Flashback You Again... (Nanak)

[Kaie]

30th of Fall, 510 AV
19th Bell

It had surely been some time she had remained in Taloba that day, pestering Keikyo during one of the few moments he wasn't being drilled in the Training Yard. Goddess, she was proud of him. Joining the military was something she jabbered on about since they were old enough to hold a stick in their hands. They'd lay in the jungle, staring up at the canopy and the animals flitting from one branch to another, dreaming about what the future held. They had convinced themselves that one day they would serve together. Maybe fight side by side in the same fang if they were lucky. That was usually the moment Kaie would jab at him, claiming he'd had to serve her hand and foot the day she became his fang leader. Petch, she was really starting to miss him already. One would think she'd be used to it after two years.

The jungle was abuzz as it always was. Vibrant red and blue macaws flitted in criss-crosses high above. Every now and then a territorial monkey made its warning howl somewhere near. The forest floor was littered with giant, fallen banana leaves and short green shoots of little plants. The light from Syna managed to shine through the thick greenery of the canopy, creating small areas of spotlight along her path. If all went as planned, she would reach the central village just after night fall. Unless trouble found her as it usually did. For that she had her spear, whose metal point remained an enigma to the fourteen year old. Still, Syna was making her slow fall and night would be upon her.

"Mistress of the Night, guide my feet true through the jungle and away from the beasts that lurk," Kaie prayed to Akajia in a quiet whisper to herself, her feet working to be quiet through the forest. It wouldn't be too straining for whatever did prowl the hours of sunset to hear her movement...

[Nanak]

The jungle alive as always as the young male pushed his way through the brush. He walked around the jungle, patrolling the area for anything worth killing. Maybe a caravan with their guard down, ready to have their life stolen as well as their goods. Just thinking about it caused the savage's mouth to water, he heard the cracking of twigs and rustling of leaves ahead of him. He moved quickly and as quietly as he could manage pushing through the brush. He paused in a thick brush pile, branches poked and scraped at his skin, ahead of him he saw his pray. His eyes traced up the body of the person, his axe gripped tightly in his hand. He noted the curve of her hips, showing that she was indeed female and the dark tone of her skin that matched his own. He stepped from the brush his axe raised, ready to strike if need be, "Halt" he chirped in his Myrian tongue, if she was a Myrian then she would respond with the same language. His body was maturing like any male, it started showing more muscle and tone as he grew older and worked harder. His body would show for the hard work he put into his life, from the scars of his battles to the trophies he wore everything would tell a story.

The monkeys screeched in the tree tops as Nanak waited for his answer behind the young female, his eyes looked over her body. The more he looked at her, the more familiar she had seemed. He felt that he knew he from somewhere, but couldn't quite place it. He wondered if he had seen her in the city? Or maybe they had met on his patrol of the jungle wilds. The more he pondered, the more his head began to hurt. He shook his head and watched, twisting his axe in his hand. Feeling the treated wood that formed the handle. The metal shone in what was left of the suns light, it was his mothers gift to him. She had told him the story of her killing three men and taking it from their dead corpses, she told him that they had not thought before the attacked and that lead to their death. He made it his mission to not repeat their foolish mistakes, he vowed to his mother that he would not rush to his death. Unless Myri herself commanded it he would stride to keep his promise.

[Kaie]

Halt...?

The fourteen year old all but cemented in her steps, freezing like a deer at the sound of a hunter's misstep. Her brow furrowed in disdain and confusion, tongue wandering the inside of her cheek thoughtfully. Already was her mind racing, processing what she could take in from a voice alone. All was done involuntarily. An instinctual act to gain knowledge of the unknown.

Myrian. Male voice. Young.

Slowly her head turned to the side, searching for the man in her peripheral vision. Kaie could catch his silhouette. A man of good size. Strong physique it seemed. Holding an ax. And with the ferociousness of any Myrian Tiger, Kaie whipped around to face the imposed authority. Amber eyes locked upon his, studying him like a predator assessing its rival. Yet will this showdown produce harmless growls before they part ways or will blood be shed with claw and fang?

"I wasn't aware I was trespassing," She replied more like it was a challenge than a simple statement, giving the illusion there was knowledge behind the sarcasm. Surely it wasn't her first time travelling the unmarked path. She never planned on it being her last either. He was lucky he wasn't terrible to look at.

[Nanak]

Trespassing... She wasn't technically, as the land didn't belong to him. He shrugged off the though and replied to her "You aren't, I mistook you for a wanderer lost among Caiyha's land." He looked her over. She looked more like someone he knew, but he couldn't place it, she was attractive. Young with a mound of beautiful brown hair. "Why are you alone?" he asked, it didn't seem right that she would be roaming alone in the wild. Though he was alone to, so he really didn't have a right to question her. He chewed his tongue, words weren't his strong suit. He preferred the art of communication through battle, the clashing of fist on skin and metal to metal. It amused him more, pleased him more. He stepped closer to her, his axe pointed towards the ground, the moonlight hit his face. Lighting up all of his features as he stood before her. He sighed his adventure out of the city led him to nothing more then finding another Myrian. If he wanted to see more Myrians he would have stayed in the city.

[Kaie]

Being perceived as a "wanderer lost among Caiyha's lands" was an odd thing for Kaie to process. It was a very strange thing to be mistaken for. She was no master navigator of any kind, but what routes she did know were pretty solid in her mental map. The path most often taken between the Cutthroat Shadow land and Taloba was one of the select few she had the privilege of knowing by heart. Even more puzzling was his question. It was hypocritical, really. That statement was easy for her to attack.

"I should ask you the same question. I don't see anyone standing by your side, either," She commented coolly, folding her arms and shifting her weight to her right foot. Wandering eyes scanned the treeline about him again just to be sure. So far, still no other sign of movement. Just the single ax wielder. "If you ask me, it looks like you're out to find trouble. You did have a plan if you stumbled onto a group of people actually armed, right?"

Kaie gestured meaningfully to his weapon with an arched brow. She unfolded her arms and let her spear brush gently across her outer thigh. Remaining silent for a moment she studied him coldly, until a crooked smile crept up the side of her face teasingly. It was as if she were testing him.

"I think you and I both know that lost travelers in the jungle are few and far between. And they never last long."