Viper was silent for those moments after her question. As she waited for him to gather a response, she picked up a handful of leaves from the ground. Leaning forward with the dry pile clenched in her hands, she dropped the kindling into the fire. Immediately the once vibrant greens shriveled into a deadened black. The fire smoked and caught more fervidly. In response Kaie tossed the last of her wood stack in it. They'd need something decent to cook a meal anyways. Meanwhile, she'd listen to the story behind the Drykas though she didn't realize how important a Strider was.
Ah! Now there was something to connect with!
Forgetting completely about the fire she had been stoking and the rabbit he had retrieved, her head snapped up. There was a glimmer in her chocolate colored eyes in the middle of his explanation. It was in that moment of cultural diffusion she tasted just a dew drop of home. That alone was enough to lighten her mood and completely alter the focus of the conversation. Kaie found herself leaning forward eagerly, listening to him continue and yearning for more. Many of her memories of Cyphrus had been suppressed. Only now were things falling back into place and connections being made once again. Did such different worlds actually have something in common?
"Horses? Not so much. We prefer Myrian Tigers. I guess you could say they're like your striders but more... Ferocious. Only the most worthy warriors prove themselves able to bond with one," She explained with a suddenly flashy grin, the pride oozing from her every word. Yet there was a gravity in its undertone; like even speaking about the process was sacred and special to her.
"When I return to Taloba I'll go through my Tiger Trials. I can't imagine anything would be much worse to ride than one of those," Kaie gestured toward his strider with her lip curled just a bit in displeasure. In the grand scheme of things, she just might walk back to Falyndar rather than ride one of those again. She could still feel the pain in her ass just thinking about it.
Ah! Now there was something to connect with!
Forgetting completely about the fire she had been stoking and the rabbit he had retrieved, her head snapped up. There was a glimmer in her chocolate colored eyes in the middle of his explanation. It was in that moment of cultural diffusion she tasted just a dew drop of home. That alone was enough to lighten her mood and completely alter the focus of the conversation. Kaie found herself leaning forward eagerly, listening to him continue and yearning for more. Many of her memories of Cyphrus had been suppressed. Only now were things falling back into place and connections being made once again. Did such different worlds actually have something in common?
"Horses? Not so much. We prefer Myrian Tigers. I guess you could say they're like your striders but more... Ferocious. Only the most worthy warriors prove themselves able to bond with one," She explained with a suddenly flashy grin, the pride oozing from her every word. Yet there was a gravity in its undertone; like even speaking about the process was sacred and special to her.
"When I return to Taloba I'll go through my Tiger Trials. I can't imagine anything would be much worse to ride than one of those," Kaie gestured toward his strider with her lip curled just a bit in displeasure. In the grand scheme of things, she just might walk back to Falyndar rather than ride one of those again. She could still feel the pain in her ass just thinking about it.
