Red Rain

Disclaimer: I really, really do not own WHR. I swear it. I wish I did. But I don\'t. I just like playing around with the character.


Red Rain
by Rhynn Adama


Chapter Six: Cry

“Do you need help?” Robin was struggling out of her dress, preparing for bed, when Amon poked his head around her doorframe.

“Huh?” Her head turned in his direction.

“Help. Do you need it?” A gloved hand gestured to the way she was fumbling with her clothing.

Green eyes lowered and focused on the rumpled fabric.

He’s only asking if I need help getting this off, not if he could--

She cut that thought off as she felt her cheeks darken. “I would appreciate your assistance.”
~*~

Amon nearly smiled. Trust Robin to revert to her almost archaic form of speech when she was unsettled. It was one of her little quirks that he found endearing. To alleviate her discomfort he stepped into the room, moving behind her and reaching around her waist to quickly unbutton her dress.

“Have you ever considered having a zipper? Or laces? They would be easier for you until you are back to full health.”

His fingers paused on the last button as he felt the girl shiver. “Robin? Are you alright?”

Small hands latched onto his arms a moment before she half buckled. He instinctively yanked her to his chest, holding tight to her waist, to keep her from falling. They both froze when one of his fingers grazed bare flesh.

Carefu he he removed his hand to a safer location at her hip, holding her steady until she could stand on her own.

“You alright?”

“F-fine. My back just froze up.”

“Maybe you should take a hot shower. The water should help.”

“I suppose so. Would you—“

Amon swung her up into his arms and carried her the few steps from her room to the bathroom, set her down, and retrieved her bathrobe from the back of her desk chair in her room.

“Need anything else?”

“No, thank you.” She said, her cheeks tinged pink in embarrassment.

“I’ll be in the living room if you need me.”

“Amon—thank you.”

Nodding, he shut the door, closing his eyes and leaning back against the door until he heard running water. His right hand was fisted at his side, resisting the urge to go back in the bathroom and touch her skin once more. He could still feel the warm smoothness—

One more word, Amon, and I’ll shoot you myself. He growled, forcing his hand open. He marched out to the living room and flopped onto the sofa, snagging his book from the coffee table.

Yes, distract yourself. Read about the Wolfwalker. Find out what happened after the fight on the sea wall.
~*~

Robin lifted her chin, closing her eyes against the hot spray of the shower. While she typically took baths, it was only through a shower that she could ease the tension along her spine. Hot, steaming water ran down her hair and over her shoulders. It pelted against her back, which she hunched, hugging her knees as she sat in the bottom of the tub. An inch of water had accumulated in the bottom of the tub, as the drain wasn’t quite big enough to handle the water flow.

She was just getting ready to step out of the tub when the hairs on the back of her neck prickled and stood up. She wasn’t alone.

“A-Amon?” She whispered, holding perfectly still. Green eyes flicked toward her feet as she felt the water grow cold around her ankles. Something solid wrapped around her right ankle, yanking it out from under her. A startled cry escaped as she crashed to the bottom of the tub, her head thunking on the wall behind her. Her body crumbled beneath her as her vision went blurry.

That invisible solidness slid up her leg, then her back, until it started to wrap around her neck. Robin panicked.

“AMON!” She shrieked, thrashing her arms and trying to get away, but unable to get away as it wrapped further around her neck. It pulled her face down and held her fast. She couldn’t scream, or breathe, and she couldn’t see well enough to use her powers. That mere inch of water was just enough to drown her should she inhale. Her terrified struggles slowed as her body weakened.

A moment be she she gave in to the blackness she heard the door slam open, then the shower door, and Amon was there, tugging at her waist. The water turned frigid and thetraitraint slid away, releasing her. Amon pulled her from the tub and snatched her to his chest.
~*~

Amon clung to Robin, cradling her to his chest as he scooted backwards on the floor, away from the tub, holding her naked, trembling body to him as he fought his own fear. When he’d heard her scream, his heart had frozen in terror, and it was just now starting to beat again.

“Robin? Robin are you alright?”

The frightened girl whimpered and curled closer, her fingers gripping his shirt and twisting it as she clung to him. He tightened his arms around her and tucked her head under his chin.

“Robin?”

He tried to pull away to look at her face, but she would have none of it. He had no idea the woman was so strong.

“Robin, Love, look at me.”

Sniffling, Robin lifted her head, wide green eyes staring at him.

“Are you alright?”

She nodded and sniffed again, then glanced down, immediately letting out a squeak as her cheeks turned pink. She burrowed against his chest and refused to let him move.

“Robi?”

“What did you call me?”

“Just now? Robi.”

“No, before that.”

“What—“ Amon trailed off, dark eyes staring at the tub without really seeing it. “Oh.”

“Did you mean it?”

He heard the break in her voice and felt the trembling in her body. He tightened his arms possessively. “Every word. When I heard you scream… I have never been so terrified in all my life, Robin.”

He continued to hold her, as the physical contact reassured them both. His hand rubbed gently at her back.

“Amon?”

“Hmm?”

“Would you do something for me?”

“Hmm?”

He lifted his head to peer down at her, and was completely shocked when Robin suddenly came to life, her arrapprapping around his neck and holding him firmly in place as she kissed him.

“R-R-Robin…” It took him three tries to get her name out, and then he couldn’t manage any more, as she’d effectively cut him off. With another kiss.

“Don’t say anything, Amon. Let me believe for just a little while.” She murmured, tucking her head once more under his chin.

He held her close for a long moment, then gently put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her from him. He saw her eyes flick toward him in fear and hurt, but he smiled, easing her from his lap as one hand reached for a towel.

Carefully, Amon patted her hair dry with the towel, then used it to dry her arms and back. He watched her shiver a bit as he picked up a foot and dried it with the same gentle mentsents. He worked his way up her leg and repeated the process with the other. Soon she was dry, so he wrapped the towel snuggly around her torso, leaning forward to kiss a stray drop of water that was attempting to run down her neck.

He was pleasantly surprised when Robin gasped, instinctively turning her head away so he could reach easier. He obliged with more soft kisses.

“Amon…”

“Will you run from me now, Robin?” Amon asked, turning his head so his lips brushed her ear as he spoke.

She shuddered. “No. I am not a little girl any more, Amon.”

“I noticed,” was his reply, but it was muffled slightly by her startled gasp.

He’d pulled her onto his lap again, only this time her knees were on either side of his hips, and she sat on his folded legs.
~*~

Robin felt her cheeks turn pink. She was eighteen, and while she was not the absolute innocent that people thought she was, she had yet to be in a situation… like this.
on—“on—“

“Shh,” the man whispered, leaning forward and giving her a soft kiss on her right cheekbone. “I won’t do anything unless you tell me to.”

“It’s not that. I just… I’ve never…”

Amon chuckled. “To tell you the truth… neither have I.”

Robin twitched, jerking back so she could look at him in shock. “You mean…”

“I’ve dated, and yes, there have been times where I considered it, but I have never taken a woman.”

She giggled, for he’d pulled her back into reach aas tas tickling the side of her neck with quick kisses.

“Was it just not right? I mean… the woman, was she not the right one?”

“Not until now.”

Robin stilled, blinking back the tears that quite suddenly flooded her eyes.

“A-Amon…”

“Three years ago I promised I would protect you. I haven’t gone back on that promise, even if I didn’t appear to be right beside you.”

“I know, but—“

“I will stop if you ask me to, Robin.”

The young witch paused, thinking hfor for a long moment, before wrapping her arms around Amon’s waist. With a clumsy movement, she turned her head and planted a kiss on Amon’s jaw. She’d missed her intended target, but, judging by the way he clutched her tighter about the waist, and the hitch in his breathing, this might just be better. She kissed him there again.

“R-Robin?”

“Shh.” Another kiss, and then she climbed from his lap, grinning at his confused expression. She snagged his hand and pulled him to his feet.

“Robin?”

One hand opened the door, which had bounced back off the wall when Amon slammed through it to rescue her. She grinned over her shoulder at him and tugged him into the hall, where she turned right, and pulled him toward her bedroom.

“Ro—“

The door swung behind them, clicking quietly as it shut. Only then did she pause.

“Robin, what are you—“

“I’m eighteen, Amon.”

“I know.”

“I’ve loved you for three years now.”

“I-I know.”

“I’m scared.”

“Don’t be.”
~*~

Robin turned to face him, and Amon would have had to be blind to miss the way her eyes were widened. There was fear in those eyes, but also a level of complete trust he had not seen in her for a long time. Slowly, giving her time to run if she needed, he stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her waist when she did not run and pulling her to him.

He knew she could hear his heart pounding in his chest. He was scared, too.at iat if he didn’t pull away, he’d do something they would both regret.

“You’re scared…” Robin murmured, nuzzling his chest with her cheek.

A shaky hand lifted to run his fingers through her hair.

Amon loved her hair.

Amon loved Robin.

That fact hit him with a rush that left him breathless, and the girl in his arms had to scramble to turn him so, when he sat, it would be on the edge of her bed, and not the floor. She squeaked when he didn’t release her and she ended up on hap, ap, knees on either side of him again as she blinked owlishly at him. She felt the tremor in his shoulders as he stifled a sob. His arms tightened around her waist as he buried his face in her towel-wrapped chest.

He felt her fingers running soothingly through his hair.

“Don’t be.”

He let go, letting the emotions that he’d kept bottled up tight in side out.

For the first time in twenty years, Amon let himself cry.
~*~

End Chapter Six


Short chapter, I know, thisthis was a perfect place to break, and I need to give my mind time to rest.


The novel Amon is reading in this chapter is a personal favorite of mine, written by a wonderful author, Tara K. Harper. The “Wolfwalker” series is her main series, and my absolute favorite series ever. (Yes, Chii, I love her books more than Anne McCaffrey. Lol. Don’t gimme that look. )

I recommend any novel written by Tara, but most especially her Wolfwalker novels.

Wolfwalker series: Wolfwalker; Shadow Leader; Storm Runner; Wolf’s Bane; Silver Moons, Black Steel; Grayheart.

And non-wolfwalker novels: Cat Scratch Fever; Cataract; and the Sci-Fi novel Lightwing.

All are good reads, and yes, I own them all. ^_^

Ps: Her name is pronounced Tar-a, not Terra, or Tayra, or Tammy or Terry. Tar-a.

For further information on Tara K. Harper, please visit www.tarakharper.com