A.N. Okay gyus, here you have the new chapter. A few things I have to confess, not all the ideas that you`ll read here are mine, you`ll probably recognize most of them from other places so I admit I just borrowed them, because it felt right to use them in some parts. Once again, thank you so much for your comments, likes and support for my writing, you make me smile every time I write. I hope you enjoy this new chapter and stay tuned for more!
On the following morning I woke up to the strange wet sensation of drops splashing on my face, it was still early and the sun wasn`t completely in the sky, but it was enough for me to see the angry black clouds that were approaching us fast from the north. The air was crispier this morning, I looked around to check our surroundings and then I looked over to the two girls that were still sleeping soundly beside me. However, the moment I stirred a little, the little bug in the middle shot her eyes open and it amused me how little she was and yet she was such a light sleeper, unlike the Skaiprisa that had no problem sleeping thought a fight. The shimmering ambers from the fire that warmed us during the night had been reduced to nothing and the warmth was long since gone, just the tinkering sensation of it was left behind, transformed into ash. Another drop of water made me stop my musings and concentrate on getting the two girls somewhere safe and dry.
- Rise and shine skaiprisa. – I shook her arm gently and nudged her with one finger, showing her that she really needed to get up.
- Making me get up so early should constitutes as torture you know? – she grumbled somehow barely understandable.
- Then add to that list making me invent stories for a baby just by looking at the clouds too.
- It`s not my fault you have so little imagination Heda. – said Clark while stretching out lazily.
- Oh believe me, I do not suffer from lack of imagination… - I said and looked at her, but before I could continue, her white undershirt had caught my attention.
More importantly, the way it had twisted over the night and now reveled a great portion of Clark`s shoulder and chest, leaving just enough to the imagination as if on purpose. I could feel my cheeks beginning to redden and by the almost imperceptible smug that was forming on the blonde`s face I knew that she was ready to comment on my sudden loss of words, but I didn`t give her the chance.
- Clark, we need to find a shelter, there is a storm approaching. – And just as I said it, another drop of rain splashed on the little bug`s face and she pouted in objection to the cold sensation.
- No kidding Sherlock. – She said sarcastically, but after noticing my quizzical expression when she said that strange name, she just waved it off and gestured for me to continue. Maybe I had missed something obvious from that statement, but I couldn`t remember reading anything from that Sherlock author.
- Why don`t we just go sit under a tree and wait it out, we are in a forest after all and the crowns of those trees over there look pretty thick.
I couldn`t contain my laugher at that statement. Only a sky person would think they could hide under a tree during a storm and actually believe it to be a good idea. Clark looked at me frustrated and I as much as I wanted to see her get even more worked up, I didn`t think that the little one would be too thrilled at the thought of getting soaked while we bickered with one another.
- Hiding under a tree during a storm is like holding a spear in your hands and pointing it to the skies in the middle of an empty field. You`ll attract every lightning and I am not particularly keen of the idea of getting electrocuted, besides my hair is frizzled enough without the added electric stimulant.
- Oh… I see.
- There is a chain of little caves nearby, we should get there quickly. – I said gesturing to the two girls and the direction of the caves.
Clark got up and quickly tied up her shoes and moved to gather the stuff from our camp.
- We don`t have so much time Clark, the storm is approaching rapidly.
- We can`t leave out supplies out here Lexa, they`ll get wet and they won`t be any good to us after that, you know that.
- Yes, I know that Clark. That is why you`ll get the little bug with you and go to the caves, and I`ll gather the stuff and join you after that.
She looked at me suddenly alarmed, yes we had to separate for the first time since we started our journey. I knew that I didn`t like the idea, but I couldn`t risk them getting cold out here and fall ill, especially not the little bug that I was getting more and more attached to with every day that passed, but of course I couldn`t admit it. I saw the piercing look in Clark`s eyes, she was surprised mostly, but there was also a spark of fear and uncertainty and I couldn`t help but think about the reason why those feelings were there. Of course they would be, maybe they`d always be there, but I refused to give in to that horrible thought, so I just moved towards Clark and closed the distance between us, cupping her face with my hands and making her look straight into my eyes.
- I will come for you Clark, I know you still doubt me, but please try to keep in mind my vow for you. Go now, I will find you later. – She still looked unconvinced though.
- I promise – It was almost a whisper, but I desperately needed her to understand the power of the feelings behind my words, so I grabbed the gun she was wearing securely attached to her hips and gently took one of her hands.
- If something happens and I don`t come for you, assume the worst. You know how to use it. – I said placing upside-down the gun in her hand, trapping her middle finger in the whole that secured the trigger of the weapon. My own hands were shaking for the first time because of my current actions, I couldn`t bear the thought of rejection, so I acted before I lose my courage.
She seemed to understand what I was saying to her, because her eyes weren`t shining with fear anymore, at least not so much as before, she was stunned and speechless, so I assumed my gesture was perceived the right way and I was glad to see that change in her deep blue sapphire eyes, now she just looked at me an awe and with a shy smile on her lips.
- Okay Commander, tell me how do we find this cave? – She asked, pulling us out of the moment we shared.
- Just continue walking east, you should see the entrance of the caves ahead of you. Most of them are small, but I know for sure there is one quite big and if I`m not mistaken the little hot water pond inside it is pretty tempting to be close to, especially with this freezing rain.
- And you know this because…? – Clark`s left eye brow lifted up accompanying the interrogative look she was giving me and suddenly I felt as if I was in trouble even though I had done nothing wrong.
- I was young once too, Clark. – I could see her sadden a little with understanding and before she averted her eyes from me, I elaborated.
- When Anya trained me and I would get frustrated at how she initially had no problem mopping the floor with me, I used to come here for a few days. I like the North. – And this time not one, but various drops of water fell from the sky that was now covered with angry black clouds.
- Time to go Skaiprisa.
- I`ll be waiting for you… Heda.
And with that I saw how the blonde turned around and gathered the little bug in her arms, heading east to the caves, without looking back to me. I was sure she didn`t hear the "I`ll always come back to you" that left my lips. But I knew I didn`t have time to waste, small, but persistent drops were already falling from the clouds, it wouldn`t be long before the storm settles down on me.
After a while I had just managed to get all the furs and weapons under the trees, away from the water that was falling hard from the sky. I could feel my armor becoming heavier and my red sash was already brown because of the mud that was surrounding me. When finally, all the things from our camp were gathered in our backpacks it was time for me to find my two girls. I started heading east and I didn`t have to wait long to see the entrance of the cave I was telling Clark about earlier. I ran rapidly to the entrance and before I got the chance to announce myself while approaching the inside of the cave where the small pond was located, I heard Clark`s voice. Raspy and slow, but just like always, gentle. She was singing. I realized, I had never heard her sing before, her voice was some strange mix between a soft purr and warmhearted lull.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are…
Suddenly, I was feeling more overwhelmed than before and I think I fell in love with her even more than before, if that was possible.
Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky…
The skaiprisa was tender and yet she was hugging the little bug so protectively that I felt bad for intruding on such an intimate moment and ruin the magic of the lullaby, so I just sat down the bags I had brought with me and waited for the blonde girl to finish the song. Just as she hushed the last verse of the song, she was still looking to the sleeping baby when she spoke with firmer voice, addressing me.
- Do you plan on standing there and catching pneumonia or you`ll come to us where the chilly air isn`t so noticeable and change from those drenched clothes?
- I… I was just… - I found myself at a loss of words and I could feel my feet moving on their own accord towards the skiaprisa and the sleeping little girl in her arms.
I was standing no more than two feet away from them when I could barely contain my shaking anymore, being wet while running around wasn`t so bad, but being soaked and stay at one place was a nightmare, even my bones were feeling wet.
- Let me help you. – Offered gently Clark and I couldn`t tear myself away even if I wanted. My mind was blank, no thoughts, no moral judgments, no self-imposed barriers, just feelings. Warm and bittersweet familiarity of a kind. I was incapable of forming a coherent sentence, so I just stopped trying and began undressing, saving the little dignity I had left in me.
- I have to give it to you Lexa. You look amazing in leather, but it isn`t very comfortable to get out of when you`re all wet.
I felt Clark tugging at my clothes, trying to pull them off me, but alas it was not an easy task. After a short energetic struggle with my clothing I was standing with my back towards Clark and with my shirt and binding placed gently on top of the near stones. My wet hair was the only thing that covered my back and before I had the chance to pull my pants down, I felt the hotness of Clark`s presence. Her front was almost touching me; I could feel the warm small hand of the little bug that was snuggling comfortably in the prisa`s hands and a heartbeat later… I could feel Clark pressing gently behind me.
- Thank you for coming back Lexa. – Her voice was cracking with emotion and I was incapable of facing her. I didn`t want to ruin the moment, so I just opted to look at the ground and answer.
- I vowed I would never betray you again Clark and my fight will end before anything makes me break my vow.
Just as I pronounced the last letter of my sentence I felt hot lips press softly against my exposed shoulder, I felt Clark pulling me closer to her and resting one of her arms on my stomach. The baby girl between us didn`t even mutter a sound, she just yawned contently in her dreams and that moment froze in time. Me, Clark and the little bug, there was something strangely intimate and comforting in this moment, with these people around me. We were on the brink of another war, but right now, there was nothing further away from our minds. All three of us reveled in the created sensation of shared closeness and enjoyed the heat of our bodies and if it wasn`t for the violent cracking sound of two thunders that hit very near to us, causing some trees to fall and the little girl between us to jump awake and start crying with all of her lung power, our perfect moment was over too soon.
I regained the capacity of conscious thinking again and I made a few steps forward to lay my pants where my shirt and binding were and I practically run to the hot water from the pond. My skin was still ice cold and the hot water made me feel as if hundreds of tiny needles penetrated my skin, it was a bittersweet feeling, being engulfed by warm water after spending so much time soaked to the bones.
I spent what seemed like an eternity in the little pond and only decided to go out when my skin was wrinkling and when I saw Clark spreading our furs on the ground and looking for some food from the bags. We couldn`t move out of the cave until the rain had stopped so we might as well enjoy the possibility of an improvised mini vacation.
- That song you were singing before, about the star, did your mother thought you that? – I asked pushing my wet hair over my right shoulder, leaving my left side exposed.
- It was my dad actually. I can`t remember all of it though, I skipped some of the middle verses. – She elaborated shyly.
- Never the less, it was beautiful… and suiting for a Skaiprisa. – I said with a smile on my face.
Her title did her justice; she was the sole personification of a star. Strong and yet gentle, with shining blonde hair and incredible smile, highlighting the small dimples that grace her face every time she smiles. We spent the whole afternoon talking about her days in space and mine on the ground, we talked about our friends, our dreams and even our fears. We spent the day just enjoying being close to one another, but now that I had felt her lips on me I couldn`t stop my mind from drifting every once in a while and wondering about how it would feel to have her kissing me again. That was something I definitely intended on finding out once we had returned to Polis. We still needed to figure out who would take care of the little bug that accompanied us and talking about her, she was currently trying to stand on her own without falling on her butt. The strange thing was that even though she`d fall down every time she stood up she would laugh and would stand up again. Ge smak daun, gyon op nodotaim. I couldn`t help but think again that she was going to be an excellent warrior someday, but that gentle look in her eyes and the way she smiled and touched Clark`s face with both of her tiny hands, made me think of how much she looked like the Skaiprisa. The hair on the top of her head was a very light brown, but when the sun caressed her it looked only a few shades darker than Clark`s. After the struggle the little one had with herself, she was pretty tired when we settled for the night. We were in our usual position. Clark on the left, I was on the right and the baby girl was between us, Clark was sitting up, rocking gently the baby in her arms, the little bug that was almost asleep, but she couldn`t quite fall asleep yet and we knew that tomorrow she`d be impossible if she didn`t get a good sleep now. She might have been a morning person, but she needed her beauty sleep at night, she had already proven to be capable of crying and whinnying for long periods of times if her nap was disturbed.
- Clark please make her go to sleep already! – I pouted.
- What do you think that I`ve been trying to do for the past hour Lexa? My hands are going numb from rocking her all the time, she is becoming heavy you know. She was jumping all afternoon; she should be asleep already.
I thought for a second and Clark was right, but the energy that ran through the little bug seemed endless, there was just one possible solution left.
- Sing. – I said nonchalantly, looking at Clark with almost begging eyes.
- What? Oh yeah, right.
And a second later, the older blond was humming the song from earlier, I could see that the melody was working, but just to be safe I stood up on our furs and took the little girl in my arms and started swaying her gently, humming the newly memorized melody to her. It was the first time I had hold her since that morning a few days ago when I made her a twig pouch and let her swing on a tree. By the time I was done humming the lullaby for the second time, the little bug in my arms had fallen soundly asleep and the Skaiprisa was snoring lightly, it was adorable seeing them like that with matching expressions of content in their sleep.
- You know little bug, you have the most beautiful smile I have ever seen, I vow to you, to try my very best for it to stay there even when you grow up.
- Reshop ai trik prisa. – I put the baby on the furs between us and placed a soft kiss on her temple, and before I could think of the words that escaped my lips, I saw a gentle smile appear on Clark`s face, but her eyes didn`t open, perhaps she wasn`t asleep as deep as I originally though.
The good thing is that she decided not to comment on my words, for now the gestures between us were enough, once safely back in Polis though, I was sure that Clark would not let me be that easily. Both the Skaiprisa and I were facing the little girl that was now asleep peacefully between us and the last thing my mind registered before drifting off was a strong, warm hand, taking mine and intertwining our fingers, placing them in a tender manner over the baby`s small legs.