Just a'lookin' for a home (open/Sunsingers)

[Xnnn]

Fall 6, 512 The first leg of their short journey had brought them to the colorful tent of the tattoo business called Wind Skins. Their sojourn there, though, had been brief, once it was determined that Xnnn had no money. The two who ran the place were sympathetic, and had offered to work out something with the kelvic, once they could be assured that he would find some source of income in the moving city. So Leto had led him from there to the outskirts of the migratory sprawl that was Endrykas. In a cluster of tents – large and small – Leto wound a path to a cook fire, around which circled five or six smaller tents, Xnnn and the weanling right on his heels. It was full evening by the time they arrived, with the last of Sina’s rays finally gone from the dark, dark violet sky. Overhead a star or two was beginning to twinkle, and the smell of cooking food filled Xnnn’s nostrils. It had been many hours since he had eaten, and he thought wistfully of the cache out in the grass. If given the opportunity, he would return to it in the morning. But for now, he was feeling exceedingly curious about this, his new city, and he would stay the night here, if he had a place to do so in relative safety. Leto had done his best to explain a few things about the Drykas and their city, as they had walked along. Xnnn now understood a pavilion was a term for the physical tents, or tents, that housed a family, and sometimes their business as well. But Leto had explained too that it also meant the concept of that family itself, immediate or extended and often those not actually related to the family but who were still a part of it all the same, such as slaves. Even the striders were regarded as part of this larger network of those beings who belonged together. It was a novel concept to the kelvic – for humans to see this interconnectivity amongst their relatives, their friends, their animals, and those who served them. In the Zith colony, and in Sunberth, it had been more like each individual being out for their own good. And in Nyka, it had been smaller families being run roughshod over by brotherhoods of monks – who served their gods and certainly weren’t really looking out for the common folk. What Xnnn would eventually make of the social structure of his newfound “people” remained to be seen. But for this night, he was anxious to get a feel, if he could, of how he might be able to fit into this scheme. There were several figures moving or sitting around the fire, and Xnnn slowed to let Leto make whatever explanations he would of why he had brought this newcomer to the Sunsinger fire. He wasn’t shy, just deferential, and typically quiet, speaking mostly to answer questions and not ask them. Without thinking, his hand went out to scratch under the scrub-brush mane of the dark weanling, his shadow, finding some comfort in the warm presence of his new buddy.

[Leto Sunsinger]

Once Leto had led Xnnn to the tattooist, he realized that Xnnn didn't have enough to pay for the windmarks. Before they left, he assured them that he would assist Xnnn with all that he could in finding a job, and being able to pay them for the windmarks he was supposed to recieve, if not, Leto would provide free glyphing services to them if they needed it, as well as help with the web around their pavilion. Taking his time to speak with Xnnn, and inform him of what a Pavilion was, a bit about the Drykas way of life, and a bit about the Sunsinger pavilion, he would lead him, whilst riding atop Arias, back to the camp, where Xnnn would be able to meet the rest of the Sunsingers, hopefully Sama'el and Denen would both be there, possibly even Ronan, the other blood-brother that had joined their small pavilion. As Leto arrived, he would dismount Arias, and motion quietly for Xnnn to follow him towards the campfire. Once reaching it, if Sama'el happened to be sitting there, a smile would cross Leto's face, and he'd motion to Sama'el to come towards him and Xnnn in order to introduce Xnnn to one of his best friends, and Ankal's first. He'd leave out the part for now that Xnnn was the surviving Kelvic of a Zith attack, as it wasn't pertinent in introductions. Later he'd probably explain to Sama'el what had happened, unless Xnnn chose to explain it himself, which he'd more than certainly allow. He hoped that Xnnn wouldn't be that shy, but he'd introduce him as Achym, the other name one of his previous Masters or Mistresses had given him, Leto assumed. "Sama'el... I have a favor to ask of you, as Ankal of the Sunsinger Pavilion," he started off. "This man... well, kelvic's name is Achym, and he was chosen by a weanling strider just outside of Endrykas... uhm... He hasn't recieved his windmarks as he didn't have enough mizas to pay for it, and well, he doesn't really have a home in Endrykas yet. I... I was curious as to if well, he could meet the rest of the Pavilion, and see what he thinks about our Pavilion... I know he's an outsider, but he was chosen by a strider, and well, we usually accept those that have been chosen as Drykas... I accept him as one, and I was hoping as Ankal of our pavilion, the Sunsingers, you would accept him as one too..." Leto was a bit nervous when speaking for Xnnn to Sama'el, but he hoped that Sama'el would see this, and understand where the elder drykas was coming from. Leto didn't know much about Kelvics, but he knew that if the Kelvic had faced the Zith, and survived, then he should be revered by Drykas as a Zith killer, one that faced death and came back from it. The Zith, being enemies of the Drykas, well, Leto felt a connection with the Kelvic that he had brought back with him, along with intrigue about his race, and hoped that Sama'el would see that as well, being the intelligent Ankal that he was. He hadn't become Ankal and raised to the top of his pavilion by not learning anything in his years alive...

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Just a few days ago, Leto could have invited whomever he wanted to camp with them, and so there was a faint cognitive dissonance to this event. But Sama'el was Ankal now, and so the people of his pavilion were bound to get his permission for many things now. They were all part of a social contract to follow his lead. This was not to say that they were slaves to his will, but the Drykas had their ways. But if Leto was going to vouch for the man whose face was somewhat shadowed by evening's dim, Sama'el didn't have a problem with it. He had come to stand before Leto and his guest. He smiled at Leto, but stepped past him to take Achym's wrist to shake, and kissed him on the cheek. "You are welcome to enjoy the hospitality of our pavilion, Achym."

[Mealla Stormsong]

Mealla stood from where she’d been sat by the fire quietly inspecting her arrows, going over them and checking them for damage. She placed them to the side, and then hesitated, not sure if she was welcome to, well, welcome the newcomer. Her fingers went instantly to her hair as she bit her lip, before she lifted her chin, forcibly lowered her hands to her sides, and set her shoulders, decision made. If Sama’el did not want her around, then he could bloody well go stuff it. She didn’t care. She was just glad to see a new face that wasn’t a Sunsinger. It was hard sometimes to the only one around not of the Pavilion. She smiled as she stepped forward, offering her wrist to shake, though not before giving Sama’el a look that said I’m doing this whether you like it or not, and you can’t stop me, so there. It was short, sharp, mocking smile – hierarchy been damned, she wasn’t part of the Pavilion -, before her attention was back on this Achym. “Welcome, Drykas,” she said. “It’s nice to meet you." And then she paused, Drykas through and through: "Does this mean I’m no longer the newest?”

[Ronan]

Thoughts of Riverfall filled Ronan's thoughts as he worked his dagger against the firmness of the whetstone. But he revelled in their futility. Kavala was fine. Gods be good, she was just fine without the need for him to be there every waking day. And besides, he planned to return to Sanctuary for a while in a week or so, and Sama'el had talked of coming with him. As the entrance flap of the pavilion opened, Ronan looked up from his dagger sharpening, working by the warmth of the fire. Leto entered the tent with an unfamiliar companion, but he watched softly as Sama'el welcomed him, followed by Mealla - Sam's plucky other apprentice. Her intimation that she was not the newbie anymore provoked a few smiles among the group. When she was done, Ronan rose too, sheathing his dagger. He approached the man and held out a hand to shake. Perhaps the guest would see the dreamstone buried deep within the flesh of Ronan's hand. "Good tidings stranger," he said with a smile, "and welcome to the Sunsinger camp. Let it be known, any friend of Leto's is a friend of mine."

[Denen Sunsinger]

With a scarf about his head and a bear cub trailing after him, Denen slipped out of the tent he shared with Sam. He had a crate balanced on his hip, filling with herbs he had traded for with his sister. With Stone dead, his own family had become a bit more receptive to his presence, especially his sisters. He was surprised to see the gathering outside, and after setting the crate down, he scooped the cub up into his arms and drew close. "Who is this?" He asked in sign, studying the stranger curiously.

[Xnnn]

Leto spoke to the first to come forward, and Xnnn sensed there was some deference in the way the one he now knew addressed the one he did not know. But that was always the way, whether through brute physical strength, such as with the Zith, or customs enforced with strength, as in Nyka, or cunning backed up with a weapon, as in Sunberth, all creatures tended to sort themselves out into some sort of pecking order. Of course, the animals he encountered in his cougar form were no different, at least amongst the ones that had some sort of social structure. So Xnnn made sure to pay attention to this one, the one that Leto called Ankal. The Drykas had very briefly explained a little bit about that word on their way here – enough that Xnnn understood it meant leader. As Leto spoke, introducing him and explaining about how he had wound up here, in the tent city, Xnnn observed the interactions between the two, the body language that signaled…respect, yes, and acceptance of that. But more was notable too, a bond of some sort, more than one of fear or compulsion. He saw it in their relaxed and pleased expressions, and their proximity to one another. He heard it in the tone of Leto’s voice. These two were friends, he thought, which made him hopeful that perhaps if the one he now knew was Sama’el liked Leto well enough, he would be more inclined to let Xnnn rest here with them awhile. Then Leto was done talking and Sama’el stepped towards him, taking his wrist and putting his lips to Xnnn’s cheek. Xnnn frowned just a bit, finding this gesture odd. No-one had done that since his mother had passed from this world, though certainly he had seen others doing it. Not knowing quite what to make of it, but having then heard Sama’el’s agreement to Leto’s suggestion, Xnnn decided it was all for the good, and he reciprocated both gestures, clasping Sama’el’s wrist in his own fingers and brushing his lips across his cheek. He retained his grasp until Sama’el released his own. Then his fingers slipped off Sama’el’s wrist and dropped back to his side and he nodded. “Thank you, Sama’el,” He said simply, his voice quiet, and flat. “You are very kind.” His face too was neutral. Smiling didn’t really come naturally to the kelvic, though he had a fairly passable one, when he thought to stick it on. His eyes stayed on the man, waiting for any cues as to what might be coming next. But the sound of another of those by the fire rising caused it to shift, and he watched a young woman move forward. Her way was less assured than Sama’el’s and less…relaxed than Leto’s had been, though she came towards them with a certain boldness. There seemed to be some tension between her and the leader, and Xnnn wondered if the two of them were preparing to mate and it wasn’t quite the right time for her yet. That often seemed to account for the irritability of females. But in his human form, his nose wasn’t sensitive enough to pick up any clues as to any of that. She smiled, both at the leader and then at him, but again her behavior seemed…off. He would have admitted though that he knew little of human females, other than his own mother, and then the ones he had tended, and later butchered. In both Sunberth and Nyka he had tried very much to stay by himself, to avoid getting killed or enslaved. So, not knowing what was motivating her behavior, he simply dismissed it, for now. She held her hand out in a manner similar to what Sama’el had done, so Xnnn mirrored it and once again he found himself clasping a wrist, though the kiss was absent this time. This he found as odd as when Sama’el had kissed him, because from what he could recall, kissing mostly seemed to be conducted between male and female, and not male and male. Maybe it was the reverse here amongst the horse people. The young woman’s greeting caught him off guard though. She called him Drykas. Was this a mistake? Or were Sama’el’s words – and the strider’s endorsement – enough? Xnnn was, of course, biologically half of this race. But he didn’t really see things in those terms. He had been with the Zith, but was obviously not one of them. And in his various sojourns amongst other cities, he had felt akin only to the other kelvics he had encountered, and even then he did not feel any especially close ties. So to think of himself as one of a race, of a people – this people – was not something that he had really anticipated. He looked at her and for the first time since arriving at the little camp his expression shifted – to one of confusion mixed with…hope? Could it really be so simple, to be accepted? The question posed by the girl was one that made no sense to Xnnn, as he didn’t know her background. He was assuming she was one of this group and he hadn’t considered, despite Leto’s explanation of it being a fairly new (or re-newed) pavilion, that those here might be newcomers just like himself. So the only reply he could give her, was a puzzled, “I don’t know.” But another was coming forward, a man, and so Xnnn was distracted from trying to assist her in finding an answer. This one too put out his hand and Xnnn grabbed it, preparing for the kiss to follow. But no, it was just a shake of the wrist, just like with the girl. Xnnn looked into his eyes, and missed the odd stone set into his flesh, because he thought for sure that kiss was going to come and he didn’t want to be caught unaware. But still no, the man, who moved easily and was obviously quite comfortable with his place here, simpled made a friendly greeting and welcome. The mention of Leto’s name caused Xnnn to finally turn his attention back to the one who had first greeted him on the outskirts of the city. This one that now shook his hand seemed to think that Xnnn and Leto were friends. Were they friends? Xnnn looked at Leto, and thought that would be a very good thing. He liked Leto, for he had been quite kind, even offering to pay for the marks that seemed important. Xnnn nodded, then looked back at the other man. “I hope he is my friend, and so I can be your friend too,” he said, in a rather convoluted way. He frowned and tried again. “I-I would like to be friends, with you, and with Leto.” Suddenly Xnnn’s head whipped around and his eyes widened, He almost took a step backwards but his brain caught up with his nose and told him that it was only a baby. His sparking eyes focused on the slender male that had just stepped from one of the tents, and he asked in surprise, his tone anxious, “There is a bear in your camp?”

[Leto Sunsinger]

As Leto watched each of them come to greet Xnnn, a brief smile crossed his face. It seemed as though they were accepting him as a drykas, as they should, having a strider choose you was a sure sign that you were one of the drykas people. His mother was drykas too, so that would also place him in with their people as one of them. Kelvic or not. Turning to watch Mealla speak, and noticing her expressions towards Sama'el, a slight frown crossed his face, but it swiftly departed when Ronan greeted Xnnn with open arms as well. Then Denen came out, along with Sama'el's son. Leto didn't know how Xnnn would react to it, given that he happened to be kelvic, and was an animal transformed into a man, albeit a beautifully handsome man, but Leto wouldn't voice that opinion yet, or at all for that matter. Turning his obsidian gaze towards Denen, and then back to Xnnn, Leto took a few steps towards Xnnn, placing a hand upon his shoulder. "It is a long story Achym," he said. Allowing his gaze to shift towards Sama'el, he then said, "It is Sama'el's son... I will explain in a little bit, if you can wait that long..." As his head looked towards Sama'el, he then said to him. "I have extra room within my tent, and if it is okay with you Sama'el, i'd like to allow Achym to stay there for the night, if he feels comfortable with staying in my tent as well. The choice will remain his in the end, but I figure it will give me time to explain some things to him, about your son, and about the Drykas and Sunsinger Pavilion..." said Leto, hand still gently upon Achym's shoulder. He removed it shortly afterwards, and turned his head towards the taller man, and then towards Ronan, almost as if looking for his approval as well. "He hasn't really been apart of the drykas culture until now, though his mother was Drykas from my understanding, and i'd like to guide him towards a better future, than the past he's lived within..." said Leto then to Sama'el, hoping that the Ankal would approve of his decision, so that he could start to teach Achym of their ways, the ways of the Drykas, and integrate it with his Kelvic nature, one that Leto was only a little bit aware of...

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Once his blessing was given, Sama'el stepped back to observe this Kelvic interacting with the others. Mealla had opted to stay with his pavilion rather than remain at her own, and he accepted that. He didn't know why she chose to act with such insouciance even here, but he let it go. It hadn't hurt anything. And it was heartening to see the train of Sunsingers follow, Ronan offering welcome, and Denen coming out to greet the newcomer as well. He wanted their pavilion to be known for its hospitality as much for all its other virtues. "Denen," he said and signed, the Pavi backed up with grassland sign for his deaf blood-brother, "this is Aychm." Of course, there were special signals for the way it ought be pronounced. "He is a Drykas returning to his people, and a Kelvic too. He will be staying with us." He left the duration indeterminate, because if Leto called him guest and Sama'el approved, he could stay as long as they were all happy with his presence. And who knew? Leto and the Kelvic might bond, and then he would likely become a Sunsinger as well. To Leto, "You can educate him, but the story of the bear I ought to tell him myself." It was a part of his reparations to the goddess, after all. He wore his shame out in the open, using it as an opportunity to be instructive to those he met. "Aychm, we were traveling into the North, to the city of Winter, to bring a friend's family back from bondage. On the way, a blizzard was coming and we needed shelter. Because they were all there on my account, I went into a cave to secure it and I killed a hibernating bear. The bear-goddess came, Oriana, and smote me." It was still warm out, even at night, so he had no sleeves. He pointed out the mark on his shoulder, still mostly visible in the firelight: a bear paw that looked like a bruise. There were other things too: he could not smell, his son had been born a bear, his wife had died for his mistake. "She cursed me, and gave me a year to atone for my mistake. The cub is mine, unless she will take him away as she threatened." It was, he was sure, a lot of strange news on top of what else he was learning just returning to his mother's people, but it was important for Sama'el to lay things out there on the table. People needed to know. To Leto again, he smiled, "Now if you think he would rather talk about the horseclans than eat, you can take him off. But we've food, and he ought to see to that foal of his before his own needs. It is the Drykas way."

[Mealla Stormsong]

Mealla could not help but stare at the Kelvic in fascination. It wasn’t often that she got to meet a foreigner, much less a Kelvic, and one that had apparently bonded with a Strider. That was an occurrence that did not happen often, and she wondered if her mother had gone through a similar experience. Not that her mother had been a Kelvic... But it was nice to see him so readily accepted, and she felt proud to be a Drykas, even if it was Sama’el doing the accepting. She felt the slightest bit of resentment there. She did not want to feel anything that could be classed as warmth for the Sunsinger Ankal. He was, after all, the one thing still standing between her and a proper role within the Watch. She was supposed to hate him, and she wanted to. She stepped forward once again after Sama’el had told his tale, though she had to stamp down on the... sadness and sympathy that came whenever he told it, and the urge to look at him and to tell him that she was sorry but that everything would work out all right. She smiled instead at the Kelvic. The Kelvic Drykas. “You’re not scared of a little bear, are you? He’s just a cub. A baby. He’s harmless. You don’t need to be worried. And I can help you tend to the foal, if you like, and then you can get settled in. You must be tired.” She still didn't know if it was her place to speak, but she didn't care. She'd always done what she wanted.