This time I wonder what it feels like
To find the one in this life, the one we all dream of
But dreams just aren't enough
So I'll be waiting for the real thing
I'll know it by the feeling
The moment when we're meeting will play out like a scene
Straight off the silver screen
So I'll be holding my own breath right up 'til the end
Until that moment when I find the one that I'll spend forever with

She felt like she wanted to crawl out of her own skin. The cresting coupled with whatever the Dark Mage did to her. She knew the demon had taken away the immediate effects, but even he could not remove the lingering ones. This was the worse she has felt since she hit puberty. Couple with the two males she cared about being so close and yet so far out of reach for her.

Part of the complex was a gym built with the enhanced abilities of a were-hunter in mind. She was trained in Thai Kick boxing. Her family had properties all over the globe back home. Home? She was tempted to disappear to one of the properties, perhaps the Game Preserve to hide and ride this out.

No? That was the cowards way out. She was not a coward.

'Cause nobody wants to be the last one there
'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares
Someone to love with my life in their hands
There's gotta be somebody for me like that
'Cause nobody wants to do it on their own
And everyone wants to know they're not alone
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there

The Dark Hunter came to mind first. His absence hurt her. He was her first real friend here and she truly thought he cared. There was angry tears in her eyes as she hit the bag. She should have figured. They couldn?t be together. Never would have happened.

No that wasn?t fair to him... Ash probably had them running ragged with the Daimons trying to encroach on Rhydin. Still, she couldn?t help but feel just a little bit selfish. There was that thrill of fighting at his side that she couldn?t deny but she couldn?t deny he didn?t share in her love of the club.

Tonight, out on the street, out in the moonlight
And you know this feels too right
It's just like d?j? vu, Me standing here with you
So I'll be holding my own breath, could this be the end?
Is it that moment when I find the one that I'll spend forever with

Her breath caught as she thought on the Cheetah. He had found a place at her side, to be sure. She didn?t care he was a different breed or that he was a new type of were-hunter. He understood her. Hells, she felt horrid for being Aristi when his own patria had been hunted into the non-existence. He placed so much trust in her hands, she prayed that she was worthy of it.

He had been at her side more and more of late. So protective and yet he was so gentle too. He did not care she was Acardian and he was Katagarian. It had felt good to curl up as the Leopard to his Cheetah and rest.

She would work the bar with him at the Club. He was still learning the drink mixes yet his help was invaluable. They had made a great team, both in the club and out of it. She was falling for him and hard? and she did not want to stop.

?Please? please let him be the one.? Her heart prayed as she continued to work out. She? wanted him and ?

She would ask him.

'Cause nobody wants to be the last one there
'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares
Someone to love with my life in their hands
There's gotta be somebody for me like that
'Cause nobody wants to do it on their own
And everyone wants to know they're not alone
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there

The flashing of light under the kitchen door to herald the entrance of the Tigress, and a moment later it is pushed open to reveal the woman herslef, dressed in black, violet eyes, white hair.

The parting of doors grants access to the sphere of illuminant lavender, hovering just out of reach in its buoyant path across the sparsely occupied room. At a clearing amidst some tables the orb pulsates, expanding its purple circumference, until large enough for the Dark Mage of the Shaitain, Arkon Daraul, to emerge through. Upon crossing the threshold there was a flash behind, and the globe would vanish, blinking out of existence.

As he appeared, Vanessa grabbed for a beer and paid the till Viper before leaning against the back bar. Lids dropped to hood her amethyst eyes before looking around the common room.

The click of the darm mage's staff, a more than viable crutch, would sound between soft footfalls as he made his way for the bar. From the bowels of his deeply drawn hood, ailing pinpoints of sickly yellow would peruse those gathered, offering the smallest of nods to any who met his vile stare, its attention lingering up the one at the bar, Vanessa. "Good morning."

Her lids stay hooded as she watched the Dark Mage approach. "Greetings." She could be civil even if she was...bristling.

The outstretched length of a gloved hand would give a casual wave, summoning a bottle upon the far wall into a floating dance across the distance between he and it. Leather bound fingers closed around its narrow neck, and those pale orbs returned to her. "I hope all is well."

A second flash of light blinks in the rafters, heralding the entrance of the Cheetah, who drops down from the shadows above as though he had materialized out of the air to land next to Vanessa. Human in form for the time being, he is wearing this day a black t-shirt with the 'STAFF' emblazoned on the chest, black pants, boots. Dressed, it seems, for work.

She gave no indication that anything was wrong. "All is well." She moved towards Jaye though, a hand dropping to seek his. A nervous gesture for her, seeking the reassurance of touch. The Cheetah's hand is easily found, fingers interlacing with hers as he moves in closer to her, golden brown eyes settling first upon her, then on Arkon, carefully neutral in expression.

The dark mage had looked around at another figure in the Inn, recognition showing in his eyes as he bowed his head to an elfess. "That is good." Rising from the greeting with his fist, he would find the stare of Jaye, slanting the shadowy cowl forward enough to indicate a greeting. "I see Vanessa has found herself suitable company."

She arched a brow at the mage's comment. She too wasn't too.. comfortable in here, but she wasn't going to flee the room either.

Jaye grins, though the look isn't exactly friendly, meeting Arkon's gaze with his own, unflinchingly. "If 'suitable' means 'not you,' I suppose I am."

Another wave of his hand, this one much more nonchalant with his attention still on some of those wandering about, would bring forth a glass, the decorative vessel arriving out of thin air. The residue of magic would intangibly crackle all around him as the bottle then tilted, supplying the chalice with contents. The passive regard would shift, unchanged physically, though its intent would somehow seem colder. "A rather obtuse response, Jaye. Especially to one giving a compliment."

The eyes widen just a hair looking to the mage. She knew Jaye had given very few people his given name.

His answer to that is a soft chuckle. "I would say that not being you is a significant compliment indeed. You'll have to forgive my response - I'm not especially inclined to like you, or the members of your little...cult."

The icy regard from the dark mage would linger, no apparent response to the verbal insults cast toward him. With the bottle's task completed, he enclosed its bulbous width in the confines of his palm and lift it toward his splintered lips, speaking just above the rim. "Careful, friend. There are some things that you can't run from..." A slow, methodical sip drawn from the glass. "...no matter how fast you are."

She murmured softly, "And there are thing you don't want to...catch." Those Amethyst eyes look to the mage.

He laughs softly. "Of that I am well aware. But then, I only run for fun...not to flee."

Again with assistance from the twisted staff, the dark mage would start into a feeble gait, moving past them, with the audible land of his brace singing between steps. "A common decree of those who don't understand the extent of power. Good day to you both." That aged stride leading him away.

Her fingers laced in Jaye's as she turned to face him, speaking in that telepathic touching of thoughts they were both so accustomed to. <Hey Cheetah. Remy giving you shite again?>

As the old sorcerer walks away, he smirks, shaking his head. "Not without understanding, just without fear." A turn of his head to Vanessa with a smile. <No, not at all - I just felt like being where you are.>

She smiled at him, <Hmmm, Good answer.> The smile shifted to a grin.

She moved her arm around his waist and fit herself against his side. The other hand held a beer up to him, the hints of a tattoo there.

The hint of a tattoo appearing on her hand is almost overlooked, until he goes to reach for the beer, the hand that had been in hers slipping around her waist as she comes in close to his side. His golden-brown eyes widen slightly as he looks down to take the bottle, only to see the hints of an identical tattoo appearing on his own. For a long moment, he is frozen there, hand extended, eyes on his own skin. Finally, he speaks, softly, almost in shocked awe. "...Vanessa..."

The hint wasn't seen until the burning sensation hit. She hissed and the eyes widened.

The burning sensation hits him at the same moment, but other than a wince and a soft hiss of pain he doesn't seem to react to it - he's too busy looking from their hands to her eyes.

She's doing the same in awe, "(vq) Jaye... The mark." There was a distinct softening to her eyes.

He doesn't speak, just nods, seemingly struck speechless in that moment. When he finally finds his voice, it is low, almost husky. (vq)"I...hadn't thought..." is all he can seem to get out.

A gentle finger tip touches his lips, "(vq) The Fates can be very capricous..." Still she smiled, <Still I had hoped...>

He nods as he meets her eyes with a smile, finally managing to find the controls that work the jaw muscles and closing his mouth. <I had hoped as well, Tigress.> One hand comes up to rest lightly against her cheek, cupping it gently.

She moved in close to affectionately nuzzle his cheek. <There is no question on the claiming. The question comes to the bonding.> She looked up to him.

Jaye Blayde: He chuckles softly, raising an eyebrow as he slips his arms around her waist and pulls her close to him, looking down into her violet eyes. <For me there is no question...but then, you are the one that has control over that as well.>

She smiled at him, <I may have control, but the choice has to be mutual...love.>

In the midst of this appears the young hatchling that had been spending a good deal of its time with the pair of them, Icesong, childe of Icer, climbing its way onto her shoulder and nuzzling the Tigress.

Jaye grins, both at Vanessa's statement and the hatchling's appearance. <My mind was made up about that before the marks showed, love.>

She nuzzled the Hatchling back. And smiled up at Jaye. <As was mine.>

Lang Darkwing, having been there for some time, chuckled as the hatchling moved off to pester Vanessa, as he settled back into his lazy slouch. "I think you just adopted a kid." Smirking as he was merely teasing Vanessa as he nodded to the hatchling.

She arched a look at the Hatchling, who appeared to be suffering from a cold, as it was sneezing at more or less regular intervals. <You should be home resting...>

Jaye chuckles softly, his arm tightening around her waist slightly as he smiles. <You really will make a good mother.>

She nuzzled Jaye. <Oh wait daddy... just wait.>

"She has your eyes," Lang called out to Vanessa as he nodded to the hatchling again.

She cat-called, "Someone needs glasses."

He shrugged. "You are bound to be a better parent than the ones she has."

Vanessa nuzzled the hatchling again as Jaye laughed at that. <Oh, I can hardly wait...it should be...interesting.>

She grinned at him. "Very interesting."

((Thanks to Baby Ice, Arkon Daraul, Vanessa, and Lang Darkwing. Adapted from live roleplay.))

Now, once mated, there are two classifications of how strong the bond between each couple could possibly be: claimed males and bonded mates.

In order to bond, during the consummation of their love the couple must clasp their mating-marked hands together. Then, each must recite the words of the Bonding Spell

She smiled as they appeared within the walls of her? no their bedroom. The choice was made. Her choice, their choice, for she wouldn?t force it on him. It was all or nothing. Her heart was thundering in her chest as she made the next move.

With a small exercise of power, she flashed away their clothing. A rather handy bit of magic, especially with your cat is clamoring for its mate. She gave him a sultry smile as she gently pushed him back onto the bed. She then approached the bed and crawled along his form until she was straddling his hips. There was that rumbling purr as she gazed down at him.

?(vq) Ready lover??

Mating is a serious affair in the Were-world. Mating is not just sex; it is the discovery of a soul mate. That soul mate is one chosen by the Fates. As many of the animals that Lycaon crossed the Apollites with were ones who mated for life, the prospect of finding a soul mate for most Weres is as natural as breathing.

Her marked hand laced in his, touching the markings of their palms together. She shifted her hips just enough that he filled her so intimately. There was a soft groan of pleasure, desire, as she pauses, allowing herself to adjust to him. Her first on so many levels, including the physical.

Her voices was a husky with the desire as she spoke softly the words of the Binding Ritual.

"I accept you as you are, and I will always hold you close in my heart.
I will walk beside you forever."

Words the Fates decreed would link them together as Mates until one or the other died. They had chosen to complete the Binding, but in all things, she was in control of this. Her choice, but she would never force those on him.

Directly after the Bonding Spell, the Weres succumb to the thirio?their passionate animal instinct. They give in to their wild side, and their canine teeth elongate.

At this time, the couple can officially bond with each other by mutually sinking their teeth into each other, drinking their part?ner's blood, and combining their life forces. It may sound scary and more than a bit stomach-turning, but in the world of the Were-Hunters, the bonding is a sacrament. It is beautiful and nat?ural, and it is a testament to true love.

She growled softly as the thirio came over her. It was evident in her moves, the way drove him deeper with herself. The Tigard wanted her mate. Nothing else mattered.

She tilted her head back with another growl as her canines elongated. She nuzzled closer to her mate and sank her teeth into his neck. This was the part where they would bond their life forces together. Should one mate die, the other would join them. Their life threads would become one. If the male died while the female was pregnant, then she would live until their cubs were born.