[Sanctuary] Winters Breath [Kavala]

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Serrif didn’t have the luxury of being able to dreamwalk to learn about Kavala. No, instead he was forced to draw his own conclusions based on what little he had been able to draw together. But she gave him very little to work with right now. So his mind was working on end trying to put together the pieces. He was tired as well but at the same time he was alight with new information. Rich new information for his mind to be able to piece together all at once; so it did just that and tried to make sense out of all the information that it had so far. Everything was important here, everything. And he wouldn’t simply let it be. No, he had much he had to put together…so how did the puzzle of Kavala fit together?

His mind started with a general timeline. The pieces were as such. She studied in Mura, was from the Sapphire tribe and was also a Nakivak to Riverfall as well as she already had a child as well as this place. Ok Serrif one piece at a time his mind gently told him as he separated the pieces and then began to assess each one by one. This would take a fair amount of thought so he seemingly closed his eyes a little and breathed in almost meditating as he would gently nod to himself as he went over the facts in his head. Kavala would likely think this all a little strange, almost like he was dozing off. But she was likely quite tired as well. If she decided to continue to study him she would get an interesting glimpse of him confirming everything she knew about him thus far.

The collar was a little big for him, and right now it was riding a little forward so she got a little interesting view of his upper chest. She would see the marks, the scarring was so very prominent there. But she only got a small teasing taste of what was there. Just like on his wrists. The clearest hint was around his neck, circular radial scarring just like on his wrists. She knew if she looked on his ankles she would likely find the same thing. This confirmed that he was who she had seen in her dream walks. But at the same time he wasn’t the man she had seen. Much had indeed changed since he first set foot in Mura. He had drive to help people who couldn’t help themselves. He wasn’t as afraid as he was before, he was more set in his skills and comfortable with himself.

Denusk was a name that was not of the Konti Isle as far as last names went. He had been there a year and if there were any other Konti there by the last name of Denusk he would know; given the large amount of social gatherings he went to during the pumpkin festival. So that was his first clue into this puzzle. She wasn’t of Konti origins…well not directly so she didn’t live or grow up on the isle especially since she said she was from the Sapphire Pavilion. So she was not likely born here either due to her being a Nakivak. So she ended up here, owing a life debt to Riverfall which it looked like she had already repaid in full with her first child…but no that wasn’t the case.

He knew that sometimes a Nakivak could owe the city a debt for other things. Especially things like the establishment of a place like this. But from what he had seen of her so far she was no fool. She wouldn’t dare have all this work done and owe a life debt to fulfill it. No she had to start off small, those caverns underground were new. So she started small and added on. But that didn’t answer his original question, how had she become a Nakivak in the first place? He scattered about in his mind and couldn’t come up with a direct answer. So he discarded the how and moved onward to her training with the Opal Order.

She seemed to know firsthand that they didn’t have much on animal healing, which was why she didn’t join the Order in the first place. She wanted to heal animals. But there were better places to do this than here. So he put a few places in order where they made sense knowing this information. She was born not in Riverfall and not in Mura. She was born elsewhere. She then likely went to Mura for medicinal training, because as a Nakivak they wouldn’t let her travel that far away from here. Then after her training she likely somehow got herself into this predicament as a Nakivak; and decided she would make the best of a bad situation and she would start her animal healing here. There were still pieces that didn’t make sense to him though.

She had paid her debt, given them a child and yet she was still a Nakivak. Did something happen that forced her to remain so? Were the Akalak not as honorable as Ildin had made them out to be? He was pretty sure she wouldn’t do anything in her power to put herself into the Nakivak position…so it was back to that then. How she had gotten herself here in the first place. This detail eluded him. Whatever had happened it was out of her hands. She was too proud of this place to have sold her womb to obtain it. He shook that off and figured it was a minor detail in the mess. Something that he would come by eventually. So he sipped down some stew and nodded to himself quietly as he then opened his eyes again and remembered…he was here.

It was still somewhat of a shock to him to be somewhere else but his tent in Mura. Although, in Mura it was a shock to be anywhere else but his cage in the slave camp. Seemed the mind didn’t like change to a daily routine. He would have to establish a new one in order to make himself more productive. He nodded to Kavala and then spoke quietly.

“Medicine is always experimental, always evolving. That is it’s nature you have to keep one step ahead of it or risk falling far behind. The Opal Order could be an eventual goal of mine, we will see how everything fits together.” He reflected for a moment, this wouldn’t be glorious work. No, he assumed all the ‘real healing’ in the Akalak eyes was done in the main city. And out here with Kavala was for dirty Kelvics and animals. It was sad but he felt he could indeed help here more than he realized at first.

His eyes picked up on something as the flames cast light across Kavala’s skin…markings…plenty of scars and markings. His mind came alive and began to assess the kinds of markings. They were from blades of some kind. That didn’t fit. Nakivak’s were protected viciously by Riverfall. And by the age of the scars they weren’t recent, so they had to be old. Older than her induction as a Nakivak. The pieces finally fit…finally he had an answer. She had been tortured, enslaved by someone who then…who then maybe sold her to the Akalak people. Or maybe she was taken from this other group or person and made a Nakivak. Yes! That made sense. The preliminary pieces made sense now. Armed with this information he made a very very careful statement to her.

“You and I are more alike than I realize right now I am sure. I don’t pledge myself to someone lightly Kavala. I believe you are doing a noble thing here. Your knowledge is valuable and needs to be documented so that animal healing isn’t so mysterious. Especially the healing of Kelvics. And I could do this for you, as well as help out as I can around here. Lym taught me medicine as well as philtering, herbalism and poison. Ildin taught me archery as well as how to steel my physical body. And Val’Mera taught me daggers. They didn’t send me on this mission lightly; and I do believe they expect me to come back with something substantial. And I believe what you are doing here is exactly that.” It was a high compliment in a way.

Serrif was praising her work here. From what he was seeing here so far she was pioneering animal healing here in Riverfall. She was dedicated and likely so was her staff. They were on the cutting edge making things up as they went, which to him that was real medicine. This was the kind of partitioning that Lym had trained him for. Doing things on the fly and using whatever tools were available to you to make things work…however you had to. She expected great things out of him and he knew that here was a place where he could prove himself.

“I believe I could be of much use here. I am able body that is quick to learn. I don't mind hard work or long hours, nor do I fear the cold, the grime or blood.”

[Kavala]

Kavala watched him quietly, letting him completely finish speaking before saying anything. If she'd have known he was judging her, trying to put her life together and figure her out, she'd have been disquieted. He made assumptions about her that she didn't like though. He assumed, for instance, with his words that she didn't document her work here in Sanctuary which in fact wasn't the truth. She wrote everything down, even situations like the charoda drug with Cugacaon and his reaction. Her notes were what kept her sane sometimes when she was puzzling out a problem. Her studbook she guarded with a ferocity because it kept all her Rynsa plans neatly in line along with who was bred to whom and what they meant to her new breed.

Kavala didn't know why he was 'pledging' himself. She wasn't even certain what that meant. Ever since three years ago, the konti had been incredibly skittish around humans, especially males. It kept her from having a close relationship with Riki and Mizuriel, that much she knew. And one coming on so strong like Serrif was something she'd shy away from faster than a skittish filly that'd never been handled by people. She listened, but her Konti gifts gave her no insight into his sincerity. He was human, so very human, and big too. His silence would have been preferable. Kavala didn't warm up to new ideas fast unless they were her own and new people who weren't her people, meaning Drykas, left her at a loss. She knew him, as Tizack, but not as this person. Glancing over his life in the chavi had no real insights as to who he was now. She knew what Tizack was capable of and what he'd done to her. But she didn't know what Serrif was like.

There was no lingering animosity. There was no hard feelings about the past. Tizack had saved Crescent in a way, but hadn't given her any real choices. He'd been afraid and controling. Both were unhealthy, even if his fear was justified and his control understandable. She'd have rather he'd given Crescent the right to choose because it meant her whole life wouldn't have been a lie if she'd chosen the right way.

In a way her current life was a lot like Crescents had been. She owned more of it. But her body wasn't her own and she had to bow to the Oathmaster's will and let anyone who had her contract have it, even if they all pretended it was something it wasn't, even Cugacon. Even now she owned her life but not her body. It was growing a new life for him and while she didn't mind, not really, she chafed at her lack of choices.

She'd have a choice in this, at least.

Serrif might have been praising her work here, but he hadn't seen any of it. He'd seen a rider in a snowstorm that plucked him from the boundaries of a storm and made him warm. That was it. He didn't know what she did any more than she knew what he said was true. She could look and see if he was telling the truth, and in fact had in a way, but in terms of them being alike, only time would tell.

"I don't believe in relying on people telling me things. I think things go better if they are shown and proven. You don't know what I'm doing here for sure because you haven't seen us in action. Winter is our down time. Things get really busy in the spring. I don't really know you either, Serrif, until I can see what you can do in action." She paused, looked thoughtful, and nodded to herself.

"You can stay on through winter, and we'll see. But you are an idiot, human, if you pledge yourself to people you don't know based just on their words. I don't suffer fools here working with the animals. You don't know me. We've just met. Why would you even remotely say that just based on my rhetoric? Use some common sense. You can stay, until you've worn out your welcome, but no pledges, no judgements, let time move and see whats going to happen." She said gently but gently reprimandingly.

Then she turned to her son and stroked Tasi's hair softly, letting the shock of white slide through her webbed fingers. He'd lost a toy and was growing anxious that it was out of his reach. Kavala plucked it up and handed the rattle to him that he'd discarded. She felt the personality shift and ducked out of the way as Shay swung a little fist exuberantly at her and then let the rattle fly bouncing it off her ribs. Patiently she picked it up and handed it back to him. He studied it, then stuffed it partially in his mouth to chew on it.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

For the first time that night his words were concise. “Time will tell.”

He leaned back against the back of the chair and struggled to shut his mind off. She was a woman of action, not words. And in many regards he understood her exactly. Anyone could craft words, and some could craft words to build empires. But these castles were built on nothing of a physical nature. There was nothing to them, nothing to back them up. And in a way he started to see his error. To her his words held no weight, thy were likely not worth the oxygen it took for him to form them to her. She didn’t know him…in this life. And all she knew so far was his past self and what that man was capable of. But there was little of that man in him. He wanted to do good, but his morality was much more strict. He had seen the horrors of the other side of that dark pit of humanity. He had been in the position of forgetting everything he had been.

So he was simply a man to her, likely even a very distinctive threat. He was an unknown variable here among these people. One that she would have to fit nicely into the equation as not to cause too much chaos. He understood her thinking, but one bladed word stuck out at him. Human. She took the leisure of identifying him by his race. Almost to hint as if she had something against him already. Not a good sign to be on her bad side. He ran a hand over his face trying to calm his active mind down some as he breathed in evenly. It was a practice he had taken to ever since Ildin had taught it to him.

Center yourself she would tell him as she fixed her almost emotionless eyes on him. They were two opposites, he a very short lived distraught man and her a nearly immortal composed Konti. How are you always at such ease? She smiled and then shook her head as she grew close to him and spoke these words of wisdom to him.

Never mistake composure for ease Those words stuck.

He recalled his mistress and gently composed himself. Hushing his mind as he then looked into the fire. There was a longing there though. He missed Mura. But he was here now, and that was all there was for him in this moment. He let the silence soak between them. He wouldn’t break this. No, he wouldn’t be rude or anymore obnoxious than he already had been. His mind traveled to Mura, and his body relaxed visually. He could feel the warmth of the sun beating down on his skin as he walked down the beach. The sound of the ocean sprawling out for infinity along the warm sands that seemed to stretch on forever. He could hear the waves, feel the wind…he was there but only for a moment as he then heard the wind howl…he wasn’t in Mura anymore. He was here with Kavala.

He nodded, to himself more than anything as he accepted this silently. It was a stark contrast even if she was of the isle. She was different than any other Konti he had ever encountered beforehand. But then again she had likely been separated from Mura for quite some time. And as much a part of that race that she was she was still very different from all of them. Much like he was with his own race. He felt at times he didn’t belong to a part of his own human race. He may have their features and lifespan, but he was nothing like the rest of his kind. He had focus, goals and ability. But none of this was known to any except him. But all in good time…time was his friend here. But an enemy as well. Because she said he had till the end of winter…but he doubted he would need to wait that long to prove himself useful here. But she didn’t know this, and neither did he.

One thing was for sure, time would pass.

[Raiha]

The door hadn’t hardly opened as Kavala and Serrif conversed, and Raiha listened, watching in silence from the wall, arms folded. She was getting very good at just easing doors open just enough for her to ease through and closing them just as silently. The shadows had been right, as usual. Kavala did have someone down here, and judging from her posture, her friend was not comfortable in her own home. The Akontak observed silently, taking in the postures of the two speakers, watching the tension and exhaustion that she recognized in Kavala, as well as little Tasival. He was her excuse for coming down - to see if Kavala wanted her to take him tonight, and so she could make sure that everything was alright. She would join them when she was ready. Her woolen hood had been drawn against the wind and the snow, hiding her hair and ears. She refrained from rolling her eyes as Serrif pledged himself, Kanikra scoffing. Free with his words, isn’t he? Only a fool does that in a place like this.

Imagine that, taken literally. Could go to the Gideon. He did pledge himself. See how they treat him there.

Now you’re thinking, Kanikra had been almost expansive tonight, which had rapidly soured with every word by the idea that they now had another mouth to feed in Sanctuary for the tough winter season, which was a test of perseverance and survival. Listen to him. This Konti taught him this and that Konti taught him that. Lovely. Another babbling idiot from Mura.

Lucky us. Raiha watched as Shayru accepted his rattle back from his mother, and finally chose that moment to speak. “The fool shouts loudly, thinking to impress the world,” her words were quiet, her steps softer still as she padded towards the cushions where the others rested. “Everyone calls himself a friend, but only a fool relies on it. Nothing is commoner than the name. Nothing is rarer than the thing,” under her hood, her face was solemn, her hands tucked into the pocket over her abdomen of her thick sweater. She wore her leathers tonight, having left the skirts in the mews, with the woolen sweater over her vest. She stepped around the circle of cushions to stand beside Kavala, though her gold eyes were on Serrif.

She didn’t recognize him from her time in Mura, which suggested he arrived after she departed. Just as well. Her well-worn clothing revealed very little about her, and certainly lesser still to psychoanalyze, her face perfectly expressionless as she took Serrif in with an almost dismissive once-over before returning her attention to Kavala and Shayru, crouching easily beside her. “Will I take him tonight?” she smiled at the boy before bringing her eyes back to Kavala’s face, studying her eyes and expression, her gut instinct telling her to pull up a cushion and sit down. When morons went too far, the Akontak made a very good buffer.

[Kavala]

Shayru spotted Raiha long before either of the two adults did. The little boys eyes tracked across the darkness and met her liquid gold ones hidden in shadow. He smiled, let the rattled drop again, and glanced at his mother as if irritated that she didn't see what he saw.

Waving his hands as Raiha slipped into the room, Shayru obviously wanted to be picked up. Kavala smiled, met her friends gaze, and nodded. "If you want. I hadn't thought to drop him by but he's so much calmer when he comes back from spending time with you two." She was always careful to include Kani in her interactions with Raiha. Unlike Cugacon, where Eowe didn't seem to be always watching, Kani was.

"Raiha, this is Serrif. Serrif was found camping about a mile off Sanctuary's grounds just before I brought in the herd. I don't think he'd have made it through the night with the weather out there. I can feel the cold in this place. He's staying for a while, being from Mura. A healer of sorts... " Kavala said. She rose, nodded towards the door, and looked thoughtful.

"I think it might be best if I go throw a shield up over the lower doors and see if I can't get the cavern below warmer. We have the hearth here, but I don't think its warm enough for anything outside right now. In a few hours when more people get up, we probably should move the horses from the stalls down into the cavern. I have them doubled up uptop but its ridiculously cold. Aweston already moved the cows and goats down, but we still have the chicken house filled too. How are your birds doing? I knew this blow was going to be a bad one, but I'm not sure I expected it to be frigid. There's ice forming on the ropes between the kennels and the main buildings." Kavala said, moving to throw another two sticks of wood on the fire in the hearth.

"All the planning in the world and we don't know how good our system is going to be until we have these types of storms. What does it look like upstairs if you've just come from topside?" She added then asked, shaking her head, obviously worried. "If you take Shay and Tasi then I can move more stock down. I won't take the road though, I'll just bring them two at a time down the ramp all the way to the cavern." Kavala said.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

He was lost staring into the fire again. Something about it was calming…soothing almost. The fire consumed whatever was placed in it and the sounds of the crackling and burning were white noise that drowned out everything else. He watched the burning embers pulse bright almost unnatural orange. He continued to compose himself as he focused on the wicking flames dance across the fuel. Something about this controlled destruction was calming to him. He didn’t know why but focusing on it was primal. The warmth from the fire was nice in comparison to the cold near death experience he would be having if he had stayed outdoors this night.

As his active mind was shut of his inactive mind focused on the wicking orange flames. It was out of mere curiosity than anything else. His body relaxed as his mind fell silent slowly but surely. He was at peace, the entry of Raiha escaped him until his active mind kicked back in seeing the small child wave his arms around some. He wondered what that was all about. At first he discounted it for another bit of random behavior. Then Kavala spoke as if there was someone else in the room. Raiha….In response to her introduction Serrif provided a slight nod to Raiha. Nothing exquisite just a thoughtful nod. He had learned his lesson tonight about holding his tongue and assessing what he said before he spoke. This wasn’t Mura.

On Mura there was no harm in speaking your mind, because many of the women could just read it. They knew you before you ever spoke to them. Those Kointi seemed to be able to just pick him apart and speak truths about him that he had never told anyone. He was glad in a way that Kavala was marked by Rak’keli instead of Avalis. That meant that he could tell her only what he wanted her to know and nothing more. That she wouldn’t know things about him without him telling her. Unlike on the isle where he had a creeping suspicion that some knew more about him than he did….well he was actually sure that some knew about his past before the slave camp. He just never had the courage to ask.

Raiha…his mind began to assess the entirety of the situation but he shoved it aside and decided to run with his active mind off for a little while longer. He was beginning to enjoy himself in a way. He didn’t much care to really assess this situation as it was now. Time would allow him to have interactions with Raiha later. Right now it seemed Kavala had more pressing things to tend to. Like protecting her stock from the oncoming storm…which was something he believed he could lend a hand with.

“I can help with bringing in the stock. I only need to get my cloak.” He stated figuring Kavala would give him an answer of some kind soon enough.

Kavala was proving to be more and more practical by the moment. This was a hell of a time to ‘figure out’ how her system worked. There was nothing like a rough trial round to figure out how well anything you planned actually worked; this Ildin had taught him well. If you wanted to know how you would do while under pain and pressure you put yourself in pain and pressure. If you wanted to know how far you could stretch your physical limitations you didn’t sit around and think about it; no you went out and stretched yourself till you broke. Then you did so again later to see if you made improvements.

“That is unless you have something else you would like for me to do. I would like to lend a hand somehow.” Seemed he was earnest about this and really did want to do something to help.

[Raiha]

Raiha smiled at Kavala and her son, looking back down at Shayru before gathering up the little blue-skinned boy and hugging him to her, long arms folded around the child. “Hello, brave little warrior,” she whispered to him in Tukant, in the language of his fathers, his face close to hers, hiding them both under the hood but for a moment before lowering him just a bit, raising her head. She and Kanikra enjoyed spending time with him. Kanikra because he was a captive audience when she decided to show herself and speak to him, because he ‘had things he had to learn’ that she wanted to tell him about, and Raiha because Shayru and Tasival were genuinely good children that appealed to her. One long leg deftly hooked a cushion, and she pulled it over to sit beside Kavala’s, before rolling herself downwards into it, listening as Kavala told her where she had found this one and that he was going to stay. At least he had some skills, with luck, that they could use here. “I see,” she nodded, tickling Shayru’s side gently with her fingers, looking thoughtful as she looked at the boy on her chest.

“With a fool no seasons spend, lest you’re counted as his friend,” she told Kavala solemnly in Tukant, raising her head to look at her as she said it to make sure that she got the message. She didn't know what handle the stranger had on Kontinese, and he was clearly capable of understanding the Common tongue, so Tukant it was. Perhaps she needn’t worry. The Konti had shown good judgment in the past, with some exceptions; but if one did not make mistakes, they could not be learned from. Besides, Kavala was still growing. She wasn’t done yet, not by a long shot, even though she was older than Raiha, and the Akontak reached up to touch the boy’s cheek with her fingers, stroking the warm, soft skin. Kanikra took the opportunity to study Serrif, the way that their arrival, or words, perhaps, had finally shut the babbling one up. Perhaps he had been talked out. Whatever it was, he was quiet again. That was almost unfortunate. You could learn a lot about someone just by listening to them speak. Those who were free with words had their uses - with a little priming, they would spill their guts to you and perhaps for you. Oh, you didn’t trust them with secrets or anything you didn’t want to become common knowledge, but those who had verbal diarrhea sometimes revealed more than they realized.

Much like now.

“Shields would help. And the birds are fine,” she returned to Common. “The mews is sealed up well against the cold, and most of them are in nest boxes. Those that don’t have nests to burrow down in.” She knew when the birds were cold, despite their down and plumage and what shelters she had constructed for them in their flights. They were not shy about telling her that, not in the slightest. It just took patience and finding what worked for them, considering the size difference from the Kestrels to the larger raptors. Regardless, she wanted them to develop a good winter feathercoat. The land was not shy about such things. If you protected them too much, it could be a fatal mistake. “It’s not that bad out,” she allowed. “Cold. Blowing somewhat, and you cannot see from one side of Sanctuary to the other. I cannot decide if we’ll have snow to the waist tomorrow, or if Zulrav is just carrying it around to make it look as such.” She smiled a bit, smoothing Shayru’s white hair before draping the long sleeves around the boy once again. “The chickens in their coop is best left where they are. It’s vented and insulated. I checked on the water earlier,” she shook her head slightly. “I’ll check in on them again in the morning. Let the sun come up before you move the stock. No storm lasts forever.”

[Kavala]

Kavala nodded at both of them, still thinking. It wasn't the snow that bothered her, it was the fact that the temperatures were plunging so badly. She voiced her concerns as her mind pooled over them. "If the snow is too deep, its going to be hard to move stock. What bothers me is the temperatures. All the water buckets will freeze solid with no way to get them unthawed. If we wait too long, then its going to be an issue moving them in the snow as well. Right now while its blowing we can get them down just fine, two at a time, but later it will be an issue just getting them to the tunnel. We've running water in the cavern that's fresh, and with everyone in it, the temps will come up considerably. I agree about the chickens and your birds until we have better facilities. But the rest are vulnerable. We should start moving them now, even before light. We'll get the furthest stalls first and those still in the round pen where there was no room. Its going to be a bout thirty trips up and down the tunnel which is going to be exhausting.. split three ways that's ten trips apiece if I get Aweston to help. Raiha I want you to move the dogs first. The kennels is too open, even moreso than the stables. Bring all the puppies first, get Rath to help you. I think Tasi will be fine here alone. I can peek in on him every other trip and he's got that big playpen that will keep him occupied. I don't want him outside again. We were lucky to make it back. Definitely lets do the dogs first. We'll put them in the training room all together at first. Rath's been really working iwth them, but if any fights break out, no one will get hurt. Bitches with pups in the library away from the main pack?" Kavala asked.

Then she rose, nodded to Serrif... "Get your cloak. You'll need it." And went to a set of pegs near the fire and retrieved her own fur lined one. She settled Tasival in a playpen that was tucked into the corner and beckoned the group to follow her. She lead them through the kitchen area to the main tunnel that lead to the corridor tunnel that lead from the stable yard to the cavern below.

With suggestions made and orders given, Kavala would wait for any reaction then get a move on, starting to lead the horses, two by two, down the ramp and into the cavern which was a long long way. She could cut corners as well, herding half-grown yearlings loose off leads between two groups of lead horses, the pair in front paving the way and the pair bringing up the rear cutting off escape. Each horse had been gently introduced to the tunnel in the past though and taught to not be afraid for hay and warmth and a nice comfortable cavern awaited them below.

With apples. Definitely with apples.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Seemed that work started immediately around here, which was almost refreshing for him. He knew there would always be work to do here; now what kind of work was another story. Kavala seemed to have all sorts of things that needed doing around here. She drew out in detail what would need to happen. They would have to move the horses down into the cave area away from the storm. He could imagine having so many bodies in the same area would indeed raise the temperature to a comfortable level and chase away the winter cold. He agreed that it would likely be very difficult to move the horses later when there was a deeper snow on the ground. So it would be best to move them now while they were awake and aware. She was precise with her instructions which was good, this way he could continue on and do as she instructed easily without any real guidance. Although he didn’t have any real experience moving horses. But he figured he could watch Kavala and imitate her; being that she seemed to be the one that worked with the horses the most around here.

And well it was time to get to work, the storm wouldn’t let up for anyone or anything after all. After Kavala spoke and acknowledged him he went to get his cloak that he had foolishly stored in his bedroom. He should’ve known there would be things to do here, even if he was just a new arrival. He went to his room and retrieved his cloak. He quickly threw it over his body and then walked back to the main room just as Kavala plopped her little boy down in the playpen. He hoped that the little terror wouldn’t be able to break out of the pen. In his mind he knew it was only a matter of time before he figured something out. Children were that way, if they thought hard enough long enough they always came up with ways to subvert everything. But he figured with Kavala stopping in and keeping an eye on him the little one would behave appropriately. Or at the very least pretend to behave appropriately.

With his cloak on he would be able to keep his warmth about him and the wind off of him a decent amount. There were no promises of this but it was better than not having the cloak at all. No further words were exchanged as he followed Kavala to the pens and watched how she moved the horses. He figured it would likely be best if he didn’t try his luck and instead just took two horses at a time, one on each side. They seemed obedient enough, likely all in part due to the massive amount of work Kavala and the rest of the staff invested in them. He took two leads, one in each hand, and then followed behind Kavala. He was careful to leave enough room to not crowd her but to follow close enough to where he could watch the woman closely. Horsemanship was something he wouldn’t mind learning more about; especially from someone as skilled as this Konti.

He was stunned really by what she had appeared to have made for herself here. But he was also half expecting an Akalak man to come out of the woodwork somewhere and claim he was the master of this establishment or something. But no such thing happened. No, it appeared more and more to him that Kavala was indeed the sole owner of this place. And it was quite a place indeed. She had acquired quite the herd of horses, dogs, and other animals. The staff looked out for each grouping as needed and there were obviously specialists in the mix as well. So he began to question just where he would fit into this mix. He had never really worked with animals before; he hadn’t really given it much thought. He had in essence worked solely with people….well Konti while on the Isle. But now he was beginning to realize that Kavala had quite the operation going her, and that her passion was indeed animals. But she was a healer, that meant she had the capability for healing people as well.

But what was the difference between animals and people really? Especially animals, people, and Kelvics? It was all really grey once Kelvics got added into the mix since they seemed to bridge the gap between people and animals quite well. Animals were like people, they felt things had thoughts and were cognoscente just like people were. Maybe their thought processes weren’t as high or complex as people. Maybe they couldn’t read, write or play a musical instrument; that however did not mean that they didn’t deserve to be healed and cared for just like people. Animals also seemed to be a little more loyal than some people; but that could just be because of personalities.

[Kavala]

There was really no more planning necessary than what already had been done. Kavala rose, re-dressed warmly, and lead the way up the corridor until they hit the main tunnel that was indeed more of a ramp than anything else leading from the surface to the sea cave in a long spiral that was slow and low enough for horses to navigate. She climbed it easily and once on the surface threw large double doors wide and began to walk to the arena. An entire herd of horses was there, and slowly, two by two she sorted them out in a quiet line so they stood ready to be escorted. Then, adding headstalls in the form of halter and lead ropes, just for safety, she started passing them off to people one by one as they emerged.

It would be a simple thing to lead them downward, even the young ones, two by two and get them in the cavern. It was a first real test of Sanctuary's shelter, but one she was willing to make rather than risking loosing any of the horses. She took her share too, after everyone else had a pair, she left with the next ones. Ten trips or so, with the amount of stock they had, and everyone helping and they'd be done.

Once she got her first pair to the cavern, she put them in the arena there, avoiding the stallion stalls and went to secure the sea gates. She went back for more, nine times, leading each horse down and placing them in the correct place.

Then and only then did she begin to work on the shields on the cavern doors.