Closed Dancin' in the Street [Kayliegh]

[Ayatah]

|| 23rd Winter, 512.|| Zeltiva, the docks. || 13th Bell. ||

It had been little over ten days since Ayatah moved to Zeltiva. The city was completely different to her jungle home of Taloba, but had just as much charm. But whereas her home was charming in the rich greenness, natural sounds and mugginess, Zeltiva smelt of salt and food, and the noises were of the sea and voices of different people. There was a huge variety in the city, compared to the Myrian-centred Taloba.

The docks were Ayatah’s favourite place in Zeltiva. She enjoyed watching people arriving, either wide-eyed newcomers like herself or people returning home after their long journeys. She also watched departures - those sent off by hundreds of family and friends, and the loners who left without a single goodbye.

The breeze nipped at her skin, but Ayatah didn’t mind. In Taloba, there was very little wind, just moisture and heat. A sticky heat that made you sweat just by walking a few steps out of the front door. The cold breeze was a complete change, and it had surprised Ayatah that she actually… appreciated it. The smell of the salt, the breeze, the view of the white mountains out in the distance, all made her smile quietly as she read her book.

The book was about the Eypharians - the other half of her bloodline. Having chosen to study Anthropology, Ayatah had selected the book almost instantly after signing up for her course. It was a guilty pleasure of hers, learning about her father’s heritage. It’s a completely different species, she’d quickly realised.

Her Common was coming along nicely too; the majority of the library books in the university’s holding were in the language, and she was starting to be able to read whole chapters with ease. There were, however, still some words that she stumbled over, and some words that she simply skipped, not even trying to tackle.

She paused to take a seat, sheltered by the worse of the cold blusters of wind, and opened her textbook. She traced a gentle finger around the edge of a picture of an Eypharian woman, wondering what a person would do with two or four extra arms.

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

[Kayliegh]

Kayliegh was making her way out to the docks to dance for some extra money, she needed to keep herself and animals fed after all. It was frightfully cold though and she huddled under her cloak to keep in warmth, her dancer's clothes were meant to give her easy movement, not warmth. She was dressed in her dancing dress, it provided a bit more coverage than her shirt, vest and skirt combination. But it still gave her all the movement she needed when she danced. She had also wrapped a silk scarf around her neck to give some extra warmth to her body, it didn't work well but she had hoped. Her arms jangled with the bangles she had slipped on with every step and her silver head band flashed in the sunlight, even under her hood. She was looking for the perfect place to dance when she saw an open space near a bench where a woman sat reading a text book.

Nuada was of course trailing near Kayliegh, she never left without him anymore. And he sat where Kayliegh directed him to. She also ordered him to protect her things She added some commands to be calm and to wait there. he wouldn't attack anyone unless they attacked her. She began to warm up with some stretched, and a few swings with her rope dart, the weapon she had brought with her that day, she cleared out a circle on the dock that people avoided as they saw the swinging, bladed metal dart heading their way. I wasn't lit for a very obvious reason, she was on a wooden dock.

After she deemed herself well enough stretched she began a simple dance, not using her rope dart that rested in a coil of rope near her, with her pocket of sashes resting next to it. She pulled out two sashes, one blue one white, and began to twirl with them, her feet and movements keeping time to a silent beat. She danced under and through her sashes, under arms and next to them. A whirl of blue and white was created as her dress swirled up with every turn and her graceful arms created waves in the air with her sashes.

A few people began to gather around her and Kayliegh silently hoped they'd either drop a few mizas near her or one of them would conveniently have some sort of instrument to accompany her, dancing was so odd without music. Although strangely beautiful even without it.




This is Vani
This is Common
This is Shiber
These are Nauda's Commands

[Ayatah]

A small crowd of people had gathered near where Ayatah was reading, their backs to her. Initially, her attention was not drawn away from her reading, but as she began to hear little noises of appreciation from the crowd, her interests were aroused. Standing up, the woman peered over the heads of the throng of people in front of her.

The cause of the crowd was a woman dancing, with two pretty sashes in each hand. Ayatah observed her for a few chimes, and soon found herself smiling in appreciation of the act. Dancing was beloved by most Myrians, but it was a million miles away from the dancing style of the young woman in front of the crowd. Even with the lack of music, her steps were clearly lighter and softer than the Myrian fire dancing that Ayatah loved so much.

Who knew that ribbons could stand up to fire? No Myrian dancer used such a soft, demure dancing tool such as a simple cloth of material. Fire torches, hoops - yes. But simple sashes, most definitely not. But despite the stark differences between the two styles, Ayatah certainly appreciated the young woman’s dancing. If only I had a few spare coins to share with her, the Myrian thought as she continued to watch, she certainly deserved rewarding for such a performance.

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

[Kayliegh]

When Kayliegh finished her dance she held her ending pose. Hands towards the sky, scarves released to fall to the ground, left foot forward and pointed, head thrown back and back arched. Her small crowd applauded her performance and a few people dropped some copper mizas at her feet. Kayliegh didn't move until her scarves touched the ground, that was when, in a rather business like manner, she began to pick up the scarves and replaced them in her bag, she picked up the few copper mizas, she had gotten five, and picked up her white cloak. She was hot from the performance and didn't yet want the protection.

She motioned to Nuada and moved over to the bench that was now vacant. She plopped down on to it. The crowd dispersed, a few stopping to give her compliments. Until there was only a few left. One was a pretty woman who had watched her dance. Kayliegh fingered her silk scarf, that was on top of her white cloak.

"Did you like my dancing?" she asked the woman, a warm smile on her face. Few people actually went to talk to her with Nuada around. She usually had to make the first move if she wanted to make new friends, and people who liked your performance usually were easier to talk to. They were already inclined to like you, after all.


This is Vani
This is Common
This is Shiber
These are Nauda's Commands

[Ayatah]

oocI wasn't sure whether it was Ayatah who Kayliegh spoke to -- sorry if it wasn't!

Ayatah joined in with the applause, and when that died down, she stood up to vocalise her appreciation for the performance. Her book was tucked under her arm, and she approached the dancer. She waited patiently behind the other audience members, some of who dropped coins at the dancer’s feet. Ayatah herself did not have any coin on her - though if she had, she would have almost certainly shared a couple with the young woman.

"Did you like my dancing?"

She nodded, and smiled back to the woman, ”I did, it was unlike anything I have seen before.” She said, strong Myrian accent shining through. An old woman peered towards her carefully, then muttered something about ‘savages in citizen’s clothing’ and pottered off. Ayatah did not react to the casual insult, though she did glance towards the elderly woman.

”I am from Taloba, so we never dance with such -- grace.” Ayatah explained, pointing to the silken scarves. Such delicate materials would be destroyed in the ferocious fire dances of the Myrians, where other props - hardier props usually on fire - would be twirled around to pounding drums. ”Where did you learn to dance?” The answer to the question very often intrigued Ayatah; in the Jungle city, dancing was taught amongst clans to tell the tales of its members. It was an odd idea that there were schools for dances, and that these dances didn’t tell war stories or tales of murder and achievement.

What else was there to dance about, after all?

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

[Kayliegh]

Kayliegh beamed back at her, pleased by the compliment. It didn't matter how many times she was told she was good, she knew she needed to be better, it still made her feel great when people told her that. And to be able to show someone something they hadn't seen before? A truly amazing feeling.

She knew that many regions hadn't seen her style of dance, it was slightly edited from her mothers Benshira dancing and mixed with that of the performers who had visited her home. She had also added parts of it from dances she had seen in her travels thus far.

Nuada was laid out in front of Kaylieghs feet, looking at the woman who talked to Kayliegh with suspicion but not hostility. The woman was a good distance away and was making no moves to attack, so Nuada didn't growl. He just kept watch on her.

An elderly woman shot a rude comment to the woman, something about savages. Kayliegh's face scrunched in confusion. Her eyes widened as realization dawned on her at the womans next comment.

She was from Taloba, the land of the Myrians. Savage, bloodthirsty women. Kayliegh tilted her head, this woman was quiet civil though. And she was complimenting her dancing. Kayliegh looked down at Nuada, people assumed things because of him all the time.

She looked back at the woman and gave her a smile, if she attacked Kayliegh could always just fight her, and Nuada would probably kill her. SO she wasn't too worried. And the woman wasn't trying to kill her right now.

Kayliegh finally responded to her compliment.

"Thank you for the kind words, it's taken a good amount of practice to get that grace." Kayliegh commented with an easy grin. She fingered the silk scarf the woman had pointed at.

The next question had the easygoing girl smiling again.

"My mother, who is Benshira, taught me some of the dancing style of her people. The parts that include the scarves I learned from a dancing troupe who visited my Hold in Avanthal, and some of it I picked up as I traveled." Her eyes got a slightly far away look as she thought on everyone who had taught her moves. She had had great teachers, kind teachers, mean teachers and people who barely knew what they were talking about.

"What kind of dance's do your people do?" Kayliegh asked, leaning forward, her eyes interested. She always wanted to learn new dances, perhaps this woman knew some moves from her people. She'd love to learn anything she could. Anything would help her improve, become a better dancer and therefore a better fighter.

This is Vani
This is Common
This is Shiber
These are Nauda's Commands

[Ayatah]

A faint smile crossed Ayatah’s face when she saw the other girl frown, then how her eyes went wide as she realised who - or what - Ayatah was. Although the majority of adult men and women seemed to be completely aware of what race Ayatah belonged to, the odd one few people seemed to not realise until she mentioned it (or, someone else threw a Myrian-releated slur in Ayatah’s direction).

Her head turned in the direction of the old woman who had shouted out the insult. As soon as the Myrian’s dark eyes met hers, the old woman jumped backwards as far as her frail figure would allow, and hobbled off.

When she turned back to the dancer, there was a strange smile on Ayatah’s face. On the one hand, she almost enjoyed the fear that flashed across people’s faces when they saw her. But then again, it made it particularly hard to socialise around Zeltiva. And people were forever telling their children that she would come and eat them.

And Ayatah had never knowingly eaten a child before.

"My mother, who is Benshira, taught me some of the dancing style of her people. The parts that include the scarves I learned from a dancing troupe who visited my Hold in Avanthal, and some of it I picked up as I traveled."

She’s mixed blood. Like me. Since moving to the city, Ayatah had not met an individual like herself, caught between two races. ”You… are only half Benshira?” She asked, her head tilted to one side. ”I am only half Myrian. My father was Eypharian.”

"What kind of dance's do your people do?"

Her mind flickered back to life in Taloba. Their dances told stories; pieces of history that were carried through time witihin clans. Her own family had a story that was nearing 150 years old - it told how her Great Grandmother’s father battled a group of Dhani and came out victorious.

”We dance with drumbeats, and fire.” Myrian-style dances would not doubt seem savage and animalistic to anyone that lived outside of the jungle. But to Ayatah, they were masterpieces of art.

oocSorry for the delay here!

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

[Kayliegh]

Kayliegh noticed the other girl's smile at her own frown. She wondered at that briefly before dismissing her expression as unimportant. Kayliegh's eyes widened again when the woman turned her head to stare at the old woman, who started and then scurried away. Then Kayliegh let a small laugh go, she had seen it happen when Nuada glared at others but never when another looked at them. It was interesting, she wondered if she would ever be capable of doing that.

Or if she'd ever want to.

When the myrian turned back to her she had an peculiar smile on her face, Kayliegh puzzled at this too. The womans facial expressions seemed to be capable of putting her in a state of confusion,her eyes reflected that to anyone bothering to look. They were a swirl of yellow green, grass green and dark forest green.

The woman's face then displayed surprise at Kayliegh's comment and she found herself wishing she had the ability to hear in on others thoughts so at least this woman's expressions would make sense to her. Her gnosis only let her feel strong emotions, and sometimes that made everything even more confusing than before.

Kayliegh let her face break into a large grin when the woman confessed to being a half breed as well, she didn't get to meet many mixed bloods.
"It's good to meet someone else who is caught between two worlds." she knew the woman would understand her words as only another with mixed heritage could, they would never truly fit in with either of their parents people.

Kayliegh's eyes widened for the third time that day. Fire dancing? She had heard stories of it but she had never met someone who might be able to teach it to her. Her mother had been skipped by the gnosis, so she never learned fire-dancing from her family. It was something Kayliegh knew she'd be able to do, if only someone could teach her. She wondered if this woman would be the one to.

A sudden realization put a halt to her thoughts though. She stood up and stepped over Nuada and held out her hand in greeting.

"I'm so sorry! I seem to have forgotten my manners, My name is Kayliegh," she motioned to the dog lying prone behind her feet. "That's Nuada. "

This is Vani
This is Common
This is Shiber
These are Nauda's Commands

[Ayatah]

"It's good to meet someone else who is caught between two worlds."

The other woman’s words made Ayatah smile and nod, knowing all too well what the words meant. Being the hybrid of two races was incredibly… challenging. Or at least, Ayatah’s own experience had been.

”Yes, it is,” She said, her voice and expression taking on a new appreciates warmth. ”Although I have to admit, I do not know huge amounts of either race of your heritage.”

And for a moment the half-Eypharian’s mind was overwhelmed by memories of home; her family, friends, and other special people that she missed so intensely. But she pushed them out of her mind, at least for now. It was not the time, nor the place, to get emotional in thinking about those she left behind.

"I'm so sorry! I seem to have forgotten my manners, My name is Kayliegh,"

Ayatah smiled, nodding her head in a greeting. |My name is Ayatah, of the Scattered Bones.” She said, lips still split into a grin.

”That’s Nuada.”



Her dark eyes flittered to the dog lying obediently behind his master. Ayatah had not had much experience with domesticated dogs - Wolves lived in the Jungle, as well as the Chevos Jungle Dog… But since moving to Zeltiva, she had seen a greater variety in dogs than she had known existed. ”He is… very well behaved.” She said, with the tone of voice of a woman who had little experience with dogs.

OocSo sorry about the delay! For some reason I keep thinking I've replied to the threads I haven't. Apologies!

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

[Kayliegh]

Kayliegh smiled and waved a hand in dismissal of her lack of knowledge, she knew hardly anything of the woman's races either.
"I know little of you're races either, do not feel bad." She reassured her. She didn't feel bad that someone who lived so far south knew little of her Vantha heritage, how could she?

Kayliegh looked at the woman, her face a little shocked at the woman's name. Scattered bones? Well that was more than a little intimidating. She wondered how one got that kind of title attached to your name. Was it inherited? Did she do some deed in battle to earn it?

But her name, not the title, was pretty enough. Ayatah.


Nuada lifted his head to look into the woman's eyes as he felt them on him/ His eyes held a deep suspicion and a little bit of a threat. A promise to kill her if she harmed his mistress. There would be no hesitation as he lunged for her throat if she made a move to hurt Kayliegh.

He broke eye contact and turned to look at the passerby, making sure none go too close to his mistress and her companion. A mean glare from a large dog was more than enough deterrent for most people.

Kayliegh looked down at him, her feet rested close to his warm body and she smiled at him. Well behaved? She supposed. He was trained to obey her every command. "Yes he is. "

Kayliegh looked back at the woman."So do you know how to do the dances of your people?"

This is Vani
This is Common
This is Shiber
These are Nauda's Commands

\