notforsale: (14)
Nyra ([personal profile] notforsale) wrote in [community profile] theharbor2018-09-16 10:02 pm

Time is slipping away from us so stay

Who: Nyra and Kai
Verse: Dragon Prince
What: A case of unintentional breaking and entering ends in an unexpected pair bond for the mating season.


Nyra had never envisioned having to live life on the run when she was younger. Scavenging supplies from unwary travelers and leeching off the kindness or pity of others had gotten her through the last two months, but only just. She had no friends, no allies, no place to go except away. There were few people willing to give her more than a day's refuge once they saw the garish brand burned into her back, if they even gave her that long. No one wanted to risk word getting back to Savas that they were harboring one of his escaped conquest trophies. No one wanted the wrath of the warlord falling on their heads.

Having witnessed firsthand what the tyrant was capable of when he was in a forgiving mood, Nyra could not say that she blamed them.

Strangely, the residents of the small city she had entered less than a week ago had been rather more tolerant of her presence than most. While she had not been given the warmest of greetings she had not been chased out or otherwise sent on her way. Instead she had been taken in by an old grandmother who lived alone near the edge of the commerce district. The woman had asked for neither her name nor her story - in fact, she had rarely said a word to her at all. But there was an aura of knowing about her that made Nyra suspicious. Especially when she had knocked on her door earlier that evening, as if she had already known that Nyra was planning to leave. As usual the woman had said nothing, only nodded and thrust a small package into her hands then closing the door behind her. The package contained an old shawl and a pot of the paste that she had been using to dull the colors of her scales - everything she would need to slip out of the city with any level of anonymity.

Actually getting out of the city without drawing any sort of attention was an impossible feat. Even with the late hour the streets were still filled with people, and though there were many who were distracted by their companions she found herself catching the eyes of more than a few individuals. Their lingering gazes seemed to follow her long after she passed. She kept her head down and kept moving. Locking eyes with anyone was the last thing she wanted to do just then. Her skin prickled and her chest ached with the want to stop and talk to the starers, to present her best side and entice one of these strangers into something deeper than meaningful looks, but she couldn't risk it. She had to move on and continue searching for waters that even Savas would not enter.

The sensation continued to gnaw at her focus until it became borderline overwhelming. An obscenely loud moan echoing from an alleyway somewhere to her left sent a shudder down her spine and drew a low curse from her lips. Someone had not even had the decency to seek the privacy of a building before jumping their chosen partner. Nyra paused and dragged her hands down her face, tail flicking in irritation as she saw curious passersby trying to peer into the darkness of the alley. There were too many people here. She needed an alternate route if she hoped to escape with her dignity intact.

She had almost made it past the center of the city when someone shouted behind her. Instant anxiety spurred her into bolting down the nearest path without waiting to see if she was in trouble, or even if the person had been shouting at her to begin with. Her irrational panic blinded her to her surroundings, to the fact that the buildings she passed were growing more and more ornate and grand in design. Nor was she aware of the fact that they abruptly stopped, giving way to an imposing wall of natural stone, an outcropping of an ancient mountain. Spying a small hole near the base she dove into it, squirming her way through the narrow passage until it spit her out into a sheltered cave. Only then did she finally stop.

Surfacing with a gasp she grabbed hold of a half submerged bolder with shaking arms and leaned her head against it, eyes closed as she struggled to slow her breathing again.

"Idiot," she whispered to herself, her voice harsh in her own ears. So much for blending in and not making a scene.
kekai: (02)

[personal profile] kekai 2018-09-23 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
"Savas was the one who did that, didn't he?" Kai asks, his back turned to give her some privacy. He turned back around when he heard the plop of wet clothing hit the floor.

"I've heard what he likes to do. But he's been very careful to not involve any of my people or anyone who travels through my lands. Until now. Wish you hadn't been branded, though."

Kai moved over to build the fire up a little more, trying not to let the fact that she was tiny and everything he liked in a woman distract him. She wasn't here for a romp in the sheets, even though she was close to her season. She was here because she needs a safe place.

"Are you hungry? I have some soup and bread." He asks, speaking over his shoulder as he worked at the fireplace.
kekai: (02)

[personal profile] kekai 2018-09-26 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
She would have to go to the other side of the world to get away from Savas' reputation.

Kai looked at her and nodded as he rose to his full height. "And what may I call you?" He asked, shifting to give her room. "There was a younger male, still a juvenile, who fled here after Savas took over his village. He told me he's on the move again, making sure he has a firm grip on his lands. And now you're here with his brand."
kekai: (06)

[personal profile] kekai 2018-09-26 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
That gets his eyebrow winging up. Then it clicked of why she was running. He couldn't help the rumble vibrating through him as he spoke, though, hinting at his other self.

"Nyra, you are safe here in my home and in my city. He won't ever touch you. Or even look at you. That I promise."
kekai: (Default)

[personal profile] kekai 2018-09-26 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
Kai smiled, trying his best to keep his temper from erupting and scaring Nyra away.

"No need to be formal. Kai is fine. And he hasn't dealt with me." He smiled as he looked Nyra over.

"You don't know me well enough to trust me. That's okay. You had no reason to trust any male." He gave her a brief bow, then stepped back, turning to fetch his book before moving over to a darkened archway leading to the rest of the rooms.

"As I mentioned, I will be sleeping in another room. I'm going to make a final round for the night so feel free to make yourself comfortable." He said, over his shoulder.
Edited (words help) 2018-09-26 03:52 (UTC)
kekai: (03)

[personal profile] kekai 2018-09-26 11:32 am (UTC)(link)
Kai had returned just as Nyra was crawling into bed (his bed) and he had to step back into the shadows to catch his breath, the spike of desire sharp and fast. Once he felt he was in control again, he moved into the room, heading for the fire. He knelt, and banked the fire for the night, making sure Nyra would be warm.

"Comfortable? Not too cold?" He asked, his hands resting on his knees. He knew that once she left, he was going to be hard-pressed to not go after her. But she didn't need yet another male chasing her.
kekai: (04)

[personal profile] kekai 2018-10-02 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
He thought he caught a spike of interest from Nyra, but Kai wasn't sure, so he let it drop. Standing up, he had to shove down the reaction of seeing Nyra cuddling in his furs and in his bed.

Kai's mouth curved up as he spoke. "The bathroom is through that archway and to your right. I'll be down the hall on the left. If you wake up and need a snack, the kitchen is down the hall at the end."

It was going to be a long night, he thought, but it wasn't Nyra's fault. Only his for assuming why she was there.
kekai: (08)

[personal profile] kekai 2018-10-15 03:57 pm (UTC)(link)
He woke with the dawn, keyed up from his thoughts all night, and also the scents growing stronger as she moved through the night. Kai walked on quiet feet as he peeked in, and noting she was still sleeping, withdrew.

He went to the other exit and planned to pick up some supplies and maybe see what the markets have today. He hoped she would still be there, but wasn't expecting Nyra to stay.

So he was pleasantly surprised, and by pleasantly surprised, he was delighted. She hadn't left yet. Kai really hoped she wouldn't leave, not while smelling that delicious, but Nyra hadn't made any indication of her interest or lack thereof. So he had to shove down his eagerness and slowly developing need to not pressure her in any way.

Kai was quiet as he prepared breakfast, and carried it out on a tray he left near the bed.

He straightened up and noticed Nyra was stirring. Pitching his voice low and soft, he greeted her with a smile curving his mouth.

"Morning. Would you like breakfast?"
kekai: (02)

[personal profile] kekai 2019-01-10 11:38 am (UTC)(link)
His lips curved up as he heard her stomach growl and he laughed, a soft noise as he pulled up a chair next to the table. He pulled a plate off the tray and balanced it on his knees as he took a bite.

"Eat as much as you wish." He says, trying to ignore the fact she had slept in his bed and her scent was mixing with his, and it was a heady mix that left his mouth watering not for the food on his plate.

kekai: (13)

[personal profile] kekai 2019-02-02 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Frequent trading, yes. Occasional support at sea for guarding ships. In exchange, I get things from the surface, and they get fishing rights and some of our goods that would survive being dry."

Kai half-smiles, eyes tracking Nyra's movements. He noticed how she was careful to start slow with her food, either from low appetite or from having to hide and subsist on whatever she could grab.

He wets his lips but otherwise sits perfectly still, his gaze flicking between her hands and eyes.

"After you're done eating, I'll be happy to run you a bath. I'm sure you'd appreciate being clean after a good meal."