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[Marcus Gray-Dawn]

Day 2 Summer, 513 AV Marcus had been here for far too long. He had enjoyed the hospitality of his fellow Drykas a little too much, and now he somehow managed to stay in Endrykas entirely too long. He walked through the various tents and Pavilions of the different clans, admiring their crafting skill and other talents. He was born into a proud and noble race, but why did he defy it so? Marcus had made his way into the center of the mass of tents, which acted as a town square of sorts. Various different people, Drykas and outlander alike, were here selling or buying the goods the vendors had displayed. Directly in the center was a small group of Drykas children gathered around an older Ankal as he recited some of the heroic tales of past Drykas warriors. Marcus walked over to the small gathering and took out his pipe and began to smoke it. Closing his eyes allowing the images from the story to play out in his head. He had always loved listening to stories of all kind, and in his journeys he had heard many. From a giant sea creature attacking boats, to giant Glassbeaks here in the Sea of Grass. Fact or fiction, it made no difference to Marcus, as long as the story was good.

[Mihiya Darkmane]

Mihiya was tired. It was extremely common for her to be tired, particularly when she spent most of her time hunting or out riding. That could be her only excuse when she ran directly into a man who was out wandering Endrykas. The impact jarred her out of her thoughts and she stammered as she backed away.

"I'm so sorry," she murmured as she backed away from the man who she had run into, examining him closely. He was older than many of the men she had encountered, At least as old as her adoptive father, perhaps even older. She wasn't quite certain on that. His hair was long and silvered, but there was a certain intelligence and wisdom in his appearence.

"I am Mihiya Darkmane, Amethyst Clan," she murmured. Internally she felt stupid for having run into the man. Just because she'd been out all night and was tired from her excursions did not give her an excuse to just run into people.

[Marcus Gray-Dawn]

Marcus had been in a semi-peaceful moment as he thought about the old Ankal telling the children stories of the Drykas' past, when a sudden impact in his back made him stumble forward slightly and nearly knocked him over. Anger flooded the old warrior's mind and had he not been in Endrykas he would have drew his blade and demanded retribution, but instead he would settle for a good old fashioned pummeling. "What in Caiya's name!" He shouted as he turned around ready to pounce on the attacker, his anger was somewhat quelled when he saw the young girl behind him. She had obviously not meant to bump into Marcus for she quickly apologized and introduced herself. She was a young rather attractive girl, near to marrying age if not already. Marcus would not raise his hand to a woman, even more so a young girl. He would however give her an earful. "Well Mihiya Darkmane of the Amethyst Clan, do you make it a habit of running in to unsuspecting old men or am I an exception?"

[Mihiya Darkmane]

She backed farther away, though her temper flared. She had apologized, she saw no reason for this kind of berating. A retort was on the tip of her tongue but she swallowed it back. He was exactly the kind of old man to complain about "her" generation, about how rude they were and about how they had no concern for anyone but themselves. He would be just the type.

"I said I was sorry," she responded, finally, her dark eyes flashing as she glared at him. Emotions were too easy to read on the girl's face. She was bad at keeping them under control, and worse was that she was unaware of it. Her cheeks flushed as she tried to think of some other way to respond, a way that was at least semi-respectful. She didn't wish to make this old man lash out at her.

"I am not usually this clumsy," she added, a bit of defiance in her voice, "I have been up most of the night, trying to learn how to hunt."

[Marcus Gray-Dawn]

Anger flared across the young woman's face as she took a step back and once again spoke her apology. There was spirit in this girl, Marcus could tell by how poorly she hid her true feelings. Marcus blew a thick cloud of white smoke towards the girl and smiled a grin through his bearded face. He was eager to see how this young woman would react to what he was about to say. He didn't know this girl, but after this chance meeting perhaps he could impart some wisdom upon one of the younger generation before he left and continued his quest. "Don't hide your emotions child. Drykas are people of action, and it doesn't suit you." He took another deep breath off of his pipe thought about the young girl. Marcus was a firm believer that everything happened by Caiyha's will, and perhaps this girl was another trial for him to overcome on his journey. He straitened up and stood at his tallest while his eyes narrowed and focused on the young girl. If the girl had truly been out hunting than she had earned her wind marks, and her place among her people. If that were the case, he referring to her as a child is a great insult. Marcus smiled and waited on her reaction.

[Mihiya Darkmane]

Normally, being told that she should reveal more of her emotions would have been a welcome boon. Her adoptive mother was always chiding her to be more careful with what she revealed, that if she was too blunt and forward she might scare away a man. She almost snorted at the memory, because after all Drykas were blunt people, but remembered before doing so that she was in another's company and he might not understand why she was snorting.

However, this man calling her child rubbed her wrong. She was not a child. She had windmarks, she had a Strider, she could hunt...in a fashion. She even had a sword. These were all things that made her more than a child, but then...perhaps this man was too old to see that.

"I am no child," she responded, eyes shooting daggers at the white bearded one, "I am of marrying age, and a woman. I have a Strider, I bear the windmarks of our people. I am no child." Her eyes narrowed as she surveyed him. Would addressing him as old man cross a line? Perhaps she'd best keep the most aggressive of her retorts closed in her mind.

[Marcus Gray-Dawn]

The smile never faded from Marcus' face. He proudly stood there as the young woman lashed out at him, clearly carrying anger in the intense rhythm of her voice. Perhaps he had prodded her ego too much? He had hoped to entice a reaction from her as a sort of penance for nearly knocking him over, but she looked generally angry. Yet Marcus did not flinch as she spoke, he simply nodded as in agreement to her words, and when she finished speaking he withdrew his pipe and starred directly into the girl's eyes. "You think I address you as child for your age, and while it is true you are indeed young this is not the reason for why I do so. Marcus took a step towards the girl standing at his tallest while continuing to speak "No, I measure a person's worth by the actions of their life. Standing tall in the face of danger with death at your back, and claiming glory against all odds. Facing adversity and prejudice in foreign lands. Braving the unknown for the betterment of your people. These are testament of a true Drykas, and while I am sure you are a fine hunter. In my eyes, all I see is a child with a stick." The smile had faded from his face, and only the scarred aged face of the man remained. His piercing eyes cast their glare upon the young woman as he finished speaking, and watched her closely.

[Mihiya Darkmane]

She bit her tongue to avoid interrupting the man. A child with a stick indeed, this was not an accurate statement, though neither was it an accurate statement to say she was a "fine" hunter. She was a poor hunter, but that was more due to lack of skill with her chosen weapons than being bad at actually locating prey. She wished she could prove this man wrong, but she knew where she was beaten and accepted his determination without response.

"Perhaps you'd care to teach me how to be more than just a child with a stick?" she asserted after he had stopped talking, "Perhaps you could teach me to fight, help me hunt, become a mentor. After all, surely with your years you have seen much more than I have and could prove a valuable teacher. If I am yet a child, perhaps I need more guidance?" She raised her eyebrow at him, interested in his response. Would he agree that she needed tutelage (for she did indeed) or would he merely snort at her and imply that she was too snappy to make a good student? Either way, she anticipated his response.

"Though, I must admit, my weapon skill is sadly lacking. I am only a child, after all." Her tone was sour, though her anger was not directed, this time, at the man who had confronted her. She was sour due to the fact that she had never learned weapon skills. She was an Endrykas woman, she should have learned swordplay when she was young, should have learned how to fight or how to hunt, or something...but all she was good at was riding. And though she was comfortable in the Yvas, it annoyed her that she was inept at everything else.

[Marcus Gray-Dawn]

Marucs' words had clearly struck a nerve of some sort, for the young woman let her irritability flash across her face. Through gritted teeth she asked for Marcus' help, which had greatly caught him off guard. Sure they were both Drykas, and their people were known for having close bonds and pulling together. However Marcus and this young woman had never before met, and asking a complete stranger for help was either a feat of great desperation or great determination. When it came down to teaching anything, Marcus was really only qualified to teach swordplay. His hunting skill was decent enough, but after years of travel and relying on trading instead of hunting his ability had considerably decreased. Though if this girl truly sought help in increasing her ability with a sword, then Marcus would oblige her, if for no other reason then to boss her around. "You wish to learn how to handle a blade then?" Marcus' gruff voice rang out as he spoke "Very well, follow me. Oh, and bring your stick child." As he finished speaking he turned to walk towards the edge of Endrykas so he could teach the girl without distraction.

[Mihiya Darkmane]

To say she was surprised that the man agreed to teach her would be an understatement. He would have been well within his right to refuse, and she would have not been surprised with such a turn of events. Still, the man seemed willing to comply and this intrigued her. She would follow him, she decided in a heartbeat as she trekked after the man who had agreed to teach her swordplay. She had only a shortsword, one she kept on her at all times, and she hoped he would not make fun of it. She had a certain attachment to the sword, even though she had no clue as to how to use it.

"I thank you, sir, though I wonder...would you perhaps tell me your name?" Surely the ill tempered elder would not deny such a request. He was not someone she had seen around in Endrykas, though it seemed that since he was of an age, there could be no doubts that he had lived there for quite sometime, though perhaps he had traveled and only returned to Endrykas for a short stay. She had heard of Drykas men and women who traveled, on occasion even bringing back foreigners...like her Ankal's wives. After all, the Drykas people were not opposed to new blood in their lines.

"I regret to say that I am not very able with a sword," the girl added after a moment "Your offer is extremely kind, though I hope you know what you're getting yourself into..." she trailed off with a shrug. She was a poor swordswoman and had nowhere to go but up. If this man could endure her fumbling about, he could certainly train her to be much better than she was now.