Nyx looked about at the land around her. Falling leaves danced and sparkled in the midday light, the sun shone high in the sky, and the air smelled of the approaching cold. The land around her belonged to no herd, it was land reserved for no one. Somehow, she knew this land was important to her past. At some time in her family's history one of the numerous horses she descended from had slept here or found shelter along a border.

Whatever had happened Nyx knew it couldn't matter now. She shook her head to clear the thoughts from her mind. Now, she was here to find a mate. Some one she could spend her life with. For once Nyx was looking foreward to seeing another animal, instead of dreading the moment when she would have to speak to another creature. Nyx glanced around. Surely some stallion will have to come soon? she wondered. Nyx sat down and began to groom her fur, licking her paw and dragging it back behind her ear.

Cold fire within
Burns like a heartache
Make my life pain
Is their the water that will put it out
A cure, of love
Water, percious water
When will it rain down my heartache

The light that shone on Raijin's back didn't make him feel any warmer. His head hung low, his cat ears folded. He brayed out air from his norisals, hsi sigh causing a distrubince. He had just been banished. His heart, cold, his heart aching with a burn. He had blood matted in his rump. It showing on his dark pelt. He wasn't the most pretty thin you would see, but he realised he was heading towards the mate grounds. It's earth, hard and with smells of females, males and foals. It was stale. But something caught his attenion. A female felin. He lifte his head, his gaze meeting hers. She was grooming herself. He smiled, and slowly trotted near her. He would hate to ammit she was beautiful more than she could imagine, and he feel deep in love. His heart stopped burning with the cold it had a fe seconds ago. He smiled weakly. Lowering his head some more.

Ur... Hello? he weakly said, slightly blushing. He hoped that she would see past his dark pelt.

Nyx swiped her tongue across her mouth and looked up at the stallion. "Hello," she said. She could sense something about this stallion, but whether it was love or some other emotion that she would normally look down upon, she did not know. She stood up and gave the stallion a friendly smile, her white fur shining where she had groomed herself. "I'm Nyx. What's your name?" She blinked her eyes, but at the same time felt a sputter of hatred boil in her throat.

What was that about? A voice deep inside her mind said. Are you seriously gonna let that stupid stallion just prance in here and become your mate? Are you seriously gonna be some sort of trophy to him? Oh, look! Now it mocked her. It's Nyx! She looks just delightful with-- Err what is his name?

Nyx, such an exotic name... Raijin lifted his head a slightly and sighed. My name is Raijin, my past is both sad and horrible. Where I was banished because I talked with my father's mares. He only saw them as status symbols whilst I saw them as invuilbals. he closed his eyes. Even my mother was ashamed of me.... Raijin's tail flickered and he opened his eyes. But you Nyx, with you coat thar glitters in the sun have made my life worth something. His eyes shone with both fear and the essence of love. His heart beat slow, he was deep in the love trance. He had never felt it so strong before. With his mother and father gone, he could be free to do something; but his name was branded with such banishment he thought he would never fit in. He was a dark figure, not stunning as the other male felins were. He was different. He could tell something just from his brown eyes. His gaze seeing deep within her, he could tell she was the one. But was it the same for her.

Deciding to break the subject, he moved on to places. That is me, but I am curious about you, where do you see as home? he asked, his heart beat turning back to normal, but still his eyes were clear of love struck.

Nyx couldn't help but laugh. "You must take me as a fool Raijin!" she didn't mean to hurt his feelings, if he really did feel that strongly about her, but she was no believer in love at first sight. "I shall humor you, for now anyway." She laugh again and looked into his eyes. She couldn't care less about what he thought he felt. The heart lies, she knew this from experience. She took in a deep breath and smiled.

"I am the descendant of Zulu of Yan Forest,' she began. "I do not know who her mate was, or anything more about her besides that I am nothing like she. But mingled with her stories are tales of Tauri. I have met his descendants on many occasions, and I live in the same home they do." She thought for a moment. How much of my life is in those stories?

"I really can't say very much more about my past," she said, not wanting to reveal too much. She flicked her ears, indicating for him to be quiet for a moment longer. "And before you say anything else, I do not believe in love at first sight." She smiled wickedly, "I question all that you have just said." She flicked her ears again to show that he had her attention and looked at him closely.

Raijin hung his head low, his ears folded; his eyes closed with pain. Well, please give me time, he began opening his eyes I'll promise you won't regret it... It was truthful he was more than a just distastful to look at felin, his spots dark, with darker yet inside. I'm not really understandable Nyx. His heart felt heavy once more, he did not have his way of words this way round. His ears flickered and he turned. He stood still, jsut gazing, looking for words that were deep inside. He truely fell for her. She was unlike any other felin he'd meet. She seemed so truthful, whilst he was just a fool. He did not think of this at first. But as he turned, he sat.

I'm sorry... he started, head hanging in it's usual position. I'm sure they're are better felins more suited to you. his eyes were deep and dark, brown as black like mud. It swirled. It was full of sorrow. But if you wish; you can have a take at me, I'm better suited after a few days.. He stood once more, waiting for her signal or what she was going to reply to his comment.

Nyx smiled. "Did I say I wouldn't give you a chance?" she looked mischevious and playful. Her eyes glowed like she would start a game of tag any minute, but she falt oddly calm. She looked at him and blinked once. "I didn't mean to reject you," she was talking seriously now. "I just meant that I don't want to be treated like some trophy. Like I don't exist...." Nyx looked up at Raijin.

Throphy? Only my father would be of that. I would be disgusted if any one would treat you or anyone else of that standard! he said, shuffling his paws. No point just staying here. If you would give me that chance, please lead me to your homeland. I shall become a warrior there. he said, swaying his head to the track that lead through the forest. He turned, bowed and waited for her reply. I'm sure your homeland will empress me. he said wih a smile, his ears alert and his tail relaxed.

Nyx nodded her head slowly. She flicked her tail in an invitation to follow. She walked into the nearby forest. "Yan Forest," she said to him as she approached the treeline. And she whispered to herself, "The land of my ancestors."

OOC: Continue to YF?

OCC: I've got time to kill (in other words; sure)