As the Cogs Start to Turn (super open)

A very rare occurrence happened the moment Ember jumped from her restrained position. As she passed him his scarred nostrils caught the slightest whiff of her scent, and almost immediately all the major muscles in his large frame went rigid, tensing with euphoria as it overwhelmed him. When was the last time he had been able to smell anything really? Perhaps six months, maybe more.

Blaze shuddered from the reaction and slowly allowed himself to relax before pushing himself away from the bush and joining her at a safe distance. His eyes turned smokey and he shook his head, licking his muzzle and cleaning the blood from the roof of his mouth. His paws weren't so bad, but he did wince a few times as he started to readjust to the pain. For the most part he was good, and Ember seemed to be alright too after some slight cleaning.

Nodding to her gratitude, Blaze would have said something, if he wasn't currently mistrusting of his outspokenness. So instead he simply nodded, and when she made her comment he could only simply confirm with an "Agreed" in his deep and husky drawl.

Noticing the sun in the sky was lowering with considerable speed Blaze looked to Ember with slight interest. "Do you have a place to stay?" he inquired, despite how wrong it might have looked on his true intentions.

She was slightly confused by his behavior after her escape from the bush, but she brushed it off as a peculiarity of his personality. When he agreed with her, she frowned, her ears flicking backwards as if to say, 'you weren't supposed to agree with that', but she said nothing. She studied him for a moment, trying to figure out what he was thinking, but failing miserable. Finally his voice broke through her thoughts, asking her if she had a place to stay for the night. She frowned, looking up at the falling sun. "I, uh, no I suppose I don't." She said softly, tilting her head to the side. "I'll probably just sleep under a tree somewhere or something like that." She said, shrugging slightly. She'd slept outside in the open before, she saw no harm in it now.

He wasn't sure if he should or not, but he nodded to her words of sleeping under a tree. If she preferred it he wasn't going to stop her. "There is a small oasis just South of here, a place to get water when traveling the Banished lands. You can find us under one of the desert shrubs if you need us or decided to den with us in the night. Shouldn't be too hard to find." It was painless enough, so he decided he had done a good job of easing the option into play. However, as he looked over her once again he couldn't help but secretly wish she wouldn't take the offer. Thinking about it, he realized it wasn't exactly the best idea. Blaze wasn't exactly known for being the best behaved male on the planet. Hell he was far from it, and probably had dozens of pups and even adults filled with his bloodline.

"You gonna be okay? Cuts and all?" he asked her while lowering his face to the ground and starting to wander around in small circles. When he found a good spot the large male trotted over to the dead deer carcass and tugged it over to the spot he had chosen to bury it.

There was something about the way that he spoke and the way that he looked at her that told her she should spend the night alone. With Khalessi wandering off, she wasn't sure if she'd either be alone with Blaze or alone with him AND Inferno. "Ok, I'm going to stick around here for the night." She said softly, not looking at him for fear of what she'd see in his expression. But he rescued her there, for he wasn't looking at her either, and now he was dragging the kill and beginning to bury it. "They'll heal well enough. I'm sure I'll live." She said even softer, confused at his sudden concern for her well-being.

Where had that come from? He went from laughing as she struggled in the bush to asking her if she was alright? What brought on such a sudden change? She frowned as she tried to figure it out, finally settling on her usual assumtion that she'd never understand the large male in front of her.

Before she could even respond the large brute was pawing at the dusty barren earth and was starting to dig with an incredible burst of strength and power. He used all his weight to get his paws deep into the ground and haul bigger heaps of dirt out of the way as he pushed back. Quite honestly, the expending of energy was starting to relax him and he was feeling lighter about the situation he had dangerously put himself and Ember in. At least there would be no foolishness today.

By the time Blaze was panting softly, the hole was deep and big enough to fit the carcass in, so he pulled in what was left (which was still quite a bit), then jumped out of the hole to face the pile of dirt that had accumulated. "Just make sure you don't go getting into any situations you can't get yourself out of. I wont be around to help, but if you do need anything just call. I'll hear you" he said to her before pushing and nosing the dirt back over the edge. When he finished he sat down and looked at the darker spot of earth that marked the burial; tongue lolling around as he rested to regain his energy.

Ember watched him silently, surprised by his sudden burst of energy and strength. But she kept quiet, and when he finished and spoke, covering the whole up once more, she nodded slightly. "Alright, I will." She said soflty, looking around them for a decent place to stay. Unfortunately, there wasn't much greenery in the banished lands, so her eyes fell on only a few stray bushes and a tiny clump of tangles. Well, she wasn't going to go back in that thorn bush, so with a slight nod to Blaze, she started off towards one of the larger bushes, which was still pathetically small. "Goodnight." She said as she walked away, her voice soft and a bit nervous about sleeping so out in the open here. But it would work, at least for tonight. She came to a stop as she reached it, laying down and frowning as all she could do was lay beside it, instead of under like she had hoped. Well, she'd be ok-ish as long as it didn't rain or anything.

Blaze watched silently as she looked around for some adequate shelter, when she finally picked her choice he was amused with her decision. Another bad judgement call as she had done with the hare in the thorn bush, but he said nothing and only nodded in respect. "Good night" he replied while standing and leaving her to her privacy. As he walked further away and disappeared from sight Blaze felt weird about just leaving her there. Though it was her choice and he had to respect that. At the thought however, he snorted, when had he ever respected a female's preference? Blaze was one of the biggest womanizers around, and often harassed them until they gave in to his wishes.

With that in mind the large male stopped in his tracks looking back in Embers direction, and minutes later he showed up in front of her again, looking down upon her with a cocky expression on his face. "Sleep with me tonight" he pressed in a rather up front and dry way. There was no point in trying to coax and sugar coat it, he was never good at that stuff anyhow.

She curled up next to the bush, resting her head on her paws and closing her eyes, hoping to get at least a little sleep before morning came. She had just started to doze off when Blaze's voice made her jump. She lifted her head quickly, looking up at him wide-eyed for a moment, obviously surprised and disoriented. It took her a few moments to figure out what was happening, but after a few blinks and a few moments, she tilted her head slightly. "Uhm..." She said softly, studying his expression with confusion. "I'll be alright here." She said, swallowing nervously as she made assumtions that were very likely true.

Blaze almost jumped at her reaction, not expecting her to be so startled as she had been. It appeared she seemed to fall asleep rather quickly, and heavily too. The silence was deafening and he was about to make his apology when she finally spoke up and answered him. His ears flicked with the rejection, but it was easily shrugged off. He didn't hurt easily, nor did he give up that easily either. So instead of turning around and wandering back to the den, Blaze sighed then shrugged and lied down about seven feet away from her. "Fine, I'll just sleep with you then" he retorted while shifting around and making himself comfortable.

The last rays of the sun were just starting to retreat to the horizon and soon the banished plains would be filled with darkness, along with the night's chilly winds. "Its a shame a nice warm den would have to go to waste for the night" he comment while resting his head on his paws and yawning softly.

Ember frowned as he shrugged and laid down nearby, saying that he'd just sleep here then. But since he kept his distance, she didn't bother to tell him to leave. Instead she curled up a bit tighter as it got colder, her tail shifting to rest over her nose to keep it warm. When he spoke again, she opened one eye to look over at him, her ears flattening slightly. "If I go to the den with you, will you shut up and let me sleep?" She asked, lifting her head and rolling her eyes, her tone not angry, but teasing and only slightly annoyed. She watched him for a moment, tilting her head to the side a bit and frowning at him. She could tell that he wasn't going to leave her alone about it, and she knew how to take care of herself, for the most part.

Almost instantaneously Blaze got to his feet before Ember could even finish her sentence, but he remained quiet as if to let her know it was a done deal. He bowed slightly then patiently waited for her to rise so he could lead her back to the den. It it had been anywhere else Blaze wouldn't have minded sleeping out in the open, in fact he preferred it (allowed him to see others coming from a long distance away), but the desert tended to considerably drop temperature at night. It could get so cold it would be hard to sleep at night anyways.

In other words, he actually cared about Ember's comforts, and knew it would have been better to have her sleep in a secure shelter. When she stood he silently started off in the direction of the den, pausing every now and then to see if she was following.

Ember sighed, seeing him jump to his feet and slowly getting to her own. She stretched slowly and lazily, taking her sweet time to follow him. She couldn't help but smirk as she took note of how often he looked back at her. She picked up the pace, a bit, and slowed slightly as she spotted the den. Hm, cozy. She thought, glancing over at Blaze with slight suspicion as she waited for him to speak or lead the way inside. She wasn't sure if she trusted him yet, and the way he had acted around her made her suspicious and wary about this whole 'sharing a den' thing.

Blaze stood by the opening of the den, gesturing for her to go inside. "After you..." he said softly while eying her with curiosity. She looked uneasy, but he didn't blame her. She had a right to be, and for good reason too. "Sleep well" he simply said before walking over to the small ledge in the sand and sliding down the bowl shaped area that led to the large pool of water that served as the watering hole. There were a few shrubs here and there, all green, which stood out against the tan dusty surface of the area. Blaze scanned the openness of the desert for a moment then snorted softly and approached the water to get a drink.

She hesitated slightly at the entrance, looking over at him as he spoke and then took a deep breath, exhaling slowly and entering even slower. She then laid down by the wall, looking at the entrance, surprised that he didn't enter. But after a few moments, she laid her head down, watching the entrance for a little longer before finally closing her eyes and sighing softly. She figured that she had to at least trust him a little, and well, she was rather exhausted. She needed sleep, and finally she succumed to it, dozing off and falling deeper into sleep only moments later.

When he had satisfied his thirst the large male climbed his way back up to the den then glanced around for any signs of Khalessi. It didn't seem that she was coming back tonight, and for some reason that irritated him. The way she had acted out today had him wondering if he had lost his grip and control of the hunter, or if perhaps she was just looking for some time away. It was always so hard to tell with her, what she was up to, what she was thinking, if she was lying, Blaze sighed at the thoughts then finally lied down to sleep. He would spend the night at the entrance of the den, his body halfway inside for warmth. With Ember inside, his protective instincts were starting to kick in, which meant he would rest lightly and stand guard till morning. Out here on the banished plains, danger lurked much more closely than one could imagine.

Ember was fast asleep by the time that Blaze returned to lay in the entrance, so she didn't even notice his arrival. She slept soundly, grateful for the warmth and comfort of the den as opposed to the cold, hard ground of the open banished lands. She was glad that she had finally given in to Blaze's request, and with him guarding the entrance, she knew for once that she was safe.

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She woke early the next morning, lifting her head slowly and yawning. It was unusual for her to be up this early, but she had slept fairly lightly, still a bit on edge about the male's behavior. She was still alone in the den, though, and she slowly got to her feet, stretching and arching her back lazily as she woke up a bit more. What now? Should she go out? Should she hunt? That last thought made her laugh, and she assumed it would amuse Blaze to watch her try as well. But she was determined to at least try and avoid looking like a complete idiot, so she decided that hunting right now was out of the question.

The large male perked his ears growling softly at the disturbance behind him. For a moment he had almost forgotten about the she-wolf inside. When he realized it wasn't a threat but just Ember waking up for the new day; he too opened his eyes and started to awake. There was a strong wind stirring up the dusty top layer of the banished plains; making it hard to see in the distance. Blaze slowly got to his feet with a grunt then stretched and tried to listen intently to the sounds of the plains. The wind was misleading, but as far as he could tell, they were the only ones in the vicinity. It was still dark out with the light just starting to break over the horizon, and Blaze wondered if Ember always awoke this early. He moved away from the entrance to the den not wanting her to think he was keeping her as his prisoner. She had seemed extremely on edge while around him, and quite honestly he couldn't blame her. She had every right to be. The large male turned to face the gaping hole patiently waiting for her appearance. "I almost forgot I had company" he said softly, just loud enough for her to hear inside. Though Khalessi hung around from time to time, Blaze had gotten used to being alone as of late.

When she heard the growl from outside, Ember instinctively flinched slightly. It was a deep, rumbling growl, and well, she hadn't been expecting it. She frowned for a moment, that is, before the growl ceased and was replaced with Blaze's voice. She relaxed slightly, wagging her tail lightly as she exited the den and sat down outside. "Good morning." She said softly, her voice still a bit airy and light from sleep. She wasn't used to waking up to a male wolf nearby, and it felt strange to be sitting there outside of his den with the sun slowly rising over the horizon. She sat in silence now, not sure of what to say as her eyes turned on the soft, growing glow of the sun.

Blaze smiled as she emerged from the den, feeling somewhat content. It was an odd feeling to experience from such a stranger, but it seemed her mere presence was powerful enough to quiet the giant, for now. He nodded his good morning then sat down and gazed out at the sunrise along with her. He was silent for awhile, enjoying the peace and serenity of the moment. When he had had enough he stood again then looked to her curiously. "I was thinking of heading out. I want to see if this place has anything else to offer than barren land. Maybe secure a few more dens for myself. Just in case." He wasn't sure what he was going to do now, whether he wanted to find the rest of the loners or send out a strong message to the pack leader. Blaze looked back to the horizon then to Ember once more, awaiting her response.

Ember's ear flicked in his direction as he grew bored of the sunrise and spoke, but her eyes remained trained on the horizon. It was a beautiful sight, and as she sat there, the colors from the slow rise of the sun almost made her flame-colored fur glow. She heard his words, but there was no question in them, so she remained silent, enjoying the sight in front of her. It was only when she felt his eyes return to her form that she blinked and looked over at him, her amber-colored eyes shining as they reflected the yellowish-orange light that spilled over them. "I really didn't have any plans. I came here needing food. You gave that to me. I'm not sure what to do next." She said, now staring back at him with her head tilted slightly and her dainty paws tucked beneath her tail as she sat.

Blaze wasn't sure if she was just trying to figure out what to do, or if she was genuinely expressing concern. Either way, it didn't seem to matter much, because the longer he looked at her the more his eyes started to wander from hers. It almost seemed like she was blending into the light of the sun's rays, yet still holding a distinctive shape and basking in the light. She looked quite angelic and Blaze found himself tensing at that thought. He growled softly and looked away, back towards the horizon. "Start by not doing that" he mumbled while standing and turning around towards the eastern forest. "The best part about being a loner is being able to do whatever you want" he finally answered then offered a smirk before starting to amble away from the den.

Ember frowned as he growled and mumbled, confused since she only heard 'that' from his mouth. She missed most of the mumbling, but she shrugged, looking back at the horizon and shrugging as he spoke again. When he walked away, her eyes followed him curiously, yet she remained rooted where she was, tilting her head curiously and watching him until her eyes finally made their way back to the sunrise. It was beautiful, and she was enjoying the warmth against her fur as the sun rose and covered her form. She closed her eyes with a soft, relaxed sigh, her ears perked as she listened to the world wake up around her, even though there was barely any life around them in the banished lands. It was still beautiful in her eyes, and since she never really took much time to enjoy the little things in life, she was going to waste time this morning enjoying this. There was no harm in that, right?

((Ember continued here: https://incendio.rpg-board.net/t146-not-setting-fire-to-silverlight ))