[Near Riverfall] Alone But Not Lonely (Dyrid)

by **Kavala** on June 1st, 2010, 6:35 pm

Timestamp: 1st Day of Summer, 510 AV

She was on foot out on the grass and her ankle hurt like hell. Limping, the Konti winced with every step, her ankle getting stiffer and stiffer as she walked due to the swelling. She knew the general direction of home. Riverfall. It was odd that she thought of the place already as home even though she'd only lived there three seasons.

Step forward, wince, another step, another wince. If she wasn't back soon, she'd be missed and there'd be trouble. But of greater concern was if she didn't get off the Sea of Grass before nightfall or at least find some cover to hold over. Her first mistake was that she hadn't brought Windsong. He'd have stayed with her even after he dumped her - which he probably wouldn't have done in the first place. Who'd have thought startling a group of grouse into flight that were hiding in the tall grass would cause the greenbroke mare to bolt. She absolutely didn't have an once of common sense in her brain, so she wasn't breedable, and yet Kavala was loathe to sell her to anyone who might get hurt. So she'd took it upon herself to do some more training of the frostmarch and see if she couldn't get the horse some time in the wild where she could actually calm down enough with time to perhaps be marketable.

Fat chance.

Kavala was steaming mad, and it was perhaps the only reason the Konti was able to keep walking. The sun was high in the sky, and warm - too warm on the pale white skin of the sea dweller. But all she knew is that she wanted the ocean, the roar of the surf, the sweet rise of Riverfall and the cool perpetual pounding of the river plunging into the sea.

Out here she was exposed, weak, and likely to be breakfast. It was a fact she was acutely aware of as she walked, keeping her darts close in her hand and her bolas hanging off her belt. The weapons reassured her, but didn't keep her fear at bay. In fact, more painful than the torn tendons in her right ankle was the fear that was threatening to crush her. The last time she had made such a mistake - and fallen from a horse - she'd ended up in a slavers wagon catering to the men and being promised to be sold to the zith as food. It hadn't been a happy time in her life. And she didn't want to repeat it, even though everywhere she looked it appeared quiet. Too quiet.

There were no birds singing. No insects buzzing around oblivious. No small mammals moved through the grass and the winds definitely carried no hint of normality on them. Kavala felt like she was being watched, and truthfully it had begun to terrify her. If she could have, as stupid as the move would have been, the Konti would have shifted into a light jog and picked up her pace a bit. She was miles from the shore... miles from civilization... and all because she'd had a whim to take the mare out collecting herbs just to get her some wilderness experience.

by **Dyrid** on June 2nd, 2010, 5:38 am

Belly to the ground with a firm grip on the worn leather pack held in his massive jaws Dyrid tried moving silently though the tall grass. The Myrian tiger's nostrils flared as his snout moved towards the sky. Taking a deep breath he filled his lungs with the scent of a female, something was unique about her tang she wasn't human Dyrid was certain of that. Relief flooded over the kevic since he would never trust humans ever again.

Images of Galdion flashed before his eyes the cracking of the sound barrier giving away to the glass embedded leather as it cut though the air. Dyrid could smell the blood as it exuded from tares in his flesh. Galdion's wicked cackle ringing in his head as if the deranged man was still alive. He could taste the salt from his tears as they streamed down his face. No! We killed the petching fool, his wilder half reassured him. Brother tiger was right and thats why he has walked every day as a free man (tiger) since his masters death his back facing the place that once prisoned him. Only traveling when the moon was high to try and avoid those pesky hunters who wanted his ivory and obsidian stripe pelt. He could remember on hunter saying that he would make a nice coat for his wife. Fighting to open his eyes Dyrid realised that he had been unconscious. The woman's sent was still strong in the air so he must not have been out long. Dyrid knew this woman was favoring one of her legs the tracks she left had told him that one foot was imprinted deeper than the other, so it didnt take long to catch back up with her.

Why was he following her? He pondered to himself as he got closer to the woman. As Dyrid got in range of sight to his quarry smell the fear overwhelmed him, what was terrifying the woman with skin same color of is own fur. Finally gaining full sight of her Dyrid was taken away by her beauty, his obsidian stripes would let him blend in with grass hiding the crouched tiger from her veiw. Not worrying about being spoted his azure orbs locked on to the woman, gaze fixated as if he was looking into her soul. Dyrid saw how she limped oh how the kelvic longed to help her wishing he could take the pain away from the pale skinned woman. An idea jumped out at him she was small enough that he could act as her mount, but how would he get her to agree with his ludicrous thought.

His need to help blocked out the rational portion of his brain being a kelvic and all. Keeping his profile as low as he could with the best submissive mask a large predator could make he slipped out of his hiding place. Low to the ground he padded over to the woman getting close enough so if she wished to come to him that she could. Laying down and placing his head between his paws, he let a low sound escape from his throat the closest thing he could to purring. Dyrid hoped that she was not afraid of him and would accept his offer of help.

by **Kavala** on June 2nd, 2010, 8:43 pm

The silence told her one thing and one thing only - she was about to be something's breakfast. It didn't seem fair, though, that one stupid mistake was going to get her in trouble. Kavala had made a lot of mistakes this year. She didn't know if it was because she was only really just now coming into her own or if there was some mechanism for keeping the Konti population as low as it actually was. Stupidity was always a good weapon in the fight against overpopulation. And yet again riding her greenbroke senseless horse out into the grass was just about as stupid as one could get.

Ouch! Each step hurt and the Konti's fear mixed with pain and self loathing was growing more pronounced. How was she going to possibly take care of anyone or anything if she couldn't even fend for herself. Kavala marched onwards, one step, then another, wishing for something to lean on or even something to support her ankle besides her riding boots. She knew she had no hope of ever getting her foot stuffed back into her boot if she took them off - and then she truthfully wouldn't be able to walk.

Not that it mattered.

Stupidity won. In the end, it was justified. And she was grateful in a way that life would end like this - with a continuation of a cycle instead of a dramatic end. She'd rather her body go to feed some large predator that would kill her quickly than to be taken by slavers and treated inhumanly. And so it was she took a deep breath, memorized the moment - the Azure Sky, the vivid green of the grass, the smell of pungent summer flowers - and smiled slightly trying not to think about what it was that was about to kill her.

It wasn't, certainly, what she expected.

The tiger was pure white with jagged shocks of ebony running down his shoulders and face, breaking up his profile and giving him a starkly contrasting appearance. There were other shades in his fur - molted hues of blues and greys that reflected the vivid azure in his own eyes. She should have been afraid when he materialized from the grass, but his position was purely submissive and she read it from his body as a Konti animal empath like a scholar would read the words from a book's page.

The bag in his jaws didn't lend to his ferocity either. It was hard to kill prey when your mouth was already full.

Kavala didn't say anything for the longest time. Instead, she stood and stared at him a few minutes, noting his awkward appearance. He looked like one of her yearling colts that were busy growing in spurts so that sometimes their heads would get huge before their bodies caught up - or their hips would explode in size before their legs lengthened to match. He was like that. All shoulder and hip with a long slim form that didn't quite match the massive paws that indicated to her he'd get a lot bigger.

There was no mistaken he was a tiger, but she'd never seen one as large or the unusual coloring he displayed. And as she opened her senses to him, his curiosity and need to help washed over her like a healing balm dissipating her fear of being eaten and her anger of letting the mare buck like a fool and throw her to begin with.

"Hello..." She said suddenly, abruptly, awkwardly. He was Kelvic - she was certain - or else someone had trained him to carry a bag and belly up to someone on cue. But no one else was around. She was certain of it, because as she stared at him and spoke her greeting, life suddenly burst back into awareness around her. The birds once more began to sing, the grass rustle, and little bugs flutter around. Yes. It was him they'd been waiting for... waiting for him to take a kill so that other things could eat as well. Kavala should have been afraid, but there was no hunger or malice in the beast. There was nothing that she could sense but an honest lightness of heart and a careful curiosity. The carefulness of the curiosity gave her pause though. Innocent creatures untouched by man and abuse never had that sort of carefulness about them. He was young. Very young. But she didn't mind.

She looked for signs then - an leather collar or an iron one - scars - even old wear marks from harness or being confined. He showed none, not outwardly at least, so she relaxed again. Maybe he wasn't a stray or an escapee. Maybe he was wild born...

"My name is Kavala. I... my horse spooked and threw me. I've twisted my ankle and I think torn the tendons. I'm a healer of animals and kelvics. From Riverfall. But we're a long way from the city. And I'm grateful beyond belief you aren't staring at me like I'm dinner. Will... you talk to me?" She meant shift and speak, but there were other ways Kavala could communicate as well. "I can understand a little if you think things strong enough. Like making pictures in your mind, if you'd rather not shift. Sometimes, if you think them loud enough, in your mind, I can hear them." She added, knowing she had to explain it to him to be fair to him. Kavala wasn't an easedropper by nature. But even being this close to him, she could feel the echo of something filling his mind - a fear of sorts and something glass and leather wrapped.

by **Dyrid** on June 3rd, 2010, 10:39 pm

The world stood still as he waited for the woman speak. His nose told him there were other creatures afoot but having a large tiger in their territory seem to have alarmed them. The stillness of the plain gave off an eerie silence Dyrid didn’t mind he rather enjoyed how his presence here had quieted the rather noisy critters. With the warm sun on his back, and the light breeze dancing with his fur it would have been the perfect time for a nap, which was out of the question for the pale skinned female was of more importance to him now.

He would wait an eternity for this woman to speak even though with his short life span that was a foolish idea but he felt drawn to her, she made his troubled past seem like a life time ago it was a feeling that the kelvic could get used to. Dyrid was shocked at these feelings thinking that he would never be able to find trust in another individual that he was destined to walk alone. No, he would help find her way home but nothing more, foolishness like that would get him bound and collared again. It was odd that his wilder half was okay with being so close to her normally Brother Tiger was very weary of all people.

Her fear seemed to dissipate after a few short moments witch surprised the tiger normally people would run away screaming thus turning them into prey. He was glad she didn’t run since the need to hunt would over take him and be forced to run her down. This woman must have some experience with wild animals or kelvics since the pack that he had dropped on the ground next to wear he laid was a dead giveaway.

When she spoke the grassy plain around them erupted with life, the sound of her voice carried though the wind to him and took the air from his lungs. If he wasn’t already on his belly the sound of her voice would have made his knees collapse from out under him. Kavala Dyrid repeated the name in his head as if it was a long lost friend or family member. She was a healer of animals and to his own people which made sense to why she didn’t run from him. Kavala’s comment about being his dinner made him laugh; he couldn’t bring himself eat her if she was the last meal on Mizahar.

The kelvic didn’t understand when she explained that she could hear his thoughts but he could hear the loneliness echoing in her voice much like his own. It’s been many season since he wore human skin and his tiger tongue wouldn’t speak common so changing was his only option. Rising to all fours The Myrian tiger paced back and forth working up the strength to change, focusing his thoughts on how his human body felt as it moved. After a few moments he got the change started.

His body enveloped by what looks as a million fire flies, when the light died down skin had replaced fur. Naked crouched into a ball Kavala could see his body littered with scars, a majority of them were centered on his back. A single strip of long white hair ran down the middle of his head stopping below his shoulders. Swirls and stripes that make up a tribal tattoo ran from the middle of his chest, down his left arm and across his back. This form was muscular and lean from his time spent with Galdion, quickly he grabbed his loose fitting black pants and his white linen shirt. Standing up now fully dressed he tugged the leather pack over his shoulder. Shaking off the after shift tingles Dyrid wished Kavala hadn’t seen his disfigurement that his fur hid so well.

“He…” his tongue struggled to form words “Hello nice to meet you Kavala, my name is Dyrid. I hope it wasn’t me who spooked your horse.” He said walking a small circle taking all of her in with his human eyes. “How bad are you hurt?”

by **Kavala** on June 4th, 2010, 5:29 pm

She'd heard the term 'Makes my heart bleed...' before but she'd never quite experienced the visual effect of seeing the young man loose his massive tiger shape and reform into that of a teen covered in scars. Shock filled Kavala's mind because it was evident that someone had done the whipwork deliberately and cruelly. The pain the boy must have felt had to be terrible and she wondered in a small corner of her mind how he could possibly still be whole in his psyche after his body had suffered such trauma.

As for herself, Kavala knew about broken minds, and that most wounds weren't carried on the outside.

She stepped closer. The Konti couldn't help it. And even though she limped, she crossed the distance between them swiftly in short painful steps, and laid a hand on his shoulders. It was a stupid move, for he was obviously someone who had more strength and ferocity than she did. But she needed to touch him and she did so without permission, running her hand down the linen of his shirt feeling the ridges of scarring beneath the thin fabric. The backpack excluded the touch of most of the damage, covering the majority of his back.

Sixteen, seventeen.... though he wore a human guise, he reminded her nothing of humans. She could feel his youth and kept her senses open, prepared for danger. She looked up, met his gaze, her eyes burning with fierce rage as she slowly spoke. "Who did this to you? They had no right... no right at all...." Kavala said softly, though if her voice could wound, the words would have been invisible daggers in the flesh of whomever caused the scars. It was not something one would expect from the soft spoken young Konti, but Dyrid could tell she meant it.. every word of it.

"Pit fighting? Slavery? Is anyone looking for you right now? Following you?" Her words were broken up in a jumble of emotions. And even as her own experience clouded her judgment and caused her voice to loose its steadiness, he could see her looking behind him, off into the distance, as if looking for searchers or trackers. "Gods, tell me it wasn't an Akalak. We're too close to Riverfall and if it was one of their own, they'll want you back." She said softly, spinning around as if to look in the direction she was heading.

Then Kavala realized her panic and took a step back, taking her hands off him. if she'd continue to touch the uneven flesh, it would just make things worse. His whole body had an echo of abuse about it. Hiding. Fleeing. Pain mixed with anger. Kavala could feel something happening to her as she stood close to the creature - as if her senses longed to reach out and mingle with his own immediately. She pulled back though, holding herself aloof, unsure of what was truly happening.

"Dyrid. I'm sorry. I.. your scars startled me. I am used to people that treat others far better than you have been treated. And no, I don't think it was you that spooked my horse. She startled some grouse nesting in the tall grass." Kavala said softly, her look slightly confused. She really wanted to touch the big cat again, even though it wore a human guise. She didn't see him as human at all. It was exactly like Flick... who just borrowed a human shape once in a while when it was convenient.

"I.. don't think I can walk home, at least not today in the light. But they might come looking for me when that silly mare comes home without me. It's not safe to stay out here after dark though. There are Zith and glassbeaks and all manner of things. I... Gods, what a mess..." She said softly.

Then she took a deep breath, seemed to regroup herself again, and spoke again softly. "What are you doing out here all by yourself on the Grass? You seem to young to be alone. Don't you have a family?" Kavala asked, gently, as if she expected the answer to be no. Pit bred Kelvics were not so lucky. They were put together, forced to mate, then their offspring were taken from them at birth never to be seen again. They were allowed to grow a bit, well into their toddler stages, and once they had their first change they were sorted out like cattle culled from a herd. The big predators were sold for good gold mizas while the useless or cute were sold off as pets or put back into the breeding programs.

If Dyrid came from Ravok though, where such things were common, he had traveled a long long way, unless he belonged as a guard kelvic to one of the Akalaks. She thought that was unlikely though. Most all of them would be female - it was stupid to be otherwise. That way they'd serve a double purpose - protection and breeding. Akalak's had virtually no problems siring their sons on female kelvics. But Dyrid didn't fit that profile either due to his sex.

Male. Big predator. Covered with scars. Young. Alone. He fit the profile of a runaway, and Kavala knew how dangerous they could be. The only difference was where he'd run away from. If he was from Riverfall, he was as good as dead. But from Ravok or Sunberth or someplace like that... he was as good as free having survived this far and this long in the south.

by **Dyrid** on June 4th, 2010, 11:56 pm

She moved to fast even with her injury for Dyrid to act. Crossing the distance between them she laid a hand on his shoulder that was untouched by his tattoo. Kavala’s soft touches made him flinch and nearly jump out of his skin. He managed to hold back the growl that was trying to escape his throat. Frozen by her touch he stood there while she examined permanent reminders to his past. With his right hand he traced the swirl of ink that was on top of his left hand and followed it all the way up to his arm.

Even with his human nose he could still smell the anger pouring of the woman as she traced his scars. Her voice was filled with fire when she inquired to who did this to him. Feeling hesitant to tell her as if the man was still alive hunting for him, Galdion’s face flashed before the kelvics eyes. The image burned in his mind forced Dyrid to his knees and he was trembling when he spoke. “He was a man whose misuse of arcane powers cause his own mind to shatter. I was supposed to be his guardian during the night while he slept but a bond never formed between us and he took it out on my like it was my fault.” Rising to his feet when he was finished.

Pit fighting was an unfamiliar with that term but he knew slavery all too well. A mixture of emotions was coming rolling off her as if she knew firsthand about slavery. He saw that her gaze was fixated behind them but he knew no one was there his ears would have alerted him if anyone was close. Reaching up and placing a hand on her shoulder for comfort. “Akalak? I’ve never heard that term before. But no one owns me now!” He could help but snarl at that thought, taking a deep breath he continued. “I took care of the man he will no longer be a problem to anyone.”

When Kavala’s hands left him and put distance between the two a cold chill ran though his body. Her touch took away his fear, loneliness, pain, and made him feel as if he belonged some were. Those feelings were foolish and would only get him bound once more but oh how he longed for her touch. Shaking those thoughts off he was afraid that she could hear them as she stated earlier, he had just met the stranger so why did she make him feel this way.

At her mentioning his scars he subconsciously traced the black ink that covered his left arm. Kavala’s words were soft and comforting in this time of chaos for the young kelvic, she looked confused like she too felt the warmth when their bodies connected. “It’s okay Kavala I understand; everyone’s reaction to them is always different. Some run in fear others are curious much as your self. I do not mind it I’ve gotten used to disfigurement that I am cursed with. ” He explained to the konti. When she informed him that it was not a massive tiger that spooked her horse he was very relieved fearing it was him who caused her pain.

Looking up towards the sky he saw that night would fall upon them in a few bells. This is no place for her to be out here alone and injured and if she cannot walk then he would carry her. “Dark will be upon us soon how far away is your home? I can protect you from the nocturnal hunters but let us not take an unnecessary risk. Even though I’m not fully grown I should be able to carry you in my tiger form if that is what you wish.”

Don’t you have a family? Her words echoed though him tearing open an old wound that he had closed a long time ago. “I…” He stopped and looked down at his feet. “I never had one. All I know is that my mother was from somewhere Sunberth. They took me from her when I was very young.” Tears silently rolled down his cheeks. “I can’t even remember what she looked like!” Embarrassed he reached up and wiped off his tear stained cheeks not meaning to break down in front of Kavala.

by **Kavala** on June 5th, 2010, 6:19 pm

At his words, her empathy picked up an image of a man - a wizard - with a cruelly broken mind. Kavala shivered, absolutely believing the tiger, even as his mind moved on and his next words struck her. He took care of the problem. Blood filled her awareness, so too did the knowledge instantly of how he'd taken care of it. Had she been further away, less in contact, and had his emotions been less etched with the act - she wouldn't have seen it. But the Konti gasped, covered her mouth for a moment in surprise, and said nothing. Her stillness and absence of expression was her own defense mechanism against the violence that had repeatedly visited her life.

Dyrid had killed. Well, of course he'd killed. He was a big predator. But he'd deliberately killed another thinking living sentient creature. Would she have done the same? Absolutely. But the choice hadn't been offered to her, for she had no natural talent for such things brought about by the need to feed or hunt. Not like a kelvic did. For her, there was usually softness and forgiveness. But not for everything - as was evidenced by a lingering predisposition towards the hatred of human males she couldn't quite shake.

Kavala strongly believed, however, that a person was not just their actions. The they were made up of so much more than that. So too was this creature before her. Young. Dangerous. And yet he held a gentleness he had no right to have if his story was to be believed. And she did believe him. The Konti paused a moment longer, shifting so her weight was not at all on her painful ankle. There was a lot going on in her mind. Her injury. The worry for the missing horse. The predator before her. His sorrow and lost look. She knew the nature of Kelvics. And she knew how incredibly abused they could be. People were the monsters - animals through and through. Kavala nodded then.

"I'd be grateful for your help." She answered softly. A tilt of her chin found her reaching out and stroking his head then, running her long fingers through his hair in a gentle caress of thanks. "You should never have to carry another person. Kelvics are people not pack animals. But if you are willing to help me out, I can thank you with a good meal and a warm fire for the night once we reach home. It's about five miles from here. I think... I'm not sure. We'd rode pretty far. I hope that silly frostmarch makes it home okay." She said gently, then looked startled when he erupted in tears over his question of family. Everyone needed family, and if they were robbed of the privilege, it did something horrible to them for most of the rest of their lives.

Her hand slipped from his hair to gently rub at his cheeks. She caught his free hand in hers and squeezed it gently before drawing him closer. Kavala knew better, but his pain was so sharp, so acute suddenly that she had to sooth it. It didn't matter to her that she gently enfolded the tiger into her embrace, even though it was wearing a human guise. It didn't matter to her that she knew he was a maneater in the very literal sense of the word. It didn't matter to her that if he chose to loose his borrowed form and snack on her there was nothing to stop him.

All she felt was his need, strong and sharp as it flowed through her, and it swept something up inside her and bound the two of them together in that instant. Had Kavala realized it, she would have fought against it. Individuals deserved choices. Good horses picked their riders, not the other way around. The Konti was not ever designed to be any man's master. She was a healer, a cleaner of wounds, a setter of bones, and a solver of problems. She didn't take slaves or need servants or want people to look at her in any way other than a friend. But as she folded the tiger into her arms a fierceness flashed through her - a new feeling for her - and infused itself within. She would not let anyone hurt this boy perched on the cusp of manhood. She would not let anyone chain him or fight him in pits. She wouldn't let savage men throw him into pens with females of his kind, expecting him to do what came naturally and give the slavers more kelvics to sale. And she would not leave him alone.

He'd been alone far too long.

And so she held him gently, stroking his hair, and making sure the tears were off his cheeks, running a hand down his back, and soothing him like she would one of her unruly horses... not knowing what else to do. She'd wait for him to shift back, stepping back to give him room to remove his things again and take on his more natural guise. Then, if he was still willing, she'd settle upon his back, behind his shoulders and show him the way home.

by **Dyrid** on June 6th, 2010, 11:58 pm

After telling her how he dealt with Galdion sank in and she gasped he couldn’t help but break eye contact by staring down at his bare feet. She thought he was a monster… and Kavala was right, even though it was in self defense the kelvic had killed an eaten people. To say it would never happen again would be a lie and he knew it, if anyone were to harm him or her for that matter he’d kill again. Dyrid shocked himself thinking that he would kill for this stranger that he met only moments ago but for some reason he felt drawn to her maybe it was because she showed him kindness when others wouldn’t.

Tears streamed down face and she reached out and pulled him towards herself, nuzzling his face into the crook of her neck and filling his lungs with her sent. Kavala’s sent was still a mystery to the young kelvic, one he could only describe has hers. Time stood still far as Dyrid was concerned wrapping himself in the strange warmth that he felt when they touched, letting it fill him from the inside out. He couldn’t help but wonder what if the driving force behind his travels had led him here to this very moment. Being so young he had always seen things in black and white never actually putting thought into why or how things happened, they just did.

What was going on with him was being in this close of a proximity to Kavala changing how his mind functioned pushing him further than the simplistic tiger instincts he had. Could this be the bond that Galdion ranted on and on about? No it couldn’t be she was a healer of animals and he is a predator they were opposite sides of the same coin. Where she would patch up the wounded and sickly he sees the wounded or to slow of the herd as prey and focuses on them for dinner. Kavala would never want a bond with such a monster, nor would Dyrid want to be a burden on her for he is broken. His physical wounds healed a long time ago, but wounds of the mind are not so easily fixed.

Quickly he shut out any thoughts about her forgetting that she could hear his thoughts. Snapping back to reality when Kavala released him taking deep breath he smiled at her “Pack animals” Laughing to himself. “When Galdion’s drinking buddies would come to his cabin I would hear him bragging that my beast form was a Myrian Tiger from Falyndar. That the Myrians would use them for mounts and treat them as members of the family. He always got a good laugh out of that. I’ve always wanted to try it I think it could be fun.” He said smiling softly at Kavala.

Tugging the linen shirt off and placing it neatly inside his pack. “Five miles I think we might be able to make it without stopping if I pace myself and I’ll be very grateful for the meal.” He said while removing his pants and putting them beside his shirt tucked away in the pack. “Sorry about your horse I hope it makes back okay, this place is very unforgiving at night when the hunters like myself come out. Could you hold this for me while we traveled?” If Kavala accepts he will hand her the pack, if not he would carry it in his mouth like before.

Shaking off his façade of humanity he shifted back to his natural form. Dyrid couldn’t help himself, happy to be back in this form he rolled playfully in the grass before stretching to get his muscles loose. Padding over to Kavala he got down on his belly so she wouldn’t have to climb up. When she was settled and comfortable he would rise up on all fours and start walking slowly in the direction she pointed him in.

His first few step as a mount it was like learning how to walk again, being very careful to keep his back straight while walking to keep her balanced. After a few chimes of walking Dyrid had got the hang of it and felt okay to go faster. The ground shook when massive paws made contact with the earth as the pair tore though the grassy planes. He couldn’t stop the roar of shear enjoyment as it left his throat, it was actually fun for the kelvic to something for Kavala, the stranger who as shown him much kindness in the short time he’s known her. Dyrid only hoped he was going in the right direction.

by **Kavala** on June 7th, 2010, 8:07 pm

Kavala smiled. "I truthfully don't know anything of Falyndar and perhaps less of tigers. But where I live there is a Kelvic that lives with us, and I see her as a little sister. We often curl up together with my other sister at night. I was born on the Sea of Grass and that tends to be how the Drykas do things." The healer said, trying to ignore the doubt oozing from the kelvic and surrounding her. She had to blink once or twice, turning her head away for long moments because his view of himself was so low, so incredibly wounded.

He stripped his clothing off, which should have brought her a bad moment since she'd not had good experiences with naked human males - but his scars and strange white hair kept her reminded he was far more than he seemed. And when he was done packing his bag, she shouldered it neatly for him, and watched him change. Dyrid was a lovely youth, still a boy really - at least it seemed so to her having been used to the Akalak who all appeared enormous (even the young ones) to her. He even looked young in terms of his tiger form - but she knew that would change quickly. By summer's end or even into the fall he'd be something totally different. She hoped his spirit was still as bright.

When the big tiger had finished his shift, the Konti approached carefully and ran her hand down his back. Riding a tiger? She gripped his shoulder blades and with a lightness that might have surprised Dyrid, she swung aboard. At first she was sitting too far back on his spine, but the nimble konti eased forward (though she didn't drag his fur the wrong way to do so) and settled right behind his shoulder blades, tucking her legs against the barrel of his belly just behind his forelegs.

It was comfortable suddenly and her weight wasn't much.

And as he moved out, Dyrid would realize Kavala had ridden before. She kept her body out of the way of his natural muscle and skeletal movements, lightly balanced across his spine. And as they moved, she gently spoke to him, stroking his head and tracing the black lines of his stripes. Before two strides he picked up something easily from her... leg cues. Kavala would gently close a leg and almost subtly force his body to shift directions while at the same time opening the other leg allowing him room to move out. In this manner she could unconsciously steer him like she did her horses as they moved off towards Sanctuary.

He learned he didn't have to keep his back straight - she had the natural balance already that came from being a horsewoman. And as he gained confidence and speed, she leaned forward finding the stride of a cat far different than the three beat gallop of a horse. They literally flew through the air with the big cat leaping beneath her, his paws barely touching the ground. Kavala could feel his joy, the extreme pleasure he felt, and she laughed to be surrounded by it. Her hands tangled in the fur of his neck and she leaned forward to make herself less of a wind drag. The miles flew by, so too did the scenery. The cat beneath her seemed barely winded when they came in view of the trees that divided Sanctuaries pastures from the grasslands. As they passed beneath the trees and came out along the fence line Kavala gently nudged him out onto the road that passed by Sanctuary's gates and urged him to turn off when they drew level with them.

Awesten, who was out repairing a hinge on the gate, looked up and paled visibly when he saw the tiger (not really seeing Kav mounted on him) and rose to his full Drykas height of 5'8". He started backing away, but kept his hammer and oil can ready - as if they'd defend him. Kavala laughed, slipped off Dyrid's back, and laid a calming hand on the tiger's neck. "Dryid, this is Awesten. He's a groom and trainer here at Sanctuary. Awesten, this is Dryid. He's going to be visiting for a bit and should be treated like family." She added, starting forward and urging the kelvic to follow along with her. Awesten, who was more than used to his employers odd strays only raised an eyebrow and nodded. Suddenly she halted, took the pack off her shoulders, and looked thoughtful.

"Dyrid, most of the horses here wont know you as a friend until they get used to your scent and presence. Would you mind shifting into your human form until I can slowly introduce you to everyone? Your presence here otherwise could turn chaotic. There's not going to be any problem getting them used to the scent and sight of a tiger, so long as we do it slowly..." She added, holding out his bag in case he agreed to change.

Sanctuary :

by **Dyrid** on June 10th, 2010, 4:06 pm

Another kelvic, Dyrid never had the pleasure of meeting one of his own race before. The future meeting of her made him exited to get Kavala back to her home. “No one seems to know much of Falyndar” He laughed. “I would like to meet this other kelvic if it wouldn’t be a problem.” He asked while giving a small bow in thanks when she took his pack.

Slipping into his fur and lowering to the ground, Kavala swung herself upon Dyrid’s back with a light touch that shocked the white beast. When settled into a comfortable position behind his shoulder blades she barley weighed anything, with her legs tucked against his belly the pair took off in a slow walk.

It appeared that she had ridding experience, careful to stay out of the way his body moved. He should have known Kavala the healer of animals knew how to ride. The leg cues were a nice touch since now he didn’t have to focus on the direction they were heading just on the run. She even had the balance to allow him to slip into natural stride; this gave the kelvic a tremendous amount of confidence. The world flew by him as the duo tore through the seemingly endless fields of grass, it was truly a wonderful run for the tiger and he loved every minute of it.

He could smell the Sanctuary long before spotting the trees, all the different animals mixed in with people and some scents he didn’t quite recognize, this was happening more and more with the kelvic because really every day is a new for him. He hoped that her animals wouldn’t be scared off by a tiger, even when wearing skin he still had the scent of one. Fear building as they approached the gates to the Sanctuary.

There was a man about the same size as Dyrid when wearing his human guise. Not being able to control himself, lips curling up flashing his large teeth and making a low growl in his throat. The man only armed with a hammer and a can proved not to be a threat when Kavala dismounted from his back and spoke to him. This man…Awesten worked for Kavala and if she trusted him so would Dyrid, but that didn’t stop the tiger from pawing playfully at Awesten when they walked past him.

When Kavala stopped and spoke to the tiger he would sit down and give her a sideways stare with deep blue eyes. Shifting made sense it would be better to expose her horses to only the smell of the big cat and not the sight of it. Taking a step back he changed back into his mask of humanity with a bright flash of light. Nodding thanks to Kavala he took the worn leather pack from her and donned his clothing, subconsciously rubbing the black ink that stained his skin.

“I’ve been thinking of that on our trip over. I can remain in this form till you think its okay for me to change, I don’t want to be a burden to you or your horses.” He said smiling to Kavala.