[[I think if you want to do that, Ill be fine with it. I'll just follow you when it comes to the authorities.]]

Dmitri moved his knee to her arm and slapped her. "I will never be welcomed as a hero, no matter what I do. My people hate me. And don't you dare ever say anything like that again. I would never betray someone." He was almost yelling now. "Especially not someone I had feelings for." He pulled his claws back, realizing how much he was hurting her. He could even see a little blood. He wrapped his hands around her wrists and pulled her arms so they were crossed on her chest.

((Mk then I'll try my best))
Itari cringed feeling the hand connecting with her face, her neck and head were throbbing from earlier and she smelled blood from somewhere nearby. The staff began to pulse with a light ringing sound but she ignored it wondering what to say next, dying was not on her list of things to do. "But more than you your kingdom hates mine and always will, and more than I they will always believe you. Despite your feelings or your honor." She coughed slightly Pushing her knees up to weakly hit him in the back, somewhere in the caves heavy footsteps were heard, and the pulsing from the staff became louder. "Well, well, looks like your friends are here." She said with a laugh. "I guess every dog does have his day." she said laying her head on the ground with a frown on her face, "Congradulations."

Dmitri looked around panicked. Not only would Itari be arrested and probably killed, but him also. His people hated him so much that they would probably think he was trying to steal the staff from her, or somethign close to that. There was nothing he could do now. They were both going to die. The footsteps got closer. Dmitri reached for the staff. He could either put it back and try to hide, or somehow, they had to escape. He remembered the way the staff had glowed earlier, a faint shade of pink. His eyes grew wide. He had been wrong. And there was no way to fix it now. Quickly, he reached above their heads and put the staff back on the table. Then he looked to Itari, who probably would not help him at all. He decided to use his strength against her one last time. He picked her up and rushed to the back of the cave, far from the reaches of the light from the staff. "Shh," he told her, crouching in the corner. He wrapped one arm around her waist and used the other to hold her mouth shut.

Of course she could not fight back but merely fluttered her eyes in the direction of the footsteps. Three husky looking men came into the room looking around and seeing the staff still in its place. One of the men said something about a false alarm and wandered out of the room in annoyance, the other followed suit after several minutes, but the last had just spotted the blood on the floor and looked at the staff eerily. He shivered and rushed after the others, saying something about a 'staff of death'. Itari coughed softly and stared at the blood on the floor, "Why not let them take me away? After all I did betray you didn't I?"

Dmitri took a deep breath of relief and looked at the ground, ashamed. "I was wrong," he barely whispered. "You didn't betray me like I thought." He wanted to say more. He wanted to say he was sorry, but his throat closed up. He released her, gently moving away from her, letting her go her own way. She could take the staff if she wanted to. He wouldn't stop her. He had already hit the lowest of the low.

As gracefully as she could she lifted herself and leaned aginst the nearby wall, slightly leaning so the blood from her forehead could possibly settle faster. She was not quite sure what to say, on one point he could have easily killed her, on the other he didn't. Also she felt slightly ashamed at being caught off guard so easily. Bits and pieces of her wanted to tear him to pieces, others wanted to cry, and a few wanted to lean on him so he could bring her comfort. Instead she shook her head and passed her hand over her own wrist which healed itself. "I'm a priestess, my outer wounds will heal." She said putting an accent on the word outer perhaps he could find the right words to say, again she felt the awkward air around them.

Screw outer wounds and healing. Dmitri gagged at the thought of hurting Itari worse than just physically. Whether the outer wounds healed or not, he had still made them. He had still thought she had betrayed him.

Dmitri shook his head. "I"m sorry," he whispered. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He didn't know what else to say, nothing would ever fix what he had done. He figured they couldn't just pick up where they had left off, take the staff and run. "You take the staff. I'll run away from here and you won't ever see me again," he said, getting up. He moved through the caves, plotting the best way to leave the city.

Itari stood up a little dizzy, "Dmitri don't you dare leave me like this." she said with a hiss to her tone. Her voice was gradually becoming louder but she didn't care anymore, she was about to pronounce her feelings for him to the whole world, but at the last moment all the words got stuck in her throat and she couldn't speak even a single word. So instead she whispered, "I love you.." and she closed her eyes and turned mournfully to the staff not even wanting to touch it, since she knew what would happen if she made an attempt at touching it. Some part of her would break down and keep her from touching the thing that seemed to bring them close but simultaneously push them apart. Finally, she was about to cry.

Dmitri froze. He had heard Itari's whisper. It wasn't hard to pick up things like that with a wolf's ears. He couldn't believe it. They were too different. They were enemies. She was a cat, him a dog. They were from different kingdoms. And yet they were so similar. He wasn't sure how he felt about her. He definately liked her much more than any other girl, but...but...but... Dmitri turned slowly, not really seeing anything. He took a step forward, and his knee buckled weakly under him. He grunted as he landed, kneeling on the ground. It was just too much, he wasn't even sure if he could ever stand again. Screw his kingdom. He loved Itari, and she loved him. His kingdom never cared for him.

Itari thought she heard something in the caverns, but for that moment she refused to turn. If the guards were coming to get her, it would only be too soon. She sighed, wondering why she had not shouted her feelings before, or even whispered them, or thought them for that matter until that moment.

The moment when she refused to fight back. Itari wanted nothing of the staff, in fact, she wished she could simply climb through the window and slnk away to mope about the outcome of the day. Itari wiped her face and reached for the staff, it didn't glow at all and after a moment she realized she could touch it. Everything was so confusing. She then pulled her hand back with a sigh, "You got me this far Dmitri, I just can't continue this quest, I would not only be betraying my own soul and heart, but perhaps even more of your trust. And... and I'll never see you again, though I couldn't live with it." Itari cried freely now, not caring that her wounds would take longer to heal if she did not concentrate. There was blood in her hair now.

Dmitri pulled himself up after a moment. He couldn't leave Itari now. Not after this long. He walked slowly to the entrance to the cavern and stopped at the doorway, leaning against the frame. He could see Itari crying. Walking up quietly behind her, and came to her side and knelt down, facing her. Gently, Dmitri tilted her chin up to look at him. "Do you truly?" he asked, looking into her eyes. He could not go on without knowing.

Itari was surprised and some of her tears dropped from her face and into her lap. "I...I..." it was odd hearng him as something so simple, and she knew what it was for, still it brought anxiety to her once again and the words were stuck. She looked down and in a small whisper, "Yes... yes I do." she awaited his answer looking at the floor with damp eyes.

Dmitri smiled weakly. He stroked her cheek with his thumb. "Oh, Itari," he sighed. He wiped her tears away. "I loved you before we even found the staff. I just never knew how you felt about me," he said all this in a whisper. "You don't even understand how hard this is for me." He wanted to tell her everything, but knew he couldn't.

Dmitri sat on the ground and pulled Itari into his chest, wrapping his arms around her. He wound his fingers into her hair, playing with it. Slowly, his eyes closed.

She closed her eyes also as her heart sped up with his words. She was aware of him around her. There was so much she had to say to him,but she wasn't sure what to say first. Her head was racing with the thought of love, she had never much considered it before. She sniffled a little, but could not help but be happy with him there. "I-I love you too Dmitri." she said softly snuggling close to him. Above them the staff shivered slightly but of course Itari didn't much notcie this, nor was she thinking about it at the time.

Dmitri sighed. "Itari, I love you. But please don't get me wrong. Gah, this is hard." He paused. "Okay, Itari, we've only known each other a day. What if this is all superficial?" He tried to word it so she wouldn't get hurt. "I really do care for you Itari. Way more than any other girl I've ever met. But what if we're not meant to be, or something?"

"I don't know.." she said after thinkingfor a while, "Maybe this could be something that won't last past a week." she frowned but refused to look up, obviously in deep thought. "I'm willing to take the chance." After saying this the staff fell from its post and onto the ground, a small button was glowing a brilliant shade of pink, without thinking too much into it, Itari held the staff close and pressed the button.

From out of the tip of the staff a small cicking sound rang throught the small chamber and an ornate scroll fell from the tip. Itari picked it up and found, with surprise that the scroll was from the king.

Dearest Itari,
If you have successfully found this letter, than you must know how proud I am of you. To be in your prescence is nothing less than an honor. I know this may have been difficult, perhaps the most difficult quest I have given to you. You see there was always two tings I never told to you. The first is that you are much too serious about your work, sometimes you must trust what you cannot see. The second, and I know this may be hard to believe, but I am your father. You are the nex in my bloodline, and if my plan went correctly, which I'm sure it did, then you will have a king by your side, who is in much need of company. I am sorry that I couldnot tell you sooner. If you follow the patheverything will be explained. Good luck my child, my daughter, my life.
Loving Regards,
King Lineas
Dad

"Wow..." was all sh could stutter out, she seemed to be in shock.

Dmitri read over her shoulder, his face remaining blank. Itari was the King's daughter? That made her a princess. Dmitri was just a lowly duke without a kingdom. He found it hard to believe. Reaching over her, he pointed to a group of words. Then you will have a king by your side. Did that mean him? So, this was for real. They really were meant to be. Dmitri sighed in relief that she hadn't flipped when he told her. But he was still confused about it all. King Lineas had been known to be a great philosopher. Dmitri wanted to trust him, he really did. But things just didn't happen like that. He tried to speak, to put his thoughts into words, but he couldn't.

Itari wasdulled at first but then she became ecstatic letting the words pass over her lips quietly then, as if she were talking to someone "Princess Itari?" she laughed at the thougt, "No Queen? King?" she said turnng to him in sheer joy. But seeing the look on his face she had to ask, "Are you willing? To follow me I mean, in this plot of my... fathers..." she waited feeling the syllables of the words on her tounge and shivering, still she gained courage and continued to stare hard at him,"I want you by my side. No one else will be fit, not of all the suitors on this land." She shook he head again wonderng what more to say, "He would not lie to me about something like this Dmitri." she said in a strong voice.

Dmitri stared at the letter for a few moments longer before looking up. He looked at her with a perplexed look. "Me? King?" He hadn't yet thought about asking Itari to marry him, and even now, it seemed odd. But it was what he wanted. "Follow you?" he laughed. "I'd follow you to the ends of the earth, no, the ends of the universe and back, knowing you love me. That is, if you'll have me." Seeing as it was already destined to be, Dmitri pulled Itari into his lap, turing her to face him. "What are you doing with the rest of your life? Would you share it with me?"

Itari perked up at his question with a vicious smile showing all her sharpened feline teeth. "Silly dogs, always lying when you ask them too." She giggled at the memories, "Well..." she said with a sigh "My lifetime schedual is pretty full but I suppose I can tuck you in somewhere." she said scooting closer to him with a laugh and looking up into his face, her eyes glittering.

Dmitri raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so I'm lying now? I don't believe you made me do anything." He pulled her close to him, grabbing her ankles and wrapping her legs around his waist. He then grabbed her arms and put them around his neck. Laughing, he kissed her. It was just as good as he imagined. Dmitri stood up, holding Itari up, as she was still wrapped around him. "It's good to know you can fit me in somewhere. Let's go get that staff."

It felt like electriciy pulsing through her veins when he kissed her, she was slightly dizzy from all the action and was glad that she had all the weight from her shoulders. Stll there was one last thing bothring her, the king told her to follow the path so things would be explained to her. What exactly did this mean? Did i matter? She pointed to the ground where the staff was lying, still open with a faint glow around its middle.

Dmitri tried to lean over to get it, but was having a hard time with Itari holding on to him. Finally, he squatted and picked it up, one arm still holding Itari. "So," he said, turning in circles. "What do we do now?" Dmitri felt the urge to lick her, just like a dog, but he held back. They could save that for the bedroom. Right now, they needed to get something done. And she might not like it.

Itari coughed, she had been purring without realizing it. "You can let m down Dmitri this must be slightly complicated. I'm a big kitty now." she said laughing. "Still I think we need to make our way to my... our.. kingdom before anyone here figures out they've got two very important people that shouldn't be here." she smiled at him and then kissed him, cautiously at first, then again with courage.

Dmitri kissed her back, trying to sneak a little tongue in there. He held her tighter, not letting go. When they brokw their kiss, Dmitri shook his head. "I don't want to let you down." He carried her through the caverns and back toward the surface. They had to be extremely careful. At teh ladder to go back up, Dmitri finally set her down. "Here, let me go first, to make sure it's safe. And then you come up after me." He went up the ladder, and checked. No one was around. Dmitri folded the staff back up, to make it complete. "Come on up," he whispered.