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Post by Ashe on May 24, 2024 1:44:10 GMT -6
"I sure did! I bit at its gills until it stopped moving. Once I knew it wouldn't bite me, I grabbed its tail and dragged it to shore. Ashe and I had a barbecue under the stars that night. We camped right there, and swam after dark, and..." He trailed off, as if suddenly catching on that she wasn't completely buying his tale. He tilted his head slightly as he studied her, trying to decide how to approach this. He was trying to impress her! He wanted her to be completely interested in him, after all! How else would he get her to lift her tail for him? If she didn't like his stories, she might just up and leave in search of another male! That was simply unthinkable, nope, it couldn't happen. "Do you think I jest? I have a scar to prove it." He extended a hind leg, stretching it out in a rather feline motion. Just below his knee there were some grooves, actual scars. "It's not much, but it's where the beast's teeth got me."
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Jinx
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Post by Jinx on May 24, 2024 1:48:21 GMT -6
Had Katla been human, her cheeks would have reddened to show her embarrassment. He'd realized what she was thinking! Even though she had tried to hide it... She must have a very telling face, because she didn't think it was her words that gave it away. He didn't seem to pay attention to what she said, so much as what he saw on her. His gaze was heavy, and always on her. On her face, her shoulders, her wings. Even a glance at her feet when she shuffled them and started twitching. He was certainly paying attention to her, as if he had to memorize every inch of her before she went back to her home cave. It was a little flattering to be admired in this way, she couldn't help but admit. "Oh, I just..." She trailed off, not even knowing what to say. But then he was showing her a scar on his leg and suddenly this all became very real. She let out a gasp when she saw it. "Oh my!"
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Post by Ashe on May 24, 2024 1:53:42 GMT -6
Santiago relaxed a little bit when he saw her reaction after he showed off his battle wound. She seemed to believe him now, and that pleased him. He let out a barely audible purr of satisfaction and lowered his leg once again. "I knew I could take the shark," He said, as if he hadn't interrupted himself to try and prove his story was real. "I didn't go in expecting to kill it, though, if I'm completely honest... It just happened in the moment. I was supposed to subdue it. Ashe likes capturing these kinds of creatures. I'm not sure where he takes them..." He walked a couple of steps closer to Katla, suddenly real interested in the texture of her fur. He wanted to brush against her, to feel how soft she was, how warm. How she would feel beneath him... No. He had to stop thinking like that this early. He was supposed to get to know her a little bit first, woo her. "What about you? Do you have any adventures to share?"
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Jinx
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Post by Jinx on May 24, 2024 2:01:22 GMT -6
Okay. Okay, she found that she really did believe his story now. That little bit he added on at the end made it seem less than perfect, like he was supposed to complete a mission and instead blew the whole thing up. Which wasn't quite the brag she thought it was going to be. It showed that he was strong. Perhaps really strong, stronger than he was able to control? She hoped he would be gentle with her, because she wasn't a fighter. She felt young and naive. She hadn't seen much of the world yet, was barely considered an adult, and here she was, about to bring more life into the world. The thought scared her, but it also sent a thrill through her belly. Was that excitement? She didn't know. She figured she wanted this, she was just nervous since it would be a first time... Being around another, dealing with children. Maybe she should have spoken with some of the other dragons before she left the den...
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Post by Ashe on May 24, 2024 2:04:42 GMT -6
Santiago waited. He watched her and he waited. And then waited some more. Had she heard him? He repeated his question again, in case she had, but it was like she had checked out. She didn't react at all to a single word he had said! Was she ignoring him on purpose? He didn't think his own story had been so bad as all of that, and she didn't have an angry look on her face... But he face did change, flickers causing her eyes to twitch, her mouth to move, her teeth to clamp together. She was lost in thought! He didn't know what part of what he had said had triggered such a reaction, but it sure must have. He walked the rest of the way over to her and gave her a nudge on her shoulder, trying to rouse her from her stupor, to drag her out of the depths of her thoughts. "What is it you are thinking about?" he asked kindly, his voice as soothing as he could make it, so as not to startle her.
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Jinx
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Post by Jinx on May 24, 2024 2:09:05 GMT -6
Katla did startle, despite his gentleness. She jumped at his touch, and whirled her head around to face him at his words. She stared at him, then felt her body heat again as she flushed with embarrassment. Thank goodness for her thick green fur! He couldn't see any of it. "Oh, sorry! Terribly sorry, I didn't mean..." She trailed off, realizing what he had said. Not a scolding or even just a prodding, but he had asked her a question. Did she want to answer? Would he really want to know what she was thinking? Or would he laugh at her? She had to make a quick decision, she had already been silent for too long! But what if he thought she was silly and left? In the end, she decided he should know that she was nervous and why... Just in case she did something, he might know why. "Well, you see... I admit I'm a bit nervous being here. I... I think I want to be a mother, but how do I know if I am ready, if I have seen so little of the world myself?"
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Post by Ashe on May 24, 2024 2:15:38 GMT -6
Santiago's jaw nearly dropped when she did respond to his question. He was able to catch his jaw before it dropped too much; as it was, his teeth were just a little parted. He caught himself and quickly made to soothe her fears. "You will make a great mother, I assure you!" He said, keeping his voice warm and friendly. Soothing. He believed she would, of course, but the most important thing was to make sure that she believed it as well. "You don't need to see the whole world, to be able to raise fine young dragons. Many don't leave this canyon, you know?" For all of his concerns about her giving up and leaving - he was relieved to hear that she wanted to have young dragons chasing her around! Though this thought also made him pause, reflecting that... Sure, he didn't mind having his own children climbing all over him as he taught lessons, that wasn't the main reason he was here to partake. She didn't need to know that, though. Sometimes he spent too much time with Ashe...
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Jinx
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Post by Jinx on May 24, 2024 2:19:10 GMT -6
Katla was reassured a bit by his words. She knew he had done this before, met other dragons, had seen more of the Canyon and beyond because he had a human soul mate that traveled out of these lands. So even if she was young, he didn't think she was unworthy or not ready. He seemed to think she would be fine, and make a great parent, and... Well, she could learn along the way, she supposed. It wasn't like she was going to be alone. She had other family back at the den, and she had a human friend of her own to help if Katla needed it. She heaved a sigh, trying to slow her racing heart. "You mean it?" She asked, unable to help herself. It sounded a bit childish. She felt like she needed just a tad more reassurance, though, before she could really relax. She gazed up at Santiago, for though she was large, the way he carried himself always seemed to make him taller, bigger. And she felt small.
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Post by Ashe on May 24, 2024 2:24:49 GMT -6
"Of course I mean it!" Santiago could see he still had some work to do to get her ready, so he decided it was about damn time he started putting the moves on this sweet, beautiful female. He nuzzles against her, on the side of her neck and under her jaw, once again similar to a feline. "You are strong. And beautiful. And I am willing to bet you're a wonderful flier to boot..." He purred. He drew his head back a bit so he could nibble at her ear. He hoped she liked that kind of attention; other females he had met had, but he hadn't encountered someone like Katla before. He hoped all the sweet spots were still the same. He spent some time nibbling and nuzzling, assuming she allowed him to continue, then he gave a sharp nip to her ear. It was playful, meant to illicit a little jolt that would entice all the more. He had slowly worked himself closer, closer, and now he was pressed against her side, his lithe body cuddling her even as they stood.
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Jinx
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Post by Jinx on May 24, 2024 2:29:54 GMT -6
Had she mentioned she was apprehensive? Because she was. It was suddenly moving so fast, and he was complimenting her and saying such sweet things. She ate them up, needing all the reassurance that he could give, even though she knew he didn't know her, not truly. She hadn't even shared a story of her own and here he was, making declarations. And... Ohh, that felt good. His soft touches, the gentle nuzzle under her chin, the nibbles on her ear that caused a shiver to go down her spine. And then the sharp nip! "Oh!" She all but yelped, nearly jumping out of her skin. What was that for? What it did do, however, was snap her back into reality, and she realized that little weasel had nearly wrapped himself around her. But she didn't feel the fear or panic she might expect herself to. Instead, she felt comfort, warmth. She felt like he cared, even only in this moment, and she found she liked him enough in this moment to allow the cuddle. She heaved a sigh, finally letting her heartbeat steady itself.
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Post by Ashe on May 24, 2024 2:35:29 GMT -6
Santiago was pleased when she seemed to settle back into him. It was just the reaction he had wanted, and instead of letting up, he doubled down on his affections, the nuzzles and the nips, keeping her on her toes while also lulling her into contentment. If she got too nervous, as she had earlier, he would of course back off. But she seemed to be eating up the attention he was giving. He wondered how much she knew going in, how much he would be teaching her. He hoped that having the child she wanted would help her grow and gain some confidence... And maybe come back for a round two.
With some gentle prods, he led her to somewhere more private, realizing they were still standing where the humans had left them. Thank goodness they had left, he didn't want to have to tell Ashe to scram!
Somewhere, not too far but definitely out of sight, Ashe and Jinx had settled into a game of cards. A game that would have to go on for a rather long time, before either of them dared to return to their meeting spot.
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