Ill Met By Moonlight (Starfire and Io)

[Lunoh]

Kaine

Kaine tried his best to not show the great relief he felt at her answer, not wanting to feel anymore like a weakling and coward, but it was obvious. He was trapped here, and there are only two responded from a wild animal that feels trapped. Fear and compliance or fear and rage. Since he was fairly certain he would be met with death should he respond with rage, he had no other choice than to be compliant.

Kaine ate more of his breakfast, feeling increasingly restless. How long had he been in that bed anyhow? Far too long said his legs. Just as he thought this, Cassie offered to show him around the castle. He brightened at the prospects of stretching his legs. "I'm feeling better. I would like a walk." He finished off his food and placed the tray on the table beside the bed, kicking off the blankets and pushing himself to the side of the bed. He knew better than to get up too quickly, so he sat there for a moment, breathing, then stood slowly, letting the blood flow resume it's normal pace. He realized he was not wearing a shirt, and looked around. "Do you know what they did with my clothes?" He asked her, hoping they did not throw them away. He had made and stolen them himself, but it would not surprise his to find out they had been incinerated for coming into contact with the mist. "Or at least something else to wear besides these?" He pulled at his white, woven pants.

Japanesestarfire

 

[Japanesestarfire]

CasϨandra •❀•ʅaruzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

❀ The question about clothing made Cassie pause from getting up. She supposed walking around in just light pants such as those would be a bit embarrassing to venture out in. Not to mention most may find it a bit indecent. "Hold on a moment." She mumbled slightly as she made her way towards the door and pulled a rope hanging from the ceiling. A slight ringing of a bell was heard and within a few moments one of the castle maids opened the door. "Will you fetch Kaine's clothing he arrived in please?" She asked, her tone kind yet held a note of order in it. The nurse nodded and hurried away for a few moments, coming back later with Kaine's clothes, fresh from the laundry rooms.

After thanking the maid, Cassie accepted the clothes and passed them off to Kaine. "If you'd like, we could get you some more clothing. Or supplies, if you need. While you have the opportunity, anyway." She offered, rattling ideas off the top of her head. She didn't think there would be too many people out and about, at least not enough to make a ruckus about a newcomer in town. "I'll leave you to getting changed then. I'm sure you wouldn't want an audience." She laughed as slowly made her way towards the door again. The healers in the room were gone, most likely in the worker's hall eating breakfast. She decided she should leave him as well, at least for a few moments. "I'll be outside the door then. Take your time." She said before leaving the room and settling on a nearby windowsill. Not the most ladylike, nor princess-like, seating choice, but she didn't much care at the moment.

{ }

io3121

 

[Lunoh]

Kaine

Kaine waited, as he was bidden, for Cassie to call a servant to fetch his clothing. they seemed more than happy to oblige, and in no time, Kaine was presented with his clothing. They no longer smelled of his clothing, as they had been washed by palace hands with palace soap and held to palace standards, but a few days in them and he would have them smelling right, He set them aside for the moment, as Cassie was still there and he could tell it was not the time to behave like the wild man he was. He would be proper and wait for her to leave to change.

"I think I'll stick to making my clothes. What they have for sale here isn't meant for forest life." He informed her after her generous offer. "Supplies however, I could always use. Thank you." He smiled, blue eyes clear and appreciating. She excused herself, informing him that she would be outside the door when he was dressed and ready.

Donning his freshly washed clothes, being freshly bathed himself after that horrible experience, Kaine exited the infirm smelling of roses and sage. An odd, but not unappealing mixture of scents. He glanced around ad found Cassie sitting at a window, the sunlight catching her hair and bouncing off in a shine, giving her a halo of sorts. It was rather beautiful, and Kaine caught himself staring. He cleared his throat and approached. "I'm ready for that tour." He spoke softly to her.

Japanesestarfire

Boo! This rp get way away from me. I apologize. You are far too patient.

 

[Japanesestarfire]

CasϨandra •❀•ʅaruzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

❀ Cassie lost herself in thought over the news of engagement. She still couldn't wrap her head around the thought. Sure, she would have never put it past her father to arrange such a thing behind her back without her consent, but using Kaine the way he did didn't sit well with her. Though she was happy he was free. A tiny halfhearted smile tugged on her face. At least one of them could enjoy freedom and she was happy he could. If the tables were turned, she wasn't sure how she would feel knowing Kaine was in prison.

Hearing a voice behind her, the princess shook her thoughts away and turned to face Kaine, her expression back to its usual cheeriness. "Great, do you mind coming to my gardens first? I'd like you to see them before we venture out of the castle." She asked as she stood again, fixing her skirts afterwards. A part of her missed the torn old dress she had worn in the woods when traveling. At least it was lighter and easier to move around in. After fixing them, she glanced down the hallway towards the doors to the gardens, pleased to find no guards lingering. Surely there would be one stationed by the doorways, but that was no concern to her. "Unless you'd like to go to town first. I'm sure not many people are venturing the streets yet." She added, leaving the choice up to him. She found she didn't mind which, she was just happy for his company.

{Patience is my middle name! Haha no worries though, nice to know you haven't totally forgotten about me smile Sorry if this is crappy by the way, I haven't really posted on anything at all in a month x.x }

io3121

 

[Lunoh]

Kaine

Kaine could tell he had interrupted her thoughts, but smiled back at her anyway. He could guess what she was thinking, and he partially blamed himself. It was so unlike him to feel anything towards others, a life in the wild hardened him from sympathetic feelings, and yet he found himself feeling sorry for placing this girl, whom he had met only three days ago, in such a personal dilemma.

To her question he nodded, thinking of his own garden and wondering if he would ever be able to show it to Cassie again. "The gardens sound like a lovely idea." He answered, following her down the hall. "Besides, whether or not the town is up and about, I doubt anyone would like to see me. My eyes would give me away in a moment." He was not sure if his new freedom had been announced to the people. I could well be that showing his face in the streets could still cause hostility.

Japanesestarfire

You are a loyal friend and rp partner!

 

[Japanesestarfire]

CasϨandra •❀•ʅaruzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

❀ Cassie offered Kaine a smile before starting down the hallway towards the back of the castle. It was a path she knew by heart. Her gardens seemed to be the only place she felt truly at home, more so than inside her actual home. "I wouldn't worry about the townsfolk. I'll make sure they give you no trouble." She reassured him, walking at a leisurely pace so he could walk comfortably with her. Though she had the feeling the both of them wouldn't be there long, she wanted Kaine's time inside the town to be a nice one.

As they approached the doors to the outside, a sleepy looking guard quickly straightened up from slouching at his post by the doors. Cassie suppressed the slight urge to laugh at him. "We're just going outside into the gardens. Don't worry; the both of us has been granted permission to wander about." She added, seeing the guard's skeptical stare. After another moment the guard stepped back and allowed them through. Nodding once in thanks, she led the way outside.

Her gardens weren't as amazing as Kaine's garden, but Cassie liked them anyway. An assortment of flowers and herbs grew along the castle walls and along the pathways. In the center was a stone well and a bench to sit on. The sweet smell of fruit lingered in the air from the fruit trees she had planted to the side of the garden. Smiling slightly, Cassie made her way to the shed in the corner and pulled out an old looking watering can. "Make yourself at home. I know it's not as nice as yours, but I hope you like it anyway." She invited warmly as she started tending to the flowers.

{Thanks! Same to you! }

io3121

 

[Lunoh]

Kaine

Kaine followed Cassie through the halls, taking in scents and sounds and cataloging them. There were so many different smells inside the castle, it was almost dizzying.

Despite Cassie's assurance, Kaine was still a bit wary of going out in view of the public. He was content for them moment to remain inside the palace walls. Explanation to the guards done, Kaine stepped into the sunlight and could not contain his sigh. It felt so warm and soothing on his skin. He closed his eyes and just breathed for a few moments, ridding his lungs of the overly cleansed air of the infirm and the slightly incensed air of the palace hallways. With those few breaths, he felt more energized, more like himself.

Opening his sapphire brights, he smiled ever so slightly as he looked about the garden. What Cassie said was true, it was not as spectacular as his garden, but he could tell that every flower and plant here was well tended to and healthy. "I like it." He said simply, wandering about the gravel path that weaved around the courtyard. "I don't know some of these flowers." He admitted, examining them with eyes and nose.

Japanesestarfire

 

[Japanesestarfire]

CasϨandra •❀•ʅaruzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

❀ Cassie allowed herself to fall back into the familiar rhythm of tending to her garden while Kaine wandered about. The garden was the only place in the castle she felt completely at home in. The flowers had a way of lifting her spirits with their vibrant colors and overall beauty. Although she dared not admit it, she felt a sort of happiness coming from the plants she tended to. The sense of belonging and of knowing she was able to emit such a feeling from something so small made her smile, regardless of if she was the only one who may feel such a thing.

"I'm happy you like it." She said with a kind smile as she moved in his direction to tend to the flowers he was examining. "Ah! Those there are amaryllis. I found the seeds from a traveling peddler doing business in the market district. And this one is actually quite rare. I actually traded many of my fancy dresses and jewelry to the princess in the Yalu Kingdom just for the chance to be able to grow it in my garden. When mother found out how much I had traded for a little seed, she got very angry with me..." She laughed softly at the memory, shaking her head at herself. She had gotten in trouble for quite a lot of things because of her garden. Even fighting to grow one was a challenge. Her parents didn't believe a princess should waste her time playing around in the dirt. Eventually with enough pleading and prodding they gave in.

A slight bit of embarassment hit Cassie as she realized she'd just been standing there in her own thoughts. "Oh! I'm sorry, I got a bit sidetracked." She apologized, then held up her rusty old watering can. "Would you like to help? I'm sure the flowers would be happy to see a new face tending to them. I've got another can in the shed. That one isn't as beat up." She offered, ending her last sentence with a slight laugh. Her rusty old can was another thing her parents disagreed with her on. They had ordered her a new watering can but she preferred the old one. It just felt more natural to hold in her hands than the other one did.

{Researching random flowers is kinda fun haha whee and sorry if my post is crappy!}

io3121

 

[Lunoh]

Kaine

When Cassie began to introduce him to the different flowers, a smile spread on his face as she began to get carried away. She obviously enjoyed the garden and the plants in it. When she came back from that gardening cloud she was on, she smiled, red faced with slight embarrassment. She held out a watering can and asked if he wanted to help. He nodded and went to where she pointed. The little shed was well tucked away, easily missed if you weren't looking for it.

After a moment looking around inside, he spotted the can and took it, stepping back into the garden and looking for a source of water. In the center of the garden he saw a well, small. but full. He went to it and filled his can, then joined Cassie and began gently sprinkling the flowers. The scent of wet earth and plant began to fill the air. It was a relaxing scent, and it calmed Kaine a bit more. It was a nice distraction from the stress of the whole situation he was in and was going to be in soon.

Japanesestarfire

 

[Japanesestarfire]

CasϨandra •❀•ʅaruzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

❀ Cassie smiled in Kaine's direction as he emerged from her little garden shed with the watering can she had talked about and found his way to her well of water. Having help on the garden for once was nice. Various servants and maids who worked in the castle tried to offer their assistance, but usually she declined their offer. They had their own jobs to worry about, and although it seemed a bit wrong of her to think so, she didn't trust them with her garden. Kaine was kind and she believed she could trust him. She trusted him enough to help her learn to survive in the woods, didn't she?

Cassie finished up the last patch of flowers on her side, taking care not to over water them. After finishing up, she refilled the old can and placed it inside the shed door before sitting down on one of the benches situated in the middle of the garden in front of the well. From there she watched Kaine work as she thought about the events of the past few days. What was she going to do for the predicament she was in? Surely she didn't want to go to a neighboring kingdom without any warning or clue as to why she was going.

Going back to the present, the princess cast her glance upwards towards the morning sky. Judging by the sun's position and the light blue color of the sky. "I suppose if you don't want to have many people in town now wouldn't be the time... Unless you want to go to the hidden markets in the south end..." She thought aloud to herself. She felt as if hidden markets may be more to his liking. Less people, an assortment of strange items for sale at reasonable prices, and it was in a secluded area. Cassie had found it while stumbling around the town looking for the best way to leave undetected.

{Happy belated Thanksgiving! yum_pumpkinpie }

io3121

 

[Lunoh]

Kaine

Kaine had been able to relax as he watered the plants. touching their leaves and helping to spread them out to catch the most sunlight possible. He finished watering the planter in time to hear Cassie mutter something behind him. He turned, having hear every word thanks to his wolf like hearing. She was sitting on a bench by the well. He went to her, setting the watering can down beside the bench and taking a seat next to her. He remained silent, as usual, thinking.

He had known about the shady markets. That was where, out of the whole kingdom, he was scorned the least. He still was unwelcome, but if someone recognized him, they kept it to themselves and simply avoided him or refused him business. They knew that if they reported him, their little market would be filled with guards and all their business would run away. Those hidden black markets were the only semi-safe places for him to be. Or at least they were. Now he found himself sitting in the palace gardens with the king's daughter.

With some thought on the matter, he decided that one, going to the black markets right now was a bad idea. He had just been given a royal pardon from the king so that he wouldn't be executed out right. Two, taking the princess with him was even worse of an idea. The king had just entrusted him in guiding her through the forest to another kingdom, trusted him with her safety, and being seen in the black markets with her after such a declaration would surely be a slap in the face. "Perhaps that's not the best idea." He said at last.

Looking up at the sky himself he thought some more. It seemed she really wanted to leave the palace. He did too. "We can go to the normal markets if you want. I doubt anyone will cause a problem if I'm escorted by the princess." He gave her a sideways smile. It was still a bit weird, referring to her as the princess. She had managed to keep that little tid-bit a secret for those three days in the woods.

Japanesestarfire

 

[Japanesestarfire]

CasϨandra •❀•ʅaruzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

❀ Kaine's decision about the black market surprised her, though she understood. Though she was a princess and welcomed in any shop in town, sometimes she would disguise herself and venture off into the more shady parts of town, usually out of pure curiosity. That was how she stumbled upon the black market. Surely if the people knew someone with high standing such as herself was in such a place, chaos would ensue. Either they would scatter in fear of being caught or they could catch and threaten her for the safety of their own businesses. She decided long ago she wouldn't tell about the markets to her father. The goods sold there were always changing and always interesting. The normal markets and shops around town didn't change nearly as often.

"I suppose you're right. No one would double cross me." She said with a laugh, returning his smile with one of her own. A smell from beyond the walls mixed in with the flower scent from her garden and caught her attention. Not too far outside the castle walls was a small bakery. She supposed it was about time for the shop to open and the goods were being set out on display for wandering passerby.

The wonderous smell made her think of something. "Say, Kaine. Besides what you hunt and forage, what other things do you eat out in the forest?" The princess asked curiously, giving him a questioning glance. On the day Kaine decided to leave to go back to living in the forest, she thought to fill up a bag of food for him, among other things. It wasn't much, but she thought it would be a nice gesture.

{So.. I finally replied to this sweatdrop I've been busy with holidays and college x.x But just reply when you can, by now you should know me and my patience level! 3nodding }

io3121

 

[Lunoh]

Kaine

Kaine let out a relieved breath when she eventually agreed not to go to the black market. Folding his fingers together, hands clasped in his lap, he looked around the garden. It was a very nice garden indeed. It seemed bees and birds were attracted to it enough to keep it healthy. As he thought this, a humming bird zipped past his head and fluttered around a bed of flowering maple, it's dark green feathered body catching the sunlight and flashing rightly. He watched it, and for a moment he felt like he was back in the forest. There was no trickle of water though and when he looked around and saw the walls enclosing the garden, he felt his chest constrict a bit.

He turned his head towards Cassie when she inquired about what he ate besides what he hunted and foraged. "Nothing really." He answered. "Unless I manage to swipe something from the stalls at market day. In the forest, hunting and foraging are the only ways to get food. There are no markets to buy food out there." he explained. He looked down at his clothes. He had worked so hard to pull apart wild plants into fibers and reweave them into something he could wear. Compared to the garments around him, they were rags. He remembered how soft the sheets of the bed he had woken up in had been and wondered if that was what it felt like to wear something like what everyone else was wearing. It was obviously better quality material and made by a professional.

Perhaps life inside of stone walls would be better... he thought briefly, but the thought of always being trapped behind solid, cold stone made him fidget. It would be a more comfortable lifestyle bodily, but he would go crazy. No, the forest was where he belonged.

... But what about Cassie? he looked at her.

Japanesestarfire

 

[Japanesestarfire]

CasϨandra •❀•ʅaruzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

❀ Cassie nodded thoughtfully at Kaine's answer as the ideas in her mind kept churning. Surely he wouldn't want to be around the town too often, especially if he had turned into a wolf and somehow made it to town, but she knew he would leave eventually. Thoughts of him leaving made her feel as if there was a weight inside her. She would miss his company. A part of her wondered if he would visit from time to time, or if she could sneak out to meet him.

Shaking her head lightly of her darker thoughts, she returned back to her plans to do something for him. Getting some idea as to what he liked would help her decide what to buy. Another part of her thought to get some other supplies for him. Just small things, such as some blades for hunting or rope if he needed any. Practical things he could use while in the forest but not burdening or heavy to carry around.

"Are there any kinds of food you like to swipe from town? Maybe we could get some lunch while we shop. Whenever you would like to, of course." She suggested, turning to look at him as she spoke. Seeing Kaine was already looking at her before she spoke, she turned to watch a passing butterfly, feeling her cheeks flush a bit. It was odd, though she supposed it was both due to embarrassment and the predicament they were in. He knew she was a princess now. A part of her wondered if he thought any differently of her than before.

{Spring break is upon me!~}

io3121

 

[Lunoh]

Kaine

She seemed to be thinking, of what Kaine could not say, but judging by the look on Cassie's face, she was not enjoying her thoughts. She soon shook off whatever it was that was bothering her and asked him about what sort of food he liked to swipe. He smiled, remembering his most recent theft. The same spoils he ended up sharing with her on their first night in the forest. "Meat pies." He answered sheepishly. He found them especially delicious with the brown gravy inside of the flaky pie crust, packed full of chunks of hot, juicy meat and peas and carrots and spices so beautifully thrown together. He began salivating at the thought.

Swallowing, he remembered himself and cleared his throat. They were pretty much done in the garden, and the time they had spent sitting in the warm, nourishing sunlight had done wonders for his condition. He hardly felt any remnants from the poison that had plagued him those two horrible nights. His only pain was in his shoulder and thigh, but they were slight. The healers knew their occupation very well. "Actually, I could go for some meat pies right now." He had eaten breakfast just recently, but it seemed his appetite had not been satisfied.

Japanesestarfire