The old city

How long they stayed that way she had no idea, but by the time Cri came bounding on the bed it had been a while. Ion sighed and pulled away so she could look over at her shadeling. That was twice now that she had felt the need to interupt, and Ion was starting to think that she should look into some sort of playpen or something. "Yes?" Cri blinked and cocked her head to the side. Right, she hadn't been near water and Ion hadn't drank anything in while. One of the downsides to being a Water Shade, you couldn't be without liquid for too long. She ran her hand through her hair before lying her head back against the soft bed. Damnit. "Well, looks like we're needing to go searching for a water fountain or something." Cri moved closer and nudged her arm. "No, you were already in for a while, you're not going back. Besides, I need to move around some, my foot's going to sleep." She wiggled the toes on her right foot, trying to get rid of the prick of needles poking them.

Wolf nodded rolling off her. Sitting on the edge of the bed he stretched feeling very mellowed. "We could check the mall and see if theres still enough pressure in the pipes to get a drink for it?" he offered running his hand through his hair. Outside it was probably still raining, but it was hard to drink rain.

Nodding, Ion thrust herself into a sitting position. Cri's patience while they both got their bearings bugged her for some reason. She tried to read what she was thinking but came up blank. Narrowing her eyes, she stood up and walked over to her backpack. Once she found her empty bottle she turned back to Wolf. "OK, let's go." Later, perhaps when she took a bath, she would need to have a talk with her shadeling.

Wolf nodded standing up. At first he was a little shaky but he did his best not to show it. "So out in the rain or down the mall?" He asked throwing some sheets, a foamy and some pillows in there cart.

Ion shrugged, her three-seconds bliss completely wiped by Cri's oddness. She looked at the overflowing cart then out the window at the storm. Rain beat down with such force she was almost afraid the windows were going to cave in. It obviously had reached it's peak. "It doesn't matter to me. You can pick."

Wolf pointed outside. "Well we should head off anyways, lets just collect some outside." He said moving over to the cart trying to get the cart moving again.

Nodding, Ion followed close behind. The flashlight had long passed stopped working so they were forced to work their way through the dark. She could feel herself recoiling into her thoughts to the point she wasn't paying attention to anything around her. What the heck was Cri's problem? Was she trying to say she didn't approve of her and Wolf? When she thought about it, Ion could see where the shadeling could be a bit worried. They had known each other for a whole of two days and look what they just had been doing. It wasn't normal to move that fast, was it? Ion wanted to bang her head against something hard for her lack of relationship knowledge. Suddenly she was on the ground, her head lying against smooth, cold tile. Ugh, I guess that's why they say to be careful what you wish for, she thought as she pushed herself onto her knees. Reaching up she could feel a goose egg start to form on the left side of her head. "Frick," was all that could escape through her gritted teeth.

Wolf stopped the cart feeling for Ion on the floor. "Are you ok?" He asked finding her in the dark. "What happened?" he questioned deeply unsettled. How did she manage that he thought rubbing her back waiting to see if she was ok.

"Yeah, just me not paying attention," she replied standing up. Oops, too fast. She reached out her hand and caught the cart. Using it as a stabalizer she blinked a couple of times to get rid of the dots in her vision. Ion shook her head and looked around, purposefully avoiding looking at Cri. This was getting ridiculous. Forcing a smile that she wasn't even sure he could see, she looked down at him. "Sorry, bit of a clutz in the dark," she lied hoping that it would be a good enough explanation.

Wolf stood up taking her hand as he pushed the cart. ''just be careful ok?" He said shaking his head as he struggled to make the cart move. As they got closer to the entrance The sound of rain got louder. "Think you could keep the cart dry?" He asked hoping he wasnt asking too much.

Her smile faultered and she looked down at the shadeling at her feet. Although she really didn't want to she knew it had to be done. Sighing, Ion squatted down and reached out her hand. For a moment Cri just stared at it but eventually reached up. Ion didn't like having hard feelings against her shadeling, and she could feel Cri didn't like it either. They were definitely going to have to talk about this. Cracking her knuckles she stepped out into the rain, allowing it to pelt her skin for a moment before creating a shield. Already she could tell that they were both feeling better, less enclosed, free to melt down and shift with the water. Ion led the way back to the vehicle, opened the trunk and began putting everything in. As soon as they were done she stepped back and let down her part of the shield, absorbing the water that streamed down her face.

Wolf watched as her shield left and the rain pelted them. "You sure your ok...?" He asked feeling like somethign had to be wrong... "If you have any problems... Its ok to talk about them... you remember that?" He asked implying when she had been upset over his hand when they were up at the waterfall. He wasnt driving them back until she said what it was.

Ion kept her eyes shut and her face to the sky. There were her damn feelings and thoughts ruining everything again. Then everyone wondered why she hated them sharing them so much. "It's really nothing. Cri's just having an attitude about something and I don't know what it is. And I was getting water deprived, which was my own fault for not paying attention." She opened her eyes and looked over at Wolf. Really that was the honest answer, it was just the short version.

Wolf blinked nodding. "... Ok just make sure to tell me if you ever have somethign to talk about." He told her slamming the trunk down as he opeend his door getting into the vehicle and out of the rain as he waited for her to hop in with him.

See, this is what I was talking about. You don't mind going into hyper-drive with the kissy faces, but as soon as it comes to the real stuff you slam the breaks. Either you're in it or you're not. Ion flinched at the harsh words. Cri was like the mom she never had, and even acted as her father when she needed one. It just sucked when she was right. "Yeah, yeah, I get it, stop being a big baby. Thanks for the lecture," she muttered, unaware she was saying it out loud. She stayed outside as she tried to think of what to say to Wolf. After a while she had nothing, so she just stayed where she was.

Wolf looked out the window as Ion stood there talking to herself. Wolf waited a minute and just stared out the window as she did... nothing... Wolf decided to just give her time and leaned back against his seat tapping his fingers on his leg. She obviously had a bigger problem then she was letting on. Her waiting proves such. "Might end faster then I expected..." He whispered to himself bracing in case she pulled anything he wasnt ready for when she was ready to get in the car.

Ion finally shook herself and got into the car. She kept her gaze down and hoped that he wasn't about to break it off. Not that she could blame him if he did. He probably thought she was mental or something. This is so stupid, I should never have agreed to go to the village. I'm not use to being around people, I'm use to living by myself in the wild where all I have to do is survive. After a moment of silence the great one added in words of wisdom. Just picture this as one of those situations. Are you going to get through it or let it destroy you. Ion sighed and looked up, feeling like she was about to fall apart at the seams. "I'm sorry."

Wolf blinked thinking he must of miss heard her. Turning his head he frowned. "Why?? what for?" He asked not expecting this at all. Wolf wasnt sure what to do now... Why was she apologizing? "Ion..." He said reach a hand over to hers. "Whats wrong?" he questioned his eyes fixed on her face. She must be majorly stressed.... he thought sadly wondering what was wrong. Was she apologizing cuz she couldnt be with him? or what? It was the only thing that fit. She hadnt done anything wrong.

It took her a moment to work up enough strength to finish. Stupid frickin feelings. "I know I'm not being a very good girlfriend. I'm just not very good at sharing talking or really showing affection. It's hard when you've lived your whole life with just you and your shadeling, no contact with any other people. I haven't quite figured out how to react around people." She had to stop. Not only was she sounding like a stupid cave-woman, she was doing it in front of a guy who actually had liked her.

Wolf listened to her and nodded slowly being careful not to do anything to upset her more. "Ion... Its ok..." He said giving her hand a rub. "Its thats part of being together? For us to help each other?" Wolf said cautiously showing he didnt care. "If you ask me... your perfect..." He smiled and moved his hand back to his lap. "You going to live?" He asked hopping she would feel better.

Ion felt like crying. Of course he was going to start being cautious now, he thought she was a fragile baby. It took all of her will power not to start screming out cuss words or hitting something. Instead clenched her jaw and nodded. Happy? This is why I don't show emotion, she thought bitterly. It's a process, he's got to see that you're really going to go through with what you say. Just be patient. Ion almost snorted. Patience was one of the last things she was good at, but she knew it was true. She sighed and layed her head back against the seat, closing her eyes. Slowly she reached her hand over and interlaced her fingers with his, mentally preparing herself for the rejection she figured would come.

Wolf smiled as her hand found his. Well she didnt say it... thats good. Without any more Wolf started the engine and deciding one hand would be good enough, turned on the windshield wipers and started to drive them back.

Well he didn't reject her, that was nice. Ion sunk deeper into the seat and let herself relax. The ride home would probably have been the perfect time to talk some more, but exhaustion was quickly creeping up on her. She gave Wolf's hand a squeaze before drifting off to sleep.

Wolf smiled to her softly as she drifted off so he just turned his attention to the road as he made his way back through the rain. The drive back was smooth. and Wolf watched the gas gauge as it reached a quarter tank, he figured it would be lower by then. AS the Village came into view Wolf pulled up as close to the ruins as he could being as quiet as he could not to disturb Ion as he parked.

The sudden stop in movement made Ion open her eyes slightly. They were back at the village already, which, apparently, hadn't been touch at all by the storm. How odd, she thought, shaking herself awake. "The clothes can probably stay in here, but let's get the blankets set up."