Subject: The Setting Sun lopenl 646 views

[adminarot3p]

She walked gracefully among the trees, feeling the pine needles under her feet. smelling the scent of warm pine, sap leaking like tears of joy from their boughs. Her hair was let fly, caressed gently by the breeze. With a light heart she frolicked through the deep forest, content in he loneliness, but then again she was not along, soaring through the trees like half a ghost. Her wings made nary a sound as she alit on her friends shoulder, protected from her ripping claws by a leather patch.

She hooted loudly, making her pleasure known. Aurora laughed and scratched at her chest, watching her big black eyes close. She laughed foe the joy of it all, of the earth and the sun and the trees, she was one with nature and loving it.

[latingeek]

Breaking and stumbling through the forest, he patted a few pine leaves off his coat, breathing out gruffly, as the heat of his layered clothing was killing him. Rubbing his hand across his sweaty face he frowned, weary of traveling on foot for days and not running into anyone for miles.

Stepping into a small clearing in the trees he stopped and stared rubbing his eyes quickly to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. He watched as a girl play with a bird, laughing gleefully. Stepping closer, Roman held his hands up showing that he meant no harm. "Hey.." He coughed out.

[adminarot3p]

She snapped her head around to him, and was tense at first. She knew that others could be aggressive in times like these, when the supplies were lowest. She looked him over, saw that he was not to be feared, and skipped up to him. Her smile was wide, infectious. Her eyes were backlit with an inner fire, it seemed to shine constantly at him. She wrapped him in a small preliminary hug, and then stepped back. Chey leaned in and looked at him, tilting her head slightly. She was curious about this new human, the last on they saw was a day ago, and it was slower, and dead looking. She didn't sense anything as bad about this one. She settled for blinking slowly a few times at it.

Aurora smiled at him again, speaking happily. Her voice was like a laugh, bent and shaped into words, but still retaining the feeling of joy made sound. She talked like she played with her voice, dancing and leaping through syllables, all flowing together to make the very act of her talking a veritable symphony. Why the hell was this girl so happy in the middle of a zombie apocalypse? Her big blue eyes regarded him amiably, thier long lashes petting the air seductivly, and her whole demeanor made you want to kiss her, but you know it would be a little awkward, because she was so friendly, but you still really wanted to.

" Hi Im Aurora, and this is Chey."

[latingeek]

Holding his hands up higher above his heads, he narrowed his eyes at her and her owl that studied him back. This girl, Aurora, was the friendliest person he's met during the apocalypse. He gave Aurora a small smile as he took a few steps away from her. Rubbing the back of his neck nervously he studied the area, making sure that he hadn't just stepped into a trap, where his journey would end suddenly.

Lowering his arms and sliding his hands into his pockets he regarded the girl. His voice came out gravely, and choked as he hadn't talked for weeks, maybe even months. He cleared his throat loudly, his brown eyes looking everywhere except for her.

"I'm Roman.."

[adminarot3p]

She looked innocently at him wondering why he stepped away. She obviously didnt have a weapon, but Chey would attack on command. She smiled encouragingly at him, which only succeeded in lighting her eyes more, bringing out the silver slivers. She spoke music again.

" Where are you coming from? Im from further east, id always wanted to visit the rockies, but never got to. Theyre beautiful, arent they?" She spun in a small circle, her curls fying around her like a burgundy storm, gllistening in the sunlight that jutted like spears thru the canopy, stabbing the soft loam and letting flow blood as heat, spreading it across the rich earth. It laced the air and created a warm earth fragrance, natures perfume. She loved the scent of the earth.

[latingeek]

He watched her spin on the ground, her hair flowing freely with her body as she spun happily, almost clueless of what was going on around her. He opened his mouth to speak, but only croaked out like a frog much to his embarrassment. He groaned lightly feeling way out of his in front of this girl. He lifted his hand out to feel if she was real, stopping himself quickly and placing his hand on his head.

"I'm from the Midwest. Yeah, I guess it is pretty nice out here." He sighed looking around the area. Seeing the large pine trees that loomed over them, felt as a gentle breeze caressed his body. It made him feel like nothing was wrong in the world, that he was just taking a long vacation. He shook his head, discarding out all his thoughts quickly.

[adminarot3p]

Chey decided she was done here, and flapped off, silent as a whisper. Rory watched her go, smiling, then turned back to Roman. She tilted her heart shaped face, revealing a twice peirced ear as her locks fell to the side. She was but feet from him, and smelled like cinnamon and cloves, with a hint of vanilla.

" Oh? The Mid west? I hear its very nice there, lots of good growing spaces. Where were you before, well, it happened?" She looked around after speaking, and found a pile of needles a squirrel had hidden his cache under. She sat gracefully, and motioned him to do the same.

[latingeek]

Shifting down he sat next to her exhaling a loud breath, finally being able to relax after his long day of travel. Removing his large green winter coat, smiled as he body temperature cooled. Roman turned and stared at the Aurora. He took a small whiff of the fragrance that wafted off her, and started wonder how he smelt like. Maybe like rotten eggs, or fish, he mused silently to himself.

"It is nice, depending on which areas you go to. Before all this...?" He stopped and bit his lip, furrowing his eyebrows as he shifted through his memories. "I was in Nebraska, trying to survive. What about you? It seems like you don't have a care in the world."

[adminarot3p]

She listened raptly, as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world, which it was as of today. At the question she smiled a little warmer.

" Oh, i just try to keep a sunny disposition. its only the end of the world, right?" She giggled, like small bells ringing in the distance.

" Nebraska, beautiful country i hear. Im getting a little thirsty, would you like a drink?" She oulled a waterbottle out of her largest jacket pocket, handing the 1/3 full container to him. Her smile was genuine, like she actually cared.

[latingeek]

He grinned hearing her before standing up to pat off pine needles off his rear. He stretched out his limbs and shook his head, picking his coat off the ground.

"No, I'm fine thank you. There's supposed to be a stream around here, so I'm going to search for it and fill up my flask." He informed her patting his pocket, where his flask was hidden.

"You can come join me if you'd like." He smiled sliding his coat back on and zipping it up. He outstretched his large calloused hand to help her get up.

[Aldrid]

Natalie stalked through the trees, moving in a silent grace. Feeling at peace among the forest walls, she danced about, indulging in the warm embrace of the sun's rays. She stopped at the stream, and kneeled down, opening her near empty water bottle. She let out a content sigh, as the rushing water soon filled it. Setting it down, she dropped her backpack off her shoulders, and kicked her shoes and socks off. She peeled off her shirt, then her bra. Natalie listened to the soft song of the breeze ruffling the leaves, as she stripped her lower half. She flinched slightly at the cool water, but proceeded to climb in.
Natalie sat in the stream, sighing contently, behind the shivers at how good the water felt. She undid the pony tail, pulling the hair band around her wrist. She ducked her head under the water, gasping as the cold cascaded through her, riddling her body with goosebumps, her soft nipples hardening. Talie hummed softly to herself, letting her hair span out around her on top of the water, her calm green eyes tracking an errant cloud passing over the sky. Her thoughts were on how happy she finally felt, after the years of torment, and she felt a little guilty at not saying goodbye to her family, but quickly casted it away. No one was their for her, no one is here for her now. And that is the way she liked it.

[adminarot3p]

She hopped up, brushing the needles off of herself, then picking a few he missed from his bottom. She plucked a green one off the tree and chewed it lightly, enjoying the scent. She could use a refill on her water. Her eyes were bright as they surveyed the forest around them, drinking in every detail, and exuding it as joy. She pranced, for it was too full of joy and grace to be called walking, ahead, looking back at him and smiling. She still seemed innocent, like she was a small child. Her body did not reflect this, it was fully grown, making itself well known as female. She picked at the bark of a tree, pulling the dead away to reveal the new. She brought out the best in nature it seemed, for birds were singing, and the sky was blue. This place had totally been missed by the horror.

[latingeek]

Walking ahead of Aurora, Roman narrowed his eyes as and surveying His eyes darted from tree to tree as he watched the birds hop off branches, flying to an area ahead of them. Popping his knuckles loudly he reached into his coat bringing out his empty flask to prepare to refill it. Stopping suddenly he shut his eyes and concentrated on hearing closely. Hearing the faint trickle of water, his widened and a smile grew on his face. “It's up ahead!” He grinned running ahead of Aurora. When he made it to the stream he threw himself on his knees and dunked his head in the water before, coming up laughing and gasping for air. Looking up he noticed a girl bathing in the stream, his smile being whipped off his face quickly. He turned his head back and stepped away from stream.

[Aldrid]

Natalie suddenly sat up, hearing the splashing of water taking a defensive stance. She saw the odd boy, dunking his head and then retreat from the stream. Her eyes hardened over, forgetting the peace she had felt, finding herself defensive. She narrowed her eyes at him, feeling self concious of her naked form but refused to show any signs of weakness. Her eyes locked onto his watching him carefully as she made her way over to her things on the other side and climbed out of the water. She refused to say anything, knowing she would be hostile, and didnt want to provoke violence. Instead she continued to watch, slowly stuffing her bag with her things incase she needed to run, having no time to get dressed. She gripped the strap of the bag, once she ahd finished stuffing it, still watching, her senses were alert. to any other motion or sound that might indicate any of the infected, or an attack of some kind.

[adminarot3p]

She followed behind him happily, looking around her. The twilight enriched the browns and golds of the forest. At his cry she rushed to him, then past him. She dipped her bare feet in the cold clear water, giggling at the feel of it puling gently at her feet. Water, giver of life, of rainbows. She loved rainbows, it was her favorite color. She watched some minnows sift thru the dirt she had stirred, and looked for more down stream. What she saw surprised her, and made her happy. Another preson, if she kept finding people at this rate, she would be able to rebuild the human population in no time. She hopped twice, waving her arm.

"Oh!! Hello, your naked. I love the feel of stream water on my skin too. Dont get out, ill join you!!!" She began to prance over, happy as a clam at high tide. She came within a few feet of the girl, keeping her distance, cause not everyone was as nice as she was. and what a shame that was. She smiled warmly at the other girl.

" Hi im Aurora, but you can call me Rory."

[Aldrid]

Talie watched the strange girl infront of her. caught a little off guard by her forwardness. She was cute though, but Natalie didnt relax. She could be like this for any number of reasons. Drugs, a trap, who knows maybe she was insane. Talie didnt care what she was happy about, she knew that it wasnt shared so easily, or it would only break.
She decided that things could be settled diplomatically, and if it came down to it she could run.
Natalie answered in a soft gentle voice, one that was fluid, and graceful, much like the water. "My name is Natalie. But most people call..." she cleared her throat a bit, then corrected her self. "Called, me Talie." she gave a warm smile, one that was loving and infectious, her eyes danced in the summer sun, though underneath she hid her true feelings.

[latingeek]

Shifting uncomfortably under the naked girls glare, he ducked his head away from her, feeling slightly embarrassed . He knelt back down near the stream and tipped his flask in it, filling it up quickly. Clenching his jaw he rose his hands in the air for the second time that day showing he had no weapon to attack with, and that he meant no harm. Lowering his hands to his sides quickly he looked backed up, his eyes meeting the new girls.

“I'm Roman. I won't hurt you, trust me.” He said loudly his voice seeping with charisma, turning back around to look at both girls. This was really the most eventful day he's had during the apocalypse. First he meets the nicest girl on earth, and now he incidentally ran in on a girl who was bathing in the stream. "This also isn't a trap. I swear."

[adminarot3p]

Aurora smiled, like a small sun shining on her face. Her body expressed her joy made movement. She did not seem to care that the other girl was naked, having actually offered to join her. She pranced over to her and hugged her naked body tightly against her own, resting her head gently on her shoulder for a second. Pulling away she giggled.

" Wow, your skin is soft." She chirruped.

[Aldrid]

Natalie was more bewildered from this girl than a couple of minutes ago, an uncomfortable twang in her heart took place as she looked down at this kind and gentle soul. She realized then that this girl was just naiive... no, she was innocent.
"er.. t-thank you" she said softly. she was still suspicious of the boy, however, the one that called himself Roman. He ahd promised it wasnt a trap, which only caused a greater distrust for him. After all he was a man, and no man is true to their word. "so, Aurora, how old are you? where did you come from?" she asked her gently, trying to ease the tension in the air, trying to melt away the ice around her own heart.

[latingeek]

Realizing he was just going to be ignored, he knelt back down near the stream and started washing his face. Peeking through his fingers, he watched as Natalie made small talk with Aurora. She obviously didn't trust him, what he didn't understand was why. Was it his looks? He decided not to even bother figuring it out and removed his coat and sweater to cool down. Roman knew a small time of peace like this hardly came, so he might as well enjoy it while he could. The plagued where still out there and he'd be damned if he'd let them take anyone around him away.

[adminarot3p]

She smiled and blinked a few times, like fluttering butterflies.

" Im only eighteen, and im from California, so is Chey. Oh Chey!! You havent met her!!" She let forth a series of delicate throaty hoots, hauntingly mellow and eerie. She waited a few minutes and did it again. When she didnt respond, Rory didnt look discouraged.

" Shes out hunting, shell be back soon. She so pretty, youll love her, i know i do." She blinked, and turned around. She skipped over to Ramon, who was being anti social.

" Hey you!! Dont be so quiet!! I think you have a nice voice, so use it."

[latingeek]

He rose his head up and her gazed into her eyes, as he breathed out quietly. “I'm not being anti-social.” He grinned wearily, slipping his sweater back on, feeling uncomfortable without it. “Why don't you take a bath as well? I'll keep watch.” He said, turning his head to look back at the woods. He adjusted himself on the ground as a few pebbles dug into his legs. He looked back a the stream and looked at it intently wondering if they could catch any fish. "If you guys are uncomfortable with me around I'll scout the area."

[Aldrid]

Talie watched the boy. She didnt like him. Not at all. The girl was good, and she hugged her back, in a protective way, as if to hide her from the boy, to keep his reach from her. She knew right then, She would have to follow them, he refused something so innocent become corrupt by the vile world. Talie refused to let anyone else become a lost cause. Males were pigs, and seemed to find a joy in hurting women, and someone as innocent as her tended to be fragile.
Once his back was turned, she quickly tugged her clothes on, sliding it over her naked frame, pulling her shirt over her breast, leaving her bra. It was getting too uncomfortable to wear it anyways. She shoved it into her bag and looked at the girl infront of her, a slight twinge in her heart that she hadnt felt since...
Natalie gave a light shake of her head, her hair rustling slightly. She pulled it up and quickly tied it into a pony tail. "so where are you guys off too? before you ask, and im not sure if you care, but I came down from Canada. Used to live out by the rockies, though I have no idea where I am now." Talie gave a shrug as if it didnt matter. "and im nineteen."

[adminarot3p]

Aurora looked to Tali and smiled.

" Oh? Canada? With Moose? I love moose, theyre so cute. I just love there little ears." She grinned and looked to Ramos.

" You can stand guard if you want, i think ill go for a swim. Are you sure theres no sand? I need to scrub between my toes." She walked twards the water, shedding what little clothing she had and traipsing into the stream. She sat down, back to the current, breasts peaking just above the water line. Her entire body was an even tan, as if she had run naked for a few years straight. Her feet were touching toetips as she wiggled upstream, back first. She giggled as the smooth stones rubbed against her buttcheeks, tickling them. She was very ticklish.

[latingeek]

Nodding slowly he turned his head away. His ears started to burn as he heard Rory giggling behind him, with a slight splashing of water. Gazing over at the stream, he watched her float across the water, as it cradled her naked body. Roman blushed and moved his eyes away, then stared at Natalie. He walked across the bank till he was a few feet away from her, sticking his out to shake hands. “I'm Roman, you probably don't care, but I'm from Nebraska.” He introduced himself looking at her eyes, keeping his eyes trained on them so he wasn't mistaken for a pervert.He didn't expect her to shake his hand back, He just wanted her to know that he was going to be civil with her, and that he wasn't like the sick men wandering around, and taking advantage of women.

[Aldrid]

Natalie looked down at his outstretched hand, then up at him in a bit of contempt. Who the hell was he, aproaching her so rashly? Talie didnt say, or do anything. He was disgusting to her, all of them were. Always thinking with their "head." Natalie turned and walked off a bit of aways up stream, and sat on the river bank. She mused at the sight of the girl in the water. "Just like a child," she whispered softly. Though she was eighteen, it was refreshing to see innocence in the world again. She lay down on her back in the soft grass, and had begun to sing:
Can you see me now?
Can you see me now?

All this weeping in the air
Who can tell where it will fall?
Through floating forests in the air
'Cross the rolling open sea

Blow a kiss, I run through air
Leave the past, find nowhere
Floating forests in the air
Clowns all around you

Clowns that only let you know
Where you let your senses go
Clowns all around you
It's a cross I need to bear

All this black and cruel despair
This is an emergency
Don't you hide your eyes from me
Open them and see me now

Can you see me now?
Can you see me now?

Can you see?
Can you see?
See me here in the air
Not holding on to anywhere
But holding on so beware
I have secrets I won't share

See me here pushing you
If I then deny I do
Contemplate or wish away
If I ask you not to stay

Clowns that only let you know
Where you let your senses go
Clowns all around you
It's a cross I need to bear

All this black and cruel despair
This is an emergency
Don't you hide your eyes from me
Open them and see me now

(song she sings www.youtube.com/watch?v=8orJXzkZ_N0)

[adminarot3p]

She watched Her sing with wide eyes, seeming to drink in the song. She stood and walked over to her soemnly, eyes focused. She laid down beside Talie and rested her head on her chest, above her breast. She placed a hand on her stomach and a knee over her thigh. She figured she could use a hug, and since she was laying down this was as close as she could get to a warm hug. Her skin was chilled from the water, and she basked gently in the other girls body warmth.

" Dont be sad, its ok. As long as you have friends, everything is ok. And im your friend, so everything is ok, ok?" She asked, smiling.

[latingeek]

He wasn't surprised not at the slightest that she turned and walked away, getting as far away from him as possible. He smiled resting on a tree as she started singing. If a guy was this hostile to him he'd deck him in the face without hesitation, but he was taught to be respectful to woman by his mother, and he wasn't going to change his ways because of an apocalypse. He raised his eyebrow in curiosity as Rory stepped out of the stream, and cuddled into Natalie. Naked. He mentally noted that when traveling, he certainly should expect the unexpected; he laughed quietly to himself before pushing himself off the tree. They'd have to leave the area soon, but he'd let them have their little moment before it was time to get packing, and go.

[Aldrid]

Natalie finished her song, absently playing with the young girls hair. With a soft sigh she tracked group of errant birds, flying over the horizon. She closed her eyes, as loose strands of hair flitted in the light breeze. She felt at peace again, despite the oddities of the day. She knew it wouldnt be long before they had to get on the move again, but for the moment she would just relax. She shivered slightly, the wet, naked girl soaking her through her clothes. Normally she would be annoyed but today, she didnt have a care in the world.

[adminarot3p]

Rory wasnt usually a cold person, having a body temperature a degree and a half higher than the normal human. With her thin hands she joined Talie in playing with her hair, fingering the water dreaded locks. They had darkened upon entering the water. They were a darker blond now, dark at the roots. Her tan skin was covered with tiny goose pimples, like so many small hills dotting the tan expanse of prairie that was her flesh.