*flail* Oh God help I can't stop writing.
This is written from Ari's perspective. I feel like writing in first person, and I've yet to reaaally get into Ari's head for a prolonged period of time. xD
Side note: Oh god the fluff. I am never doing this again. Too much, too much...
Something is wrong with me. I just know it is. I feel sick all the time, and I-
It's him. I see a shadow in the distance and I know it's Mnem, watching me silently from the safety of a hill, ducking from sight as soon as I look up. I grin and sneak off as he hides, wondering just what he thinks he's doing. He's been hanging around the village more and more over the past few weeks. He's never seen by anybody else but me, which I find quite humorous. Vreagon is usually so attentive, but lately he's been slacking. I think he may be coming down with something, actually, as he's been going to bed earlier than normal. He's getting pale, too. I hope it isn't something too awful, I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to medicine. I didn't exactly learn from my mother when I was young.
As soon as I'm in the shadow of the trees, I giggle quietly and move quietly up the hill, climbing slowly. I see Mnem sitting crosslegged on the edge of the hill and I smirk, readying my attack-
He leaps to his feet and I yelp in surprise. He lets out a laugh and speeds past me, jumping from the hill into a tree. I stand there for only a few more moments, shocked, before I let out my own burst of laughter and follow swiftly, ignoring the sharp leaves against my skin as I caught up with Mnem, who had waited patiently in the branches, probably knowing that I would give chase. He winks at me in the darkness and releases his hold on the branch, falling backwards from it, twisting in the air and landing on his feet, much like a cat, before sprinting away. I quickly repeat his actions (though quite a bit clumsier, I'm afraid) and run after him, listening to his laughter as he disappears around random corners, sometimes launching himself into trees. He comes to a stop in front of a ravine, looking back at me. I slow to a stop and smirk, opening my mouth to speak-
He jumps. I gasp as triumph melts into horror, rushing to his aid, should he need it-
He's perfectly fine. I glare at him as he swings from a rope, one that I had placed there days ago in an attempt to make Renel's drop a bit safer (though I wonder why I hadn't just let the fucker fall), blowing me a taunting kiss before loosening his hold, sliding down quickly. I jump after him, gaining speed quickly. My hands burn, but my feet touch the ground soon enough, and he's off again, leaping over the small river that separated us from the cave on the other side, disappearing into the darkness. His black clothes and black hair certainly didn't help, and I find myself following him, though quite a bit more slowly. I can't believe how quick he is… add to the equation that I'm not familiar with this particular cave yet, and I'm quickly turned around. His footsteps fade into silence and I feel… well, I feel lost, as pathetic as it sounds. Not just because I have no idea where I am, but because he's gone-
No. No, no, no. I can't think that way! That's absolutely ridiculous. He's just a friend that happens to be better looking in my eyes, clever, funny, sweet-
No. Just… just, no.
Luckily the lighting of a torch shocks me out of my thoughts and I find myself face to face with Mnem, the man grinning. "Lost?" He asks, holding out his hand. I take it slowly and allow him to lead me around, even if this is behavior I normally never partake in. He walks quickly and I have to pick up the pace to keep up, his long legs pushing him faster than mine can.
"I-slow down!" I laugh and he shakes his head.
"Nope. We're behind schedule as it is!"
"Behind-"
He pulls me along and trudges up the steps leading up, steps that I never really noticed. Had he placed them there? It wouldn't surprise me. He pulls me further up until he comes to a ladder, climbing up quickly. I follow suit, frowning in confusion. What were we behind schedule for? As far as I know, there isn't supposed to be anything happening tonight…
The ladder was long, and I wonder just where he was taking me. The ravine wasn't this deep!
We reach the top soon enough and he helps me over the edge (though I don't need it, I still don't reject the contact) and turn as he sighs pleasantly. I follow his gaze-
And I can't help but gasp. The sun was rising slowly casting orange, purple, blue, even pink lights over the sky and through the clouds, rays of light coming through and spreading over the land, and we looked down from a tall mountain. Just how far into that cave had we gone…?
I found that I didn't particularly care. I've never seen something this… beautiful before. I've watched many sunrises and sunsets in my life, believe me, but this one seems… special, somehow. It's only when Mnem looks at me and smiles, winking confidently, that I realize why.
It's because… he's here.