The Coastline (The new Holt)

Oakroot intertwined his fingers with hers. She squeezed his hand as he did enjoying the feeling. Nectar caressed a lock of her hair and Oakroot's as well. It made Hyakurin giggle. Seemingly Nectar's mood had improved. Her mood was also improving as they headed to her den.


Leading them to her den she said, "This is the season of rains... It may not be wise to travel to far. We have time to discuss this over though. It will also take time to craft Oakroot some new boots." She looked down and laughed at his toes peeking through the worn leather. She led them to the tree that Oakroot and herself had passed shortly ago. Climbing the rock wall of the waterfall. The great trees position on the cliff wall allowed for no predator's known to the area to access it. The great tree was ancient and despite its precarious position there was no sign that it might fall from its perch. Its roots intertwined with the rocks so tightly that the cliff itself would have to fall to remove it.

Climbing the wall to reach the tree she placed her spear in a secure area between the roots of the tree. "You won't be able to maneuver your spear through the inner roots and branches. it will be safe here." She spoke to Oakroot. She swung her satchel in front of her stomach tying it to her waist. "It may get a little tight for you Oakroot, I think you'll be fine though friend Nectar." She smiled. She admired Oakroot's stature, he was tall and muscular. But it might cause a bit of a problem... "You can leave your belongings outside and I can carry them in later if it will help?" She said to Oakroot. She led them through the hanging roots. "There is more room inside, I promise." She giggled a bit. Looking back to Oakroot it would be a tight fit but he should be able to manage to get through. She smiled at the thought of him. When they first met she had been uncertain to even let him know what area she denned in and here she was leading him directly it!

She led them deep to the center where there was a cozy open area. Though it was dark this wasn't a problem for one with wolf blood. The den was full of hanging dried fish, a waterskin with fresh water and another with flowers peaking out from the top of it, small baskets of several types of berries, dreamberries among them, numerous tools and small weapons, and furs covered the bottom of the den. One side of the den was the rock wall. She removed her satchel and started sorting out her belongings. On a ledge of the rock wall she placed her daggers next to a small wolf carved from obsidian. The tree's roots enclosed the rest of the den so tightly that even when it rained, and it rained often, the den remained dry.

It was cozy enough for the two elves and their preserver friend. Luckily Oakroot could sit comfortable without hitting his head. Hyakurin smiled eagerly at her companions. She sat with her legs crossed placing her hands on them and almost started bouncing excitedly. "What do you think!?" She clapped her hand s together quietly. She was no tree shaper, she had nothing to do with this trees miraculous placement. But she had found it and it was hers, as much as she could stake claim to it anyway. She'd hoped that they liked her den because she of course liked it very much! Below they could hear Breakneck howl. She returned his call. *Not this moon little brother.* She sent to the wolf. Normally she would be out with her wolf companion but there were other matters to attend to. The wolf snorted and wandered off.

"Oh!" She said. Grabbing a hanging basket of berries and emptying them into another container. She then placed the basket back in its hanging position. Grabbing the waterskin with flowers she hung them next to the make shift bed. "Um, you could sleep here if you'd like Nectar." She bit her lip and thought.. "I can gather moss for you to make it more comfortable?" She was giddy with excitement to have her new friend in her den. "There are many flowers that bloom around the tree. You may like them Nectar." She knew they must still discuss Nectar's vision for a final decision. But she wanted to place that aside if just for a moment.

Her hair was still down from swimming earlier. She normally kept it up and out of the way. She moved her hands over both her ears brushing her hair behind her. *You could den with me here as well if you'd like Oakroot.* She sent to him nervously.

Nectar hovered outside while it waited for Oakroot to enter into the tree's interior space. Once both elves had gotten inside, Nectar flew in through the opening with ample room on either side of its wings. Though the light was dimmer inside the tree hollow Nectar could make out the shining eyes of both elves. It flew up to the roof of the area and grabbed onto some branches that grew inside and crossed over to re-emerge outside of the interior area. There were even a few small leave growing from these branches giving off a pleasant smell of green growing things. Nectar squatted on the branch and listened to the two elves conversing back and forth.

"Oh!" Hyakurin said. Grabbing a hanging basket of berries and emptying them into another container. She then placed the basket back in its hanging position. Grabbing the waterskin with flowers she hung them next to the make shift bed. "Um, you could sleep here if you'd like Nectar." She bit her lip and thought.. "I can gather moss for you to make it more comfortable?" She was giddy with excitement to have her new friend in her den. "There are many flowers that bloom around the tree. You may like them Nectar."

Then Oakroot said he had something else to go with it for Nectar. "That is a good idea. I might have something for you to sleep with. Let me see where it is!" He grabbed his bag again and started digging into it. He smiled as he felt the very soft cloth....."Here, this belonged to my nephew, he had this when he was a cub and it is warm and very soft." The skin belonged to a Dirtdigger, the tiny animal dug holes and tunnels in the ground and when it went above ground it was nearly blind, so it was a rare gift.

Nectar was over joyed at the gifts her new friends had offered to it. "Highthings make Nectar much happy!" And with that statement Nectar began to sing in the enclosed space inside the tree.

"Deeeeddle-Dee-Breeedle-Troooo-Diri-Diri-Breedit-Dreeeeeeee!"

Oakroot was glad Nectar liked his gift, he had been clinging un to the cloth for far too long, but that was who he was. His brother had teased him often with that. He kept tokens to remember without Dreamberries. He didn't know if he couldn't remember without the tokens, he didn't care, he also kept them for emotional sake....

In delight Oakroot wrapped his arms around Hyakurin too. As she pressed her forehead against his, he felt an urge to kiss her...... only to be stopped by Nectar's lovely singing. The walls of the den resonated strongly, specially for Wolfblooded Elves like them. He twitched his eyes, but then he was happily suprised by Hyakirin's humming.
He stared at her face close to his and he caressed her hair pushing it behind her ears. He saw her blind eye, but he wasn't startled, he didn't stared at it in suprise. All he thought was how lucky he had been to have met her.

*I like your humming..... much better then Nectar's singing.....* He tried to lighten the mood and grinned. "Come, the air is still warm tonight and I feel like sleeping outside. Is there a way to reach the treetops from here?"

When Oakroot embraced her back she was relieved. She was unsure how he had perceived her actions. While she hummed, she thought. When she was a cub she had no boundaries, her parents were always affectionate towards her. Thinking back now her parents never had a moments rest, she smiled at their memory. Her father had told her that when they reached her mothers tribe she must not be so aggressive that some elves didn't like to be so close and that she could be... overwhelming at times. They never made it to another tribe before she lost them. What her father said never made sense until now. But Oakroot seemed to enjoy her affections which made her very happy. Oakroot brushed her hair from her face and it suddenly occurred to her that her eye might be strange looking to him. But he seemed not to care. *I would sing for you often if you wished it.* she sent to him. "I will show you to the treetops."

At that Nectar quieted down, much to the relief of their hearing. "No," she spoke "Breakneck couldn't possibly make his way to this den. But I do sleep down below with him often." Nectar began making adjustments to its resting place reminding her of a wolf cub circling its bedding to get comfortable. It was quite adorable this little preserver. While Nectar busied itself she slipped out the opening of the den and led Oakroot through the twisting branches to the top of the great tree. Emerging through the leaves the sound of the waterfall carried with it the wolfpack's calls, Breakneck's among them. She took Oakroot's hand and howled towards mother and daughter moon.

Oakroot pulled Hyakurin close to him, her back to his chest, his arms around her, she pressed her body against his. She enjoyed his affection, she desired it, wanting to place her own affections on him. Her desire for him outweighing her nervousness. He caressed her arm gently. *I know nothing of destiny but I am happy you found me and I you.*

She turned to face him placing her hands on his chest. Admiring his pale skin against her own golden brown skin. She met his blue eyed gaze, following the contour of his face, his lips and the tender smile they produced, the way his face fur framed his handsome face, his broad strong shoulders. Everything about him was pleasing to her, the beating of his heart, the slight movement of his chest when he breathed, his scent. She took a deep breath. When she touched him she felt tingly, almost euphoric, the way she sometimes felt during a Skyfire storm.

In truth she enjoyed the rainy season it sometimes afforded an excuse to lull around the den and just enjoy the sounds and smells of the season. *There will be plenty of time to prepare. I've spent my whole life just surviving, preparing, surely there is time for other things?* She touched his handsome face, tracing his lips lightly with her finger tips, running them through his beard, to his neck and shoulders, touching his scars thoughtfully. She then traced her fingers across his chest playfully past his ribs and over his shoulder blades to embrace him. Placing her head to his chest, the sound of his heart beating like a drum. *Do they cause you pain?* She didn't just mean physical pain from his scars but emotional as well.

She released her embrace but kept her body pressed firmly against his. She knew he'd seen her damaged eye, it was all to apparent. So she showed him her left arm. There were two scars to the right above her wrist. *So that I will remember...* Though she was not old enough to have forgotten. It was known that in a Wolfriders long life they often forgot things, because they lived in the 'Now' of wolf thought. She removed the leather collar revealing her neck and shoulder blades. She had a long scar running across the width of her narrow neck. She'd seen wolves show their throats in submission. She simply exposed her throat out of trust. She would tell him soon enough about her scars but in that moment she did not wish to speak. With her right hand she took his left arm by the wrist guiding his hand and fingers to the scars on her wrist up her arm, to her collar bone, the scar on her neck, then at last to her lips where she kissed his fingers tenderly. Though she had guided his hand she sent *Teach me. Dear one.*

((OOC: *Fans herself* I do believe I'm getting the vapors! ☺️))