Dancing in a Storm (MarooxVael)

  What if this
      Storm ends?
          And I don’t
      See you
        As you are now
  Ever again?

**********************

Vael and his men were caught in the storm on their way to Maroo’s cave. She had noticed the looming storm clouds with delight, but at the sight of their dark expressions at the thought of sleeping through the rain, she offered them shelter in her home.

The storms clouds were upon them faster than they thought, and they struggled against the howling wind, pushing through the pelting rain. When they reached the cave, they were greeted by the enormous sight of Momma Bear.

Momma Bear stood on her hind legs, sniffing the air curiously. She had recognized Vael’s scent, having met him when her dear Maroo showed him the path to the cave, growling out introductions. The four other scents had made Momma Bear curious, so she had lumbered forward to the entrance to greet the others.

The men jumped and screamed in fright at the sight of a full grown female grizzly bear standing on her hind legs, but Vael reacted calmly and ordered the men to not kill Momma Bear. He led them past Momma Bear to a quietly burning fire in the background. Marv sat next to it, silently cooking a rabbit he and Maroo had caught earlier. The skin was hanging in the back, waiting to be cut and used for gloves or moccasins.

The soldiers hesitantly sat by the fire and started making a stew for dinner for all of them, chatting amongst themselves, pointedly ignoring Marv. Vael ignored their conversation in exchange for looking around the large cave for Maroo. The section they were currently in served as some form of a dining hall, sitting area. The cave broke off to two different areas. By the trail of leaves and hay, it was obvious which room Momma Bear stayed in. But what confused Vael most was that fact that there were three people that lived in this cave, yet only two apparent sleeping areas.

Vael quickly shoved away any thoughts he had of Marv and Maroo, remembering how fatherly Marv acted towards Maroo, doting on her when he could. Maroo probably slept with her “mother”, since the extra fur on her would keep her warm during the winters and cold nights like this.

After he thought of this fact, a soaking wet Maroo came rushing into the cave and towards the fire. She shook out her hair and clothes, dispelling water droplets everywhere, earning yelps of “hey!” and “watch it!” from the guards and helpless giggles from Marv. Maroo grinned wildly, her eyes alive with a light Vael had never seen before.

“It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it?!”

Maroo jumped up and down in excitement before she headed to the side cave that belonged to Momma Bear. That answered that question. The men grumbled angrily and wiped away the drops that had landed on them, their conversation a dull murmur. Vael paid it no mind and watched the flickering flames and and listened to the rolling thunder.

When the soldiers’ conversations suddenly stopped dead did Vael look up. And he stared in somewhat horror and disbelief.

Maroo was carrying her damp clothes over to the fire, oblivious to the stares from the men. She walked without a shirt on, her chest taped down in the same fashion women did nowadays. Her leather, ranger pants were gone, her legs from the knee up bound with cloth, and a white cloth draped over it, ending at about her mid thigh as some form of a skirt. It was improper and indecent of her, and yet the men said nothing and still stared. Marv didn’t seem the least bit concerned, even though he too knew the proper etiquette.

Maroo hung her wet clothes over the fire, water drops hissing as they hit the flames. She looked over the group and grinned wolfishly, her sharp teeth barred at them.

“I’m gonna head out. I’ll return late tonight so don’t wait for me.”

Before the men could respond, Maroo turned on her heel and padded out of the cave, her bare feet making no noise against the cold stone floor over the rolling thunder. After ten minutes of shocked silence, and Maroo already a significant distance away, did Vael snap out of his reverie and bolt after her.

******************

The storm was brutal, and the cold rain froze his armor, causing it to burn against his skin. Every drop felt like a small stab of pain, but he suffered through it as he chased after Maroo.

Her trail was almost impossible to pick up, but he managed to make his way, following the obvious footprints in the mud and the small disturbances in the natural landscape.

He came to the end of the tree line and was about to call out for Maroo when the thunder roared loudly and lightning rolled across the sky.

(What If This Storm Ends- Snow Patrol. Start playing it here. Now. Writer’s orders)
*A lone, feminine figure stood at the the center of the clearing, on top of a hill. At the silver flash of lightning, Vael could see her stance, see her arms raised to the sky, her head hanging back, her mouth open to collect the raindrops.

She slowly twirled, her arms guiding her movements. She was slow and cautious, her steps hesitant and slightly unsure. She bowed low enough to kiss the ground before rising up high enough to touch the sky.

Her movements slowly grew more sure, her feet guiding her as she twirled, bowed, jumped, and danced. Her movements became more fluid, like she was becoming the rain itself instead of a clumsy human.

Vael stood enraptured by this strange dance, this smooth combination of movements that were both elements of fighting and battle and yet breath taking and beautiful, like the storm above them.

Thunder rolled again and another flash of silver lit the sky. Maroo jumped and and spiralled through the air, landing with a soft thud. She moved like smoke and flames, but she was fluid in what she did.

She was lit up by the sky, a silver halo lighting her moonlit skin, her hair ink like the darkest winter night. The rain seemed to grow stronger as she danced, trying to fight against her graceful steps, her willowy arms.

It was a battle against beauty and nature, both struggling to win. The sky broke again as lightning struck, thunder roaring it’s battle cry against her. His eyes never left her form and she danced, watching her crouch low after a powerful jump, her arms raise as she spiralled her way back upwards.

Her dance reminded him of the gypsies, dancing for coins in the street. The same sway of the hips, the same waves of the arm, the same feeling that enraptured him and overwhelmingly tempted him to join.

The world was slowly fading out, overwhelming Vael as he watch. She was a temptation that he wanted, and he knew how to get it. Her moves quickened slightly, as if somehow sensing the climax of the storm. The thunder roared again louder, lightning brightening the sky thrice more, her movements becoming brief flashes between the darkness.

He didn’t hesitate and longer, his armor making no sound as he approached her. She gave no recognition to his presence, too lost in her own world of thunder and storms. He tried to grasp her, but she was elusive, evading him. Another angry roar of thunder echoed in the distance and suddenly she was in his arms.

They froze for only a moment, the world and storm lost in each others eyes. But then their stage was lit by silver and they were dancing.

There was no rhyme or reason, no set pace. They danced violently like the flames of a fire that boiled their blood, they danced slowly as if they were a calm reflection of the lake. There was nothing to them, just the pelting rain and each others eyes.

Their pace eventually settled, and they were violently fast. He held his breath as she spun in his arms, lifted up above his head, or bowed low enough to touch the ground. He lost himself in the feel of her through his gauntlets, to the darkness of her black hair, and the wild ways of her dance.

She almost clung to him, his frozen armor burning her bare skin. She was overwhelmed by everything, the cold storm, the rolling thunder, the howling wind, the burning armor, Vael’s beaten, silver eyes that seemed both soft and hard.

Through the storm they danced, both lost and found, forgotten and remembered in the storms fury as they melted into one body, one converged mind that worked like clockwork.

Their euphoria reached a fever pitch as their own violent storm rushed to meet it’s peak. Their pants were lost among the howling wind, breath warm on each other’s skin. Everything reached a fever pitch, the climax racing and growing like a beating heart, drums echoing in their ears as the finally was close. They spun until they felt their hearts clench and the sky cracked down once, twice, thrice and the wind screamed one last angry howl and then they were frozen as everything suddenly settle and they froze, chests rising violently as they drowned in each others eyes.

Vael only saw her electric green eyes and how her lips were faintly blue and how even through his armor she was still warm and soft and battle worn and absolutely magnificent.

Maroo only felt the cold sting of his armor and the heat radiating off him, and his warm breath on her cheek and silver eyes raging while the storm froze and she couldn’t help but smother herself in the raw emotion in his eyes, expressfull eyes that were only seen by her.

They were caught in a limbo as the storm receded away, neither sure what they wanted to do or say. After a while, only Maroo was able to find her words.

“What if this storm ends? And I don’t see you, as you are now, ever again?”

Vael’s grip found itself on the back of Maroo’s neck and they were lost in the feeling of iced lips and the taste of each other. The air around them settled and the storm officially settled, freezing over until they could see each others breath when they pulled apart to breathe. Maroo whimpered as he pulled away.

“Because, I want to see you as you are now, everyday that I am living…”

Vael only responded with a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose before gently picking her up, noticing how her legs were about to buckle from exhaustion. He carried her back to the warm cave, the memories of the storm already being cherished.

*******************
What if this
Storm Ends?
And leaves us nothing
Except a memory,
 A distant echo…

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