Closed Changing Hands [Penri/Axe]

[Penri]

Pen’s eyes narrowed for a moment hearing the Zith’s stomach, but she didn’t react otherwise. She was beginning to get what she thought might be the idea. This Zith—Axe, she called herself—was certainly not averse to a nibble of Kelvic meat, goat or otherwise. In fact, she was likely genuinely interested on the idea…but Pen was beginning to think that the threats were just that—threats. To keep the slave in line, and little more.

After all, that would be some expensive goat meat if not.

She listened as Axe spoke of duties Penri would perform, and how Axe slipped into an odd construction of speech, identifying herself as “this one” and “she”.
"We will be leaving the floating city and heading into the wilds surrounding it where I have my camp. This one expects you to watch over the camp when she is away at night, and to carry the equipment when moving camp. It is also expected of you to learn how to care for this one's talons, and do whatever else is asked of you."”

One of the talons was shown to the leashed woman, who forced herself to look at it for a few seconds before nodding and looking up as they neared the shipyard. “Of course, mistress,” she replied, loud enough to be heard by the other woman as they walked briskly through the busy streets. “Whatever you require.” Well, perhaps, but no need to say so—and if all the tasks were so simple, Penri foresaw no problems. She almost tripped over the cobbled street again, though, intent on the next words.

"In return for taking care of these simple matters no one will harm you while this one draws breath, this one protects what is hers."

Penri wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She was, of course, surprised by the force of the statement. Perhaps it was just the Zith’s imperfect grasp of Common, to speak so to the slave she kept calling meat?

It was as though Axe heard Penri’s silent confusion.

“"Understand these words, Slave Meat Penri, I value you greater than my father's axe and any of the Prey that walk the floating city's streets. Prove yourself worthy of that value."

The slave would have sworn that her head was starting to ache. She tentatively returned Axe’s gaze, hating to be reduced to confusion so quickly, and becoming slowly determined to figure out what on earth this Zith meant, by anything. She knew very little about Zith, Penri realized. A learning experience. Her mother would be proud of the optimism, she thought, one corner of her mouth sneaking up at the thought.

[Axe]

Axe returned her attention to searching for the correct ship, easily locating it as it was the one that a lot of Prey Meat flocked too. The docks always smelled of fish, not exactly her favorite food but it proved to be sustaining when it was needed. The waves of the lake gently lapped at the ships moored to the docks, a rhythmic sound that Axe felt oddly calming. It was perhaps the only thing comforting she would experience this day.

The warrior sighed and strode towards the ship, the thing the Ravokians called a Water Glider, gently tugging Penri along. The Zith had luckily possessed the foresight to tuck away an extra miza or two in her weapon strapping, last she remembered it was half of the gold coins for a trip across for one person. Considering her extra cargo that amounted to a whole gold miza, no big loss compared to how much she had just paid.

The Zith approached the boat, passing a miza wordlessly to the man guarding the way up to the small ship. The man gave her a distrusting look, but said nothing and allowed the Zith and her slave passage on the ship. Axe really hated having to walk around on the ground like a human, it was just so limiting and she really hated having to ride on one of these ships. In the time it would take for the small vessel to take off she could have been on shore.

Resigning herself to this inconvenience, she led Penri to an area on the ship that was away from most of the other passengers. Axe wrapped the leash around her own arm several times, forcing her slave closer and closer until she was standing right next to her. Satisfied the Zith warrior sat down, forcing Penri down with her and closed her eyes, trying to block out the damnable sun. It worked to an acceptable degree. All the loud noise around her wasn't helping either, when hunting her hearing was so acute that nothing could ever sneak up on her, now it was more a curse than an asset as noise barraged her poor ears.

"Keep watch and let this one know when we are close to shore. Also if you have questions, now is the time to ask, just keep your voice down." Axe commanded, stretching out her legs languidly, her voice coming out as her normal smooth, almost erotic tone.

[Penri]

Penri sighed and followed the Zith, running a hand in the space between the collar that kept her in the human form and her neck. It was getting very, very sore, the way this woman pulled at it. “No need to worry about me,” she muttered, not daring to make it loud enough to drift far past her own ears. “Not like there’s someone attached to this thing.” But nevertheless, she kept up easily with Axe, staying a pace or so behind her.

They reached a Water Glider and Penri looked with interest at the ships around them while Axe paid, only to be—again—startled by the pull of her impatient mistress. Doesn’t she know how to speak? the irritated Kelvic wondered. She caught a bit of the look that the man gave Axe. Disgust. Thinking of the constant “meat” classifications, Penri wasn’t sure how much she disagreed with that particular emotion. For Penri herself, the man spared a quick glance. He took in the collar and half a black sun tattooed on her hand that marked her a slave, shrugged, and turned to the next customer as Penri was led to a secluded part of the ship.

Pen didn’t particularly mind the quiet. She stood, uncertain, hoping that she would be able to sit and simply think for a moment… but no. What was the cursed Zith doing? She was taking the leash off?—no. She was wrapping it around her arm.

Penri’s patience was wearing very, very thin. It had been, to put it lightly, a trying day for the Kelvic girl. She had been in the slave markets, put up for sale, sold; she’d thought she would be eaten, and had such as a threat; she’d been leashed and yanked through the city with little regard for the state of her neck. She did not particularly want to move closer to this woman, her “mistress,” for the duration of the boat ride, but was left with little choice as she had to take small steps close and closer until the Zith’s silver fur crept close, just touching her arm, and then one more tuge and they were done; and then, her mistress without warning chose to sit, an action that did not allow a controlled or graceful descent in Penri. She bit her lip as the already-hurting skin on her neck screamed in protest and she collapsed onto the bench beside Axe.

"Keep watch and let this one know when we are close to shore. Also if you have questions, now is the time to ask, just keep your voice down."

Penri nodded, realized Axe’s eyes were closed, and sighed, reaching up an arm carefully to her own neck without touching the Zith. She scooted as far from the other as she could on her literal short leash. “Yes, ma’am,” she replied, quiet as requested. Her own body sagged less elegantly against the seat. “If I may ask, is there a reason you’ve kept me on a leash and pulled like my neck wasn’t even there? I’d be a fool to run in the middle of Ravok.” She paused for a moment, trying to remember the swirls of questions she knew had been there just moments ago. She was too frustrated to ask her questions about Zith in general, so she watched for the shore.

[Axe]

Axe pondered the question for a moment, she doubted her answer would satisfy her new slave. Perhaps it would have been foolish to run in the middle of Ravok but she had seen the Prey of Ravok do many seemingly foolish things. Considering her knowledge of Penri extended to her race and that the woman seemed to possess a somewhat impulsive nature, the Zith had not wanted to take any chances. Still, considering that Axe would be trusting the kelvic to watch over the camp some concession would be necessary.

The Zith did not open her eyes but instead calmly and easily severed the leash from her arm with her razor sharp talons, freeing Penri from its grasp. With that done she unwrapped the leash from her own arm, her expression far more calm than it had been when in the city. The noise was still annoying but at least the glare of the sun was not terrible.

"The collar stays on until this one trusts you not to do something stupid, like run." The Zith said casually.

"Feel free to do as you wish until we get there, but remember to inform this one when we reach shore." She finished leaning back further into her sitting position.

She would put some trust in her slave, hopefully it might breed some sense of loyalty. Besides it was a long way to the Southern Trading Post and even further to her camp, there would be ample time to observe the slave to see if she would be useful or not. At the moment Axe had her labeled as annoying. The Zith allowed herself to slip into a contemplative state, half to assess her situation, and half to escape the noise.

Her mother had always handled the family slaves with a kind but firm hand, rewarding loyalty and punishing disobedience. She was a master of bending another living being to becoming her possession, getting into their minds and breaking them down slowly. Axe possessed all the subtly that her name implied, she was good at killing, hunting, and very little else. This was the first time she had ever owned a slave of her own, perhaps, like all things in this land of foreigners, it would prove a learning experience.

Axe struggled to remember how her mother had bred such loyalty in her slaves. It was difficult as her life then seemed so far away, from a time when the call to battle did not run so freely in her veins and her claws were not always stained with the blood of a fresh kill. She remembered that her mother took the time to learn the names of the every slave and used them on most occasions of address. The only time her mother called them slaves was when she was angered or otherwise displeased. She would also treat them tenderly and in a generally friendly manner, only being harsh when the situation called for it.

Axe had half of the equation down, she knew her slave's name, Penri. Perhaps she should seem more friendly? Would that help in fostering a healthy master-slave relationship? It was certainly worth trying if it worked for her mother.

[Penri]

The only thing Penri could think for a moment was that those claws were coming, closer. She watched, as if mesmerized, as it approached her, knowing that the Zith was too practical to kill an investment quite so soon just because it talked too much; but her body, forced close to the other’s, jerked back the instant the tight connecting leash was severed. Her heart was going a little too fast to be normal and, had her body not been on a bench, she would have dropped to one or to the deck of the ship, which had begun to move during their conversation. She was shaking slightly, but forced herself not to stray too far. She didn’t know how to swim, at all, making any stunts on the ship simply idiotic. “Thank you,”[b] the Kelvic finally said, careful to keep her voice quiet.

[b]”The collar stays on until this one trusts you not to do something stupid, like run,” she heard her mistress say. Pen was unsurprised. [b]”Of course, mistress,” she assented. Many liked to force a Kelvic to stay in one form or another, or penned, or caged, or somehow contained. She hadn’t particularly been pushing for the leash’s present removal, even, so much as a less obnoxious treatment of it. A Kelvic was often taken as a pet. She wondered idly if it would be reattached after the ship ride or not. If not, Pen couldn’t help but think of planning an escape. She was far from content as a slave. It would take some time, though; she would be patient, though that was not one of her virtues. It might not even be from this master. Another thought of the claws made her think it likely wouldn’t be from this master. This master, who had something else to say:

"Feel free to do as you wish until we get there, but remember to inform this one when we reach shore."

What Penri wished to do was to sleep back in Avanthal, in an Icewatch barrack, with a bondmate—but she wasn’t a direbear, and she wasn’t in Avanthal anymore. Instead, she rested her body and settled in for the ship ride. She watched the Zith for a few moments to be sure her eyes were closed and turned her body away from the other’s, before taking from her cloak’s pocket the journal. The journal she’d been carrying and hiding from Avanthal. In it, she wrote a bit, but soon began to draw. Her drawings were not skilled, but doodles, as she’d done as a girl: of the ship, of the resting Zith, of the shoreline, hazy as it shifted place before her.

Fairly soon, they reached the shore, and Pen tucked away her small journal and pencil stub safely before turning to the zith. “Mistress? We’ve reached shore.” The ship was not yet at a full stop, but passengers were moving and beginning to get up.

[Axe]

Axe was drawn from her contemplation by Penri's warning and her eyes opened slowly, once again exposed to the sun though it appeared to be preparing to set. Hopefully by the time they reached camp the shroud of darkness would be upon them, sparing her eyes further strain. Idly she wondered if it were possible for a Zith to go blind to overexposure to the sunlight, it wouldn't surprise her if the answer was yes.

She stood and stretched slighting, glad for her little reverie on the boat ride over when she had been in some fugue realm between the conscious and the unconscious. At least she had gotten some rest from it, which she would need if she were going to be hunting tonight. Her gaze fell upon her slave, the memories of her mother still close in her mind. She gave her a smile, one that only slightly displayed her teeth.

"Thank you for the warning, Penri" Axe said, hoping that her tone sounded open.

The Zith considered putting the leash back on, but cast the idea aside soon after it entered her mind. That would be a step backwards in this exercise, she needed to show that she trusted the slave to some degree otherwise a relationship would be impossible to form. The ship was coming to a halt at the port of the Southern Trading Post, ready to off load passengers and take new ones for the last trip for the day.

"Come along, it is time we begin the journey to this one's camp. Once there you can rest for the night." The Zith warrior said, gesturing for Penri to follow her off of the boat.

The trip to her camp, which was located quite a few hours from the Southern Trading Post, would at least be done with the trees for shade. If her slave was hungry then she could eat the rations Axe had taken from a particularly delicious adventurer, who had stumbled upon her hunting grounds one night. The Zith personally preferred her food fresh and still bleeding but something told her that Penri was not a fan of such fare.

When they got to camp Axe also intended to look over every inch of her Penri's body, it would be easier to spot any defects or wounds that she would need to worry about under the cloak of night. If her slave had a problem with that, she would simply inform her that it was for her own good that she did it. If Penri really had a problem with it then maybe she would relent, the Zith was trying to be nice after all.

[Penri]

As Axe opened her eyes, Penri was on her feet, stretching slightly. It had been a less than comfortable day, and she had a feeling, from the comments about wilderness, that it was going to be much, much longer. She wished the Zith would let her switch to her goat shape; it was easier to walk distances.

“Thank you for the warning, Penri.” Pen looked up, startled and slightly unnerved. She waited for a moment, and mumbled her polite reply. She hated not understanding things.

She kept close to the Zith as she moved off the boat. In this form, tired as she was (and in fairly poor shape at the moment, being rather underweight and a bit bruised), she would be helpless in her human shape. In the wilderness, her goat shape would be better, but not with this hunter. She sighed, but very softly, wanting her hooves, and walked steadily.


OOCSorry, total lack of ideas :/

[Axe]

Axe weaved her way through the Southern Trading Post easily enough, sparing a glance back every now and then to ensure that Penri was still following her. People spared her a look or two as she passed them by, most keeping a wide berth from the Zith warrior. She did catch a slave trader or two eying her in a predatory fashion, a quick flashing of her teeth or claws quickly established who the true predator was.

As they approached the outskirts of the trading post Axe noticed that her slave was starting to look a little tired. The Zith stopped and cast Penri a concerned glance, or at least the warrior hoped it was a concerned glance.

"Are you alright, Penri" Axe asked, just remembering to address the slave by her name instead of her usual appellation.

The wilderness was not too far away, just a few minutes walk would have her in the comforting shade of the trees. However if her slave was not doing too well then it would be unwise to continue without at least finding out what the issue was. Perhaps it would be a good idea to check her the minute they reached the cover of the trees? She certainly didn't want Penri keeling over dead halfway to the camp, that would be more than a little unfortunate.

Axe wanted to make it back to camp tonight, but not if it cost her an already costly slave. The Zith drew closer to the woman, intent on finding out what her issue was so they could continue on to the camp. She kept her hand unthreateningly at her side, hoping that the expression on her face conveyed concern.

[Penri]

Penri kept her pace with Axe, glad for their close match in heights. A change seemed to have come about in the Zith. She was taking a strange new interest, glancing back frequently. Pen was uncomfortable under the scrutiny of the previously uninterested, threatening creature, and kept her head down.

Her thoughts wandered loosely as they walked, and she failed to notice her drooping stature until she nearly walked into the Zith’s pale grey fur. Pen halted, surprised, and shuffled a bit back, uncomfortably aware that she had invaded the warrior’s space.

“Are you alright, Penri?” She heard Axe ask. Pen was still surprised somehow to hear herself addressed as something not including ‘Slave Meat’ by her odd mistress, but had she been a horse her ears would have flattened against her head. As much as Penri disliked being yanked around and otherwise treated roughly, she was an independent person, for all that she was a slave; she was, in better times, quite hardy and stronger than most expected of her size. She was still stronger than given credit for, thanks to minor training and general good exercise growing up and in the times since, hard work. She kept the emotions private, though.

The Zith was coming towards her, looking too hard. Penri’s arms crossed protectively over the front of her body, shoulders drawn in; her head faced Axe parallel to one of those shoulders. She took a moment to reply, remembering after a moment to keep her voice quiet. “I’m quite fine, mistress. I’m ready to continue.”

[Axe]

Axe was not exactly reassured by the woman's response or her stance but she decided it would be unwise to press the issue. She wanted the woman to become more comfortable with her new life, however much of that would have to come on her own time. The Zith warrior couldn't force Penri tell her anything she didn't want to tell, well she could with enough intimidation or physical pain but then that would dash any chances the Zith would have of breeding loyalty in the kelvic.

"Very well, but if you start to get tired we're stopping." Axe said before turning back to the wilderness.

Axe was much more frequent with her glancing back to Penri, wanting to make sure that she was not overexerting herself. The Zith warrior was tired herself but was probably far more used to long treks and physical exertion than her slave was. Emotions didn't exactly play into her concern for Penri, she just didn't like her property getting damaged or breaking.

The Zith let out a slight sigh of relief when they finally reached the shade of the forest, it wouldn't be long until night fell and she could take to the starlit skies. Axe unfurled her wings from around her body and flexed the leathery limbs, stretching them out as far as the trees would allow. Like most Zith Axe wore pretty much nothing as she possessed no sense of modesty, the only "clothing" on her body was the harness for her axe. She had learned rather quickly that clothing could interfere with flight aerodynamics, thus she chose to simply not bother with it.

The nearly irresistible urge to take flight nearly took her over, however she managed to keep it down with the knowledge that her slave would be left behind if she did. Axe eyed Penri again as she followed her into the trees, still a little worried for the woman's condition. She kept these concerns to herself and quickly started weaving her way through the forest, folding her wings up to help with mobility. As the sun continued to fall in the sky she spared further glances to her slave, slowing down when the woman fell behind and speeding up when she could.

Normally Axe liked the silence but perhaps her slave was not the same way. Maybe some light conversation wouldn't hurt? Axe was not much one for what the Prey called "small talk", actions spoke louder than words in her opinion.

"So how does a goat Kelvic come to find herself on the slave market, Penri?" Axe inquired of the woman as the pair worked their way through the wilderness.