[Orchards] Making Lists (Rhy)

[Elem Bree]

Rhy's interest in her own topic gave Elem more clues about the breed before she could finish explaining about it. Her very nature, the short attention span, very playful. He remained still as he listened to her and enjoyed watching her frolic with her own thoughts. He suspected a demonstration was on its way, though he was pleasantly surprised at her easy way of stepping out of her breeches. He noted their location in case she forgot about them.

What a sight! It was much more pleasant to be aware of a Kelvic transformation and witness it, rather than be the odd man out. She was large, indeed, tail wagging and tongue wagging. She huffed and ran around him in circles, making it near impossible for him to do much else than give the ear scratches. He knelt down and did so, petting her head and scritching under her jaw. "What a pretty girl!", Elem said, smiling as he patted her side. He then gathered her discarded breeches, lest they be forgotten entirely. He folded them up and placed them with his book and quill.

"We can leave this stuff here for now. Why don't you show me around? Just remember, I am not as fit for running as you, though I could certainly use the exercise." He smiled, happy to have a friend to play with. The lack of human curves and shapes did wonders for his libido as well, calming it and excusing it in exchange for simple fun. He gave her another round of ear and jaw scritching before standing back to admire her.

[Rhy]

Dogs don't smile, nor do they purr, but if they did Rhy would be doing both. If there is one thing she loves it is scratches and attention. Humans don't touch each other, and if they do they blush and apologize for it, so she has been craving a good scratch. She lifts her head to give him better access under her jaw, and then angles her head from side to side as gentle nudges to where he should pet next. Once she has had her fill she motions with a toss of her head for Elem to follow her. What a relief to be back to simple speech as well! For she considers body language a sort of speech. Its a wonderful language, and so much more simple then Common. At least humans are more partial to reading body language then the idea of patting each other, and can be taught to understand the basics. But no, the highest form of body language is reserved for the more intelligent species: canines. She leads the human in a westerly direction, straight into the costal forest. There is one more sight he might like. A clear meadow of wildflowers that is very close by, just a few minutes ahead. It is frequented by deer and the odd wild pig, and the gopher holes can be precarious for the unwary, but it is filled with the most beautiful wild flowers well into late summer. She mostly uses it to nap, and she's even bed down here in the summer months. But she considers it very beautiful, and is sure Elem will think so too. All she really wants is a place to play without being so out in the open. It is very rare that a full grown human with stop to play with a dog, and plans to make full use of the opportunity. She keeps her pace at an easy trot, mindful of the humans bipedal speed limitations, until she finds a stick. But not just any stick; a heavy, short and perfect throwing stick. She launches ahead and the branch is snapped up. Then turning in a pivot she brings it back. Another thing humans are good for, a game of fetch. She pushes the stick into the mans hand and sprints ahead again to wait for a throw.

[Elem Bree]

The game was afoot! The large dog shook her head to the side, as if motioning for Elem to follow. It was much easier than the social foibles he had run into with humanoids. Maybe that was why he was taken with Ndale. Fortunately, he had no time to ponder these things as Rhy was off with a trot. He followed, happy to be doing something that had no real purpose. Always studying, learning, socializing. All good things, but Elem was a young man and had little actual excitement or simple pleasures such as a good run with a dog.

He found himself smiling as she led him off on this adventure. The scenery outside of the roads and businesses was so nice. He recalled Zeltiva being more dreary, but maybe it was Summer and Rhy which livened the scene up. All of a sudden she stopped, picking something up. Elem stopped, finding himself a little moist with perspiration. She came back with a bound in her step, a..stick! in her mouth. It had to be something ingrained in the minds of men to know what was next. he felt her nudging the stick toward his hand and Elem happily obliged. "Fetch, huh? Okay." He smiled and pulled his arm back, seeing her ears point and tongue wag. It was an infectious kind of delight.

He hurled the stick off toward the meadow, watching her watch it. She bounded off after it and Elem stopped for a moment, his eyes closing. He simply listened to the wind in the grasses, felt the sun on his face. It was simple. It was wonderful.

[Rhy]

The dog catches the stick. The dog brings the stick back. The dog collides enthusiastically with the unwary human. It was meant to be more of an affectionate bump, but Rhy is quite a large dog, and she was not checking her speed. As a result Elems musings are cut short as the flat of her head collides somewhere above his groin. The force is enough to make him fall over, with Rhy coming to a stop straddling his legs. She drops the stick on his lap and gives him an apology lick to the forehead. Inside she is laughing good naturedly, but on the outside she is the face of concern with a high wagging tail. Taking an opportunity she nuzzles his cheek now that he is level with her. He's warm and rough with emerging stubble. It feels good. Deciding this is a good of spot as any, she gets off of him and lays down beside him with a huff instead. Syna is beginning to sing low across the sky. He won't be able to get back in time to finish his lists, so she's sure she will be able to keep him until Syna's glow fades away at least. She drops her head on his lap and looks up at him with eerily intelligent eyes. Almost like she's waiting for him to say something. And she is. She wants to hear him tell a story, or tell her of Zelvita, or of his travels. She's not quite sure, really, so she just lies there and continues to stare as her tail beats out a rhythm in the grass.

[Elem Bree]

Quite a powerful creature, she was. Elem could appreciate the strength and energy in her natural form, watching her bound through the grasses with the stick. Yes, she was very fast. And not stopping. Elem's eyes widened though he kept smiling. Surely she would st--

OOf! He went down unceremoniously like a sack of potatoes, landing in the grass. It didn't hurt so much as knock the breath from him briefly. His temporary daze was quickly and mercifully dispelled by a lick to the forehead. What would be staggered breaths quickly became chuckles of delight. "Wow, you sure are strong, girl." He could see her head cocked as if to be concerned, so he covered up any discomfort from the blow with another scritch behind the ears.Her own head nuzzled against him, Elem soon regained his wind.

Elem propped up on his elbows as she dropped her head in his lap. He gazed into her eyes, a twinge of sadness returning to him as he remembered the lopsided, quirky eyes of Ndale. His chest heaved with a slight sigh as Rhy seemed to wait for him to say something. These eyes were straight and of a different color. Even a different disposition. But it was still very similar.

" I knew another Kelvic, back in Zeltiva. Her name was Ndale. She was a peahen. I don't know if you know what that is, but more than likely, you would just chase her around these fields." He grinned, his heart lightening a tad at the thought. " I can't imagine what it must feel like, to be born an animal and have to try to understand the complexities of humanoids." His eyes looked up at the cloudy skies as he continued, his hand naturally petting the large dog. " All our little nuances and cues, our anxieties, our misunderstandings. In a way, you are lucky to be free of those things. If I was in your porsition, I don't think I would ever change." He imagined how easy life would be, to just sleep when sleepy, eat when hungry, play when restless.

" I don't know what happened to her. She just disappeared out of my life. Maybe it was just something that only animals know." Looking back at Rhy, Elem wondered if she could comprehend what he meant, beyond his words.

[Rhy]

Rhy listens to his story with one ear cocked in his direction, and her eyelids blinking lazily under the sensation of his petting. It is a complex bit of juggling indeed, being Kelvic. In many ways its equal parts lying and being lied to. Lying to yourself and other people that the social graces and the human habits come naturally, or come at all. Others lying to you and themselves as they pretend you are the least bit human, as they get your brethren to pull their carts, catch their food, and roll over and die for their dinner. Despite all this, Rhy holds no resentment for the way things are, for how can they be any different? Elem says he would never change, just stay an animal forever, but Rhy chuckles inwardly at the thought. No he wouldn't. She doesn't. Being Kelvic means inheriting that deep seated need to be around 'normal' people. Most of them spend their entire lives looking for the bond that will tie them to loyalty for someone else. And spending more time with humans will make you less of an animal, its inevitable. Making most of them stuck in-between worlds; not quite a beast and almost human. Then again, she can partake in such joys and simplicities that she can neither explain or share with a human. The fierce joy of a thrilling prey drive on a hunt, a good ear scratch in good company, the uncomplicated camaraderie among other dogs. There are such things that humanoids don't ever seem to notice, or understand, really. She guesses working on that higher level keeps you from the ground. If Nadale left, it must mean she couldn't find a bond in him, and moved on. Its a sad thought, and she can't help but feel for Elem. Kelvics tend to be fluid and move with the tide, so to speak, and very few of them remember that friendships need to be closed before they move on. Humans are so kind and so deep that leaving a tie open like that can easily break their hearts. Her kind can be selfish that way. But what can she do to make it better? Make him understand why she left? The question is mulled over mind. There is no way, not really. Its not something you can explain so simply, like the way humans eventually feel the need to stop and cultivate a family. It must be their own sort of bonding, she supposes. But she meets his eye and tries to convey her understanding, even if she can't help. Eventually her blinking gets slow and slower and heavier and heavier under the gentle pressure of his hand. Until, finally, head still heavy in his lap and breathing slow and content, she falls asleep.

[Elem Bree]

Elem's own explanations probably droned on, considering the large canine could hardly interject. besides, it seemed as if she was perfectly comfortable and nodding. It didn't sound so terrible at all. The weather was so much more temperate here than in Zeltiva, where lying on the ground would almost guarantee a cold. Well, to most people. His thoughts continued to slide to that rolling pink eye of Ndale. He really missed her and would probably never see her again.

His own fatigue and the longing thoughts brought him down, his head resting on the soft grass of the meadow. He felt perfectly safe with this large hunting dog beside him, which probably made the lulling darkness of sleep come so easily.


...A cool breeze drifted over Elem's face and his hand went to where Rhy used to be. The warm glow of the sunny sky had been replaced with a darkening grey. His eyes blinked open and he sat up, shivering slightly as night approached. He looked around but saw no trace of the Kelvic. Standing and stretching, he realized that he was nowhere near civilization.

Alone.

Suddenly, the lack of cities and city guards became a little unnerving, especially with the stories of ravenous wildlife he had heard. He quickly but carefully retraced his steps, looking for the white fluff of the cottonwood, which would still be highly visible in the twilight. It took several minutes for his eyes to adjust, being used to wavering torchlight in Zeltiva. Once he located the cottonwood, his next task was to search the ground for his books and quill. he often looked around when he heard a snap or a rustle, his fear under control but growing. He eventually found his things when he heard the clink of his ink vial when he kicked it over. Thankfully he had corked it, like a good student.

He noticed that Rhy's pants were gone and he didn't really blame her for not waking him. For all he knew, she could be down in these grasses, watching him now. he hoped it would be her, anyway. Scooping his things up, he quickly walked back toward the road and soon saw the long wall of the Sanctuary. Its name never had been so fitting when he entered its underground interior, happy to find purchase in his own luxurious bed rather than the ground.

[Gossamer]

. Character: Elem Bree Experience: Research +1, Socialization +3, Observation +3 Lore: Rhy: Dire Kelvic Bear (*laughs*) not, But a Grassland Hunter, Cottonwood: Produce fluff at the end of summer to the middle of fall. Kelvic Shapeshifting: Rhy becoming a dog and back again. Rhy: Likes playing fetch. Character: Rhy Experience: Hunting +1, Socialization +3, Observation +3 Lore: Ribwort: a weed that staunches bleeding and is an astringent. Elem Bree: Doctor, herbalist, gardener. Elem Bree: Has gnosis mark of Rak’Keli, Elem Bree: Will play fetch. Additional Note: Very cute thread! You two are great together interacting in the orchard. .