Closed A Whisper at Midnight

[Saraphina Skyglow]

Saraphina Skyglow 32nd Day of Summer 514 AV T he moon was high and the sky was clear, lighting the cobblestone roads. Not that she needed much light, her night vision was impeccable. She could easily distinguish various shape around her. Saraphina sighed happily as she walked. The streets were deserted at this hour, which suited her fine. The hustle and bustle of the city was beginning to grind on her nerves. Fortunately, night times made for a pleasant ease from the strain. The city still reeked of fish and rotting wood, but without the yells and shoving bodies it was tolerable. Her boots only scuffed the ground a few times as she moved and the sounds were easily lost in the sea wind. Her acute hearing could pick up the sounds of murmured voices in the dimly lit buildings around her and she imagined for a moment that they were filled with happy family's about to tuck their children into bed. Naturally that likely wasn't the case, but Saraphina gave herself a bit of fanciful nostalgia for a few moments. W ith the setting of the sun came another relief for her.....the dissipation of the stifling heat of Zeltiva. For one accustomed to the frigid cold of the far north, the heavy humidity of the port city was hard to take. She was adjusting of course, but the cool nights were certainly a pleasure to take in. The East Street area, as she'd come to know, was not known for being a nice part of town. It was filled with thieves, nard-wells and loose women. But Saraphina couldn't help her curiosity. Her Mother had always told her to avoid such areas and out of respect, she'd listened. But on her own now.....she just wanted to look around and see what was what. A misplace melody floated on the air and perked her interests. Badly played music, something like an guitar with broken strings and an out of timed drumbeat. Walking towards the sound, Saraphina poked her head around the corner of a building. A very old brick lining building with mildew shingling sat between two looming warehouses. There were lanterns lit on poles outside and two very undressed.....were they even wearing clothing?....women waving a weaving pair of men inside. S araphina shook her head, recognising a brothel when she saw one, and headed the opposite direction. As she moved back into the shadows of the buildings, she heard another sound that made her pause. This sound was distinctly more sinister, the hairs on her neck stood up and her instincts told her to proceed with caution. Stepping down behind a few discarded barrels, Saraphina crouched on the balls of her feet, tense and listening to the conversation of the two men she hadn't heard following behind her, "She weren't heading this way Horus......I told you we should have turned left by that last ally." The second man scoffed a bit and Saraphina could smell the scent of stale alcohol as the two moved closer to where she hid, "Doesn't matter much now.....com'mon lad.....we got a purse to snatch from another poor sap....there....see 'im." Saraphina could see the second man pointing through a crack between the barrels. Looking to where he was pointing, the feline Kelvic could see the bullies new target. A drunk man that had just stumbled around the corner, reeking of female sweat and debautery. Now came the next decision....to intervene or not? Saraphina pulled her lips back from her animalistic teeth in frustration....all she'd wanted was a simple walk....was that really too much to ask for?

[Enthere]

The beach sand was cool under her bare feet, Enthere held her boots under one arm, striding down a quiet strip of beach on the outskirts of town. Zeltiva was growing on her, she could be near to people, but always have the wild mountains to return to. She was just outside of the town, walking towards it, she planned to skirt around it and go to her camp, but she didn't feel in the least bit tired. Perhaps she would be ready to sleep if she took the longer route and walked through the twisting streets of Zeltiva before back. She put on her boots, then turned into the city at the first docks. It wasn't as pleasant as the beach, instead of being bordered by rocks and bushes on one side, and the sea on the other, she was hemmed in by buildings. This wasn't a pleasant area of town either, and she carefully listened around corners to make sure no one was waiting in an alley before continuing. Well into the city now her pulse pounded just a little faster when she heard voices just a street away, she diverted her course but ended up exactly where she tried to avoid. She kept to a side alley that led back the way she came. There were two men, obviously drunk and up to no good. They were harassing another drunk, one holding a clinking purse out of reach, while his accomplice waved a short knife at their victim. Things were about to turn violent, and very ugly. Enthere waited, holding her breath. Considering whether or not she could take on two men, one of them armed. The drunker man, their victim, was to drunk to be any help. She wondered if he deserved help, for all she knew he was just as bad as the others, maybe Zeltiva could use one less drunk sailor wandering its streets.

[Saraphina Skyglow]

Saraphina Skyglow T he law of nature was something that she'd drawn on and lived by for most of her life. The strong prey on the weak so only the most deserving survived. She understood this rule and looked to the current situation. Two strong predators cornering and prepared to take down the weaker prey. Really she shouldn't interfere.....the laws of nature were set in stone. And despite her confidence at her own skill in combat, Saraphina wasn't sure she could take on both of the large men, particularly when one was armed. But a part of her, the human part that her Mother had worked so hard to raise, questioned the wild side of her logic. She had been the target originally and she was somewhat insulted by the fact that she'd been ignored and overlooked for an easier target. It was a mark against her honor in a sense.....then there was the small matter of her predator bloodlust. Normally she could control it with a hunt in the wilderness every few days. But she'd stayed in the city to explore and educate herself.....her carnivore instincts were nudging the front of her mind. Really, the two men were just common street thugs.....how hard could it be to scare them off. M aking her decision....probably rather rashly but Saraphina always did have a bad habit of doing that....she stood up from behind the barrels and walked out into the middle of the street, "You are unworthy to call yourselves predators if you so easily choose a target that offers no challenge. I was your first choice.....you lost the trail so easily its amazing you are even able to talk and walk without falling over. Care to take a second chance?" Saraphina spoke with an underline growl to her voice. Her golden eyes were narrowed and feet were braced apart. She had her side turned towards the two thugs to make the surfaces of her body less easy to hit. She fisted her hands and shifted her balance back and forth, keeping her vision solely focused on the two men. They both turned at the sound of her voice, obviously surprised by her entrance from the shadows. The drunk man they'd been toying with took the opportunity presented and ran at a stumbling jog, bouncing off the corner of a building as he disappeared around it. T he one man brandishing the knife turned as their intended victum darted away and cursed out loud. The second man never even blinked and kept his eyes locked on Saraphina. The Kelvic did the same....somehow her instincts told her that he was more dangerous than his companion. The knife man turned back to her and snarled out unhappily, "Stupid wench.....youse are so gonna pay for that." And without any further warning, he lowered his center of gravity and extended out his hand that held the knife. Charging forward like a bull that spotted a red cloth, he barrelled towards Saraphina. His movement was easily avoidable...Saraphina just shifted to the side and slapped him on the back to overbalance him. The large man skidded along the rough road, chin bouncing loudly and all forms of foul language pouring from his mouth. Saraphina shifted back and lifted her leg with the intention of driving her foot into the fallen man's gut to incapacitate him further.....the movement was stopped by a rush of pain to her lower back. T he blow to her kidney's knock the breath from her lungs and made her double forward. Gasping for air desperately, she was an easy target for the follow up blow of a meaty fist to the cheek. Stars danced in front of her eyes and darkness threatened to overwhelm her. Knocked to the ground, her only thought was that she really should have known to trust her instincts and watch the second man more closely. Curling into a ball to protect her belly, she was given a moment of reprieve to recover as her assaulter pause to grunt darkly to his fallen partner,"Yer more useless than tits on a boar pig Zeirem, get off yer lazy arse and pin this pretty lass. We might yet have some fun tonight." Saraphina pushed herself up onto her hands and knees, glaring up at the two standing men leering at her with gleams in their eyes that she well recognized. The look of a predator about to sink claws and teeth into an intended kill. She would not fall so easily.....if she was to be killed here....she would be killed fighting every second. S araphina moved quickly as the one she'd heard called Horus reached down towards her head. Kicking out with her legs and using her hands to spin her body, she hit his legs at the junction of his knee joint. Tangled and off balance, he cried out in surprise as he toppled over. Using her spinning momentum, Saraphina twisted in a front handstand and pushed off from the ground to spring back to her feet. Backpedaling from the knife wielding man who swiped at the air with his blade, she ducked and dodged the more coordinated attacks. Her initial attack seemed to have triggered some suppressed combat tactics that Zeirem now pointed in her direction. She gritted her teeth together tightly.....she was going to get hurt in this encounter, of that she had no doubt, but she would need to be more aggressive if she wanted to win. Rising her arm to deflect the next attack, she hissed as the blade cut a shallow wound along her arm. But it allowed her to move closer to her attacker and she used that to her advantage. Driving her fist forward, Saraphina grinned despite the injury as her punch connected with the thugs face with a satisfying CRACK! The slight pain on her knuckles was familiar, it certainly wasn't something that she hadn't felt before. The knife man tumbled to the side giving Saraphina enough time to bounce on the balls of her feet and re-establish her balance as she turned to the scrambling form of Horus. Saraphina now wished she'd shifted to her tiger form....the two men likely would have fled without haste if she'd stepped out like that.....but there was no time for that now. It was fight or flight in this situation....and Saraphina had never been one for running. Spitting out a mouthful of blood and rolling up onto the balls of her feet, she glared at the two thugs as she prepared for the second round.

[Lavine]

32nd of Summer, 514 AV

Lavine could never describe herself as a fighter. Despite all the times she had gotten into accidental tussles, broken up others' fights, and even started a few of her own, she had never enjoyed fighting. It seemed to go against her nature.

The only time it felt okay was when she was stopping a crime.

It wasn't necessarily something Lavine was proud of or open about but the sweet storyteller had brought more than her fair share of justice to Zeltiva. The girl had scars and nightmares to show for it too. Lavine secretly loved doing her part to stop the crime. She loved that satisfied feeling afterwards that told her she had done something good. On occasion, when this feeling had been absent for some time, the girl would go looking for a fight.

Tonight was one such night. In search of a chance to do her part as a citizen, Lavine pushed herself down East Street in owl form. The night air gave off the impression of an earlier heat, but the wind itself was comfortable and fresh. It embraced her wings like a lover, willing her to stop and rest in the breeze for awhile.

Just as she was about to give in to the temptation of rest, she heard the kind of noise she had been searching for. The sickening sound of flesh on flesh resounded through the night, chilling Lavine to the bone. The Kelvic followed the increasingly insistent sounds of a fight to an alley where two men faced a woman.

Each had blood stains on them, although it was hard to tell who was injured and who was winning. It was even difficult to tell who had initiated the whole mess. Coming to the conclusion that they all needed to be stopped, Lavine opened her wings and dropped down closer to the fight.

From her new vantage point, she could see that there was a blade involved, albeit a small and dirty one. With a lull in the storm present, the owl took the opportunity to dive down and aim straight for the blade. Her claws outstretched, she attempted to grasp it in her feet. It was a narrow miss. The rough bottoms of her talons scraped the blade, leaving a hairline abrasion. The man twirled around, trying his best to find the one who had brushed against his blade.

With acrobatic grace, Lavine rounded a corner and came back at the man again. This time, she aimed not for the blade which he held, but his face. Caught off guard, the man was unable to protect himself. The barn owl's claws dug into his hair, successfully tangling man and bird together. Loud shouts and wild swatting was not nearly enough to throw either of them. The entwined pair stumbled around for a while before the man realized that he still carried a blade.

At the sight of the bloody silver, the Kelvic's heart dropped. He swung at his own hair wildly, nicking Lavine's skin more than once. She screeched loudly in fear, but there was no one around that might have understood the cries. She was left to her own devices for the time being.

Without another option, Lavine found the courage to fight back against the blade. Her sharp claws dug deeper, reaching into the man's scalp. His blood-curdling screams were enough to make her back off. Freeing her talons from the man's tangles, she took to the air once more.

From the air, she could see from their expressions and determined body language that none of the group was planning on breaking up anytime soon. The owl mentally sighed. It was going to be a long night.

[Saraphina Skyglow]

Saraphina Skyglow S he circled around the two men, trying to keep both in her sights. Obviously these two men had been in fights together before as they separated and tried to flank her. The unarmed man got a bit too eager to get in a hit and lunged forward with a front punch aimed at Saraphina’s face. Ducking under the attack, she drove her knee into his gut. The man doubled forward and she brought her hands together, linking her fingers into a tight ball and driving it into the base of the man’s skull with a satisfying howl of victory. The man fell to the ground, groaning in pain and she delivered a swift kick to the thug’s gonads just to make sure he stayed down for a while. Spinning back towards the knife man, Saraphina stopped cold in surprise at the scene she witnessed. S pinning and flailing like a newly hatched bird trying to learn how to fly, Saraphina witnessed a mid-sized, brownish colored bird she recognized as a type of owl clinging to the man’s skull and digging sharp talons into his skin. Blood trickled down his face as he spun wildly and the owl’s wing flapped in the air as it tried to maintain its hold. The hand that held the knife came up and began to slash at the white bird and Saraphina growled in displeasure, darting forward. Her mind had started to work again and she figured out what was happening. No wild animal would ever put itself in risk to attack a prey that it had no hope of killing and there was no one around to act as the owl’s master, so it wasn’t a pet. The only other explanation was that the owl was a Kelvic in animal form. And Saraphina wasn’t willing to stand by and let one of her own be hurt because of her rash actions. L eaping into the air as she neared the knife man, she was grateful when the owl Kelvic flew away. Pulling her knees to her chest, Saraphina kicked out with her legs. The soles of her boots connected with the man’s chest with her full weight and sprinting momentum behind the jumping kick. The thug was thrown backwards a good two feet, landing hard on his back and releasing the knife, the metal blade skittering off into the darkness. Saraphina landed on her back, slightly winded and sore but easily able to roll to her feet after a moment or two. Looking around at the two groaning men, she nodded in satisfaction and looked up to the side, “Thank you for your aid, fellow Kelvic. Will you speak to me? I have never met one of my own and would like to talk with you.”

[Lavine]

32nd of Summer, 514 AV

How did she know? Lavine's only response to the end of the fight was a scatter-brained thought. Here she was, scraped and bruised in a dark East Street alley, and she was worried about hiding as a Kelvic?

Anxiety bubbled in her gizzard, but was quelled when the street fighter announced that she too was a Kelvic. Reluctantly, the barn owl fluttered to the ground in front of the bloodied woman. From there, she was able to make her assessment of the woman more fully.

She had thick red hair, similar to an Inartan's locks. Her pale face looked soft and rosy, even with the marks of her recent scuffle. Her eyes gleamed with the look of a predator, so bright that Lavine knew she must be able to see well in the dark. Now aware of what she was up against, Lavine gave in and switched to her human form.

The short, petite woman crossed her arms across her chest as she stood in front of her newest supposed ally.
"'Fellow Kelvic'?" She asked suspiciously.
Her head tilted off to one side quickly in a very owl-like movement. Without waiting for a response, Lavine prattled on.
"You looked pretty happy to win that. What was going on? Did you know those guys? And how do I know you aren't out to hurt me as well?"

The girl wiped the back of her bare arm across her nose, smearing blood across both her arm and face. Gross. Stubbornly, she refused to try and clean it up. Instead, she recrossed her arms and cocked her head at the woman again.

[Enthere]

Enthere watched the fight as it progressed. She crouched in the shadows as a slim, striking, red-haired woman appeared and challenged the men. She was either brave or very foolish, or she had a plan the men didn't know about. Enthere carefully considered assisting her, the mens original victim had gone, to stupid and cowardly to help his rescuer. The woman seemed to brave to be acting alone, one woman, even a strong one, against two men (one of them armed) wasn't usually an even match. This woman was either an assassin, or belonged to some sort of....gang or group. There could easily be others around, hiding in buildings and shadowed doorways, and thy could be as dangerous as the two men. More so probably. Though the woman didn't seem like the rough sort to her, Enthere was still fairly new around. She hadn't spent much time around the 'rough sort' of Zeltiva. That was the first thing that stopped her from jumping into the fight. The second came when a large tawny bird flapped down to assist the woman. Enthere quickly came to the same conclusion as most watchers: The bird, a small barn owl, was a Kelvic. Normal animals didn't act this way, only dogs and sometimes horses. This confirmed Enthere's earlier thoughts that the woman was part of a group. The same woman who herself fought like an animal. She was more graceful, she held back less than most when she fought. Similar the Enthere herself. The fight was over quickly, both street brutes laying prone on the ground. The pair hadn't needed her assistance, and Enthere was still hidden in the shadows, watching, waiting to see what their true motives were. The red haired woman spoke first.“Thank you for your aid, fellow Kelvic. Will you speak to me? I have never met one of my own and would like to talk with you.” Enthere was surprised to find that the attack was not premeditated, nor were the two Kelvic's acting together. It was rather a chance meeting. There are a lot of Kelvics in this city, she thought. These were not the first of her kind she'd happened upon in Zeltiva. She hadn't entirely liked the others she'd met, but these seemed brave and interesting. Enthere stood carefully, staying hidden. She didn't want them to pounce on her because they saw a movement in the alley. What was the best way to play this? She wondered. Enthere strove to be honest, as she had been taught. But she knew her sudden appearance could look suspicious. She tried to think of a good excuse for not helping them, but truly they hadn't needed her. But she did want to meet these interesting Kelvics. Enthere walked out of the alley, her hands visible at her sides, trying to appear non-threatening. "That was very impressive." She said, just loud enough to be heard by their enhanced Kelvic senses. "You handle yourselves very well." Well, she might still look suspicious, but she trusted their instincts to know she was only curious, and yes, impressed.

[Saraphina Skyglow]

Saraphina Skyglow S araphina watched with curiosity as the silent form of the owl glided to the ground. The two predators eyed each other for a moment before a cracking of bone and shifting of skin was seen. Standing before Saraphina was a small, fine boned women with dark hair. She seemed unhappy at the feline shifter and Saraphina gave a feral grin in response to Lavine, flashing her elongated canines as both a cheeky gesture and a mild threat. She was grateful for the help, but knowing her own personality, any other Kelvic would likely have a wild tendency and be rather unpredictable. She didn't want to start another fight, but erring on the side of caution would be best in any case, the red haired Kelvic replyed with a light voice but her body language suggested caution and preparation, "You don't know that I'm not going to hurt you...but as I said, I haven't met any other Kelvics in my life and I'm naturally a curious person. I'd rather not get into another fight.....I've had enough bruises for one night. I was walking and minding my own business when I sensed these two men following me. I avoided them, but they choose to target a weaker foe....I felt.....insulted by their actions....I enjoy a challenging hunt. I stepped in between them and their target....not the best choice perhaps, but it was quite satisfying since I haven't been able to do a proper hunt." One of the men started to stir and Saraphina shifted uncomfortably. The two men were not down, merely stunned for the moment. Leaving would be best. S he nodded to the two men and looked back to the petite owl Kelvic, "We should leave....I've satisfied my baser instinct and despite what you might think, I am not found of murder...Thank you again for your help. My...skills are not perhaps as well developed as I thought....I'll have to work on that." Saraphina started to walk past Lavine, taking care to stay a few arms lengths away, both to keep herself safe and to not provoke any attacks from the Kelvic. Turning to face Lavine as she walked past so Saraphina's back was never exposed to her, she paused and waited to see if Lavine would join her. Decided that if any form of trust was to be established between them, there would need to be some exchange of information, Saraphina kept speaking, "I am Saraphina....my animal form is a large predator called a Northern Tiger. Your flight capabilities make it very easy for you to escape if you wish, but I would like to talk to another Kelvic. I've only really known of our races through my Mother's teachings....but that doesn't compare to discovering facts yourself. Will you come with me for a bit? At least till we are away from this part of town." T he appearance of the new girl who walked out of the alleyway on silent feet made Saraphina's guard jump up once more. The owl shifter had helped her, without cause to, so Saraphina would return the favor and cause no harm, not that Lavine needed to know that just yet. But the new girl that approached was another matter. Thought she moved in a non threatening way and spoke softly, Saraphina was still uneasy. The city was making her soft it seemed, she should have sensed the presence of the other women before. Shifting uncomfortably and sniffing the air to catch the steel eyed women's scent, she replied cautiously, "Thank you....I wasn't sure I could strike down both....and I really haven't. They are still awake and potential dangerous. You....you have an odd scent.....and something else. We....all of us I suppose....really should move elsewhere....." Saraphina looked over Enthere with suspicion, trying to figure a few things out. There was a wild scent to her, something similar to woodland forests and fresh grass. It was not the scent of a domestic city dweller....at least not one she'd come to know. Saraphina was curious about the two women, but she was feeling the need to distance herself from the two shifting thugs. The feline Kelvic started to walk back towards the docks, keeping her pace slow so both women could keep pace if they so choose to follow.

[Enthere]

Enthere nodded at the girls remarks, "I am Enthere." She said, she wanted them to trust her, it would make for a much easier evening for all of them. She watched them, especially Saraphina, who seemed the most on edge, for a moment. "I am also a Kelvic." She said it stiffly, she didn't trust these women any more than they trusted her. But she didn't believe them to be bad people, simply cautious like herself. She was used to cautious. Finally she added, "my animal form is a mountain cougar...It is a cat." She added in case they didn't know. She nodded again, this time inclining her head toward Saraphina, she had heard her say she was also a large cat, a tiger. Enthere had never seen such a beast, even in Avanthal, but acknowledged that bond. The similarities she already recognised in the stranger. She had met Kelvics before, but non so similar to herself. Enthere turned to the owl shifter, who had yet to say her name. She was a small woman, with long waves of brown hair and pretty eyes. She didn't look like a fighter, but her actions proved otherwise. Enthere knew owls to be hunting birds, graceful and silent, but deadly to the field mouse. This girl fit that description well, Enthere was curious to see her animal form again. Owls seemed to be a most cat-like bird. Enthere kept a wary eye on Saraphina as she addressed the other Kelvic. She was unclothed, and though the fact probably didn't bother her, Enthere knew that if the three women wandered through the city, one of them as naked as a newborn kit, people would get the wrong idea about them. They would probably get the wrong idea about us anyways, she thought. Enthere took off her cloak and held it out to Lavine. She was still several steps away, but the garment would be easy to take from a near-safe distance. She wasn't sure the woman would take it, she might just change back into a bird and fly away. "If your coming, you might want this." Her tone was matter-of-fact as always, but gentle. As many things as she was, Enthere was a healer, and had a kind heart. She stood still, watching Saraphina as she started to move away, Lavine, and the two men who were starting to rouse. "In any case," she said, partly talking to herself, "we don't want to be around when these things get up in a few minutes." Not that they couldn't take them, because obviously they could all handle themselves, but she was as impartial to murder as Saraphina.

[Lavine]

32nd of Summer, 514 AV

Lavine bobbed her head at the introductions of the two women without offering her own. It was a nicety which she felt could wait. She was wary of following the pair of cats down a dark pathway but the groan of a stirring thug had her taking the offered covering and quickly following Saraphina.

There were few lights on the empty streets they took. Those that were present were fickle. The flickering of light and shadows mixed with the soft breeze created an eerie feel which left Lavine shivering despite the warmth of Enthere's cloak.

In what little light there was, Lavine found the chance to examine the newest addition to the what was quickly becoming a Kelvic gang. Her demeanor could only be described as solid. She walked with a closed look about her, as though no one could break through to her true emotions- nor should they try. Enthere's hair was a mess of auburn, reminding Lavine of a pile of leaves in the fall. She appeared, for lack of a better word, aged. It was not that she was particularly old though she was surely older than Lavine, but she had clearly seen many things and come out worse for the wear. Her eyes were made of harsh, chilled steel. They challenged others to challenge her, but the owl girl would be taking no chances on that tonight. She was finished fighting.

They walked in silence for some distance before Lavine found the courage and peace of mind to speak. Even so, she declined to use her full name. Instead, she offered the pair her childhood nickname favored by her mother.
"You can call me Vinny. As you may have noticed, I am a barn owl inside this human form." The girl blinked her wide eyes and peered at the women beside her with a curious stare.

"How about a drink? Who's up for it ladies?" She could think of nothing she wanted more than a relaxing drink and a quiet room to drink it in. Except maybe a bed...
"The Kelp Bar might still be open."