40 Ashan 718
The waters were warming, that was for sure. In the Ivorian sea, they were never too cold anyway, but on this trial, the suns warmed them just enough to enjoy them. Aeodan and Edalene woke to the excited laughter of the Biqaj around them, and the loud splashes as they dove from the decks of the ships into the warm seawater. There was laughter and splashing and revelry, and when Aeodan opened his eyes, he smiled wide. Edalene was still asleep, angelic on his chest, and he didn't want to wake her. He also wanted to carry her up to the deck and throw her overboard. The smile grew.
"My love," he said, gently rocking her. When her eyes opened a minute amount, he kissed her nose, his scruff tickling the skin. "It appears we're missing the party," he mused. As she sat up, so did he, and he stretched the sleep from his bones. Their bed, which was actually just a tarp made of stretchable fabric attached to four posts, sagged as their weight centered on it. With Edalene's groggy looks around, trying to piece together the noises, Aeodan just laughed.
"Oi, sleepy head. Put on something you can get wet in, we're going to go swimming," he instructed. His voice was lighter than it had been since Vhalar, unburdened by guilt or shame. He stood and slipped on a pair of canvas shorts, given to him by the Nji'hadi when they first gathered on the ship. He watched as Edalene dressed, hair sticking up and still tired. They hadn't been sleeping well since they'd left Rynmere, but it was time to let that go. He walked by her, his hand gently slapping her ass as he took the steps to the deck.
"When you're ready, baby, I'll be waiting on the deck."
He emerged into the warm sunslight, the salty smell of the sea heavy in the air. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs for what felt like the first time. He exhaled as one of the Biqaj women ran by, her bathing attire revealing but tasteful. Aeodan laughed as she leaped over the side of the ship, falling with a loud splash as she dove in. She was greeted by laughter and splashes, and Aeodan traveled to the railing of the ship to observe.
The Biqaj were wonderful swimmers, and they swam around each other in circles. Aeodan smiled, the heat of the suns heating his back as he waited for Edalene. He wouldn't enter the water without her. This was their trial, their time to have fun and enjoy each others' company. This was their attempt to wash the blood and soot from their consciences for good, and move forward.
Starting that trial, it was back to their regularly scheduled lives. The Biqaj below hollered up in Rakahi, begging him to come in, but he couldn't understand. He didn't see Thomas or Malena in the water, and assumed they were with the babies.
"Eda, love? Come on," he called gently, turning to fetch her but she was there. And she was gorgeous, even if she was still half asleep.
"Wow."
He saw her naked every trial, but she looked radiant, head enveloped by the corona of the suns. He leaned in and kissed her before lifting her and turning, holding her against her thrashing. She hammered the blood red scar that Cassion had left him with.
"No better way to wake up than water," he chuckled, and tossed her over. The Biqaj whooped and called, and he followed her with a graceless dive, splashing into the water beside her.
They needed this.
"My love," he said, gently rocking her. When her eyes opened a minute amount, he kissed her nose, his scruff tickling the skin. "It appears we're missing the party," he mused. As she sat up, so did he, and he stretched the sleep from his bones. Their bed, which was actually just a tarp made of stretchable fabric attached to four posts, sagged as their weight centered on it. With Edalene's groggy looks around, trying to piece together the noises, Aeodan just laughed.
"Oi, sleepy head. Put on something you can get wet in, we're going to go swimming," he instructed. His voice was lighter than it had been since Vhalar, unburdened by guilt or shame. He stood and slipped on a pair of canvas shorts, given to him by the Nji'hadi when they first gathered on the ship. He watched as Edalene dressed, hair sticking up and still tired. They hadn't been sleeping well since they'd left Rynmere, but it was time to let that go. He walked by her, his hand gently slapping her ass as he took the steps to the deck.
"When you're ready, baby, I'll be waiting on the deck."
He emerged into the warm sunslight, the salty smell of the sea heavy in the air. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs for what felt like the first time. He exhaled as one of the Biqaj women ran by, her bathing attire revealing but tasteful. Aeodan laughed as she leaped over the side of the ship, falling with a loud splash as she dove in. She was greeted by laughter and splashes, and Aeodan traveled to the railing of the ship to observe.
The Biqaj were wonderful swimmers, and they swam around each other in circles. Aeodan smiled, the heat of the suns heating his back as he waited for Edalene. He wouldn't enter the water without her. This was their trial, their time to have fun and enjoy each others' company. This was their attempt to wash the blood and soot from their consciences for good, and move forward.
Starting that trial, it was back to their regularly scheduled lives. The Biqaj below hollered up in Rakahi, begging him to come in, but he couldn't understand. He didn't see Thomas or Malena in the water, and assumed they were with the babies.
"Eda, love? Come on," he called gently, turning to fetch her but she was there. And she was gorgeous, even if she was still half asleep.
"Wow."
He saw her naked every trial, but she looked radiant, head enveloped by the corona of the suns. He leaned in and kissed her before lifting her and turning, holding her against her thrashing. She hammered the blood red scar that Cassion had left him with.
"No better way to wake up than water," he chuckled, and tossed her over. The Biqaj whooped and called, and he followed her with a graceless dive, splashing into the water beside her.
They needed this.
