Open [Silkwater Lake] Dazzling fish scales

[Dov Armel]

Season of Spring, Day 90, 513 AV

The morning sun were climbing the tree tops. Birds chirped all around the forest garden and heavy paws pounded against the muddy ground. A bear ran along the mountain to reach the Silkwater Lake. The animal had been running since Syliras main gate. In fact, the animal was as much human as animal. Though if you laid your eyes on him at this moment - he would be only an animal. He grunted and moved exactly like a bear should. He hated running, he prefered to walk, even so he was eager to reach his destination. There were few bears which ran with same excitement as him - and there were few bears with a bag and fishing rod in their mouth.

When he finally reached the lake he slowed down and plodded the last meters to the water. He bent his head down and breathed ripples on the still surface. Across the lake he spotted a deer. It drank from the lake. After putting down the bag and fishing rod he followed the other animal's example and felt the cool water gushing through his throat. After drinking he grabbed his things, raised his head and wandered out into the lake. He loved to swim. With his head barely above the surface, and the fishing rod drawing lines in the water, he swam across to the other side. The deer ran when he got close and was gone when he got out of the water. He shook his fur, making it look like it was drenched in glitter as the waterdrops reflected the rising sun. The fishing rod fell to the ground followed by the bag. Some contents fell out - fishing bait and clothes. The bear got up on the back legs and showed off the full might of a young kodiak bear. Suddenly in a swirl of light the bear dissolved and in its stead a human appeared. Dov Armel stretched his arms - reaching for the sky. His body were covered in glittering drops and his hair coloured a tone darker by the water. Dov sat down by the lake and picked up his fishing rod and the bait which had fallen out of his backpack. Fine mornings such as this he usually went up to the lake to fish for his dinner instead of buying it. He had food to eat but his favourite was newly caught fish.

After preparing the bait he threw the line into the lake. The last sun rays found their way over the trees and caressed his face. Dov closed his eyes and stretched his legs out. He loved the nature and felt such relief by the lake that he forgot about the clothes. In only his birthday suit, Dov sat by the lake with his fishing rod, smiling at the sun with his eyes closed.

[Jantys Vane]

Jantys grumbled a large variety and color of swear words under his breath as he worked his way through the foliage, apologetically smashing through bush and branch if they stood in his path. Clad in the armor of an apprentice squire, he looked tired, thirsty, and just a tad lost.

It wasn't that Jantys hated the woods, per say. He just wasn't used to them. Born and raised in the city, he hardly ever ventured into the dangers of the great outdoors, preferring to stay inside with his bottle and his paved streets and more sentient dangers. Yet here the new squire was, picking his way through grass and leaves to find his destination.

And finally he beheld the damn thing. Silkwater Lake, the location the knight had asked him to navigate towards, stood glimmering in front of him. Jantys felt a momentary sense of accomplishment and wonder before stumbling out of the growth to stand before it.

Quickly falling to his knees in front of the lake, he scoops up some of the dazzling water to splash over his face, gasping and grumbling at the pleasant coolness. After wiping his face with a cloth, he pulls out his water-skin and fills it up, drinking deeply.

If Jantys had noticed anyone else currently at the lake, he hadn't acknowledged their presence, and just sits there, picking leaves and twigs out of his armor, mumbling a steady stream of words under his breath. Most of the words were derivatives of 'petch' (from the word itself to more imaginative convolutions, including petching, petcher, and the petcher of a variety of woodland creatures), all directed towards dear Mother Nature, from the 'thrice-petched shyke-eating woods' to the 'bird-petching heat'.

[Dov Armel]

Dov sighed in relief but was suddenly disturbed by some mumbling floating thorugh the air. It sounded human. An unpleasant, frustrated voice. Dov opened his eyes to see what kind of company he had got when he saw it. The dazzling fish scales. It swimmed so smoothly the surface did not brake. A fish! Dov held the fishing rod close and watched the reflecting scales swim towards his bait. Just seconds away, water ripples spread and a splashing sound scared away the fish like a fired arrow. Usually Dov do not approach strangers. He is shy and tend to leave people alone rather than bother them. This time all his shyness went away with that fish. Dov turned to the human - which was ignoring the fact that it had scared away his food. The human drank from the lake and then muttered foul things about it. It made Dov's blood boil.

He threw away his fishing rod, got up on his back legs and walked towards the human with angry steps. Also - he roared, or tried. Forgetting he was in human form he tried to make the human run by scaring him. Showing his teeth and growling from the back of his throat. Slowly Dov got closer. He raised his arms above his head - ready to attack.

He paused.

The armour the human wore were as dazzling in the sun as the fish scales. It sparkled. Dov lowered his arms with widened eyes. He had seen armour before but only inside the big city. Everything seemed dull behind the city gates. Out in the effulgent forest the armour got a whole new meaning. Dov forgot to breath. He drew a deep breath and looked at the face of the armour bearer. Still with awed eyes.
"You look like a fish!"

[Jantys Vane]

Jantys looked up at the approuching steps, reluctant curiousity and surprise quickly giving way to sheer astonishment as he notices the angry young boy. Jantys is less scared than bewhildered when he roars and flashes his teeth. Jantys had never seen a bear in his lifetime, and therefore had nothing to compare the Kelvic's nature to, besides overall bald ferocity.

When he raised his hands, Jantys began realizing he might be under attack of some sort, which sent fresh waves of surprise and the beginnings of fear through him. For just about any other Syliran squire, the sight of a naked boy attacking with his bare hands would be laughable, not cause for fear, but Jantys was not used to being in a position to properly handle himself. Armor and weapons had been unknown to him until his very recent squirehood, and while he knew how to punch and bite and kick, he didn't think he could fight off anyone actually trying.

Thus, it came as a bit of a relief to him when the boy lowered his arms, eyes widening in wonder. Packaged with the relief was wonder of his own; why was the kid looking at him with those eyes? Jantys had never in his thirty-odd years of life been looked at like that. It was an entirely new experience.

"...I look like...?" That was a new one, too. He had been told he drank like a fish, but this was an entirely new deal. Was he insulting his outfit? He must look ridiculous, sprawled on the ground in full squire regalia. He was used to it, but for lack of anything else to do he gets up, dusting himself off a little.

The look in his eyes seemed to demand a more coherant response, and also seemed to outlaw the chance that he was insulting him, shockingly enough. Rubbing the back of his head, he continues. "Er, thanks, kid." Who the hell is this guy?

[Dov Armel]

For Dov, slipping in and out of animal form was nothing. Even though he could hear himself he always confused which form was which. The echoing roars - did they belong to bear? Or the laughter - did it belong to human? Or the other way? When he realized he was human, for instance, it was because of the furless body and not the soft voice.

At first he was pleased to see the human back off. The look of uncertanty and frightning wonder - he loved it. When someone showed fear - it meant he won. Seconds later none of that mattered. The glistering armour scales was all he saw. Dov could hear the human repeat his statement with a suspicious glare. Even so, he did not say it again. Eyes wide and clear watched the armour move exposing more plate to the sun. So different, yet the same. Fish scales were soft and nice. Armour were hard and cold. If he touched it now - would it be warm? Dov gazed at the shining parts and when he got thanks from the man he reluctantly met his eyes. You should look at the person you are talking to - that was something his mother had taught him, and that was all he knew.
"You're welcome, sir," he said and shot of a boyish smile - pure happiness and naiveness.

Dov gave up the wish of touching the mans armour - he gave it a last longing look. The chirping birds were not loud enough to conceal his growling stomach. It growled loud and clear. He gave it a pat with his hands.
"You scared away my food, sir... I can't eat you, can I? You're not really a fish." Dov sighed and stretched his body once again. The skin had dried in the sun and so had his hair. With his arms still reaching for the sky he turned to the man.
"Do you know how to use a rod?"

[Jantys Vane]

Jantys blinked and sort of nodded a bit at his 'your welcome', sort of perplexed. The kid seemed pretty old, elder teens maybe, but he was pretty damn wide-eyed and innocent for a kid that age. Then again, maybe everyone was wide-eyed and innocent to poor Jantys Vale. Something wasn't exactly syncing up, though. This guy had advanced on him with a look of true ferocity, and got distracted by the shininess of his armor, of all things. Not to mention he was casually hanging out in the wilderness, dressed in nothing but confidence, without any sign of a weapon. He must be touched in the head or something, he's behaving like a

Ah.

Jantys hadn't ever really met a Kelvic before, but he had been 'informed' about them in taverns. Half man, half beasts, they roamed the countryside with fire in their eyes, showcasing ferocity in man and civilisation in beast, being... and then the guy had passed out or something, because that was all Jantys knew. Now more careful then ever, he stutters ever so slightly on the response.

"Er, y-yeah, I'm not edible. I mean, technically, I... but I'm no fish," he finished, feeling mildly foolish (not something he wasn't used to). Upon the Kelvic's next words, Jantys glances past him, at the fishing rod, and nods, then shakes his head halfway through. "No, can't say that I do. I don't get out of the city very often."

[Dov Armel]

A kodiak bear did not mature until the age of 5, then they felt the need to mate and start a family. Bears left their family young, between age 3-5. They matured by experiencing things on their own. Fear, romance and pain were things Dov had not yet encountered. Not in a life changing way at the very least. He had been sheltered well by his parents, for him pain was blood - not betrayal or mockery. Love was the feeling you had for your family and fear he had only touched briefly in horror stories and deformed shadows.

Stuttering uneasiness coloured the human's voice when he again spoke. Dov tilted his head, surprised by how uncomfortable the human was. Like the nature did not embrace him like he should be. He felt off. Well, he is a fish on land, Dov thought.

The knowledge of the human being unable to use a fishing rod was unfortunate. Dov had hoped to lay in the grass while the human fished for him. His stomach growled once more, calling for food, seeking it. His hands felt the furless skin. How could he make use of the human? It seemed he had succeeded in scaring the armour scaled fish, but how could he possibly make use of a person which could not do anything. Brown eyes glared at the human.
"You're terrible, sir! The nature hates you and I hate you!" he yelled, followed up by showing his teeth and growling. Dov fell down on all four and let out a even louder roar. When not in control of a situation Dov turned to anger and rage. A fish splashed in the lake.

Silence.

In the next second he threw himself in the lake, head-first, trying to catch the fish with his mouth. For a moment he felt the slippery scales, with a slap of the back tail the fish left him panting and still hungry. Dov turned to the human.
"What's your name, sir?" he asked. As always with Dov everything happened fast and he took sharp turns. Anything could happen, at any moment - though he always had a plan. Dov had realized he was too hungry to turn into his animal form and finally thought up a way to bring edible fish with the use of the armoured one.

[Jantys Vane]

Jantys frowns as the Kelvic does, his unease quickly turning into astonishment as the man yells at him. Taking several steps backwards, his hand gropes around at his side, trying to find his sword. Because he had one of those, and hadn't forgotten that, that would be silly.

Before he could even place a hand on the thing, let alone draw it, the boy had already been distracted. Jantys wasn't sure by what, but the way the boy's head swivelled towards the water quickly told him all he needed to know. Watching them carefully, he jumps and almost cries out as the Kelvic jumps, only to watch him hit the water. Bemused, he slowly takes his hand away. The Knights don't pay me enough for this. That is to say, not at all. Grumbling a little under his breath, still nervous, he approaches the water.

What's your name, sir? The question caught him off guard, but he scratches the back of his head and responds. "...Jantys Vale. A right pleasure," you petching psychopath, he added silently in his head. He thought it was just about approaching time to go, if the beast kid would let him go, anyways.

[Dov Armel]

Dov got up from the water and raised his hand to give the human a pat on the shoulder.
"Then, sir Vale, help me catch food. Surely you know that much? You have a sword - have you killed someone?" he asked and glanced at the weapon Jantys Vale earlier had reached for. Swords, lances, axes, daggers - Dov had never felt fear for them either. No one had threatened him - ever. Why, he did not know. He always got into trouble and people screamed more at him than laughed. Perhaps it was his innocence that hindered their hands.

If the human tried to run - he would try to chase him down. Jantys Vane did not know he was to hungry to shift. He did not really give much thought of getting attacked. Unarmed combat was his thing - as much as he loved fishing. The big difference though was that he was naked when Jantys Vane was covered in hard scales. Dov looked down on his body.
"Oh, I'm human and nude... right." When he met Jantys Vanes eyes again he had a apologetic look, making him seem more innocent and childish.
"I am so, so sorry, sir Vane. It must be weird - I get that all the time. But I really am a bear!" He tried to dry up his body by stroking his hands against the skin. When it did not work he shook his body and some sparkling drops flew from his hair. Dov then ran over to his backpack and at least put his pants on. He had been told countless times that human did not approach nudity the same way as kelvic. It was important to be dressed, at all times, anywhere - as a human. Dov picked up his fishing rod and turned to Jantys Vane.
"Are you a knight? If so you will help me, right? You're supposed to protect those in need, right? If I don't eat I will die. I promise you'll get one fish, sir Vane." The kelvic boy gazed at him with his brown eyes, pleading for help. In his eyes Jantys Vane really was a brilliant knight. He was sparkling and had a sword. A knight who could help him - even if he was a human first. That dazzling armour had such an impact on Dov that he could not let the bearer escape, until he knew the armours secret.

[Jantys Vane]

It took physical force of will to not jump when the Kelvic patted him on the paldron. This guy is all over the place. Jantys was having a hard time following his throught process; he seemed to change emotions far too quickly, like a beast. I guess that's what he is, deep down. Or not so deep down.

He shrugs his shoulders at the barrage of questions, answering more authoritatively. "No, I haven't killed anyone. And I'm not a hunter or anything like that, so I don't know how helpful I'd be..." Mainly he was just looking for a quick and easy way out of this situation, and perhaps being unhelpful would do that. Or it would just make me into the next meal.

Jantys was rather relieved when the Kelvic decided to clothe himself. It was no big deal compared to the threatening behavior before, but it was off-putting. This short sense of relief was abruptly dissipiated by his off-handed comment. "...A bear." Bears were entirely alien beings to Jantys. He had talked to hunters, who spoke of their fearsome strength and snarling teeth, of their dullen ferocity and lumbering endurance. Dov might as well have said he was a monster.

Then Dov meets his eyes and makes his plea, just as Jantys was contemplating making a break for it. It tugged at his heart strings, those big brown eyes asking him for help. He was a squire, a civil servant, and the boy needed help. Squaring his shoulders, he mutters a few curse words under his breath before sighing and nodding. "Yeah, all right, but let's get a few things straight. I'm no 'sir', I'm just a squire. I don't need a fish from you, although it's, uh, appreciated; I get fed as part of being in the squirehood. And, like I said, I'm not a fisherman or anything like that, so if you want my help, it'll have to be something simple." His voice, comparitively flat and hard, softens a bit at his next words. "Don't worry about it, kid, you'll be fed before the hour is out."