.

Looking over the edge with him and giving a small snort of a laugh, she turned to look at him.

"Nor am I. Do we plan to scale the walls holding hands?"

This was said with real humor and a smile that lit up her entire face.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Turning to face Ra, he had a look of confusion as to why he had felt the tug. Of course, she was ready with an explanation that turned his face a bright burning red. "Umm..." Lost for words, he dropped her hand and glanced at the cliff. Oh this is beautiful... Come on, say something! Lifting a finger, the zorren would seem to have something to finally say... then he simply leaned back and fell off the canyon's edge, though a spike in his force presence would show that he did have a way to keep from becoming a red stain on the Vjun stone.

 

[Riamah]

Getting to see him blush felt rather satisfying after the number of times he had done it to her and Ra got a rather smug look on her face. His reply indicated he was at a loss of words and then he let go of her hand. Looking over the cliff, he raised a finger like he was going to speak, but instead just leaned back and to fall over the edge.

He opened himself to the Force and used that to keep himself from crashing at the bottom. Rolling her eyes, Ra started looking around for a path down the face of the cliff. The trick he did wasn't one she knew and would need to find her own way down.

Having been this way a few times, she knew where to go once she found it. Turning around, she rubbed her hands together and started her descent. It was if the angles, handholds and places to put her feet were made for her. It wouldn't be fast though.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Gazing up at the crawling Ra, Vulpesen couldn't help but laugh a bit. "Relax, I've got ya!" Reaching up, Vulpesen exerted his will through the force. Ra would feel a small squeeze around her body as the force surrounded her in a gently grasp. "Just let go so I don't accidentally yank your arms of their joints!" Having escaped from his embarrassing moment with at least a shred of dignity, he figured it was only right that she not pay for his nerves.

 

[Riamah]

After descending for only a few minutes, Ra heard him yell out to relax and to let go off the wall. That he had and would carry her down. She felt the Force grab a hold of her and she let go, closing her eyes and trusting him not to drop her on purpose. It actually made that side of her mind cry out that kept telling her to just run. Once again, she pushed that away and decided that at least for now she would stop listening to it.

Far faster than it would have taken her to climb down, she found herself standing on the ground next to him. When he let her go, even though she wasn't sure if it was acceptable to him, she would walk over and give him a light kiss on the cheek. Looking up before speaking, there was no blush on her face, but she looked almost a touch uncertain.

"Thank you for the help, Vulps."

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen smiled brightly as he was allowed to relax, having successfully lowered Ra to the ground. As she walked over, he assumed she was simply going to stand by his side and join him. He was not however, expecting the kiss to his cheeks. The reaction was to be expected as he turned red once more, and by this point he was starting to resign himself to the idea that he wouldn't be his normal skin tone for any long length of time so long as this woman was around. Still, despite the blush, he did place on a wide smile as he looked at her. "My pleasure."

 

[Riamah]

Getting a second blush out of him was almost as satisfying as the first, but Ra didn't let the smug look return. He smiled and said it was his pleasure.

"You really are something else, you know that? Can take an untrusting sith and make her giggle like a girl as well as gaining her trust."

Just by being honest. Taking in a bit of a breath at realizing she still stood so close to him, Ra stepped back. Looking to the ground for a moment and then at her companion, she tilted her head slightly.

"Where do you want to start?"

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"Thanks. But I guess good company just brings it out of me. Have to say though, I never thought I'd be trusting a sith, myself. Particularly not after so short a time." Swaying his tail back and forth like a metronome, he allowed her to recompose herself before looking out over the area. "Well, with some luck, perhaps one of those foxes is still hiding in that outcropping to escape the rain. That's probably our best bet."

 

[Riamah]

With that same tilt to her head, Ra considered how best to go about looking for one of the foxes. She did have a smile at his words though. If nothing else came out of this fox hunt, storm or the day, at least she felt she had a friend. Somebody that she could trust. For the moment, she didn't let her thoughts wonder from the quest at hand and thought of an idea.

Reaching up to hopefully peer inside his pocket, she looked for Ace. He was able to understand her, but the full communication was between him and Vulpesen.

"Want to go look and see if you can find another fox?"

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

If there was ever a moment Ace wished he could speak common without borrowing Vulpesen's voice, this was it. Peering up at Ra as his azure fur gave off a soft glow, he gave a small shrug while the zorren heard his ever present thoughts running through his mind. Depends, can I get a refund for the one I've got? While Ra certainly wouldn't be able to hear the words, Vulpesen's expression would change a bit, his eyes narrowing while a finger dipped down to pop Ace lightly on the crown of his head. "So much snark today." You know you love me. Leaping out of the pocket and away from his bond mate's finger, Ace started to crawl up Ra's sleeve back up to her shoulder.