Zarda had experienced a similar situation in the past, although Oridian was unaware of this fact. Natia had learned the hard way what happens when you startle Zarda while he's sleeping, but that was a different time altogether. On this occasion, Zarda was fully dressed and Oridian was not Natia. In his mind, Zarda's thoughts were with his African Queen. He could still smell the jasmine perfume she always wore and feel her presence beside him. As Oridian slowly approached, she knelt down beside Zarda, her face closer to his than ever before. In his dreamlike state, Zarda reached out and took hold of Oridian's hand, mistaking it for Natia's. Oridian was taken aback and a bit scared, but she chose not to wake him just yet. As Zarda rolled over, he inadvertently pulled Oridian on top of him, still under the impression that she was Natia. Oridian remained still as Zarda began to caress her back with his large hands.
He nuzzled her nose and kept his eyes closed throughout the encounter. Oridian couldn't believe what was happening and nervously gulped with anticipation. Zarda tightened his grip around her and she could feel his arousal pressing against her. Her eyes widened in shock as Zarda continued to grind against her, all the while thinking he was showing affection to Natia. As his actions grew more intense and intimate, Oridian could no longer bear it, and she startled Zarda awake by jumping up suddenly. She panted beside his bed, feeling like a cat who had fallen into cold water. Confused, Zarda looked at Oridian beside him in his room. As he glanced down at himself, he noticed the large bulge in his pants and quickly covered up, sitting upright in embarrassment.
"Oridian, why are you here and why are you breathing so heavily?" He inquired, puzzled.
Oridian felt embarrassed for the umpteenth time, so she took a deep breath to regain her composure.
"I discovered something significant and I rushed to wake you up right away," she answered.
"Could this something have not waited until morning?" he responded.
Oridian shook her head and averted her gaze from his captivating yet harmful stare.
"I found us a way back to your homeland, theres an old military plane just beyond Havardr's borders. I marked the path so I can show everyone they way back to it." Said Oridian.
Zarda was delighted to receive the news, but his drowsiness made it difficult for him to react appropriately. He failed to display the emotional response she had hoped for, still yearning for love with his persistent erection. His emotions were all over the place - excited, hot, confused, and sleepy - making it a less than ideal situation. Zarda contemplated whether Oridian had intentionally orchestrated the scenario to see him again, but regardless, he was grateful for the opportunity, even though she seemed to be scowling at him. Feeling lonely and missing his loved ones, Zarda reflected on the situation before scooting over on his bed and patting the warm spot beside him for Oridian to join him.
"Please come over here and try to calm down. I promise you are safe," he said.
Oridian always assumed she was, she was just anxious after allowing herself to be open and vulnerable around Zarda. She proceeded cautiously, taking a seat at the edge of the bed with some distance between them. Sensing the tension, Zarda wished for her to feel at ease once more. Taking action, he drew her near to him, planting a gentle kiss on her shoulder and resting his head beside hers.
"Quit worrying about us, you've never been this shy or awkward around me before. Where's the confident bobcat I first met who seemed like she could claw my face off with one wrong move?" Zarda chuckled.
Oridian smiled at him, allowing her stiff body to relax at his touch.
"Who says I still wouldn't," she chuckled softly in response.
Zarda moved closer to Oridian's face, almost daring her to make a move. But instead, he gently kissed her lips. Oridian's heart raced, her cheeks flushed, and she felt lightheaded from the kiss.
"Did you enjoy that? Would you like me to repeat it?" he inquired.
With her eyes closed, Oridian nodded as Zarda leaned in and kissed her passionately. He pushed her back onto the bed and positioned himself on top of her, entangled in a deep kiss. His hands explored her body as he indulged in her soft moans of delight. The moment felt euphoric as they shared a passionate exchange of touches and kisses. Oridian's hand slid down to his bulge, gently caressing it, causing him to moan louder with each stroke. Zarda's excitement grew as he moved his hands over her body, both gasping with pleasure. Their hands intertwined as they explored each other's desires, deepening their connection. Finally, their gaze locked as they took a moment to savor the intensity of their intimate encounter.
"I'm happy you came tonight, but let's not take things any further just yet. I care about you and I hate seeing you hurt. I desire you deeply, but I know now is not the right time. I'm scared to be honest, scared to fall in love again. Let's pause and revisit this another time. We both need our rest. I have a such busy day training others tomorrow and I need all my strength. If I give everything to you tonight, I won't be able to give anything to them." He stated.
Oridian was content with his choice. She appreciated how he made her feel like the most significant person in his life. She gently touched his face and patiently waited for him to let her go. With a smile, she scanned his body from head to toe. Though tempted to act forcefully upon seeing Zarda's bulge causing his pants to rise, Oridian restrained herself, knowing that their connection would organically progress without the need for coercion.
Zarda gently reached for her hand, holding it for a moment as she stood by his bedside. He gazed up at her with kind eyes and a warm smile.
"He cautioned, 'Be careful not to lose your way in the woods as you head back to your cabin. Emeryn and Pipsie must be worried about your whereabouts.'"
It's true that she had forgotten she hadn't told those two yet, and time was running out. After saying her goodbyes, she was met by Osborn, Dane, Oridian, Vulpix, and Randolf as they were just now coming in for bed. Oridian walked back through the small path to the other large cabins where the females stayed. It was less crowded now that half of the little ones and females had left with Vidar. With fewer females, there was more room for the three who remained.
As predicted by Zarda, Pipsie and Emeryn were awake playing marbles to pass the time. They stayed up to await Oridian's return, who shared the great news with them before settling in for the night. It appeared that everyone was thrilled to hear they could finally escape the chaos and venture into new worlds. Their dreams were now filled with incredible possibilities.