Completed Promises Must be Kept

[Aidara]

“I… I just want to kick him in the balls.”

The venom in her voice made everyone in the infirmary whip around to face the livid little healer. While Sira had rested, Addy had found herself unable to sit in one spot. Though the kelvic was just as antsy to get up and move, she couldn’t. Addy could, and took full advantage of it.

At first she simply paced as they talked, the soft soles of her shoes making little sound other than the occasional scuff as her heel scraped against a bump or dip in the floor. That soon lost all of it’s appeal when she noticed that they all watched her circle, and instead she sat down in a chair by the fire, close enough to still answer Sira’s worried questions but far enough away that her lover couldn’t see her from the bed she had been assigned to lay on and not to get up for any reason.

It was then that Addy had started to bite the nails on her left hand, her right fingers tapping raidly and rhythmlessly against the arm of the chair. Just when Keah and Miquel just couldn’t take it any longer, Addy was on her feet and nearly spitting with the rage she could no longer contain, her sharp outburst startling all.

“Really. He’s dead.” Sira was fine, the baby was fine and there was really no reason for Addy to worry any longer. As the fear and shock slowly dwindled, the lack of adrenaline leaving her feeling like a deflated balloon, the anger surged and completely consumed her, filling all the gaps left by the receding emotions. Sira had mentioned something about him becoming a dek… but no, that wasn’t good enough.

“I’m going. Right now. To the Valintar.” Shooting to her feet Addy strode to Sira’s side faster than her legs could have possibly taken her. Little hands dove under the sheets that covered the battered woman and tented over her swollen belly, searching around until she found one of Sira’s hands. This was crushed between the healers two petite ones as those fierce yellow eyes were pinned with green ones alight with a fanatical anger. "And if Kaden doesn't sufficiently take care of him... I will."

Apparently, her aversion to kill or hurt was conveniently forgotten.

“This will be avenged.” Had Sira not known Addy as well as she did, the kelvic could have accused the little woman of just trying for dramatics. However, by now Sira had to have realized that the more over dramatic Addy got, the worse she was going to be able to deal with the situation. When things just became too much, the woman just went crazy. She was no longer herself, but an entity consumed by whatever motion was forefront in her mind. Right now, it was anger.

Addy stood and simply waited while Sira tried to distract her with her concerns about the baby, plying the healer side in hopes of it overcoming this frothing, wild, animalistic thing that stood next too her. When Sira finally fell silent Addy spoke again.

“I know you’re thinking the same thing. I know you are. I’ve been around raptors enough to know that a mother just doesn’t sit back and let her chicks be harassed.” Yes, she was even trying to goad Sira into action by appealing to her real form, to her emotions that, as a kelvic, came before those of a simple human.

"Sira. Either you're coming or I'm going alone."

[Sira]

In reality Sira was angry. She was furious, and had no intention of allowing the Avora to live, but she was only keeping her emotions under control for the sake of her lover and child. Had the situation been different, had Sira not been with child, the man would never have left the baths alive. Sira would have executed him herself then and there, right in front of everybody. Sira wasn't obsessed with the power her caste brought her as some endal seemed to be, but she would not be disrespected, and she would not be assaulted. You just didn't do it... but the baby had changed everything. Everything Sira did, she took the baby's welfare into consideration. Until Addy said those magic words. “I know you’re thinking the same thing. I know you are. I’ve been around raptors enough to know that a mother just doesn’t sit back and let her chicks be harassed.” In that instant Sira changed. Aidara appealed to the raptor in Sira and the raptor responded. Golden eyes locked onto Addy's, and she saw a look in them she had only ever seen before when they were on the hunt, the eyes of a predator. The look was there for only a moment and then Sira closed her eyes. She seemed to drift into a trance, and no manner of distraction could disturb her. But Addy knew better, she could feel something happening over their bond. Sira brought to mind the memory of the man who harmed her, concentrating until she could clearly see his image in her mind's eye. That image she sent out across the network of minds that linked all the eagles in wind reach along with a simple request, Where is he? It didn't take long for them to get a response. As the eagles relayed the request to their riders, suddenly the two endal had eyes all over the city. When the response finally came both of them heard the reply. It came from the watchrider, He's on the road heading down to Thunder Bay. Did you want me to stop him? No, Sira responded after a moment, opening her eyes. They had a fire to them that Addy was very familiar with. We'll come get him. The hunt was on.

[Aidara]

The adrenaline that pumped throughout her body had the little healer on a complete high; she still felt the dregs of gut wrenching fear at being faced with possibly mortality of her lover or child. Anger still flared red hot infront of her eyes, burning away all of her inhibitions. With her emotions right on her sleeve, it was easy for Addy to be so swept away in the moment.

"No time to waste, then. No time." With her heart in her throat, Addy grabbed at Sira's hand and had the pregnant woman on her feet and halfway across the infirmary before she could blink; she didn't even stop to think that perhaps such sudden movements pained the Kelvic woman, that maybe it wasn't good for the baby. No, She was focused on revenge and when Addy put her mind too it, she might as well have been a blinkered horse.

They were out the door and flying into the open corridor when the little woman ground to a halt, yanking Sira up short. "Oh, hurry hurry!" Stooping, Addy hooked her thumbs into the waistband of Sira's bryda, pulling the still wet cloth down off her hips and leaving them to pool on the stones. Tiny hands also made quick work of Sira's shirt, and that was left pooling next to the pants.

Again Sira was tugged this way and that until they were under the open sky, leaving behind the rocky overhang that covered most of the corridors, protecting the Inartans from most of the weather; however, the covered hallways were inconvenient when one needed to shift into or mount a Wind Eagle. There simply wasn't enough room.

"Okay, go go. Sira, he's getting away!" She was breathless, her eyes wide and glassy as the simple lust for the hunt took her. Addy hardly paused to realize what she was doing or notice the change that came about her. She hardly stopped to care whether or not Sira wanted to shift here and now, so soon after being nearly beaten into a miscarriage.

When her lover finally did shift in a woosh of skin and golden feathers, Addy was upon her before she could completely settle her wings. With no saddle, the healer nearly slid off the other side, only just barely catching herself by hooking her foot in the joint of a wing. Murmuring an apology, She hooked her other foot the same way, waiting for Sira to test and make sure that she still had full function of her wings. Leaning forward, Addy simply wrapped her arms tightly around that massive neck, burying her fingers into the feathers and holding on as firmly as she could without pulling feathers from flesh.

"Fly! Fly, Sira, Fly!" It was as if Addy was a completely different woman, the passion of the hunt filling and inflating her voice, her shout almost on the verge of a command.

[Sira]

In a way, the bond between Sira and Aidara had never been stronger. Sira was fully immersed in her role as kelvic and wind eagle. Addy's wish was her command, and the fact that Sira wanted it too only strengthened that command. They flew as one being, as rider and eagle should, and though Addy's face was buried into Sira's feathers as she held on for dear life, the healer become Endal saw clearer than she ever had before. That was because for the first time since they had bonded, Sira was making full use of the telepathic link she and her endal shared. Sira's eyes were Aidara's, a continuous feed of images being fed into the Endal's mind and essentially giving Addy the ability to see everything that Sira saw... which was a lot. Every detail of the ground below was Addy's to witness, from the rabbit dashing across the road to the team of deks trying to haul in crates of freshly caught fish from thunder bay. Two minds sharing one set of eyes allowed Aidara to notice things that Sira might have not, even though she saw it. And in fact, it wasn't Sira that finally spotted the man running down the road as he neared thunder bay, but it was Addy. The instant she recognized him Sira knew it and started to beat her wings all the harder. The man was still a few chimes ahead of them, but really if either had stopped to think they would have realized that there was no rush. Where would he go? Where could he possibly hide from an eagle and it's Endal? Sira flew as fast as she could, and the man froze in his tracks. He seemed to realize something was wrong, and slowly he turned about in search of the danger. Seeing nothing, his eyes drifted upward. Sira saw the look of terror on his face and let out a screech when he turned and started running as fast as his legs could carry him. It was, however, hopeless and Sira swooped down with outstretched talons an instant later. The man screamed as he was violently plucked from the ground, and kept screaming as Sira ascended once more and veered away from the road. The Avora kicked and screamed all the way up into the sky, as if he thought it would be a good idea for Sira to drop him, but she held on and kept climbing. Addy might have questioned where Sira was going, but there was no need. She knew, and when the ledge Sira intended to land on came into view she knew it would soon be her turn. The kelvic came in fast, dropping the man and sending him skidding across the stone until he slammed into the face of the mountain. They were well away from the city, all alone, just the three of them. Sira landed and sent Aidara a quick mental warning right before she shifted. Two things could have happened then. Either Addy received the warning and understood it, and landed on her feet as Sira suddenly disappeared right beneath her, making herself look all awesome and epic... Or, she ended up falling right on top of Sira and when the smoke and sparkles cleared they would be left looking.the fools. Either way.. they landed and Gwain was totally in for it.

[Aidara]

It was truly exhiliarting. Those who hadn't the benefit of their own Eagle said that Man wasn't meant to fly. If they had been intended to leave the ground, the Gods and Goddess's would have given them wings.

Well, Addy had wings.

It was a good thing that Sira was there, spectator in her Endal's mind, for if Addy had been left completely alone, she would have lost herself in the flight, forging her real identity for that of the miraculous creature that allowed her to fly. As it was, Sira's tangible presence was enough to keep the Endal in her own skin, for the most part.

But their wings pumped as one, the air parting easily as they rocketed through the sky; a golden bullet of anger, kinda. Adrenaline made her real knees weak, but Addy didn't seem to notice. Just like Sira, she was awash with the effects of their bond, tapped to it's full potential and superior to anything she had ever felt prior. Including all of her sexual escapades. In fact, this was almost better.

Shrieking her rage, they dove at the man as soon as the pair registered their prey. Caught in the moment, Addy didn't realize her own scream tearing from her throat at the same time Sira's left her beak. The wind immediately ripped the sound away from her ears, but the raw bloody state of her throat afterwards would surely be enough of a hint.

Luckily for the pair, Addy wasn't the Eagle. The restrain it took to keep from reaching down and kicking Gwain in the face was nearly more than she could handle; had she been in Sira's position, the poor sucker would be a gory mess splattered on the ground below. Only in retrospect would she have regretted the quick death of the man.

Just as flying they were one, so were they in landing. Of course Addy got the message; she was in the zone! It took only a few seconds of preparation for Addy to loosen her death grip on Sira, adjust her legs so that she could effectively spring from the feathered back.

However, the magical bond between Endal and Eagle didn't give either of them special powers...well, beyond their link...So while Addy could launch herself successfully from Sira's back onto the ledge, that's where her skill stopped. If Gwain had been paying attention, he would have seen the little redheaded woman flying towards him, her face eerily beautiful in her state of darkened anger. Hands extended incase her luck ran out and because she wanted to keep all of her teeth in the chance that she landed face first on the ground, Addy tried to angle her fall so that she landed on her left shoulder, which she tucked inwards to help brace for the impact.

It wasn't all that bad. A sharp sliver of rock bit through the fabric of her shirt and into her shoulder as she collided with the ledge, rolling safely towards the mountain side. As luck would have it, she stopped the roll and was able to bound to her feet in a single, fluid motion. Gwain was right in her peripheral and Addy waisted no time spinning and jumping at the sprawled man.

All in all, it was pretty epic.

Too bad the head-first crash into the wall had rendered their prey unconscious and therefore causing him to miss the entire thing. Upon seeing this, Addy snorted in disgust, whirling to where she had flown from Sira's back as she searched for the naked kelvic woman.

"You saw it at least, right?!" Since Gwain had no way to escape, they were allowed a breather. Plus, after that, Addy wanted some recognition. Since she was denied a look of absolute terror in their victims eyes, she could make due with some compliments.

Satisfied, Addy turned back to the man sprawled behind them.

"You!" Was all she managed to say, her voice raw and glutteral. With intended force, Addy let her foot fall on Gwain's outstretched wrist. The crack of bone wiped the sick smile of pleasure from Addy's lips as something inside her fluttered and threatened to dissipate the anger that kept her going, that drove her to do this.

Doing her best to ignore her instincts, Addy rearranged her face into a frown as the pain woke Gwain, screaming his way back into consciousness, and writhed on the ground, completely unaware of his abductors for the a good five chimes. It wasn't until Addy's boot found the sensitive flesh of his side did he look at the both of them.

The absolute fear in his eyes almost undid her. "Sira. You first." Becoming more angry at herself, Addy was able only to wave Sira forward before she paced along the edge of the ledge, swearing to herself all the while.

[Sira]

If Addy was in the zone, Sira was too. And she was quite experienced at dramatic landings, herself, so Sira had little problem pulling it off with grace. When the smoke around her body dissipated she was already rising from her crouch, offering an impressed smile to Aidara in recognition of her own rather impressive landing. Of course, Sira only caught the tail end of it, what with all the glittering smoke and such, but Addy didn't have to know that. And the kelvic wasn't really thinking about that anyway. Sira was not put off by the sound of breaking bone or the man's pitiful expression. She was an eagle, she broke bones for dinner. When Addy moved out of the way, Sira failed to recognize why she did it. She slowly approached, her golden eyes staring at Gwain, as if looking right into his soul. To people who weren't used to it Sira's eyes could be very unsettling, and this man was no exception. Gwain began to back away, but there wasn't far to go since he was right up against the side of the mountain. His eyes widened and he started to rise, but a swift kick from Sira to the stomach and he was down again. Somewhere in the back of her mind Sira knew she needed to be careful, that to actually let him rise and fight back could risk her child, and so she kicked him once more for good measure. "Stay down! And tell me why I shouldn't throw you off this cliff right now!!" "P.. please.. don't kill me! I beg you! I didn't-" Sira's interruption was practically a roar. "You didn't what!? You didn't mean to force Addy to do something she didn't want!? You didn't mean to strike an Endal!? You didn't MEAN to nearly kill my baby!" Sira's foot struck out again, this time kicking the man square in the jaw. Gwain's vision went pure white from pain for just a moment and he struggled not to pass out, trying again to rise, to plead his case, to do anything, but another kick from Sira got him in the groin and he cried out, curling into a ball. Sira, in all her naked fury, bent down and grabbed him by the arm, yanking him to his feet, only to punch him in the face again. Gwain hit the ground hard, muttering something about mercy, which only infuriated Sira more and she kicked him again. "Mercy!? Mercy? You think you deserve mercy!!? You think the Valintar wouldn't kill you just as quickly for attacking two endal?" Sira bent down, yanking Gwain to his feet once more, disgusted by his beaten and bloody face. She turns about and shoved him toward the edge of the cliff, and he offered little resistance. "You want mercy? How about I throw you from the cliff right now. Maybe you'll get lucky and survive the fall.. though we're so far from the city, I doubt anyone would come save you. Is that mercy enough for you?"

[Aidara]

"N-no... no.... Don't... I have... a family.."

"A family?" The distain was thick in Addy's voice as she stepped from where she hovered behind Sira's shoulder. Gwain's eyes, completely white around the edges in his panic, darted to the healer, to Sira, and back again as if he couldn't decide who was the bigger threat and who he should keep his eye on. "So we should spare you because you have a family" Addy literally spat the last word, the glob of saliva landing with a satisfactory smack on the cowering man's left cheek. It stuck there for a moment as he cringed away as though hit before sliding slowly down his skin.

"Did you care that I have a family? Did that stop you from what you did?" The question hung heavy in the air, Gwain opening and closing his mouth a few times, but only pathetic sputtering filled the air.

"You won't... you can't! You'll get in... so much trouble!" Unable to form complete sentences, the terror causing his teeth to chatter at random intervals, Gwain lifted a shaky finger in the direction of their City. "The Valintar will know! When I don't show up to work..."

"Things can be arranged. Furnaces blow, Avora go down with them. It's not unheard of." Addy's face wasn't built for anger. Those green eyes that so often held the glint of laughter or mischief snapped with anger, cold as ice. Her lips were pressed into a thin, angry line, dimples no where to be seen while her hands flexed between balling into fists and curving into claws, as if she alternated between wishing she could strangle or gauge him.

Again, there was no response. The wind whipped quickly over the lip of their ledge, sending both heads of red hair flying. The anger simply flowed from the pair of women scorned as they stood and watched the sniveling, useless creature before them. Too angry to even bothering with their mental connection, Addy didn't even have to consult with her love to know that they were, for once, on the same exact page.

Before she could even consider what she was doing, Addy had the collar of Gwains shirt in her hands and she was hauling him to his feet. He tried for dead weight, and being almost twice as big as the healer, almost succeeded in staying put on his ledge. The growl of absolute fury that bubbled from between Addy's clenched teeth made him think otherwise. In only seconds, he went from being pressed against the safe rock wall to being roughly shoved towards the cliffs edge.

"I suppose we'll give you a chance to apologize before you take your final bow." Stepping back to Sira's side, Addy reached for and found the other woman's hand. Their fingers intertwined and Addy pressed herself close to Sira as they waited. It was an odd show of affection in the face of what they were about to do, but the little woman seemed to think nothing of it.

[Sira]

The man was to weak to fight back, though he surely tried. It didn't matter though, Sira and Aidara were healthy and angry and he didn't stand a chance. Addy shoved him toward the edge of the cliff and told him to apologize. Sira didn't want to hear it. She took Addy's hand, and the moment the man began to stammer out some false apology she stepped forward. "I'm sorry, I swear, I'll never-" Sira's foot kicked out and hit him right in the face, sending his head reeling backwards blood flying from his mouth. Sira didn't register the pain in her toes that came from kicking a man in the head, but instead kicked again, and this time it was enough. The man lost what little balance he had and fell backward. Sira watched him vanish over the edge of the cliff but didn't bother to look and see where he'd landed. She didn't care. She had just killed a man.. not for the first time this year. But unlike the last kill this one barely phased her, at least not at that exact moment. She simply turned to Aidara, her face completely serious, and looked her right in the eyes. "Anything he said to us would have just been a lie to survive. It's over now, let's go home.." Sira moved away, making sure she had plenty of room to shift, and in a flash she was a wind eagle again. She wasn't angry anymore, but neither had regret began to creep in. Instead she was just calm, cold and calm.

[Aidara]

The absolute rage that coursed through Addy's veins, replacing her blood with the revitalizing, empowering flow of anger, also dulled the rest of her scenes. For those few chimes the healers inhibitions disappeared, leaving her completely and utterly alone with only her thoughts of revenge as company.

Though her emotions all raged with a passion unmatched by many, Addy normally had better control on her anger. It was hard to infuriate the little woman for more than a few bells, a few days at most. Never had she ever been pushed to the point where she actually condoned the harm of another. Sure, she and Sai had gotten into their fair share of fistfights, with each other and teamed against other offenders. However, the brawl had never been over something as serious as this. Her child could have died. Sometimes even when you think you know yourself... surprise!

It was with this strange, red-hazed detachment that Addy watched Gwain say hello to Sira's foot, the shove sending him tumbling backwards over the cliff's edge. A few quick steps forward gave Addy a clear view of the man as he flailed and flew, the strong winds whipping away his thin wail before it could completely register in the healers ears. The seconds crawled by as he fell, the ground seeming an awfully long way down. Gwain must have felt the same way, but Addy couldn't tell if he was still conscious or not; he seemed to be, the way his arms were moving... until he found the sharp outcropping of stone halfway down. Even from their vantage point the women heard the sickening thud and crunch of bone meeting stone. Gwain went limp then, the rest of his fall quickened by his unconscious (or dead) weight.

Even after he hit the ground, Addy didn't look away; couldn't look away. The wind had begun to pick up again and was whipping wildly around the women, as if celebrating their vicious success. The invisible airy fingers ripped through their clothes and Addy felt goosebumps prickle all over her skin, wondering if it was simply from the cold. Gwain's body was indistinguishable from such a height but Addy kept her gaze on where she thought he landed. "Right. He would have just lied again."

Dark auburn locks lashed her cheeks, some of the strands sticking to her tongue and lips as she acknowledged Sira's justification. The hand that she lifted to remove the hair from her mouth seemed extra heavy, the movements taking more energy than they should. The red haze that had covered her senses before had started to disperse when Gwain hit the rocks, the pumping anger that kept her emotions at bay faltering. If it was the right thing... then why did she feel so bad about it?

It took everything Addy had to flicker her gaze from the base of the cliff to her lovers fierce yellow eyes. She found what she expected there: A cold, precise killer. Sira was a predator first, a human second. She destroyed the thread to her offspring, just as nature intended. It wasn't the fierce anger and satisfaction that the threat was eliminated that bothered Addy, but the slight flicker of doubt that danced in the depths of Sira's eyes. She fought hard to keep her human emotions and instincts secondary, and the fact that it was a struggle brought a rush of bile into Addy's throat. Turning quickly the little healer emptied her breakfast over the edge, the whole thing made messier by the whipping wind.

Wiping her mouth and sitting back on her heels, Addy closed her eyes and rested her face in her hands. "Sira. I think this was a mistake. I think..." She couldn't finish what she thought, the words catching in her throat as the sob shoved past and took priority. It was a strangled sound, muffled by the press of her hands. Addy was a human first, a healer at that, one of Rek'keli's chosen though she had hardly dedicated any of her time to faith. She was not a killer, but the opposite.

"You have to take me down there! You have to! If he's still alive, I can..." Not even bothering to finish her sentence, Addy wobbled to her feet tottered towards Sira. "Change, Change! Damn it!" It came down to the fact that the two women were complete opposites. Addy couldn't think badly of Sira's instincts, but it was just as futile to try and suppress her own. The anger had done that for a few moments, but now that it had receded and clear-headedness had regained, it was no use.

"Sira I have to go help him. I have too!"

[Sira]

Sira did change, just as Aidara commanded. She didn't think it was a mistake, but not matter how hard she tried to pretend otherwise, Sira was a kelvic and Addy's wish was her command. If Addy spotted any doubt in Sira's human eyes, it was gone when she became the eagle. Sira refused to let doubt in, because to do that would tear her love apart. She had to be right, they had to be right in what they had done. Addy, it wasn't a mistake. But.. I'll take you to him. Sira waited for Addy to climb on. As before it was probably a bit awkward for the healer, riding Sira barebacked the way she was, but Sira would fly gently and as long as Addy kept a tight grip on the feathers she shouldn't have any trouble holding on to the wind eagle. Sira hopped over to the edge, eagle eyes already spotting the man below.. and the ever so subtle rise and fall of his chest. He did not look good, not at all, but he was alive. Sira spread her wings and let the wind catch them, lifting her off the ground. She rode the wind down the side of the mountain, coming to a gentle stop next to the crumpled man. How he was still alive, Sira had no idea, but if she doubted it before she knew for sure once she landed. He was alive, though unconscious. His right arm was twisted in an unnatural way, and his legs looked little better. Blood poured from many wounds, and a pool of blood was forming beneath his had from an open wound Sira could not see on the back side. He was alive, but for how long? Sira shifted after Addy dismounted. She knew the healer would need her support. Sira didn't know much about Aidara's goddess granted powers, but she knew she couldn't perform a miracle such as the one the man before them needed. Gwain wasn't going to make it. Moving him would probably kill him, and even if they could he would probably bleed out before they ever made it back to the city. Sira stood behind her love and waited. She would be there for her, but there wasn't much else the kelvic could do.