Rise of Ruin

Avis remembered the last time his hand was so close to her posterior, and felt a blush flare at his words from then. She smiled softly, looking up at him. "Why wouldn't I? You're such a nice man, Iridian."

Iridian smiled. "And you're a nice girl, Avis." His smile was sweet and reassuring as his hand traced along her slender back. "And I meant what I told you before. There is plenty about you to appreciate, rag doll." His lips curved into a sweet smile and he leaned forward, pressing his lips against hers firmly.

Avis felt her face flush hot as he kissed her. Gently, her slender arms wrapped around him as she embraced him in turn. That smile of his always sent a shiver down her spine and melted her heart, and his touch...she craved it. He gave her so much attention, and it felt so wonderful that she wanted even more.

Iridian smiled faintly, he could sense her need. It hadn't taken much to bring her there, but then, she was a girl that didn't get much acknowledgement or attention. It didn't surprise him that she craved such attentions, she was a young woman, after all, and attraction was a strong instinct. He smiled against her lips. She was right where he wanted her, and right where she wanted to be. He kissed her again, this time deeper than the last, sweet and seductive.

Avis closed her eyes, accepting his kiss and embracing him tightly. She wondered...was this what it felt like to be loved? She knew that many couples displayed this type of behavior, although it seemed a lot more subdued, though what she did not know was that the restraint was due to being in public.

Iridian spied a mossy area among the crystals out of the corner of his eye as she returned his kiss. That would do nicely. He smiled as their kiss broke off and threw his cloak over it, taking her hands and seating her down upon it as if it were a picnic blanket. He joined her, nipping softly along her chin and neck, his hand traveling along her slender leg softly."Mm...It's just you and me, Avis...how would you like to learn about something special you've been missing out on?" he murmured softly against her neck.

Avis breathed softly, his lips sending shivers along her neck and down her spine. What was he offering that she had been missing? She had no idea at all of what it could be...but...she did want to learn. How eager she began to feel, and she gave a soft nod. "Oh...I...I'd love to..." Avis murmured. The way he spoke, it seemed as if the lesson was about something secret...and how he called it special made her desire it even moreso.

Iridian smiled and gently eased her to her back, pillowing her head on his arm and stretching out beside her. "Then just relax and let things happen." she smiled and he leaned over her, his kisses growing more invasive and intimate as did his touches, coaxing her gently to his whims and breaking down her defenses with expertise.

Avis felt each touch as if a light flare upon her skin when his skin came in contact with her own, each scar caressed like a jolt of electricity running through her. Each kiss sunk her deeper under his spell, made her feel wanted, even cared for...it made her happy...and it made her want something...something she wasn't entirely sure about, yet it was good to her...and she didn't stop him, letting him do as he pleased, even as he began to disrobe her.

Mardian was getting concerned. He had seen neither Avis or Iridian for a while and that was always a cause for concern in his book. Iridian had already made moves on that girl once, and he'd meant to keep a closer eye on them when they were together to see to it that Iridian didn't press his advantage on her again. Now they were nowhere in sight, and he was certain that they hadn't left Gayle's borders. That meant they were alone. Together. And out of the open. "I swear it brother or not if he's hurt that poor girl I will beat the life out of him." Mardian said under his breath.

~

Iridian smiled and sighed with contentment. That had certainly been worth the effort. It had taken some coaxing and reassurance to get her going, but once she had given herself into the experience, well, she wasn't so shy anymore. It was as he had thought, she'd had her own frustrations to work out and that meant a good time for the both of them. There was a freshwater spring that they used to clean up in, and they were both dressed now, relaxing near the pool, Avis leaned back against his chest as he stroked and massaged her shoulders and neck.

It had been the most unique and wonderful experience that Avis had ever had in her life, and she had enjoyed most every second of it. It had hurt around the beginning, but the way that Iridian had treated her after it had washed it all away, and had given her such pleasurable sensations, enough to nearly make her black out from the sheer force of it all.

She rested against him, soaking in his treatment to her joints, relaxed comfortably in his lap. Her face was flushed, and she felt completely warm inside, both from her joy at his treatment of her, and a little something extra.

Iridian, ever prepared for such moments had already gotten her to swallow a small, round pill. He liked his encounters to be as free of complications as possible, and the last thing either of them needed was for something to come of their little encounter. His hands stroked down her sides and down to her waist, rubbing her hips gently as his lips found her neck. "Mm...such a sweet little rag doll." he murmured, brushing her stomach lightly with his thumb.

"Mmm...Iridian..." Avis murmured, the slight buzz she felt a reminder to her of the wonderful activity he had introduced her to. She smiled softly, her heart fluttering at his lips' caress. Naive as she was, she had no idea of the consequences and the meanings behind what she had just done with him. Of course, the mystery of it all had only added to her pleasure...and she felt her attraction to him had increased tenfold.

Iridian smiled and held her close against his strong chest. "Mm...best not to mention all that to the others. They all think that you're a child that can't make an adult decision." he said, stroking along her hip. "They're already probably going to freak out just because we've been out and alone together this long. It's none of their business what we've been up to. It's just between you and me. You might be a little sore tonight. I'll meet you outside to help with that after everyone's gone to bed if you like."

Avis closed her eyes, feeling a slight flare of sadness and anger. In one of her rare moments of clarity, she spoke; "I'm a grown woman...I don't need to be coddled." She looked up at Iridian, gently reaching behind her and lightly stroking along his beard. "I could have easily fought you off at any time if I didn't like it...but I enjoyed myself," she smiled. "And I'd be glad for your help..."

Iridian smiled faintly. "That a girl. No one is the boss of you but you, and if you want to enjoy yourself, well that's no one's business but your own." He kissed down her neck and shoulder. "Not everyone has to be inhibited."

Avis smiled, Iridian's words making her feel much better-empowered, even. "Thank you, Iridian..." she murmured, kissing his bearded jaw and embracing him as she turned to face him. "For joining me in this little endeavor...and for teaching me about those bodily pleasures..." she murmured.

Iridian smiled and stroked down her waist. "It was my pleasure, Avis." he said. "We'd better be heading back, though. I'm sure that Mardian and the others are already in a sour mood from our disappearance." he smirked. He helped her to her feet and walked her back to Gayle's house. He left his cloak behind, hanging to dry next to the spring they had washed themselves and the cloak in. He was surprised when he didn't see Mardian immediately, but he would take the small favors where he could get them.

Mardian had started to check the caves around the perimeter, and thus had missed them completely. He emerged from one of the caves after they had entered Gayle's home and climbed up to the cavern where the two had spent the last while.

Avis nodded softly. She knew that what they did had to be kept secret. After all, whenever Iridian was around her, she noticed the looks of distrust and contempt for him that filled their expressions. She tried her best to walk normally, but the twinges of pain she felt always made her limp slightly. She thought that perhaps it would be best to lie down until she felt better as she made her way past the kitchen, stopping at the amazing scent permeating from it. "What're you making, Farei?" Avis smiled. She did have an appetite built up.

Farei had been sleeping during Avis' and Iridian's escapades. She had woken after Mardian had left and had found the flowers beside her. She had stared at them for a long moment before she felt a wave of happiness and had smiled. She knew who had set them there, though it was unexpected and caught her by surprise, and she had admired them before she realized they would probably need water. She knew the few plants that did grow in the desert had a source of water nearby and she had put two and two together as she grew up. The wildflowers were now carefully arranged in a vase, used with Gayle's permission, and sitting on the table.

The house seemed empty when she woke up. Farei had expected the others to be around but they were nowhere to be seen. She assumed they were all outside still, enjoying the peace and quiet. Left to her own devices, she decided she would do what she did best, which was cooking. By the time Avis had come through and had asked her question, Farei was sitting on a stool by the stove, watching the contents in a pot carefully. She hadn't noticed Avis walking and didn't suspect anything.

"Oh, hello Avis." Farei said quietly, turning to face the girl some. "Just some curried beef." she answered, turning back to look at the sauce she was making in the pot.

Mardian had progressed deeper into the cave and he felt ill as he reached the cavern where the deed had been done. The moss was all torn up and disturbed where they had been and it wasn't hard to figure out why, especially after he saw the freshly washed cloak hanging to drip dry by the freshwater spring. It was more than easy enough to put two and two together. He snatched the cloak down and turned sharply. They weren't here anymore, so that meant he must have missed them. They had probably beat him to the house by now. Well, that was the only 'beating' that Iridian was going to be doing. Mardian would be taking care of the rest of that.

Angry and disgusted he strode from the cave and took the climb down in two drops. His long legs carried him swiftly as he marched back to Gayle's home. He saw Iridian standing beside Avis and jerked him back and away from her. "You sick, loathsome bastard!" he hissed angrily, the fist of his freshly healed arm connected with Iridian's jaw. Hard.

Iridian jerked instinctively away from his irate older sibling, reeling from the strike to his face and he grasped his jaw as he caught sight of the dripping cloak held tightly in his brother's fist. Mardian's knuckles were white around the garment and there was pure rage in his eyes. "You can't be trusted to your own devices for five minutes you creep, do you have any conscience at all?!"

"Hey!" Avis cried out in shock, moving in front of Iridian. "Why'd you hit him? He's done nothing wrong!" she said, unclear of the severity of Iridian's actions. She saw the cloak yes, but knew only that Iridian had wanted to clean it because of the mess they'd made.

Farei hadn't noticed Iridian near Avis whens he had turned to look at the girl. When Mardian had strode up, her back was toward them, but she turned quickly when she heard him yell and she watched, eyes wide, as his arm contacted with the side of Iridian's face. She noticed the wet cloak in Mardian's hands and the livid look in his eye. For a moment she believed his gaze at Iridian was eerily murderous and it prompted her to slide down from the stool she had been sitting on and she strode over, closing the gap quickly. She paused when Avis jumped in and Farei moved to grip Mardian's arm.

"W-what's going on now?" she asked, glancing between the three of them. From the apparent force of the blow, it didn't look like Iridian would be recovering from the jolt any time soon. "What did he do?"

Iridian grunted, unable to speak at the moment and seeing stars. He should have been keeping a more wary eye out for Mardian. Mardian himself was seething, glaring down at his brother who was knocked into a chair from the blow past the pitiful girl that thought she needed to defend the slime ball. "Iridian gave Avis a lot more than swimming lessons today." Mardian spat, throwing down the cloak at his brother's feet, where it landed with a soaked, squelching sound. "No matter what Iridian told you, Avis, what he did to you was wrong." Mardian said, trying to keep his voice level. "He's nothing more than a dog looking for the next woman he can take advantage of and lure in with that smile of his. He knew you didn't know the first thing of what all that really meant and he took advantage of it."

"How could it be wrong?" Avis asked, glaring at Mardian, upset that he'd gone and hit Iridian for, in her eyes, no real reason. Certainly, she'd had no idea of what she was doing, and yet..."It felt amazing, what he taught me...so right. Everything just...clicked together perfectly. How can it be so wrong? How can something as wonderful as that be a bad thing?" she asked.