In a New Land (Open)

[Rykker Whitevine]

Summer day 15 of 511 Rykker was staying in the Savintar Warrens as a guest. He felt like a guest since the last few days as the dark skinned grayish furred young half Vantha half Zith walked through the snowy streets of Avanthal he got stares. They weren’t mean stares just shocked, curious, sometimes fearful stares. He knew that he was something of an oddity but he couldn’t help it. He wished he wasn’t with the hair, eyes, and facial features of his mother and the body, skin, and fur of his father he was intimidating. He tried to smile, but it was hard, he wasn’t the friendliest of people, he had only known for most his life of hard work, people having little too no respect for him, and being unacceptable of his heritage. He himself if truth were told hated half himself. He had resentment of his father’s family for keeping him and his mother as slaves. He kept that buried deep inside though. He walked the street, his golden red eyes scanning the things around him, it was everything his mother had told him and more. It was beautiful, even though the cold was hard for him to handle, he hoped that maybe if he got in his mother’s hold that he would be blessed with Morwen’s gift to be resistant to the cold. He was used to the warm weather of Cyphrus and he still had not got any other warm clothes, one because he hadn’t found a job yet. He was hoping if he got into Whitevine hold that maybe if anything he could become a vet, he knew he wouldn’t be compassionate enough to those of his fellow humans. Why? Because he had his inner demons that were angry at his fellow humans at times that had ostracized him all his life, even though he knew he couldn’t be like that. He had to give this new place, these new people a chance, but it was hard not to brace himself for rejection like he had most his life. He would just have to wait and see what his life would bring next, hope for the best, and look on to the brighter things; this was a new life he was seeking after all. The past was the past, and this was a new future of freedom, among a new people his mother’s people, who through her were also his people. However, would they accept the fact that while his mother had been captured she had fallen in love or maybe only thought she had with one of her captors? In which case he was part also of a race that was not trusted, and sometimes hated throughout Mizahar? He didn’t know, but he would have to have faith in Morwen, and the goddess Rak'keli, which reminded him maybe he should pay a visit to the temple he had heard about that, was here for Morwen and pay his respects, and pray also to Rak’keli for guidance in what to do for a job. If he should try to follow in his mother’s foot steps to at least be a doctor to animals if not humans. He wondered if healing was healing and if Rak’keli would bless him for healing animals just as much as humans? There was so much he still didn’t know, or understand.

[Frost]

Frost's fur waved in the subtle, chill breeze of Avanthal, rippling the thick, white mass along her body. Her eyes, the stark color of frozen water, flashed as they watched Vantha and assorted other races walk the snow-strewn streets. As she sat here, just watching the people, some children would dip their short fingers into her fur, and play with her ear, but she didn't mind it. Life raising little pups had taught her extreme patience with the wiles of all little pups, whether Vantha or wolf.

At least the parents of these children knew what she was, though. Even if their little ones showed no caution, their parents could be found nearby, tensed to seize their child away, hand half extended in shock. Frost could have laughed if she had the anatomy in this form. Even with the polar bears assigned to the Icewatch the Vantha were unnecessarily wary. Frost wouldn't bite, and nor would the bears... Unless they were baited, maybe.

The wolf huffed a sigh as another child caught her fur, and her mother immediately swept in and removed her child, as though a sigh was a sign of attack. Frost rolled her eyes and looked for something more interesting, and set her eyes upon a rather odd looking man.

His skin colour, his fur, and the odd colour of his eyes said Zith, but the absence of wings and his unchallenged presence said otherwise. He had caught Frost's attention, and the wolf rose to all four paws and shook her fur free of snow before trotting after the man, keeping about a meter behind him and catching his scent as she followed him.

[Rykker Whitevine]

Walking along the street the young mixed blood noticed the furry white beast that had been sitting near the side of the road. He had actually glanced at the beast as they were occasionally being petted by passersby people out and about. Some were afraid, and others didn’t mind he for one he trusted animals more then humans most times. They didn’t care what you looked like, nor did they care what station you were. They looked at you kindly if you were kindly to them. However, he didn’t know that this young wolf beast wasn’t what they appeared to be because he hadn’t had much exposure to Kelvics before. He had seen a few, but not enough yet in his free life experience to know on sight what they looked like. To Rykker the snow white wolf was just that a wolf. He walked by, and at first didn’t notice the large pawed beast tailing him. It wasn’t until he stopped and looked into a storefront window that he saw the white beast behind him. He cocked his and his golden red eyes sparkled with curiosity. Why was this beast of all people following him? He didn’t know, but there really wasn’t any way for him to really find out or so he thought anyway. To his knowledge there was no way for him to question the beast and actually get a response he could understand. He turned, squatted down extending his hand to the beast, and said in Vani, “Hello my snowy friend.” He gave a chuckle it sounded rich with a bit of resonate of deepness in it. It wasn’t often that he laughed at all, however, if anything made him smile it was animals. Maybe it was the innocence of them, or most of them anyway. He knew animals could be mean, but mostly with them there was a good reason, they were afraid, hurt, or you were angering them. Humans though he would never understand they could be mean just because they felt like it. “Is there anything in this great city that isn’t white but me?” He questioned to the beast still casually holding his hand out to it. They could either come and touch it and get a pet or not. He really didn’t care, and he wouldn’t push anything on the beast. After a bit he stood again, and started to walk again. He watched out of the corner of his eye to see if the big white beast that he thought on closer inspection was a female, but he couldn’t be sure. He didn’t mind her following him; it actually made him feel less lonely. Sure he couldn’t really speak with her, but her presence was comforting. Whether or not that was true that she was a kindly beast that was comforting was to be determined but for now, walking down the street with a possible wolf following him made him feel special and to him maybe was a sign that he had a report with animals that would make a vet for him be easier when he took up that training.

[Frost]

Whenever the man stopped, as did Frost. Living as a natural wolf had taught her patience, and she had learned it well. When the man stopped and seemed to have seen her, Frost instinctively sunk into the snow, pressing her belly to the ground and watching the man out of pure blue eyes. She had noticed that his eyes were an odd mix of gold and blood red, and she felt perturbed by that. When he reached out to her and spoke to her in the language of the Vantha, Frost calmed. She came forward and nudged his hand with her nose, inhaling his scent, before head butting it. Her tail batted the air a few times before settling, and she looked at him out of intelligent blue eyes as he spoke.

At his question, she barked, mimicking a canine. He had a wonderful voice, a symphony really. It sounded so rich to her, who had little experience with human voices as it was.

When he started walking again, Frost cocked her head and loped after him. He hadn't satisfied her curiousity, and if she had to, she'd make herself human and investigate him that way. For now, though, she was much more content as a wolf. He seemed happy around animals anyway.

[Rykker Whitevine]

Rykker let his hand smooth over the wolf's soft white fur as her head butted into his hand. He smiled, letting his more softer side come out toward the beast. She was a gorgeous white, well muscled, and it looked like by the way her body was very capable to hunt and keep herself well fed. Her blue eyes bellied an intelligence behind them that was more then a typical wolf. As if she was sizing him up in a way that was more human like then he would think for an average animal. However over the last few months he had learned that there were a lot of different animals, people, and things out there that were not as he would expect them to be always. They were surprising wonders that he was very anxious to find out more of. After petting her soft fur a bit more he stood, and walked off noticing that she continued to follow after him. It brought a warmth to him that he wasn't sure where was coming from as someone that was interested in him as more then just a dark skinned oddity, or something to fear. He almost started wandering if the intelligence behind those ice blue eyes of the wolf had held some understanding toward him of being someone that might be more misunderstood, and seen as something that they weren't before they could even prove themselves different. He slowed his pace so the young wolf could catch up if she wanted to trot by his side. If she did come up beside him she would here him saying softly maybe to her, maybe just to himself in Vani, "Two individual seen as something that they aren't, misunderstood possibly, and feared when maybe there is no fear to be felt from them." The voice an almost mournful, lonely lilt to it. Something he probably wouldn't let anyone else hear but this wolf that he didn't think understood him anyway.

[Frost]

The wolf parted her jaws in a wolfish grin as he ran his hand over her fur. The touch was much more deliberate than the wandering fingers of children, and therefore it pleased her more. Her blue eyes shimmered as they watched the odd eyes of the tall male. She really hadn't seen things such as that before.

Of course, after he slid the patting hand away, she loped after him. Inquisitive and brash, she was, but she had no fear of the people in this city. Maybe this man had claws, and maybe he was dangerous, but the way he acted gave her no reason to be fearful, even if he looked to be one of those Zith, albeit a wingless one. When he slowed for her, she caught up and used the chance to walk at his side, keeping her icy eyes pointed forward as he spoke to her. She made a whining noise after the sad, lonely sound in his voice, her only possible consolation to the male in this form. Frost had grown away from human society, raised in a society that lived by the rules of Dira Herself, every day presenting the possibility of death. She had not suffered open discrimination among her kind, because like in death, all were the same in the end. Dira didn't discriminate among the living, and wolves didn't either.

Here, with humans, Frost encountered fear, but only in her wolf form. In her human form, she drew eyes to her tattoos, her teeth, and the cold way her eyes shone, as though they didn't care.

After making the whining noise, she butted the male's hand again and put her cold nose against his palm, trying to urge him to speak more. It was nice, having someone confide in her. Even if it was under the assumption that she was something else, she would enjoy his confidence.

[Rykker Whitevine]

Rykker was still getting used to the area. He hardly knew his way around. So far he knew his way best to The Luminary Commons, his residence, which was currently the Savintar Warrens, and occasionally The Red Diamond Tavern to get a drink, and rub shoulders with the locals best, he could. However so far he hadn't been doing well with that one. He wasn't sure if it was his somewhat cold personality at times, or the fact of how he looked. Nonetheless the wolf trotting next to him was the best he had done so far as a companion of any kind. He didn't blame anyone, he was new to the area, looked of a cold blooded killing Zith, and his personality at times was a bit brass if not too truthful for most people. When the wolf rubbed her nose against his hand and whined at him he grinned down at her. "Ah... None of that my friend.” He said of her whining. “I won't suffer anyone's pity." However he did pat her head, and scratch between her ears as the moved along. "How about we get ourselves something to eat?" He suggested feeling a bit foolish speaking aloud to a wolf, but it seemed like this particular wolf could understand the Vani he spoke to her, and so he didn't really care too much. He veered off the road he was on toward The Luminary Commons as he felt that was the best place to eat out of the two places that were offered for the general population. He walked in matter of fact walked toward the counter as if there was no other thing following him but himself. He thinking, if he didn't draw attention to the wolf no one else would. Sure, it probably wasn't right having a big white wolf in an eating establishment but he figured somehow that the young wolf wouldn't cause too much of a scene as long as no one else did. "Please behave..." He implored the young beast, not as a command, but as a plea to one that would be a friend to friend thing. If anyone knew anything about being an underling it was Rykker. Born into slavery Rykker hated when people demanded things from you rather then asking, and above anything else he hated snobbery. Especially now that he felt he was free, no one would look down upon him again as something that was nothing. He would be something on the name of his mother Whitevine. He would be something in the healing profession to continue what his poor mother could never do even if it wasn't to humans because he had his problems with them right now. He liked animals better anyway, he found innocence with them that he would never find in humans that commanded his sympathy, apathy, and willingness to help that wasn't quite there for humans. Maybe his upbringing in the pits of Xy as a slave had marred him forever from truly trusting the humans around him, he hoped not though. He hoped that somehow in the shining white city of her mother's home some of her cynical jaded thoughts of humans would melt away. He made his order of a rare steak, and a medium rare steak with vegetables to the attendent at the front, and with stares from a lot of others proudly made his way to a table with the big wolf following. He looked down at her and patted her head. "You will get your own steak of your own tonight, no hunting for you." He smiled down at her wandering how much it meant whether her food was handed to her or well won by a hunt, and chase. No matter he felt it was his duty to give something back to her for her companionship for however long he had it. His hand wondering to her soft pelt again, tangling fingers in her hair and softly pulling tangles out. "You need a good brushing, maybe even a bath. Wish that I could keep you, but I would no more cage you up then the man in the moon. You are a wild beast and deserve your freedom like anyone else." He knew of being caged, not having freedom, and none around him would be bond to him unless they wanted to. He would not suffer anyone to be caged in front of him. Soon he heard his meal being called and he moved to pick up the two plates. He smiled as he placed the meat that was more rare in front of the wolf. "Eat and be well nourished," He said. "If you like you are free to come back with me to have a nice warm place to stay the night, however long you wish, I could bath you in warm waters, massage you and loosen some of that dirty in your fur." He said it more for himself really then her, anything to keep away the loneliness that constantly gnawed at him, even if it was only taking care of a lone wolf was better then anything. He had to eventually find the temple of Marwen and pray to her, he had not done that yet, and he felt he most at some point pay his respects.

[Frost]

Frost snorted against his hand when he told her he wouldn't suffer anyone's pity, but she gave him another grin when he patted her head and rubbed her ears. He was nice, for looking the way he did. She couldn't judge him as one of the monsters that took her mother, and she wouldn't. He was too human for that. When he asked her about getting something to eat, she barked again in her dog imitation. Her tail swept through the air. Even she, a huntress in her own right, would accept free food. Anyway, hunting alone was not something any wolf enjoyed. A fallen deer was meant to be shared among the pack, not to be eaten alone by a friendless wolf.

The place this interesting creature brought her was one she only walked by, having had no taste for cooked foods. The scents always wafting off this place were of broiled meats, and despite smelling irresistible, Frost preferred rare, uncooked steaks, which was not something most humans viewed as normal. She followed him closely, not wanting anyone to give attention to her presence and chase her out. She didn't want to lose sight of this man. It would not be the same if she came back as a woman and started talking to him. His attitude already showed he was as uncomfortable as she around people.

His plead for her to behave was answered with a solemn flick of her tail. She was Kelvic, and knew some manners from her brief time in Avanthal. She wouldn't hurt anyone unless they baited her, but really... Only idiots would bait an obvious wolf.

His statement about her hygiene earned him a disgruntled grunt and a tilt of her head. She allowed his fingers to stroke through her pelt however. It felt nice, this touch of his. He wasn't shying away from her. She could appreciate that. But his offer of bathing and brushing her made her slightly uncomfortable. She hadn't allowed anyone to touch her so intimately other than her wolf mother. A human bathing and touching her would frighten her. She couldn't allow him to do so, simply because he believed she was merely a wolf. What would he do if she disappeared, or transformed herself so she could dry properly? She'd be naked, in the house of a strange man who was oddly friendly to a wild beast. What if he attacked her? But, she couldn't think like that. That would be judging him. He was much more tender than his appearance dictated. She'd have to trust him.

Her black nose twitched as he placed down the plate, but she waited for him to start eating, or to ask her to. When he did, she dug in, and most of her attention was diverted to the steak being worked through her maw, but she didn't miss his words. He was... Offering her a place in his home? His words made her pause and look up at him again, her tongue cleaning her maw. Did she want to stay in the den of a stranger? She couldn't. He knew only the wolf form, and while she was more comfortable as a wolf, she had two forms. She was both human and wolf. She'd have to tell him that and see if he still accepted her.

The wolf pondered him for a few moments, before returning to eating.

[Rykker Whitevine]

Rykker smiled as he seemed to get the opinion from the young wolf that he had offended her by her grunt and cocking of her head. "Oh, now, don't get all hurt feelings, now." He rumbled out in his deep voice. He didn't quite have the same voice as a normal Zith would, but still it was very deep almost baratone sound. "Even I needed a nice bath when I came here first. Traveling does that to any man or beast. However, if its the bath you're objecting to, I am sure just a nice brushing would do." He tasted his meat and was again pleased with his meal, he had been coming here ever since the first day. He loved the cooking here, and seemed to now want to stray too far from a place he knew was good. He was adventurous, but not much with his food. If he found a place he liked to eat at he would very rarely stray from that place after. He wondered if it was more a tame wolf he was dealing with, or a wild wolf that just seemed to have for some reason taken a liking to him. Her being a Kelvic never crossed his mind. It wasn't that he didn't know about them, it was just it wasn't something he thought of right off the bat. "Did you have a master..." He semi-spoke to her, and mostly to himself. However have the female sitting there he felt it weird to not at least acknowledge her presence. He then smiled down at her with a chuckle between his lips between bites of his own food. "Sorry if it is still a bit too cooked for you, and I suppose we will just have to see if you follow me into my dwelling no?" He went back to his food taking a big bite of his vegetables. It wasn't that he had a big problems with humans, it was just that he was a bit more wary of them, and was something that he hoped through time here would not be so much a trouble. That these people were a bit more tolerant and with time even if they weren't of seeing him, and having business with him that they would grow to trust and tolerate him as he would grow to also trust them. At least this was his hope as he sat with his meal, thinking on his possible new companion, and the rest of his life.

[Frost]

She snorted at his words, an almost human expression of amusement, before she licked his hand once. She returned to scarfing down her food, listening to his voice. It was a very pleasing sound. Deep and to the bone. Her human voice was higher, and would have been described as a soprano voice if she understood the word "soprano". She wished she could become human and speak to him plainly, but shocking the other patrons in her with a nude woman's body was not an idea she favoured. She didn't want the Vantha to hate her, even if she herself didn't mind her own naked body.

Frost didn't know about Kelvic bonding, or she would have wondered if she could bond to this human. She did feel loneliness, but she always assumed it was because she was separated from her pack mates. She was technically a stupid kelvic. There was always that desire to be with people, to be close to others to recreate a "pack" setting, but the Kelvic couldn't remember her parents ever telling her about bonding practices. Now, she wondered if she could make a companion to share her life with this man. She didn't think of bonding, didn't understand it, but she wondered if she could have "friends" like humans did.

His comment about the cooked status of the food caused her to yip shortly, before grunting and eating with renewed gusto to prove she liked how the meat was. Cooked wasn't something she dared to try yet, but the way this steak was prepared was completely fine by her.