Hi ya'll! Here I am again! I have the best news! On Thursday we're going to get Mira! :D :D :D I'm so happy. Not looking forward to the 4 hour drive to get there, but on the 4 hour drive back, I get to cuddle her nonstop! Yay!

Alright, on with the story! Enjoy!

As Raz entered the room, Zalim was exactly where she left him, lying in his larger-than-necessary canopy bed, black fur blankets pulled up to his chest, propped up on a few pillows. The satin drapes were pulled over the windows, leaving the room dark. A single candle, sitting on the night table beside him, gave the room just enough light she didn't trip over herself. She'd become very accustomed to being in constant daylight, so her night vision was dormant and apparently reluctant to kick in. She could see his eyes glowing in dark gloomy abyss that was his bed. "Heya snow white." she greeted, setting herself down on the bed. "Fer some'n so pale ya sure do have a thing fer black, don'tcha?"

For a moment the glowing orbs of red flicked upwards, and she grinned. She liked annoying him. "Yes. I do." he sounded ready to argue. "But I will not debate on the subject."

"Pfft." it was her turn to roll her eyes, handing him the bowl she carried. "Yer no fun."

"I am not expected to be fun."

"By me ya are."

She was joking, but all the same, Zalim looked up. "Would that please you?"

She chuckled at his tone, flopping down on the bed and making herself comfortable. After all; if he was holding her here, she had the right to make herself at home where ever she wanted. Didn't she?

Well, in her book she did. Taking a pillow from beside her, she tossed it out in front of her, her aim perfect. "Ah" she propped her feet up. "Thas nice. An no, i' wouldn't." he looked curious, shifting to face her and setting the bowl aside. "Ah don' needja turnin yaself inta what yer not. Tha wouldn' be good fer eitha of us."

"Your reasoning..." he didn't finish.

However, he'd grabbed her attention. She turned over to face him. "What? Wha' bout it?"

"You are so... relaxed. You live a fearless life, but how? And why?" he slid down to look her in the eye. "Tell me. What is the source of your fearlessness?"

"Ah couldn' tell ya."

"And why not?"

"Cuz Ah don' know mahself, thas why." she shrugged, and her expression changed. "I just... Ah guess I've neva had ta be afraid." she shrugged, and he saw wetness slowly creep into her eyes. "I always 'ad mah brothers there ta pr'tect me. I knew... guess Ah've always known they'd always be right here ta protesct me. An they were. So I... I neva learned howto be afraid, I guess." she sniffed sharply and brought up two fists to hastily dry her eyes. "Now look whatcha doin." she managed to laugh. "Yer turnin me inta a blubberin mess." she manages a small teasing smile. "Next question. An make i' one that won't make me cry."

"I apologize for bringing you sadness." he too smiled a bit. "And as for your question..."

They spent the rest of the night talking. Asking one another questions about themselves, sometimes random things like favorite color, and sometimes more sentimental things like family. She found it very interesting that he couldn't remember ever having a family; not a mother, not siblings, nothing. "Raz?"

She shifted a little, eyes closed. It was nearly six and the night was almost gone; the stars twinkling above were fast disappearing and the black was fading to dark blue. She cracked open one eye. "Mm... what?"

"Tell me about the outside." his voice was a shaky whisper. "Tell me, is the sky still blue in other parts of the world? Do flowers still smell as sweet? Has- has everything changed?" She blinked, taken aback, not expecting such a question. "Please. I- I must know."

"Wha for?"

"Well, I-" he sighed. "It has been so long since I have explored the world beyond mine here." his voice was surprisingly desperate.

"Why?" Raz asked, no longer feeling sleepy. "If ya wanna know so bad, why don'tcha jus go see fer yaself?"

"I wish it were that simple." he lamented. He turned away from her, sitting up. Opening the curtains, ignoring her annoyed order to stay put, he gazed longingly at the surf so far off. The waves were gentle, lapping gently on the white sand. Had just any outsider seen this place, they'd have thought it a tropical paradise, what with its white sand, clear as crystal water, and numerous fruit bearing trees. But it was not. Perhaps to others; but not to him. This place would never be paradise, and it would never be even relatively happy. He, if he were to be completely honest, made his subjects miserable so he would not have to suffer alone.

"Well why ain't it?"

Zalim sighed. She never gave up, did she? Of course not. "Because... because it is not."

"Thas no' a valid answer."

"Of course it is!

"Not it ain't."

"It most certainly is!"

She smirked. "Isn't."

"It is!"

"Isn't."

"Is"

"Isn't."

"Is."

"Isn't."

"Is."

"Is."

"Isn't." he blinked. "Wait... what?"

She chortled, falling back onto the pillows, laughing. "Gotcha!" He sighed, putting a finger on each of his temples. She would never stop, would she? "Oh c'mooon." she groaned. "Stop bein so serious fer once an laugh a little! Iss' good for ya."

He rolled his eyes. "I have a most difficult time believing that."

"Mm-hm, sure." she rolled her eyes. "You jus don't wanna admit Ah'm right. An ya neva did answer my question."

"I did!"

"Fine then." she grinned, showing her pearly teeth. "If ya won' tell me, show me."

"Show you?"

Her smirk widened. "Yep."

...

As they arrived at the beach, Zalim wondered for the millionth time why he'd let her talk him into this. He was practically handing her his weakness on a silver platter, gift wrapped and everything! He silently groaned to himself; women and their mysterious powers over males- the eternal mind twister.

"Here we are." instantly Raz took a deep breath through her nose and took a good whiff of the familiar salty are. "I hope she catches pneumonia." he muttered to himself, but she heard him and punched hint for it. He was still awesome by her strength; five thousand years ago, females were elegant, fragile things that couldn't form a decent fist to save their lives. But now... he rubbed his sore arm, which was no doubt bruising under his white fur.

"Shut up." but her heart wasn't really in the command as she hurried towards the water, not hesitating at all to plunge in as she was so used to doing. Even now, at seven a.m. and almost no sunshine, the water was warm. She was happy to go just a few feet out, as the water grew deep very fast, and float on her back. For a time she was happy to just lay there, feeling the warm and cool currents pass her by, until...

Raz shrieked on surprise and bolted upright as she felt a hand on her arm. Just briefly, but she was sure... "Something- someone touched me!" she called to Zalim. "Ah swear somethin touched me!"

She turned around again, only to find herself staring into a pair of sea blue eyes. She screamed again.

There you go! Any guesses as to who/what this new mystery character is? Anyone? Anyone? :P Anyway, please review!