Of Forest and Flame (Shades)

[shades]

Auttmn had her arms held towards her, eyes clenched shut. The pain and roaring heat of the fire was coming. But seconds ticked by. The only pain she felt from her ankle. She had stopped falling. She felt the gentle arms under neath her, saving her from a firey death. She shuttered, and let out her tense breath and opened her eyes.

She looked right into Bregan's soft blue eyes, concern and worry etched deep into every detail. All of it for her. She blinked in shock of his sudden movements for her saftey, but became mesmerised dy his highlighted feautures. She felt her heart take off as she realized how close their faces were. She no longer had any attack left in her. She put her arm around his neck to try and lift herlsef. All that got her was an even closer stare down.

Her heart raced again. She vervously licked her lips and utttered "Thank you..." But she coulodn't move her self from this position. Suddenly, heat and passion pulsing through, acting on her classic firey impulse, she strectched foreward and kissed him. With all the emotion she had ever felt, she kissed him. With all her firey passion, with all her flaming personality.

She hoped Bregan would respond well to her emotional fire.

((Ooc: With plot change, we will assume Auttumn's staff was her bag of supplies.))

[valmorgan]

(Agreed, also assume Bregan's sword was his helmet, or some such, given that he doesn't have it on.)

Bregan, admittedly, had little experience with women. This situation was... different, to say the least. Nothing he was taught, nothing he had read could have possibly prepared him for this.

An arm draped around his shoulder and the back of his neck - it was hers, he didn't need to look to know, his eyes were far too focused on inscribing this moment to his memory, every detail about her. And then a... thing happened. It was as though he was suddenly more aware and less aware of everything simultaneously: he could hear his own breathing, and hers, but yet the sound of the fire seemed to die away, as if it was suddenly backpedaling away from them both.

There were two words, though in this state he wasn't certain quite what they were. They lingered in the air around them, though, as if what they were had no importance, simply that they were. Then she moved, and everything flooded back at once as her lips connected with his own. The words were most certainly "Thank you," and the fire was there again, or perhaps it was everywhere - it certainly felt as though there was more to it than before, perhaps it had something to do with this girl in his arms, kissing him?

What else could he do, then? He closed his eyes, bowing his head slightly so that she might not need to stretch her own too much, and kissed her back. It was the only course of action, in retrospect - doing anything else would have been all but impossible.

[shades]

Auttumn's mind was no longer in exsistence. It had no thought, no sense, it was as though her wild emotions had turned it off to flow through more properley. Auttumn had never done anything like this before, and there fore still not registering the action's in her brain. Just acting.

And as Bregan kissed her back, emotions inside her exploded again. This time, her brain realized it. She enjoyed it for several breath-taking momments before her brain managed to break through to her. YOUR KISSING SOME RANDOM PERSON! her eyes shot wide as her emotional wall of bliss broke down, and she pulled quickly away from Bregan, face flushed, breathing nervous, heart pounding.

She pulled away from him more and managed to stand herself alone, but felt cold no longer in his arms, even though she was close by the fire. She swwalled nevously, and stepped back from Bregan, tripping, and falling right on her butt beside the fire. She winced, and silently cursed her ankle for all the trouble and confusion it brought her. She cast her embarrased gaze away from Bregan and towards the fire. she couldn't run, for several reasons. One, her ankle. Two, these recent events kinda erased all else that happened, and made it hard to just get up and run. Three, she wanted to stay here. With bregan. And at the ssame just get out and forget.

Now poor Kage was at a loss completely. He settled down confused right where he was standing. He would have thought he' be used to Auttumn's wild ways by now. But he couldn't make sense of it. The pups could. Flame and Baine were still young and the adventures and surprises is what they lived on. And they understood Auttumn. She was still young, and of course, She was a girl. Kage was having trouble understanding Auttumn could still feel what all females could, she was tough. But the pups knew. When your young, you understand things better.

But Auttumn took a breath, reached and grabbed her bag, and began rummage through it for bandages. Baine came over. Flame sat with kage, but baine went and curled up in her lap. she sighed, so conflicted.

[valmorgan]

Just as soon as it had commenced, it was over. He felt her move with a jolt in his arms, his eyes snapping open. Clearly that was all there would be to it - there was a definite unspoken sense that she wanted to be let down. He made no move to stop her from standing or moving away.

In particular, it was difficult to tear his eyes from her. There was something almost hypnotizing there, though he knew not what. When she fell beside the fire, his first instinct was to go to her, to try and help. He decided better of it, though, forcing his muscles to grind to a halt. He shook himself mentally, still somewhat stunned by what had just happened. Bregan remembered his helmet then, lying in the grass a bit away. He retrieved it, grasping it in both hands, then returned to the fire, sitting down and staring into the face of it, deep in contemplation.

Sylenne was, sufficed to say, now very curious as to how things would proceed. The situation was not so different when Brandon had taken her on their grand adventure and he met the woman. Bregan was no Brandon, however, and this girl was vastly different than that woman. She had time to consider this, of course, as the Arcanine and Growlithes that might have once been her quarry now proved to have no interest in fighting, seated on the ground.

She also noticed Aria go to Bregan, placing one of her tiny forelimbs on the leg of his armor. Their sort always seemed to be able to tell what bothered these humans. She, of course, had always known for Brandon, but they had been partners for years. The boy was still a relatively new introduction to her life. She took it upon herself to walk once around the clearing, then stood by Bregan, attempting to see everything at once.

Bregan didn't notice Sylenne, but he did notice Aria. Even the soft sound of her touching his leg brought his attention. She smiled that gentle smile she often bore around him. No wonder they called Ralts the "Feeling" Pokemon. He placed his helmet in his lap, and put his hand on her head. He looked into the fire - more through it, though - in the direction of the girl. Shame he wasn't the "Feeling" Human.

[shades]

Auttumn was so lost. She had no words in her. Her firey self was meerley embers, glowing softly, and timidly. She bandaged her foot in deep thought. She had forrgotten every thing that had happened before Bregan saved her. She was still lost the momment. She wrapped her foot gently, and stiffly. She tapped it lightly. No feeling. It would heal as long as she kept it straight and stiff.

She put her things away, and glanced at the sky. Darkness was pouring over them now. She considered sleep. Maybe in the morning she would recover her wits. Or just be falling further for Bregan. She shook her head. She sighed. She ran her hand through her hair. She lcked her lips. She bit her cheek. She rubbed her arms. she did all the things a girl subconsiously did when she was strongly atracted to them, but to far shy or confused to do anytihng but try and hide it. But those little sublties made in obvious.

Auttumn Noticed Baine, and a smile creeped onto her face. She stroked him sofly. He was such a sweet heart. Flame began to run circles around trying to make her laugh. She giggled a bit. Suddely the two pups jumped up as bg ol kage laid down and placed his big head on Auttumn's lap. She couldn't help but smile real big and laugh.

She looked up at Bregan, not realizing he was still there. She smiled simplyy at him, aknoweldging he was there, and seeing his pokemon were doing something simmaler. She wrapped her arms around Kage's neck and gave him a hug, and the pups snuggled up in between them.

"Sleep, guys." They smiled at her, and began to move out of the clearing. They weren't gonna impose on the other camp. auttumn grabbed her bag and stood gingerley. She began to follow her pokemon out, sad to leave, and knowing if she did, she may night see him again. she was curious to get to know him. But it semed she wasn't meant to stay and finf out. She began to walk away...

[valmorgan]

Bregan hadn't even realized she'd wrapped her ankle until she had finished. He cursed himself mentally for it - he did that, partly. He should have helped to mend it. If he got up to do so now, though, that would just look silly. So, he resigned himself to continue watching.

She acted... curiously now. It was as though she simply couldn't sit still. The girl was constantly in motion, perhaps needing to occupy her mind on something - anything other than allow it to dwell upon the thing that happened. Perhaps that was the best solution for her, but for him, that didn't work. Instead he set his mind to work out everything that occurred as best it could, make sense out of it, and come to some sort of conclusion.

He heard Sylenne settle a couple of feet behind him, half-feeling the Rapidash look at him. It was amusing to watch her Pokemon in that playful state that seemed to be more than natural for them. She looked at him and smiled from across the flames, and he felt heat creep into his face - more than would have been there from the fire, obviously. He smiled back, curiously out of reflex than of his own volition.

He heard her speak to her three, then observed her standing. Fear seemed an illogical response for such an action, but he could definitely feel it. She was moving to leave, it was clear. Standing and moving towards her with more purpose than ever, he reached a conclusion.

"Don't leave. Please." To hell with logic. To hell with reason. "I... I couldn't imagine allowing you to walk out of here. Not only because of what I caused to happen..." He was near her again now. He was falling short of words quickly, but he had to make the decision that he definitely wanted to be near her final. "... because I'd like for you to stay. I want to... know you better... I..." His nerves were getting the better of him, working against him. This girl fascinated him beyond the norm, he couldn't explain the idea of attraction to one who was briefly his opponent. He placed his hand on her shoulder, looking into her eyes again, trying to find the right words... and found none.

Well, it was worth a shot. This time, he moved in to kiss her.

[shades]

Auttumn was doubting her decesion to leave, but she knew if she didnt commit to something, she'd get no where. She wanted to get to know bregan, but maybe leaving would be best. she sighed. it was the smartest thing to do. And she already knew all she needed to know about Bregan. he was a tough guy, an aeroian.... yes, an aeroian Auttumn realized. Like her parents. And she was a celestial, wanting to be free of tradition. it would not work.

But something about Bregan's voice stopped her. His shaky voice and sudden insanity. She turned to face him, to listen to him. Hear him stutter, hear his nervous voice, see his awkward positions, and his blushing face. Auttumn blinked, a little confused, and at the same time understanding. Her eyes were shinning and full of attention. And she felt her self blush a little as he put his hand on her shoulder. And he kissed her, and she let him kiss her, and once all sense left her, she kissed him back.

Baine jummped around and yapped joyfully. Flame rolled his eyes with to much emphasis and shook his head shrugging. Kage just flopped down hopelessly, very conflicted. He was happy for Auttumn, but knew they were enimies. And nobody else did.

But as Auttumn pulled away from Bregan after a few long momments, she looked into his eyes and assured her self everything wouldbe fine as long as Bregan didn't know about her alliance. So she wouldn't tell him.

[valmorgan]

After a time with their lips locked yet again, Bregan felt her head start to move away from his, and he pulled back in turn. Their eyes met again, something clearly behind them, but he had no way of telling what. He smiled at her, and was momentarily intrigued as to how easily smiles came upon him around this girl.

He took his hand off his shoulder, and motioned back towards the fire and their Pokemon with the other. By this point, Sylenne had simply fallen off to sleep, while Aria was yawning beside her. Both seemed less than surprised at how things turned out in the end. He would walk with her back to the spot, sitting down and leaning against the Rapidash's side, allowing her to become comfortable as she chose.

It was probably at this point that he realized he had no clue what her name was. Seeing as it would be rather rude to simply call her 'girl' this whole time, he decided it would be best to turn to her and ask. "By the way, I have given you my name. What is your own, my lady?"

[shades]

Auttumn let Bregan lead her close to the Rapidash, but she walked away from him then. She went over to Sylnee, to face her, and began to gentley rub her head. She got anlong with firtypes. All other types, she was on a nuetral level with, but firetypes were somehow conected with her. She wondered if this rapidash would sense her kindness.

Her own pokemon were still wary of the other. Baine knew what was to be expected, and flame was just not caring anymore. Kage was utterley flustered and frustrated, and turned and flopped down on the other side of the clearing. He really didn't like Bregan. Bregan was Aero And so where his pokemon. Her really didn't like the. He had no idea what Auttumn was doing, and gave her an exasperated look when Bregan asked for her name. Auttumn made an auto facepalm. Wow, this guy really swept her off her feet. She had never been with any boy before.

So she falls for the first one she meets. Go figure.

Auttumn was also a little odd about her name. Hers was a season. He actually had a name, and probably a last name too. She had a season.

She mumbled Auttumn a little oddly, and went back over to kage. He happily stood to protect her, and let her cuddle deep into his fur. Flame sneaked in on her other side, and filled in the gap left by kage since he wasn't big enough to wrap all the way around her. Baine jumped onto her chest, and snuggled in. She looked apologetically at Bregan, since her pokmeon left no room for him.

[valmorgan]

This girl was nothing short of fascinating, to Bregan. Next to her, he felt as though he were like to talk her ears off, she said so little. And yet, her movements, and something in her eyes seemed to say surprisingly much. He watched her approach the Rapidash, hardly worried of how she would react.

In the very moment the young girl reached and touched her, the war-hardened Rapidash awoke with a start, but quickly settled, realizing the nature of the touch. Her eyes met with the stranger's, one with whom she had nearly done battle with not five minutes ago. Bregan certainly seemed to have taken a shine to her with haste... Hopefully his judgement was as good as it seemed. She gazed deeply into the eyes of the girl, almost as though looking through her, down to her essence. She could tell easily that the stranger was on the side that opposed theirs - Celestial, was it? That could be... trouble.

Bregan, however, was totally oblivious to what her allegiance might be. All he cared about then and there was this girl who essentially fell into his life. When she spoke her name, his eyes lit up. "So, you are Auttumn? The season before the snows, that of last harvests and creatures preparing for hibernation. When the trees lose their leaves and turn such glorious colors... It is not a bad name, not at all." He smiled at her, watching as she returned to her own Pokemon. He glanced to Aria at his side - fast asleep, by this point, then looked back to her. He nodded to her, understanding perfectly, and hardly troubled for her needing to stay with them. "It is nothing. Rest well, you'll be safe here, I assure you. The morning will undoubtedly come before much longer." With that, he leaned further back against Sylenne, adjusting for comfort, and closed his eyes after gazing upon her one more time, hoping she'd remain through the night.

[shades]

Auttumn smiled at the boy. Really smiled. He was dashing. Clever. Complimentary. Sweet. Respectable. And he was very handsome. And so kind to her. She felt her burning flame within her flare up.... and she wanted to chatter. Chatter away like she always did with her parents about her plans. The way she did when she lived with her brothers in the. Chatter the way she did in letters home. Chatter the way she did to kage. She wanted to talk to this boy. Badly. Tell him all about herself. But she and Kage both knew well what his clothing and armor meant. what it showed. It showed his Aeroian Alliance.

She knew she was a cesestial. She had to be. The Aeroians don't understand the wild powers of life. How wild can be good. her wild personality gives her wisdom. Like the great and wild arceus. And all wilds can be tamed. She knew that. That was Celestials Aim. To tame a wild power, and make all things free and safe. But she would not be tamed- no! she was a wild spirit, obviously meant to help the rebels. Not even a well disciplined ranger school would take her... so why did she all of a sudden not care if this boy took her? She didn't know

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Auttumn's eyes opened quickly to the beautiful morning light. the sun had not yet risen. She didn't realize she fell asleep. Only seconds before she was rushing through an array of thoughts and now it was morning. And her mind had one idea. The sunrise.

Shoving away thought from the night before, Auttumn Focused herself on finding a huge tree, the tallest one. Well the tree on the other side of the clearing would do. She wiggled gently away from her pokemon, and kissed them all, which quickly eased their rustlings from her movement, and they easily went back to sleep. She tiptoed Past Bregan then, heading for the tree, and paused, remembering he was there. She looked at him with wonder and winced. Her ankle! she leaned on it a bit to long and stumbled, recovering her self scuttling over to the tree, thinking he hadn't noticed.

She climbed the tree delicately, carefully avoiding pressure on her ankle. She climbed high. The branches were all surprisingly sturdy, even the ones near the top that gave her a perfect view of the horizon, where the sun would appear shortly. She tested the branch. It could have easily held four people. She inched out to the edge then, and looked ahead. The sun, a great ball of fire, like her, always comforted her. Rising, or setting. She waited now, wanting the sun to come, with the wild thought it would some how cure all that ailed her.