Welcome to Gaia! ::

Western’s weather, even on the winter-cusp-to-spring, was ordinarily warm. This day was no different than any other, and the rest day was being taken advantage of like no other. The cool, crisp waves that gleamed under the sun’s bright rays, the wind carrying the smell of salt and arid, dry sand. Khamaith stretched under the hot rays, wings splayed as she burrowed into the wet sand in the wake of the waves. The water continued to rush up, lapping at her sharp edges and round softness she never grew out of from her hatchling days.

Behind her, Ezyzu was propped up on the steps of her hut. A slate board balanced across her knee as she worked on her latest correspondence letter, the occasional scratching of ink and quill disrupted by pausing for wording. A mug of tea rests on the step, mostly forgotten about in the venture of writing.

It’s a pleasant warmth, not like the sweltering summer. One Khamaith could easily sleep to, and oh how it was tempting. Her eyes even begin to swing shut before something catches her gaze. The golden lady swung her head up, eyes swirling a brighter blue as a figure catches her attention. Oh, hello there! She greets sweetly, making her rider look up.

’Company?’

Maybe.

The sight of Xanael has Ezyzu smiling warmly, if also feeling the warmth in her face rise to her cheeks. Xanael had become someone quite special to her, and ever since that evening in the kitchens, she hadn’t let her thoughts linger too hard on him -- no doubt that they had flitted to the handsome man again and again. She had been throwing herself into her studies -- not only her standard weyrling lessons, but her additional lessons that had come with impressing a gold dragon.

It didn’t make her heart not hammer in her chest whenever she caught a glimpse of him, either.

But as he approached, his coy smile had her curious. It didn’t beat the surprised raise of her eyebrows as he kissed her palm, and began trailing kisses up her arm. She’s able to see the light in his eyes at this close a range, a shared space they haven’t had for months now. Her heart stuttered, and the feeling of butterflies rising. But as lips meet her cheek, the gentleness of his fingers against her chin had a sweet smile flitting onto her face.

“What can I say? I wanted to wish you luck.” She never regret her actions, just a gentle kiss on his cheek before he’d left for the double clutch at High Reaches. But she’d wanted to wish him luck… And perhaps a selfish part of her had wanted to sneak a kiss in any regards. Yet she can hear his nerves in the soft whisper so close to her ear. The feather-light kiss on her shoulder.

Letter forgotten, Ezyzu reached up to turn Xanael’s face towards her. Her gaze flit over his features, from his dark eyes, anxious expression. Her thumb brushed over his cheek, unable to keep the smile away. Soft -- smitten. “Perhaps that luck was just to bring you back to me this time.” Leaning in, she kissed him sweetly on the lips -- something she’d been wanting since she’d first been allowed her own space.