Apollo
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Post by Ashley Bates on May 5, 2016 19:16:47 GMT -5
Ash nodded. He was pretty sure he could convince one of the guys to take up the slack for him for a few days. It wasn’t like it was anything that he hadn’t done for any number of them on several occasions. This though. This was important and right now treating his lady right was his top priority. “I definitely wouldn’t mind. It’s been too long since we’ve had some time together but hopefully we will be about changing that now.” He looked at her again and nodded. This was definitely worth it and damn the consequences of missing a few days.
He could see she was already thinking about the possibilities of a wedding and that was good but hopefully they would be able to forget about that for a few minutes. Tonight was about them and this was long overdue. Tonight they were going to make up for some lost time. “Food would be good.” He said with a dry chuckle. “I don’t think I’ve eaten more than two bites since the idea first came into my head and now that it’s over I’m starving. If you know of a good place we can go out or we can have something delivered. Not like I would argue about a night with you all to myself.”
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Apollo
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Post by Ashley Bates on Apr 25, 2016 19:54:08 GMT -5
Ash didn't say much more in the way of explanation because there wasn't really too much more he could say. It really was something she had to see and something that he had to explain when they got there. Fortunately the clearing wasn't too far away either so they wouldn't have to walk in silence for long. While they did though Ash thought he could use the few moments of silence to go over what he was going to say.
What Ash discovered however as he led Dakota along the path was how difficult it was to actually concentrate with her so close. Not only that but he couldn't get over how could it felt to be holding her hand again and that was a distraction in itself. By the time the trees opened up into a small clearing in the forest Ash hadn't really thought about his explanation at all, a fact that was somewhat frustrating to him. Gods this girl had a hold on him.
Stepping into the clearing he decided he would just have to wing it. That was alright because he knew what he had to say. He just hoped he could convince Dakota of it. "This is where the path leads. I know it probably doesn't mean much to you but hear me out." Ash let go of her hand and stepped away from her for a moment so that he could move around the area. As he did he began pointing out the details that his eyes picked up. "The tracks are joined here by some others that I don't recognize. Here, there, all coming in from different directions. They all stop here in one place or another standing around for some time and then brake off and head back in the directions they came." He paused for a moment walking over to a tree. "As I said, it could be nothing. Perhaps it was some kids coming out to hang out but if so they certainly didn't relax, simply met and left. Maybe it was a party but if so where are the normal signs of a group having a good time? And then if that wasn't enough, this one pair of tracks I do recognize." He said with an almost scary certainty as he pointed at the trail he was wanting her to notice. "The gods curse my aim if these belong to anyone other than the leader of the hunters."
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Apollo
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Post by Ashley Bates on Apr 25, 2016 19:41:19 GMT -5
That was true. Dakota wouldn't be losing him for a while and now that their little miscommunication issue was cleared up he saw no reason why they shouldn't enjoy this weekend to the fullest. He held her out from him still enjoying the sight of her happy and excited. Now that he was free of the worries that had plagued him on the ride into the city he was happy and releaved too. It was a good feeling and he was glad he had decided to finally take the plunge.
"We should celebrate. I'll have to get someone to cover for me back at the ranch but I don't want to waste spending a few days with you." He said as his mind started turning to what was next for them. "It's been a while since our schedules have matched up so we might as well take advantage of it and besides, it looks like we are going to have a lot of things to figure out going forward." Ash didn't know about what all went into a wedding. If it was up to him he would have made it official right now or as close to now as it took for them to get all the necessary papers together and find a judge to do the deed. He wasn't one for fancy get togethers either although he could suffer through them for Dakota's sake. Still, all of that they could figure out later. Right now he just wanted to enjoy the moment.
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Apollo
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Post by Ashley Bates on Apr 12, 2016 21:29:49 GMT -5
Ash took Dakota's hand and he found that it slipped into his with remembered ease almost as if no time had passed at all. He had almost forgotten how good it felt to hold her hand like this but it was easier than he had thought it would be to fall back into those old habits. Still, he had promised her that he wouldn't let his feelings get in the way of what needed to be done here and the thought of what he had to show her allowed him to tear his eyes away from her smile and shove that part of himself away for the moment.
He gave her a nod and with that he turned to lead her along the trail that he had found. The footprints he had discovered were worn down by time. It was likely if they had come out a week or maybe even a few days later it wouldn't be visible even to Ash's trained eyes but the son of Apollo was a good hunter and he picked out the tracks with confidence. As he did he spoke to Dakota about what he had found. "I came out after I talked to you this morning and found this trail. At first I thought it was nothing, just another camper coming out to explore the woods or to find some privacy." He paused here leading her around a tangle of roots that could have snagged her foot. "But it's where they led that is interesting. Maybe it's still nothing but I'm out here enough that I can recognize most of the usual visitors. These tracks were new to me."
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Apollo
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Post by Ashley Bates on Apr 12, 2016 21:21:17 GMT -5
Now this was more like it. With Dakota's hand before him Ash had no trouble doing what he had come here to do in the first place. Bringing the small box back around so that she could see what was inside he plucked the engagement ring from inside and held it out to her before taking the offered hand in one of his and slipping the ring smoothly on her ring finger. He glanced up to catch her gaze and held her hand in his as he spoke. "It's a good fit. Almost a beautiful as you."
He watched her for a moment in that quiet, contemplative way that he had. She was still crying but even with those happy tears streaking down her face he still thought she was a sight to see and now she was going to be his. "I know it's a lot to take in but what do you think?"
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Apollo
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Post by Ashley Bates on Mar 21, 2016 0:09:24 GMT -5
Ash took moment as he considered how to answer her question. Was he sure that this was related to the Usurpers? Not really but he did have his suspicions and that was enough to make him think that he could be confident in what he said next. “It’s not much.” He admitted honestly. “But when combined with everything else I’ve found I think it is another piece of this puzzle that I’ve stumbled on and the picture is starting to come together.”
He nodded to her and held out his hand. He told himself that he was only thinking of her safety. He didn’t want her to take a misstep and twist an ankle after all and maybe that was true in a sense but he would be lying if he said that it was just that. “Come on there’s a trail not that far from here. I’ll show you the way and you can make a decision for yourself.”
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Apollo
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Post by Ashley Bates on Mar 21, 2016 0:07:21 GMT -5
This was how it was supposed to be. Dakota was supposed to be happy and laughing and excited about what was to come. Now that the hard part was over he could afford to be a little excited himself but there was still the matter of that little ring. Ash didn’t come all this way to do anything halfway and if they were going to do this they might as well do this right. Plus he just wanted to make sure this was official.
“I think we better.” He said as he gently extricated himself from Dakota’s arms. “I can’t think of many ways that you could be more beautiful than you are now but having my ring on your finger would definitely be one of them.” He had never put the box away and he brought it back into view now as he took the shiny engagement ring from inside. “Dakota, may I have your hand?”
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Apollo
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Post by Ashley Bates on Mar 17, 2016 21:26:14 GMT -5
Ash waited for Dakota to come into his arms so that he could hold her, waited for her to accept his proposal and put an end to all the uncertainty. It wasn't easy and that span of time which couldn't have been more than a few seconds seemed to stretch out before him without end until she finally got over her frustration with him and spoke through the tears she was crying. It was the answer he had hoped for and when she repeated it seeming to add more weight to the statement his cautious smirk actually did turn into one of those rare smiles. He finally had his answer and it made this whole day with all its worry and waiting worth it.
Dakota stepped into his arms and he wrapped them around her. Now that it had actually happened he didn't really know what to say. He didn't even know if there was anything to say. Words couldn't adequately express what he was feeling so he decided not to mess things up by using them. Instead he just held her there, that smile still on his face, as he enjoyed the moment.
Eventually he did trust himself to speak and when he did he turned her face up to his and gently began wiping away her happy tears with his soft touch. "It was always you Dakota. Always you that I wanted. Even though you didn't know it at the time it was always you and now we'll actually get to start or lives together." He gave a single huff of a chuckle. "And you aren't even wearing the ring yet."
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Apollo
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Post by Ashley Bates on Mar 16, 2016 21:18:07 GMT -5
Ash hadn’t been expecting many possible outcomes to the question he proposed. In fact, there were only two real answers to a proposal and he knew which one he hoped Dakota went with. As usual though things turned out to be much more complicated for her than they were for him and Kota threw him for a loop when she didn’t give him the simple answer he was looking for. Instead she slapped him on the shoulder, admittedly not very hard, and that was not at all what he had expected to happen.
Things didn’t become any clearer when she mentioned that she thought he had been dying. In answer he stared up at her with a quizzical expression unsure of if those tears were of happiness or frustration. He thought back over the last few minutes wondering if he had said anything to make her think that and yeah, he guessed when you looked at it from that prospective things could be misunderstood. Still, that didn’t change one very important fact. “I’m not dying Dakota. I’m sorry for making you think that.” He said as he stood slowly and held out his arms to her. “I am proposing though and I would be honored if you said yes.”
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Apollo
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Post by Ashley Bates on Mar 14, 2016 21:52:47 GMT -5
This was the moment he had been waiting for, the point of no return. It was time to put up of shut as they said and taking a deep breath to steady himself that's exactly what he did. "Dakota I've been doing a lot of thinking recently. Thinking about us. About what I want us to be. We've been through a lot together you and I. There have been a lot of storms that have tried to keep us apart and it hasn't been easy but we've come through on the other side. Lately though I can't help but think this distance between us is becoming our greatest challenge yet. I miss you Dakota...gods I miss you and not having you with me all the time is tearing me apart."
Ash paused here moving his hand to his pocket. The little box that he had been checking almost compulsively since he left this morning had been in its place a moment ago and still he found himself hoping that he hadn't lost it somewhere on the walk over. If he had then he was about to look like a fool. Fortunately his hand found the familiar shape easily enough and his heart slipped back into its proper place. "I’m tired of just getting by with you Dakota. I want to change all that if you’ll let me."
Ash slipped the tiny box out of his pocket bringing it around so that Dakota could finally see it. He let he hand go for a moment so that he could open it and that she could see what was inside and as he did so he also slipped out of his seat going on knee. "Riding the open range isn't really worth much if I don't have you by my side so what do you say? Would you like to go on one more rodeo with me and be my wife?"
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Apollo
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Post by Ashley Bates on Mar 14, 2016 21:48:05 GMT -5
Dakota jumped when he spoke and Ash felt a momentary pang of guilt for having spooked her. He easily forgot that others weren't quite as attuned to the forest as he was and in truth he hadn't been hiding, not really. More than that though he couldn't miss the fact that he had to suppress the urge to go to her when she jumped and wrap his arms around her to comfort her. If there was something out here to be afraid of then it certainly wasn't him. At least he hoped.
Ash was able to suppress the urge though and that was good because he didn't think the action would be well received. Instead he simply nodded to her from the shadows and then stepped out to meet her hoping she wouldn't hold the slight against him. "Unfortunately I don't think so." He said in answer to her question. Ash had never been one to mince words and he didn't do so now. "We're safe enough out here for now so don't worry but I did some scouting while you were eating and the signs I found...well they might be nothing but if they are then they are very troubling."
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Apollo
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Post by Ashley Bates on Mar 6, 2016 21:19:10 GMT -5
Ash moved over to the couch with Dakota and took a seat beside her. She was obviously tense for some reason but was that because of him and what she suspected he might do? He couldn't be sure. He had come this far though and there was no turning back now. He couldn't really come up with another reason why he would be acting so unlike himself anyways and he didn't want to either.
It wasn’t that easy to begin however and as he sat there trying to figure out what exactly he was going to say he reached over to put a hand over hers in her lap. He looked at her there for a moment and then gave a dry chuckle of a laugh deciding just to get everything out in the open. "I didn't expect it to be this hard." He said with a shake off his head and then he cleared his throat before starting in on what might be the most important conversation he would ever have. "I love you Dakota. Ever since I can remember you’ve always been the one, always been the girl I couldn’t do without. Before I started I just wanted you to know that.”
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Apollo
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Post by Ashley Bates on Mar 2, 2016 0:51:05 GMT -5
Perhaps it was due to his own nerves or maybe he was just too focused on what he was about to do but Ash did not recognize the tone of reluctance in Dakota's voice. As observant as he usually was he did not have the mind of a doctor like Dakota had and his thoughts did not naturally gravitate towards the worst case scenario. This being the case he was a little taken aback when she seemed reluctant to talk. Was this a sign of what was ahead? He certainly hoped not.
Ash gave her a quizzical look when she asked him if everything was okay. Not seeing any reason why it shouldn't be he didn't really know how to respond and the question took him off guard. He knew there were some who came up with incredibly elaborate proposals but his imagination had ever been a poor thing. He hoped that he could still make this special enough for her but he had always been a man who simply stated what was on his mind plainly and that's precisely what he intended to do here. "Everything is fine Dakota I just...well I had something to ask you." He glanced over at her couch and decided that was as good a place to begin as any. "Perhaps we should sit down first."
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Apollo
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Post by Ashley Bates on Mar 2, 2016 0:46:05 GMT -5
Positioned as he was Ash had no trouble picking out Dakota as she got closer. Talented in both first aid and riding she may have been but at the art of moving silently through the forest she was not. That was okay though. He liked her for many other reasons that more than made up for it. Still, he couldn't help but watch her for a moment happy that she had remained true to her word and come out to meet him. He definitely wasn't over her yet, of that he had no doubt but as she got closer and he began to hear her calling out to him he decided to push those thoughts again to the side and focus on the task at hand.
Stepping out from the shadows so that she could see him clearly Ash called to her in his steady, unemotional voice as he motioned her over. "I'm here Dakota. Don't worry." He wasn't sure why he added this last part. He had no doubt that Dakota could take care of herself but it simply felt right. He wanted to be her protector, wanted to make sure she was alright even if that wasn't something she wanted herself. "I trust your meal was good. I've been pretty busy since the last time we talked."
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Post by Ashley Bates on Feb 29, 2016 20:49:01 GMT -5
Ash stepped out of the deeper woods and back onto the forest path. He had been following some tracks off the beaten path when he realized how late it was getting and that he had said that he would meet Dakota after dinner. This being the case he had turned around and made his way back even though the trail he had found had been troubling. Ash knew the forest like the back of his hand and he knew that it wasn't well traveled by many of the other campers. Why then had the footprints he had found led him to a clearing where they were joined by more all arriving and leaving from different directions? Granted it could have been some of the other campers sneaking out to have some fun after curfew but if it was a party why weren't there a sign of any partying? IT was a good question and it was enough to make Ash's suspicious mind wonder. Still, he could investigate it more later. He didn't want to leave Dakota waiting especially when he had been the one that had brought her into this mess. Slipping his bow back over his shoulders like he was returning from a hunting trip Ash made his way over to a tree along the path and leaned back against it so that he could watch for Dakota's arrival and think about what he had found. There was a lot to do before they would be able to take this before Chiron but hopefully with Dakota's help they would be able to get to the bottom of whatever was going on here. Ash just hoped they weren't too late. Dakota King |
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