Reila was starting to get comfortable here in Fenmyre even though she had already told Chimera she wanted to stay. She may not have really had friends or at least felt that way but everyone was welcoming and warm to the inhabitants of their pack. She really had no complaints, she couldn’t. Not with the life she was able to abandon.

With the night young, she ventured to the community fire pit, throwing some tinder on it to keep it lit for a little longer while she relaxed around the rim at just the right temperature. It was nice to bask in the heat of the fire after a rainy day, drying out the inner coat of her fur and almost lulling her to sleep.

She had washed just a little bit ago. Scratching open some apples to boil and make into a new scented soap for herself. She was, actually, hoping that Chimera would come around. Not just right now tonight, but she found herself thinking of him and his presence often almost like a crushing teenage girl, not that she would ever acknowledge it. For now she stayed by the fire while she would never go out to find the brute on her own terms or at least when duty didn’t call. And she wondered if she’d go another day, another night, trapped in her lonely dreams.

"Reila"

The day had been long and, as usual, Chimera had been hard at work. There were very few days where he just lazed around and did nothing and when he did have one of those days, he felt guilty the whole time. Anxious. The muscled giant was made to be active. Made to work. He wasn't supposed to just lay around. Not until the work was done, anyway. With one last patrol of the island, Chimera made his way towards his favorite resting place.

Chimera was more than a little surprised to see someone else taking up residence at the bonfire. The man enjoyed having a little time to himself at the end of the work day. Moving closer, the shape soon turned into Reila. At least his company wasn't one that liked to talk overly. Her presence would suit him just fine. He'd taken quite a liking to the speckled fae. She was quiet, reserved, confident in ways and insecure in others. A mystery at times.

Taking a big chunk of wood from the stack where jungle met sand, the two-toned brute tossed it onto the fire, letting the flames consume the fuel. Sparks danced through the air but the fire soon settled just as the King of Fenmyre did. Chimera slid down to lay on his belly in the sand, stretching his body out with a long groan of pleasure. He didn't say anything. Merely nodded to Reila as she lay nearby. He'd chosen to lay on the same side of the fire just in case she had anything to say.

"Speech"

Reila wasn’t aware that Chimera had joined her until the wood hit the fire but she didn’t startle. Her eyes flashed to meet him and she couldn’t help that smile on her face. Still, she didn’t say anything as he got comfortable nearby and the two seemed to just relax by the fire in silence.

It wasn’t too long though before Reila got up and moved out towards the stores with just a small thought on her mind. A feminine sway in her step as she walked away from the fire and Chimera, yes hoping he was paying attention to her.  She wasn’t that obvious about it though. She did come off as rather oblivious most of the time and that was not a lie.

She returned just a moment later with two bowls and a bottle of Hallowed wine, laying just a little closer to Chimera before pouring her own bit of wine and setting the opened bottle out for him if he wanted some. She wouldn’t force it on him at least. She was familiar with the affects of alcohol though she had to say, this was the first time she had it on her own accord.

She took a sip before laying still another moment. She was feeling a little nervous around him now compared to other times around him but that wasn’t shown through her comfortable and relaxed form by the fire.

"Reila"

The pair lay together beside the fire for a short time, silence stretching comfortably between them, when Reila rose and began moving off. Chimera did watch her go, appreciating the sway of hips as she disappeared from view. The man gave an internal shrug, then settled his blocky skull down upon one stretched out foreleg. The warmth of the fire permeated the brutes thick coat, biting through the slight chill of the evening. It wasn't frigid by any means, but the warmth of the flames was still quite nice.

Dual toned eyes began to close when Reila returned. The fae placed a bowl before him and took one for herself which she filled with wine. Black and white ears swiveled forward as Chimera lifted his head once more. He didn't drink, but was she aware of that? So as not to be rude, the man poured just a bite of wine into his cup, taking a small sip before placing the bowl back in the sand between his paws. She'd gone through the trouble to bring a dish for him as well, so it was only right that he utilize it, if only for a single sip.



"Speech"

Reila wasn’t aware Chimera didn’t drink much or at all. She didn’t really know much about him but seemed to learn more as time went on, as it was meant to be. Maybe she was used to having expectations and a line of life laid out for her to follow. It wasn’t quite the same with Chimera. She wasn’t given instruction before she hit the shores of the island and everything was by pure chance and exploration. And maybe that’s why she was subtly finding herself attracted to Chimera or his attention.

She didn’t pay much mind to how much he poured or drank, but still without word she stretched a paw out towards him and went to carefully rub at his shoulder. He did seem rather overworked at least. Only if he seemed interested or alright with Reila’s paws on him would she move closer and start to work carefully over his shoulder and eventually his back. She could argue she was just doing something nice for her king, but that wasn’t the case at all. She had bathed in her gently sweet apple soaps for him, and she wondered if he noticed or if he liked it.

"Reila"

Still the pair maintained their silence. It didn't bother Chimera in the slightest to not speak. Some women ran at the mouth and it drove him crazy. Reila was not one of those, it seemed. The brute looked down at his dish for a time, rolling it back and forth between black-toed paws. A subtle shift in the mild breeze brought the faint scent of apples to the man's nares. It was a pleasant scent. Not too flowery. Not too strong. Nothing like disgusting lavender.

Reila surprised him again by tentatively reaching one paw out to massage his shoulder. The behemoth of a man, tinged golden with firelight, arched one brow at the fae, but said nothing to dissuade her from continuing. Chimera loved a good massage. His muscles usually needed it. Besides, he came out here to unwind before heading to bed. What better way to relax than with a massage?

As Reila got into massaging him, Chimera placed his chin back down, eyes closing. He gave himself over to the pleasured sensations, releasing low murrs here and there when she hit a particularly sore place.

"Speech"

Reila only started gently, almost cautiously at Chimera's side working her delicate paws over his shoulders and where they met on his back. She was standing now, no longer where she had originally laid down beside him. She had quite a way with her paws, but something Chimera had probably experienced before under his once slave queens. She was... far but not so far from sultry intentions. She was just willing to experiment with her own emotions that she was feeling with Chimera. Ones she had never known before.

After Chimera got comfortable and seemed to enjoy the message she started, she carefully went to straddle over his mid back while pushing even around his spine on his shoulders. Her paws tapped, pushed, and pulled against his shoulders and gently scratched down his back as she moved on to his ribs. Her underbelly too slid down the length of his back which didn't feel so odd to her after their time under the cart together in the grapevine cathedral. She didn't put haste in her actions, working on every part of him for a good long time before moving on. Finally with her chest up against his rump, she worked over his loins and hips until he was satisfied.

"Reila"

Chimera accepted the massage for what it was, not thinking that the woman might have ulterior motives. She'd never hinted that there was any attraction or anything of the kind, so why would his mind go there now? He supposed that she'd simply noticed how much he performed physical labor and wanted to help, to repay him, or something along those lines.

As Reila moved to straddle him so that she could better work the muscles in his shoulders and back, Chimera became hyper aware of her body pressed against him. The soft fur of her belly slid along his spine and the giant beast held back a sound of pleasure that was threatening to break free. Despite his polyamorous ways, Chimera was faithful to his queens. He wouldn't let this bit of arousal turn him away from that.

Paws moved over his rump and hips and Chimera couldn't help an involuntary swish of obsidian tail here and there. When it seemed as though she had finished, the man released a long breath and gave a rumble of pleasure. "Thank you," he said simply. His muscles had needed that and Chimera always enjoyed personal attention.

"Speech"

Reila had taken her time with Chimera, though maybe not so extended as it could have been. She had known the nature or what could have become of what she offered him, she was not dumb. But she had never in her life done something purely for herself or the emotions she was feeling. Making Chimera happy and relaxed was what she wanted. In some sort of way as he thought, to repay him. For allowing her to stay in Fenmyre as a resident, for the time he had spent with her even if only out of obligation for the pack. She was thankful for him, but didn't know how to show it in other ways than this or as example. She was questioning the thoughts and feelings she had surrounding him, but for now this was all she wanted.

His tail flicked under her a few times, causing her to flinch to the sway in her more ticklish and sensitive areas but she didn't stop what she was doing. Instead ignoring the new found longing she was discovering under her, it was better that way or so she thought. Her claws carefully ran down the sides of his spine on his rump as he thanked her, "My pleasure." Her quiet voice nearly spoke in purred tones.

She stood to rejoin him at his side, laying down and taking a large sip of her wine. She still couldn't help that content grin on her maw, her eyes flashing towards him for only a few seconds before looking back down at her bowl with her paw playing with the rim. "I think I'm pretty dry now. I guess I should go back to the bungalow." She suggested but not by any means sadly. As much as she may have made the few moments about Chimera, she enjoyed the time they had together of course keeping the deeper thoughts to herself.

"Reila"

It never crossed the man's mind that the situation could turn into something else. He was simply glad to see Reila coming out of her shell a bit. She had been so withdrawn and distant at first. It wasn't as though they were the best of friends and had lengthy conversations now, but the pair were finding their balance. And so, he would allow her to touch and massage for as long as she wanted. It was good for him too, after all.

After he thanked her, the woman said that it was her pleasure. Chimera chuckled low. "I'm fairly certain that it was my pleasure, actually." The relaxed brute gave a long stretch, extending his hind legs out behind him in the sand with one knee slightly cocked forward. Once he'd obtained the most comfortable position, he stilled, aside from his obsidian tail shifting lazily back and forth across the sand.

Reila settled down again, drinking more of the wine in her dish. His was empty and would remain that way. Her voice met his ears and the brute slid his skull so that his chin rested upon one foreleg, fixing his pink eye upon her. She was dry. "I noticed the soap. Much more pleasing than lavender," he complimented. She then spoke a little wistfully, thinking that she should head back to her bungalow. "That's up to you. I'll still be here for some time," quiet lyrics drifted from the man. She'd helped him relax, but he still wasn't ready to sleep. It was too early for the partially nocturnal man.

"Speech"

As she settled back down beside him, he stretched himself out to get more comfortable and Reila's eyes wandered down his massive frame admiring more parts of him than she had before since they weren't out hunting for duty tonight and were more illuminated by the fire compared to stuffed under a cart. She hummed lightly as he mentioned her fragrance, it was for him after all if only unspoken. "Thank you." She spoke a little humorously in response but all the same serious. She was more than glad to think he noticed.

He didn't dismiss her which was good, but honestly she didn't know what else the night would hold for them. She really didn't mind laying here in silence. And that's what she would do. Reila was one of few words, probably due to her life prior to the shores of Fenmyre. But she had already laid out everything to Chimera. And everything she was today was growing fresh as if she had this new life because she did. Freedom was wholly different than her life sold off the ship. It was easy to imagine for anyone. But Reila couldn't have expected what she felt, or what she thought she was feeling when she looked at Chimera. It wasn't deep, it wasn't love. It was barely attraction honestly. He was quite handsome and strong and held high authority which all seemed like desirable traits there was no denying that. But she was more attracted to exploring and discovering what her will gave her. And getting Chimera's attention aside from when they worked together, that seemed to be the first task on her mind.

Without saying anything, Reila made herself more comfortable by laying down fully on her side with her body in towards Chimera. She wouldn't need to speak to say she wasn't getting up to leave for bed after he nearly offered for her to stay. She'd really only speak unless spoken to, otherwise she'd just lay here beside him until he was ready to go back to his own chambers. She just looked at him, more observational but hinted with that admiration. Her eyes may have even looked like they closed as she looked downwards at his fit and masculine body. She was fine with just this.

"Reila"

The sounds of the nighttime jungle mixed with the crackling of the fire, melding into a rather soothing lullaby. As the fire began to sink lower, Chimera rose, grabbed a few more pieces of wood, which he stacked beside where he was laying, and tossed one into the flames. As he did so, a somewhat chill wind blew in off of the sea. Mismatched eyes turned out to the rolling waves and a contemplative sound pulled from his throat. A leftover cold front from winter?

Rather than go back to where he lay before, Chimera slid down to lay in the sand on the other side of Reila, his back against hers so that their body heat could meld, warming the pair mutually. He thought nothing of it. She had taken the initiative to touch him first, so he didn't think she'd mind this gesture. If she did, she could move. With the fire at their faces and their coats pressed together, the crisp wind would mean little.

A long breath was expelled from the man as he settled his chin down upon his pale foreleg once more. Eyes closed to mere slits against the luminescent fire, eventually closing completely as he became more comfortable.

"Speech"

Reila stayed completely still on her side as Chimera rose and threw more wood on the fire. The breeze would probably smother it quicker, and the the two could go back their separate ways to their beds. Chimera's with a warm body, and Reila where it was empty. It was meant to be that way, she wouldn't even let others in her den with her at night or at least not to sleep. Not after she attacked Chimera.

Her eyes moved tiredly as Chimera traveled to her other side, losing sight of him but instantly feeling his back against hers. She gently pushed against him too, taking a few moments to lay there just like that with their warmth generating between them.

Not too long after, Reila shifted rolling on her back until she was on her other side, a little propped up by Chimera's body. One of her paws lifted up to reach over what she could around his back and behind his shoulder, the rest of her body pushed into him like she fit close up against him. She was silently fighting sleep, but looked more with a glaze over her half opened eyes rather than struggling to keep herself awake.

"Reila"

While he hadn't expected the woman to pull away, he also hadn't expected her to embrace their new proximity with such fervor. Reila gave her small frame a roll, leaning into him and draped one leg over his back. Chimera wasn't opposed to this, but it did make him feel a little strange. He wondered why he might be feeling that way and Aliana's face flashed in his minds eye. His clouded queen wouldn't like this one bit, he imagined. She didn't mind when he slept with Siren, Dalila or even Erystotle, but he had a feeling that she would mind this.

Glancing to the side, Chimera noted the sleepy expression on Reila's features. She was obviously comfortable and seeing the woman letting her guard down a bit pleased him. She was a part of this pack. The island was now her home. He wanted each of his wolves to be comfortable in this place and with him. Reila's current, sleep disposition proved that she was slowly getting to that point.

Chimera released a long, slow breath. The somewhat frigid breeze whipped around them, making the fire dance fervently. Hmm, if she fell asleep, he couldn't leave her here on the beach alone. She might catch a chill. His only other plans for the night had been to go back to the resort and sleep, so there was nothing keeping him from simply staying here and keeping his packmate warm, right? They weren't under a cart anymore and he didn't need to be so close, but the weather continued to be pushing them together, it seemed.

"Speech"

Chimera stayed in the position that he was in, which is just how Reila wanted it. It was just like this equal amount of comfortableness between them. Reila wrapped carefully over his shoulder, and Chimera relaxing under her. It would seem easy after the long day and her massage.

She caught that glimpse towards her, her lids slow as she felt the warmth between her underside and his ribs, and before she knew it she was asleep. Like one minute she was looking at Chimera and the next he was in her dreams without even realizing it. And he was, venturing on their hunts and setting up traps, maybe a little more enthusiastic than he usually was but still as stoic as ever. It was only in her dreams where they laid as they did under the cart together, only as if in real life here beside the fire. Her unminded paw traced behind his shoulder and along his ribcage as she hummed almost silently, but in her dream she had snapped in a second, her jaws over his throat just like her alter ego had intended in their sleep beside one another last time. Her whole body jolted rather aggressively, but when she was brought back to the real world she let out a deep breath relieved that the dream was only a dream, and she hadn't actually grabbed Chimera between her jaws in any way. She retracted from him lightly, taking just a moment before she went to rise on her paws, "I should go back to the bungalow." Her voice was calm, even a small grin to her maw like nothing was wrong. But Chimera could probably know without asking what had bothered her; the nightmares.

"Reila"

No sooner had her sleepy gaze met his, Reila was asleep. Chimera was content to stay here, allowing the woman to obtain her rest. It seemed to be an easy rest for some time, then he felt her slender frame tense. His head rose and he turned his full attention on her, watching her brow furrow as she dreamed. He was prepared this time, thinking that she might wake at any moment with jaws wide. However, when she did wake, lifting her lids so that blue eyes met white and pink, there was a smile on her face.

Reila, despite smiling, tried to excuse herself to go back to her home. "No," Chimera said simply. One well muscled foreleg rose and he tugged the fae against him. This was a test. Had he not told her that they would continue to be near one another until she could control herself? He placed her back against his chest and stomach, altering his position so that he was laying on his side for both of their comfort. Essentially, he was spooning her. Chimera kept his big arm draped over the woman's ribcage, his paw resting upon her stomach. "Go back to sleep." His rumbling voice was soft as he commanded her and his own head had already gone back to resting upon his other foreleg. He was comfortable and content to stay here with her through whatever nightmares she had. Hopefully she was willing to try.

"Speech"

Reila didn't say anything as Chimera grabbed her and pulled her in. She didn't run, she didn't tense, she didn't tell him no. His calm and kind request was yes, heard as if he was a master. It was probably something Reila may not have ever grown out of. With her paws curled into her but not rejecting the feel of him around her in fact accepting it by finding her place there, everything she felt intimate towards Chimera was completely gone. If only for these few moments.

Her eyes went a little wild, looking between her paws and his chest and also completely away from him to the ground. Her breath started to get deep and shallow but she was holding it in as it was felt more through the movements of her body rather than heard. All of it didn't happen instantly but over the course of a few moments, and finally she was nearly trembling in Chimera's arms. It wasn't really the nightmares, but they played a part of this anxiety attack she was having. Chimera instructed her to go back to sleep but she couldn't. She wouldn't allow herself too. Thinking about hurting him was making her panic, but also thinking of not doing what she was told was a part of it too. Suddenly her whole life was rewound and all she wanted to do was be alone in her room. She would just stay here until it passed and wouldn't speak up, but she also wasn't going to go back to sleep afterwards. She'd go the whole night without it.

"Reila"

At first, he believed that she was going to settle back down comfortably and go back to sleep. She seemed content to be curled up against him. Chimera had even let his eyes drift closed, prepared to spend the night asleep on the beach. That was when he felt the first bit of trembling. Ears swiveled and he caught the sound of her staggered breathing and could feel the unsteady rise and fall of her ribcage. Dammit...

With a sigh, Chimera released his light hold upon her, pushing himself away and rolling to lay on his other side in the sand so that his back was to the woman, though his posture was still loose, comfortable and sleepy. "Go if you need. I won't force you to do something that you don't want to do." The brutes tail thumped in the sand and he absently chucked another piece of wood into the fire that had begun to once again die down. Sparks danced into the air then disappeared, but the pair of them were still there. What would she choose to do?

"Speech"

When Chimera turned his back on her she felt this sense of just how terrible she was. That may not have been true, but nothing could relate to the level of low she was at when that happened. It was wholly different than if she was about to be punished for not listening or doing something wrong. What she was experiencing was completely new to her as most of her emotions were these days. Still not even settled from her panic attack, she felt the urge reach out to Chimera apologetically, and she did she just didn't actually make contact with him.

She stayed there only a couple more moments, less traumatized but not fully in control of her own body. And she finally stood to make her leave from the fire. Missing Chimera's body against hers, missing what she had offered him, missing him. But she wouldn't act on any of what she was feeling. It seemed to be a theme with her. She'd go back to her bungalow, and suffer alone and in silence as it was meant to be. Beating herself up for what a screw up she was. Everything without word. No one would need to know.

-Exit Reila-

"Reila"