Down to the Sea to Pray

by **Hadrian** on April 2nd, 2012, 6:39 am

This Kelvic was different from Ethan, from Tiki or Cathan. Hadrian regarded him carefully, this animal in man's form, asking him if he required servitude. He thought he heard a note of hope there, or desperation, but he might have imagined it. Did he need anything that a Kelvic could provide? But if he had learned any lesson from Ionu, it was that many things could seem a certain way to the senses, only to be something else in fact.

He pursed his lips thoughtfully. Suddenly he was very tired. While there had been some time to recuperate on the ships, there had been adventures yet and he was not recovered from the storm of wild djed and his magical efforts to aid the Vantha in their need. He was marked by that exposure, marked with too bright eyes and hair darkened and shot through with bolts of blue sheen. But he too had marks that were deeper and invisible to the eye.

Turn mine inner eye to the truth, Trickster, he prayed, though perhaps Eyris would have shown him the path he needed. He felt better for having prayed to Laviku and enacted his little ritual, but even the small expenditure of power made him a touch listless. He had to get back to town, to Nyka, where he didn't know the customs and might make a deadly mistake.

"I need a guide back to town," he admitted, for while he could have found his way, a local Kelvic guide could surely show him the easiest way. "I need many things, Xnnn, but that is the most pressing."

by **Xnnn** on April 3rd, 2012, 6:49 pm

“I can do that,” the kelvic replied. “I need to dress,” he added, turning to crawl and crouch a bit, reaching into his den. Extracting some garments, he straightened, rose, and began to pull them on. Breeches, tunic, sandals, a belt. With an easy leap, he left the ledge behind and was ready. Hadrian came up beside him and he said, “I’ll take the best path for two legs.”

The journey was uneventful and made in comfortable silence. If Xnnn had wondered what the human meant by that last ambiguous remark, he didn’t ask. Not yet anyway. He didn’t chat or hum or whistle or break into song as they walked, for his animal self always cautioned him to go as quietly as he could, and his human self followed suit. The young man beside him seemed either lost in his own thoughts or perhaps fatigued. The kelvic sensed that the energy that had been crackling about him was now diminished somewhat. In due course, they reached the road that approached the city gates – the only source of entrance, for most humans. Xnnn’s steps slowed and then he came to a stop.

“Here you are, Hadrian.” He nodded at the gate, then looked at his new acquaintance. “The other things you need – can I get them for you? I know most of the places here. I can find what you need, if you would prefer to . . . rest, or eat, or . . . pray some more.” His green-gold eyes looked into Hadrian’s quite wistfully, feeling that sense of incompleteness even more keenly now. Hadrian would say no and turn and walk into the city and that would be that, same as always. But something kept him waiting, unable to completely suppress that the hope of filling his own need might someday be realized.

by **Hadrian** on April 4th, 2012, 5:03 am

When Xnnn turned away, Hadrian took visual stock of his physique with the cool calculation of a physician. Whatever interested the young wizard, he studied with a single-pointed focus of his attention. That was the blessing and the curse, in fact. The focus helped him achieve certain goals, but could take him out of the present moment and make him vulnerable. Perhaps Ethan was correct in that Hadrian needed someone to look out for him, to make sure he didn't fall off a cliff while studying the stars, that it was only luck that had kept him alive all this time.

Mizahar is dangerous, everyone liked to say. Magic is dangerous. Trusting strangers in the wild is dangerous.

Well, no shit. People were born for the express purpose of dying, and life left its scars on flesh and soul alike.

But he did wonder why some enterprising monk hadn't bonded to this Kelvic, who apparently worked in town. How easy to convert a creature bred to serve, or perhaps the monks had more moral fiber than Hadrian had allotted them in his mind.

"I'd rather not pray within the city," he said, too-bright eyes fixed on Xnnn's. His father, a merchant prince, had bade him pay his respects always to Xyna and Laat, of course, but the Alvina would have heard little from Hadrian since other than a respectful request that he never want for something for lack of resources, key among those being his ability to work. He wanted no handout, but only the opportunity and space to do his thing.

"But I would like to thank you for your help. May I invite you for something to eat? Perhaps you prefer fresh game, though." He kept that considering gaze on the Kelvic, curious as to the best way to show his gratitude. Then, perhaps, he could make other requests of the Kelvic, and without making plans, see where things might go from there.

by **Xnnn** on April 4th, 2012, 5:45 pm

Xnnn nodded, in his slightly odd, very matter-of-fact way, as if nothing ever surprised him. He couldn't speculate as to what Hadrian was thinking, or thought of him, or any of the hundred questions that might pop into a human mind, upon meeting a stranger. He simply took the invitation at face value.

"Alright. If you have fish, I would like some." It had been a few days since he had skulked around the docks looking for leftovers from the catch of the day. It would not occur to the kelvic to think that his words might impose some sense of obligation on his would be host. He was merely stating a fact - he would like some fish. But even if Hadrian had offered him stale cheese or yesterday's bread ration, he would be content. What was the real draw was Hadrian himself.

With no expectations of anything, but content to continue on in the young man's company, Xnnn began to walk towards the gate. The scrutiny of the guards there always made the hairs on his neck and arms stand up a bit. He was extremely wary of the monks, for they were in control, and he respected that. In his cougar form, he might actually have had a semi-decent chance against one of them, if he caught it off guard. But they never traveled alone, it seemed, and he had no desire to attack anyone. As they got close enough for the smell of the robes to fill his nostrils, however, he did walk a bit closer to the man, brushing up against his arm. Keeping his eyes in front of him, but with his ears pricked for any untoward sound, Xnnn passed the closest guard almost with his breath held.

by **Hadrian** on April 7th, 2012, 11:56 pm

They were only just through the gates when Hadrian stopped. That was odd; his mind didn't usually wander so. He knew the docks were outside the gates. He smiled his odd smile to Xnnn and motioned back outside.

"Fish will be back that way, won't it?" and he led Xnnn back to the docks. They walked out onto one of the wooden piers, and each time he passed one of the pylons that sank down into the dark waters to hold it up, he brushed his hand across it, Lykata pulling impressions from below. Finally he stopped, kneeling beside the pylon that spoke most fervently of large appetites and little fear. He dropped his hand down over the edge, and that pale blue light that had emanated from him during his private ritual spilled down in a bright thread to disappear into the murky waters, with similar threads of yellow and green twining around it.

Father Laviku, he prayed, help me to feed this lonely Kelvic.

Through the water he began to sense the auras of the fish, fat, greedy things that ate all the scraps that fell from the boats and the quays, and a bubble of his res encircled the biggest of them, old and tender with good eating. The braid of magical energy slipped below and he wasn't sure if Xnnn could see it or not, as he didn't know how keen those eyes were.

But soon the bubble rose to the surface and Hadrian stood, glancing about. Then he led Xnnn around behind a high stack of barrels and crates to a spot where only faraway boats could see them. The bubble swam along to meet them, and Hadrian sat down with his back to a crate and took off his shoes to let his feet dangle over the edge.

The bubble began to rise, floating over the surface. Gradually the green and the dust disappeared, and only the air and his will kept the bubble of water together. Inside, a fat fish circled, confused.

"Take it," he said quietly. "I figured you could change here and nobody would notice. You might like to eat raw fish better as a cougar." He could certainly be thoughtful, could Hadrian.

by **Xnnn** on April 11th, 2012, 4:59 pm

The Kelvic followed Hadrian back through the gates obediently, not trying to guess why they were retracing their steps. Hadrian clarified that, though, almost immediately, and Xnnn nodded in agreement. An invitation to eat normally embraced the concept of the host partaking in the meal as well. But Xnnn did not pause to consider this possibly problematic aspect of going to the docks to eat. His brain did not leap forward to the almost certainty that Hadrian did not “eat” the way he himself did. The docks were indeed where fish – fresh or otherwise – were to be found. So Hadrian’s suggestion made perfect sense. Besides, he was the human. It wasn’t Xnnn’s place to question or protest.

When they reached the piers, however, Xnnn’s eye widened and his brows lifted up, as he watched Hadrian at work – “fishing.” At first, of course, he had no idea what the mage was up to, and he was thinking that he should, perhaps, point out to Hadrian that even as a cougar, he could not just leap in the deep water, paddle about, and hope to catch them some dinner. But again, his nature was to observe and not to correct, so he watched, interested to see what Hadrian intended. He saw the thread of light, and once again he sensed that crackling aura given off by the young man as he wielded his magic. Then a great bubble drifted up to the surface and Xnnn saw the fat fish so trapped and he licked his lips unknowingly. What an intriguing way to fish!

He would have reached for the fish, to save Hadrian the trouble of getting wet, but his companion was already walking off. Once more, not questioning, Xnnn followed, and when Hadrian sat, the kelvic did as well. But when the fish floated up out of the water, still encased in a sphere of salt water, Xnnn’s mouth dropped open in amazement. This had to be one of the most fantastical things he had ever seen.

When Hadrian spoke, Xnnn finally looked at him, then back at the fish, and reaching out his hands, they grasped the fish, that began to wriggle mightily in his grasp. But he managed to keep a grasp on it and pulled it down onto his lap. He was halfway prepared for the bubble of water to burst and douse him. But instead, the mage smoothly let it recede back to whence it had arisen. The fish continued to flop about, as Xnnn held it with both hands, inhaling deeply of its scent. Carefully, he laid the prize on the dock beside him, and then swiftly undressed, making sure that the fish did not flip right back into the water, though. He shifted in a very brief moment of light. It was very easy now, he was so well nourished. With a paw on the wiggling creature, he tore into it with sharp canines as its heart beat still, but not for much longer.

The taste was incredible, and his salivary glands went into overdrive, as he munched and swallowed and bit into the sweet tasting flesh, over and over. The cougar crouched over his meal, protectively, though if the hand that had gifted it to him had darted between those wicked teeth and the half devoured meal, Xnnn would have ceased immediately and withdrawn. In his animal state, Xnnn was even less cognizant of Hadrian’s own potential eating habits – chomping on a raw fish carcass probably not being one of them. So he was halfway through the thing before he stopped and realized that he was being a greedy pig. He hadn’t left room for Hadrian to get in a bite.

Apologetically, his great eyes came up to look at the founder of the feast, dolefully. He halfway rose from his crouch, and then with a quick movement, his muzzle went down and nosed the now extremely messy looking corpse, pushing it towards Hadrian. He sat back on his haunches, licking his lips and muzzle, waiting.

by **Hadrian** on April 12th, 2012, 4:12 am

Hadrian was indeed careful not to let the bubble of water soak his lunch date, though with some concentration, he was able to keep water in the fish's lungs up until it expired, maintaining its utter freshness to the last moment. Let it never be said he did not know how to show proper hospitality!

The remaining water slithered down the wooden pylon to rejoin the sea under his gaze, and then he watched sveldt flesh reshape itself in the flash of light and the blink of an eye. Such sophistication, those old archmages! One day, he too would have some work to match or surpass them all. He wanted to understand things so well that such things would be within his reach. To use or not to use with proper wisdom, he prayed. It was truly the understanding he craved and not the power. Power had a way of corrupting and betraying, whereas wisdom, he hoped would prevent such.

When the cougar offered him his share, he took a lesson from his anthropology classes: when in Nyka, do as the Nykans. Even if Xnnn was more properly, as he said, a Drykas-born Kelvic reared in slavery to the Zith. What an interesting cultural melange... This here was the study of culture, to be sure; anthropology at work.

He reached out to pluck a morsel from the delicate ribs and ate it. Raw fish was sometimes eaten in Zeltiva, wrapped in seaweed and rice, if any was available.

"Thank you, Xnnn," he said after swallowing, "but truly, it is a gift. Enjoy it."

by **Xnnn** on April 16th, 2012, 4:33 pm

The cougar form of Xnnn watched and accepted. The man was not going to eat. He didn’t bother to try to formulate complicated social equations of self-blame or bashfulness. Assuming that Hadrian had some good reason for not wanting more of the delicious fish, Xnnn tucked right in again, and finished his meal in short order. A few more minutes passed in the beginning of the feline ritual of self cleansing. But there was enough human in the Kelvic to bring that to a halt once he had given his whiskers, muzzle and front paws a good licking. Unsure of what was to happen next, he shifted again, as it was the best form to have while trying to communicate.

When once again the naked young man was sat beside Hadrian, he said, “I’m done.” His eyes went to stare into the water for a moment, but then came back to Hadrian’s face, with a wistful expression.

“Thank you. That was good. But you did not eat. Do you prefer cooked food?” He crossed his legs in front of him, sitting ‘Indian style’ and let his elbows rest on his knees, his forearms crossed and hands dangling down, relaxed. Usually, after he ate, he would sleep. But for as long as Hadrian would tolerate his company, he had no intention of taking his eyes or thoughts off the young man.

by **Hadrian** on April 17th, 2012, 1:57 am

Hadrian was quiet while Xnnn finished off his meal and cleaned himself; very tidy, cats. He watched the morphology, but also the mannerisms. He studied all the Kelvics with whom he spent any amount of time. Someday he would be able to mimic their forms, too. He could probably manage it now if he spent a good deal of time and energy on it, but Xnnn would probably slip back to his lair, to his job, to his life. And Hadrian was still very tired from Avanthal, from Mura, and he didn't expect to find any sort of solace in Nyka, but there was a lair waiting for him back near Zeltiva, where he could rest.

He almost put his hand on Xnnn's flank while he groomed himself, but hesitated, and then it was no longer a cougar but a young man sprawled out next to him.

"You're welcome," he said. And, "I ate a little while ago, so I'm not really hungry now. I thought you would enjoy all of it, and I suppose I was right." He smiled indulgently at the cat who could speak as a man. "Generally we cook our food because we don't eat it as soon as we catch it the way you do. Cooking prevents some sicknesses." He didn't know if Xnnn knew these things or if anyone had explained human customs to him and how they had logical reasons for being.

by **Echelon** on November 2nd, 2012, 9:47 am

Adventurer's Loot

A Gift
Experience is its own reward.

Hadrian's Loot :

Xnnn's Loot :

(It is too bad this was just a meet and greet thread. Still, the scenery was striking and though the magic use was questionable it was still creative. Thank you for sharing.) - if you have ANY questions or concerns about this grading, please PM me.