Wake Up

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael smiled, she did indeed knock herself down enough to render him useless in the equation. The False god nearly grinned as he thought about it, but when she put her hands on him he twitched slightly. Mostly it was because her hands were still somewhat cold. Still, his smile didn't disappear entirely.

“Even? I carried you up half a mountain. Pretty sure you owe me one.” Soliael smirked, then hold her the truth. "I'm better."

His back still ached, and it was sore, but thanks to her it was not debilitating anymore, nor would it stop him from continuing on back to the fortress. He was far more concerned about her. She had been rendered unconscious, and unlike him, she didn't have a warm bed and complete heat transfer from another person. Soliael wasn't quite as good with sensitive matters of the force as Kira had been, and thus had only had his own heat to give her.

Slowly, he began to use his fingers to draw on the small of her back, occupying himself by lightly running his fingers across her skin. “How are you feeling?”

 

[Kira Talith]

Kira couldn't help the slight quirk of her brow. Was he joking? Was he being serious? As she didn't know the ability to see in the dark, she was kinda out of luck in being able to read him. Granted, when half of him was pressed next to her, she could technically figure out someway to do so.

However, she was sore, tired, couldn't feel half of her toes, she was sure that bruise on her hip only got bigger, and from the tightness across her face - she'd lick her rough lips with her tongue to moisten them -- yeah, she just might have a bad wind burn. She was in no position to distinguish truth from lie.

Of course, that's when he started to play etch-a-sketch on the small of her back. She gave an mirror of the twitch he gave but for an entirely different reason.

It tickled.

"Ahh.." there came a wiggle, arching her back as if to get away. "Peachy!" she'd say, her voice rising an octave. Okay so maybe not so peachy, but that was the first thing that came to mind when his fingers were tracing sensitive skin.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He smirked.

The arching of her back was due to him, that much he knew. His fingers didn't stop tracing though, instead they seemed to slow down a bit, become more defined. Halfway through Soliael decided that he was drawing a Drexl, and through the invisible ink that came from his finger tips Soliael began to slowly create a portrait of Dxun's greatest predator.

“Do you know how to create light?” Soliael asked her. He had seen Jedi do it before, illuminate spaces somehow. Soliael had never been able to do it, mostly because he had never tried, but he wouldn't know where to begin.

His night vision was terrible due to the Hapan part of him, and though he could use the force to see somewhat, it was still pale in comparison to actual light. If Kira could instruct him on how to do it, perhaps they could get somewhere.

Or they could cuddle for the next four hours, either or.

 

[Kira Talith]

"Just what are you doing --" there came another twitch. The tickling sensation would thankfully fade once the wandering drawing would slow. Thought it was rather disconcerting. So much it took her a couple of seconds to realized what he'd asked of her.

"Oh!.. Yeah," this she did know. Yay for feeling useful. "I'll need to get move though." she'd say, as his arms were still around her. She'd start to slide her hands from his back and under his arms.

She'd frown, "Although maybe I can just..." she'd bring her hands up close to her chest, scooting a bit back so as to have some space in between them. This would also bring a shaft of cold air, and she'd give a shiver. Palms would cup upon the other, and she'd start to focus.

Every so slowly, warmth would pool between her palms, until a soft blue white light would emanate in between them. It would bath them in the soft glow, illuminating their surroundings.

Peeking from the animal furs, she'd bring her hand out, feeling the bite of the cold as her hand would guide the light over their head. Now they were both able to see the jagged slate walls of the low ceiling cave, hard packed ice reflecting a cold blue hue further back -- or front.

It was small, that he'd managed to find it was a miracle of the Force in itself. She'd frown, noticing that they were completely enclosed.

"How did you..." her question would trail off unsaid, her pale face turning to catch his gaze with her query painted over it.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

His arms slipped away from surrounding her, her warmth leaving him as she scooted back slightly. The cold didn't strike him as hard as it did her, but he could still feel it sneak beneath the over of the furs.

The soft glow that erupted was enough to blind him. The sudden return to light, especially when he was staring directly at its source, made him snap his eyes shut immediately. For a few seconds he kept them that way, then slowly, with a ludicrous amount of blinks Soliael opened his eyes again. The soft glow of the light bathed the small cave, illuminating every fascist and crevice within the cave, including the wall that he had formed.

“I used the force.” He said with a smile.

In truth, he had used Sith Magic. The Ice had been rather easy to melt, and he had decided that creating a solid wall would be better than a loose packaging of snow. The wall was seamless, appearing as though it had been there for nearly a thousand years.

His fingers drummed slightly.

 

[Kira Talith]

"Smart ass," came her quip, but there was no denying the amount of power and strength in the Force one would have to use to form that solid wall of ice.

More than she'd originally thought he'd be capable of if he was feeling as much as felt and looked right now. Something to mull over, that's for sure. "Well..." she'd start to move into a small sitting position, wincing as stiff muscles throughout her body protested. Her other hand would curl to try an keep the edge of the cloak on her, but she couldn't stop another shiver from running down her spine.

"You did a great job, there," her lips would thin. He had. This is what had likely saved them from the harsh drop of sub-zero temperatures as the night had progressed. "Any clue how long we've been here?" time was a blur for her. They'd have to start considering what their options were. Was it safe to travel again? Were they in any shape to do so? Just how far was the fortress?

The Lorrdian would pan her gaze back at his, catching his eyes, the expression on his face. The cut on his lower lip.

annnnnnnd there it was. Bam. She remembered what had occurred just prior to her passing out. Well, she had one thing to be grateful for. With how hot her face was in embarrassment, it quickly made any bite of the freezing cold fade.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael watched as Kira's face suddenly became red hot, as if someone had smacked her bottom. His eyebrow rose slightly, of course not realizing that she had forgotten what happened until just now. He wanted to ask, but thought better of it.

“No.” He said shaking his head. "I slept, just like you did."

The False God raised himself up alongside her, though he slipped out from beneath the cloak, choosing to instead wrap it around her entirely. Kira needed the warmth far more than he. The rest had done him good, and even after using the considerable energy to reshape the ice, Soliael felt quite well, aside from the constant ache within his back.

Now of course they would have to decide how to get out of here.

For a brief second, Soliael eyed the crack in the wall, then returned his gaze to Kira's bright pink face, which seemed to slowly be taking on the color of a lobster.

Odd.

 

[Kira Talith]

Snuggled warm under the cloak warmed by both of their bodies heat, Kira would latch to the curiosity of that crack along the wall. Really, anything was better than having him turn and setting that questioning look over her.

"What is it?" she'd ask, shifting forward to swing the dim sphere of light in the center of her arm towards the rear of the cave. It was thin. Small enough for a person to perhaps squeeze on through with some sucking in of the gut.

Easy peasy for someone as small as her.

"Think it might be a way out?" that would be quite the heavy risk. Unknown as it was if it would lead to a dead end, an underground network of caverns, or might even lead to a straight shaft into the abyss of Exocron's core itself.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael looked at her, smirking this time.

She was trying to change the subject.

Was she thinking about the Kiss? Probably. That would explain the lobster like skin she had taken on.

Despite his own amusement. Soliael decided to entertain the idea of switching subjects. It wouldn't due to make her uncomfortable right now. She had just been rather unconscious and out of it, and if she became upset...Well Soliael didn't want her anymore hurt than she already was.

“I don't know. It likely goes deeper into the mountains. There's a series of caves that run beneath this region, the fortress makes use of them as escape tunnels.” Again, the truth, a truth that by all rights Kira should never know.

That was supposed to have been a bit of knowledge known to only a few.

 

[Kira Talith]

Kira wouldn't realize the seriousness of Soliael revealing so much to her. The risk it would place on him. On Moross.

"A series of caves?" her ears would perk, the heat that had saturated them fading as curiosity took hold. She'd slowly and gingerly get to her feet, until she stood in front of that crack. She'd bent at the waist, bringing the orb of light closer.

"Have they've all been charted?" came her next question. "Maybe some kind of markers?" if there were escape routes through the cave, there had to be some kind of sensors at certain points. Guideposts. Something so as to prevent occupants from getting lost.

She'd dart a glance over her shoulder. "On a scale from heck no to Geronimo, how is your back doing?" she'd be able to slip inside easily... he.. well...

Her ice blue eyes would trail from the top of his shorn head, past the broad shoulders in thermals and to his booted feet.

Well maybe not so much.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael looked at her, the temptation to reach out an arm and kiss her again was a strong one. He wasn't sure why, her voice? No. Her embarrassment at the simplest thing? Perhaps. More likely, it was her attitude. Even in the face of death, when they were on their back foot she chose to be chirpy and happy, she chose to look on the bright side.

There was something about that which the False God found enthralling.

“I told you, I'm better.” He had no idea where the caves would go. This far out they had not been mapped, and Soliael hadn't the time to study them on his own. They would be taking a shot in the dark, but it was better than walking around the frozen tundra outside. Besides, if Soliael recovered enough, he could simply blink them back to the surface.

Probably.

Slowly Soliael stood form the cave floor, making sure to bend his neck slightly so that he didn't hit his head. How he had been lucky enough to find such an enclosed space, he would never know. The Force worked in mysterious ways.

 

[Kira Talith]

There would flash a crooked impish smile at his direction then. "Just double checking -- watch your head," Kira would then warn. While the low ceiling suited her just fine, comparatively, it wouldn't be comfortable for Soliael for long on his feet.

"I'll go first," her free hand would start to tug at his cloak. It would fall at her feet in a rush of cool air and a subsequent shiver. Well she couldn't go climbing into the thing with it on. With her luck she'd get her legs tangled up and fall on her face.

Ohh, her body was going to regret this. She just knew it.

"Time to buckle up, Kira beans," she'd murmur to herself in a pep talk, right before she would start to slip her body in between the crevice. Small pebbles would scatter, and she'd hold her hand with the sphere of light in front of her. The rock was ice cold, and Kira had a feeling that if bare skin were to find sharp corners, she'd end up with a nasty souvenir.

Five feet worth of wiggling, a few grunts, and sliding her way past would reveal a widening in the crevice, enough for her to move a bit more freely. About five minutes later, one foot would swing down, scatting pebbles, uttering a mild curse, and getting a few scratches. She'd find a firm foothold, all adrenaline and no fear, her hand of light held high as she'd give a small gasp...

Then called out back, her voice resonating within the cavern walls. "....don't worry.... it gets BIGGER."

Enter a low whistle.

"A lot bigger."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

As Kira began to crawl through the crevice Soliael was left standing within the blackness. He smiled after her, then picked up the cloak from where she had dropped it on the floor. He didn't trust either one of them not to need it later, they would likely fall into a lake or drop each other on ice or perhaps simply just walk into a random wall of cold air.

Anything could happen with Kira Liadain around.

With some trepidation Soliael pushed himself into the crevice. His height and size was made the journey somewhat more difficult that it was for Kira, he had to suck in his gut and try to push himself through. It was uncomfortable and at one point he felt he felt a sharp piece of rock tear at his stomach. He winced slightly, and felt the thermal bodysuit tear across his abdomen, pain lanced through him, but he ignored it.

Suddenly, Soliael managed to stumble out of the crevice, more popping out that smoothly sliding out. A single stumbling step, and the False God managed to find himself standing next to Kira, looking at the massive caves beneath the mountain.

“Eh.” Soliael said with a shrug. “I've seen bigger.”

He didn't notice the slight trail of blood running down his stomach.

 

[Kira Talith]

"Really, and just where is --" Kira would start, turning back to look at him as he fell into place at her side.

"Oh my goodness, you're hurt!' she'd immediately bring the sphere of light over to his abdomen, taking a closer look. Her face drew pale at the sight of the blood.

Yeah, this wasn't good. Whatever nicked him good had sliced right through his thermal, tearing a line over his stomach. She wasn't going to ask the obvious if it hurt, clearly, it did.

"C'mon.. I'll need you to lay down for a bit so I can take a good look at that." Well, they traded one issue for another. All the while Kira couldn't help but blame herself.

Thankfully, out in the open like this inside a wider cavern gave them some options. The only thing being is that the Lorrdian wished she was more skilled in healing than in things like pick-pocketing.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He looked down, suddenly noticing the throbbing pain from the cut.

The thermal around his abdomen was slowly growing damp with the blood, and was of course quickly freezing. Though it was warmer down here in the caves, it was still cold enough to cause the blood to congeal and freeze. Soliael felt his skin shrivel and he scowled slightly as he realized what was going on.

Fool.

Soliael looked around for a few moments, searching for some place he could lay down. There would be no arguments from him on this, he knew very well what an open wound in this weather could do, especially one that came from a rock. The thought of infection did not worry him, the force would keep such things at bay, at least when you were not weakened.

Quickly he found his way to one of the rock walls, with considerable effort he lowered himself down to the ground, crunching his abs slightly causing him to wince. Blood was still pouring out.

“So...” Soliael said slightly looking up at Kira. “Come here often?”

Humor.

They needed humor.

It was just a wound, it was not the end. Things quite honestly looked dismal from an objective point of view, but neither Soliael nor Kira could afford to give up. He would be damned if he let her die out here because of his idiocy.

 

[Kira Talith]

The Lorrdian would get on her knees beside him, wincing at the sight of the wound. Okay this was gonna take some concentration. Blood was already starting to congeal, which was a good thing -- but it was freezing. Which was the bad thing.

"Only every other day," she'd tell him, "Sometimes I bring a friend. Depends if he's been eating too many pastry puffs or not." She was trying to joke, to make light of the situation. But she couldn't stop the fine trembling of her hand as she'd reach over to inspect the extent of the damage.

"Usually the former." came the pointed quip. It was a long ragged line, one she could perhaps manage to control if she acted quickly.

"Lights out, buttercup." She'd say, the sphere of light sending them into darkness. She couldn't afford sustaining both. Not when she needed to concentrate on accelerating the healing of his laceration as thoroughly as possible. "If it tingles... don't worry... it's normal." came one final quip.

"Maybe."

She didn't need light to do that. No, with the Force, anything was possible and that would be her guide. With her hands hovering over his abdomen, she took a deep breath, and much like before with his back, concentrated as hard as she could. The Force would surge within the Jedi Master, the rest and the warmth that Soliael had given her a recharge she needed to do this.

Funny how that worked.

Warm energy would cast her hands into a soft glow, providing just enough light for the shadows of her face and his injury to be seen.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

That was not the only light that rang through the chamber. From beneath the waters of the pools around them bio-luminescent creatures began to give off a soft glowing light. Soliael eyed them, the force enhancing his vision just enough to allow him to glimpse around the cavern. It was massive, huge pools of water had collected everywhere, icicles hung from the ceiling, but so did strands of strange green algae that had grown over centuries.

At the far end of the room he could make out a small tunnel, the same was to the right.

Suddenly he flinched.

Kira's hands touched him, the healing beginning causing him to wince. Not out of pain, but out of the feeling of his skin knitting back together. It felt reminiscent of the the Techno-Virus, but different. It was warm, it was hot, it was...hard to describe.

Soliael looked down at Kira, and the urge to touch her face reared its head again.

Instead, he dug his fingers into the rocks and sand. “You should come here on Saturdays, It's ladies night. I heard there's some really attractive guys in thermal suits.”

 

[Kira Talith]

Her lids would be shut. At this distance, he'd be able to see the tiny furrows of her brow in deep concentration. A thin coating of grime would cover her face, and a nerflick of her hair right over her bangs would stick up rebelliously.

What beauty he'd see in their bioluminescent surroundings would be lost to her, for her sole focus was on Soliael. Unlike with Darkside healing, using the Force in a manner to simply accelerate was far more thorough. Precise. While not gentle, it would take the time to coax and stimulatie nerve endings and capillaries into place. It was a time consuming process, one that the Lorrdian would take with all seriousness. It was there in the set of her jaw, the way she would worry the fullness of her lower lip, the scrunch of her face in determination.

Say what you could of the Jedi, there was some grit in her.

"Thermals are not my thing, apparently they don't hold up well to vigorous spelunking." she'd say, moving down in a slow arc over his abdomen. "... now an Ewok suit..." the worry lines and mars over her brow would smooth as she'd say in mild devilry.

"That's a confidante man right there." It was hard to tell if she was joking or not -- but one couldn't miss the upward quirk at the corner of her mouth.

"I personally prefer Monday nights -- All you can eat buffet. Heard there are some great bantha steaks to be found."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael smirked, looking down at Kira as she concentrated on healing him.

The tickling on his stomach began to increase, the flesh roping together and knitting into place. He squirmed slightly, unable to stop himself from moving under the feeling of his skin moving back together. It didn't hurt, there was no pain. Perhaps he could get used to lightside healing, it really wasn't too bad compared to what he was used to.

As Kira concentrated, hair felt into her face.

Gently he reached down and moved the hair from her face, placing it behind her ear so it would stay.

“Can't stand Mondays, the bar tender that works Mondays is always so rude.” Soliael smirked at her, watching as the blood stopped flowing from his wound. It was working, albeit slowly.

 

[Kira Talith]

Blunt cold fingers would sweep the wayward bangs behind her ear, the sensation surprising her a bit enough to open her eyes. Pale blue would meet dim-lit orange, studying him quietly for a moment.

After a second she'd give a small encouraging half smile, "Then maybe you should just buy her a drink," she'd say, returning to her task with half lid eyes.

"She might warm up to you then." she'd look a shade paler, but wouldn't relent. For a practiced healer, this would be easier and faster. For a generalist like her, even as a Master and with rest, it would take more out of her. Thankfully, the time spent resting while he'd given her his warmth would allow her to pay it forward.

"Or just make her laugh." her smile would widen, and despite the weariness, would brighten her face. "Laughter has a way of tearing down walls."

Okay, maybe that was a bit more serious than normal, but it was genuine. There was more to it than just that.