Welcome to Gaia! ::

She laughs wildly and tucks her wings into her side, causing them both to drop like a stone. Then when they are far too near the ground for Kero's tastes, she flares them out and catches a thermal, losing him for the moment as it carries her out of his reach.

Now she seems bent on merely flying as high as she can fly, but with his weight on her back she soon tires out, allowing him to take command of the situation at last.

The deed done, they spiral down to the ground slowly riding the thermals. A faint howl of grief in the distance catches his ear for a brief second then fades on the breeze, but Ai doesn't seem to hear it. And as he strains to trace it back to it's origin, he can sense nothing but an empty blankness on the horizon. They are alone, in the depths of Ai's mind, in a wild mountain valley that stretches as far as the eye can see.

She lowers her great head and gently nibbles at his fur with her beak. "And I love you, Kero... with al my heart." Her mind voice flows across the surface of his thoughts like a gentle warm summer breeze.

Slowly she shakes her head. "My shield isn't meant to last forever. It will be falling soon. And we've tied up this pool long enough, I fear."

Running her hand alongside his face she smiles at him. "But you... You were magnificent, my fine high flier. I have never flown before but I've watched many a flight. Mating on wing is a visual display, meant to be viewed, meant to be watched. It lets not only our mates but everyone else know how we feel about each other and how we learn to relate to one another after all.... There aren't any books telling you how to pull it off.... And you... You were spectacular. I cannot believe you stuck with me through a death dive. I know of very very few who would."

She blushes deeply and kisses him one final time on the nose. "Thank you..." she whispers softly hugging him close.

Her words make Kero glow inwardly and the scent of her, mingled with the teasing hint of a summer mountain meadow, give him a bit of insight to the odd small occurances, which took place at times when he knew he had shared dreams with his angellic guardian. It seems that when he walked in Ai's mind, reality took on it's own special meaning. What happened there had ways of crossing over into the waking world. Dew on the fur following dreams of flight was most likely the residual effect of flying through clouds. Whether Ai realized it or not, he most certainly did and it made those dreams even more special now that he knew.


**Ai is a dream walker, this has been stated before and Kero is a dreamwalker, too, isn't he? In he previous incarnations? He may not be familiar with the fact right now, but I think he's experienced those dreams he shared with Ai enough by now to begin to draw that ability forth. And since dreams are not but an expression of one's mind you might call what took place as a waking dream. Ai is also psychic, an extremely strong kinetic empathic telepath, though she rarely uses the skill preferring to not delve into other peoples minds too deeply.... Put two of those (Kero's heightened empathy and Ai''s abiities) together and who knows what might happen. But I warn you, such intimacy is bound to have a down side... she's never entered a breeding cycle, never been mature enough to have one. And now she's maturing... old enough to choose a mate... hmm... wonder how to deal with that? Trouble is, iffin we play these two correctly, neither one is going to know what's going on. They are both inexperienced kids in those matters.**

Ai quickly braids her hair back and nods. "I think that would be delightful. Lunch was rather hectic." She adds with a deadpan expression, which she quickly spoils by laughing at his expression.

"Well, you started it... don't look at me to take the blame for what took place. Still, it was fun, wasn't it? And the kitchen got a good cleaning. What with all of us taking turns cooking and all and so many individuals running around in cramped quarters, it was beginning to need a thorough going over."

She pick up her shoulder bag and leads the way out to the front of the complex, digging into the money purse for a rather hefty tip.

"Heavens!" exclaims the proprietress. "I couldn't accept all of that! My Lord, that's silver coinage..." says the woman fingering the three small coins with concern.

Ai smiles at her. "We needed that soak, trust me. And it was worth every copper those coins might bring ye. Wouldn't ye agree, Kero?" she asks, glancing down at the lion who was leaning up against her leg.

She picks them up with wondring eyes. "Well, Daryl does need a new pair of boots for the winter. I was going to make him wear a pair of his father's old ones and stuff it with a bit of wool to make them fit. But that still would have chafed a bit. I... I don't know how to thank ye... I know. The next bath will be on the house. Really now... no arguments. You two never leave me a mess and always clean up after yourselves, and that pool is rarely used in this season."

Ai holds up her hands as if to ward her off, laughing. "Fair enough. I really do appreciate being able to stretch out when I clean up. That hip bath of ours can bet rather cramped. Kero fits in it nicely but it is really too small for me." She bows formally. "And make sure those boots have growing room..." she quips coming up with a fond smile.

Ai scratches her head in mock confusion, slowly leading the way to the door. "Ye know, Kero, all summer long I had to beg you to take care of those darn weeds and now that the growing season is over... ye wanna go pull them. Fine by me, but I can't for the life of me figure out why."

She is teasing of course and the merriment in her eyes gives her away. Holding the door open for him to proceed her, she waves a farewell to the bath house proprietress and then follows him out.

"So what's for dinner?" she asks out of curiosity as they wander their way back to their cottage. It is rather late in the afternoon, they had spent far more time in the bath than Kero had assumed, but not overly so. The market is still open and as they make their way through it a certain stall catches his eye.