FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Rumbling along the tracks was a train surrounded by icy mountains on both sides. Snow fell from a stormy sky, the racing metal of locomotive cutting through the night. There, atop the front-most part of the train, stood a figure garbed in a red coat. She knelt against the force of the wind beating against her and glared as if she could solve the problem alone with a stern gaze. The tracks ended prematurely and dipped down into the abyss of the icy wasteland. All the passengers would be dead if she didn’t do something, but her mind had nothing to offer. It was then that something cut through the air, a spear stabbing into the head of the train. A squeal of metal. The crash of ice. The world around Mina became dark and too bright all at once as she was sent tumbling through the air. She saw the train crash into solid ground somewhere far below her while she kept soaring. The white-furred mouse landed upon a platform of snow and stone in the mountains, flat on her face for a moment or two. She grumbled and pushed herself up onto her feet, but froze as she saw a man who had antagonized her nearly every moment she had spent on the island. A bat garbed in the raiment befitting a knight with a tri-tipped spear. Deep purples and black hued his clothes. Her red coat pushed heavily against her side as a frosted breeze clung to her. He had saved her life, had saved the life of everyone on the train by derailing it forcibly before it could tumble off the cliff. That did not mean she did not feel animosity toward this man. He had been trying again and again to stop her, and time and time again he had presented himself as antagonistic toward her and her collaborator. At the same time, she wasn't entirely sure whether he was wrong for that position, but she would not yield. The words exchanged between them were bitter. Full of struggled pleading from both sides. The need for the other side to step aside. She could not stop her path, elsewise the island would suffer from the fallout of shutting down the towers prematurely. And his dogma demanded their destruction, so once more they would need to fight. Mina could see the hesitation in his movements as he lashed out. Elegant and powerful movements that seemed to pause on occasion, as if giving her a chance to give in. She answered in kind by swinging her hammer, but could not find it within herself to deal a decisive blow. So they danced around one another. His wings taking him into the air. Her claws burrowing beneath the stone. Hollower and aerial knight dancing until they were both kneeling and panting. Mina could not stop. Would not stop, but she would plead with him once more. Mina let the hammer hit the ground as she rose to reach out to him and speak, and for a moment, he lowered his weapon as well as the wind cut between them. It was at this point that the stone beneath them began to rock violently. It shook, and it all came down. Their bodies were dragged down into the cold abyss, and she saw it happen before her eyes. A stone clipped the side of his head, and his wings seemed to no longer work. A body without motion plummeting. His helmet had fallen off, and she saw the softness of his face, the sadness behind what might be his last expression. She could just let him fall to his death, and whatever action she took might not matter in the slightest. It might even be easier for her to simply accept the untimely demise of her rival. Even as these thoughts occurred, Mina threw herself into him in free-fall and shut her eyes tight, hoping to take the brunt of the landing as snow swallowed them whole, leaving behind the anguished whisper of wind.

The dark had taken her. She had no recollection of how long that had been. One eye opened slowly. Before her mind could really catch up, her body woke up properly first. Every little part of her seemed to whimper and pulsed with a dull ache. Her muscles. Her ears. Her face. Everything. It also felt like something heavy had crashed onto her, flattening her into the earth, but she wasn't face down in the ground. She had expected to wake up crumpled beneath Thorne if at all, or yet again with her snout pressed to the cold. Mina had been moved onto her back, and as she woke up a bit more, she rolled herself over onto her face. Not much better, really. The cold of the ground both beckoned her to stay and shut her eyes once more, and also bit into her cheeks as the frost clung to her, telling her that she should stand up. One of her hands moved through her coat to search for a vial of plasma. It would take the pain away and revitalize her, but as luck would have it, those were gone. In fact, everything was gone besides the clothes on her back. Her hammer was gone. The trinkets that she had collected. Even her hard-earned bones. Damn, maybe someone back at the hollower's guild could spot her a bone or three. Either way, she needed to get up.

She gnashed her fangs together and pushed herself up. One step out of the way, and a good way to see that she was merely sore and not broken. Even still she found that her arms were shaking with the strain of pushing herself up. A voice interrupted her progress, "Steady. Don't force yourself."

It was a familiar voice, but much softer than what she remembered. Just like how everything around her didn’t look quite right either. Her vision was blurry, and even her thoughts seemed to be struggling to catch up to her current situation. She managed to at least get up onto her knees. Blinking brushed aside the blurriness enough to see the distinct shape of Thorne reaching out to her with both hands. She flinched, and he slowly lowered his hands while she muttered, "Oh, I suppose we're both alive."

Thorne looked away and rubbed the back of his neck, "I suppose we are, but not quite in a favorable position.

Small wisps near Thorne fluttered around, illuminating the rest of their surroundings. Tiny sprites made of light with little wings. It seems they were in a cavern of sorts, stuck beneath the snow. They had fallen and perhaps even crashed through the mountain itself landing in what appeared to be a cave. The ceiling seemed rockier than she might expect, but it was clear that they were packed in and surrounded in part by still whiteness. Trapped. Not a favorable position at all. Mina couldn't burrow through all of that, but perhaps if she worked with Thorne, they could manage something. Working with Thorne, though. He'd probably scoff at her for even suggesting it. At the same time, his voice had been so soft when checking on her. Even now, he had a softness about his look that was very hard to ignore. He looked far too gentle to have been the bat hounding her with spear and wind. The supposed terrorist of the isles. Part of that had to do with his imposing helmet being gone. Mina blew out a breath and got up on wobbling legs while deciding to stop staring at Thorne before she started focusing a bit too much on his looks. Once more, he reached out as if to catch her if she fell. Mina found herself rolling her eyes, about to tell him to keep his hands to himself. Then she found herself catching him instead by the arms as he tried to get up. He rose and then fell to one knee, uttering a grunt as if he had been struck suddenly in the gut.

She whispered with sudden concern, straining her tone, "Hey, hey, are you okay?"

Thorne sat down while breathing up toward the ceiling, "Just sore. A sprain at worst. Just need a little time, and a bit of ice. As it seems, we have plenty of the latter. Maybe even of the former as well."

Mina frowned while ignoring the joke and reached down to touch his leg. He scoffed at her, but did not struggle as she began to push through his fur to check his condition while she spoke, "Most of my equipment is gone, so I can't take the pain away, but I could probably use some of my coat to bind your ankle. It'd be easier for you to move once the pain settles a bit. If something is torn, though, you'll have a harder time of it."

When she reached his ankle, she could feel the light swelling of it, and she heard him grunt once more, "You should be bundling up in that thing for warmth instead of tearing into it. Worry about yourself first."

She did feel a bit cold, but she took the hem of her coat to bite onto it and begin tearing an appropriate length of material while she huffed with her mouth full, "Hush. You're there dressed with your arms and legs exposed as if it is nothing, so I'll be fine with most of my coat still intact. It'll just be around the hem."

He explained dryly, "I'm used to the cold, and better to have more mobility for flight."

Yet again, he fussed, but he did not pull his ankle away as she worked to bind it. It was surprising to her that he seemed to be cooperating so well. He made his disdain known, but he did not push her away or even argue any further. She looked at him and saw the sweat dripping down his cheek and onto his neck. The way he winced and twitched whenever she handled his ankle. She wasn’t sure if he had torn a muscle, but she could see that he was in pain. It might be more than just the pain as well. Mina herself felt exhausted after such a tumble, but lingering adrenaline kept her focused on the task at hand.

Instead of taunting him, Mina sighed, "I don't think I can dig us out without help. I'm a bit too weak for it right now. We'll just have to rest a bit and either hope for rescue or wait until we're good enough to work together." And then quieter, she added, "Do you trust me?"

Thorne seemed to stare at her, but it wasn't a glare. It was if he were studying her. She expected him to snap at her, to fight her as they usually did. All he did was ask, "With my life, or the towers?"

She took her hands off his ankle when she was done and blew out, "With both."

"Mina," he began with a quiet hiss, "Those things poison the land. You know better than I. Persist not in the folly of activating them once more."

And as he leaned in, she saw him wince. He reached up to touch the side of his head, and she grabbed his shoulder to steady him, "Can we please tuck this conversation away until later? You're clearly not in any condition for it, and well, neither am I."

Thorne grimaced, "No, you don't understand—"

Mina grabbed him by the collar and leaned in so that their snouts were nearly touching, "No, you don't understand. What good would we be to anyone if we die from overexerting ourselves? What point would you be able to prove if you should perish while bickering like a child? I'd love nothing more than to continue our little argument and prove you wrong, but I'd prefer to be alive."

He grabbed her collar in kind and hissed, "The worth of my life is minuscule compared to the safety of the island and its people. We might be aching and sore but butting our heads together beneath the ice won't kill us so easily." Both of them bared fangs, the air suddenly becoming heated before he let go first and muttered, "But I can't help anyone if we maul one another. There's no point to fighting when we should be focused on getting out of here. For now, I suppose we rest. I'll save my words for you later."

She let go of him and turned away, gathering the material of her coat to sit down covered by it with her knees drawn up to her chest, "Good. Now behave and rest that ankle of yours. Whatever you have to say, you can say it when we're free and I'll gladly listen to you whine."

A snort was all she got in response. Good enough for her. She didn't want to have to be a nanny for a grown man, and well, she still felt frustrated. His attitude was annoying, considering they were trapped together. There'd be no point in arguing or fighting if it came down to it. He had his own stupid ideas, and she had her own, and well, she wasn't quite sure about the validity of her own ideas anymore. The towers had been made for the benefit of all on the island, but now she had found that her invention had perhaps caused the corruption of the island. Seeing it for herself had been shocking, but she had pressed on, knowing that it would be worse if she let the towers fall to ruin. Even then, she could not help but feel like she wasn't making the right choice. The adrenaline of survival and battle had started to wear off now, and she was painfully aware that she wasn't at her best. Tired from lack of sleep. Tired from running around all over the island. Tired from the echoes of pain that still pulsed through her body. And tired of feeling like everything was her fault. She shut her eyes, but did not want to sleep. A chill brushed along her arm. It felt so cold. When she turned her head to look at him, she saw that Thorne had his back to her. The wisps produced light but gave no warmth. He seemed to be resting. His head was even tucked low. Did he have any regrets? Did he truly hate her? She could not help but think of the softness of his expression and wondered how such a gentle-looking man could hate so strongly? It was his passion for others that drove him. It had to be, and she stood in the way of such a man. Even still, she knew that his ideas were dangerous and would most likely end up causing more suffering. In many ways, they wanted the same thing now, but she didn’t want to try convincing him. In part because she was tired, but also because she found his stubborn nature frustrating. Once more, she turned away from him to face the other wall. Quiet as a grave.

Mina would prefer not to argue right now. Part of her had wanted to bring up the topic of the towers once more. To say that perhaps he could work with her instead of fighting her, but she just didn't have it in her. She had already committed to the idea that the world outside could wait. Even then, she didn't have the patience of a saint. Her body was sore, and the more time she spent sitting still, the colder it seemed to get. Her mood certainly didn't warm her up, and the fading adrenaline was leaving her painfully aware of every other little feeling in her body. At the very least, she refused to cry with her rival right at her back despite some part of her wanting to shed a few tears out of the frustration of it all. Mina felt so damn miserable. Not just because of her condition, but because she wasn't even sure if she was doing the right thing. Even the man who was supposed to be her benefactor seemed to be more concerned about having the idiots back at Ossex dance to his tune. More than that, the people of the city seemed to be entirely unaware of the dangers to which they were being exposed, which she now knew without a doubt were caused by the towers. They clung to every single word he said as if he held some sort of enchanted power over them. He never even let her get a word in edgewise, so she could argue with him. Even Thorne seemed more intent on hearing her out than Lionel sometimes. Mina could only solve one thing at a time, so she pushed those thoughts out of her mind and tried to focus on the misery of the moment. A shiver ran through her body, and she tucked her arms in and squeezed herself tight. She didn't stop shivering. What she wouldn't do for a warm fire. It had nothing to do with the strip of cloth she didn’t have at the hem of her coat, and everything to do with the chill air in the cave. Small drafts made it feel as if a consistent breeze were blowing through. Sure, she had fur, but it wasn’t thick enough to block out all of the cold. Her clothes did a better job of that, but they were well up in the mountains where rain became snow immediately.

"…Mina," she heard Thorne mutter.

Her ears fell a bit, and she ignored him, not wanting to fight. That’s probably what he wanted. To call her stupid. To insult her voice or her manner. To question her ethics. No, she just didn’t want to hear it. Let him yell it out to the darkness if he wanted to. She just wanted to sulk in peace right now.

He sighed, "Mina."

Again? The biting cold would not leave her alone, and neither would the bat behind her. Ugh.

This time, he grabbed hold of her shoulder, but his tone remained gentle as he addressed her once more, "Mina."

She turned her head and addressed him with a shivering squeak, "What?!"

Thorne shuffled closer to her and put an arm out while staring at her, "You're shivering."

Mina rolled her eyes and pushed his offered arm away from her, "Thank you for noticing. I wasn't aware that my tail was freezing right off." The extended arm looped around her and yanked her in with a strength she hadn't expected. Her snout was shoved right up against his rather firm chest, and she placed her hands on his body to push away while huffing, "Excuse me?! A bit of dinner first. Letters and courting before the intimacy. Have you no shame?! Or has the fall addled your mind, sir? Should I even be calling such a brute a sir?"

Thorne muttered, "I have sent you letters, but this is for warmth. I don't mean to insult your honor, or to imply anything else. Please, just let me help you a bit. It'll be more comfortable for both of us."

She blinked and found her cheeks flushing as she recognized the truth in his words. While embarrassing, she did feel a bit warmer now. Even warmer still when she lowered her hands and allowed herself to press close to him. The cold would not have killed her, and probably didn't bother him at all. She could probably even still get away with sulking in the opposite corner, but instead, she let his warmth envelope her. It couldn't be that he was comforting her, but she felt it regardless. The warmth of his body was different than the cold of everything happening. The misery felt a little bit easier to chew with a steady arm embracing her, and his body warming her. It would be best, though, if she kept her mind on resting and instead of another thing creeping up on her. Such a solid fellow. With a steadying hold over her body that made her feel oddly safe despite their status as enemies. Soft as well, and she couldn't help herself. She touched his arm gently to feel the fur of his body. Very soft, actually. When she looked up at him, she could see that he was busy aiming his gaze at a solid wall of snow and ice. A soft touch of pink had brushed along his cheeks. Mina smiled a bit at that. Had it been her comments or the simple proximity? Thorne had been so abrasive in their arguments, but he was willing to suffer a little embarrassment just to keep her from shivering. Was he that concerned about the safety of others?

Finally, Mina settled her cheek against his chest while humming, "I suppose you win, then."

When she wrapped her arms around his body, she felt him tense and shudder. Certainly not from the cold. In any other situation, she might have felt a spark of pride. Despite how inappropriate it had been, she had felt something. To be able to inspire such a composed man to desire unending, it felt nice in certain ways. He wasn't an unattractive man to her, and the more she looked up at his face, the more she found that she enjoyed what she saw. A soft and gentle expression for such a hardy warrior. He really should have been a baker instead of a fighter. Perhaps even an artist. How lovely would it be to see him in a smock dusted in flour, or splotched by paint. She found herself smiling and then trying to stifle laughter.

Thorne grimaced as he looked down at her and muttered, "What?"

Mina shook her head, "Ah, my apologies. I was just thinking about how your looks betray you."

He winced and reached up to touch his own cheek, "Hrm, not quite as daring or rugged as you thought I'd be? My apologies."

She reached up and let her hand hover over his while she admitted, "Sweeter than I thought. More handsome and gentle."

She saw the pink dusting beneath his fur turn a similar color to her coat while. His eyes darted away and then back toward her before he managed a steady enough response, "Unexpected, but not unpleasant. Thank you."

Mina chuckled, unable to help herself. She stopped, however, when she felt his hand on her back press a bit more firmly. It had just been a hovering presence, but now she could feel him digging his claws in a bit. Passing his hand up and down her upper back gently. She allowed it for now and watched as he let his hand fall from his face so he could lean against her touch instead. Intimate. Quiet. The fur of his cheek was also softer than she had expected. She could compare it to the down of a goose. A quality that had her passing her fingers along his cheek and under his chin. He did not bite her for this, did not snap at her, but instead shut his eyes and let her touch him. The warmth of their contact seemed to grow from these little touches. The perfect excuse to keep going. At the same time, she found his manner to be far too gentle for a man who had a girl tucked against his body. His hand could wander a little bit more, and she would only tease him if he did. Really, he could probably take a few liberties, and she'd be absolutely fine with it. Even if she called him a rogue, it would be in a manner said with a warm smile. But of course, he was a gentleman with her right now.

Even if he was still sore, he could respond a bit more. He could push a bit more. Mina could probably take the next step or two herself, but she would prefer it if he showed a bit of ambition. Her tail came up to drape around his arm, letting his touch drift to her lower back. He opened one eye to stare at her while she smiled up at him with pure innocence beaming throughout. At the same time, she passed a hand through the fold of his tunic until she found bare fur and muscle. He tensed but did not stop her; instead, he leaned down to place his forehead against hers. Was he purring? No. It was more of a gentle hum. A sign of appreciation. Still, he did not cling to her, still he did not grasp her, and huff with hunger and barely contained desperation. What she found was instead a man who seemed to crave softness and tender, slow intimacy. For a moment, she let herself sink into that gentle desire. Her hand ran little circles around his chest, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she nestled against him. The world outside seemed so far away. Even if she still wanted a bit more out of him, she couldn't help but appreciate this tender touch. The heat of the moment had dulled just enough to enjoy the hearth that he provided. A steady flame that did not crackle, but one that hummed such a pleasant little tune. She really did enjoy the sound of his voice when he wasn't accosting her. The way she could feel his tone vibrating through his body as he held her. They could fight once more once the moon was looking down on them again. Here, surrounded by snow and stone, they could simply enjoy this shared warmth. Would he kiss her? Would he make a proper move? She kept wondering. She had told him to buy her dinner, to court her. It had just been a joke made out of outrage, but here he had a golden opportunity. She figured that she could lock their lips together. She could probably even grab a few other places to see how he responded, but that would mean that her signals would go unanswered. Her very obvious signals. Mina certainly did not think that she was being subtle, but maybe she could push things along just a little bit more to see if he bit down on what she was offering.

"Thorne," she whispered softly.

He moved his head and answered, "Yes?"

She leaned up and planted a peck on his mouth. A gentle little kiss. Quick. A stolen meeting of mouth-to-mouth. The men she had known over time and many of the women as well would have dove right in. Thorne seemed stunned for a second while she simply kept smiling. Flabbergasted was a fun response of a kind, she supposed. Part of her worried that he didn't like it, but he wasn't pulling away, and the flush of his cheeks remained a constant sign of his flustered state. Another little peck, and then he leaned down to return the kiss, finally. There we go. Much better. She could feel his hand on her lower back, gaining a bit of confidence now. Passing lower and lower before coming back up. He kept stopping, though. Just a single peck returned from him. Just a gentle touch below the waist. Gracious, did she have to do everything herself? She didn't lunge, but she followed the retreat of his mouth to connect their mouths together and keep them connected instead of pecking. Mina reached up to touch just under his ear, and she felt him flinch.

Mina softened her touch and separated from the kiss to check on him, "Are you okay?"

Thorne breathed out, "A fair mix of emotions, I must admit. Surprise among them as I did not think you'd be so bold." When she frowned, he added with a chuckle, "The last thing I felt before it all went black was something hitting my head. I doubt I have a concussion, elsewise I wouldn't be speaking to you with such clarity, but there's certainly going to be a bump left there. I woke up atop of you and nearly panicked. You weren't moving at all."

She remembered the way he had reached out toward her when she first woke up. The way he seemed so sad and concerned while staring at her. Mina smiled and touched his cheek, bringing him in for another kiss, and then another before she muttered, "Sweeter than you let on, but maybe a little bit too sweet. You have me near on your lap, but haven't taken full advantage quite yet."

He cleared his throat, "Would that be appropriate? We're…Well, we aren't—."

Thorne's eyes avoided her own, but she guided his gaze back to her with a hand on his cheek as she whispered, "I'm tired of that. So much uncertainty, so much chaos and fighting. Arriving on the island has given me one headache after another. Let's enjoy this truce for now, okay? Whatever we are."

His hand rested atop hers, thumb tracing her knuckles while he hummed, "Very well. I accept your offer for a truce and accept all that comes with it."

Part of her wanted to laugh. To accept her offer and all that came with it? Such pretty words. Such a lovely poet. How many pages did he go through in a night, coming up with such lines? It could have been a contractual agreement if it hadn’t been said with such a precious tone of voice. A lesser woman might have swooned. And perhaps she would consider herself lesser for smiling, for the warmth that touched her cheeks and chest. Regardless, she had to know whether or not he would actually take her up on her offer or if he was going to make her push things forward once more. At the very least, he should ask her to beg, or something of the sort. So she leaned back. She did so and fixed him with a small smile. Half-lidded eyes, an expression that neared smirking and smug. It took him longer than it might have someone else, but eventually he seemed to catch on to her signals as he closed the distance between them to let their mouths meet. Not only that, but the hand at her lower back moved with proper purpose now. She felt his digits slide beneath her coat so that they could rest just above her tail. Massaging in gentle circles before coming around to her outer thigh. And then she felt his tongue. It dipped into her maw to secure a deeper kiss. A long thing that trailed along her own while he stole her breath and surprised her by the sudden intensity alone. She breathed out a sigh between their lips and couldn't help but chuckle just a bit into the kiss before focusing on returning such bold attention. His touch remained a tender and gentle thing, but it was focused now. Constantly honed in on her, no matter how she squirmed. A touch that felt like a breeze that would not leave her alone. Fingers passing along her outer thigh, pressing through the fur before coming back around to the tail. When he grabbed onto the base, she found herself squeaking.

When he chuckled, she frowned and huffed, "Hush, or should I find ways to taunt you once more? Those wings are still such paltry things."

He pressed his mouth to her neck and breathed out, "Taunt all you like, but I enjoy the little noises that leave your mouth, Miss Mina."

Now it was her turn to blush, her turn to find herself unable to speak. When the words were ready to spill from her mouth full of false indignation, though, his fangs found her neck. Not too hard. Not too light. A firmness that suggested possession and desire, and a suddenness that brought about another squeak. The steady warmth that had been so satisfying now began to become a sort of heat. Try as she might, she could not summon the words to come from her mouth to join this little battle. His fangs were digging in and were sharper than her own. Would he actually leave his mark on her? No, the pressure wasn't right. He'd have to either break the skin or get close to there, and she could tell that he was still holding back. At the same time, the thought of his fangs marking her made her feel dizzy. To have him so boldly claim her when this was their first encounter. His fangs upon her, digging deep until blood was shed. All would see. All would know. What beast wounded her? Not one, but a man with a desire. When his mouth moved, it was only to capture her lips once more, sealing her defeat in this little exchange. She had not managed to bite back with her words, and all she could do was sigh joyfully into his lips while the kiss kept going. Mina wasn't about to give up, though. She reached between his legs, and rather than go for the thighs, she touched something a bit more precious than that. He stopped, his ears pinning back, and his body shuddered as she dragged a digit up the length of his shaft. She chuckled and moved her mouth away so she could press her cheek against his chest. The thumping of his heart became something she could feel just faintly while her hand took hold of his arousal. A bit of surprise did surge through her, though. From what she could tell, he was fully erect already. Just a few kisses and a bit of groping was all it took? Adorable, and it certainly gave her a few points of pride. Hah, maybe it was the biting as well, now that she thought of it. Regardless, she also found herself thinking about the clear differences in their size. That was the typical thing considering she was a mouse, but with this throbbing heat pulsing in her hand, she could really feel that difference more intimately. To have him split her open. With such desire, with the feeling of his bite still fresh on his neck, she could not help but imagine him tipping her over by the legs. She could not help but think about him tugging her onto her lap and growling to her ear that he needed her. Even now, her breath was coming out warm as steam, and her desires were building.

When he spoke, she could feel the heat of his breath trailing down the back of her neck as he tugged her closer. Even his voice seemed to have a huskier tone dripping with need, though his words warned against that need, "We should be careful."

"I won't mess with your ankle," she said softly while giving him a gentle tug.

He grunted, "I meant you. Aren't you sore as well?"

Mina nodded, "A little bit, yes, but I'm not going to die from riding you like a bucking beast. I shall not suffer too much being ravaged. Why, I figure it might even be healthy for both of us to fight in a more constructive manner."

Thorne coughed, "A bucking beast? Ravaging? I don't think that I would—"

Once more, he paused as she started to stroke his shaft. Slow and gentle movements, her palm pushing against his heat while she hummed, "C'mon, won't it be fun? I can hear the need in your voice. Can't you hear mine? Can't you feel the heat off of my body letting you know what I want?"

He shivered. Thorne was a cautious man despite the passions of his actions. He was a deliberate fellow, and it seemed like he was thinking very hard right now. Mina, at the same time, was trying to help in the process of his decision making. Her hand would trail up his shaft before coming down, her mind creating an image of it while it remained hidden. Her thumb would pass along the tip, her smile growing sharper as she felt a wet bead dripping from the tip. Thorne's body seemed to be shivering as well on occasion, and she certainly knew that he was not cold. The heat of his body had grown more intense as well, the gentle scent she caught off of him on occasion turning to something a bit more masculine and needy. The hand on her tail flexed and gripped tighter, twitching as if wondering if he should tug on her tail or bring his hand away. If he pulled back, then she might make chase, but she certainly would prefer it if he dove in with all that pent-up hunger he seemed to be holding back.

When she leaned back to look at him, she found that his gaze had turned intense. That softness she had seen before had turned into something hungrier. Still, she would describe him as handsome and sweet, but the flames were there in his gaze. Quietly, he muttered, "All right, but let go for now."

Mina thought of toying with him. She could push aside the panel of his tunic hanging over his crotch to see his cock properly. Could continue stroking in little slow circles until he snarled at her. She might even be able to pin him down in this weakened state, even knowing it would be a losing battle, considering she was also somewhat weakened. There were so many things she could do to draw out a primal lust from him, but there was something about the intensity of his look that convinced her. It was not a matter of intimidation, but rather, anticipation. She wondered what he had planned, so she let go. He grabbed onto her shoulders, and she found her back against the ground soon enough. Mina wanted to remind him of his ankle, to have a care, but the way he was touching her was making it rather difficult to think or speak, for that matter. When he looked down at her, it seemed that his gaze was no longer staring at a lady, but rather a piece of meat. To be wanted and desired with such feral desire wiped away the smile from her face. Her mouth was left parted, panting, her body shaking as anticipation continued to boil within her. Hands along her body, trailing down to her thighs. His mouth pressed to her neck as he simply lumbered over her. Would he just slide in and claim her like some mad beast? Did she truly awaken that sort of desire within him? His fangs found her neck for a moment while his claws dug into her thighs. Harder this time. With more possession and desire. She shuddered but refused to utter a squeak, but unfortunately, it came regardless as he licked the spot he bit and went down to her neck. His fingers came back up to unbutton her vest, to open it, revealing her bare chest. The cool air of the cave brushed along her chest for just a second before being replaced by the warmth of his attention. His tongue slid down her body before stopping at her crotch. Steam fell from her lips as she watched him with wide eyes, as she found her legs trembling, toes curling in while waiting for his full touch. His tongue dragged along her crotch, lapping at the fuzz over and over again, slowly. Each pass of his long tongue made her shiver, brought more warmth to her body until she wanted to kick him for this teasing. Just as she thought about doing it, he bit down on her inner thigh.

She winced and saw that he was smirking as he dragged his tongue in a circle around the spot where he had bitten her. She could see the indentation of his teeth, and she really hoped that it wouldn't leave a mark. At the same time, such a brazen display. The idea of his mark there for all to see made her head swim with the same steam pouring out of her maw. Once more, he bit down on the softness of her thigh, and she felt his fangs getting to a certain point. He pulled his mouth away once more before he pierced the skin, and she could see the ring that was left behind. It might not last long, but it would certainly leave a bruise. Before she could tease him about his biting, his tongue moved once more. It went down to her mound, brushing along her slit while he eased a single finger inside of her. A sudden intrusion that moved within her with tender love and care. He took it nice and easy, licking over the same spot, pushing his mouth against her crotch and cunt to plant kisses along each spot. When his tongue found her slit, she could not help but claw the ice beneath them. She could feel her arousal start to drip, could feel that she was already prepared for more. Her hands lashed out to grab onto his head. The grip she had on his head was not to force him in one way or another, but it was to give herself something to cling to while her heart thumped wildly against her chest, while her breathing needed time to adjust.

Thorne simply kept licking while looking up at her with one eye. Fuck me, she wanted to say. Cast away this sweetness and burn her with his desire. She could not say anything as he only gave her a taste of his need. Two digits slid inside of her, pushed in deep before popping right back out. His tongue continued to toy with her, that long thing making circles along her clit before tracing the outer edges of her heat. Faster. Faster. His fingers kept on moving faster as if serving as a sample of what he'd be doing to her soon. Thorne would stop, though, and would slow down and stretch his digits inside of her while making the lashes of his tongue longer. She grabbed onto his ears and grimaced while he toyed with her, but she heard him chuckle. If his head wasn't hurting, then she'd smack him, but it would be a pathetic smack. Her body felt like it was melting, her limbs shaking while he kept toying with her. Even the thought of striking him came with the lustful idealization of retribution. What he would do in response to her. How he would grab her wrist and growl at her, or even more. Perhaps she'd even welcome him pinning her to the ground with more force. His grip tightened along her body.

And then his voice purred against her thigh while he looked up at her, "Tell me what you want."

Tell him what she wants? How cruel of him to say such a thing. He knew what she wanted. He knew what she desired and had been signaling this entire time. To demand that she debase herself by saying aloud what should be obvious made her huff. He didn't even tell her to beg. It hadn't even been said with a firm command. More of a prodding request. Thorne was absolutely making fun of her, and he was absolutely enjoying every moment of silence while he looked up at her with a smirk. Oh yes, he thought he was being so clever. So very cute, but along with the arousal, she felt herself getting annoyed with him. Her pride would not allow such a thing to stand; however, her desires made it rather difficult to stay mad. It would be a lot easier to flick his ear and tell him off if it weren't for the effort he was putting in. She could feel one of his hands moving along her outer thigh heading up the tail of her coat to grab onto her rear. At the same time, he'd stop smirking at her just to kiss her crotch. Her toes curled, her eyes shut tight. What must have been a fierce blush was burning through her making her forget for a second that they were trapped in a cave. It was her loss, or was it? Maybe there was a way that she could turn the tides. He had reacted to many things she had done, and he had made the mistake of letting her rest and think instead of overwhelming her.

Mina smirked, "You know what? I'd love to return the favor. I'd love to really get a good look at what I'm dealing with."

Thorne blinked for a moment, but he looked at her expression and brought himself up slowly while humming, "All right. Stare and study all you'd like, since you want it so bad."

Damnit. Riposted so well. A little blush on his cheeks, but that was about it! He sat back and brushed aside the panel of his tunic covering his crotch. What she had felt gave her a good image of what was to be expected, but even then, she found herself gawking. A sizable length throbbing in the air with a dark hue to it. Twitching and already dripping from the tip with need and excitement obviously on display. She said she'd love to return the favor, and it would be fun. She was mostly hoping that he would squirm a bit more even with just her staring at his dick. Too late to back down now. Mina moved her face between his legs to get a better look at that length of his. She kissed the side of it and heard him humming pleasantly. He didn't gasp, didn't shudder. He just hummed softly while stroking behind one of her ears. The element of surprise was no longer hers in this duel, so as she licked nice and slow, she found that his reactions were affecting her more than him. The hums, the sighs, the way he'd mutter and whisper her name. Especially that last part.

"Mina," he'd whisper.

And the word would repeat in her head again and again in his voice as she tried to work his shaft with her tongue. The salt of his body was a pleasant sting, but nothing that could make her body stop reacting to the way he was staring at her. She didn't want to just spend her time studying this thing that was throbbing against her tongue. She wanted to feel it inside of her. She wanted him to embrace her and do it with all of his strength. To hold her against his body and growl her name into her ear. Such a sweet man brought to the end of his wits until he became naught but a beast. Her breaths were growing warmer and warmer until she couldn't handle it any longer. Mina lost. She gave up.

Mina huffed while holding onto his cock with both of her hands, "Thorne."

"Yes?" came his gentle reply.

She moved her hands onto his thighs while she spoke plainly, "Bring me up by my shoulders. Kiss me. What you want, what you need. Take it from me. If it hurts then let it be sweet and painful. Make me sore in ways that make me forget our battle. Without pause. Make me feel as though it’ll never end."

Thorne stared at her, and she thought he might take a moment before he took advantage. She figured she'd even have to say it again or even throw herself against him, but he reached down to grab her by the shoulders and yank her up. His arms wrapped around her body tightly, and the bruises beneath her coat reminded her of her pains, but she soon forgot them as he brought their mouths close together for a deep embrace of mouth to mouth that felt as though their souls were melding together. His tongue found her mouth easy to breach, and she shuddered as she felt him deepen that kiss a bit too far. A sloppy kiss that genuinely felt like he might try to steal the air from her lungs. Even then, she wrapped her arms around him as best as she could and clung close to him while driving her hips forward. Her crotch felt the kiss of his cock, felt the heat of his desire as she lifted herself up and down just a little bit to grind against him.

One of his hands found the back of her head as he pulled his mouth away so he could kiss her throat while he breathed out, "Forgive me for speaking when you desire action, but such heat spilled from your mouth and I could not help myself. Such hunger. Even now, I can feel you clinging so tightly. To see such a stalwart and strong beauty giving herself to me makes me feel as though I have become corrupted by the very spark that runs through this earth."

To punctuate his statement, he bit down on her neck, his hands moving down to grab her hips so he could bring her up. She could feel him moving her in place, the head of his dick rubbing along her entrance while he let go of her neck just to breathe his heat through her fur. One of his hands settled on the base of her tail, the other remaining on her hips as he lowered her. She held onto his arms and shuddered, grinning with pure joy as she felt her entranced being stretched open by the head of his member. A gentle prod, a gentle push. She could feel him lining himself up just before he got to it properly. Mina wasn't making it easy for him either. Shifting from side to side, her hips rolling and rocking both to pleasure herself but also to see if she could tease him a bit. Instead of growling at her, he only chuckled near her ear. He was more than willing to play because he knew he had her right where he wanted her. Even if she got off his lap, she wouldn't be able to go far. At the same time, she tested the waters by trying to pull away. It was a meek and pathetic attempt compared to what she could do even in this sore state of hers. Thorne took the meaning of her squirming without needing to say a word, and he clung closer to her while nipping her ear.

This time, however, he spoke once more and breathed out, "Don't pull away from me. Don't try to escape what you said you wanted. Let me handle you. Let me make you mine."

That last statement had been uttered with such passion that she could not help but lock up. It sounded more romantic than she had expected. A lustful statement to be sure, but even then, she could hear the yearning in his tone. He could have dug his claws into her. Could have bitten her to get his point across, but the feral need that he had displayed before had shifted into something else for that moment. A gentle kiss against one of her ears, his hands gripping onto her slowly while he held her against his body. She found herself genuinely blushing as if she had been given some sort of grand confession in public. The unexpectedly tender moment was interrupted as she felt him sliding inside, as she felt herself being stretched open. She gasped and grabbed onto his body firmly, her body shaking while she heard him chuffing. Little sounds of barely held laughter as he eased himself into her.

Her face grew hotter as she gasped, "You did that on purpose?"

And while he kept the pace nice and slow for now, he hummed near her ear, "And what, pray tell, did I do?"

Mina scowled, "Thorne." And then he gave her insides a firm thrust, causing her to squeak, "Thorne!"

Once more, he chuckled as he passed his hands through her open shirt and around to her back to let his claws graze against her back, "Oh? Such a sweet thing. To call my name with such passion."

Another thrust, and she shuddered, "I'll bite you so hard."

And once more his voice became rumbling honey against her ear, "And though you may wound me, it would be a scar that I would carry on me with pride. By all means, bite and mark me as yours."

She squeaked and meant to stage a complaint once more, but her grievances were cast aside as he began to bounce her on his lap. He thrust into her with gentle movements, her legs hitting his as she became aware of how big he truly was. She shuddered with every movement and could feel him pulsing against her inner walls. The way he had spoken to her, the way he had annoyed her. These things had caused her insides to tighten and clench, but now she was being forced open once more with such sweetness. Mina had hoped for something wilder, more intense right from the beginning, but she certainly didn't mind whatever this was. She'd just have to plot her revenge later. For now, her ears flattened back, and she breathed out a groan against his chest while she allowed him to claim her.

Thorne, at the same time, was not content to just let her rest against his chest. He moved so that his mouth was against her neck once more, and she could feel him smiling while she tilted her head back to give him room. She thought that he had been about to bite her again, but instead he just kept his head there. On occasion, she could feel his ear twitching against her lips, and that's when she realized. He was just savoring the sound of her moans. Listening to her little sighs and huffs. She tried to keep herself quiet after that realization, but he chuckled and picked up the pace. She had wanted to give herself entirely to this man to let him show her what a real beast was, and unfortunately, he was doing just that. A beast that toyed with its prey, that made her feel smaller and smaller the more he used her. Every touch, every movement was made to milk some sort of noise out of her. To glean a reaction that would make the smile against her neck grow further until he opened his maw wide and clamped his fangs down on her neck. Even then, that sudden and violent motion came to a standstill. A lock on his jaws around her neck that kept the pressure of his fangs ever present while he thrust into her with a bit more energy.

Mina found herself growing less embarrassed and simply more enthralled by the act. Her hands clung onto his body tightly, her hips beginning to move with a bit more ferocity as she rode him. She didn't even think about it as her body moved of its own accord as if pleasure puppeteered her. At the same time, these new movements earned grunts from Thorne, whose little chuckles and laughs had ceased. Now she heard him breathing against her neck, now she'd hear him sigh and even groan against her neck while both of their bodies worked for pleasure. At the same time, she could feel her body protesting the new pace. Both of them were worn and ragged. Desperate for this pleasure that would not cease, and yet their bodies eventually would need a moment. Just a moment.

Eventually, she found herself stopping while panting. She pressed her head to his chest, sweat dripping down her brow and chest. He left a hand on her back, rubbing up and down while he leaned back and breathed out to the air, "If only the place were better for this, and my own condition."

She muttered, "I concur, but that does not mean we are done."

Mina felt his other hand move under her chin, digits rubbing at that spot while he said softly, "Not at all."

She tilted her head and smiled, "So what then, more poetry until your hips start bucking once more?"

Thorne stared at her for a solid second or two before he said with a little smile of his own, "Would you like that?"

Mina thrust her palm beneath his chin to push him away while she groaned, "I would not!"

He kissed her hand, his tongue coming out to drag against her palm as he hummed, "Is that right? I suppose I interpreted your expressions incorrectly."

She muttered, "You saw nothing but a girl flustered and flushed from a man being so brazen. Next, you'll offer me a ring."

Thorne kissed the top of her hand and held it gingerly as he whispered, "Do not tempt me."

Lust drunk fool. To say such things. To say such things to someone he had been trying to kill, trying to impede. A joke. A jest. A stupid tease meant to hit her heart. His eyes were peering over her hand and gazing into her own. How could he say such things while looking her in the eye? How could he be so tender when his arousal was pulsing within her? She had to start moving her hips once more, she had to do something to get him to stop looking at her with such yearning. He still held her hand as he eased it aside, and let his fingers lace together with hers as he leaned in to plant a gentle kiss on her lips. His other hand moved up to cup her cheek, to encourage her to return the embrace of mouth-to-mouth. She dipped into the kiss with enough force to make him lean back as their connection continued. She would not answer his jest. She would not even think about it. Such matters were best left for the outside world, where they could actually think without the danger of frost and stone trapping them together. Even then, she felt pangs in her heart pulsing, for she knew that no matter what, it would not work. It just would not. No matter how tender and sweet he was. No matter how softly he looked at her. It would not end well because they were opposing one another, and she knew that he would not back down. Even still, perhaps once everything was done with, she could see him once more. She could speak with him properly.

For now, Mina kept rocking her hips and grinding his shaft deep within herself. She could feel herself getting closer to where she wanted to be, and between their kisses, she heard him muttering, "Let me pull out. I fear that I might not be able to hold back if we keep going."

Mina huffed and held onto both of his cheeks, her eyes shut as she responded, "Hold it in, or let it loose. I don't care right now."

And she doubled her efforts instead of stopping while bringing him into a deep kiss once more. She heard him growl, but he did not push her away. He held her cheeks in kind as they shared a kiss that seemed to keep on deepening. Her hips kept moving. Her body kept begging for more. Mina's pleasure was beckoning her closer to the edge. Taking her closer and closer as she groaned against his mouth, as she whispered his name in quiet breaths shared with him. The pulse of his shaft grew more intense, more frequent, with pre-cum dripping inside of her, letting her know that the risk would be at its height soon. And then Mina felt it, her own climax hitting her first, causing her to shake violently. At the same time, she did not stop. He tore his mouth away from hers, and for a moment, she thought he might pull away from her and end this beautiful moment. Mina clung to his shoulders and whispered in his ear to stay with her. Stay with her for a moment longer. And that took him over his own edge. She felt the warmth of his seed filling her to the brim while she sighed in utter delight. Whatever concerns she might have could wait until later. A special brew should take care of any risks, but even then, she didn't care. She just wanted this. Needed this after he had said such loving things to her.

When he finished, she didn't immediately get off his lap. Instead, she pushed her face against the crook of his arm. He lay back and placed a hand on her back while whispering, "Shall I take watch while you sleep?"

Mina shook her head, "No…I'd prefer to stay awake right now."

Thorne muttered, "As would I."

So together they remained laid out on the floor. A chill air attempted to brush along her body, but his warmth was still there. Within her, and against her. She moved her arms around his body and clung tight. Even her tail curled around one of his legs as if he might fly away. Mina chose to not answer the warmth of his words before. She chose to remain quiet, and in turn he respected that silence. If he asked her, though, she was afraid. Afraid that she might run away with him if he desired it. Neither of them, however, could turn away from the troubles of the island. So love would need to wait.

So what now? To ask him to abscond with her? To join him fully in his fight while knowing that it was a doomed plan? Perhaps he would voice his own desires. She would not have to say a single thing. He would speak up, he would be the one to utter such foolish romance. No. Neither of them said a word. They simply lay there enjoying the warmth of one another. His hand had moved atop her head, digits tracing circles near her ear. She would not regret what they had done, but would regret that perhaps they would never be able to enjoy another moment like this once the outside world came knocking. Mina could at the very least say something to him. Something to let him know that she felt somewhat similar. That they were at moments in their life where they would never be able to join hands, but she still felt something for him. Instead, Mina sat up slowly on his lap and turned to get up. She stood and stretched while she felt his hand drifting off of her body. She could feel him watching every curve and corner of her body as she buttoned her vest, and then shuddered as the cold came back. It would be easy to sit back on his lap. To lounge against him, but she did not want to face him right now. His hand had moved off of her body, but it had found the tip of her tail. Holding that spot tenderly, barely touching. Even as she finally thought of what to say, she didn't pull her tail away from his touch.

"Once we're free," she began softly, "I suppose it is back to fighting. I'll probably return to Ossex for a bit before continuing on my path to the tower here in the mountains."

Thorne hummed, "I figured."

To break the encroaching silence, she added, "Will you be attempting a round two? Don’t expect me to be gentle."

She heard him chuckle, "It would be inappropriate out where anyone could see us." When she scoffed, he continued before she could correct him, "No. A few hammer strikes to the ribs were enough for me. You've made your point. I'll regroup at another location to continue trying to convince you, and to explore other options."

Mina closed her eyes and sighed, "Okay." And that was how it had to be. Both of them seemed ready to say something else, but their convictions kept them both muted, so Mina distracted herself with a tease, "Really, I should arrest you and take you back to Ossex."

Thorne snorted, "On whose authority?"

Her tail flicked his hand, but he continued holding it as she snapped, "On my own, of course. You're a wanted man, after all."

"Ah? So you want me?"

Mina scoffed as loudly as possible to hide the fact that she was smiling from ear to ear at his stupid joke. A fist was brought up to her mouth so she could cough and steady herself before she answered, "That's one way of looking at it, I suppose."

His hand never moved. She hadn't heard anything from him either, but he was behind her now with one hand on her shoulder as he chuckled, "The feeling is mutual."

Her cheeks warmed, and she muttered, "Rather irresponsible of you to say."

He over her shoulder and his hand moved to her cheek to brush through the fur as he spoke softly, "I could say much the same to you, for many things."

There was so much she wanted to say to him. So much she wanted to do. Mina turned around with the intent to do just that. She fixed him with a hard stare and opened her mouth to let him hear her mind. The words were about to slip free when both their ears twitched and rose. Mina turned her head toward a sudden sound. A crackle at the walls of the cavern. She reached for her weapon but found nothing in her hand. Thorne stood in front of her with his arm out as if he could protect her from whatever monster was seeking them out. He was at least able to stand, but she could see that he was favoring one leg over the other. Another crack. A mote of what appeared to be moonlight pouring through.

"Mina? Are you in there?!" came a voice.

She blinked and rushed forward while answering, "Yes, yes! Are you with the train crew? Is everyone all right?"

A set of laughs came through along with a cheer, "We'll tell you how we are once we break you out! Got a train back to Ossex with your name on it!"

Mina turned her head and saw Thorne back himself against the wall. The light of the wisps burned out. They'd find him easily if they stepped through. They'd capture him without a doubt, or worse. The dreaded terrorist Thorne finally cornered. They'd probably find some way to make her the victim. That's just how much Lionel had managed to convince the populace that Thorne was pure evil. She could let it happen. Vouch for him and try to help him get loose from this mess. She could even just take him in and take command of the situation. Make them tie him up instead of anything else. No, they might not even go for that, and she didn't want to capture Thorne. She didn't want to bring him back to a place where they might just execute him behind closed doors or worse, make a spectacle of it. Mina could not allow it to happen. So she made a choice.

As soon as the snow and ice were picked through, Mina fell forward onto her knees and into the open cold, shivering and gasping aloud, "Finally. I fell so far that I thought no one would come. My vials are gone, and I was left wounded after a terrible battle."

The train attendant and a few folk she recognized, who were most likely just simple passengers, gathered around her. Murmurs began to blow about as eager hands helped her up onto her feet. She found herself leaning against a panther's shoulder. They explained to her that they had found her things near this cavern, that they were worried when someone had reported that they had seen her tumbling through the sky. No one had seen Thorne in that little report, it seemed, or mentioned him. Mina didn't look back at the cave, but she felt the shift in the air. The change in the cold breeze as her collar clung to the back of her neck. She closed her eyes, glad to know that her little acting had paid off. Well, it wasn't over quite yet.

She let herself be led to an underlab. A tunnel in the ground that led to an underground sanctuary of sorts for hollowers. Healing waters awaited her at the bottom in a pool. She couldn't repair her coat here, but at the very least, she could catch her breath. Mina had her weapon once more. A set of vials tucked underneath her coat just in case she got hurt again, and in general, she felt fine thanks to the healing properties of the spring. Still, she was exhausted. There were people waiting for her outside the underlab, so she didn't have long to think or rest. She'd have to eventually come out and present herself as the noble hollower who had survived a terrifying tumble. Mina didn't want to see the adoration in their eyes right now, but she had no choice.

Just as she thought, they treated her with far too much adoration. It was mostly her fault for playing up her pains so much, so she bore with it while she was led back to the train station. She looked out toward the distance, wondering once more if she could continue her journey, before she shook her head and sighed while heading inside. Some alone time would give her a moment to breathe and think. At the very least, she would be sleeping on the train. Even if the waters of the underlab had rejuvenated her a bit, she could still feel the aches of her tumble. As well as the aches of the moments spent with Thorne. The floors were finely furnished, as well as the benches that seated many of the passengers. Candles and lights hung here and there with a particularly opulent sparkle to them. Warmth and society. Fantastic. Mina had been offered her own room, and she wasn't about to turn any sort of kindness down right now. The room itself was dimly lit, with large plush booth seats that would double as a bed. She took off her coat and held it up to the light while sighing. Knitts would be able to fix this, but looking at the damage once more reminded her of Thorne. Mina should just forget about him, but she couldn't help it. Was he okay? Had his leg healed enough? She laid on the seat with her face using her coat as a pillow of sorts. His scent was on the coat. That too would leave her, but for now she allowed herself to be comforted by it. A hint of spice. Something a bit flowery. Gentle scents for a truly gentle man. She smiled a bit and then opened one eye as she heard a tapping at the window. Rocks? When the tapping persisted, Mina got up with a sigh and headed to the window. She opened it, and there he was. Hanging onto the train, feet perched on the sill of the window. His helmet was back on, but a smile was on his face. Thorne.

For a second, she returned that smile before she looked at his ankle, still wrapped, and reached over to yank him inside. He tumbled in with a grunt, and she slammed the window shut while hissing quietly, "What are you doing here, you fool? Pulling a stunt like hanging off the side of a moving train?"

Thorne watched her from the floor, and he took off his helmet to look at her with nothing but warmth, "I thought I would properly say goodbye. It just didn't seem right."

Her expression softened, and she went to fish through her coat while muttering, "I suppose I understand the sentiment. Either way, I can help. No doubt you're still hurting. These vials should be able to—."

He touched her hand softly and eased it down, "Mina, I'm fine."

She sighed and looked over at him. He didn't look fine, but she wouldn't press the issue. Thorne brought himself up onto the seat, and he extended an arm toward her while whispering, "Come here, please?"

Thorne didn't even have his weapon with him. He didn't have anything to protect himself. Just a vulnerable fool sitting in a place where almost everyone hated him. If anyone walked through the door, they'd see him and sound the alarm. With that in mind, she locked the door before sitting next to him. He embraced her slowly, and there was just enough room for them to lie together, but only if they kept their bodies as close as possible. Mina shut her eyes. The plan had been to sleep, but now she found herself not wanting to at all. She was on guard and feeling an odd sense of dread. It was not that she didn't trust Thorne, but she knew that if she fell asleep, then she'd wake up to him being gone. At the same time, his touch told her to relax. A hand on the back of her head, holding her close.

Mina whispered, "So you wanted to say something to me?"

He hummed softly and leaned down to kiss the top of her ear, "Yes. Would you let this criminal spend time with you? Would you hear me for just a moment? I only wish to talk. In the end, I'll say goodbye before we even reach Ossex, but even still."

He hung on that last word and then remained quiet while breathing out. Mina, in turn, spoke while her tail curled around his thigh, "All right. Let's talk then. Let's pretend to just be normal lovers on their way back after a harrowing trip."

She felt his embrace tighten around her, but he did not deny her. Let the act commence.