Closed Beginner's Luck

[Vadu]

Winter 33, 315 AV

A soft whimper emanated from the back of the frail child's throat as he nursed a quickly blooming purple bruise on his elbow. The pain was nothing to Vadu. While he took care during practice, the frail Dra was no stranger to bruises, cuts, and even fractures. He sighed in exasperation and only winced slightly as he struggled to his feet, which he had opted to leave bare for this session. The black nails on each toe were small and quite useless, as they showed no sign of growing into claws, and his fingers were the same.

Perhaps if he bent his knee a little more before the jump and coiled his forward leg, his leap would cover more distance? It was worth a shot. Vadu clambered back up to his 'takeoff' perch and tried as best he could to mirror the basic stance that he'd seen many adult Symenestra take before jumping. Satisfied with his new position, Vadu made his final attempt at the leap...

...and came just short of his goal.

The dark haired boy nearly gave a startled yelp as he clawed at thin air and the solid ground below rushed up to meet him. Vadu slammed his frightened eyes shut tightly, preparing for impact. And then it hit him - he had landed on... something softer than anticipated? Surprised, the young Dra blushed to realize that his fall had been cushioned by another person.

He released a soft exclamation of apology and hurriedly scrambled away from the other Symenestra, fully anticipating a harsh scolding or even worse.

[Synntina Novul]

The golden eyed girl was no stranger to surprise. Although this one came a bit unexpected that was for sure. She had awoken that morning, in anticipation to leave for the hunting tavern known simply as The Sickle and Arrow. She would either spend some time there listening to the stories of the other hunters, or find a few eager to leave hunters and go out on a small hunting party. But her destiny seemed predetermined this morning, sealed by the dra that happened to fall from the sky.

Synntina found herself pushed to the ground by the boys weight as he fell on her, instinctively she reached one hand out to grab him, and another to grab the cord to steady the both of them. She felt the symenestra move and let him go, straightening herself up as she did so. Her golden eyes glared at him, cold and murderous looking for only a few moments. She noticed then that it was not a symenestra.. but a halfling.

The girl brushed herself off gently for a few moments, reaching around slowly to grab her bow off her back. She paid the boy no mind for the moment, making sure her bow was not damaged. She ran her fingers over the wood of the bow, like she had seen her father do long ago when he was looking his bows over at home. After close inspection she found it in the same condition pre-collision. One of her arrows however, told of a different story. It had broken near the arrowhead, but not completely off. Just enough to make it useless. She stared at the arrow for a few moments before looking at the boy, pointing the broken arrow toward him in a quick movement.

"Dangerous to be honing jumping skills in a place like this Dra. Especially for one like yourself. Don't you think?"

Her voice came out very calm, and almost emotionless sounding. As was Synntina's nature, even when she was upset over something.. it hardly showed. And even if it did, it was only for a moment. Her lips went from a frown to a small smile, her teeth visible for only a few moments before her smile faded once more.

"You are very lucky you know. I am not one to lecture, nor.. will I make you pay for this broken arrow."

She said, slowly putting the arrow back into the quiver attached to her side. The silver haired woman did not take her eyes off the boy as he stood there, looking like a one eyed abused dog. Which he probably was, being a halfling in a purebred run society. With a defect like he seemed to have, it was probably even more so. Synntina almost pitted the boy. Almost. Maybe she would have pitted him, having met him in any other case that did not harm her or her things. If she would have seen him out in the market, or in a building, she may have taken a bit of pity on him.

[Vadu]

Vadu watched with anxious attention as the golden-eyed hunter examined her bow. It wasn't damaged from what he could tell by her expression. Then again, she wasn't so expressive that he could safely assume this. It was when his eye instead latched onto the broken arrow that Vadu gave a gasp of distress. His heart felt as if it were sinking into the pit of his stomach. Surely the hunter would express her wrath for this if not for the offense of falling on her! The boy gave another little gasp as he was addressed. Swallowing compulsively, the Dra stuttered his reply, and an even darker blush than before stained his usually pale cheeks.

"Y-Yes Enda."

Vadu murmured his response with his head hung in submission. The single blue orb was inclined to widen at her smile - he still expected to be scolded - and then, perplexity was written across the child's red visage as she stated her lax verdict. His mouth opened and closed in shock. The Dra was silent for several moments. Finally, he shook his head and tipped his head up. A small glint of determination shone in his visible eye.

"Please let me pay! I-It was my fault, and I want to take responsibility for it."

The halfling was completely serious. He knew better than to think she pitied him, even with such a light warning. He had harmed her property. Vadu didn't have much of a reputation to begin with, considering his status as a halfling and his disability. However, Vadu knew that his aunt wouldn't expect any less of him. It was his duty to right any wrongs he had perpetrated, and he of all people should be willing to accept that 'sorry' didn't suffice for action taken.

[Synntina Novul]

The woman stood there watching as the boy stood there, stuttering, fearful of her. Thoughts came to her head in an instant, 'Does his family not teach him strength? Or do they tear him down for what he is?' Synntina had nothing against halflings besides the fact that they were weaker then full blooded Symenestra. They were still living, breathing people with emotions like everyone else around them. She shifted her weight over, wrapping her arms over her chest in a crossing formation as he spoke again.

The determination in the boys face showed that he was serious about paying for the broken arrow and it tugged a smile at her lips if only for a moment. Synntina walked forward and past Vadu, running her black claws though his hair gently, continuing on her leisurely way toward the hunting tavern. She looked over her shoulder, her silver hair falling gently around her, shimmering in the dim light of the city.

"Responsibility? ... Maybe you should have thought of responsibility before you decided to jump around the streets of Kalinor."

She said, raising a brow at him before turning her head back forward as she walked. The boy did seem rather determined however, so she would not have been surprised if he started to follow her. He did practically beg to pay for his mistake after all. At his age, she wasn't one to stay out of trouble. More then once had she broken something in her fathers shop and would have loved to get away free as a bird like she was giving the opportunity to this little dra. But her father was not as kind or lax in personality as she was. In fact he was the opposite of lax. Very expressive and outgoing he was, much unlike her mother. The two worked as a team in this way. Until his death her mother was a kind woman, but now the two hardly spoke. She had moved on with another Symenestra man.. this time a dancer like she was.

The woman blinked quickly a few times, sighing softly. More often then not did she find herself thinking back to her family life before her fathers death. It was a downside of being a listener rather then a speaker. Thoughts came to you easy and were harder to push away. 'Maybe I should find a pet. Keep my mind off things' She thought, a small smirk flashing across her face before vanishing again.