Aetheiria's thoughts were ones of immediate surprise at the words Fraener had spoken. She sent a small portion of these feelings towards Fraener, letting him acknowledge her own thoughts. Her head was still down as they spoke, one large blue eye steadily looked up at him. Her mating experience was personal and she instead sent him small unsure thoughts; a telepathic shrug.<span style="font-style: italic">If you would like to go after her you can.</span>She broadcasted to him; her voice a soothing quiet as she 'spoke'. She received no immediate answer and the conversation was silently dropped.<br/><br/>She stood up lazily, huffed a plume of smoke through her nose and stretched her legs up, making near height with Fraener. She shook her large body in small fluid motions; grass debris fell off her scales as she moved. As her last shake ended, she spread her wings and with one small flap of her powerful wings, she took off; flying up and then down in a small arch, staying close alongside the grassy mountain. She heard the rush of Fraenerâ€™s wings as he followed her down. She landed, back legs first, and noticed Fraenerâ€™s white body out of the corner of her eye. She made the effortless switch to her human from and approached the area of the lake as it decreased into a short river. The water met the land in grass form instead of the usual sand banks; which were hidden under the waterâ€™s surface. She sat cross legged along the soft grass, though it was long enough to cover her legs. Fraener had followed suit and their bodies were in close proximity. She looked at the sky above, smelling the air and she noticed the minimal changes their planet was making.<span style="font-style: italic">Winter is on its way.</span>She thought and told Fraener. â€œSoon our second moon will be in our sightsâ€ she added out loud. She moved her hands into the cool water and as she pulled them out, the water stayed in her hand like an eel. She heard Fraenerâ€™s questioning thoughts and she answered them quickly, â€œI think itâ€™s a new skill. One that has only manifested within the past year or soâ€¦.maybe even sooner than that. Time seems to be flying.â€ She gave Fraener a weak smile as she stood up, â€œWant to test it out?â€ She asked, pushing him into dueling with her. She heard his immediate decline, insisting she needed a few more days of rest, though she asked again until he agreed; she wanted practice after her fail with Malik. She pounded into the water and faced Fraener and she saw him slowly pull himself up from the ground with a sigh, â€œThis isnâ€™t a good ideaâ€ He yelled to her which she followed with, â€œItâ€™s fine.â€<br/><br/>Aetheiria pulled small loose spirals of water funnels into the air. She was not well trained with water, though she was ready for a test. She threw the water hard towards his body, which he swiftly avoided and turned into a snowy mush that landed by his feet. She stopped, stunned, only to continue. She was throwing a constant flow of water to his being; each time she missed she would throw another water ball or funnel more and more. His movements were fast following hers; he would block with his forearm, turning some water into ice shards that shattered or snow and slush mix. She had started in the middle and had now made her way to the beginning of the bank, her anger deepening.  She stopped, their bodies close, her breathing heavy. She looked up at Fraener, tears beginning to build in her eyes. She pushed herself into his chest and began to cry as she felt his arms wrap around her. They were strong but silent heaves and between crying she muttered, â€œIâ€¦wasâ€¦soâ€¦.scared. I feltâ€¦â€¦..so helpless.â€ She cried. She sent him her previous fights, her previous feelings of ongoing strength. Only when she was young had she felt scared this way. She moved away from him, strong feelings of disappointment in herself filled her body. She wrapped her hands around her torso, hugging herself as tears streamed down her face, only to feel Fraenerâ€™s arms envelop her waist; his torso and arms warm against her skin. A few minutes past and they sat down together, her head lightly settled on his lap, her body laid stretched out sideways, and her eyes closed as her crying had just subsided.<br/><br/><a class="postlink" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25488305@N05/5950044415/lightbox/">River Bank</a>