She smiled slightly. "Then we'll try. That's all I ask," she said, but couldn't help the feeling that she had ruined something. She wanted to take back what she said, but it is as it is. She stepped out of his arms, but her eyes were soft. "I think we should go find Shadow and return to camp. It's getting dark," She said, though her smile was light. The sun was beginning to set and only the last few rays illuminated the sky.

--

Shadow nudged through yet another part of the wreckage. The driftwood sent splinters in his nose and he jumped back, pawing at the wound. He shook his head roughly, but that didn't help. He sighed and walked down to the waters edge before sticking his nose in the warm water. He breathed through his open mouth, but it was natural for him to breathe through his nose so his breathing was ragged. He must look like a fool right now with his nose stuck in the water. He just hoped Vic or Yuri wouldn't find him.

Zane sighed, closing his eyes as she stepped out of his arms. He didn't need to see her eyes or smile to know she wasn't mad, he could tell it just from her voice. Still, that didn't make him feel any less nervous. He could still tell she regretted confessing to him. "You're right. It is getting dark," he said simply, "but first..." he closed the distance between them and gently grabbed her shoulders, giving her another kiss, this time more confident but just as soft. He pulled away after a moment and looked down at her. He didn't know if he had done the right thing, but he would try to show Taylor not to regret this night.

---------------

"Where is he?" Allen whined, referring to Shadow. He looked out at the last rays of sun and frowned. They'd been looking all over the beach for Shadow but couldn't seem to find him. "The mutants are probably out by now."

Yuri laughed, turning his head to look up at his partner. "They're mutants, not vampires. Just because the sun is going down, doesn't mean the mutants are getting up." Still, trying to dump poison anywhere in enemy territory was unwise after dark.

Allen suddenly looked up. "Hey, is that Shadow?" he asked, staring at a large form that seemed to almost be drinking the sea water. "It is!" he exclaimed, "Hey, Shadow!" he shouted, waving his hand in the air to catch the spirit's attention. 

Shadow pulled his nose from the water and squirted out the water that had worked its way in there. Some of the splinters came out, but most had not. He sighed, hoping it wasn't too noticable to Allen and hoping Yuri wouldn't mention it. He shook his sodden fur and stepped out of the waves and walked up to the pair. "Yuri, Allen." He addressed them and yawned. "What is it you would like to ask?" He said.

--

Taylor's head swam as Zane kissed her. It was different than before but just as soft. It was too quick for her to react and it was over before she could do a thing. He pulled away from her and looked down at her, seeming to expect a reaction. She smiled up at him, her eyes shining. She threw her regrets away and let hope flare. "Thank you," She said and pulled away, suddenly feeling anxious to leave. She knew they had to get home soon because of the threat of the mutants. She paused, having realized she referred to the cliffs and dens of the spirits homes as her home, but she let it go, knowing it was her home now. Even if she could leave it, she wouldn't. When she pulled away, she slid her arm down and held Zane's warm hand in hers, looking up as if wondering if this was too much. She would pull away if she had to.

Yuri did notice it, but Allen didn't... at least not until Yuri thought about it and Allen heard the thoughts. Although Yuri wanted to respect Shadow's ego, Allen just blurted out without thinking. "Well first I'd like to ask why you have splinters in your snout." he said. Yuri shout him a look and he blinked, realizing he was being rude, "Umm... sorry," Allen said, "Do you need help getting them out?" 

--------------

Zane gave her an encouraging smile when he held his hand. He lead her over to the rope they had used to climb up onto the boat. He pulled his hand away from her's and climbed over the railing of the boat, grabbing onto the rope and sliding down to the sand. He rubbed his hands on his jeans. He'd slid down the rope too fast and had gotten a bit of rope-burn. Once the pain had dulled he looked up at Taylor. "Come on, I'll catch you if you fall." he paused for a moment. "But don't go too fast, the rope can hurt." 

(( Writers block e_o )) 

She rolled her eyes yet again. The rope had been sturdy before and it would probably be sturdy now. Still, she froze when the rail creaked again. She climbed down the rope swiftly. Instead of sliding down it, she inched her way down, using most of her leg muscles to support her instead of burning her hands trying to fall down it. She jumped when she was a couple feet off the ground and landed on the balls of her feet.

--

Shadow sighed and inched his head toward Allen. "My paws are not the best for gripping splinters," He muttered and then went into his explanation. "I was just trying to find any more useful things, but I pushed a piece of driftwood and this happened," He said. "We should get these out quickly and return to camp. I want to get home before the mutants come out," He said to Yuri.

(( Ugh... tired o_x ))

Zane watched Taylor inch down the rope, paying careful attention to the rope above her and the railing in case either of them gave. If she did fall, he wanted to have enough warning to be able to catch her without them both going down. Thankfully, she got to the ground safely and he let out a slight sigh of relief. "Looks, like you're smarter than me," he said with a sight laugh. He offered his hand to her, wondering if she would want to walk back holding it. He didn't even seem to care that Allen would surly give him a world of grief if they did.

---------

Allen's face lit up. "So they are like vampires!" he exclaimed, a childish grin on his face. He blinked when he realized he should be pulling out the splinters from Shadow's muzzle. He carefully grabbed one and pulled it out. He was tense because he didn't know how Shadow would react to the pain of having a splinter pulled from such a sensitive area such as his snout. Allen quickly pulled the rest of them out before pulling his hand away and inspecting for any he might have missed from afar.  

She took his outstretched hand gently and hoped that Allen wouldn't give him unnecessary crap for it. She began to walk down the beach, sending thoughts out to Shadow that they were ready to go. His mind connected with hers and Taylor snatched her hand away and rubbed her nose. "Ow," She muttered as she felt tiny splinters in her nose. Sorry about that, I hurt my nose. I'm down by the water. Just follow what little connection I give you, He whispered to her in her mind and withdrew the connection. The pain still lingered, but it was less. "Shadow's down by the water with Allen and Yuri...and I think he has thorns in his nose," She said to him.

--

Shadow rolled his eyes at Allen. "I'm as humane as you, Allen. I am not going to snap at you," He growled, but his eyes were warm. He twitched his nose and found that all of the splinters had gone. He shook his head a few times and seemed to smile at Allen. "Thank you. I suggest we meet up with Taylor and Zane. They're walking our way now," He said to them.

Zane smirked slightly. "The great leader of the spirits is having trouble with a few thorns is he?" he teased. "Well, you lead the way. You're the one who has the mental connection, not me."

-------- 

"Says the gigantic wolf with wings." Allen snorted. "Human you are not, Shadow." He leaned forward to rest his chin on Yuri's head. "Taylor and Zane seem to be spending a lot of time together," he muttered to no one in particular. Usually Zane would have pushed her away by now, acting like he preferred to be alone. He wondered why Zane though so differently of Taylor.

(( Failpost, sorry. I'm too tired to think of anything else. I'm going to bed, good...err... afternoon XD )) 

Taylor smiled and continued to rub her nose. "The great leader of the spirits is also sharing his pain with me, don't forget that," She said crossly. She put her hand down, but the tingle of pain was still there. She looked down the beach and scanned the water. Shadow, Yuri, and Allen were standing in a cluster. "There they are," Taylor said and started that way.

--

Shadow chuckled, amused. "I never said I was human Allen. I said humane." He said and cuffed him playfully. He looked down at the beach and spotted Taylor and Zane walking towards them. Taylor kept scrunching her nose and Shadow withdrew the connection even more, but it was impossible to disconnect it all the way.

[[Good afternoon lol]]

[[Lol, wrong account Shad x3]]

Zane frowned slightly. "Sorry. But you have to admit it raises doubt." He shook his head, deciding to drop the conversation. It was not a discussion he could win. He looked back up when she spotted the others. "I bet Allen's up to no good." he muttered.

-------------

Allen hissed playfully at Shadow, haunching his shoulders like a real cat would, before he burst out laughing. He turned around when he saw Shadow looking down the beach past him and blinked at what he saw. Was Zane holding Taylor's hand?! Continuing to stare, he tried to shift to get a better view but only succeeded in losing his balance and falling off of Yuri. He landed face first into the sand and immediately jumped up, spitting out sand.  

(( Sorry, another failpost >_< )) 

The pain had reduced to a minor tingling and it felt more of an itch now. She sighed and knew that it was no big deal if Shadow got thorns in his nose. She knew without a doubt that he would fight even if he had life-threatening wounds and then sighed because she was thinking that. She watched as Allen's eyes seemed to widen and he fell into the sand. Taylor almost doubled over laughing. "Allen, are you okay?" She asked through her supressed giggles.

--

Shadow rolled his eyes at Allen as he arched his back. He got down on his haunched playfully, but straightened himself when he felt Taylor and Zane draw nearer. Allen's reaction to Taylor and Zane's appearence was confusing, but he cuffed him lightly. "Give them a break," He muttered to Allen, making sure they couldn't hear.