Closed A Couple of "Jon Snows"

[Lorcan Gregory]

10 th Fall 516 av
15 th Bell

Opal Clan, Endrykas

“Would you stay still!” Lörcán tsked through a darkened scowl. With one hand he grasped the Zavian’s Yvas and attempted to reign Ahiro in closer to him; the stallion untrusting of its new owner, skittered and edged away. Gripped tightly in his other hand, Lörcán once again placed the grooming brush to Ahiro’s gritty, mucky pelt.

Having only been in Endrykas for just over a week, Lörcán’s patience with everything was growing thin. His head still thumped; the gash above his eyebrow was healing, but slowly. Though, it wasn’t from the physical wound that his headache originated. The stress and trauma of awaking to faces he had never seen, to a place he did not recognise and to be struck with the realisation that he knew nothing of who he was – it was enough to make Lörcán more than a little tetchy at best.

Every day he racked his brain in search of a glimpse, a memory, a feeling – anything! Every day he was confronted with nothing but anguish and frustration at himself. Yet life would not pause for him. Despite the snafu of emotions that riddled his being, he couldn’t just lay in his tent. Although living in the wilds of the Sea of Grass was a tough life; each night falling into his bedroll exhausted, it kept his mind off of things.

If there was one thing he had picked up about Drykas culture – it was that their horses were their lives. The nomads cared for their Striders as if they were another limb, another extension of themselves and so Lörcán thought it was maybe time he tried to adopt himself into the same discipline. Without Ahiro he wouldn’t be able to get very far; he could already see how valuable the Stallion would be to his survival.

Although, the horse’s coat was more than a little grubby – it was caked in dried out filth. As Lörcán scrubbed the hard bristles of the grooming brush into the Zavian’s pelt, going back and forth wasn’t doing much good. Sighing he stepped back, swiping his forearm across his sweating brow and appraised the problem at hand. Brushing wasn’t going to be enough; Ahiro was in desperate need of a bath!

In the humid, stagnant air Lörcán suddenly glanced down at his sweat soaked shirt as it clung to his frame; a faint, nose-wrinkling odour reaching his nostrils. Perhaps they were both in need of bath, Lörcán chuckled to himself. He swiftly packed up his grooming kit into Ahiro’s yvas bags, before nabbing his gladius and backpack. Gawkily, Lörcán hauled himself onto the Zavian’s back; head first, shuffling forward until he could swing his leg over – not the most graceful way of mounting.

Rocking forward on Ahiro’s back he flicked the reins, spurring the Stallion onwards towards a small stream not far from the tent city. Uneasy in his riding, Lörcán kept the Zavian at a casual walk, it might take him forever to get anywhere, but at least he would get there in one piece.

The Sea of Grass
One Bell Later...

On the peak of a small grassy knoll, peering down into the depression of a small gully, Lörcán dismounted. Unhooking the yvas and the bags, Lörcán set aside all of his gear in a heap on the hillock, with the exception of the grooming brush. Although it was strange for Fall to be so sultry, Lörcán took pleasure in the fact that he could strip off to his undergarments and not instantly be met by the swift cold shivers of Zulrav’s winds found later in the season.

Wrapping an arm around Ahiro’s neck he lead the stallion into the brooklet; the rush of the refreshing water, tantalising his skin as it swam over his feet, up to his knees. Splashing water onto Ahiro’s ebony coat, Lörcán sucked in a calming breath before setting the bristles to the horse’s skin and scrubbing.

It was mollifying to get away from the closeness and bustle of the tent city. To get out on his own, clear his mind of the overwhelming panic constricting his chest and simply enjoy the sensations of the creek. As it washed away their filth, he felt it wash away his anxiety; the tension in his muscles easing as he allowed his guard to fall.

Though, the hairs on the back of his neck stood to attention as a perturbed deluge shivered up his spine. He felt as though eyes trained his movements, but maybe he was just being paranoid.

　

[Taurina]

The water found not far from the tent city was a tempting treat that Taurina found hard to refuse. It felt like a thin layer of sweat covered everything as the humid weather brought misery upon the inhabitants of Endrykas. The nights were better, but to Taurina the days were miserable. Not only was she stuck in her insignificant little earthbound form, but the unbearable air made said form sticky and uncomfortable. She had tried sleeping it off when she got back to her tent after a morning at the Lilacwind pavilion, but even sleep was chased away by discomfort. One could only toss and turn for so long before just giving up on the idea entirely.

It had been a scary thought to re-enter the Sea of Grass after the summer long journey she had spent in it. Really it hadn’t been something she wanted to do at all, but there were no masses of water within the tent city itself and, after some inquiring of some of the other tent dwellers, she was told there was one not far outside the Wind Knotted Gates. There still was hesitancy, the debate of whether or not it was worth it along with some more trying to just sleep it off. That didn’t work and Taurina soon was trying to convince herself to go out there.

’It isn’t far, you can get back,’ the thoughts bantered back and forth in her head, ’But what if you can’t? What if something attacks you and it’s too late?’ The Eth battled with herself, but the voice of desire to not feel so icky won out in the end. ’At least you’ll have Melody, she can get you back,’ was the winning thought, even though it shouldn’t have been so comforting since Taurina’s riding skills left something to be desired.

Horse and rider made it out past the Wind Knotted Gates and in the direction Taurina had been told the water was in. The rider was jumpy and uncomfortable which made her usually easy mannered, well behaved mare that had been tamed for the most novice of beginners much the same. The ride out to the water source took longer than it should because of this and Taurina’s riding was even more clumsy that it usually was. It had been a relief to see and hear the water, like a prayer had been answered. Taurina was ready to submerge herself and chase the discomfort the sun caused away.

The Ethaefal didn’t notice the other being in the water at first. She was so focused on getting to the water that she hadn’t noticed what was already in it. It wasn’t until the pair ran across the other being’s belongings that Taurina realized she might not have been the only one looking for a reprieve from the sticky heat. When she saw the belongings though, a frown found itself upon her lips before she even looked towards the water for the owner of said belongings.

There he was, a man and his horse out in the water. Taurina’s frown deepened as she dismounted her mare. Melody made a sound of discontent that caused Taurina to stroke her neck absently. “Shh.. it’s alright,” the Eth soothed as she looked towards the man and his horse. It looked as though the horse was getting a bath which didn’t seem like a bad idea. “Alright, let’s go introduce ourselves,” Taurina decided, not about to waste the trip out here just because someone had had the idea first.

Taurina first removed all of Melody’s tack, besides the halter that allowed her control of the mare, and then she made her way down to the water. There was no really good way to introduce her presence, so she just went with a “Greetings,” to get his attention. Once his attention had been captured, Taurina smiled and made herself look as nonthreatening as possible. It wasn’t hard in this form, she was short and not currently much to look at compared to the other Drykas females. “Looks like I wasn’t the only one with the idea of cooling off today,” she motioned to the water as she slipped into the common she had grown so accustom to using, “mind if I join you?”

Common | Pavi | Thought

[Lorcan Gregory]

Distracted by the swirling fog that clouded his being, Lörcán was too focused on pushing away the tempest of his emotions to notice the approach of another. Bending at the waist to splash more soothing water upon his Zavian, the crisp, lilting “Greetings” jerked Lörcán from within his own thoughts; water flew everywhere! The grooming brush plopped into the stream as he physically jumped in fright; a sharp gasp escaping him despite himself – all manner of grace and poise evaporated as if steam.

Running a hand through his now drenched fringe, flicking the unruly mop of nut-brown layers from obscuring his view, Lörcán appraised the new comer before him - his sorrel gaze soaking in the warm smile and petite standing of the young woman. For a moment he didn’t know what staggered him more; that a Drykas was speaking Common clear as day, or that someone was actually out here, same as him – and was making conversation.

“Uh – I, uh. No not at all.” Lörcán forced what he hoped was a friendly smile, though he was slow to shake from the sombre grasp of his brooding thoughts. Deciphering his feelings on a daily basis took much concentration and he was utterly unsure of himself alone – never mind in the presence of others. He hadn’t interacted with many Drykas on a social standing much – let alone one that could actually communicate well in Common.

Was he a sociable man? Was he a grouch? An introvert? At this point he couldn’t tell. A swift wave of bubbling frustration began to arise within his breast once more. It was tiresome and galling trying to analyse who he was at every moment he was faced with a new situation.

The realisation of the sullen silence he had let befall the pair’s greeting shook Lörcán from his inner turmoil and he rushed to meet the woman’s efforts; gesturing that she join him and Ahiro into the refreshment of the invigorating water.

“You uh, you speak Common?” Lörcán turned to the river and begun blindly fishing for his lost grooming brush, “Fluently?” Triumphantly lifting his find into the air with a self-satisfied grin, he added, “And yet you are Drykas?” As he turned to indicate his head to the tattoos he had noticed most of the Kin of Endrykas bore. “What’s your name?” The torrent of questions sputtered from his lips in an attempt to disguise his sudden embarrassment that he was stood in nothing but a wet pair of underwear.

　

[Taurina]

The man jerked up, his surprise causing water to fly and his brush to make a nice plopping sound in the water as he lost his grip on it. A smile of amusement twisted on Taurina’s lips as she watched the scene unfold. The boy was clumsy, but the surprising part was the man’s horse’s lack of reaction. Even with the splash of water and the flying brush, that horse was unmoving. Melody had not even been so calm and had backed away from the scene when water began to fly. Melody was not having that. Taurina let out the smallest of laughs, trying not to be too rude. Even if the whole scene was rather amusing.

The man went on to speak, his first words just as clumsy as his body had been. He spoke clearly though once he got a grip on his words. Taurina was not too surprised to hear clear common coming from him. The man did not look very Drykas and the horse he had with him was no strider. Taurina had learned to be able to distinguish the differences between the striders and the rest of the horses ever since stepping foot into Endrykas. It had not been a hard lesson. So while the man could have been Drykas and just unbonded, the clear common told the rest of the story. Some spoke it, but Taurina had not run into very many fluent speakers yet. This man would be one of the first.

"Thank you,” Taurina responded to the man’s permission to join him. The water looked nice and she was glad this man did not move to make her feel unwelcome to it. While she likely would have gotten in anyway, possibly just in a different spot, it was better to have a companion. Even if he was a clumsy, unknowing nondrykas. Taurina was not in the place to judge. She was just as unknowing, just as likely to jump in surprise, and also not technically Drykas. While her form under Syna’s light did not give it away other things did.

An awkward silence settled between them for a few short moments which threatened to make the situation uncomfortable, but Taurina noticed the man who she did not think was Drykas giving a gesture that offered a place for her in the water beside him and his horse. There was slightly relief in her stance and a small smile as she lead Melody into the refreshing water. The cool liquid lapped at her and the mare’s legs, welcoming and entrapping the pair in its enticing snare. The Eth wasted little time once she was in the water, the humidity of the day clinging to her in a thin layer that she wished to rid herself of. So she went under, wetting the whole of her body before coming up with a sigh of satisfaction. That felt better.

“…speak common?” The man was asking something when she came back up, Taurina felt a little guilty that she had not been paying attention to hear the whole of his question. She had been too busy finding some relief. She did not answer at first, noticing that he was fishing for something in the water. Was it that brush he had lost? "Fluently?” another question that matched with the piece of the first one she had heard. The brush was raised victoriously into the air. Taurina quirked an eyebrow and gave a small chuckle as she scooped water up carefully splashed it up onto Melody’s coat. The man soon was asking more and gesturing towards the Windmarks now able to be seen through her wet shirt. "And yet you are Drykas?”

Taurina felt the flush of embarrassment color her cheeks a bright pink and brighten the tips of her ears. If she had truly been Drykas there would not have been the embarrassment, but it always felt a little awkward to explain the situation. "What is your name?” his last question for now it seemed. There was space now to actually reply and Taurina had put together all she thought he had asked. She did not notice his own embarrassment, having plenty of her own to be concerned about.

The Eth continued in the task of cooling down her mare as she went about answering his various questions. "I’m Taurina,” was her answer to the last question, "and yes, I fluently speak common.” Taurina sighed softly to herself, not wanting to admit the last answer she had for him, but she would. She had vowed upon entering Endrykas that she would not hide her true race. Even if it felt easier to do it that way, she knew from early on that she would never be able to pull that off. "I’m not truly Drykas,” she admitted, the was a twinge of inner pain at that. Yes she was, but no she was not. It was complicated.

"I was in a previous life. Now it is only my daylight form. By night I am another being,” she tried to explain, though she was not sure how much he would grasp. Did he know what an Ethaefal was? Had he met one before possibly? "What I am is called and Ethaefal and that is my true race, just not the one this body reflects. I speak common because I have not been in Endrykas till this season. My pavi is rusty and unknowing.” The Eth focused her attention on cooling Melody off, trying to keep her attention focused so she did not have to face his possible confusion or more questions concerning what she had just told him head on.

"What about you? I do not believe that you are Drykas, so what are you doing out here?” Taurina asked, curious and wanting to divert attention onto him if she could, "Oh and what should I call you?”

Common | Pavi | Thought

[Taurina]

Grades have Arrived

Taurina

Experience

• Observation +1
• Animal Husbandry +1
• Socializing +1

Lore

• Riding, Horse: A nervous rider can make even a calm horse jumpy
• Taurina: Nonthreatening in earthbound form
• Taurina: Finds another’s clumsiness amusing
• Animal Husbandry: Water can be used to help cool off a horse on a hot day
• Taurina: Embarrassed about not being a true Drykas

Lorcan

If you ever return and would like your posts graded, feel free to pm me or submit this to the grade request thread after updating your CS and ledger.

Self Grade allowed by the Summer 517 Grading Policy Change