Shifters Open To All

[LittleSprite2]

Kara was 25yrs old and this would be her first trip to the Fall's where the lacanthrops met once every 4yrs, to mate or simply gather together. From her studies and what she had discovered over the last few years she knew that this would be the only chance she had to study them..unless she waited another 4yrs.

As they were in the jungle she had narrowed the speceies down to. jaguar's, Harpy Eagle's, the fox, and possably the horned owl, but knew that it was possable for there to be other creatures forms that the Lycans had taken aside from just the ones she was thinking.

As she headded off twords the Fall's she wondered if perhaps the Shifters or Lycans wernt the Mayans and Incas, or the Guaraní Indians who had dissapeared with out a trace over 100's of years ago, or perhaps another people entirly who had been here before them.

Kara is 5ft 4in weighing about 130 lbs she is slender of build with musculer arms, and legs from hiking and backpacking thro jungles and forrests. Her breasts are high full, and ferm. She has long black hair that hits just past her waist when down with dove gray almost silver eyes, and darkly taned skin from being out in the sun and weather.

Slowly emerging from the thick vegetation, multitudes of lush shurbery, and vines hanging from the trees. Kara looked around, seeing no other's around she continued. There was still plenty of daylight, and she didnt expect to see any Shifters until the moon arose, but then from what she had read if they were old enough then they cold change at anytime..If they were even real she reminded herself just because she hoped they were didnt make it so.

The sunlight was coming threw the trees she could hear the roaring sounds of the falls, and feel the spray of the water as it fell into the pool below. Working her way down the rocks to the pool she was careful not to slip on the rocks, it was hot, and steemy in the Jungle, and the water below looked very inviting she thought.

Kara knelt by the pool dipping her hand in the water she pourd the water down the vally between her breast's, getting her shirt wet, and over her neck. Trying to cool her body some not having any luck.

Thinking herself alone Kara sat down her pack, and begain to remove her tan colord tangtop and shorts along with her socks shoes and undergarments. Laying the knife she had carried with her for protection on the edge of the rocks with in easy reach should she need it, she reached up and unwound the braid in her hair.

The water shimmerd in the sunlight as it ran down her soft skin, and lower still to the shadowed place between her legs where she Knelt, bringing some releif from the hot sun to her body.

Her hair flowing around her the tips barly touching the water, as she splashed more on her face droplets ran down her throat to the creamy swell of her breast's.

Taking her time she wondered where the best place for her to hide would be and noticed a small indention large enough for her small persion to sit on beneath the falls and looking at it from all angles she knew she could stay hidden their in the dark as long as their eyesight was the same as hers but she didnt have a choice if she watned to learn the truth.

Her partner only scorned and laughed at her for her ideas and had refused to allow her to take a team with her for protection saying that if she brought back some sort of proof he might beleive her. It had hurt that he had turned his back on her after 4yrs of recerch and working together he had laughed but she was determind and after calling him an ass gathered her things and made her way here.

The water and the noise of the falls would mask her sent and any noise she might make.. and she wondered how many lecanthrops, Male and Female that there would be if they came..

Arising from her kneeling position, she picked up the dagger, and dove into the water taking it with her incase a snake or other creature had made itself comfortable in that area, and to take a closer look to make sure that there would be enough room for herself and her pack on the ledge.

 

[Maniac9538]

Loukious

Loukious moves through the jungle slowly, hands brushing over the trees slowly as he moved towards the falls. He missed this woodland it was his true home. Loukious moved easily through the jungle, his 6'5 250 pound frame barely leaving a path behind. He stepped out into the clearing surrounding the falls, the water from the fall's splash down pool misting the air.

He cracked his neck and stretched out his black t-shirt and blue jeans were well worn. The t-shirt had faded red lettering of USMC. His boots weren't hiking boots but more suitable for combat but still good enough to get him through the woods. His hair was blood red and fel over his face slightly, shading his ice blue eyes. He was built of that of a soldier, a warrior. That he was, he was forged in war and he excelled at it.

He looked at the pool and then glanced around not seeing any of the other lycanthrope's he smirked...he always ended up here early. He was taller than his "cousins" and much lighter skinned...his father an American Marine...his mother a Native American Indian. It was his mother's side that granted him his shifting powers.

He took one more look around and stripped out of his clothes slowly, folding them and setting them on a rock off to the side. He then slipped into the cool water nude, the temperature change between the air and the water took his breath away for a moment. He swam slowly to the falls and rose on a rock his lower body still submerged his upper body directly under the falls, the water crashing down atop him. His upper body was well muscled but also scar covered from multiple fights.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Kara was inspecting the ledge and found that there would be enough room for her and her pack, but as she turned to go back for her things she froze as a man swam up out of the water.

She held the knife in her hand and made herself as small as possable, doing her best not to draw attetion to herself he handnt noticed her as of yet and she wondered where he had come from, was he friend or foe.

Kara wondred breifly if he were one of the lycanthrops as she watched him swim and tryed to decide if she would be able to make a dive from the ledge and swim to her clothing before he caught her. she hadnt seen him when she stripped and climbed in... damn choices.. call out or run for it...

He had a wonderfuly built body well sculpted and powerful looking even with the scars he carried, with his hair wet she couldt tell exactly what color it was, brown, black or possably an auburn color of red.

Reolizing it wouldnt be long before he noticed her she knew she would have to make the dive now or never.

 

[dragonrazor]

A black dragon with a set of silver scales on his head set down softly near a pond created by a waterfall. He looked around, tilting his head slightly, and caught sight of a human looking very frightened and vulnerable. He looked around, and spotted another of his kind laying in the water. Though the man was in human form, the dragon recognized that he was a Xenomorph, one of those able to change shape into animals. He shook his head, turning into his own human form, and stretched. "He won't hurt you, Miss. Not unless you provoke him, anyways. United States Marines tend to be very honorable, if a bit on the violent side."

He stretched, and sat down on the rocks himself. He felt something odd coming, some kind of change between humans and Shifters. Perhaps things will be as they once were, he thought, as he studied the young woman.

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

Portia

There is a scent in the air.

The small silver fox stops on her way through the woods and sniffs delicately, her perfectly formed ears cocking as she looks side to side. The falls, maybe? It seems that's where a few of the other's are. She turns and runs, heading toward the strange scent, human female? Yes.

She runs faster, stopping only when she notices the others by the falls. This is her first meeting, after all and she isn't sure if she is ready to meander into their midst without being properly prepared.

She takes a seat out of sight, behind a tree stump, and debates the pros and cons of this situation. Probably nothing too awful will come of this. The males seem non aggressive.

She shrugs and wills herself into *human* shape. "Fuck, I forgot my clothes."

 

[LittleSprite2]

Kara had been so focused on watching the man in the water with her and trying not to make any noise as she got ready to dive back into the water that she failed to see the dragon who landed and was taken by surprise, when from her point of view another male appeared and knowing right where she was spoke, both startling her and alerting the other male to her presance.

Fuck she thought what do i do now... looking between them she knew there was no way to out run them both and from there builds she knew they could also over power her in a moment, so her knife was a bit usless, but at the moment it was all she had, well when in doubt tell the truth and pray..

Look I umm well.. this is a bit embarassing.. I am a student archeologist I and other members of my group are studying the runes, and i came here to look around. I thought i was alone and went for a swim. I brought the knife incase there was a snake or somthing back here.. Kara felt a bit foolish and didnt know why she was explaining herself but for some reasion she felt she didnt belong and owed them an explination..

Which of corse was silly unless they were what she was looking for after all and if they were then she hoped they wouldnt eat her for intruding. I hope you dont mind she said to the one closest to her but i'd like to get my cloths and get dressed. she said and dove into the water swimming back over to the edge of the water where her clothing and pack lay.

As she dressed she watched both men and off handedly asked You wouldnt happen to know any lycanthrops would you? i thought i might have found some refrance to them in the temple but my partner didnt think so.

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

Portia

The fox girl came out from behind the tree and scooted over quickly to a nearby rock. She could hear the human female talking and her scent was full of nervousness. Calm down, woman, your smell can entice a damned corpse!!

"Hey, ya'll. Anybody have something I can borrow til I get back to camp. I kinda forgot my clothes."

Portia's voice was low pitched and husky but she didn't think anybody had any trouble hearing her.

 

[Maniac9538]

Looks to the one named Kara as she swam past, noticing her nude outline. He smiled slightly. Loukious swam over to his own clothes and pulled his jeans on. He tossed his t-shirt to Portia. "here it should be large enough to cover you"

He stared at Kara "Lycanthropes huh? You mean shape shifters?" His ice blue gaze drilled into her.

 

[dragonrazor]

The dragon listened the conversation, and grinned. "The actual term is Xenomorphs. Lycans are a specific breed of shifters. I'm Tai. Pleased to meet you, Miss." He jumped off the rock, landing on the shore, and stretched again. "I'm surprised your clothes don't change with you, little fox."

 

[LittleSprite2]

Kara wasnt sure if she were in danger or not some like the second gentalman who had appeared confirmed her theroy, and didnt seem to concerned with her presence. While others like the first she had seen seemed guarded and suspissious as his ice blue eyes watched her she knew he would do what was necessary to protect there secrets, and for some reasion she found she liked him a little more.

She watched there exchange's with the girl who appeared curiously, they wernt surprised when the girl appeared and she supposed that they wouldnt be as this according to the runes was there mating ground and such.

My name is Kara Jennings and Yes i meant shape shifters or Xenomorphs as you called them. I knew there was more than one kind but not what they were called. Dose each group have a title such as Lycan or wherwolf or leaperd man or something? she asked un able to keep the curiosity out of her voice as she asked her quesitons.

Reolizing that her partner would come looking for her soon she knew she needed to reasuer these people or shifters that she wasnt a danger to them other wise there might be a fight and she didnt want more people coming here and disturbing this sacred place. Looking at the one with Ice blue eyes she had a feeling he would be the hardest to convince.

Look i know you dont have any reasion to turst or beleive me when i say this, but i am not here to out you or your kind my thesis is souly based on the temple, but when i translated some of the writtings in the temple i had to see if they were true. Some of the guys from my camp will be looking for me soon... if you'll give me the chance to prove i mean no harm i'll lead them away. We leave in a couple of days as soon as were done going thru the temple

Kara waited not sure what any of them would think of what she had said and truly ment she didnt want anyone else to find this place if she could help it. One or two people could be open minded but most as a group were stupid and fearful, and acted without thought.

 

[Maniac9538]

Loukious sighed and look to Kara, walked around the shoreling and nodded to a smooth rock, he sat down crosslegged atop a rock across from the one he motioned to.

"please sit and I'll tell you all about at least what I know."

He smiled at the young woman his eyes slowly tracing over her shape, sizing her up...not as a meal or prey...but more as a mate. He shook his head clear and let out a soft bark.

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

Portia

"I'm surprised your clothes don't change with you, little fox."

"Heh, well ya see, I was naked before. I shifted ages ago. Been in fox form quite a while. I remembered to have my camping gear shipped out a couple of weeks ago. Hell, I even stopped by the storage place that was holding it for me and picked it up. But after I set up camp, well I stripped down again and kind of forgot to go back."

She grinned.

"Actually, I was on my way to get dressed when I caught a human scent and decided to investigate. But it seems things are well in hand here. Maybe I should just say the heck with it and head on back. Wandering around naked won't bother the natives but if there is more than one human in the woods and if any are male...well, I would really hate to get blood on my hands."

Flashing an extremely toothy grin, she shimmered back into her fox form and was gone.

 

[dragonrazor]

Tai laughed at the fox's attitude, and stroked his chin in thought. "Humans. Haven't seen any in this particular area in ages. Not all of them are understanding of things that differ from them, and we're about as different as can be. But there are those who understand us, who know that we are needed in the world just as they are. And the Dragon Elders always said to protect them. Granted, some aren't exactly worth protecting, but I feel this one is." He looked back at the young human woman.

Tai ran a hand through his long black hair, and then blinked his bright green eyes. "So, what do we do?"

 

[LittleSprite2]

Kara begain to relax a little as the one with ice blue eyes motioned for her to sit, on one of the rocks near him where he had gone to sit down and said he would explain what he knew. At least they didnt appear like they were going to harm her or eat her tho she thought she heard the one with ice blue eyes let out a soft bark but was unsure as to the cause.

As she moved twards where he had indicated she noticed that with his hair drying out it was almost a blood red color it had only looked black or dark brown while wet, the color set his eyes off magnificantly, and she wondered breifly if they ever chose humans as mates, but that was a question she would save for another time.

Hearing the girls comments about her clothing and such raised more questions but ones that could wait while she listened to what the man or shifter next to her had to say, tho she watched in amazment for a moment as the girl shifted form a human to a fox and took off, taking the red haird shifters black t-shirt with her as she changed shape.

Kara was awed by the transformation for a moment and so hadnt caught what the other male Tai had said about her being worth protecting and such. She watched Tai run his fingers threw his long black hair blinking his green eyes, he asked a question but she wasnt sure it was directed at her. She shook her head a moment to clear her thoughts as she turned back to the one who was talking to her.

Looking between him and Tai her silvery grey eyes showing both her struggle to understand things and her couriosity about it all. Kara couldnt resist asking the question that poped into her head next.. Dose it hurt when you chage shape like that, she made it look so easy, and i guess from what she said about clothing some of you can take them with you when you change if you want??

 

[Maniac9538]

Chuckles at her curiousity. He raised a hand to calm her down slightly.

"first and foremost we appreciate your curiousity and hope you can at least keep some of our world hidden. Now for the first shifting most of us make is extremely painful...I know for my family line sometimes the first shifting can even kill. Alot of us are born to families of shifters, some just hold the genetic trait from a relative long passed. My mother was Loup Garou or werewolf as more commonly known. Most shifters have one shape they can turn into...unfortunately for me my father's family held a dormant gene of Loup Urisade or Were Bear so it wa a tough shifting for me. As for the clothes we normally find a central spot that we would return to after going out in our other form."
As he spoke he leaned closer to her his ice blue gaze staring straight into her eyes, she could smell him. He smelled of the woods and sweat. He smiled at Kara

"Is there anything else you'd like to know?" The question was filled with innuendo and he stared at her, smiling slightly.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Kara was about to reassure them that she had no intentions of revealing anything she learned, when he distracted her by leaning closer to her. She blushed when he asked her if she had any other questions, bringing to mind what she had been thinking about earlier.

He smelled good too it wasn’t a type of cologne but rather an earthy sent like the jungle around them. She decided it wouldn’t hurt to ask.. Well I was wondering if shifters ever took humans as mates or if you just mated with other shifters?

Kara couldn’t believe she had asked that question but it was out and now all she could do was wait for an awnser, from the look in his eyes tho she could tell he was trying not to laugh, but there was something else there too it was in the way he watched her and looked her over as if she belonged to him, but it was more than likely her imagination.

So far she knew there were fox's and where wolves, where bears, and combinations there of, but they were rare, and that it could be extreamly painful to shift forms.

She turned her attention to Tai for a moment to ask him what type of shifter he was when she heard some of the people from her excavation group searching for her. Standing quickly she said. If you all could hide for a moment or two I’ll lead them away and come back sometime toningt if its alright with you.

Kara didn’t wait for an awncer because she could hear them coming closer and she wanted to get as far way from the falls as she could before alerting them to where she was. Grabbing her pack she took off in a direction away from the voices and the falls.

Once she felt she was far enough away that the others wouldn’t guess she had come from the falls she begin calling out, until she could hear them moving her way. Well did you find what you were looking for?? Any proof of shifters about?? Ian asked crossing his arm’s over his chest, a smug look on his face.

Kara so wanted to smack him but now was not the time, not if she wanted to keep her word. No Ian I didn’t are you satisfied for once you were right about something what do you know… she said stepping in with Ian and the rest of the group.

Some of them rolling there eyes because she and Ian had been at odds over more than just the argument in the temple. Others she could hear saying told you so, and she’s fine. As they made there way back to base camp Kara's thoughts were on the three people she had just met, and how she was going to slip back tonight with out raising questions.

As she walked with them tho she also reolized that she only knew Tai's name and hadnt gotten the others, but they knew who she was and could find her if and when they wanted.

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

Portia (at camp)

Fifteen minutes later found the fox circling her campsite to make sure it hadn't been messed with. As far as her nose could tell no one had been there, but that meant nothing. It was funny to her, all these humans tromping through the woods, messing up things wherever they went. Gods.

Another funny thing was the fact of her virginity. Something she was not willing to discuss with anyone outside of her clan. What would be the point. She can't mate with foxes. *Ewww*

It was the whole point of finally coming down for the meet. She needed a mate, someone of a different species. Human males did not interest her at all...to be honest neither did male were cats/dogs/bears. She always felt a little strange around the males of any species but were males were the worst. If only one could continue the blood lines without a man.

She smiled, a slight foxy grin and steeled herself to the return of her human form. Making it look good had taken quite a bit of energy and all Portia wanted to do now was curl up in her sleeping bag and take a long nap. Finally, she was back to her human form: 5'3", 125 lbs, reddish gold hair, deep brown eyes and mocha skin.

Grabbing some shorts and a tee shirt from her bag, she dressed quickly and crawled into her tent. A nap was just what she needed.

 

[poohlive]

Keneu let his long wings fold up under him as he landed safely along the pool. His talons, easing into feet stepped into the sandy beach where the warm water lapped lazily at the edge. The forest shied back a bit, leaving a small opening for a clearing here.

It was perfect.

Only his wings remained. The rest of him was human, except his eyes. He could never rid himself of those eagle's eyes, dark, daring seeming to catch every minute detail around him. The wings were all he needed. His naked form emerged from the feathered body, daring and daunting. Taut muscles, tanned skin came through.

He built a fire, using his own feathers for some of the fuel. It was his scent. He waited until the flames licked upon them, catching at his scent before his dance began. Soft and sullen movements, around the fire, dancing at the water's edge.

He brought his feathers out wide, his wingspan over six feet, from feather to feather. One brush brought a strong current running into the water, sending his scent far into the brush.

His scent. Powerful, manly, it was potent and ripe. A male ready and eager to mate.

He danced along his fire, coming to the edge of each side North, South, West and East. In these four directions he stood up, tall, proud, elegant, searching for his female, one who would catch his scent, before he collapsed his wings in a great rush of wind, sending his scent hurling into the forest.

When all four corners had been called, he circled his fire pit. It was a small fire, in the span of his dancing, it had gone down to nothing more than embers now, only the soft down of his feathers left. Keneu sang softly, hardly a whisper, but his words carried. They were a native tongue, the words meaningless to all but his own people. He told a story of Great Mother, and how she had birthed her nation, wooing Father Sky, taking him to her bed.

He sang this song of mating, and danced the careful dance, each footstep deliberate and soft upon his sandy clearing.

And when he was done, he stirred up the fire once more to boil some tea, as he sat crosslegged sipping at his wooden cup.

His winged arms had disappered, just strong muscles remaining, and his eyes, ever alert, as he stared out over the pool.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Kara had returned to camp with the others and to avoid another argument with Ian picked up her tools and left camp going to the temple a few feet away to work on uncovering another wall.

Some of the memebers saw her go and were glad that she wasnt going to fight with Ian they just prayed he would leave her alone. One asked her if she wanted some company and she told them no she just wanted some time to think and clear her head, but thanks anyway.

Kara climbed up some of the long stair well and moved around to one of the secret entrances they had uncovered previously, and setting down her tools and pack, pulled out her camira for some before shots of the wall and then put it away to begain cleaning it and making rubings of what she found.

 

[Maniac9538]

He sniffed the wind and smiled...Kara's scent was still strong in the air. He took off through the undergrowth, moving with an ease that was seemingly unnatural for his size. Ah the joy of the wild and it's call.

He stopped before the temple..still deep in the jungle. As he watched he saw Kara studying a partially crumbled wall.
He smiled and crawled up a nearby tree and then began jumping from tree limb to tree limb finally ending on a vine covered tree above Kara's head. He shimmied down the vine and stopped so his head was even beside her's though he was upside down. His voice was a soft growl.

"Find anything interesting?"

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

Portia

The fox awakened a few hours later and crawled out of her sleeping bag. After a few moments, she stepped into the clearing from her tent and went to relieve herself in the woods.

There was a scent of some unknown *wereperson* in the air. She stopped and sniffed. It wasn't a scent she was used to. (Her clan contains all foxes or wolves. The next clan in country is bear.) The scent evoked memories of down, maybe feathers.

"What the hell is that?? Who the hell is that??"

Portia decided to investigate and stripped to her skivvies. She put her clothing away, and stretched, sniffing the air once more. Then she focused inward and pulled her fox form to the forefront of her mind. She allowed the shape to blend with her own until a quick painfilled moment later, she was a again a small silver fox bitch.

Time to go see

 

[LittleSprite2]

Kara jumped and spun to face the red haired shifter she had met earler, The paper and rubbing chalk falling fom her hands as she did so. The shifter who's ice blue eyes she couldnt get out of her mind even while she worked. Tho she thought Tai handsome with his black hair and green eyes something about this one drew her more.

She had been thinking about Tai and the fox woman and the where wolf/bear sence she had left and wondered how many more had arrived sence she had gonw, and how many more would come, and if they would tolorate her presance there or if they would decide upon another corse of action.

Gods you startled me.. What are you doing here what if someone sees you, How would i explain what your doing here? Kara smiled and relaxed shaking her head as she laughed softly, they were alone here and with his sences she guessed he could tell if someone were comming long before she could. Sorry you would know before i would if someone else were coming.

 

[dragonrazor]

Tai hadn't left the spot he'd been in before. He usually traveled light, and hadn't expected anyone else to be there. Still, he maintained his human form. He had noticed the arrival of another, an avian, he realized, even though his eyes were closed. A dragon didn't see with their eyes. It was an old proverb, but an apt one.

 

[Maniac9538]

Smiles at her and winks

"yep, oh and in answer to your question we do sometimes take humans as mates. Just hard to find one that accepts us as we are"

He leaned closer to her his nose nearly touching hers.

"plus if we get caught just tell them I'm US military....they're always down here"

 

[Dracona]

Silent as a shadow, Willa slipped from the trees and stood near the head of the waterfall looking down at the pool below. The sleek black jungle cat observed those who had already arrived, the tip of her tail twitching back and forth. Who knew how many more would congregate here by nightfall. The last three mating seasons she had come here and watched, staying just on the edges of awareness. Those who had sensed her had been polite but after she had rebuffed more than one male seeking a mate she had been left alone. Her own mate had died, victim of the human world, nearly fifteen years before. Sometimes she could still hear the tires squealing, the crunch of metal on metal and smell the acrid smoke. She had been thrown free of their automobile and lived with only a single thin scar along the hollow of one cheek to show...at least on the surface. They had been so young, newly mated that season. In her grief she had taken to her feline form and come to live here near the Falls. The only time she returned to her human form was when she was drawn here to this gathering of her own kind. She craved at least that small contact. Some called her Old Mother, a name that mocked one who had never given birth. But they meant no disrespect.

Turning she picked up a small cloth bag in her strong jaws and padded back into the trees. She had never learned the trick of absorbing her clothing as some had. It would probably cause quite a stir if a human had seen the large black feline carrying the bag, but she knew the chances of that happening were slim here in the deep jungle. Even with the humans encamped in the old ruins. They made so much noise that even an untried cub could avoid them.

Beneath the sheltering overhang of flowering vines Willa lay her bag down and closed her eyes willing the change to come. Her muscles shifted, her bone structure realigning, soft fur receding to be replaced by soft skin pale as milk under moonlight. Her hair remained the jet black of her feline form but it grew into long waves that reached her waist. A single streak of white grew from her right temple where the thin scar from the accident curved up into her hairline. When her change was finished Willa opened her eyes, a flash of brilliant green behind thick sooty lashes. She sighed as she looked down at her human form, so unfamiliar to her now. She still retained a certain feline grace of limb, but her hips seemed a bit fuller than she remembered. She had to think for a moment to remember her age in human terms and her eyes blinked in surprise. She supposed she didn't look too bad for an old woman of forty-one.

Taking up her bag she pulled out a rolled cotton garment and shook it. Being fashionable was the farthest thing from her mind, she merely wished to be covered for modesty's sake. The long dress was a deep green that matched the foliage of the jungle and brought out the green of her eyes even more. She slipped it over her head and let it fall. It had no sleeves and fit loosely over her lean form. Apart from the dress all the bag held was a hair brush, the only other thing she had brought with her of the human world. She made a small chuckling sound, there must still be some hint of human vanity in her if she still cared what her hair looked like.

At the edge of the pool there was a large flat rock still warm from the days sun. Here was where Willa decided to wait. It was a bit more conspicuous for her than usual, but she wanted to feel the water on her bare feet. She glanced at each of the others silently acknowleding their presence then sank gracefully down onto the smooth rock tucking the skirt of her dress up around her thighs. The position of the rock put her close enough that just her feet and ankles dangled in the cool water. She swished them back and forth allowing a small smile to curve her full red lips as she took the brush and began to pull it through her long wavy hair.