The late afternoon sun bathed the Polar Sound in a warm, amber glow, casting long shadows across the landscape. The gentle breeze carried the scent of blooming wildflowers, a fragrant arrangement that lingered in the bottom of the valley, carrying scents that danced around Aurelia as she made her way back to the old healer's den she had found and upcycled. As she covered ground, her toes happened to leave shallow indentations in the rich, loamy soil as she emerged from the dense thicket- but covering her tracks was no concern of her own. Her jaws were clamped around a bouquet of freshly harvested Valerian root. While not really a necessity, it was something worth having at her disposal in the event it was needed.

As she approached the entrance, concealed alcove nestled between ancient tree roots, she crossed the threshold without hesitation. It was much nicer inside now that she had reclaimed it- much cleaner and tidier now with fresh stock. Or should she say was. While the den was adorned with bundles of drying herbs and soft moss bedding, emanating a naturally soothing atmosphere- her attention was drawn to the freshly caved in shelves. While she had picked up the herbs he had scattered, some of the shelves they had sat on were now crumbled- leaving a large open alcove that had previously been divided into individual pockets. A mound of crumbled dirt lay in a pile at the bottom.

With an annoyed sigh, Aurelia set to her task, meticulously arranging the Valerian roots with the others, organizing her collection with a practiced touch. It had been a while since she had been able to do this kind of work ... but she couldn't deny that it was comforting to be able to do so once again.

"Speech"

Code by Shelby

Stumbling over his paws, and tracing the edges of a trail that hardly kept him walking in a straight line. Sephiran was following the scent of his little azure Sidi, pelt reeking of blood, booze and sweat. He hadn’t bothered to wash the wound out yet. Which meant several hours had gone by, leaving it scabbed over, inflamed, and raw. Admittedly, Aresenn had taken a decent chunk of out his shoulder- surface level yes, but it would need some tending to. And who better than Aurelia? After their fight and the altercation with Rhazien and Aurelia, Sephiran had vanished into the Polar Sound. Isolating himself, breaking into the bottles stashed near Aresenn’s den. He must have found them during his expedition, and brought them back for the band. Typical of a former pirate. And of course, Sephiran helped himself… because everything in the Polar Sound belonged to him. Why he had gotten so drunk, he didn’t know. Perhaps he wanted to drown it all out. The anger at Aresenn. The mistrust in Absinth. These unfamiliar emotions simmered beneath his flesh- threatening to boil over and scald everything in its wake.

By the time he reached his destination, he wasn’t where he thought he would be. Fuck, how drunk was he? She was usually in her den, but her scent led him to a different alcove. The entrance was small- nestled between two fallen trees, covered by an array of foliage and moss that had spouted in the spring season. Pushing past the entrance, and invading the small space. It took a few moments for his eyes to adjust to the lighting, before Aurelia’s silhouette appeared towards the back of the cavern. She was sorting through something, it looked like. A low, baritone grumble resonated from him. Demanding her attention, though she had probably already noticed him.  

"Speech"

Code by Shelby

The sharp scent of alcohol invaded her senses before his heavy footsteps even reached the healer's den. She could practically taste the drunkenness emanating off of him as he stumbled into the space, a sense of entitlement thick in the air around him. With a frustrated clench of her jaw, she finally turned to confront him, bracing herself for what would surely be another tumultuous confrontation. The hard set of her sapphire gaze almost immediately dissipated upon catching sight of him. His disheveled appearance and the potent stench of alcohol and blood that clung to his body, causing her to wrinkle her nose in disgust. It was clear that he had been the contestant of a very interesting afternoon, one she was not sure she wanted any part of. Having seen the fresh injuries of both Aresenn and Absinth, she couldn’t help but silently wonder who had inflicted what damage- she wasn’t about to ask.

Aurelia observed him in silence, her eyes scanning his body for any signs of injury. There were two noticeable wounds - one on his arm and another on his shoulder, the latter significantly worse than the former. It was a deep gash that had taken out a chunk of flesh from the crest of his shoulder, demanding urgent attention ... and yet, here she stood staring at what appeared to be an hours old injury. Of course. Blinking, she met his dual tone gaze once more before being the first to break the heavy silence that hung between them. "What the hell happened to you?" She prompted, waiting for some sort of explanation as to why he had adopted the presentation of a walking disaster. She likely knew who happened to him. As to why … she was curious.

"Speech"

Code by Shelby

For a while, or at least, it felt like a while to Sephiran. The two stared at one another, as if having a silent conversation. Aurelia was disgusted by his presence- what else was new? And Sephiran wanted something from her- when else did he invade her space? Blinking back at her, and swaying where he stood. If the smell on his breath hadn’t given it away, surely his body language would.

Sighing at her question, Sephiran found the nearest wall- leaning into it with his uninjured shoulder, taking weight off of his injured shoulder. “I had to show them why I’m the Sultan.” The words that dripped from his maw were laced in venom. The whole altercation left a sour taste in his mouth… but if he was being honest, he also enjoyed doing it. “Patch this up.” Motioning towards his shoulder, he wanted that patched up first. The bite marks on his leg could wait.  

Could he have done it himself? Absolutely. But why not have his Sidi tend to his wounds, so he could fuck her after?

Aurelia's eyes narrowed at his arrogant request, her patience wearing thin. She was long since tired of his recklessness, his constant need for dominance and validation. While she had treated him on a few different occasions, not since their soul binding. Even still, it seemed to be a typical interaction. It wasn't just the wounds he presented her with, it was the way he looked at her, the unspoken expectation lingering in the air. Though she tried to ignore it, a flicker of anger ignited within her chest. With a frustrated sigh, she pushed herself away from the bundles of herbs, her strides measured as she closed the distance between them. As she stood next to him, she acknowledged that it would be difficult for her to reach comfortably. In that moment, she gently nudged him to the opposite side of the den to some of the gathered moss- it was freshly changed after Absinth had bled all over the previous iteration. Maybe if Sephiran was more sober, he would have noticed. "Sit," Aurelia insisted.

Not waiting to see if he'd answer her instruction or not, she returned to her stock of supplies. She retrieved a bundle of herbs she intended to grind together in order to make an antiseptic solution, as well as some clean materials to bandage with. As she worked, there was an uncomfortable tension that hung in the air- but it was one that she had grown accustomed to. "What does Sultan mean?" She asked calmly, a bit unsure as to what kind of response she would get in his current state. Even through the attempt at small talk, she remained focused on her task, grinding the herbs with precision.

"Speech"

Code by Shelby

Eyeing her as she sauntered towards him, he could see the hesitancy in her gait. Calculating the distance between them, testing it, trying to decide if he was going to behave or not. Placing herself beside him, but leaving enough space to break away if he lunged. He couldn’t help but laugh- blame it on the alcohol, over his usual grandiosity. But he found her hesitancy funny, and was mocking it. “We’re beyond the shy phase,” As she nudged him, he clumsily left the sanctuary of the wall. Stumbling a few feet until he felt the moss beneath his paws. “Aren’t we?” Flashing her a smirk, and sinking down onto his belly. He practically sprawled out on the ground in front of her.

As she gathered her supplies, Sephiran was replaying his fight with Aresenn inside of his mind. How he had torn up his face, unsheathed his knife, and was ready to slice into him. He could still taste his blood in his maw. A heavy sign escaped through his nostrils, pain radiating throughout his shoulder. He couldn’t sense the tension in the air. Probably, because he was the one causing it. “Strength. Power…” Shifting his eyes towards her, as she was grinding a pile of herbs up. “…The King. It’s what we call the alpha’s in our packs.” And by our, he was referring to his lineage. “A Sultan asserts dominance. Enforces the law,” Waiting for her to approach him, watching her movement. “And punishes those who break it.” Emphasis accompanied his last sentence. “Especially when someone meddles in my affairs.” Surely she could put the pieces together. He had attained these wounds over her.

Aurelia paused her grinding for a moment, her sapphire eyes narrowing at his words. "Don't confuse shyness with disgust." She answered lightly. Aurelia leaned back slightly, a hint of annoyance flashing across her features while gritting her teeth. It was true that she had been less disdainful. But it was a flame that easily rekindled. But of course, he knew that, whether he was intoxicated or not. Aurelia finished grinding the herbs and poured them into a shallow but dished surface, adding a trickle of water from some of the damp moss to create a paste.

Finally, Aurelia turned back to face him, her expression guarded. "This might sting," she warned, her voice laced with a cool detachment. Without waiting for his response, she dipped a clean scrap of material into the excess moisture of the antiseptic solution and began carefully cleaning the wound on Sephiran's shoulder. The smell of blood mixed with the sharp aroma of herbs filled the air, creating a pungent blend that made her nose twitch. His implication was not lost on her that this was an injury earned for her. He should have saved himself the trouble. "You're telling me that girl did this to you?" Perhaps she wasn't as crazy as Aurelia had initially thought. And having seen her injuries, he must have gotten the upper hand on her early on in their encounter.

"Speech"

Code by Shelby

Shyness or disgust. Whatever it was, Aurelia made it clear that he wasn’t welcomed. For most, it would have been a sign to steer clear of her- but to Sephiran, it was a challenge. A silent game of cat and mouse, which he thoroughly enjoyed playing with her. But of course, that was only because he knew he could take control of the situation, at any given time. What fun would it be, if he was truly worried about his control over her?

Gravitating back to him, Aurelia went to work. Applying the solution with gentle paws was an understatement. Aurelia was precise, yes, but she was anything but gentle. Gritting his teeth, and flicking his tail in annoyance. He kept his gaze on her, watching her movements. But the longer he stared, the blurrier her face got. Hell, sometimes there were two of her. “No- I handled her mentor. Rhazien maimed Absinth.” Shrugging his shoulders, and then wincing because he moved his injured one. Sephiran was so nonchalant with his words. As if their vicious assault on the duo had been no big deal. “Oh, but don’t think he did it for you.” He nearly hissed, expression hardening. If she thought for one second, Rhazien acted on his own and stood up for her, she was sadly mistaken.

A flush of anger washed over her, causing her paws to tremble ever so slightly as she continued to tend to Sephiran's wounds. The pungent smell of blood and herbs filled the room, making her hold her breath in an attempt to avoid breathing it in. Her gaze never wavered from the treatment she was providing, every touch a reminder of the punctures and lacerations she had seen on Aresenn's face - injuries that made perfect sense now that she could match them with the injuries of the individual who had caused them. She could almost imagine the fight in her mind. Aresenn would have gone for Seph's shoulder or elbow, leaving his own face vulnerable for retaliation. What fools they both were. Anger burned within her at the thought of their recklessness, but she quickly pushed it aside as she blinked away the vision. "I was never in any danger of thinking that." Aurelia answered him curtly. "I also think that you didn't need much of an excuse for bloodshed." Her voice was calm but there was a sharp edge to it, her tone flat as she finished cleaning out the wound on his shoulder. Leaning back to retrieve some salve, she couldn't help but add, "I just happened to present you with one." With practiced ease, she spread a concoction of healing herbs over the injury as she spoke, carefully covering every inch of it before wrapping it up tightly. “But I’m sure another would have come along.”

"Speech"

Code by Shelby

She certainly had a point. It didn’t take much to provoke Sephiran into bloodshed. Hell, a majority of the time, he mauled and slaughtered things for fun. And although his fight with Aresenn served a purpose, he couldn’t deny the thrill that came along with it. It wasn’t recognizable at the time, given he was so enraged. But now looking back on it... he wondered how euphoric it would have been, if Sephiran stabbed him afterall. While Aurelia worked, his gaze left her face. Trailing down to the sheathed dagger on his forelimb. The change in his gaze gave insight to the thoughts buzzing inside of his mind. Stabbing flesh was therapeutic. It went in like butter. Caused so much damage, in a short amount of time. Cuts could be precise too.

When he looked back at her, his eyes were lit with that spark of mania again. His usual look. Tail flicking, tapping against the ground, as he thought about unsheathing his knife and playing with it. “This will be a regular occurrence, I’m sure.” The movement of her paws against his wound stung. But, the feeling of her voluntarily touching him… it was foreign, but pleasant.

As he murmured his prediction of becoming a frequent occurrence, she couldn't help the disapproving sigh at the thought of her having to patch him up becoming a regular occurrence. But as always, there were worse ways for them to engage. At least this way, she had some semblance of control. So she would leave it at that. Once the salve was evenly coated across the entirety of the shoulder injury, she packed it into the wound by applying pressure backed by the material she had used to clean the wound out with. That probably didn't feel great if she had to guess- but it was necessary. Once she was satisfied, she leaned back once again, shooting a glance around his chest. "How is the other bite in the bend of your arm?" She asked him flatly, looking for direction on if he felt it needed attention as well or not.

"Speech"

Code by Shelby

Having applied all of the salve, and adding the finishing touches- which didn’t feel that great. Aurelia was finally done tending to his shoulder. Looking down at it, and inspecting the quality of her work, he wasn’t that impressed. He could have done a better job. But it would help it heal, nonetheless. And besides, he wasn’t in his right mind to do it himself anyways. He was still pretty intoxicated- though, his drunken state was fading by the minute, being replaced with the onset of a headache.

At the mention of his other injury, he scoffed. Rolling his eyes, before settling his eyes on hers. “Didn’t even notice it.” He said, trying to stay focused on her face. But his vision kept going blurry, causing him to groan and look away. “Come here.” He said, and left it at that. He wanted her closer, right beside him, laying with him.

Aurelia couldn't help but feel her heartbeat a little faster as Sephiran's voice called her over. She hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering to the other injury- the one he had dismissed so easily- before she reluctantly complied with his request. She carefully pushed aside the supplies she had been using, unsure of what he wanted from her. Suspicion clouded her features as she lowered herself onto the soft bed of moss near him. Her sapphire gaze narrowed ever so slightly as she settled in- probably not as close as he wanted- but much closer than she cared to be. She could feel the warmth radiating from his body from the proximity- the stench of his intoxication all encompassing as she stared at him through the corner of her eye. She tensed- prepared to put up a fight if he pushed a boundary- something he was quite comfortable doing.

"Speech"

Code by Shelby

Complying with his order, Aurelia came and settled beside him- not as close as he wanted, but she was laying on the bed of moss. Closing his eyes, he could feel her staring at him. Trying to decipher his true goal, he assumed. A smirk tugged at his lips- devious, but not entirely manic like usual. Once she was completely settled, and still. He would start to inch towards her. Bringing his muzzle to her shoulder, shuffling until his side was touching hers. Trailing his muzzle across her shoulder blade. The herbal smell on her pelt, intertwining with her pheromones- creating her scent, overtook his senses. He had studied it for so long, on so many occasions. Tracked her down, just to torment her. He was certain he could pick her out of a massive crowd with his eyes closed.

Taking a deep breath, and leaning into her with more of his weight- using her to keep himself somewhat propped up, given he was still intoxicated. He started to nip at her neck, deep enough to leave flesh wounds. A growl rumbling inside of him- a sign of what was to come. Only this time was a bit different- he wasn’t rushing into mounting her.

Aurelia's heartbeat quickened as she felt Sephiran's muzzle on her shoulder, and she instinctively tensed up. She froze for a moment, unsure of how to react, but as his growl rumbled, she couldn't help but feel a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins. She had long grown tired of the power struggle between them, but the stench of the alcohol and blood wasn't helping her breathe easily. For a few moments, they stayed like that, locked in a silent battle of wills. When he finally began to move closer, his muzzle trailing along her shoulder, Aurelia went entirely rigid. Her breath hitched in her throat as she braced herself, with the sharp pain on her neck. It was a nip, not a bite, but it still left a bruise, and it was echoed by a deep growl that emanated from his chest. "Sephiran," She growled her own warning as she immediately forced herself in a sitting position. Her eyes locked onto his, the tension in her frame was unmistakable. She had been through this song and dance with him before, countless times, and it never seemed to get any easier. Aurelia tried to ignore the dull ache in her neck, keeping her gaze on him the entire time, waiting for his next move.

"Speech"

Code by Shelby

At first, she was tense. But that morphed into rigidity, as Sephiran advanced. Her breath catching in her throat, muscles flexing beneath her pelt, which was about to start bristling. It was all reflexive he assumed. She always responded this way- why would now be any different? But the issue with it was, when she acted like this. Pulling herself away, growling out his name, trying to stand her ground. It coaxed the predatory instinct out of him. The rumbling in his chest became louder, an he propped himself up on an elbow. Looking up at her, as she was now sitting beside him. For several moments, he just stared back at her. Emerald and amethyst gaze crackling with intensity. He was waiting to see if she would come lay back down- and since she wouldn’t, he pulled himself up to sit next to her. Invading her space again, bringing his muzzle to her shoulder- again. Nipping at her, pressing his weight against hers. Wanting to trail his lips up to her ear, and back down to bite at her neck again.

Aurelia couldn't help but feel a visceral reaction to Sephiran nearing, as though a current of electricity surged between them. Despite her instinctive desire to draw away from him, she remained stiff and unyielding, determined not to give in to his advances. As he continued his pursuit, she felt her heart race, and her breath quicken with anticipation. Her eyes never left his, staring him down as he nipped at her shoulder this time. As he pulled back and sat beside her, trailing his lips and canines along her flesh. She had expected him to force her down once again- but they must not have reached that part yet. No, this was a calculated move, designed to test her boundaries and gauge her response, she was sure of it.

It was hard not to be painfully aware that her window of opportunity was likely closing. She knew she had to make a move, and this may be her only chance to break free from his hold. With all the power she could muster, she forcefully pushed off from him and used that momentum to propel herself away and toward the entrance. She stumbled with the sharp turn at the exit, struggling to put as much distance between herself and Sephiran as possible. Perhaps in his inebriated state, he wouldn't have much hope of catching her. Or even remembering the infraction. And if he did ... well, she'd deal with it when the time came.

-END THREAD-

"Speech"

Code by Shelby