Lyer & Aluraios | Rain
"You're the one who suggested this trip," Lyer chuckled as his partner onehandedly wringed out the long white plait that trailed over his shoulders, clasping the saddle pommel tightly with the other.
"I didn't think it would rain." the Fireborn muttered, gritting his teeth as Cerus slipped in the mud, brown staining her white hocks. He leaned back unsteadily as she tossed her mane then wiped his face, spitting out the dirty water.
Lyer moved his dirt-coloured gelding over to clasp his lover's hand, nudging Hyuin's quarters away from the mare as his ears flicked back. "I'm sorry, 'Rios," he said, as softly as could be heard, "I didn't either." He glanced, annoyed, sideways at the sky as a drop of water stung his eyes, squeezing the elengant hand in apology.
"It's alright, Lyer, neither of us are weather mages. It's not far to Lirua up ahead, we can stay there over night." Aluraios squeezed back gently, before moving the irate grey horse away with an apologetic sigh.
"Fine. If I remember the map correctly, it's only a day's ride from there to your Cliffs." He looked at the bedraggled shape by his side and said wryly, "I'd suggest putting up a shield, but,"
"It'd deplete energy we might need. I'd already thought of that."
Lyer smiled at Aluraios's wry tones, moving Hyuin on through the stream of water forming in the road with a silent promise to make sure the two horses got groomed and fed as soon as they reached their destination.
They rode in companionable silence for a few minutes, above them the trees arched in their summer green cloaks, enveloping them in a wet green avenue. The rain's sound was relaxing even as leaves dripped water through the cloaks they both wore, to dribble coldly down their necks. The horses moved through the rain like ghosts, Cerus and Aluraios forming a ghostly white spirit form in the grey veil, and Lyer and the gelding a dark shadow beside them.
"Goddess!" Aluraios glanced jealously at the neat bun that Lyer's black silk was tied in as he wrenched the water out again impaitently. "You have to teach me to do that."
"Do what?" The vampire looked curious at the frustrated tone.
Aluraios held his once again fully saturated braid up in unspoken reply, the weight of it dragging down his back as he released it. Lyer just chuckled, sending a tiny amount of magic towards his partner and shaping it around the white hair.
"Why?" Aluraios asked, as the hair slowly dried, the thin shield protecting it, and incidently his neck, from the worst of the rain. "I thought we decided no shields,"
Lyer interrupted, "I am not spending this entire journey with you miserable." The chiding words were sympathetic and loving, "I can spare energy enough for you."
"Thank you."
Their eyes met, the simple acceptance showing Lyer just how much his partner hated the rain. Sunfolk, the fireborn's race, worshipped the sun as their Goddess, and the lack of fire or sun was obviously taking its toil on the younger man.
"So, what are your reasons for dragging me out of the nice comfortable inn to go and meet your parents where the word 'civilization' doesn't appear for miles..."
"Which is mainly because we have an oral history."
"...And where I doubt it's going to be easy for me to find anything to feed on. Or for us to be open." Lyer finished soberly.
Aluraios raised a hand to his throat, stroking the side. "If you need to..."
The grateful yet scared look was one Aluraios had seen hundreds of times in the last 2 years, the vampire was still uncomfortable with feeding from humans, prefering animals, the thrill produced when the fresh blood mingled with a vampire's blood magic was heightened the more intelligent the creature, the higher the boost, and the more likely the kill. Lyer was still adjusting to his lover's willingness to share, and still harboured a fear that one day he'd go over the edge.
"I trust you." the fireborn said softly, a smile forming on his lips as Lyer raised his eyebrows in puzzlement.
"I can't hear you!" Lyer said loudly above the rain still drumming on the leaves surrounding them.
Aluraios chuckled and reaffirmed, "I trust you. And as far as us being open, they won't critise your magic, we have enough variations in fireborn magic, and they'll accept us as lovers, after all, we don't use the word 'civilized'"
© Clare Selley 2009
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