Fated Stars [Khiara]

[Ronan]

12th Night of Summer, 511 AV It was a warm night as Ronan sat atop the grassy knoll and watched the stars. A summer breeze drifted across the sea of grass, just brushing the tips, and playing a near silent song. While others viewed the stars for their beauty and infiniteness, Ronan gazed on them for another reason. Fortune telling. Before she had passed, his mother had left him with the skills to view the stars and divine from them. He raised a hand, subconsciously drawing them into shapes and forms. The patch of emptiness beside him seemed to call out, and he sighed shakily. He longed for Darus to be beside him once again. He could picture those summer nights well. Ronan, his brother Darus, and his mother, all lying in the tall grass and staring at the stars. It was a relief to get away from Endrykas most nights - if only a quarter of a mile. When he thought about it, death seemed so pointless. It was an end. A full stop. Yet it only spelled torment for Ronan. He wished he had never gotten so close to his brother. He wished he had never forged such strong bonds. The tougher the tie, the harder the fall. Hadn't that been what his father used to say? Though he was a lone ranger much of the time, he shivered and suddenly felt compelled to seek out company. He rose from the grass and headed back towards the moving city. The stars had spelt out something quite clear tonight. You don't have to be alone...

[Khiara]

It was a beautiful night, the sky a vast expanse of brightly glittering stars. Khiara felt something of a bond with the night sky, because even as far away from home as she was, the vantha knew that all the way in Avanthal her mother could see the same starry sky. Standing beside the horses coral, arms crossed, the young brunette watched them with shifting violet eyes.

"I wish I could tell you I was alright." She said softly, gold swirls dancing across her iris'. It felt so good to be here, to be alive. But guilt ate at the girl. Goddess, her parents would have given up on her by now. The girl almost had given up on herself. Sighing, Khiara lowered her gaze to the horses, picking out the pale glow of Vsenri in the darkness. Faithful, ever loving. He was a good friend.

A soft breeze tugged at her loose hair, rippling the soft grey fabric of her knee length riding dress. It was belted with a saphirre inlayed belt and in her feet were a pair of black boots. The idea to ride had come just suddenly, feeling the weight of seeing Kashik and Vanator enjoying the love and warmth of their baby. It tore inside, and she knew it showed. But reaching the coral, her desire had faded as she stared at the sky. Closing her eyes, Khiara simply breathed in the calming night air.
 

[Ronan]

Ronan always felt awkward wandering the always-in-transit bustle of Endrykas. In fact, he felt awkward in any situation which involved a lot of people. He had left the pavilion long ago... and he was willing to admit that the break away had changed him somewhat. There were cooking smells in the air. Meat, and fine tuned blends of Cyphrus herbs for seasoning. The aroma's wafted throughout the city. Ronan was headed towards the horse coral, to check on his strider - a creature much neglected recently. He felt a pang of guilt for ignoring Tairell, because he did love the horse as any Drykas should. It just seemed futile travelling on him for the time being, when he could track and forage more efficiently alone. He made a silent vow to give the horse more attention. As he neared the coral he saw a woman standing very still. Her eyes were closed, and face slightly tilted to the sky. She was in a deep, meditative cocoon of thought and feeling. Ronan turned away, realising she was also very beautiful. She had olive skin, and dark hair that shimmered under the myriad of flickering camp fires nearby. That shimmer... sometimes her hair seemed golden, sometimes even violet. He struggled to look away. Leaving her, he pressed on past and moved towards the coral to seek out Tairell. He decided he'd go on a quick night ride. Besides, he didn't feel remotely tired. Those stars had told him not to be alone. Tairell was company enough. "i wish I could tell you I was all right." He froze, slowly turning. It was the woman he had passed. Those striking eyes... she was Vantha. There could be no mistake about it. Avanthal was said to be a very beautiful city. A historic and cultural hub in the frigid norths. He turned away again. Foolish ramblings, or contemplative statements? Those words she had just spoken... they were true. Very true. He wished the same for his brother. Darus, I'm all right. And how about you? He laughed quietly to himself. Futility.

[Khiara]

A soft sound came to Khiara's ears, a chuckle. Opening her eyes suddenly, the young vantha realised there was someone else with her. A man, maybe only a few years older than herself, making his way to the coral. Eyes brightening to a strong violet, even as her cheeks colored, the raven haired girl hoped he didn't think she was crazy.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realise anyone else was here. Usually I'm the only one who comes out here of a night time." Offering the man a smile, Khiara moved to rest her arms on the fence, watching the horses. They grazed, ignorant to the silly problems of humans. It was a whole different world here.

"It's so peaceful here. Away from...everything." Her eyes shifted, subdued to a more relaxed rich violet, marred by streaks of gold. Shaking off her meloncoly mood, the woman looked at the man and tilted her head slightly. He wasn't familiar to the vantha, not in common place passing away.

"Are you going for a ride? My name is Khiara, by the way."
 

[Ronan]

"Are you going for a ride? My name is Khiara, by the way." Ronan looked at her, frequently turning away awkwardly. He wasn't good with women. His last relationship had ended disastrously, and he blamed himself for those past mistakes. She's only asking a question fool! "Yes... I figured I need to give Tairell a bit more of my time. He's been a neglected Strider recently." He sniffed the night air. Endrykas wasn't like any other city. As much as he disdained busy, jostling crowds, this place was one with the wilds in his heart. Ever moving, and organic in structure. He felt a fragment of pride well up inside him - he was part of the glorious web. "Are you...?" he began to stumble over his words, "I mean.. are you about to go ride?"

[Khiara]

Khiara rested her chin on her arms as the stranger spoke, knowing to well exactly what he meant. Guilt wracked her everytime she thought about how less and less she saw Vsenri. The great white frostmarch didn't seem to mind, he knew she was there - somehow he always seemed to know - but still. One did not abandon a friend, even those of a different species.

Lifting her head as the man fumbled through his words, Khiara smiled again. Her gaze drifted back to the horses, and with a low whistle she gave him her answer. Within seconds thundering hoofbeats signalled the arrival of her stallion. Pulling alongside the fence, he nickered and snorted, neck arched and ears pricked. Slipping through the fence, Khiara was up on Vsenri's back in one fluid movement.

"I got distracted by the stars. They remind me of those back home...a long way away. But yes, I came out to ride. Vsenri knew it, and I just made him impatient." Leaning forward, the girl spoke into the white stallions ear in vani, elicting a small nicker out of the frostmarch. Sitting straight Khiara walking him to the gate, guided by her gentle movements, hands resting lightly on his mane.
 

[Ronan]

Ronan watched the Vantha in awe. The moment she had gotten on the horse, that bond had almost been visible in the air. She wasn't a Drykas, yet her movements seemed so natural. She loved Vsenri, and it seemed no one could deny her that link. He moved back towards the coral - and began to whistle for Tairell. The hint of a smile played on his lips as the leggy Strider strode into the yard. The faintest wisp of vapour escaped his muzzle in the cool, night air. He patted him, sticking one foot on the fencing post to hop aboard. He rode bareback. Odd to some, but not to the Drykas. Tairell was happy - he whinnied, flailing his head around in joy. Slowly turning the Strider, Ronan led Tairell towards Khiara and Vsenri. He turned to smile softly at Khiara. "I think he missed me," Ronan said quietly.

[Khiara]

Reaching the gate with a casual walk, Khiara opened the gate from the back of her stallion and held it open for the drykas man. Once he had moved his strider out of the coral, the vantha closed it again to keep the other horses in. Her violet eyes took notice of the fact the man rode bareback, a rare trait amoungst the drykas it seemed. It was her own favored form of riding, the connection between horse and rider so much more in tune.

Walking side by side away from the evening city bustle, Khiara breathed deeply. It was beautiful in Endrykas, and warm. She was used to the weather now, even if she didn't particularly adore it. But as always, winter would come around again. Soon enough. Goddess, she missed the snow. Pushing off the feeling of homesickness, the raven haired girl looked over at the man with a wry smile.

"I just realized, I don't even know your name. I've not seen you around Endrykas that I can recall, then again, its not like I would know everyone here." The vantha said with a soft chuckle. Her hair shimmered violet and gold under the moonlight, caught by the soft breeze stirring across the Sea Of Grass. This was what a night ride was about, freedom.

[Ronan]

Ronan glanced at her, feeling slightly uncomfortable. She reminded him of Siyana - and any memories of that woman were destined to be dark and tumultous. He shook his head, pushing the ghosts of his past out of his mind. "Endrykas is a big place," he finally said with an ever softening smile, "I'm Ronan Windsong, it's nice to meet you Khiara." Even if you so painfully make me recollect Siyana... She looked content. The weather was pleasant, and it was a clear night. The stars he had watched over earlier came to mind. They had told him not to be alone tonight. And here was Khiara, sent from the stars it seemed. They began to move off atop their Striders, and he turned back to face his companion. "This climate... it must feel very different to you. Avanthal is a frozen land if I'm not mistaken."

[Khiara]

"Good to meet you too, Ronan." The young woman said with a smile, pleased to finally have a name for the stranger. He was right, Endrykas was a big place, forever migrating and changing..people coming and going. There was never any way she would meet and recognize everyone. As they walked the horses along one of the safe marked paths out of the city, Khiara noticed the young man seemed uncomfortable at first. Perhaps he had actually wanted to take this ride alone and she had assumed to much.

Glancing up at the night sky again, the violet eyed woman allowed the silence to fill the air, just enjoying that around them. Somewhere in the moonlight, an owl called out its haunting song. Turning to face Ronan as he addressed her again, Khiara laughed softly with an enthusiastic nod.

"By the Goddess yes! Avanthal is white, as far as the eye can see. And you can watch warm water poured from a cup freeze before it hits the ground. It's beautiful though, and dangerous. I didn't live close in to the Great Ice City itself. My kin were more like the drykas, we lived closer to the water in long houses we call holds, and hunted for the people." There it was, that dull ache in her chest. It would always hurt, it seemed, to think of home. Of the water. But, she could look back on it now at least, and not fall apart. Taking a breath, she continued on.

"When Vsenri and I first reached Endrykas, I thought we would melt. Honestly, I've never been so hot in my life! It's not the sun as such, its more this humidity, like a hot wet towel thrown over your whole body. It's much better now, I've mostly become acustomed to it, but its part of the reason I spend so much time out at night. It's cooler, the air, and the humidity gets blown away by the night breezes." Her eyes shifted, the violet lightening to a more lavender hue as her smile became a little more contemplative.

"It's a good place to be, and my new home. I think of Avanthal, a little. Mostly I think of my mother, and my father. Just to let them know, I'm alive at least!"