[IC] Xepmar [Jett Ryu & Ikalya]

[Miraboreasu]

Blaze lit a small fire with his breath, spreading his damp wings out behind him. It had been raining, and this was the closest convenient shelter for his traveling companion and him. They kept each others secrets: he was a half-dragon, she a runaway princess. By fate, they'd wound up together, and it seemed to be for the better. Blaze reflected on everything: killing the Lurker, hearing about Avellei's arranged marriage, her brothers.

"I'm not hungry," he lied. It would be the third straight day they only had squirrel to eat.

[Ikalya]

Avellai frowned, but she had to admit she wasn't in the mood for squirrel either. That was most of what they'd been eating since they found each other by accident, and she was beginning to grow sick of it. She sighed,"well, you need to eat something...Or don't you? Do you have to eat every day,"she asked. Avellai still had many questions about dragons and hybrids. Like how much of the dragon genetics were passed down? She knew dragons didn't have to eat everyday. The were giant reptiles after all, but could speak and...Apparently mate with humans. Not that it bothered her; she wouldn't have met Blaze otherwise and Avellai really did enjoy his company. She picked a small piece of meat off of her squirrel and reluctantly put it in her mouth. She sighed and set it to the side for now.

[Miraboreasu]

"Unlike most reptiles," Blaze explained, "dragons have a fast metabolism; normal reptiles need only eat a large meal once a month or so. I'm just tired of squirrel and bread. Some cheese would be nice." He shook his head. "Anyway, I think we're going in the right direction, even if I cannot see the stars." Blaze knew how to navigate the stars by heart, specifically using the Dragon's Paradise Draco as a guide. His stomach growled loudly.

[Ikalya]

Avellai took the information in, then sighed,"Well, I'm not entirely sure how we're going to find some cheese out here,"she said and shook her head,"I saw some mushrooms near by that would be safe to eat. And there are some poison berries near by, but I'm not entirely sure I'm ready to die yet,"she looked over at her squirrel and picked another small bite off it and popped it into her mouth. It didn't taste bad; it was pretty good, but they were just tired of eating the same thing over and over. She wasn't sure what to do though. It wasn't like they could go back to town to find something. Her brother and Marcus were there...If they went back they would surely be found.

[Miraboreasu]

Blaze crunched the bones, savoring the marrow. His digestive track could handle smaller bones, like this. Just a perk of being a walking freak show, he thought.
"But mushrooms..." he muttered. "I'm not picky, but I dislike the consistency. Like chewing really, really, really soft leather, with half the taste." He stood up. "But if you want them, we can get them. I can use my wings for a sort of umbrella."

[Ikalya]

Avellai shook her head,'No, it's fine really...I was just trying to think of things other than squirrel that we could eat. Maybe we should pick a few things up in the next town,"she suggested, then yawned. She was feeling particularly tired after the last couple of days. Her body was starting to get used to all the traveling, but still...They'd almost been caught twice by patrolling guardsmen. It seemed her father hot gotten smart and was sending men to check the surrounding wilderness. She'd even shared something about herself she hoped to hide, but with the way things were going she wouldn't have been able to keep it a secret for forever. She'd been worried about what he would think about her after that. She didn't bring it up again, though, she didn't want to.

[Miraboreasu]

Blaze sat back down. Avellai didn't just look weary; he could even smell fatigue seeping from her body. They'd shared their secrets, and so, to Blaze, they were bound together by them. He flexed his wings, putting the fire out with a powerful gust of air. He held his wings up, an offer to cover the runaway princess.
"Get some sleep," he said quietly. The world became highlighted by different colors: the walls and cave floor were orange, while he and Avellai were highlighted with electric green. The night vision was composed of two things: auras and hormonal scents. Quite effective.

[Ikalya]

Avellai curled up on the ground close to him,"What about you,"she asked, already half asleep. She looked up at him,"Well, just wake me up if you get too tired,'she offered and then let sleep take her. She slept soundly for the first time since she'd left the castle. She was pretty sure it had something to do with Blaze; how exhausted she felt probably had something to do with it, too. She felt strangely safe with the man, even though they'd practically just met and he was half-dragon. Neither of those bothered her very much at all. She still woke in the middle of the night though, part of her was worried about Blaze. He hadn't been getting much sleep. She didn't know how long he could go without sleep, but he needed some rest.

[Miraboreasu]

"I'll wake you in six hours, give or take," Blaze answered. But she was asleep even before he'd been able to offer. He shrugged, began singing softly to himself.

"Now let the day just slip away
So the dark night may watch over you
Velvet blue, silent true
It embraces your heart and your soul
Nocturne

Never cry, never sigh
You don't have to wonder why
Always be, always see
Come and dream the night with me
Nocturne

Have no fear
When the night draws near
And fills you with dreams and desire
Like a child asleep so warm, so deep
You will find me there waiting for you
Nocturne

We will fly, claim the sky
We don't have to wonder why
Always be, always see
Come and dream the night with me
Nocturne

Though darkness fades it will give way
When the dark night delivers the day
Nocturne."

He finished, thinking back to when his mother would sing it for him. She had a beautiful voice; it was what had first attracted the dragon to her. His father had had a wonderful voice as well, but he'd always said that his voice had never stolen a dragon's heart. And yet, Blaze thought, it was you who taught me most of the songs I sing, Father.

[Ikalya]

Avellai woke up on her own only a few hours later, feeling much better than she did before. Way better, actually. She looked up at Blaze, then sat up and stretched,"I feel much better already,"she said. She tilted her head,"Did you want to get some sleep,"she asked, feeling wide awake. She didn't know how just a few hours of sleep could re-energize her so well, but she was not complaining. "Of, if you prefer we can continue on,"though she wasn't exactly sure where it was that they were going to. did they have a set destination? She didn't think so, but if he got her as far as the next kingdom over she would be safe from her father and Marcus.

[Miraboreasu]

Blaze thought for a moment. "I'd like a little bit of rest," he said. "Two hours, tops. Wake me when you need me." He curled up in a corner in a ball, wings tucked back into his spine. He faced away from the lights, sighed once, and fell asleep.