Connections (Kam)

[Gromhir]

Kelvic. That was what he was. It was strange still to hear the word to describe him.He wasn’t fully sure what that meant. The difference between him and two beings he could turn into was that the natural forms of those shapes could not transform. Gromhir looked between Ghost and Wind but didn’t move, his body rigid. Was it fear that kept him tense or was it respect for Skyla?

Either way, Gromhir only moved when she offered him her hand. He sniffed and let her feel for wounds though he knew there were none. “I have never been here before,” Gromhir spoke in the canine dialect, although, odd words seemed to run through Kamalia’s mind as if she could understand. Gromhir wasn’t aware of the connection he already seemed to be developing.

Gromhir was entirely unsure what a soul was or how he could look into one. But he felt sure he was safer now at least. Home had raised so many questions around him. Was it Skyla that had brought him here, some instinctual knowledge that nature had provided him or was it something else? Gromhir moved from Skyla, while she may be a pack leader, she was not his leader. He had Kamalia. She was his pack leader, not Skyla.

[Gossamer]

Skyla easily understood Gromhir's hesitation, his nervousness, and let the kelvic wander back to Kamalia. But, as he did so, she returned his words to him, in his very own canine dialect, quietly but with extreme confidence. <"Home is where you make it, skinbrother. Mura is a very good place regardless if you've been here or not. The women here are peaceful, loving, and will take good care of you. But they do not deserve roughness or ferocity unless it is in their defense. You are a stranger here, one that is very welcome and with the right attitude will fit right in, but I must caution you. If you have any ill designs, these women can defend themselves, and will not hesitate to cut down a predator not respecting his boundaries in their midst."> Skyla's mannerisms were quietly authoritarian, alpha, and she made no apology for the threat that was not implied but rather promised in the statement. This was her home, even if her skin wasn't as white as her hair, and strangers would not threaten it.

But Skyla knew it was rude to keep Kamalia and her sister out of the converstation. So she switched to common, since she knew the canine at least understood that. "He was born human enough, and probably spent the first four months of his life walking on two legs. Kamalia, you need to help him remember hes human... and remember how it is to shift his shape." Skyla walked back to Gromhir, this time kneeling beside him once more to pick up his paw and stroke it with her hand. "Touching him is best... giving him things he wants to touch is better too. You will have to remind him what the shape of his human body used to be like, what his hands felt like. You will have to let him touch you, a great deal, and talk him through what it feels like to be human. When he shifts, it should be painless, easy, like the sense of coming home. I cannot think but imagine hes been through some emotional trauma to have gone feral and not have found his form.... " It suddenly occured to her... to ask him. <"Gromhir, do you know how to shift back into your human shape? If not, Kamalia will help you."> She whispered, hoping he did indeed remember.

"When he shifts, his form will dissolve into a thousand little pinpoints of light... they will circle around and reform into a human body. If he's been out of it for years, it might really be awkward for him to move around. Frightening even. But I don't think you're that old, are you Gromhir?" Skyla asked, reaching out and touching the Kelvic again. It might have seemed rude, but there was a two-fold purpose to crowding the creatures space and enforcing her presence in his immediate vicinity. She was above him on the pecking scale, and she wanted to see if she could push him into any sort of aggressive action to see if he could get her to back off.

"There's one more thing. Kelvics seek to bond... it is instinctual in them. He's already acting like hes picked you, Kamalia... looking at you like you are a leader. If they bond, you'll know it. It's like an invisible link to between both of you. You will feel him sometimes in your mind, in your thoughts... and if the bond gets close enough, you can communicate along it. We... for I am one as well... were created a long time ago by a man named Marcus Kelvic. He crafted us from magic to be servants that were absolutely and whole heartedly loyal. If we bond, we want nothing more to please our masters. He will give you anything, you girls, if you allow a bond to form. But it can only be with one of you. He'll defend you with his life, spend all day and night obsessing about how to please you, and will even become a lover if you'll let him... one that will never cheat on you or even remotely think about betraying you. But you decide to let it happen, you must let it happen wholeheartedly and solidly. If he harbors any doubt, the bond can be weakened. If you reject him in any ways, it can seriously damage his psyche. Kelvics do not follow the same rules as the rest of the world. They have no concept of modesty, and unless they have been extremely ill used.. which he might have been, they have no concept of deceit and lies either." Skyla said, peering first at one sister then the other.

"This is a big responsibility. Having a bondmate that's a kelvic will change your life. It needs to be something you want. And you must always care for him... his happiness or unhappiness will effect you in ways you won't necessary understand at first. There will be no more privacy... no more boundaries... no more decisions that don't consider him in it. And since hes male and your female, it will also mean he will be very judgmental of your dates, your lovers if you have any, and anyone you may want to potentially marry. You must make sure you pick people to be around he likes as well. And whether or not you like it, someone tolerant... for if you do bond, there will be no shut doors between you. He will know everything about you eventually. There will be no better keeper of your secrets and even of your heart, but again... it is a big burden." Skyla finished off, stroking Gromhir's head once more and running her hand down his spine.

"There are also places in the world, Kamalia, that would pay top dollar for him for two very important reasons. He's a big strong predator. They would fight him in the pits in Ravok and make a great deal of money on him. Blood shows very well on a white coat, and that is what the people there demand. Kevlics in that situation don't last long. The second reason they'd want him would be as a stud. Kelvics can give humans and konti alike children, and if he gives you one it will be Konti for certain. But if you cover a kelvic with a kelvic, they will produce a kelvic... and likely a predatory one at that if he mates with a predatory female. They cull the children that aren't anyhow. There are places in the world that actively seek new bloodlines and different Kelvics like he is. He'd fetch top miza if someone like that got a hold of him. And he wouldn't have a choice. They'd drug him, beat him, do anything they could to get him to do what they wanted too... and he would, willingly. So you must be careful with him, girls. For if he stays, he'll be safe enough, but if he travels with you... you must teach him to be human again, for if no other reason than to keep him free." Skyla said, thinking she'd carefully laid it all out to both the sisters as much as she could.

She rose then, smiled, and looked at Gromhir. "I'm here if you need anything. Do you? A place to stay, a friend to talk too? Otherwise, I'd go home with these women and do what your going to want to do anyhow... bond with one. And let whichever one it is teach you how to be human again. Love her, guard her, and all will slowly be set right with you Gromhir. But if you want to run with your own kind, I live above the kennels in the heart of the city, and we do go running daily. You're welcome to join us... it's quite the fun experience." She said, smiling, and getting ready to depart if they needed her for nothing else.

[Gromhir]

Gromhir barely moved, if anything, enjoying having someone stroke him. He never made any act of aggression towards Skyla. He was completely submissive, she was higher up in the pack and he knew it. Once Skyla had backed off, Gromhir separated himself from the women and transformed into his human form. “Yes, I know my human form,” his voice rough from little use.

“I have no reason to harm these women. They have shown me kindness,” Gromhir lack of human skills was instantly apparent. He was utterly blunt and didn’t stop to introduce himself. Gromhir continued to listen to Skyla as she continued when the realisation hit him. He’d found out what he was looking for and according to Skyla, it came in the form of Kamalia. It was a bit of a shock to Gromhir to have found what he’d been searching for. Is that why this place felt like home or was that to do with his animal form.

Confusion and questions ran through Gromhir’s mind. Skyla spoke of so many things, of the world, much of it he had already experienced. He had been a family pet, thrown out into the street. He had been a son. Neither life lasted long, he had only been searching for one thing his entire life and now? He was supposed to go home with Kamalia and bond with her? Gromhir was entirely unsure what to do, Nature had led him to this crossroads and now his life was in his own hands.

Gromhir didn’t know what to do. It was all so much. No, it was quite simple really. The very thing he had been searching for stood next to him. She was meant to fill this hole. Would she reject him now she knew about him? If she did, what would he do then? He couldn’t stay here. He would have to find someone else. Did he want someone else? Kamalia had shown him kindness so far but he didn’t want to burden her. He looked to the Konti sisters, to Kamalia, unsure of what to do.

[Kamalia Timandre]

Watching the two kelvic speak in the canine dialect was a strange, fascinating experience. It also intrigued the young konti wizard the way Skyla and Whitemane seem to quickly find places for themselves in their pecking order, the ivaski’s hierarchal system, as if they knew this by instinct. Kamalia quietly watched the Kennelmistres assert her authority over the younger kelvic, declaring her place in the scale of dominance, to which Lord Whitemane responded with obedience.

She listened carefully to Skyla’s instructions, there were just too many to absorb. Too many thoughts and images and questions rose and ran fervently about in her mind. She had read a great deal about Kelvic and the way they bonded with their masters, being creatures born out of a recluse wizard’s loneliness. Marcus Kelvic, fabled to possess an uncanny talent on Morphing and Familiary magicks, had fashioned these creatures to serve him and provide him company. He had also crafted the Bond, an arcane phenomenon that made his kelvic servants unquestionably loyal and protective of him. The need to bond was magically instilled in all kelvic, thus became their lifelong purpose to find someone to bond with.

Kamalia’s eyes gleamed as she considered the possibilities and the benefits of having a kelvic bondmate, but also weighed the consequences while the Kennelmistress enumerated them to her.

She eyed Gromhir, the hue of his eyes so vividly blue glinted with uncanny intellect. It all made sense to her now. Just as Skyla had said, Lord Whitemane seemed to have chosen Kamalia already.

But was she ready? Her mind boggled, overwhelmed by such a responsibility.

Then all of the sudden, as if by sorcery, the ivaski’s body dissolved into a multitude of tiny balls of light. These miniscule lights clustered together and formed the shape of a man, made flesh in an instant. A human male stood before them, lean-bodied, fair-haired and unclothed. Jaws dropped and eyes widened.

Incredulous!

“Mother Avalis!” Vidula burst aghast, staring him over from head to foot. “Look at that—“

“Thigh muscle,” Kamalia supplied quickly, suspecting, quite rightly, that her younger sister had placed her goal on the man somewhat higher.

“Thigh muscle!” agreed Vidula quickly, her cheeks flushed red like a ripe tomato.

Kamalia hurriedly unfastened the clasp of her cloak at her neck, and took it off her shoulders. She stepped forward and quickly covered the male’s exposed jewels with her brocade cloak. The konti wizard was utterly mystified, studying Gromhir’s face with an open mouth.

“Whitemane,” Kamalia half-whispered, awed by his strange appearance. She reached for his locks, white-silver with the faintest shimmer of stardust. The man retained his piercingly blue eyes and the young konti maiden found herself completely drawn to them.

Incredulous, indeed.

[Gossamer]

Skyla chuckled, amused, both that the girls seemed so shocked - which wasn't surprising since Mura had a noted lack of males - and that Kamalia acted so quickly. "You both will have to get used to it." She said softly, stepping forward to touch the man's shoulder, nodding her approval at him. "We hate wearing clothing. It hampers our shifting and can endanger our life. Keep tight jewelry off him, especially necklaces, for they can choke him if he shifts and they cut off his air supply. Make sure he has things to wear that can be slipped off and on easily, and you might make sure he has changes of clothing stashed about your residence that are easily acquired at a moments notice. Teach him he has to wear things when he goes out into the world or company comes over. But if you two are alone, do not be so hard on him... to be a Kelvic is to be free of societies taints. To him, skin is beautiful and natural. There is no wrong in being what he is." She said, turning to smile at Kamalia and then Vidula.

"And bring him around in the mornings. I'll take him running with the rest of my pack. We hunt deer sometimes, so another good thinker will help us out. It will keep him in shape and relax him in ways that will help his confidence. Otherwise, flex his mind, girls. Make him study new things, teach him languages, and talk to him about deeper things - philosophy, religion, even science or magic. He can learn all of it, and the more you make him think, the easier it will be for him to do so. But make sure he gets a good diet. He's going to need plenty of raw or rare cooked meat, but you can also give him what you yourself eat so he has a balance and a good well-rounded died." Skyla said, looking thoughtful.

There truthfully wasn't much else for her to say... or to do. "I will be here if you need me, any of you. I live above the kennels and my door is open any time. Feel free to use it." She said, then bowed to all three of them and turned, leaving them alone with themselves, knowing there would be more questions, but first there needed to be more time together.

[Gromhir]

Gromhir was not expecting Kamalia to react so fast or the way she did. From what he had seen of these human creatures, they wore clothes as though they were skin. It made little sense to him but he did not push her away as she covered him up. He looked at Kamalia even as she reached to touch. His face free of emotion, simply observing Kamalia as he had done for a while now.

As she spoke the name she had given to him, he corrected her. “Gromhir,” he pointed to himself. Clearly not used to using human conversation, he looked at Kamalia. “Kamalia? Vidula?” He asked as he looked between them. More trying to make sure he could pronounce their names than anything.

”Home?” As Skyla continued, Gromhir was puzzled once more. Did they mean home as in buildings? The things with walls made of white. They were strange and foreign to someone who was used to sleeping under the stars but Gromhir remained silent just listening. He had not been spoken to directly and saw no need to say anything but tried to everything that was said.

[Kamalia Timandre]

The konti sisters dipped into a bow at the departure of the Kennelmistress, bidding her goodbye and asking her to tread and go with the blessings of the Sea and the All-Seeing Mother. They turned once again to the kelvic male, both still unable to recover entirely from their initial shock. Even the apprentice healer Vidula, who seemingly always had something to say, was rendered speechless as both sisters looked at Gromhir in disbelief.

“Yes, my name is Kamalia and this is my younger sister, Vidula,” Kamalia started softly, looking into his eyes. Those were the same blue eyes that stared through her own— the very eyes that held her heart when Gromhir was still in his beastly form. Now that he took the shape of a human male, it was uncomfortable staring into those eyes for long for she was unaccustomed to interacting with men. She avoided them, looking elsewhere for comfort and towards her sister, who excitedly tugged at the male’s arm.

“So you are Gromhir, and what a beautiful lad you are,” Vidula grinned, studying Gromhir’s features with appraising eyes under her silver, tousled tresses. “The path home lies before us.”

“Yes. Home,” agreed Kamalia when she felt the slight touch of the kelvic’s puzzlement—and yes, she rather felt it. “These structures you see are what we call “home”. They shelter us from the ravages of the seasons. You’ll be safe in our care,” the konti wizard promised.

“But first,” Vidula interjected, “we’ll have to clothe you, lest temptations distract my sister from teaching you.” The younger konti stifled her mirth in measured giggles before bursting into a hearty guffaw. This earned Vidula a dark glance and a haughty tilt of chin from her elder sister.

“A funny thing to laugh at, don’t you think? So be it,” Kamalia said dryly. “Pave the way to Merit’s shop, and I’ll have her sew clothing for our new friend.”

As they walked together, Kamalia marveled at the strange turns her journey had taken. It was strange that all of the sudden she was thrust into a role of a teacher and a confidant for a male. This realization was an epiphany for Kamalia. Although she belonged to a rather large family and a close-knit community, the young female was not accustomed to depending upon anyone, and from her earliest years she had realized there was in truth no one could wholly understand her. She took what was offered her, but in any way that truly mattered, she walked alone and she knew it. Now, suddenly, she had the ear of a man!

So Kamalia said a silent prayer of thanks to Avalis and did her best to tune out the strident, exuberant chatter of her younger sister. The All-Seeing Mother would just have to read her heart and understand.

Strange, too, was the uncanny connection that slowly formed between them and the rune that was beginning to take shape in her mind, little by little with each bell she spent with Gromhir.

As foreign as this was, it was just the sort of company she’d dreamed all her life. A contented sigh escaped her, sending a ripple of siren notes racing towards the star-crossed sky.

~End~

[Gossamer]

Gromhir Experience: Detection + 2, Listening + 1 Lore: Ivaski, Kelvic Bonding Kamalia Experience: Singing + 2, Harp + 2 Lore: Ivaski, Kevlic Bonding