[FIN] When I Found You (Riot & Nikita)

[GunSniper]

Word Count-
Nikita:
Riot: 6594
Cain: 1065

It had been weeks since their fateful reunion. Nikita had continued to waver from dwelling on her past to remembering to think in the present. It was almost a daily struggle. She had not lashed out violently toward Riot, however, her aggression was easily noted in her hunting. Once she got a lock on pray her eyes seemed to transform into two bloody orbs set menacingly into her ghostly frame.

Even so, it was hard to remain down when around Riot. Whenever she found herself feeling remorse for her past and the pain of the endless torture she had endured, she would stare into that gem Riot had presented her with on their first meeting. Often she would stare into it for long moments at a time.

She still had yet to figure out where they were heading, they seemed to be traveling in no particular direction. Occasionally she had spotted Cain in the distance, especially on nights of a full moon. The moon's light poured all over his shadowy coat and gave away his "surprise". Or perhaps he was merely keeping tabs on her progress. No doubt both him and Morning Star had wanted to know where they were going. Morning Star was not one to be double crossed. Thankfully Cain had not dared come close, not to Riot. Cain was no fool...

Nikita took in the brittle air of the morning. Her nostrils flared as she lifted her head from her paws and the precious gem nestled between them. It was almost time for her morning ritual of hunting. It was a time to clear her head, and get out her aggression. She looked toward the horizon, already smeared with thick clouds, all dark grey. There was going to be a storm later. The air was already thick with the promise of rain. A good time to hunt. Animals were likely already scrambling to get their own meals before a storm hit.

With a quiet release of her breath she turned her head toward Riot. Was he already awake?

[ Radical Dreamer ]

 

[[ Radical Dreamer ]]

She was getting better, or so the large mountain of a balam thought. It had been a while since the last time she attacked him, let out her agression and he had to sit on her.

They had been wondering around for a while, and to Riot's honesty they weren't lost, but they weren't going anywhere. Nikita had requested that Bob would not 'see her this way', and Riot had been bent on not letting her be by herself, Because just as he new Bob would just as accepting as him...

That and he made a promise to come back 'whole', not in part.

Hearing Nikita shift, just faintly, Riot's gray ear shifted just a little and his lifted head turned to look back at her. He had been watching the skies past the trees. It was stormy, and the sun was covered just enough for a dark B'alam...mores specifically Cain, to possibly be out and about. He hadn't moved from his lay next to her, and when she allowed it he always made sure that at vary least his back would be touching her. So that he knew she was there, even when they slept.

"The Morning greets you, and so do I." Riot spoke softly, a smile rested contently on his maw. The large tree-trunk of a tail, shifted as he rolled over his body to face her completely. He could tell, just as every morning she was ready to hunt...

GunSniper

 

[GunSniper]

"Is that so?" Nikita inquired softly.

She didn't feel like the morning was greeting her at all. All the new day ever did was glare a challenge her way and dare her to try to best it. However, she was content to know that he at least sincerely greeted her.

"I would not expect the morning to be so kind. You, however, have my greeting." She hummed softer than before, than pressed a paw to his nose. "and you alone."

A calm roll of thunder whispered over the valley with a brisk gust of wind to trail it. The trees shuddered at the call. Nikita could feel her heart rising slowly in her chest. The anticipation of a good hunt caused her claws to flex gently, mindful of Riot's nose still being under her paw. Despite their first encounter, she had no desire to draw his blood.

[ Radical Dreamer ]

 

[[ Radical Dreamer ]]

Riot's brown ears lowered just a little as Nikita spoke of how the morning seemed to only spite her waking. However, as soon as she spoke of him receiving her greeting, it quickly caused his ears to bounce back up. A grander smile stretched across his maw, knowing that he was the only one to receive it.

Though, he thought everyday was a blessing. However, his life though filled with hardships (and aside from that fateful horrible night), hadn't been anywhere near as horrible as Nikita's growing up. From what he understood...perhaps it was just a matter of perception. Riot couldn't help but feel his heart yern to help her change that perception to know that day truly did greet her, just as it did he. The Weaver after all did 'tell' him so...

Riot's face scrunched with the subtle press of her paw, which only caused his maw to show his pearly white fangs. His whiskers he could feel tickle and poke at the pad of her own paw.

Hearing the rumble of the skies above, Riot's eyes moved to flick at the tree tops, as his ears twitched to the boom around them. Nikita's nail's shifting ever so slightly, cause Riot to draw his gaze on her once more. Such a movement, seemed to subconsciously remind him to flex and grab with his own paws. Needing and testing the ground mindlessly, and not to mention happily as it did well to work up a steady tumbling purr from the mountain.

"I am honored to have such a thing, Nikita." Riot seemed to finally answer, his bright blue gaze watching her thoughtfully.

GunSniper

 

[GunSniper]

Nikita watched Riot's ears bobbled back than sprung forward to her words. Her own expression scrunched while he tickled the underside of her paw with the thin lines of his own whiskers. The sensation caused her lips to thin and her eyes to squint. Despite her best efforts to resist reacting she couldn't help but huff and with draw her hand with a suppressed chuckle.

She was quite sensitive to touch still...

"It is the only one, so it is quite rare." Nikita boasted. The thought of their former mentor, Bob, crossed her mind but she did not wish to verbalize that. Of course she would like to see him... however, she did not want him to see her.

"I promise I won't go too far. You will be here when I get back?" Nikita changed the subject more so her mind would cease its dwelling.

[ Radical Dreamer ]

 

[[ Radical Dreamer ]]

Riot's own maw stretched to more of a smile, as Nikita's chuckle tickled his own ears. His nose twitched a little as her paw removed it's self from him.

She told him: 'So it is quite rare...'

Riot couldn't help but to like the sound of that.

"Just like a certain cub that another thought was so certain to have fallen from the sky. " Riot answered with a growing smile, those where after all the simple fun days...

Why couldn't things be like that again...

Then again, who said that they couldn't?

As Nikita asked if he would be there when he returned, his ears lowered slightly as he didn't much like the idea of him loosing sight of her. Especially with the weather as it, and that Cain could be around.

But....

A huff slowly passed, the mountain's nostrils. He knew at the same time, she 'needed' this time to be alone...without him....or something silly like that. Well, he thought it was silly...Well, not really he knew why, but just didn't want to be without her...

But maybe...

she would let him tag along, since he did such a good job at hunting.....

Thoughts neglected to trace back to the time where she did a much better job on a hunt then he...

*ahem*

Perhaps not then...

Taking in a slow breath, Riot nodded...reluctantly.

"I am never gonna leave you Nikita." Riot answered, his tone taking a more serious one as his smile straightened out.

Perhaps too seriously. Riot's tail shifted behind him.

And his maw replaced it's self with a grin.

"You can't get rid of me that easily."

Gunsniper

 

[GunSniper]

Nikita's maw begun to part into a very rare cubbish smile when Riot spoke of the time he said she fell from the sky. Back when they had first encountered each other, when they were just small cubs still new to the world. Those were still fond memories of hers, and one reason why she held on while in Morning Star's care.

However...

As Riot's face and tone changed to become more stern so did Nikita's. It was almost challenging in a sense, as if she expected to fight and draw blood any second. Crimson eyes brightened and narrowed at him. Her own maw thinned and threatened to reveal what was hidden behind her lip. Even her fur bristled a little.

Thankfully Riot was quick to brandish his signature grin once more and again brighten the mood with playful words. Nikita's face only withdrew its challenging glare a little as she forced a weak smile. The nostalgic mood was gone. She wanted to maul something... Not because of Riot, not once bit. More so the seriousness of the moment had triggered her memories once more of a time and a place she would rather never return to. Because of these thoughts her fur remained bristled.

"I do not dare do so." Nikita responded in a poor attempt to sound light hearted. Rather, it sounded more akin to a soldier addressing a superior.

"I will be back before the storm is too close." She than promised. Knowing full well that Cain had been on his mind as well. That cur would not dare go near Riot and he would not dare venture into the sun.

With that promise in the air Nikita turned about and headed toward the planes, where she knew prey would be waiting to be mauled. But not before allowing her tail to kindly caress the underside of Riot's chin on its passing.

Another call of thunder rumbled the distant hills. A flock of birds took off in the distance, calling their warning call to the storm. They were completely oblivious to the white ghost heading toward them. Nikita still managed to make good on that infamous nickname.

[ Radical Dreamer ]

 

[[ Radical Dreamer ]]

The quick change of expression by Nikita didn't go unnoticed by Riot's careful-yet, wild gaze. How he easily seemed to be able to flux her mood, perhaps he should be more mindful of such a thing...Though even with that in mind, her 'orderly' statement of duty caused Riot's maw to twist in a frowned smirk.

He couldn't be sad at answer like that, but her words almost sounded forced, like she had to. Riot was familiar with the tone, having heard the same tone from one of the Dark Magus' subjects. When he had travel there looking for her. Such a thought caused his ear to twitch off to the side at the reminder that he did need to show Nikita the dark tribe, and have her meet a really big magus with huge wings. Gabe certainty was a sight to see, and wished the best for his journey. It would also be good to let him know that he didn't need to look for her anymore, that and he would like to be updated about Cain.

Shifting his large tail Riot's paw grabbed and 'kneeded' at the earth under him. A soft purr left him, as NIkita promised she would be swift, that and there was the knowing of food to be with her on her return...

"Be swift..." Riot answered, in a friendly and tahtll way of saying 'becareful'.

GunSniper

 

[GunSniper]

Once Nikita was out of sight of Riot the smile fled from her maw and a cold expression took over. Her eyes narrowed toward her target. Something big, something that would satisfy Riot and herself (Which was not too hard to do, she still ate little).

Her frame lowered close to the ground as she entered a tall patch of grass, her movements became slower and more precise than when she had been running toward the hunting grounds. The tips of her claws tingled with anticipation. They wanted the comforting warmth of blood upon them, as did her fangs. This storm reminded her of her time with Morning star. The light fading past the clouds was just as his kindness, fading away to what he truly stood for. The cubs she had left behind, the lies that they thought real. This storm, she could see his face in the clouds and hear his voice in the thunder...

Another roar of thunder rumbled in the distance and the wind seemed to pick up. Thankfully blowing away from her current position and not toward her prey. This time she could feel the rumble even through her paws. The storm was picking up quicker than she had thought... A somber shadow begun to cover the land and chase the sun's light away. Nikita growled lowly.

Nikita ignored the warnings of the vanishing light. She had to hunt, that was her focus. All her attention was on her "prey". Or rather, the refusal to retreat in the face of Morning Star and Cain.

-SNAP-

Her ears pointed forward to the sudden presence and noise. Immediately her lips curled back into a snarl and she made her stealthy approach. The world around seemed to take on a red tint for Nikita, the golden glow of the early sun turned crimson.

A flash of lightning brightened the underside of the incoming clouds.

Before that flash vanished from the sky Nikita sprung onto her new target. Adrenaline already coursing through her veins as her maw and claws tore past fur and flesh to meet with bone. Her prey let out a momentary gurgled screech before nothing more past painful gurgles could be heard from the nantil's gaping maw. Nikita continued her vicious attack with extreme prejudice.

Thunder rumbled the earth once more.

Did that make you mad Morning Star? Is that your cry of pain? Good...


Cain had been following the storm closely. He had been told that the clouds would cover up the sun and he would be free to fly even during the day. All he had to do was be mindful of the brief flashes of light, which was not a tough task.

He had been following Riot and Nikita for a while now, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Which, seemed a hopeless endeavor. He did not desire to attack Riot again, not a full magus. Death would surely greet him and he would be useless to his Lord.

As the clouds closed in he circled high above where he had last seen his ghost. She would be the first to go, he owed her that much for what promise she had in their clan. Riot, however, needed to suffer the loss. That would be a fitting revenge.

Soon... Now, where was that ghost?

[ Radical Dreamer ]

 

[[ Radical Dreamer ]]

As Nikita left, Riot released a breath as he felt his paw grip the earth tightly, his claws slipped past their hiding place. Giving slight evident to the own storm the had be welling and brewing up in his own chest. One he had found to unfairly needed to keep hidden, for Nikita's sake.

He was frustrated and mad....

because nothing he did, seemed to help her...

Claw dug into the earth, and with a raise of his paw a small tower of earth rose as if pulled by a string tied to paw. Releasing a breath, he paw came down on the stacked rock and it was instantly crushed in a puff of sand. Releasing a breath, Riot stood and with a scrape of his paws he brought of the earth and compressed it under him in his thoughts. His new powers that he was granted to by he weaver seemed to be he only comfort as of late.

Turning himself the large balam crushed the earth under him in with each rotation of a circle the earth under him became more fine. In a easy moment of concentration the earth below his massive paws was rendered to a power...a comforting sand like substance. In a huff, the b'alam flopped in the pill and nestled his maw into dust under him, he rolled about and slipped dipper into the pile almost as if to expect it to be as warm as the dessert too....

Perhaps with a close of his eyes, and a wish he could return to a younger and simpler time. A simpler time when he and Nikita where cubs and playing in that warm sand like they use too. Not a time, where if he even misplace a smile, she lost hers and only wanted to vent her anger on who ever was found worth...

However, it wasn't fair to her....she didn't ask to be taken away, she didn't ask to be treated and raised as she was. Bob and him, where just not strong enough to protect her, that was their fault....His fault.

His tail slapped the earth in protest, and yet he let her go off on her own again....by herself.

Again....

Again, there he goes thinking about himself...

A growl reverberated from the pile of sand, the mountain had hopped to hide in from his troubles.

The slap of lightning, caused a dark ear that peaked out from the sand to twitch slightly, and strangely he felt a sinking in his chest. Like a...sadness, a sadness he felt when he woke as a cub only to find Nikita gone. Found that she had been taken from her...yet, the feeling didn't feel 'apart' of him, but yet it was -connected- to him. Like if Bob, had something taken from him, and he felt apart of it, because he knew bob and cared for him.

GunSniper

 

[GunSniper]

Before long the sun was already hiding on the horizon and darkness had taken over. Strong winds whipped the lands and begun to make even the long blades of grass kneel to kiss the earth.

Still Nikita had not returned as she had promised.

Another flash of light whipped across the black clouds above before rumbling a sinister laughter. The earth trembled to the sky's voice.

Nikita continued to tear into her frustrations. Morning Star was watching and laughing. He won't be laughing for much longer! He will shut up! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! 'Always keep the pelt clean so it may be worn as a symbol of loyalty', she could just hear Cain's voice. That deep voice, that deep cursed voice.

Her hackles rose, fur stood on end while she continued to take apart her frustrations. Nostrils flared and ignored the warm thick liquid trying to enter. She would simply snort it back out. Before long a barely beating hunk of meat was in her maw and ripped from its source.

Nikita slowly looked over her shoulder. A flash of light covered the land followed almost immediately by that cursed rumbling laughter from the sky.
Her maw tightened around the hunk of meat in her maw until it succumbed to the pressure brought down upon it. He maw became warm, almost as if remembering the desert sands from when she was a cub... No, this was different. It was warm, but more as if anger had physically begun to manifest itself.

A paw still rested on the shredded mass of fur on the ground, claws flexing and raking with a great amount of force against it.

The fur was ruined. What are you going to do about it Morning Star? Send Cain at me again?

Nikita chucked past the deflated meat lump in her mouth. Another rumble of thunder crackled over the land.

You mad? Do send Cain, I want to mess up his fur as well...

Cain followed the shadows stretching across the land, he had to keep out of the light. Just looking at the bright horizon made his eyes burn. Every flash was like a bat to the head, even with his eyes closed for that brief moment.

It was a pain he was willing to endure to atone for this failure.

With the next flash of light and sudden burst of wind he suddenly found his course altered. His eyes turned downward to the land below...

Pink? There was Riot. The worm that scarred his nose and had gotten away... but this was too soon.

With several beats of his wings he flew upward hoping that he had not given any hint to his presence. He could just barely feel Riot's presence via his spirit, so perhaps his own was not detected. Hopefully, he could not fail again.

[ Radical Dreamer ]

 

[[ Radical Dreamer ]]

A huff from the brown mass in sand sent a cloud of sand in the air. As the new 'feeling' because a frustration as he couldn't quite place what it was.

'Get up.'

The feeling was there and almost felt like it was heard. So much so, his ear shifted and twitched once more. Curiously his thoughts tried to place where he might have heard such a thing. It was then to his alarm, he felt the presence of a male spirit.

As fast as the lightning struck b'alam herself, Riot rose from his patch of sand. His own tuff of fur seemed to stand on end with his bristled ridged. Tail snapped and bowed out. He didn't hear the tahtll spirit, and he didn't see it. It was darker, which meant, it was Cain and Nikita wasn't back-like she promised she would be.

"Nikita!" Left Riot in a roar, before his own body leached forward and into the forest.

He called once more, not really caring if he gave away his position. He just as Nikita knew, Cain wasn't going to dare to try and tag him. No, he knew if he got Nikita, he would In turn get him.

Stopping for a moment, his ears perked and carefully listened...well tried to past the thundering of his own heart.

Calm down...

Taking a breath, Riot closed his eyes perhaps if he could see or smell her, he could sense her?

GunSniper

 

[GunSniper]

Nikita's ears twitched to the new sounds coming from the sky. They were now calling her. It didn't sound like Morning Star or Cain. This was a welcoming presence, or was it? She had thought Cain and Morning Star both were welcoming before. It had to be a trick. They were mad that she had ruined the pelt.

Good.

Keeping that hunk of meat in her snarling maw Nikita turned back toward the target of her frustration and continued to tear at it with her claws. Obviously she had not gotten her target, she could hear the rumbles of the sky still laughing at her. There were more things to hunt, but they could wait. That rumbling in her stomach could wait. For now it could be satisfied by the blood rolling down her throat from the chunk of meat in her mouth.

Her own heart could feel Riot close by, begged her to turn around and go toward the call, however her mind would not listen. It refused to listen. Not even to the 'feeling' of his soul. She remained blind to it. Perhaps he could sense her? The thought was not even on Nikita's mind. Every ounce of her attention went into each vicious strike on this now mound of unrecognizable flesh and fur.

The more she heard that misleadingly comforting sound the more she begun to think of her precious stone, her pink jem, and how it was not here. She left it? No, she wouldn't. Where did it go?! Her efforts to tear into her target seemed to double as panic joined in the psychotic party within her thoughts. As if it were buried benieth her claws.

Cain frowned to Riot's sudden call. He sounded... desperate. This did not bode well for himself. No doubt Riot would have an easier time finding the ghost.
Cain looked toward the planes and than the forest. Perhaps he could still swoop in?

No, at this point it would be foolish.

He could drop a rock on them. That was a hopeful though. However, remembering their last encounter, Riot seemed to be adept to rocks.

His wings stretched as he effortlessly altered his course to fly ahead of Riot. She was close by, she had to be. He was staying just high enough to be undetected, but that also meant he could not detect-

oh...

His eyes narrowed on what he could see of a white dot amongst the tall grass. Most of it was drenched in a dark crimson. Oh indeed... It appeared to be savagely mauling something.

Perhaps this would be more interesting to watch? Or at least, a wiser decision.

[ Radical Dreamer ]

 

[[ Radical Dreamer ]]

Taking in a slow breath, Riot could feel his heart wanting to tug him in a certain direction. It was hard to remain still, his body wanted to chase after it as he had done so many times before.

But he had to calm down, he could feel massive paws tremble like if to contest the lack of movement.

In the stillness it served him well, however as a iron like smell, began to fill his senses.

Blood...

Opening his eyes, Riot turned himself in a flash and bounded ever so quickly in it's source's direction. Powerful, paws trusted himself deeper into the words, as his focused gaze guided his weaving body though the trees.

It wasn't long before, the crimson covered cloud filled his gaze past the green scenery. That wild blue gaze, didn't even seem to flinch as his pace slowed and calculating eyes looked at Nikita and hunk of mess under her. A slow breath, and the scent of blood flooded into his lungs. Lowering his head, to level with his shoulders Riot was cautious on his approach.

"Nikita..." Left Riot softly as his paws carelessly stepped in brush. Echoing a snap and a click, with each step wanting her to know he was there. She seemed to be off in her own nightmare when she held that wild untamed look in her eyes.

Riot's large trunk of a tail swept and flicked behind him, his hackles wanted to raise as he felt Cain close. However, he knew-via past experiences it was best to remain as calm as possible when Nikita became like this. He needed to be her eye in the storm she was facing. Yet, he had to also be aware of the threat that hovered above them.

"Nikita, of fire...." Riot spoke just as calmly as before and just as bob did a long time ago, to calm a brown fluff down he rumbled very softly....

"..It's okay..."

GunSniper

 

[GunSniper]

(6 and under is an aggressively hostile response)