[8.7.2707]Taking the Leap (Toniel/Q'del)

[Jazzeh]

(to Q'del)

Toniel felt something unnameable rising in her chest as her eyes connected solidly with Q'del's. It was a powerful mix of emotions that were all foreign to her, with love quite possibly being in that mix. She couldn't recognize them, though, so she could not give them words and explanations; all she knew was that she felt different now from a moment ago. Surprised washed over her like a tidal wave as the bronzerider suddenly stepped towards her and embraced her thin body. Memories of the flight came rushing to her unbidden and she gave a quiet gasp at their sudden closeness. To say that she felt comfortable being wrapped in his arms like this would be a lie, but it was far less uncomfortable for her than it had been months ago even in the throes of Aylinth's lust.

Toniel's soil-colored eyes flickered over his face before locking on his stony gray once again, just in time to see the sincerity and raw emotions staring out at her as he spoke. Her heartbeat began a sturdy pounding against her ribcage, much like the stampede of hooves that had caused her grandfather's death well before she had been born. He...loved her? And he always had? She had spent a scarce part of her Candidacy with him just before he had Impressed Demnoth, so when he said he always had loved her, it could have started then. Or it might have been the moment she Impressed her dear gold. Or maybe when Aylinth had risen for the first time. Or perhaps it had started more recently, when Demnoth had caught Aylinth in her second flight. Had it started then? Had that been the moment he fell in love with her?

In her struggle to understand, Toniel was overlooking the important fact: that he loved her. So unused to these sorts of emotions, her mind scrambled to figure it out, how and when, instead of focusing just on that he did. But as she continued to stare at him, mouth falling slightly open, she realized he was looking expectantly at her. "I, uh..." she croaked out softly, then cleared her throat quietly. "Q'del..." she tried again, the name coming out more wistfully than she had intended. "I...care for you, too," she said in her whispery voice. She wasn't ready to say that she loved him, didn't know that she did love him. It was a far flight from stoicism to proclaiming one's love and it was a journey she had not yet completed.

Some vestige of lust remained like a ghost in her mind, lapping at her consciousness like the waves at the sand. And being so close to him, smelling the muskiness that was man and dragon spice, had her feeling warmed by more than just the brilliant rays from Rukbat. Her neck ached softly from looking up at him, her eyes naturally falling about at chest-level to the unbelievably tall man. For a fleeting moment she realized her vulnerability, recognizing how easily he could manhandle her with all of his brawn. Her lean muscles were no match for him, but even so, she didn't feel threatened. If anything, she felt protected. Gently, one hand, ever so lightly trembling, reached up around the back of his neck and as she stood on tip-toe, she pulled him down to her so that she might place her lips against his.

Aylinth rose from the sand and silently padded over to the waves lapping at the beach. She glanced at her rider and Demnoth's rider, the flurry of Toniel's feelings bubbling softly underneath her own existence. Gently she snaked her head around to nip at the bronze's shoulder, then jerked her head towards the surf. As quietly as she could manage, she ran out into the water, wings carefully lifted so as to minimize the sounds of splashing in hopes of not distracting her rider from the very private moment she was having. Chittering, red Leifa followed them, soft voice intoning her eagerness to scrub the two large cousins.

[Kit]

The bronzerider could feel the pounding of Toniel's heart against him, and even though she stood with mouth open in shock, he knew at least, that he had affected her. And her eyes did not show fear or anger, which he had dreaded. Instead there was confusion and surprise. That was acceptable, that was progress. And then she spoke, hesitantly at first but her words nearly made him weep for joy, if he had been the type of man to weep. He didn't expect a declaration of love. Just to know that she cared for him was enough, more than enough for now.

Q'del wanted to say something, but he found he had no words left and the closeness of her was becoming distracting. He might have ruthlessly squashed the emotions coming from the Flight, but they were still lurking around the edges of his emotions. Plus Toniel was, of all women, to him the most beautiful and he was nothing if not a passionate man. Then there was the touch of her hand on the back of his neck as she pulled him down closer sending a thrill of sensation down to his toes. It was difficult for him then not to just crush her to him in fierce joy and desire, but he realized that he didn't want that for Toniel. So he kissed her gently on the lips, keeping his eyes fixed on hers and bringing a hand up to caress her cheek with his thumb.

Demnoth nearly bugled with exultation, he was so happy for his lifemate. But Aylinth's nip checked him and he settled for a barely audible croon before following her quietly into the water. Normally he would have been splashing and cavorting like a young boy, but Aylinth's mood sobered him and he sensed that she was trying not to disturb their lifemates. As usual, Demnoth followed her wisdom and slipped silently beneath the water, submerging himself up to his eyes, one of which was fixed on his lifemate and the other on Aylinth.

[Jazzeh]

The feeling in Toniel's head was similar to the lightness that came from a night of steady wine consumption, leaving her a little unbalanced and ungrounded, as if the slightest motion would cause her to fall to the ground or break the bonds of gravity that kept her rooted to Pern's soil. She could fly just as Aylinth flew, climbing through the skies far above the beach cliffs and up beyond the wispy clouds. The moment Q'del's hand came up to cup her chin, a convulsive shiver ran through her delicate frame, pushing her towards him and away from him in minuscule movements. It incited the desire within her and she looped a second arm around him, straining on her toes to reach his lofty lips that were like a prize being dangled for her.

Though the feeling was one like it being her first kiss, Toniel's lips moved instinctively against his, caressing his mouth. She was losing all sense of herself, floating away in this kiss that was like nothing she'd ever felt before. It was only a moment before she was deepening the kiss, parting her lips slightly and hugging herself to him. His heat felt so good against her slight body, his build and height were a welcoming envelope for her much smaller and lighter form. A soft hum of contentment resonated briefly in her throat before fading away.

Aylinth's eyes whirled a vibrant turquoise, filled with her rider's joyous feelings. She was feeling lighter, herself, more welcoming to her bronze mate's playful antics. But she was also very conscious of Toniel's intimate moment and the last thing she wanted was to distract her from it. It was rare for her to connect with anyone like this and the gold could not ruin that for her. She watched as Demnoth submerged himself clear up to his eyes. She dipped her muzzle into the water and swam close to him. Still trying to be quiet, she snorted suddenly, spraying jets of water towards the coppery bronze.

[Kit]

The moment their lips met was like stars exploding in his mind. It was so different from any other kiss, so much more meaningful and infinitively more exciting. She parted her lips and he began to explore her mouth with his tongue wrapping his arm around her waist and bringing his other hand over to run his fingers through her hair. He felt such joy bubbling up within him on top of the slowly building desire that he wanted to laugh aloud.

He broke away from the kiss for a moment to breathe, and in doing so he realized that Toniel was standing on her tiptoes to reach him. So, with a smile,he put both his arms around her waist and lifted her up so that they were eye level. "Much better," he said, his voice gone slightly husky before leaning in to kiss her again.

Demnoth watched his lifemate, a low croon of contentment making bubbles rise from his muzzle. Then Aylinth sprayed him with water and he started out of the water in surprise, snorting the water out of his own nose. It was unusual for Aylinth to be playful, but he could tell by the color of her eyes that she was happy. So with a look of a mischievous schoolboy he ducked his head under the water and spit a fountain of water at his golden mate.

[Jazzeh]

The feeling of his tongue slipping into her mouth was an unusual, but not completely unwelcome, feeling. It took only a moment of uncertainty before Toniel's own tongue was responding, slowly, but surely massaging his back. An almost inaudible moan vibrated through her throat at the feel of his strong hand tangling in her slightly longer than chin-length hair. When he pulled away, she drew in a deep breath, burning her deprived lungs. And then he was lifting her and she gasped in surprise, legs curving around him instinctively. His husky voice was music to her ears and her lips released a soft whimper as he came in for another kiss.

Toniel drank deeply of that which was Q'del, savoring the taste and feel of his mouth before she finally withdrew. She panted quietly, trying to suck her breath in through her noise so as to be more quiet and to even out her breathing. "Q'del..." she said softly, drawing away so that her face was only inches away from his. Her eyes were glimmering with something she could not name, but even so, the feeling was unmistakable.

Aylinth's tail flicked mischievously as Demnoth unintentionally snorted the water from his nostrils. It was becoming hard to resist his playful charms and the infectious joy of her lifemate. She chortled with laughter as he sprayed her with water, raking a wing through the water's surface to shower him with the warm, glittering water.

[Kit]

She made it hard for him to take it slow, with her legs now wrapped around his waist and the small noises she occasionally made. Q'del almost felt there had been a torch lit under him, but it was a pleasant sort of burning so he kept kissing her, moaning ever so slightly as her tongue went inside his mouth. This was a moment he'd been wanting and waiting for so long now, he didn't even know how long. He'd always found her attractive and intriguing, but ever since he'd become the Weyrsecond he'd seen how strong and capable she was as well and had wanted her for his true partner more than anything. Now that if seemed finally that he was to get his wish, some might have expected that he built up his expectations too high and would find some disappointment there. But it felt more right, was more perfect than he had imagined.

She came up for air, but her face still nearly touched his. The look in her eyes filled him with wonder and love and longing so much that he almost didn't hear her say his name. "Toniel?" he replied, his voice rough with both emotion and desire.

Demnoth rumbled happily at Aylinth's laughter, but he brought his wing up too late to block her splash. The bronze couldn't have cared less however, he was in his element, and the feelings coming from his lifemate were so filled with happiness that Threadfall couldn't have spoiled his day. He dove under the water and came up beside her, sweeping waves of water at her with both his wings, his eyes swirling a merry indigo.