Closed I Hate Dogs

[Kendhl Pilkvist]

89th of Summer, 513 AV
13th Bell

It was a nice day out in the Wildlands. A little warm, but not too much due to a gentle breeze. Kendhl didn't bother with keeping quiet, she never did. Sound didn't travel very well in water, so why would she be wary about making noise? Her feet snapped twigs and even crunched a few leaves. It was almost fall, and she could see some of the trees beginning to turn colors.

She had managed to drag Gale out of Zeltiva with her. The otter Kelvic was happy to take a walk with her bondmate. She smiled up at him absentmindedly, admiring his eyes. Those eyes were her favorite part about him. They reminded her of the sea, of the Svefra and Laviku. She'd heard about marks from the gods, gnosis marks. The Svefra had them. She desired one. Being marked by a god? The god of the sea? That would be amazing. Especially for a girl who loved to frolic amongst the waves as a playful otter.

Kendhl skipped ahead and twirled, turning to look at the man behind her with a twinkle in her eye. She grinned, waited until he had caught up and slipped her fingers through the spaces between his. She loved him, there was no doubt about it in her mind.

"How do you feel today, Gale? It's so pretty and nice out, isn't it?"

She hoped he wasn't depressed. It wasn't fun when he was depressed. Kendhl's eyes were wide. Her first time in the Wildlands! She was excited, and had more energy than usual. The girl was supposed to try out for the Wave Guard next season. Ricky had told her that joining was easy, just swim to a rock and swim back. She'd breeze through the test, even in human form.

Kendhl turned her attention back to Gale.

"Will you come to my Wave Guard test?"

"Kendhl's words", Kendhl's Thoughts

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Common Vani Nari

Walking. Ah walking. Walking, walking, walking, walking. More walking. Walking, walking. There was something about walking. Something that just seemed to make whatever you were thinking about evaporate into the air. A way of having it all slip out the back of your mind. It's just so...so... What's the word...

Bob twirled just ahead of him. She was excited for this walk, for some reason or other. Almost as if it was her first time being out of the city at all. For a man who went out every morning to the pass, it wasn't a huge deal. But then again, with another person was fairly rare. Occasionally he would come across someone collecting leaves or roots or some other strange thing, however it didn't happen often, thank the gods. Not that they had anything to do with it.

It didn't take long for Gale to once again join the Kelvic's side. A rare smile hung on his face loosely in return for her grin. "Fine, thank you." A chuckle lingered in his answer. Her persistence with keeping up with his mood was so strange. Optimists in general were strange, but how could you argue? "You should see it in the mornings. It can get a little chilly but the fresh air is worth it. " The lanky fingers wrapped around her hand when her fingers weaved with his.

Subjects change quickly in a conversation, but it was rather abrupt when Kendhl mentioned her Wave Guard test. The blonde almost completely forgot about that. "Of course I will. Why would I not?" The question seemed rather silly to him. She already knew that answer before she even asked it. At least he assumed. And hoped.

Continuing to walk as in sync with her pace as possible, the Zeltivan looked down at his companion," Is it nerve racking?" Suppose he meant to say," Does it sound difficult?" Tests in general were usually hard. Especially physical ones. In his eyes, the mind was much easier to prepare and to develop than your physical being. One could argue, but it just seemed a lot more time consuming and exhausting to work your physical body. Then again, when you work out your physical being you have a better sense of what the word relaxed means, in that context, than someone who didn't.

Oh! That was the word! Relaxing! Walking was just extremely relaxing! Yep, indeed it is. Hard not to relax when you're walking. It just seemed impossible to do while being angry or upset. Speaking of,"Why do you seem so excited about this? Surely this is not your first time out here." Another random subject change. Oh well. Could be worse, Gale supposed.

[Kendhl Pilkvist]

Kendhl thought about Gale's question. Would it be difficult?

"No, I don't think so. I think it'll be easy. Not as easy as it would be in my otter shape, but still pretty easy."

She was glad he would be there. It would be a big day for her, and she'd probably be nervous. The Kelvic inhaled deeply, taking in the scents of the forest around her. Visiting the Wildlands in the morning sounded beautiful, especially when Gale talked about it. He seemed happy today, and smelled like it too. He was smiling. If she had to have a favorite part of him other than his eyes, it would be his smile. He was very handsome.

"Of course it's my first time! I keep close to the sea, y'know. Otters on land are pretty ungraceful."

Kendhl stretched up to give him a gentle peck on his cheek. Settled back down with a blush creeping its way across her face. She normally wasn't brave enough to do something like that, and had to dig up every ounce of courage in her little body. That was the first time she'd even been remotely interested in kissing anyone.

"Kendhl's words", Kendhl's Thoughts

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Common Vani Nari

"At least you have some confidence, which is a good sign." She's already doing better than what Gale would be doing if he was in her shoes. More than likely stress about it until it's all over. But being able to switch into an otter if something goes wrong would be pretty convenient. Turning into another being at all would be convenient for some cases. Like a bird. You would never be have to weave through the crowds ever again. You could just fly over them. Get to where you are going a lot faster than walking.

The audible sound of her inhaling made the artist want to yawn. But it never escaped his mouth. "First time? Really?" His free hand scratching the back of his neck. "I would have thought you would be all over the place. Otter or not." Ungraceful. Like throwing fish at people and stuffing crabs down their pants was graceful. Then again,"You can't be as ungraceful as I am in the water though. At least you seem to know what you are doing." A single laugh with a grin.

A brief kiss on his cheek made the man's cheeks warm with a light shade of pink, although his expression didn't change. It was odd doing all this again. Holding someone's hand and walking along a dirt path. Even just being able to smile because of the affection he had for someone. It felt similar to leaving the place you called home then returning after years have passed by. It wasn't a bad feeling, not at all. Just that tweak in your stomach when you are finally able to say you're back. But Gale would get used to it. You have to adapt to your current situation right? He wouldn't mind adapting to this one.

Letting go of her hand, the pale arm wrapped around her waist as the widower smiled fondly. The flush of red on his cheeks vanished as the shock was replaced with content. Could Kendhl smell that too? What would content smell like? He imagined it would be something like... a meadow. Especially a meadow. The way the wind carries the grass and the plants just gave off the illusion that the place was content for where they are at. Just growing freely and letting nature take it's course. Yeah, that's what content would smell like.

Eyes skimming the surrounding area, a side path could be seen trailing off into a patch of trees. The very path Gale had been slowly making over the year with his visits to the grave at the end of it's trail. He was there just this morning. Hopefully Kendhl wasn't interested in it this side road. They would surely reach the small, homemade grave and then there would be questions. Not that she knew it was his wife. But nevertheless, it would be unsettling to the man, so in attempts to not point it out, he looked back at the Kelvic.

[Kendhl Pilkvist]

At first Kendhl was confused. Did he not want to hold her hand? Then his arm slid around her waist. She giggled. So that's what he was doing.

"Yes, my first time. Land isn't an otter's domain, especially not a sea otter. I do know what I'm doing in the water, Gale. I was raised to swim."

She tilted her head and smiled, almost shyly. He smelled nice now. Content was a hard scent to place, especially when there was something hidden underneath it. It could be anything. His blue eyes were moving smoothly over plants, rocks, anything visible. She followed his gaze when it stopped.

"Oohh, what's down that way? Can we go see?"

Kendhl jumped away from Gale, not waiting for his answer. She followed the worn path until it stopped. This was interesting. It looked to be a grave. Curious, a grave out in the Wildlands. But then, it might not be so uncommon. The Kelvic rested her hand on the dirt, curious.

"Gale? What's this?"

"Kendhl's words", Kendhl's Thoughts

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Common Vani Nari

"I never said you were not graceful in the water. I said I am not graceful in the water." The blonde rolled his eyes playfully.

Kenny pulled out of his reach, and obviously went straight towards the little path. Of course. What was it with people and going down the road less traveled? The road often traveled is perfectly fine! "I suppose..." he muttered in annoyance. Following close behind, the blue eyes flickered and watched the all too familiar scenery. If he wanted Gale could walk the path with his eyes closed. Though what was the point in that?

The path wasn't a long one, and didn't travel very far from the normal path, but it was a straight line. Or the straightest it could be. The path ended at a clearing with a simple rock with carved letters spelling out the name 'Hana'. Nothing very fancy. Just an ordinary rock with sketchy letters on top of a mound of dirt that didn't look too fresh. "Well..." the Zeltivan walked next to the Otter and observed the grave, pretending he hadn't seen it before. "It looks like a grave. Maybe someone died here and someone decided to bury them here." An utter lie. "But no matter what it is, I do not think it is a good idea to be touching it." Honestly, what is it with people and touching everything they see? Oh look! It's a petching grave of someone that another cares about! Let's go touch it! Hasn't anyone heard of respect for the dead? How would they like it if a bunch of people just decided to touch your grave whenever they saw it? People these days...

The grin previously worn was flattened to a mere line and the blanket of content flew away off into the distance. The widower now bore a plain, perhaps confused feeling on his shoulders, unsure how Kendhl would respond. Respond to what? Well, any of it.

[Kendhl Pilkvist]

Hana. Who was Hana? Gale was being grumpy again. He smelled sad, or something like it. Kendhl stood, turning to him.

"Gale? Did you know her?"

He was obviously sensitive about it. She reached for his hand again, decided against it and hugged him instead. Her head rested against his chest.

"I don't like it when you're sad. Depressed. Whatever."

The Kelvic looked up at her bondmate, pale eyes searching. Her arms were still around his midriff. She hoped he would tell her. Her own heart was heavy now, as if someone had fixed lead weights to it and it was being dragged down. He wasn't smiling anymore, lips in a straight, thin line. If she was to draw him, his mouth would take but a quick dash between the nose and the chin.

"Kendhl's words", Kendhl's Thoughts

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Common Vani Nari

Augh! Questions! So many questions! Damn these stupid questions!

Looking at Kendhl for a moment, Gale wasn't sure whether telling her was the best for this moment. She wanted a walk, not a story, and if she didn't like him being upset then the story wouldn't be the best thing to share. He decided against it.

The kelvic hugged him. He wouldn't expect anything less from her, always trying to cheer him up. In return, the man wrapped his arms around her, placing his head on top of hers. The tone in her voice was enough to give away the fact that she was now starting to get upset as well. He didn't need to feel it, although he did. The blonde lowered his head down to her ear and responded," No I did not. But that does not mean it is not upsetting." His hand rubbed her back softly. "It is only natural to respond that way to death." Pulling back slight, Gale kissed her forehead, then held her at arms length. " I will be fine, but let us not hang around here too long, okay?" A soft smile made it's way to his lips.

The Zeltivan wasn't desperate to leave, but they were suppose to be out for a walk. Standing by his wife's grave and feeling sorry wasn't walking and definitely isn't helping them relax in any way.

[Kendhl Pilkvist]

It wasn't the whole truth, but she accepted it. At least he was smiling again. Kendhl held his hand once more, walking away from the grave and deeper into the Wildlands. He still smelled a little sad. The otter Kelvic suddenly grinned and darted ahead of Gale, her feet throwing up twigs and bits of grass that came loose.

She wasn't sure why she was running, but it felt good. Is this what freedom was like? Just run and run until you're too exhausted to go on, and lay down without anyone telling you otherwise? Eventually she stopped and collapsed, a massive smile plastered across her face and sides heaving both from the exercise and from the laughing that bubbled up, starting at her toes and working its way through her body to explode out of her throat.

Kendhl's pale eyes were wide and sparkling. Maybe Gale would follow her.

"Gale! Come on, slowpoke!"

"Kendhl's words", Kendhl's Thoughts

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Common Vani Nari

Holding his bondmate's hand tightly, Gale let her lead the way. The were going the opposite direction from their original bath, but it would be easy enough turn back around and go the other way, as long as they didn't start taking turns or anything, they should be fine.

But then Bob started booking it. Shocked, the artist wasn't sure what to make of it at first. He stood there several moments just watching her run off. She called that ungraceful? What was she talking about? She navigated the land just as well as the water. She didn't even stumble as she...started to run out of sight.

"Wait up, Kendhl!" the baritone voice called to her as he started to followed with haste. But did she stop? No. Slow down? No. Just continued to run as fast as she blooming could until she collapsed. Having started running himself, Gale was tired and wished to fall over before the woman even started to slow down. The man didn't want to lose sight of her, not being so used to going so deep into the forest, but the otter was long gone when his body put it's foot down and he came to a stop.

Panting heavily, the air rushing through his throat stung yet was a relief. Hands placed on his knees, the artist muttered between breathes,"Damn...youth!" Yes, Kendhl was young to Gale. Or compared to Gale...Well she acted young at least. Unlike Gale. Man, now he wished he would have worked out more in his younger days instead of sit around all day and draw. Maybe those lessons from Ricky would be considered after all.

Being called a slowpoke didn't help at all. He didn't catch his breath any faster nor did he start running any sooner. All it did was get a tired reply,"I am coming!" Taking a few ticks, he stood up straight and started walking towards where the optimistic kelvic vanished. It was only when he caught his breath that he started mildly jogging and reaching his partner's side. "Could you have ran any faster?" The blonde complained and slid his backpack off and dropped it on the ground before having himself plop down onto the ground next to her.