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Post by niftyshark on May 31, 2019 18:01:56 GMT -6
“If you’d listened first...” he said furiously, but he trailed off. He was annoyed because of an addition of scratches he didn’t need, but also because adrenaline was still coursing through his veins. He still couldn’t see her, nothing but her breathing and his whiskers sensing her gave away her position. She was a hair-length out of his reach. It wasn’t a large cavern by any means, and he had to wonder how it was created. And if it looped, was there a way out they didn’t know about?
He didn’t concern himself with those questions right away. He didn’t want to think about it at all in such an elevated state of mind. “Well? You scratched me. Are you gonna do something about them?” Coyotestorm asked expectantly, like it was something she should have already been doing.
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Post by theatricals on May 31, 2019 18:09:03 GMT -6
Rowanmask's breathing slowed as time passed, although his initial comment did make her bristle with indignation. She wasn't an apprentice needing to be told what to do. She wasn't the one to get them stuck to begin with, so she held no responsibility for it. His own thoughts seemed to bleed into hers, however, and she found herself wondering just how many tunnels there were here, and how many led to the same place.
She could pinpoint his location immediately, even without his arrogant tone drawing her to him. Even if he couldn't see her, the incredulous look she gave him was something she couldn't help. "The great warrior can't deal with a few scratches?" she asked, licking her own paw and dragging it over her face as she worked to slow her rapidly beating heart.
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Post by niftyshark on May 31, 2019 18:17:23 GMT -6
“No, he really can’t. He thinks his legs are falling off. He’s doomed unless you come help.” His eyes rolled. Was she denser than the rock around them? Or was it intentional? He cleared his throat. “If you don’t get it, Rowanmask, I think you at least owe me for... that.” He didn’t move from where he landed. It wasn’t like he could go many other places, and similar to last time, he found himself relaxing, falling into his usual pace. They’d find a way out. The tunnels were large enough that something must have made it. If something made it, then there was an exit, especially if it looped around. Coyotestorm waited to see if she would argue with him or make some obstinate comment.
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Post by theatricals on May 31, 2019 18:27:24 GMT -6
Rowanmask found herself growing annoyed, but outright arguing when she couldn't even see seemed to be more pointless than anything. She padded closer, her pawsteps careful. As much as he may annoy her, she wasn't about to step on his paw without being able to see it. However, she did allow a single lash of her tail, almost certain that she had caught the side of his cheek as she moved to the left of him. "Move," she ordered him, but didn't even wait for him to do so before she was squeezing between him and the wall, nudging him over to where he had space. Without much thought, she began to lick at the wounds on his side, almost surprised that she had given him so many. "I didn't hurt you that bad," she grumbled, rolling her eyes.
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Post by niftyshark on May 31, 2019 18:36:34 GMT -6
Coyotestorm was surprised when no argument came, and even more surprised when she shoved him away from the wall. He still couldn’t see anything, but he offered no resistance as she positioned him how she wanted. “Your claws are sharp,” he said casually, relaxing into the movements of her rhythmic grooming. He was glad it was dark, because it let him close his eyes and actually enjoy it without any pretense. He left it like that for a while, not wanting to scare her off, but eventually his mind drifted to her earlier agreement. “Did you get scratched anywhere? I don’t think I had my claws out, but I can’t remember.” He kept his question as innocent and straight-forward as possible.
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Post by theatricals on May 31, 2019 18:42:05 GMT -6
Rowanmask almost wished he hadn't said anything, because she suddenly became aware of the small sting that came from her side, courtesy of his claws--most likely when she first attacked. "Nothing bad. At least, not enough to make me collapse." It was a pointed comment, followed with a slightly more forceful shove on her end when she needed to groom a spot she couldn't reach. It still felt too close, too claustrophobic in a place like this, but it felt like she learned a lesson of panicking in such small places. She probably would have passed out from a panic attack had she continued to look for an exit.
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Post by niftyshark on May 31, 2019 18:56:56 GMT -6
“Are you sure?” Coyotestorm pressed. He paused when she was roughly trying to reach a distant spot, then continued when she withdrew. “I think I should check, don’t you think? I don’t want you bleeding out.” He hooked his paws around her shoulders and rolled them over so he was standing and she wasn’t. “Where is it?” he asked, doing nothing more in case she was uncomfortable and squirmed away. It was supposed to be fun, at least in his mind, not stressful.
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Post by theatricals on May 31, 2019 19:42:50 GMT -6
His movement caused her to tip over onto her side, almost rolling onto her back before she looked up at him. "Mousebrain, I'm fine!" She moved back onto her stomach. "You don't have sharp enough claws to hurt me. I doubt I have more than just a scratch. Don't feel obligated to do anything about it. I'm a big cat--I can do it." It was such a bland statement, but she had been taken by surprise, so her attention wasn't completely straight and narrow.
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Post by niftyshark on May 31, 2019 20:12:34 GMT -6
Coyotestorm had to keep his jaw locked against a sigh. She wiggled a little bit, but not completely out of the way. She was being difficult now, and he wondered if it was because she was trying to delay them. “Are you sure?” he asked again. His paws brushed against the cavern floor, and he kicked up a few pebbles in her direction, and hopefully on to her. It would be hard to miss her, given their close proximity. “Are you sure your pelt didn’t get dirty? I can clean it for you.” His tone was indicative, like it was something he knew even before he kicked up stones. He didn’t think the offer was a bad one. He was offering to groom her without hassle. A simple gesture in return to what he received.
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Post by theatricals on May 31, 2019 20:26:46 GMT -6
She figured he'd eventually grow tired of the game and end up lying back down, letting her collect herself once more, but she truly hadn't predicted him throwing dirt at her. She froze, the shock stopping any movements she had been prepared to make. "Coyotestorm!" she snapped, turning onto her back fully to swipe at his stomach. Her claws were sheathed this time, but her movements were intentional, meant to annoy but not to do any true harm. Oh, but that didn't mean he was getting off easy. Down in the tunnels, she could see not a thing, but having dirt in her pelt was not something she was going to take easily.
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Post by niftyshark on Jun 6, 2019 20:36:58 GMT -6
Her paw hit his stomach firmly, and he took a wordless moment to recover. “What? I said I could clean it for you. You’re in a tunnel. You can’t escape the grit down here.” His tone was sly. “I think you need help.” He moved forward again, but instead of closing the distance in a normal manner, he feigned a stumble with an exaggerated noise. The darkness allowed him to just drop without acting the part, and he landed squarely on Rowanmask. Her fur was the only warm presence in the cavern.
“Oops. There go my legs,” Coyotestorm said with uncharacteristic softness, as if it was something to be expected. “I don’t think I’m capable of moving from this spot.”
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Post by theatricals on Jun 8, 2019 15:40:27 GMT -6
Rowanmask let out a ragged purr of amusement, but it disappeared almost as quickly as she attempted to hide it. Not only a heartbeat later did all of the breath in her body disappear when Coyotestorm fell, and for a moment she could almost believe he actually had stumbled. But the tone of his voice told her that he knew exactly what he was doing, and apparently that was annoying her by literally lying on top of her. "I'm not a bed of moss," she said quietly, almost purposely, but she had the excuse of the pressure his weight put on her stomach.
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Post by niftyshark on Jun 19, 2019 23:42:23 GMT -6
“Then do something about it,” Coyotestorm challenged. It was easy to lay there, not just because he was feeling lazy, but because he could almost say he was comfortable. The arrangements weren’t completely comfortable, exactly, but he was growing used to Rowanmask’s company. “But...” he began carefully. “Maybe you shouldn’t do something about it. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone complain about getting to stay longer in a moss nest.” She wasn’t fighting or pushing him off, so maybe she wouldn’t end up trying to get away. His head was tucked by her neck, and he used the opportunity to breathe in her scent. It wasn’t unlike the pine trees and surrounding soils.
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Post by theatricals on Jun 20, 2019 22:23:23 GMT -6
Rowanmask finally let out the breath she had been holding, finding herself relaxing despite the cold seeping into her back. It didn't bother her so much now, nor did the dirt sticking to her fur. "Fine," she finally breathed, too exhausted from the day's event to even pretend to struggle anymore. She shuffled slightly, just to be able to hold his weight before murmuring, "You win."
(fin~)
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