[Sanctuary] Returning Home(Kavala)

[Hatot]

56th Night of Summer, 510 A.V.

There was a the crackle of thunder from the distance leading out to the sea, indicating that a storm was on it’s way, darkening the night skies even further. Hatot barely noticed it himself, all he could concentrate on was getting home, getting back to Kavala. The ride was slow, and was delayed on the way back as he came across the Akalak raiding party in pursuit of the Zith slavers. They reacted in surprise to the sheer number of Ziths that Hatot had brought down, as well as the strange creature strapped on his back. Disappointment though appeared on their faces when they learned Hatot had claimed none of the women he had saved as Nakivaks. Considering his condition, however, and the fact that a Drykas Diamond clan had shown, such couldn’t be helped in the long run of things, even though Hatot had kept silent that he had never truly intended to claim any of them for Riverfall in the long run.

Tulok was getting tired from the added weight, his traveling slowed now to a simple walk as they neared the edge of the hill that would take them up to Riverfall itself. Hatot didn’t mind. The less motion there was in the ride, the less pain he felt from his wounds. His left side had been damaged the most. A puncture wound and shattered left shoulder blade on his back, several small puncture wounds along his back and front from where the Kimenth had wrapped it’s long limb around him, attempting to the drain him of his djed and life. An arrow wound and several cuts along his left arm. Deep bruising along his right arm. Small cuts along his legs. His face battered, bruised and bleeding. As well as three broken ribs, threatening dangerously to puncture one of his lungs. Despite being patched up by the Drykas, the wounds were starting to take their toll, and Hatot was beginning to feel weaker even as Tulok began climbing the hill. Radris was still asleep, having given his all during their conflict, which is where most of their strength and drive from the entire fight came from.

Hatot slowly looked up, seeing Sanctuary already in view, despite the fact that his right eye was almost swollen shut by then. The very sight of it gave him a sense of renewed energy. He was almost home. “Radris, Tulok. We’re almost there.” Hatot said weakly, almost in a whisper. “Just a little farther.”

Tulok began to increase his pace, feeling slightly renewed as well, as the horse’s walk slowly turned into a trot, causing Hatot to wince slightly as new sharp pains had began to etch themselves all over his body. Any numbing agents that both he and the Drykas had used had worn off by now. He could see his vision blurring slightly as Tulok neared the gate, but he gave a relieving sigh as Tulok soon entered, moving towards the stable as another crash of thunder and streak of lightning out in the Ocean skies practically announced his return loudly where he could not.

“Kavala?” Hatot called out, bringing the volume of his voice up as much as he could. “I’m home.”

Then all strength had left him as his body leaned off to the side. He fell towards the ground, a loud thump as his right shoulder impacted with the stable’s floor first, the rest of the animals there calling out in cries of either panic or pleas to bring attention. His vision still blurred, but he held on, remaining conscious. He had to see her, had to see her face at least once before he would lose consciousness. He had to see her again.

[Kavala]

The day he rode out for his Rite, Kavala had ridden with him. She had escorted him to the edge of Sanctuary land riding her Strider. Drykas women were strong, and though her konti visage masked her upbringing neatly, she still did the honorable thing and rose with him, helped him dress, and packed his stallion. Then she mounted her own and escorted him to where it was proper and no further.

She'd watched him ride away. To some cultures, it was taboo to watch someone disappear into the distance. To the Drykas, it was custom. And it was also custom to hold a vigil until that loved one came back. And so it was that every morning she rode out to the exact spot she'd left him - after her run, her workout, and all her chores - and waited looking for a sign. Days passed. She heard nothing. Each one time Syna rose and fell her worry grew. But she soldiered on, going through the motions of living while she waited to see if he succeeded. Each night, as the denizens of Sanctuary gathered for their evening meal, a place was set for him. Tulok's stall was made fresh and grain laid out as if he was still there. Everyone waited, quietly speaking of the days events, no one mentioning the obvious - one of their own was gone.

They all watched the road though. And they all looked the other way when Kavala rode out faithfully each and every day to wait at the spot she'd escorted him to, offering prayers to the Gods and Goddess' she knew for his safe return. She rode out at night too. And then even bit their tongues when as the days passed she started leaving the gate open rather than securing the facility after dark. Aweston had been the one that had mentioned it to her though Raiha had given him one of her sharpest hawkish glares. Her reply had been simple, allowing no recourse or rebuke. "It's open until he comes home. To be welcoming... and in case he can't work the latch". Was all she'd say, going about Sanctuary's business and treating patients or working the young horses they had until their lost son was home.

She didn't sleep much. Kavala didn't even bother to go through the motions of pretending to sleep after the first day. She often took to loitering on the veranda, napping lightly if she was tired, watching the open gate as if expecting Hatot to ride through any given time. In fact, her strange azure gaze often lost focus, easily distracted, as if she were listening with more than her eyes - but her whole senses.

He would be home. She knew it. And so she waited.

The Konti was up, curled in a chair by the firepit when Tulok clopped slowly through the gate in the gentlest trot she'd ever see him manage. Lightening announced their approach, illuminating the inner courtyard like no artificial lights ever could. The figure slumped on the big spotted zavian's back was unmistakable even if his appearence was somehow wrong int he dim light. He called her name and she sat upright abruptly, understanding in an instant that it was indeed Hatot and not a half-imagined wish come true. But before she could reach him - before she could anser - he slumped and then tumbled right off Tulak to land in a heap at his feet.

Kavala was there in an instant, kneeling down..... hands gently probing him for injury.

[Hatot]

As Kavala began to inspect Hatot’s body for his injuries, she would find several. There were several cuts and scraps along Hatot’s body that would not concern her for the most part as they were typical lumps that Radris would get during one of his nights out at the tavern. However, there were some that were not typical to see on him, especially considering his skill. Along his right arm, a deep bruise lined his arm, turned purple by the passing of time. The blunt force of the strike may have even caused a hairline fracture along Hatot’s right arm that he wasn’t even aware of. The bruising, at the very least, traveled all the way down to his bone. Along his left arm, a deep gash lined his triceps, evident of a bladed weapon striking him or an arrow grazing his arm, coming just short of piercing it, the wound itself was dried over but had slight discoloration suggesting infection or a mild poison at least.

His upper midsection had been wrapped by sturdy bandaging, and as Kavala’s fingers slowly traced over the right and left side, she soon found at least four ribs had been broken, however the fact that he wasn’t coughing up blood was a good indicator that none of his ribs had punctured his lung yet. Over his abdomen sat another wrapping of bandaging, the center of it coated in a small, mizas sized color of red, suggesting that deep cut along his abdomen still bled slightly, and was now beginning to seep through he bandage.

Finally, likely the worst of all of them, was a wound along the upper-left side of Hatot’s back as thick bandaging covered it and several wraps kept his left arm immobile to keep from aggravating the would further. Looking beneath the bandage, Kavala found a deep puncture wound there, on from first observation stopped just two inches short of piercing Hatot’s heart. Though it was a small miracle that the attack didn’t pierce his heart, it did no lessen the severity of the wound itself. Aside from the rend and torn flesh and muscle, the ligaments torn from bone, Hatot’s left shoulder blade had been shattered into four separate pieces, and for the most part, it looks as though any healing that had been done to him, was only enough that he would be physical able to reach his home.

Hatot’s eyes stirred as Kavala continued to check over him, and as she did so, she suddenly felt Hatot’s right hand caress her face. She looked to him and saw a weak smile, the golden hue of his eyes barely visible through the open slivers of his eyelids as he gazed up into her eyes. “I did it, Kavala.” Hatot said weakly, his voice barely a whisper. “Seven of them, seven of those Zith. I stopped them from taking caravan of Drykas. Stopped them from turning them into slaves.”

Hatot’s fingers then slowly slid around the back of Kavala’s neck, and she could feel him pulling her down towards him. She could feel how week his battle had left him, knowing that if she resisted against his pull, she could have very easy broke his grasp. “I know I may not be at my most presentable right now,” Hatot then said as drew her closer, “but I promised you this first thing upon my return to you.”

Hatot then pressed his lips along Kavala’s own, embracing her in a soft kiss. His body, battered, broken and weak, left his kiss light, and it was likely the only thing he had energy for in the long run of this particular bell. Still, he was alive, and he was home. While it was apparent that he would be in no condition to celebrate on this night, happiness still shined upon his face. Being home, once again in Kavala’s hands, was celebration enough for him tonight.

[Kavala]

Kavala smiled gently and quieted, diverting her eyes from Hatot's wounds even as her twin gnosis marks compelled her to aid him. She would have treated him regardless, not for duty but for love, but the gnosis made it all but I impossible to turn from his injuries long enough to listen to his words. But she did. And she heard him as a smile faintly flickered across her face at his weak touch. The konti healer assisted him in the kiss, bending low and gently touching her lips to his in the tenderest of touches as he breathed in her breath and in turn gifted her of his own.

He lived.

Her heart sang as she kissed him, letting his words wash over her. "You promised... and you always keep your promises. Thank you both. Thank the Gods too for seeing you home safe. Seven zith... seven... I would call it a miracle but I know how hard you both trained to make this happen. And I know you won't admit it, gentlemen, but you are a wreck." She said softly, touching his face and invoking her gnosis. Kavala wasn't sure Hatot had ever seen her truly heal like the Goddess had intended or invoke her gift to save a badly damaged body before... but she knew it wouldn't be pretty for them.

It was like opening a direct channel to Rak'keli. Kavala opened her awareness to Hatot's body and started deep, ignoring the bruises and lacerations. She worked on the shattered shoulder blade first, pulling power from her gnosis marks and channeling it up her body and out through ehr hands. The energy wrapped around Hatot's shoulder blade and began almost instantaneously knitting the bone back together, rapidly healing and reverting it back to what it looked like originally. Kavala's breath increased as she leaned over him until she was panting slightly and sweat was beading up on her forehead. She felt ever twinge in his body as she worked on him, letting the broken shoulder blade's pain filter into her and out of Hatot's body. It caused her to shake with effort and with pain. It was the hardest single healing she'd ever done... harder still since she cared so much about him and wanted it perfect.

Kavala's opalescent skin turned a slight gray color.

Kavala finished the shoulder blade, not releasing the power until she knew it was knitted and healed properly. Then, perhaps stupidly, she started on his puncture wounds. Taking the deepest one first, Kavala began channeling energy to force the tissue to knit together. She kept running her hands over his body, touching him, seeking out wounds where weapons had deeply embedded themselves in his flesh and had rendered his arm near useless. She found punctures Hatot didn't know he even had, draining the fatigue from his features and placing it within herself and then finally purging it outwards as her mind relaxed and drifted further into her healing trance. Being a healer wasn't without cost. And though her body was spared from the knowledge of actually having the battle. It knew intimately the results.

With sweat dripping off her nose and her hair hanging in limp strands, she called out to Aweston who had long since taken Hatot's zavian stallion and began grooming him. The stable hand returned with her medical kit and a bucket of warm soapy water and clean cloths. Setting them down he retreated, letting Kavala work right where Hatot had fell.

She closed off the power, letting the gnosis marks on her ankle cool and carefully began cutting away his clothing with a sharp scalpel from her medical kit. There was no more true healing she could do without resting, so instead she took to washing his body with shaking fingers and looking for more wounds she could get at later when her body had recovered itself more. The Konti washed her mate carefully, covering the trembling of her hands with activity as she washed dried blood and dirt off his skin. Then she bandaged what she could, sometimes even wrapping strips of cloth tightly around his forearms, leg, fingers, anywhere that had been cleaned and revealed a wound.

To cover her growing weakness and fatigue, Kavala whispered softly to Hatot, knowing he was growing stronger. "Tell me about it... tell me how it happened. Did you bring any... any... Nakivak home with you?" She asked, both sad and hopeful at the same time. It was slavery of the womb, but it was the best thing that had ever happened to her. She just wasn't sure she could ever picture Hatot as bringing a new girl into the fold. Radris, yes.. but Hatot no. She wanted the Akalak to prosper, but not at a single woman's expense.

[Hatot]

Hatot smiled when Kavala called him a wreck, his eyes blinking closed and opened slowly. “Well, it does hurt when I laugh. And smile, blink, move a finger.” Hatot jested to a certain extent as he remained motionless in front of Kavala.

His gaze then fell to Kavala as she hovered her hands over his wounds. His shoulder came first and he winced slightly when the healing began. It wasn’t so much that the healing hurt, save for a beginning instant of pain, but it was more that it was a weird sensation. The damage had been extensive, and normally would have taken a full season to heal, or more, but as the divine power that Kavala had within her began to take affect, Hatot could feel the shattered pieces of his bone moving around within him, knitting together and reforming into one solid mass. Generally, one wouldn’t notice the healing process when it was stretched out slowly over a long period of time, but over the course of a chime or two, it was impossible to not notice the feeling.

The other wounds, save for his ribs, took on a different effect, as a tingling sensation, like a countless number of needles or fingers poking lightly and quickly over his skin as flesh reached across the open space of wound and casually pulled itself closed, knitting and mending the wound back to it’s functioning state. It took her close to a quarter of a bell for Kavala to heal what she did, which said a lot considering most wounds she had healed along Hatot’s body took her barely a chime before, if that. He began to feel better after, almost well enough to battle once again should the need suddenly arise, but at the same time he could see the toll it took on Kavala. Her fatigued features, the slightly paled skin, the way sweat rolled from her brow and arms to the point that her long fine hair was almost soaked. It made him feel remorse that she had to endure such. Made him feel as though he should have been faster, should have hit harder. He should have been better overall. Such thoughts were soon cast astray, however, when Kavala asked him of his hunt, and more importantly, whether he had claimed any of those rescued as a Nakivak.

Hatot slowly reached up at that, lightly caressing Kavala’s face at that as he turned her attention towards him, even as she bandaged the wounds she could not heal fully. “What need would I have for anyone other than you?” Hatot then plainly said, his voice a little less weak than it had been before. “I had no intention from the start to claim a debt on any within that caravan.”

Hatot then dropped his hand down to rest along Kavala’s, his gaze traveling up to the ceiling of the stables in almost cleared recollection. “There were five of them at the start, two of them keeping watch, the other two overseeing a couple of their captives repairing a broken wagon wheel, one pouring some sort of poison or something down the throat of a bound captive.” Hatot then began, explaining how things happened. “I took the first of them, one of the sentries, leaping into him and breaking one of his wings before he got too high off the ground. A cut from my lakan combined with the poison your provided me left him motionless along the ground within the span of a few breaths.”

“Things get, complicated after that.” Hatot said as he raised his hand, rubbing his brow for a moment as the events of that night blurred over his vision. “Much of my time was spent evading their attacks, though not all of them were successfully evaded as you can see. I took one other down before moving in to strike at the apparent leader, but missed my mark as he pulled one of his captives into the path of my attack. He fled, killing one other before my attentions were forced to the other two I had not yet contended with.”

Hatot’s hand then fell to the ground from his face as he shook his head slightly. “That’s when things became worse.” Hatot said simply. “One of the Drykas and myself freed the man who the leader of the slaving Zith party was forcing poison into. She worked her skills of reimancy to force him to vomit the poison and said he would live.” Hatot explained as he shook his head. “It would have been better to leave him lay poisoned. It took moments for the creature to regain its strength, and not even a chime later to strike out as it’s body morphed and these snake like limbs extended from it’s body.”

Hatot paused in his retelling of what happened, pointing slowly up towards the large wrapped body on resting along Tulok’s back. “It was strong, very strong.” Hatot said as he let his arm lower. “Most of my injuries came from it alone. To make matter’s worse, the Zith leader returned with two more subordinates, and began firing arrows at all of us.”

“By the time I had taken everything in, the creature had killed at least four other Drykas, apparently sucking the life force out of them in a way.” Hatot said, shaking his head slightly over the loss. “I struck at it, taking out one of it’s several limbs, before leading it away from the Drykas. The poison you had prepared, which worked very effectively on the Zith, had no affect at all against this creature. So I did what I could to nullify both it, and the Zith, and lead them into each other.”

“I drew it in and it attacked two of the Zith right off, killing them as it slammed them along the ground. Then I made another leap, forcing the Zith leader right into it’s clutches to be killed before my full attentions could be totally devoted to fight this creature.” Hatot explained as his hand rested along Kavala as she washed away blood and dirt from his body. “Radris and I were in almost perfect balance with each other while facing it. I couldn’t tell you how long it took before we were finally able to bring it down. We had become so lost in the battle that we had no concept of time. In the end, however, whatever magics fueled the creature, turned inward, on itself. Half of it’s head, at least, turned to glass before it was all over.”

[Kavala]

Kavala smiled tenderly down at Hatot, still kneeling beside him as she checked and rechecked his injuries, not wanting to miss any of them. She was a good healer, but Hatot would still not be feeling like himself for days. He'd be up and around, walking and talking, but after as severe of injuries as he had, it wouldn't be be a walk in the park getting over them. Especially his shoulder and ribs. The superficial wounds and punctures were easily dealt with, but knitting bones was more delicate work and did require him to stay low.

She kept low herself, stroking his forehead as he recited his adventures, fear welling up inside of her for all the risks he took. She shook her head, her expression clear for him to read. Crazy. Insane. Crazy. But it wasn't her place to judge his rite and the insanity that came with it. His culture was important to her and she knew without doing this he would have no honor and no adult rights. And because his culture served a purpose, saving some of her people, it made her all the more proud of him.

"That's an amazing story. I've never heard of anyone taking on those numbers and succeeding, nor have I ever heard of a creature like the one you spoke of. I would have been terrified." She added. "And.. I didn't mean a Nakivak for yourself. I meant did you bring any home for your people. I don't like it, Hatot, but I understand and agree with it. Without them this place wouldn't continue to exist. I support that. Since I've been living here, I've felt more a part of your society than I ever did in Endrykas or Mura. I want it to be here when I'm an old Konti and we're fussing about our grandsons and their grandsons." Kavala said, rising abruptly and reaching down to take his hand. "Aweston is going to put your trophies in the cellar where they will stay cool. I know you need to report to your family, so I am going to have him run to the city when hes done doing that to let them know you are here, alive, and successful. But we need to get you into bed for a bit so you can rest." Kavala said, leaning over to offer him a hand. She couldn't lift him herself, no way, but he could probably lift himself now. It would still hurt, but it was better him hurting in bed than in the courtyard on hard stone. "We can do a bath first if you'd like, or just straight to bed. But if your going to fall asleep, which I predict will be soon, I'd rather it in bed than in the bath." Kavala said thoughtfully.

Kavala grinned, even through her exhaustion. She loved the man. She'd been worried about it. But this surge of relief and joy were unprecedented completely. It reaffirmed that Rak'keli hadn't steered her wrong sending her to Riverfall and making sure she ended up as she did. IF he took up her offer, she'd help him either up thee steps to their bed or into the stone bath to wipe off the blood.

[Hatot]

Hatot felt worlds better compared to what he had upon first returning to Sanctuary after his Rite. The pain was still there, but at least now it wasn’t almost blinding. As Kavala continued to wipe his body clean of blood before slowly beginning to stroke his forehead softly, he felt he could fall asleep instantly right then and there. Fact was, he couldn’t remember if he had slept or not at all before heading out to his Rite as his eyes looked heavy to Kavala, but her voice, as soothing as her touch was, kept him awake, almost urging him to for the moment in his mind, even if such wasn’t her intent. The truth was he wanted to as well, wanted to gaze upon her face, to see her smile and the color of her eyes. So he did, forcing the last bit of his reserve at that moment as the lids revealed a slight more of the golden hues in his iris’ in his eyes.

Hatot gave just the slightest shake of his head as Kavala once again brought up the Nakivak, clarifying any intent behind her question. “I think the patrols garner enough in their runs that they do not need me bringing any in on my Rite,” Hatot then replied, resting his head along her arm slightly, “besides, I do not like that aspect much myself about my race.”

Kavala then suddenly rose, grasping Hatot’s hand in her own before giving subtle tugs to help him to his feet. Hatot let out a slight grunt as he assisted her in this endeavor, as he pushed himself off the ground, coming to a stand himself as his arm draped over Kavala’s shoulders, his feet spread out a little further than usual for balance. A soft smile spread across his features then as he gave a nod. “Some sleep sounds good at this moment.” Hatot said as he began dragging his feet along with Kavala’s lead. “While I would like a bath, I’ve a feeling I won’t be able to stay awake for a much longer, and at this point I would rather fall asleep within your arms along a soft bed. The bath can wait for tomorrow.”

Hatot struggled slightly as they continued to move through Sanctuary, his head held low as they stepped through the front door and began going down the hall as the familiar surrounding and scent of the building began to bring him almost as much of a sense of Serenity as Kavala did herself. He paused then, lifting his head for the first time as he gazed up the short staircase leading up to the second level, swearing that they had never been this long before. It had taken them twice as long to venture up the stairs then it had for them to reach them from the courtyard, but Hatot struggled through, keeping most of his weight along his own legs, rather than letting Kavala bear most of it. The last thing he wanted was for her to suddenly collapse from his weight and fall down the stairs, injuring herself. By the time they had reached the top of the stairs, however, and were making their way towards the bedroom, Hatot was wrapping both of his arms around Kavala, and laying his head along hers. He didn’t want to lose the sense of her touch, not even after he had fallen asleep. The desire for such, was what kept him going all the way home after braving such injuries.

[Kavala]

Kavala struggled to get the huge man upstairs and into bed. She didn't mind the blood and gore that was still left on him. He was whole. He was alive. He was just exhausted. Everything else could be dealt with in the morning. It was, however, times like this that made her realize their extreme size difference. Kavala was tall for a Konti - something she atributed to growing up on the grasslands on the diet and beneath the sun and stars like she had - but the 7'8" Akalak was like trying to carry a horse all on her own. And it simply wasn't possible. The healer was grateful Hatot knew that and rose to his feet, taking most of his weight as she guided them upstairs.

Once in bed she let him sleep. Missing a few meals would not hurt him - and indeed hadn't - but the lack of sleep would make him snarky and bring out the best in Radris - who was usually charming to begin with.

But she did leave him with one parting thought before she joined him in bed, even as he drifted off. "I thank the Gods every day for your people's practices, Hatot. Without them, we'd never be here. I'd be dead and you'd be alone or with a complete stranger to me. I take great pride in being what I am." She said softly.

She smiled at the thought and laid down beside him to make sure he got truly and deeply asleep. Then, once he was contentedly resting, she left the two men tucked in their singular form, and went back to her chores. Carefully, quietly, she checked on him just about every half hour until it was apparent he was going to sleep through the night... and the next one. He woke periodically - not enough to really be considered conscious - and took care of the restroom and to gulp large quantities of chilled water. But he was really never quite awake. Late in the day two days after, the big Akalak finally showed signs of waking up fully and she gathered some assistance to help her help him into the bath. Stripping him naked, she slid him into the water and gathered bathing supplies close to the rim before joining him there herself. The assistants left them alone, knowing full well what likely would transpire, as Kavala filled the tub with oils and lathered up a washcloth to start bringing Hatot back into the world.

She arranged him sitting on the edge of the pool, head nestled on a makeshift towel to act as a pillow, and then climbed onto his lap. Facing him, she quietly and gently began to wash his face - making a serious attempt to remove the grime this time. Hatot, through the course of their relationship, had taught her many things... one was to always be sensual with him. He enjoyed it enormously with an unashamed reaction that to her spoke volumes of his maturity. Splaying her legs out on either side of him, snugging her body up against his, she let her wet skin and scales add friction between their two bodies as she cleaned, waiting for him to wake. The move downstairs hadn't fully brought him around, especially after she'd whispered to him to tit was fine. Along with the soapy cloth, soft lips followed, brushing his skin, tasting him, gently whispering his name.

She let him lay in the bath like that... a long time... soaking in the hot water as the dirt slowly washed off, before she made an actual attempt to wake him.

"Hatot... " She whispered softly. "Its been two days. Don't you think its time to come back to us?" She asked quietly before her lips brushed his, tenderly kissing him, coaxing him, wanting him to wake up. The cloth had moved down his chest now and was washing more intimate parts, waking him up slowly in a style most Akalak would bend over backwards to have their Nakivak initiate.

[Hatot]

Hatot couldn’t even remember how he had initially gotten to the bed, only that after he had gotten home to Sanctuary, saw Kavala’s face, felt her touch, heard her voice, that he had wanted rest. All concept of time had been lost as he slept, his bouts with coherency truly showing how much he needed such as his feet simply dragged to drink the water his body needed to recover and to relive himself of the bodily fluids he had built periodically over the course of the two days. At one point, he could have sworn her heard Akela scorning him, yelling at him to not whip it out in front of her and that he could find a more suitable place to relieve himself other than where she was currently practicing her sword skills.

By the time the second day had passed, he was beginning to feel more aware of his surroundings, the rest and recuperation beginning to take it’s affect. He could feel himself, his eyes still practically closed, being led somewhere. He knew he was moving now at least, and he could smell Kavala’s hair, that usual mixture of scents filling his nose. Seawater from her morning swims, certain flowers and plants she would harvest for her herbalism and philtering, the sweat she had accumulated from daily chores and practice, it all mingled together and filled his nostrils, bringing a sense of pleasant familiarity back to him. His eyes were still only half open though, feeling heavy from a combination of his prior battle and two days of rest. He had felt the warm liquid eventually begin to envelop his body, his head leaning back as it laid along soft cloth, causing him to feel complacent for a long moment and almost drift back into sleep.

The scents of lavender and jasmine filled his nose next as he heard oils sinking into the hot waters of, what he was now beginning to realize was, the bath. Steam rose from the waters surface already forming a condensation along his skin not submerged. He vaguely heard the assistants then excusing themselves, as the door soon closed behind them, leaving Kavala and Hatot by themselves as she began slowly crawling into the tub herself. He felt her warm embrace, her legs slowly straddling over him around him as she began washing away the grime and dried blood from his skin, slowly bringing him to more physically resemble the Akalak who she had saw off on his Rite. A slow, soft groan of pleasure then began to escape his lips, feeling her body press up against his, the scales of her skin lightly sliding and roughly traveling over his chest. His mouth slowly parted, opening just slightly as a soft whisper of an exhale was released, feeling her lips brush along his skin next.

His eyelids then began to flutter, feeling her lips brush along his as she whispered him to come back, the wash cloth in her hand enticing him, a certain growth showing that one thing had been left entirely functional and unharmed during his Rite. His hands then slowly began to move, fingers threading through the strands of Kavala’s hair. His eyes remained closed still, but he slowly tilted Kavala’s head, his own lifting and tilting on it’s own as well as her gently pressed his lips along hers, opening and closing his mouth slowly, each time capturing her upper or lower lip in between his and slowly drawing in. There was a slight quickening pace to his heartbeat as he tasted Kavala, thinking two days had felt like a lifetime. Finally, his eyes fluttered open, revealing that familiar hue of gold in the iris’ of his eyes as he gazed up into Kavala’s own. “For you, Kavala my love, I would have come back so much sooner had you called out to me. You are the light that is left in the window to beckon me home.” Hatot finally said in a soft tone, sitting more upright again as he continued the kiss he had started, deepening it further with each passing moment.

[Kavala]

There was a beautiful intimacy to the two of them wrapped around each other in the bath. Kavala's azure gaze kept locked on the eyes of the men she loved while her hands carefully stroked his skin softly. So close... the Akalak's lived a life of danger deliberately challenging their children before they would call them men. Hatot and Radris were all grown up in her eyes. Even now the truth was in her eyes - eyes filled with love. The konti slide closer to him, tipping her head up and returning his kiss slowly. There was no hurry, no sense of urgency driven by time and circumstance. There was just his survival and triumph to celebrate. And she planned to do just that.

Kavala tasted him, always enjoying those rare times when his two souls acted in tandem and turned his eyes gold. He was the best of both in those rare moments, and they chased away the fear she seemed to hold close to her about her status, her presence in Riverfall, and her future. Lips blended with lips and Kavala fitted herself against his body, knowing this was her place. They might have a year or two hundred, in that moment it didn't matter to her. Together they'd started something that would last, she was certain, to become something greater than both of them. It was something she often felt in his presence, as if they were only pieces to a giant puzzle, but two that fit together seamlessly in a pattern that they were born to create.

She broke off the kiss for a moment to run her lips across his eyelids, his chin, over his cheeks, and to stroke his hair which was growing longer back off his face. The Konti said nothing, but with her entire being she wanted him to know how much she cared for him - how long two days had been - and how afraid she'd been for him. Not of his ability lacking, never that, but of how fierce the world they lived in was and how fragile life could be. And as she did so, the Konti shifted her position on his lap so she joined their bodies together, loving him completely in a slow unhurried way that told him she'd take all day and then some to make sure he knew she'd always be here when he needed her and when he wanted to come home.

Fear melted away. Worry about the bracelet on her wrist and what it meant simply vanished. Telling him the news that she'd finally paid off the horses and only had around three thousand mizas left to by herself out of her contract was forgotten. Everything but him was forgotten. He became, in that instant, her whole world as slowly and sensually her body slid against his.

Lips captured his again and she deepened the kiss to taste him thoroughly.