When the Stars Align... (Raiha)

[Akasha]

60th of Summer 510 AV

It hadn’t been long since Rae had left Akasha to fend for herself. The days had stretched and seemingly merged together, as the kelvic was naturally inclined to hunt and do normal, active things under the cover of night. There were many things that prowled the grasslands at this time: glass beaks, criminals, creatures that could take a grown man down in a sweep of their claws, and more importantly, Zith. But what was far more curious than all of these was the shadow that soared through the sea of stars and the curtain of indigo blue that painted the sky. Akasha had been in her bestial form for quite a while. She had shed her belongings the day the Drykas swordswoman left her, and all she had on her person was her treasured katana, hanging by it’s strap from her enormous beak.

The large eagle owl was circling the land below, almost absently, because certain disappointing and furious thoughts swirled in her mind while in her everlasting search for prey. Rae had refused to bond with her. She was angry, partly at the woman, and partly at herself for trying to even establish a connection. Was she too weak for her? Was she incompetent? A liability that the woman had to take care of from day one? Rae had told her it was necessary to go out into the world and explore it further, to find what it was she truly wanted and not connect to the first person that treated her kindly. Akasha shook her head. Ridiculous! She cursed. But there was something in her acute vision that caught her attention, wrenching her mind away from the agony of rejection and activating the predator she was inside.

Humanoid in appearance alone, but with a grayish hue to the fur encased skin and bat like wings that sprouted from his shoulder blades, it was clear to the kelvic it was a Zith. She had seen them often on her frequent escapades at night and had been told of them by Rae, but she hadn’t thought much of them until now. She needed something to tear into, to beat on until she felt better about herself and held more confidence, and it appeared she had a volunteer. Tugging her wings into her body, she shrieked and dived fast, tearing through thin wisps of clouds. The zith had looked up at the noise, startled, and Akasha was driven by the sheer fear that erupted in his eyes. She laughed to herself, exhilarated as she spread her wings, talons extended forward and tore at the soil where the zith once stood. It had flown off in a flurry of fur, only to have Akasha soon garner enough strength to launch herself off and give chase.

Fifteen minutes came and went as the two creatures zigzagged their way across the plains. The zith was quick, but with a simple flap of her wings Akasha propelled herself through the air and came just a few inches away from her prey’s foot. He had cried in fright at the sight of her, but they had flown far, and there was something in the distance formulating and converging to form what appeared to be buildings. In her constant state of curiosity, the kelvic had slowed in her pursuit of the zith and extended her wings far to slow herself down. In that opening, the zith had flown off, disappearing into the distance. Petch, he slipped away, she growled in her mind, but her large, orange eyes had settled themselves on the city. Or she supposed it was a city. She held no name for it, but she was also cautious of getting too close. Hovering several feet above the ground, she landed with a soft thump and observed her surroundings.

The structures were several miles away, but her eyes, as defined as they were, could discern just what they were. She needn’t get any closer, there was enough action out in the Sea of Grass for her liking, and she was intent on tracking down that zith and reclaiming what was her rightful kill. Making sure she still held her katana in her beak, she began to flap her wings to launch herself off the ground.

[Raiha]

Raiha loved twilight.

It held a special meaning for her - just like how she was neither Konti nor Akalak, twilight was a time when it was neither day nor night. Twilight marked when the world began changing as the diurnal creatures retired, and the nocturnal creatures began to come out, or when the creatures of the night went to rest to leave the day-runners to their time in the sunshine. To her, it was perfect. If you were patient and quiet, you could see plenty. She loved watching the sunsets, preferably from a good vantage point, with Asim and Laeraix. That was the beauty of the mews - being on the second level of Sanctuary, they could look out over the land and water and watch the sun go down. And, Raiha knew, if you used Auristics, you could see even more... even though it was not a particularly smart idea to look directly at the sun while you were using your Auristics. But to look at the land before her, to watch the way auras blossomed and grew and changed was to bring to life a whole new world. The auras that came in to sight when she concentrated on the Djed presented a confusing picture to a novice, and Raiha and Kanikra were dubious about one thing: using Auristics as a crutch when they should also be working on honing their natural instincts. They could see the heat of others, and in twilight, when there was still some light, while the sun was still present before dipping below the horizon, there was very little change. But when the day went down to dusk, everything changed.

From the moment she had left Sanctuary, she had been looking. Raiha was on the hunt tonight for something else. She hadn't brought Diallo, though that might have been a smart thing to do, considering the style of nature that surrounded them. Uzima would have been next to useless, and like as not become a prey bird to be brought out at night. No, Raiha was looking for owls. More accurately, she was looking for signs of them, preferably a nest or two that she could observe and watch, and see about pilfering an owlet from a nest. Sure, there was the one-eyed barn owl that they had in Sanctuary, but that was entirely different from having one that you had raised and trained yourself. A falconer did best when they trained their own birds from a very young age, if not from hatchlings or eggs. Everyone had a different approach to animals, and trainers could spend years working with them... all for that work to be undone in a single day by someone who didn't know what they were doing. But regardless, she wanted an owl to hunt with at night. She had Uzima and Laeraix during the day, but the Akajia ruled the night time, and not to be present then, too, was a disservice to the Night-Mother. It really is, you know. We're hers as well. You could stand to sleep a little less, or change your hours. Work something out with Kavala.

Kavala needs help during the day. That's when we're busiest. I couldn't very well ask her for time off during the day... it would look like I'm slacking, Raiha argued. That's not fair to her. She pulls her weight. I have to pull mine. Less sleep, I guess, and more being up at all hours. There's bound to be a way to get by without sleeping...

Now you're just being stupid, Kanikra scoffed. It's not about sleeping less, it's about being more disciplined in how we go about it. Energy efficiency. Power naps. Focus. Discipline, sweet sister mine... it's all about discipline. See what I'm saying? Less of Laviku and Avalis, more of Wysar and Akajia. There's a balance you need to walk...

That's unfair, Raiha cut in. I do try to strike that balance. I don't spend all my thoughts and time worshiping Laviku and Avalis--

No, but you spent 23 years there in Mura. And this is only our second season here. Look at the discrepancy.

This is my fault how? Raiha wanted to know, feeling that prickle of resentment, no matter how she tried to suppress it. She knew that Kanikra desired that feeling and sought to cause it... to aggravate, frustrate, annoy. Raiha hated giving the petching bitch the satisfaction.

Point enough. But you have a lot of lost time to make up for. Don't waste it!

As she made her way from Sanctuary, she listened. She listened to the sounds of nature around her, listening for the tell-tale calls that would alert her to their presence without disturbing them. She opened her mind to the birds, listening. Fatigue. Fear. Hunger. She walked through the trees, her step assured, her step quiet. She concentrated on the Djed, bringing it to focus in her eyes. It always took a moment to adjust to the change, to let the auras surround her. Her eyes opened, she continued her quiet walk, watching not just the ground above her for land predators, but the trees and skies. She looked for the pellets, the regurgitated remains of an owl's prey, and listened for their hoots, their screams and hisses and screams. She was close enough to Riverfall that there shouldn't be any Zith here, and any she found she would have to hope she would shock and overwhelm... or make it back through the trees to relative safety. The woods were full of weapons if you just knew how to use them.

So engrossed in her search the Akontak was that she hardly realized how far she had walked, or what time it was. She emerged from the woods to find the Sea of Grass, and this revelation caused her to purse her lips. That meant she'd gone too far. But by turning, she could see the city and its buildings and gates. She could go back in there, that way, and walk home to Sanctuary. She was contemplating this, and indeed heading that way, when a large aura on the horizon caught her eye. She stopped, breathless with wonder at the sight, and stared. It was huge. It was enormous. And it was undeniably avian. By the Goddess...!

Raiha knew birds. She knew some creatures just ended up being massively oversized versions, dire creatures. And this had to be one of them, surely? She'd heard legends of the giant eagles of Kalea, but this... was a bit far from Kalea. The Akontak changed course ever so slightly, wanting to get a closer look, her gold eyes huge. She knew the anatomy - this was of the owls, not the eagles and raptors. Their bodies had slight indicators to tell you which was which, if you knew what you were looking at. Now that, Kanikra told her, is the size of owl we should be looking into. We could give Dyrid a real run for the title of top provider.

You've finally gone insane! We'd ---

There is no such thing as sanity, Raiha. Kanikra reminded her. It's only an illusion. It's all in your perspective. You call me crazy... but who are you to talk?

We'd be lunch. Not even lunch. We're a mouthful. Then after us, they'd go onto everything and everyone else in Sanctuary and half of Riverfall before it decided its crop was full, Raiha protested even as she kept going towards the giant owl. Curious, wondering.

Want, take, have.

The Akontak approached slowly, dressed simply, as always. She had no use for fancy dresses and fripperies. She'd only rend and tear them anyway without thinking. The overdone adornment of Mura had probably ruined her for life when it came to it. She preferred things to be simple. Subtle. Pearls never outshone the beauty of gemstones, but they had an understated, elegant brilliance regardless, and proved the fact that less was more. That was what Raiha liked. Oh, she didn't mind a bit of fancy stitching, true, but she didn't like a lot of it. She wore dark colours in an attempt to blend in with the night - her blackened leather trousers and boots, a black vest... almost for naught with her long white hair, underbraided in two braids, as she liked it, where the braids sat on top of her hair instead of under it, from her hair line to the nape of her neck, the ends tied with a bit of cord. Her toned, lean arms were bare, her skin a dusky blue, dark enough that she almost blended in with the night around her. A leather belt encircled her hips, her gauntlets and sheathed weapons, the hunting knife and the pair of suvai, rested there, along with two leather pouches.

Unlike Kavala, whose gift extended to Kelvics, Raiha's didn't seem to, not if Laeraix was any indication... and just as easily, she couldn't feel anything coming from this one, either. And, she realized as she got closer, it held a katana in its beak.

What bird held a katana in its beak? Really and truly? She watched it flap to begin to go up again, and twisted her tongue, letting out a short whistle. Tall as she was, she knew how small she likely appeared to a bird that had what looked to her to be maybe 40 feet of wings. She swallowed the fear that birds knew you had, quelled it down, and reached for calmness, for focus. It was like meditating standing up - emptying her mind of everything but the here and now, of her and the bird she was approaching. She stood there, between the dire eagle owl and the city, and looked up at Akasha, her golden eyes having settled back down to a normal size, having lost the shell-shocked look, and contrasting with her skin. And perhaps oddly... perhaps stupidly... she didn't seem to be afraid.

[Akasha]

The air was fresh, the wind was caressing and welcoming, why stay on land any longer than was necessary when she could soar through the air, and spot whatever it was that wished to hide from her ever-seeing eyes. She was intent on the kill, then perhaps afterwards she would return to this strange city and view it from above. After all, she doubted the denizens would have any sort of contraptions that could shoot a hundred feet into the air, and if they did, then she most certainly deserved it for trespassing, although Akasha would never admit it. She was a rather blunt kelvic, but she understood what was right and wrong by this time, and the consequences that came with her actions were often waved aside. It would certainly be the death of her one of these days.

The kelvic eagle owl hadn’t expected anyone or anything aside from herself and the Zith to be out and about in the swaying sea of green that comprised the plains. When she began flapping her wings, the gusts of wind had torn shrubberies beneath her asunder, and her eyes were locked on the sky above. She was intent on the prospect of flight, until the whistle forced her to a pause. There was someone here! Startled she flayed her wings out wide and shrieked. Her head whipped around, searching for the source of the sound until it fell on the form of a woman. An armed woman, taller than Rae was and her skin appeared as if it coalesced against the sky. She was as exotic as the Eypharians had been when she had a chance meeting with one so long ago. But her large, smoldering orange eyes neither blinked nor strayed from the woman’s form.

She was intrigued. There was something about her that called to Akasha. Some whispering in the back of her mind that implied this stranger had some sort of connection with avians, whether it be weak didn’t matter, the kelvic was amused. Apparently her great size hadn’t frightened this one off, if she was foolish or brave, she didn’t know but she was oh so very pretty! Akasha approached her, so close in fact, that Raiha would be able to reach out and touch the owl if she so wished. Although the look in her enormous eyes suggested that if she did so, she wasn’t sure she would be able to hold back a nibble. She could also sense no fear in her, nothing to suggest she was afraid even when she most likely knew Akasha had the power to overwhelm her quickly, even devour her.

Akasha liked that, a lot.

Five minutes had gone by with simply staring until the kelvic lowered her head and placed the katana she held in her beak on the ground. There was a soft “oo-hooh” as she nudged Raiha with her fluffy forehead and forced her to stumble and fall. She spread her wings, delighted, and shrieked as if in laughter. Oh the mischievous little thing she was. With the Akontak on the ground, she poked her with her immensely large and sharp beak, testing, teasing, attempting to illicit a scream or even laugher, trying to determine what type of person she was without actually speaking to her. Akasha was bored, and when boredom was prominent, the kelvic acted quite strangely.

And then almost as quickly as she had shoved her to the ground, Akasha hoo’d furiously, ruffling her feathers as if in annoyance and took to the air, blasting wave after wave of cold air in Raiha’s face. She settled herself several feet away, tilting her large head and watching, waiting to see what she would do.

[Raiha]

Raiha neither hesitated nor flinched at the bird's piercing shriek, but continued to approach the dire eagle owl, her hands at her sides, palms upraised as if to show that there was nothing there, nothing for Akasha to worry about. Sure, there was nothing to prevent her from drawing the pigstickers she had on her belt, but her body language was relaxed, calm, and confident, not tense and defensive, and she certainly wasn't carrying anything that could hit her in the air. Now that she was closer, facing the Kelvic, Raiha could get a better look at her, seeing the intricate details of the patterns in her feathers, the luminescence of her orange eyes. But the way her legs sat gave her another clue about the bird that the falconer didn't need Auristics to see. "Good evening, Wing-Sister," Raiha greeted Akasha with her usual quietness. Owls had excellent hearing. She had no need of speaking loudly to make herself heard. That was just being rude, especially when Raiha usually didn't speak up much herself. Speak softly and carry a big stick, she mused to herself.

You could stand to speak louder. Show your authority, you know, Kanikra told her, unhelpfully.

Why? That only works if you're trying to scare them. When birds like this get scared, they don't flee. They fight. Do you see us winning against a giant eagle owl? Raiha dismissed the idea immediately, and could practically feel Kanikra roll her eyes. Raiha made no move to touch her, to violate her space, letting Akasha make the first move. She wouldn't startle this one. When Akasha began to lower her head, Raiha watched her, wondering what was going on behind those enormous bright eyes, wondering what the Kelvic was thinking. But she held still regardless, and when she realized what Akasha was doing, it was too late to get away. She let herself fall backwards, landring on the soft grass, letting it cushion and cradle her, wondering just what she was up to now. Kelvic personalities ran the gamut, after all, and there was no knowing and no telling what she was up to. She propped herself up on her elbows, shaking her head and little bit, grinning up at her, her knees bent as if she was prepared to get up.

Only for the bird to start poking at her. The motion tickled, and Raiha laughed aloud, squirming a little on the grass. She deftly angled her stomach to keep the great tip from ripping the skin of her stomach, but she certainly didn't care when the hem of her shirt was shredded when it got caught on the razor-sharp tip. It was nothing she couldn't repair, at any rate, and it wasn't the first time a bird had ripped her clothes. But she expertly caught Akasha's mandible, her lower 'jaw', so to speak, and cupped it with her hand, feeling its smooth surface, and pulled herself from a prone position to sitting upright. She sat in the grass, holding the owl's beak, and studied her, her thumb rubbing slowly, making a slow, calming pressure that worked on Uzima. She knew how sensitive the mandible was, and made sure that didn't tickle her as she brought her other hand up, sliding her palm along the maxilla, her hand disappearing under the feathers. Owls, Raiha knew, had long beaks. People just never realized it with the layers of concealing feathers. Still, her hand traveled under those feathers until she found the base, and stroked gently, her fingers exploring.

It was a rather intimate touch for two who didn't know each other. "My name is Raiha," she told the bird quietly, letting go at the hooting and watching her, waiting to see what she was going to do. She had to prop herself up with her palms, leaning into the gusts formed by Akasha's massive wings, admiring her, forcing her eyes to stay open even as they threatened to water from the strength of the winds. She decided to play to the hand she was dealt. She pushed herself up, getting to her feet, and crossing the distance between them until they were perhaps a foot apart. She held one hand up, her palm parallel with her body, no sign of trembling in her arm, nothing to demonstrate fear. Her hand was level with Akasha's beak, if she so wanted to make the connection. "What do you call yourself, Night-Friend?"

[Akasha]

Wing-sister, she had called her. What an odd name. Akasha saw no wings on her at all, what did she mean? Feathers ruffled and settled almost immediately. There were many things about this stranger that continued to intrigue her. She had gone up close to Raiha and showered her with an assault of her beak, she had not screamed as she expected. She had laughed! Akasha was delighted. She wasn’t a pansy, or a damsel that had no backbone to deal with frightening situations. In a way she reminded her of Rae, no trace of fear, and the stranger even had the audacity to touch her! Ah, but her touch was so comforting. It had been too long since she had ever felt the hand of a human on her feathery body and she cooed softly. But once Raiha’s hand disappeared in her long feathers, she had pulled back.

Now the kelvic simply watched Raiha as she approached her, large fiery orbs unblinking, locked onto every movement. What was she doing? Akasha squinted her eyes ever so slightly, trying to determine the emotions that emanated from her. Determination, no fear, she could sense no fear. The eagle owl hooted softly when Raiha raised her palm up. It was several minutes of questions and thoughts swirling in Akasha’s mind before she reacted. This was a new sensation, a chance meeting. This woman was different than Rae, but similar at the same time. She was drawn to her for reasons she could not place. After a pause, Akasha pressed her large beak against the palm of the Akontak, rubbing against her softly, then in a flash, no longer was there an enormous bird, but a young woman.

Chestnut hair cascaded down over the athletic form of the kelvic. She wore no clothes then, but the chill wind didn’t seem to bother her. Those eyes had not changed, however. She still retained the unnerving stare, the illuminated flames that seemed to glow further from the sheer joy Akasha felt at this chance meeting. She smiled, turning to pick up her katana, the only thing that was held dear on her person aside from her own skin. She turned to address the Akontak. “Raiha,” She repeated, with a Tawna-induced accent still held from days long past. She worked it around her tongue, getting a feel for the name, trying to determine the right way to say it. “I’m Akasha. Night-friend and Wing-sister are cute, but I think you’re being a little too poetic.” She grinned.

Then it was Akasha’s turn to approach Raiha once more. She moved closer, so close in fact, that her nose nearly touched her skin. The blue hue of her skin was mesmerizing. Blue was her favorite color, and things that she enjoyed usually elicited a reaction from her, in this case, running her hands down Raiha’s arm and pinching her cheek. “So it’s not paint! How odd.” She mused, “Raiha of the plains, I sensed you had an affinity for birds. Are you a birdkeeper?” Then as quickly as her curiosity had forced her into contact, she had broke away, dancing along the soft grass then turned and raised her sheathed katana toward the stranger. “You’re special, am I right? There aren’t many people like you, there can’t be. From the skies I can see most everything. This city, I can see people walking the streets, mostly men. They are dark skinned in the night, like you. Akalaks.” She wondered where she had heard the word from, passing travelers, perhaps.

“So, Raiha. Were you looking for Zith too? They are like rats that need to be exterminated, so annoying, the petching little critters.” She scowled, her eyes roaming the horizon ahead. “Their blood would nourish the grown nicely~!”

[Raiha]

Raiha watched Akasha as the Kelvic seemed engaged in an internal debate about whether or not to initiate contact. The Akontak was no help whatsoever, holding her hand steady and still, even as her shoulder began to ache as the chimes ticked by. Discipline was called for - Raiha kept her arm steady and still, waiting, her body language relaxed, almost passive, leaving it entirely up to Akasha as the thoughts raced through her head. Years of practice kept her face calm, serene, patient, despite the inner turmoil and myriad of thoughts churning. How would she react? What was she thinking? Was she bonded? Surely she wasn't bonded, else she wouldn't be reacting like this. Maybe she was and was simply out to play a fairly elaborate hoax. Who knew? You do, Kanikra told her. What does your gut tell you?

To stay calm and focus, Raiha responded as she kept her hand up.

Then listen to your gut instincts. Your gut knows what to do and is doing it long before your head figures it out. In some ways it was almost funny for Kanikra to be encouraging in something like this... Kanikra, who saw people as a means to an end. But Raiha knew what it was. Something that big was capable of some serious damage. Something that big, too, they could like as not ride.

Raiha didn't look away, didn't look down, didn't look around... just captured and held Akasha's orange eyes with her own gold ones. She didn't submit, didn't back away... but she smiled, a smile that lit up her cool, almost childlike features, her blue skin practically glowing when she finally made the touch. Gently, Raiha rubbed her palm against the smooth hardness, not saying a word. She didn't have to. Everything that could be said was right there in that bit of contact that they had. Some things were best said when you said nothing at all.

She lowered her hand as Akasha transformed - she wasn't new to the Kelvic morphing, not anymore, though it had certainly been a shock the first time she had seen it. She studied her as surely as Akasha had studied Raiha earlier, and Raiha found her colouring, her appearance exotic and exquisite. "Akasha... good to meet you. Those are terms I use for respect, not for poetry," Raiha knew it might well come across as arrogant, but that was truthfully how she saw it. The Akontak grinned down at her, watching as teh Kelvic began t inspect her skin. Her blue skin was smooth to the touch, but it certainly wasn't flawless. It was marked with scars, not caused by torture or some other nefarious means, old battle scars that Akasha might well have recognized as coming from a bird's talons, even if none were meant maliciously. She chuckled at Akasha's wonder. "It's not paint, no... my skin really is that colour. The city beyond, that's Riverfall, home of the Akalak, yes. All of them have skin that colour... even in the daytime. Where do you come from?" She watched as Akasha moved back and raised her sword, sheathed as it was. Raiha didn't mind. She had a feeling she was unnerving the Kelvic, which she hadn't intended, but imagined she might well be having that effect. She wouldn't make it worse by drawing anything of her own. Besides, the sheaths were attached to her belt... so there was absolutely no point to it.

"But you're right," Raiha nodded slightly. "There's really very few like me. I'm an Akontak... not quite Konti, and not quite Akalak. I'm a birdkeeper, a falconer... I hunt with a goshawk and an eagle... both of them diurnal." She rested a hand on her hip as she looked at the shorter female. "I wasn't hunting for Zith, actually, but I was looking for an owl to hunt at night with. But the Akalak hunt the Zith fairly routinely... little furry rats with wings that they are," she agreed. "Is that what you were chasing?" she followed Akasha's gaze. By now, the sun had gone down completely, and Raiha reactivated her Auristics, looking beyond the dancing auras of the high grass around them as it undulated in the breeze. Even concentrating, she couldn't spot any particular aura, any Zith, in the distance. "If you were, it's long gone by now. I can't see it."

[Akasha]

Akasha flashed a white smile at Raiha, noticeably pleased. “Did you know blue is my favorite color? I always wondered why their skin was blue. Maybe they eat too many blueberries.” She lowered her katana then distracted, for now, by the conversation that was to be had. Where did she come from, she had asked. Akasha paused for a moment, unsure of if she should even reveal this to a stranger she’d just met. Albeit a stranger she was beginning to like a lot. Her past was something she had put into the back of her mind, but for the first time in many years she would speak of it again, and she wasn’t entirely sure why.

“I came from Ekytol, to the south. The burning lands to be more specific. It’s not as important as you, however. There’s many things I’d rather not bring up, it’s all in the past, and I’m over them now.” She tapped the sheath against her knee, wondering. “An Akontak, you say. That sounds a lot better than Akalak. I like it.” Then she grinned, “And a falconer! This must be my lucky day… Or night, however you’d like to put it. Why search for just a regular old owl when you could have me strike and kill whatever petch gets in our way? I think that sounds more exciting, don’t you think?” What was she saying? Implying a bond should be made as quickly as her rejected heart told her to.

The truth was, Akasha felt overwhelmingly lonely. She was a creature that couldn’t take being without another for so long, and Rae had not taken notice of this. Yes, Akasha had seen other Drykas traveling the expanse of the plains, but she was looking for someone that understood her birdlike nature far more than the average person. A falconer. She was looking for a falconer. And it appeared to her she had found one amidst all the heartbreak she endured during the months she had been separated from Rae. Of course her quirky streak didn’t allow her to be particularly smooth about it. She wanted to feel as if Raiha should be honored to be her bondmate. But how? Then an idea struck her, and she grinned devilishly.

“Raiha of the falconers,” She seemed to be making up names as she went along, “You might have found your owl this night if you pick up whatever weapon you have on that well-developed hip of yours and duel me. Show me what it is about you that I should love. Show me you’re strong enough to be able to use me as you wished, tactfully in battle. That I can be proud to call you my bondmate.” She raised her katana once more, slid the sheathe off carefully and dropped it with a light thud on the damp grass. The blade glinted threateningly under the moon, pointed directly at Raiha’s chest. She waited.

[Raiha]

"Our skin is blue because of our Night-Mother Akajia," Raiha explained. "She rules the night, and wanted her sons... and what very few daughters she would have... to have the rich skin of the nighttime. So our skin is blue for that reason... but I'll admit I like blueberries," she grinned at that. Raiha would eat pretty much anything you put in front of her, and she'd try just about anything once. Blueberries were a particular favourite - they had had a couple bushes in their backyard back in Mura, and when they were in season, she had them in every meal. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, snacks... Raiha liked her blueberries. And blackberries. And raspberries. And strawberries...

The Akontak listened as Akasha spoke about herself. It was always interesting to see how different Kelvics were - how they talked about themselves, where they had been and where they were from. Coming all the way from the Burning Lands of Eyktol? Raiha had a rough idea about the place - that it was a region of endless deserts, occasionally pockmarked with an oasis here and there. So the "Burning Lands", as far as she was concerned, was pretty much the entire place. For a bird as big as Akasha, the distance wasn't too far, but for the rest of them that had to walk... well, Eyktol would make for a very long walk. Besides, it was hot, dry, much further south than anywhere Raiha would really want to go. She was part Konti, after all, and Konti had no place being in a place that had no water. They had gills, after all, and they were supposed to use them. But she watched Akasha's face, listened, really listened, to her voice and the nuances within it when she spoke.

And just like that, it was gone as Akasha switched the topics again. Raiha grinned inwardly at the compliment. "I never anticipated finding an owl like yourself out here... much less a Kelvic," she explained. Kelvics, Raiha knew, were rare. Not so rare as herself - but rare enough that many people went their entire lives without ever meeting one. And there were there already two of them in her life... not counting Dyrid and Flick, Kavala's pair with whom the Akontak didn't interact much with... though she didn't interact overly much with a lot of people. "Besides... that would mean, I think, your bonding with me... and if you wanted to... well... that would be up to you. I couldn't force you to it. Nor would I want to force you. I would like to get to know you more, and hunt with you - it would be an honor to do so. But you would also have to understand that there are two others who have bonded with me... and you'll have to accept them as well."

And then Akasha spoke up, then, in challenge. Kanikra chuckled. Don't you wish we'd brought the mace? she commented. But no, you figured we would be okay without it. Aren't you the smart one? We're just looking, we don't need anything that's going to tangle us up in case we do some climbing... Get out your pretty little bone pigsticker. Don't you dare let this one get away!

Do you want to do this? Raiha knew how much Kanikra loved to fight. And, more to the point, that was a katana that meant business. She wasn't sure, either, if this was a Kelvic that would give over when it seemed like the battle was done, or until one was forced to submit.

You're asking me? Kanikra was amused. And you're not afraid I'll hurt her?

We have two suvai, a dagger, and bare hands. She has forged steel, and she moves like she knows how to use it, Raiha rationalized. Besides, I know you. She has potential. You're not going to wreck that and waste it. And you have a stake in this too, you know.

You're getting a little better at sizing up a situation. Good... because you couldn't really get any worse at it than you were. But now you're being weak and running from a fight... even inwardly, and offering the chance to cover your blue ass to me like a treat. Get out there and show her why you're worth it. Kanikra scolded. That's what she wants. She wants to see what you're made of. You. Wysar would strike the both of us down for that little bait and switch you just suggested.

"Fine," Raiha looked down the gleaming expanse of steel and pulled out her whalebone suvai. She held one, not two, even though there were two on her belt. It became a question of just she could possibly expect to do with it, and might have set Akasha off-kilter just a little. At least, that was what Raiha was hoping. If she had two, why not use two? Was she making a statement with them? Was she overconfident? But Kelvics generally didn't tend to overthink anything to that extent, and dropped her center as she bent her knees, suvai pointed on an angle as she adopted a defensive posture. "I accept your challenge, Akasha of the night skies." If Akasha was going to make up funny titles, well, turnabout was fair play! She crooked the centermost three fingers of her empty left hand at Akasha in a 'bring it' gesture of her own. She could lock the fingers and wrist the way Hatot had taught her, or she could just forgo it and go with what Soryn had taught her - when in doubt, blunt trauma. Make a fist, and hope she's too busy watching the suvai to see whatever blow Raiha could connect with her fist. As such, she began to roll that wrist, making the tip of the suvai move slowly, back and forth in uneven circles.

[Akasha]

So Raiha had already been taken. By two no less. This made Akasha’s brows furrow in disappointment. She wouldn’t have this one all to herself, but does she care? She didn’t know how long she could go alone before she completely snapped. A solitary life was so drawn out and utterly boring. Akasha grudgingly missed the days spent spinning tales amongst her Chaktawe tribe, and listening to her parents speak of how the kelvics came to find their home in the Burning Lands. Her trek to the Cyphrus region had been bad enough, but at least she hadn’t ended up completely alone. Visiting Endrykas with Rae had been enlightening, but now that she had nothing to do, what did she had to lose?

“Then I guess it’s both our lucky night’s isn’t it?“ She paused at the Akontak’s next remark, then tapped her chin. “I don’t mind, I want you. I’ll share this time around, and I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.” She smiled, a genuine, charming smile.

Akasha was even equally pleased when the Akontak agreed to the duel. There was enthusiasm behind her words as she prepared her stance. “I won’t hold back, you shouldn’t either.” She recognized Raiha beginning her position, taking note of the strange weapon she held on her person, and finding it silly that it was so curled and made of a strange material. She didn’t say anything of it, however. The Drykas swordswoman had taught her not to underestimate any type of weapon when it was used in the hands of a master. Whether Raiha was a master at any type of weaponry was the question, but Akasha supposed she was about to find out.

The kelvic didn’t waste any time, however. Almost as quickly as she had declared the duel, she charged forth, swiftly, her legs propelling her across the grassy plain to bring her sword up in an overhead strike downwards. Let’s see if the Akontak can deflect the blow, if not, she would deliberately miss just a hair’s length away from Raiha’s face, leaving a nick on her cheek. Then she would twist her foot on the ground, turn her whole body in a rotation to get behind Raiha, and deliver a sweep to her back, which, if it connected, would leave a deep gash in her mid back.

[Raiha]

Hearing that Akasha didn’t mind sharing brought a certain style of relief to Raiha. She could well imagine it wasn’t easy sharing a bondmate – it certainly wasn’t easy on her to juggle the pair of them and their wants and needs and conflicts in personalities when they happened between the gruff, serious, no-nonsense bear and the playful, mischievous, and sometimes downright devious eagle. But they got along. Whether it was because they shared a bondmate or because they’d grown on each other or because Raiha found it a big relief that they did, she didn’t know. And now she was considering adding yet a third one to the mix, one who had a powerful personality all of her own. She could only hope Asim and Laeraix would approve. “That’s good to hear,” Raiha grinned at her when she said she wouldn’t hold back. “And not to worry… I wouldn’t dream of it.”

When the katana came sweeping down on her, Raiha stepped up into the swing, aiming to catch the sword with the suvai or deflect it. The bone caught steel, sending it off to the side, though it nicked her face anyway. A bead of blood appeared against her dark, dusky skin. Defending was no good – she was going to have to go on the offense soon, and force the Kelvic to defend. Anything less would have Akasha doubting Raiha’s worth, she had a feeling. She aimed a punch at where Akasha had been standing, only to realize she was hitting air - she could barely blink before the Kelvic was behind her, the sword coming down. She ducked down, hitting the ground and rolling, feeling the blade bite into her arm.

She had to get the sword away from her. Without that sword, who knew how well she could handle fists? On her back, one of Raiha’s long legs swept out to try to entangle Akasha’s with hers, trying to hook her and bring her down, even as Raiha was pulling herself into a seated position. She used the pulling motion of her legs for leverage, her free hand curling into a fist as she aimed a punch for Akasha’s solar plexus. The four sensitive areas of the body: S-I-N-G… the solar plexus, the instep, the nose, and the groin. The first was what she could reach, and that was what she was going to aim for. Either way, she had to get rid of that katana.