Bark crackled beneath the flas, casting shadows that danced like spirits across the room, stretching far and wide. Nova watched, entranced and completely at ease, her stomach full from a al of fish, berries, and coconut. The world had narrowed to this mont. Everything around her was him. His warmth, his scent, his presence, Yoa was etched beneath her skin, and she had no intention of letting any of it go.
Her back rested against his chest, their bodies wrapped in a shared hide. It wasn’t chilly tonight, but sitting like this was snug and cosy. Her arms ached from archery, and the rest of her body throbbed pleasantly from the self-defence drills Yoa had put her through... and what ca after.
They’d been unable to resist each other, there was always tension brewing between them, even now as they rested. But earlier, it sparked between them, like the physical effort of fighting was a catalyst. Between every strike and every touch it grew. Eventually, they’d given in, surrendering to the fire between them just as easily as she now lted against him.
With the night drawing on, Yoa finally told Nova what had been troubling him. Even without the bond sending his emotions through her chest, she could tell sothing was up from the pinching of his brows whenever his softened gaze wasn’t on hers. The Akhlut had made another appearance and Yoa barely managed to save so children from its attack.
Was that the first victims since the vampiras? Or the only victims Yoa was aware of because he had been present. After discussing his troubles with Nova, he agreed to send a ssage to Vulcan by using one of his many spies. While Nova finished eating her al, Yoa left to alert Vulcan about the Akhlut through a green parrot that had been bravely perched nearby.
It wasn’t within Yoa’s territory but close to the border where no animal was foolish enough to stray into.
Although Yoa doubted the Akhlut would cause any problems for the flock, it was best they were aware of the creature lurking around the shores and possibly venturing far into the jungle. It had already proven once it could go further than the beaches and even overpower the vampiras.
Yoa wondered if that was more a power move to prove its strength though. Hunting one of the harpy eagles would be foolish when there were weaker animals nearby that wouldn’t drain its energy nearly as much.
"Do you feel better?" Nova whispered, turning her head to gaze up at her striking man.
Yoa nodded though his brows still arched together. "I do, but I keep wondering why now... Why cause Tayun problems beyond what has always been known about the creature. What is it’s purpose?"
"Purpose?" Nova murmured, her eyes searching his.
"Every creature has a purpose. Even the ancients. But this goes beyond what I or the previous guardians know..." He trailed off, his gaze now burning into the flas before them. Then he shook his head, and leaned his cheek on top of her head. "I’m sorry. It is not what you wish to hear while on our Union."
"Union?" Nova asked softly before she could reassure him that it didn’t matter. She wanted him to voice his troubles so they might work on them together or at the very least, allow him to speak it off his chest.
"Yes. The first moon cycle since our bond was sealed should be spent with each other as much as possible. It is why Atia and Aiyana is not around much," Yoa explained.
"Huh that sounds like a honeymoon..." Nova trailed off, realising that was exactly what this was. The words translated in her mind as soon as she said it. Again it was strange how this new intellect of hers worked.
"And I think our Union may be different to others," she added, snuggling into him a little more as she stared up at him. The fire cast a golden glow across one side of her face, while the other remained in shadow as her bright blue eyes with a galaxy worth of stars twinkled back at him. "You are Yiska, and I know you would not let stay here alone..."
Nova placed her hand against Yoa’s lips before he could voice his apologies. "And that I do not bla you for. I would rather you leave this treehouse without any worries clouding your thoughts while on patrol or whatever else you do as Tayun’s guardian. I am one less thing to worry about and that gives peace of mind too."
Yoa nipped at her fingers playfully and she yelped, snatching her hand back, cheeks growing pink as he gazed down at her with a heat that was not ant for this conversation. His smirk faded, forcibly and his expression grew serious as he gazed upon her, his large hand cupping her cheek and ear. "I will never stop worrying about you." His whisper was like the sweetest caress and she found herself lting into his touch more.
"Mmm you need to seriously stop talking like that. How can I function normally day by day when my knees weaken to jelly every ti you open your gorgeous mouth," Nova jested lightly, though she spoke the truth.
This guy would be dangerous to all won around the world in her world. Thank the gods he was on Tayun.
"Then I will catch you every ti-"
"Stoooop!" Nova laughed, her hands on his lips as he tugged her even closer to him, his eyes sparkling with amusent. If he was in his jaguar form she knew already his tail would be swishing playfully.
Yoa chuckled after trailing a few kisses along the back of her neck, watching the goosebumps flourish along her spin, dipping beneath the animal hide and pulled back, satisfied. For now. His beast had other ideas but he could also sense how much rest Nova’s body really needed. It was made even more obvious now that they were connected through the Serakai bond.
He did not push anything further, and let her rest against him more. The comfortable silence that had grown between them then leaked into a soft tune beyond the treehouse, where Atia played his berimbau. Nova’s mind wandered as did his until she asked what had crept up on her mind.
"How did you beco Yiska? There was at least one more trial right?" Nova asked, resting her head back against his bicep as she stared up at him. "You said you were fourteen when you beca Tayun’s guardian..."
The corners of Yoa’s lips curled up as he recalled the final trial that led to him becoming the second youngest Guardian on Tayun.
"Zahul found ... like usual..." Yoa trailed off, his eyes moving to the flas like his story would transform before their eyes and the flas fanned into shapes and movents of the ti he faced his final trial.
The room faded and Yoa was transford into his younger self once more. He would never forget the trials. Yet this one one remained with him the most. Not because of the horrors, or the toll it had taken on his body but because he couldn’t rember every vivid detail like he did the others.
"Yohuali."
His head snapped up to the familiar, gravel voice he knew so well. The fish dropped from his mouth and he leapt out of Soluma before the cloaked figure. Atia and Aiyana still ssed around further downstream in their jaguar forms, unaware of Zahul’s presence and what fate was brought with him.
Water droplets sparkled along Yoa’s black fur. His whiskers shimred like silver strands under the sunlight, his golden eyes vivid against his inky fur, hardening as he gazed upon the phantom guide.
"It is ti to take your final trial. Shift and follow ."
Yoa didn’t question anything as he shifted back into his human form and began following the guide who looked more like dark smoke billowing along the leaves today. His hood flickered in and out of existence, as though he was nothing more than an actual phantom ready to leave the island once the trial finished.
"Final?" Yoa said as he pushed aside a giant leaf that almost smacked him in the face behind Zahul.
"That is correct," the phantom guide replied, his voice dry and in dire need of water.
"Has Vulcan passed?" Yoa asked, too curious not to ask about the harpy eagle.
"My, I did not realise how eager you were to see again. If I’d known sooner, perhaps I should have visited you like you did ..." Vulcan appeared above them, swooping down and landing on a rock before the river dropped, cascading to the depths below.
Vulcan’s pale hair was longer now, plaited behind him, ready for what was to co. It was also made clearer now to those in his flock that he was trying to make his na known beyond that of his mother’s power and his spot as Silver Feather’s prince.
It was only recently, Yoa and his friends had sneaked into their nests to gain further knowledge about his rival. It was Aiyana’s idea. One he’d been convinced was good. It had been. Yoa had learned a lot about Vulcan before the warriors beca aware of the imposter jaguars running along in their land.
Acting like he was unaware of what had transpired between them since the last trial, Zahul interrupted their staring competition.
"You will both walk into this trial. Only one will leave triumphant."
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