Amongst The Trees (Ari'Yahal, Aman)

[Aman]

Aman Aman made his charge with one purpose... to kill. He easily knocked over the unprepared man, and lowered his jaw for the kill. That was when he heard a shrill, sound. Looking in the direction of the noise he saw a young child. The sight of the child faced him with a dilemma. His mind clearing of adrenaline he stepped off his to be victim and thought "How can I kill this man, I didn't mean to in the first place, and now there is a cub. Possibly his cub..." He took a quick glance at the man then slowly turned around, and walked into the grove to a tree where he kept his belongings. With a flash of light that he didn't even try to hide, Aman took the form of a human that resembled a Chaktawe. Pulling on a loincloth (his mother had told him of the humans strange habits) he turned again to the man. Aman saw him still lying on the ground, eyes wide open, but looking as if they didn't see. He knelt next to the man and poured a drip of water on his lips saying "Hello my name is Aman" "I am regretful of the problems I have caused you"

[Ari'Yahal]

Ari'Yahal crouched in the sand, her heart hammering against her chest, as she watched the beast knock Hirem to the ground. She saw it raise its head, teeth gleaming in the bright midday light, as it prepared for the kill – and then it stopped. As she blinked against the desert sun, trying to figure out what had made it pause, it turned away from the Benshiran man, loping out of sight behind a tree. She waited for another moment, to see if the creature would come bounding back out of the grove and tear Hirem to pieces. When it did not, she shifted so that she wasn't crushing her son beneath her.

“Are you alright? Did you hurt anything when we fell?” she said breathlessly, checking Raziel over for any injuries he might have sustained.

“Just a skinned elbow.” He proffered the wounded body part for his mother's view and caught her gaze with his azure eyes, which were wide with curiosity. “What was that, Momma?”

“It looked like a mongoose, but...” She shook her head. “If it was, that was the biggest mongoose I've ever seen.” Once she had ascertained that Raziel was fine, she scrambled to her feet and looked down towards Hirem, who seemed dazed but alive. “Hirem? Are you -”

A flash of light stoppered her words, making her blink. She paused for a second and then felt her heart sink as she realized what had just happened. The memory of Dhanya's change was still fresh in her mind, and her eyes grew hard with anger as she caught sight of a Chaktawe man coming out from around the bole of a tree. He bent over Hirem, murmuring something she couldn't hear.

“What in the name of all the gods do you think you were doing, benachag?” she thundered in Shiber, striding down the sand dune with Raziel following at her heels. Hopefully the man could understand some of the language, as her Tawna was composed of a motley jumble of phrases and words. It probably wasn't the best idea to hurl insults at a man who would have no trouble transforming back into his bestial form and then ripping her limb from limb, but her mind seethed with anger at the danger the man had put them all in.

“Are you okay, Hirem?” Raziel asked, anxiously bending down next to him.

[Hirem]

A giant mongoose attacking him was strange enough, but the mongoose retreating back into the grove and returning as a Chaktawe was almost absurd. And yet, here it was. Hirem could only lay on the ground in surprise as the aforementioned events took place, staring with a slack jaw. After Dhanya he thought that he could understand such magic better, but this still took him back completely. There were scant few thoughts that ran through his head as his gaze followed the animal back to the grove, and then followed the man that emerged moments later in a loincloth only.

However, his thoughts started to race as the animal... Aman... apologized to him. Here he was, offering forgiveness for something that he must have done in a clear mind. He wasn't sure what exactly happened when these people became animals, but he was angry enough as it was. He was half a mind to spit the water back at him, a sign of disrespect and anger, but another thought crossed his mind like a flash of steel, one that he was still pondering as Ari'Yahal crossed down the dune.

This Keerdash Grove was a strange enough place... what if this Chaktawe shapeshifter thing was a guardian placed here by Eywaat? It was superstitous thinking, but if it was true, then Hirem didn't want to tamper with this protector. Worse, he could be a wandering spirit, ready to wreak its wrath upon the people of this desert. Even if it wasn't anything of a ethereal nature, this thing was a beast. Dhanya was apparently of his breed, but she had been a goat, and harmless. This person had nearly killed him.

Hirem nodded to Raziel, his eyes lingering on the Chaktawe before them. "Yes... yes, I'm fine." Then he pulled himself up, and grabbed Raziel's hand. He quickly crossed the distance to Ari'Yahal, standing in front of her with his back to the shapeshifter. He propelled Raziel forward to his mothers side, and locked eyes with her, his look one of deadly seriousness. "Ari'Yahal... do you think it is wise to insult this man? He could be here for a reason." He didn't directly say the name of Eywaat, but he hoped she understood his meaning. He had a bad experience with striking down those that had been touched by the gods, and he didn't want his friend to go down that same path.

[Aman]

Aman While Aman was leaning over Hirem he heard the angry voice of a woman berating him.. “What in the name of all the gods do you think you were doing, benachag?” Aman didn't know enough Shiber to understand the full meaning of the word "benachag", but he knew that it was less than complementary. Aman's temper flared. On an ordinary day he did not take to insults well, but now after he had humbled himself, it struck a deep chord of anger. He turned on her, and sharply replied."Listen woman if you, and your companion had not woken me, and invaded my sleep. I am certain things would have been less provocative. Also I would advise you to keep silent as i am perfectly capable of killing you now, and feasting on your flesh." He quickly turned back to Hirem only to see him getting up with a look of fear in his eyes. Aman shook his head again... and turned to the woman he had just assaulted verbally. "Please forgive my outburst. I am on edge today as I was awoken from my sleep by beings that I have never met. Excuse my inhospitableness..." "Please follow me into the grove, you may fill your water flasks when we enter."

[Ari'Yahal]

Ari'Yahal clapped a hand over her mouth as Hirem spoke, realizing the stupidity of what she had just done. Once again, she had let her anger get the best of her. What if the man shifted and tried to harm Raziel? By speaking recklessly and letting her memories of previous experiences with someone who may or may not have had anything to do with the magic this man possessed color her actions, she had put him in unnecessary danger.

And if this shifter was a manifestation of Eywaat, she had just screwed up, big time.

“My apologies,” she said in her limited Tawna, trying to keep her voice even as she crossed her arms in front of Raziel protectively. “My words were unwarranted.” She glanced towards her bow, but it was too far away for her to reach if the man decided he was done having a chat with them. “Sometimes I lash out without...considering who I am speaking with.” She swallowed. “I am Ari'Yahal, of the tents of Keshet, of the sons of Havid. This is my son, Raziel, of the tents of Keshet, of the sons of Rapa. And none of us meant to wake you from your sleep.”

She was stunned when the man apologized contritely to her, and glanced at Hirem, wondering whether it was wise to follow the man – whose name she still had not caught – into the grove. “I – er – yes. That would be welcome.” With one last look at her bow, she took a tentative step into the crimson foliage, still keeping her hands clasped tightly around Raziel's shoulders. If he was indeed one of the Keerdash Grove's otherwordly inhabitants, it wouldn't do to refuse his invitation, would it?

But perhaps she would wait until she learned more about him before she dared to drink the water...

[Hirem]

Was this man a guardian of Eywaat? Hirem couldn't tell, as he was unfamiliar with the Chaktawe god and the individual they were currently doing with now. He was strange enough though, quickly switching between a menacing threat to a sombre apology. Were these traits part of some spirit's macabre or was it just the personality of a man that held those traits? The answer to that could mean the difference between life or death, or in this case, horrifying death of being incinerated for blasphemy or horrifying death of being torn apart by a rabid animal. No, the best course of action for the Benshirans would be to run, and run quickly.

However, that action was impossible now without risking further provacation from this Aman, now that he had politely invited them to taking water from his grove. Was it safe? The answer was probably no, but defying this man's will might have an even worse consequence than drinking from the grove. Hirem felt that he and his friends had no choice as they were directed towards the grove. Best be polite then, and try not to spit in the face of this shapeshifter.

"Thank you Aman, for such a kind offer. I am Hirem, of the tents of Alachi, of the sons of Rapa." He said this in the most pleasant tone he could conjure up as they followed Aman into his grove, peering cautiously into the scarlet trees and bushes, wondering if perhaps there was a second animal waiting to tear out their throats. At this point, it was impossible for himself to decide if he had paranoia or not, but in his experience it was best to be cautious and safe than reckless and dead. Even if being cautious and safe meant that you ended up reckless and dead later.

[Aman]

Aman Aman watched in interest as the man got up, and started whispering to the woman. His interest sparked more as he saw the color drain from her face, and she replied to him... “My words were unwarranted.” “Sometimes I lash out without...considering who I am speaking with.” “I am Ari'Yahal, of the tents of Keshet, of the sons of Havid. This is my son, Raziel, of the tents of Keshet, of the sons of Rapa. And none of us meant to wake you from your sleep.” He was surprised by the sudden civility, and responded in kind. "No you were in your right to be angry. I attacked your friend with little provocation. Please forgive me. I too speak before I think." then he added "I am glad to meet you Ari'Yahal of the tents of Keshet" Then he bent down to Raziel, and said "Hello little one. It's nice to meet you Raziel" When he asked the travelers to accompany him. He saw them look hesitantly at him, and each other. Ari'Yahal was the first to respond, but she seemed less then convinced by his proposal. If possible Hirem seemed even more uneasy. Aman told himself that he would make sure they felt at ease with him as soon as possible.

[Ari'Yahal]

Ari took several more steps, following Aman deeper into the copse. She tried to guide Raziel the best she could over the complex network of roots that looped out of the ground and provided ample places to trip. His eyes were wide, flickering back and forth to Aman to Ari'al to Hirem to the eye-catching scarlet leaves, but, true to his nature, he said nothing and merely continued to follow what was going on the best he could as he scrambled over the roots.

Although she couldn't see the waters of the grove through the thick screen of red-hued flora, she could hear the gentle slosh of liquid from somewhere that wasn't very far away. “Do you...live here, in the grove?” she asked the shifter, trying to keep her tone neutral. “The Tatsuwaat tribe, are they with you?” Although the Tatsuwaat had a reputation for being the most peaceful among the Chaktawe tribes, she would much rather not stumble into their camp grounds here in the grove if she could avoid it. Perhaps, if they were particularly unlucky, there was an ambush waiting for them behind the aloe leaves.

Her gaze darted rapidly around her surroundings, looking for possible traps or signs that there was yet more to this man than they had seen already, but found nothing. She wondered if there was some way to tell if he was one of the grove's mythical guardians, and glanced at him to see if there were any strange markings on him that might give her evidence. She found none, but her eyes widened when she saw that his eyes were not the jet color of all the other Chaktawe she had ever encountered; they were yellowed and catlike instead. Maybe it means nothing, she thought. Dhanya had her goat eyes. Maybe it's the same with every one of these people?

But it still made her stomach roil with uneasiness. Those eyes weren't normal, and Ari'Yahal did not like things that seemed out of the norm. Usually it made for trouble farther down the road.

[Hirem]

This person just didn't sit right with Hirem. The more time that wore on, the more Hirem began to doubt that Eywaat was involved with this man. He had heard stories of the god placing guardians to watch over the grove and such, but he had never heard them taking the form of shapeshifters, or even taking a form at all, choosing to remain incorporeal and untouchable. No, Hirem was starting to believe that the man wasn't with any group or clan, that he was simply a loner seeking solace in a peaceful grove. Or a bandit preying on those that wished for shade.

If the latter option was true, then the water was simply a diversion, perhaps to slit their throats from behind and loot their pockets. In that case, Hirem needed to be prepared to kill him, quickly if possible. The man could be a ferocious animal at will, but one quick snapping of his neck and he would be out of commision. Hirem resolved to keep the Chaktawe... mongoose... guardian... thing in front of him at all times.

"Yes, I'm curious about that too. It is said that the Tatsuwaat come here during the spring to create dyes and perfume and such... are they still here? Or are you..." Hirem eyed Aman carefully, watching him in case he tried anything violent. "Alone?" He could hear the sound of water getting closer and closer as they ventured deeper into the grove, and he realized that he was quite parched. Maybe one drink won't hurt... Then Hirem stopped that thought before it could continue, resenting his own weakness. Stay alert! Stay focused.

[Aman]

Aman As they walked into the grove he noticed their apprehension. "After all I did just almost kill Hirem..." he thought. Oh well they will be at ease when they have drank their fill. He turned around when Ari'Yahal asked him whether or not he lived in the grove, and whether he was with any Chaktawe. Hirem quickly echoed the query. He laughed internally and answered "No I am not in alliance with the Chaktawe." he trailed off with the unstated thought. Then he added "I doubt the Chaktawe would let me live if they managed to catch me..." "but yes I live here. I have since last Autumn" " We are coming nearing the oasis." Let us rest there, and you can ask me the rest of your questions as you drink your fill"