Stage Set Up: Wolf Forest - Gaia's Waterfall Bridge

"Meet me in Wolf Forest on the bridge at Gaia's Waterfall. Nine o' clock. Don't be late."

Mao didn't mind the misty spray from the waterfall. What he did mind was being in the middle of one of the most dangerous forests he'd ever come across. This place was over run by wild wolf packs and though he did have a wolf form, he knew that they could easily tell he wasn't quite like them. For a few minutes, he paced back and forth on the bridge that spanned across the river about one hundred feet above the bottom of the waterfall. It traveled from one rock face to the other, connecting a cute little path cut into the rock. Where either side led, he had no clue, nor any desire to find out. He'd climbed the stairs carved into the one rock face to get onto the bridge.

At this time of year, the waterfall was at its strongest and parts of the bridge were being pelted by the fast falling water. By now, he was soaked from the spray alone and just a little on the chilled side. If that damn woman didn't show up in one minute, he was leaving, no matter how much she'd promised to pay him.

Trina was almost finally happy again, almost. Trina had abandoned her human side after the whole incident with Mao. Even the name made her heart ache. The forest provided her with the best distraction from the topic as he had never set foot in it. No this was her realm that man rarely set foot in. Trina smiled a wolfish grin as her paws sprang into motion and she ran towards the edge.

Her mighty howl was mixed with the sound of wind and crashing water bubbling up from the base of the waterfall. Trina closed her eyes as her body flew into the air and the wind caressed her fur with its soft fingers. She took a deep breath of the trees, the earth, dinner and Mao.

Trinas concentration was instantly broken and her form slipped back into that of a human as she was caught off guard. She instantly looked around and when she remembered what she was doing she had enough time to scream as she crashed into the water. Gasping for air forgetting she was in water Trina inhaled the water into her lungs. Kicking wildly, getting nowhere but further down. Trina couldn't calm herself enough to think clearly and do a smart thing, like not drown.

His skin crawled at the sound of the approaching wolves. Each howl made Mao only want to leave more and more until he folded and started for the stairs. A scream reached his ears, just barely making it over the roar of the waterfall, not because it was loud but because his amazing canine hearing had picked up that sound before. He was about to peer over the side of the bridge when he stopped himself. What the hell is wrong with me? I'm just imagining it because I want to see her again...

But then the flower popped into his mind - the one Trina had given him in the club. The one he knew only grew in this forest. It was funny how his train of thought could switch so easily from any topic under the sun back to Trina. His mind had been on Trina a great number of times in the past few days and it was almost unhealthy.

I'm obsessed...

Unable to shake her from his mind, he peered over the bridge railing and saw something quickly sinking into the dark blue water at the base of the waterfall. "Trina!" he yelled, already kicking off his shoes and throwing his jacket down on the wooden floor of the bridge. He quickly leapt onto the railing and even though he dove into the water at the perfect angle, it still felt like hitting a brick wall because of how high up he'd been.

It took just two seconds for him to regain his bearings before he forced his eyes open and spotted Trina below him. He kicked his feet and let the undertow take him deeper until he could reach out and wrap his arms around her waist.

Reaching the surface was out of the question though. The down current was just too strong and he knew no matter how hard he tried to kick them both upward, they were only sinking deeper. Luckily, they hit another current and were pushed out and down the river where Mao finally reached the surface and pulled Trina to the safety of the riverbank, coughing and gasping for breath, spitting river water.

Trina felt Maos strong arms around her waist. Was she dying? Is this what heaven felt like? Trina felt the strong pull of the current and her vision started blurring. Just when Trina thought she couldn't hold on any longer, Trina felt the cool earth beneath her. She attempted to suck the air into her lungs but was stopped with the water that filled her body. Trina smashed her fists into her stomach and vomited the river water.

Trina collapsed onto the ground as she coughed and gasped for air. Her body convulsed everytime she coughed, smearing mud over her. After a few moments of this Trina's body began to calm and her breathing became even. Her eyes were vacant as she concentrated on her breathing.

Even in her death Trina knew she would still think of him. Trina had to stop lying to herself, she would never get over the loss of him. Even though he clearly did not feel the same about her. Her pride and heart was shattered because of him.

"Mao.." Her voice came out in a soft tone filled with heartache and all the affection she held for him but never could tell him. Trina sat up again her body shaking, wet and covered in mud. Trina turned around coming up to her knees and froze.

Her face was plastered with shock, tears, mud and her wet hair as she finally noticed that he was there. Her mouth was gaping as she stared at him as he too was soaking wet and covered in mud. His clothes clung to his body defining every muscle in a way that made her heart pound and a blush creep to her cheeks. Trina only noticed him and forgot the fact that she was naked and he had a full frontal view.

Despite her...revealing situation, Mao was only interested at the moment in whether or not Trina was hurt. He quickly reached for her, inspecting every inch of her body for injuries, hoping she would understand he wasn't trying to be some kind of pervert.

"Just a few scrapes and bruises... Thank the gods," the wolf breathed in relief, moving back away from her now that he was certain she wasn't going to suddenly die on him.

It was then that he became aware of her exposed body, his eyes trailing down her neck to her chest. Her breasts were probably one of his favorite things about her, supple yet right now they were perked.

Is that because of the cold water...or because of me?

The fact that she was covered in mud splatter and dripping wet only appealed to his visual sense all the more. All thoughts about getting paid by his client disappeared as he crossed his arms over his stomach and yanked his shirt up over his head, tossing the wet, ruined garment to the side. Then he closed the distance between their bodies, pulling her bare body against him, bracing the back of her head with a hand as he kissed her, letting all of his pent-up feelings flow free, flow into her through that kiss.