To Gain Significance (Stranger/Closed)

[Sethos]

Season of Summer, Day 32, 503AV He was not sure why he was so nervous, they had been training since childhood for this, they had thought of nothing for the past year other than passing their Trial. All the same even Sethos, with all his reading couldn’t help the tension that seemed to gather in his stomach and threaten to showcase his breakfast. Many a times in the last five minutes he had wiped his palms on his trousers, slick with sweat and twitching from nervousness, the only thing that gave him a measure of comfort was the small sheet of paper growing damp in his hands. And once more he peeled it open, wincing at the smudging writing, he knew what he had to do but to go and do it was another matter entirely. Being one of the few younger Akalak born in his birth year his group was relatively small (only four of them) and he had met none of them before, he was not sure how their teamwork would play out but hopefully (as that is all one can do) it would turn out well. All the same his eyes skimmed the paper, taking in his jotted notes and tiny diagrams, it was all theory but he it made him feel…more at peace to know he had a general plan. Perhaps he could convince the other severe looking boys that he had an idea that might make things go smoother, he was no fool to believe it would make it easier but he prayed it would save them from getting completely maimed. Then again his general plan of attack had not factored in him. Of all times for his dark brother to finally emerge it was so close to his first Rite. Rolling his shoulders he flung out his arms and clenched and unclenched his fists, letting out a shaky breath. He knew nothing about his other half, what made him tick, what made him gain control—nothing!--all he knew was that he was a manipulative little jakri. Yes, that he knew without a doubt for the last few days had been nothing but hell. Now was not the time to dwell though, closing his eyes he took a deep breaths… In for five… Hold for seven… Out for five… It helped clear his mind though he could help the way he feared to fall too far into himself; he had no desire for his other half to be anything but silent. Better. Staring at his paper once more carefully tucked it into his boot before turning to his partner; he needed to set aside all other emotions besides the task at hand. It called for nothing less than his undivided attention and whatever skills he possessed to be used to their breaking point. “Wysar guide me…Akajia grant me your stealth.” He whispered his mind privately sending his prayers out to Eyris, Eyris give me the strength to use the knowledge I possess to overcome this trial. He heard similar prayers leave the other boys lips before they all stared at each other, an unnamed tension between them easing slightly as they locked eyes and nodded. Sethos even managed a fleeting, shaky grin before they turned toward the gate. Collectively they inhaled and nodded to the guards who opened the gates silently, their silence a better comfort than well wishes and as each of the boys stepped through the door Sethos had no doubt their thoughts were the same. Oh, shyke.

[Sethos]

They had been moving at a steady pace for nearly a bell Sethos guessed and so far they had not seen much of anything, though a few chimes ago they had found an obviously abandoned nest. Reaching into his boot he once more pulled out his paper, glancing at it more out of some sort of habit than any need for a refresher. His nervousness had died down but now there was another tension replacing it, gnawing at his stomach in an equally fierce manner, when would they find their Glassbeak? “What are you looking at?” They hadn’t spoken to each other much and he had nearly forgotten there were others present and by the look on the others face so had he, “Glassbeak notes.” “Notes? Do they tell you how to kill it?” “They give me an idea.” “Ideas do solve anything, action does.” The boy was not being scornful, only honest but it ended the conversation as abruptly as it began, each boy once more scanning the ground and surrounding area for tracks and hidden enemies. When they had first left the city they had a devised a simple but effective method to keep them on their toes, two would watch the ground, looking for signs of the Glassbeak while the other two would scan the tall grass’ for anything trying to sneak up on them. And so the silence reigned save for the soft rustle of grass and padding of their footsteps, each absorbed in the task at hand, fingers itching to swing their weapons at a moment’s notice. The continued on like this until Sethos could feel himself being bathed in sweat, the grass clinging to him and irritating his skin as they trekked on. Surely they had to be close to finding one soon and yet, they had found nothing but a few obviously old feces and carrion. He was beginning to wonder if they were missing something big… Of course you are. For a moment Sethos faltered, unsure of where the voice had come from but he was quickly composed himself, his body going stiff as he walked. His brother had told him one must be very careful when dealing with a new dark brother, he had hoped his would be relatively silent during this whole ordeal but no such luck; still he attempted to be as peaceable as possible. And what do you think that is? Obviously you cannot see what is right in front of you. It never occurred to you that you could be hunted? It had crossed his mind, after all the giant birds could camouflage themselves, it would not be unheard of for them to stalk them. Not bother to answer his other half he squinted carefully at the grass and slowly slid his paper back into his boot, his other hand unconsciously inching toward the weapon on his back. He could see nothing but he felt a tad less anxious when he could feel his weapon, if they were being hunted the best he could hope for was that it was a lone Glassbeak. But nothing jumped out at him and a clap on the shoulder from one of his teammates reminded him they should move forward and continue looking. Straightening himself out he switched to the middle of the small group and scanned the ground for any tell-tale sign of the creature they hunted.

[Stranger]

To the young, new hunters wandering the fields of Cyphrus, seeking so much more than an enormous predatory bird, the day would feel almost balmy. A gentle enough wind danced through the tall blades of grass to keep them cool, perhaps even to lull them into a state of comfort that might soften their senses, dull their perception. Their search was about so much more than a first kill; it was about proving themselves to their community, about pride, about independence and contribution. To return with a magnificent bird would only bring an enormous amount of pride to their families. To fail? Well, that would equate to outright shame, or death, depending on the nature of their failing. "Did you hear that?" one boy asked, speaking with only half of his breath, as he'd been taught. It was nearly inaudible, except to the other blue skinned youth at his shoulder. The other lad shook his head, and the hunt carried on. The wisdom of Sethos' dark brother was that the glassbeak not only had the capacity to camouflage itself, to blend in with the very grass that might deceive them, but the cunning and viciousness necessary to hunt, too. In fact, the unsettling noises that the group of young Akalak warriors so perceptively noticed would have likely been missed by an untrained warrior, easy fodder for a hungry pack of the giant predator. But these boys weren't just boys. They'd spent a lifetime preparing for this, and so the noises that darted all around them, strategically closing in even as the group progressed, wouldn't go unnoticed.

[Sethos]

He had heard it once earlier, so had another and it was obvious there was something going on. Steeling himself Sethos slowly slid his weapon out, the heavy weight comforting in his hands, in this he would not fail. A part of him may not agree with it but he would not shame himself or his family by failing nor would he wish that pain on them. For in failing he doubted he would live. And so, the moment his eye—by pure luck—caught a swish of grass when there was no breeze he was completely affirmed in his suspicions, his voice filled with things he could not name, “Hold.” It happened quickly, each knew their place and what they had to do and what they had to lose. The formed a small semi-circle, branching out just enough to give room for weapon maneuvers but not enough for anything to break through or so they hoped. “You heard it?” Sethos shook her head slightly, not heard, in fact, there was an abject silence now. It seemed to coat there air around them, it was much too quiet. Really? Your barely noticing. Training was something they did often, in many different scenarios, each to teach its own lesson and silence like this was not a welcome thing and yet, they could not attack, not blindly and without a target! Still as they all scanned the tower grass before them it came slowly into focus, this time it wasn’t so much as a movement as the lack of movement. The soft breeze slipping through the grass but not all of the stock moved, some stayed perfectly still. The voice floated to his ears slowly, his hand moving to hold his weapon correctly, his foot slowly shifting back, each movement they made was so painfully slow, “It see it.” Now that everyone knew where it—or at least one of them—was and with his eyes trained solely on the bird he could see, his flank being watch by his new comrades, he poised to attack. Let me. What?! You are deaf? Hm. I said: let—me—try. This is not a game. Be si— Everything is a game and what you do not give…I can take. He did not have time to argue with him though, for a quick blink of red met his eyes and that was the end of hunting game, for both parties began a vicious attack. Using the stem of his weapon first Sethos managed to blunt the powerful leg that shot out towards his chest, though it did push him back a good six inches and nearly toppled him. He kept at it though and managed to neatly roll to his left, bring his spear up to slice. They were truly quick though and it dodged with an ease he had to admire, he was outmatched, even if they did not fight the same style. But this was not just a hunt and he would not let himself be prey so easily.