Closed To the Beat of Hooves (Jehryn)

[Sira]

Timestamp: 32nd of Spring, 514 AV
Location: Somewhere in the Sanikas Valley, between Wind Reach and Thunder Bay

Her knees bent slightly as her feet sunk into the ground, Sira trying her best not to make a sound as she stalked through the forest of the Sanikas valley. The damp ground felt good beneath her bare feet, and Sira was thankful that it was finally warm enough to go hunting without bundling up again. She was naked, save for the snap away belt that carried her talon sword. She preferred it that way when hunting by herself, the lack of clothing allowed her to shift quickly when necessary. Sira also carried her bow, though she brought no quiver. Three arrows were fastened to the bow itself which she could snap free whenever she needed them. She rarely bothered with an entire quiver, if she needed more than three arrows to catch her prey it wasn't worth catching.

In truth, Sira hunted best in her eagle form, but she enjoyed the challenge of hunting by foot. There was something exhilarating about tracking down her prey, following it until she caught up, trying not to startle it as she moved in for the kill. She could catch much larger game as a wind eagle, but it wasn't a challenge for her. As a human things were much harder, and Sira liked that.

Hunting was one of the few pleasures she allowed herself anymore. She still missed Aidara, but the kelvic did her best to put the healer out of her mind whenever possible. Hunting helped with that, especially hunting in human form. She could focus on what she was doing, and not have to think about what she had lost. There was much hunting needed to be done. Though the famine had been declared over, Sira knew it was important that the city build up it's reserves again, so as not to have a repeat of the past winter.

Sira paused, kneeling next to an indentation in the ground. Her keen eyes easily picked out things that normal human eyes could not, but Sira was no master tracker, and simply seeing something did not immediately tell her it was worth looking at. The indentation, however, was very obvious to her. A hoof track, and one different than a deer. Perhaps a mountain goat? Sira doubted it, knowing that the goats rarely came down into the valley. An elk, then? But the print didn't look quite right. Sira tried to remember the things she had been shown in the tracking class, but alas, she had not paid as much attention as she should have. It didn't matter though, whatever it was, it ran on four legs, had hooves, and would make a perfect dinner.

[Jehryn Seyfara]

The wind blew fierce as the Kelvic galloped at a breakneck speed. His mane, along with his tail, whipped violently along the thin air. Powerful masculine limbs sprung from the few sloped terrains then hitched to slowly regain speed from abrupt delays. Elbows lifted the very weight of his bulky frame while hooves struck the ground explosively as well as kicking grass from every point his legs had strode with only a few stresses present to incline and potentially falter him from being too fast. Hairs from his forehead were shook to fling it away to the side of his crest seemingly to avoid blocking his sight while his nostrils spurted heavy breaths from his unyielding momentum.

The early afternoon sun still maintained a bright shimmer throughout the valley. Steep adjacent hills from the further side of the terrain had grasses glimmering in healthy green due to the rays of the sun that bathe life into it. The taller mountains which were visible from the deeper side of the valley had struck a marvelous glimpse from afar. Thick clouds swarmed the tips of the mountains rendering a magnificent but dire image to bewilder. One may not nearly describe such an amazing view from words alone.

The Kelvic ceased abruptly at a point where he saw a passageway, difficult for him to advance further just from seeing how nearly impassable it looked. The terrain before him sloped to a rocky cliff and down to a flock of thick brushes where there is no specific ground seen which could be dull enough for him to land his body through. He knew he couldn't try and go at the certain distance even if he use his fledgling skill of mountaineering or shift back to his human form. The Kelvic flared his nostrils then jolted his front limbs up in the air before he turned himself away from the dead end. Jehryn followed the tracks which he traversed recently while galloping.

Although he is not the best tracker nor even have a skill for linking details to his mind, his instincts had guided him through and somehow, carried him to the right path though it wasn't even close to a perfect match in detail. He felt certain that it was. Besides, this wasn't the first time where he took himself out for a stroll. There were sights in the valleys which seemed to be familiar to him and served as a navigational point to prevent himself from being lost.

The strength of the wind throughout the valleys were strong. A potent blast of it roared at Jehryn as his mane waved violently from his neck. He then trotted in a slightly hasty manner while regaining strength before breaking to a gallop. But something strange had struck his senses though it wasn't in an alarming level where he would freeze from sheer terror. Perceiving danger wasn't his best asset, although sensing the greatest form of danger which is his mother was something he mastered as he grew up. There was something up ahead or behind which seemed to raise his attention but it eventually wore off as he lifted his head to take a sight of the bright blue sky. Bringing his gaze to it simply made his blood flow with freedom. He was free from his mother's endless assignments and he felt overjoyed after being given a single day to do whatever he does best; and it was running.

[Sira]

Sira followed the prints slowly, taking care not to be too loud. They were easy enough to follow, whatever the beast was it was heavy. Sira doubted it was a deer. Eventually the trees ended and she came to a more open area, and suddenly the hoof prints grew deeper, as if the beast had begun to run. It made sense enough, running in the trees would be dangerous, though a deer could probably manage easier than most, but an open field was easy terrain and an opportunity for any creature to stretch its legs. Or, perhaps it had caught her scent, and was now running from her.

Sira crouched at the tree line, her keen eyes following the trail as far as she could manage before looking up in the direction it had gone. Her eyes were those of a wind eagle, and Sira could see clear across the open terrain, able to pick out the smallest detail that no normal Inarta could hope to see. In her eagle form they were even better, but even so, Sira's vision was strong enough to spot the horse in the distance. It was brown. She couldn't tell if it was a stallion or a mare, even Sira's eyes weren't that good from a distance, but it wasn't really important.

Sira was surprised to have found a horse. She had thought perhaps an elk, or some other large animal that was at least common to the area. Horses were not common. It was true that Wind Reach did house a small number of horses, but those were kept near the city, and primarily used only to haul things up and down the road between the city and Thunder Bay. This horse was not saddled, nor did she see any rider, though Sira did not rule out the possibility that one was nearby. Could it be an Inarta's horse, or some unknown person from another land? Sira did not like the thought of that, outsiders were dangerous. She was a bit more accepting than some, but out in the Unforgiving one had to constantly be on their guard.

Sira unclipped one of the arrows from her bow, nocking it but not drawing. The horse was coming back, and Sira waited until it drew closer. Perhaps she was being cocky, because she should have waited longer, but as soon as she thought it was in range Sira pulled back on the string. The thought that the horse might belong to someone flitted through her mind for only an instant. If it belonged to an Inarta, it was certainly no endal's, for no self respecting endal would ever choose to ride a horse. If it belonged to anyone else in the city, they should have known better than to leave their horse unattended. And if it belonged to an outsider, better to take away their mount in the case that they are a threat.

Sira loosed, and the arrow sailed out with a thrum. It was heading right for the horse, or so Sira had hoped. Perhaps her aim was off, or maybe the wind had changed, but the arrow whizzed harmlessly past the horse coming within a few feet, but not so close to call it a narrow miss either. Sira cursed her inaccuracy, and quickly notched another arrow, but she knew it was probably too late. The horse couldn't have failed to notice the arrow that clattered into the ground nearby.

[Jehryn Seyfara]

The bright blue sky felt like a huge open field, from which is eternal and boundless from any dead ends. It was like a kingdom from where the most sublime forms of joy can be experienced; freedom is exceptionally one of them and Jehryn would most likely want to take a step above that boundless kingdom. As much as Jehryn loves to run free, he also had distant dreams of soaring high above the skies and witness what it felt like from taking a glimpse below thousands of feet. There was one possibility though, which makes it more likely to happen but the Kelvic disliked the whole concept of it.

He hated Endals ever since he can remember, he just hated them from how they stand out in the society of Wind Reach. He never wished once in his life to be one of them but his hatred proved to be questionable. One person whom he respected the most is also one of them and it was his father. He could tell that Jehyn's hatred for Endals is one form of jealousy for it was the Kelvic's envy of the Endals to fly that made him think that it was in that form. But the truth about his hatred was never proved as time passed by. His desires and hatred were erratic even for the closest people to understand.

The Kelvic brought his senses back to his surroundings. His pointy ears twitched to take precautions if there ever were unusual sounds about. They both took splits, patrolling either behind trees or beyond the path where he traversed recently. Sadly, his ears weren't built to be the keenest and observing the most sharpest of details felt difficult to carry out. Jehryn then snorted at the air, presuming no danger was inbound. He felt safe at the moment, going to the thought of inclining where the Unforgiving is vast enough for dangerous people or creatures to linger. Besides, he knew certain locations within the wilderness that are much more dangerous than the place where he was standing as of now. But before the Kelvic could even take a stride on his legs, his ears gave out a meek alarming signal to his senses. His ears caught up to the soft rustles of grass far from his behind. At first, his instincts told him it was absurd, knowing that the wind was fairly strong to make the grass rustle in their procession but what made him a bit cautious was his bulky body and how it gradually froze involuntarily. Danger felt to be inbound and he would suggest himself to take quick actions before something might actually happen to him. Jehryn pushed his front legs to start moving at a slow pace. Once he did, the rest of his limbs started limping from the unseen terror he was abruptly facing. He couldn't describe it but it was making him feel agitated more than ever.

A sharp piercing sound roared within the vicinity. Though it wasn't about as loud as anyone would've thought of, to Jehryn, it's magnitude alone felt potent enough for his ears to register. The Kelvic froze at the edge of his motion when the shot was fired. His nostrils snorted violently as deep and heavy breaths sprung out. His front legs struck the ground with such strength that dust flew over the air. Eyes were wide open, showing such agitation and fear from how the current situation is unfolding. Jehryn couldn't think well. His system to respond felt like wires which connections were cut off abruptly. It was difficult to take action, Jehryn thought his death was near. But no, it wasn't, he refused to be killed by someone/something with an unseen appearance. Jehryn took the last of his strength to carry his weight. Hoping to avoid the unknown object that was about to hit him, which seemed to have already sizzled past him, his front legs bucked up in the air, as the Kelvic sprung out from his position and leaped to the other side. The Kelvic cried out in fear, giving out a loud high-pitched whine. He panicked at the whole scene and forgot to even notice that the object collided to the ground. He then lowered his body to bend his hocks, while gathering strength to his hindquarters only to lift his front legs. Once they were up in the air, they were quivered violently while crying out yet another high-pitched whine. Jehryn felt completely terrified, he couldn't estimate what would happen next if there ever was a second round from having a missed shot. Unsure and unaware of his actions, Jehryn pulled his front legs down and steadied himself. He hesitantly shifted to his human form without even thinking of anything. He was panting heavily, with eyes wide open now seeing what the object was: an arrow. All of his agitation for one mere object but he knew that everything might turn out to be a disaster if he ever got hit.

"Hey," He quickly paused while he was still breathing heavily. "Whoever your are, this is not funny. If you try to take another round to shoot me, then at least show your darn face!" The Kelvic demanded as he continued breathing heavily but with each second passing by he slightly had calmed himself, for now. His eyes took an aimless glance towards nothingness, clueless to where the arrow had sprung. He was bare. Naked, to say the least, but it didn't matter to him.

[Sira]

Much to her surprise, the horse did not immediately run away. As the horse reared in fear, Sira drew back on the string of her bow, preparing for a second shot. The wind was blowing gently, but this time Sira was sure she wouldn't miss, wind or no. The horse was closer, and Sira could compensate for the wind. It was much to her surprise when suddenly the horse vanished, and in its place stood a man, naked as the day his mother birthed him.

Sira's eyes widened, and she nearly loosed the arrow then and there. A kelvic!? Sira was unaware of any horse kelvics in Wind Reach, but then again, she rarely paid any attention to how many kelvics were in the city at any time. She might have thought him an outsider, but he spoke in Nari as good as any native.

Sira's eyes narrowed at his words. He certainly had an Inartan's attitude, but she did not know him, and she did not trust him. Not yet, anyway. The kelvic woman stood, stepping out of hiding. Her bow remained drawn, the arrow aimed steadily at his chest. Sira took a few steps forward to make sure he could see her before shouting back.

"What is your name, Kelvic? Are you from Wind Reach, or did you come here by another way?"

[Jehryn Seyfara]

Jehryn finally calmed his senses but much of it wouldn't be in a steady state once he'd predict that things were about to get much worse. Both feet cautiously moved about a few inches forward as a voice of a woman broke out from behind. Jehryn then tilted his head behind when his eyes caught up to a sight of naked woman. It was odd at first, Jehryn had awkward hints streaming through his thoughts but it was eventually discarded soon after realizing they both had no clothing. The Kelvic slowly turned his body where his head pointed at then got a clearer view of the naked woman. Her hair waved a fiery red color with eyes shimmering a golden glare. A belt was strapped at her waist which carried a weapon Jehryn wasn't familiar to. Overall, he would thought the woman looked attractive but he'd assume she was a lot older for his age or already had someone as a lover. Either way, he didn't knew and going through those details might not fill his time. The woman looked like an Inarta just from her physical features but having no clothing out in the wilderness seemed to be a suspicious point where Jehryn would thought she wasn't. Besides, who would venture off to a place without wearing any clothing? Jehryn thought of himself as an exception or he might have inclined that the woman might share a similarity of his oddities.

The woman drew an object which proved to be greatly familiar to Jehryn, and it was a bow. His eyes closely monitored her moves, if ever there would be a slight inch of movement which might trigger dangerous expectations. But Jehryn's attention was sharply drawn to the arrow that was steadily drawn at the bowstring. It's sight alone sharpened Jehryn's senses whether he would shift back to his horse form and run as fast as he could or negotiate a peaceful agreement if ever the woman felt like firing the arrow. Whatever the reason might be, Jehryn would best take precaution.

"What is your name, Kelvic? Are you from Wind Reach, or did you come here by another way?"

Jehryn wouldn't certainly wish to trade his name to a stranger who just made an attempt to kill him. Not now nor anytime unless everything is proven to be a miscalculation. He held his chin up, his expressions still looked cautious and his eyes remained to monitor the woman's movements. He felt like answering one of the questions but adding honesty to it might not be an option for now. "I am from Wind Reach," He spoke in Nari while taking a quick pause. Jehryn wanted to sound cautious, aggravating danger was the least of the things he wanted to happen. "I am not an outsider nor would bring you any harm, so please....drop, weapon" The last bit of his phrase was rigid. His voice sounded plain as he spoke the native language.

Eyebrows were raised as the wind shifted its waft to the opposite direction. More and more leaves rustled nearby. Jehryn felt like he missed something to say. "Look, I'm not going to give you my name unless you give your's first" He spoke in common when he thought portraying his expressions in Nari is pointless. "What do you expect? You did try to shoot me." He then spoke but his voice sounded humble as he still tried to take precautions.

oocaction might be springing later on

[Sira]

Sira's eyes narrowed at the kelvics words. He was not an Endal, she knew that much. She knew every Endal in Wind Reach, if not personally then by name and deed alone. What bothered her most though was switching to the common tongue. If he was a native, then why was he not speaking the native tongue. She still did not trust him, but she did lower her bow. It was still nocked and her fingers remained ready to draw back at the slightest provocation, but he was unarmed, and displayed no aggression towards her.

"I will not drop my weapon," she said, speaking in Nari. She always spoke Nari, unless it was absolutely necessary to do otherwise. This kelvic spoke Nari, and Sira saw no reason to switch to a foreign tongue just to please him.

"You were a horse. After the winter, any animal is fair game. Horse meat is as good as any other. I am Endal Sira. Now, give me your name."

He knew who she was now, and more importantly he knew her rank. How he reacted to that would likely determine how the rest of their encounter went. Sira was not like most Endal. She was not cruel, or abusive, but she did demand respect, and since Aidara's disappearance she was not very forgiving of slights against her. As far as she was concerned, she'd risked her life enough times to protect the lower castes not to deserve any sort of disrespect. She had the scars to prove it.. even Aidara's gift could not heal every wound.

[Jehryn Seyfara]

Jehryn's eyes flicked over to the woman's face and right into her golden eyes. There wasn't a need to monitor her moves for now but still, Jehryn kept his precautions as the weapon was refused to be dropped down. Threat seemed to be drifting away, or so as he felt, and Jehryn's senses were partially driven in peace. Still, Jehryn was bothered of the woman's true nature either she's an Inarta or not. True, she had the prominent features but what kept him into that state is the peculiarity of her sudden bare appearance. The thought of it streamed his mind again but he tried his best not to act like a complete idiot in front of a woman.

""You were a horse. After the winter, any animal is fair game. Horse meat is as good as any other. I am Endal Sira....."

At that moment, he ceased from lending his ears to her words. He never thought he can be food to some people and it felt downright terror just from hearing a certain person, especially a woman, trying to hunt and eat him. He would've thought the days of the Famine were over but he can never understand the needs of strange people. Sira At first, Jehryn slashed a bit of shame towards himself from abruptly switching to the common language. The part where he would have thought he insulted the native tongue and the woman smeared some guilt into his mind, but he did it anyway and he can never undone such things. Wait..wait....Sira? Endal? an Endal?! Exclaimed thoughts disrupted his thinking, nearly everything in his mind erupted the moment he heard that single word. He was unsure and confused but he knew what he should normally do.

"Jehryn. my father is one of your kind," Jehryn paused for a brief moment while he took a few steps backwards to where the path he had galloped. His eyes were slowly drifting away from Sira with each step taken. "I'm sorry but I..- I think I can't be around you" The Kelvic turned himself away from the Endal, his feet moved about a constant but hasty pace. When he felt he covered about a few distance away, he broke into his normal speed of running as he sprinted towards the path he traveled recently. Jehryn's steady speed had him breathe heavy breaths frequently which seemed to prove that his stamina was slowly being drained down. But he wasn't tired yet, he still had a day before returning home.

Once Jehryn had set foot to a course where it led to an even terrain, He shifted into his horse form. Powerful legs brought about a tremendous start on a gallop, kicking sparse grass and straying some dirt aside. He gave out a bellowing cry which slightly echoed from a distant vicinity of the valley. That would've gave attention to some predators but it didn't bother him as long as he can outrun them. He continued to run forward but still, he felt as if he just disrespected someone just from turning away in an instant without giving a reasonable excuse. He had to do it, since she was an Endal.

He couldn't predict everything, but Jehryn knew Sira might go on a chase. He was certain he could outrun her on foot not only in his horse form but also in his human form. Whatever her plans might be, He certainly wouldn't wish to see another arrow flying towards him.

[Sira]

One of my kind, Sira thought. Does he mean Kelvic, or Endal?

It didn't really matter, because before Sira had the chance to ask, the kelvic turned and began to ran, shifting once he'd put a little distance between them. Sira lifted her bow, sighting down the shaft for a moment before letting out a sigh and lowering it. No, she wasn't going to kill him. Not yet, anyway, not unless he did something to deserve it. But she was still curious about him.

"Wait," her voice sounded, not out loud, but within his mind.

Sira dropped her bow, unclasped her belt, and in a swirl of glittering smoke she transformed from a human into a massive golden wind eagle. Well.. massive was only speaking in comparison to normal eagles. As wind eagles go, Sira ran on the small side, but she was still huge, with a thirty six foot wing span, and a beak large enough to tear a man in half, or a horse.

Sira spread her wings and beat them down hard, lifting into the air and giving chase. On foot the horse was much faster than Sira, but once she was in the air she began to gain on him. She would have caught up faster, possibly, but Sira climbed high rather than tried to go straight for him. When she attained enough altitude she went into a dive, easily surpassing him in speed.

Sira dove back down toward the horse, flying towards the ground like a golden feathered rocket. She swooped past and turned into the air, her talons touching to the ground a few yards in front of him forcing him to stop or turn another way. It was not a graceful landing, and Sira had to jump backwards a few steps to maintain her balance.

"STOP," her voice rang out, again in his mind. "Why are you running from me?"

Sira knew he probably would not be able to answer without shifting. The gift of telepathy was common among Inarta, they took to it well once they'd linked with an eagle, but for someone who has never spoken to a wind eagle mind to mind it could be a bit of a challenge. Sira shifted back to human form then, in part so that he would do the same and they could communicate more easily, but also to show him that she too was a kelvic.

OOCSorry for the delay. It's harder for me to post on week days due to work, and after work I am often too tired to think about writing.

[Jehryn Seyfara]

Jehryn ran faster, faster than he could have gotten himself into. It was a need for him to get away from an Endal, he didn't want trouble, not now or in any time he would spend. But to make things much more peculiar to him, the Endal was a woman. In the days of his terrible experience with Endals, he'd usually encounter males and either acts fearless or just completely foolish towards them. Yet he did, eventually. Running away with no apparent reason felt like he was deluging himself with complete foolishness, and cowardice. Jehryn gave no chance for something to work out, instead of knowing someone better even for who belongs to a group he despises, he ran away.

He galloped with an incredible speed, barely turning his attention back to the female Endal. Eyes gazed beyond the terrain, his muzzle gasped the warmth of the breeze while nostrils hissed in protest. His legs strode with tremendous power that it made his body flicker vigorously. Nothing felt like stopping him, not even an impassable passage if he ever collides with one. Until he realized he wasn't going to be ignored by someone he had just met. A strange eerie sound jolted abruptly in his mind, giving way for uneasiness to smear while Jehryn continued to run forward. He couldn't describe nor explain what it was but he would've inclined it was his mind playing unusual tricks.

A loud roar screamed in thin air, it's sound wafted throughout his ears as it rocketed with an unbelievable speed. A huge silhouette blocked the shimmer of the sun as he observed that the ground which was once bathed in the sun's light was covered in shadows. The wings of the Wind Eagle spanned at an enormous radius which covered nearly every ground that Jehryn traversed. The Horse Kelvic turned his gaze from above as to where it was coming while he galloped. His eyes couldn't picture what it was seeing until the sight of the silhouette began to emerge with visible colors. It was a very familiar sight, one he would often see when seeing his father soar up in the skies; It was a Wind Eagle.

The sight of the giant bird sent terror down to his fetlocks as he galloped. His speed began to wither in time as the bird caught his pace and abruptly dropped from an incredible altitude with wings breezing with tremendous speed. Jehryn's galloped decayed into a stride, then after almost turning himself to a halt, he trotted with a hasty pace. The Wind Eagle's flight sent winds blowing towards his mane, straying off strands with slight violence. Heaps of dust from the ground were lifted in thin air, some of them found their way to Jehryn's nostrils as the eagle landed before him.

Front legs were lifted in the air as Jehryn whined fearfully but as he felt agitated as he was recently, a strange yet another unusual voice or sound lingered inside his thoughts. It caused a distortion that somehow calmed him but immediately made himself shift into his human form. Once he did, he breathed heavily as he tried catching up to his normal breaths. He didn't knew about the creature but he might as well act as if he was certain that it belonged to the female Endal whom he just ran away from. But he didn't saw the Wind Eagle earlier on their encounter and usually he would see Wind Eagles hanging around their riders, such of an example was his father. He was uncertain but he would assume that the Wind Eagle might actually be the Endal, Sira whereas there was no other person he found in the wilderness other than herself.

After calming his breath down, Jehryn took his gaze on the massive creature. Is this.....her? He questioned himself in his thoughts If she is....then, she's a Kelvic? a Wind Eagle Kelvic?!. It was up to him to find out but he felt certain that she was. Jehryn began to feel overwhelmed by questions. "Alright Alright, I'll stop!" He finally spoke but this time he forgot his manners an spoke in common tongue. Though he intended to speak that way instead of sounding ridiculous in the native language. "Forgive me from running away, it's disrespectful. I know but..Is there anything you would want from me?" Realizing it might be effective when speaking in Nari, Jehryn hoped for the Wind Eagle to provide concise answers. He then paused taking a few breaths before continuing himself. "You already tried to shoot me, then mistakenly viewed me as food, can Endals be any stranger?" Jehryn exclaimed. He seemed to feel as if he was proud of himself while he successfully gave some emotions in his words while speaking in Nari.

oocAh, don't worry just rest if you are too tired to write, there isn't a need to rush things