Flashback An Old Vow and a New Face (Ayatah)

[Ayatah]

"If we can wound a foal, leave it to cry out... attract our real prey."

Ayatah agreed with the idea, and said as much. The young deer would have only recently weaned from the mother, and would be trusting of humans. It should be easy for them to leave one crying out loud enough to attract a tiger.

She ran a hand across the top of a few plants, inspecting the leaves for any signs of deer eating from them. Nothing, unfortunately, but the basin would provide greater likelihood of finding some bait. The ground was getting marshier; their feet had begun to squelch a little, so Ayatah knew that the basin was fast approaching.

The Kandukta Basin was a piece of beauty, and Ayatah had longed seen it as a place of tranquility and marvel. The water was pristinely clear, and the sunlight bounced off it to create dancing white patterns on the surface.

"I cannot imagine leaving this"

The voice was different to what Ayatah heard him speak the night before, and she looked at him quizzically. She smiled faintly and touched his arm softly, ”It’s possibly my favourite place in the world.” She whispered lowly.

As he went in search of tracks, Ayatah headed for the water. She scooped a handful up, and let it run down from her body with a sigh, appreciating the fresh coolness. The air was not so heavy here, without the heavy trees coverage trapping in humidity and sweat.

Turning her back to the water, Ayatah glanced at the ground. Some of the plants - the same sort that she had harvested yesterday - had been broken off by something. A Myrian would pull the whole plant, root and all, she thought, remembering how she had done the same just the day before. ”Something has eaten these plants,” she called out, crouching down to get a better look. There were hoof prints in the sodden ground, but they were not as fresh as she would have liked, ”I’d say about two or three bells ago?” She stood up, but nodded downwards to indicate where the prints where, lest he want to check for himself.

|| Ayatah's speech || Ayatah's thoughts || Others' speech ||

[Razkar]

”It’s possibly my favourite place in the world.”

The words, and then her touch... no, just the touch. The words were a prelude, soft as silk and whispered so low they seemed to flow into Razkar's mind. Then soft fingers on his skin like summer lightning.

When he turned to her, it was if he was seeing her anew. Not like the first time, but as if she had been wearing a mask and now it was off. He opened his mouth to say something that could have been unwise, but then she was off, by the water.

Razkar watched her, and knew he should have felt... somewhat conflicted. The way the water slid down her body was stirring.

Yeah, a sarcastic but knowing voice said, "stirring". Brilliant word. Very poetic. Never mind we're out hunting tigers, idiot!

”Something has eaten these plants. I’d say about two or three bells ago?”

Thank the gods at least one of them had her head on right today. He walked over to where she was crouching, examined the same plant, lifted it to his nose. He smelled the musky scent of fur that he knew to be deer. He frowned, eyes flickering to the mud.

"Yes." He said, pointing to the other tracks. "They're leading from here-" then to the older ones "-and to here. They must come here often to feed on the shrubs and vegetables. The soil here does grow a fine crop..."

His head rubbernecked around on his neck as he scanned the trees behind them. They needed a vantage point now, somewhere within bow range but out of sight. Razkar squinted a little... and pointed.

"There." He said, finger extended towards a thick branch maybe twenty feet off the ground. A laughable exercise for the two Myrians, who climbed and scaled the trees of their jungle from the time they could walk. "We'll make our little nest today there. Shouldn't be too long. The day grows hot, and if they do not return for food, it will be for water."

He stood, eyes still on the multitude of tracks, and his mind back on the task at hand.

"They come here often. They think it is safe. Very promising..."

Razkar began to walk to the tree, fingers already flexing, eager to find the hand holds he would need. Once he was a few feet away, he turned and a smile bloomed on his face. Ayatah blinked, surprised.

"First one up gets first shot."

And he broke into a run.

[Ayatah]

How those eyes burned into her back. It made her wary - but… excited. Was that the right word? Either way, a smirk appeared on her lips and she allowed her mind to get distracted whilst he investigated the plants. What happens in the jungle, stays in the jungle.

"They're leading from here - and to here. They must come here often to feed on the shrubs and vegetables. The soil here does grow a fine crop..."

She was barely listening, merely watching as he pointed and spoke about prints and vegetables. Her mind was very much elsewhere, torn between logical analysis and unadulterated scenes of sex and sweat and trees. She watched the muscles in his back as he paced away, her eyes narrowed and her head tilted. She was thinking.

You’re going to get killed, and what will be said about you? Ayatah - she got distracted thinking about sex in the midst of hunting a tiger. It was almost laughable - but she managed to keep a straight face. Just. She certainly had her mother’s libido; Paira of the Scattered Bones being the woman who delighted in the company of Eypharian… because what else would a woman do with a man who didn’t understand a word she said?

"We'll make our little nest today there. Shouldn't be too long. The day grows hot, and if they do not return for food, it will be for water."

Finally, she looked to where he was pointing to and listened to his words. It took a few chimes for her to realize what the plan was - but eventually she got the gist of it all. Climb a tree and wait for a few bells until something plods along. It was simple, but would be effective. The basin was the main source of water for all animals in the jungle, and with the water receding away, there would be less puddles. Animals had no choice but to traverse to the basin, where the two Myrians would be waiting patiently, and deadly.

She followed him for a few steps towards the selected tree, but when he turned around with a somewhat manic grin on his face, she stopped dead."First one up gets first shot."

Suddenly, he ran. Ayatah stood there for a single chime, absolutely flabbergasted. Then she began to sprint. Her long legs covered ground quickly, but those chimes that she had spent open-mouthed had cost her dearly. She kept moving, her feet squelching loudly in the moist earth with which hurried step. She was gaining on him, those long Eypharian legs taking strides a time - thank you, father she though in frenzied competition.

And --

She reached the tree just after him, ”Skurak!” she swore loudly, giving him a dirtied look through narrowed eyes, though there was a smile on her face. He had played dirty - starting a good foot closer to their target than she had. But she would get them back, for sure.

A wicked smile came to her lips, and she moved close to him, closer than they had been to each other before. Both her hands went to his chest, running downwards slowly, temptingly. They hovered just above where the loincloth started. ”You best make that shot count.” She whispered lowly, momentarily pressing her body to his. She held it there for a single chime - appreciating the experience as much as she hoped that he would.

Then she backed away, and began to clamber upwards.

|| Ayatah's speech || Ayatah's thoughts || Others' speech ||

[Razkar]

”You best make that shot count.”

When she touched him, Razkar fancied that for a moment the jungle hushed. He was not great romantic, but he had often thought that times such as that one became the most golden of memories. Turgid and tense and aching with possibilities.

It should be noted, of course, that as a young man around a beautiful woman, he was very, very stupid.

Because once her hands stopped just short of his loincloth (and thank the gods he hadn't worn a tight one that day), the manic energy in him to climb was cut off and he just stood there, stunned and aroused and-

-her hands shot up, grabbed a limb and started hauling herself up. Ayatah was above his head by the time Razkar had realized his error.

"... you little... arrrrgh!"

He let something between a snarl and a squeal of outrage blast out his mouth and then started climbing after her. She was fast and lithe, though, body naturally adapted to climbing and twisting. But the one thing she did lack was strength.

Razkar gritted his teeth and hauled himself up a limb, jerking his body up so his muscle stretched and screamed, but they shot him upwards so his feet found a purchase-

-she was still gaining, maybe he could pull her down, or-

No, he thought with a smirk as he swung behind her, just as she reached over her head, fire with fire, boy.

Ayatah had gripped the branch they would perch on when she saw the shadow fall over her, and suddenly a tall, warm body was pressed against her back. A broad, bare chest against her shoulder, slick with sweat. A heart pounding that she could feel through her spinal column, but Razkar was not so base as to grind his crotch against her...

That being said, he did did his head low, whisper hitting her ear along with hot breath.

"Be careful, Ayatah..." the voice rasped hotly, and dark hands enveloped hers, caressing them with his mouth so close...

"... you might fall."

And then they shot upwards and hauled a laughing Razkar out of sight and up onto the limb.

[Ayatah]

"... you little... arrrrgh!"

She had been laughing all the way up the tree, and his exclamation only made her laugh even harder and louder. She flashed him a wicked smile, and continued upwards. She had made good headway on him, but she kenw that he was gaining on her fast.

Ayatah had just got her hand on the branch that would become their waiting place, when a shadow descended. She looked upwards, confused as to what had created the shadow. And suddenly-

The breath caught in her throat as she felt a warm body press upon her. She felt almost faint; as if she could easily let go of the branch she hung onto. Ayatah’s eyes closed, concentrate on breathing, she told herself. Turning her head to face his, she could not help but allow a small smirk pull on her lips. His face was to close, she could see through her half-closed eyes.

"Be careful, Ayatah..."

The feel of his breath on her neck, the sound of his voice and the sensation of him being so close… It was too much. Her body betrayed her conscious mind, and the tiniest of sensual moans escaped her lips as her back arched against him. Instantly, Ayatah knew that she was near to losing the little power game they had going - but her mind was preoccupied with how she had decided that the loincloth of his seemed suddenly very redundant.

"... you might fall."

The warmness of his body left as quickly as it had appeared, and she instantly missed it. She gave a growl of outrage, sounding more like the tiger the were hunting than a woman. But she composed herself quickly, thinking of her next move.

She pulled herself onto the branch next to him. It was wide and strong; the tree they were now sitting in was old and had possibly hundreds of years to grow thick limbs.

”That was mean.” She said in a deadly calm voice. There were about twenty inches between the two of them, and Ayatah sidling along to close the distance, ”what would you have done if I had fallen?” She leant towards him, just a bit, her voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. ”It’s a long way down from here.”

A light finger tracing down from his chest accompanied the word ‘long’. Her hand passed that damn loincloth and down his thigh, the hand finally resting on his knee. Ayatah’s body twisted to face him as much as it could on the branch, but it was awkward, and what Ayatah had done was the best she could manage. "Plus, how do you expect me to resist a man like you?"

|| Ayatah's speech || Ayatah's thoughts || Others' speech ||

[Razkar]

”That was mean.”

"Fun, though."

Razkar's grin was what his uncle would have called "dung-chewing", and that old rascal would have known. His nephew sat astride the branch, legs dangling across either side. It was a good, thick branch though: wide enough to sit across and solid enough for them to aim and fire their bows.

Not that he was thinking about that kind of "hunting" right now, anyway...

”What would you have done if I had fallen? It’s a long way down from here.”

He shrugged, grin still on his face, hands resting on his knees as she moved closer. He shook his head. She was as lithe and limber twenty feet up as she was on the ground, and would probably be the same a hundred feet further. But she wanted to play her game. So be it.

"You're a strong girl; I'm sure you could have landed right. Besides, we don't have to use a foal as ba-"

That touch again, and with it... something. Something that seemed to seep into him and make the world softer, lighter, more... amenable. Her words soaked into him and more than just his body silently screamed at her not to stop above his loincloth. But she did, warm, soft palm resting on her knee next to his hand.

"Plus, how do you expect me to resist a man like you?"

Ayatah watched that wildness in his eyes shudder uncertainly. Watched something deeper and darker creep into them and threaten to take over. Razkar looked away for a moment, some insecurity or childish panic momentarily overtaking him...

Stop worrying about your looks, boy, a voice in him that sounded much like his father whispered, she is here, and so are you, and even if it is just part of the game... so be it. Just enjoy yourself.

His smirk became a smile and he moved his hand to cover hers. Such a simple gesture. Then when he wrapped his fingers around hers, and it was anything but.

"I think you underestimate yourself."

Branches cracked in the treeline, and the jungle of Falyndar rudely interrupted the two young ones.

[Ayatah]

"You're a strong girl; I'm sure you could have landed right. Besides, we don't have to use a foal as ba-"

That smile came, again, back on her lips. She let out a small chuckle, and glanced to the ground, which was well below them. A fall from this height certainly had the potential to bring huge damage to her person. ”I’m glad you would be so concerned for my safety!” She cried out playfully.

She glanced back to the way they had come, back to the basin and where they should be watching so intently for their bait. How distracted we’ve become, she thought almost fondly.

When she looked back at him, something had changed. The brightness and fun in his eyes had… faded. Ayatah did not know what it was, where it had come from, but she had recognized a similar look in herself, when she was younger.

As he looked away, she almost panicked. No, don’t, she though desperately - though what exactly she was forbidding, she was still not sure. She didn’t know what to say, or whether that would help. Her own expression had changed now, and something very close to worry had taken over. Her other hand reached out to him, trying to pull him back. Again, it landed on his chest, but her touch was different. Softer, caring - not filled with lust or fun.

She felt his hand cover hers, and she glanced down to see him enclose his fingers around hers. She wore a different smile now, one that she probably wouldn’t recognize if she saw it on her own face.

"I think you underestimate yourself."

Looking back on his face, she tilted her head slightly - old habits and all that. She chewed his words in her mind, and then shrugged her shoulders, ”I think we both do.” Her answer had been an honest one. Her fingers of his chest traced an invisible pattern subconsciously as his words still danced in her mind.

The noises of the jungle made her eyes dart to either side of them, and she begged to Caiyha to make the jungle to be quiet - just for this moment.

|| Ayatah's speech || Ayatah's thoughts || Others' speech ||

[Razkar]

”I think we both do.”

It would have been easier if what crackled between them was lust. Carnality was intoxicating and, yes, it was far more than just "fun" (if you were doing it right), but it was ultimately simple. Shallow. Razkar didn't understand this new thing that passed between his eyes and hers now, with her hand over his heart.

Her touch seemed to slow it, calm him. He squeezed her hand and did not want to let go. She did not look away. Almost as if she was waiting.

Something was moving out there, and it surely was not a squirrel. Razkar closed his eyes and forced himself back to his task. His word; his vow; his promise. That was why he was out here, not for a romantic interlude. A week ago that wouldn't have troubled him.

But now he wanted it to go away. For for this moment.

The young male sighed... bowed his head... and let it fall forward slowly until it touched against hers. That fragrance again. It had to be coming from her. He breathed it in deeply, savored it even as his ears began to pinpoint where that sound was coming from and mentally prepared himself to kill it.

"We need to focus," he whispered, and not just because he didn't to spook whatever was coming, "And do what we came to do."

Then Razkar straightened, slowly reaching up to take his bow from across his shoulder, head already turning to the rustling foliage by the water.

[Ayatah]

The stillness around them almost hypnotized Ayatah - even if there was a sound coming from the exact place they should be watching carefully. She had almost forgotten about the real reason that they had ventured into the jungle. If only we did not have to leave here, she thought.

There was a strange fear within her that this… thing they had - whatever it was - would dissolve as soon as they returned to the Shorn Skulls’ village. And if not then, when she returned to Taloba. But she didn’t want to dissolve, to become a distant memory she might mull over as an old woman. She wanted to explore the complexity of what was happening between them, to chase all the possibilities.

His head rested on hers, and Ayatah’s hand snaked its way up his chest, to where his neck and shoulder met. It rested there, her fingers circling the back of his head softly.

"We need to focus, and do what we came to do."

Ayatah hmm-ed in agreement, nodding her head in tiny movements. It was true - they had come for Razkar to honour an agreement he had with a clan member. It was not something that could be failed simply because the two of them had not been able to draw themselves away from each other. It was not a good excuse.

”There is always afterwards.” It was a statement, a promise and invitation all in one. She had not had her fill of him yet, apparently - and it also betrayed her hope of… something after this. Friendship? Relationship? Sex? Even she wasn’t sure, but expected that her desires lay somewhere between the last two.

”Your shot, remember.” She mumbled quietly as he straightened. Ayatah pulled her hands from him - she already missed the feel of his skin - and shuffled backwards to him more room to shoot the arrow.

Finally, she looked towards where the sounds were coming from. A small deer - no more than a season or two old - was nibbling in the exact spot they had raced from. Ayatah reached to her own bow, and withdraw it from her shoulder.

|| Ayatah's speech || Ayatah's thoughts || Others' speech ||

[Razkar]

”Your shot, remember?"

He did remember. It was difficult, as if from a long time ago, but he remembered. Razkar moved through the motions, smooth and efficient, but his soul was somewhere different from his body. He notched an arrow in the raised bow. The deer was barely into adulthood. It was hesitant, but not expecting a Myrian. Hells, it had probably never seen one before.

But he didn't draw back the arrow.

"Notch an arrow," he whispered, not taking his eyes off the deer, "We fire as one, when I say. Of one of us misses, the other one won't."

He didn't need to turn his head to see the frown and question on her face. But he glanced to his side regardless, a cocky smile she was growing to recognize flashing across his face.

"First shot? That was just... motivation."

He waited for her to get herself ready, and struggled to force his mind back to this task, this present. Thinking of Mayla is what did it: remembering her in the bone-encrusted hut, muttering over a dead woman's thigh bone and hissing at both him and his mother. That was why he was here; for her.

But, he promised himself, there is always afterwards...

The smile stayed on his face as he trained the tip of the arrow on the grazing deer's side.