Flashback On The Trail

[Marcus Gray-Dawn]

Day 26 of Spring, 506AV Marcus set high atop his horse as he listened to the others preparing to track the dangerous pack of Glassbeaks that have been prowling local hunting grounds, and attacking hunting parties. Many Drykas have gathered to help rid the plains of this particular pack of beasts to make it safer for their own people. Though Marcus spent most of his time away from his home in the rolling plains of the Sea of Grass, when he did return he did all he could to remind those here of his Drykas heritage. Now he, and the others in his group, would be traveling out into the Sea of Grass with the hopes of finding the beasts first. Before Marcus knows it the majority of the hunters are pairing off and leaving in search of the Glassbeaks. Marcus simply looks around and begins to think of which area of the plains he wishes to search. He decided to head to the southern trek of the Sea of Grass seeing as how most of the hunters were heading towards the more frequently traveled hunting trails. He figured that with so many others heading in other directions, the Glassbeaks would be flushed in his direction. However now he had another problem, he was alone. Even the most experienced of Drykas know better than to try to take on even a single Glassbeak alone, so Marcus would have to find someone to head out into the plains with him. He began looking around for any that haven't already left the main group.

[Delani Denusk]

The rumors of the pack had spread swiftly through the clans, the song on the web deep and frought with hellish stories of the gruesome assaults it had caused. And for all the danger that was presented, there was only one thing from it that Delani wanted to know: why?

Why had this pack become so aggressive, so violent? They were master hunters already, apex predators few other beasts in the Sea could stand against. Even the Drykas preferred running to fighting the birds for the lethality of it was immense. Only Akalaks would fight them alone...but the colored-skinned bi-souls were different from the humans of the grasslands. Bolder, for one. But that mattered little. It was a brave Drykas that chose to hunt a glassbeak, let alone a pack of them, so hearing that many had set out on this quest to rid the region of that individual threat, Delani was intrigued.

The twenty-seven year old had quickly readied her strider, packing supplies from her pavilion and leaving to meet with the troupe which intended to strike out and return a modicum of safety to the people of the horse. She only wanted to know why the birds were being such a threat this time; what benefits might come from this lesson were always welcome. So it came as no surprise when the woman joined, an oddity in itself considering the protective nature Drykas had of their women and children. Why would a woman who was not a warrior or hunter want to participate in a hunting party?

If that question had to be asked, they had never met Delani. The inquisitive Denusk sat her strider easily, looking about the other horsemen as the troupe thinned, trying to find one that would let her shadow them. They needn't protect her, she was decent enough with her falx and the strider which shared her name was as sure-footed as any (not all of whom in this crowd rode the preferred horse of the Sea). A mare with an intelligent eye, to say the least, one who'd been on enough adventures with her rider to sing her own history into the Web...had she such skills as others in Sapphire pavilion, and were she not but a humble horse. The human atop the mare did not bare webbing skill either, but it did not matter. The bright mind within that braided head made up for that lacking ability, enabling Delani along a course for knowledge and wisdom.

And so, she spotted Marcus, his blonde hair standing out in the swath of browns and blacks and in-betweens. Dela clucked her mare forth, drawing even with Marcus and leaning forward to relax upon the pretty horse. "You seem to be lacking a partner for this intrepid adventure." She signed, smiling as she spoke. "If you find no offense in the company of a woman, I would not object to joining your route."

If he recognized the Denusk, he would know her as one of the few women in her family not wed or baring children. He would also know her for her knowledge of the Sea's geography and riding ability. But over all of that, she was recognized as the one who always wished to know. It mattered little on what the subject was, only that she wanted to know and understand. "Of course, if you were to be like the others..." She waved her hand to the other men finishing preparations and readying to leave, some who gave the curious woman a sidelong glance of disapproval at her inclusion on this mission. "...perhaps I will have to find my own way; but that would leave you alone to stand against the beasts. A game I do not think you would find fond to play." Leaning down and offering a weathered hand (a woman of work by the callouses upon them, though one could only imagine what work given the ever-questioning mind supporting that hand) to him for grasping. "I am Delani of Denusk."

x

[Marcus Gray-Dawn]

The wind had began to pick up, and as the breeze blew across the top of the flowing reeds of the plains Marcus remembered the beauty of his home. Spring upon the Sea of Grass was one of the world's last true pure wonders, and this is why his people cherished it so. It saddened Marcus that the beauty and bounty that the bring brought to this land was dampened by the brutality committed by the ferocious pack of Glassbeaks, and Marcus knew that only silencing the beasts for good could cure the land. However; despite his loyalty and dedication, Marcus was no fool and he would'nt set out alone at any cost. Before his train of thought was finished, he was approached. She was a young woman, striking features and lovely blonde-brown hair, however she didn't seem like the other Drykas matrons that attended to their husbands whims without a second thought. Marcus' first thought of her was that she was searching for her husband to bid a farewell, she seemed well over the age of marriage and most girls were married quickly. It was to his surprise when she instead approached him and began to speak. She spoke with confidence and pride, her words carrying great strength and weight behind them. "Of course not, for only Drykas women give birth to real men. I must ask however, would your Ankal or husband approve of such a venture?" Marcus tried to sound as humble as possible. He knew his age was far greater than the woman's, so he wished to be as polite as possible so he did not scare her away. The woman had continued to speak elegantly addressing Marcus as if she were his equal, and not a one just meant to bare children. Marcus was greatly honored that she had chosen him to accompany, this would be a dangerous journey and to Marcus this meant she trusted his ability. She extended her hand for Marcus to take, and so he reached out to take it. Half expecting to feel the soft velvet hands of one from pampered birth, but he was wrong. Her hands told the story of her life in the lines between her callouses, and Marcus knew this was no ordinary woman. "There is no need for that talk, come let us head south. The others heading in the same direction might play in our favor. I am Marcus Gray-Dawn of the Diamond Clan, it is an honor to meet you."

[Delani Denusk]

Delani laughed, gripping the offered hand briefly in the way a woman might, a gentle squeeze, and then sliding her hand up to allow greeting the way a warrior would. She closed fingers firmly upon his forearm and then retreated, straightening upon her mare. "I have no husband from whom I must inquire such and my dear Ankal has never stopped my curiosities before. I have an interest to find out why this pack is hunting us so much more ferociously than others of their kind have in generations passed. What has changed? Are we endangering their young in some way? If I learn, the paths we take might be altered to prevent such circumstances in the future."

Patting the mares neck lovingly, Dela finally bowed her head to the man below, her mature face brightening with a smile. She was far from the most stunning woman in the clans, let alone her own pavilion (Dela always thought Kavala prettier); instead there was a sort of wild intelligence about her, emphasized by the brilliant jades that stared down at him. "Hile, Marcus. The honor is mine to ride with a warrior of Diamond, a privilege I so rarely get to indulge in. I am Delani Denusk, of Sapphire." The stories of the Denusk pavilion were rampant enough, rumors of strange happenings in the family, of deaths in the women and the children. One would not go so far as to say a curse, just yet, though, but it hung in the back of everyone's mind nonetheless.

x

[Marcus Gray-Dawn]

Marcus was genuinely surprised by how bold this woman was. She seemed unafraid of the Glassbeaks, but even more impressive was how frank she was with Marcus. Drykas women were indeed bold, but this was an entirely new level of that and Marcus wasn't quite sure how to address it. The woman took hold of his forearm and tightly gripped it, so Marcus returned to greeting but firmly taking hold of her arm then quickly releasing. The woman was unwed, which was indeed a oddity in it's ow right. Drykas were always looking to build up their families and clans, so when a woman came of age she was normally quickly wed. The fact that she wasn't meant that she was a very prideful woman, and had been able to fight off the advances of many a men. "Well with no one left alone in a cold bed, and your Ankal not caring I see no problem with riding with you. Marcus said the continued to speak "and as far as the Glassbeaks im unsure. I know that there isn't a lack of food at the moment, so it isn't out of hunger. Perhaps their nest was disturbed, but would that drive them to this? It is unclear to me." Marucs was fully aware who the Denusk were. They were relatively well know among the Pavilions of Endrykas, but misfortune had fallen on them several times. Marcus didn't mention this however because he believed the individual outweighed the actions of their clan. He was eager to see how far this woman would go with him before turning back, if she did at all. "Ok Delani Denusk of the Saphire Clan, let us head towards the south glen. If they had passed through there recently there should be sign of them through the hunting trails there."

[Delani Denusk]

Dela scoffed a little when he said such of her Ankal. "It is hardly that he does not care, Marcus of Diamond." She said, straightening easily on the mare, the mature horse pawing the ground briefly as her rider looked down at the man. "He knows well my interests and intrigues and knows the benefits my curiosity often bring to the pavilion or to the clan. Eachann is nothing if not wise, and why inhibit the yearning for knowledge when it has thusfar benefited the family?" Here, the woman eased off on her signing to touch the side of her head with an index finger. "A curious mind can shed light where others fear to tread." To this, the strider seemed to bob her head in agreement, the long face tossing first up and then down, tickling her rider with the bi-colored mane.

When it seemed the man settled into the proposition of her joining, the woman gave a nod, using her knees to gently guide the mare around in the direction he had so indicated. "A suitable start; and if the others are behind them, we may yet catch up. Have you the gear to suppress them should they be upon us when we are not ready?" Traps and such, or a swift horse to flee the lethal sprinters. "I should hate to have fallen in line with you, fine warrior, if you yourself were not prepared." The dame waited for a response before clucking the horse on again, leading the way. The only tracks they would find would have to be outside the city-lines, otherwise the trails would be obscured by the presence of the citizens of the migrating city.

x

[Marcus Gray-Dawn]

"Tarlok is an old strider, but he is my oldest and most trusted friend. If I need him he will come without fear, which is less than I can say about some people I know." Marcus said with softness and care in his voice as he ran his fingers across the scars that Tarlok had running down his neck. "As far as a means of disposing of these creatures, I have a plan it we do indeed find signs of them. Though it may be slightly out of date compared to what the other hunters are bringing." Marcus sat high atop his horse as he finished speaking. He had hoped he had sated the woman's curiosity for now at least. He could feel the gentle sway of the land as Tarlok walked southward, and Marcus couldn't help but hope they would find signs of the dreaded Glassbeaks.

[Delani Denusk]

Dela only gave a plaintive smile at his depiction of others compared to the horse he sat astride, one that suggested she had much to say, but little desire to let such thoughts be heard through lips and fingers alike. What was more, as she studied him from her own vantage, she could almost make out in his eyes the want of her questions to be suppressed. This, the woman nearly laughed at aloud. The only sure way to quell the constant curiosity would have been to strike her blind, deaf, and dumb. No god had yet done that, nor man for that matter, so until then, the inquisitive mind would remain strong and true to the course her life had taken.

The woman kept the mare about two paces off Marcus' right flank, her eyes searching around them as they moved out, and leaving the front and down search to him. Silence would not linger for long, however, as the need to talk came. But Delani spoke softly should the foe they tracked be closer than they believed. "So, Marcus-" She began. "How fares your pavilion this season?" A simple stepping stone for conversation while they rode until signs were sign and sounds heard.

x

[Marcus Gray-Dawn]

Marcus gently swayed back and forth as Tarlok trudged onward through the vast ocean of tall reeds. He had been enjoying the silence as his eyes scanned the horizon for signs of the Glassbeaks and the ground for their tracks, however; it was not meant to be. The voice of Delani cut through the silence as she tried to strike up conversation about Marcus' Pavilion, it was a touchy subject but she had no way of knowing. "Well my friend, I belong to no Pavilion. I know it is odd, but I travel far to much to be considered an equal among the others of my family. I do not blame them however, we Drykas rely on each other and you can't put your faith in one that is always absent." He put on a strong face, but in reality it hurt him that he no longer resided amongst his brothers and sisters. He would never abandon his quest, but he was still a Drykas and family was important. He had often wondered of how his life would differ should he return home for good one day, but when he does the guilt always creeps over him causing him to avert his thoughts. Perhaps one day he would return, but for now his search must continue. They hadn't been riding long, and the southern pass was a good deal away. It was a good chance that the Glassbeaks were there, Marcus only hoped they would beat them there so the trap could be set. As he thought this he could hear the steps of his companions horse. He wondered how she would respond, and feel, about him being without a Pavilon.

[Delani Denusk]

The matron frowned in consideration, the mare beneath her giving her tail a single flick against a fly that had chosen her rump as a spot to rest. He was without family? How curious.

"If they do not consider you of their family now-" She tested with this, first, unsure if that was what he meant by saying he no longer belonged. "-then why claim your family's name in conjunction with your chosen? An exile would truly be of no family or clan, and you do not appear to be an exile." It took no urging against the mares sides to encourage her forwards some, the soft hoof-falls of the strider intensifying briefly as she drew even with the man. "We Drykas do rely on one another, true, but you are still part of their family. Sometimes the hoof needs more trails than the pavilions take. Perhaps they could acknowledge your travels as a scout instead of a vagrant." She smiled; it was a sincere thing, words spoken out of wisdom learned.

Something shuffled the grass on either side of the trail up ahead. The woman pulled her like-named strider to a halt with a quick touch to her mane and laid her opposite hand upon the hilt of the falx. One could never know what might come tromping through the brush and onto the paths; if it were a glassbeak, though the horses would have known immediately and likely not allowed their riders so close, or would have turned and fled. It was instinctual to flee the flightless killers.

Delani leaned down into the horse and whispered softly in her ear, "What do you smell ol' girl..." As both mount and rider stared upon the point where something approached the path from the left. Predator or prey...what would it be?

x