Open A new day!

[Avind Coolwater]

A new day! 18th Day of Summer, 513 AV The Docks of Zeltiva Early morning There he was, finally, at the merchant and academic city of Zeltiva. There was no words to describe how the Vantha felt as his feet met with the wooden planks of the docks. Had it not been so embarrassing for a grown man to fall on his knees, crying like a newborn child, he would have done so and kissed the woodwork of the piers. Maybe hugged it too. Gave it an offering? But instead, he simply gazed up to the sky and made a silent prayers to the gods, thanking them for a rather long and boring passage. A safe passage. How ironic that a Coolwater, born to tame the northern waters, couldn't stand more than a day or two of sailing? Oh well, that was a problem for another day. He made sure that his possessions were in order, checking his backpack a second time, before he took his spear and left the Mariner's Fortune behind. He gave a quick wave to her first mate, passed several cargo crates, dodged a few deckhands, avoided a murderous seagull bound to ruin everybody's day and finally stepped on the paved streets, a hunting spear in one hand, a backpack in the other. I guess a new day begins! He shoved his backpack onto a nearby crate and looked around. People were already busy, doing their day to day things. Some talked with others, about business, local news, gossip, others were busy working, cleaning the streets, moving cargo, repairing various contraptions and items. The city was alive and well and the breeze was salty and fresh. Avind took off his cloak and shoved it into his backpack, a smile on his face. It took him a few chimes, however, to fit it all in without damaging some of his parchments. Chimes during which an angry sailor almost called the guards on him, thinking that he was stealing from his crates or doing some other villainous crime. It took a great deal of persuasion and dull apologies to convince the old man otherwise. One misunderstanding later, the young Vantha was back on his quest for knowledge. Or almost... Before he could go to the university he had heard so much about, he needed to go to the Customs office. Yet it was still early, he would have time to do that later. First, he wanted to see the city, see the people, explore! He had seen many great cities before. Lhavit and its dual nature, shining like a great jewel, Yahebah and Ahnatep, so exotic and different, but none seemed as alive and thriving as Zeltiva, its streets busy like a beehive. He would walk around for a while and ask about the office and university later. He stopped a local for some directions, maybe to shops and boutiques and she, a young lady clad in rather simple garbs, pointed him to the west streets. Thanking her gracefully, or as gracefully as he could with a spear in hand, he went on. Threading along the streets, he was fascinated at all the people and all the shops, so much things to see, so much wonders! He would stop, sometimes, to look at one shop or to listen to some gents talking and gossiping about. He heard stories of mercenaries, of rebuilding, of important sounding names. Not that he would know whether or not they were actually important but titles had a great way to make it sound that way, anyways. He heard opinions too, good or bad, poorly formulate or flowing with logic and rhetoric, in bouts for dominance. Children running around, exasperated mothers, fathers working and sons learning. It was fantastic, thrilling, his eyes, deep blue with curiosity, trying to see and memorize every inches of their lives. He already loved the city!

[Ruebia]

Ruebia Summer, 18th, 513AV Ruebia moved briskly along West Street, free running from building top to building top. An apple was clutched tightly in her mouth as she ran, a left over from her breakfast that morning. Her hair was half pulled back, the reddish brown strands whipping behind her, she wasn't in the mood to braid it today. She was coming from her morning work out, this time a cardio training atop the hills and curving back along the outskirts of the University. She could have easily walked through the streets but she wanted to get to the docks as soon as possible and she didn't want to rub up against the richer matrons of the city. She picked up speed as she ran towards a large gap between two buildings and jumped, grabbing at the edge with her hands, her feet braced against the edge of the building. As she hung off the side of the building, a sharp beam of light seared through the shadows in the ally and flashed across her eyes. She stopped as she bounced up to the top and peered over the edge, her turquoise eyes searching for the source of the light. Walking along the streets below was a young man of lean build and dark coppery skin. His hair was a dark black with blue tints and he had a bag obviously meant for traveling on his back but it wasn't any of that that had first caught Ruebia's attention. It was the spear in his hand. Ruebia had seen spears in the hands of some of the Wave Guard but the man didn't have on the uniform. She began to follow him, slowly and quietly, all the while munching her apple. Soon she was done and she noticed that he was going in a way that was too far for her to jump to. She would have to walk in the streets if she wanted to follow him further. She stepped back a bit and jumped off the side of the building. It was a low building and she rolled as she hit the ground, softening the impact and scaring a lady nearby, causing her to give out a shrill shriek. Ruebia ignored the woman and slinked after the man, sticking to the shadows as much as she could. She peered around corners and stopped when he stopped, pretending to look at wares through the windows. She was probably too curious about the spear and she should have gone up to him and inquired about it but she was wary of new people and so instead she kept her distance. Her eyes were glued to the spear as she walked and after awhile she began to walk further out in the sun to get a better look at it. She was completely engrossed in thoughts of what the man would use it for and wondering if he was any good with it when she was bumped roughly to the ground. She had walked right into another man and the bag that must have been in his hands was laying on the ground, split open, the contents rolling away. She reached around her to pick up the things as the man began to scream at her. The caramel brown skin of her face began to take on a deep red tone as she looked up at the man. He was much bigger than her athletically curvy yet short 5' 4" frame, his big belly stretching an intricately decorated vest. She noticed an insignia on his breast pocket. She wasn't sure about its exact meaning but she knew enough by the way he looked down his nose at her that he was from the upper echelons of society. She looked back down and picked up the rest of his things and stood up, holding them out to him. He didn't take them back however, instead he continued screaming at her. She frowned and looked in the direction of the man of the spear, hoping he hadn't gotten too far. A crowd was beginning to form as people stopped their shopping to look at what was quickly becoming a commotion.

[Avind Coolwater]

Four... or five? How many shops had he promised himself to visit so far? The Vantha couldn't remember anymore. His attention span was definitely terrible today. He would have stopped to inquire about even more shops, every single one of them, in fact, but he was afraid he would not have enough time to visit the Customs office and the University. University that he had yet to ask about, now that he thought about it. Oh well. Two bells, if not more, had gone by since he started to explore and walk among the citizenry, talking to some of them. A few had been annoyed by him, others were amused and a generous number were welcoming and accepting, giving him more information about the city and its people. About Zeltiva! He had just asked a young young man and his sweetheart about the bakery in front of which the Vantha stood and, as if it was a question of life and death, he quietly contemplated whether he should buy some snack now or wait later, when he was hungrier, when he heard screaming. Well, not really screams per say, more like loud and angry ranting. He looked around, people had stopped their business, others tried as best as they could to ignore the commotion. Some others, as curious as Avind was, started to gather around the source of the noises. An angry man, visibly outraged, was lecturing, loudly and quite rudely, a young woman as she scrambled about, picking up some items on the pavement. He tilted is head slightly to the side, trying to look between some people who had moved in the way, and raised both eyebrows as she looked over towards him. Her caramel face was turning a bright red, oddly fitting for her reddish brown hair. The thought made him smile and, containing a chuckle, he took a step forward, thinking that maybe somebody should help her out realized doing so with a spear in hand might not be the best of ideas... Quite a few people had given the hunting spear some suspicious glances and he was starting to think that having such a weapon in the open was not his brightest move. But then again, there wasn't much he could do with it anyways. So he simply decided to hold it upside down, with the blade pointing at the pavement. That would, at the very least, be slightly less threatening, no? Slightly surprised that the man, some rich fellow by the looks, had not yet stopped his yelling, and also that the woman had yet to kick him where it really hurts, Avind made himself a path through the people, apologizing every now and then. Now, the Vantha wasn't really of the brawling kind. He preferred to avoid fight as much as he could, and had done so with success one might add, and thus, as he stepped between the two of them, gave the fancy angry man his best smile. “Now, don't you think you've yelled enough for the rest of the season?” He threw a glance over his shoulder, towards the woman then continued. “Not only am I sure she is very, very sorry...” And then back at the man. “...but it would be so unsightly for a great man like you to be seen beating up on the lower castes, no?” Was there even a caste system in Zeltiva? Now that he thought about it, he really had no clue whatsoever. Maybe this man was the king!? A rather sad king... but a king nonetheless! Avind frowned internally, wondering if he had just not accidentally angered all of the gods at once. Oh well, he just kept smiling.

[Ruebia]

Ruebia Summer 18th, 513 AV Ruebia was beginning to think of throwing the mans things back on the ground and storming off when the young man she had been following stepped in between them. He spoke calmly on her behalf and the society man that was as Rue expected, a coward, eyed the younger mans spear and brought his tone down to a regular level. He looked over the man's shoulder at Ruebia who was almost hidden, the man was a few inches taller than her. Taking advantage of the calm, she edged around the young man, careful not to touch him and held out the mans things once again. "I am very sorry. Please take these back." she said tensely through her teeth, embarrassed even further that the young man had seen the commotion. The man took his possessions back and walked away, still mumbling under his breath. The crowd around them began to disperse and Rue turned to the man with the spear. "Thank you." she said shortly and thought she should move away but her curiosity in the spear held her fast. She stood there for a second, her slitted turquoise gaze shifting between the spear and the man. "Are you any good with that?" she blurted out suddenly and she winced at her abruptness. Her face which was beginning to go back to its normal shade began to redden again and she tried to rephrase her question. "Your spear... What.. What do you use it for?" she wasn't used to meeting new people and Rue felt a little out of her element making her usual graceful self awkward in the man's presence. She kept her gaze on the spear, afraid to make eye contact with the stranger. Usually she wouldn't go out of her way to meet new people, especially men, it was honestly a weakness of hers and who knew if she would bond to him without warning? She was very uninformed with the bonding process and she was wary of it. But she wanted to learn about the spear.

[Avind Coolwater]

Avind would have let out a sigh of relief if he had not been so afraid that the wealthy man would catch on to his bluff. But luckily enough, he had as little interest in a fight as the Vantha did and quickly lowered his voice. And also the spear helped a bit too. With his passion doused, the young lady then offered him his items back and he left grumbling like an old man. The crowd dispersed quickly after that, the gents having lost interest since there would be no brawl. As for the Vantha, he finally let his relief out in a soft sigh. “Maybe I should have gone to the Customs office straight away...” Although it was kind of too late for that thought now. He was also about to leave when the young woman thanked him. He hadn't gone to her rescue for any sort of reason so he simply smiled back and gave her a quick nod. That's when it struck him. He hadn't paid attention before, his mind focused on that other man and his screaming, but her eyes were quite unique to say the least. Shaped like those of a cat with an unusual color to them, he was a bit curious, for sure, but he already had wasted enough time. Avind had turned away and was already leaving when she blurted out her question. He threw a quizzical look over his shoulder, at the young lady. “Huh..?” He stopped, turned back and looked completely puzzled. She blushed again and he frowned, slightly. Was that some kind of pick up line from around here? Why the blush? Did he accidentally walk into the “bad” part of town? Was she a whore? She didn't look like a whore... But then again, he had seen many things and so there wasn't much to quite surprise him. Except this, of course. This did surprise him. Was she a whore? And then she asked about the spear and, had it not been from fear to look slightly touched in the head, he would have busted out laughing. But he gave her a gentle smile instead, tried as hard as he could to not laugh at his own stupid mind and held the spear out for her to inspect. “It's just a hunting spear, nothing really fancy. Look, there isn't even a design or anything.” He wished there was more to it but the weapon was, in fact, quite bland. The tip was of cold iron instead of plain iron but that hardly made it exceptional. Maybe a tiny bit fancier at best. “And I wouldn't carry the weapon around if I did not know how to use it.” He would spare her the weapon's history. It wasn't that interesting either, anyways. But since they were talking now, he thought he might as well just ask about her and her eyes. “What about you, those eyes, what are you exactly?” He hoped, for a second or so, that he wasn't being rude or anything of the sort. But at the same time, he didn't really care about being rude. He really wanted to know!

[Ruebia]

Ruebia Ruebia was relieved when he answered and held out the spear for her to inspect. She answered his smile with one of her own and stepped closer to get a better look. The spear was truthfully plain but Rue didn't mind. She had no preference for adornment or beautification, what mattered most was if it did the job. Ruebia wished she had her shortbow with her to show the man. Ever since she had gotten it she had been interested in how humans could hunt without the use of claws and fangs. While she was examining the spear, the man asked her a question about her eyes. She had been a while in his presence and had deemed bonding a threat of past and so she answered him without any hesitation. "I am a Kelvic. My mother has told me that sometimes our animal will transfer a bit of itself onto our human forms. My mother has pale hair like her owl form." She didn't tell him what animal she was. She didn't feel the need to. "What do you hunt with this spear? The fisherman fish with poles and hook and string. I have never seen them use spears before." Once again she thought of her bow and her hand went to her right shoulder, where her quiver usually lay. She had only had it for a few days but already she felt it apart of her. "I have never seen you around in Zeltiva before. Im sure I would remember a man with a spear. Are you here to join the Wave Guard? Where did you come from before?" As she grew bolder, her smile widened showing the dimples in her cheeks. Her mother had always said she asked too much questions. But Ruebia disagreed, if you didn't ask questions you would never get answers. You would never learn. Ruebia turned her smile from the spear to the man. Her gut told her he wasn't a violent man, after all he had stepped in and helped her when she was in trouble. She didn't see a reason to be cautious around him. She stopped her questions there and waited patiently for an answer.

[Avind Coolwater]

Kelvic? He had heard about them before but never had really met one. Maybe he did and they just looked so much like humans he hadn't noticed. He also didn't know much about them either, something about animals and humans? Well, “owl form” would imply animals for sure and the woman did look human enough, even with the eyes. He was kind of staring and pondering when she asked her question and he had to think for a bit before he answered. Not because the question was a hard one but because he had to stop his thoughts from running wild with hypothesis and further questions. “You can hunt many things. Small animals, bigger ones. Fishes too, in rivers and lakes, if you are patient. Though... I've never personally hunted much before. I went with my father a few times but...” He stopped for a moment, thinking further. He didn't really want to talk about his father or the rest of his family. “To be honest, although I sometimes practice with it, it's more of an heirloom. I also had the bow taught to me but... That was so long ago I wouldn't quite remember.” He looked down at the spear as he talked and felt a pinch in his heart. Over three years and he still couldn't quite talk about these things. As small patches of light green appeared on his irises, he forced a smile, trying to hide his sudden unease and was relieved when the feeling passed away, as quick as it came. He would think about it later, now was not the time. “Yes, I'm new here. I came from Ahnatep to study at the university so no, I'm not here to join the Wave Guard. I don't even know what they are to be honest.” He passed a hand through his hair and looked around. He guessed “Wave Guard” was just a fancy name for the guards around but he wasn't quite sure. They could as well be a militia for the city too or a legitimate army. There were so many people here, maybe they had a real standing army? “I just arrived this morning and have been wandering around for a few bells. I actually still need to go to the Customs office and the university... And haven't eaten yet now that I think about it...” Not that he was really hungry, the accident of earlier, with the wealthy man, having cut his appetite. He gave her an embarrassed expression and as she wasn't asking questions anymore, he seized the opportunity to satiate his own curiosity. “What about you?” He paused, thought, and continued. “And was what that about your mother and her owl form?” Was her mother an owl? Was the lady an owl? Could the mother and daughter be different things? He realized he really did know little about Kelvics and that did not help with his curiosity at all.

[Ruebia]

Ruebia Ruebia listened to the man attentively as he explained what he used his spear for. Her face brightened when he mentioned his prior knowledge in the bow and she would have spoken up about her own but for a second as the man looked down at his spear, she thought his face held a sadder expression. However when the man looked back at her and smiled, she returned it and the thought erased from her mind. She hadn't noticed the change in his eye color. When he mentioned Ahnatep, she tilted her head in question. The name sounded familiar. Perhaps she had heard it in the docks, perhaps a sailor or trader had mentioned it once. She wasn't sure where it was in relation to Zeltiva. She knew Mizahar was made up of six regions and that she lived in the one named Sylira but besides from a few cities names and their reputations she was clueless about the world she lived in. She would have to find out before she could leave, she decided. The man answered more of her questions and Rue laughed a bit at the first answer. "The Wave Guard is nothing special, just for show." she waved her hand as if waving the interest in the Guard away. "If you are lost, I can show you the way to the Customs Office and to the University, although I've never been inside personally. I know everywhere inside the city, I was born here... well except East Street because Mother forbid me but I plan to change that soon enough..." she said that last bit with a twinkle in her eye. "As for food, World's End Grotto, thats where I stay, they're known to have great food for a fair price and the owners very nice." she continued on, wanting to help him out as he had her. Do onto others as you would have them do onto you, is what Mother had often told her. And Ruebia had never had much cause to disagree. And thinking of mothers, he was asking about hers. "Me? Im hoping to travel away from here, just about anywhere is fine but I don't know where I want to go to first. And my mother is a Kelvic too. I did tell you that before right? My father was or is, Im not sure, I never knew him, he was a bear. At least thats what my mother told me." Now that she had answered his questions, she asked him more of her own. It wasn't very often she had made friends her own age or rather in the age group of her appearance and even rarer was it someone who came from outside of her home city. Now was her chance to get more information on Ahnatep and maybe see if it was someplace she'd be interested in. But she didn't want to hinder him, he had obviously been on his way somewhere. Maybe if she began to walk slowly in the direction of the Customs Office, she could encourage him to walk with her. "The Customs Office is this way." she began to walk backwards slowly, intending to keep facing him so that he didn't think she was walking away. As she walked, she began her next barrage of questions. "Where is Ahnatep? What is it like? What did you do there? How did you get here from there?"

[Avind Coolwater]

He was a bit disappointed when she brushed the wave guard as nothing to be excited about. Not that he cared that much but he did hope, just a tiny bit, that they would have some heroic deeds and wonderful feats to talk about. He was a Vantha after all, a good story, even if more fantastic than realistic, was always better than no story at all. Maybe they could have fought a giant sea creature? Killed hordes of undead and abominations? Oh well, it was a shame for sure. Maybe he would make up some stories later or something? For the kids back at Avanthal... The Valiant Wave Guards against the invaders from the ocean. He laughed to himself. “Well, I guess having a guide would be useful, I've been asking for directions but you'd be sparing me a lot of troubles.” He gave her a smile and made a mental note about the East Street. Was it dangerous? Well, all cities had their own... unsavory quarters. Probably a haven for thieves and whores. Maybe there were some pirates too? He would have to check it out at some point. Preferably during the day. And very fast too. Yeah. But pirates! The Wave Guards against the Undead Pirates? That could work too. He also noted about the World's End Grotto except he added more “delicious” and less “dangerous.” A place with good food was always good to know about. Avind nodded as she talked about traveling. He could relate to the feeling, having left his home years ago. He would want to go back but... But what? He honestly didn't know why he had yet to go back. The Vantha simply didn't feel like it. He missed his family but it wasn't the time to go back, not just yet. The young man listened carefully when she talked about her mother and her father. A bear? And an owl? Having children? That didn't sound quite right and made very little sense but then again, who knew? Not him for sure. He would have to take the time and read more about the Kelvics, maybe at the University's library? Another mental note was scribbled somewhere in his mind. As she started to walk away, he gave her a strange look, still wondering what she was. He guessed a feline of some sort considering her eyes but that somehow made even less sense to him. In what kind of world does an owl and a bear gives birth to a cat of some kind? He made sure he still had his backpack, transferred his spear to his left hand and started to walk along, still wondering how that whole ordeal had happened. His mind was soon filled with strange mixes of bears, cats and owls, mixes that gave birth to some exotic creatures. “Ahnatep?” He blinked, suddenly remembering that the young woman was still there and talking to him. “Right, it's a city along the coast of Eyktol. It's a beautiful place but it can also be... Kind of dark, I guess? I'm not sure I'd recommend it as a place to visit to be honest.” He stopped for a moment, looking at some shop and its items before he continued. “I worked there as a scribe for a while. Two years. The Eypharians also liked the stories about the north, Lhavit and Avanthal so I'd also do some storytelling every once in a while.” He smiled a little and threw a glance at the woman. “Well, whether or not the streets can be dangerous, it's still a beautiful place. Just make sure you don't get caught by slavers outside the city.” He began to walk down the streets once more. “As for how I got here, it was with a merchant vessel, The Mariner's Fortune. A fine ship I guess.” He had very little knowledge about large vessels and didn't really like them so that was another thing he had never thought about researching. Maybe he would, later on, after researching Kelvics. Avind would have asked her some more questions but he suddenly realized that he did not even ask for her name. They had been talking about themselves, their past, their families, but no name had been given yet. He stopped and held out his right hand, a smile on his lips. “Avind, by the way, Coolwater, a pleasure to meet you.”

[Ruebia]

Ruebia Ruebia grinned. Good, he was following her. She turned around as he caught up to her, she didn't want to bump into anyone else. Occasionally he would stop and look in a shop or two and at those times, Ruebia would patiently wait, sparing a glance at the wares on display herself. When he talked about Ahnatep and it's potential danger, Ruebia tilted her head and frowned. Well she wouldn't be going that way anytime soon. She refused to be a slave. Her mother had been a slave before she bonded with her bondmate and although he treated her well, Ruebia always knew her mother wasn't seen as an equal kind of lover. Ruebia herself was proof. She had been born as a result of an attempt to double the amount of Kelvic servants in the two parties involved. Out there traveling on the sea was a younger brother who maybe lived with her biological father. She didn't want that for herself. True, there was a part of her that couldn't stop thinking about her potential bondmate, who they would be and how they would fit into each other's lives but she was afraid of being trapped and stuck with someone who wouldn't let her be herself. She sometimes wished she could choose not to bond at all. There would be no fear of being changed or restrained and maybe she wouldn't be so cautious with meeting new people. Afterall, how could she hope to travel alone? There was a common truth that the wilderness surrounding all the major cities in Mizahar were dangerous. She shivered then, remembering her first trip outside of Zeltiva just yesterday morning. She would never go northwest again... She would definitely not travel with someone like that woman. But she should meet more people soon and get to know as much as she could about the different parts of Mizahar. It shouldn't be difficult, Zeltiva attracted many new visitors daily and Rue was certain each had an interesting story to tell just like the man she was walking with now. And speaking of the man, she would have to apologize for stalking him earlier. Her mother had always told her to mind her manners. Rue turned to the man after awhile only to find that he had asked her another question. No, not another question. He had introduced himself. Ruebia gave a small sheepish smile, and case in point, she had stalked the man, obsessed over his spear and barraged him with questions and forgotten to introduce herself. Her mother would have pinched her. "My name is Ruebia. It is very nice to meet you as well." she said, she had no last name to give. Her mother took her bondmates surname and being as she didn't want to take his and she didn't know her biological father's own, she went by one name only. Maybe she would take her bondmate's surname when the time came. For now she needed to work on being a good guide to Avind. He had said he was going to the University right? "You said you were going to attend the university. What will you study?" she said, entertaining thoughts of classes on spears and bows and geography. Maybe she would visit the University one day. She knew that part of the Library was open to everyone. Maybe there was a map in there she could look at. A more in depth history of Mizahar as a whole. There would be students she could question if she was allowed. Hopefully by the end of the season she would be ready to depart the only home she ever knew for the unknown. OOCI'm sorry for the delayed response. RL is kicking my behind right now.