Closed The Golden Hour

[Hadrian]

43rd Winter, 512 A.V. dusk Hadrian had always loved taking walks. Just today, he was taking one with a purpose. Thankfully, he had three places to stay: his rooms in the Farson Home, his rooms in the University, and his cottage, though Ricko was staying there now. But he could get away without anyone really missing him, and now he had time to do so without falling behind in his work. Still, his ultimate destination was a secret, and so he exited through the city gates, not really imagining anyone would be following his scent. He walked a ways toward the mountains before turning aside and making a bit of his own path down to the shore. The lair he had claimed on behalf of his ancestor was a ways outside the city, anyway. With Mathews Bay to the east and the Zastoska Mountains to the west and generally hemming them in, the sun always rose rather early, and set early too, claimed by the mountains. So while it wasn't late, the quality of light began to change, and it turned into the golden hour before he quite realized. He glanced at the sea, but didn't feel moved to perform ablutions in the freezing surf again just yet. Anyway, he wanted to take Ricko for that, to see if it would cheer him up. In an odd mood, Hadrian found a flat rock and laid back on it, pillowing his head with his hands and crossing his ankles. It was cold, but his winterbane coat kept him warm enough. Besides, the golden glow around the mountains and trees was too lovely to resist. He needed more simple, beautiful things in his life, so he laid their to enjoy the sunset.

[Tiki]

22nd Winter 512 A.V., dusk It was a call out in the dark. The Sylira wilderness was known for its beasts, but this one seemed to possess no form. He closed his eye, for just a moment, pause for sleep to come when it awoke him. There was no echo, despite the hardness of the bark or silence of the wood. It came without warning, only seeming to come from the east. Tiki opened his eyes wide with fear for a moment. He was startled, but he soon figured nothing was amiss. He stared into the east, through the thickening wood in vain. Not even vision of night showed him the way. 40th Winter 512 A.V., dawn He had come from a new angle from when he set out. The Zastoska Mountains stood distinguished from the rest of the highland forest. He had been there once before. Morning mists shrouded the base, but the peaks were well imprinted in his mind. He had always liked the mountains though they were no place for a cat. He paused a moment to survey the land around him. That way led to Syliras, and the Spires lay to the north-west. He wanted to continue east now to Zeltiva. The weight of his purse slid off the side of his arching back, the kelvic kneeling on all fours to rest a moment. He had been moving insistently through the winter frost to come to the eastern jewel as soon as he could. 42nd Winter 512 A.V., mid-day unto dusk He had made it through the Mirahil Pass without trouble. The cold season hid most of the warm, fleshy plunder from him. He'd had starved if not for his nose. Snuffing out rabbit holes wasn't the ideal way to live; squirrel tasted worse to his tongue. Stumbling across a bark-bear gave him a chase too. Entering the city limits his stomach was even silenced for this calling. Tiki prowled every inch of the city he reasonably could in this time. He was drawn to the harbor, his mind playing tricks on him with flashes of a past vision. This wasn't the moment though, no, not now. He saw stared down, some asking where his leash or owner was. He didn't mind them though. Driven like a bloodhound, he searched relentlessly for the object of his attention. He'd sooner die than part with it. His body inevitably gave way. How fragile the mortal form is. It was too cold, and an inconvenience, to stay outside another day. He had the money, and bought a room for the night. He felt he was close; he needed just one more day. When his meal came out – having revealed himself to be a young man, a kelvic, that is – he had to refrain from diving head first into the steaming stew. With his hand fisted around the spoon he struggled to get a spoonful into his mouth. Had he been away that long, or was it simply not his way? He didn't mind it for long, and grabbed the bowl, lifting it up to slurp down the meal. He spilled the first one on himself, burning his tongue and a bit of his dirty and scarred body. His mind was elsewhere, even now in the darkness it was searching for him. Tiki refused any treatment, requested another bowl, and tried his best to be patient. A warming hearth, warm bath, warm bed, things he did miss about the city, they were welcomed back into his life. He flinched in his sleep, though he didn't dream. He couldn't find himself fully taken away by Nysel. He got up in the middle of the night, his fingers digging into the sheets as he peered out the window into the city. His patience was worn. The only thing that kept him from dashing out now was bodily exhaustion, his wounds telling him to rest and recover now. Although his heart still pounded in anticipation the adrenaline had run out a long time ago. 43rd Winter 512 A.V. He cleaned up quickly. He had inevitably passed out in the night and found rest. He didn't recall any dreams, only a bit of relaxation. It was quickly pushed aside by his primary need, his sole drive in the moment. Tiki, as the inn keeper has said, was exhausted and impossible to wake up. He paid his debts to the inn and was off again. His paws looked like they were ready to crack on the exterior, scratched up, worn, but he kept pushing on. Even if his own fur was lesser compared to the layered furs he bought long ago in Avanthal, he was faster this way. He searched all the day, following something, ducking in and out of sight, watching children play. He trusted his instincts though. After all, they brought him this far. Tiki followed the trail out of the city and followed toward the pass again. He couldn't understand why he would be brought back here only to turn away. Looking back into the Sylira wilderness he paused to think of the meaning of this. A shift in the wind maybe or just a sudden realization turned his head. Had he grown so accustom to having the smell in his nose that he couldn't notice it at once? A footprint or brushing against the trees, whatever it was, Tiki followed after. Hurried feet pranced through the wood not missing a step, no twig gone unnoticed. It was the kill, the final pounce to end it. It was an art he sought to perfect. He came to the end of the wood, following the scent down the hillside toward the sea. There it was, but he broke off the hunt there. He walked over to the slab as any cat would, quietly. Padded paws made no sound when they stepped forward. A change in heat or a smell, maybe his presence or aura just gave themselves up. It didn't matter anymore. Tiki laid himself down to Hadrian's right side and started to nuzzle up against his side and under his elbow. Large claws, some cracked, dug into the rock and tugged his body forward until he was up against Hadrian's side. His pack sagged onto Hadrian when Tiki finally curled up against him, plenty of coin pushing on the wizard's chest. Tiki started to purr and slowly set his head down somewhere against Hadrian's leg and his own forepaws. His tail didn't have anything to say.

[Hadrian]

He probably should have been paying better attention given he was outside the city walls, and the world had become and even more dangerous place. But he was watching Syna yield the sky to Leth, with Laviku's song in his ears. The sunset was so lovely, and then he was startled by a warm body as day gave way to the gloaming. Of course, he recognized Tiki right away by his aura even if he wasn't so knowledgeable about animals that he could tell one from another. Hadrian sat up, leaning back on left hand while the right came to rest on the black fur that wasn't looking so healthy as it had when last he had seen him. "Tiki," he said quietly, then, while trying not to nudge him off his leg, Hadrian leaned over to rest his face in that fur. He had grown accustomed to people leaving him, and hardened his heart to it for the most part, but every once in a while, someone came back, and it threw him for a loop. "I missed you," he said into his fur. "Welcome back."

[Tiki]

Tiki didn't feel bitterness humans might. He had come looking for Hadrian a while ago, end-summer. Daylight had died and the warmth of the world left him. He was alone again in a dark, cold place. Gods, had it really been nearly a year since they had first met? It had been easily three seasons since they last saw each other, three seasons too many for the cat. Against all odds he did find his way though, and even when the wizard was not there Tiki was hopeful, something in his chest felt worried rather than scorned. He wandered to find him, and now at last there he was. Tiki's paws moved in unison, although sluggishly, to remove the right-hand strap of the leather sack he'd been carrying around for two some odd years. It looked pretty beat up, and thankfully didn't have any holes in it. A nudge of his body let Hadrian know he wanted to get up. Tiki brought himself around to face Hadrian, surely a fine specimen of his kin. He wasn't some dire beast, mindless and ever hungering, or a runt by any means. In spite of scars, battle marks as Tiki would claim, he looked strong, and he had no limp in his walk. The cat acknowledged Hadrian, taking a sniff of his face and neck. Was it really Hadrian at last? The cat dug her head into Hadrian's hair and shoulders anyway marking him up. He had missed Hadrian too. When he was done scenting Hadrian, Tiki felt little more desire than to curl up next to the wizard. He passed behind Hadrian, if the wizard would let him, and settled at his right again. So long as no elbows were dug into his body, Hadrian was welcomed to rest on him. The boney wizard, Tiki thought, was light compared to most prey he'd killed. Left side down, spine twisting towards Hadrian, Tiki looked forward to see what had brought the wizard here in the first place. He saw daylight die again, as he had many times before, though now clearer than ever. It was sullen, he figured, sorrowful and lonely at the end of the world. Tiki's sunsets and nights had always been marked with the passing golden glow, streams through the green veil, followed by the soft lights of the night time. The Spires, by example, would be illuminated by enough luminescent insects to give the weak stomachs a sort of motion sickness. Here though, there was only the fading glow, streams of warm colors evaporating into darkness. Tiki's head swayed a little as he looked further out and saw in the dark how the moon and stars began to show themselves. It seemed Tiki was wrong; the world was not so lonely no matter where you went. The Kelvic seemed paused, waiting on Hadrian. The human hand in the fur could feel his heart beat steady. The boney cage rose up and collapsed with calm. There weren't any bugs situated in his cat's fur, but there was plenty of dirt. If he felt across his body, he'd feel the scabs. They ranged from thorn pricks to bite marks. A very sensitive touch would feel the scars too. Tiki was still much alive though. Marcus Kelvic had truly outdone himself when he created such a race, an epitome of survival in this world.

[Hadrian]

Hadrian took the sack from the big cat, figuring it would probably be more comfortable for him to carry; such things weren't really made for wild animals, and Tiki, even when at his most kittenish, had never been tame. Once Tiki had situated himself, Hadrian stroked his fur, helping work some of the dirt out. He must have been through a great deal to be so worn out he wouldn't groom himself within an inch of sterility, but he could also sense the little hurts, some half-healed, others not. The longer they sat, the more clear each little thing became in his senses, and though the light was failing, he was careful not to press his hand where it would hurt. When the light was well and truly traded for a vespertine shadow of itself, Hadrian scratched under the great cat's chin. "Tiki," he said, "I'm going to show you my secret place. I need someone to know where it is. I have some things to drop off there, and then we can go back into town, and there's food there for you. For strength. And then you'll be a strong hunter again. All right?" Careful not to jostle the weary traveler, Hadrian stood up, hefting Tiki's leather sack and his own satchel into place. When Tiki was ready, he hopped down into the sand and began to walk away from Zeltiva again. Continuing south along the coast until they came to the River Avikan, he led Tiki into the right cave that would lead them to the Avikan Cave. With a snap of his fingers, he lit a witchlight out of res, and so even when the dark was too deep for a cat's eyes, they could see. He led the way past the room he thought was a stable, with its fallen timbers, and many other archaeological finds that would have titillated his colleagues at the University until he came to a door that had been blasted open long ago, and into the ruined suite. He crouched into the large hearth, found the key hanging in the flue, and turned it into the keyhole at the back of the hearth before replacing the key. The back of the hearth slid upward like magic, and then they were in the large cavern that held Victor Zekvan's boat, his library, and his laboratory. Nugget the Pycon came running. "Master!" he cried joyfully. "Everything is-- who is that?" Perhaps he ought to have been cowed by a cat larger than he was, but the little guardian of this place seemed to have seen quite a deal in his centuries of life, and besides, Hadrian was there to keep him safe. "Nugget, this is Tiki, a Kelvic friend of mine. Tiki, this is Nugget, the guardian of my ancestor's bequest."

[Tiki]

The idea of food perked him up. This idea that he had become a lesser hunter was kind of laughable, but he knew Hadrian was only looking out for him. He took Hadrian's words for an order, maybe mistakenly. In any case, Tiki was up and following after Hadrian soon after, taking the time to rub against a tree every now and then. He watched the path closely and made sure he'd know how to navigate this path again. Perhaps he could find a quicker one at a later time. Tiki wondered what made it secret too. Was it the location? What was it hiding? Maybe it was a surprise. The evening had been a surprise enough, and yet somehow not so surprising. Tiki's steps into the dark were cautious. Each creaking timber made him pause, his head and eyes focusing on the source. The wizard thought it was safe enough, and so Tiki continued with his gentle steps. He watched where the key was pulled from, and gave it a rub when Hadrian was done before following him into the final room. Then he heard a voice like no other. Wide eyed, Tiki peered over at the mystery voice, missing the little statuette at first, but then seeing it move. Tiki was hardly spooked, more intrigued. He wasn't familiar with what a Pycon was. The one outside of the Spires was a rare experience for Tiki, but now he could see one up close. The beq-…the lair, as Tiki finalized it in his mind, certainly was keeping a secret. The cat couldn't help but investigate, large furry paws trotting deeper inside until he was face to face with the uhm…Nugget. Nugget spied Tiki as well, the two of them exchanging looks. Tiki, a doer of things, reached out for Nugget with his paw rather than ask first. Nugget game him a swap and Tiki withdrew quickly. The paw was back up in the air and the two were going at it. Tiki thought Nugget to be some strange mouse. He was brown like one, sort of. Tiki was becoming a bit more forceful to get his claws around the little thing, something to sniff and chew on. Hopefully the lair could accommodate a few games of cat-and-mouse.

[Hadrian]

Hadrian watched, thinking he ought to do something, but Tiki was a little bit adorable when he was having fun, and Hadrian thought he might have been without fun for a while. He touched the part of the wall that cued the door to slide shut, and then walked further in, opening his satchel. "Master," Nugget piped, trying his utmost to be unfailingly polite while fending off the much larger predator. "I don't suppose there's a way to make him sit. Or stay." "Tiki," Hadrian began, though he was unloading things on a shelf that he would need for his next magecrafting. "Nugget is not a mouse." "Certainly not!" the little guy exclaimed, slapping ineffectually at Tiki's paw. If only he had known a beast would attack today, he would have brought his sword with him. "We shan't be long here, Nugget. Tiki needs something to eat." "Clearly!" "And I'd prefer that not be you. How has everything been?" "This is a time capsule, Master. One day is much the same as another. Your arrival is always cause for excitement, of course." "I would stay longer, but..." "Oh, no! No! I quite understand." He eyed Tiki.

[Tiki]

His paw hovered well overhead of little Nugget, the gnome. He shot a glance at Hadrian in the stoic feline face as always. The chatter of the Pycon drew his gaze back. Tiki, unknowingly to the company, was smiling inside. He drew back and started to investigate the rest of the lair. A flash of light and Tiki was walking on two legs again. Here wasn't any fur to hid his wounds this time, in exchange for this exposure he could smile, and was smiling. Hadrian could plainly see Tiki wasn't much a child anymore, but had grown up quite a bit in fact. Tiki's razor had given out after enough uses, and so his face had a few scraps, and was otherwise unclean. He had grown beyond his age. His body was muscular, though it lacked the definition of body builders. He had a few extra pounds too that gave curves to his waist, buttocks, and thighs. He had a statuesque look to him; a fine looking Kelvic and –for Hadrian's sake – gentleman. A deeper tone called, deeper than the one Hadrian would recall at least. It came from the gleaming teeth below those beaming eyes of Tiki's. "This is incredible, Hadrian." He shamelessly walked around the foreground of the lair, not yet noticing the boat in the back, or other things of the sort. "Have you shown Kendall or Ethan? How about Aurrealis?" Time had been on pause for things around Tiki. Surely he didn't expect everyone to be or look the same, but he did expect them to be together. Tiki, almost out of nowhere, maybe from the shadowed parts, leapt over and snatched up Nugget. On his knees, he held the Pycon up to get a better look at him. He rubbed his fingers all over the clay being, fascinated with whatever it was. He had never had the chance to engage himself with a Pycon. Tiki had taken on a wizard's curiosity of things over the past year or so. A faint smile crossed his lips as he looked at Nugget from all angles, rotating and turning him as he could. There were few non-violent options Nugget had if he wanted escape from Tiki's grasping hands, dirty, strong, marked hands. Tiki asked Hadrian, "What is he?" He certainly looked like a male something. Tiki figured out that much on his own. Tiki's nude body didn't seem overly phased by the low temperatures. He would be soon though if he didn't put his fur back on. The furs in the bag Hadrian carried were all too small for him no, or misfit some way or another. Tiki had been lugging around that among the rest of his belongings, including a large sum of Mizas that could feed Tiki for quite some time. Tiki wasn't a freeloader at all and was always sure to carry his weight. He wouldn't need to lug around his fortune anymore though, now would he? Tiki lowered Nugget, although he didn't set him down, the Pycon rotated some odd 180 degrees upside down staring Hadrian in the face, and found himself entranced with the lair a little bit more, his smile creeping back in place. Light seemed to return to his life, in its own odd way.

[Hadrian]

Hadrian wasn't bothered by Kelvics wandering around in the nude. He had known several: Cathan, Ethan, Akahi, Jaiun, Belgar, Tiki, Xnnn, Zerren. Some he knew better than others. Now more recently: Adler, Daishira, Besnik, and Rilian. And of course the strange one from Sahova with whom he had bonded in one, terrible instant. But here was Tiki, naked as they day he was born, and when Hadrian glanced his way, it was with some little surprise at how much he had grown since they had parted. There was the ragged facial hair, the heavier frame, the marks of life upon him. "I need to show Ethan," he admitted. "But Kendall went back to his family, and Aurrealis chose to go his own way. So you're the first one to see it, the laboratory and library and everything that belonged to my ancestor." "It belongs to Hadrian Aelius now," Nugget chimed in, trying to be patient with the child-like way Tiki toyed with him. "I am a Pycon. A child of the god Harameus. We were alchemized into being, though not in the same way as you." "Nugget has been here for centuries," he filled in. "Keeping everything in order since my many times great-grandfather was here." The bracelet around Hadrian's wrist was their means of communication. Nugget could ring the bell and Hadrian would feel it, even from Avanthal. "Nugget, here are some of my basic plans." He offered the Pycon a little rolled up bit of parchment once Tiki had set him down. His hand stretched out to tousle the Kelvic's dark hair. "I'll be back as soon as I know what the Sailors' Guild wants from us, and then we can set up. Oh, Tiki... are you hungry enough to head back to town, or do you want to explore a bit more while we're here. It certainly won't be the last time you'll come, I hope."

[Tiki]

It had been a long time, and though he had many things – perhaps trivial things compared to the mind of an expert magecrafter – to tell and ask Hadrian, Tiki's mind was in the moment. It was the excitement that was getting to him most of all. Maybe he didn't know his place, or rather knew it too well, but he had personal questions to ask Hadrian. "You need to tell me what happened, Hadrian. Where is Ethan, and why would Kendall leave? What is Aurrealis doing? And why do you keep calling him your ancestor? What was his name? What was he like? He must have been amazing to make such a place…this place!" He sprung on Nugget after, "Hi Nugget, a Pycon, child of Hara…Harameses? Who's Haremesus? And, Nugget, I wasn't achem-itized, I was born. You were born too, weren't you?" He gave Hadrian a look after. "I learned a bit about how things are born, though I haven't…'tried anything.'" Mentioning food shut him up pretty quick, and in his racing state of mind he'd probably forget about his questions for a little while. They'd need answers at some point, but that was Hadrian's call. He was quick to his feet and away from Nugget before he remembered something about Zeltivans and the weather. He abruptly turned to Hadrian to ask him more questions, "Do you have anything to wear, or should I just go a cat? You don't mind, but people In Zeltiva don't dress like Jamoura." Nudity, dress like Jamoura, was it naivety, a clever bit of wit he picked up along the way, or was Tiki just more clever than when they last met? "I'm starving as it is," he concluded, his stomach still speaking louder than his mind at that moment. He paused at where the door used to be and looked confused, trapped. His hands reached over the wall as if trying to find a way out, his fingers tracing the edges like Hadrian did when he grabbed the key.