Closed Fire in the Sky (Kovac)

[Iosha]

Time Stamp: 29th of Summer, 513AV, Morning
Location: Wilderness Surrounding Thunder Bay
Who: Kovac

Walking to Sorel Vorshel, Iosha backpack was full to the brim with camping supplies and equipment needed for her hunting trip with Kovac. When she talked to Sorel about giving her a ride to Thunder Bay, she accidentally let it slip that she was hunting with Kovac. The Endal had strong distaste for the charismatic Avora that Iosha didn't understand, but she figured they might have crossed path in the past. She didn't real ask the details since it wasn't her business, but Iosha knew Sorel thought of her as a potential lover, so he started to be quite possessive of her even if their relationship was only in his mind. Iosha set her backpack on the floor, and she knocked on the door. She waited for a few chimes for the Endal to greet her, and when the door opened, she was greeted with smile and sarcastic comment, “Well, I see you are ready to go on your epic hunting with Kovac. I am sure the rabbits are all running in fear of you two!” Iosha gave the idiot a flat glare, and she picked up her backpack and shoved it into the man's stomach. Sorel grunted at the impact of the heavy backpack, and Iosha walked into the aeries with a smile on her face and thought, “I guess the body building lessons from Jhinapar are working.” Iosha ignored the man's discomfort and said to him with a evil grin, “Should I ask Rak'keli to help heal you tummy ache, Sorel, or are you done with the bad jokes?”

Sorel was actually done with the bad jokes when he lead her to his aerie. Iosha looked up at the saddled wind eagle Vorshel, and the eagle stared at back her with disdain in his eyes. The Konti knew the wind eagle's opinions about non-Inarta, and he was particular nasty to her because she wasn't even human. To make matters worse, she had been the object of Sorel's affection for a long time, and this fact didn't sit well with the legendary bird. She knew first hand on the hunting trip with the Endal last spring his dissatisfaction with a konti participating in the hunt with the Endals too. It was a uncomfortable trip to say the least, and she didn't want to hunt with Sorel because the opinions of the nasty wind eagle Suddenly, she heard a voice in her mind say,“You know, Konti. Nobody will miss you and your half breed mongrel if both of you fall prey to the beasts around Thunder Bay. I just wanted to let you know.” Iosha knew wind eagles were temperamental since they held all the cards over the Inarta society, but the giant chicken just insulted Kovac, so she had respond to the wind eagle's insult in her mind in the most respectful tone she could muster, “I know of one person who would miss me if I died? Do you want to know.” The Wind Eagle blinked for a moment and replied, “Who?” Iosha gave a respectful nod and replied back with the answer as she looked at the Endal who was loading her backpack onto the saddle, “Last time I checked your Endal if I don't recall. He told me on the hunting trip last spring, and I am sure you know yourself since you are bonded to him, wind eagle.” The wind eagle narrowed his eyes at her and responded in haste, “You play a dangerous game, Konti!” Iosha shrugged and watched the scenery outside the aeries and responded, “I am just stating reality, honored Vorshel. It is not my fault you are still in denial of the truth.”

Iosha didn't hear any response from the wind eagle after there mental duel. Sorel reached down with and helped her onto the great birds back. The Konti positioned herself behind the Endal, and she decided since take off was normally rough, she put her arms around Sorel's stomach. Iosha tighten her legs around the flank of the great bird. When the bird took off into the air, she felt the sensation of weightlessness for a short time as she leaned forward, but when the bird straighten out, the konti felt a jerk, so she had to tighten her legs even tighter to stop her from falling off the bird. Iosha knew from riding, Moonfire that she was at the mercy of the mount, so being a passenger all she could do wait till the flight was over. The view was beautiful as they flew through fluffy white clouds, and she felt the eagle turn to the ocean, so she leaned towards the turn as they started to descend to the port of the Inarta, Thunder Bay.

When they got closer to the town, Iosha yelled over the sound of the wind, “I am meeting Kovac by the fields, so could you dropped of at the intersection of the main roads.” Sorel respond with a nod of his head, and he started flying towards the place where the to main roads meet. Iosha looked at the ground, and she could see the fieldworkers and wagons looked like ants as they descended towards the fields. The Konti immediately thought, she needed to get to the fields at some point, so she could learn procedures of farming. When they got to about thirty feet off the ground the wind eagle started to flap his wings quickly to hover over the intersection for a moment before descending. When Iosha saw Kovac, she started to wave with a smile on her face. Once the wind eagle landed, Iosha slid off the great eagle and jumped to the ground. She stood up, walked over to him, threw her arms around his neck, and gave him a hug. She hugged him for a chime, pulled away from him, and said with a smile, “It good to see you again, Kovac.”Iosha didn't notice, but Sorel was glaring at Kovac the whole time.

[Kovac]

Kovac and been politely, or as politely as he could manage, putting off Iosha's requests to go on a hunting trip. His Konti friend was a healer of considerable skill, but she was still growing in her archery. Besides, the Unforgiving was dangerous enough for those who grew up in Wind Reach and hunted outside of Skyinarta, even more so for outsiders. But the Konti had managed to travel to the Inartan city from distant lands, and whether the gods granted her grace, or the attractive woman was more hearty than she appeared, Kovac finally agreed she might survive Kalea after all.

He chose the area around Thunder Bay, for the activity there kept the more secretive predators away. Small game would be their quarry, rabbits and such, in order to get Iosha aquainted with shooting at something besides a stationary range target. Sira had carried Kovac to Water Reach, the Kelvic eagle and mongrel Avora becoming closer friends after the impromptu party at Sira and Addy's aerie. Beside sharing affections for Aidara, Sira and Kovac enjoyed a flirtation that was not complicated by emotional attachment. The Kelvic agreed to transport the dark-haired hunter, certainly to the satisfaction of the other riders, who would not have to escort the less-than-beloved half-breed.

Kovac was the first to arrive, and after unloading and giving Sira a stroke of gratitude along her great neck, he watched the Wind Eagle lift off towards their volcanic home. Only a chime or two passed when another Wind Eagle appeared, Sorel in the saddle and the Konti behind him.

A sour frown turned his face when Kovac spotted the arrogant Endal, one with whom he had several confrontations, some over Iosha herself. Sorel saw himself as a perfect match for the Konti, while Kovac saw him more as a perfect arse. It did irk the Avora some that his friend would ask the Endal to carry her, knowing how the two men felt about each other. It was a trick worthy of Aidara herself, who loved to tease and aggravate Kovac to no end. Maybe Iosha had spent too much time with the fiery little healer.

Still, Kovac held his ground as Vorshel landed, Iosha cheerfully dismounting as Sorel dropped her gear. When the Avora saw the Konti brimming with a smile, his own flatline mouth expanded into a grin, unable to resist her bubbling charm. He returned Iosha's embrace, warm and tight, giving Sorel a shyke-eating grin over the woman's shoulder. He pressed a kiss to her cheek before the hug broke off.

"Its good to see you too Io!" Kovac replied, his smile unwavering as his eyes darted to the glowering Endal upon the eagle. Finally, Vorshel lifted off and the bird and rider headed back home.

"I hope you are ready for this, Sunshine, it can be pretty scary around here at night!" He teased, nudging her with his shoulder. "We will head off in that direction, past the rice paddies." In the distance the rolling, open meadows were dotted with small copses of trees. Kovac had his usual gear packed, including his bow and game arrows, talon sword, a full pack and a small tent. It was a one person tent, but two could squeeze in, if they didn't mind the close quarters. With Iosha, Kovac wouldn't mind at all.

The pair gathered their supplies and headed off, passing the shallow bins where saltwater waited to evaporate and leave its treasured salt. Though he tried, for a moment, Kovac could not contain a snarky remark. "So...was there no other rider in all of Wind Reach to bring you to the bay?" The mongrel looked over at his friend, eyebrows raised questioning.

[Iosha]

Iosha pulled away from Kovac, and she turned around to wave Sorel off. The Konti had to admit it was awfully nice for him to bring her to Thunder Bay, but a part of her wished Kovac wasn't here to see their arrival. Even if the Avora tried to hide it, he tended to sulk and crack jokes whenever the Endal was around her. Iosha knew the Endal arse, and she told Kovac constantly about her feeling about the arrogant Endal, but the musician still had to find a way to one up the rider. It was a draw out and exhausted game in the konti's mind, but the Avora seemed to stubborn to give it up. Iosha picked up her equipment, and she double checked her camping supplies before securing her equipment. Iosha strapped on her long sword scabbard. Iosha gave herself a smile when he reassured her safety in the woods. The konti giggled to herself at his nickname for her, Sunshine. It was enduring name for her, and she looked up with him and said softly, “Well, I shouldn't have much to worry about with you around to protect me.” Iosha started walking beside him trying to keep pace with the trained hunter, and she added with a giggle, “However, if I get eaten by a purple man eating bunny in the forest, I plan on haunting you for eternity.” Iosha gave him a playful nudge on shoulder with her own and said to him with a smile, “You know Kovi. I kind of like the pet name Sunshine..it is cute.”

Iosha knew it was coming, and she just waited for him to tease her about her transportation. Kovac was a predictable person when the konti started to get to know him better. The question was short and to the point, and she rolled her eyes and shook her head. She stopped, put a hand gently on his arm, and said plainly, “Honestly, the only other Endal I know are Aidara, Sira, and Red Daghul. I haven't seen or heard from Red in over a season, and Aidara and Sira have enough problems to worry about without me asking them to fly me to Thunder Bay.” Iosha didn't want to become a burden to her friends, so she tried not to ask to much of them. Iosha paused for a moment to word her answer carefully, “I accidentally mentioned the hunting trip with you to Sorel, and he insisted to fly me down. Kovac, I wished he didn't because I have a strong distaste for his oversized flying chicken, Vorshel.” Iosha lips curled in anger for a moment when she thought about the wind eagle, and his cruel comments about her and her friends. Iosha closed her eyes and buried her anger for the wind eagle in the back of her mind, and she opened her eyes, smiled up at Kovac, and said playfully, “Maybe I should just become a Endal and solve all our problems.” Iosha entertained the thought about her flying through the air on top of giant bird, and she added with laugh, “I would just have to find a wind eagle crazy enough to bond with me.” Iosha motioned him to continue walking, and she said sincerely without looking at him, “I am not blind Kovac. I know about your rivalry with Sorel, and I am going to let you in a on secret.” Iosha ran a hand through her white hair and continued with a small smile on her face, “Kovac, I came on the hunting trip to spend time with you, so does it matter how I got here? Honestly, I would choose you over him any day.”

Iosha enjoyed the scenery as they would through the seasonal village. Thunder Bay reminded her of the smaller homesteads on the outskirts of Mura. The sounds of the sea hitting the shore brought up. memories of her playing where the water met the sand as her mother practiced the lute in not far from her. It was a special memory for her. Iosha looked at the ocean through the tree and said without looking at him, “I know it too cold in Wind Reach, but I kind of wish that Thunder Bay wasn't seasonal. I could see myself building a house by the ocean.” It was a passing thought, but she started to daydream about the house as she walked besides the hunter. Iosha looked over at him, and she said softly, “Maybe I will take you to Mura, and you can sea the shores of my homeland for yourself.” Iosha cracked a smirk and decided to tease him, “It would be interesting to watch the reaction on your face, Kovi when you are surrounding by thousands of konti women who are far more prettier than me.” She didn't quite understand how Inarta viewed relationships because the average Inarta would commonly have two the three lovers at one time. It was sometimes hard to keep track, and since Kovac and her were friends, she sort had the right, as a friend, to ask about his love life. Iosha knew Aidara and him were lover at some point, but she was curious about his promiscuity throughout Wind Reach.

[Kovac]

Kovac looked over at Iosha as they walked out of the borders of Water Reach. The Konti was tall, compared to Inartan women, and they met almost eye to eye. As soon as the half-vanthan had uttered his snarky comment, he regretted it. Kovac knew he sounded like a jealous lover, though he certainly held no claim over Iosha. It just irked him that such an arrogant arse of an Endal was given even a mote of attention from his gorgeous friend.

But the Konti healer had a way of dispelling dark moods with simply the flash of her exotic smile and the lilt of her strangely accented words. It didn't hurt that she flattered him so blatantly, though Kovac believed she did want to be there with him, he had a hard time seeing any deceit in the white woman's heart. Her taunt about taking him to Mura, and the thousands of women, made Kovac laugh out loud.

"Io, If it were possible that there are women in Mura more beautiful than you, I should say I would happily die from sheer desire in their midst." Kovac nudge the woman back, giving her a wink. Such a journey seemed impossible to the Skyinartan resident. He had always lived in the mountain, a place so isolated that few leave, or arrive. Still, this seemingly naive woman had done just that. "But for now, we are in my world, and we must not let your irresistible beauty distract me from paying attention. We will miss our prey, or become prey, if not careful." In reality, Kovac would do his best to do both.

Kovac pointed towards a meadow that sloped up towards a forest."We will head in that direction, it is a good place to find rabbits. Then we will set up camp for the night." After a moment of walking in silence, Kovac had to ask the question that as nagging at him.

"So, if Mura is full of women...how do you...well...find boyfriends or...mate?"

x

[Iosha]

Walking down the path, Iosha heard the sound of sea gulls in the direction of the ocean. The birds and the sounds of the ocean were interrupted by the sound of Kovac laughing out loud at her idea of bring him to Mura. Still walking, Iosha beamed him a innocent smile, and the konti was about to say something, but she was cut short by his compliment, and the konti averted her eyes and a blush crept up her pale face. The pink konti looked over at him and giggled at his last statement about her distracting him from shooting the bunnies. Iosha said with a half smile, “When you are shooting Kovi, I promise to put a bag over my head, so I don't break you concentration.” Iosha glanced over at the hunter for a few ticks, and she was glad they were able to pick up from where they left off since they seen each other last. It was a season ago since last they talked and laughed, and the konti was starting to miss his goofy smile.

When they made it to a meadow, Kovac told her his plan of taking her to a good spot to hunt bunnies than he wanted to set up camp. Iosha could hear the ocean behind her, and she had to stop herself from ditching him and go swimming. The konti looked at him and said with a goofy grin, “Sounds like a plan, but we should make our camp by the ocean. I figure it could fun to go for a swim after a long day of hunting.” Iosha reached back into her quiver and pulled out a fishing arrow. The Konti gave him a evil smirk, “I want to try my hand at bow fishing too. Hopefully, I won't shoot myself in the foot.” Iosha saw him moving, so she decided to met his pace. The konti let out a cackle, put the arrow back in the quiver, and said with a wink, “Luckily, I am a healer of Rak'keli, so I might be a able to take a few arrows in the foot before my goddess gets annoyed. I bet Aidara would get of kick out me being added to the List of Shame though.”

Iosha realized that she had babbling for a good two chimes before Kovac spoke up. The question made her watch his face for a moment, but she shook her head thinking he was just asking for strictly informational purposes. It was a common question especially asked from men, and she answered softly, “Well...I...we tend to seek our mates outside of Mura.” Iosha licked her lips trying to explain a something as simple as reproduction, but the words seemed to slip her mind when she was around him. The konti hated sounding like a idiot, but the handsome Inarta seemed to have a knack for bringing the dumb out in her. Iosha looked at Kovac and said slightly tongue tied, “We don't cast a spell on our mates if that what you are thinking..”The konti laughed awkwardly, and she continued her rant, “No, we are much like humans when it comes to finding mates. I can't speak for all my brethren, but we tend to seek the same fulfillment through a emotion connection to our mates as most sentient species on the planet...Some of my brethren have admitted sleeping around just to get pregnant, but I think they are rare cases. Normally, the males who sired our children aren't involved in raising them, so it isn't uncommon to have siblings with different males as their fathers.”

The Konti eyes widened when she realized how clinical and out of text book her explanation sounded. Iosha inwardly groaned to herself when she realized she fell back into the days as a intellectual at the medical library. Iosha knew Aidara and Sira could come up with a explanation suited for the situation, but regardless of how much the pale woman talks, she was still insure girl inside. Iosha gave him a meek look and asked wearily, “You didn't want the clinical answer did you?”

[Kovac]

Kovac laughed out loud when Iosha offered to put a bag on her head to avoid being a distraction. The thought of her stumbling around wearing a sack was kind of funny. "Don't you ever cover that pretty, scaly face!" The Avora reached up to take the pale chin in his hand and squeezed it gently.

Iosha mentioned the ocean, which he had not really noticed hearing until she mentioned it. She pulled out a fishing arrow, and Kovac grinned, holding up a finger for her to wait. The archer then pulled his own fishing arrow from his quiver and waved it. When his friend mentioned the ocean, and swimming, his shoulders slumped a bit. He knew she loved the water, and swimming, and should have thought of staying by the shore himself. He made to rectify his oversight, when Iosha rolled into her answer about Konti and Mura.

Now, Kovac was a male, and Iosha a very attractive woman, even with the scales and gills and webbed hands. So the mongrel, being who he was, had certainly imagined her in a sensual way. The question he had posed to his friend was related to romance, and lust, and the more carnal nature of the Konti species. His friend did not offer a juicy synopsis of Konti turn-ons and hook ups, of falling in love and infatuation. Iosha's information was just what she said...clinical.

Kovac shook his head slightly and laughed, putting his hand on Iosha's shoulder. "Well, I was looking for a little steamier explanation, but I get the point. I hope you Konti are more romantic than you make it sound!" His hand slid from her shoulder.

"And of course, we should camp by the ocean, that is a great idea. In fact, we can head over now. Perhaps our hunting today can be for fish!" Kovac found the idea refreshing, a break from traipsing around tracking long-eared rodents. Fish were as edible as rabbits. "Come on." Kovac tugged on her arm, redirecting her away from the meadow and woods and in the direction of the bay. "And we really need to get you out of those books."

x

[Iosha]

Kovac seemed to be much more “worldly” when it came to the games of heart. On the other hand, the konti didn't have much experience with the other sex since her only two lovers were both women. She knew he was a attractive man, and she often caught herself gazing in his direction when he wasn't looking, but she knew he was intimate with Aidara, so she was hesitant in pursuing a relationship greater than just friendship with him. However, Aidara was with Sira, so she was slightly confused on the Inarta courting rituals, so she didn't want to rule anything out. When Iosha was younger, her mother warned her about getting involved with Inarta because they tended to have more lovers than just one. Also, her mother warned her that Inarta were passionate people, so the relationship could either smolder into many nights of passion, or a passion between two lovers could explode over a single night and be completely exhausted the next day. It was a gamble getting involved intimately with them, but her mother said it was always worth the risk. When he started to doubt her peoples' ability to be romantic, Iosha feeling slightly insulted whirled around on him, poked him in the chest, and said with a hint of passion in her voice,“Hey! The Inarta don't have the monopoly on being romantic Kovi! My people are great lovers when we have feelings for our bed mates. If we don't, it would be just lust between us and our lovers. Besides, how do you think we reproduce, laying eggs!?” Iosha took a deep breath knowing she needed to come up with a example of konti romance to prove her point and continued softly, “Besides, Kaylana Natra would have to be a fanatic lover to put up with a stick-in-the-mud like Lord Loren Dyres of Syliras.” Iosha knew the backwater Inarta would have no clue the significance of Loren Dyres, but she needed to think of a prominent person in power in the world at the moment.

Iosha couldn't believe how infuriating the man could be, but she knew he was just teasing her. Iosha smiled to herself when he suggested bow fishing and started to lead her to the ocean. Kovac tugged her in the direction of the bay, and Iosha ran a webbed hand through her hair and responded with a laugh to his book comment, “I wouldn't knock books to quickly to Kovac because I learned quite a bit from trashy romance novels from Syliras, Ravok, Avanthal, and Wind Reach. Have you ever heard of the romantic adventure series from Wind Reach, Nights in the Arms of a Wind Eagle. It is a love story between two young lovers a Endal woman named Lea and her kelvic wind eagle named Shadow. Maybe I will take you to Enclave, and I will check it out for you. You might learn something.” Iosha thought about the characters from the trashy romance series had similarities to her friends Sira and Aidara. The konti blew a stray piece of white hair from her face and said with a impish grin to Kovac, “You know Kovi. I wonder if Aidara and Sira would find the novels as intriguing as I do.” Iosha decided to put the heat on the inquisitive Inarta for a change, and she asked a couple simple question that have been nagging her for awhile, “Since we are on the topic of love, romance, and lust of our people, is it true that Inarta tend to have multiple lovers at any given time?” Iosha turned her violets eyes, stared into his beautiful green eyes, and continued her questions with a crooked smile, “If they do, how many lovers do you have Kovi at the current moment?” Iosha eyes flicker over his face for a moment, and she gave him a warm smile, “Have you ever been in love before, Kovac?” She knew the questions were extremely personal, but he was the brought the whole topic up in the first place. She just hoped the young man wasn't insulted that she was prying in her personal life. However, she had been meaning to ask him for awhile, but she could never find the right time to ask. As she waited for him to answer her questions, she decided to listened to the wildlife as they made their way to the bay.

[Kovac]

The pair turned in the direction of the sea, the breeze coming in off of Thunder Bay tugging at the Konti's platinum hair. Their progress was halted as Iosha rounded on Kovac, her thin finger jabbing him in the sternum. The half-blood saw a fire in the mild-mannered woman's violet eyes he had not seen before as she defended her sisters' romantic honor. She railed on him, not maliciously, but Kovac got the idea that his Konti friend felt strongly about the subject. She mentioned names of people he assumed were famous, though the only thing he recognized was a place called Syliras. There was a moment where he began to make a comment, after she asked whether he though Konti laid eggs. To be honest, Kovac really didn't know. Iosha was so different, with her scales and gills, how could he know how she reproduced? She did have all the right parts, he knew, having peeked when they went skinny dipping at the Yasi range. But how the babies came out, he had no idea. Kovac also assumed it was wise to keep his mouth shut about his ignorance as well.

They walked on, Iosha informing her companion that not all the things she read were academic. The woman seemed to have an interest in racy romance stories. There seemd to be a lot to the Konti that Kovac had yet to learn. He grinned to himself. She also mentioned an Inartan tale of lovers.

"I know of the story, but I have never actually read it." Kovac confessed, and he wondered what Iosha was insinuating when she said he could learn something from it. "And to be honest, I think the real life story of Aidara and Sira would be more sensual and exciting than any story someone could write!"

Iosha's voice took a more reserved, inquisitive tone. She had asked him things about Wind Reach and the Inartans before, but never anything about relationships. "Well, like most people, I think, not all Inarta are the same. But most have the outlook that Sira, Addy and I have. It seems most other places like to put relationships into categories, to give them names and requirements and restrictions. Inartans don't bother with those things, for the most part. We have no marriage. A couple may be together for a while, then separate without hard feelings or a drawn out process. I tend to see everyone as a friend. The closeness of those friends vary. Aidara and I are close friends, and our friendship includes intimacy...sex. Because our friendship includes that, doesn't mean that it takes anything away from the relationship she has with Sira. Addy loves us both. The depth and the nature of our relationships are different, and I don't spite Sira because she has a closer relationship to Addy than I do."

He gave Iosha a wry grin. "Now... a few are more monogamous. I was with an Eagle Rider for a year that did not want to share. Shayth blew up when she learned I had only kissed Aidara. My friend Chemar seems to be intent on a singular relationship as well." He did not share that he too, once felt the same way.

The Konti's brilliant eyes caught his gaze, and he saw it coming, a more personal turn to the inquisition. She wanted to know more about him. Kovac did not mind discussing it with Iosha. "Well," he laughed a bit nervously, "again, you put a term on it, 'lovers.' If you mean friends that are close enough that we have sex, I suppose two, maybe three." She knew about Aidara, then there was Euthisa. He had slept with Chemar, and they were very close, but with her...it was complicated. "The lines are blurred, you see, as I explained." Then she looked at him again with the foreign, innocent smile that, whether she knew or not, easily influence the hunter. She wanted to know if he had been in love. He looked out over the meadow, and the rise ahead, behind which hid the sea.

"Yes, I was in love, once. I was one of those who just wanted one person. We were going to live together, start a family, that kind of thing. But I found her in my bed with an Endal." Kovac paused, looking away. "After that, I don't put all my eggs in one basket. I found being 'in love' and loving someone is not the same. I think someone in love is infatuated, deceiving themselves. That is why I say, for instance, that I love Addy, I am not in love with her. I can love several people, truly love them. You can only be in love with one person."

Kovac realized he had rambled, and may have overwhelmed his Konti friend. He gave her a sheepish smile. The half-Inartan like Iosha, she was sweet and weird and different and beautiful in an exotic way. She was definitely his friend, and to what extent that friendship would grow, time would tell.

x

[Iosha]

As they continued walking to the shoreline, Iosha listened intently to Kovac tell her that Inarta tend to have multiple relationships at one given time, and Sira, Aidara, and Kovac all share the same outlook when it came to dealing with friendship, romance, and sex. It was a strange concept for the konti to grasp because Iosha only had monogamous relationships with two other people in her life, but she realized that most konti children tend to be fathered by multiple fathers instead of just one, so the Konti and Inarta were quite similar in the way of relationships. Iosha listened to Kovac explain that Inarta tend not to put much stock into concept of marriage like the rest of Mizahar this was another similarity the konti share too because most men of other races tend to get weird out when they find out their daughter doesn't look like them.

Iosha listened intently to example of Inarta courting rituals about his relationship with Aidara, and the relationship seemed more complex and involved than she originally thought, and it made her more confused as she tried to wrap her head around such a foreign concept to her. He started to talk about his more monogamous relationships, and she was surprised that he was intimate with a Endal. He seemed to despise the vary ground the Endal's had tread. This Shayth seemed odd to most Inarta standard because she seemed almost possessive of Kovac in the typical Inarta standards, but to the rest of Mizahar, Shayth reaction to him kissing Aidara would be quite normal in the outside world. Iosha might have reacted the same if she was in the same boat, but she hasn't been in a intimate relationship for a long time, so she didn't really know anymore. When he mention another Inarta woman named Chemar, she was starting to wonder if monogamous relationships were just as common as multiple relationships in Wind Reach.

When Kovac seemed to not put a term on relationships, and it confused the Konti because it seemed to blur the lines between friendship and lovers. She could see the yellow sand through the trees, and she was glad that she kept her eyes on the surf because as soon as he mentioned he was having sex with three of his female friends; Iosha eyes widened in shock for a tick or two. Iosha ran a hand through her white hair and thought to herself, “My mother was right about the Inarta. They are a passionate people.” The konti glanced at him for a moment, and she started to realize his appeal to the women folk of Wind Reach because he would be considered a rebel in the ginger society because he didn't seemed to have the blind arrogance most Endal and Avora tend to have in Wind Reach. Also he seemed to have a tender and compassionate side too. Another quality most women tend to be attracted too in men throughout Mizahar.

When Kovac started to talk about the one woman, he was actually in love with. She found out that she had betrayed him in the typical Inarta fashion by sleeping with another man. When he mentioned the man was a Endal, Iosha started to understand his hatred for the higher caste. He started to explain the differences of being in love and loving someone, and she tilted her head in utter confusion when he said they were infatuated and diluting themselves. Iosha had to admit her first love with Cephei might have started out as infatuation, but she believe it grew into something greater throughout the summer. She still wondered if the Ethaefel ever made it to Riverfall. She missed her terrible, and she wondered if she made the right decision to go to Wind Reach at all. The relationship with Ayume started with lust, but it grew into something more when the Vantha woman finally broken down her defenses. Iosha would have died for the Vantha woman, and she nearly did trying to save her from the Zith.

When they made it to the beach, Iosha finally spoke up and said bluntly, “I have been in love before, and I wouldn't say my love for them was infatuation or delusional. I believe love is a bond between two people that can't be broken if they are truly in love with each other. Yes, it can stress or bend over time, but the couples' feelings for each other will strength the bond, so it won't break even in the worst times.” Feeling the cool breeze from the water, the konti crossed her arms and continued softly, “The best example of love in both our lives would be Aidara and Sira. Yes, they might be going through hard times, but I believe they would stay together no matter what the circumstances. I know I don't know too much about kelvics other than they share a some sort of magical bonds with their bond mates, but I am sure if they were both normal humans. They would still stay together regardless of the kelvic bond because they are in love.”

Iosha rested a hand on his upper arm and said gently with a small smile, “Kovac, I have been in love with two people throughout my whole life, and I wouldn't trade away my time with them for anything in this world, and I understand that you would want to guard your heart closely, so you don't end up getting hurt, but I think you are cheating yourself if you don't allow yourself to take those chances either.” Iosha hoped the Inarta didn't decided to tune her out because she was preaching at him. She just didn't want him to miss out on something special because of his fear of getting hurt. Iosha let her hand drop from his arm, tucked her hair behind her ears and said with a silly grin, but her violet eyes told him that she meant everything, “Besides, if anyone ever breaks your heart again, I will personally kick their arse!” Setting her backpack, quiver, and short bow on the sand, she decided to stretch in the warm breeze. She looked at Kovac and said softly, “I brought a four person tent, so if you want to share it with me, I have plenty of room.”

[Kovac]

Kovac watched Iosha as he tried to honestly answer her frank questions. The Konti seemed sincerely interested, and an occasional look of perplexity or surprise crossed her pale features from time to time as they neared the beach. When he responded to her probing question about his relationships and who he was having sex with, Kovac saw thinly veiled shock in his friend's violet eyes. The Avora wondered if it somehow offended Iosha. He hoped not. It wasn't like he did it all the time, sometimes it just...happened.

Kovac felt no reluctance to share his personal life with Iosha. Maybe it was because she was an outsider, and she was consistently sweet and accepting of him. The hunter revealed the story of Kalle, of which he rarely ever spoke. And his feelings about what love was, or wasn't.

The pair walked out onto the coarse sand, the cool breeze off of Thunder Bay carrying the chill of the northernmost waters. Kovac stopped to look at Iosha as she shared her opinion of love. He listened carefully, and decided they were not as different as they may have thought. "I see what you are saying. Maybe its just a matter of choice of words. I know Sira and Addy have that kind of love. And many Inartans do have relationships that last a lifetime. Maybe I am just...jaded." He admitted with a lopsided grin. "All I know is that It has taken the tough love of some people to straighten me out. And I love each of them in their own way for that. I just don't have, nor am looking for, the kind of lifetime love that .....I wanted with Kalle, I am fine with out it."His grin faded into a weak smile, his eyes suddenly darting around as if to avoid the Konti's gaze.

The half-breed dropped his gear and pulled out his bow, bending the stiff recurve to string it. Once he did, his boyish smile returned, and he gave Iosha a light swat in her rear with the bow. "I know I can count on you to have my back, White Wonder! And a four-person tent might be a little too roomy for just the two of us, but I think we can get by! Setting up one tent is better than two anyway." Kovac flashed a wink at Iosha before setting the bow aside and picking up her tent.

"I will whip this up real quick, so we don't have to do it later. Just relax a chime and enjoy the water. Or go ahead and get in...I know you are dying to!"

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