[SpringsSong]

[[Closed to Max and myself]]

Erica

"Oh, I'm so happy for you, Erica!  I can't believe you've found someone already!" E??wyra had said to her sister in the short time they had been home for the move.  Erica was overjoyed that she had found a partner, Tom, who hadn't overlooked her because she was a Common Kuhna.  In fact... She felt like she was the luckiest Kuhna on earth.  Er, Evelon.

She walked into the Falls, watching the waterfalls dance and the rainbows sparkle.  Ah, how she loved this place already!  She looked around for a spot to settle down upon to await the Common Kuhna who had stolen her heart.

{1--adding to post count later, as usual }

[SirMax]

Tom was nervous. Well, that was sort of an understatement. He was completely terrified. When he'd left the shrine, the magical haze that had settled over him had faded away, and insecurity had sneaked back into his mind. Had the same happened to Erika? When they left the shrine, had she had a change of heart?

Walking timidly up to her from behind, Tom tapped Erica on the shoulder. "E-erika... Um.. hi..."

[[26]]

[SpringsSong]

Erica nearly jumped as Tom tapped her on the shoulder.  She blinked a couple of times--her eyes had misted over looking at the waterfalls--and then, she gently nuzzled him.  "Hey, Tom." She said.  She seemed quite happy that he was here now--she'd only thought about how happy they'd been when they met at Nu'san--but now that they were together again, a knot formed in her stomach.  "I missed you." She said quietly, smiling up at him.

{2}

[SirMax]

As Erika nuzzled him, Tom's fears ebbed away as he purred, nuzzling Erika back and whispering "I missed you too." he wasn't sure why he added it, but he did, sharing his feelings with her. "I... I was afraid that you...you might not like me anymore." he mumbled. "That there was some kinda spell at Nu'san..."

[[27]]

[SpringsSong]

Erica chuckled.  "No, I still like you, Tom... even though I do feel like there was some sort of spell at Nu'san... Like, I forgot almost everything that I knew before I got there, and then, once I left, everything came back." She said.  She purred as well, glad that she was with him.

{3}

[SirMax]

"That's odd..." murmured Tom. "I didn't  forget anything..." he nuzzled up to her, smiling contentedly. "Anything interesting happening around your pen lately?" he asked curiously, gazing into Erika's eyes happily. This was really great.

[[28]]

[SpringsSong]

"Yes.  Tali?±a had five pups just recently.  She's elated that she is the mother of the second litter of five pups, but she really would rather speak with Sethor again.  I believe she is training for the war in Wilt'no." Erica said, smiling.  She remembered their conversation about the Lucain in question back at Nu'san; for Fire was nortorious for leaking such information to Tali.

"As for other events, Fire stuck me in a breeding with a Kuhna named Smoothie.  I had three kits; two of which live with me.  Their names are Adonia and Rhyia.  Nia's a Berry Kuhna, and Rhy; a Common kuhna.  My other daughter, Crystal, is a Razberry, and lives with her father." She continued, remembering the berry smell that she'd detected shortly after getting the kits home.  "How fares things at your pen?" She asked.

{4}

[SirMax]

"You had three kits?" asked Tom, taken aback. He really should have guessed that she'd have a list, but he'd never really thought of it... "Umm... How'd you like Smoothie?" he asked awkwardly. "Um, oh, and Raiden's met someone. They seem to be getting along well, he went to go meet her in Roraldi. Sam went too, I think she's trying to get over Ronin... Aksel's... really, really furious and depressed..."

[[29]]

[SpringsSong]

Erica shrugged.  "We were both trying just to get through it, 'cause he has a lifemate as well." She said, a paw brushing over the ground.  "Aksel, you say?  Tasera has a breeding cued up with him..." She said, recalling the all-of-a-sudden manically depressed Lucain.  "Has Sethor said anything more about Tali?±a?  It would seem like they like each other a lot." Erica remarked, recalling the dreamy look on Tali's face before she was thrown into a breeding room with yet another Lucain.

{5}

[SirMax]

"Dunno, he disappeared into Wilt'no with Martin, Sarah, and Raul." said Tom. "So I haven't really gotten to talk to him." thinking of Aksel, who had been burning anything that got to close to him, Tom added "Aksel's really upset. He keeps incinerating things and grumbling about some girl named Raksis. Never seen him that affected..." he frowned. "But Sethor had a breeding with the girl Hallow. At first he was all friendly, and then he started cooling off, then she asked something about his family and he went all cold on her."

[[30]]

[SpringsSong]

"I see.  Tali was kind of distant in her breeding to begin with, which is why Fire was so surprised to get five pups." Erica said, shrugging.  "And I guess I should caution Tas if Aksel's that mad about another girl." She commented slightly, shrugging.  Then, she said, "Have you thought any about any kits we might have in the future?  I mean, you have three stepchildren, but that's because Fire was most insistent about getting a Berry Kuhna and finishing my list; she accomplished the Berry Kuhna part, but the list is still three Kuhnas long minus you." She said, nuzzling him again.

{6}

[SirMax]

"Well, she's been on his breeding list since... forever. Maybe he's just met her and it turns out he doesn't like her or something... I doubt it though. He seemed pretty smitten." he looked at the waterfall behind Erika, wondering what Aksel thought of Raksis.

"Kits?" asked Tom, blinking. "I-I don't know... Just... Kuhna kits?" he asked, laughing nervously. He'd never really thought about it in very much depth.

[SpringsSong]

Erica chuckled.  "That works for me." She said.  When Tom explained the situation between Aksel and Raksis, she tilted her head.  "Huh.  Sounds like Tali and Varalus.  He's been on her list since before she was born--literally--yet she decided that she wouldn't take him as a lifemate." She said, her tails wrapping around his.

{7}

[SirMax]

"Huh. Apparently they knew each other before they actually were adopted by Max and Destiny. And there was something else between them that Aksel won't talk about. Says it's top secret or something. They were in some kind of organization together." said Tom, his tails dancing around Erika's as he nuzzled her. "This is a beautiful place." he said suddenly.

[[31]]

[SpringsSong]

Erica's head rose a little, as if to say, "I see..." before she spoke.  "Yes, this is a beautiful place.  Fire's sent a lot of us here: there's five of the Kuhnas I live with, my brother included, having a meeting for the KLA--Kuhna Lovers Anonymous--and Tas came out here to escape her... curse." She said.  Then, looking around, she said, "Would--would you like to take a walk, maybe?" She asked.

{8}