Afterwards (Ayatah)

[Razkar]

Razkar just chuckled through the spray of water, deciding that she'd earned her terrible vengeance. He'd immersed himself for long enough, anyway. Weightless and floating in the cold water, any vestiges of sleep and dirt had been banished from him.

He planted his feet and rose, hair no longer in his usual topknot but flowing around his shoulders. He grinned at Ayatah as she shuffled out, shivering ever-so-slightly. He spent a long, pleasurable moment admiring her, then realized that his clan was closing in.

A flash o fire went straight through him, ending in a scowl. Well, they wouldn't be so lucky.

By the time the first few of the Shorn Skulls were clear of the treeline, he'd wrapped her towel around her from behind. A couple of his cousins saw them standing there, Razkar holding her from behind and drying her down... and cast a quick look their way.

Don't screw up the moment.

"Good morning, cousin," Nyala said easily, already stripping off without a hint of embarrassment, "And Ayatah. Finished?"

Razkar nodded, already finishing up his own body and shaking his hair dry like a wild dog, shoulder-length black strands flying everywhere.

"With the sun comes work. Isn't that what your father says?"

"My father said that tigers can't look up, either. Found that one out the hard way."

A laugh shared between kin and by the time it had faded, Razkar was ready. Ayatah had joined in, too, which pleased him. He didn't want her to feel out of place in his own village; an outcast. But she confident among them, as more and more were coming out from the village to clean.

His father and sisters were with them.

"Raz." Zek said with a half-smile as he embraced his son. "I trust the morning finds you well-rested?"

"Indeed, father."

"Good." The smile was still there and his words were not harsh, but Razkar learned long ago to know that beneath them were pure Isurian steel. "There is much that needs to be done."

Razkar didn't roll his eyes or sigh or give any indication of ill-ease. In fact, he was eager to help his clan again after so many months in their people's capital. Every Myrian worked, because only through all their labor could their clans survive. To lose one weakened all, and he was tired of that nagging feeling when he went to sleep in the barracks that they were without him.

That ends today.

"I know, father. We will see you in the square."

He waited for Ayatah to dress herself and then they trekked back to the village. The sun was risen now, higher in the sky but still dulled by the canopy. Lowax and the Elders were waiting, of course, being the earliest risers of the clan. Razkar was more than a little satisfied to see that they were among the first to be there, ready to receive their orders.

And the fact Ayatah was by his side, jaw tilted up, ready to work alongside him made it all the better.

[Ayatah]

She gave him a certain look when she felt his eyes upon her, but enjoyed the fact that she had caught his attention all the same. Ringing out her hair, which now lay slick and slim right down her back, she stepped forward to pick up her clothes --

And before she realised, a fur towel had been wrapped around her shoulders, covering her modesty as well as warming her. She could feel him behind her, too, and for a single chime; she leaned back to him, enjoying the feel of his wet skin.

His protectiveness certainly warmed her - in a different way to the towel. It made her feel secure, safe and cared for. But in a different way to her family did. Family had to protect each other, and clan members had to keep one another safe in order to simply survive. But there was no necessary need for him to watch over her in the way that he did.

It’s because he wants to, and the tiniest of smiles started to spread across her face.

As the rest of the clan emerged from the thicket of the jungle, Ayatah greeted them warmly, as if they were old friends of hers. Even if some of their names eluded her in her typical hopeless fashion.

"There is much that needs to be done."

When it was Zek that spoke, Ayatah nodded her head respectfully, as a person should do to their… special friend’s father. Her mind momentarily wondered what exactly Razkar was to her, and how she would describe it to her own clan when the inevitable questions arose, but she pushed the thought away. ”I was incredibly generous of you to let us sleep in your hut, thank you.” A hand ran through her hair, sending a thin stream of water running from her shoulder down into the towel, ”I am keen to return the favor in helping with any jobs I can.”

She wanted to be fully integrated in their day, and not to become a guest that simply witnessed her hosts work around her. Plus, she was not sure how long she would be staying…

As they trudged through the forest, she continued to squeeze water out from her hair, muttering to herself about the intriguing sponge-like quality of it. Eventually, she admitted defeat in trying to speed up the drying process, and simply let it hand slickly down her back and shoulders. ”I’m looking forward to working with you clan.” She said as she fell into step beside him, ”I… guess I want them to approve.” giving him a hopeful smile. Despite their non-conservative ways regarding physical intimacies, the closeness of clans usually meant that the opinions of family members weighed huge amounts of importance.

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

[Razkar]

”I… guess I want them to approve.”

The smile flitted over Rakar's face and then was gone; he was before the Elders, after all, and they did not respond well to humor when work was to be done. Lowax was in the center of them, flanked by three older Myrians females on either side. When Ayatah and he came to a halt, he noticed them nod at them slightly.

Not him. Them. Including her.

"You don't need to worry," he whispered, squeezing her hand, "They already have. Now you just have to keep their approval." He noted the look of concern on her face and smiled again. "Do what you say you will. Do not shirk what needs to be done, whether it be shedding blood or darning clothes. Honor the Goddess-Queen. I don't need to tell you how to be a Myrian, my-"

"When you two have quite finished?"

"Sorry, Mistress Lowax."

Ayatah was quietly stunned at the transformation that overcame Razkar in a brief moment. Wise words and stern, confident tones were changed to those of a little boy in front of his mother. Or one of them. But that was Myrians for you: a matriarchal society. Women held the power, and their word was law... and intimidation.

"Good." Lowax said, but Razkar thought he caught the whisper of a smile at the corner of her mouth. She concurred in hushed tones with the other Elders, some nodding, others shaking their head, and finally she raised her hand, and there was silence. She had decided. "You and Ayatah will join the hunting party heading to the basin. When you return, she will repair the fishing nets and you will fetch fresh water. When the sun begins to set, you will both teach the young ones. Surely they will benefit from those skills you learned in Taloba..."

At first Razkar stiffened at the thought of being separated from Ayatah for a day after the hunt, but then the shock of Lowax's final statement hit him. Old female and young male stared at each other for a long time, and after a few moments, the Elder nodded slowly, then moved on to the other gathered clansmen.

"You have been chosen to train our young, Aya." He said, tone hushed with something close to awe. "That is... not often a duty given to outsiders. It shows trust."

And that was putting it mildly. Learning the martial arts - not just of the body, as most assumed that expression meant, but weapons, tactics, strategy - was paramount in Myrian society. They were born into warfare and molded to its purpose from the moment they could hold a sword. But the clans were furtive and proud of their unique techniques, jealously guarding them from others. If worse came to worse, it gave them an edge in battle.

Razkar shook his head and began walking towards the small knot of females already preparing themselves to head out. Animals were likely already heading for the Kandaktu basin, and they didn't want to miss them. They saw him approach and nodded sharply, focused on their goal.

They noticed Ayatah, but for the moment, just stared...

"Of course, not everyone will be so easily impressed."

[Ayatah]

His touch and words certainly bought about confidence within her, and she nodded her head to show it. It was strange to be so… bothered by another person’s clan. Sure, she had integrated with various clans before, and always acted respectful - as was expected. But never before had she wanted members of another clan to simply like her.

Although what word was he about to say before Lowax spoke?

She almost rolled her eyes at the girlish excitement that fluttered through her stomach. Grow a pair, Ayatah…
But something certainly glinted in her eye.

Paira of the Scattered Skulls prided herself in raising a daughter without a father. Despite being a matriarchal society, and living amongst large numbers of family and friends, a father was still an important individual in a young Myrian’s life. But Ayatah had never truly missed having a father, and she liked to think that was because her mother had provide for her so well.

Her mother’s blasé attitude towards men had extended when she met her current mate. Although Ayatah was sure that her mother was affectionate towards the father of her youngest children, Paira didn’t necessarily… show it. Publicly, at least.

And whilst growing up, Ayatah had had little interest in boys - other than for the fun of exploring her body and desires. She had seen herself as a younger version of her mother; independent of a man, fiercely confidence… but still desired.

And now… Now, Ayatah wasn’t sure exactly what state she was in, but she could no longer define herself as wholly independent of a male. And I do not mind in the slightest.

"You have been chosen to train our young, Aya."

She had heard the words, but they had not quite… sunk in. It was certainly a strange thing to be allowed to train the young of a clan so quickly and easily. It was not unknown for a clan to withhold the role even from a male who has moved in with the clan to be with his mate. The children were the future of the clan, especially the girls, and the lessons they were taught would lay the foundation of the clan’s future.

It was an honor, to say the least. And Ayatah was delighted, but she instantly began running through the skills she had - would they be good enough to share with the youngsters of the Shorn Skulls?

She ran her fingertips over Razkar’s palm, ”I am honored and truly flattered… I just hope I can pass on some knowledge.” She said in a low voice. Meeting the eyes of the matriarch of the clan, she nodded her head in absolute sincere thanks, the corner of her lips upturning slightly - it was hard for her not to smile now.

Ayatah stood and followed Razkar to the gathering hunting party. Their eyes looked up and settled onto her…

"Of course, not everyone will be so easily impressed."

”Good thing I don’t have my father’s four arms.” She muttered quietly, though the words were accompanied by a smirk. After being given the privileged role of training the clan’s children, it would take a lot more than a few stares to knock Ayatah’s happiness - and the fact that Razkar was by her side certainly helped.

But still, she could not help but wonder whether any of the other Shorn Skulls knew of her mixed heritage. If not, no doubt they would be guessing already why she was so… gangly and different looking. She began pinning her still-damp hair out of her face, releasing those very Eypharian-like pheromones that made her smell as if she had just walked out of a perfumery. Subtle, she thought begrudgingly.

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

[Razkar]

Mayura, Telio, Hurax and Urap. Four females that Razkar knew well. Then again, given the Shorn Skulls were only about two hundred strong, one got to know everyone over the course of twenty years plus change. They were proven and tested hunters; Telio had served already with the Taloba Army. Hurax and Urap were due to start their service in the Spring.

And they did not trust outsiders. But they did respect courage.

"Your courage is the toast of the tribe," Mayura said, leaning on her spear, but her tone and eyes were still critical. Her lips curved up ever so slightly in the beginning of a sneer. "For an outsider, anyway. Lucky you had a Shorn Skull to aid you against that tiger."

At any other time, and with anyone else, Razkar would have chuckled along with them. Outsiders were, of course, subject to scorn among his clan. They were all Myrians, and the old feuds and small-scale genocides had been consigned to the ash heap of history. But rivalries were always there. They had their place, too; it made them push harder against each other, competing at all times to be the finest and best examples of warriors for their Goddess-Queen. A month ago, he would have sneered as well at the outsider.

But now, a scowl twisted his face.

"What are we hunting?"

He avoided the insult and got straight to the meat (no pun intended) of their task, but his tone was as friendly as a roaring tiger. Mayura cocked a wry eyebrow and jerked her head to the jungle in the west.

"We found some boar tracks yesterday. We didn't have time to track them, but we will today. Probably a family of them, judging by their size."

"Fresh?"

"Looked like it," Telio cut in, eyes a little cooler as she regarded Ayatah standing next to her clansman, "Fine work yesterday. Hope the male didn't slow you down too much."

Another round of laughter and Razkar took it with a face like stone. Such was their culture. The females were in control, and the males were second-class citizens. But that no longer bothered him. He had proved himself, to clan and race and one day, he would gain the favor the Myri herself. He could take their jibes; he'd been doing so his whole life.

"Shall we go?"

"Yes." Urap said, handing each of them a shortbow with a quiver of arrows. "Tracks were about a mile into the jungle. We'll track them back from there. You know what to do."

Razkar did, and so did Ayatah. The six Myrians turned to the dense foliage and walked towards the jungle. Returning from his morning bath, Zek saw them vanish, one by one, in ripples of green and brown. When the last one had disappeared from view, it took only a moment for the swaying trees to cease, the vines to halt, and then you'd never know they'd been there at all.

"Good hunt, my son," he muttered, his daughters already jogging to the square, eager to get to work, "And Myri's grace."

The old Myrian ran to catch up.

[Ayatah]

This is not going to be easy. Ayatah thought as she was met with steely gazes. As women ran their society, it was their opinions that had more weight to them - and also Lowax seemed to trust Ayatah enough with the education of the younger generations, it seemed she would have to work a little harder to win the favor of the younger females. But she liked a challenge.

The compliment about her courage caught her off guard, even if it was accompanied with a consorious gaze, and she was just about to say her thanks when --

"For an outsider, anyway. Lucky you had a Shorn Skull to aid you against that tiger."

”Let’s hope that a Scattered Bone is just as helpful.” The jibe was not as bad as Ayatah had expected, but when she glanced towards Razkar, she saw that a glowering look was across his face. It was touching to her that he had not joined in, though his relative - cousin? Friend? Ayatah was terrible at remembering - did not seen so impressed. It was customary for their people to pick fault with other clans, as was anything where close family-like groups existed. Loyalty was important, as was pride in ones clan.

She thought back to her initial visit to the Kandukta a few days ago. She had gone to simply forage for elusive plants revealed by the shrinking water, and to also bury the bone of a kill made by her cousin Bennik and herself a few days earlier than that. Just mere days ago… she thought, and reflected on how much had changed since then. But this was not the time to ponder or think; this was a hunt. And despite their escapade yesterday, Ayatah relished in hunting. The silence and patience was always worth it when a kill was made. It was times like this that Paira of the Scattered Bones would look at her daughter and see pure Myrian.

"Fine work yesterday. Hope the male didn't slow you down too much."

Another wry smile from Ayatah. In a woman-led society, there were often such jokes made about men and their lower ranks in society. Her Great Grandmother always said that men were only good for one thing… but that seemed to lead to babies more often than not. It had frustrated her cousins and brother growing up, when they did not understand the historical and religious reasons for their societal layout. To imagine a culture where a man lead the city, the religion, and the family… It was strange to think of something so completely different to the Myrian way. But from her extensive readings (being the surprisingly scholarly sort), Ayatah knew of whole races that were made up of males.

”I think without Razkar, I would not have gotten away with a simple scratch on the stomach.” And it was the honest truth. A hand went to the long claw marks that stretched diagonally across her stomach. The scars were red and angry looking, but certainly healing. They were sting for the next few days, she knew. But eventually, they would fade a little.

Taking the short bow, she inspected it carefully. She had always favoured the long bow since she was a young girl, but knew that their smaller equivalents were better when it came to hunting. Whereas longbows were faster, shortbows were more powerful, and of course required less elbowroom to draw back on. The longbow was her friend in enemy attacks; keeping her distance and firing fast and furiously until her rival had fallen, or had sustained enough damage to no longer pose a great threat. When it came to boars, though, the short bow would be ideal for getting an arrow through the layers of fat and fur in order to puncture a heart or lung.

Provided she would hit the target.

Myri, don’t make me miss… She prayed silently as she pushed the foliage out of her face.

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

[Razkar]

"Here we are..."

Mayura crouched down and ran hr fingertips across the hoofprints there. Razkar and the rest joined her, and the young male narrowed his eyes, studying the print. Wide and round... definitely a hog. And fresh, too, judging the the sharp imprint it had made into the mud. There's hadn't been enough time for water or weather to dull the mark.

He looked around himself and his eyes glistened. He pointed to an area of churned up earth, roots and leaves scattered a way they should not be.

"Even better." He said, voice as low as Mayura's. "They've been rooting around here. Probably looking for nuts and grubs. Could be a regular spot."

"Probably." Hurax rasped, gesturing with her long spear to the jungle further to their west. "There's a creek bed two miles that way. Judging by the tracks, the rooting... they're probably bathing there."

The Myrians nodded their head slowly, liking the logic and the potential for prey even more. Wild boars "bathed" in mud, and the shallow creek further away was perfect for it. Before the heat burned away the water, it was thick and gooey and disgustingly irresistible to a sweat warthog and his kin. They were journeying far for food, but...

He felt a tugging at his shoulder, turned and saw his... ahem... Ayatah, pointing to the ground. He followed her finger, and smiled.

A trail had been beaten out of the foliage by swinging tusks and fat, strong bodies. Plants and shrubs bent over backwards to get out the way, and some logs had simply been tossed aside, livid white tusk marks still fresh on them. Razkar patted her shoulder and turned to his clansmen with pride.

"That is the trail they take, back and forth from the creek. We split up, move on either side, and when we here movement, we stop... we wait... and we strike."

Mayura weighed this in her head, and decided that she liked it. Simple, effective and sudden, like any good Myrian strategy. She glanced around and the others seemed to agree with her.

"Sounds good." She whispered, gesturing to herself, Huraz and Urap. "We'll take the right. The rest of you, take the left. Keep about twenty yards from the trail at all times. Keep quiet, move slow and keep your ears open. They're gonna help more than your eyes will, at least until we strike. Let's move."

And they did. Razkar straightened back up and was quick enough to give Ayatah and wink and a half-smile without anyone else seeing. Mayura took her duo and set off slowly, weapons out, every footfall careful and measured.

Razkar, Ayatah and Telio did the same. All three notched arrows into their bows, looking at the ground before every step. They made sure not to step on twigs or dried leaves, minimizing their noise. They kept low, almost crouched, even though their backs screamed in aching pain.

Nothing but the jungle and their own shallow breathing. Razkar could feel the humid heart of Falyndar around them now, made up of countless millions of creatures. Cidacias and crickets and mosquitoes clicked and buzzed in the leaves. Birds of every color and sound chirped and screeched warnings and mating calls. Animals prowled, snakes crawled... and six pairs of ears were open for trotting hooves and low grunts...

Razkar smiled as he walked, slow as a stalking tiger. He had missed this...

[Ayatah]

Ayatah had kept silent whilst the other Myrians spoken in hushed voices. She hunted best when her thoughts were to herself, playing out different scenes of great pigs rolling in mud and nosing the ground for seeds and nuts. There were several hoof prints, all large and as fat as the pig that had undoubtedly made them. There were smaller prints, too - sows or even youngsters. More than one hog graced this area with its stinking presence.

And they had been doing so for a while - she stooped low and looked at investigated older prints. With the water retreating, animals could be found easier around creeks and large puddles. Still low to the ground, she shuffled towards a tree, the lower part of the bark scratched and hacked away. They’ve been rubbing their tusks, she noted. Further on, and saw that plants had been pushed to one side as the pigs trotted through.

She knew that boars tended to remain in family groups, with males flitting around the same patch of territory impregnating the females as and when nature allowed. If they were lucky, they might find a fair few fat pigs to feed on.

They moved, and Ayatah managed to break her attention, and quite frankly, her enjoyment, just long enough to catch a smile from Razkar. She returned the smirk, but quickly submerged herself in hunting once again. There was a spark in her eye that was almost… playful. As if hunting was a game to her, that simply had the handy side effect of also serving dinner.

She walked stooped and silent, her feet choosing the hardiest parts of the earth to step onto. Every so often, she might pause, stand up slightly slowly, and survey the area around her. Although it was important to listen out for pig-like sounds, she knew it was of equal import to have a general awareness of what was happening around them. Tigers moved just as silently as Myrians, and she had faced one too many tigers recently.

A bug buzzed around her face, and she batted it away.

Then stoped.

Rustling, low to the ground and slow. Not a deer - the sounds were too slow paced for a fearful buck or doe.

Snuffling.

Her bow was drawn and bought up to her eyeline before Ayatah had even seen anything. Boars were more confident than deer, and might even trot past a Myrian if they were so engrossed in the muddy under earth.

They were heading in the right direction, and the snorting was getting louder. The pigs were coming towards them as the Myrians moved forward. I love it when a plan comes together. A smirk came to Ayatah’s lips, and she flanked outwards, away from the path the pigs had made for themselves.

Let the prey come to you, Ayatah thought, slowly coming to a halt. They were coming, as noisily and ignorantly as pigs were perceived in children’s stories.

Three hogs, a fat male and two females, slowly emerged from the undergrowth, covered in a gross mixture of leaves and mud. Their noses were to the ground, snorting through the dirt.

The pigs were completely unaware of the Myrians watching them.

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

[Razkar]

When the grunting first cut through the air, Razkar's body froze as if touched by a mage. He knew that the other Myrians would do the same; a sound that distinct couldn't be mistaken. Following the strategy taught to them by their elders and parents, the six younger Myrians spread out in two lines running parallel to the rough trail gouged by the boars.

He saw Telio at his left, crouching, eyes fixed, drawing back her bow without taking her gaze from the three bobbing, furry shapes flitting through the foliage. He glanced right and saw Ayatah doing the same thing.

Razkar couldn't help the smile when he saw the fierce, intent look of a hunter on her fine, scuplted face. She may have been half-Eypharian, but out here, in the wilds, she was everything a Myrian should be.

Above the jungle floor, he could just about make out the dark shapes of Mayura, Urap and Hurax; two with spears cocked back, one with bow and arrow raised.

A bird call. A cockatoo, but with a downward lilt that the bird did not make. All of them knew what it meant.

Target sighted. Make ready.

They all did. Razkar sighted down his arrow, tracking the middle female trotting behind the stout, scarred male leading the way. He knew the protocol for such a hunt: each prey would have two hunters target it. He was in the midle of his three-person group, so he would take the middle pig. Ayatah was at the front, so she and Hurax would take the lead, the male. Mayura and Telio would finish the job.

He led the animal, noting every detail of it. The tuskless face, the dull animal eyes, the blotchy spots peppering it from snout to tail... he led it slightly... breathed in... held it.

A macaw call, high and urgent.

Strike!

Four arrows and two spears exploded from the jungle floor and terrified snorting and bleating ripped apart the air.

[Ayatah]

The boar was a big lad, almost twice the girth of his female comrades - his belly almost dragged on the ground, it was so large. There were small twigs and half a worm hanging from his tusks, one of which had been snapped an inch from the top. For such an ugly thing, they certainly made good eating.

He looked like a thug, and even more amusing, he already looked pissed off.

Ayatah drew the arrow to her eye line, noticing how the short bow became taut and ready much quicker than a longbow, and with a shorter pull as well. Marking the arrow on the boar, she followed the fat pig as he led his females right to where they would die. Her thumb ran across the nock and fletching of the arrow subconsciously and out of habit.

The layers of fat will protect him to certain degree, so the hit needs to be a decent one. She had seen grossly fat boars run back off into the foliage before, a poorly-trained arrow sticking out of it’s wobbling rump. No, she would have to try and hit near the lungs, where there was less fat to protect him.

The pigs were slowing down; the leading male distracted something in the dark earth below his trotters.

A sudden birdcall signaled the Myrian’s attack.

Ayatah released her bow, as did the others with their own arrows and spears. Her arrow flew with a speed that impressed her - perhaps it was worth exploring short bows a little more. It buried itself deep within the pig’s fur and fat, just to the right of where it’s fat legs joined it’s fatter body. Hopefully a lung has been hit, Ayatah thought… but she had already notched another arrow just in case.

All three pigs had been hit successfully, and squealed in an eye-wateringly high pitched chorus. The middle female seemed to be dying quickly, but the other two had just fallen down and were jolting and twitching on the earth, grunting. The male was throwing his head backwards and forwards, trying to stab whatever had hurt him with his tusks - all to no avail. The soft underbelly of the hog was revealed to Ayatah as he lay sprawled on his side, and she implanted her second arrow into him.

Nodding, she stood up straight, another arrow in hand, but waiting now. The boar was going nowhere fast that much was certain.

Glancing over to Razkar, she shared a small, accomplished smile with him.

Myri, I love the hunt.

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