Oria flinched after hearing the doorknob twist, her eyes were fixed on it already. Ether walked through, one hand close to his chin. The sight made him seem a lot less strong and more sensitive than anything.
"I thought this was going to be some personal time," Oria chirped. "Guess not! Did you come here for more Kenekuor lessons, Shora?"
Ether's hand drifted down to his elbow, clutching it tight as if it was injured. "No, I came here to see if we could... go somewhere. Just you and me, no one else."
"Oh, so this is OUR personal time? I'm happy to say we can both be as rough as we want, I'm feeling very good," Oria said with a smile.
"No, it's more like... I don't know. I just have a few questions and I want to bring you somewhere for them. Can you come with me?" he asked, this time in a low and innocent voice.
It was difficult for Oria to resist following the charms of a Yonie. Even in Etek Dur, when she discovered the rare few Thresher couples, she would stalk them simply because of how adorable they were together.
So they left Danitour's house. Ether kept a close eye on Oria as she regained her strength in her legs. But with each step, she began feeling comfortable enough to speed up a bit more.
A Mountain Ascent Sky Beast waited for them not too far from the house, it screeched and growled idly. Minding its business as a tamed creature.
"Woah, big fluffy buddy!" Oria joked. "You've been busy and leaving me alone in my room. I wish I was out here with you and Jakery more often."
Ether paused right before climbing on the beast's back. "I wish I took your spot in that bed. Still feeling bad about it."
Oria lowered herself, getting ready to test her ability to jump after recovering. As expected, she leapt high enough to land on the beast's feathery back.
In minutes, the duo were in the skies. Rapid winds whizzed past their ears, playing a melody designed for the few that enjoyed long flights out in treacherous Imbushko.
"Here. No one's with us. So, Oria, I have a few questions for you. Are you ready for them?" Ether spoke over the incoming wind.
"Not unless you say it in your Yonie voice... while also doing those cute things you sometimes do. The cheeks - that trick," Oria confidently replied.
She was aware Ether would do almost anything for her. Including showing light to a side of himself that he didn't get along with. She didn't do it for selfish reasons, but because she wanted Ether to care about himself more.
"Fine," Ether reluctantly agreed. "Odiii Oriaaaa! I have questions for youuuu!"
Oria smiled, a warmth to keep them both safe from the frigid winds. "That's so cute, doesn't matter when you do it... anyway. What's up?"
Ether diverted his gaze to meet the dancing feathers of the beast beneath them. He was ashamed of asking, but he felt he had to. Infinus had to rally beside Frosticus to survive Light.
"Can - can... umm! Aaaah!" Ether froze. "Can you pleaseee bring me to your paaack? I'll give you giiift from meeee!"
"Wait, what?" Oria blushed in a sickly green color. "I - I don't know if they'll accept me at this point. I've been gone from them for so long they probably think I died or something."
Silence was a thing for only an instant, before Ether threatened to encase her in a hug. His eyes were fixed in her's, showing he was serious.
A sense of shame and dread washed down Oria's spine, she did not want to go back. In her mind, she wanted to get back out and spend more time with the brothers and her long-time friend.
"I'll give you rides!" Ether happily replied. "You and me, ride high! Clouds whish and wosh, and we're togetheeer. And - and I'll tell you very good stories!"
Oria let loose a tear, prompting her to fall into Ether's opened arms. "I'm just so worried about what the alpha couple will see me as. I've never done anything meaningful for the pack."
"But you impacted me in so many ways," Ether replied in his normal voice. "In all honesty, I treasure you a lot more than what's normal. To me, you're more than a friend."
"Maybe I did, but you're not my pack. Do you believe they will accept me?"
"What makes you think they won't?" Ether asked out of concern.
"You see, female Ferals usually lick our offspring's foreheads until the scent sticks. That way everyone knows they're part of the pack. But my Neddy hasn't licked my forehead in so long."
Ether frowned. "I don't think they'll recognize Thresher spit, huh?"
"Was that supposed to be a joke? Because it wasn't, that reminded me Ferals sometimes choose to willingly make out with other Variants to mark down different territories," Oria replied.
Etek Dur came into focus beneath them, the air turned into a warmer version of its former self. The Sky Beast's belly rumbled, informing the world it was a bit hotter than normal.
"I guess we're here. Might as well see what happens," Oria sighed. "Drop me off and stay close. I know my way better on foot than on beast back."
"You know," Ether turned to face her. "If you don't want to visit your pack, it's fine. I don't want to force you to do anything, Oria."
Oria smiled, she acknowledged how understanding Ether was. She glanced down at the forest floor for a brief moment before taking a deep breath.
"We're here, let's do this!" she replied.
The Sky Beast descended into a small clearing among the green sea, leaving Oria on the ground. She instinctively leapt to the trees, then scaled them with relative ease.
Her claws were used as hooks to help her climb from branch to branch. The beast took off, getting as low over the treeline as possible.
"Let me know if I'm going too fast!" Oria called out.