[Flashback] The Leaving of the Nest [Kausshivania]

[Kausshivania]

Location: The Dhani viper nest outside of Ahnatep
Timestamp: Summer 13 510 AV

"Ssssshe issss finally leaving ussss." "That girl hassss no buisssssnesss being here anywayssss. Ssssshe wassss never one of ussss." "Ivania will not make it very far. Sssiku will not protect her." "Then there issss nothing to worry about. Sssshe will not be coming back."

These were only some of the conversations Ivania could pick up with her new human ears. The others in the nest were finally glad to be rid of her. She could feel the joy in the air all around her. They did not approve of her ways of life, her praise to only Caiyha. But Ivania did not care anymore. She was proud to be a follower of her goddess.

It pained her greatly to not be loved by her people. She hated being alone. It was not in a Dhani's nature to be all alone. But it had happened to her. Her parents and siblings once saw her as a strong, beautiful huntress, probably one of the strongest fighters they had seen in a Dhani viper. Now though they never looked at her. They were ashamed to have her as one of their family.

Ivania had been alone for more than 50 years. She was used to the backs being shown to her, to the whispers all around. She was not allowed to go on hunts for human prey, nor was she allowed to be close to gatherings the nest leader would hold. She did not want to see the human's screams as they were tortured anyways.

It made her scales crawl and her blood run colder than it had ever been. And of course the humans would struggle. Oh they struggled so much. It tore a wound deep into Ivania's heart to see the wild, terrified looks in the human's eyes. It made her feel like she was in their place, and it scared her.

Ivania only hunted animals. The animals knew when their time was up. Not many struggled and excepted their deaths easily. This made it fell so natural to Ivania. And the animals flesh and meat tasted so much more luxiurious to her than the human's flesh. It also made her feel closer to Caiyha, the goddess she loved so dearly.

When Ivania was finally 100 years old, she was able to transform into her human flesh, with long, flowing threads of white hair and pale silver-blue eyes. She had shivered in delight. Her Dhani form and viper form felt more right, but this human form felt almost as natural as the others. It was also a sign that she could now leave the nest and walk freely among the other races without bringing too much disgust to their eyes. At least that is what she was hoping for.

Now was the day she could leave. She had already left once earlier that day to go into Ahnatep and to the market place to buy herself a horse to carry all of her bags. She did not say bye to her parents or her family, nor did she say bye to anyone else in the nest. There was no reason to. She had said bye to them a long time ago when she had turned herself to Caiyha as a whole.

She stood tall and proud as she got to the entrance of the mouth of the nest. Behind her she could hear the cheering of her leaving for good. She was warned as well by her mother that if she ever were to return, then she would be taken as a sacrifice and they would torture her and give her body to Siku. Ivania did not answer her mother because she had no real passion to ever return to the nest.

Only a fool would return to a place that shunned you, cursed your name, and prayed to the goddess Siku that you would die a painful death. No more did Ivania want to see those maliced filled eyes or the evil stained grins. She was glad to be freed from that place of torture. When the sun fell onto Ivania's human body, Ivania felt cleansed of a heavy weight that had been boring down harshly on her shoulders. She felt new and light inside.

She was free of that cold place. The heat and scorched it away. A snorting sound snapped Ivania out of her senses slightly. Her dress, made of light material and the color of black onyx flowed in the desert wind as she smiled gently at the beast that walked over to her calmly. He was a beautiful Eyktolian Desertbred. He was a deep mahogany brown with black, strong legs and glistening black hooves. His mane was as black as coal and he had a black tinted muzzle with a white star on the middle of his forehead and gorgeous brown eyes. He stood tall and proud at 16hh.

He was a fine horse for 50 gold miza. Ivania could not ask for a better one. And despite his deep rich colors and the type of beast that he was, he was not afraid of Ivania. Usually horses were deathly afraid of snakes, but not this one. No. He was not afraid of anything. This horse had such a strong will. Ivania had seen it in him. And he was loving as well. He seemed to admire Ivania at first sight. He had pushed his muzzle at her while all of the other horses at the market reared back and moved as far away as they could.

Ivania, feeling quite nervous as the seller stared at her with untrusting eyes, reached a soft, small hand out to stroke the beasts forehead. The horse snorted, startling her. Ivania then laughed a musical laugh and stroked the horse again. The horse shivered under her touch, but not from fear but from something deep inside the both of them that knew that this Dhani and horse were meant for each other.

Without another thought, Ivania immediately bought the beast and led him out of the fence. With much grace, Ivania swing herself onto the horse and patted his neck gently. "I choossssssse you and you chossssse me. Now to sssseal our bond, let usssss ride together assss one." The horse neighed and reared back then launched himself forward. Ivania cried out at first then laughed her musical laugh again as she held onto his mane and rode back to the nest.

"It isssss time to ride again, my new friend. Let usss both live freely together, untrapped by family or massssster. I am yourssssss and you are mine. Let usss be off into a new future."

The horse snorted and lifted a leg to stamp it in the desert sand a few times as if saying he agreed. Ivania smiled, her fangs glistening sweetly. She quickly and fluently loaded her bags onto the beast, talking gently and calmly to him. He did not seem to mind. When Ivania had finished she pat his strong neck. "I have to think of a name for you my dear friend. But what ssssshalll I call you?" Ivania looked him over thoughhfully. What could she name a fine horse like him?

She bit her full bottom lip the color of lushious pale pink. "What ssssshall I call you..." She said out loud but more to herself this time. She looked him over again. "Well...how about Vasssshkah?" The horse whinnied, splitting the desert air, filling it with his majestic voice. Vashkah. He loved it and it made Ivania's heart soar.

Ivania threw her arms up and closed her eyes, praying to her goddess Caiyha to let her live a full life and to bless them on their journey. And then, Ivania was up on Vashkah's back and they were riding dead on towards Ahnatep. Who knew what was awaiting them, but this pair was bound to never give up, their souls intertwined as one. They would fight together for survival, and neither of them would have it any other way.