Caedes stood beneath the mesmerizing dance of the aurora, its celestial ribbons weaving a tapestry of otherworldly beauty above the rugged terrain of the Volcano. Each hue painted the landscape with ethereal strokes, casting shadows that seemed to whisper secrets of impossible-to-imagine-things. Despite the stillness of the dormant land, there was an undeniable pulse beneath his feet, a heartbeat echoing from the core of the earth. It still felt warm, or perhaps it was his mind playing tricks on him. It was a place suspended in time, where life and death had come and gone from its explosive nature. He almost resonated with the bestial thing, truly.

As he gazed up at the spectacle above, Caedes felt a surge of emotion welling within him, mingling with the warmth he felt radiating from the volcano's core. It was a sensation that filled him with both reverence and exhilaration, as if he stood at the pinnacle of existence, embraced by the heavens themselves. Mm. A touch too dramatic. Against this backdrop of cosmic glow and shadows, his silhouette stood blended into the night.

Turning to his cousin, Kaino, Caedes could not contain the spark of anticipation that danced in his emerald eyes. He had brought her here for a reason, a purpose with the intensity of a raging inferno. His voice cut through the silence like a blade, its timbre rich with a mixture of challenge and amusement. "So, Kai," He called out, the name rolling off his tongue with a familiarity born of kinship and more. There was a hint of playful mockery in his tone, a silent dare that hung in the air between them. "What say you and I have a fight, to test our mettle once more?"

As he squared his massive frame to face her, Caedes felt a surge of determination coursing through his veins. This was more than a mere sparring match; it was a declaration of strength, a proclamation of his evolution from timid youth to formidable warrior. Kaino, his cousin, his confidante, his sister, stood before him, a constant in his life. And now, as they stood poised on the precipice of battle, he sought to reaffirm that bond, to prove that he was worthy of her trust and affection.

WC: 376

"speaking"

Kaino padded silently through the rocky landscape, her keen senses alert to every rustle and whisper of the night. The woman's lavender and smoke pelt served to blend her into the shadowy surroundings. Tonight, her cousin Caedes had summoned her for a spar beneath the vibrant glow of the aurora. A miasma of colors, greens, blues, purples, pinks... they all flowed and danced across the sky, the beauty of it marring that of even the stars.

Caedes was a formidable opponent, known for his strength and cunning. Kaino felt a surge of excitement as she made her way to their agreed meeting place. It had been such a long time since they'd sparred together. The woman wouldn't admit it aloud, but she had missed him a great deal. No one else understood her quirky sense of humor.

As she emerged from a bend in the path, Kaino's gaze was drawn upward to the swirling lights painting the night sky. It was a breathtaking sight, but she quickly refocused her attention on the task at hand. Caedes was waiting for her, his emerald eyes gleaming with anticipation. His words brought a soft chuckle from the fae and she flashed him a grin. "As long as you don't mind me winning, cousin." A little prance in her step, Kai moved forward and placed a peck on Caedes' cheek before going to take her place.

Agreement between them, Caedes crouched low to the ground, his muscles coiled like springs ready to pounce. Kaino mirrored his stance, her own body tense and ready for action. Still, despite the competition, the smile never left her face. She was a good natured lady, after all. Always smiling.

In the dim light cast by the aurora, the two wolves circled each other warily, their movements fluid and graceful. Then, without warning, Caedes lunged forward, his jaws snapping shut inches from Kaino's throat. She twisted away at the last moment, narrowly avoiding his attack. With a snarl, she countered with a swipe of her paw, aiming for his flank. Caedes danced out of reach, his eyes glittering with amusement.

Gritting her teeth through her grin, Kaino launched herself at him once more, her claws extended and ready to strike. But Caedes was quick, sidestepping her assault with ease. He retaliated with a barrage of swift strikes, each one aimed with deadly precision.

Kaino dodged and weaved, her heart pounding in her chest as she fought to keep up with her cousin's relentless onslaught. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't seem to gain the upper hand. Maybe it was because she didn't want to hurt him? Couldn't they just... cuddle or something? Not very Saxe of her.

As they continued to spar, the tension between them crackled in the air like static electricity. Each clash of teeth and claws echoed off the rocky walls of the volcano, mingling with the distant, imagined rumble of the earth below.

Suddenly, in a flash of movement, Kaino saw her opening. With a fierce growl, she lunged forward, her jaws closing around Caedes' leg with a satisfying crunch. He yelped in surprise and pain, momentarily stunned by her unexpected attack. Seizing the opportunity, Kaino pressed her advantage, driving Caedes back with a series of relentless strikes. She could feel the tide of the battle shifting in her favor, her confidence growing with each passing moment.

But just as victory seemed within her grasp, Caedes rallied, his determination shining in his eyes. With a fierce roar, he launched himself at Kaino, catching her off guard and knocking her to the ground. They rolled together in a tangle of fur and limbs, locked in a fierce struggle for dominance. But in the end, it was Caedes who emerged victorious, pinning Kaino beneath him with a triumphant snarl. For a moment, they lay there panting, their bodies entwined in a tangled heap. Then, with a playful nudge of his muzzle, Caedes released her. Kaino pushed him away with her forelegs and stood, shaking the dust and debris from her coat.

"A fluke," she informed him with a huff, though she still smiled. Coming in close to the giant man, Kai leaned into his side. "I've missed you a lot, you know that? Everyone is so serious. No one knows how to have any fun." Sephiran was the worst of the lot. There was a screw loose in her cousins head. He'd missed some of the vital components that gave a wolf personality. Still, she loved Seph. She loved them all.

Fighting at night under the aurora hadn't been too difficult. The lights were bright enough that the darkness hadn't posed an issue. Perhaps they would do it again soon. She wouldn't mind being trapped under Caedes again, although... next time maybe he'd be trapped under her.

WC-800
Total-1176/1500

"Speech"

Caedes watched silently as Kaino prowled through the rocky terrain, her lavender and smoke fur melded within the shadows, a perfect predator. His obsidian silhouette did have the advantage over that though. Tonight, he had summoned her for a spar beneath the strange aurora, its vibrant hues painting the sky in a dance of movement and color.

As they met, Caedes felt a flicker of anticipation, relishing the challenge of facing his cousin, or rather his sister, Kaino. The prospect stirred something within him, a fleeting moment of connection amidst his usual aloofness. He could treat the world as indifferently as he wanted, but Kaino had seen him at his worst — at his most vulnerable. It meant something.

Their exchange was swift and fierce, each move calculated and precise. Caedes struck with grace and measured power, his emerald gaze blazing in amusement at Kaino's spirited defense. Despite her efforts, she couldn't seem to gain the upper hand, her playfulness at odds with the intensity of their clash. She was always smiling, this girl. Nothing got her down.

In the thick of it, Kaino's sudden advantage caught Caedes off guard, her intensity momentarily tipping the scales in her favor. Yet, true to his nature, Caedes mustered up his strength, seizing control with a relentless onslaught he had worked hard to achieve. In the end, he emerged victorious, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as he pinned Kaino beneath him after their tumble. His hefty framework nearly crushed her, if not for the caution he practiced. You could not be as big as he was and be reckless.. After victory was assured, he released her as she simultaneously pushed him away, a smirk playing on his maw.

As they caught their breath, eyes casting upwards at the lights once again, Kaino's words cut through the lingering tension, her feelings spoken into existence. Despite his usual control over his emotions, Caedes felt a pang of warmth at her confession. He hadn’t realized just how much he had missed her. A bond he had taken for granted, truly. It had been too long, and he had yearned to show her the fruits of his labor. His hard work to prove he was powerful. Still the brute shook away the heavy atmosphere, inclining his head in mock agreement. "Luck, skill — what's the difference?" He quipped, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Either way, I win." He rumbled out, cocking a brow as she leaned into his mass. Ah, she was the same as ever. Touchy and affectionate, this one. “I’m here now. Enjoy the respite from the monotony of life without me.” A thunderous laugh left him, shaking his sides as he grinned widely.

Their spar beneath the aurora had been invigorating, a welcome reprieve of their daily lives. Perhaps they would do it again, Caedes mused, his demeanor giving away a playfulness he hadn’t shown since they were yearlings. After all, even the most callous of souls craved connection of the familial sort, right? And who was closer to him than Kaino herself? It was easy to fall into comfortability, here, under the night’s sky of lights.

wc: 525
total: 1,701

"speaking"