Last of Their Kind

Luctes could hear the distant rumbling of the Floating Castle as it passed somewhere to the east. It was too dark to see it even with the moon and stars out, though. What he could see was a pale glow on the horizon as the moonlight reflected off the Mist still covering the land north-east of the mountains. He hadn't allowed himself ot hope that the three strangers would be able to drive it away, no matter how incredable their stories seemed to be. He didn't trust them. They were surface-dwelers afterall and there ere the ones that made the damned Mist that kept his people caged. The leather of his glove creaked as he tighted a fist. He had seen his friends die in that flying abomination and maybe a secret part of him hoped that it would kill the strangers too. Damn them.

"I knew I'd find you brooding here," a voice called, cutting through the silence.

Luctes stood and turned, his sharp golden eyes finding a familier shape standing at the base of the statues. Mioni. They had been friends as children, had grown up together, had shared their lifetimes together. She was his constant, even when his own family deserted him. Like all Soren, she was tall and lean, her skin tanned from the sun of the mountains. Her pale, platnium hair was done up in a braid tight against her head, cropped bangs just barely reaching the tops of her clear blue eyes. Luminous blue and white Seru wings folded neatly against her shoulders as she crossed her arms over her chest, signaling that she wasn't going anywhere soon.

"Preening yourself like the big, fancy bird you are, Luctes?" she chided, the barb falling lame with the concern in her voice. She knew he was upset over the deaths of his friends and his mood had only soured when the strangers had brought up the still sore subject of his brother. It was a topic she knew he would've rather forgotten about forever. He jumped down from his spot, the clack of his armor as he hit the ground sounding too loud in the night.

"I don't like them," he said sharply, setting his hands on his hips and scowling at the ground for a moment before looking up at Mioni.

She only raised an eyebrow and closed the distance between them, gripping his arm comfortingly. "I should go with you tomorrow."

He shook his head, cutting off anything she might've said with his own reply, "You belong here."

Mioni knew what he meant, and she knew it was true enough. Their kind were dying; it was turning into a matter of numbers and gender. She hated it, hated the way it was slipped into the conversations whenever she would talk with her mother or Luctes. She frowned, begging him to understand with a look.

"I belong up there," she emphisized, pointing a finger skyward over his shoulder, "with you. I want to fight too, Luctes. You know I can! I'm Soren as much as you are... these are my people too... I should be defending them, not sitting around like some mother hen."

He traced the delicates lines of the tattoos covering her cheeks with a fingertip, his expression softening. "No, you need to stay. It's safe here."

"It won't be if you fail," she whispered, tilting her head against his hand. "I swear to Tieg Luctes, if you don't come back, I will throw myself off the mountain and let the Mist take me."

He grabbed her arm suddenly, giving her a good, unexpected shake that left her reeling. "DON'T ever say something like that again. I won't hear those kinds of words coming from you or anyone, do you hear me?"

Anger sparked in her, more at their lot in life than Luctes himself. "Then take me with you! I'm tired of seeing you fly away to these fools missions! I won't keep sitting back and watching as you do this!"

"You can and you will because that's the way it has to be," he growled, his fingers tightening around her arm. They stared each other down for what seemed like forever before the agression drained from both of them and Luctes let go of her arm. "There's some hope here, Min. I'm not sure exactly what to think, but I know there's hope."

"Oh, Luctes," she sighed despondently, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around his waist. She rested her head against his shoulder, shutting her eyes as he returned her hug. "Don't be a hero tomorrow, okay?"

She felt him work his fingers into her braid after a moment, quickly undoing the work and freeing her mid-length hair. Most Soren women had a tendency to keep their hair cropped short to their head, but Mioni was adept at braiding hers and she took pride in it's length. Luctes found it a source of amsuement to tease her about cutting it all off one day. He pressed his cheek against the top of her head and she felt the sharp corners of his helmet against her skin.

"Snip, snip," he mumbled, breaking out into a grin when her small fist connected to the armor across his shoulders. He leaned back to look down at her, smiling, and brushed the backs of his fingers against her cheek affectionately. "I've survived this long, Min. The Mist hasn't come up with anything good enough to shoot me down yet and it never will. You keep waiting and I'll keep coming back."

"I'd wait forever."

She pressed closer against him, tilting her head unconsciously towards his. She brushed her lips over his mouth and he breathed her name. She couldn't hide the love she felt for the Soren Captain anymore; her entire lift had been spent waiting for him and if she had to do it one more time then she'd do it on the knowledge that it wasn't for nothing. He stood still, unresponcive as she lightly kissed his cheek, tracing the pale green tattoos there with her lips. She kissed his eyebrow and he shut his eyes, letting her drift across his eyelids before returnio hio his mouth. She pressed the kiss this time and to her surprise he replied in kind, his hand cupping her jaw lightly.

He broke the contact to nuzzle against her nose lightly. "If the world were ending, I would still fly back to you, Mioni. I want you to be where I can find you..."

She backed up slowly out of the embrace, her wings unfurling behind her shoulders. "Then come and find me," she murmured, holding his gaze for a second more before she took off into the sky. Luctes drew a faultering breath and took off after her hastily.

They played touch and go in the night sky on the way back to the camp, stealing embraces and kisses in midair as he chased her. He had swooped down on her once and they had fallen, rolling, their bodies wrapped around one another before breaking apart and pulling up just over the ocean. She drove him mad, with her fleeting touches and promising looks. She reached the camp before he did, breaking into a run as soon as her feet touched the stone ground, heading for a tent she knew well.

He caught sight of her hair as she slipped inside his tent and stalked after her. When he finally reached her, her Seru and boots lay discarded and she was in the process of removing her leggings. A rumble of appreciation built in his chest and he yanked his helmet off, tossing it aside carelessly as he decended on her. She squeeled in mock terror, tripping over herself as she tried to run away and remove her pants at the same time. She fell and kicked off the unwanted article of clothing just as he covered her, his lips demanding entrance to her mouth. She gripped his short red hair and opened herself to him, her tounge tangling hottly with his. He groaned, reaching down to find the edge of the long tunic she still wore, wanting it off as soon as possible. Instead, she levered herself against his shoulder, sending them rolling. Luctes, however, had already decided that he liked having her under him and continued the motion, pushing her back against the floor, never breaking the kiss.

Mioni grunted, pulling her mouth free. "Ditch the armor, Luctes," she said breathlessly, her hands already yanking at his shoulder guards. He leaned back onto his heels, crouched over her hips, and started removing the various plates off his body. When he stood up, straitening after removing the last of his armor, she followed him, dragging his tunic off and running her hands across his chest. Her fingers played with the thin line of red hair that ran from his stomach down under his pants as she kissed his shoulder. He rested his hands over her hips and her mouth made a trail across his chest, suckling hard on one flat nipple. He hissed, the sound turning into a sharp gasp and his hips knocking against hers as she nipped the sensitive flesh. Dear God, she thought, he was a beautiful man. Her mouth started to travel lower.

"S.. stop... Mio..ni... stop...!" He gripped her arms, pulling her up to him and kissing her desperately before leaning back to look down at her. He had to control himself before he completely ruined the night for both of them. He yanked off his gloves, running his battle-caloused fingers across her tattoos. She smiled at the rough feel, catchng his wrist in her hands and bringing his fingers to her mouth. Her eyes locked with his, she begain to suckle each didget, flicking her tounge between and around them, kissing his palm... his eyes rolled back.

'Tieg give me strength,' he prayed frantically, setting his jaw and steeling his nerves. He quickly removed his hand from her grasp, leaning over to occupy her mouth as he finally gripped her tunic and pulled it up. He broke the kiss to remove it entirely, tossing it away and taking in her naked form. It was dark in the tent, but his keen eyes could still make out her body and what he saw only tested his resolve further. He sunk to his knees slowly, his hands sliding down her sides to rest lightly against the backs of her knees as he pressed his cheek against the firm curve of her stomach. She combed her fingers through his short hair lovingly and for a moment, they didn't move, content as they were.

"I love you, Luctes," she whispered, gentling cradling his head. He pressed a kiss against her skin and slid his hands up the backs of her legs, making her gasp. With agonizing slowness, he kissed his way down between her legs, his hands cupping her rear as he tasted her moist folds. He let his mouth linger only a moment, slipping one hand around and pressing two fingers into her. She shuddered, whimpering as she felt her knees start to go weak. To her frustration, he removed his fingers, drawing them up her abdomin and leaving a wet trail as he stood, hands finally covering her breasts. He muffled her groan against his mouth as he gently massaged her breasts, delighting in the hard nubs of her nipples against his palms. He flicked his thumbs against them and she nipped his lower lip in surprise.

He lowered her to the ground, leaning back only to remove the last few peices of clothing between them. Returning to her, he settled between her legs, sliding into her easily with a low groan. He hadn't expected her to be a virgin; he had known a few of her past lovers, and each one she had lost to the Mist. She never ceased to amaze him with her quiet strength, even now, on the night before the fate of their race would be decided.

He embraced her tightly, muffling a delirious moan against her shoulder as he drew out of her and thrust back in. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, letting her head roll back against the floor as he moved within her, slowly at first, savoring the feeling. She rocked her hips against his and they fell into a slow, languid rhythm, their low sounds of pleasure filling the small tent.

It wasn't long before Luctes' already tested control slipped away and he sped up, drawing a surprised cry from Mioni at the sudden push. His body pressed her against the floor, fingers sliding under her rear to control her movements as he thrust into her powerfully. She dug her nails into the thick muscles of his shoulders, marking each of his downstrokes into her with a sharp cry. He bit down under the corner of her jaw and the sharp spike of half pain, half pleasure sent her over the edge. She let out a long, shuddering moan, arching her body against his as he jerked unsteadily into her trembling body. Finally, his fingers dug into her hips and he growled against her skin, releasing himself into her.

Lazily, Luctes slid off to the side, curling around Mioni's body protectively. She huddled into his embrace, pressing her hands and face against his chest.

"Do you think you could find me here?" she asked, voice sounding tiny and distant.

He stroked a hand through her hair, humming quietly. "I think I could," he answered in a whisper.

"Then I'll wait."