Ladies First! (Kavala)

by **Cugacon** on November 6th, 2011, 5:31 am

The air was unseasonably warm for this late in the fall. But grey thunderheads gathering in the west told of a storm front moving their way. It had rained a lot in the past weeks, and Cuga could only be thankful that Kavala had not tried any more roof mending during the frequent downpours. Their trip out onto the plains was destined to be a wet one, from the looks of it. Cuga wasn’t bothered by this. He had lived in the grasslands most of his life and was used to all the inconvenient conditions that it could throw at him – wet, cold, stifling heat, hail the size of walnuts, dust storms every once in a while, high winds, blizzards. They were all just part of the hunt.

They had left the day before, as dawn was breaking over the plain, and had enjoyed the benefit of this last hurrah of summer-like weather. They had made love under glittering stars unmarred by any clouds and a half moon that illuminated their bodies as they had moved together. Kavala had slept nestled against him for warmth and it had been several hours of just watching her sleep curled up and at peace before he too had finally allowed his eyes to close. Cugacon had harbored some mixed emotions about this venture. It was not that he was opposed to Kavala’s company. In fact, he very much wanted to be able to spend more time with her, as his hunting duties kept him away from Riverfall for days at a time. Nor was it that he had a sense of male exclusivity when it came to such things. He had seen Kavala in action, and he knew that she was a skilled horsewoman, an agile fighter, and knowledgeable about weapons. No, his hesitation lay elsewhere. He wondered how he would react with her around. Regardless of knowing her to be a rather exceptional person all in all, he knew that there was a huge part of him already that wanted to protect her from any and every harm. It wasn’t something he chose consciously – it was instinctual. At the same time, he predicted that the Konti would not take kindly to even the slightest hint of being patronized or coddled. He had no intention of doing either, but if real danger should rear its ugly head – and out in the grass that was almost always a certainty – he wasn’t sure that he could hang back and wait. He’d want to swoop in and carry her off to safety, and that would probably piss her off no end.

But – it was a bridge they’d have to cross sooner or later, if he was sincere about wanting her to be more than just a receptacle for potential future sons. If he wanted to give her ideas a go, to be partners and not just acquaintances – if he wanted to show her that he valued her as a person, well, he supposed this was just going to have to happen.

They had stopped for something like a mid-day meal, of supplies they had brought with them from the city. The plan was to go farther to the east before they began the hunt in earnest. As he reached for the water skin, Kavala’s hand stretched out for it as well. Instead of his long fingers closing on the skin, they wrapped about her wrist. Pulling her towards him, he said, “You first,” just before his lips met hers.

by **Kavala** on November 6th, 2011, 4:46 pm

Timestamp: 15th of Fall, 511 AV
Location: Sanctuary's Lands and The Grassland & Forest boarderlands
Purpose: Hunting with Cugacon
Status: Closed

She'd been surprised when Cugacon had shown up three days after his abrupt departure. Kavala would have considered it a coincidence, but late the previous afternoon she'd stopped by the city and talked to some of the guards and had told them she had trouble. There were signs of glassbeaks hunting in the area. And due to the close proximity to the city and the threat to her herd, she had taken it seriously and reported it. The guards she’d talked to had noted her concerns and promised to pass on her worries to the proper authorities. But beyond that, Kavala could get no answer to her questions as to if someone was willing to go out and hunt the rogue creatures or not. Usually the apex predators didn’t bother coming into the city so close or even the fringe forests that settled the rim of the Grasslands butted up against the Suvan. They were only several miles thick before the plain gave way to the grass it was famous for. But this group was bold, venturing in close, and challenging the rules that Kavala knew glassbeaks followed.

Generally that meant there was something wrong with them. It could have been that the creatures in the area were way overpopulated and hungry, thus getting bold. But the lack of immediate commitment from the Riverfall authorities had lead her to believe she’d have to hunt alone. That in turn had lead to a trip to the armorsmith where she’d been able to purchase two sets of horse barding. Kavala wasn’t stupid enough to hunt a glassbeak on foot – let alone multiple ones – nor was she stupid enough to have armor for herself and not her horse. She figured the second set could be for whomever she talked into going with her. The stallions needed work anyhow if she was going to teach the young animals to be warhorses. All the groundwork in the arena was for naught if they didn’t put their new found skills to practical use. So it was she bought the barding for Silk and Ghost, knowing both creatures would benefit from it – maybe even in a life saving way since it was elaborate – and headed for home to get ready. Kavala had planned to leave the next day on a hunt that might have taken several hours or several days so she packed accordingly. Aweston had agreed to go, and they were making preparations and tacking up horses when Cugacon had shown up.

At first Kavala had furrowed her brow, looked frustrated, and then had nodded. She’d greeted him politely, and told them his business had to be rushed since she was about to leave on a hunt. It should have irritated her that he was carrying a pack and only nodded. “I heard you had trouble. I’ve come to go with you. The city has sent out other parties as well, but they won’t be on Sanctuary land. They want to make sure the area is thoroughly cleared, so your land will be left to you.” Then just like that he’d managed to send Aweston packing with just a look and took over his preparations and put his gear on Silk.

They rode out, casually, and took their time. Even though Kavala didn’t own acres and acres, she grazed a hundred miles in the northeast direction from Riverfall and that was what she’d assumed the city officials had left to her. No them. Evidently Cugacon had some say in the matter. He’d not commented when she’d put on the nightarmor nor the weapons belt loaded with all sorts of weapons. He hadn’t even blinked when the crossbow and then two quivers of bolts had been added to her yvas and the straps on the barding.

So they rode out with two stallions and four imperial watchers, two black and two harlequin, all willing to fight for the couple when it came to glassbeaks.

He’d just watched her in his quiet way and let her know under no circumstances would she be let out of her duties that day. With their first day survey completed and no sign of the glassbeak prey, Cugacon had called a halt for the day and they’d made camp. They’d flushed out several rabbits, bringing the bunnies down for super. Before they ate, Cuga had made love to her unrestrained while she was still in her armor in a way told her he fascinated by her – all her facets – and had little control in some areas. Then later, after a meal, he’d slowed it down and began again. She’d curled up in his arms afterwards, exhausted from the activity and the worry and things Cugacon would never understand that she’d done to herself.

Just before she fell asleep, she’d told Cugacon goodnight, and then had throw in Eowe’s name as well, acknowledging him in Cuga’s life and wishing him a peaceful rest as well.

Kavala knew it would irritate Cugacon, but she also knew the dark twin needed to be dealt with as well. He needed acknowledgement and a place in Cuga’s life the Akalak did not give him. She slept the whole night through, leaving the stallions and dogs to alert them of any dangers. The dogs accepted Cugacon because Kavala did. And when he finally decided to sleep, the dogs settled around them adding warmth with their big bodies.

The Konti woke him with her need and made love to him again as dawn broke over the grass. All was quiet except the storm in the Konti that drove her to lead him to places he hadn’t yet been with her. Kavala, when left to her own devices, was not a gentle lover. She was a fierce storm that took what she needed and gave in equal measures leaving Cugacon no question in his mind that the Konti accepted his place in her life and his ownership of her body. But he could also tell she wanted more, far more, though he couldn’t tell if it was as he suspected – an act – or not. The shimmering healer was like a fisherman, drawing him deeply into her net, seemingly needing his attention, his fascination, and his need to grow for her. And though she always seemed to want to linger, to exchanges glances and caresses, but still he keep her slightly at arms length, dressing quickly, seeing to breakfast, plotting their next move. But being with Kavala like this opened his eyes to the Nakivak system. He was fully aware of the negativities of it, but the bonus’ had been elusive. She was as a wife in all ways except he could cut her loose as soon as she produced for him.

It was a dangerously powerful feeling that even if Cuga didn’t appreciate it, Eowe did: Ownership. Control.

They rode out, scouting, both agreeing they’d ride the width and breath of Sanctuary’s grazing lands getting a feel for tracks and what they’d find before deciding where to focus the hunt. Cuga had called it Recon. Kavala hadn’t been familiar with the concept. They rode perhaps another twenty five miles in a search grid before stopping for a midday meal. They’d decided on a cold lunch of bread, cheese, and jerky. Kavala had unearthed the food in her packs and had set the dogs to guard while she and Cuga settled off their horses.

She was thirsty and had set a wineskin of water near the food she’d assembled and settled beside Cuga to eat. They’d both reached for the waterskin and he’d ended up changing his mind and deciding he wanted her first. Pulled towards him, she ended up on his lap being kissed. Facing him with her legs splayed out on either side of his body, the konti made no move but let her Talvis kiss her. She returned his favor, settling against him intimately, arching her back so he could reach up under her scales and stroke the length of her spine. It was something he’d shortly discovered she’d loved – a simple gesture but incredibly intimate.

When he broke off the kiss, Kavala studied his eyes. “Are you glad that you didn’t give my contract back to me?” She asked, feeling no shyness. Even on his lap her body was begging for his attention. “I didn’t know it would be like this between us.” She didn’t go into detail but dropped her gaze, glancing off into the distance where two of the Imperial Watchers sat together in their attentive pose staring out across the grass. She seemed to regret saying what she did though, and instead looked resolved. “This morning… and now… you’ll forfeit any pleasure for tonight if you take it now.” The morning was all hers though and she knew it but her gaze darkened anyhow.

“Cuga, I want to talk to you about something. Something important. Will you listen? You’ll get me heavy with child too fast at the rate we are going. My body has had such a short rest from the last one. More time will result in a stronger child. I have no idea why the Oathmaster can’t see this, but most Nakivak are overused. They need more time between pregnancies. Even the remainder of the season would make a big difference. I would never deny you pleasure, Cugacon, but it is something I want you to think about.” It was borderline blasphemy, of course, and something the entirety of the Akalak race was opposed too. “Let me take precautions against a child just for the remainder of the season and maybe next. Let’s give us a chance to get to know each other. I trust you so I want to tell you something important. I want a big family. I don’t want to be a Nakivak forever. I want something more permanent. I want many children. But I want them strong, and to give them the best chance at life. I don’t want my body worn out before I’m even considered truly an adult. Cuga I’m only just out of my youth. I have hundreds of years. I know you are older and you have been where I am. But I have time.” The girl finished, her request plainspoken.

She kissed him then, snuggled against him, and reached around to stroke his spine as well. Kavala nipped his jawline then blew her breath out in the hollow of his throat. “Will you at least think about it?” She asked quietly.

receipt :

by **Cugacon** on November 8th, 2011, 8:13 pm

She hadn’t given him time to respond to her first question, or her pointed observation about him using up his daily quota of ‘contacts.’ If he had had the opportunity, he would have readily replied, “Yes – absolutely” to the question and perhaps something like , “I’ll take my chances,” to the snarky little remark. As it was, her next little conversational gambit so floored him that he completely forgot the first two items. She had asked that he listen. Well, he couldn’t possibly have been any more attentive, as completely confounding as her suggestion/request was. He leaned back, resting his weight on his hands, his body language saying volumes before even he replied to her outrageous proposal. Even her belated attempts at physically assuaging the impact of her scheme did nothing to redirect his attention away from her ridiculous bid for independence.

Regardless of his views on the use of contracts and Nakivaks, he was an Akalak – and as such held life to be sacred, especially the life of the unborn. In a culture where the very existence of his race was in peril, from lack of children, the use of contraceptives was looked upon with almost the same condemnation as murder. Regardless of the means, it was not condoned. To his ears, it was almost as if she was suggesting just that – the denial of life to their child to be – his child to be. This was something Cugacon was not prepared to accept, despite the rational, logical reasoning behind her request. Her carefully laid out justification simply smacked of conniving manipulation to him.

Carefully he sat up, his hands going to her shoulders. Carefully, he set her aside, his motions measured but brusque, as he rose to stand above her. He then looked down, his face grave, saying, “It seems I will pass the remainder of this contract continuously underestimating you, Kavala. You almost had me convinced, the way you were this morning . . . I would have sworn you truly enjoyed that. I could have hoped that you did, for that is the reason I did not release you. I thought you had decided that you wanted this. But, I see you don’t.” His long arms hung loose by his sides, his body relaxed, belying the intense anger he felt as he looked at her. Whatever empathy he had for her plight as Nakaivak had fled, with her treacherous words of denying the possibility of life – a life crucial to him, his family, his people. “You know that I can not agree to this. It would be wrong. Still . . . “ His eyes bore into hers. He took a deep breath, seeking control of his emotions.

“Still, I will not force you – to accommodate me. I forbid you to utilize any means to prevent a pregnancy – except the most obvious one. The simplest form I will accord you. I give you that choice. You are correct.” He ticked off on his fingers. “This morning was one. Tonight will be two – if you are willing. I will not press for more. And if you tell me you choose not to – for whatever reason – so be it. When we arrive back at the city I will go to the Oathmaster and have your contract nullified, if you desire it – though you will no doubt encounter the same – or worse – with whoever takes it up. I ask you to think about that.”

With that, afraid to say more, he spun on his heel and left her, moving off a fair pace, within sight but very obviously not wishing to continue this line of discussion. He stood, looking out over the swell of the plain that rolled out below the little rise they were on – endless miles of grass, golden brown in the fall sunshine. It wasn’t fair – he knew that. He had given her an ultimatum, and a choice, but really it was no choice. Unless she was bold enough to take her chances with another Talvis. And then what? Would Cuga feel honor bound to inform that one of why he had ended his contract with Kavala? Would he feel honor bound to tell the Oathmaster?

It wasn’t fair – but he would have no part in this sacrilegious, immoral proposition.

by **Kavala** on November 11th, 2011, 6:47 pm

Kavala was politely but firmly set aside as Cugacon's body language immediately threw up warning flags and told her that her words were not something he would consider. She flushed pink, angry, then red as the anger turned to rage. She watched him walk away and then stand stoic looking out over the vista. Normally, without the words having been exchanged between them, it would have been a picturesque scene with the two horses grazing in the distance and the sky setting itself up in an unnaturally bright shade of blue. Grass rustled, adding sound, where there was nothing else to bother them.

She'd already done what he had forbidden her to do. And she'd hoped an arrangement could have been made to assay her guilt for having done it. The price if caught was imprisonment and perhaps even death. Kavala knew the risks. But she was also a damn fine healer and knew that the Akalak system gave no time for good breeders to even remotely recover after they gave birth before it required them to be pregnant again. Truthfully, it was no wonder why so many women died trying to help the Akalak reproduce.

Kavala ran her hands through her hair and said nothing, letting the long slightly tangled locks fall away from her face. She glanced to one side, spotted her pack, and pulled a comb and a bit of leather from its depths. Without saying anything she began to comb the tangles out of her hair and braid it, tying it off with the leather. Her treatment of her hair was angry. Her strokes short, forceful, with none of the gentleness she usually showed to herself.

It was obvious that Cugacon was not one to think outside the Akalak tradition. Kavala knew that now, even though his initial reluctance to become her Talvis made her think otherwise. He had said nothing about her saying she wanted a family - a real one - and something more with a sex partner. She'd been told so many times that Nakivak weren't often considered marriageable, having in essence lain with others, and with her background as having been rescued from slavery there was even more damage done to what she really was. Young, but not pure. He might have had qualms about the Nakivak system, but having one in his bed seemed to have softened his opinion on them being somewhat exploited considerably.

Kavala put the comb away and let him just stand there. She wanted to say a thousand things to him. She wanted to shout at him to not turn his back to her and walk away. But she was dismissed, just like that, and once more he used her contract as a threat. Do what I say or I will null it. Oh, sure, its your choice. But what choice do you really have? Do what I say... deal with me... or risk dealing with someone else who might hurt you for pleasure... who might treat you even worse... who might not be so kind or gentle or understanding. Those seemed to be his fall back threats. The whole situation was humiliating. It was degrading. That she should be reduced to this was impossibly hard.

Kavala wanted to cry but she had no tears left. They were wasteful and useless in times like these. He had all the power - all the Akalak did - and none of the know-how to use it responsibly. The urge to cry waned into the urge to spit on him and then after only lingering there a heartbeat the grey indifference that had been so part of her life since Tasi's birth seemed to fall heavily across her shoulders again. She just felt broken, indifferent, as the realization that none of it mattered - not at least what she wanted - settled across her mind. Kavala didn't know how she was going to survive this life.

With one swift motion, the Konti rose, her muscles carrying her to her feet with minimal effort. The Konti was in one the best shape of her life, far stronger than the soft weak thing she'd been when she'd left for Mura and rode straight down the throat of ruining her life. She never used to be obsessive. She never used to feel things so acutely. In that moment, with Cugacon's presence so strong so close, it became incredibly clearcut to her that all her work wouldn't tip the balance or change her life. No matter how strong you got, how bright your mind was... how valuable your skills were... you couldn't change certain things in life.

Nor could she make Cugacon see her side.

With their midday break, she'd shed her nightarmor and had left her weapons harness to one side. Carefully she re-armed herself, handling the weapons gently letting them reassure her that here, at least, was some measure of comfort. Kavala knew it was the Crescent in her that needed the feel of weapons in her hand. And she needed to embrace that part of who she was, perhaps moreso than she should, if she was going to survive feeling like this - this empty that came whenever she was offered choices that were no choice at all. And in handling her weapons she was quick to realize she moreso wanted her son. She wanted to smell his warm innocent baby smell and to watch his bright eyes take in everything that was so new to him. If she could help it, he'd no nothing of what she'd experienced in life. He'd be in control of everything about his path and choose for himself how he wanted to walk through life.

Unless, of course, they took him away.

Kavala drew in a breath then took in a second deep one and began repacking her gear and breaking up camp so there was no sign they'ed ever been there. She was no Wilderness Survival expert, but she was Drykas through and through. And the Drykas never left any trace of themselves on the land other than in thick magical webs.

Kavala glanced once more over to Cugacon, making a decision about him. She'd service him faithfully for he was right. She could truthfully do no better or no worse in having her contract reopened. Weren't they all the same anyhow? She'd let him coldly rut her like one animal rutted another night and day but she'd pick when she would carry another child and that child would be stronger for it. She'd give the baby to him for she knew inherently that Cugacon was no Hatot. He'd not let her raise the child. He might let her see him, but it depended on how different her ideas were and what transpired between them from this day forward. That cold fact was yet another bonus to being a Nakivak. If you survived the pregnancy and birth, you survived to a likely conclusion that the father would take the child and you'd have no part in raising him. So she'd have to go into this knowing that heartbreak and separation awaited her on the other side.

One could always pray for a girl, but that'd get you no closer to being free of ones Nakivak status. And the Gods knew the whole Oathmaster's promise was freedom, eventually, if you gave them enough boy children.

Kavala simply shook her head. Walking over to the palamino stallion, she'd brought along for Cugacon to ride, Kavala began refastening the animals yvas on him and then adding his leather barding. The horse wore no headstall of any sort and was allowed to roam free though he stood while Kavala tacked him up and made sure all the gear was fine. Moving to Ghost, she did the same thing only adding her bags when she was finished. Swinging up onto the tall stallion's back, Kavala waited.

She wanted to say nothing more. In her mind there was nothing more to say. But she knew Cugacon was waiting for an answer so she gave him one. "Turn it in, my contract that is, if you'd like. Report me as hostile if you need too. I'm tired, Cuga, of you using that as a threat. Maybe you don't mean it that way, but its how your words come across. I've already told you I'll follow the letter of the contract. We've agreed to the terms. If you want out, that's one thing, but don't put words in my mouth. I'll speak for myself, thank you. Besides, how will it look to the Oathmaster, you sampling the goods and maybe already planting a harvest in the field he had ready for your needs and then deciding you don't want to be a farmer after all? " Kavala said, shaking her head.

"No. I'll be your brood mare, I've already agreed, stop asking me to opt out." And she meant it just like that. Quietly she waited for him to ride out. They had glassbeaks to hunt or something equally vicious.

by **Cugacon** on November 11th, 2011, 10:40 pm

He had turned to watch her, as she went about readying the horses for them to ride out on their tracking endeavor once again. His thoughts, unlike hers, were not circling like squirrels in a cage. Cugacon had said what he wanted to say and if she had anything to add, he would listen. But his mind was made up. He hadn’t wanted this contract any more than she had. He had chosen not to cancel it because it seemed there was some possible good to come of it – and because Kavala herself had indicated that she didn’t wish him to throw her back on the flesh market. For their handful of couplings, he had thought that she was sincere in her expression of . . . affection – desire – willingness. However, none of that really mattered now. She was either in this, or she wasn’t. Either she wanted to bear his son – regardless of any contract – or she didn’t. It was crystal clear to him now how she felt. Her words, after she swung up onto the horse, came as no surprise.

Lithely, he too mounted, canting his head to look at her for a moment. She was pretty. She was desirable. But she did not have the power to make him be someone he chose not to be.

“They say you can not make a blind man see. When we get back, I will go to the Tower. You will be free to follow whatever path is available to you. I have no need of your services, Kavala. Your love I would have valued – a partnership, such as you so readily talk about. But just your body – and your resentment – no. Those you can keep.” His gaze switched back to the plain before them and he gently squeezed his mounts’ sides, starting him forward. Without anything further to say, he rode down the gradual slope. His eyes and mind were already focusing once more on the target of this venture, any other thoughts or feelings being carefully compressed and shoved aside.

Riding in silence for the next two hours, they set a roughly north-easterly course to complete the careful grid-like scouring of the territory they were planning on covering. In this area, there seemed to be much more evidence of recent glassbeak habitation, including relatively fresh remains of various prey and numerous piles of scat. In one location, they came across the mostly consumed carcasses of two yearlings. Dismounting, they each took in what tell tale signs there were, and after several minutes Cuga turned to Kavala, who stood some meters away.

“I’d say these are no more than a few days old, three at most.” He pointed towards the west. “My guess, we’re going to find four or five of them, over there somewhere. Not too far.” He shrugged. “A family maybe – this year’s hatchlings and two adults. Big ones.”

His face was neutral as was his tone. “What do you think?”

Five glassbeaks – even if three were juveniles – was a handful. A dangerous handful. Not especially too much for two seasoned, skilled hunters. But he had no idea, really, just how skilled Kavala was – or not. Katas were one thing. A four hundred pound glassbeak was quite another.

by **Kavala** on November 13th, 2011, 3:19 am

Kavala watched him mount and settle onto Silk's back. She heard his words and chuckled slightly. "You are talking to a healer. We live for changing things people say cannot be changed. Even a blind man can learn to see. But do what you have to do, Cugacon. I forgive you and even your culture. I only wonder, in the end, if you will forgive yourselves. You are too close to see how badly change is needed. The Akalak need new ways so that your people can live on. Tasival isn't an accident. None of the Akontak are. We Konti are supposed to be here, along side you, creating something new and better than ourselves. You shouldn't throw that away. And you shouldn't give things up because they are too hard or because my views aren't yours. It wouldn't hurt you to be a bit yielding. It wouldn't hurt you to stop and think about my words instead of react to them and then rip up a piece of paper that might give you the keys to a future you deserve and maybe even some happiness. Is it so terrible? Am I? And if you don't let me speak my mind, Cuga, without blowing up, you'll never know exactly how I feel about things even if you don't allow yourself to trust me. I am, after all, just a broodmare, no better than a whore." She said simply, her voice filled with anger, before turning Ghost and nudging him into a light gallop. They both could keep speaking at the pace she set, but she guessed they wouldn't. The Konti focused on her riding, angry with the Akalak and angry with herself. She'd never felt more rejected, more dismissed, than she did at that moment. No one wanted to be rejected. She'd called his bluff and found he wasn't bluffing. And even what she'd offered and given him wasn't enough to make him want to try to compromise.

They rode on, looking at traces as they circled, cordoning off the land. When they halted at the carcasses of the yearlings, Kavala was relieved that none of the animals were hers. But seeing what was in store for her own herds hardened her resolve. The glassbeaks needed to be eliminated. "They are eating well... not even finishing the whole corpses. That means they are not that hungry. I think you are right. This is a small pack, but we'll be enough, I think. Especially if the young aren't that big yet. But you are counting only two of us. We have four. I've been training these two stallions for war. Let them do their work too, Cuga." Kavala said, knowing the young stallions were inexperienced but didn't lack heart. They were Sea of Grass raised. They knew what glassbeaks were and how to fight.

Kavala drew her crossbow and loaded a bolt, setting the others against her leg where she could easily reach them. "I suggest ranged weapons to even the odds. All I have are the crossbolts and bolas. I'll load up my darts too. Thank gods they are only scaled around their faces. Give me a minute." Kavala hung her loaded crossbow off her yvas and then pulled out her blowgun and a fist full of darts. Carefully she poisoned each dart tip and then stuck them in a cork-covered handle on her stallion's yvas. She assembled her blow gun then tucked it into her braid and picked up her crossbow again.

"Ready." She turned Ghost towards where Cuga was gesturing and rode onward when he was ready as well. Her armor was in place, her daggers across her chest, everything within reach. There was a copse of trees in the distance that was a likely nesting place. "There's likely a nest in there... they'll be defensive... be careful." She glanced at him and then focused on the task in front of them. Kavala never went through a rite of passage nor a manhood rite like Cugacon did. But she grew up on the Sea of Grass. One didn't have to go to the glassbeaks to hunt them. One just had to survive them when they came to eat you.

As the pair rode forward, cautiously, both stallions began to prance nervously. Silk began to toss his head and Ghost kept snorting loudly his tail bannered. They weren't even halfway across the expanse of deep grass before the tail-tell signs of grass bending down and flowing outwards from the copse of trees could be seen from the backs of the horses. Four trails came at them, two faster and low to the ground. The glassbeaks were big, but liked to run low and attack unseen at the last chime. The animals could be huge, but they wouldn't be seen until the last minute. Kavala tracked the trail closest to her, keeping her eyes on the other trails. She unhooked her crossbow, raised it to take aim, and suddenly was shoved sideways as a juvenile glassbeak, one Cuga had predicted would be there as the third, slammed into her stallion from behind. She cried out and twisted, trying to take aim on the creature just as the larger faster glassbeaks they'd been tracking reached them. Cugacon's horse was suddenly busy rearing as an enormous female glassbeak surged up out of the glass in front of him and tried to clamp down on his nose.

Kavala fired her crossbow twisted around backwards on her horse, and dropped it back to its holder on the yvas as she pulled out her blowgun. The bolt hit the glassbeak in the neck, slowing it as it clawed deep marks across Ghost's rump. The stallion squeaked, reared and then violently kicked backwards, smashing its hooves into the glassbeaks head. Kavala had no time to reload the crossbow nor load the blowgun. She was too busy holding her seat. In that moment, it was evident to her how much she needed her poison to work and work fast. The blowgun wasn't enough to stop a glassbeak without it. So while Ghost spun to try and face the glassbeak he already smashed, she pulled a dart and loaded it, twisting to see if the lead glassbeak was on them.

She saw the attack on Cuga and the male rear up in front of her barely missing Ghost who had already spun himself out of the way in trying to face the smaller one that waged the sneak attack. Kavala fired her blowgun, trying to dart the first one. It went wide and she screamed in frustration, grabbing another dart and shoving it into the tube. Trying to remain astride the horse made aiming hard, but as the glassbeak got closer, trying to lunge for the horse she rode, she got a better shot off.

The remaining two glassbeak youths reached them at that point and the fight was full on.

by **Cugacon** on November 23rd, 2011, 5:09 pm

He listened to her words. He always had, so far, given the few days that they had known each other. And he considered them as they rode off, even though he did not respond. She was free to speak her mind. That didn’t mean he had to agree with her.

She was upset. He was as well. Disappointed and unhappy that what he had some hope for was already apparently not to be. He had given her a choice, and she had made it. Despite her take on matters, he had his own and they obviously meshed only up until a certain point. He didn’t want a broodmare. If that was how she would persist in seeing herself, without allowing for more, as she claimed to want, then he had no use for her. If she wished to blame that on him, he wasn’t particularly bothered. The women they rescued from slavers should simply be free to go about their lives, he agreed. Only those wanting to help his race survive should do so, voluntarily and without reservation. If they wished to be paid, if that was their motivation, that was fine. But this – this forced sexual servitude – no, it was wrong. Perhaps one day, the council would see that. Perhaps Kavala would be the one to change the order of things in Riverfall. For now, though, he was intent upon refocusing on the hunt and putting aside thoughts of his future, his unborn children, if there were to be any.

When they had reached the carcasses, Cugacon nodded at Kavala’s observations. “That may work to our advantage. If they are full, it’s less likely they’ll be stalking us. We can hunt them instead of it being the other way around.” When she remounted and began to ready her weapons, he did the same, unslinging his short bow from his back to carry in his left hand. He slid an arrow between his first two fingers of the same hand, ready to place to the string as soon as they spotted something to shoot at. His barbed lance was already secure in the leather holder hanging off the right side of the saddle, just before his stirrup. His lakan was at his belt. Each weapon would surely see use if they ran the glassbeaks to earth, each one having its own use at varying ranges. Agility, speed, a good eye and craft were of equal importance to a hunter, if he hoped to bring down such vicious prey. Cuga noted each weapon the Konti healer readied, approving her choices, but also glad to know she wore light armor. When Kavala pronounced herself ready, they moved off together, their differences set aside in their need for cooperation in this endeavor.

Kavala’s educated guess was right on target, and within a very short time, the horses were giving a clear alert to the presence of the fierce hunters. Cuga had dropped his reins, hoping that Silk was trained enough to respond to his legs. He knocked an arrow to the string and let his arms rest easily as his eyes and ears searched for the clues. They came quickly.

He saw all four, and wondered what the fifth glass beak was up to. But he focused on the one making a beeline for him, knowing from the amount of grass displaced it was one of the adults. Without being able to see the animal itself, he aimed carefully, and as soon as it was within range, he fired. One arrow wouldn’t stop an adult glassbeak, unless you could put it through the eye. But it would slow it. Calculating the approximate height and speed of the one heading towards him, Cuga aimed for where he predicted the neck would be. As it finally burst out of the grass, right in front of the now highly agitated stallion, he was gratified to see the arrow had found its mark, though a bit more into the shoulder muscle than he would have liked. An arrow through the gullet would have made his next job much easier.

As it was, the thing, the female he now saw, seemed barely cognizant of the shaft protruding from the curve between neck and shoulder. Clamping down solidly on Silk’s muzzle, the razor sharp claws at the ends of its shortened front legs grabbed for the horse’s neck, even as it brought its amazingly muscled, incredibly strong hind legs up and under to strike for the belly. It had to be cognizant of the two humans whose scent mingled with that of horse. Cuga knew these animals were highly intelligent, and its maneuvering to bring down the horse served also to unseat him as well. Once on the ground, he’d lose whatever height advantage his current perch gave him. Even as Silk reared back and up in pain, his hooves lunging out and catching the glassbeak in the chest, Cuga had knocked another arrow to his bow and loosed it at almost point blank range. Three things happened almost simultaneously.

His deadly accurate aim shifted at the last moment as the force of the glassbeak’s assault crashed into the stallion and instead of burying itself in the thing’s eye, the arrow lodged into the flesh of its cheek.

Silk’s hooves had been guided by the gods it seemed, and one of them caught the glassbeak full in the throat, snapping its head back enough to loose its grip on the horse’s nose.

The glassbeak’s rear feet raked over the stallion’s belly and the impetus of its charge finally knocked Silk to the ground.

Cuga leapt sideways as the horse tumbled, pulling his lance from its holder. Landing on his feet, he had about three seconds as the glassbeak gathered itself and decided which one of them to go after. The Akalak wasn’t about to give it the time it needed. Disregarding the stallion’s flailing legs and hooves as it sought to roll, recover and regain it’s feet, Cuga, having dropped his bow, plunged at the glassbeak, both hands on the barbed lance, ramming it through the poorly defended flesh right behind the last rib. He shoved as hard as he could, working it in and twisting to do the most damage. He had to work quickly, he knew, for the other animals would be on him any second – those that weren’t already trying to kill Kavala and Ghost. He couldn’t think about her now, though. Letting go of the lance, leaving it to dangle as the glassbeak lunged at him, he brought his lakan up in a clean sweeping arc. Just as the fierce, ripping teeth were in his face, he felt the blade slice through the throat muscles, into the wind pipe and clear through to the spine. His forearm blocked the crystalline beak, shoving it to the side as the thing’s brain, severed from the rest of it, ceased to function. Without waiting to see if it was well and truly dead, Cuga kept shoving against it so that it toppled on its far side. With one foot on the quivering flank, he yanked the lance from its resting place, just in time to feel the impact of the juvenile that was now arrived, having rushed headlong out of the grass and right into him. Just managing to keep a grip on both lance and lakan, he went down.

by **Kavala** on November 25th, 2011, 6:51 pm

Kavala had been in battle before, though nothing like this. Fighting people was one thing - sure they were deadly and wanted to kill - but fighting Glassbeaks was a totally different story. The toll would be heavy, because the Glassbeaks were predation perfected. And even in the midst of the raging battle, Kavala couldn't help but admire how swiftly and accurately the glassbeaks divided and conquered.

She was lucky, in a way, because the big male took her on rather than Cugacon who got the far more ferocious female. It showed too, because after taking an arrow to the neck and a hoof to the head, the beast kept on and didn't falter until Cuga's lance ended her life. Silk had gone down, throwing Cuga from him, but was back on his feet, his nostrum a bloody mess and his belly leaking blood from deep slashes from the female. Cuga was on the ground, but well armed, even as the female twitched its last death twitch and died. He got no respite though for a juvenile male was on him, just as enthusiastic but much less confident than the female had been.

Kavala couldn't focus on Cugacon though. She'd wanted to scream when Silk went down, but instead she'd held her tongue and watched Ghost spin as he was taught and kill with his back feet. She'd hung on, loaded the dart, and managed to land a second one in the big male glassbeak even as the first one went wide. The poison was fast, but it wouldn't bring the glassbeak down instantly. Kavala had really nothing she could do other than let the stallion fight for her and keep her body out of the way of his shoulders to let him do so. One dead juvenile behind him, with only a bloody scored rump to show for it, was giving Ghost ideas of grandeur. He spun, bounced forward as he was trained to do on his hind legs, and thrust out with his forelegs, attacking with hooves and teeth at the savage creature in front of him. The male was slowing, but not slow enough, as Ghost did the maneuver and Kavala fought to keep her seat. His hooves struck true, slicing into the glassbeaks vulnerable chest but not avoiding the slashing beak for his forelegs came back bloody even as the stallion bounced down back to all fours and Kavala let another poisoned dart fly. This one landed in the glassbeaks chest, off her mark because Kavala had been desperately trying to hit the neck even as Ghost spun, trying to keep the male off him. The big male faltered now, shook his head, and looked confused just as bloody foam started pouring from the slits in its crystalline beak. The thing coughed, blood running off its beak, and then coughed again backing up as convulsions started to hit it. The poison Kavala used was a straight mix from foxglove, a substance that when concentrated lightly could smooth a heartbeat, but when heavily concentrated could stop one. Kavala grinned in satisfaction even as she lost her seat at Ghost reversing his spin to avoid the unaccounted for juvenile's attack.

Kavala hit the ground hard, the breath knocked out of her, and drew the throwing daggers one at a time from the front of her weapons belt, panting hard and seeing stars, and yet trying to aim well enough to avoid the two horses and Cugacon.

Three glassbeaks were dead, or almost there, as the male flopped over onto his side. The only two threats remaining were the two juveniles, one on Cuga and one on Kavala. Kavala couldn't see how Cugacon was fairing, though she new a Glassbeak was right on top of him. She prayed he was armed enough to defend and armored enough to not take many hits.

She blinked the sweat out of her eyes, felt something else like blood run into them, and threw anyhow. First one, then another, then another dagger flew through the air. It was the only access to ranged weapons she had right now even as the creature wanting her death lunged for her. Two daggers met their mark, while one flew wide and landed almost on top of the struggling Akalak. Kavala cursed, namely because her light weight throwing weapons did so little damage by the time they pierced through layers of feathers and down into its skin. Pinpricks.. that's all it could be, the Konti imagined, even as her left arm screamed in pain.

Her arm? Kavala glanced down and then and only then noticed where she'd landed off Ghost, her arm had snapped. There was no pain at first, no sensation.... only a useless limb. Kavala surged to her feet, her muscles protesting and almost fell back down. There was blood everywhere and if it weren't for both horses, as wounded as they were, both the Konti and the Akalak would have been dead.

Silk, looking like he was at Dira's door, charged the glassbeak covering Cugacon, aiming to knock the creature senseless as he defended his rider from the predator. Kavala couldn't tell what the glassbeak had or hadn't done to Cugacon nor what Cugacon had done to the juvenile as it hovered over him trying to rip him to shreds.

She had her own worries. And once her hands were empty again, with Ghost keeping the Glassbeak directly off her, she was able to load a forth dart after redrawing her blow gun, and launch it again at what appeared to be the runt of the litter. Ghost wasn't getting away unscathed, but Kavala was hopeful he'd be fine even as her dart found its mark. His chest, legs, and neck were covered with scratches as he reared and punched at the glassbeak and the glassbeak slashed and screamed at him.

Kavala coughed, her arm demanding attention, but she ignored it in favor of loading a fifth dart and letting that one fly at the glassbeak on Cugacon. The foxglove poison wasn't fast.. she needed a faster one.. but it was all she had. She prayed it would be enough even as she took a step forward after holding the blowgun to her mouth and blowing and then falling to her knees.

She was watching when Ghost took out the juvenile on the pair of them down once and for all, knocking him off his feet and stomping on the head. Kavala shuddered in gratitude then turned her attention on Silk and Cugacon, wondering what they were doing... and if they needed help she was in no position at the moment to give. He was an Akalak. A hunter. He was doing this for....

The thought stunned her momentarily. Even as Cugacon and Silk raged their battle, Kavala understood inherently that he didn't need to be there. He hadn't needed to be there. An apathetic Talvis would have just let her deal with the problem and demanded a refund of his contract from the Oathmaster if she'd been damaged in the battle. He'd come instead because she'd requested help of the council and she assumed because rather than anyone asking him too.. he'd volunteered too.

Four glassbeaks lay dead. A fifth on Cugacon was going to meet its match hopefully. He' was risking his life for her... for her dream, her property, her horses. Why? He didn't have too. He shouldn't have too... but he'd come anyhow. Could it be that despite all that he'd said and not said, he truly did care? That he wanted something between them more than a business arrangement?

Kavala drew from that, that knowledge, and reached across her body to slap her hand on her broken forearm. She tapped her mark and then in a fashion she'd never use on one of her patients did a down and dirty healing, forcing the bones to knit together as fast as possible, to reset to whole, even as she poured the gnosis marking into the healing. Then, once it was done, she shoved to her feet, staggered towards Cuga and the battle there, determined to be the help he needed if he hadn't already dispatched the creature over him.

The remaining juvenile was on him and she had no idea if the drug she'd just gave him via dart was going to slow it down long enough for Cuga to kill.

by **Cugacon** on November 27th, 2011, 2:28 pm

It was fortunate the glassbeak that had just plowed into him was an inexperienced juvenile. If it had been a wily adult with several seasons of built up skill, he probably would have been dead before he hit the ground. As it was, the thing was more eager than it was cautious, and though the beak, with its razor sharp teeth, was open wide, the juvenile did not keep its head down. This presented Cugacon with one brief opportunity, as he flew sideways, to make a single pass with his lakan. Though he did not find the throat, or the major blood arteries there, he did manage to slice deep into the chest as it barreled over the top of him. Nature, in its perversity, paid him back, though, for that strike. Blood gushed in a torrent into his face, effectively blinding him and as he hit the ground, slamming into it and having the wind knocked out of him, he was forced to drop the lance in order to wipe frantically at his eyes.

The bird seemed unfazed by the severe gaping wound on its breast, the adrenalin and its instincts keeping it going. The fact that it did not stop, again, was undoubtedly a saving grace for the Akalak. The youngster was overly excited and confused by the prospect of two victims – the horse proving a distraction for a few precious seconds. As it lunged towards the wounded stallion, the blood calling to it, Cuga pushed himself to his feet, his vision still blurry but good enough to leap, while he still had the chance. From behind, the bird had no defense, and the Akalak’s strong hand went around the throat, just as it made to tear into the side of the horse, who was rearing in pain but much hampered by the wounds to his belly. The glassbeak squawked in surprise, and, its attention diverted to the foe now firmly settled on its back, it twirled around, just as the stallion’s hoof came up high enough to land a blow. Unfortunately, the blow hit Cugacon ‘s hand, raised to slash across the glassbeak’s windpipe, before driving on into the bird’s throat.

As multiple bones shattered, the lakan dropped into the grass. The glass beak staggered backwards and, as the reality of the chest wound finally caught up to its brain, combined with the impact of the blow from the stallion, it tumbled over, pinning the Akalak underneath. All Cuga could see as he looked up were Silk’s flashing hooves above them, as the stallion pressed his advantage. The glassbeak, winded and getting groggy, struggled to regain its footing, seemingly having forgotten the enemy beneath it. Razor sharp claws on its back feet scrabbled for purchase, and multiple bone deep lacerations ribboned down Cugacon’s leg. With the natural anesthesia born of shock, Cuga rolled in the opposite direction as the glassbeak shifted its weight off of him. He reached for the lance which happened to be within a meter or so of his good hand, just as he heard the war cry of the stallion and the piercing scream of the bird as Silk’s front hooves came down and the half-risen animal. Turning, Cuga plunged the lance as best he could with one hand into the side of the already quivering beast, its head staved in by the stallion, who had dealt it its death blow. With the muscles of his thighs streaming blood, one being almost shredded, Cuga turned at the sound of Kavala rushing towards him. He tried to detect injuries on her. He was worried and tried to step forward, tried to reach her. But he could not seem to make his legs work, now. As if through a tunnel, he saw her pale face approaching, but his vision narrowed, like a closing door, until all was darkness.

by **Kavala** on November 28th, 2011, 8:34 am

As Kavala surged to her feet from her knees, her eyes were locked on Cugacon as he lay prone on the ground, a dying Glassbeak at his side. Kavala realized something. The fight was quite possibly the most brutal violent incident of her life that had resulted in not only her survival but her freedom.

Life was hard, dangerous, and consequently very short.

But Kavala and people like her were gifted to the world by Rak’keli to change the odds and take some of sting of how the world really was out of living it. And as she watched the blood flow all around her, staining the grassland, the compulsion to heal struck her hard and fast. It was far more insistant and painful than her newly mended arm was. The limb hung uselessly at her side even as she surged to her feet. Healing was a tricky thing. One could do it quickly, but newly healed flesh hurt. Newly healed bones ached and though they were as strong as the original bone, pain often rendered them useless until the body adjusted and the nerves calmed down. Kavala took staggering steps towards where the Akalak lay, afraid he was dead, but knowing because of her compulsion that he was not.

One step, two steps, the girl broke into an awkward run that had her hobbling along half lame from a sprain in her ankle she had no memory of getting. Ghost circled around, still half savage, while Silk hung with his head down, nose a bloody ruin and his belly free flowing with what looked like part of an intestine hanging out of a gaping cavity wound. In a sane part of her mind, one not driven by compulsion, Kavala knew that if she didn’t treat the mounts, neither her nor Cuga would manage to make it home.

The Konti stumbled the last few feet to where her Talvis lay and dropped to her knees. She studied him, thankful he’d landed on his back. Broken pelvic bone, at least one leg, an arm, maybe a wrist, numerous ribs and a dislocated shoulder were just the beginning of his injuries. Kavala splayed her hands out on him and looked with her healers eye, tapping Rak’kelis power as she did so. Cugacon’s lifeblood was spilling out on the ground in more cuts than she could count. First, before anything, she fixed that, throwing herself over him and pouring out the power thankful she was a second ranked healer instead of only able to cleanse his wounds.

Tears flowed freely from her eyes as she did so. Had someone asked why, Kavala would have claimed it was from the pain in her arm and her own lacerations. But the truth was the man beneath her hands was her lover. And no matter how he’d acted, he deserved more than death at the hands of a Glassbeak. He didn’t disserve his life spilling out onto the grass, feeding things never acquainted to blood. She’d wanted it to work and even though they couldn’t talk to each other worth a spit, their chemistry was incredible and deep down the Konti thought that Cugacon was a good man.

“By The Gods, Cuga.. fight! Don’t die! There’s so much left to do. So much left to learn! I need you. Don’t go yet… not now… not like this. I can’t heal all of you, not here, not alone… so you have to hold on.” She said, even as she poured forth Rak’keli’s intense energy and bathed the man beneath her in a glow that quite possibly meant the extension of his life. The Konti healer moved quickly, running her hands all up and down his form, seeking out open wounds and closing them as fast as she could work. When she was done, he was still left broken and bruised, but she’d need rest before she did much more.

Surging to her feet, Kavala groaned and went first to Silk. He was not moving, barely on his feet, with glazed eyes and a nervous manner. He looked like he stood stoic waiting for death. The healer moved to the stallion’s side, moved around his flank, and dipped her fingers into the wounds in his belly. The stallion screamed, started to kick and instead went down hard, rolling to his side as if he had no more energy to stand. He kicked violently again, bringing himself immeasurable pain, before he lay still, breath gurgling as Kavala watched.

The healer was slower then, but as the stallion lay still in his last moments, he gave her a chance to work on him in ways that she wouldn’t have been able too if he was still on his feet. Kavala swung into action. Though exhausted, she still moved to help. She grasped the length of gut hanging out of the stallions barrel and tucked it back in, pouring Rak’keli’s power into her hands to cleanse the wound and inside the stallions body. She healed the worst of the cuts – inside out – and then moved to work on Silks nose, pieces the bits back together where the glassbeak had latched on. Once that was fixed, Silk got to his feet shaking but alive.

He’d be no use to anyone for a few days, but still she fussed and made him as comfortable as she could while she took a look at Ghost. Ghost was wounded but they were all cuts, most superficial, from the back down. Kavala healed those, almost at the limit of her strength and then asked the big stallion to lay down next to Cugacon. The stallion did so, taught for this reason that some times unconscious men needed aid being put on horses. Kavala, with the last of her strength pushed and rolled Cuga’s prone form onto Ghosts back. It took some doing, mostly pulling, pushing, tying Cuga to Silks’ yvas so the body wouldn’t slip. Then Kavala herself slipped on and urged Ghost to his feet. The stallion surged upwards, and took careful exhausted steps homeward. Silk trailed after, though Kavala wasn’t sure the big horse was going to make the whole trip on his own.

What seemed like hours later, the ragtag group rode through the horse gates of Sanctuary, bloody, exhausted, with Kavala holding Cuga in place. She called out in a weak voice for help even as she crumpled off Ghosts back in exhaustion.. Like him, she was at the end of her reserves… and she knew the worst was over for all of them. The staff would see to the stallion’s care, and put her and Cuga to bed.