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Post by rani on Dec 19, 2007 22:37:23 GMT -8
Ranya looked after Scipio is disbelief. He hated the water. Scipio.... you and I both know that is a lie she shouted in his head. But then she noticed Mackena's smirk... oh no.
"Good bye child", she said before she relaxed her grip. Ranya screamed as she fell the few hundred feet to the waters surface.... all the air in her lungs being forced out on impact. Without air and her broken wing dragging her down, it seemed as if she was to drown. Scip.... help me!
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Post by Tobias Mhuir on Dec 19, 2007 23:00:52 GMT -8
But Scipio had a plan in mind. Underwater he felt his body change. His fingernails grew into claws, a long rope-like tail sprouted behind him, his nose widened and his hair and soon his entire body was covered in a striped orange and white pattern, and finally long white, lethal-looking fangs replaced his normal teeth. He was now in his alternate form, the tiger. With a mighty roar, he burst from the water, spraying water drops all around him and just in time to see Ranya fall from the cliff and scream in his mind. Taking a great gulp of air, he dived deep into the cold water until his wide tiger nose touched Ranya’s back.
Hold on, he thought, I’m here, climb on my back.
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Post by rani on Dec 19, 2007 23:12:38 GMT -8
Ranya reached out to Scipio's form but her fingers slipped off him as her wing dragged her down further. She tried to reach for him again to no avail. I cant get a grip... she replied to him.
Ranya's vision started to blur as her eyes began to slip closed on her. Sadly she watched as the last of the air from her lungs drifted upwards in the form of bubbles, feeling the water rushing into her throat. Then she hit the bottom of the moat, being splayed out along it, her wings spread out. She didn't have the strength or the time to try and swim to the surface now...
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Post by Tobias Mhuir on Dec 19, 2007 23:34:12 GMT -8
This might hurt. Scipio thought in her mind. He swam swiftly after her and clamped his tiger fangs down upon her injured wing. He tasted fresh blood in his mouth and he felt the most slender of the bones snap under his fangs, but he forced himself to bite down, hard. He knew he was probably hurting her, but it was the only way.
Next he thrust off from the bottom of the moat with his powerful feline hind legs while paddling his front legs like mad. Already his muscles were tired and his lungs were burning for air, the surface, now only a bright patch of light above their heads, seemed so far away. But he had to continue, if he didn’t, both he and Ranya would die. Again he put all of his effort into getting his burning muscles to cooraperate, his muscles were now screaming in agony, his lungs feels as if they were on fire, but the bright patch of light was so close, so close. And then the strength left Scipio’s body, utter, completely.
No! He shouted in his own head at himself, Move! And miraculously, as if by sheer will power Scipio felt his legs propel himself forward once more. A second later, his head broke the surface and he took a great gulp of air. He then reached down, still panting heavily and forced Ranya’s head and shoulders out of the water. With an exhausted snarl, he paddled towards the bank where climbed out, dragging Ranya with him, only to find Opera, who was terrified of the soaking wet tiger in front of her. Draining what he thought were his last reserves of energy, Scipio transformed as quickly as he was able, but it wasn’t fast enough. Opera had already swung around and was preparing to run and Scipio was only half transformed.
“No,” He said, in a deep, guteral voice which was half the tiger’s and half his own. “Please, not now, please, just for once…”
And, as if she understood him, Opera turned around, blew hard out through her nostrils and cautiously made her way to the now completely-transformed Scipio’s side. Without wasting another moment, Scipio lifted Ranya up behind the saddle and them scrambled on in front, as he would not be able to see over her wings. He then dug his heels in Opera’s sides and the mare took off back towards Erroterra at a gallop.
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Post by rani on Dec 19, 2007 23:44:47 GMT -8
Ranya just sat there quietly, leaning against Scipio's form weakly, she was barely breathing as her throat was partly filled with water.
About halfway back to Erroterra, the trio met up with Surion who had been wandering around aimlessly for the passed month. His bridle was broken with the reins trailing along the ground and his saddle was missing. He hadn't gone back to the companionship of the other stallions in Ranya's mob... but he hadn't followed Scipio either.
He nickered quietly when he saw the familiar face of his mistress, but concern filled him when he noticed the water dripping off her. He galloped beside Opera as they entered the woods. The stallion only halted when they entered an area unfamiliar to him. Incidentaly.... it was also that moment that Ranya slipped off from Opera's back as she passed out.
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Post by Tobias Mhuir on Dec 20, 2007 0:01:01 GMT -8
Scipio, though he was exhausted, slipped from Opera's back and caught Ranya's head before it hit the ground, as if to make matters worse, it began to rain.
"Why?" Scipio muttered angrily. Frustrated, he lifted the limp form of Ranya in his arms and carried her farther into the woods, where he knew there was a cave farther in. Opera sniffed the air, then followed her master into the dark undergrowth and a few minutes later, the cave itself.
It was quite cold outside so Scipio started a fire in the small but comfortable cave, Opera had to lower her head as she entered. Scipio had done his best to keep Ranya comfortable, which involved making a head rest for her out of Opera's saddle blanket and her saddle. Now he watched over her, waiting.
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Post by rani on Dec 20, 2007 0:11:13 GMT -8
Ranya's breathing began to steady out as the water in her lungs evaporated. Slowly, but surely, she began to regain conciousness, seeing the fire that was almost dying out. She exhaled a large intake of air and the fire burst into life again.
Then she looked to Scipio and a small smile crossed her lips. "Scip...." she whispered weakly.
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Post by Tobias Mhuir on Dec 20, 2007 0:16:06 GMT -8
Scipio grinned widely.
"Hello Ranya Alexandrine." He said wearily, but there was happiness in his weary voice. She was back. He pulled himself across the cave floor until he was at her side.
"Welcome back." He said, he held his arms wide apart, as if to embrace her, but he seemed unsure if this was the right moment for it or not.
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Post by rani on Dec 20, 2007 0:25:28 GMT -8
Ranya smiled and sat up, loosing her balance and collapsing into Scipio's arms. She blushed deeply and avoided making eye contact. But she didn't move away from him. "Thankyou", she said honestly. "For everything..."
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Post by Tobias Mhuir on Dec 20, 2007 0:31:42 GMT -8
Scipio took her by the shoulders and held her a small distance away from him. He looked straight into her beautiful blue eyes and said,
"I should be the one thanking you, Rani." he said sincerely, "Because it was you who saved me." he paused, "I am sorry, I acted like a child, I was well, jealous of Christopher Black and well, you...um...well its kind of difficult to say because, well..." And then he cut himself off and suddenly pressed his lips against hers."
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Post by rani on Dec 20, 2007 0:39:39 GMT -8
Ranya's eyes widened as Scipio kissed her suddenly, but then she relaxed with a small sigh and kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Then she backed off from him, breaking the kiss. She smiled at him slightly. "I love you Scipio", she said quietly. It seemed so long ago that she had said that to him.
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Post by Tobias Mhuir on Dec 20, 2007 0:42:30 GMT -8
Scipio felt somewhat dissappointed when Ranya broke off from kissing him, but he felt happy once more when she said that she loved him. Had he ever told her that? No, he had never managed to get the words out.
"That's what I was trying to tell you a minute ago." he said rather hoarsely, "I love you."
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Post by rani on Dec 20, 2007 0:48:04 GMT -8
Ranya smiled brightly at Scipio and looked to the entrance when Surion snorted loudly. He was shaking his head up and down like crazy. Then he pawed the ground and eventually stood still.
Rayna laughed at her horse. "I agree", she said before looking back at Scipio. "He has become a man".
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Post by Tobias Mhuir on Dec 20, 2007 0:51:03 GMT -8
Scipio finally heard her say it, the person who mattered to him most in the world say that he was finally mature. He smiled down at her happily and brushed her cheek gently with the back of his rough hand.
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Post by rani on Dec 20, 2007 1:04:44 GMT -8
Ranya tilted her head slightly so she could feel his hand against her cheek better. She sighed and lifted her hand to his. "Rough hands...." she muttered. "The sign of a hard worker...." She closed her eyes as she held his hand there.
After a moment she opened her eyes and lowered her hand. "I'm sorry for running off".
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