Adventure

  Sullivan woke, smiling sleepily.  He had no nightmares this time and couldn't remember having slept so well.  He suddenly realized the comforting warmth that was at his back when he fell asleep was no longer there.  He turned with a start and was afraid he would find he was alone...again.  But, Kellen was there, sitting beside him, gazing down at his sleepy face.  Sullivan's heart rate slowed and he let out a breath of relief.
  Kellen asked, “Did you think I had left you?”  Sullivan’s eyes fell shut and he reached for Kellen’s hand and, upon finding it, squeezed tightly.  The forest elf opened his eyes, smiling a little, and Kellen then asked, “How did you sleep?”
  Sullivan nodded and replied, “Rather well...thanks to you.”  Kellen smiled and, if he didn’t know any better, he’d say the taller night elf was embarrassed!  Surely not...  Sullivan yawned, stretched, and asked, “So, are we to go exploring, today?”  A serious look darkened Kellen’s face and Sullivan looked at him inquisitively.
  “Sully,” Kellen started.  He stopped and recoiled a little, asking, “Forgive me, may I call you ‘Sully?’ ”
  Sullivan winced a moment but then thought He is NOT...him.  He smiled gently and replied, “That was usually a name people used to make fun of me.”
  Kellen quickly said, “I’m sorry, Sullivan.  I won’t...”
  “I’d like it if you called me that.  I wouldn’t let anyone else do it, but you...I...kinda like hearing it from you.”
  Kellen smiled and nodded, “Alright.”  His face grew serious, again, and he continued, “Are you sure about this?  About coming with me?  I move around a lot, you know.  And your family probably misses you.”
  Sullivan’s expression grew dark, that same pained look shadowing his face once more.  He looked at Kellen with those pleading dark blue eyes and solemnly shook his head.  His gaze fell back to the bed and he quietly said, half expecting Kellen to send him back home, “I want to go with you, Kellen.  Seeing this place makes me realize I haven’t seen anything of the world.  Seeing you move in the forest makes me realize there’s so much more I can learn than I’d even heard about back home.  I want you to take me with you...to show me the world...and teach me what you know.  And...”  He trailed off, his pale cheeks suddenly flushing crimson.
  Kellen tilted his head curiously at the smaller forest elf sitting on the bed.  He was going to ask what else it was that Sullivan wanted to say but he thought better of it considering how he was obviously shy about it.  He’ll come around, he thought.  Kellen smiled at his new companion’s naïve ambition and said, “Okay.  I can’t guarantee that we’ll see anything interesting or where we’ll end up...but I promise you, you’ll be safe with me.”
  Sullivan looked deep into Kellen’s dark eyes, his own beginning to water.  “Kellen, I...” he sighed, hope finally returning to him, “Thank you, Kellen.”
  Kellen nodded kindly, smiling and saying, “Let’s get ready, then!  We’ve a new town to explore.”
  Sullivan smiled and jumped out of bed, grabbing his clothes and slipping them on.  Maybe...finally...I’ve found some solace in this wretched world.

They headed out of the inn after checking out with the keeper and Sullivan looked at Kellen and asked, “So, what are we going to do, today?”
  “Well, we’ll need to acquire a few things for you so you can accompany me.  We won’t always be able to stay in an inn, you know.”
  Sullivan nodded in understanding and waited for Kellen to lead on.  Kellen located a shop and started searching for what they would need on their journeys.  While Sullivan was following him around, staring in wonder at all the things he was seeing for the first time, a thought suddenly occurred to him for some reason.  I wonder if they even know I’m gone.  Are they looking for me?  ...I hope not.  I don’t want to ever go back there, again.  I don’t care if that’s running away.  I’ve found a chance for real happiness I never would’ve gotten back home.  I’m taking it, dammit.
  Kellen noticed him staring at some random item for sale, his jaw clenched tightly shut.  He quietly walked over to the forest elf and gently placed his hand on his shoulder.  “Sully?  Are you alright?”
  The return to reality startled him a little and he jumped slightly.  He shook his head clear and replied, a little uncertain, “Oh, yeah.  Sorry.  Anything I can help you with?”
  Kellen stayed silent for a second; he knew there was something Sullivan wasn’t telling him but he decided he’d let him do it on his own...or he’d pry if he had another nightmare.  One of those.  He smiled and said, “Actually, yes, if you could find yourself a pack you like, we’ll be set.”  Sullivan smiled brightly and ran off to find one as if it was a present.  For him, it basically was.

After Kellen had bought the few items they needed, they left the shop and Kellen said, “Well, I think I’ll leave our destination up to you.  There’s a natural fountain near here I’ve been told is beautiful and I wanted to go see it.  Or, we can go to the large rock formations a little farther away from town.  I’ve heard they’re rather breathtaking...and fun to climb.”
  Sullivan’s face lit up like the sun.  He didn’t want to alter Kellen’s plans any but the thought of climbing rocks with this beautiful night elf sounded way too fun to pass up.  “I’d love to go to the rock formation...if that’s okay with you, of course.”
  Kellen grinned and replied, “I thought you might.  Let’s go, then!”
  Sullivan asked, after they had gotten underway, “Could we still go see the fountain after?”
  “Well, that depends...do you mind staying up late?”
  Sullivan’s parents had never let him stay up late and do anything, it didn’t matter what.  He was rarely tired, either, and spent many a restless night in his room...staring out the window at the night sky.  “I’d love to.  It’s been...a long time since I’ve gotten to stay up.”  His aura darkened a little and he said quietly, “I miss my moon.”
  Kellen smiled at him, both because he felt bad for him and because he saw a lot of himself in the smaller elf.  He had never grown tired of gazing up at a full moon in a field and watching its soft light illuminate everything around him.  I will share a moon with this beauty.  I swear it, Kellen thought.

They made their way to the rock formation and, as soon as it came into view, Sullivan’s jaw dropped.  It was massive.  After his initial shock, he smiled devilishly.  He loved climbing...trees, rocks, ladders...anything...and this looked like it was gonna be awesome.  He looked to Kellen, the joy on his face obvious.  “Race you there!” he said quickly and took off running at full speed.
  Kellen darted after him.  Even with the supplies in the pack on his back, his longer and stronger legs carried him up to and past Sullivan to reach the rocks about a second before Sullivan reached them.
  He panted a moment and then said, sarcastically, “Cheater.”
  Kellen grinned at him and set their bags in a little cranny in the rocks.  “Wanna go for the top?”
Sullivan nodded excitedly and walked up to start climbing.
  “Okay, take your time.  No rush.  Let’s just enjoy it.”
  Sullivan smiled and looked up.  The peak of the formation wasn’t mountainous but it would still afford them a pretty good view of the surrounding area.  The sun was moving past the midday point and the sky was beginning to take on a nice orange glow.

Sullivan couldn’t remember having so much fun.  He and Kellen shimmied their way up, over, around, and under the various rock formations.  They kept getting closer and closer to the top.  Sullivan would occasionally look over to Kellen to check his progress - and the night elf himself - and smile.  Kellen looked back and, on occasion, caught him staring.  He smiled to himself and kept climbing.  When they were maybe two meters from the top, Kellen suddenly stopped at the handhold he was on and looked to Sullivan.  He motioned with his head towards the peak and said, “You take the honor, Sully.”  He smiled and Sullivan looked back at him, admiring him for all he was worth.
  He almost welled-up, again.  I’m too damned emotional, he thought momentarily, chuckling to himself.  With determination, he reached for the last few handholds he needed to get to the nice little flat spot at the very top.  He reached it and stood up, taking a first look around.
  Kellen stayed put and called up to him, “How’s the view?”
  Sullivan couldn’t speak.  He just looked down at Kellen, an unreadable expression on his face.  Kellen smiled curiously and started climbing the rest of the way.  When he reached the top, he understood.  Before them, over the tree line, was the beginning of a gorgeous sunset.  The sun was falling to just above the horizon and the sky had been painted with a myriad of colors they couldn’t quite see when they were on the ground.

Sullivan looked into Kellen’s green eyes - a beautiful contrast to the fiery sky - and then back out over the horizon.  He was still speechless.  He’d never gotten to see anything quite like this before – and certainly not with someone so special.  He semi-consciously found Kellen’s hand and wrapped his own around it.  He leaned his head against Kellen’s upper arm and Kellen let go of his hand...to wrap his arm around the shorter elf and stare at the sunset together.  “Kellen...” he was almost at a loss for words.  “Thank you...for sharing this with me.  I’ve never gotten to do this before.”  Kellen looked down at him, into his deep blue eyes, and smiled warmly.
  “The pleasure is all mine, believe me.  Truthfully, I’ve never gotten to share this with anyone before, either.  I’m glad it’s with you, Sully.”
  Sullivan felt the warmth of Kellen’s arm around him in the cool air and basked in his joy.  A beautiful sunset...with a beautiful night elf.  He vowed he would not let anyone take this away from him.
  “I hate to do it, but we better make our way down, now, Sullivan.  We don’t want to have to climb back down in the dark.”  Sullivan nodded in assent and squeezed Kellen’s torso once more before separating himself to start the journey back to the ground.

They made their way back down and gathered up their newly-purchased supplies.  Sullivan stopped Kellen, taking his hand in his own, looking into those beautifully green eyes and quietly said, “Thank you so much for this, Kellen.  I...you don’t know how much it means to me.”
  Kellen smiled warmly at the smaller elf and suddenly pulled him into his arms, resting Sullivan’s head against his chest and stroking his beautiful dark hair.  “I think I do, Sully...because it means the world to me.  Thank you, beautiful one.”
  Sullivan blushed and squeezed back tightly.  They finally separated, pulling back to smile warmly at each other.  Kellen put his left arm around Sullivan’s shoulders and said, “Come on...let’s go check out that fountain.”
  Sullivan nodded, grinning boyishly.  Never let this end, he implored of whomever might hear his plea.

They trekked back, watching the last rays of sunlight finally fade out.  The song of the woods was alive and well, then.  All manner of life was moving and singing the familiar song that the pair had individually grown so accustomed to.  Hearing the natural melody, accompanied by the fact that he was holding hands with the most beautiful soul he’d ever laid eyes on, made the prodigal forest elf want to weep tears of joy.  They made their way to the fountain and just stared in wonder.  They were both rather impressed.
  “Wow...” Sullivan breathed out.  Not only was the natural fountain spewing water high into the air, there was a tiered rock formation surrounding it, worn by the water over time, that brought the water down to run off in a stream.  It really was spectacular, even more so for Sullivan who’d never seen anything like it.  Kellen put his arm around Sullivan once more and they watched as the water gushed up and back down around the wonders of nature and time.

The moon was quickly making its way above the horizon line and it looked to be nearly full.  It was bright and the soft rays it cast down upon the fountain were breathtaking.
  “Kellen...you’ve shown me so much in just one day.  I can only imagine what’s to come.  I...hope you’ll let me stay with you.  I...want to...for a very long time.”  He looked up timidly at the night elf, seeing the moonlight fall upon his dark features.  It made for an incredibly breathtaking scene (not to mention an erotic one.)  Kellen smiled gently and brushed his hand along Sullivan’s milky white cheeks.
  “I would be honored to have you by my side, Sullivan...for as long as you want.  And I can’t wait to see all the things we’ll see together, either.”  Sullivan smiled lovingly at the night elf.  Kellen could almost swear he saw a tear streak down Sullivan’s cheek, but it was hard to tell in the dark against his beautiful light skin.  Sullivan suddenly got an idea...something he’d been wanting to try since he first looked to the sky.  His face lit up, adding to the pale glow around them.
  “Kellen?  Is there a clearing in the woods near here?”
  Kellen thought a moment and replied, “I believe so.  Maybe five minutes that way.”
  He pointed and Sullivan grabbed his hand and started off, his pace hurried and his face all smiles.  They dodged branches and brush quickly, Kellen struggling to keep up with the smaller elf with all the supplies he had on his back.  They finally reached the clearing and Sullivan immediately went to stand in the very middle of it.  He looked back at Kellen and held out his hand for his bag, smiling knowingly.  Kellen looked at him with curiosity, wondering what the forest elf had in mind.  Sullivan took the bag and immediately spread out their large, new mat and some of the new blankets.  Sullivan laid down gracefully upon it and motioned for Kellen to join him.  He laid his head back, pulling his braid down by his side, and stared up at the sky.  His breathing paused when he took in the stars and the glowing moon.

Kellen lay down next to him and had a similar reaction when he saw at what Sullivan was gazing.  “Oh...Sully...” he whispered.
  He quietly responded, “I hoped you'd like it.  The least I can do for you...after all you’ve done for me.”  Sullivan decided he’d give him one more present.  He turned to look at Kellen to make sure he wasn’t watching him and then suddenly moved to put his head on the taller elf’s chest, draping his left arm over Kellen’s right shoulder and gently stroking his cheeks and occasional errant strand of hair.  Kellen smiled happily and put both of his arms around the smaller elf, holding him lovingly as he gazed up at this stunning vista.  Sullivan pulled a couple more blankets over them and whispered, “Goodnight, Kellen.  Thank you for the best day of my life.  Sweetest dreams.”  He smiled and squeezed the taller elf under his head tightly.
  Kellen replied, in a soothing, warm voice, “No, thank you, beautiful Sullivan.  Sleep well...and sweetest dreams.  I shall be with you when you wake.”  He wasn’t sure if he was overstepping his bounds saying “beautiful Sullivan,” but something compelled him to.  Sullivan didn’t mind - in fact, upon hearing those words, he breathed in deeply and smiled brighter than he ever had, rivaling the moon’s glow with his own.  Kellen breathed out slightly, relieved that Sullivan liked what he heard and he brought his hand up to stroke the forest elf’s stunningly dark hair.  The last thought to go through his blissful mind before sleep overtook him was If ever I decide to settle down, I think I’ve found my reason to do so...

Kellen was roused by a sharp growl.  He didn’t need any further motivation - he instantly sat up and stood, picking up Sullivan with him.  The sudden movement woke Sullivan but not completely.  He sleepily opened his eyes to find himself looking up at a worried Kellen standing there holding him.  He started to ask what was going on but Kellen quietly, though firmly, said, “Wake up, Sullivan.  We’re in danger.”
  Sullivan snapped to at this and put his legs down to stand on his own.  What he saw froze him in terror.  Before them stood a dark-furred beast with razor-sharp fangs bared at them.  It had a large tuft of black fur about its neck with sharp spines traveling down the length of its spine.  Though it looked a bit slender, overall, the teeth and spines and packed muscle made it a formidable figure...and rather threatening.  Sullivan had never seen or heard of a creature even remotely close to this.  He didn’t say anything; he just stayed very close to Kellen.  The forest elf cursed his lack of experience and a weapon and, however much he hated having to know such things, he promised himself to ask Kellen to teach him later – if they made it that long.
  Kellen kept his same quiet but firm tone and said, “Sully, very slowly...move behind me.  Can you climb trees?”  He knew it might be an obvious question after their rock climbing adventure but he wasn’t taking any chances.
  “Yes.”  Of course he could - he was a forest elf.  It was one of his favorite things to do.
  “Find one and get as high up it as you can when I tell you.”  Sullivan was scared and for more than one reason.
  He whispered back, fear in his voice, “What about you?”
  “Just get in the tree, Sully.  And don’t come down until I tell you.”
  NO.  No, no, no, no!  I can’t lose Kellen.  I JUST found him!  Oh, gods, PLEASE don’t let anything bad happen to him.
  Kellen stealthily drew his two daggers and slowly crouched a little.  Still whispering, he said, “Ready....RUN!”  As soon as his sensitive ears heard Sullivan take off for the woods, he lunged at the beast.  It tried to run after Sullivan, but Kellen managed to get in its way and swipe a gash on its right side.  It roared and turned to face Kellen, growling ferociously.
  Sullivan ran even faster than he had when he ran from home.  He found the biggest tree with the lowest branches possible and leapt up to snag the bottom one.  He scampered up and started making his way as high as he could go.  How he managed to do it so quickly in his clothes without tearing them he’d never know.  The braided elf made it to nearly the top of the large, old oak, and turned to watch Kellen from above.  Come on, Kellen.  He quickly looked upward and whispered a prayer in earnest, If ever you answer a prayer, answer this one.  Save him.  Don’t let anything happen to my Kellen.  He looked back down to find the tall night elf and the beast facing off, the creature making a surprisingly large and sinister growl for its size.
  Kellen wasn’t sure how he was going to take down a beast that was this well-armed.  He had fought hand-to-hand plenty of times before - and had the scars to prove it - but never against a beast like this.  He watched the creature’s movements like a hawk.  They couldn’t have strayed into its territory.  It would’ve attacked them long before now if they had.  It must be hungry.  Or bloodthirsty.  With a creature like this, it wouldn’t surprise him.  He’d certainly seen it happen before.  Either way, he was in danger...and he had someone else he’d promised he would take care of.  He couldn’t let Sullivan down.  The beast growled and lunged at him.  Kellen was fast, but he didn’t have four strong legs working for him.  He moved mostly out of the way, but still ended up with a bad gash on his leg.  He winced at the pain but quickly pushed it to the back of his mind.  Come on, Kellen...don’t let Sully down.  The beast roared and lunged at Kellen, again, but missed and Kellen expertly spun around to slice a nasty wound into the beast’s left flank.  The creature didn’t wait, this time.  It yelped and wheeled around to make its finishing move at the night elf.  It landed a claw on Kellen’s left torso, cutting him deeply.  Kellen didn’t let it finish, though.  He brought both daggers up and tore into the beast’s stomach.  It yelped one last time and fell limp.
  Kellen pushed the creature off him and pulled out his trusty daggers.  He flicked them outward as he got up to free them of the creature’s blood and sheathed them.  He said loudly, out of breath, “Okay...Sullivan...come back down.”  Sullivan scampered down a few branches and then jumped out of the tree.  He wouldn’t normally, but he could see that Kellen was hurt and he needed to get to him.  He landed hard and was amazed he didn’t break something.  He recovered from his less-than-graceful landing and took off for Kellen.  His skirt fluttered wildly as he ran breakneck speed back to his companion.
  He came to a halt and immediately asked, his voice full of concern, “Kellen?  Are you alright?”  He nodded wearily...and then stumbled.  “Here, sit down.”  Sullivan supported him as much as he could as he sat down.
  Kellen said, “It’s okay...I’m just...out of...” he trailed off as his eyes fluttered and he fell backwards.
  “Kellen!  No...wake up!”  The injured night elf was slipping in and out of consciousness.  Sullivan looked back down at his guide’s torso to find it bleeding, but not too badly.  His leg, however, was another story.  The entire appendage was red and he was still loosing a good deal of blood through that wound.
  “Kellen...don’t you dare leave me.”  He was really scared, now.  “Kellen...come on...I can’t lose you...I...I love you!”  Tears started streaking down his face and he held Kellen’s head in his lap, cradling him close to his chest.  It might’ve been said in panic and sparked by a death-related experience, but he knew his words were true as he sobbed them.
  A spark suddenly hit his brain through the panic and he gently laid down Kellen’s head and moved to his leg.  He forced himself to calm down and center – as much as possible in a situation like that, anyway.  He closed his eyes and placed his hands over Kellen’s wound.  He uttered the most powerful healing chant he knew and felt the energy coursing through him.  It was stronger this time...more focused.  Whether it was because he was away from the threat of his parents or because Kellen’s life was on the line, he didn’t know.  He finished the chant and pushed the energy through his hands and into Kellen’s wound.  There was a bright blue flash of light and Sullivan moved back.  He couldn’t tell through the blood how well-healed it was, but it had definitely stopped bleeding.  He hoped it wouldn’t leave a mark, though he wasn’t sure why that thought occurred to him during a time like that.  Sullivan moved up to his torso and repeated the chant, directing nature’s healing energies into Kellen’s body...praying this would save him.  He had done all he could do for now.  He moved back up and cradled Kellen’s head in his lap again.  He gently shook him, pleading through tears, “Kellen, wake up...wake up, dammit!”  The fallen night elf didn’t respond.
  Sullivan looked up at the sky through tear-soaked, bloodshot eyes.  This...will be the last...the ONLY night we get to spend together under the stars.  At that, he broke down.  He looked at Kellen’s lifeless form and saw the tears streak down his cheeks and fall onto Kellen’s face.  He closed his eyes and lowered his head...utterly defeated.
  Kellen coughed.  Sullivan’s head snapped up lightning fast and he burst out, “KELLEN!”
  He cleared his throat and weakly said in a raspy voice, “Hello, beautiful one.  Sorry about that.”  He tried to smile but coughed.
  “Are you in pain?” Sullivan asked.  He started to answer but then a confused look took his face.
  “No, actually...how...?”  He looked down, feeling where the deep wounds were.
  “I...healed you.”
  “You ARE handy,” he said, grinning playfully.  His face grew serious again and he lifted his hand to brush Sullivan’s cheek.  Sullivan’s eyes fell shut and he brought his own hand up to meet Kellen’s.  He held it firmly in his own and pulled it from his face to kiss it.  Sullivan looked at Kellen, relieved and happy, and suddenly threw his arms around the night elf and hugged him so tightly Kellen coughed again.  Sullivan pulled back and giggled a little.
  “Sorry.  I just...I’m glad you’re okay, Kellen.”  He blushed and looked down at the ground.
  “I am, too.  After all, I can’t very well keep a promise to you if I perish, now can I?”  Sullivan smiled weakly and Kellen saw his fear.  Kellen took Sullivan’s hand in his own and sat up, looking deeply into his blue eyes.  “Sully, there are always risks in everything.  But, as long as I’m able, I will be with you.  Don’t worry.  We’ll tackle whatever comes our way...together, okay?”  Sullivan nodded and hugged him tightly again.  “Now, you go back to sleep.  I’ll build a fire to keep any more critters at bay.”
  Sullivan laid back down and watched as this night elf, whom he was becoming increasingly fond of, gathered up wood and started a fire...in much the same way he did when they first met.  Sullivan thought back briefly to Kellen’s compassion and the feelings he had instilled in himself.  Thank the gods for that day.  I...think I’ve found where I belong.
  Kellen stayed up a while longer after Sullivan had fallen asleep.  The healing efforts had drained the sleeping again, after all.  The night elf scouted around the woods with his excellent night vision to make sure there were no more interlopers that might attack them again and, when he was reasonably assured, walked back to lie beside Sullivan.  He just lay there for a moment, staring at the gorgeous elf next to him.
  His hair...his eyes...his body...his heart...there’s nothing about him I don’t admire.  I hope I get to fall asleep with him every night.  There was something else, too.  He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he could swear there was something about his recent semi-consciousness state and Sullivan that...stuck in his mind.  Did he say something to me?  Or was it just his healing spell?  He shook his head and snuggled up close to the sleeping beauty, wrapping a protective arm around Sullivan and pulling him close to his chest.  He stroked Sullivan’s beautiful hair and whispered, “Good night, angel of mine.”  He smiled happily and soon fell asleep, the warmth of the fire lording over them and the moon shining down upon them.