[SE] Ignore all the burdens that you keep

Tryin' to wash away all the blood I've spilt
This lust is a burden that we both share

Liam braced himself - and then Maea leapt into the sky, pumping her powerful wings, and they left the ground far behind. The rocks below all melded together in a dark lump, and then they were rising through ashen clouds and into a brilliant, blinding sunlight that had Liam squinting. They leveled out, and the soldier risked letting go of Maea's neck spikes with one hand, shielding his eyes to take in the view. A part of him was incredibly nervous about being up so high, but he supposed that was the beauty of being raised in Stormbreak - it wasn't a paralyzing fear, but more of an awareness that he needed to be very careful not to fall.

Flight itself, though - now, that was exhilarating. Liam couldn't help the grin that plastered itself onto his face as Maea roared, seemingly just for the sheer joy of it; he couldn't see anything that would have required such a sound to come from the dragon, anyway. Gods, was this was Attuned felt like, when they had shifts that could take to the skies? He'd never considered petitioning the gods for a shift, but now he wondered, vaguely, if he should.

Not that any form he could take could ever compare to a fucking dragon. Maea's shift was beyond incredible.

Liam might have been content to fly for a little longer, but before long, they were touching down on a flat piece of ground, the movement jostling Liam a bit, but not enough to unseat him. He quickly navigated down to the ground, where he swayed only slightly, one hand on Maea until he caught his balance; then he made his way to her head, where he could look her in her pale eyes. "That was -" he started, and then laughed, running a hand through windswept hair. "That was amazing." He peered up at her. "I think if I were you, I'd never come down from the sky."

Two sinners can't atone from a lone prayer
Souls tied, intertwined by our pride and guilt

Liam

// won't you breathe with me? //

Craning her neck down so that she could nuzzle her big head into his arms, her eyes closed halfway in the way cats smiled, regal yet affectionate. If he understood the joy of the open sky, there was very little left for Liam to uncover about her. If he could comprehend what it took to land and shrink back into the frail, feeble form of the mortal, then he knew her better than most people she'd ever come across. For that simple understanding she would gladly return; to him, to the shape of the woman who fit so much better in his arms.

"Thank you for trusting me," Maea murmured, flushed with exhilaration beneath the stain of battle that mottled her skin. "Next time we should bring a rope... something that lets you hold on better." Suddenly travel had become more than languishing aboard skyships or bushwhacking through the wilderness. They could discover all of Caido from above, landing when they wished and staying until the wind called them back into the sky. They could begin now, today... or at least as soon as they had washed up and rested.

Slinging an arm around Liam's waist, she peered around for a sign of the shelter he'd asked for. They were in the right area now, but much of the rocky crevices and crannies looked the same. A dry wind tousled her hair; absently she raked it back from her eyes, hooking a strand behind an ear.
"See any caves? It smells like water, but I can't see any..."

Maea

// won't you take me to your heart? //

Tryin' to wash away all the blood I've spilt
This lust is a burden that we both share

Liam laughed affectionately as Maea nuzzled her way into his arms, shifting until she was once more in her Ancient form. "Of course," he said, as though it was unthinkable not to trust her. Talk of next time had him arching a brow, grinning down at her. "I'm just relieved there will be a next time. Now I don't have to go become an Attuned just to be able to fly with you." Not that he'd been seriously considering it; he wasn't sure how to be anything other than what he was, and was content with his own abilities, most days.

With an arm resting casually around Maea's shoulders, Liam joined the Ancient in surveying their surroundings. It was rocky and barren, a dry wind speeding through nooks and crannies that seemed to cover the area without providing any real shelter. Still, Maea had brought them here for a reason, so Liam had to trust that she knew something he didn't know.

Then, to their right, a dimple in the stone caught his eye. "There?" he asked, pointing it out. "That looks deep enough to be a cave."

Two sinners can't atone from a lone prayer
Souls tied, intertwined by our pride and guilt

Liam

// won't you breathe with me? //

Her eyes widened momentarily, alarmed that he would even consider changing himself just to be able to follow her. There was absolutely no need, as she would carry him wherever he wished, and she was quite relieved to realize it was mostly a joke. "I like you the way you are," she replied firmly, squishing herself closer for a moment. "No need to change anything - though I understand the temptation. I've never been the same since I learned what it is to fly." She was better for it, she thought. Calmer, more secure - more able to take calculated risks, and gague the limits of her strength. As long as she could fly away... and now she could bring her heart with her, too. A true blessing, one she would need to thank her goddess for when given the chance.

Needing a second to pick out the crack Liam was pointing to, the ancient nodded easily. "We can check. A good spring should smell and look clean. Bonus points if it's running, but I can boil the water if not." All things he would know already, but repeating it didn't hurt when they were both tired and just wanted to rest.
Approaching the opening in the mountainside, it did look promising at a first glance. No signs of animal droppings or fresh bones could be seen; it smelled clean enough, and an initial peek past the opening showed that it extended far enough that daylight alone couldn't light it all.

Drawing a breath to dredge up some enthusiasm for spelunking, a spark of fire emerged over her raised palm. "Point or sweep?" she asked without needing to look for his preference; it didn't matter who went first, as the risks were the same either way with a party of merely two.

Maea

// won't you take me to your heart? //

Tryin' to wash away all the blood I've spilt
This lust is a burden that we both share

Liam grinned crookedly at her; he wasn't envious of her abilities so much as admiring, especially when she was making it so clear that he would be welcome to join her at any time. And he was pleased to have it confirmed that she liked him as he was, with no changes required.

He took Maea's instructions in stride, approaching the crack in the mountainside with her and peering into the gloom. He couldn't see very far, but the opening of the cave seemed promising enough that Maea called fire to her raised palm. "Sweep," he said. Maea had the light, after all, and he'd be useless fumbling around in the dark. "But be careful." It was a reflexive comment, really; he knew she would be, but it made him feel better to say it all the same.

Two sinners can't atone from a lone prayer
Souls tied, intertwined by our pride and guilt

Liam

// won't you breathe with me? //

"Always."

Feeling safer by far with Liam at her back, the ancient took the lead and headed off into the darkness. Wide enough for two to walk abreast at first, as the ground began to slope downward the walls began to close in on them. Trying to gague what they might find by the structure of the rock, she grew more optimistic as she saw no signs of lava flow. That meant bedrock, and bedrock held the possibility of water.

Better yet, the deeper they went, the damper the walls became. Strange critters scuttled away from the firelight, pale and eyeless as sight would be useless in a world without sun. Only lichen could survive in the darkness, mosses and peculiar fungi that broke apart into slime under their feet and made the going treacherous. Her breath sounded loud in her ears, as did the scrape of Liam's boots behind her back. She wanted to wind her tail around his wrist, to make sure he couldn't possibly get turned around and leave her alone with so much earth pressing down over her head - but just when she was about to cave and reach for him, just when the path seemed too narrow to squeeze through, it opened up again.

A sound of dripping water broke the pressing silence. Turning sideways so she could squeeze through into the space beyond, Maea's eyes widened at the sight; firelight caught on clusters, columns, rosettes of clear crystal, so clear they might have been ice. A small pool of water had etched a basin into the cave floor, dribbling in a tiny waterfall from a crack in the wall.
"It's beautiful," she breathed, stunned to find such a site on pure accident. Not only was it wide enough to fit them comfortably, but with so many crystals to refract light, a simple lamp or torch would be more than enough. They'd have to remember this place; Maea already knew she would like to return.

Maea

// won't you take me to your heart? //

Tryin' to wash away all the blood I've spilt
This lust is a burden that we both share

Maea took the lead, and Liam fell in beside her - at least until the rock closed in around them and made it impossible to stay at her side. Then he fell back, keeping an eye out for anything that might close in upon them from behind. As they went deeper and deeper into the tunnel, it seemed less and less likely that anything might pop out to attack them; the only creatures were those that Liam could hear, skittering here and there in the dark. They didn't sound loud enough to bother with, though.

The ground beneath his feet slowly shifted from stone to moss - or, at least, he thought it was moss. He couldn't be quite sure without being able to see more than Maea's outline ahead of him, but he did realize that whatever it was beneath his feet was quite slippery indeed when one boot slipped sideways and into the wall of the cavern, eliciting a muttered curse from the soldier. Thankfully, the cave was narrow enough now that he hadn't managed to hurt himself, and in just a few more paces, he paused as Maea squeezed through a section of rock. If she had to turn sideways to fit through, then it was a struggle for Liam indeed, but he sucked in his stomach and forced his way through the crack -

And into a cavern adorned with crystals: beautiful, clear crystals that gave the room the impression of being frosted in icy decor. Light refracted through the crystals and reflected upon the water, casting everything in a dancing, golden lights from the flame on Maea's palm. Liam paused at her side, stunned by the ethereal beauty of the cave and its little pool. "I would never have expected this from the outside," he commented softly. It was a breathtaking spot, and beyond that, it was perfect for their needs.

Two sinners can't atone from a lone prayer
Souls tied, intertwined by our pride and guilt

Liam

// won't you breathe with me? //

"Mhmm. I was sure it would be a dead end... but it seems we're in luck." Walking slowly around the pool, she made a point to inspect the walls for any trace of side tunnels or cracks that could hide nasty surprises. When none stood to be found she turned back to Liam with a smile, relief exposing the harsh lines beneath her eyes, and the way her features sagged with exhaustion. "All clear. We should be safe here."

Slumping down onto the stone floor, Maea allowed herself a moment to just breathe. There was plenty to do before they were comfortable - lighting a lamp, laying out bedrolls, cleaning off grime and wash soiled clothes - but all of that could wait for a few more minutes. The quiet was bliss, not the dead silence of abandoned places but filled with the gentle music of flowing water. A balm to her nerves, that she very much needed.

Maea

// won't you take me to your heart? //

Tryin' to wash away all the blood I've spilt
This lust is a burden that we both share

Liam circled the pool in the opposite direction of Maea, using the light refracting through the many crystals to check for any branching tunnels or obvious signs that this cavern was frequented by anything that could prove dangerous to them. When it seemed clear - and when Maea confirmed that it was so - the soldier made his way back to his partner, flopping down on the cave floor beside her and laying back, lacing his fingers behind his head as he marveled at their little hideaway. There were even crystals on the ceiling, hanging like natural chandeliers.

More than content to take a moment, Liam found his gaze wandering back to Maea. It was incredible how drawn to her he was, as though magnetized by her very presence. Soon, they would need to clean up, set up a makeshift camp, and share the rations they'd packed for their trip - but for now, he reached out one hand to brush his fingers against Maea's arm. Not to draw her attention, but simply for the pleasure of touching her.

Two sinners can't atone from a lone prayer
Souls tied, intertwined by our pride and guilt

Liam

// won't you breathe with me? //

A smile ghosted across her lips at the touch to her arm. Keeping her eyes closed, she chose not to yield to the impulse to respond right away and simply savored the caress. She wanted to curl up next to Liam, rest her head in the hollow just beneath his shoulder and listen to his heartbeat - but if she did that now, she'd fall right asleep. Dangerous, when they still reeked of blood and death; counter-productive too, as they'd be forced to linger for longer than planned while clothes dried.

Despite that, she actually stayed still for several minutes before suddenly heaving herself upright with a soft grunt. "Chores first, sleep later," she ordered herself, and reached for her bag to find the lantern. Once that was lit and she could douse her magic, other items were pulled out and lined up. Soap, towels, oil for cleaning boots and a change of clothes. "Do you want to bathe first, or..how do we do this?" A touch of pink colored her cheeks; undressing around him still didn't come without a certain amount of butterflies. Feeling silly for being so self conscious when they'd literally just risked their lives for each other, she kept her eyes down, struggling more than expected with this gnawing uncertainty.

Maea

// won't you take me to your heart? //

Tryin' to wash away all the blood I've spilt
This lust is a burden that we both share

At Maea's order, Liam sat up with a soft groan, but the sound was softened by the playful glance he cast in her direction. He waited patiently while she dug through her bag and pulled out a lantern, lighting it and setting it aside. Then other items were produced, laid out in a neat and orderly fashion. Liam was impressed; his partner was very thorough when it came to travel.

Although the soldier had known they needed to get cleaned up, it hadn't occurred to him until just now what that would entail. He looked between Maea and the pool of water and back again, cheeks suddenly aflame. "We can go one at a time," he suggested. "And the other person just... turn around?" Or, an insidious voice suggested in the back of his mind, they could bathe together. What was a little nakedness when they'd already shared a near-death experience?

But Maea wasn't looking at him; she was avoiding his gaze, and he frowned faintly as he stepped closer to her. "I can go through that crack in the wall, if you'd like some privacy," he suggested softly. There was no judgment in his voice, only uncertainty. In all his imaginings of how their day would go, this had not even begun to cross his mind.

Two sinners can't atone from a lone prayer
Souls tied, intertwined by our pride and guilt

Liam

// won't you breathe with me? //

A crease appeared between her brows, quietly displeased with the idea of him leaving, even just to wait in the tunnel beyond. "No, you don't need to do that. That's not..." Rubbing at her nose, keenly aware of his presence as he closed in, she tried to wave it off with a vague gesture. "I'm just being shy for no reason. Which is silly, when you've already seen most of.. everything." In swimwear, in tight clothing, in far more intimate settings than this - making out in the woods came to mind - and yet, he still managed to make her nervous.

Making herself look up to meet the soldier's gaze, the uncertainty she found there made her feel bad. It was way too late to backtrack and become timid around him; especially if it made him feel awkward too. "It's okay. Taking turns sounds great."

Maea

// won't you take me to your heart? //

Tryin' to wash away all the blood I've spilt
This lust is a burden that we both share

Liam reached up to touch the crease between her brows, hoping to smooth it away before his hand dropped to her cheek. ”You aren’t silly,” he said, quietly reassuring. ”You’re allowed to be shy.” And nervous, if it came down to it; gods knew that he was, more often than not. Offering an encouraging smile, Liam dropped his hand. ”I’ll work on laying out the bedrolls and such. You go first; I won’t look.”

He might have seen her in less clothing than she currently wore in the past, but even those mental images weren’t quite enough as he set to work on their makeshift camp, careful to keep his back to the pool as he worked. Knowing that she was likely naked behind him made him hyperaware of every splash and movement, and it was an effort not to glance over his shoulder - not because he had any desire to go back on his word, but simply to check on her and make sure all was well.

But he refrained, working instead on laying out bedrolls neatly, one right next to the other. Then he busied himself with checking their rations - smoked meats and cheese and fruit. Satisfied with that, he finally took a seat on the floor of the cave, facing away from the pool, and tried to relax.

Two sinners can't atone from a lone prayer
Souls tied, intertwined by our pride and guilt

Liam

// won't you breathe with me? //

Ah, well then, if he said it was alright, it must be. At least her frown smoothed away under his fingertip, and with a slightt nod she took him up on his offer. Maybe a not so small part of her wouldn't mind if he stole at least a small peek... but no. Let's not go there. The urge to be near him at all times was strong enough without playing with fire.

Keeping her own back turned for good measure, Maea began peeling off her clothes. The blood had begun to dry in the heat, glueing the cloth to her skin; with a grimace the dress was dropped on the rim of the pool, followed by shoes, and the trousers worn beneath, and finally the rust-stained shift. Cool, damp air sent goosebumps down her arms. Folding them over her chest, Maea glanced over a shoulder to make sure Liam was as busy as he sounded - indeed laying out bedrolls and decidedly not sneaking peeks, damn him - and when she was satisfied, a pale foot was dipped into the pool.

"It's freezing!" she exclaimed, shocked by the bite of cold like a pike had nipped at her toes. "And here I was, hoping for a long soak. If I'm not out in five minutes, you may need to save me." It was only half a joke; if it was as cold as it felt to her, then she was at risk of petrifying at least a few fingers. Still, she had to get clean, so with a steely determination the ancient reached for the soap and stepped into the water, breath catching as an ache shot up her shins, seeping into her muscles, to settle in the marrow.

Maea

// won't you take me to your heart? //