Mountain Lore- Closed

[WeaverofWorlds]

"Don't worry, have a little faith."

He only grunted at that, sitting as still as possible as someone who was, by all reckoning, still somewhat of a stranger took a knife to his face. Perhaps a bit dramatic, as thoughts went, but he trusted Shyla enough to follow the instruction she gave him. What he handed expected was for her to straddle his leg, pushing her cleavage into his view, the heat between her legs a constant reminder of her presence... and her womanhood. His body stilled as thoughts ran through his mind, of her relative weakness, of her slight frame in comparison to his mountain hardened body. Either she was truly so naïve, she was doing this on purpose or she simply hadn't considered the matter. Thankfully, she was finished with one side quickly enough, and switching quickly and pressing herself even closer to his body. A light grumble of... something... but he kept still once more, trying to focus on anything but her.

"You see, nothing to be apprehensive about. I didn't cut you once. Now, how does it feel?"

A hand reached up to feel the sides of his face. It had been a very long time since he'd been anything even close to shaved. If his beard every became too much, he had long since to simply hacking at it with a knife, enough to keep it from getting too long at any rate. This was... unfamiliar. Not bad, but unfamiliar all the same. All that said, it wasn't an unpleasant feeling, and it certainly was something that should be commented on.

"It feels... nice."

He wasn't sure how else to put things, such as it was. Regardless, her comments on sleeping arrangements were... not wrong, but also not something he wanted to think about with her straddling his leg. Instead, he met her proposal with a simple "I'll think on it." and moved on.

The next few days were spent quietly, or as quiet as they could be given the weight of things. He'd put effort into trying to speak more, even if it was just simple words of affirmation or discussions of what needed done. More appropriate to his situation, however, was the slow waxing of the moon. He found himself watching it more carefully, as he always did, standing outside as night fell and the moon rose into the sky, eyes carefully judging the coming nights. He'd need to go on one of his hunting trips soon... and Shyla would need to be told.

Over the following days he put together the necessities of his trip, the small things that made his life easier on the return. Similarly, food was prepped, a task he normally didn't need to do, but for Shyla's presence. She was strengthening, but every task she didn't have to complete was another task for recovery. He could feel her eyes, curious and watchful, as he silently went about his tasks, until the night before his departure. It was in the middle of preparing the evenings stew, a task he saw to more out of habit than anything when Shyla hadn't the strength or the time to prepare something herself, that his voice rose to address the issue.

"I'll need to go hunting the next few days. Range farther than normal. Won't be back for three nights."

Even to his ears it sounded harsh and factual. But he knew no better way to put it, and how else was he to make it clear that he would be gone for awhile.

 

[Perplexia]

When she had mentioned winter sleeping arrangements he said he'd think on it. With him there always seemed to be thinking. To her it simply made sense. Of course there was also the memory of his arm around her as they had laid next to each other under the overhang. Even though he had gotten better in replying, Shyla continued to find herself wanting to be closer to him. Yet he kept her at arms length, perhaps not as far as he had, but progress was progress.

Oh how she wish she could read his mind and see what was going on in there, at least that way she'd have a clue. But for now, she would simply have to learn to be satisfied with what he gave her.
Over the following days he was busy gathering food and preparing for something. This wasn't like their normal days routines at all. This was extra stuff he was doing in addition to.

"I'll need to go hunting the next few days. Range farther than normal. Won't be back for three nights."

Shyla didn't respond right away to his statement. Instead she gave one of his dismissive grunts and continued sewing her winter clothes. This explained his behavior the past few days at least. But it still didn't make any sense to her. As she began to grow tired she put her sewing down and looked to him.

"I don't understand why you must go so far and for so long. The woods close by are filled with animals, we've had little issue gather food or pelts. Did I do something wrong that makes you need to get away for a bit?"

 

[WeaverofWorlds]

"You've done nothing wrong."

The words came immediately, a far cry from his usual need to think a matter over before her replied. But the merest chance, the thought, that she'd somehow done wrong was... inexcusable to him. He would not, for a moment, allow her to think herself at fault for his failings. He paused after that, as he often did, before he responded to her question. She was observant, more than he'd thought she was, given her inability to travel very far on her own. But she'd noticed it all the same, somehow. Thankfully, he'd given some thought to his excuses, one that he thought made more sense than any other.

"Can't hunt the same places all the time. Animals learn where to avoid. We'll need the closer hunting grounds, come winter. As for the length of time... it's necessary. It saves needing to trek out each day, where instead one journey will suffice."

He hoped she would take his reasonings, that she would understand them, if not exactly like them. But one didn't have to like what was reasonable, accept that they were necessary. Accept that he would need to be away... he still wasn't sure how he would explain his return... hopefully, he would not have to. But with winter coming fast, he couldn't afford to spend more than the minimum away from the home, and with her growing healthier, she would almost certainly notice if he vanished without any explanation whatsoever. It wasn't even a complete lie, he did bring back meat and furs, if less than might be expected. The Beast was never as thorough as one might expect.

 

[Perplexia]

"Can't hunt the same places all the time. Animals learn where to avoid. We'll need the closer hunting grounds, come winter. As for the length of time... it's necessary. It saves needing to trek out each day, where instead one journey will suffice."

"I see" she said lightly. "I suppose its pointless for me to ask to go with you. Too far, too strenuous.. " she sighed and curled up in bed with her back toward him. But enough room for him to join her if he chose to. Shyla wasn't sure what was going on with her mood. Perhaps all this time with him, had somehow given her the urge to be domestic. Yet he seemed not interested in crossing that line. Perhaps what he said about her being able to stay as long as she wanted, was just in the moment thing. Taking the corner of the blanket on what would be his side she folded it down. Giving a clear sign he was welcome.

Shyla understood the fundamentals of mating. But the concept of her actions, such as straddling his leg, or having her breasts so close to his face didn't register. She only knew that when they touched, even in fleeting, it was such a profound feeling she wanted to repeat it as often as she could. If Alexis ever took things further she would welcome it. Perhaps when he came back from hunting he'd be more amicable to companionship.

 

[WeaverofWorlds]

He paused at the tone he detected in her voice, the disappointment and resignation. Shyla was clearly displeased with the decisions, but while he could understand, even agree with her distaste, the trip was necessary regardless. Too dangerous by far, even without her about, that something would go wrong. It was, and had ever been, the safer option to travel away and let the Beast do as it wished among territory it had claimed as its own.

He was not so blind as to miss her invitation either. He hesitated at it as well, mouth a line as he considered. A silent war, differing thoughts and opinions clashing within his mind. He knew, in some small way, that he was interested in her. It was hard not to be, call it planned or simply naivete, but Shyla had seemed intent upon some form of physical contact whenever she could manage to find it. Even this unspoken invitation, was it simply that she found comfort in his presence, or wished for something more, or was even this simply what she did, something she was used to? But in any event, this seemed a fair request, a compromise before he disappeared for a number of days. She would be on her own, truly on her own, for perhaps the first time in months, or at least when she was well enough to realize he had gone. Seeking comfort would be... normal, wouldn't it?

He moved carefully, slowly, unwilling to catch the young woman by surprise, despite she was the one offering. He found his way into the bed with some small sense of trepidation, untrusting not of her but himself. Still, the warmth of another body, close at hand among the furs that made up the bedding, was enough to fight off the chill of night. He hoped it would be enough, even as he hoped it would not, and that she might turn once more and curl herself against his frame.

Damn himself, and his own treacherous thoughts.

 

[Perplexia]

It actually surprised her that he took the invitation to crawl in bed with her. Somehow in her mind she thought it would just be one more thing that would lead her to believe he didn't want her here...in any capacity. The extra warmth was immediately felt by her. Instinctively her body inched toward his warmth until she felt his hard body. Then it dawned upon her that this might not be okay. So she inched back to her side of the bed shivering slightly.

Shyla found her emotions and actions as of late to be frustrating. But still that brief touch when they were in the water haunted her in ways she didn't quite understand herself. There was something Alexi was keeping to himself. As was his right, and probably what he'd been use to doing for most if not all his life. She had known that some tribes in her home world had different customs and beliefs. Some women were expected to do as they were told and not ask questions. Hers had been a little different, for if the man had gone off to sea and not returned the woman needed to know how things were done and how to do it.

"Alexi" she asked softly, "can i move closer to you? You're so warm."

 

[WeaverofWorlds]

Her words were heard in the stillness of the room, his thoughts grinding to a halt at the request. He knew better, had promised himself better, than to allow another in. To let someone venture passed the walls of solitude he'd put up, to risk themselves against the Beast. All the same... he couldn't quite refute the simple pleasure of just having someone nearby, even if they were but another presence to disrupt the lonely existence of a man atop a mountain. Shyla, too, had been more than a mere disruption, but a vibrant life, only growing more vibrant as strength returned to her limbs and her "touch" was felt through the small homestead. To deny that she had left her mark would be... he didn't know what it would be, but just the idea left him with a bad taste in his mouth.

He made no attempt to answer her question, at least not in words. Instead, he extended an arm across the small gap between their bodies, wrapping it about her stomach and bodily dragging her against his side. He steadfastly refused to comment on the matter, or how easily she seemed to fit against him, or even the small way his muscles seemed to relax at the feel of her so close at hand. But it was, he hoped, enough of an answer, for despite having promised to be more vocal, he wouldn't trust in own voice to be heard over the pounding in his chest.

 

[Perplexia]

There was nothing that she could say in that moment. It was overwhelming beyond anything she had ever experienced in her young life. Her arm moved softly against his, her hand placing itself over his. A deep sigh of contentment excaped her lips as she closed her eyes. 'Home' rang through her mind. Something she hadn't felt in what seemed like an eternity.

Shyla knew beyond anything that this man was something special. He had shown her a respect that would have never been expressed in any village she'd known. Together they made his place a home, where they could both exist. A understanding of privacy. Did she want to be let into his mind, absolutely. But she would let him take his time. This, this spooning, was a big step. It was her way of saying that she was his. She was here to stay as long as he let her.