[Sanctuary] Crossover Medicine (Rath/Open)

[Kavala]

Timestamp: 30th Winter, 511 AV
Location: Sanctuary
Purpose: Testing Demavru

Rath had volunteered. And beings that he was a balanced Akalak that mostly switched personalities effortlessly - both being reasonable beings - it was far safer to test it on him than it was to test it on strange Akalaks that were unbalanced and had suppressed dark brothers.

In Kavala's mind, dark brother really meant 'shadow brother' or 'night brother' the one that never seemed to like to stand in the light. Raiha, not being Akalak, was a perfect example nonetheless. Kani was reclusive, devious, wanting to be unknown or ignored. She hid behind Raiha's shining personality, a slightly darker one - not evil - just simply different.

But Kavala had traded with a Charoda, giving them land supplies for some sea based pointers and in doing so had been given a number of drugs and how to make them that the Charoda knew. One, Demavru, was supposed to be very very effective at blocking pain and speeding healing. She'd tested it on Cugacon and he'd lost his control and his dangerous dark brother Eowe had sprung forth with devastating effects.

While that situation might have been completely and utterly terrifying, a Cerulean who's light brother was suppressed and his dark one dominant might benefit by the drug. Kavala had to test it first. And to do that, she needed someone who wasn't going to rage and kill everyone when they lost the voice of the first brother.

And to that end, she'd asked Kadrath to help. And so here she was, in the new underground commons, holding a meeting to explain everything and her suspicions on the drug and see what could be done with it. The results here would be taken to the Council so they could make use of it.

She'd baked cookies, set out fresh milk, and was willing to let folks take notes on how the medicine was made and what she'd observed. Anyone was welcome, the more Akalaks the better in fact, though she was fairly sure only Kadrath had volunteered. Raiha might be persuaded to join in too just to see if it worked equally well on Akontaks. Kavala wanted to cover all her bases.

[Kadrath Onktaka]

On the outside, a stone faced, implacable Akalak looked in the mirror as they adjusted their gloves. His dark indigo skin gleamed from a fresh workout and bath and his eyes hovered somewhere between blue and green.

Beneath the carefully placed neck covering clothes, thick gloves and sturdy boots, rested an Akontak in waiting. It was an uneasy decision at best in maintaining their birthright a close kept secret from all but their parents. The truce that united them in balance was they finally agreed that once they could establish a decent mating, Kadrath and Uruk would reveal they were Akontak.

As the thought conversation between them rambled within, they placed the recently cleaned and sharpened Lakan in its sheath.

'Remember I'm trusting you not to embarrass us, got it?'

'What kind of comment is that supposed to mean?! Raiha is now with child and we are complete in ourselves. Don't worry so much brother.'

'Good point Uruk but let's get back to the original topic okay? Kavala sees us as a well balanced -Akalak- to test on, so let's keep up her high opinion of us.'

'You nag like an old woman.' Uruk interrupted with a laugh.

The enormous Akontak moved to the meeting room with large, efficient strides. Although the conversation never paused, it didn't impede their motion or purpose in the least. If anything, it seemed to spur them on a bit faster than usual.

'We agreed to this mutually. I'm not your pet to 'release' like you do Rock and Chain. I'm half of us and you know I wouldn't do anything to offend Miss Kavala. She's an honorable Konti who's proven as a flawless breeder, and an excellent healer of animals and people.'

'Your admiration of her is duly noted but keep in mind that we're a father now--hopefully Raiha and Kani will show up!'

'Calm down Rath. Stop worrying so much and let's get moving. We trust each other as much as we can despite each others quirks so let's just agree on that. '

Kadrath remained quiet after his brother's last comment. No further words were needed with the truth being so self evident. It was an honor that this woman thought highly enough of them to even ask. If she considered them to be a well balanced, good example, then they'd be the last to disillusion of her of that notion--hopefully.

The dog's presence would play an essential role in this experiment but they knew they could trust their lives to him. Which was exactly what they were about to do.

With their usual punctual natures, Rath, Uruk and Fidens arrived promptly on time.

"Greetings Miss Kavala. Are you well today? How are Tasi and Shay?"

(When Rath speaks and when Uruk speaks.)

[Raiha]

Raiha had spent the night with Rath again, as was rapidly becoming her custom. There was something about being tangled up in limbs and cuddling in the unnaturally dark mews, both of them breathing together, under the blankets that made the last winter season so much colder and more barren. Even if she was awake half the night just watching the man in her bed breathe while he slept, touching and tracing his muscles and scales and gills, because the girl was not used to spending a lot of time at night sleeping. Bit by bit, even with the cold outside, she was introducing Kadrath and Uruk to her nighttime world, from walking in the snow to finding things to do when everyone else slept to playing with Shayru and Tasival when she had them for the night. Trying to enforce a sleeping pattern on the Nightwalker was beyond the strength and scope of anyone in Sanctuary.

But the morning always came too soon, sometimes, and then there was work to be done. Even now, as she sat at the table in front of her, she was practicing her herbal mixtures. From the rafters of the mews, dried flowers and herbs and plants had been pulled down, and she was patiently portioning the ground results out into little pouches of thin white cloth. The bundles had been made by meticulously cutting little squares out, sewing up the sides, and then working a drawstring of many braided threads under the sewed-down hem. When pulled tight, it would keep the ground contents from spilling out into the water, all the while allowing the essence of what was contained within to seep out and infuse the liquid it was in to impart its flavours. And when they were done with it, it could be dried, shook out, washed, and reused. They were great for teas.

Even now, she was working on herbal remedies for stomach aches, for fevers, for colds. The mews, Raiha had to admit, smelled fantastic as herbs were crushed and ground with mortar and pestle, spreading their scent up close. There had always been a faintly herbal, flowery smell in there due to everything that Raiha kept hanging. She inhaled, letting her shoulders slump on the exhale with a happy sigh. She really did like working with dried plants like this. Herbalism was a wonderful skill, if people only cared to think about it. Fortunately for them that made a living by it at Sanctuary, the general populace -didn’t- think about it. Dried ginger and dried mint were carefully measured with spoons before being tipped in to the pouch, Raiha’s favourite remedy for cramps and upset stomachs. Equal parts peppermint and chamomile went into more still - for the females in the city that had bleeding cycles every couple ten-days. Poor wretches. Some of them suffered more in way of cramps than others, that was for sure, but they would take what they could to alleviate the pain without poisoning themselves. Yet another jar contained what Raiha called her love charm tea. While she never claimed it was never known to fail, there was something warm and comforting in the mixture that contained three parts yarrow to one part lavender, anise hyssop, and spearmint. It was another favourite.

She was bundling the teabags into labeled glass jars, humming to herself and her sister, when she felt a shadow brush up against her. Shadowplayer, your friend is moving. There were plenty of places for the shadows to hide in here, even with the shutters open to let the sunlight in, a refuge of sorts against the midday sun. But there was one friend that she knew Jitdyn was talking about, and she got up, tidying up her workspace - Raiha disliked it when it got cluttered and messy - and setting the jars up for now. she would bring them in to town later. She pulled on her thick sweater, slipped into her boots, and headed for the underground commons.

She had an idea. I think that we should do this, she told Kanikra.

I think so too, her sister agreed. What good is snow if you cannot have a bit of -fun- with it? I love the winter. Kanikra didn’t love anything and both of them knew it, but Raiha left it alone. There was no point in debating that. Wasted time and energy and one big headache. An argument could be made in that Kanikra liked to instigate things, but...

Deftly, before they went down, Raiha scooped up a handful of snow, carrying it with the sleeve of her sweater so as not to melt it down with her hand, slowing her approach now to pad softly. Now she had to be quiet - secrecy and silence was of the essence. She moved carefully, holding one finger to her lips when she came within sight of Kavala, urging her to not give her away. Eyes dancing, Raiha did her absolute best to dump the handful of snow down the back of her nighttime partner, trying to get as much of it as she could between his skin and his shirt before attempting to make a getaway, grinning impishly, her long white hair braided into two, the braids sitting on top instead of tucked underneath, and hanging down now over her shoulders from underneath the hood.