Closed Return of the second son (Kai and Jez)

[Valko]

2nd of Winter, 512 A.V.
Late

Valko was waiting outside the pavilion of his family tents like a sentinel, Tundra by his side. He pulled his cloak in closer and cursed the fact that Jez still had not appeared. Valko was temperamental at the best of times, but he objected strongly to being made to wait outside in the cold, especially in such days as these - days of the pox - of death and sickness. On top of that, tonight he could have been having a pleasant time with a very pretty little blonde of the Dustwither pavilion, a very unique pavilion in Endrykas so far as the wares they sold.
It also struck him as odd that Jez had decided to return to Endrykas now, of all times. If he had stayed away for another season, he might have avoided all the talk and effects and destruction of the plague that besieged them... of course, that was not his style. Valko sighed. The pox could not leave them untouched for much longer. From what he had heard, the number of dead in Endrykas was far above two thousand which, in a population that seldom exceeded fifteen thousand, was a true disaster. Did Jez know how bad it was? Had anyone told him?

It was then that he heard the soft padding of hooves close by. Tundra bridled slightly and Valko placed a hand to the sword at his side, freeing his arm from under his heavy cloak, just in case.

"Who goes there?"

[Jez Firetongue]

Jez Firetongue ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Jez Firetongue was not usually one for spending too long away from his beloved home within Endrykas. Long had he dreamed of travelling, perhaps even outside the Cyphrus region, but loyalty to his family had tied him down and he had no desire of seeing them come to harm due to his neglect. They were an average sized family, a group mixed with both half and full siblings. He loved them all, even temperamental Valko, and had felt bad leaving them a few seasons ago. However, the pull to explore seemed to have tugged both his and his Strider’s hearts with a force too strong to deny. He had set out that day, leaping upon the dun stallion with only the bare necessities strung in a sack over his back. Wind’s eyes had been alight with a firey excitement that only he, with his strong bond to the powerful animal, was able to steer in a controllable direction. The twenty one year old rode back now at a steady canter. The sun was beginning to lower in the sky, signalling the later time of day, and its rays cast shadows across him as he travelled south over the sea of grass. The brown windmarks that looped on his left shoulder before sliding down in a slender, twisting line over his spine seemed to dance and twirl as the sun shot long rays over them and his muscular body moved in sync with Wind’s. His green eyes spoke volumes of his joy to be finally heading home, calm content within their depths. Wind, too, was welcoming the thought of return if his behaviour today was anything to go by. The free spirit who had chosen his Drykas normally revelled in running as far and fast as possible, yet was acting almost tame as his ears perked at familiar sights. Jez’s thoughts drifted to his family and he wondered how they were coping. He’d heard rumour of disease spreading through his home, wiping out Drykas in vast numbers. His heart pounded with worry in his chest at the thought of something happening to any of his relatives, but he hoped it wasn’t serious enough to have affected them. Away from the main settlement, he had only been able to catch snippets of information from merchants in passing, and was equally as impatient to find out what had been going on as he was to see his family. A grin spread across his face as Endrykas came into sight; not the usual lopsided expression that would make younger people laugh at him, but a geniune look of happiness and relief at finally returning. The young adult placed a hand on Wind’s neck in a soothing manner as he spoke quietly, “Woah, boy. Steady up now.” Said stallion snorted indignantly but obeyed nonetheless, steadying into a smooth trot. His hooves placed themselves with precision and each movement was perfectly calculated, as though the Strider knew of his fine breeding and chose to show it off at every move. Jez chuckled to himself; that sounded exactly like something Wind would do, so he wouldn’t have been surprised. They moved passed tents, rounding corners until finally viewing a much awaited sight. They were on the other side from the pavilion entrance, but Jez knew his siblings would be waiting. He slid from Wind’s back, landing on the ground as he patted the stallion’s neck in thanks. The sharply sprung horse nudged his face into Jez’s hand, who patted him in return. “Come, let’s get home,” he told his loyal companion, walking towards the familiar tents. Wind was a couple of steps behind at all times. For three years the pair had been inseparable, and that wasn’t likely to change any time soon. Who goes there? Jez laughed aloud as he rounded the corner, wide grin plastered on his face as green eyes met his brother’s, not missing the fact that he had a hand on the hilt of his sword. “Valko! A welcome party?” he spoke with a calm confidence, a booming voice that alerted anyone nearby to his presence, “You really shouldn’t have! I’m so touched, brother.” With that he pulled the older male into a giant bear hug before he could react for a few seconds, before releasing him and stepping back. “Have you missed me?” The smile on his face couldn’t be wiped off as he took in a much missed sight of his probably irritated older brother. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Jez Firetongue|| ||21 years|| ||Drykas|| ||Amethyst Clan|| ||Strider-Wind||

[Kai]

Kai heard voices outside the pavilion and her heart suddenly leaped out of her chest it seemed, for the beat was so hard it nearly tore open her rib cage. Ah how happy the was to hear this familiar voice again. the reassuring sound of family returning home from the Sea of Grass. Even more so it reassured her, considering she heard of the tragic news. A group of striders returned home without their riders. She was glad to know that her beloved brother was not part of such tragedy.

The days have been decreasing in length abruptly and with this shift in seasons a terrible illness has befallen the travelling city. And it would be a lie to state that Kai had not felt the pox take it's toll. Already two of her friends have lost their lives to the disease and more were at stake. And worse still, her own health was at risk. The pox was known to prefer children and elderly for it's victims.

With a quiet sneeze, fallowed by a slightly louder one, the dark haired girl ventured out out the pavilion, where the chill in the air pinched at her cheeks and nose, causing them to turn a peculiar shade of pink. Her tiny silhouette was now submerged in a vast array of jumpers and blankets, so that she no longer seemed so small. In fact the way she looked reminded her of a snail which carried it's house on it's back, for that's what she did now, she carried her warmth with her.

Kai's eyes lit up as she saw the familiar face of Jez, now embracing her dear half sibling with the greatest of smiles upon his face. What a lovely display of brotherly emotion. And with a smile of her own she stood tehre, waiting for her turn to hug, letting out yet another little sneeze.

[Valko]

In all truth, Valko was glad to see Jez, who was sibling nearest to himself in age... had they not grown up together? And he was partly relieved that there was somebody else to share the large load of responsibility that had been dropped onto his broad shoulders, he being the eldest son. However, even with all this taken into account, Valko could not help but feel slightly affronted by his laughter in response to his very sensible questioning of the identity of the new arrival. Oh dear, thought he, noting the confidence and brash tone of Jez's voice, it seems he has merely gained in arrogance from his time away, not that anyone else would see it that way. It always touched a nerve in Valko that he was considered the arrogant and proud one, when he was merely proving the more dignified nature of his character... Jez hid his arrogance beneath laughter and merriment and, somehow, that made many people oblivious to it.
At first he was reluctant to be pulled into a hug, but he could not remain irritated for long - Jez's humour was almost contagious - and he hugged back. In the few seasons he had been away, Valko noted that the circumference of Jez's chest seemed greatly increased than it had been when he had left.

"Do not doubt that I have missed you, brother. I am more than glad to see you back in Endrykas." He spoke in a low, melodious voice then paused, for neither emotion nor affection were really his strong suit, not the kind one reserves for family members at any rate, "You look in good health." And it was no lie, for obviously Jez had not suffered from his poor hunting skills or the lack of people to hunt in a group with.

Valko looked up sharply, hearing a sneeze behind him. He turned around and looked at Kai with a mixture of worry and anger.

"Kai! Don't stand outside in this cold. Are you mad? I know you wanted to see Jez, but he is coming in at any rate." he spoke gently, but authoritatively. In Endrykas, especially in Winter and in a Winter riddled with pox like the present one was, even the smallest sneeze could be a worrying sign.

[Jez Firetongue]

Jez Firetongue ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Jez grinned as his older half-brother hesitated before returning the hug, though not with as much strength nor enthusiasm as the more out-going soul. Valko had never been one to reveal his emotions easily, something his kin had become used to. “You haven’t changed at all this past season, brother,” he laughed heartily, clapping the other on his back before stepping out of the embrace, “and here I thought I would have to fight to get my caring role back after so long away.” He flashed another grin, glad to be back outside the pavilion he’d grown up in. Jez’s time away from his kinsmen had done him good; he had developed a better understanding of the nature around them and even worked a little on building up his muscle strength. Caiyha’s view of the world had largely been his motivation for travelling since early Autumn. His desire to develop a closer relationship with the goddess of nature had him travelling almost an entire season, exploring areas within the Sea of Grass he’d never been to before, investigating the natural world. As a Drykas he had always had a close connection with the unity of life, and though he hadn’t yet learnt what he’d been looking for just being out with Wind alone in the untamed wilderness had soothed him. His strider had appreciated the journey as much as he had, never having been one for staying still for too long. In fact, had they not lived within the moving city the mighty stallion would probably have gone stir crazy. Jez half turned at the little sneeze that sounded behind him, his brother speaking as he took in his much loved little sister. The male had always been close to his siblings, holding those fully and half related to him in equal regard, but Kai had always held a particular spot in his heart. As, he supposed, did she for their other siblings. Even Valko, master of his emotions, spoke more softly around her. Jez frowned at his brother’s words, especially as they were accompanied by the young teen’s sniffling. He knew the pox had come to Endrykas, but was still unaware of how serious it had become. As enlightening as travelling Cyphrus had been, it wasn’t great for gathering information about his home city or how his pavilion was coping. Winter was generally warm, with their migration south, but they could still succumb easily to the coldest season’s illnesses. “Come on Kai,” he pulled the younger girl into his strong arms, lifting her into his arms as he brushed past the pavilion entrance. He put her down shortly after entering, knowing she probably wouldn’t appreciate being smothered for too long. “Your brother’s right, as usual,” he chuckled, sitting himself down heavily, “Now, somebody get me some food so I can listen to how you’ve all been.” Normally he’d be the one helping out, getting others food and making sure they were settled, but he’d had a long journey and really just wanted something nice and homemade to warm his empty stomach. He wanted to know how the pavilion had fared, and the health of his blood relatives. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ||Jez Firetongue|| ||21 years|| ||Drykas|| ||Amethyst Clan|| ||Strider-Wind||

[Kai]

Kai had never been so happy in her life, as she was not. The return of her beloved eldest brother has sparked new excitement in her and despite weakened with a cold, she jumped on him in a great hug. The kind of hug which quickly resulted in Jez carrying her inside. She was a much affectionate person and nothing mage her more joy than the closeness of family; so even when he put her down, she still help onto his hand as if she was a child again. All their lives they had been very close.

She had known the reasons he ventured into the Sea of Grass for so long but couldn’t wait to hear of his travels. He must have has so much to talk about, so many great stories to tell. But first thing was first, warm food and hot tea was in order.

Kaleb was the youngest of her male siblings, with still a year over her Kai. And unlike her and the rest of the boys, he found himself a great interest and skill in cooking, so it could have been expected he already started preparing some kind of a hot meal upon hearing the news of Jez's arrival that afternoon. The tents have filled with the spicy smell of stew as he hovered of pans and pots, a smile on his slender, freckly face. And as they entered the pavilion, he too threw his arms around his oldest brother.

Kai wasn't oblivious to the threat of the pox, of course not. But even such a terrible illness would not stop this reckless child doing what she wanted, despite the disapproval of her siblings. The motto of the Drykas was to lli8ve fast and play hard - and this little girl was the very manifestation of that motto in human form. Her big dark eyes were solely focused on Jez now, both her hands wrapped around his in an attempt to never let him go again. Indeed she did miss him terribly. "Tell us all about your travels Jez." she begged as he finally put her down.

[Jackalope]

Valko

Award

Skill	XP Earned	Lore Earned
Observation	+1	Contemplating the Pox
		Berating Family

Jez

Award

Skill	XP Earned	Lore Earned
Observation	+1	Coming Home

Witty Remark Here

Not too much to give out here. Sorry to see it end so soon! If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.