Otters at Holt Silverwater
Characters: Aikuen, Fira
Location: Holt Silverwater, Near the Govi's house, Lake Silverwater
Holt Silverwater
A long walk down the river to the bridge and Fira finally leaves the water behind, walking south round the bridge and into the west woods. Almost looks like they're going to Ferravale but Fira turns south just before the city and back into the woods. Another bit of a walk later and finally, moving a bush out the way and there it is, a great big lake. Fira hangs about the edge and takes a deep breath, eyes scanning all over "Good to be back"
Aikuen has been following Fira for the longest time. He had lost his bearings a long time ago, but he trusts her for taking him in the right direction. Plus she knows where she is anyway. He had recognized the bridge that they passed, and comments on that the first place he meet her. Then there off in the woods again, and once again he is lost. When she moves the bush, Aik's mouth hangs opens has he goes to stand next to her near the edge, "Wow..." is all he says. He looks around for the longest time and then smiles, taking her paw.
Fira smirks faintly at him "Welcome to Holt Silverwater otherwise known as my own personal lake. Though, mind the southeast side. Had a couple of swans hanging about sometimes. Might have moved on again by now" she tugs at his paw and starts round the lake "Come on, we'll pitch a tent by my house"
Aikuen nods, and points toward water, making a circle motion, "This is all yours? Lucky otter you!" He then raises a brow, "Swans?" He looks off that way and tilts his head. And then he is tugged and he uffs, almost knocked off balance, or so he puts on, "Whoh!" and he is lead off around the side of the lake, as he takes in all he sees, "Never seen a lake before... its like an ocean... but much smaller..." he hmms, and squeezes her paw, "I know what a lake is... just never seen one before!" He chuckles, "Okay... Pitch-tenting of tents, i shall be!" he laughs. He would ask, why they are not staying in the house itself. But he has learned to remain quiet for a bit. Maybe she doesn't like the house itself, like with bad memories of what she has told him. Or maybe she just likes sleeping outside. Both are very good reasons for him.
Near The Govi's House
Fira loops her arm round his to walk along with him rather than keep dragging the whole way "Well no one else lived here so yeah, I'd call it mine" she smirks faintly "Even have the odd beach here, no waves but none of that salt water either" she carries on walking. It's a big lake so it's actually a good few minutes round to her place on the southwest shore. Everywhere there's the odd broken down building. Houses where there's just a wall standing or the roof has collapsed. Not that the house Fira does stop in front of looks much better. It's got it's walls sure and the roof's there but there's holes and attempted patch up jobs everywhere. Looks like a good breeze could knock it over yet there it still stands. She scratches the back of her neck lightly "It's kind of beyond repair. Never stopped me trying exactly but yeah..." She chooses the tent because it's not waterproof and she's a little embarrassed about it.
Aikuen walks by the buildings and when he can, he places his paw on the odd broken building or so, taking it in by feel. She takes her to her house, and he places his free paw on the wall, "This... is your old home?" he doesn't know what to think. He feels sorry for her, living in such a place. As this place kinda reminds him of a slum. At least he know knows why she doesn't want to stay in there. He drops his pack and places both of his paws on her hips, thinking of something. Something for their anniversary. After a bit he decides to say something, "I'm sorry you lived in such a place..." he is not trying to be rude or anything, "... if you want me too... i can think of a way to repair it... if yah want."
Fira is now uncomfortable and embarrassed all cause she can just imagine the pity. She shrugs a shoulder and avoids eyes, looking to the house for a bit "It's not all that bad. Roof over your head...Just a bit rough round the edges...I mean it's got a few leaks and draughts but it's still got the important bits" talking about repair would mean admitting it needed it even if it was obvious.
Aikuen sighs, as he can hear it in her voice, even if she cant. Now he feels bad about even opening his mouth "I'm sorry for bringing it up. Its a great place. A roof over your head, and its still standing. That's more than some beasts even dream of having!" then he tries to lighten the mood, as he is really good at that. He goes off running around the house, and peeking over the other side, with a big ole' smile on his face, "A great place to play hide-the-otter if yah wish too!" and then peeks around again but his head got much lower, "For Ikkle ottas!" he chuckles and runs off the other side, and disappears. He uses some of his techniques to sneak up behind her and grab her around the middle, "Its a wonderful place! I mean its near a lake! Even i didn't have that comfort at my Holt!." he laughs and picks her up in his arms, kissing her. Hopefully, what he did worked. He cant stand her to be anything else, then happy.
Fira kind of figures everyone would think like that about the place. She does try and smile as he tries to talk the place up. It's him running round like a loon that vaguely amuses her though "Heh. Right. I don't think I'd ever let kids in there again" peering round to try and see where he went until he's suddenly behind her "Ah!" she just manages to keep from elbowing him in the ribs as a reflex. It earns him a smirk. It has helped "It's a good thing we're not staying inside. You bouncing off the walls might be what finally brings it down"
Aikuen grins at her 'Ah', and good thing she didn't elbow him, he would not like that. She is just going to have to get used to him doing that to her. He nuzzles, before he lets her down, "Aye! So help me i will not bring it down!" he chuckles, and holds her close, "I can help bouncing of the walls, I'm so bouncy!" he laughs and 'bounces' around her, in what would look like a dance, since he hasn't let go.
Fira can't help it, she laughs at him "Oh dear, I married a crazy beast. Well I guess I knew that already. Go set up the tent silly beast, there's something I've quickly got to do"
Aikuen chuckles and lets her go, but not without a kiss first, "I'm Clazy! I also Love you... So that means I'm clazly in love with you!" he laughs and kisses her again, giving a nod, "Alrighty! Ill be placing the tent... Ill find someplace nice and cozy! Be careful! And don't be like me!" he gives her a pat on the rudder, and goes over to his pack. He starts to hobble around the place looking for a nice spot to pitch it. A good place where it can be for a few days. He hums a stupid song, as he found a good place and starts to set it up. The tent is pitched somewhere halfway between the house and the lake, at an area where the ground is more even then others.
Fira lets him get away with the rudder pat just this once. Just smirking and shaking her head at him "Mind you don't get lost running round like a nut!" and she heads for the house. The front door sticks a bit so she just kicks it open and pauses for a moment...it doesn't fall down so she disappears inside. A quick check over the house later, pull a few things out of a hidden spot in the kitchen and she's out the back. Cut down just enough of the grass to see the stones again and say hello to her parents.
Aikuen has finished the tent and is waiting for Fira to come back. While setting up the tent he did hear her kick the door, and he looks up from his work. He tilts his head, but assumes as its alright since she went in anyway. He finishes it up and places the cloth underneath it. He created a lean-to so only there would be a place to put things in case it rained. He likes sleeping under the stars, so does she... so why not. Its nice all the same. He taps his claws together waiting, when he hears in the quiet, what sounds like she is talking. He tilts his head and walks toward it. He peeks his head around the corner and sees her. He careful walks up to her and asks, "Fi?" he looks down and blinks, "Oh..." realizing what it was.
Fira doesn't say a whole lot of words. A hello, an introduction of Aikuen and she did start to explain but as she relaxed she lapsed into mute and then just thinking. Really the stones are just two big stones. No carving or anything. No one to do the stone work and there's Fira sat between them, leaning against one and looking at the lake, few bits from the kitchen on her lap. Mostly just a couple of books. She doesn't even realise he's there for a good minute. Deafness fun. It's that feeling of being watched that makes her turn and spot him. Oddly enough she just smiles at him "Hey" seems to be a spot that relaxes her rather than upsets really "...Tent all up?"
Aikuen blinks a few times and nods slowly, "Aye its up..." he points to the two stones, guessing what they are, "Are these your..." he nods slowly again. He goes over and helps her up, and give her a small kiss, "The tents up, between here and the lake... ill set up a fire in a minute... then we can see about some vittles..." he looks down at the stones, and then back to Fira, "You mind if i talk... to them... for a little bit..." he asks. Something he has always done, something he will never get over.
Fira lets him pull her back up again and returns the kiss "Kitchen's not too bad but fire by the lake would be nice" she tilts her head at the last bit and gets out the way "Go ahead. They're really good listeners, um..." she points to the slightly rougher, bigger one she was leaning on "That's dad" point to the other "That's mum" cause of course there's not much difference between them and no markings.
Aikuen nods at her and goes over to the stones, he places a paw on the bigger one first, then the smaller one. He then sits down cross legged in front of them "Hello... Mr. Govi...Mrs. Govi... I'm Aikuen... but you can call me Aik if you want... In case she didn't say... I'm your daughters husband..." he sighs, "I'm not good with meeting parents..." he smiles, "But i bet you guys would have liked me... at least i hope so..." he sighs again, "I probably should have asked for this before... but... Were already now... But still..." he takes a deep breath, "If we weren't married, I would have asked you both... for your daughters paw in marriage. I love her very much, and promise to protect, provide, and to always love her... always." he sniffs, "I hope you guys would have said yes... Ill see you around..." He takes another deep breath and stands up, smiling a little bit to Fira, "I'm done..."
Fira keeps an eye on him out the corner of her eye and smile softly at the words, waiting for him quietly before she offers out an arm, going to put it round his waist "Come on, lets go have some food...I'm sure they would have liked you too"
Aikuen smiles placing his arm around her in return, "I hope so..." he then leads her off to the tent. About half way there he glances back to the stones and smiles, "Thank you..." as if he heard them say something. He smiles a little bit more, as he kisses her. He got his answer. They arrive at the site, and he gives her a small hug before plopping her down on the cloth carefully, with a twirl of his arm, "What do you feel like tonight? I brought some cook ware if we want to have something grilled?" he asks.
Fira tilts her head at the thank you. Well she sure hopes they're not talking and it's just her who can't hear them. That'd be horrible. She's sure it's not though since they are dead and she knows it. The kiss distracts and soon she's sitting down again "Hmm, well we do have a very convenient lake with a lot of fish. Could get a nice big one from here"
Aikuen leans over to nuzzle her quickly, "Aye... we could" he grins as something pops into his mind, "Alright how about this... First one to bag a fish, big enough for the both of us... doesn't have to cook! How does that sound, Eh Fi?" he chuckles, and drags his bag over to him.
Fira smirks at him and gets up, setting her retrieved books aside with her pack "Oh you're on. I know this place like the back of my paw, you don't have a hope" pulling out a little knife from her pack to tuck securely into the sash round her waist.
Aikuen grins evilly at her, "Oh you think its on, don't yah!" He pulls out a long metal skewer from the pack and twirls it in his paw, "I swim faster than any fish in existence... You don't have a chance!" he grins and kisses her, going to place the skewer in his belt "On the count of three, we go at it!... One... two..." and then he pounces on her, going to kiss her heavily, and runs his paws all over her. He then unlocks lips suddenly and jumps up, "Three!" he laughs and dives into the water.
Fira ahs! Surprised! She sees his game but it does unbalance her and is distracting. She wobbles when he jumps off too, laughing and yelling after him "Cheat!" she's soon in the water too though, sticking just below the surface for a while, get away from the shallow sides before she swiftly dives closer to the middle of the pond. Get straight to the really deep water the big fish like and soon completely she's lost from sight in the weeds.
Lake Siverwater
Aikuen is already under water, when she yelled after him. He was hiding in some of the plant life in the shallows, and watches her dive in from a distance. He grins and dives up to get a fresh tank of air, before diving again and following her. He is not following after her for very long when he loses her off in the distance. Then a bit of small perch swim by. The perch are not big, but there might be larger fish in the school. He smiles and looks to where Fira might be before heading off in that direction of the perch, Skewer in paw. He is a spear fishing otter.
Fira isn't watching for him, she's sure he can look after himself and she's using all her attention to hunt through the weeds. Finally she comes across the spot she wants. A little break in the weeds with a lot of rocks and the remains of a little rowing boat. She draws the knife and stirs up the weeds a lot, getting the smaller fish out and catching a couple to stab and throw out into the open for bait while she waits just in the weeds.
Aikuen gets near the school of perch. He frowns as the biggest one there, is just big enough for one of them. He shrugs it off and spear a few on them and places the fish on his belt. There small but he got enough of them to feed them if need be. He got about four of them on his belt and he notices the disturbance in the weeds way below him. He tilts his head and swims slowly toward the weeds at the bottom, skewer outstretched. He then sees the dead fish floating there, and the arm of Fira. He grins slowly and swims quickly behind her in the weeds giving a tap on her shoulder.
Sneaking up on knife wielding beasts when they're on edge even if you are married to them may not be the wisest thing to do but thankfully it's not so easy to sneak up on Fira in the water. Her whiskers pick up on the movement and she swiftly turns, expecting fish but finding otter. She raises a brow and aims a tap at his nose.
Aikuen knows his chance of being accidentally stabbed were high, but he took his chances. Wouldn't be the first time. He looks at the poke cross eyed and nips at her claw as she pulls away. He grins, gives a wink and looks behind her. He chuckles and points, as there is a very large fish off in the distance heading toward the bait. He lowers himself in the weeds to conceal himself from the big fish, and places the skewer in his fangs waiting for the right moment. Its looks like he is going to try and take it away from her, but he is only joking.
Fira alas for him doesn't know he's joking so as the fish is pointed out and he moves to get ready she just moves to place a paw on his shoulder. Keep him still till the perfect time...you'd think she'd just let him go but her own little private smirk says otherwise and soon as the fish is close enough, her grip tightens, a foot paw goes to the back of his belt and she uses him as a handy spring board, pushing off against him and shooting over his head within the second to speed towards the fish, grab hold of it with one arm while the other brings down the knife, though she stuns rather than kills for now. Easier to aim for and still results in a still fish.
Aikuen, when the paw was placed on his shoulder he grins stupidly. Thoughts of taking the fish, joke, or otherwise was lost to the water. And then suddenly the pain in his shoulder, and then the back on his pants as she launches off them, and Aik is thrust backwards. Bubbles burst forth from his mouth in surprise at what she did. He was just about to follow her, when he noticed something and stops chasing her. After he retrieved his lost pants, he charges after her just in time to see her knock out the fish. He blinks a few times and claps. He smiles and mouths, 'You Win' and he goes over to her if she needs help.
Fira has a competitive streak, he'll just have to live with the odd surprise. Plus it's pay back for the cheating start. She hauls the fish onto her shoulder, heavy as it is and after a quick smirk at him she points upwards. Time to return back to the surface.
Near Govi's House
Aikuen nods and shoots upward toward the surface. He breaches it like a whale, and goes to tread water for a bit looking for camp. After spotting it and waiting for Fira to resurface he then points, "Meet yah there!" And he dives going to swim right under the surface. He is soon on dry land, shaking water from himself, spearing the fish he caught or what was left after the de-pants-ing. Only two. He grunts as he sits down and digging a small pit for the fire.
Fira didn't mean to de-trouser him, very short planning and a bad belt it seems to blame there. She nods back as him and heads for the camp, taking a bit longer with the big fish and it shows a hint of struggling too so she pauses to knock it senseless again. She finally gets to the shore as he's done with pit digging. Dumping the fish down on the shore "He needs to loose some weight" she's worn out now.
Aikuen was done with the pit and it had just caught flame when she came near. He stands up and goes over to her, picking her up, as he can tell she is worn out, "He's a big boy aint he! He will feed us for a long time!... Well i lost... Ill do the cooking it seems!" he gives her a very wet kiss, as they are both still drenched, "You just rest your paws, oh fish catcher of mine, and I will do everything else!" he grins and plants another kiss on her before placing her carefully on the cloth in front of the fire. He goes back over to the fish and picks it up with one paw, "First... To clean this little sucker! Oh!" he picks up his skewer from the ground and heads back to the lake. He kneels toward the water and draws his sword, going to de-scale and de-gut the fishes.
Aikuen soon returns with the clean fish. He holds out the big one as Fira hovers into view, "Your a real fisher beast... He is a real beaut-..." He sees her. He then smiles and walks over to the fire and is soon cooking the fish. Fira had worn herself completely out, and had fallen asleep curled up near the fire. Aik grins as he places the grilled fish into portions of dockleaves. He then places them in his pack, while keeping two out for them. He places them in front of her so when she wakes she will see them. He grins and goes over to her to curl up next to her, "Night Fi... I wont eat yet, till you do. I want you to have first taste of it..." he smiles and wraps an arm around her, pulling her close. She moves in her sleep to go snuggle up to him. They both are soon deep asleep near the dying embers, in the moonlight. Both otters are very happy, it was a good day for them both.
