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❁

Izumi had went on a hunt that morning to feed as her and the group traveled closer towards Westmoor, but did not return in hours – mostly because she was stuck here, instead. Heavy, greying skies and the strong smell of petrichor should’ve been the first warning that today was not a good day to be out. Though a part of her stubbornly thought that she could hunt quicker than the rain that approach; to her dismay, she could not. By the time the rain came and progressed into heavier showers, Izumi was drenched from head to paw. She’d even lost the rabbit on the way over here.

She hid underneath the mossy bridge, waiting for the storm to pass – the occasional breeze blowing against her damp skin and making her shiver. The view was almost peaceful in it’s own right, with rain water cascading down the sides of the stricture and the sounds of it drowning out everything else throughout the forest. Though Izumi could do without the feeling of her paws submerged in the stream while attempting to regulate her body heat…

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For Makara! Maybe Πασιθεα as well?

pp permission granted by Middy for Πασιθεα <3

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Frolicking paws and gentle laughter brought them through the flourishing undergrowth. Somewhere, in the distance, Makara had heard the bubble of a stream, and he would softly nudge at Πασιθεα in an effort to lure her toward the brook. It was no ocean, but perhaps it would satiate his craving.

But they would not have to wait for the stream to find water. The heavy sky above would soon open, releasing a torrent of rain upon the dried earth. Humidity would drift, lifting like haze from the hot earth as the gentle boom of the sky echoed with a rumble. Makara continued to move, dancing through the sheets of rain until he was saturated. His bright eyes glittered, a gentle smile lifting his lips as he pressed his ears toward Pasi.

Oh. Pasi.

She was somehow so much smaller when she was wet.

Makara would make a few small steps toward her, pressing a nose into her tiny, wet forehead. Við munum finna skjól, (We'll find shelter,) he told her with a low, rumbling laugh, turning and flicking his tail as he made his way toward a strange, rocky overpass that covered the stream.

The rain echoed off the water's surface, contorting it with ripples. Visibility was limited, and his sense of smell was captured only by the smell of fog and petrichor. He didn't see the other wolf that had taken shelter here until he'd already pressed himself beneath the small underpass.

His pink eyes widened, ears perking as he suddenly dipped his head in greeting. My apologies, he'd start, lifting his head and eyeing the equally drenched woman. Makara's body language softened, tail dropping in a low wag; he meant her no harm. Instead, he'd smile, his gaze growing curious. Room for a couple more under here?

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Izumi Makara

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She too heard the bubbling of the stream, so when she was urged forward with a nudge she smiled with her famous giggle and went forwards with him. Though it wasn't long after they started in that direction that she noticed the sudden shift in the clouds, and with it came the heavy pour of rain. It had grown humid with the downpour and she frowned at it as if it knew she was.

They continued to dance through the streams from above and she laughed and smiled while he glittered his eyes at her like she was the only thing there in the world. He pressed a nose to her forehead as she neared and she closed her eyes, dipping her head downwards a tiny bit with a sheepish smile. The only man that could illicit such a response from her.

He laughed that they would find shelter and she nodded, smiling at the music that tumbled from his lips. They made their way towards a rocky overpass near a stream and she followed behind him, her body dripping and smaller than before.

Oh how she wished to be larger sometimes.

She watched as the stream rippled outwards on the surface from the droplets that would grace its presence, they danced and giggled in their own way and she couldn't help but smile and giggle back.

She too did not notice the other underneath the overpass with them.

Makara was just as surprised as she was and she let out a soft Oh! of shock and once more giggled, at herself this time, and shook her head with a warm smile as Maka apologized and asked if there was room for a couple more.

She refrained from speaking, giving the other the opportunity to do so first, but she beamed warmly at them, her eyes closed and her head tilted to the side with her warm grin. Her tail gently tapped the below her with wet slaps.

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❁

Two new faces emerged from the heavy curtains of summer showers, and it appeared that Izumi had noticed them before they noticed her. Not that she was surprised; the crane was sure they’d been more preoccupied with trying to seek shelter than who was underneath said shelter. They had regarded the crane eventually, however, and her gaze shifted to them both.

”There’s no need to apologize. The bridge is not mine.” She stated a-matter-of-factly, shrugging her shoulders. Even if the bridge was hers, it’d be quite silly to keep others from seeking shelter beneath it in a time like this, but Izumi was not worried about that right now, nor the presence of the pair who sought refuge beside her. She’d lost her food, and was being inconvenienced, weighed down by the heaviness of her drenched coat.

Actually, Inconvenienced wasn’t the right word. This was beginning to irritate her, and she stood there — stiff and unmoving — too preoccupied with this discomfort to really pay attention to them.

”Actually, hold that thought.” — Until Izumi could no longer take it, and she gripped the earth beneath the streams and began shaking out her fur from head to tail. She was attempting not to do so in front of company lest they catch the water that flew off her pelt, but at least the woman could concentrate. ”Okay, I feel much better now.” The Empress stated with a soft, satisfied smile, turning her head back to the pair.

”—but as I was saying, I have no qualms with you and your wife sharing a shelter with me.”

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Skill: 

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Makara slipped out of the rain, slick down to his skin. It was a hassle, having so much fur, and it only grew more annoying the further saturated he became. For a man who was as accustomed to the water as he was, it was a mighty inconvenience to feel (and look) so ridiculous.

But still, he smiled.

Þakka þér (Thank you), he'd hum, idly moving forward, but leaning his body back so that Pasithea could enter before him. The dragon would smile, still silently amused by how utterly small Pasithea looked when wet. She was ... so cute.

"Actually, hold that thought."

Makara would swing his head back around, just in time to be accosted by the flurry of droplets that the other female shook free from her monochrome coat. Eyes, once open, would quickly slit shut, a soft chuckle escaping him as the motion, in turn, caused his own body to shake. Like the inexperienced dog he was, his entire body would wiggle from top to bottom, puffing up his dense coat as if he were some kind of cartoon.

He was wrong before; this was even more ridiculous.

"I have no qualms with you and your wife sharing a shelter with me."

Makara's stomach did an invisible flip. Wife! A title that Makara perhaps wished Pasithea had ... and yet, she deserved far greater ones than to be counted simply as his accessory. His cheeks felt hot — hotter than he remembered them ever feeling.

And he remained still. Very still.

Finally, the man would smile, glancing between the two women as he fought for words. He could only hope it was eloquent. Pasithea has many titles ... Goddess, The All-Seeing, Skuggadansari ... but 'wife' is not one of them, he would hum gently, gauging Pasi's reaction for a moment. Not until she wants it, the dragon would add playfully, his stomach twisting despite his calm exterior as he tried to navigate something much more difficult than even an angry ocean.

It was too quiet.

Was it even raining anymore?

I am called Makara, he would hurry, turning his pink gaze back toward the stranger. If you do not own this bridge ... might I ask where you are from? Yes. It was smooth sailing.

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Izumi Makara

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The woman stood stiff and unmoving at first, a look of discomfort across her features as she looked at them. Pasi could only imagine how the woman must be feeling drenched the way she was, where Pasi loved the wetness, not all did. Suddenly the woman spoke and told them to hold that thought, then she shook herself out from tip to tail.

Pasi shied away a little and giggled, using her left paw to cover her face in case the water splashed at her. Once the woman had finished she seemed more relaxed and expressed that she felt better. The small woman nodded and giggled again, slapping her wet tail a few more times. —but as I was saying, I have no qualms with you and your wife sharing a shelter with me. The other woman told them.

Her eyes flipped open as wide as they would go and she felt her chilled body grow hotter than the sun during summer. A flash of white went across her vision for a second from shock and surprise. Wife! Wife! She let out a couple light streams of giggles, this time her eyes closed tightly with the effort and she brought her paw to her lips to cover her embarrassed grin.

Pasithea has many titles ... Goddess, The All-Seeing, Skuggadansari ... but 'wife' is not one of them, She calmed at the sound of his voice, relaxing a bit against him as she let her giggles subside, Not until she wants it. He would finish, she didn't have words, she was afraid if she opened her lips her giggles would resume and her sounds might be taken the wrong way.

Wife was a title she wouldn't mind, not to Makara, he was a kind man and they just... Worked.

Her companion introduced himself and then questioned where the woman was from. Pasi lightly pushed herself off the legs of her lover and brought her paw to her chest, I'm Pasithea! She squeaked airily with tones that were like birds singing gently on the winds. Almost like the Sparrows that sang off in the distant trees away from their position under the bridge.

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