*She wouldn't have to wait long. He slid out of the shadows of the cavern's mouth. Sometimes he used his ability to shadow walk without even realizing he was doing it. He smiled as he turned his head and saw Sunset, sitting there and waiting for him* "Good morning, dearest Sunset. I have a feeling that it is going to be a wonderful day today.....Are you ready to get going? Today your going to be able to see what?s it's like to travel the way that I do, by shadow walking." *With a yawn, Dash stretched his wings out to their full span, pushing his chest outward. *Obviously it was self puffery, but at least no one else was watching but Sunset!*

"It won't take us long, and it'll be a lot warmer than it is here......I see you already dressed for the occasion."

*Wrapping a foreleg around her waist and holding her close, he smiled and folded his wing around her shoulders* "Close your eyes, dear, and don't open them. Concentrate on me, and holding on to me." *He waited until he was sure her eyes were closed, and he walked them into the shadows.

It could have been a second, it could have been hours, it could have been weeks. All sense of time and direction was lost as he took them deep into the shadows, moving through them, scanning them for their destination.

He spots the beach and steers them towards it......And all is solid again. The bright sun brings warmth, the sand gives way under talons and toes like. The screeching of birds is loud overhead.* "Welcome to the beach, my dearest Sunset. You can open your eyes now."

"It is amazing, isn't it?" *The ocean roared softly in front of them as the waves came in and left again. Sand stretched in either direction as far as the eye could see, and even though it was still early in the day, the beach was completely deserted, except for them. He trotted up to the water's edge and sat on his haunches, staring out at the ocean.*

"When I was training with my father, and he would finally let me go for the day, or sometimes even the weekends if I was lucky, I would come here. You see, my dearest Sunset, I would sit here, almost in this exact same spot. By the time I got here, it was actually Sunset.....You were all I could think about. I even slept here sometimes, and dreamed you were next to me. Sometimes in your human guise, sometimes in your dragon form, curled beneath my wing."

*He pointed out to the ocean, and just like he promised, the fins of cruising sharks could be seen, a lot more of them than one would think this close to the shore.* This is a beautiful place, and not just during sunrise, or sunset.....Twilight is just as beautiful, you can see every star in existence from here." *He smiled and turned his head to her*

"I thought.....Maybe we could make our home here. There is a beach cave, not two miles up the beach. Mountain homes are nice, but this is a peaceful place, and no one will bother us. Or.....We can get a regular beach house, if you would like. I would be happy to use my human guise for you."

"Hmmm, the thought of having both never occurred to me.....Although it does make perfect sense. We did just jump halfway around the world by shadow walking.....We could have multiple homes anywhere we wish, as long as we are willing to take care of them all." *He could have sworn that he had shown her his human guise at least once when they were younger, but that had been so long ago......They were still very young, but they had been just wet hatchlings back then. Taking a few paces back, Dash took a deep breath and gathered his magical energies for the transformation. Reaching out to the shadows, they quickly surrounded him, swirling around him faster and faster, getting smaller and smaller.

What emerged from the shadows was by no means impressive looking. Dash's youth was noted in his human guise, being no older than she was. He was clad in black biker boots and a pair of black jeans that were not tight, exactly, but they were snug. He sported also a black jacket with the arms ripped off, and a red muscle shirt beneath. His limbs were not thick, but they were well toned, and it would have been a big mistake to underestimate him on his looks alone. His hair was fair and dark brown, and had a sort of windblown look to it. His face looked like it was meant to scare or intimidate once he emerged, but once he saw Sunset, a warm smile came across his face. His eyes sparkled a dull reddish brown in color*

"Not the most impressive human guise, but I never really had much cause to use it.....Besides, I always thought it'd be fun if some big, muscled human picked a fight with me and I worked him over." *He couldn't help but grin at the thought.* "At any rate, dearest Sunset, this is how I look as a human." Not the m

*Smiling, he wrapped his arms around her in return, making no move at all, save for the steady rise and fall of his chest with his breath* "Not just this form, my dear, but any form I may take. I am yours forever....Which reminds me, I think the two of us need to go ring shopping, yes? We may be able to take our mateship flight, but if we are going to be in our human guises, I think we should have wedding rings." *Leaning down and kissing her lips putting as much of his passion and love for her into that single kiss as he could. He had missed her for so long, his thoughts had been only of her, and to have her here in his arms, he had never felt more alive than he did at that moment.*

*He could feel her love for him returned in that kiss, and it was only with reluctance that it was broken.* "I love you too, Sunset Bloodwing......That is, assuming of course, you do want to take my name as your own?" *He could have stood there with her like that for hours, but this was only one part of the beach, and as they had no beach home yet, he took her hand and walked with her along the beach, heading towards the cave that would be their home in the meantime.*

*He gave a soft laugh* "Taking my last name promises something" And what exactly does taking my name promise, my dear" Other than the fact that we will be married, of course?"