Elidor: Wow, you've been working alot on this story lately.
Russa: Not really. Only four chapters. I want to get out as much as possible before my writer's block comes back.
Elidor: Okeydokey. I'll just...be going now. (sidles away slowly)
Russa: Oh, no you don't! You have to do the disclaimer!
Elidor: (comes back because he knows running is futile) Oh, pickled squee muffins.
Russa: WHERE! THEY'RE MINE!
Elidor: (cowers away and whispers) Russa doesn't own anything. Though she made up the characters and plot. And she's scary.
Russa: Oh where, oh where have my squee muffins gone? Oh where, oh where could they be? With their pickled squee-ness and their... chocolatey chips, oh where, oh where could they be?
(a day later)
Russa: Ah, well, can't find em. Story start!
Elin woke the next morning when someone gently tapped him on the shoulder. He raised his head blearily and glanced around. Mieran was standing over him, grinning. Elin glanced at Riishu (still sleeping), then back at Mieran. "Well, now you know."
The lieutenant tapped the side of her nose knowingly. "It was inevitable." Elin shot her a questioning look. She snorted. "Oh please. Everyone noticed the looks you've been giving each other for the past couple days. We all knew it was coming."
Elin looked stunned. "I didn't even know until about a day ago!" Mieran just laughed and informed him, "Well, you'd better get yourselves up. It's almost dawn." The half-breed nodded as she left. He turned and gently shook Riishu awake. "Rish, time to get up." The captain yawned widely. She opened her eyes sleepily and smiled. "Morning, Elin."
He smiled back down at her. "Good morning, Rish," he said, leaning in for a quick kiss. Riishu gladly gave it to him, then sat up. Elin could see her gathering up her strength, preparing for the arduous day that lay ahead. He draped his arm over her shoulders and gave her a quick hug.
Riishu turned and kissed him tenderly. "I love you, Elin. I don't know what I'd do without you." He smiled and kissed her back. "Rish, you know I love you. And I'm sure you could cope, but you'll never have to find out because I'll always be here for you." Riishu stole one more kiss before sighing and standing up.
She strode strongly out of the cave. Elin came to stand beside her, one arm wrapping itself surreptitiously around her waist. The other two lieutenants, plus Carine, walked up one by one and saluted.
Kuran snapped to attention. "I am pleased to report that I am feeling fine this morning. The healing was a success." He relaxed for a moment and grinned. "Thanks." Riishu smiled back and waved him off. Carine was the next to report, less formally than Kuran had. "Captain, Urea has not caused any trouble at all, nor tried to escape. She seems to actually be enjoying traveling with us."
Riishu pondered this for a moment. "She asked me to give her lessons in horse body language," Elin whispered in the captain's ear. She smiled knowingly. "Carine, please inform Urea that she will begin lessons with Elin as soon as we get settled in our new camp." The healer bowed and made her way off through the camp.
Mieran grinned at the two elves. "Everyone's ready to move out. We go on your command, Captain." Riishu turned to the massed elves. She raised a hand in the air and twittered like a robin. The elves instantly started moving.
They crept along the ravine, silent as the mist and seeming just as insubstantial. Elin kept a tight hold on Riishu's hand, not wanting to lose her in the twilight.
It was fully daylight when they reached their destination. They had come out of the ravine and had come to a seemingly sheer cliff face. Elin glanced at Riishu, confused.
She grinned and kissed him gently. "Watch." Releasing Elin's hand, the captain walked forward and placed a hand on a small crack in the cliff. Elin heard her speak quickly in Kagonesti for a moment, and then the entrance to a small cave appeared to Riishu's left.
She led him inside. It turned out to be even smaller than Elin had thought, only big enough for about five elves. He frowned in the darkness. "Rish, we're not all going to fit in here." The captain chuckled and kissed him again. "You're cute when you're confused," she teased. Elin grinned to himself, but pretended to be angry. "You mean I'm not the rest of the time?" he mock-growled.
He felt Riishu's lips on his. "Of course you are." she whispered. She took his hand and led him into the very back corner of the cave, where Elin saw a small crack in the wall. He stared at it. "We're going through that." Riishu laughed. "Yes." The half-breed shot a confused look at her. The captain smiled and told him. "Close your eyes." He obeyed, and felt her lead him forwards.
Elin tensed, expecting to be slammed into the wall, but instead he heard a sudden explosion of sound. He opened his eyes to find himself in a well-lit room. There were Kagonesti lounging everywhere, chattering to one another. A female elf nearby glanced up and saw the captain. She gasped and leapt to her feet, yelling, "Captain Riishu's back!"
The room abruptly hushed. Each elf leapt to his or her feet and threw Riishu a swift salute. Elin glanced quickly behind him to see that the other elves from the camp had followed them inside. Riishu smiled at everyone. "I'm glad to see you're all doing well," she called, then let out a hawklike screech. It was echoed by the entire room, and then the formality collapsed. Elves came up and introduced themselves to Elin, clapping him on the back and congratulating him on his lieutenant status.
Needless to say, Elin was very confused. He waited patiently, nodding and smiling when appropriate and giving short, monosyllabic answers when asked a question. Riishu noticed this and, with a smile, informed everyone around them, "Lieutenant Elin and I are exhausted. Please excuse us." She grabbed Elin's hand and led him through the crowd to a small corridor leading out of the back of the room.
They continued in silence down the corridor and up a long flight of stairs, then back off into another corridor. Elin gazed around in amazement. Eventually, Riishu stopped him at a nondescript door. The room wasn't much. It was dominated by a bowl-like depression in the middle of the floor. The pit was filled with leaves, moss, pillows, and any other manner of soft things.
Riishu pulled him to the edge of it. She grinned mischievously at him, then jumped in, pulling him in after her. She lay back on the incredibly soft bed and grinned at him. "I imagine you're rather confused."
Elin snorted, then crawled over and lay down next to the captain. He looped an arm around her waist. She sighed and leaned into him. "Let me explain:" she began, "This is a secret Kagonesti settlement. We sang each and every tunnel from this rock, and put the security measures in place so that the extended families of the soldiers could live here in safety. This place is nestled inside a huge plateau, so we can get air and such on top. There is also a lake up there, and space for farming. Since we don't eat meat, we have managed to make it completely self-supporting."
The half-breed thought on this for a moment, then grinned and kissed her. "Brilliant, as you always are." She smiled back up at him and returned his kiss. They curled up in the nest together, exhausted from the long trek.
Elin buried his face in her hair; Riishu laid her head on his chest. They fell asleep to the rhythm of their twin heartbeats.
This was kind of a boring chapter. A little fluff, a huge hidden civilization, you know. Same old, same old. Review please! Oh, and a big thank-you to Mask1, who has reviewed every time I update! So nice! A cookie for you!