Dark Fever

Kaisaan · Apr 15, 2013

Gabriel hadn't jerked away a second time when she'd reached back for him, his body actually leaning toward her again of its own volition before his mind could catch up. He closed his eyes again when her fingers resumed their work through his blond hair and he relaxed slowly once more, the purr starting again and growing louder than it had last time now that he was willing to let her touch him and knew it was okay.

The male focused on her voice, finding that the pain started to ease further when he did, when he let Cassandra's low tone and gentle words wash over him. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this safe and his purr gained a content rumble to it as he rested the side of his head against his knees and opened his eyes to blink sleepily at her.

Cassandra seemed to glow in the candlelight around them and he found himself smiling faintly. She looked like one of the angels his mother used to speak of. A beautiful angel...

khetawolf · Apr 15, 2013

Hearing the room fill with Gabriel's purrs and watching him visibly relax made Cassandra feel better than she had in a long time. She soaked up the feeling as she continued to run her fingers through his hair and before long, complete peace swept over her and her thoughts slowed to a daze. She met Gabriel's eyes with her own and then let her mind wander.

He was so cute like this – like a kitten. Her eyes roamed over his face and she observed his light hair and dark amber eyes – eyes that could change from sweet to fierce in a moment's time, she noted – and she felt something in her chest flutter. He was unmistakeably handsome and the way he was looking at her… wow, the way he was looking at her...

Suddenly, she jerked back to awareness and she pulled her hand back. Tearing her gaze away from him, she took a few seconds to collect herself. "…We should go to sleep. It's getting late," she said while looking away, embarrassed to make eye contact with him while her heart was pounding so much.

Kaisaan · Apr 15, 2013

Gabriel blinked, having been almost dozing off and when he realized her fingers were gone, nothing but the sensation lingering on his scalp, he raised his head - thankful it didn't immediately make him regret it - and promptly yawned. His fangs gleamed in the light for a moment before they were hidden once more and he smiled in a still semi-sleepy way at Cassandra. "Thank you." he replied to her quietly even as he made his body move upward. It rose with the grace of a wild-cat despite the discomfort he still felt from both his head and his side and Gabriel let his fingertips touch Cassandra's cheek just for a moment, not thinking about the action at all.

It just felt right to do and at the moment, he was running on little sleep, pain and instinct. It was the instinct, though, that controlled him the most and the instinct came from the very depths of him. It knew what it wanted better than he even knew himself and it seemed already very fond of Cassandra.

Gabriel moved away then, going to the center of the room where they'd piled the ripped blankets. He picked out one that was in relatively good shape and brought it back over to Cassandra with a slightly lopsided smile that he tended to get when doing something kind or embarrassing. "Here. It's the best one."

khetawolf · Apr 15, 2013

Cassandra flushed when Gabriel touched her cheek and she still hadn't recovered by the time he returned to her with the blanket. She looked up at him briefly but never made eye contact as she took the blanket from him. "Thank you," she said quietly, then looked away again in embarrassment.

What's wrong with you? Don't get carried away just because he looks nice. He is at risk of becoming feral. Not just at risk, but likely. No, very likely. And what will you do then? You need to keep your distance. He hasn't done anything wrong yet but then again, you have only known him for two days.

Cassandra continued to mentally scold herself as she laid down and pulled the blanket on top of her. "Good night," she called to him, but she had no intention of sleeping just yet. Her new emotions towards Gabriel scared her and she made it her personal duty to crush those feelings by the end of the night. She didn't know if she would succeed, but she was sure going to try.

Kaisaan · Apr 15, 2013

Gabriel made his own bed nearer the cave entrance than Cassandra, not even thinking about it as he put himself between her and any danger that might come upon them. Yawning again, the male curled much like a cat might under his own blanket and he started purring again softly as he went to sleep, feeling content and relaxed. Even the dull throb in his head couldn't keep the deepness of wonderful, dark oblivion away and Gabriel welcomed it.

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Dark amber eyes opened slowly and Gabriel yawned immediately before uncurling his body, stretching slightly under the blanket before he settled again and looked around. His ears listened for any sound of danger before he even started thinking about it. His nose started working then, too, but neither of them found anything worth worrying about and he relaxed again, sitting up and running a hand through his blond hair, letting it fall back into his eyes, knowing it has to be a mess.

There was faint light coming into the cave-home now and Gabriel looked toward the place he'd last seen Cassandra, smiling slightly to see her there still. He rose from his spot on the floor and approached her slowly on soundless feet. His hand, when he shook her shoulder, was gentle and his voice deep with the sleep still in it.

"Cassandra? Cassandra, wake up. It's time to get moving." Staying in one place was not safe.

khetawolf · Apr 15, 2013

Cassandra stirred softly before realizing what was happening and she sat up with a start. She wasn't used to being woken up prematurely for any other reason than immediate danger. She looked at him with wide eyes, "What's wrong?" But when she saw how calm Gabriel was and heard nothing but the stillness in the cave, the question answered itself.

"Oh. Sorry. It's a habit," she said with an apologetic smile. "...Wait a moment. You remember me?" Her smile widened. She didn't know whether to take it as a sign that it was just a lucky day or if his memory was starting to improve. Still, she was relieved she wouldn't have to go through the process of calming down a panicked Gabriel while trying to trigger his memories to return.

Kaisaan · Apr 15, 2013

Gabriel chuckled and moved away, starting to sift through cans to see what would serve as a good breakfast. He spoke as he worked, slightly distracted but...normal. If one hadn't known how messed up his mind really was, they might have thought him to be downright plain for all the little oddness he had about him today. Or at least this morning...

"I remember you. Some things from yesterday are foggy - did I talk about someone named David? - but my memory doesn't really have any rhyme or reason to it. Sometimes I remember and sometimes I don't."

Having found a can of something that didn't immediately make him frown at the thought of eating it, Gabriel came back to Cassandra and sat down, opening the food and taking some before holding it out with a smile, blowing his hair out of his face as his hands were full. "So, how far do you want to try to go today?"

khetawolf · Apr 15, 2013

"As far as we can," Cassandra answered easily. She was more than eager to see the forest and in her mind, the sooner the better. "Unless you feel like we need to stop at any towns along the way. I don't know New Mexico very well but I grew up in Arizona so I know all of the major towns and landforms there." She got up briefly to take a can of food from the pile before returning to sit next to Gabriel. She opened it and began to eat as she thought.

He had asked if he spoke about David but she opted to ignore that question - she didn't want a repeat of the day before. She glanced around the room and even though she was excited to see the forest, she knew it was unlikely they would come across such a bountiful place for a while and she was almost hesitant to leave. "We should pack as much as we can before we go. What are you taking with you?"

Kaisaan · Apr 15, 2013

Gabriel frowned thoughtfully, looking around. "Food, most likely. You can trade it most anywhere and if we need something along the way, its good barter." Even with memory loss, he knew that much and he stood after he'd finished eating and went back down the stairs to the level below. There were packs down there in better shape than his own and Gabriel debated for a moment before starting to make the transfer.

Most things in his pack were normal items a survivor in this land would have. A spare change of clothes, his knife, the needle and thread kit, cans and containers of food, a water canteen - and he'd had his notebook - but as Gabriel dug deeper, he started to unearth things not so common. The first was a gun and he stared at it for a long minute, his fingers knowing the shape and the feel of the weapon, but his mind drawing a blank as to how he might have acquired it. He opened the chamber with an ease born of experience and saw there were only three bullets inside. Still, the gun itself was in a good shape, well cleaned and it looked usable.

He carefully made sure the safety was on before putting it in the new pack, somewhere not readily reachable as he had no desire to use it. He was unsure why he kept it, but couldn't make himself leave it. The next item was a set of dog-tags and Gabriel ran his thumb over them, listening to them clink. He read the inscription on one - Jaguar - but it held no meaning to him and like the gun, he put it away. A compass and an old picture came next, but Gabriel didn't look at the photograph. He knew better. He didn't want a headache from hell this early in the morning.

Having transferred his own things, he set about putting more food in his pack and another knife, a sharper one from the array of weapons available. He found himself admiring the bow, but his fingers didn't recognize the feel of it when he picked it up so he left it. He made his way back up the stairs and smiled at Cassandra, hefting the pack on his shoulders. "Ready to go?"

(((If you'd like to time-skip to somewhere or throw in some drama of your own (*grins*) that is perfectly fine with me! If you are happy at this pace, that's cool, too. :) )))

khetawolf · Apr 15, 2013

((Okay! Now is the perfect time for a time-skip and don't worry, I have plenty of drama. ;) Most of it will come a little later but I have some things planned for the immediate future too, hehehe.))

****

Two weeks had passed since Cassandra and Gabriel left the storage cave. Any remnants of the rain from their meeting night were long gone and it hadn't rained since, leaving the air hot and dry and the ground cracked. The direct sunlight seemed to bother Cassandra a great deal and she had urged to travel during the darker hours. She claimed it was to avoid the heat but counter-productively, she never even took her jacket off and during the hottest hours of the day, she even insisted on keeping her hood on.

As the days passed, Cassandra began more at ease with Gabriel and despite her best efforts, she was growing used to his company and his very presence soothed her. Since they met, her thoughts had become clearer and less frantic. She worried less and slept better and overall seemed to be more relaxed. She had dutifully used Gabriel's notebook to write down any memories he may have gotten and when she was finished, she gently returned the notebook to her bag. She never once considered looking through any of the pages that had writing that wasn't hers.

By the time the two weeks had passed, preserving water was becoming a struggle. They hadn't come across any towns during their travels and while they were still well supplied with food, finding water was becoming a main concern. When they finally reached a dusty and abandoned highway, Cassandra felt a wave of relief wash over her. "Yes!" She walked over to the road and looked it over. It hadn't been used in decades and the asphalt held hundreds of deep cracks but Cassandra couldn't seem more pleased with it.

"I know this road. It means we're in Arizona. If we follow it, it will take us to a small town which shouldn't be far from here."

Kaisaan · Apr 15, 2013

(((Awesome! Me, too! Hehe)))

His spells of not remembering Cassandra have started to lengthen. He wakes most days knowing who she is and he's even starting to be able to recall more details from their days together. Most days are repetitive, though, so there isn't a great deal to remember. Still, it was a start and Gabriel was happy about it. Recalling memories still made his head hurt though and he often found himself not wanting to try and remember.

It was nearly impossible at this point now, however, and Gabriel, somewhere in his mind, knows its because of Cassandra. He wanted to help her and that meant remembering. And there was something about her presence, about the stability of it and her very demeanor that seemed to draw out the deepest memories in his mind, bringing them to light even if it was just in short, jumbled bursts. Gabriel never seemed to remember them after the fact, though. That hadn't changed.

Today was one of his worse days, though. He'd woken not remembering Cassandra's name, though, he'd seemed to know HER and he had to read the notebook for the first time in a week to remember where they were going and why. The memory of what he'd told her to write down, though, still hadn't returned to him, not even this late in the day.

Still, he was used to it and when Cassandra started to get excited over a road she obviously knew, he smiled at her enthusiasm. She'd told him they didn't have much water. That must have been why she was so happy to know there was a town up ahead. The male came over to the road, looking at it and then ahead at where it led, his head tilting. "How far do you think it is?" Would they make it there before dark?

khetawolf · Apr 15, 2013

Cassandra looked down to where the road led, then at the mountains in the distance as she tried to pinpoint their location. "If we are where I think we are, then it shouldn't be far at all. Maybe...an hour away? Possibly less." By now it was late afternoon so if Cassandra's estimations were correct, they would arrive in the evening.

She started down the road, thinking about the town ahead. Refilling their water canteens was on the forefront of her mind but the possibility of sleeping on a real bed and taking a bath for once made her even more excited to reach the town.

She looked to Gabriel. "The town we are going to is called Greydale. The last time I was here it was pretty small but it should have everything that we need."

Kaisaan · Apr 15, 2013

Gabriel merely nodded, trusting her knowledge. He remained quiet, though, his mind wandering as they walked. He wasn't sure if this was usually how he and Cassandra passed the day, in silence - it wasn't, usually they spoke of things they'd seen, places they'd been, what they remembered about the old world as Gabriel was five when everything fell apart and Cassandra would have been two - but he found his attention elsewhere.

He was trying to reach for memories, but they were floating before his mind's eye, fuzzy and distorted, but there and he simply let them come, wondering what had triggered them this time. Greydale. Did he recognize that? No, not really, but gray...it was a color...it was a name...yes, a name. Gray..Gray...she had red hair...and brown eyes...cruel eyes... Metal. So much metal and coldness, pain...

Gabriel blinked, his entire body giving a shiver as he forcefully brought himself back to the world at present, not wanting to remember anymore. He looked up then and realized it had been some time since they'd started walking on the road and the sky was growing dim. He could see lights in the near-distance.

khetawolf · Apr 15, 2013

As they walked, Cassandra wondered why Gabriel was so quiet but she decided not to bring it up. She never knew what was going through his head or what he was remembering and she didn't want to risk making his head hurt by pressuring him to answer her questions. As the sky darkened, Cassandra pushed back her hood and peered out at the distance. They would be in town in just a matter of minutes.

Cassandra looked at Gabriel with concern. She hoped he would not be recognized as infected. He looked normal - at least, until he smiled and revealed his fangs...or when he was threatened and his eyes turned cat-like. Not to mention his posture and movements were oddly graceful... Cassandra sighed. Well, Gabriel had lasted this long without getting caught so maybe it would be okay.

When they entered the town, there was only a small crowd of people remaining outside, talking with each other and trading goods. The town itself was humble but seemed to have all of the essential places that a town would have - an inn, tavern, and various shops. Cassandra looked to Gabriel. "We should stick together. Besides water, is there anything that you want to get?"

Kaisaan · Apr 15, 2013

As they entered the town, Gabriel's entire demeanor seemed to change, growing more reserved and oddly...well, normal. His gait changed, less graceful and wild and more slow and heavy. He didn't smile and his eyes seemed to grow duller until he actually started to resemble most of the people in town. He hardly seemed aware that he was doing it, but the speed in which he accomplished all this, within a few steps, was impressive and almost could have pointed to a training of sorts.

He made his mind focus and shut down, only keeping in the forefront of his thoughts anything that would be helpful in this environment. It was like he'd become an entirely different person and the contrasts were dramatic as he looked at Cassandra. His gaze wasn't unfriendly, but his dark amber eyes lacked the mischief and expression they usually did.

"Soap, if we can find it." he answered and then looked back at those trading, resisting the urge to sniff out what he wanted, instead starting to move among the crowd as everyone else was, searching that way and keeping an eye on Cassandra at his side - and sometimes behind - not wanting to lose her or miss the cues she might give if there was a problem.

khetawolf · Apr 15, 2013

Cassandra watched Gabriel with wonder. He had transitioned so quickly and easily that she couldn't believe that the agents in the first town had ever identified him as infected at all. She figured he must have picked up the ability to blend in largely through practice, but he did it so well that she wondered if he had any help learning how – perhaps from that resistance group he had apparently been involved in?

As soon as Cassandra realized her thoughts were wandering, she forced herself to stop and focus on the present. She searched through the town until she found a merchant who sold soap, as well as a variety of other hygienic tools.

The merchant's eyes lit up when he saw them, obviously excited for the potential customers. "Hi. Can I help you?" He kept his tone low, as everyone else in the town did, but he smiled widely at them and seemed friendly enough. He didn't seem to notice anything unusual about the two and Cassandra hoped it would stay that way.

Kaisaan · Apr 16, 2013

Gabriel followed Cassandra to the merchant and for a moment he looked at the man intently, as if he was trying to determine whether he truly was friendly, before his eyes dulled again and he spoke in a low tone, making sure not to show his fangs in the dim lighting. "We'd like to trade for soap. Something not to strongly scented. We can pay in food." The interaction was done fairly quickly and both Gabriel and Cassandra left the man feeling relieved that nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

The male looked down at his companion as they started searching for a place to get water, probably somewhere in the center of town as most of them tended to have wells that were guarded carefully by soldiers loyal to whoever ran the small settlement.

"You've been here before? Will anyone recognize you?" Should they be more careful getting around any hired soldiers?

khetawolf · Apr 16, 2013

"I have been here before but it was years ago. If anybody recognizes me, it won't matter," Cassandra answered, implying that anybody that recognized her would have only seen her before she was infected so they weren't at risk of being found out. She approached the center of the town where there was a well, along with a couple of guards standing watch.

She approached the guards and smiled innocently at them. "My friend and I have been traveling for a while. Could we refill our canteens?"

One of the guards nodded and stepped aside from the well but the other stopped him. "Wait a moment." Cassandra tensed. Did they know? The guard continued, "There's a fee. What do you have to offer?" Cassandra relaxed a little. The guard was just trying to be a bully - water was normally free - but that was better than the guard suspecting them of being infected. Still, his boldness irritated her and she wondered if it would be worth arguing with him.

Kaisaan · Apr 16, 2013

Gabriel read between the lines and relaxed at her words. It didn't last long though and his body started to coil tightly as he looked at the guard, dark amber eyes narrowing. "If there was a fee, your friend there wouldn't have moved." he replied back quietly, but there was a hint of steel in his voice that couldn't be mistaken. Gabriel knew better than to speak loudly and he knew better than to let the wild urge that rose inside him out. He knew better than to draw attention that was abnormal, but that didn't mean he and Cassandra had to let others push them around.

The well-water was supposed to be free and they all knew it.

"Nathan, quit playing with the tourists." the first guard who'd moved said lightly hoping to diffuse the situation. He wasn't sure if it would work. Nathan wasn't exactly the most even-tempered of people, but then there was something about the blond that didn't seem so calm either. Yeah, better to stop this before it escalated. No one wanted trouble....well, besides Nathan...

khetawolf · Apr 16, 2013

Nathan realized he had miscalculated but now his pride was at stake and instead of relenting, he continued to dig himself into a deeper hole. "Look, I told you there's a fee. If you don't have anything to offer then you're not going to get water. Got it?" He locked eyes with Gabriel and smirked. A challenge.

Cassandra immediately saw what was happening and also worked to diffuse the situation. "Gabe, maybe we should just go... we can check back tomorrow." Normally, Cassandra would have stayed and fought. She never let anyone take advantage of her. However, Gabriel was there and that changed things. Fighting would no longer just put herself in danger, but him as well, and that was unacceptable to her.

Dark Fever

The Wolf

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