Closed [NW Beach Location] Who are you? (Kiva)

[Loda]

Timestamp 34th of Summer 515AV

"Spoosh" went the sound of the long seven foot spear into the water. Loda stood with arched back in ready position to pull what he intended to strike out of the water. The pole jiggled violently for a few moments and then slowly came to a stop. A grunt emerged from his mouth as he pulled the spear back up out of the water. It was harder for him to pull back like that with weight on it so he did so slowly. Out of the water came a fish that was beautiful reddish coral in color, about a foot or two long and about a foot tall. Its mouth gasped for water but only received air. Loda stood out in the midst of the water with a tribal loincloth on and little else but some necklaces. His eyes and chin were striped with an aquamarine paint that indicated he was on the hunt. Water surrounded him and he stood upon an outcropping of rock that stuck mere inches out of the water with a slightly elevated peak to it that raised to about three feet. His left sandaled foot rested on the raised rock and his right was flat, almost in the in the water upon the other part of the rock.

As he removed the fish from his spear, he hooked a few fingers through its gills and began to move back toward shore. Another sploosh was heard as he leapt without fear into the clear dark waters. He waded with the small waves which aided him and pushed him slightly toward shore and to the right. He was fishing on the northwest side of the island amongst the rocks and sand. Smoke could be seen rising from what could only be a smouldering fire, most likely long forgotten by the man as he waited on the rock. Loda was strong and bore the scars of many fights. Though he was not of the Sunken Scars clan, he did keep a record upon him of various things of great importance. While he had the potential for fierce battle and strength, he seemed at peace right now, almost enjoying himself as he let the waves carry his fish for him. It was about fifteen feet from the rock to his temporary encampment. Therein were some logs and a large rock set up over the smouldering fire as though it was meant to be a flat griddle of some kind.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Kiva]

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34th of Summer, 515 A.V
Black Rock Shore

If there was one thing Kiva learned last season along Black Rock's shores, it was to face your fears. And if there was another thing she learned, it was the importance of hand holds. Climbing was something Kiva was not the most skilled at, but she had a basic understanding of. You reach up, grab something, pull yourself up, repeat. Unfortunately, this was harder than it looked, and for Kiva, it left her clutching the side of a small rocky ledge, breathing heavily. More than once had she fallen, lost her foot hold and slid to the ground. And if she was being honest, she was nearly at her wits end, determined to reach the sea gull nest just a few feet above her.

Fingers clinging to the indents in the rocks, Kiva looked both above, and then below. The fall wouldn't kill her. Maybe jolt her legs, but she could still get up and go if necessary. Taking a deep breath, she lifted a leg and tried to feel for a stable place to push off from. After a moment, she pulled her leg higher and found a spot.

"Ha." She grunted, using it as leverage. Immediately, she reached and tried to grab an opening. The rock was stable and supported her, and she pulled and pushed simultaneously, successfully rising just a little bit higher. She paused to take a moment to regain her breath. Her arms were tired and the rocks were beginning to hurt her bare feet.

She repeated the step from earlier. Reaching upwards and waiting until she found a reliable area to put her weight. At one point, she went to push off with her foot and it slipped, banging her knee against the rock. Kiva bit her lip, trying to refrain from crying out. The last thing she needed was to gather the attention of a mother bird flying around. Kiva had already seen a few gulls in the sky and didn't want to get caught. Clutching the rocks until her fingers hurt to distract her from the pain, it took a moment until she continued.

She tried again, this time making sure she had the right foot placement before attempting to move forward. The female Myrian rose upwards, eyes finally spotting the nest in front of her. She grinned, using a free hand to reach out and feel around in the nest. There was no baby feathers fluttering around, nor chirping, so when her hand wrapped around an egg, a grin spread across her whole face.

"Thank Myri."

She quickly put it in her pouch and grabbed another. Just when she began pulling away, she saw a flash of white and then a screech sounded. Kiva gasped, shoving the egg in her bag and trying to shimmy down. The beating of wings started around her and she lowered as fast as she could. The sea gull lunged, scratching at her exposed shoulder and she tried to stay focused, but the new attack left her unable to figure out how to get down completely.

The sea gull swooped again, pecking her back and nearly causing Kiva to fall, but the determined woman swatted at the bird momentarily while a string of curses left her mouth. Finally, and without much grace, Kiva pulled her bag close to her chest and jumped.

The fall was in no way deadly, but the jump caused a shock to run up her long legs. Kiva's feet slipped a bit when she hit the sand and she had to catch herself with her knee. Tiny rocks scratched up her palm and legs, her other arm still securing the eggs to her chest. And then, Kiva began to run.

Starting off as a limp, while she regained her footing, Kiva heard the continual screeching and was lucky that there hadn't been a flock. A sharp stitch in her side slowed her down, and she knew the bird would attack again if she didn't think of what to do. Bare feet kicking up sand, she continued to push herself, her limp beginning to gain strength. And that's when the sun bounced off the nearby waters, giving Kiva her only refuge.

'Oh, Laviku,' she thought hastily, never having prayed to the god before, Help a girl out, won't ya?'

Changing her course, Kiva bounded off towards the ocean, barreling onto wet sand and then, wading through cool waters.

The gentle waves gave some resistance, and the worn out Myrian just wanted to disappear under the surface, in hopes the bird wouldn't follow her and eventually give up. The gull swooped one last time, drawing blood when it pecked repeatedly at her shoulder again, the sting painful. Kiva had enough and when she had the opportunity, dove under the salty waters.

And thus she began to swim along the shore, preparing for her next move.

★★★

[Loda]

It was truly guilt by association. While the gull stretched its wings, gaining height off the breeze the wave brought in, it could see now from its new aerial position another offender. Gulls would do anything within their power to cause harm to the offender who stole from their nest. That could mean pecks with its beak, scratches with its feet, releasing stored food from its belly, or defecating on its enemy. Loda's sister when they were very young would repeatedly assault the coastal gulls as their parents hunted for the Whiptails along the shore. His sister would chase them off and was content when they flew away, but moments later, and in Loda's sight, the gull swung around, dove at her, and spit in her eye.

So it was not an unknown sound for him when he could hear the defensive cries of the gull. It was not exactly quiet anyways. If its head could pop off to screech any louder it would. Even as it dove at Kiva as she dove into the water, it was calling. This now closer sound alerted Loda's senses all the more. Not only was there a predator about, but it was fast enough to move from the nest all the way to him with a quick speed. The water rushed and pulled backward over his legs as he stood there alert. The depth that was at his waist had now lowered to his knees as the shoreline approached. As the bird approached him with speed he raised his spear at it with a bit of a grunt.

"Ha!" he shouted to it threateningly. The spear was between the bird's intended target and itself and thus it was forced to recognize the power of this new foe. Screeching as it went, it circled above, calling for its mate, though no answer came. Kiva was behind a rock from him when she dove in, but he watched the water and scanned to the shore. His eyes shot both ways repeatedly, wondering where this possible monster would emerge. He was out of practice from such swift things and wasn't entirely sure what all was on this rock. Perhaps it was a Ghost. He had seen plenty of them so far. They tried to play with him and scare him, but found him a dull target. If she took a while to come up he would with strength, throw the fish the rest of the way to shore and proceed to investigate.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Kiva]

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The salt water burned her new wounds, but there was a pleasantness to the sensation, a reminder that perhaps Kiva had gotten away. Still holding her breath, Kiva reached into her bag, feeling to see if the eggs were still intact. Surprisingly, no slime or unborn chick felt like it had been squished, and even under the water, the Myrian felt victorious. Quickly removing her hand, Kiva looked at the surface, thinking she saw the gull fly off. Prepared and utterly tired, the Myrian only waited a tic more, no longer capable of holding her breath.

Slowly her dark head emerged and she tried to quietly inhale, but the act was louder than she had planned. She had not only climbed a small obstacle, jumped down and then ran away while a devil bird attacked her, but she had lunged into water to get away. She sucked in oxygen, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Above her the gull swooped but seemed to be circling, and Kiva looked around, a wicked grin energizing her after her recent theft.

She paddled with her arms, moving to a shallower part of the water where she could stand comfortably and as she moved around a rock, stopped. In front of her was a man in a loincloth. The attire itself reminded her of home, and after spotting various scars on his body, Kiva wondered immediately if he was Myrian.

Kiva slowly moved further to shore, her loose pants clinging to her body. Her top, which had previously been white, was rather revealing, not that Kiva was ever concerned. Reluctant to come completely to land, where she was easier prey if the bird returned, Kiva called out to the man, testing out her theory by speaking in Myrian, "Oi! Son of Myri, or savage?"

★★★

[Loda]

As Kiva rounded the rock to peer at him, his frequent glancing missed her, yet his spear point was facing her. Eventually his eyes came to meet hers as she rounded the rock and the spear point for a brief moment focused more accurately upon her. It showed the mans ability to piece her through if he intended to throw, yet as she walked out from behind the rock, his sight was appeased on her form and her greeting.

He loosened his spear a light bit, letting the point fall toward the small waves crashing upon his shins. With a slightly deeper, yet raw voice he spoke back to her as one who has called in battle many years, "Some would say I'm both," he playfully said in Myrian with a flawless fluency. He then continued by affirming, "These shores though are foreign to me and I long for my home of Taloba." He felt less threatened now, preferring the near bare chested daughter of Myri over any other beast that could have presented itself.

With direction he moved further up the shore toward his fire where he set down the fish in his hand and took a piece of wood next to the smouldering blaze and tried to get it started. Not a single moment from when she rounded the rock till now did he take his eye off her nor let go of his spear, even if she was a fellow Myrian. His markings indicated he was of the Blood Fang clan. If she really paid attention when he spoke, where his normal canines were, there was another set of sharp pointed teeth. While many of his brothers and sisters in the clan sharpened all their teeth, celebrating their animalistic nature, there were some like him who did not. It was personal choice and didn't make him any less of a tribesman or any weaker. While they may have acted more animalistic, he indeed was.

Now that the fire had fuel he stood once more and faced her directly. The wet leather loincloth at his waist nearly matched the mans skin color, tanned in the sun. His skin was tight and youthful, looking still quite young, yet older than her perhaps, and the only visible flaw on him was that of a large gash that was no planned scar where his shoulder met his torso. This arm was his spear arm and instead of holding his spear at her, he rested it ready in the sand; standing up vertically with point facing up. He looked her over with eyes that studied her features openly and with no threat he gestured to the fish by the fire. "The waters here are full of life."

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Kiva]

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Kiva noticed the man's eyes on her, but cared little. How long had it been since he had seen a Myrian woman? Or perhaps he wondered if she was dangerous? Kiva's own interaction with Myrians on the island had been little to none, not including her employer, Tokia. She walked closer to the shore, keeping a relative distance, but remained rather curious as to what he was doing. Smoke rose into the air, twisting and dancing before it dissipated and she decided to comment on his words, "I have not been to Taloba for some time," she admitted, feeling a smooth shell press into the sand underneath her foot. She stopped and bent to pull it from its place and clean it off. It was white, spiral, and smooth, and Kiva instantly liked it, pocketing it for a hair ornament later, "I think of returning every day."

It wasn't that Kiva did not like Black Rock... but... it just wasn't home. It didn't have the smell of spices or jungle fruit. It lacked the color, the vibrancy of bright colors and dark skin. Kiva was sure this stranger understood, and when he settled his weapon in the sand and the gull looked to have moved on, she left the waters and smiled at his comment.

"Yes," she confirmed, deciding to make a small joke, "At least something on this island is." Wringing out her hair, she still didn't join him fully, not wanting to intrude on his plans without permission, so she stood a fair ways away, putting her soggy bag next to her and retrieving her prizes. Two eggs, both speckled with brown were weighed in the palms of her hands. Kiva looked at them fondly and then with a smug smile. "I am Kiva of The Crimson Sun. Will you share your fire?" She held up one of the eggs, returning the other to her bag, "I could use a break from common. It makes my tongue feel fat."

★★★

[Loda]

He moved to snag the fish, feeling a bit more secure as she picked up the shell to clean it off. Sand had covered the fish with its annoying grain that got everywhere. If he intended to eat this fish then he was going to clean it and descale it. He didn't feel like chewing on grains of sand. With a sudden intake of breath he stood and brought the fish with him to the water.

Wading in a little, he washed the fish in the water. He did so a bit further from the edge of the water so that the swirling sands of the crashing waves didn't just get on the fish again. Looking to the woman as she spoke he nodded, understanding the feeling. It was something he didn't need to comment on. It was felt in both of their heart. He missed the sounds of the jungle and the wetness of the rains that held a heat to them. While it rained here, it was slightly cooler at times, being away from the mainland and subject to coastal wind.

Now that the fish was dripping and sand-free, he returned to the shore. Her hands held her now clean treasure, a shell, and he watched out of the corner of his eye as she put it away. He did show some mirth though toward her statement and let out a little laugh. He looked like a serious man, but the laugh sounded like his life had been filled with laughter and good times as well. He looked back to her as she dried herself. Something about her drying out her hair that was rather attractive to him. Perhaps it had been too long since he had seen another Myrian woman.

She introduced herself as Kiva of the Crimson Sun and retrieved her eggs, almost presenting them to him in respect. He likewise offered his fish chuckling at her comment about speaking common. In showing his fish, the red coral hues that lined its side shimmered in the sun, and showed it was a nice catch. "Come over Kiva. I am Loda, of the Blooded Fangs. Speak in a real language for a while." He smiled up to her and rest his spear upon his back as he sat down.

"Tell me more of your fight with the gull." He smirked, avoiding eye contact as he was playing with her and he took up a stick and poked the fire to get it going more and more. He seemed to know what he was doing because it jumped up. At his side he pulled out a knife that was black bladed obsidian and had a white bone handle from part of a Dhani. It was etched and laced with gold philtering of great quality. He then plunged it into the fish and began to de-gut it.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Kiva]

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So, he was teasing her? Kiva scoffed, shrugging as she went to take a seat by the fire. It had been awhile since she had joked with another of her kind, "The egg is for someone else," she began, "I saw the nest by itself, and thought it would be an easier target. I was caught, and so I ran into the water. I had planned to drag the bird under, but it flew off before I could."

Kiva sighed, realizing how silly she must have looked to another Myrian, being chased off by a bird. In fact, she wanted to grimace, but found no point in drawing more attention to her misadventure. Her ego wouldn't let that happen. The thought of the drowning the bird took her mind to a more morbid place, including the benefits of the animal's death, "Tell me, Loda," Kiva kept her eyes down, rolling the egg in her hand as she imagined its kin, "What spirit do you think that gull had? Maternal instincts? Was it a fierce protector?"

Reaching into her bag, Kiva retrieved an eating knife, still wet from earlier, but otherwise unscathed. Propping the egg in one hand, Kiva pressed the tip into the top of the egg, twisting gently until a small hole was made. She set the knife in the sand and began to pick at the hole until it was slightly bigger and she finally looked up, "I always think about the strengths of my intended. What they were good at. How they lived... My father was a maledictor, so I suppose I always wonder what remains would grant what gifts. Questionable habit, depending on who you ask."

"Not the best meal conversation." Kiva chuckled, lifting the opening she had created in the egg and leaning her head back to drink some of the yolk. It reminded her of eating the whiptail eggs back home, and she stopped to wipe her mouth with her thumb. "Would you like some?"

★★★

[Loda]

The man could sense she was a powerful woman and at her side was a Kris, something he had seen some people use in the Taloban army. He thought to how well the woman would fight and if she could perhaps him in his quest to strengthen his arm. As he de-gutted the fish he pulled the small heart from it and considered his prey. This was no match for him and so he let it fall to the sand with the rest of the guts.

"She came after me, that is why you didn't get your chance. She met my spear and couldn't come close. But at least you got your prize. You are lucky there weren't more of them." he said as he finished watching what she was doing and started to fillet his fish. "I've seen entire cliffsides come alive to chase off predators. Thousands of birds taking flight for a single purpose. It's quite impressive, have you ever seen it?" He didn't ask as a challenge, but just out of curiosity.

As Kiva asked him what he thought the instincts of the bird were, and then continued about her father's malediction, he paused a moment before continuing to slice the fish into segments and throw them on the stone. He could bite into a dhani's heart or eat any manner of beasts cold, but he hated to eat fish cold. Its flesh was not satisfying to him in its natural state, or at least he hadn't found a fish he liked yet.

"It's fine, I'm not bothered." he said about meal conversation. He after all was a Blooded Fang. With welcome hands gladly took some of the egg, drank some of it, and then returned it to her. He then answered her, "My mother told me a story once about how the mother Eagle gave sight to a blind man. She said that the blind man could see better than a thousand men, but the eagle at a terrible cost was now blind. So the man carried mother eagle on his back in a sack wherever he went. Till one day the man found woman and left mother eagle behind to go be with her. Alone, mother eagle cried until the man and woman returned. The man asked mother eagle, 'why do you cry mother eagle?' She answered, 'because of my sight you have found love, she is your sight now, return my sight to me so that I can find love and she will share you hers'. So the man gave the blessing back and mother eagle went her way. The woman shared her sight with the man and together they were able to see and be strong together." he mused a bit. "I think that the story shows that animals even have feelings and desire of love, for love, and maternal instinct. They can be fierce and gentle. They can be a fierce protector."

He shrugged about the subject and poked the fire some before taking his knife and lifting a warmed piece off the stone and offered it to Kiva. "Would you like some?"

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Kiva]

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"Yes," Kiva admitted, imagining the great number of gulls inhabiting the rocky ledges, "I have been lurking around for awhile, looking for one that had separated itself. I don't think I could outrun a flock. That might surprise you, given my obvious physical prowess," Kiva grinned, poking fun at herself. She doubted most Myrian females would admit themselves to being anything but the best, but Kiva knew she was no tactical war hero. In fact, she was disappointed in herself, and wasn't afraid to look at where she lacked strength, "Right before I came to Black Rock, I was in our military, but..." Kiva released a soft sigh, looking for the words. She hadn't quite spoken them aloud to anyone before, and couldn't quite explain why she was telling Loda now, "It was right after the djed storm, and my parents were killed. Or... they vanished. I do not know. I had a lot of resentment, I was heartbroken. They were my only family. Anyway, I didn't take my training as seriously as I should have. I just wanted to leave. So, I have regrets."

Kiva leaned back, taking another drink of the gull egg and finishing it off. She crushed the remains and threw it in the fire, wiping any residue off on her pants, "I need to train again, and pay attention this time. I'm hoping to go back home someday and rejoin. Maybe see if I have any family left. I never had any siblings, but I might have kin on my father's side."

"That story you were told you, it's a nice idea. I think you are right about the animals, but it is funny how differently each of our mothers would have told the tale. I suppose mine would have changed a few details, perhaps made it so that he never returned the eagle's sight, and leaving her to die. She had a complicated relationship with my father. Believed that someone can only truly rely on themselves, love makes us overlook the faults of our affection."

When offered the fish, Kiva plucked free a small piece of meat and popped it in her mouth, pulling out any bones and tossing them in the sand. Then she stood and stretched her long limbs, reaching for the sky. "So, do you have any reason for being so far from Taloba, or do you just like the antics of ghosts?"

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