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The whole world went dark around her, smothering her vision and leaving her in a psychotropic state for what felt like an eternity. After expending her ademane in a vain attempt to revive Revau, Kila was banished to the land of eternal dreams, where she caught mere swirls of images and undefined visions blending into one another.

Her only recurring thought was to ask herself if this was what it was like to die. Lights would flash, the world would swirl around her, and she's drop in and out of completely unrelated dreams time and time again. Her delusions got to the point where she lost herself completely, forgetting where she was, what she was doing, or why she was stuck in a loop of inexplicable scenarios.

She fell into an abyss, reaching out for the small circle of light that grew smaller with each passing second. When she twisted in midair to land on her feet, she looked down to see she was high in the sky above her home jungle. Panicked, she flailed her arms and legs until she grew wings and was able to glide to safety. There, she found she was actually tiny - no larger than a feral cat - and everyone else towered over her. Her friends and family teased her, and they got some pack of wolves to chase her until one stopped them.

Revau. He stopped them. He was her knight in glistening gauntlet armor.

Having scared off her aggressors, she sat on the warrior's shoulder while he pet her gently. Days, weeks, and months seemed to pass in rapid succession until the two fought for some reason. He was her friend, then her enemy. She didn't know why they were fighting, but despite her fighting for her life, he seemed to be playing with her. Toying with her like a cat would a mouse.

He stabbed her through the chest, but she seemed completely fine, so she stabbed him back, then recoiled in terror as he started bleeding everywhere, including having his eyes go red and weep red tears.

More time passed, and she found herself staring at a dark board above her. Was she buried? She reached out to touch it and find it was solid as could be; panicked, she punch at it until her knuckles bled and spirits erupted from the ground beneath her to hold her down, eventually subdoing her and making her return to the slumber of demise.

Again and again she'd return to that scenario in between other brief dreams, and it grew with significance every time until she emerged from the land of eternal dreams. She was laying on her back in a bed, nestled in tightly with a second bunk of wood above her. That must have been the source of her coffin nightmares. Luckily, even in her groggy, partially-awake mindset she had the lucidity to figure out what had happened.

Kila had been dreaming for what felt like months - years, even - before awakening. She wanted to sit up, to pull the blankets off her and survey the surroundings, but the only action she had the energy to commit to was a light turn of the head to the side. From there, she was able to see where she'd been left to sleep. She was in what appeared to be a log cabin with a dozen or so double-bunks, and a few without a second level on them. There were windows up at the second level, and one door on either side.

Across from her, in one of the single beds, was Revau. Like her, he was laid out on his back with only his head sticking out from under the covers. His chest heaved slowly with every breath, rising and falling every few long seconds.

Warmth spread through her as she smiled, seeing for certain that he was okay. Injured, but okay. In an act of overzealous enthusiasm, she pushed the blanket to the side and tried to get up and call out to him, only to have her voice come out in a strained wheeze, her body barely able to muster up the energy to move. "Re.....Rev....." She failed to speak, upset that the little bit of energy she'd used to move the blankets seemed enough to fatigue her.

Though she managed to roll onto her side, that bit of movement made her desire the comfort of slumber yet again. Her head flopped down on the pillow as she succumbed to her exhaustion again, her talons curling up under the blanket as she assumed the embryonic - or fetal - position with one hand under the pillow.

"Revau. Can you hear me?" She managed to mutter so quietly even she couldn't hear herself. "Revau, wake up. Please wake up. Can you hear me?" Her voice was little more than a whisper, anything greater than that tired her out. In one final attempt to reach out, she extended one paw forward, only to have the weight of it overcome her strength, leaving her arm draped over the side of the bed with claws scraping at the wood of the floor.

"Please wake up." She tried to call again, as her exhaustion took her again.

More dreams, more spirits clawing at her and keeping her in the grave, yet her dreamscapes kept returning to that cave under the mangrove roots where she and Revau had spent so much time together. She sat at the bed, waiting, but he never came back. She heard sounds, but he never came back.

"Revau!" She called out, only to be jerked awake by her own exclamation. Her breathing was heavy and deep, chest rising and falling in quick succession. This time, she felt a bit more alert, a bit more awake. Her eyes fluttered a bit as she was able to pull the blanket off her and swing her legs around to the side so she could put her talons down on the cold floor. Even that small action made her feel tired again, so she put her face in her hands and enjoyed a few deep breaths before she tried to speak again.

"Pup? You awake?" She asked. Her voice was a bit louder this time, but still raspy and weak.

When he stirred a bit, her heart jumped and a flow of adrenaline surged through her. He wasn't awake, but he moved!

"Rev? Come on, wake up." She gulped heavily and slid off the side of the bed with an intention to test the strength of her legs. Instantly, she fell in a collapsed heap over herself, eventually landing on her knees with a loud thud.

The noise jerked Revau awake. He jerked in place and turned to look at the source of the commotion, only to cringe and wince in pain as he did so. "K-kila?" He asked through squinted eyes. "Are you awake?" Before she could respond, his eyes bolted open and he threw the covers off and darted to her side, whimpering a bit before clutching his chest. Where she had stabbed, there was a star-shaped scar with what looked like tendrils extending around his torso. Very grotesque.

Kila barely had the strength to reach up and caress him, her only means of apologizing for her mistake. "S-sorry." She whimpered at him even as he pulled her into a hug. She couldn't help but weep into his arm, a surge of remorse washing over her. She did this to him. It was her fault.

He clutched her tight and rubbed at her cheek. "Sorry for what?" He asked. "Mistakes happen, I messed up, not you." She noticed his voice was a bit rougher than it had been before. Likely due to the puncture wound in his lungs. "Please don't blame yourself. I'm just glad you're awake after all the...We didn't think you'd ever....Nevermind. It's fine."

She meekly tried to look up at him. "What?"

There was a slight pause before he shuffled in place. "Let's get up off the floor." He slid his hands under her and picked her up, carrying her back to his bed, which was much larger than the one she had been in. When he sat down, he helped her sit next to him. Kila was so exhausted that she found it difficult to sit up straight, so he wrapped an arm around her and clutched her in close.

His heartbeat throbbed against her ear, a rhythmic reminder that he'd somehow survived. She smiled and tried to purr, but no noise came.

"We didn't think you would survive, after what you did." He gulped heavily. "All that ademane, you expelled so much magic trying to revive me that you passed out immediately. The healers, they say that if you used all of your own ademane...you might never use magic again. Even if you do, it wouldn't be the same." He sniffled, holding her in tight.

In response, she paused and stared down at the floor as she curled her talons. "O-oh. Really?" The thought of never using magic again disturbed her greatly, and she had no idea how to respond to that. Magical paralysis. Internally she tried to play it off like it was no big deal, since she wasn't physically paralyzed and plenty of people could live without the use of magic, but she loved her abilities and all the spells she and Revau had mastered in the year between meeting and that final encounter.

A deep chill slid up her spine as her tail fluffed out behind her. An insatiable urge to see if she still had the ability to cast spells overcame her, but when she raised her hand Revau took it in his and pressed it to his lap.

"No. Please don't do that right now. Give it a day or two before you try, okay? You could injure yourself further of you don't give your body time to recover." He advised, then brought her hand up to his lips to give it a kiss. "Just relax for a bit. I'll take care of you, okay?"

She brought her hand up and lightly waved her fingers over his, not saying a word for a solid minute before she managed to turn her head. "What am I going to do, Rev? What if I can't-"

"Shh." He cut her off. "Don't worry. Okay? Just rest here and relax. I can tell you're still exhausted beyond what is healthy. I should really go get you something to eat."

Her lips pressed into a line as she nodded. "I could definitely go for something to eat. What's available?" She tried to push off him to stand, but she just didn't have the energy to stay up, and she immediately had to pause and take a breather.

Revau slid out from under her and stood up tall, cradling her body as she laid to her side and easing her head onto the pillow. "I have some bolt fish smoking over a pit, which I know is one of your favorites." He winced a bit and cradled his chest where the scar lay.

Kila yawned and tensed up her muscles in a stretch, tail fur standing on end and talons gripping idly at the sheets. "That sounds good." She acknowledged mid-yawn. Upon finishing that, she licked her lips and made another attempt at purring. Despite the precarious position she was in as well as his clear pain, she knew she would be fine. "I'm not going anywhere, hun. I, uh...." she paused and nuzzled up into the pillow to absorb the warmth Revau had left there. "I don't think I can really ... go ... anywhere." Another unwilling yawn caught her off guard and she closed her eyes, smiling gently as she thought of her mate.

He gave her a gentle pat before leaving, and within seconds her mind was already fluttering through a dozen hallucinogenic scenarios. Being eternally on the edge of slumber meant that any add in comfort left her swirling in and out of nonsensical fantasies. Luckily, Revau wasn't gone long and her dreams halted before they threatened to turn to nightmare.

In his hand were two large plates, each with a perfectly filleted side of fish cut into cubes and strips. He had two and a half to himself, and she had one and a half to balance out their difference in size. In the months leading up to their fateful encounter, Revau had not only come to enjoy the taste of fish, but had also learned to flawlessly gut, fillet, and de-bone any fish he came across. It was his way to show his love for her, and in return she'd developed her own taste in different breads.

Fair was fair.

"Eat up." He offered, holding out the plate until she was able to groggily sit back up.

She took it and gently put it down next to her on the bed, then used all her available energy to slide her rump back so she could lean against the wall under the window. The pillow made a gloriously simple yet effective back rest, and once she was comfortable she crossed her legs and grabbed the platter again. "Alright. Will you be joining me?" In spite of her fatigue and the creeping dread that she was subconsciously combating in the back of her mind, the prospect of enjoying a meal with her mate was never not appealing.

Revau offered only a slight nod before kneeling down on the side of the bed and crawling over to join her. Both sat with their backs to the wall with a pillow supporting their rump; their tails gently entwined as they got into a cross-legged position. He smiled at her, and she meekly smiled back before taking a bite of the cubed meat.

After chewing and tossing her head back in satisfaction, Kila mustered the courage to ask a few key questions about their fateful encounter. "Are you going to be alright? Your chest, I mean. I really made a gnarly scar." She angled her head to get a better look, the fish already providing her with a slight boost in energy. Her vision, though somewhat compromised due to fatigue, was keen enough that she could see the rhythmic pulse of his heartbeat in he exposed scar tissue.

He lightly touched himself as he nodded. "Yeah, I'm going to be fine. My chest hurts still, and I get a sharp pain when I do anything even remotely strenuous, but the healers tell me that should go away within weeks as long as I drink a cocktail of potions and see them every week. No fighting, no hard labor for a month. The scar is staying, though. That will never go away."

In an effort to make light of the situation, she forced a light purr as she nibbled on his upper arm while reaching out to trace the out-reaching tendrils of the scar. "That's alright. Scars are sexy. And it'll be a nice reminder that I beat you!" She winked and grinned, only to have the jovial expression slowly melt off her face, eyes growing blank again. "I might have killed you."

"But you didn't. It's in the past, already." He slipped a single finger under her wrist and brought her hand up to his lips to give her a kiss on the back of her fingers. "I'm fine, I'm alive, and..." He paused to look at her, and he couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret.

She nodded. "And I am not." It was hard to accept for her, but the thought of losing him was overpowering her own selfish loss. If she had to chose between sacrificing her own magical abilities and having Revau in her life, she'd always make that sacrifice for him. It wasn't even a question. The mentality that kept her from sorrow was that the situation could have been much worse, had she not thought fast. Kila was not emotionally weak, no matter how devastated she felt inside. She would live.

Revau cradled her cheek to make her look him in the eye, where he saw she was holding back tears. "We don't know that for sure, yet. You might be fine, we won't know until you have your strength back, so just eat your....fish...."

Her expression was twitching and her lips were pursed shut as she took in brisk, shallow breaths. It was clear she was trying to be strong, but there were tears building on her eyelids, threatening to soak up in her facial fur. He used his thumb to rub her eye clear, and he tried to fake a smile to show his own strength.

"I could have killed you." She repeated before grabbing her plate and resting it to the side. "I did, I killed you; you should be dead." Kila couldn't help but lightly shake her head as a dozen scenarios flashed in her mind like nightmares come to life.

He pushed his plate off to the side and pulled her up in his lap, arms wrapped tight around her and head burrowed into her neck. "But I'm not dead, this isn't a dream. You saved me, and I'll never, ever forget that for as long as I live. Which I hope is a very long time."

A gentle huff of a half-laugh came to her as she clawed at his back in her own feline version of a hug. Her cheek pressed in tight to his neck and her deep rumbling purr started to emanate from deep within her. "Please never leave me. If you die, I'm following you to the depths, wherever you may roam in the afterlife."

Another pause, another sniffle, and another attempt to hold back tears passed before Revau spoke up. "Actually, I've been thinking about that. For a while, I may retire from combat. Would you be okay with that?"

The first instinct that cropped up was for Kila to enthusiastically encourage this, but then she remembered how much he enjoyed it, and she knew he was only suggesting such a thing to please her. She had an opinion on the matter, but chose to keep it to herself, more or less. "That's up to you. I always want whatever makes you happy, and if you want that, then I want that for you."

"I might not actually quit, but I'm definitely taking a break. Want to get over this injury completely, and I am certain any sort of combat would trigger a pain attack and I'd lose, but I think I'll be fine. I'm fine, but I'm more wondering about you. If..." He paused to collect his thoughts. "If it turns out you are magically incapacitated and have lost those skills, I'm not sure if I'd feel right fighting when you wouldn't be able to."

She pushed herself away from him a bit, cocking her head to the side with a bit of a grin. "And why do you think I'd stop fighting? I don't use that much magic aside from flourish, anyway. Just means I would be able to focus more on my sword play! I'd be unstoppable!" She held her chin up in a grin before once again realizing how immensely hungry and tired she was. "But for now, I really have to eat."

Her playful nature was doing a lot to keep her from letting the onset dread take over her mindset. She joked and laughed and made light of the situation, but those healing abilities were essential in her day to day life. Fires for cooking, ice for storing food, electricity for her own pleasure, and healing to keep herself in shape and free of wounds when enjoying all Revau had to offer her. Without any of those spells, she'd have to find alternative ways to enjoy her various lifestyle choices.

As Revau had said, they couldn't possibly know for sure until she had fully recovered. For now, she would just have to relax, get some rest, and enjoy Revau's company alone on the Isle of Ashoor.

Both Kila and Revau enjoyed the rest of their meal together, cuddled up next to each other against the log wall of the cabin. The mood was on the verge of turning sour all afternoon, but she kept a positive attitude by persistently reminding herself that she was immensely fortunate enough to still have him in her life. That was what mattered. That may have been her sacrifice.

By the time both were done their meal, Kila felt a little bloated from all the food and needed to lay down to digest it, while Revau decided to go out and hunt for more fish. The river that divided their nations was considered to be the longest and biggest in the continent, and was always ripe for the pickings.

Though still tired beyond belief for her usual energetic behaviour, she couldn't help but purr contentedly as she thought about her mate out fishing for her. In her mind, she was able to remind herself that what's past is past, and that she could look forward to a life with Revau. She didn't have to hide her love anymore, she didn't have to orchestrate complicated fight choreography or pussyfoot around her people in an effort to get more time with him.

Grave miscalculation aside, their life would only be looking up from here.

Eventually, Revau returned from his little fishing Escapade to see that Kila was still awake and smiling, her chest deep-rumbling with a sustained purr. He smiled and crawled up onto the bed behind her, holding his chest tight to her back to get the gentle massage her purring offered him.

Kila noted he smelled lightly of smoke, but that just made her purr more since he also smelled of fish. The perfect combination. "So what now?" She asked, not really sure if she was asking herself or him. Before he answered, she shuffled herself back so that she could feel his warmth emanating all around her, his chest heaving and throbbing with every breath and beat.

He pressed his hand to the chest to hug her from behind, nuzzling into the back of her neck where a few feathers stuck out from her fur. His hot breath tickled her just right. "I can think of a few things, but for now I really just want to see you get better."

"No, I mean like, for the rest of the week. What day is it? How long was I asleep? When will others be returning to the island?" She laughed a bit a smirk curling on her lips even as her tail snaked its way between them, getting a firm grip around the bulge in his sheath. Even injured, he never failed to keep his carnal desires alive. Neither did she, but she knew that she couldn't risk it at the time.

"Oh, I see. Well, it's been almost a full week. Honestly, I think the first are set to show up tomorrow morning. Set up for the fights."

She gasped. "A whole week. That's crazy. Who is going to fight on my behalf if I can't defend the territory? I can barely stand and eat, let alone fight the best your people have to offer. Other than you, that is." Perhaps the logistics of the Arena Glade's battle politics weren't the best topic of discussion, but her curiosity was there and she couldn't help but ask.

He lightly licked at her cheek from behind. "I don't know, hun. I really don't know. I also admit it's not exactly what I would call a top priority at the moment. I guess we'll find out."

"I guess we will." She rolled onto her back and pecked Revau on the snout as she shifted and shuffled into place with his arm over her chest. Her hand clasped into his with their fists balled up next to her head. Kila couldn't help but to smile as she stared into his beautiful emerald and orange eyes.

Revau gave her one slow, loving lick before taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, ready for sleep. His hand was in hers, and hers in his, and they vowed to never let go.

-=Chapter 09 - New Traditions=-

They slept like the dead, that night. Wrapped in each others' embrace, they found peace and comfort in their optimism and renewed love for one another. That sleep combined with the boltfish fillet accelerated Kilas healing process, granting her more energy the following morning when they were woken up by the sounds of the Yelfritian warriors as they returned to the island.

Kila shifted a bit in Revau's arms, moaning lightly with an idle smile on her face. When her eyes fluttered open she as greeted with the sight of her lover smiling back at her. His arm was under her head, and he didn't dare move to wake her. "Good morning." She said with a yawn and a stretch. "What time is it?"

Revau glanced outside to gauge the sun's position, but didn't put much thought into it before lightly poking at her little pink nose. "Noon, perhaps? Doesn't matter. Are you feeling better?"

She offered only the faintest of nods. "Seems so. I'm not nearly as tired as I was yesterday night." Slowly, she rose to a sitting position with another stretch and neck roll to loosen her sore muscles. "I can sit on my own volition. Definitely feeling better. Still don't think I will be doing any hard labor or intense fighting, but I think I can walk."

He rolled onto his back and gave a stretch and a yawn, followed up by a gentle rub at his chest. "I confess, my dear, having you here all night seems to have calmed my scar. Had a dull throbbing pain in my chest ever since the match, but last night the pain was nearly gone!"

Kila lacked the energy to jump around or act in her usual chipper manner, but she did have enough energy to turn and straddle his waist, hands on either side of the star-shaped scar on his chest. She was, of course, naked. "I think I can find a way to celebrate that." She said with a wink, waggling her hips to grind against his naked form.

The tensing muscles in his lower half let he know that he was happy to play with her, but they were cut off when a rapping came at the front door of the cabin.

"Hey, are you decent?" It was Elaria, checking up on Revau.

Revau sighed heavily before kissing Kila on the snout. "I am not. Allow me a few moments, please."

"I will be waiting; the Watchers wish to make an announcement for tomorrow that I think you want to hear." She left the door, and a second later it sounded like she was leaning against the side of the cabin, waiting as he promised.

"I guess that means it's time to go, sire." Kila teased him before leaning back to gently tickle his bulging, exposed sheath. When she hopped off him, she was kind of glad that they had been interrupted by Elaria. She was already tired from hopping on and off him; had she gone much farther there was a chance she would have ended up passing out on top of him.

Once she landed on her talons off the side of the bed, she stretched and yawned again, happy to finally be able to stand without assistance. A pinch of dizziness threatened to take her, but she regained her balance when she leaned back against the bed. "Whoa. Maybe I'm not as recovered as I thought." She mused, finding comfort in the support of the bed.

When Revau jumped off next to her, he quickly hopped into his loincloth. As he reached over to Kila's bed for her blood stained clothes, he paused a moment to wince in pain. It was brief, but Kila noticed and couldn't help but comment when he gave her the leathers.

"That was strange. I thought you said it was getting better." She observed while putting the tank top and skirt back on. The blood was stained red, but it was clear Revau had attempted to clean it off in the nearby river. That little bit of character made Kila laugh a bit, even as she was waiting for his response.

"I am better. It's not as bad now as it was even yesterday. Like I said, the healers say it'll be fixed within a few weeks." He gave it a gentle rub, then extended a hand to her. "Come on, let's not worry about it. We have a show to get to."

Both Kila and Revau left the cabin, meeting up with Elaria on the way as they headed to the Arena Glade. Kila was still pretty weak and had a hard time keeping up with their pace, so Revau carried her most of the way in his arms with her nestled into his neck, purring all the while.

When they arrived at the Arena Glade, hundreds of people were there waiting for them, the Endarian spectators and warriors around the eastern half of the arena, and the Yelfritians on the western half. Upon their emerging from the pathway that led to the Yelfritian camp, every single person from both sides stood and offered a rousing ovation.

Kila was awestruck at the response, and the volume of cheers was well beyond her comfort level, but she happily accepted the adulation with a meek wave. Revau carried her around to the back of the Glade, opposite the Saurossin Watcher with a walkway cleared between the two sides. The crow kept cheering and hollering their approval right up to the time that Revau made a gesture to encourage them to quiet down.

Once the roar had died down, they sat together at the back, with Kila sitting in Revau's crossed legs. Kila's friends Oteciu, Tavi, and Kindaven were together on her side, while Revau's friends Elaria, Saidu, and Otangi were on the opposite side. For the first time in public, she could lean into him and purr contentedly, happy to see their presented rivalry was officially over. Most of the spectators didn't know what it meant, but seemed happy for them regardless.

A full year later, and it was cleared than ever that Revau was right; this was all just a game to most who watched and competed. Though the creeping dread of her own potential paralysis loomed, she had never been so happy in all her years. This was her; this was what she wanted.

The Saurossin Watcher raised a hand, a zap of electricity arcing from thumb to forefinger to get the crowd's attention while inadvertently making Kila uncomfortable.

"Endarians, Yelfritians, cien, jysar, oaira, and fellow saurossins, we come here today with dire news. As you all know, last week, one of our honored champions - Sire Revau Irfan - suffered a serious injury while competing for the territory here at the Isle of Ashoor. In an attempt to revive him, his opponent - Lass Kila Eryn - expended her own energy to ensure his demise was not that day. As a result, both parties are unable to compete, and may be that way for the foreseeable future."

As a response to that, spectators on either side started mumbling and gossiping among themselves. Apparently this was not evident by the fact that Kila was carried into the Arena Glade.

Still, the Saurossin Watcher continued. "In light of this unfortunate event, it has been decided that, for the next three weekends starting tomorrow, there will be no disputing of the territory. Until Las Kila is ready and willing to either forfeit or return to the arena, the territory will be shared by both sides. No winners, no losers, only friendly competitors on either side of the river. As such, there will be no weekly exile."

Again, the onlookers kept idly chattering to each other, trying to figure out if this was a good thing or not.

"Furthermore, there will be no arena combat tomorrow. This weekend, it has been decided that we, the Saurossin Watchers, will be pleased to invite you all to a party celebrating both our great nations. There will be barbecue, there will be ale and wine, there will be music, and there definitely will be potions for all. Cien, jysar, oaira, and saurossin alike. This weekend, we are one nation, in celebration of the great sacrifice that Lass Kila Eryn has suffered in the name of true love. This weekend, there will be no strife, be it manufactured or real. If, by chance, there are any out there who do not share this mutual admiration, we politely insist you return to your homeland, and we look forward to seeing you all next weekend when our exhibition matches will resume." The Saurossin Watcher bowed and raised his talon to the sky, shooting a blast of fire and powder that exploded in a trickling, glimmering shape that looked an awful lot like a flower. When he turned to walk away, only his tail could be seen before his scales shifted color and he blended into the emerald green of the surrounding area.

With that said and the announcement having concluded, Kila turned so she was straddling Revau with her back to the crowd as she wrapped her hands around his neck. Her eyes met his, and she leaned in for the deepest, most passionate kiss he and she had ever shared; he didn't even hold back in the interest of honor. Their tongues danced as the crowd started to cheer for them and the adrenaline started to surge.

Soon thereafter, the two groups started to intermingle, and the creative team quietly disappeared back to the camp that Kila and Revau had been recovering at all week. Together, they started up a fire while some hunted and others went to pick up some drinks from the Arena Glade, where the Saurossin Watchers had brought hundreds of barrels of ale and wine.

Kila and Revau sat on a log near the fire, his arm around her as they purred away the day. Around them, the other creative team members seemed to be buzzing forward at a rapid speed even as they remained in place, watching the day pass them by. They barely moved from that spot until the early hours of twilight, when Kila finally decided she needed to walk around and stretch. Drums and singing choruses could be heard in the distance, with a throbbing orange glow stabbing the sky as the Arena Glade was converted into a giant bonfire.

"I'm heading off for a bit, going to go get some alone time." She said as she pushed herself up off his lap. "Wish to join me?" Her smile was weak and soft, yet sincere.

He reached out to grab at her hand, keeping her from walking too far away. "I think that defeats the purpose of alone time, my dear."

She glared at him and slowly shook her head. "I hate you right now. You coming or what? I'd feel safer with you nearby, in case I get exhausted or something."

"I'd be honored."

She guided him past the fire, around the side of the cabin, and into the web of trails and pathways north of the two camps. The sun was just barely disappearing over the horizon, so the skies were still reasonably lit, but under the canopy of thick leaves and branches it was almost as dark as night. In the shadow, Kila could see only the faint outline of her mate and the barest details of his body, accented by his green and orange eyes. They seemed to glow in the night, and based on how well he kept his gaze upon her, she was certain hers were as well.

Neither spoke a word to the other. Revau knew where Kila was taking him amidst all the commotion. They could still hear the faint beats of drums and the occasional cheering of their people back on the south half of the island, but they weren't paying attention to it.

Together, the reached the edge of the Terrestrial mangrove to see the bulging mass of roots stabbing into the ground and climbing up into the dense web that remained suspended a meter or so above the dirt at land level. She couldn't hope to climb up in her state, so he gave her a hug and held her tight as he hopped up.

Upon landing on the roots, Kila assured him that she could walk there, since gripping was a lot easier than balancing in the more traditional sense. From there, the two of them slowly made their way to the first gem leading to their cave, followed by every other until they heard the tell-tale bubbling of the brook below.

Revau hopped down first, and extended his arms up to catch her. When she jumped down, he pulled her in close and nuzzled into her neck with a series of gentle lick-kisses, her legs wrapping around his midsection for grip. As she pulled away, she draped herself around his neck to once again catch is gaze. "Come on, sire. In the cave." She darted in, pulling him by the paw.

He nodded and pushed the moss aside, holding her against his chest to ensure she didn't hit her head on anything. He snapped his finger to magically ignite the candles in the four corners of the room, illuminating their personal space away from the rest of the world before lightly placing her down on the bed and kneeling on the ground next to her. He was looking up at her, smiling and panting gently.

Kila ran her hand across the fur blanket, relishing its softness while she forced a smile against the tide of sorrow that was bubbling up in the back of her mind. She had to remind herself that this was a happy time, one of celebration and the bounty of life in wake of the tragedy that befell them. Luckily for her, Revau's gorgeous eyes pierced the dimly lit room and filled her soul with joy.

His eyes slowly blinked as his lips curled in a bit of a smile. He leaned in close with his hands wrapped around her haunches and fingers lightly gripping at her rump as her tail flicked behind her. Their eyes met for a brief moment, seconds before he leaned into her inner thigh and gave her a gentle bite that coaxed a whimper from Kila followed by a gentle lick.

"Good boy." She cooed at him as she grabbed a pawful of his cheek fur and guided him up to give her a kiss. "My sire." She let go and gave him a bit of a rub and scratch behind the ears while gingerly returning to lean on her elbows, pulling her knees up to give him just the faintest view under her hide. With a coy purr, she gently pulled at the edge of her skirt while her tail flicked out before her.

Revau leaned in, nuzzling his way up her inner thigh with a series of deep pup-like sniffs, enjoying the scent she was emanating before giving her loins a brisk lick. His hands were still on her hips, so he grabbed at the leather strips holding the skirt up to untie and pull it off, tossing it to the floor beside him. He did the same with his own loincloth, letting it fall to the ground in a heap with her garment as he leaned in and pressed his snout up against her nether lips, his tongue pressed firm to get a taste of her.

Kila grabbed at his cheek fur as she shuddered and started grinding her hips down against him, her talons gripping tight on his powerful biceps to hold herself in place. A deep humming came fluttering out of her gullet as she continued to purr, "Hmmmm, yeah, just like that my sire." She urged him, still grinding against him even as his powerful muzzle and neck lapping at her loins forced her back across the soft fur of the blanket. In between each fervent tongue-lashing, his brisk exhalations warmed her nether region with impassioned moisture, tickling fur from under tail to belly.

He liked to let his primal side out a bit, so he crawled up onto the bed, leaned into her, and bit down on her other inner thigh, this time with nearly enough force to draw blood. In response, she she called out in an unfettered screech of pleasure that mixed both her feline and avian lineage and did them both proud. They were in the middle of the terrestrial mangrove north of the camps and the Arena Glade, they could be as loud as they wanted.

However, Kila was still quite tired from her injury, so she calmed herself into a deep panting accented by a whimper every time she exhaled. She couldn't help but idly smile as she clutched at his cheek fur, talons digging into his muscles at the same time. Mid lick, she pulled him away into a kiss, the faint taste of herself on the tongue that explored her maw from within. After giving a gentle suckle, she looked him in the eyes and pressed her cheek to his to whisper in his ear. "I want to feel it all in me tonight, sire."

Revau pulled away and cocked his head to the side, somewhat concerned. "A-are you sure? Is that safe without....you know..." He trailed off. He was, of course referring to her lack of energy - the same magic that would tend to her flesh and heal her in the wake of his carnal aggression. His member was not meant to fit inside her, especially not given their size difference.

She just nodded in return. "I want to see what it feels like, a pure sensation without the use of magic altering it. I want to feel you for you, can you grant me that?" She pulled away as she slid her fingers down his cheek, booping him on the nose before laying on her back with paws folded on her chest. "I don't have much energy to give back, but I'd love to feel the power of your full force on my un-altered self."

A lump formed in his throat that he gulped down quickly before giving a brisk but somewhat cautious nod. "For you, anything. But if it hurts, I will have to use some magic." He had a look of concern in his eyes. His tender, glowing eyes.

She gape-grinned at him, nodding enthusiastically. "That's fine, I'll let you know. Or not. We'll see. But stop stalling sire, I want you in me!" She reached up to grab at his chest fur, pulling him over her as she forced a kiss on him, her legs parted and tail curled up to wrap around his thigh. "Now mate me 'till morning!"

Revau grabbed each of her hands and forced her onto her back, entwining his fingers with hers before slamming fists down on the bed. His eyes stared deep into hers for a moment to test her sincerity before peeling his lips back in an aggressive growl. Bits of saliva dripped off his lips and exposed teeth, dampening her chest between her breasts as he leaned forward, pressing his hips to hers. His swollen and meaty sheath rubbed gently against her loins, further soaking her with the excitement that dribbled out the end.

Kila smiled and closed her eyes, grinding hips back against him with every rhythmic arch of her back. Up came her knees, parted so her talons could grip at his hips. Even while fatigued, she was naturally flexible, so his belly easily pushed down against her and held her in place with her thighs squeezing his sides. Each of his thrusts had her grind back up into him to angle herself just right, eager to feel his girth slide into her.

He loosed another deep growl with his snout lowered over hers, his deep breaths tickling her fur and whiskers as he nuzzled into her neck and shoulder. After a few brisk nibbles, he bit down hard and bucked into her.

A powerful howl of pleasure echoed out in the small cave as she felt him slide into her with ease. His member was as thick as her wrist even before the knot, but she had spent the last year practicing on him in all the most intimate ways, so she knew her body could handle it. At least it could when she had a bit of magic aiding her healing. This was different; it felt more raw, a bit hotter, and had a lot more friction than she was used to. Every slight movement in his body shifted his member inside her, and she felt every twitch and throb.

She shuddered and whimpered before burying her snout in his neck to muffle her screams of pleasure. In response to his massive jaws clamped down on her neck, she gave him a bite back, her sharp canines barely piercing his thick fur to snag on his flesh. When he bucked into her again, she bit down harder and grunted in a combination of pleasure and pain.

Amidst the warmth of his body and the chill of the cave, she could feel the intense throbbing of his member swelling inside her, the soft bulges of knot pressing to her lips and threatening to pop in with each of his deliberate, brisk thrusts. After a moment, she let go of him and tapped him on the cheek to get him to let go of her neck. When they could see eye to eye, she nodded and meekly licked his nose. "Go on. I can't wait any longer for you." Another peck at his nose accented her desire before she leaned back and readied herself for him.

His snarl lightened into a puppy-dog smile as he panted a bit. He offered only a brisk nod before leaning down and nuzzling into her cheeks one after another, offering a series of nibbles and licks as he shifted from side to side cleaning up the slobber he'd left on her.

Kila's talons let go of his upper thighs to wrap around his hips, toes entwining for grip while she pushed back as hard as she could.

Following a series of grinding thrusts, Revau came to hold himself against her with the pressure of his knot lobes building on her opening. She clenched his hands in hers while she pushed back, forcing them in with a pop! That very second he felt the warmth of her depth swallowing his knot, he let out a growl and the lobes began to swell almost immediately.

Within seconds, the pressure had built within her enough that she started to feel a touch of discomfort. She grunted a bit and threw her head back, trying her best to find the right angle to be most comfortable. When he pulled away to see the look of strain contorting her face, he panicked a bit and brought his hand down to focus some energy on her loins only to be stopped by her.

"No. Not this time. Please."

That was all she had to say. He nodded again and leaned into her to smother her in passionate kisses on the cheek and neck. "You sure you're alright?" He whispered into her ear.

"I promise I'm alright. A little tired, but I'll be fine." In truth, she was quite strained from the girth of his knot, but at this point she knew there was absolutely no chance it would be released from her until he was finished. She was a warrior, a fighter, and a powerful hen, so she knew that she could handle it. Despite the friction and the pressure of taut flesh stretched tight around his lobes, she'd never felt so close to him. With no magic dampening the sensations, his flesh felt warmer, his heartbeat more pronounced.

Kila could actually feel his heart racing in panic the tighter it felt to him. That showed that he loved her more than any words could possibly speak to her. She grabbed at him and pulled him in close so she could wrap her arms around his neck in a tight hug. He didn't bite her this time, but he did gently nuzzle cheek to cheek in response.

She knew that once the knot was in, they were basically done. With such a wide berth lodged within her, she had no choice but to relax and wait it out, which she was happy to do in the company of her mate.

Without magic, the sensations were equal parts pain and pleasure, but to her it was more about what it meant than anything else. They would stay together for hours - potentially the rest of the night - before he finished and they could part ways. To Kila, that was the perfect way to spend the immediate and long term future.

"Thank you. I love you." She whispered in his ear, sending chills up his spine that stood his fur on end.

He wrapped his arms around her and rolled onto his back so she was straddling him and laying on his chest. Her head laid on his scarred chest as she purred gently, the droning rumble massaging his member and giving it a gentle tug with each tiny vibration. "Love you too, my dear." He returned, gently stroking her hair. "Don't ever leave me. I don't know what I'd do without you."

She wanted to make a joke, to make light of the fact they were tied together and she didn't have a choice, but she just couldn't. Discomfort and pressure notwithstanding, it was nice to know that even without her magical talents she could still enjoy his company to the fullest extent. Both of them knew that there was a lot more to their love than the physical passion, but it was still a lot of fun and the purity of an un-aided knotting made her feel closer to him than ever before.

"I couldn't imagine a happy life without you, Rev." She clutched at his chest fur and nuzzled into him, the steady throb of his heart against his ear matching the pulses that massaged her depths. "Apparently not even death can separate us." A single tear trickled down her snout to land against his scar, which she rubbed in with her thumb. In response he stroked down her back, his massive paw resting lightly on her lower back just above her tail to ensure her body's ideal positioning and angle.

Completely comfortable and offering each other an idle kiss or nuzzle as the night progressed, the two fell into slumber within their mate's embrace, tied together until morning.

-=Chapter 10 - On The Epilogue=-

Upon waking, the lovers both found themselves oddly energized. Kila's fatigue had seemed to subside a bit, and while Revau's chest pain remained, it was notably dulled. Still, they kept to themselves for many hours to cuddle before finally returning to their respective camps.

The peace and quiet were nice, but they didn't stay on the island for long. After gathering their belongings, they hiked their way westbound and took a canoe across the river to Yelfrit, since Kila had never actually seen Revau's homeland. He hadn't been to hers, either, but given the fact that Kila's home was high in a tree and she just didn't have the energy to climb, she instead opted to join him in his den.

To that point, they had met on the Isle of Ashoor plenty, but had never crossed the final barrier into the others' nation.

Revau's home was simple, but nice. It was a cave carved into the base of a cliff, with ornate wood lining the front to make it look like it was actually built like a cabin. Most of what he did was on the second floor, which was nice because he said that the area often flooded and the main level was often damaged by water, so he kept his important belongings like books deep in the den and high up on shelves.

They had a whole day alone before the cien and saurossin people finally returned, so they used that time to stay as close to one another as they could. However, they noticed that the closer they were and the longer they remained together, the more Revau's chest wounds hurt. It didn't seem like much at first, but when Pedonne returned with the rest of the warriors, he presented a theory that Kila's presence was directly responsible for it.

As she'd expended every last bit of her magic, focusing it on him, the theory was that part of her very soul was trapped in that scar, and the only way for it to ever fully heal and his chest to stop hurting, they would need to separate for an extended period of time.

Revau assured her it was more like a mild discomfort than actual pain, and that he'd rather use it as a reminder of her sacrifice for him. This made Kila cry, at least until she realized that Pedonne was there, so she put up her facade of strength to ensure she didn't look weak.

Weeks passed with her living at Revau's den, getting to know his pack and making friends with his friends. They never did tell others about the predetermined nature of their fights together, and after their cataclysmic display, the Arena Glade took a long time to get exciting again. Eventually, many weeks later, Oteciu was crowned the master of the Territory, and she held that spot for months.

Revau and Kila had no real interest in returning, at least not for the first months. She regained her physical energy but still lacked all ability to do magic and he was still in pain every time they were together, but they were happy. They trained other fighters, kept involved in the creative team's future stories and plotlines, and even consulted with the Saurossin Watchers to help with booking future match ups.

Once the conflict of their manufactured rivalry came to a close, life started to relax and settle into a comfortable position with them taking turns at the home of the other. Sometimes they'd spend weeks in Yelfrit, other times spending months in Endra. Together, the two of them helped to foster a new era between the nations, turning the Arena Glade into an official source of entertainment rather than just a tradition two border-villages perpetuated.

After another year had passed, they decided to have a mateship ceremony that blended the customs and traditions of both cultures.

Her culture's contribution was actually very similar to their near-death experience. In ancient jysarian culture - from a time before the era of the Gods - Lovers were matched against one another in a coliseum battle in a fight to the death, with the winner landing an actual mortal blow that required them to sacrifice their magic spirit to save the one they loved. The rest of their lives were determined by that dominant and submissive divide, with the victor being the dominant and the victim pledging their life to the one who sacrificed to save them.

Their enactment of that silly tradition was purely coincidental, but through an outlandish series of events it came to fruition in the oddest way possible. That was okay for them.

When it came time to kiss at the end of the ceremony, their hands touched and an arc of lightning surged from her fingertips to his. Months of therapy later it came to be evident that, to her shock and delight, she wasn't fully devoid of magic, after all!

Though there was a long and trying time ahead of them, they persevered together. After a long time away as trainers, they did eventually find the strength and desire to return to the combat that brought them together in the first place.

This revelation re-ignited and fueled a flame that had never died out between them, strengthening their bond for decades to come. As one, they made their legacy on the border of Endra and Yelfrit, unified through their love and tied by their differences.

Kila Eryn and Revau Irfan, tied as one, together forever. At least that's what was carved into the bark of the terrestrial mangrove tree that grew above their cave.