Temari stops surveillancing the surrounding area, seeing it was clear it was the right area to make camp. With the sun almost gone, and night taking its place. Being on the move for hours, a rest was well needed though wishing to have found a small town or village to sleep in a inn the outdoors was fine. It was the idea of being out in the open with really no cover, that made her wishing for an inn or something. But from the gentle breeze, it wasn't bad.
Hearing the others land behind her, except her genin who never seem to land always hoovering above the ground just a bit."Are we making camp here?"Tenten asks, obviously aware they would be doing. Temari just nods her head, turning around looking at everyone fully.
Ino looks around a bit unsatisfied, letting a groaning sigh."...Would have preferred an inn...I could use a good bath."She looks at her hands."No telling, how much dirt is in my skin now..."
Sakura chuckles lightly at her best friend."It's only for one night, besides sleeping under the stars is much better. But I do agree, a nice bed would be nice."
The two of them laugh together in sync, Tenten rolls her eyes at them both, as she starts to take off her large scroll. Setting it down with her pack, the rest follow her. Onyx who joined the ground found a rock to perch upon resting there."We should get some wood."Sakura suggest.
"Yeah, I can head back the way we came to grab some."Tenten thumbs over her shoulder.
Onyx screeches, getting your attention he flaps out his wings wildly making everyone look. "You're bird ok?"Ino points to him.
Nodding you."Yes, I believe he might have spotted a river a few clicks from here..."
"Well, aren't you the smart bird..."Tenten jokes, she looks at you."Well, I'm getting the wood."she summons kursarigama smiling to it."See ya in a bit."She tells everyone and takes off.
"I'll stay here at the camp."Temari tells the rest.
"Then we'll get some water."Ino looks to, you, Hinata and Sakura all nodding in agreement.
"Alright then."Temari takes her fan off and sits down letting the four girls leave. Running off, she hears Ino asks you which way the water was.
It didn't take long to reach the river which was infact a creek, it was a nice size one with clear water, dunking the canteens into it waiting while the water filled them up listening to nature's sounds of night. Done with one, lifting it out you screw on the top tightly. Double checking it was filled hearing the water swishing inside.
Setting it down on the bank, grabbing the last one getting ready to fill it up."Sakura!"Ino yells, making you and Hinata look at her seeing she was now in the water wet with Sakura standing over her.
Who smiles apologetically."Hehe...sorry."
Ino growls."You did that on purpose!"she flings water right into her face, wetting her. Smirking at her."Ooopss...sorry."
You look to Hinata who had the same wide eyes like you scared. Sakura stood there speechless water dripping from her face. Ino gets up, wringing out her hair with a satisfied smile, chuckling to herself. Getting ready to say something to Sakura who scared you and Hinata a bit relates and pushes Ino pretty hard from the looks of it back into the water, making her fall all the way in.
Gasps escape you and Hinata, watching the two to stare daggers at the other one. The air became tight, Hinata grabs hold of your shoulder...a laugh breaks out next with Sakura and Ino. A light joyous laugh. What seem like a storm between the two quickly blew away, Ino starts splashing water onto Sakura who does the same back to her. Laughing playfully, squealing in delight.
You look to Hinata who was still confused but smiles, when water was splashed upon you both. Turning, seeing Ino and Sakura had teamed up against you both, understanding you kick water back at them pulling Hinata to join you. Teaming up with the shy girl, who joined in the fun fray.
Such a bliss of joy filled you, it was wonderful having this much fun. Reminding you of back home, when you use to do water balloon fights with the others or splashing rain puddles onto April. Both of your turning it into a game, an innocent game of fun. It always delighted you, a bright smile would plaster itself upon your lips.
Running away from Ino who kicks water at you, you swipe some back at her while Sakura does the same to Hinata. Soon it became a a free for all, time flew by from all the fun that just erupted out of the blue. That no one noticed the sun had fully settled, until...
"Hey!"Temari yells getting everyone's attention.
Her commanding voice stops the water fight, all eyes look to her and Tenten who shakes her head at the childish antics."So, this was what you've all been doing."
Feeling Temari was upset, you quickly apologize to her."Sorry...Temari, we where caught up with this joyous game."
The young woman arches an eyebrow not the least thrilled, her scowl dropped a bit more...flipping itself into a smile."You girls are amateurs..."she takes out her fan, and next thing uses blowing water upon, the four."...Amateurs..."she folds her fan back up, proudly. Tenten does her best to conceal her own laughter at result of Temari's contribution to the water fight.
You, and the girls wiped out drenched from every single spot upon your bodies, which would take days to dry. Unable to contain her laughter any longer, Tenten burst out laughing at all the results, turning heel following Temari back to the camp. Leaving the four of you to slowly drag yourself out of the creek, falling right onto the bank like a wet rag. Sakura reaches up her hand slowly, only for it to drop back down.
Bodies heavyily soaked with water, all remained silent nothing but the night wind blowing.
The fire flicked and crackled in the night, you, Hinata, Ino and Sakura sat around it hands out to try, discarding the wet attire that laid out to dry dressed in simple white large shirt. Temari kept her smirk on, Tenten picked at the fire, feeding it every now and then. Her eyes shifted between the fire, Temari and the four shivering girls. Just thinking about what happen about two hours ago still made her laugh.
Silence remained between you and the other females, your golden orbs looked up at them noticing Onyx who took to sleep before the others. Feeling something inside you, erupting into a silent laughter which soon became know to the others. Hinata hears it, turning to you. Wondering what you where laughing about.
"...May...?"She places a hand upon your shoulder, which was became the trigger and everyone heard you laughing hearty laugh, which triggered the others to join in with you. The silent night, soon became filled with friendly and warm laughing making the cold evening feel homey.
Back in Sunagakure, Gaara sat in his office filling out documents, late into the night stopping for a second turning to look out the window slowly smiling.
Morning came, the remains of a well lite fire now nothing but ashes, dust being kicked upon. Everyone dressed and with their belongings secured, Onyx took to the skies circling overhead waiting for the others down below to move. Adjusting your arm warmers.
"Everyone ready?"Temari looks back, seeing everyone was ready to go."Let's move."
She takes off, you fly off behind her with the others. Racing across the plains, Onyx takes off once his sharp eyes take notice. Hearing your guardian up above you, made you look to him. He took off a bit fast up ahead. Smiling at how concerned he was, taking charge of catching sight of any danger that might try to hide.
"He's grown, so much."Hinata moves over to you.
You look at her, with a proud smile."Yes, he has greatly indeed. Quite handsome."
Looking back up Onyx wasn't there anymore, but your words where true about him. He was a handsome hawk, once he outgrew his chick feathers he revealing his deep silk rich brown almost black smooth feathers, with his tips with a dash of white upon them. His talons sharp, beak curved and sharp, eyes keen and focused. Those at the Aviary told you, he was quite a bird. He was strong and quick. So majestic, not to mention smart. A keen observer, he seem to understand what was happening around him.
Remembering the day you had received him as gift from Gaara. He was a quiet yet impetuous chick at time. Very particular on whom he allowed to hold him, trust never came easy with him nor respect. A strange habit for bird, something a human would have not a bird. The times when he was young, the many times would feed him or have Kaito take over his care when you left. When his feather's started falling off, he was eager to fly, patience not his strong suit, until now.
Smiling to yourself, the gift of having Onyx was a treasure. It was nice to have a little friend, whom you woke up to you every day greeting you with cries of their own empty belly. It was nice, just nice.
"I forgot..."Ino butts in."Who gave it to you..."
Looking to her, surely she knew."I have told you this, Ino..Mr. Gaara was kind enough to allow me to have Onyx. It was a gift."
"Gaara, huh..."Ino emphasizes the last word nudging you.
"Yes...would like Mr. Gaara you get, you one as well?"you asks her, which earned a laugh from Sakura. Ino rolls her eyes annoyed
"No, and that's not what I mean."she snaps at you.
"Oh, would you like me to get you one?"you smile at her, Sakura couldn't help but laugh at dense of you with Ino. It was just to cute, an she couldn't help it.
Groaning, Ino looks at you hard, while you look back pleasantly. Such misunderstanding, between you both. While she was trying to hint at something that clearly was going over your head, while you tried to understand her words as clearly as you could.
"...Listen..."she grunts."Gaara, gave you a gift. The bird."she points to the sky, making you look up."To you."she points.
Making you point to yourself."Yes, to me. I am aware of that."
Just that response alone, caused Tenten and Temari to chuckle loudly. Making Ino fluster in anger."May, stop making it so difficult!"
"I am sorry, if my responses are not making much sense to you. But..."you tell her."To be fair, neither are you. You bring about the fact Mr. Gaara has given me a gift, a fact in which I am aware of, and you too. Yet, you make it seem as if, neither you nor me are aware of this fact."
The logic you told her, made sense really. Yet, she just looks at you baffled by your response. Where you really this dense and obvious with reading inbetween the lines. She gives you a strange look, thinking back to the times she was with you. All your responses to what she said and tired to course out of you, the reactions you had to them. Just simple ones really.
And then it clicked, it wasn't a joke you where completely obvious to it. It was just so innocent, she saw it all around from all the small hints that where dropped by a few, yet you didn't pick up on them.
She looks to Sakura who just shrugs her shoulders, leaving it alone. But not Ino she was determined, looking back at you with fire burning in her eyes to make you see. Only for it to fade away, when you looked at her laughing from the talk between you Hinata. She couldn't do it the way she wanted to now, a child she sense from you. Something she didn't want to shattered really, accepting defeat right now. She leaves it alone, shaking her head. Speeding up away from you.
Temari, looks back at you. Smiling to herself.