[Cobalt Mountains]Perverted Eagle or Curious Kelvic?(Sondra)

[Ethan]

Fourth Day Of Summer, 511 A.V Within the four days of travel he never got more than a peep out of Sondra. Kendall and Hadrian had talked his ear off and indulged every curiosity the Kelvic had. Cathan was given a respectful distance as a fellow animal. Sondra on the other hand. Was just plain silent and it made her more interesting. Compared to the others in the group she seemed tough and fierce. At least this was the impression she gave off, and her looks were driving him nuts! Silver hair, white skin and fish scales?. All so interesting on a humanoid body. He was becoming obsessed with her anatomy. Hadrian had told him little because Ethan asked little. He wanted to figure it out on his own. Konti was just a word after all. Of little concern when you were truly curious. He tried reading her Aura but it would seem rude to just start touching her or being awfully close. His Auristics was based on touch and he wasn't good enough to have much of a range. So he resorted to light spying of the woman. In Bearded Eagle form of course. Since he rubbed dirt into his feathers everyday before flight. He blended easily with the browns and bronze of the forest. So spying on her was no big deal. Ever since they left Ethan was often air born. Horses were too slow for his liking, sitting on another animals back while it shit and passed gas was not his idea of fun. Plus it was a little weird to be a Kelvic and be carried by another animal.... So he would circle around the others as they made their slow pace across the landscape. Keeping them safe and watching out for any creatures big enough to harm them. He would also monitor them when they went off by themselves. Without their permission of course but they wouldn't know and couldn't complain really. It was for their protection. He always made a point of watching Sondra though, and carefully. He didn't see it as stalking, he was only curious. Although watching Sondra swim naked was a little... morally unsettling. He wasn't doing it beyond being curious, but his old masters lessons of human etiquette had taught him it was immoral and impolite. Living with Hadrian and becoming friends with Kendall had driven the point even deeper. So he felt uneasy about her possibly being mad about his viewing her. Although Sondra wasn't human... Besides humans were so touchy about these things. Perhaps the Konti were different? From a high oak he watched over Sondra. With curiosity and a sense of protection. Hadrian had made it clear that all the people on this trip should be guarded carefully. It was more of a request than a command. Hadrian wasn't comfortable with ordering the Kelvic around, bless his heart. Ethan took note of the grace and skill the woman had in the water and how she was able to breath. She was somewhat shorter than Ethan, but much smaller. Elegant looking but with a solid look. He must know more about her. It was killing his curiosity not to know. He wanted to go down there and say something but he couldn't think of what. He was sick of just watching. He needed to talk with her, get her secrets and find out about her anatomy. Perhaps even fight with her? She had practiced with that giant hammer earlier and Ethan needed some time to fight again. Hadrian was a scholarly man and Ethan never liked violence much, but becoming soft grated against his nature. It took him a moment more to decide what to do. The dusty brown Kelvic dropped from the Oak with a loud greetings shriek and gently glided to a bolder on the river's shore. It was large enough to sit his him as a man and he hated to get cold and wet. Even in summer the river would be way to cold for his liking. Not wanting to waste time he quickly shifted. Ethan formed from the bright light. Crouched on the balls of his feet, and watching Sondra. He called out to her. ”How is the swim this fine day? I think I need one myself but I can't stand the cold water.” He smiled, covered in the left over dirt and dust from his transformation. Leaving his bronze skin even darker shades of brown. ”Do you mind if we talk? I haven't had a good chance to get to know you since we left Syliras. I'm quiet friendly. Don't bite and couldn't bite if I wanted too! A beak isn't good for much more than a nip!.” He was talking a little too much. It happened when he was nervous and he hardly ever got nervous, but Sondra was so foreign to him.

[Sondra]

Unlike the open ocean, the river was a perpetual struggle. The swiftly moving water would churn the silt and the current wrapped about the body and pulled where it liked. Sondra was perpetually dancing and flinging aggressive eddies off her limbs. But when one emerged, you were beautifully spent. The water had raked its fingers over you, peeling the accumulated dust, and your body had the warmth of a vigorous struggle spiraling through it. Sondra popped up from the water like an otter, flinging her hair from her eyes. She wiped her face with her webbed hand and blinked towards the shore where her clothes were hidden under brush. And there was Ethan, perched on a rock, every bit as unnerving as Sondra expected a Kelvic to be. “Er… Hello.” As she stared at the Kelvic he chattered on, friendly as could be. Naked, wet, in the middle of something-- it didn’t matter, he had an audience and by gods he wasn’t going to waste it. Sondra shrugged and sloshed towards the shore, one arm folded over her chest and wearing nothing but her medallion. Non-bird Ethan was a handsome fellow, but there wasn’t enough humanness to him for Sondra to feel embarrassed. Granted, it took a lot to embarrass Sondra after her times in Sunberth. Turned out the scale motif wasn’t restricted to the limbs and head, and most disconcerting, Sondra wasn’t as tough as the layers of clothes made her look. There were obvious signs of being knocked about and worn down on her moon-colored skin. When the water was at The Konti’s hips she made a gesture telling Ethan to turn about. Once she got her small clothes on she spoke, giving Ethan subtle permission to look again. “Glad about the biting thing, I bruise easy.” Sondra had lost most of her knack when it came to small talk over the years. Even when she wanted to endear herself, she failed in an almost mesmerizing way. It was like watching a house burn. “Talk?” The Konti smirked, “First fellow I’ve known who has talk on his mind when everyone’s in a state of undress.” A bit stiffly she lowered to the rocky shore, and lay down on the sun-warmed rocks to dry a bit. The heat was good on her bones and the pebbles kneaded the sore cords of tense muscle. She was grateful for Ethan, by herself, she would have never allowed for this dangerous luxury. Her gnosis marks were clear now: blue fire slithering over her clavicle and a luminous purple and black seer’s lily creeping above her left breast. “What’s on your mind, birdie?”

[Ethan]

Ethan didn't mind watching Sondra come out of the water. In fact he found it interesting she used her arm to cover herself. She motioned for him to turn around and he smiled. Obeying politely he made sure to angle himself so she would have no doubt he couldn't see her. She must of cared about her body to some degree. Which was interesting to know. One more question marked off. “Glad about the biting thing, I bruise easy.” She spoke with kind words but a harsh voice. Normally he would wonder if he had offended her, but it reminded him of his old master. Tough and gruff even when being friendly. It was nice to be around. “Talk?” She smirked at the Kelvic. “First fellow I’ve known who has talk on his mind when everyone’s in a state of undress.” Sondra said with a sideways look. There wasn't much he could do but chuckle as she laid on the boulder to soak up the sun. ”What's on your mind, birdie?” She had a pleasant way of speaking even if it was very formal. It reminded him of his childhood and safer times. Ethan knelt in front of her, sitting on his feet. ”Well I'm not a fellow at all really. I have urges, but they're usually just to mate and have children.” He said smiling. ”If you wanted to we could mate. But I have to warn you it would be for life.” A coy smile spread across his lips. Although he didn't really know the anatomy of Sondra. Could it happen? Did she have the same parts of a human woman? Another question needed to be checked off. ”But the reason I wanted to talk. Is that I have been very curious about you. I already know a lot about Hadrian and Kendall. Cathan is my own kin so I can't approach him freely. But I hardly know anything about you? And you are by far the most puzzling.” He said leaning in with a smile. ”Can I please examine you? I have learned some magic from Hadrian and I would love to see your Aura.” He held out a hand but kept a polite distance. ”I just need to be close I don't need to actually touch you if that makes you uncomfortable. And if you don't like magic. Then I would love to hear all about you.” He put his hand down and gave a shy smile. He never felt shy around people so this was a little strange for him. ”For example your white skin and scales? You can breath under water and swim so well, but I don't know how does it all work? Why are you like this and where do you come from? I have heard little from Hadrian about the Konti. But I want to hear it from you..” He felt like a stalker and laughed. ”I guess what I'm trying to say. Is I want to know everything about you.”

[Sondra]

Sondra's eyes went wide when Ethan started talking frankly about Kelvic mating habits. Her laughter was sudden, starting with a sputter. It was an almost goofy sound, endearing only if one didn't mind the silly quality. "Tempting," and it was, boy had a face like summer and she was famished for a man, "But I'm not long term material." His proximity was a little unnerving, most of the time she avoided human contact. The basic craving for touch never went away, but the aftertaste and visions had proved a powerful deterrent for the Konti. She closed her slate colored eyes and shifted a bit on the rocks as he spoke, trying to pretend Ethan wasn't so close. One eye opened as he detailed his request of her. She smiled as he claimed the end goal was to know everything about her. "Everything? And ruin my mystique? My mother always told me a Konti had to have some or she lost the upper hand." Her smile was replaced with a casual look, "No, I'm not keen on magic, Birdie. It's corrupted more than it's saved. I like your master but I think he's too free with the stuff." Sondra sat up a bit, propping herself on her elbows. "And I'm not big on touch, either." She glanced dubiously at his proffered hand. "I have a few, uh, quirks of my own. So unless you're keen on letting me get my own read, you best avoid it." She turned her head to look at him better, "My reads tend to be a bit embarrassing for the subject too. The last Kelvic bird I read... I liked him, liked him a lot..." Her skin shivered with distaste, "But I didn't like what I saw." She shrugged, "If you've got nothing to hide, though, I've got nothing to worry about." The Konti finished sitting up and began to comb her fingers through her hair. "Looks like you have to get to know me the traditional way, Birdie. Time and wearing me down with questions. I'll answer the harmless ones." She pulled her ear forward, showing the fleshy pulp of gills, "This is how I breath underwater. Just like a fish." Spreading her fingers, she showed the delicate webbing between them, "This is how I swim faster and the scales," she glanced at the ones on her arm, "Are more for show. They're all gifts from Laviku, sea-god and father of my race." Her fingers returned to the task of untangling her pale hair. "Kontis were made by Avalis and Laviku. We come from Mura, an island. And an interesting bit of trivia, we are unable to have sons, save sometimes with an Akalak but it won't be a Konti. There's no such thing as a male Konti." The momentum was going in Ethan's favor. Rarely did someone show such an open and insistent interest in her, so the words kept tumbling out. "Most my family is in Mura, and my Grandmother Eunoe is our matriarch. Eunoe and I don't get on well. I've never met my father." The last admission was given flatly but with an especially rough tug at her tangled hair, belying a secret injury. "And the most commonly known thing about Kontis, we have various gifts of perception from Avalis, each one different. Also, many of us can see the future and read fortunes." Anticipating the questions she said, "Yes, I can do both a little, and no, I will not tell you my gift now." Sondra sighed heavily, "There. A lesson in Konti from the genuine article." She pointed to her half obscured pack nestled in her clothes. "Be a dear and grab my comb for me, it should be near the top." Twisting into a bit of a stretch, Sondra chimed, "Your turn, Birdie. What's the story on Hadrian's new, feathery friend?"

[Ethan]

The Konti explained her position against magic. How it corrupts people instead of saves, but he never saw any evidence of this? How did it corrupt people? It was the use of one's soul, that couldn't be bad. Although... She didn't seem like a person to speak without evidence behind her. He would have to go to Hadrian and discuss this. Make sure he was being completely open and honest about magic and how it could affect you. The Konti woman propped herself on her elbows and explained how she was against touching as well. It wasn't his intention to touch her since he wasn't into morphing like Hadrian. There would be no purpose. How would she get a reading off of him anyways? If she didn't use magic how could she? The only way he saw was threw Auristics. Although not long ago he had no clue about the magic so this could be a new discovery! "My reads tend to be a bit embarrassing for the subject too. The last Kelvic bird I read... I liked him, liked him a lot...But I didn't like what I saw." He wondered whom she was talking about and what kinda of crimes could a bird do? "If you've got nothing to hide, though, I've got nothing to worry about." What did Ethan have to hide? It was an interesting question, one that he didn't know all the way. Was it the stealing? Lying to people to get gold, or was it the things he did for it. His heart sank a little as he remembered all the times things went to far... When he was forced to bare threw things he didn't want. Should he really be ashamed by what the lust and greed of others did? Or was it still his fault by tricking people in the first place. Perhaps it was the deeper things that would appear before the woman. The thoughts about his master and the hatred he secretly had... How easily he was being replaced by Hadrian even now. Only a few years from the accident. His stomach tightened and he almost felt the urge to cry. "Looks like you have to get to know me the traditional way, Birdie. Time and wearing me down with questions. I'll answer the harmless ones." Her tone and words were polite and made him feel a little better. Helped him keep up the natural mask of friendliness he used at all times. Control of your emotions is the control of your weakness. The lessons from his childhood were always there to help guide him. She pulled her pretty silver hair back to reveal gills... The intrigue and importance of the moment quickly pulled him back from his dark thoughts. He took the chance to leave the doubts behind and examined the gills. They were very beautiful and very slim. It was such an elegant way to breath. It must of connected from her throat somehow. Fish had the same thing so it was only natural she did too. She started answering all his questions quickly one after another. Laviku, Avalis, Mura? It was a little much for him to take in all at once, but Ethan was incredibly gifted at remembering facts. It was one of the main reasons Hadrian's lessons were sticking so well. He ignored the questions popping into his mind and focused on the information. There were no Male Konti and some race called Akalaks were the only species to create a male from a Konti. Who were the Akalaks! And how was it even possible to have an all female race. It would be completely dependent on outsiders to further the race. Also how did they give birth? Was it like fish and eggs in the water. Did they have genitalia like a human woman? "Most my family is in Mura, and my Grandmother Eunoe is our matriarch. Eunoe and I don't get on well. I've never met my father." The last part struck Ethan as very sad... He never knew his parents either. His master Grimm was the only man that ever took care of him. Beyond that he was very intrigued by the word matriarch. Wasn't that some sort of queen? A political leader of some sorts. Which would mean Sondra was a very important woman. She went on to explain that every Konti had a gift but she was not going to tell him what it was or use it . Which was perfectly fine with him. Knowing the future didn't seem right anyways. "Be a dear and grab my comb for me, it should be near the top." Sondra said with a slightly endearing tone. Ethan quickly hoped up and opened the back. Pulling the brush out, he was back to her in a matter of seconds. He slightly blushed as he realized just how eager he was to get something for her... Definitely not a good sign. He told himself it was only because she reminded him of Grimm but he knew that wasn't it. She had such casual confidence and authority. It was an attractive quality in a person and nearly a must in a good master. "Your turn, Birdie. What's the story on Hadrian's new, feathery friend?" When she was done stretching he handed her the comb with a goofy smile. God why was he acting like a fool? Me? You want to know about me... Well. Wow no one has actually asked me about myself before. Not that many that is.... Guess I'm always the one talking!. He said laughing. His smile was cut short by a clutching feeling in his gut. He felt nervous, too nervous. Well. First things first I guess. He cleared his throat and sat Indian style across from her. ”You may already know this but I'm going to say it anyways to make things fair. I am a Kelvic. I am an animal that can shift into a human.... I never knew my parents either Sondra and I was sold before I could remember.” He noticed he was using his hands a lot and carefully put them on his lap. It didn't help because he started fidgeting when he started talking again. ”I guess my 'Father' or pretty much my Master raised me. His name Was Grimdulf but everyone just called him Grimm.” Ethan had to laugh at how silly, and yet emotionally loaded the name was. ”He was a captain of a trading ship. So he used me as a navigation device. Kinda like a compass in case we ever came across fog or lost our course. Eventually he saw me as a good tool and began teaching me how to talk my way out of any situation. To act and be 'Human' or better than a human.” Ethan said the next part with a dead feeling in his chest but kept a straight face. Long story short he died at sea. That was three years ago but I was very young. Around fifteen or so. Well in Human appearance. I age like any other animal so it gets confusing sometimes. He felt better for telling her that. It was nice to talk to someone. especially since she seemed so familiar. ”So I learned to survive on my own. Traveled from the Colbalt's to Sunberth... Which is a pit of man kind and you should never go there... And I traveled around. until I finally stumbled upon Hadrian at the springs near Syliras.” He smiled thinking about Hadrian and that first day they met. How long ago that seemed but it was only a season or so. ”I came upon him preforming magic and basically rushed him with a but of crazy questions. You can see how naturally curious I am.” He laughed as he spoke. ”Thankfully Hadrian is a good man and showed me magic. Ever since then I have been his student and friend.” Ethan played with his goatee nervously as he looked at Sondra. ”My life isn't filled with gods and islands or swimming under water. I'm sorry if I bore you... It seems like the person that asks the most questions has little to say!” He smiled and looked off to the river. It was a pleasantly cool day for the beginning of summer. The air was a little damp and the smooth boulder felt nice and cool on his skin. He looked back at her with a smile. ”I almost forgot, the fun facts about me. My species is called a Lammergeier or Bearded Eagle. Grimm bought some books about it and read them to me... They call me a Bearded Eagle because of the black ruffs of feathers that grow underneath my beak.” He laughed with a new bright look in his eyes. ”Human's are always so strange. As you can see I keep some facial hair so it might be true. I usually should be living high in mountains and I mate for life apparently... Tempting isn't it? He gave Sondra another coy but bashful look. He felt a little momentum himself and his usual confidence started coming back since he was on a lighter subject. Oh and in my animal form I eat bones. In fact I carry them up in the air and drop them so they crack on rocks. It's actually incredibly hard. I should show you some time!” He blushed as he realized he was starting to show off to the Konti woman. By the god's this was not a good sign. He felt like such a young boy again.

[Sondra]

When Ethan eagerly placed Sondra’s comb in her hand, the Konti’s mouth quirked into a knowing smile. Like any pet, these Kelvic aimed to please, made complete by their connection to another. Ethan was doubly moldable, a rapidly aging young man coming into his prime. It reminded her why she liked her stallions young. She wouldn’t toy too much, though. The bird may not understand and irritation could ruin his endearing freshness. As he began to summarize his life thus far, Sondra brushed her hair in earnest from tip to root. She kept her eyes high, forgiving his lack of understanding when it came to appropriate attire. Occasionally she would nod or lowly hum to show she was listening. Some phrases made her eyes resonate with understanding, others lines were just absorbed. She chuckled at his “father’s” nickname, momentarily setting aside what the obvious abbreviation said about the man’s character. He seemed an unsuitable hand to guide Ethan, but then sternness might be a necessary counter to the bird’s trusting tendencies. More human than human, a cunning bit of advice. Sondra suddenly wondered if Ethan’s exuberance was a ploy easily learned. That would make him formidable but less enjoyable. She hoped his mood was a true one sneaking out for a time. When Sunberth was paired with a warning to avoid it, her mouth briedly curved sardonically around a secret or two. Sunberth had been her favorite slum and place to slowly punish herself for years. How sweet that he warned her from it. She didn’t want to ruin his inaccurate, kinder image of herself, so she said nothing. Ethan began to preen, telling her what he could do as an eagle. She smiled, enjoying the obvious attempt to impress. It was rare that anyone tried to earn her good opinion. “I would like to see that sometime.” Sondra’s pale hair was thoroughly brushed and the comb set aside. “Your life sounds exciting enough to me. You can always swim, but I will never fly. What a feeling it must be.” She tilted her head, showing her own curiosity, “When you’re a bird, is the world different? Would you be able to understand me or do things make even more sense?”

[Ethan]

Sondra's smile was beautiful when she truly meant it. Light pink lips curved into an endearing little smirk. Framed with soft pale skin, silver hair and striking eyes. The scales only added to the exotic appearance of the woman. He wanted to say something. A polite compliment or two, but he didn't have the courage. The cat had gotten Ethan's tongue pretty hard this time. He needed to get a little more momentum for that. The fact that she was smiling at his silly attempts to impress her was almost as beautiful as her smile. Not many people ever cared about what he could do as a bird or his habits as one. She was different though. He could see it in her eyes and how she held herself. He listened as she talked about flight and how he viewed the world as a bird. ”Well I'm awfully shorter as a bird.” He said with a laugh. Catching eye contact with the Konti for a second. Before going back to fidgeting. He thought for a moment about what to say. He wanted to sound clever but still have the feeling needed to really emphasize how great flight was. ”Flight is the most wonderful thing I have ever experienced. Even now after taking to the air more times than I can count. Every second is still precious thing to me.” Light gold eyes flickered as he tried to think properly. He had explained this to others before, but he wanted Sondra to know a little more about it than the rest. ”It feels like freedom. If that makes any sense... You push off with your wings. Using amounts of strength just to get off the ground. Then as you struggle to climb up higher and higher. The wind picks you up suddenly and your weightless.” Said the Kelvic as he used his hands to demonstrate his point. It may have looked silly but it stopped him from fidgeting at least. ”Flying threw the air and sailing on every gust of wind. Leaving the earth behind you and race towards the stars. You can literally see for miles. People look like ants, mountains like mounds of dirt and oceans... Well oceans are just as vast actually. They never seem to end.” He shifted a little closer as the pebbles were beginning to put marks in his butt and legs. ”And you would think the world would look no different as an animal. I am a man and a beast, but it is like comparing night and day. It is incredible to feel the difference when your really aware of it. Sadly most Kelvics were never raised to their full potential. They don't appreciate what they are. They only seem to want to be animals. Instead of embracing the fact that we are animals and men. But I'm getting off point.” Laughed Ethan. He felt like he was flying threw the conversation. Although it was something he held very close to him. ”When I'm a bird all my senses change. My eyes as a man are better than most but in my other form I can see anything. As I watch over you and the others I can see what your doing, what your wearing and even your facial expressions. Everything becomes more clear when I'm a bird. My mind is crisp and to the point. Even my Auristics flows easier. But enough about me. I feel like I'm blabbering. Tell me a little more about the ocean. And, Mura was it? Whats it like to breath under water? How far have you gone below the water?” He didn't notice how close he was leaning in or how wide his smile was. His curiosity was peaking rapidly on the ideas of the ocean. Beyond a dip in the river or nearly drowning at sea. He had never explore the ocean. They always looked amazing from the skies though.

[Sondra]

There was a moment when Ethan moved from merely speaking to a fuller sort of expression. It was description, but set alight. Sondra closed her eyes and stretched again on the rocks, enjoying the poetry of earnestness. She was prodded into the immediate by more questions. The Konti opened her stone colored eyes before closing them against the glare of sun moving over the water. “I have gone as deep as a body can withstand, and stopped when the sunlight could press no further. The Sea is lovely and terrifying.” Old sights from childhood rose at her searching. “There are colors that are kept there that I have yet to see on land, like we’re undeserving of them here. And everything is graceful as it moves. There are plants thin as cords but make forests taller and denser than any tree. And the rocks have a moss of living vivid things.” Her voice began to widen and dissipate as language lost its footing. “Terrifying too. The sky opens and rises to the stars, but the sea delves deeper into the dark and earth growing stranger with every fathom. Mute things rise from the murk in shapes and sizes that would make men humble. And these frightful things all live and grow, unseen and unknown forever.” Each sentence stretched, echoing the vast emptiness she felt when suspended in the seemingly infinite and mysterious. “I feel terribly small in the open ocean.” Sondra shook herself awake gradually. “A Konti often afraid of the water,” her smile was shallow, “A poor daughter of Laviku, or a respectful one. I’m not sure.” She breathed deeply, puzzling over the idea. “I think it is the unknown that upsets me more. When I look towards it I don’t imagine something radiant coming toward me… I see an indifferent monster.” It reminded her of the eldritch and many-eyes things she saw rising from her black scrying mirror, inscrutable and ghastly. Sondra was beginning to hate where her thoughts were going. She needed to untangle herself and remember the tactile present. Purposefully, she shifted her body until a rock painfully pressed against her spine. The Konti then sprung up, looking for the rest of her clothes. She began to briskly pull them on, grunting quietly as she contorted. Her end of the conversation seemed to be at an end, as she was suddenly put out of sorts. "It's time I got my blood moving, bird. If you're coming, you need some pants or feathers. Your choice."

[Ethan]

Sondra had a wonderful way of explaining the ocean. It was one of the few times he just sat back and listened., tried not to question His golden eyes closed while she spoke and he tried to imagine what it would be like under the sea. The freedom and lonesomeness of it all. She felt small and scared just like he did as he flew. In his opinion this only showed your appreciation and respect of the skies or seas. People were foolish to not fear the wild. Even a bird can fall and it was the unafraid that were plucked out of the skies first. Even though he tried to listen, not all of his mind was quiet. Some parts were mentally poking around for answers. How far down could a Konti really go? Was it possible for him to use Morphing to make himself breath under water and if so how long? Was Laviku the only god of the elements or was there others? He had heard some ramblings from religious men or people with faith but he never really knew about the gods. When she finished speaking about the ocean and what her fears where. He tried to put in a question but she got dressed quickly. So quick it made him think he did something wrong... His nudity might of bugged her a bit. "It's time I got my blood moving, bird. If you're coming, you need some pants or feathers. Your choice." He sprang up quickly ready to follow, but felt a little bad to have to end the conversation by changing into a bird because pants were in short supply. ”Sorry M'lady but I can't speak as a bird and I like hearing your voice. So I will walk behind you slightly so you wont have to see anything swing.” He quickly moved out of her field of vision. He didn't spot her as the squeamish type with a man, but he would respect it nonetheless. ”One thing I wanted to know more about. Was the gods, Laviku you said? He is the god of the oceans, and obviously a sea creature should love him. I was wondering as a Bird who am I to love? I haven't heard of the gods much, so is there a god of winds or birds? And how do you worship the gods?” He waited for her to start walking and would follow briskly and out of her sight when she did.

[Sondra]

Sondra gave a brisk grunt of displeasure at Ethan’s choice to ignore her request. He was polite but still did precisely what he wanted. “Your way then. I hope you get attacked by ticks and learn a lesson.” She kept marching forward, towards the camp, driven on by an unknown agitation of spirit. Ethan was undaunted, still throwing questions at her back. His questions were so fundamental she felt obligated to answer them out of sheer decency. “Eywaat. God of birds and ingenuity. Nice chap from what I’ve heard. If he’s anything like they say, you two would get along swimmingly. I hear its good to set a place for him at meals or something like that. As for worship,” The Konti shrugged as she meandered into guessing, “I suppose you just do what would make him happy or try to talk to him.” Sondra halted a moment to make sure she was headed in the right direction before she went further. She was never a very good tracker. “As for winds, Zulrav. God of storms and such. I don’t know how he gets worshipped, but he has followers who can bend the breezes. Fierce god that one, never shows his face.” There. She’d done what she could for his spiritual education, at least he had the wherewithal to know what gods might suit him. Many people were still struggling on that point. The Konti didn’t say much more and something about the curve of her shoulders didn’t welcome any further prodding. Her mood had switched and it was hard to discern why. She was reverting to her usual bearish mien, the laze of a summer swim leaving her. Eventually they reached the loose camp where the rest were lingering and resting. Sondra’s tent was a sloppy meager thing, but it served its purpose. She crouched to fit inside of it and emerged less her pack but with her hammer in hand. The Konti kept walking, starting to make distance between her and the tents. As she walked, she adjusted the leather strap on the hammer’s handle around her wrist. “I’m off to use this thing, birdie.”