Exton

The rising sun is still far below the horizon. The darkness itself was just starting to lighten, stars fading as their more brilliant relative comes closer. Tori knows she still has time, three hours, maybe more, before she goes stone for the day. She studies the face of the man dozing beside her. She lifts a bit of his coppery hair, smiling at the dampness. It has been one amazing night. She frowns thinking of the usual reaction people have to her stone countenance.

His lids drift open, the barest bit of his leaf green eyes move, watching her. His stomach rumbles. Tori laughs as her stomach echoes his.

"Well, I guess we did wear off our dinners. I read somewhere that sex is one of the best ways to exercise. Be right back."

Tori slides off the bed returning a few minutes later with cheese cubes, crackers, and fruit. Tannr sits up against the headboard and takes the plate as she settles beside him, opening a jar of peanut butter. He raises a brow as she scoops a bit out with a piece of apple. She pauses, apple halfway to her lips.

"What? It's good." She sucks the peanut butter off, licking it clean, then bites the apple slice, making him moan.

"That looked disgusting, yet..." Tannr watches her lick her lips. She laughs again and dips her finger in the jar.

She slides the peanut butter coated tip along his lips. "Just taste it. I know it looks... well... Just taste it."

Tannr opens his lips, sucking her finger in. His teeth scrape lightly and Tori shivers. He watches her as she pulls her finger out from between his lips. His hand slides up her arm until he can cup her face. He urges her close enough to kiss. His lips just brush hers as he whispers, "Wonderful."

She kisses him. Tannr smiles when she moves back. "Apples... They go good together."

He dips his finger in the jar and paints the tips of her breasts with the gooey substance. Dipping his head, he laps at it, licking her clean. Tori moans softly. Her stomach growls again, and Tannr laughs.

Her lips twist in a wry grin. "Sorry... I am hungry."

They dig in, making short work of the food. There conversation covers many things, her life in the Highlands of Scotland, his on the Unformed Plane. They are chortling over his first run in with Fae magick. As Tori wipes the tears from her eyes, Tannr asks her about Gargoyles.

She pauses, losing her smile. "We are all different. My sister and I are Chimera. That means we are a composite of more than one creature. Ob is a Dragonkin, Stoney is Canus."

He cuts her off, curious about that. "Aren't they your brothers?"

Tori laughs. "Thay are my chosen Kin. My nestmates. We all had a bit of restlessness. We were lucky to find each other. Our bond kept us from going to the Stone Sleep when other wanderers did."

He lays back against the headboard, idly stroking her thigh. "What is this Stone Sleep?"

Tori covers his hand with hers. She sighs, eyes distant. "We all rest as stone, but the Stone Sleep is more than that. Conciousness goes deep. You aren't aware of the pass of time. Some never wake."

He grips her hand, making her aware that he is there, listening. She gives him a sad smile.

"Our mother did it, Ike's and mine. She lost her interest in the world when she lost the love of her life. Ob and Stoney had found us not long after that. We fought to keep Stoney from doing it when he thought he would never see Alise again."

Tannr raises her hand to his lips. "How can you tell the difference between a Sleeper and sculpture?"

"Well, the way to tell real from art is the detailing." She smiles as he explores her knuckles.

"Show me." Tori stops. She stares at him until he raises his eyes to hers. "I want to see. Tori, there are some very odd things in the Unformed Plane. Some very ugly and kind, others are beautiful and dangerous things. I learned that the hard way."

Tori moves off the bed, edging far enough that she would be out of reach. She closes her eyes, willing the halfway form. Her body shimmers, flesh turning grey, face elongating until there is nothing left but the smooth scaled head of a viper. Scales appear along her torso, disappearing into the shaggy grey fur that appears along her thighs. She moves, a living statue, turning for his inspection.

Tannr slides off the bed and runs fingertips along her stone hard flesh. He caresses lightly, finding bits of quartz hidden in the grey. He strokes along her narrow jaw, tracing delicate scales.

"Wow... You are amazing. So this is the difference? There is a warmth to your stone."

Her tongue flicks out, the tip forked, flickering. Tori opens her mouth, letting him see the fangs that no longer retract in this form. She closes her jaws slowly, watching his reaction. He grins at her.

"If you are trying to scare me, you will have to do a lot more than this."

Her wings make a slithering sound as she unfurls them. They are slightly batlike, similar to what many would deem as demonic. He runs a hand along the smooth surface.

Tori turns her head, watching him with one reptilian, eye. "Thisssss doesss not dissturb you?"

Tannr shakes his head, still gently exploring her scaled form. "People find this hideous?" When Tori nods, he touches her cheek, turning her to look directly at him.

"They are blind. You are beautiful."