Dawn of a New Day (Taln)

[Sarye]

Sarye accepted the moistend cloth from Taln and barely got her face wiped off and a small thank out of her mouth before he was off leading her to who knows where and who knows what. For some reason Sayre had no problem following this man her distrust of other completely melted away for the moment.

As they approached the warrens Sarye did a quick study of the area to make sure there was not anyone watching them. Being confident no one was as it was still very early in the morning she continued on. She did not want to get Taln in trouble and reveal his secret whatever that may be. In her glancing she almost lost sight of Taln until his red hair made a glimpse from the around a near corner. She quickly followed him into a cave where there was barely enough room for him and her.

She looked around the cave and noticed a bundle of feathers, leaves, twigs and shreds of a Lontev and a fledgling falcon. Sarye smiled at the sight of the bird it was just starting to molt its way into adulthood and look quite cute with its baby feathers still sticking out in places. Taln looked so proud of him.

“Well it’s nice to meet you Reech. Taln, how did you come across Reech? He’s going to be an impressive falcon soon. “ Sarye smiled up at Taln who was smiling back at her. Sarye noticed just how close they were in this cave; her arm had been brushing up against him the whole time in the cave. She pulled her arm toward her body with the other hand while still smiling up at Taln not wanting to touch him again and have him try to move away from her.

[Taln]

Now that he had Reech with him, Taln's whole demeanor relaxed, no longer worried in the least about touching or close quarters. It was one of the very few places he could let down his guard. Taln beamed proudly, as though he'd sired the chick himself. He responded, eagerly, instantly about his feathered pride and joy. "I was helping out a yasi a little over a moon ago over at Edge of the World. He got bored after a bell and left me to myself. Barely a chime after he'd left, I saw a small egg roll out of a nest on the cliff face. I was scared coz if you touch a bird's egg, they'll reject it, but if I'd let it roll--the egg wouldn't have...made the fall. So I made a grab for it and spent a full sun trying to figure out what I should do for the egg. It was small and speckled and in total falcon location so I brought it with me." The room changed from cramped to cozy and he could feel the closeness of the two of them so near each other. The woman smelled like the sage and rosemary she gathered--wholesome and fresh. Taln looked down at her upturned face and something turned over in his gut. She looked at him with trust. No one had ever done so before and he wasn't sure quite what to think at that moment. He only knew that it was a very cozy little room and there were just the two of them. His emerald gaze locked onto her vivid blue eyes, enirely caught up in her expression.

[Sarye]

Sarye watched his face beam with pride of helping this little creature. Taln, although being treated like a slave, had a big heart. It made Sayre’s smile get even bigger. "You saved Reech’s life. You have a great heart Taln," Sarye said feeling another blush coming to her face. Something about this man brought strong emotions to the surface of Sarye’s being.

When his emerald eyes caught hers and didn’t look away she caught her breath feeling time slow down. She turned to face him but couldn’t keep his gaze finding her eyes moving to their feet instead. She didn’t know what to say now that they were alone. Why in public was she so bold and now alone in this cave she couldn’t keep eye contact with this man or say a word?

[Taln]

Taln couldn't quite catch his breath enough to speak. The little room was very very cozy and he felt like he might accidentally crush the delicate flower of a woman. His ears turned red at her soft and earnest compliment and he was far too flustered to respond coherently. The small space seemed to close in on him and to be caught out in the warrens with a woman above his caste, would get him a sure and sound enough beating. He swallowed thickly and mumbled, "Uh, I..you..we should probably get out of here. It's not safe really and..." The man just couldn't think straight with her standing so close they touched, and breathing in the delicate scent of female that was uniquely her.

[Sarye]

Sarye could feel the tension buliding in the room that was only filled with the sound of breathing and small cries from Reech. She didn't want to leave the privacy of this little cave just yet. It was nice to not have sideways glares and hushed slanders as she talked with Taln. Sarye was used to that as she talked to her sister.

Sarye finally got up the courage to look him back in the eye with the thought of her sister, "Taln, I keep saying I'm sorry to you but here is another one. I'm sorry I make you feel so unsafe. It's not my intention to get you in trouble. I know the fear and the pain you go through every day. Please, just stay a while longer with me."

Sarye reached for one of his big hands while smiling hoping that this time he didn't recoil from her touch.

[Taln]

Taln was drawn by her clear, sky hued gaze. She looked so honest and pure he thought his presence alone would darken her reputation beyond repair...like he'd done to little Rista. The girl was like a little sister and just the -rumor- of being seen with him had dragged her down with other yasis tormenting her for just being in his presence. Sarye was too fine and sensitive to be ruined by his name. Maybe she was right for them to stay here where others wouldn't see and judge her for being near the 'pet dek.' Her assurance didn't seem possible! What would this sweet woman know of what a dek's life is really like? A chiet still had a chance at progress, at caste-- a real life of respect and worth. When he felt her gently delicate hands reach for one of his large calloused ones, he wasn't sure what to do with himself. "You're right Sarye, it's safer for your reputation to not be seen with me in public. I should've thought of that." Taln's face and neck turned crimson at outright admitting his very presence was akin to stepping in bird shyke. Sarye's touch was so reassuring that it unnerved him and he tried to think of something to say to distract himself. "How? How can a such a sweet natured chiet truly know the life of a dek?" He asked incredulously. When the lovely woman begged him to stay, he found he really -did- want to stay... and it scared him.

[Sarye]

Seeing the he didn't recoil his hand from hers Sarye reached out for the other hand and took it as well. She had seen so many thoughts jumbling around in Taln's mind as she looked in his eyes. Some thoughts were of fear, some of uneasiness and some of confusion. Sarye wasn't sure of which to comment on first. But seeing the confusion in his eyes about her comment of knowing what a Dek's life was like Sarye decided to let him in on a little of what had happened the last three years of her life.

"My twin sister was put in the Dek caste. I thought she was dead until just three years ago. I think my reputation might have changed a bit in the last three years from wanting to spend time with her. She has some of the same tendencies as you do. She used to pull away or flinch every time I touched her just like you do," Sarye said all she could before her voice broke again with the tears that were welling up in her eyes. "I won't let myself cry again," she spoke more to herself than to Taln.

Sarye shook her head and cleared her throat waiting for a response to what she had just said.

[Taln]

He looked down at the compassionate woman as she told him of her sister and he felt like consoling her on her unfortunate twin. The twin must've been born irregular maybe? Judging from the unnerving tears she was about to shed again, he decided not to ask. "What's her name? Maybe I know her. I could help you to get closer to her again if you like. No one knows a dek, like a dek does." Taln tried to make a small joke, attempting to head off the encroaching water works that made him wanna squirm. Nearby, Reech chirped softly and groomed his moulting baby feathers that were slowly growing into adolescent flight feathers.

[Sarye]

OOCSorry for not giving you much to elaborate on. I'm not feeling myself today.

Sarye took back her hands from Taln and began wiping her face from the tears that had streaked down them again. Maybe there would be a day that it would be easier to talk about her sister but she still hadn't seen that day. She felt trapped in the grief and the sorrow of not knowing her for all of their lives. The pain of knowing that her father had lied to her still burned in her soul.

"Her name is Kerra. She sticks out in Wind Reach because she doesn't have red hair and her eyes are brown. If you know a woman who looks like that then I'm pretty sure you know Kerra," Sarye could tell the joke was to stop her crying so she let a small smile come upon her lips.

"How could you help me get close to her? I know you both have very little free time throughout the day and most of that time is spent recuperating from the day you've just been put through. I see her at the meals that she can come to when the demand is not to high on her."

[Taln]

Secret : S'ok. We all have days like that. "The one with the pure black hair and brown eyes?" Taln squinted at Sarye's features, studying them closely. On final inspection he nodded and answered, "Kerra, Kerra.... I think they have her working the baths right now. That's cleaning four times a day so her ten bell work shift is broken up right now. The rest of that would be spent in stocking, washing the towels and refilling cleaning supplies. I saw her last week when I was doing storage for clothing. I could pass her a message later today if you like." His emerald gaze showed the swiftness of his thoughts as he worked out something in his head. The tall man frowned a moment, thinking quickly and then his expression cleared. "Actually, I have a quicker idea and I think you'll like it." Taln grinned down at her as if presenting a birthday present. "We're in the warrens already and I happen to know that the bath detail dek will have about ten or fifteen chimes left for the cleaning crew that Kerra's on. You'd have to risk being seen with me by the shift chiet, but if we hurry, your sister will most like be in the group. If we go to stand near the towel storage at the front entrance, you're bound to at least get to see her."