In Need of Solace (Virika/Virisk)

[Stormy]

'Mine! Mine must wake!'

Garrisk's frantic tone made Garrik jerk awake, panting and covered in a cold sweat. Garrisk nuzzled his disoriented handler, crooning, 'Mine was flailing and yelling, but was asleep. Garrisk worried about Mine.

Still reeling from his shapeless but horrific dream, Garrik absently scratched the eyeridge above the whirling yellow eye closest to him. "It's nothing, Garrisk. Just a nightmare. I'm fine," he lied, forcing himself to smile and look at his Blue. The anxious whirling didn't slow, though, so Garrik knew he didn't ease the fears of the wher's mind. Garrik got up and threw on a shirt, not bothering to run a hand through his disorganized hair. He paced down to the common room, grabbing the poker and messing with the fireplace. His eyes unfocused as his mind shifted back to what was in his nightmare, and he shoved the poker into the embers, stirring up red hot sparks. He pushed himself away from the fire, running his hands through his hair as tears gathered in his eyes.

Biting back a sob, he paced around the common room, ignoring the worried Blue who sat sadly in the doorway, watching His pace. He crooned, trying to be soothing for His.

[FaizahPandora]

Virika was a bit on edge herself that night. She had been up pacing all night, unable to fall asleep at all. She didn't know what her problem was... Normally she slept so well!

But something had been bothering her. And she was trying to burn off some heavy energy. But her frustrations were only getting worse with the pacing. So Virika, after bedding Virisk down for the time being, had headed over to the Common Room.

As she reached the Common Room she noticed a very familiar blue wher in the doorway. Her row furrowed and she sped up a little bit to see why Garrisk and Garrik were in the Common Room at this hour.

Virika peered into the room, noticing Garrik pacing. There seemed to be tears running down his face as well. Virika's heart went out to him, and she did something that was very unlike her.

She approached him and as he turned to take another turn of the common room, he strode right into Virika's waiting arms. She hugged him gently, offering comfort, at the same time she began whispering soothingly to him.

"It's ok, Garrik. Whatever's wrong, it will be ok."

[Stormy]

If the restraining arms hadn't stopped him, feeling them there would have. Garrik startled back into awareness, unsure of what was happening or who was hugging him. He glanced down, and would have taken a minute to recognize Virika if she hadn't started murmuring to him.

On any other occasion, he would have turned absolutely blood red and pushed away from her, but the desire to be comforted after waking up from...that...was too strong to be pushed aside by such petty embarrassments.

And he, too, did something very unlike him.

He wrapped his long arms around Virika, pulling her close. He lost the slight control he had over his overwhelming panic and fear, and he sobbed quietly.

[FaizahPandora]

Virika was surprised slightly when Garrik hugged her back. He pulled her closer, and then he started crying. Virika's heart went out to him and she continued to comfort him. She rubbed his back, making slight shushing sounds simply to comfort him. She remembered her mother doing the same thing when she had woken with nightmares as a kid.

"It's okay Garrik. I'm here." Her heart swelled with the fact that he was seeking comfort from her.

Virika leaned back a little and gave him a small kiss on the forehead. She smoother a lock of hair from his eyes. "It's okay, Garrik. Don't worry." She whispered to him.

[Stormy]

"They tried to take Garrisk away...They took the wild green, and then they wanted to take Garrisk..." Garrik said hurriedly, not immediately registering Virika's kiss to his forehead. When he did, he blushed shyly, giving her a small, embarrassed smile. It would appear he was more in control of his emotions, but still not relaxed about what happened.

Hearing what had thrown his into such a panic, Garrisk growled slightly. 'Garrisk bite them. Garrisk stays with Mine,' he announced to both Garrik and Virika, almost to make a point.

[FaizahPandora]

Virika nodded as Garrik explained. "That would be a bad nightmare. But Faizah would never let anyone take Garrisk from you. I wouldn't let them take Garrisk from you." She assured him.

Virika reached up and brushed aside another lock of his hair. Her hand cupped his cheek and she leaned forward. She pressed a light and tentative kiss to Garrik's lips. When she leaned back, she knew she was smiling.

She had liked Garrik almost since she met him. And she owed it to Lakeen, who had found him during that snow storm last year. Virika couldn't believe it had already been a year! And only now she was able to show him that she liked him. Virika just wished she could come out and say it...!

"It was just a dream, Garrik. Garrisk is still here, and I'm here if you need me." She whispered to him.

[Stormy]

Garrik's eyes widened when Virika pressed a light kiss to his lips. His face turned bright red and he pulled away with a confused expression. "Virika, I...I don't think I understand..." he muttered, running a hand through his already disheveled hair.

At the same time, he knew what she was silently trying to tell him. But his mind refused to acknowledge it as his heart swelled with confused emotions. He wanted to return her show of affections, but at the same time, he was sure he would mess something up.

With a heavy, confused sigh, Garrik plopped onto one of the couches, looking to Virika. "I'm sorry, Virika, but I'm not sure I'm ready for a relationship. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I don't like you, but...I'm just so confused."

[FaizahPandora]

Virika nodded. "Confused about what?" She asked, sitting next to him.

Virika had to admist, Garrik had mood swings almost as bad as a woman. She had found him in a state of fear and panic. Then he had started crying. Now he said he was confused! Virika was beginning to get confused!

But she knew that, if Garrik would be willing to talk about it, she might be able to help him with his confusion. She really wanted Garrik to understand the way she felt, but perhaps he was just afraid of it. But what was there to be afraid of...? Virika asked herself.

Virika mentally shook herself. She shouldn't be thinking about herself right now. Garrik needed help, not her! And she was bound and determined to help him in any way she could.

Starting with why he seemed so confused about her kiss...

[Stormy]

Garrik shook his head slightly. "That's the thing. I don't know why I'm confused, I just know I am. I understand you're trying to tell me you like me, but..."

He stood up again, and started pacing once more. The movement helped him think. "It's just...you've seen how I react around women in general. I mean, I'm not gay, but I just never grew up around women, and I didn't allow myself time to think about girls while I was searching for my parents. I'm just so awkward around women!" he muttered, grabbing the poker again. He crouched, toying with the fire, watching the leaping flames with unseeing eyes as he mulled through his own thoughts.

"And now, all of a sudden, you spring on me this, and...I just don't know what to think. My mind's so muddled! I don't know if it's because of the nightmare, because of you, a mix, or something completely different!"

He then paused, and laughed nervously. "Listen to me! Tittering like a confused chicken. I think you get under my skin more than I know," he admitted.

'Garrisk like chickens. Taste good.'

[FaizahPandora]

Virika's heart dropped as she listened to him talk. She kept her face strictly neutral, though. She didn't want to hurt him by showing her disappointment. She tried to think over what he had just told her, but all she could think about was that he didn't like her back. At least not the same way she liked him. This constant thought, screaming in her mind, brought tears to her eyes.

Virika turned her head to the side so that Garrik would not see the tears. She wiped them away, determined not to make him feel guilty about hurting her. She got up and began pacing.

He had said he was awkward around all women, not just her. This was something she could use to her advantage. And he had been searching actively for his parents for most of his life. She remembered that when he had woken up after Lakeen had found him in the blizzard. She didn't know anything about that, but she figured she could ask Faizah about it. Maybe she would be able to find his parents.

Virika turned back to Garrik. "Don't worry about it." She paused. Did that make any sense? "I mean, don't worry about me liking you. It's not a big deal, if you don't like me back." Her voice rang with a little more hurt than she intended. She hadn't intended to sound hurt at all.

She sighed, angry with herself. "Sorry." She continued. She wanted to Gibb-smack herself! Virika ran her hands through her own hair, making it look oddly wind blown and attractive. Her hands traveled down until her hands rested on each side of her neck. She sighed, stressed and frustrated. "Just forget it, Garrik." Her voice broke and she headed for the door, fully intending to go back to her room and cry her heart out.

[Stormy]

Garrik rushed over and grabbed Virika above the elbow. "Now listen to me, Virika. I never said I didn't like you. I just said I wasn't ready for a relationship. If you give me time to...I don't know, wrap my head around all this, then maybe..."

Garrisk crooned, tail swishing back and forth in a slow wag. His handler was now not as panicked as he was when he had woken up, and now he was...The Blue could not think of the word.

Garrik pulled Virika around to face him, eyes serious. "Listen to me. I'm just a nervous, old-fashioned kind of guy. I need a little time to wrap my head around this, but I don't not like you. I might even fancy you," he said, flashing her a small smile, not as nervous as before. It felt...good...to admit something that serious to a girl. He had been a little taken with Lakeen at first, but her Bronze, Lakeesk...What a brute. He was glad Garrisk was usually as complacent as he was.

Garrik leaned down and pressed a light kiss to Virika's forehead. "So calm down, okay?"

[FaizahPandora]

Virika listened silently. She didn't trust herself to speak and not make things worse. So she just stood there, facing him but with her head bowed so that he couldn't see the tears running down her face.

As he continued to explain, Virika just felt more tears. She had been so wrong... If only her pride hadn't reared its ugly head, she wouldn't be crying right now. She should have listened better. Virika wanted to smack herself again, for the second time that night. She didn't understand why she was so stupid tonight, but she was indeed acting stupid around every corner.

What Garrik did next surprised her...

He leaned down and lightly kissed her forehead. Virika looked up at him, tears forgotten, in surprise. She blinked up at him, her green eyes clouded with remnants of hurt and pride and now clouded with confusion and hesitant hope. What had just happened? What did he just do? Why was she standing there, tears in her eyes, looking at him like she was some sort of idiot...?

"What?" Virika asked, not even sure she had thought about saying it. It had just come out, her voice full of hurt and pride and confusion.

She felt new tears brimming, and turned her head away. This was a horrible turn about. She had been meaning to comfort him while he cried. Now she was the one crying and he seemed to be the one comforting her... She went to turn away from him, forgetting he still had a hold of her arm. When she remembered, she stopped. She didn't want him to let go, to severe any contact between them. But she did feel that if she didn't sit down soon, her knees were going to buckle right out from underneath her...

[Stormy]

Garrik laughed. "What, she asks me." He then grabbed her chin and brought her face about to look at him. "I said I don't not like you. In fact, I think I've rather come to admire you."

He smiled. "Actually, truth be told, I think I might even admit to loving you from afar. So don't cry," he said softly, using his other hand to brush the tears away gently. Then, he lifted her chin a little more, leaned down, and pressed his lips gently to hers.

[FaizahPandora]

Virika stood, completely stunned, as Garrik kissed her. She didn't dare move, afraid that if she did she might ruin this fragile moment. Virika did, however, close her eyes.

Her hands moved up to his chest and stopped there. She could feel his heartbeat there.

((Sorry for the short post... You didn't give me much to work with. Lol))

[Stormy]

Garrik let go of Virika and chuckled a little. "I have to say, you seem more twitterpated than I do. I find it amusing, little lady," he said before grabbing one of her hands, bringing it to his lips, and giving it a light kiss.

((You didn't give me much to work on either, Faizah. D: And I think my Garrik muse went blah.))

[FaizahPandora]

Virika laughed slightly. She still felt like her legs were going to buckle right out from underneath her. But she still had a hold of Garrik, one hand on his shoulder and one on his chest, right over his heartbeat. She didn't want to move, but she knew she had to sit down.

Or else she was going to fall down...

She smiled up at Garrik, resting her head for a moment on his shoulder. "I think I need to sit down... My legs feel like they're going to buckle..." She whispered.

She agreed with him. She was more "twitterpated" than he had been. She didn't know why she was so bipolar tonight. She was having almost as many mood swings as Garrik was.

[Stormy]

Garrik laughed, then used his wiry strength to pick Virika up, placing one arm under her knees to carry her bridal style. He carried her over to one of the couches before setting her down. "There you go, Virika."

"Sorry, didn't mean to make you...what's the word, swoon?"

[FaizahPandora]

Virika was more than willing to walk over to one of the couches. But when Garrik picked her up, bridal style no less, Virika was more than surprised. Both her arms went around his neck in surprise and squeaked.

"Garrik... What are you doing...?" She whispered.

When she was set on the couch she kept hold of his neck, still a little surprised and a little scared. She heard him say that he had made her swoon, and she could feel herself blush, but she didn't dare let go of him.

"Sit with me, please." She asked him.

[Stormy]

He was already going to sit next to her, but her arms around his neck and her hesitant plea made him sit rather abruptly. He gave her a gentle smile.

"Alright. I was planning on sitting next to you anyway, but how can I deny such a face?"

Garrisk wagged his tail in the slow manner he always did, then trotted off for a couple minutes. When he came back, he had something in his mouth. He dropped it in Virika's lap, revelaing it to be a blanket that was now covered in wher saliva. He wagged his tail again, then curled up next to the fireplace.

((Blah. Sorry for the meh post, Faizah, but Stormy be tired. x.x))

[FaizahPandora]

Virika smiled when Garrik sat down next to her. She immediately leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. She smiled, blushing a bit, when she heard what Garrik said.

"Thank you." She whispered to him, closing her eyes with a sigh.

She sat like that for a few moments, completely silent and content. She didn't even notice that Garrisk had left, even if it had been only for a few moments. She heard him coming closer, but didn't pay it any mind until she felt his head on her lap. She opened her eyes, looking at Garrisk with bewilderment.

"What...?" She asked before realizing that the wher had dropped a saliva soaked blanket on her lap. She smiled at him. "Thank you, Garrisk." She said she watched him go over and curl up next to the fireplace.

Virika looked up at Garrik. "Do we dare use it? It's covered in saliva." She laughed slightly.

[Stormy]

Garrik laughed nervously, silently berating the wher for being so in tune with his thoughts. Gentleman though he was, he was only a man and could take so much...but he had learned self-restraint. And tonight, he was sure he was going to have to call on every reserve of it to not get murdered by Virika's family while he slept, Garrisk or no.

The blanket wasn't completely soaked, at least. Garrik picked up the blanket and unwound it to look over it. The outer layer was the most wet, but more toward the center, thankfully, it was mercifully dry.

"There are worse things than wher spit, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt us. And besides, you know Garrisk. Independent though he usually is, he's just a big softy. Hardly like you cousin's Bronze. I'm not sure what I'd do if I had bonded to a wher like Lakeesk rather than Garrisk."

[FaizahPandora]

Virika liked listening to him. He had a gentle, calming voice. And the look on his face was so entertaining. He seemed to want to berate himself or his wher for bringing the blanket. He seemed nervous too...

Virika leaned against him again, her head resting just over his heartbeat. The sound of it was comforting and steady. It calmed her. So much so that her eyelids were starting to fell heavy. But she couldn't fall asleep sitting up, even though she was mostly leaning against Garrik.

Virika stood up suddenly, holding the blanket. She had completely missed the last part of what Garrik had said about Lakeesk, but even if she had heard it she wouldn't have commented. She knew her cousin's wher was a brute. But, holding the blanket and standing in front of a no doubt surprised Garrik, Virika waved her hand with impatience.

"Lay down. Please." She said. She held the corners of the blanket in her hand, ready to spread it over Garrik when he decided to lay down.

[Stormy]

Garrik wa surprised, sure, when she stood up, but what she said next had bright red rushing up his cheeks and even cresting to his ears. "Lay...down...?" he stammered, unsure where Virika was planning on going with this. Hopefully this wouldn't get him killed...

He decided to trust Virika, though, and he stood up, though a little hesitantly. He glanced at Garrisk, who had his head sitting on his paws, though the wher was still watching him. He sat down somewhat close to the fire, where the heat still reached, but it was far enough that, even with the blanket, it wouldn't overheat them.

[FaizahPandora]

Virika laughed a bit when she saw his face go red. He seemed just as awkward now as he was earlier. Or maybe he was scared...? She couldn't tell which. She just hoped he would relax once he realized she wasn't going to hurt him.

She waited for him to lay down, then spread the blanket over him. Once the blanket was settled she joined him under it. She curled up next to him, her head resting on his chest so that she could hear his heartbeat again. She sighed happily when she was comfortable.

"This feels good." She muttered, her eyes drifting closed.

[Stormy]

Realizing Virika's intentions were only to cuddle, the blush came down a little. Once Virika was settled against him, he wrapped his arms around her, more as an act to keep her warm.

"I have to say, I'm surprised Virisk hasn't shown up yet."