One Afternoon (Rose/Kota)

[Vexa Blueclaw]

Kota Greysong

The day was bright, full of sunshine which lightened Kota's heart to see. After being stuck in his office and the infirmary for the past few days organizing things, it was good to be outside of the confining walls of the fort and be out among the trees and wild herbs that weren't grown in the gardens. A light cloak around his shoulders, herb satchel at his hip, Kota picked his way toward the trees from the fort gates. He knew someone was with him, Rose Lovestorm, one of the daughters of a more wealthy family within the fort. He was playfully hoping no one would think he was kidnapping the femme. Of course, that wasn't an instant accusation but he could imagine half the things the wall guards would be whispering by the time they returned.

At the edge of the trees, Kota crouched in front of a towering oak tree. A small sprig of a plant was growing up among the above-ground roots. Reaching out carefully, Kota caressed th jagged leaves. He smiled and looked over at Rose. Using one claw he severed the stems of several leaves and let them fall into his paw as he straightened up. Showing the plant to Rose he smiled.

"This is one of the herbs we're after, ginseng. It should be pretty easy to find."

He was in his element, both within and outside of the walls of the fort. Whether it be in the infirmary or in the forest searching for herbs, Kota seemed to move easily through both worlds. He had spent many years traveling and was used to roughing it like many of the seasoned warriors but handled both herbs and patients with such care that many thought him unable to so much as lift a claw against another beast. It wasn't true, just very hard for him to do without suffering many nights of horrid dreams and long days of guilt over it.

[Kirah Lovestorm]

Rose Lovestorm

Rose walked behind him exiting the large fort walls. Seeing the way the guards were looking at her following after the brute. She knew what dirty thoughts were going through their heads and couldnt help but let her eye twitch with a certain air of irritation and annoyance. She stepped on one of their foot and growled at them then turning her pale eyes to the other who was going to restrain her he backed off many just didnt understand wolf women they were so temperamental. Rose picked up her past some jogging to catch up with him brushing up against his and jerking away as if he burned her she was so clumsy sometimes. She followed him into the forest her body basking in the suns rays. She looked up the trees letting small rays of sun touch the earth. She smiled and looked at the clear creek enjoying the sights and smells. She hadnt been outside the walls in awhile she hadnt taken up her other character in awhile. Rose was a secret withing a secret everyone thinking her most quiet and everyone unaware of her secret. She and her sister were both know heroes Lady Viper and Lady Luck were known throughout though at the moment they were wanted for disappearing and having a precious bounty on their heads. She looked at what he was doing and then sighed just wanting to relax out here and bask in the suns rays. She settled down on the ground and began to carefully examine each herb she had some training and knew what some were though a nettle brushed up against her hand. "Ow that hurt" she said holding up her finger blood oozing from her cut and her secretly waiting for the red blisters to pop up and embarrass her in front of him.

[Vexa Blueclaw]

Kota glanced at Rose out of the corner of his eye as he began to poke about among the various wild herbs. She was a beauty, that was sure. Rose favored the appearance of many of the sisters he had grown up with in the northern abbey except her fur had more of a creamy color to it rather than the snowy solid white shade of many northerners. Still, beneath the beauty Kota could sense a warrior's spirit, fierce as a lioness and yet in the sunlight she looked harmless as a church cat sunning in the window during noontime tea. It seemed the fae had many sides to her and it peaked Kota's interest but he kept telling himself he had to keep a professional relationship with her or else he may find himself run out of the fort by Rose's father.

As he turned his attention to a sprig of wild thyme, Kota's ears perked when he heard the fae yelp behind him. Turning, Kota saw the angry welt of a nettle sting and winced sympathetically. Looking around, the ash-toned male's jade eyes caught sight of a dark green plant with slick leaves growing nearby. Straightening up, Kota went over to it and plucked one of the large leaves before going back to Rose.

Reaching with one paw toward Rose, Kota held her paw in his and studied the sting. Puncturing the leaf with his claws to let the natural healing juices in the leaf come out, Kota wrapped the leaf around the sting with extreme care.

"There, that should do it" Kota said, not noticing had close he was to her. It just seemed natural. "A little dock can go a long way." Kota winked and smiled before stepping back and letting go of Rose's paw. "Those aren't the paws of a rich wolf's daughter if I may say Rose. What is it you do in your free time?"

There was a definite difference between the soft paws of an aristicrat and the hardened paws of a warrior. Even his own paws had a distinct feel from many hours holding a walking staff or stirring pots of boiling herbs as well as tending herbs that had very delicate natures.

[Kirah Lovestorm]

Rose looked at the sting it looked rough though she was relieved to see he had grabbed her hand. His touch was like electricity though she didnt jerk her arm away she actually just wanted to melt in his touch though at this moment it was just him and her and it was so erotic she couldnt help but smile softly. The stinging magically disappeared and and Rose plastered her harks to her head in an affectionate thank you rewarding him with a smile and speaking "sorry bout that clumsy me" she said. Though when he let go of her hand he seemed very much so curious of her free time and suddenly Rose froze did he know her. She resembled the wolf slightly on the wanted posters around town but the mask and makeup had hidden the true face of her. She also drew tattoo markings on her body along with her sister. "You are correct since father has no sons he trained his daughters in combat and sent us to special schools you could call me the wolfess who could match Lady Viper in a whipping contest" she said trying to get him on the question of her hands. Knowing not yet that she wanted to tell him her secret that could very well have her put behind bars.

[Vexa Blueclaw]

Kota flicked his ears curiously when she spoke. So she was a whip-wielder hmm? That explained her hands, not as rough as a that of a shield maiden nor holding quite the amount of hidden strength as the hands of an archer. Kota nodded, accepting the answer though now pondering the rumors he had heard of a "Lady Viper" running around the fort. It had the guards frustrated and many travelers that stopped for herbs would be curious about if the rumors were true. Of course Kota believed no such thing unless he saw it with his own eyes and he had yet to see anyone such as the one on the wanted posters. Still, the fact that Rose made such a reference made him curious.

"An interesting weapon of choice" Kota remarked idly, smiling in return to the fem. "Highly effective with the damage it brings. Be glad however, to have the skills nonetheless. My people raised me as a healer and the best I could muster with weapons would be swinging around a walking stick."

Kota chuckled at his own inability to properly wield a weapon. Bows and arrows were the downfall of him because he held little to no real aim. A sword was heavy in his paw and only reminded him of the many wounded he had seen die at the blade. Daggers were well enough when he was forced into fighting and had them available though he often didn't do much damage, just enough to disarm his opponent. Any weapon really, would remind him of all the wounded he had treated and thus made him unable to raise a blade against anyone. The poison mastery came with the territory of a head healer. If torture was required, Kota was obligated to have the skills to help the master of the fort. Plus, if he was a healer that did not know the dark side of herbs, how could he call himself a proper healer?

"The guards often call me a bleeding heart for bringing wounded travelers into the fort, some believe in a siege or invasion I would be no good to aid anyone." Again, Kota laughed, leaning against a tree. "They're right."

[Kirah Lovestorm]

Ok so far so good he hadnt found out her little secret. She didnt know why really the wanted poster had been put up and it held so compact details. Seriously if people didnt know that rich girls could be warriors they should be slapped. "The whip is light but rough and is able to strip skin off like a knife to paper" she said casually as if she never tasted blood or seen people die. Rose lifted her harks and looked at him as he told her about himself some and she turned so she could listen to him she was a very good listener. Rose blinked slowly " a bleeding heart I would say not I would say a good friend" she said with a smile on her face thinking of a friend she lost in combat who has said she was invincible until the arrow went through her chest. Rose shook the image away from head thinking how she and her sister had escaped or should she say Lady Luck or lady Viper. She lifted her leg placing her head upon it her eyes looking at him curiously wondering deeply what he would be like when he wasnt working she liked him not sure if he liked her but she had never had an instant liking to someone like him.

[Vexa Blueclaw]

Kota chuckled and smiled, his jade eyes sparkling with amusement. The expression suited him, adding to his handsome features. Unlike most wolves he wasn't rough and brisk but looked like he could wait forever just for a plant to bloom. It was really odd but some found it a nice reprieve. Either way, Kota looked relaxed and calm, professionalism slowly slipping away and his friendly nature coming out to shine a bit more outside of the fort walls without guards laughing at him until they needed him to heal their training injuries. It really did amuse him how much they scorned until they found themselves in need of his skills with herbs rather than his skills with daggers.

"Friend? I think I like your definition for me a bit better" Kota said. "Though bleeding heart suits me. I'm forever bringing in strays, much to the unhappiness of our oh so pleasant guards. Empathy will someday be the downfall of me for that reason, I don't doubt it."

Shifting a bit, Kota studied the wolfess, her cream fur catching the sunlight very nicely. It wasn't often he saw another wolf roaming the fort since as far as he knew most wolves either roamed freely or were simply too rough and unpleasant to bother knowing much about.

"There must be more to your life than simply training and running herbs to a forgotten healer" Kota said, interested more in what Rose did than talking about himself. He was a mere orphan taught herbs, nothing interesting. "Have you ever thought of being anything other than a warrior hiding in the disguise of a rich wolf's daughter and heartbreaker for suitors?"

The last part was meant to tease but in the back of his mind Kota found himself hoping she really didn't accept suitors. Then again, the rich world wasn't his world and therefore he had no true grasp of what was acceptable among them and what was not. It simply wasn't his place.

[Kirah Lovestorm]

She sighed with a light laugh amusement seen in her eyes making them twinkle with merriment. She liked talking to him and about the only person she actually talked to besides her father and her goody too shoo sister Kirah. Rose shook her head he seemed very intrigued and wanted to know more about her. She was going to wind up telling him her secret. "Dont worry Ill keep you alive if it came down to it I would administer first aid I learned it" she said remembering she couldnt help her friend she hadnt even finished her class the arrow had punctured the heart he had no chance in survival. Rose frowned slightly the only wolf in her life who she actually had trusted with her Viper secret but now this wolf before her made her think of her deceased friend. Pale eyes studied him and was every more curious of him yet he continued to want to know more about her. She came closer one hands and knees. She stopped them examining him. Then she laughed "You know I always wanted to be a blacksmith had it in my grasp and lost it now I am unemployed however I guess I could always go into the army it would suit me well" she said turning her head letting the breeze rustle her fur. "what would you do if I told you I was Lady Viper" she said not looking at him.

[Vexa Blueclaw]

Kota pondered what Rose had told him. She had wanted to be a blacksmith. For a female that was certainly unusual but interesting. He had never spent a lot of time around the smithies in the fort but had treated burns many times, both in the fort and outside when he had roamed as a freelance healer. Kota nodded, accepting her former wish to be a blacksmith though he wondered to himself what had made that desire suddenly beyond her reach. One would think that anything could come from wanting it badly enough but Kota kept quiet so he wouldn't offend his female companion. Instead he perked his ears when she again mentioned Lady Viper.

Putting a paw on his chin, Kota studied Rose and made a show of thinking, humming softly before answering. "I would believe you."

A simple statement, spoken without a shadow of a doubt in his voice. Without explanation, Kota pushed off the tree so he was standing straight and crouched down among the fronds of plants and mosses. He could practically feel disbelief rolling off Rose but focused on keeping a smile from his face. Keeping a straight face was the finishing touch and vital. So, Kota busied himself with examining a small plant beginning to grow up from the roots of a lonely maple in a sea of oaks. His ears were perked and he glanced at the femme out of the corner of his eye, interested in her reaction.

It was amazing how well others underestimated the observence of a healer. If he wasn't able to identify a patient under masses of injuries, how could he remember allergies and past treatments that had been effective? How could he name a plant even if the leaves were shriveled or withered with frost? Hah! Some beasts were quite foolish in assuming healers saw nothing.

[Kirah Lovestorm]

Rose watched him curiously as he examined him. He was odd yes he was but that intrigued her so much. Then he was so cute she just wanted to pounce on him however she felt as if that was instinct more so than anything else. However as he spoke she felt shocked and full of disbelief and she snickered well she would tell him but how would she do it. She had an idea and it brought a wicked smile to her features poor him. She stood brushing off herself and then acted like she was stretching making a big show of it but she was going to pounce. She came at him quickly pushing him over and was soon straddling his waist. She placed her hands on his chest and grinned down at him. "Now mister Kota do you believe me for the suitors I did have couldnt handle my wild side" she asked curiously a gleam in her eyes. She leaned down faces merely inches apart and then moved her nose to his hark and whispered softly "guess what I am the Lady Viper" she said pulling away slowly and was content to sit atop him waiting on his complaints of her weight or whatever else there was.

[Vexa Blueclaw]

An audible "oomph" escaped Kota as, before he could react, he was tackled to the ground. Some how landing on his back, the stunned healer found the wind knocked clean from his lungs and Rose perched on his stomach. Her eyes were bright, almost feral in appearance but not frightening him in the least. When he tried to shift slightly, thinking any passerby could find them and his pelt would be tanned before he could blink, Rose put a paw on his chest making his heart stutter and hop up into his mouth. Ok, he had been intamite with faes before but not quite...as straightforwardly as Rose seemed to intend.

When she spoke of suitors being unable to handle her, for whatever reason he didn't doubt it, note the sarcasm. Before Kota could figure out how to talk again, she spoke again, confirming his suspicion about her being Lady Viper. Trying to swallow and force his heart back into his chest, Kota struggled to get the wheels turning in his mind again.

Clearing his throat slightly, Kota looked up at the fae. "Is this the part where you kill me because I know too much?" Kota asked, a hint of amusement finding its way into his voice somehow.

Heart still pounding around in his ribcage, Kota tried to get himself to calm down. She wasn't interested in him, just protecting her identity. He didn't blame her. If anyone found out that would be it for Lady Viper and Rose Lovestorm. Either she would be thrown in prison or forever locked up on her father's estate. Still, even with that fact in mind Kota found it hard to focus on that considering where Rose had perched herself and the almost disturbing fact that he wasn't bothered by her aggressive nature. It was part of the viper. Actually, he liked the dangerous glint in her eyes, mixed with amusement and sly cunning. The look was unique to her.

[Kirah Lovestorm]

Rose expected more but what she could excited her wolf. She eyed him almost seductively. If they were caught she would simply pay them offf saying they saw nothing after Rose needed to get out more even if it meant tying up the healer of the village which made her grin in her head. She felt his thrumming heart in his chest cavity and rubbed that area letting her harks perk listening to the steady increased pulse the blood going through his veins yes this excited her. Parts of her pelt fell down in strands. Rose was only a beast and while he looked at her like that it made her grin wider. When he spoke she plastered her harks to her head he though she was going to kill him to protect her identity she liked him to much so that was way out of the question. She smiled and shook her head " I would never harm you" she said so casually like she could if she really wanted to. She ran her clawed hands up to his collar of his shirt and grabbed the fabric pulling him up nose to nose with her. She smiled and grabbed his hand and pulled his hand to her chest above her breast to feel the steady speedy rhythm of her heart just like his excited and coursing with blood. If she was going to kill him her heart wouldnt be doing that at all. She snickered and kissed his cheek "your to sweet" she said letting his hand rest on her chest and hers on his.

[Vexa Blueclaw]

Kota was sure his veins would burst if his heart rate didn't calm down soon. The way Rose kept looking at him definitely wouldn't spell a good ending for this poor ol' male if he died of a heart attack or something. He could feel her clawed paw caressing the fur above his fluttering heart which was doing him no good in the whole attempt to calm it. Kota was not an aggressive male, it was obvious in everything about him from his inability to wield a weapon to the way he handled herbs when gathering them. It was just obvious. That was probably why he currently found himself in a compromising position with the daughter of a wealthy brute that could have him drawn and quartered if he was caught with Rose.

Then perhaps that was why he found himself more excited then frightened. Rose was dangerous but her touch was gentle. She could kill him if she chose but she didn't. Maybe it was the fact she was so different from himself that captivated Kota's interest in her. His ears laid back against his head when she spoke, his paw in hers. Kota almost protested when Rose caught the collar of his tunic and pulled him up but kept himself still, curious as to if she had decided he was indeed in need of killing. When his paw came to rest against her fur, he tried not to think of what was just below, he could feel her heartbeat racing under skin and pelt.

Kota perked his ears, curious now. Why she was excited over a run-of-the-mill healer was beyond his grasp of understanding but a kiss on the cheek wiped his mind blank. Without thinking, Kota turned his head slightly, his muzzle brushing against Rose's.

"I don't know" he said softly, gathering himself together as best he could. "I've never handled vipers before. Heard they have a rather sharp bite." Kota nipped at her muzzle softly, his canines barely brushing fur.

[Kirah Lovestorm]

She laughed and leaned into nuzzling the side of his head. Though something caught her attention it was abnormally quiet. Though her pale eyes were looking around searching for the predator she had been caught to not let your guard down. She had but she was just being a romantic you couldnt help that when you were caught up and an affair that required your full attention. Rose was now on full alert now lifting her head harks perked nose twitching sniffing for scents. When he nipped her she laughed though good feeling gone when she felt hands go around her groping and covering her mouth. "Well well what are a young couple like ye two doing out in the forest at dusk" the leader of the trio said pulling knives and other things from their belts. Rose was onto them surveying her possibilities they thought her the weaker one. " I think he was fixin to give er' a good poke she looks rich him on the other hand not much more than a stable lad" the dumber of the three said. Rose was quiet and faking her struggles "oh do worry miss we'll take good care of you" the leader said using the blade of the knife to splay it on her breasts. Roses eyes turned a cold lifeless pale the killing stage she was going over strategy in her head.

[Vexa Blueclaw]

The cold kiss of a knife on his neck made Kota stiffen instantly, the sudden loss of Rose's weight on his stomach making him whip his head around in time to see a trio of vermin surrounding them. One held Rose, his paw over her mouth, a ratty looking weasel behind him and a third with his knife against the back of Kota's neck. Ears laid flat, Kota growled low, glaring at the stout holding Rose. The former happiness and spiraling dizziness installed in him earlier fluttered away, a cold rush of adrenaline taking its place but he dared not move. Or at least, not move much.

His paw slipped to the pouch at his hip, eyes on the leader of the vermin trio. Fast as he could, Kota pulled his paw from the pouch, a fine powder in his paw. He whirled around and blew the powder in the face of the stout that held his knife to Kota's neck. The stout yelped and dropped his dagger, rubbing his eyes and yelling as the powder stung his eyes. In about an hour the stout would find it did more then hurt his eyes. Inahled, the powder would easily be the death of the vermin.

Scrambling to his paws, Kota snarled at the weasel and stout remaining, watching the writhing stout out of the corner of his eye. The dagger the stout had dropped was between Kota and the trio leader but the healer dared not lunge for it. Instead he felt his back press against a tree and glanced at Rose, trying to keep his eyes on everyone at once. It was nearly impossible. He hoped she had some sort of plan. He had seen the change in her eyes but still, the weasel holding her looked like a strong one even though Kota was unwilling to admit it.

The stout writhing on the ground rolled toward Kota, howling in pain and groping at his eyes. Growling, Kota kicked the vermin toward his companions, glaring at the remaining duo.