Apples, Pears and Tigers, Oh My! (Ketrien Ymir)

[Nailah]

15th of Summer, 513AV Nailah did not relish being in crowds for long periods of time, and while Riverfall denizens were kind, and helpful the city was busier than usual with those wanting to go questing. It was a reason why she had come to the city too. But there was so many people! The Konti shivered, and tugged anxiously at her hair while looking at the map. She wanted a place quiet but interesting, and had found The Orchards or was trying too. Turning in a slow circle, she looked to her map and the surrounding buildings, spotting the Blue Bull, and then a few hundred yards away was the Main Gate. Smiling Nailah walked speedily, with her head bowed for a bell until she reached The Ferry to cross the river. -- When she reached the Orchards she was pleased to see the endless sea of trees, filled with their fruits of the season. Nailah wasted not a moment more, and started off at a small trot until she was farther into the Orchard. The only thing that stopped her was a stray root that sent her stumbling head first into a tree, only to stare up at the biggest snake she had ever laid eyes on. “Oh.” Nailah jerked back, smacking her head onto the tree to stare at the creature but it didn’t seem to mind her intrusion and continued on its way. The tail of the snake as it moved up brushed her arm, the Konti let out another breathless gasp, and jumped up and away from tree. A few moments of shaking later, and she felt the stirrings of curiosity, looking around cautiously for the snake but seeing nothing amongst the trees but the apples. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she turned to make her way through the rest of the Orchard and wondered if the fruits cost and if how much they were. It was the slight fear of the snake, however docile it seemed, that kept her from plucking a fruit and continuing on. As she walked she watched out for any snakes, wondering if birds would dare the trees with such a creature lingering around. It is so quiet. She heaved a sigh of satisfaction, and smiled softly, she could handle a few snakes if it meant a pleasant walk.

[Ketrien Ymiir]

Ketrien relished being in the orchard today, he lounged on a slanted rock outcropping over a small pond sunbathing. He yawned lazily his sharp fangs showing and his tongue extended slightly. 'It feels very good to just relax today, not have to worry about people or crowds!' He rested his head on the rock and stared into the pond waters watching fish swim back and forth gliding through the waters as if it were nothing.

Ket's fur bristled with excitement, 'Oh and what mischief I could cause to such a serene world.' cocking his head to the side slightly, he reached his paw into the water slowly. His multicolored eyes focused on one such curious fish. Gracefully extending his claws, waiting. As the fish drew near, Ket launched his paw under the fish splashing and rocking the still waters. Startled, the fish swam for dear life interrupting the patterns the other fish followed. He chuckled to himself, pulling his massive paw from the water.

Ketrien sat up and began licking his wet paw, the moisture residue from the pond feeling good on his tongue. After his detailed cleaning, Ket huffed and bent slowly down extending his head to the waters, lapping up several mouthfuls of water drinking, in long slow pulls. Ket lifted his head yawing again and plopped on his side closing his eyes enjoying the heat from the sun on his reddish orange fur, his tail swishing lightly in relaxation. Ket's ear twitched a fly away from his ear, tuning out the annoying buzzing of its beating wings.

'Maybe a small nap, before I head back,' he thought as he lay there. 'Yes that sounds just right.'

[Nailah]

OOCAfter some debate I realized Nailah probably wouldn’t know what a tiger is. So you’ll get to enlighten her As her walk had continued, Nailah had found that there were many snakes in the orchard. Some soaking in the heat that had grown harsher while others peeked out from the foliage. She still felt uncomfortable with them but they did not bother her and she did not bother them. So far during the course of her walk she had not encountered many people, just a worker or two and a few picnics she had carefully avoided. Her stomach growled in reminder that she was hungry with a rumbling growl that left her blushing even though there was none to hear it. Once more her gaze rested on the fruit filled trees, her hand hovered in the air torn between wanting to pluck it and not wanting to steal a fruit. I should have asked one of the workers but I wasn’t hungry then. A splash just up ahead startled her out of her of her thoughts and made Nailah aware of her sweat dampened skin. A drink is better than nothing. Picking up her pace a little Nailah meandered toward the sound. It was a small pond, no more than thirty feet across. The water was relatively clear, littered with plants that had taken root and grown tall. It even had small brightly colored fish that swam around rapidly when Nailah stuck her hand in the water. She made a cup shape to pull out the water and flung it at her face. Content as soon as the water chilled against her skin. Taking another look around, she scooted forward to dangle her legs in the water and gaze out across the pond. It was then that the woman finally seen it, and was unsure of how she had missed it at first. “Ah!” A cat? It was large, enormous even. Orange, black and white stripped it was a least two of Nailah put together, and when it yawned it flashed even larger teeth. Teeth that were much larger than any cats she had seen. And it sat only a few yards away. Maybe the Djed storm that had swept Mizahar made it into whatever beast it was now. Nailah wanted to leave but she was afraid to attract more attention to herself, lest the beast come her way. Her feet twitched anxiously in the water, and she watched it warily. Beneath the fear it would see her as a snack she was curious as to what it was. Nothing in Riverfall was harmful as far as she knew but the Orchards were not in the city gates either.

[Ketrien Ymiir]

Ketrien caught her sent even before his brilliant yellow and green eyes set upon her. He raised his head wearily and stared at her unmindful of her intrusion on his privacy. Her confused yet curious look baffled and amused him. 'Had she never seen a tiger before?' he wondered. Surprisingly enough Ketrien realized neither has he, 'Besides pictures in old storybooks that mother once showed me, if it weren't for that and her telling me, that look would be my own.' Ket gazed softly at her and stood slowly as not to alarm her. 'This is also possible that she may not know of my kind either, every animal she see's may be just that to her.' he bowed his head to low and sniffed the ground. He turned and hopped down off the outcropping his back to her, his powerfully built shoulders accentuating his graceful movements. He turned his head looking back over his shoulders, waiting.

Ketrien moved slowly and in a non threatening manor towards her, stopping every time she got nervous. 'Poor creature,' he thought 'I wish not to harm you, see how I move, notice the my attitude, the manor in which I approach.' Ket swayed his tail slowly. He could hear her anxious breathing as he approached, and decided to stop several feet from her. Again he bowed his head sniffing at the ground, eyes focused on her,then slumped to the ground lazily.

He settled his head upon his massive paws and huffed laying under the shade of a tall orchard tree. He relaxed himself hoping that the fair women would see that his intent wasn't of a violent nature.

[Nailah]

Nailah had not known people could be so still but she was doing her best to imitate a statue as the beast crept closer. It didn’t lunge or move quickly, and she wondered if it was going to pounce then sweep her up in its jaws. Her breath came out in a whoosh when it simply sat beside her, and watched her. Her muscles relaxed chime by chime, first her neck, then her shoulder, her arms, her legs, all the way down in a slow shudder.

It’s not going to eat me. She watched it watching her, I hope.

Licking her lips she reached down slowly, much like the creatures own movements and filled her hands with water to splash herself again but not daring to shut her eyes. Blinking the water out of her eyes, she felt it mix with the sweat on her neck, and tentatively spoke to it, much like she attempted to do with her horse. “…you are…escaping the…heat as well?”

After a few seconds she slowly turned away and kicked her feet, watching the tiny fish dart away from her feet in aggravation and fear. Another heartbeat, and she was at peace again, awkward but not completely nervous.

“I…wonder if you…like fish.” She swirled a finger in the water, watching the reflection of her own scales, “…I am…not a fish.”

The creature still watched her, and she returned the favor, noting the whispers and strips. It looked like a cat. She decided it was a cat, and pulled back suddenly, startled. Nailah hadn’t realized she had gotten the close to it. She had pulled herself out of the water and now sat less than a foot away from it. And creeping a few feet to their left was another of the colorful snakes, Nailah was beginning to wonder if it had been such a good idea to come out into an area with so many things that could eat her.

[Ketrien Ymiir]

Ketrien admired the women greatly, most people would have attacked him on sight for his pelt or out of fear, she did not. Though from his perspective he wouldn't blame anyone for that. He stared at her for awhile then into the crystal clear pond, his eyes lazily shutting and embracing the mild cool of the shade they were under. But his attention was drawn towards the snake that had also caught her eye. Sensing rather than feeling her discomfort he raised his massive paw and swatted it away with lightning quick reflexes.

'She must not be an outdoors person.' Ket thought.

He lifted his head and nudged her arm softly before standing his reddish orange fur jostling in the slight breeze. He walked slowly over to the waters lowering his mouth to drink long and slow. The cool sweet waters ran gracefully down his throat, offering him a brief respite from the suns heat. Deciding it was not enough he lunged into the water, interrupting the pools serenity. Taking a deep breath Ket dived to the cooler bottom, feeling relieved as the colder depths seep into his muscles cooling him sufficiently. After many seconds of this he surfaced treading lightly over to the shore.

Ket raised himself onto the grassy knoll and with a spark of mischief in his eyes, shook violently spraying a fine mist over the woman before plopping next to her again almost apologetically. He studied her as he lay there her fair skin and light features reminded him greatly of someone he had met once before.

'A truly astonishing race these Konti,' Ketrien reflected. 'I wonder if they are all this gentle in nature, well most at least.'

Ketrien caught himself staring and laid his head upon his paws and huffed a little embarrassed. His tail swaying lightly in the grass, the noon day sun beating down on the sparkling waters in front of them. The suns light catching on the scales of the silvery fish as they darted from place to place.

'I wonder,' Ket's earlier thought surfaced. if it is indeed true that she has never before met one of my kind, if so what I'm about to do next will truly amaze her.

Ket narrowed his eyes and perked his ears up listening for any unwelcome spectators, catching scent of none but himself and the woman beside him. He stood slowly stretching and letting out a big yawn, before heading over to his backpack. Scooping it up in his massive jaws he circled back to the bushes near the woman and ducked behind them. Closing his eyes he effortlessly began to shift, his paws becoming human hands and feet, fur becoming skin and his jagged teeth becoming blunted molars. Standing he looked towards the woman and smiled slightly.

"Greetings miss." he said slightly mischievous. "I believed that it was in fact time to truly introduce myself, My name is Ketrien, Ketrien Ymiir." he nodded and his shaggy dark hair fell around his face. But he knew she was taken aback, for who could not notice his vibrant eyes, one yellow and the other green.

[Nailah]

Sosicly left out a soft gasp when he swatted the snake away, but it came back a bit agitated. Almost against her will she tugged off her glove and reached out to the snake. It didn't avoid her but didn't approach closer when she held out a hand. Crawling forehead she brushed a hand over it hoping to soothe over anything from the swat though she wasn't sure it there was anything.

I've never seen this fruit before. I hope he does not eat it here. Pulling her hand back she felt the cool spray of water. The snake appeased now seemed to have gone, and Nailah was sure the large cat would cause her no harm. Unless it grew hungry. She smiled at it then flicked the water out of her eyes and slipped a glove back on.

Curiously the creature picked up a knapsack and left. Trained like a dog? Maybe it has an owner. It then proceeded to walked away, rustling the undergrowth, "...goodbye."

Part relieved, part sad to see it go she returned to her initial position in the water, flinching in surprise when she heard a voice behind her. Confused at his greeting she stayed silent,but looked at the bush where he stood and the knapsack in his hands. "...You are...the cat?"

"I am Nailah." She stood to greet him, and noted the eyes, the same color as the cats, I cannot remember what they are called.

[Ketrien Ymiir]

The confused look on her face gave Ket reason to pause, but was swiftly relieved when she spoke. "Indeed I am the cat you speak of, it is a pleasure to meet you Nailah." Ketrien nodded and moved from the bushes advancing slowly, as to not spook her more than she already was. Sitting beside her once again and placing the satchel in front of him, he stared out at the water the shimmering pool rippled softly in the cool breeze. His arrow wound had not fully healed yet and still bothered him greatly, but he did not let it show.

The breeze brushed through his shaggy hair and felt cool against his skin as he sat there under the shade with his new friend. "The grove is nice today, Yes?" After She did not answer Ket stared into the waters, the soothing display of reflected sunlight reminded him of a far off pool he had once visited a long time ago.

"It has been, several years I think, since I have communed with someone who knows of my true self," his vision turned to flashing memories of a childhood he would never forget. "do you know of my race? Do you know of the Kelvic people?"