The cold air felt good as it nipped at my thick, mountain born coat. I had always had an affinity for winter and the snow, it reminded me of home on the mountain. But I had a new home now, in the humid, soggy land of the swamps, and I wouldn't change it for the world. I felt good, felt alive in the snow and cold. It helped numb any remaining pain and soreness from Kaius's attack, making me feel completely rejuvenated. It was also nice knowing I wasn't being followed by the constant, shadowy threat of Kaius, allowing me to simply sit on the ledge without much care. I was free, free from the chains he had bound me in that never allowed me to relax and just enjoy the day. I could walk down the path of my life without having to constantly look over my shoulder.
The sound of the waterfall was not overwhelming, in fact it was relaxing. I was still able to hear the world around me, hear is any approached. But this was not what dragged my attention to Astaroth the moment he walked in to the crags, not even the way he stood out from the snow with his black fur and crimson mane. Its was more of a natural pull, like instinct knew he was going to walk into the crags that exact moment and pulled my attention there. The imprint bond would be my best explanation for the magnetic pull towards him; that and my undeniable love towards him. He may be an idiot, but he was my idiot....well almost my idiot.
My thought process had been halted the moment he walked in and my silver pools locked onto him. He just always had a way about him that always captivated me; my winter hormones only helped in drawing me in further and amplifying these feelings. I was unsure though about his feelings. He wasn't the smartest or the best at conveying feelings, something I had hoped to help him with in return for him helping me become stronger. But it was because of this fact that I couldn't tell if he reciprocated my feelings, even in the slightest; I knew he felt something, but I just couldn't figure out if it was only caused by the imprint bond or if there was something else there, something he had formed all on his own. Today though, I was going to find this out for myself.
It took him a while to notice me, he wasn't the most observant after all. I waited patiently though, tail sweeping side to side gently as I smiled down, just admiring him from this view. Finally do his eyes shift up and meet mine, his nose finally scenting me from all the way up here. It was silent for a moment as we both just looked at each other before he broken the chilly, yet somehow warm and comfortable, silence between us. "You look like a queen up there." he says, so casually that my heart beats a little harder in my chest. I always loved these peaceful moments between us, when we could have a casual conversation like this, and with Kaius gone now, it looked like there would be even more of these types of conversations available.
I smiled down at him, my ears twisting back slightly in a bashful manner before I quickly straightened up and gave my most regal look; I was a former princess after all. "You always look like a king," I say, my voice a little more quiet with this compliment, but he would still be able to hear it despite the waterfall close by. I gently rose to my paws, wanting to be down closer to him, because being a queen meant little if I didn't have my king by my side. So I turned and quickly descend to be closer to him.
I immediately brushed up against him affectionately, containing myself from being a little over affectionate with these hormones raging. Everything about him was so relaxing, his touch, his scent, he appearance. Whoever claimed that the demons were cruel, heartless killers had never met Astaroth, I had not tamed this demon. "Can I ask you something?" I say, not really asking him for permission, more of alerting him to the question I was about to ask despite his answer. I was a nervous mess: Ears barely staying up, cheeks flushed, voice slightly shaky. But if you were about to ask something as important as I was, you would be just as nervous.
I moved closer to him, my eyes conveying a serious tone to them though I tried my best to offer him a tiny smile. "I need to know how you feel about me....." I say so that only he may hear, only he may know of the personal question I have just asked him. My eyes drop almost a little sadly. "Because I know that I love you Astaroth. And I also know that I am so imperfect; one small flaw. And i'm trying to find hope........." I say, my voice exposing all of my insecurities about myself. I know he wants someone bigger, stronger, maybe even a little meaner, but he got me instead.
Somehow I dig down deep and find the strength inside my that has been hiding and use it to look back up at him. I almost want to apologize for throwing him into this awkward situation without warning, but I needed to know and now was as good a time as any. "Hope that maybe you might be able to love me back, might one day want to be my mate," I whispered, trying not to feel like maybe this whole thing is pointless. I know what he is like, and I don't know if he will be able to confront this situation with his normal confidence or let awkwardness skew his ideas about me.
This was me taking my strength and making a stand for myself......
6 years/Chained to Astaroth/Loves an idiot/Raptor of Iromar
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