B e l o w Z e r o

The mare was in constant movement, as Yuki watched from the sidelines, trying to grasp better control of her abilities. The companion had been horrified to learn of how badly her magic had just left her control when She had seen Sol plummet from the sky, and it'd been one training session after the next to ensure that didn't happen again. To always have control in her magic. She understood the hard lesson, she'd seen how powerful and dangerous her magic was when it'd turned an entire section of a desert into an ice shelf she hadn't seen the likes of since she was in the arctic. So she accepted the lessons in between writing to Sol and making sure she knew how he and Jiri were doing - the both of them more or less unable to travel the distance between Dawn and Dusk while Sol had been injured, and Bel had been suffering from a severe case of magical exhaustion.

So, when his voice calling her name through the swamp had her jolting her head up in surprise, Yuki was already sighing, knowing there was no way she was going to corral Bel back in. The mare paid her bonded no mind, her head already turning in the direction the sound had come from. A quick apology was all she offered, even as Yuki snorted in amusement - for the mare was already galloping through the swamp, solidifying the cold swamp waters below her feet, allowing herself to walk on top of the swamp, rather than through it, to reach the stallion her heart sung for.

His black form may be difficult to pick out in a very densely populated swamp, but she knew his golden glow from his solar magic anywhere, and she didn't hesitate, breaking free of the nearest brush, her voice calling out his name, "Sol!" She collided with his side in a tight hug, being mindful to make sure she was at his uninjured side, and immediately sneaking herself beneath his folding wings, basking in the warmth of his presence, and desperately searching for the touch she'd missed so much, "How are you feeling? Are you alright? Did you fly here? Is your wing strong enough to support that." A thousand questions seemed to leave her in one go, before she looked up at him, and smiled softly, her dual eyes both focused on him, "I've missed you." She added, reaching up to brush her muzzle against his own, her heart settling for the first time since the Hunt now that she could see he was well for herself. "I've missed you so, so much."

"Bel"
Yukime
@Sol Bestiam
Notes:: 

B e l o w Z e r o

Crashing into his side, engulfing herself in his warmth was like finally coming home. A sense of rightness that swirled around her heart, tightly embracing it and allowing her to feel whole . . . or rather, almost whole. There was a little yearling size whole still missing. But even without Jiri there to complete their little family, it was reassuring sense of rightness to once more be surrounded by him. She smiled gently at his returned expression of missing her company, wrapped up in his very being. She did perk her ears at his words.

"Somehow, I'm not surprise. Our little Jiri is to pure of heart to just let you suffer and push yourself." She mused, the possession she took to the child evident, even as toyed, and played at the long strands of his mane, feeling younger just by having his company around once more. Like a pup in love for the first time. How had she ever thought Shard would be enough? When he never made her feel so settled just by a touch. She did frown gently when he admitted to flying, that it was sore but manageable. She frowned as she watched him stretch the limb, "We'll send note to Jiri that you won't be back for a day or so. You're not flying home on that wing. . . You'll just have to stay with me . . . We can find a room in the inn."

Why did the idea of them spending a night together make her heart go pitter-patter so quickly?! It was just for sleeping, letting him rest his previously injured wing, one that had almost been bitten off. She did flush softly when he asked about the magic she'd displayed, "I have been well for a while now. There was a lot of exhaustion for the first little while, rebuilding up my reserve of magic. But Yuki has been keeping me on a strict training regiment, so I won't ever lose control again."

The mention of him having something for her made her eyes widen, watching him pull out a little wooden box, smiling at the painting atop it. She then tilted her head curiously as she accepted the item, and opened it, only to gasp in surprise at the delicate silver blanket, with what appeared to be a pendant enclosing a shard of ice, so pure she could see through it. Small silver chains clinked together on either side of the pendant, small beading of various gems, aquamarine, tanzanite, sapphires, and moonstone all glimmered in various shades of azure along those chains. She carefully clasped the bracelet around her ankle, lifting it up and smiling in delight as the light reflected off the enchanted ice chip before she raised her muzzle up, brushing it against his cheek gently, "It's beautiful. Thank you."

The unsureness in his tone had her smiling in amusement as he mentioned that he'd spoken to his sovereign and that they needed to discuss what she'd said during the hunt. She merely grinned, a cocky playful smile, "Is my mate afraid to say the four-letter word?" Her words were gentle, however, to prove the words weren't just a spur of the moment thing. "Sol . . . when I saw that creature bite into you . . ." Her smile fell, her eyes earnest, "You were falling out of the sky, and . . . I just . . . It was like my eyes opened. I wasn't just watching my best friend fall, I was watching my future fall, and it was crumbling fast, terrified I was about to lose you, and in that moment I realized I never wanted to lose you . . . ever. We're more than just good together, Sol. We're perfect. And I love you more than I could ever express in words. It just took me longer than it should have to realize it."

She stepped closer, pressing up against him, pressing her forehead against his neck, shaded by the wings draped over her back, "You're mine, and I'm yours . . ." She stated earnestly, "So . . . about you moving to Dusk . . . I suppose that means I need to think about where we should live. I cannot imagine you enjoying living in the swamp, after all." She asked softly, to ease into the next serious discussion, of what they would do to begin building a life together.

"Bel"
Yukime
@Sol Bestiam
Notes:: 

B e l o w Z e r o

The mare smiled up at the stallion, surprised by just how much her mind settled as soon as he was here. She eagerly listens to him speaking about Jiri with an eagerness that betrayed how much she missed both of them, not just him. As his wing pulled her closer, she relaxed into his body with a soft smile, "I don't know, I think we both have pretty good hearts for her to take from." She mused before smiling at his comment, on her sleeping preference, "I will have you know that I have a soft bed of seaweed at the bottom of the swamp, and the swamp is hardly 'cold' to me." She teased with a vibrant laugh, before her ears perked up and she admits almost quietly, "Actually, I prefer sleeping in seaweed, and sand of coral reefs. The water is so warm and clear, and the just . . . lovely." She states with a quiet laugh.

She shoots him a playful look when he commented on the icey landscape she'd made out of the desert, "Oh hush you." She teased, before flushing at his comment, "We will just have to protect each other. Neither one of us has to take charge. You have my back, and I have yours." She assured instead, before looking down at the gift he'd given her. She smiles gently before pressing her forehead against his, eyes closing in contentment, "Thank you." She repeats quietly, before tilting her head and pouting, "We were both deny feelings for a long time!" She argued in jest, before smiling up at him more softly, "I don't think we could ever go back to the way it was before. I don't think I could live with out you at my side. We're in this together now. For always and forever." She promised.

As he spoke about the house, she began to think on his words, "So some place with a minimum of three bedrooms. Plus some sort of workshop either attached or on the property." She mused, "Attached would be better, perhaps somewhere in town where it'll be easier for you to gain costumers." She looked up at him, smiling gently, "Come on this, Sol, let's go into town and look at options! I want to see what we can find!" The idea of leaving her swamp was unnerving, sure, but . . . with Sol at her side, Bel felt she could take on the world.

"Bel"
Yukime
@Sol Bestiam
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