Open Moonlit Encounter

[I'tram Bearguard]

69th of Spring, 513 AV

I'tram couldn't help but be surprised by the stark change nightfall brought upon the usually bustling city of Ravok, and in particular, it's Docks. Only a few hours later the Docks were heaving with throngs of people. Now the only people that walked the streets were drunks or thieving scum. This place, whilst filled with poverty, thievery, and disease was seemingly happier than the noble district ever was. It to had a soul to it, unlike the strict and formal nobles.


A free night was a rare treat for I'tram, usually he was so exhausted by training or other activities he had no energy to do anything but sleep. Today though he had been searching for a job earlier in the day, while he was unsuccessful in this endeavour it had given him some rare free time.

I'tram gazed across the calm waters of Lake Ravok which was bathed by the pale light of the full moon. The sound of calm ripples hitting off the peer calmed I'tram, it had been many weeks since he had truly been at ease. Just as I'tram was beginning to enjoy the view when a dark cloud obscured the moon, blanketing the world in darkness. Suddenly I'tram heard footsteps behind him, all the calm of a few moments ago was forgotten, he knew the sort of people that wandered the docks at this time of night.


I'tram turned swiftly, searching for the source of the sound. I'tram couldn't help but be slightly worried, he knew the type of people that usually wandered the docks at this time of night. If I'tram was lucky the intruder would only be a drunk, if he was unlucky it would be a thief or mugger. I'tram rested his hands on his two gladii, ready to defend himself if needs be. As the footsteps drew nearer I'tram called out to the approaching figure "Who goes there?!" He tried to keep his voice level but couldn't help let a waver of fear enter his voice.

[Axe]

Axe had observed the prey that populated the Docks of Ravok with the gaze of a ready hunter, poised to strike at a moments notice. The Zith had watched drunks roam about the dark streets with seemingly now purpose or reason behind their actions. It was really rather sad and confusing to the huntress, it was as if the human's wanted her to pluck them out in the night.

Ravok was not normally her hunting ground, she was weary of attracting the ire of the black armored shepherds who oversaw this floating city of sheep. They were dangerous and this was their territory, Axe was always aware of that and respected that. Tonight however she had a craving, hunting had been rather sparse in her territory beyond the city, besides a full grown human could probably last her for two days, three if she spread out how she devoured them.

So she stalked the rooftops in silence, one with the night shadows, her night attuned eyes seeing all the Docks had to offer. It was during her observation that she noticed a man moving about the Docks, an armed man who seemed to have his wits about him. He was not dressed like the black shepherds, nor did he appear to be on the prowl for shiny coins as many men were tonight.

What meat is he I wonder? Good Meat? The Zith wondered as she decided to take a closer look.

Black leathery wings unfurled and beat silently at the air, raising their owner to the night sky. Axe glided silently to another rooftop nearby, and hopped to the street below, intent on a closer look at this human. It occurred to her that the human might react violently to a Zith, if that was the case she would soon know what meat he really was.

He seemed to hear the near inaudible padding of her bare feet against the cold ground, surprising the huntress. Few of the cattle of Ravok ever heard her approach, which meant that her stock of this young human had just risen considerably. He spun about, a blade in each hand, and demanded to know who laid in the shadows of the night.

At the sight of his weapons Axe barely resisted the urge to draw her waraxe, the desire for combat raising in her chest. Her clawed hand was held in check by the knowledge that it would be unwise to start a fight in so open a location, when the black shepherds could easily find her. Instead she stepped forward into his field of vision, her wings folded up around her like a leathery cloak. The Zith went over her knowledge of common to look for the right words to say in response to his query.

"This one is called Axe, human meat. This one means no harm to you at the moment, only to assess your status." Axe said, hoping that it was the correct phrasing.

[Amatus]

There was a cruel sting flushing the round arch of his jaw, the leading evidence that the evening had not been kind to the young bartender. He kneaded the cheek with the tips of his fingers to alleviate the throbbing left by a dainty female palm lobbed rigidly into his face.

Amatus had been with the damsel days before. She was an appealing brunette with swollen chops and freckles stippling the bridge of her nose. He liked her about as much as any pretty face, for the night and with sugary promises that would ultimately expire with Leth’s fallen reign. It was hapless she had wandered into the bar that night, even more so that she had demanded to see him and was led, by an ill-wisher no doubt, to the back room. It was there she found him. A curvy strawberry blonde bound about him and bulky barrels of ale shoved to the corners of the musty room. Needless to say there was a choice exchange of words, a flurry of shed clothes reapplied in haste, and the pivoting smacks that would bruise his cheek from two stamping ladies, growling through gnashed glossed lips.

The cool spring air from the meres shoreline swept against his exposed collar bones, and he scrabbled with the small buttons of his top, shoving them into their constrained textile slots. He adjusted the low hanging hem of his pants and ran his fingers through the lengthy blanched strands of disheveled hair, smoothing the threads behind his ear.

It was a short expedition to the brink of the dock, and there were not many loitering about to obscure his trodden path. Wooden boards moaned beneath his steps. The mounting tide had gathered about the rivets of the walkway lapping the splintered wood and staining it in a russet gloss. Even the noisy sea birds had abandoned their plight and flocked along the shore, huddling into the warmth of their fluffed down. Only the sound of the whispering waves pulsed in his ears. He was dazed coupled with the irritation of the unpredicted turn of his night and he had yet to notice the young boy or the preying Zith along the end of the pier, now only looming shades in the distance.

"Who goes there?!"

The startled voice stilled his tracks and had him spring back a half step. He took in the dull illumination frosted by the silvery light. His silent riposte was not as nearly as harsh as it was reckless taking in the sight panning out. He had no intention nor was he capable of fending off an assault, but he had less than adequate fear for the citizens of Ravok.

He shuffled forward as the wings of the beast unfurled plainly and her voice hissed out a title that was barbaric. ‘Human meat?’ he scoffed internally with a domed brow raised in impish verdict of the dark figure obscuring his view of the other male put on guard by what he beheld.

He let his hands fall the nearer each fallen heel approached on muted pads, a smirk winding into his tense features when enough light collided with the boy’s face and he browsed the suppleness of age that still laid there. Ever the fool looking for trouble he spoke up in favor of and in notion to the boy, “You are out a little beyond your curfew, don’t you think?” A hum ripple through Amatus’s chest, shifting his bearing from on heel to the other and his hand sunk into the pocket of his breeches.

“It is not wise to converse with strangers.” The silver rings of his eyes wandered over the female Zith, offering a charming smile and a tilted nod, “Even the comely winged ones.”

Though his thoughts did not betray what his tongue would, ‘Especially winged ones.’

[I'tram Bearguard]

Needless to say I'tram was surprised when a winged creature materialized out of the shadows. Only when she had finished speaking I'tram made the connection. She was a Zith. How could the Ebonstryfe let a Zith into the city?! He observed the Zith which he now knew was called Axe another look. She had a layer of grey fur on her legs, the only visible part of her skin not covered by her "cloak" of sorts.

While I'tram didn't trust the Zith he didn't want to aggravate her, so he sheathed his gladii, hoping he hadn't made a fatal mistake. He was just about to introduce himself when another figure made himself known, sauntering in confidently. This show of bravado was ruined by the large mark on the side of his face which looked like it had been caused by some kind of slap. I'tram could nearly have taken him for a woman, it was clear he was used to a soft life. He obviously wasn't going to be much trouble as the only weapon he carried was a small dagger at his hip.

With only a few words the man had irked him more than the Zith had, he was another fool who thought I'tram couldn't look out for himself because of his age. He replied to the man somewhat coldly "And it is not wise to approach a ZIth and an armed warrior in the middle of the night armed only with a small knife" He locked eyes with effeminate bartender "So maybe you should scuttle off home before you get hurt"

I'tram had surprised himself, he had never spoken to anybody in such a way, especially not a free citizen of Ravok. He was only a slave after all but this "man" arrogantly sauntered up to a possibly fatal encounter only armed with little better than a toothpick. If he listened to I'tram he could possibly escape with his life, unless Axe decided to eat him instead.

He directed his gaze to the Zith once again, if he was going to survive this encounter he would need to play it nice with the Zith. After all, how was he going to win in a situation like this. He could barely see whereas his opponent had perfect night vision and could fly. "Greetings Axe, I am I'tram Bearguard" he paused for a moment, he knew what he said next would be vital, annoyingly he couldn't think of anything smart to say "And what brings a Zith like you to Ravok if you're not planning on eating me?"

[Axe]

Axe allowed her golden eyes to carefully gaze over the effeminate human, sizing up any potential threat. Like most humans he was taller than her, however he seemed to only be armed with a small dagger. If she were only armed with her sharp claws tonight then maybe she may have felt somewhat threatened by the weapon, but compared to her mighty axe it seemed a pitiful thing indeed.

To the Zith he looked to fall into the Prey category, albeit better armed than most prey she hunted on the streets of Ravok. She said nothing in response to the bartenders jab but instead slowly ran her tongue over her lips. She allowed a glimpse of her teeth, sharp and designed for devouring flesh of all kinds. The point was clearer than any words in her crude form of common could ever make it.

With that done she returned he attention to the mystery meat, the one that called himself I'tram Bearguard. Truthfully she didn't know whether or not she wanted to eat him yet, that would depend on what meat he was. If he was Good Meat then the answer was maybe, she had not had a good fight before a meal in ages. If he was merely Prey Meat like the bartender then probably not, there was much safer prey to hunt elsewhere in the night shrouded streets of Ravok. If he was Slave Meat then the answer was no, Axe did not eat what was useful.

Axe went over a possible response, one that would hopefully seem non threatening and properly translate her intentions. It was difficult as the common tongue possessed many nuances that her native language did not. Properly translating her thoughts to the complex language usually required some thought before hand, so she was sure of the meaning of her words.

"This one will address you as I'tram Bearguard, human meat. This one is a... mercenary for the Prey of the floating city. This one wishes to know what... status I'tram holds in the floating city, that this one may reassure you that this one, that I, mean no harm to you." Axe said, her command over the language halting.

[Amatus]

Slim digits twitched and retracted unbendingly from his pocket. The hilt of the trifling vane was tucked away beneath the loose-fitting drapery of his top. He had presumed it to be out of vision even where it sat fastened to his thigh. Amatus coiled from the image of the lady Zith, Axe, and found the boy I'tram in his eyesight with sudden appall. "Scuttle?" he mumbled more to himself than for the benefit of the two before him. His eyes narrowed and arms doubled across his torso.

"Thank you for your understandable concern." His foot tapped with irritation but his features smoothed of any palpable exasperation, "Though you will have to excuse me if I choose not to regard the counsel of a whelp of a boy."

He was head and shoulders above them both by a number of inches and in some way felt as if he was looming over them, surveillance to the edgy encounter of crudely progressing chess pieces. Warriors, mercenaries, the elegance certainly did not ooze from the two of them. The closer he became the more he suspected he was wasting his time, but the hitch of his breath beckoned him to stay when the saliva drenched fangs bared at him, slick strings of moisture interlacing between lip and tooth. He swallowed hard and polished near the base of his throat.

He was disregarded, cast off by the dark fur gilt beast, to which he should have been grateful but only felt resentment bubbling up under his poorly worn mask. She claimed to be a mercenary for Ravok. He had misgivings about this, freelance perchance when looking for a meal, but unemployed surely. The only Zith he had ever seen were those in manacles at the slave auction, wings clipped and talons filed. Ravok never loved a race as much as it did humans. Her recognizable draw for the taste of flesh, as well, he doubted it would put any man at ease even to take the lives of their adversaries.

No introduction was requested of him, so he offered none, but the acerbic taste in his mouth was enough for him to want for the flask tucked between the leather of his back pocket. He unsheathed it, twisted the bolted lid between his index and thumb and promptly positioned it to his bitter orifice. The silver liquid coated the waiting cavern and boosted the inoculation of audaciousness that had waned since his abandon of the bar.

It was so palpable now, behind the bite of the bitter ale, their time was being squandered. He sunk into the view of the rippling water, crests tipped with snowy light. “The human meat, I’tram and this one entitled Axe. Not exactly the celebration I was hoping to stumble upon.” His chuckle rung mutely with the jostle of his tensed shoulders, “I was anticipating to at least find someone with a morsel of rolled tobacco on their person.” He exhaled heavy and combed his hair back between the wells of his knuckles. “What a shame.”

[I'tram Bearguard]

I'tram stared at the Zith known as Axe for a few small moments before coming to the conclusion that Ravok was "The Floating City" as she put it. He could be slow with things like that. He was caught between a rock and a hard place, if I'tram told the truth that he was a slave the blond daisy standing in front of him would definitely report him to the Ebonstryfe or his master, none of those possibilities appealed very much to I'tram so he resorted to lying "I am a fighter Axe or as you would call it... I'tram struggled to find a comparison between for the Zith, the pressure was making him slow to think, if the blond or Axe found out he was a slave the result wouldn't be nice. Suddenly he remembered that the Zith often hunted people and beasts alike, whether it was for sport, out of necessity or something close to honour he just hoped he was right in his conclusion that hunters were held in high regard by the Zith "a hunter. I'm paid to fight other people.


During this time he had angled his slave mark away from the blond and Axe, it was unlikely that human eyes could pick the brand out in the darkness but he couldn't be too sure. Why had he spoken out like that?! It had put his life in jeopardy. It was an understatement to say I'tram wanted to be away from this place as soon as he could.


When the blond wimpy looking man spoke I'tram couldn't help but grow more annoyed, this "man" somehow managed to get under his skin, far more than anyone else he had met. This sissy dared called him a whelp of a boy when he probably hadn't had a bit of hardship in his life or had ever had to fight. He couldn't help but let a small scowl come to his face. He had his mouth open to reply angrily when he caught himself, he had gotten himself into enough trouble already. "I think you'll find plenty of bars and brothels around if that what your eminence desires, nobody is forcing you to stay here. If he couldn't respond with a threat he was going to try and be as sarcastic as possible.


I'tram's mind was whirring, how would he get out of here in one piece, he thought he had the Zith under control but the human was another matter, if he was found to be a slave he would almost prefer to be killed swiftly by the Zith....almost

[Axe]

Zith were known for their acute senses in the night, it was part of the reason they were so feared. To Axe's sharp eyes it was clear as day outside, as such the half sun brand of the one who called himself I'tram Bearguard did not escape her notice. Her own slave, the goat Kelvic Penri bore a similar mark, so all angles pointed to the meat before her being slave meat. Still the look of the young human's blade's and his sharp tongue did not seem the usual for slave meat. His claim to hunter status... intrigued the Zith warrior.

Perhaps he was good meat after all, maybe her initial suspicions had been accurate. The Call was not yet roaring in her ears, but she found herself desiring to test the worth of those blades he carried. This I'tram Bearguard might be slave meat, he might be good meat, either way he looked more promising than any of the prey meat roaming the streets. Her claws were held in check by the thought that there would likely be another time, besides if he was slave meat she didn't want to owe his owner blood money.

"You are a hunter, I'tram Bearguard? If so you are one of the few in the floating city, most are the sheep of the Black Shepherds. This one suspected that you were Good Meat when she saw you, we shall have to share a hunt some day. The Zith warrior said, a savage grin on her features, it was the closest thing to a friendly smile she could manage.

She wondered how good of a hunter the boy was, he was certainly young by human standards, taller than her certainly but not as much as some other humans. Axe's golden eyes flicked to his weapons again, the urge to test them against her axe strong but she kept it down. There would be other opportunities for that, besides it was only polite to have some courtesy for a fellow hunter, slave meat or not.

The Zith gave the other human a sideways glance, she had already written him off as inconsequential. He didn't look particularly appetizing, in fact he had the look of a wizard about him. That thought had her stomach churning, wizards tasted terrible, their magic probably seemed into their flesh to make them completely unappetizing. Even if he wasn't he didn't look to have much meat on him, such a shame.