[Denusk Pavilion] The Next Generation

[Khiara]

Khiara smiled awkwardly as she withdrew from Kavala's side, knowing full well the konti despised Kashik. The whole reason was a bit of a mystery to the vantha, but she said nothing. Kashik could be mouthy, and Kavala was a proud and grounded woman. Anything could have happened.

"Vsenri is extremely well, The Goddess knows I owe you everything for that. And I would give it, know that Kavala." Her eyes held the woman's for a moment, before they shifted back to the baby with a soft smile.

"Tasival. He is beautiful, absolutely beautiful. And he is family. I don't know much about how the web works, but I would think it would be okay. Vanator and his father would know best though." Watching, she could see the blonde man approach the child and lift Tasival into his arms. An ache filled her as his gold flecked eyes met hers, and with a quick move she turned away to assist with Kavala's things - trying to hide the gold that crept into her gaze. He knew her fears, perhaps shared them. The thought shamed her.

Working with Bolden to set up the tent, Khiara tried to ignore the distance between them. It hurt her, still, to recall the accusations he flung at her from their meeting. Granted, in his eyes perhaps things had played out the way he had said, but Khiara's eyes had seen different. Yes she had twisted her ankle a little, but she hadn't been lame. It was an after affect from an old injury. Bolden had assumed she had been faking lameness, but she'd not even...

Goddess, it only made her upset to think about it all.

She had noticed his hard glare, the near flinching from her touch, the clipped words. As much as Khiara tried to be nice to the man, as much as she wanted to move on and be friends with her new-found brother-in-law, it seemed he held a grudge for things he had set up in his own mind. Biting the side of her cheek as angry tears came to her eyes, the brunette worked hard to finish the job, allowing her emotions to be drained by the work. When they had finished, she stood back and dusted her hands on her thighs. There had been things said between Kavala and Vanator, things about Akalaks and no bloodshed. Khiara understood the Akalaks were a man-only race, but she didn't understand what roles the women who lived there took.

Slipping into the pavilion as the siblings sat down before the fire, hare roasting over the heat, Khiara found some dishes and cups, as well as a skin of a spiced fruit juice. When fermented it made a delicious and powerful wine, but as it was it could be a refreshing drink. Bringing them back out with her, she sat the dishes around for everyone and poured a drink for those who wanted it, her eyes shifting again to the small babe. The conversation had moved to people she didn't know, and the vantha smiled at the way the infant chewed on the dried meat, pulling it out of his mouth to frown at it occasionally and drooling fit to drown himself. Sitting beside Vanator, she wanted to ask to hold him again, but it felt inappropriate. Instead, she sipped her wine and listened to them talk.

[Kavala]

Kavala wandered over to fuss with Tasival for a moment, but seeing him well settled and not fussing she went back to helping. They almost had her pavilion up. She turned to her brother Bolden, grinned, and shook her head. "I'm not picking them up until I'm ready to leave. I need enough to start a kennel so they are going to be a handful. That's why I brought the wagon." She added, though she'd also brought a pair of striders as well. A mount and remount if she had to run. Kavala was Drykas through and through and wouldn't hesitate to abandon a wagon load of puppies if a strider's speed could take her away from trouble and save her life. Traveling alone was dangerous, and she wasn't going to subject herself to it any more than she had too.

Life's lessons had taught her well.

In the old days she would have simply just chastised Vanator for his vulgar comment about where Bolden spilled his seed, but she wasn't the little sister they remembered. Instead she just flinched, got quiet, and went back to work pulling guidelines tight. Then, once they had the pavilion up, she moved Tasival into its shade, and unloaded her wagon setting up her bedroll, brazier, and a small trunk of clothing and toiletries mostly for the baby. Kavala traveled light, always had, and didn't need much to survive.

"I haven't seen Akela for a long while, Vanator. She just up and left one day. She shows up once and a while, almost checking in, but I think shes roaming looking for herself or for her place in life. Raiha is doing well. She's got her mews up and running and is now training birds she wild-catches for sale at Sanctuary. She's doing rather well too." The Konti added before collecting Tasival settling near the firepit to keep an eye out on the food so it didn't burn.

There was so much tension in the air. It confused Kavala until she realized its source was Bolden and Khiara. Pale blue eyes glanced between Drykas and Vantha, curiously wondering what had happened to make the two of them so politely avoid each other. At one point or another, Khiara had looked closed to tears. Kavala wasn't one to tolerate much crying, especially when there was seemingly nothing to cry about. Setting up a Pavilion didn't merit shedding tears. But nor did it merit Bolden looking so angry occasionally.

Hrm.

She'd have to ask Vanator about that one, later, when the two of them were alone. When her son started to fuss a little, Kavala bent her head down, unfastened her tunic, and gave up one of her breasts to the child. He settled down to nurse with his mother gently stroking his pale hair. It bared her shoulder and the profusion of scars etched across her skin and scales there. She didn't pay it any mind, having had over a year to get used to the sight.

"Hows Father and his wives? The herds? Do you think we are setting up for a hard winter? Any other news?" She asked, curious, her questions not directed at either boy, just at the group as a whole.

[Bolden Denusk]

On the cusp of a playful retort to Vanator, he closed his mouth immediately and the smile died before it'd finished.

Bolden was no scholar but he didn't have to be to see Kavala smile at him in one breath, and wince at Van's comment in the next. Bold was shut down cold and his expression turned flat. His gut burned at the increased unspoken tension in Kavala's posture and tone. Her puppy comment just seemed far more distant than the Kavala he thought he'd knew. Why did she abruptly pull back in the length of a heartbeat?

He didn't quite know what upset her, but he sure as hells didn't want to chance doing it again--whatever it was. It didn't make any sense. He couldn't make heads or tails of her sudden change in demeanor. Kav herself had first brought on the crude by mentioning jewel size and now she was wincing at Vanator's comment? Bold shook his head as if he were a horse clearing off the flies.

He stood up, walked closer to the golden haired man and whispered quietly, "Man, we gotta calm it down I think. Kav's not havin' this at all and your wife is going all weepy. Let's just play nice as much we can. Agreed?" He nodded and didn't wait for an answer.

Bolden moved over a bit, keeping himself a little further apart from the rest, so as not to intrude. He waited for Vanator to field Kav's question, considering he actually -saw- Eachann and Bold hadn't yet. His gut had him feeling like there was a sudden transparent and inexplicable wall placed between him and what had once been his family--even the sister that had acted like a twin less than a quarter of a chime ago.

'Kavala was fine mentioning a package of her own volition, but Vanator carries on the subject and she flinches? What gives? I don't think anyone knows their role anymore in the family-except Van. Once the heir, always the heir.'

The young Denusk watched the fire in uncharacteristic silence, feeling like they all just wanted to scream at him to get out. Were they all just barely tolerating his presence--out of duty and petching family honor? Bolden figured if he kept his mouth shut, he wouldn't piss off anyone. But he'd missed Kav so fiercely it hurt. Bolden couldn't fathom her abrupt change in demeanor from one sentence to another. He glanced at her for a chime and wondered what she was really thinking.

His amber gaze flicked down at the fire and the young man sat pensively with slumped shoulders and bowed head. He didn't know why but the jokes that were started in light hearted fun had somehow turned awkward with no warning. The summer air around the Denusk family pavilion became unexpectedly gloomy and unaccountably icy.

[Vanator]

The impromptu Denusk reunion was faring about as he would have expected. The recently arrived Bolden had learned a startling truth, Khiara and the younger Denusk still fumbled at how to overcome their dreadful first impressions, and now Kavala's sudden arrival with her Akontak son and the undone things she and her older brother still needed to finish. It created a climate that was tense, confusing and as rife with possible missteps as a zibri pasture. Vanator looked at Bolden with a furrowed brow as he whispered his admonishment. He hardly needed Bold's advice on handling family. Vulgar exchanges between the two men were the least of their issues. But Van held his tongue and turned to nod to Kavala after her report on Akela and Raiha. Khiara returned with some wine, and Vanator gave her a grateful smile when he accepted his cup from her. Sparing both Khiara and Bolden anymore telling glances, the older Denusk turned his attention to his konti sister, and the akontak child at her breast, noting both Bolden's dejected demeanor and Khiara's pensive mood. He looked at Kavala, so different in appearance, and oddly enough, more drykas than when she had left the pavilion. Visible too were the almost organized scars on her shoulder and upper arm. He had missed so much of her life in the past three years, years that he feared had scarred her emotionally far worse than physically. His heart longed for a moment with her alone, just to talk, to know her again. "Father is feeling his age I fear. Fewer excursions into the grass and such, though his will is strong as ever. Mother is doing well..." His eyes darting to Khiara with a slight grin, "...she is making a fine drykas out of my vanthan wife. Keela, well, Keela is Keela." Van shrugged as he referred to their father's third wife. "She worries for Cohnad, he is gone traveling the Sea most of the time." Van paused to take a sip of the fruit-flavored wine. "The herds are surviving. I just came back from looking at a zibri bull, ours was killed recently. The striders are strong, and picky I might add. I had to go to the Brightsmile's herd to find a strider who would take me, " again a sheepish grin, which faded as his thoughts turned to the strider he lost, "to replace Backlash. I would love to have you look at him." The man's gaze turned towards Bolden, offering to bring him back into the conversation. "You too...brother...you have yet to examine my new stallion."

[Khiara]

As Vanator mentioned her name, Khiara glanced away from the nursing infant and smiled with genuine delight, a slight blush to her cheeks.

"Your mother is an excellent teacher, and an honourable woman. It's been an interesting journey, I must admit. I only hope I live up to her." Lifting her cup, the vantha sipped her drink and turned her violet eyes back to the konti. She knew the woman didn't feel towards herself as she did to Kavala, but it mattered not. There was a debt, more profound than any social standings or feelings. Khiara could be hated by this woman, and it would still not matter. Still she would give everything to help her.

Reaching out a hand, the brunette touched Vanator's shoulder gently at the mention of Backlash. After so long, he had finally bonded with a new strider, but the loss of the beautiful buckskin still lingered - and Khiara felt possibly forever would. The thought of loosing either Vsenri or Adelita made her feel sick to her stomach, and the young wife only hoped this time, Vanator would have more luck. Turning her eyes slowly to Bolden, the vantha smiled, hoping that the words that came out of her mouth wouldn't be twisted into some imagined insult or sexual advancement.

"He is a beautiful creature, I am sure you would love him." The idea of seeing the horses appealed heavily to the girl, and she turned her smile on Kavala.

"If you like, I could carry Tasival and we could see the new striders. Adelita is there too, and Vsenri. He would be so pleased to see you." Realising that Kavala might not want to get up and walk after such a long journey, the vantha continued talking.

"Of course, only if you would like to. That is....it's lovely here. And the hare..and wine." She stopped, pressing her lips together to force her words back. It was nerves that she rambled, but the young brunette didn't want to step on any toes suggesting or not suggesting what they do. Or not do.

[Kavala]

Kavala smiled at her brothers and their bantering. Things changed drastically and yet within those changes, other things would always remain the same. "Everyone at The Sanctuary is fine. Raiha is doing well, but Akela is out wandering again. I haven't seen her for two or three seasons. I had hoped she'd be here." Kavala said, looking around thoughtfully. Khiara's suggestion was met with a smile. Kavala didn't really have much against the Vantha woman turned Drykas, but for the fact that she'd made her stallion walk on a broken leg so long when a healer could have been sent for to go to him. But was a Drykas thing to do though, and not something Kavala could have blamed Vanator's second wife overly long for.

"I would love to go see the striders." Kavala said, nodding, offering Khiara a smile. She was always interested in how the Denusk herds were doing, especially since she had her own now to compare them too. What she was doing in Riverfall would never be suitable or hold up to a herd of Striders in Endrykas, but her war mounts would do well enough for the Akalak when the breed was finished in its development. And as for Khiara, Kavala hoped to get to know her better one of these days. It wouldn't hurt to have an ally in the Pavilion to counteract her ongoing war with Kashik. She opened her mouth to say more but was interrupted by the familiar stride of an overconfident Ankal coming to see who was constructing a pavilion next to his own.

Eachaan Denusk of the Sapphire Clan strode up a look of curious annoyance on his face as he studied the strange pavilion. It was a newer one, having belonged to an Aunt that gifted it to Kavala when she'd left on her trip to Mura. And even though it was painted in Denusk colors, the symbolism on it was all Kavala's own. The Sanctuaries design and logo - a two toned horse head made of geometric patterns interwoven with a winged serpent rode the front in bold paints and interlocking knotwork.

"Kavala?" He said, looking thoughtfully at her and starting to smile. It was then that Tasifal lifted his head in Khaira's arms and began to cry. A dark blue fist thrust into the air and everyone present could tell he wasn't konti or human but could only belong to Kavala. Eachaan looked over the situation, studied his youngest daughter's guilty concerned face, and watched her go to the infant to gently take him from Khaira's arms to sooth him. Emotions crossed the patriarch's face, none of them good, before he thrust the pavilion door flap aside and gestured Kavala in. "Inside. Now. We need to talk." Kavala grew even paler, looked at the faces gathered, and knew the summons was for her and her alone. Drykas women, even those Konti born, were not prone to having children outside of marriage. Ankal's daughters never did. They were bartered off to the strongest men and usually early on. They did not bring stray infants home, especially ones of a foreign skin color and obvious differences. Kavala thought Eachaan would make an exception to her status since she was Konti, but one look at his face told her she'd assumed wrong.

Dutifully she started to follow Eachaan inside.

[Bolden Denusk]

Bolden's gaze switched between Kavala and her son, avoiding Vanator's look even when he spoke. He nodded at his father's suggestion of looking at striders. There would never be a time when striders didn't appeal to him. The magnificent animals had always filled the empty gap inside him when something was wrong. Family trouble, memory problems or other stressors could be dealt with as long he had striders in his life.

His amber gaze warmed to honey when he saw his nephew. He knew next to nothing about Akalaks except they would never know the honor of Drykas people. That and they were well....blue. The young man had grown up with Kav's scales and webbed fingers and didn't think of them as different. She was the supportive, caring big sister that never ceased caring about him. The Konti would jolly him out of depression or encourage him when he needed it. In return she had his one hundred percent loyalty, honesty and trust. Bolden seemed like a strider in human form. Pretty much like any other standard Drykas man.

Ankal Eachaan made his presence known by simply walking into the area. The air of command mantled strongly around his shoulders, and his mere existence exuding ultimate authority. Bolden immediately stood in respect of the Sapphire Clan Ankal the chime he showed himself.

'He lied to me all these years as did Vanator, and yet I must yield to his authority like some anonymous Drykas puppet. Yep. Van's his son alright; there's no doubt considering they both act like they're gods.' Bolden thought resentfully, though his expression revealed nothing.

When the older man ordered the Konti to his tent, Bold frowned, unable to keep the glare off of his face. He wanted to rail furiously and defend Kav against the Ankal he no longer respected. But who would ever defy an Ankal?! It just wasn't done. Eachaan's word was Law to the entire Sapphire Clan.

The enormously huge weight of family duty, honor and tradition dragged him down heavily. Bold needed to speak to Eachaan about his own issues as much as he wanted to defend Kavala from the elder's wrath. It wasn't like she'd had a choice! Everyone knew that Akalaks were savage brutes with no honor or respect for family or clan morals. He'd be damned if he'd let Eachaan fault Kav for something not of her own making.

How could he do this? One didn't just defy the Ankal of their pavilion! Or defy any Ankal of any other clan really. But Kav shouldn't be punished by a pedantic old man who was too hidebound by tradition to see the brutal scars on the Konti's shoulders! Besides, he must somehow confront him about the years of deceit that made up the foundation of Bolden's young life.

His temper built higher and higher, his fists clenching. Bolden's eyes turned hard as he watched their retreating backs. No petching way was he just gonna keep standing there, waiting passively for the next order or verbal smack down. He was a Drykas dammit. Valid birth or not, he must speak up.

"Ankal Eachaan! I would have a word with you as well." He said as boldly as his very name implied.