Silence of the Hillside

Mariah surrendered to the exquisite sensations Cerberus ignited within her, his touch and the heat of his body against hers chasing away the icy emptiness that had taken root in her soul. As he lowered them to the ground with gentle strength, Mariah's paws roamed over the hard planes of his body, mapping every scar and contour.

Their lips met again in a searing kiss, and Mariah poured every ounce of her desperate need into it. She nipped at his lower lip, not hard enough to draw blood but with an edge of intensity. He was gentle with her. A true gentleman. But it left her wanting more, and she would not quell her own fire- as hot as she wanted it to burn.

-Fade-
Mariah reveled in the warmth of Cerberus' embrace, letting the world around them fade into obscurity. The softness of the ground beneath her felt like a comforting cushion, cradling her as she basked in the heat radiating from him. But of course, the moment of bliss couldn’t last forever. And as always, reality would catch up. Her breath caught in her throat at Cerberus' quiet plea, his words echoing in the stillness of the shallow space between them. She gazed into his eyes, seeing the unspoken depth of emotion reflected there - hope and longing and a vulnerability that made her heart ache. In that moment, she wanted nothing more than to say yes, to accept the promise of a life and future with him.

But even as the word formed on her tongue, Mariah felt it wither and die, turning to ash in her mouth. Reality crashed over her like a frigid wave, dousing the warm afterglow. She couldn't stay in Obscura, no matter how much she hated the idea of hurting him. Duty and loyalty bound her to Elysium. The promise she had made her sister. And of course, Caedes...

Mariah swallowed hard, forcing herself to hold Cerberus' earnest gaze even as guilt twisted like a knife in her gut. "Cerberus, I..." Her voice cracked on his name. She lifted a paw to cup his cheek, trying to pour everything she couldn't say into the tender touch. "You know I can't. My place is with my family. With Elysium." Even to her own ears, the oft-repeated reasons rang hollow, tasting bitter on her tongue. Mariah hated the pain she knew rejection could cause. But of course, there was no way around it. Not now.

"Mariah Mendacium"