[Sanctuary Beach] Sea Monsters In The Sand

by **Kavala** on December 13th, 2013, 5:47 pm

Kavala caught his hand back up as soon as he tried to withdraw it. She shook her head and turned to look at her son for a moment. The boy and the dogs had gone back to playing normally, not understanding the tension that was suddenly evident in the adults towards each other. Kavala didn't hesitate to speak then, having heard Van's explanation and knowing just exactly how she felt about it.

"I would be really worried about you if you weren't so upset about it. I'm glad you told me. It must be really hard to have done something like that and told no one, brother. I know its an awful thing, but I can't help but think that maybe it needed to happen because ...." She paused then, and looked back at him. It wasn't the intensely judgmental stare of before, but it was something more mild, more compassionate than he might have expected.

"That hatred inside can eat you alive. I know that for a fact. It was like a poison or a growth that needed to be cut out. If raping a zith did that for you, then ... it needed to happen. I still don't understand how and why... but males can be aggressive and sex is often a weapon." Kavala said softly, looking Vanator in his beautiful brown eyes. "And I'm glad it was one of those monsters, if it had to be anything at all, rather than human woman or even a Konti like me. She probably thought nothing of it at all." Kavala spit out, her words hurtful even in her own ears even though they were not directed at Vanator.

Kavala hoped her brother felt better with his confession. She knew too that he was okay. Normally she'd worry about diseases and other ailments like parasites if someone was that intimate with a beast, but when he'd come from the slavers, she'd thoroughly checked him over and knew he was healthy. Dropping his hand, she rose, calling res to begin to work on the sea serpent again. She kept talking though, trying to show she was not rejecting him and not mad at him in any way.

"You have to forgive yourself Vanator. We can't judge ourselves based on our mistakes. We can only judge ourselves based on what we do moving forward after we make a mistake. Hurting someone that way is a huge mistake. But I think you already have that figured out. You need to move past it, and be better than you were. That's all we can do." Kavala said, pausing to watch him where he sat cross legged on the sand. She already had a third coil done, and was starting on a forth, making them progressively larger.

Tasival came over and offered Vanator a sand cookie. It was dotted with bits of shell for nuts and looked all the world like one of Cadra's delicious creations only in the color and texture of sand. The boy seemed proud of himself and made no shame about it. Kavala smiled then, watching the two of them very carefully.

by **Vanator** on December 18th, 2013, 8:46 pm

Divulging his secret transgression, and Kavala's compassion, lifted a weight from Vanator's shoulders. He was not absolved entirely of his sin, he could not remove the stain the deed had left on his heart, nor did he want to. Van looked up as Kavala rose to craft more of the stony serpent.

"In a way, you are right. I could even manage to forgive myself and move on. But I won't forget, I can't. I don't want to ever fall into such temptation again. The memory of the evil of which I am capable should be a check on myself when things go wrong."

Tasival, again with the perfect timing of a child, arrived to offer his sand cookie. Vanator made over it, wide-eyed and bright smile painted on his face. "Thanks you Tasi!" The boy's uncle exclaimed. There was a moment as Van held the sandy treat as Tasival watched, waiting for the adult to eat the gift he had made. Vanator's gazed darted to Kavala, then back to the finely crafted cookie. "This is a very special cookie, Tasi, I am going to eat it in a very special way."

Vanator then placed the cookie in the palm of his hand, laying the other hand loosely on top of it. After giving the Akontak toddler a smile, Van focused his eyes on his hands, concentrating as he summoned his Djed, drawing a pool of res into his hands. Then he ignited the magical substance, containing the small fire between his hands. Vanator managed the combustion, keeping it small and low enough to keep from losing control or burning himself, until the damp sand cookie dried out and turned to a small mound of fine granules and pebbles. Lifting his hand, Vanator revealed the sand and blew it away. It was not as impressive as heating the cookie so hot that it turned to glass, but the novice Drykas reimancer had a way to go to manage a trick like that.

Standing, Van tosseled the boys light hair before stepping beside Kavala. placing an hand on her shoulder, he leaned close enough to press a kiss to the Konti's cheek. "Thanks again Kav, for everything." The older brother took a step back then, admiring her stonework and intrigued as she turned the creature imagined in her head into a tangible monument.

His eye drifted to the sea beyond. Kavala seemed as much a part of the scene as the sand and the waves. After being raised with her at his side, Vanator had come to overlook their physical differences, the divergent anatomy only recognized when she or Akela took to a river or pond, where their mother's heritage shined. But now, with the sun glinting off of the subtle scales that marked much of her skin, faint gill slits along the column of her alabaster neck, tinted red by the early summer sun, Kavala was clearly a daughter of the sea god. It was an aspect of his sister Vanator rarely addressed, thought being Konti was certainly something Kavala didn't hide. It was also something of a mystery to her earthy brother.

"What is it like, Mura, your mother's home?" Vanator had once held a sort of grudge against the distant Konti island, not much more than legend to him, laying blame on it for luring Kavala away from the pavilion years ago. But it was a significant milestone in his sister's life, where she submerged herself in her mother's culture.

by **Kavala** on December 26th, 2013, 5:44 pm

Kavala nodded at Vanator’s words. She had no overarching values that would put her brother’s actions before her sensibilities. He’d been through too much, seen too much, and everyone had their breaking point. She hoped his had been good for him, and now that it was exposed and out in the open, he could begin to heal from it.

But all men were capable of evil. Every one of the ones she’s ever loved, be they family, friends, or lovers were like that. Everyone had darkness inside them. Even Kavala. Deep down she knew she was a killer, somewhere, even if the healer part of her masked it. Crescent was a live and well within her just as Kavala would be when she was born again into another life.

Tasi and his cookie made Kavala smile. Vanator dealt with the tasty treat very valiantly too, delighting the child and capturing the boys’ sense of imagination. And while Kavala didn’t exactly stifle their creativity, there were parts of her sons she had no idea what to do with. Their capacity for violence was extensive and for breaking into the armory just to be with the weapons. She knew Vanator was helping, but sometimes she thought Tasival needed an Akalak’s guidance.

She went back to her reimancy, working on the next to the last coil, a huge one, before she tackled the sea serpent’s head. She pulled the stone from the sand, upwards, using her res to form and shape it, working in micro because she wanted the beast to have scales and look realistic to anyone just glancing at it. Her focus was intense, though she kept one eye on her son, worried about him being near the water’s edge. Vanator’s question came something of a surprise for her, and she shook her head and laughed slightly.

“Very different, Vanator. Very very different. All the buildings are white shell and pearl, half underwater, half above water. The women wear clothing that is sparse or none at all because they come and go so often from the sea. You can shop out on the reef or in town, taking meals underwater or on land. It was culture shock for me, pure and simple. And there are so many women, everywhere, and we all look so alike. I mean, not really, but I am used to being special in the way that I look among the Drykas and here in Riverfall. There, a human would stand out and be startling. And men, men are often fussed over and there are no… limits to the amount of propositions one gets in Mura. They see you coming, know your heart already, and have already selected you to sire their daughters before you even decide to go. It’s a strange strange world. It’s nothing like here. But it is so peaceful, Vanator. So very peaceful. You would not believe how serene you feel just going there. I studied there for a year and a half and it killed me a little because I am a woman of action and by and large they are not.” Kavala said, looking thoughtful.

“Why? Do you have designs to travel there? It would be good for you, but you’d have to promise to come back.” She said with a teasing laugh.

by **Vanator** on January 2nd, 2014, 6:05 pm

Vanator inhaled deeply of the sea air, as if to purge the darkness of his confessions, breathing in the salty air and Kavala's profound understanding. His studious gaze remained intent upon the crafting hands of the Konti, forming her art from what seemed to be nothing. As she explained Mura, his gaze darted to her features, willing himself to see past the familiarity of his sister, and envision a city filled with women like her. Van had not seen a Konti that was not beautiful. Because he was raised with Akela, Kavala and their mother, Van was gifted, or cursed, to see the daughters of Mura more like himself then they really were. But as he watched Kavala, platinum hair whipping around a face marked by subtle scales, Van saw her for what she was, Konti, a seafarer, a being of land and sea and magic.

Her description of Mura was a tempting one, such serenity and peace, things Vanator had known little of in his life. And a city filled with woman as beautiful as his sister, willing and welcoming? It sounded like an afterlife reward for a life well lived. Kavala must have seen the glint in her brother's eye as Van indulged in a stolen moment of fantasy, for she teased him about visiting such a place. A rare, boyish grin graced his worn features.

"If it is as you describe it, I'm not sure I could find my way home from such a place." He laughed, then paused as his gaze drifted past his nephew to the open sea. "But maybe, one day, if you accompany me." There was a hint of admission in Vanator's tone, a concession that the man that once staunchly clung to the grasslands, that adhered to the traditions of his people so strongly, had accepted that the world was larger than the Sea of Grass, and that he may have a meaningful part in it.

Van ran his hand again along one of the large coils Kavala had crafted. "But, don't worry, I am into brunettes anyway." He quipped. The light joke seemed almost sacrilegious, given the gravity of the conversations and revelations the siblings had just shared. But such was the reality of their lives now. Long gone were the Drykas lad and Konti lass that played outside the family pavilion, nestled in the bosom of Drykas life. They had survived, would survive and prosper, together.

by **Kavala** on January 10th, 2014, 9:19 pm

Kavala gave her brother a smile. Her hands were busy molding the head of the sea serpent using res, pooling it in her hands and then coating the stone over and over again to pull shapes from it in the form of scales and a fine flared snout. The creature almost looked like a horse save it had fins instead of a mane and when it bared its teeth fiercely it had razor sharp fangs that ended in smooth blunts, most likely for Kavala’s son to safely climb on and around.

The structure was massive, that was for certain, and Tasival was already enjoying climbing it. He’d even roped it once, using a length of kelp he had taken long moments to strip and braid into a lasso Drykas style. The Konti laughed at his antics, knowing the boy would sleep soundly that night, most likely letting her get some rest too. That was important for the Konti had found herself more and more restless recently with no inclination why.

“I worry about you.” She said abruptly. Kavala glanced up at the fortress on the cliff perched like a miniature version of Riverfall sans the waterfall and then glanced at Vanator. “I don’t want to hold you prisoner here or make you feel like you are obligated to stay. I want to build a life here, for all of us, and give us a greater purpose so that none of us will have lived and died with only the briefest flicker of influence. You seem… disquiet. Maybe unhappy. I don’t know how to label it. You’ve changed, Vanator. And I’m not sure if its for the better. I haven’t seen you laugh… smile… and you have this perpetual worried look. Worried might not be the right thing to label it. But you definitely don’t look happy. You know I would give anything to see you laugh like you used too? Even the twins talk of it, Van. Is there anything we can do?” Kavala said, her hands moving around the sculpture and forming the brow ridges that swept up and gave the creature a thoughtfully fierce look.

She pooled more res and continued working, bringing the beach sea serpent to life.

by **Vanator** on January 13th, 2014, 8:33 pm

The soberness of Kavala's voice drew Van's gaze from his playful nephew to his sister. His gaze followed hers to the Sanctuary above them, then back down to meet the concern in her cerulean eyes. Vanator knew what his sister was talking about, knew his family sensed a weight upon him. It seemed to steal his joy. He turned to look out to the sea, hand resting against one of the stone beast's coils, taking a deep breath before giving the Konti a small, reassuring smile. Then his gaze drifted again out to sea.

"I don't feel that way, Kav. I don't stay at Sanctuary just out of obligation. Granted, living there was hard at first. I was just a mess. I felt like I was failing, as a Drykas, by staying, living behind walls, sleeping underground, in a bed. But I no longer feel that way. The world, or at least my world, is different now. " He glanced down at the Konti, her pale, scaled flesh reddened by the sun. "Sanctuary is my home. It really is. My family is here, its our home. I am at peace with that. I want us all to prosper here."

Van paused, stooping to run a hand over Ink's head as the large dog brushed by. "I suppose part of it is loneliness. You know me." He flash a waning smile. "Its nice that Sybel is here now." His tone trailed off, as if there was more to say." Its funny that you mention purpose. There is a weight that I can't shake. I know what it is. Its what I could be, what I should be." Van paused again, struggling to convey his meaning. "I have a fire shut up in my bones, Kav. I feel it. It is potential. I don't know its nature, yet. It is power, and more than just my fire. What haunts me is, I can't discern what it is. But I believe, here, with you, is where I will discover what it is. You have tapped yours, Kavala. Mine, too, will be part of that greater purpose. "

by **Kavala** on January 23rd, 2014, 6:47 pm

Kavala smiled at her brother’s words. They went a long way to reassure her and to settle some of her fears about him being unhappy here. That was the last thing she wanted for him and she certainly didn’t want to be the reason he stayed if he didn’t want too. “You are very important to everyone here, Van. If it weren’t for you, my sons wouldn’t have a steady male in their lives to teach them the things they need to be men. And I wouldn’t have that voice of conscious always following me around that sounds strangely like you and father. A woman needs an Ankal, regardless of what she says. I’m glad we have one here. I know its been a big adjustment, but sometimes I think the Drykas are going to have to adjust a little if they are going to survive. I wonder too sometimes if we couldn’t put more waystations and shelters from things like fire and djed storms throughout the Sea of Grass giving pavilions places to shelter. Places like this.. stone beneath the ground, where they can seek refuge if they need too. I had thought… at one time… that we could at least take this quarter of the Sea of Grass and do that for the Drykas to help them. Then tie them into the web so that the Webbers and mages know where they are.” Kavala added, looking thoughtful.

“It’s still something I want to do when we are more established. We, meaning, the Cytali. I know you feel lost here Van…” Kavala said, abruptly changing the subject and moving on to her next thought. “But there is also something settled about you here. Your restlessness is less about moving and more about something else, it seems to me.” She said, smoothing her hand across the now completed face of the Sea Serpant. She pooled more res in her hands and then seemingly shoved the res into the empty eye socket she’d left and it solidified into deep blue gems. She fiddled with the shape more, molding the newly formed stone as if it were clay. Soon, she had the eyes whirling with facets so that light refracted in and around the interior of the gem, making it look for all intent and purpose alive. “But I think that’s because there is more to you than you know. I think if we dreamwalked your Chavi, you’d see what I meant. There’s more than one person inside you… not like the Akalaks, but like me. I am your soft loving sister sometimes and other times I’m a cold blooded killer. You’ve seen it… you recognize that assassin that used to kill for money. And I see something else in you too Vanator. I’ve seen you wield your reimancy without a thought… not even focusing or concentrating… something you shouldn’t be able to easily do without years of practice. You haven’t had years, have you? And I bet if you concentrated, you could light up your battle axe with magefire just like that. It comes very natural to you. So does figuring out problems and puzzles, be it with the wood under your hand or with a way to go about things. You should let me see. If not this season, then next, in Winter, when things slow down around here.” Kavala said, looking thoughtful

“That reminds me. I have some things for you.” she said, glancing up the beach at the Sea Gates. “Walk with me back to the cave?” She asked, brushing sand and res and tiny dust of blue gem off her hands as she called for her son. Tasi came running, grabbed her hand, and together the three of them started walking up to the Sea Gates and passing through back into the interior of The Sanctuary. Down in the depths of the cave, it was all set up as shelter from djed storms and attack. There were supplies laid in, both medical and of food for horses and people. In one of the supply areas, Kavala pulled open a chest, moved some things, and pulled out two bundles. Kavala gave both to Vanator.

One was a pair of hand axes, gleaming in the dim light of the cave. He could see how finely made they were and how light because of the Isurian steel. There were marks from Izentor etched into the flat of the axe heads. The other bundle was larger and heavier. It contained a battle axe of the same material and marked with Izentor too. “They are all but indestructible.” Kavala commented. “I got them at the southern boarder post for you.” She said, grinning. “I was waiting for a special occasion for it, but I think this is as special as we can come up with, no?” The Konti said, hoping her brother was pleased with the weapons she’d picked out for him without him being there.

“Next time I go, you are coming along. It was fantastic.” She said, stepping back with Tasi and letting Vanator look at his prizes.

by **Vanator** on January 27th, 2014, 2:54 pm

Vanator, moved by Kavala's honest praise, offered his sister a smile, but his eyes darted to the detailed head of the serpent she had sculpted. Kavala had always been a gauge of sorts, a perceptive force in Vanator's life that always seemed to help him see things he was too close to observe. She also confirmed his importance at Sanctuary, and in her life. This gave Vanator strength.

Van nodded at his sister's suggestion of way stations or shelters, they may help save more Drykas should another catastrophe arise, if they embrace them. The Denusk siblings had discussed before the fact that the Drykas as a people must change to adapt to their world after the djed storm. They had been nearly destroyed, and many old ways had to be abandoned or altered to allow for their simple survival. Vanator, a one-time traditionalist, had embraced this fact, and he and Kavala had lead the family into a new way of life, still based on Drykas values.

Then Kavala breached the subject of more transcendent nature, one that they had touched now and again. Perhaps the dreamwalking Konti was simply waiting for her brother to come to his own epiphany, that there was more to him, more to his purpose, than what he knew. His restlessness gave indication that he was indeed growing more aware of things more spiritual. Her description, the comparison to what he knew of his sister's nature, did indeed resonate somewhere deep within, as if it were a childhood memory, the essence of it familiar, even if no details remained. As his sister noted the ease in which he wielded Reimancy, how naturally his fire came to him, Van's hand flexed idly at his side, the man keenly aware of the scar across his palm from which he so readily produced the precious res. Yes, why had he restrained himself to parlor tricks and flinging balls of fire? Could he manipulate flames as Kavala had suggested? It was a challenge he would certainly delve into.

But, Van hesitated a moment, running his fingers through his windswept mane. If Kavala searched his Chavi, would she not see everything? Every shame, humiliation, evil thought and deed, weakness and prideful act? There was no one closer than Kavala, she already knew most everything. But she would see it all, watch him as...

"I believe you are right, Kav. It all makes sense, and I can, well, almost feel the truth of it. But, I will have to think about the dreamwalk." The smile he wore was almost apologetic. Eventually, Van knew he would have to let Kavala take him on a dreamwalk. There would be no peace in his soul until they explored his past.

As quickly as the sea breeze shifted, the subject moved on. Vanator gave Kavala a quizzical look when she mentioned having something for him. He followed the Konti through the Sea Gates and into the cave, Tasi toddling along with them. She dug through the stored supplies, mundane items kept ready for emergency. When she produced two bundles from the bottom of a chest, Van realized she had hid them from him.

Setting the bundles at his feet, Van unwrapped the hand axes first. They were exquisite, the fine craftsmanship apparent immediately to his eye. He held one in each hand, getting a feel for them. They were finely balance, lighter than more crude iron or steel. He whipped them around, first one, then the other. The honed edges sung as they cut the salty air. When he stopped to examine one of the silvery heads, Van flash Kavala a boyish grin. "Isurian, Izentor?" He asked for confirmation. "I have never seen a weapon made with their steel before. They are amazing. I have been wanting to work with dual wielding axes!" Once more he raised the axes, crossed them in front of him in a horizontal slash, as if beheading a foe. He nodded, still beaming, before laying them carefully onto the cloth. Then he unwrapped the second bundle, lifting the ax almost reverently, his features fixed with delighted awe.

The battle ax too was perfectly balance, the lighter head making the weapon less cumbersome. Gripping it with both hands, Van whirled the ax around him in a series of figure eights, even shifting to one hand and back as he stepped around in a small circle. He laughed, pleased with the ease with which the ax moved in his hands. Vanator paused, holding the Isurian ax in his right hand. He shot his sister a wry grin, then winked to his Akontak nephew. He was going to take a cue from Kavala's earlier comment. Gold-flecked eyes stared at the weapon in his hand, his lips moving as he whispered a few syllables, repeating them several times to congeal his concentration. Vanator's natural djed quickened within him, surging to his left hand. Res was carefully gathered in a viscous cloud over his palm.

Then Van set the res alight. The flaming glob was set to the finely crafted head of the battle ax. Flames licked around the divine steel. Still focused on the fire he had created, Vanator swung the ax a few times, the fire wooshing as it clung to the moving ax head. Then, holding it again in front of him, Vanator extinguished the fire. The weapon was unscathed, bearing not a single scorch mark.

"Kavala!" Vanator mouthed in amazement, "These are incredible, thank you so much!" Van stepped over to his sister, throwing one arm around her, the wicked ax still gripped in his other hand. He kissed her cheek lightly. "You are the best. And yes, if you go again, I will go with you!" His excitement compelled Vanator to agree to such a future voyage to the southern trading post. He had resisted any talk of going on sailing trips, the sea still a big unknown to the grasslander. But if this is what was out there, he would trust Kavala enough to embark on such an adventure.

Any thoughts of archery practice were long forgotten in light of his new arsenal, anxious to get a feel for the Izentor weapons, and test them out. Vanator reached out again, brushing his hand lovingly across his sister's cheek. "I know this is where I belong, Kav. Great things will happen here."

by **Kavala** on February 2nd, 2014, 4:10 pm

In that moment, Kavala smiled more broadly than she had in ages. With Tasivals’ hand in hers, Kavala laughed as Vanator caught her eye and began unwrapping the packages. She couldn’t help but think, in that moment, how much Vanator had been through in his short short life and how sometimes worn he looked. Her brother had burdens untold and worries she couldn’t even begin to skim the surface about. And she wished, wholeheartedly, that in this moment that he had more times like this, filled with unbridled delight.

Tasival’s eyes were wide as he watched his uncle pull forth the twin axes and wave them around. He turned and grinned at his mother and then pointed towards Van in a gesture that seemed to say “I think he likes them.” Kavala smiled and kissed her son on the head and then smiled even wider as Vanator hefted the battle axe. She was glad she’d thought to remember him on her trip with Riaris. She leaned down, hugged Tasi, and then dropped to one knee to rest beside him at his own height as they watched their Ankal feel pure delight.

“You are welcome. I thought they might suit you. What kind of sister travels abroad and doesn’t return bearing at least some kind of gift for her Ankal? Van, they are just tokens of my love. I love you so very much and need you so very much. The Sanctuary has been better, far better, with you here. All your training, know-how, and drive really has helped. And its nice… not to have to make all the decisions on my own. I sleep better knowing you are here and knowing you pace these halls. It will get even busier when we bring students on… and our pavilion here will grow. I tell everyone you are Ankal here because it is true. You are just a new kind of one, hopefully one that will be as effective if not more so than the Ankals of the past. And you remind me, even though we live in stone walls, to be more Drykas every day of my life. Thank you for that. I can’t tell you enough how much its needed.” Kavala said, closing her eyes as her brother brushed his hand across her cheek.

He was her support, her cornerstone, and the one person in her life that had never and would never let her down. She rose, enfolded him in a hug that had to include Tasi as well, and then turned to lead the way up the ramp to the Commons where she could make some breakfast for them both. She wasn’t sure what her stomach would let her eat, but she did have fresh clams on the ice block in the ice box.

by **Magpie** on March 3rd, 2014, 5:05 pm

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Kavala :

Vanator :

Notes :

If you have any questions or concerns about what was awarded, please don't hesitate to PM me.
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Open [Sanctuary Beach] Sea Monsters In The Sand