After suffering through the chilling winds and icy snows of the North, she couldn’t keep herself from ducking into the first cavern that she found. Stamping snow off her paws, and shaking it from her starry-coat, she began to look about herself. It was immediately warmer here, and it wasn’t just the break from the wind. There was a steady heat blowing upwards from the downward incline. Not one to look a heat-horse in the mouth, she began to follow the path downwards.

It wasn’t long before it became less warm, and more hot. she could feel it biting at her coat, and the sudden change from freezing to overheating put a cough in her mouth. She tried to clear it from her mouth, and made her way forward to the indent in the path before her. Thinking she would find water, and instead finding a river of heat. She stared in open mouthed wonder at the reddish liquid flowing lightly down the cavern. She started, and stared, and then took a few steps back. No, it was entirely too warm. Perhaps she could take advantage of the heat from a little further away.

Spice stuck her head out of Keetie’s coat, and let out an inquisitive chirp. “It’s a river of heat Spi. I guess it must be what lava looks like.” she began to backtrack the way she had come. Her paws were far too cute to risk getting blisters.

"Speech"

Quite by accident Aku had stumbled upon the underground fire river. As he was becoming accustomed to, it was yet another thing Boreas offered that he'd never seen before. Considering all the new things he'd seen already, he took the river in stride and didn't quite freak out like he would have if he'd seen this land first on his tour of Boreas. He'd approached the river cautiously, but upon finding the caverns empty of tempting spirits and foul creatures he'd relaxed and allowed himself to enjoy the warmth.

It was impossible to get close to the lava which Aku was fine with as he had no desire to get within grabbing distance of it. Just in case. Who knew what sort of thing might live in there. He had never heard stories about lava beasts and he didn't want to find out if they existed. So he got close enough to warm himself and immediately laid down to thaw his frozen paws.

No sooner had him made himself comfortable did a brilliant blue woman in one of the side caverns. She was making her way towards him with purpose and as he'd never seen a wolf colored quite like that his first instinct was to think her a lava monster come to punish him for trespassing on her sacred ground. He was on his paws in an instant, his chill forgotten. "Blessed mother!" he swore in alarm. "Forgive me for trespassing, I only wished to be warm."

She hadn’t realised how many branches there were in the tunnels until she was trying to return. She stared dubiously down one, and found nothing familiar. She moved on, and peered through another. Maybe? Possibly? Making a decision, she took the path and strode down it. Her paws sure and confident beneath her despite the absolute lack of anything resembling certainty.

Before she could reach her next junction, a wolf was calling out to her. The snowy whites of his coats should have stuck out to her, but she had been so caught up in trying to find her way. She turned her attention to him, noticing the delightful grey crown that adorned his head, and raced down his back. His eyes were a vivid blue that were rather pleasant to look at. His words however, were very strange. “Sorry to burst your bubble love, but I don’t own this place. I don’t think anybody does” she informed him.

"Speech"

Aku found Lorikeet's words as confusing as she found his. He was still for a second as he tried to suss out all that her short reply entailed. Quite honestly he was baffled. Did she mean she was a traveling spirit? If so he probably had more reason to be wary of her, because in most stories spirits without homes were looking for things to inhabit. And he did not want to play host to some foul creature who might run him ragged or worse, to death. That was not unheard of. All sorts of ethereal creatures delighted in capturing mortals for their pleasure and capricious violence often went hand in hand with with whimsy. It was in his best interest to be wary.

The picture of uncertainty, Aku curled one paw to his chest as he regarded her. "No? So you are passing through same as I?" Dare he ask questions? Perhaps it would be better for him to leave before he got too involved with her. Perhaps if he was bold she would tell him her intentions. It seemed as good a place to start as any and if he was careful he could probe without risking too much information of his own. "If I may ask, what brings you here?"

The poor lad looked younger than his years and noticeably timid. There was a delay between her comment and his reply, as through he wasn’t sure what to make of her. She sat on her hunches and offered him an award-winning smile. The sort that had her head tilted, and bunched up her cheeks, and fluttered her lashes. The perfect image of a delightful angel.

Either ruining, or adding, to the effect, Spice stuck her head up. The little antlered cat waved a paw at the stranger, clinging to the fur around Keetie’s head without fully diving into it. It was too warm for that now, after all.

“Pretty much, I was getting out of the wind and found this place. It’s pretty neat, right? A source of heat in the terribly cold North.” that basically answered both his questions, but, oh. She couldn’t help herself. “But, you could potentially say I’m looking for some kisses. You don’t happen to have any, do you?” she teased him.


"Speech"

Aku was in agreement with her for the first part of her answer. He too was escaping the elements and it was a perfectly mundane, ordinary thing to do. Anyone stuck outside in the north in winter would do the same. And that, perhaps, was where they would go wrong and run afoul of wandering, beautiful spirits. Like this one whose predatory nature was slowly revealing itself.

He blinked in alarm at her advance and was instantly stuck. On the one hand, kissing her might be a trap and seemed like exactly the sort of way a lesser man might get bewitched. On the other, refusing her and making her angry was potentially worse. He had no idea what he was dealing with and it was possible her anger was more foul than wherever the kiss led. It was a tough call. In the end he decided to try to bow out tactfully.

"Ah," he said in chagrin. "I'm afraid not. You see, I am betrothed and it would be an insult to my future wife to kiss someone as beautiful as you because..." Why, good sir, why? He was briefly stymied, but a sudden thought made him bow his head as though humbled. "Because how could I then return to her?" Ah yes, very good. Flattery would hopefully set him free.

Aku dipped his head further and turned with the intention of fleeing with dignity. "Now I must take my leave as it would be improper to do otherwise and risk temptation." It was possible he was laying it on too thick, but when dealing with a spirit whose anger he most likely had reason to fear it was probably better to err on the side of too much than too little.

“Oh, no” she said, her voice sharpening, and lowering in bitter disappointment with the boy. “Please, don’t tell me you have your head stuck up your ass and think monogamy is the way to go?” she tutted and shook her head at him. “I’ll never understand people that don’t want to share their love, and taste the kisses of many. It seems a terribly boring way to live.” she got back to her paws, taking a step closer to the silly, stressed boy. His features were so fine, so delicate. He was shorter than her, and somehow wore it more demurely. Perhaps that was just his attitude.

She wanted to taste his kisses.

He wouldn’t truly deny her, would he?

But she’s not your wife yet ” she pointed out to him. “Wouldn’t you like to know the best way to kiss her?” she poised at the edge of taking a step towards him. She wondered if he might truly try and flee her. The only person she had seen in days in this frigid wasteland of a North. He wasn’t going to leave her all alone, was he? Deprive her of kisses and a soft coat on which to spend the night?

"Speech"

Grimly to himself Aku was forced to admit his plan backfired. Though not moved to violence her tone spokes volumes about her displeasure. Well, if he was in for a mauling there was only so much he could do. May as well attempt to stand by his convictions. The battle wasn't lost yet; perhaps he could still explain himself. "To everything there is a balance, something you surely must appreciate, tempting spirit? The bond between a man and his wife - or wives - is powerful and it would be unwise to harm such a thing. What would that say of me? My family? My ancestors? I live a simple, proper life as is befitting someone of my humble stature."

In response to her final question Aku's gaze dropped to the ground and the insides of his ears darkened. This was a very sticky situation and he felt like a pup navigating rough waters for the first time, not only because of the perils of supernatural dealings, but because this was a department he had no experience in. Akna had run away before they were properly married and the elders had forbidden him from taking another wife while one ran around unfettered. Of course he'd kissed a girl or two growing up, but none since becoming engaged. "I have no doubt I would learn a great deal from you and perhaps that would be to my benefit..." He hesitated, unsure of what sort of reaction he would be provoking. "But I must insist. Powerful as the temptation is," he tacked on for good measure.

Oh for the love of all that was good, and warm, and full of kisses in life. The man was an airbag. He had a pretty face, and a dainty, cute body. What he didn’t have, was a brain of his own. Well, she could like a man for his body and not his mind, right?

Feeling a little more skeptical about the man, she eased her foot back down again, and wrinkled her nose at him. “Sounds like your life is a hell, to me. You don’t speak like a man in love, you speak like a man in religion. I bet every kiss you’ve had has been all rigid and proper. You’ve never felt suppleness, and warmth. I pity you, stranger.” she slowly lowered down a long dainty limb, and arched her back into a stretch with a sigh. Well, it didn’t look like she would be getting to nestle with a warm body tonight. What was the saying? You didn’t stick your vag near crazy? She sniffed her nose at him in disdain and looked away. Giving him the option to flee with his tail between his legs if he so chose to.

"Speech"

He was baffled by her misunderstanding. It had to be a show. Surely she knew what he was talking about. As a beast of chaos this had to be part of her plan to sow strife because even stones knew of the need for balance. Aku's expression turned quizzical as he tried to understand her. "I don't love her and she doesn't love me. Love comes later." That was just how it was. Everyone knew that. Things were complicated by Akna's Jarvela background and maybe that would make loving one another difficult, but they had a duty to their peoples to be bound by matrimony. How else would there be peace?

"I suppose..." he mused, not at all hurt by the spirit's harsh words. "I can't say I have ever had a real kiss. But I do not need your pity. A bird cast into the deep would likely think himself in hell and so too would a fish forced to writhe around on land. We are different, are we not, and we have different lots in life." This was a strange conversation and one he certainly hadn't expected to have with a spirit beside a river of fire. But that, as he was growing accustomed, was Boreas.

Her noose wrinkled even further as he continued to speak. She almost felt like gagging. How gross, how horrible. What he was describing was basically her idea of hell. Forced into a loveless marriage. The sin of monogamy. He wasn’t really given a chance to explore life, to see and understood what he liked, what he could love. Yes, she pitied him, but she also thought that he was an idiot. A complete and utter fool.

“Marriage is already a strange concept, but from what I understand, those that take their vows do so because they are love. Why else would you pledge your love, and all your kisses to one wolf? To feel that heat of passion, to feel what it's like when someone loves you. The smouldering of their eyes, their lingering touches that make you shiver with anticipation? To share something intimate and wonderful and new with someone? Why would you do that with someone you cared nothing for?” she asked him softly. No longer gruff, just simply bewildered.

"Speech"

He still couldn't decide if she was ignorant to the way things were or toying with him, but now for reasons unknown he felt compelled to defend his way of life. "Balance, he said for the third time. "The plant needs water, it gets water and thrives. The animal dies, its body feeds the grass, then the grass feeds the animals and then the animals die and feed the grass. Everything is connected in this way." He drew a circle in the air with his paw. "Wolves are the same. They are born, they grow up, they multiple, and they die. Marriage is just a part of the cycle."

Aku frowned as he considered the...woman? Spirit? Whatever she was. He'd started out determined not to share information but now he wasn't sure that was necessary. "Many marry for love, it's not a foreign concept to me. And some," he said slowly, "Give the chance of that up because it is better for everyone. If your leg is stuck and you risk starvation if you cannot move, is it not better to cut it off? That is an extreme example, but sometimes sacrifices are necessary." He went off on a tangent for a second, his gaze flicking to hers. "You keep saying 'one' and 'monogamy' and these are not things I've said. No matter." He reined it in. "I agreed to marry to bring peace to our peoples, who fight."

There was no real issue with kissing this woman beyond the danger of her bewitching him. He had lied a little in an attempt to get away from whatever foul designs she, as a naturally nefarious creature, may have had in store for him. As for his reasons for having kissed no one, that had more to do with his nerves than any real injunction. Was there a threat from such a thing? Possibly, but there were no rules forbidding him from taking another wife someday. The only reason he couldn't now was because Akna had left things broken. Everything was complicated and vast and he wasn't about to try to explain all the ties that bound him to this one disdain-filled spirit. But he would certainly try to explain some. "You ask why and that answer is simple: I do it for my family, who are counting on me to make things right."

He spoke of balance and right and wrong. Yaddy yah, like she cared. Had she ever heard anything so pretentious in her life? It was like he was looking for a deeper meaning for his reason to be. To Keetie, good company and kisses were the only answers she needed.

He had to give him some points, he spoke patiently, trying to bring her to understand. She never would, but she liked him a little better with his puppy dog pleasing eyes. She didn't detest him so much any more. The pity however, grew stronger. She was baffled at what people would think throwing two wolves that did not love each other together would save their people. What exactly was that suppose to achieve? Proof that they could work together without killing eachother? What kind of 'love' was that. No, the poor sod. He believed it, and he was the sacrificial lamb to the whims of his peoples barbaric customs

It was arcaic and baffling, but he did it of love for his family. Keetie would fight and shed blood for her family. Possibly she would even die for them. But to give up kisses? Perish the thought.

She had crept a little closer as she spoke, making the movement look casual, like she was hanging on to his words, drawn in by them. When she blinked across st him now with her bug, soulful, duel eyes she took in a soft breath. "Thats very brave of you, taking on this sacrifice for your people. Where I come from, we have a tradition. Heros get kisses, its a sacred rule." Quick as a snake, she darted forward, brushing her muzzle against his cheek. If she was able to plant it, she would breath softly into his coat with her warm breath, brushing her little nose against his fur, lingering with the soft and surprisingly sensual kiss against his cheek. But, only if she was able to catch him, of course.

That the stranger was creeping closer was completely lost on Aku. He was too busy trying to explain himself; too earnest in his desire to be understood. Why exactly was hard to say. While her pointed words hadn't angered him they had stoked a need to defend himself. That was just how he dealt with conflict. In his opinion there was no need to mount a harsh verbal defense. Doing so only invited further escalation and round and round the wolves would go until finally it came to blows. Over insults? That was absurd. He could be calm and passionate, and in doing so in the face of insult and abuse show, in his opinion, greater strength than the man who countered with insult.

So needless to say he was prepping for whatever insult she winged at him next and thus caught completely off guard by her change in tactics. Aku was still processing what Lorikeet had said when she leaned in for a kiss. He froze, a mix of mortification and alarm gluing him to the stone. This was this, he had been caught. For a second he stood still and waited to feel different. Possessed, maybe. Definitely unlike himself in some way. But he felt fine?

Aku let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and looked down, unsure of what to say or do. He cleared his throat and felt, finally, warmth blossoming in his cheeks. The knowledge that he had just been kissed finally hit him. "Well.." He still wasn't sure what to say. Arguing was easier. "If it is a sacred tradition...I suppose I should offer you the same courtesy I wish for mine." Now completely out of his element Aku bit his lip. This was not going at all according to plan and he wasn't sure if he should still be alarmed or accept that Boreas was truly a different animal and allow himself to consider just how nice her touch had been.

Aha! She had him. Perhaps she could still save him from the horrible torture awaiting his future. Or at least do a favor for this poor future wife. Teaching this stick in the mud how to give a girl a proper greeting. She grinned at him, meek and demure over her lashes. "So soft" she crooned, patting his cheek softly as through he had given her a great and wonderful gift. "Thank you-" had he ever given her his name? "-lovely one. I wouldn't have slept easy knowing I had sent you to your nobel fate devoid of kisses" her mocking was so gentle not a single trace of it entered her voice. Her eyes were so sincere they were heart breaking. She was curled up on the cavern floor so that she did not tower over him. Looking up at him a long moment, savering the fine traces of silver that ran through his white. Lingering on his blue eyes, and then his lips.

She moved the paw that had touched his cheek, one claw extended to brush against the tip of his muzzle. So soft as to tickle. She wanted to hear the voice of this boy, who had dared to deny her kisses. Wanted to hear it begging her not to stop. Her lips parted softly, her breath enough to stir the fur below his ears. When she did lean forward to kiss him, it was aching slo, and first a brush of lips, and then she was leaning into him, her breath mingling with his. Her claws tightning in his coat, pulling her closer to him.

Aku was struggling to make sense of the sudden change of events. He had no idea what was happening here. There were countless creatures known to twist the mind and pied piper hapless victims to their demise. He'd grown up hearing stories about beautiful women in the waves and siren songs in the woods. All of these things he'd heard, but never were the lures like this. Or maybe, since he had no experience with their cunning ways, this was exactly what the lures were like and he just had nothing to compare it to. Or maybe this was Boreas. Did he take the woman at her word? That her culture was so different than his? Or did he dismiss her words as a lie to lure him in? Round and round Aku's thoughts went as he struggled to understand.

Her compliment and thanks only served to baffle him further. Was his fur really so soft? He watched as she sank to the floor in gentle repose, her venom seemingly forgotten. "It's Aku," he said without thinking it through. "Do they really mean that much to you?" He was asking in earnest; her mocking escaped his notice. Aku had several half formed theories at play and in juggling them all details were bound to escape him. On the one hand there was a very real possibility he was getting bewitched. On the other it was possible this was a cultural clash. Did the Berengynja not war with their neighbors over such things? While he may not have had any experience with siren songs he did have experience with cultural friction.

She reached out to touch him and this time even though he saw it coming Aku didn't pull away. Her paw caressed his lips, his cheek, and then her paw was around his neck pulling him in. He was slow to commit to surrender but her lips on his briefly drove away his resistance. Those shy childhood pecks paled in comparison. Warmth flowed from his cheeks to his limbs and then the acumen that should have saved him sooner finally kicked in. Aku pulled back, his expression first reluctant, then confused, then firm as he remembered his predicament. If this was a trick and he was already caught he needed to know. Softly he asked, "I have to know. What are you? If you mean to drown me in the fire just do it instead of toying with me like this."

He pulled away, and her eyes smouldered him. He had been supple and soft, if just for a moment. His resistance had melted away, and she had felt his desire. He could not keep it a secret from her now. When he asked her what she was, and mentioned fire, she laughed softly. The sound husky and breathless in her musical voice. That was a challange, if ever she heard one. "I'm a wolf, my love. A wolf that swears by kisses and lives for love. I am flesh and living, just like you, perhaps. But more alive." She lived in the moment, every moment. She wasn't plagued by 'what if, what if, what if..'

"Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice."

She rolled the words of the old poem softly around her tongue. The words seemed to echo in the cavern. Oddly fitting with the occasional sound of spitting, hissing fire as it ran in rivulets down its worn paths. She leaned closer towards him, holding her silence after the poem for a long moment, and then she smiled. The expression bringing out roundness in her cheeks, so soft and sweet and without guile. Yeah, right.
"But I dont want your life, just your kisses. Won't you indulge me?"

Not a single aspect of her answer silenced his concerns. Not the look, not the laugh and certainly not the first answer. None of that made his concern worse, either. The second part? The reciting? That made it worse. Aku's fur stood on end as he listened. If that wasn't a curse or a spell of some kind he didn't know what was. Now he had his answer. She professed to be like him, but who would say something like that in response to someone's concern? No, he was being toyed with and this situation was exactly as dangerous as he had first thought.

He straightened slowly, his alarm growing, until he was at his full height and Lorikeet was no longer touching him. Though he may have been rattled, Aku's voice was even and calm. That was typical for him, but here it was deliberate. He didn't wish to anger her again so he was using a measured tone to keep things calm and to help him get his point across. "You say that is all you want, but you say it in the same breath as a threat." There was a storm outside but he was just about willing to face it. "How do I know you will be satisfied with something so simple?" What guarantee did he have that she wouldn't grow bored of him and wrestle him into the fire?

Oh the sweetheart. He was so concerned with consequences. He wanted a demon behind every turn, willing them into being with his fears and superstitions. Beautiful fool. She leaned closer towards him, aware of how he had pulled away. Like he didn't want her breath clouding his judgment. Well, too bad, she wanted to breathe him in. Breathe, and taste, and enjoy. At first his slimy, disgusting ideas had turned her off. Sickened her. But the longer they talked, the more it became a challange to her. A need to conquer him, to place his name in his heart and throat. She wanted him to purr it like a kitten, scream it like a bobcat.

"Alright, beloved. You want dire warning? You want to tremble in your little white socks? Love me, Aku. Love me, or perish." The last word was said with a soft, breathy emphasize.

There was a beat, a single moment of stillness in the star wolf, and then she was moving. She leaped forward, aiming to pounce him, to knock him off his cute little paws, and bite his nose in a playful growl. To scratch her teeth down his ears, and nip at his throat. His name rolled in husky tones past her throat, dragging out in a playful frenzy. "Aaaaakku"

His attempt at quiet resolution failed. It seemed he was dealing with a fiend who could not be reasoned with. What kind exactly he couldn't say. She said she was a wolf same as him but her behavior was unlike any wolf he had ever encountered. Not even the loosey goosey Jarvela were this brazen, this aggressive in their pursuit of intimacy. So this coupled with her appearance left his waffling on the answer. Was she a siren or just a bizarre woman? He still couldn't say. What he could say was that, monster or not, she wasn't going to let him be.

The ultimatum was received with understanding and no small amount of dismay. Aku wished to be warm and out of the elements. If he was allowed to make a suggestion he would have added a conversation to those things. His wants and needs were simple. If left to his own devices and able to wish for anything never in a million years would he have ordered a promiscuous woman. It just wouldn't have crossed his mind, that wasn't how he operated.

And yet here he was. He reared back as she leapt at him and quickly tried to counter her movements. She was bigger and heavier than him, and quickly succeeded in taking him to the ground. He rolled to his back to utilize his feet, his tail curling up over his belly and his hind legs drawing in to cover as well. His front paws he used to try to push her away and that paired with him moving his head hither and yon succeeded in stymieing most of her attempts to nip at his neck and ears. He said nothing, just made the occasional dismayed sound as his efforts to escape her were frustrated.

It was time for him to evaluate just how necessary it was to remain aloof. As he saw it there were two possible scenarios here. The first was that she was an overly forward woman with no qualms about mercilessly teasing and seducing strangers. The second was that she was siren intent on ensnaring him for some reason. The first was fairly straightforward. The second begged more questions. If he could take her at her word then all she wanted was his affection. "Alright." He stilled and threw up his paws suddenly. "Alright." If she wanted a kiss he would give her one. Aku puckered his lips and leaned out a little, inviting her to lean in and take this final kiss.