Flashback Amidst the Trees

[Khal'iah]

Timestamp: 10th day of Fall, 508 AV The time was that of early morning and the sun had only just begun its ascent from beyond the horizon. Light began to flood across the landscape of Cyphrus, shining down upon the waking city of Riverfall and all its inhabitants. A new day had begun, and with it came another day of training on the part of a particular member of the city's popolous. He was a tall man with the build of a warrior, whose form moved swiftly throughout the city streets. Sprinting as quickly as his legs would carry him, the Akalak born to the name Khal'iah Vojak, made his way from his domicle and headed out to the gates of the city. From there, he continued to rush ever forward, pushing himself as he always did in an attempt to triumph over the limitations of yesterday. It was only after he was a good distance within the fringe forest surrounding the waking city that the Akalak came to a halt and allowed himself to catch his breath. His dark, violet arms came to rest behind his head as he inhaled deeply, walking along the beaten path as he contemplated what exactly he would do to begin his regimen this day. 'Hmm...' he thought to himself, running through idea after idea. Shimmering eyes wandered about the forest's canopy as he pondered, observing the beauty of nature whilst he strolled along. That's when the notion hit him: a rather unique venture would take place this day, one he had not attempted before... 'Oi, I'll say this now...I don't think this is a good idea...' chimed an unwanted opinion in the back of the Akalak's mind. In response, the warrior simply shook his head in order to block out the nagging voice of his "other", darker persona: known as Ha'lik. Nonetheless, while Khal'iah steeled himself for the execution of these new exercises, Ha'lik took it upon himself to fill the Akalak's mind with the sound of his unnecessary opinion. 'Ha'lik. For Wysar's sake, will you shut the petch up? I'm trying to concentrate!' Khal'iah finally snapped, coming to a halt before one tree in particular. It was tall, wide, and strong, with low-hanging branches that the Akalak could easily climb...which he reached out in order to do. He clutched one of the branches firmly in his offhand and pulled himself up off the ground, placing his foot upon the tree trunk in order to aide in bringing him up. His swordhand clutched another branch and helped guide his form onto another, larger branch. He continued to climb, moving higher and higher into the tree until he was several feet in the air. 'Once more. BAD idea.' chimed Ha'lik, almost frightened at the young warrior's rashness. Yet his words fell upon deaf ears; and it was honestly a sad day when the "dark, rash" one was the voice of reason. Khal'iah steadied himself and braced his feet upon a large branch before kneeling to a squat, then launched himself forward with hands outstretched. His goal and aim was to catch onto the branch of a neighboring tree, which he managed to do so despite all odds...but his grip slipped and he began to fall. "Ack!" he stammered out as his form plummeted to the earth, managing to lean forward before he smacked into the ground. This lean segued into a sloppy roll that left him flat on his stomach; a poor acrobatic feat, but one that left him in one piece without any scratches...save the ones upon his pride. No matter, he elevated himself to his feet, brushed the leaves and twigs off of his person, and turned to face the tree. 'Ah petch.' murmured his darkness...for Khal'iah launched himself at the tree and began to try again.

[Zyah'suyakal Songbringer]

The female lay in the grass beneath one of the larger trees in the forest that surrounded Riverfall, she felt at ease among the foliage and away from the bustling and lively city. She listened the her surroundings, it was calm yet no where hear silent. There was the rushing of a nearby stream, the soft rustle of the leaves as the wind blew through the trees, the scurrying sounds of small animals in the brush, as well as the soft breathing of Ryzan beside her. Ryzan was her companion, her eyes, and the first to steal her heart. He was her ever faithful Strider, a young lively stallion with the attitude and spirit of a colt. At the current moment in time the stallion was grazing a few yards away from where the Drykas female was resting, although he never let his companion wander out of his sight. The Drykas was in the slow process of drifting off to sleep when she heard another's voice, she immediately snapped to attention. Lifting her head and listening for any more sounds, and sure enough there were plenty. The voice itself was gruff, which meant it belong to a male, she listened closer, then she heard heavy footfalls and the snapping of twigs. She couldn't help but snicker, it sounded as if an untrained babe was treading through the underbrush and foliage, not a grown man. Ryzan didn't share her humorous thoughts, instead he lifted his head, interrupting his grazing, he then moved closer to where the Drykas female was currently situated on the ground. The Drykas, going by the name of Zyah'suyakal sighed, then she slid to her feet. She went to Ryzan's side. Wrapping arms around her neck, she then nuzzled her face against the soft warm flesh of his neck. ''Easy boy, it will be alright.'' She spoke to him softly in Pavi, the sound was soothing to the Strider's perked ears, he began to relax, Ryzan then turned his head and rested it against her shoulder. They stayed like that until Zyah'suyakal heard the crashing of branches, and the distinct sound of flesh meeting the ground. She sighed, then pulled away from Ryzan, only to mount him. After she was settled on his back she gave a slight click of her tongue, urging the Strider towards the sound. It didn't take long before they had reached the other, the Drykas shivered. She felt the presences of the other, and knew at once that he was a warrior. She first addressed him in Pavi. ''Are you alright, Sir. I heard you fall........'' She attempted to suppress her giggles, a hand went over her lips. She then sighed. Wondering who and what this new male was.

[Khal'iah]

The sound of hooves meeting the leaves and twigs of the fringe forest was not enough to stop the Akalak in his second charge at the tree. No, he was determined to succeed: determined to climb and soar through the trees like an acrobat...or fall trying. This time, he had a tad more success. He climbed swiftly, repeating his path up the tree and onto the upper branch. Then, he launched himself forward once more, his fingers managing to grasp the target branch more solidly this time...yet it snapped under the sudden weight and the Akalak tumbled down to the forest floor once more, managing to roll again...though the branch in his hands made that maneuver a tad difficult. When he came to a stop upon his stomach once more, the warrior heard the unmistakable sound of laughter, followed by a language he did not understand. He recognized it as Pavi, the language spoken by the Drykas whom occupied the Sea of Grass outside of the city. Yet, as aforementioned, Khal'iah had no understanding of the language and immediately took offense to the words that he did not understand. He interpreted them as a jab at his training blunder and quickly ascended to his feet, irritated. "What do you want?" he replied in perfect Tukant, his hand coming to rest upon the Lakan located upon his belt. He paused, mouth open, when the thought crossed his mind that she might not speak the language of the Akalaks. As such, he changed gears and addressed her in the Common tongue. "Do you speak Common?" he inquired, keeping his question short and to the point.

[Zyah'suyakal Songbringer]

The Drykas female crossed arms over her chest, although she could not see the male she could hear the heaviness of his footsteps, also hearing the soft clinking of a sheath slapping against his side indicated that he carried at least one weapon. She backed Ryzan up a few feet, she felt the Strider shift under her. Ryzan was nervous, he was making it known as he pinned his ears to his head. As the man then spoke in Common she narrowed her blind gaze, his words were sharp. And as she spoke she growled through teeth. ''I was asking if you were alright, considering I cannot see you....'' She replied in Common, although the words didn't flow like her speaking Pavi she still spoke if fairly well. She was wary of this warrior, and she made it known. Her hands gripped at Ryzan's mane, her fingers turning white from the pressure. She hated being in the dark. ''Tell me what are you, I am curious. As well I hate not knowing the company I am it.....'' Her tone was still sharp, only it was bleeding with her accent.

[Khal'iah]

For some, it would take a moment or two to realize what the woman meant by her words. At a glance, it would seem as though the woman could see perfectly fine: the forest was amply lit, there was nothing obstructing her view, and so on. Yet Khal'iah, having a sibling born blind, easily recognized what she meant. His shimmering eyes ascended to meet her own and he witnessed the all-too familiar 'expression' they had: they were unfocused and not concentrated upon anything in particular. 'Just like De'na.' he thought to himself, breathing a soft exhale as he retreated a step. Though blind, she was astride a rather large horse...and he'd much rather not get kicked by it. "I'm perfectly fine, thanks for asking." he responded simply. There was a significant change in the tone with which he addressed the woman. Previously it was characterized by frustration and his words were short and almost angry, yet now they were perfectly polite and almost welcoming. It wasn't because he pitied the woman's blindness, no, it was because her affliction reminded him of someone he held dear. As such, he couldn't possibly treat the one before him ill, no matter how bruised his pride was. "My name is Khal'iah Vojak, an Akalak of Riverfall. Might I ask your name Esteemed Rider?" He added that last bit on in an attempt of sorts to placate the sharpness of her tone.

[Zyah'suyakal Songbringer]

As she heard his tone change and lighten she smiled, he seemed to understand. She backed Ryzan up a few feet more, she then slowly slid off of his back. Once her leather clad feet touched the ground she turned on her heel to face the other. ''An Akalak? I haven't seen one of your kind since I was in the Sea of Grass.......'' She spoke softly, her tone no longer held any anger, instead it was soft and sweet....She was curious of the other. ''I am Zyah'suyakal of the Amethyst Clan, it is nice to meet you.....'' She stepped up and closer to the other, hands out as if to catch herself if she was to fall.....

[Khal'iah]

The pale, nearly shimmering eyes of the violet-skinned Akalak regarded the woman as she dismounted her steed, touching upon the forest floor with a hint of grace that could only come from constant mounting and dismounting. This was a rare occasion for the male, whom relinquished his grip upon his Lakan and folded his arms across his chest; as was his habit. Though they were both natives of the same region, it was not very often that Khal'iah had the pleasure of interacting with one of the Drykas. "I haven't seen one of your people in many months myself..." he stated simply, his eyes averting from the woman as she took her first steps forward. The warrior took it upon himself to regard their surroundings, seeing as though the woman could not see. His gaze swept across the branches that were overhead, checking to be certain that none were low enough to strike or snag the rider. He then turned his attention to the forest floor, making sure that there were no branches or snares to trip her up either. When he found that there were none, he exhaled softly and continued to watch the woman; instinctively standing on edge so that he may attempt to catch her should she fall, despite the lack of anything to trip over. "The pleasure is all mine Zyah'suyakal. What brings you so close to Riverfall this day?"

[Zyah'suyakal Songbringer]

As she moved with ease across the forest floor she listened to her surroundings. Her movements were nearly silent as she moved with simple grace, this only came with the experience of being blind. As she would have had it, she moved as if she had no problems with her eyesight. But she was so used to it she moved with the ease of someone who had sight.... ''You asked what brings me to Riverfall......Well Honestly curiosity, as well as the ambition to start out on my own. It was time I left the family Pavilion and set out on my own, yet I am not alone....I have Ryzan.'' She pointed behind her to the Strider who stood at attention, wide brown eyes never leaving that of the Akalak. Ryzan huffed, he was on edge. That much was obvious, the female Drykas felt the shifting of his hooves, she turned and made her way towards him. The Strider met her half-way then nuzzled her head against her chest. ''Sorry, he doesn't like strangers.....''

[Khal'iah]

The violet-skinned Akalak had heard stories about the bond between a Drykas and its Stryder, but her never imagined that the relationship would be as intimate as what was occurring before his eyes. The beast was actually overprotective of its rider, on edge due to the mere presence of the Akalak. 'Hmm, well I surmise the stories are true.' he thought to himself, keeping his silence whilst the Drykas and her steed reunited through touch. Khal'iah certainly had to admit, for one who was blind, she moved with certainly much more grace than that displayed by his late sibling. The Akalak contributed that fact to the Drykas having lived longer than De'na, but nonetheless it was impressive to see such grace on the part of someone without sight. "It's quite alright," he said simply, shaking his head in response to her apologizing for her steed's behavior. "he's protective of you. I can completely understand his being on edge around strangers." With that said, he took an additional step back in order to reassure the steed, raising his hands in a non-threatening manner. As aforementioned, he did not feel like getting stomped apart by a steed. He'd much rather do his best to keep the beast placated than anything else. "Tell me," he said after a moment of silence, "do you and Ryzan intend on settling down in Riverfall? Or is this simply one stop on a grand voyage of the world?" The words escaped his lips with a hint of longing. The violet-skinned warrior, ever since the days of his youth, held a desire to see and travel the world outside of Riverfall. Though there was nothing stopping him, aside from his age, from leaving to pursue this goal; he was expected to return at some point and settle down...but this wasn't what the warrior desired at all...

[Zyah'suyakal Songbringer]

''Easy boy.....''Th Drykas female soothed her steed, Ryzan was still on edge, he stamped at the ground with his front hoof. Nearly connecting with Zyah'suyakal's foot in the process. The Drykas sighed, then lifted her fingers to the Strider's ears, flicking at them lightly. Ryzan then made a slight screeching sound and pinned his ears to his skull. He backed up a few feet then turned to give his rider his arse. Zyah'suyakal let out a groan which then turned into a soft laugh. ''As stubborn as I am.....'' She spoke in a quite tone before it rose as she addressed the other. ''Don't mind him, he is still as spirited as a colt and as stubborn as an ass.....And to answer your question of us traveling. I am not sure yet if we will stay in Riverfall, perhaps we will, perhaps we won't. It all depends on the wind, and the Web....'' As she answered him she lifted her hand to rub at her eyes. Wincing slightly she took a deep breath and then let it out slowly. She was getting another headache, she had always had them, and they tended to come at times that were the worst. Ryzan seemed to sense her discomfort, because within moments he was at her side, his head pressing against her side his breath washing over her skin. He lipped at her hand, and let out a sound of worry.