[IC] Where hearts lie

[MarshiestMallow]

Callie hadn't had anyone looking out for her, really, since her parents had died. The thought of suddenly having not only Caius, but Silas was a little overwhelming. She swallowed her bite, pondering that a moment. "You're making a strong case for him being some type of guardian" She said, taking another sip of wine.

She looked down at her plate at the mention of desert, seeing she still had some of the lunch left. A little awed at how quickly caius had eaten his, but remembering him just about inhaling the pizza last night made her smile, and she quickly got to work on the food, wondering just what desert would hold.

She did feel a little guilty at having this indulgence when there was the problem of her former coven being turned into vampires, when she had to restock her supplies, and harvest some herbs, as well as find a steady income, but she could admit is was nice to take the time off, and relax. She'd get through everyone, one way or another. At least if she could harvest the herbs, she'd be set spell wise.If thats all she got done today, then so be it.

Finishing off her food, she gently nudged the plate away, taking the wine in hand, leaning back into the chair slightly, and watching Caius. @Kyrisse

[Kyrisse]

@Caits

Caius shrugged. "I can't explain what he is but that's what he does. Ever since I can remember, he's looked out for me and my sister. I appreciate it a lot and I hope one day I'd be able to show him." He watched Callie finish off her food. He lost himself in his thoughts the was she lost herself in hers.

Growing up away from their foster parents. The couple had been nice and loving to him and Claudia but the day they both sprouted fur and sharp fangs, it had been time to leave. It was Caius' idea to run away. He didn't want to hurt the people who treated them as their own and them being humans put them in a lot of danger. But being 13 and homeless wasn't easy. They both begged and slept on the streets until Silas took them in that one winter's night and gave them warm food and shelter. Since then, life became a little easier.

Being lost in his thoughts, Caius didn't even notice that Callie had finished eating and had leaned back and was watching him. His reverie was broken only by footsteps heading towards them. "The appreciation you show me through your ravenous appetite is thanks enough for me, my dear boy." Silas said as he smiled at Caius, obviously overhearing what the wolf said earlier despite not being in the room. He placed a plate in front of Callie. On it was a delectable dessert made of chocolate, cream and raspberries. He placed the second plate in front of Caius. "Dessert is served," he announced with a flourish.

[MarshiestMallow]

Callie looked to the desert, wondering just how she was going to fit that in her stomach, shifting slightly, and stretching as she took in the delicious looking layered cake like thing. [colorr=fff000]"Thank you, it looks simply delectable"[/color] She said brightly. giving Silas a smile of thanks appreciation. She didn't think she had eaten so well...ever. Except for her mothers cooking. While Callie had inherited her mothers skill with potions, Callie could never come close to her mothers skill in cooking, something she was sorely disappointed in.

Shifting, she picked up a spoon, carefully breaking off apiece of the dessert, and bringing it to her mouth, getting a little bit of cream to the side of her mouth, seemingly unnoticed. It tasted every bit as delicious as it looked, and she chewed slowly, letting herself enjoy wickedly delicious treat. The last day had certainly been an interesting first date, one sne found she never wanted to end.

It was certainly magical, and Callie leaned against the table so she wouldn't have to be worried so much about spilling the dessert everywhere. "I'm full, but i so don't want to stop eating this delicious....thing"@Kyrisse

[Kyrisse]

@Caits

Like the steak he had been served, Caius finished his dessert in a matter of minutes. He grinned at Callie. "Well, I suggest you finish it cause there are no take outs in Silas' restaurant." He looked towards their host, not really surprised that he was no longer standing by their table or anywhere close by. "Aand there he goes." He leaned back on his chair, a look of content on his face. "Thanks, Uncle Silas."

A faint laughter floated back to the couple followed by a similarly faint goodbye. "Until next time, dear children."

Caius turned his attention back to Callie. "No need to hurry though. We have all the time in the world in here."

[MarshiestMallow]

Callie wasn't to sure if Caius was joking or not about not being able to take it with her, and she looked down at the dessert. It was practically a mountain. She swallowed, and took another bite, smiling as she looked up, glancing about, and seeking any sign of magic in how Silas had disappeared. Shifting, she concenrtated on he desserrt for a few moments, before she looked back up, "I don't think I can do it" She nudged the plate towards Caius, leaning back, well satisfied. It had been a lot of food, even famished as she was.

"It's nice just being here, and I wish we didn't have to go, but i do need the herbs at least" She said with a soft sigh, stretching slightly, and runninga hand through her hair, watching Caius with a smile that she didn't even know she was wearing. @Kyrisse

[Kyrisse]

@Caits

Caius was just finishing up his own dessert when Callie pushed her dessert plate towards him. He raised an eyebrow at her, looked at it, shrugged, pulled it closer to him and began digging into it. There was really no sense in wasting food. Especially food Silas prepared. Besides, if they left it there, it would just magically disappear to wherever Silas sent unfinished food to. And that would be a shame. He happily finished off the delectable chocolate and raspberry treat, not really worrying about gaining weight like most people seem to worry about. The amount of energy he expended running around in his wolf form was enough to keep him fit and burn all unwanted fat and sugar. "We can go out, get your herbs and then just hunt down Uncle Silas again later and stay in his little world. I definitely wouldn't mind the good food," he said in between bites.

He finished the dessert in a matter of minute and then looked up at Callie. He blinked when he found her staring at him with a smile on her face. "A penny for your thoughts."

[MarshiestMallow]

Callie seemeed taken aback at the question, "What?" She blushed as she realised she had been staring, and glanced away. "Um...I..." She didn't know what to say, not even truly sure what she had been thinking. "I was just...thinking...about, well...you" She said, shifting embarrassedly, rising when she saw that he had finished the dessert.

"Um...that sounds like a good idea" She said, trying to get passed her sudden nerves, hoping she hadn't said anything wrong "uh, i know a couple of good places to pick herbs and stuff..."

She knew, reasonable, that she wasn't going to scare Caius off-she doubted anything would, but she had been staring. And a lot of people didn't like staring. @Kyrisse

[Kyrisse]

@Caits

Caius noticed the look of embarrassment on Callie's face and chuckled. He wiped his mouth with his table napkin, folded the cloth neatly and then placed it beside his empty plate before he stood up. He closed the short distance between him and Callie, draped an arm on her waist and then pulled her towards him. "You've seen me naked, I won't mind if you stare at me when I'm fully clothed," he teased, his eyes glinting with humor. He leaned forward and kissed her, his lips moving hungrily against hers. "I prefer being naked together though. We can stare at each other all we want," he said suggestively as he pulled back and released her.

"But yeah... herbs. We should go get them, I guess," he grinned sheepishly as he ran a hand through his hair. "Come on then," he said, offering his hand for her to hold.

[MarshiestMallow]

Shifting closer to Caius, she bowed her head, bashful, "I know...but there's a difference between being void of clothes, and having...your emotions known" She said softly, returning his kiss, unable to describe the passions awoken because of him. She lost her train of thought for a moment, and she cleared her throat, gathering them. "i just...never felt like this before" She said, almost a whisper.

Shifting and training to gain her...balance again, taking his offered hand, liking the way he mussed up his hair when he ran his fingers through it. "Well, yeah, I need them for defense, and if there's going to be vampires around, to give us an advantage" She said, feeling more steady, glancing about where they were, and gaining her bearings, "This way" She said, leading the way, towards the outskirts of town.

"Not many people farm for herbs anymore, growing them in their own gardens, so generally these ones are pretty full" @Kyrisse

[Kyrisse]

@Caits

"I suppose defense to a witch is different from defense to a wolf. All I really need is my other form, my teeth, my claws, my speed and my strength... But don't get me wrong. I can see how useful charms can be," Caius said, making small conversation, as he let Callie lead him to where they would be collecting her herbs from. "So, tell me a bit more about yourself. I mean, I know your name, where you once lived and what you wanna do. Oh, and I know that you like pizza. But I don't know anything else aside from that. It'd be weird that we've already gotten to know each other intimately but not know anything else about each other." He smiled sheepishly.

[MarshiestMallow]

"A lot of it is to do with my own morals. I don't want to hurt people badly, I'd rather get rid of them harmlessly" Callie said, with a shrug "Its how I've always done it" She said, as she continued on their way. "Ah. Well there really isn't much too tell. I like to draw, and play games, even if I do suck at them. I love the outdoors, my parents died a few months ago, hence why Iwas living at the coven's house. Iget visions sometimes...but you know that. I think I mentioned that..." She gave a shrug. "What do you want to know?" @Kyrisse

[Kyrisse]

@Caits

Caius nodded as Callie enumerated things about herself. When asked, she shrugged nonchalantly. "Everything about you. But really, anything you want to tell me. I don't ask specific questions because you might not want to answer them. Of course, what you tell me, I'd give back in terms of information about myself." He glanced at her and grinned. "For starters, I like running and swimming. I like playing ice hockey... or rather I love pretending I'm good at it," he chuckled. "I have a twin sister and we don't have any idea who our parents are. We do have foster parents but we ran away from them when we were 13. Not because they were cruel or anything but because we were scared of hurting them. You see, that was when we both turned into wolves. We didn't get bitten or anything so I'm guessing we were born wolves."

[MarshiestMallow]

"No, no, I wan to tell you everything" callie said hastily, wanting him to understand, falling silent when he began to talk. She looked to him, wondering how they could have left their foster parents, but understanding somewhat. If the risk was too great...but to be alone at that age? "You're amazing" Twin sister? That felt somewhat intimidating. She looked away, towards where they were going.

"I always knew I was a witch. My parents wanted to raise me in that life, nd i'm Glad they did. Anyone can make potions and stuff, but only witches can cast spells. Without my magic, i'm merely a Wiccan, and not a witch, but I mostly make potions anyway" She said "The out doors is my favorite place...well, maybe second favorite. I love winter the best. Ice skating-even though I fall on my butt most of the time-is great.I love dogs, and cats, and if I could I'd have one of each. Or two. Or maybe a farm full of animals, where I could grow herbs...have acres of land...it would be heaven" she said wistfully, before shrugging.

"I like to cook, and I do draw on occassion. I want to learn to play an instrument, and maybe make a fool of myself on one of those reality talent shows. I want to be the person that finds a cure for cancer, even if it is magical. I want to see the world changed, in a good way. I like to curl up on the couch and binge watch shows. I want...i want a home" She said, her voice growing softer, and she crouched at the first fringe of herbs, gently examining them. "I want to feel like I belong" @Kyrisse

[Kyrisse]

@Caits

"Amazing? I don't think so. Leaving our foster parents was...really not a good idea. I mean, yeah, we were protecting them but at the same time leaving ourselves to fend for our own. It was definitely not easy...but it was the best we could ever do for them..." his voice trailed off and he looked distracted by unspoken memories.

As soon as Callie began speaking again, Caius snapped out of his reverie, proof of his interest in getting to know her. At the mention of pets, he perked up and with a sheepish grin, pointed at himself. "I think I have the dog part covered. I can play a mean game of catch the frisbee. And I keep my fur clean. It'll keep you warm in the winter...Although, I don't really like being on a leash," he laughed out loud at how he was selling himself. And then when his laughter had abated, he nodded his acknowledgement of her dreams. He wondered if he could at least make some of them come true.

When she continued speaking, Caius stared at her in wonder. Callie was one of a kind, a witch that wanted nothing but to do good for the world even if it was in her own small way. And in return, all she really wanted was a home. He stared at her silently as he watched her bend down and look at some herbs, wondering for the second time just how much of her dreams he can really make into reality.

Would it be creepy and too early to ask her to come live with him?

[MarshiestMallow]

"I meant because you were so young, to know what the right thing was. That is amazing" Callie said, looking up at him with a smile, before looking back to the herbs. She chuckled, "yeah but when I picture having a dog it's teaching it, walking down the street hand in hand with my partner, the dog tugging on the leash, spending cold nights cuddled up with it nearby. Can do all that with you, but it might look weird trying to hold hands with a wolf"

She looked back ton him and smiled again, wondering at the look he wore, before looking back to the herbs once more, carefully picking a few. It was as she rose, that she heard the snap of a branch or twig, and she noticed what had seemed wrong about the small collection of trees.

It was too quite. Rising, she stepped close to Caius. "It's too silent...where are the birds?" She whispered, her gaze looking through the trees for anything that might be out of the norm. The charm on her bracket glowed and vibrated.@Kyrisse

[Kyrisse]

@Caits

Long before Callie noticed the silence and long before her charm bracelet alerted her of danger, Caius was already looking towards the trees. His stance was wary, poised to attack, ready to protect. His sharp blue eyes caught even the smallest movement of a leaf fluttering in the wind. His sharp sense of smell picked up an unfamiliar scent.

Witch.

The attack came even before he could say a word of warning to his mate. But his reflexes were fast and he pushed Callie down, covering her with his own body. The spell was meant to hurt and incapacitate Callie and its full force hit Caius on the back. He grimaced and gritted his teeth against the pain. "Stay... Down..." he bit out as he fought the pain. Slowly, painfully, he straightened up and faced their attacker.

"I see you've found yourself a guard dog, little Callie. And a resilient one at that. I'm impressed," came a haughty female voice dripping with fake sweetness. She stopped short when Caius faced her, a momentary look of surprise on her face. "Hmmm... interesting..." she said, her ruby red lips curving up into a malicious smile.

"If you want Callie, you'll have to go through me," Caius growled, the strain in his voice making it obvious that he was still in pain.

"I suppose I can but you're not what you appear to be, wolf," there was a small note of uncertainty in the witch's voice, one that she covered up with a laugh. "I don't believe that I've come fully prepared to take you on. I'll make sure to be when we cross paths again," she said before dramatically disappearing in a puff of purple smoke.

[MarshiestMallow]

Callie didn't have a chacne to say a counter-incantation, the wind knocked out of her as Caius pushed her down, the warmth of his body pressed to her. If it wasn't for the deadly spell, Callie might have enjoyed herself, The presense and threat of someone that wanted to harm her kind of threw that out the window. She reached out as he rose, gently racking her nails across his bare skin to get a focusing object that would let her dispell the spell he had taken for her.

She murmurred a few words as Caius faced the witch that had attacked them, rising slowly herself, muttering the words over and over and over to break the charm, She snarled as witch disappeared, moving to Caius and laying her hand on his, muttering the words once more the fully break the spell, feeling it break with a small flash of power.

"I'm sorry, Caius" She said softly, "I didn't think anyone would attack us...me here" She said guiltly, reaching up to run a hand through her hair, "Are you okay?" She asked worried, gently turning to him, laying her hand against his chest and leaning up to give him a soft kiss. @Kyrisse

[Kyrisse]

@Caits
Caius kept his fierce blue eyes at the witch, his stance guarded, ready to attack and unwilling to back down. There was only one thing on his mind. Protect Callie. Nothing else mattered. His acute senses detected movement behind him as his witch stood up. He could hear her murmuring unfamiliar words.

When the witch disappeared, Caius almost sagged forward with the pain. But he didn't need to bear it for long as Callie broke the hold of it on him. He sighed in relief. "Ugh. That hurt like hell," he said as his eyes scanned the witch. He kissed her back and then pulled away to examine her. "Never mind about me. I'm actually tougher than I look. Are you okay?" he asked, worry evident in his voice.

[MarshiestMallow]

@KyrisseCallie leaned in close to Caius, and sighed softly, "I'm fine" she assured him, hugging him close. For terrifying moment, she had thought that something bad would happen to him, and she didn't want that to happen. She'd be sure to make a charm that could survive him shifting shapes, to give him a little bit of protection against spells like that again. She looked up at him, worriedly. "Are you sure you're okay? That was a bad spell" She said, examinging him, but he did seem to be okay, at least for now.

"i'm sorry....I didn't think they'd attack me like that, and now they know about you" She sighed softly, wanting to be able to keep him safe, but knowing that tht woudln't happen-he'd always seek to protect her, just like he just did. He couldn't help it, and Callie didn't blame him. She looked to the herbs she had gathered and sighed, looking back to him.

"Maybe we should head back now....they might come back, with more fire power"

[Kyrisse]

@Caits

Caius shook his head. "They're bound to find out about me since we're together. It works better this way, if you think about it. They'll think twice about attacking you now that they know someone's protecting you." He rubbed the back of his head. "What was that spell anyway? Was it supposed to kill whoever it hits?" A frown appeared on his lips. It was a strong spell, something that inflicted a lot of pain. If it had hit Callie then she would have...No. He shook the thought away. Nothing will happen to her as long as he was still standing.

Caius nodded. "Best if we head back. Have you gotten everything that you need?"