What's new? (Imala)

[Joss Hawkeye]

Winter 10, 512 AV

A cold wind whipped about Joss’ shoulders as he trudged through the winding paths between the various tents, large and small. He was on an errand for his grandfather, which would take him to the home of a family he had become somewhat friendly with over the past several years. He had volunteered to carry this message to the Plainstrider pavilion, for he was always happy to hang out with Imala. Of course, he didn’t know for sure that she would be there, for her hunting often took her away from the city. But on the off chance that she would be, he was looking forward to a chat. She always had some good stories to share and her manner of presentation was…novel…to be sure.

He reached his destination and delivered the message as was required, and then he asked after Imala and was told to make himself comfortable and she would be sent for. Pleased to know that his friend was indeed present, Joss took a seat on a low leather slung stool, to wait for her to be summoned.

[Imala]

Imala had been brushing her hair. Streaks of indigo made their way around the normal brown, and just seeing the indigo where there was usually green was somewhat unnerving. Most of the Plainstrider pavilion knew what it meant when her hair and feathers turned the blue-ish purple, but very few out of the pavilion knew what it meant, unless they had extensive knowledge on glassbeaks. She knew at least one person in a different pavilion knew what it meant - Joss Hawkeye. It had been moments after Imala thought this that someone came to tell her he was here. Why was Joss here? Imala crept out of the little space she considered her 'room'. She stood in the corner, staring at him silently, before she spoke. She didn't think he knew she was standing there, but it didn't matter to her whether he was startled or not. "Joss." When he turned around, she continued. "What are you doing here? You almost never come calling."

[Joss Hawkeye]

Perhaps he would not ever make a good member of the Watch, for Joss did not realize that Imala was standing behind him. Perhaps he could be excused for his inattention, for he was safe inside the tent of friends, and not expecting anything untoward. When he heard her voice, and the rather dispassionate greeting – if you could even call it such – he turned, rising and smiling, for he was well used to Imala’s way of speech. When he caught sight of the blue, his smile might have wavred for half a second, almost imperceptibly. Having a glassbeak kelvic for a friend was potentially volatile enough. When that kelvic went into estrus…well…he knew he’d better tread carefully. He wasn’t keen on pissing her off inadvertently and having her shift into her seven foot, lethally armed self. It wasn’t as if Imala was likely to ever turn on Joss, or any of her “family” or her few friends. But…you just never knew…

Another aspect of the fact that she was entering a breeding stage that Joss tried not to think about was just that – Imala and her possible instinct to…reproduce. It wasn’t that he didn’t find her attractive, but…he had sometimes heard horror stories – probably just that – stories with no truth to them – about kelvics shifting in mid…action. The thought of a girl shifting into a glass beak in the midst of…that…well, it certainly wasn’t a pleasant thought…

No, indeed..

But in any event he smiled at her, a warm smile and a genuine one, for he truly did like Imala’s quirky company. “I know. It’s been a while. I’m sorry. I’ve been trying to get ready to apply to apprentice with the Watch. I’ve been busy – but I still should not have been such a stranger.” He walked a bit closer to her, slowly, if not exactly cautiously.

“I had to bring a message from my grandfather, to one of your masters. I asked especially to bring it, so I could see you. How have you been?” He paused a moment, eyeing her blue streaks. “Um, have I caught you at a bad time?”

[Imala]

"Hey, stop looking at me as if I'm about to attack you. Have you forgotten I wear a collar?" She didn't adjust her hair or point to it. Everyone seemed to have left this part of the pavilion, and it was just her and Joss. She sat on the bench he had just stood up from. "Where've you been? What've you been doing?" She pressed her questions at him, leaning forward slightly. The pavilion was full of random pieces of transportable furniture. Furs and benches decorated the floors, a brazier or two on the floor, heating up the pavilion without burning it down. There were stacks of baskets covered in elaborate knotwork, some flowers from way back in the summer sitting in a few, dried and past the stage of making the pavilion smell pretty. There was even a few pieces of clothing sitting in the corner to either be mended or washed. The pavilion looked normal, but everything inside Imala wasn't.

[Joss Hawkeye]

Joss grinned as Imala pointed to the collar about her neck. “Oh, I just took that for a new piece of jewelry,” he quipped, though he knew full well it was to keep her from shifting. Even so, Imala in human form and feeling frisky might be something better avoided.

She came over and sat next to him, as he too resumed his seat on the bench. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs, relaxed.

“Oh, mostly I’ve been hunting, until they assign a formal mentor for me. I’m going to learn webbing too. It’s…quite odd, you know, when you leave your body. Such a weird feeling.”

He looked at her and asked something he had often considered but never voiced.

“What’s it like to shift, Imala? Is it uncomfortable, or pleasant, or…does it feel like nothing at all?”