}{~Holding Our Last Breath~}{||Summer Rain||

[alexander]

Twilight. It was just the time that the horizon was articulating itself with a dark assortment of colors. Not as flashy as when the sunset has the spotlight, but just as beautiful and relaxing. Around this time, the moon was faded, but it was commanding the attention of all living things that could see it as it began to shine through the puffy gray clouds. The moon's beams shimmered through the clouds like a filter, and scattered the rays across the trees and vast grounds like a plethora of dancing figures. A distant breeze gusted through the surrounding trees, and cradled the leaves and bushes as if there were an invisible hand caring for the foliage.

Through the woods closest to the academy, the sound of light footfalls padded across the beaten earth. The sound was fairly quick, every second or so, as Skyler was the one making the noise as he jogged along the surprisingly level trail. He felt the spasm of exertion against his legs, and thighs, as he picked up his pace into a light sprint. He dodged the lower branches, ducking his head, as his semi-spikey blond hair rippled slightly in several strands along his head and behind him as far as his medium length hair could. Even though he'd been running for almost 30 minutes now, his breath was still light from his mouth, his lungs barely exerted unevenly with the flow of oxygen. His velvet aquamarine colored eyes were flicking from side to side, and down and up, to keep a constant awareness of his surroundings. Forests weren't usually dangerous, but you never know what would jump out; so instead he'd rather be prepared instead of startled.

He came to a fork in the path, with a wooden stake set in the center with a sign reading "Left-- Academy Grounds" and "Right-- Out Door Pool and Recreation Center".

"Hm..."

Skyler loved swimming, along with everything else athletic. He didn't mind intellectual subjects either, he just preferred sports over them. He hasn't swum in a while, either. He had already considered going swimming instead of jogging, but he decided against it because he was new to the school. Sky figured he'd like to check out the trails instead; as really enjoyed the scenery of such a marvelous academy and nature itself. He made a right as he entered the grounds once again, the pool almost in sight.

[summerrain]

Summer Rain trailed her fingers through the ferns among the trees, smiling gently as they softly tickled her palm. The moon filtered through the leaves, dappling the ground with silver lights, as she made her way through the dusky forest. She did not follow the path; Summer never did. But she never got lost, either. Her phenomenal sense of direction paired with her ability to communicate with the sylvan animals always found her wherever she needed to go. And there was always a way to fly out... Summer glanced over her shoulder at her gossamer wings, fluttering them gently. The delicate-looking appendages were very strong and supported her easily.

A small cry of distress brought Summer's attention back to the woods. She was not far off the path now, and that was where the call seemed to come from, so she headed that direction. The girl's waist-length silver-blond hair blew freely around her in the gentle wind, enveloping her in a soft cloud. Sighing, she pushed it out of the way, trapping it between her wings to keep it out of her face.

The sound of quiet, rapid steps could be heard on the beaten path, and Summer remained hidden as a young man jogged by with a burst of speed. She sensed, rather that saw, his decision to head back to the campus via the swimming pool. Disinterested, she stepped out onto the recently vacated trail and flitted toward the alarmed creature.

When Summer finally located the feeble, keening cry, she was surprised to find a small mouse holding its crooked tail and crying mousy tears. Picking up the tenor of its thoughts with her extrasensory abilities, Summer understood that the jogger had accidentally stepped on the mouse's poor tail as he ran by. Quickly Summer healed the little, trembling creature, flicked her wings open, and flitted up into the sky, racing to the edge of the path near the pool. As she flashed over the trees, Summer caught glimpses of the perpetrator still running on the path.

Reaching the edge of the forest path, Summer flicked her wings shut and free-fell, landing lightly on her feet right in front of the forest, facing the oncoming jogger.

"Excuse me," she said with a peeved expression on her flawless face, her deep gray eyes wide with irritation.

[alexander]

The colossal stadium lights were on, so Skyler's way was lit up more so than it was when he was in the heart of the forest. The Forest of Light; how odd that it was called that when it was as dark as the countryside at night, with a new moon. He estimated that from the fork, the pool was probably farther out and not directly under the stadium lights, as to allow for some privacy and close to the side of the forest for a romantic effect, or so some thought. Skyler thought, at least in his opinion, that the scenery added to the romance, but it was truly how one set up the context of the romance. Every move, every breath, every thing that probably wouldn't matter, did matter. But as his mind does, it wanders off when he's jogging. It's the time he likes to sort everything inside him out and to not rely on sleep all the time.

Skyler's head shook gently, as if to waver off the thoughts that began to flutter inside his head like reluctant flies after garbage. His pace slowed down to a very brisk jog, almost at a power walk speed. The effects of sprinting through the rough terrain earlier was starting to creep up on him like invisible tendrils of exhaustion, ready to ensnare him. Of course, he had more stamina than that, but everyone has their limits. Breathing heavier, he actually noticed his own fatigue, and he laughed briefly to himself, as he slowed even further into a walk. The pool sounded like a very good idea to him and he was very grateful to himself for wearing a piece to swim in.

Suddenly eager to sprint to the pool, although he was sure he was done sprinting for the day, he began to unzip the grayish blue cotton sweater. He shrugged out of it until he could catch it before it hit the ground, and he held it in one arm while his other worked his black wife beater off in an instant. He finally felt the sweat and the stickiness along with it. The exhilaration of the cool breeze seemed to do the opposite of the tendrils of exhaustion and began to wrap around his naked torso like an invisible cool blanket. It was just then, when he was almost out of the woods, when he had just reached for his navy button down jeans (The kind that have buttons on both pants and you just pull off) that a girl appeared out of no where and right in FRONT of him.

"Woah--" Skyler was startled by the sudden appearance and almost continued to walk into her, but his reflexes kicked in and he had to jump back, to keep a couple feet away from her. The first thing he felt was adrenaline, whether it was from the "fight or flight" mechanism he did not know. He felt neither which was odd. Quickly, the adrenaline deceased, and his eyes focused on the strangest... no, not strange... the most extraordinary girl he had ever seen. Her figure looked delicate; slender-like and perfectly portioned. Anything so perfect had to be delicate, right? But then he caught sight of her wings. Nearly translucent wings that glowed with the hues of an ancient forest; colors that even the best artist couldn't match or even mix himself. The way she was posed, the look on her face... wait, the look on her face? Why did she look annoyed? Immediately he felt remorse because he innocently had no idea what he might have done. Then he felt confusion to the matter, and finally he felt resolve. To understand what he did, even if it wasn't him. Call it intuition, but Skyler just... had the oddest feeling.

"Excuse me..."

Oh! Her voice... it sounded like a pluck across a perfectly tuned harp made of only the finest materials. It only increased his resolve towards her that her regal-like appearance made him think of the none existing gods and goddesses that only belonged in fairy tales. He quickly gathered himself up from the surge of emotions; even though he was sure every single one of them appeared on his face.

"Oh, hello there", his voice was cool, calm, and collected as he spoke, " Is there anything wrong...?"

This time, even without his knowledge, it was his time to shine for her. In her sights stood Skyler, half naked. The stadium lights streamed down just faintly onto them, but more so onto Skyler since he was facing them. His hair was wind blown slightly, but as it was ever so damped with his sweat it retained a sleek and polished look, only coming down to the bottom of his jawline. Beads of sweat trickled along the length of his torso, chest, and stomach. His body was built, but it wasn't overly defined as a muscular tone. A runner, or swimmer's body was perfectly defined as his. The beads of sweat shimmer in the light, even as they slid down across his lower body.... along the slim trail of blond hair that grew in a trail from below his naval towards the V that sculpted his midsection. His pants were unbuttoned and parted, as he was just about to take them off, and a navy blue piece was visible.

[summerrain]

The moon shimmered down on the fairy-like girl as she waited in the path. Its light illuminated her eyes, making them glow, and reflected off of her white dress with the same effect. On her back, sprouting from her shoulder blades, the wings she flitted about on fairly glittered, their iridescent qualities only accented by the silver light. Strands of soft silver-blond hair floated about her slender figure, lifted by the constant gentle puff of wind. Her bare arms and legs were pale in the cool night air, but she was not cold. Instead, she was rather warm, slightly upset by the approaching figure.

Summer gave pause in the romantic lighting, eyes open wide as the runner came toward her, having relocated his shirt from his body to over his arm. He also seemed to be... unbuttoning his pants? She quirked an eyebrow. Well, this was sure to be an interesting first meeting. A gentle breeze again played around her, caressing her bare arms and stirring her light dress- she didn't realize the effect the breath of wind had on her appearance. The girl watched as the young man skidded to a stop in front of her, trying not to collide with her; she was enthralled by the way he face seemed to go through a myriad of emotions before he settled on one- confusion. At her words, he seemed taken aback, and spoke up.

"Oh, hello there," he said in a voice that was soft and musical as a gentle breeze through wind chimes. Summer gave a slight gasp; no one should possess a voice that sexy. "Is there anything wrong...?"

Summer studied the student (for he was surely young enough to be a student; he appeared to be perhaps one year ahead of her second year). His breath was coming in slight pants from his physical exertion, and she watched his muscular chest in fascination. A few beads of sweat rolled down his toned stomach and she followed their trail with her eyes, deeply appreciating his finely sculpted torso. His muscles were modestly but clearly defined. It was obvious he had strength- just not body-builder type strength, but that of... well, a runner. Or a swimmer, which it appeared that he was transitioning into, given his state of undress. Summer tried not to stare at his waistline, but could not keep from glancing at the super-attractive way his torso tapered to a nice V-shape above his waistband, which was opened in front, showing what she assumed was his swimming suit.

Looking guiltily upward past his faint 6-pack and smooth, hairless chest, Summer took in his well-built shoulders and arms. Still her eyes roamed up to study his blond hair, wind-blown and swept to the side; it was slightly damp with sweat, but very attractive nonetheless. She suddenly snapped her attention back to his handsome face, looking into his beautiful baby blues as she lodged her complaint.

"You. Stepped. On. A. Mouse's. Tail," she said, clearly upset and unaware that her wings were flickering rapidly back and forth, open and closed. "I know you might not have meant to, but it's tiring, always having to heal the animals that people carelessly injure. My powers do have a limit, you know," she informed him, narrowing her eyes. One of the lights from the pool area seemed to shine down on him like a spotlight, illuminating his face and showing his contrite expression. Summer sighed. "Look. I'm not mad at you or anything. The thing is, you just need to watch where you're stepping. Ignorance is worse than deliberation at times." She smiled tentatively, offering her slender hand to the athletic boy. "My name is Summer, Summer Rain."