[Stormhold Beach] The Midwinter Fire Festival (Open)

[Abashai]

Abashai had never had his palm read, but he was surprised to actually feel something of himself flow towards his hand, as if it followed a current that continued into the Konti through her touch. It formed a curious raw connection with the pale woman that made him blush. He glanced up at Sondra, though she was intent upon on his palm.

When the Konti raised her head, he saw the name on her lips, even if she did not utter a sound. The smile fled from his face, his heart seemed to stop beating. What did she see?

Nya appeared, and Abashai felt a cold sweat gather on his brow. What did the Konti see? What would she tell Nya? He stiffly listened to the words foretold by the silver-eyed woman. Sondra's words were true, but carefully veiled. She had indeed seen his past. She did not reveal it, but tantalized Nya enough he was sure. He eyed Sondra carefully, then looked to Nya. His bondmate seemed seemed skeptical of the Konti's words, and he wondered if she would let the seer read her palm. The tense moment was broken as Nya sniffed the air and growled, making a beeline off into the crowd. Abashai sighed in relief, gave Sondra a final, curious glance and hurried after his bondmate, wondering if the snake had seized her attention again.

His long legs brought him to to their new friends as Nya halted suddenly before them. The third man Abashai did not recognize. Nya glared at the leather-clad man, growling. The benshiran stepped closer, ready to intervene if necessary. His bondmate's low, dangerous tone was unmistakably threatening. He trusted Nya's instincts, but not always her tactics. He leaned closer to her, whispering a word of caution. For now, he would give Nya the benefit of the doubt.

As he watched the interaction carefully, he saw a woman approach from the corner of his eye. Her red skirt and bright sash caught his attention. He glanced at her, finding something very interesting in her face. Her skin was honey-colored and smooth. Her long-lashed eyes were bright and crystal blue, quite uncommon in Sylira, but not among Benshira. He wanted to ask her about where she was from, whether she have desert blood, but it would have to wait. Then the woman stepped forward, as if to address the situation. Abashai gave her a soft smile, but held his hand up as a warning. He did not want her to aggravate the forest cat and put herself in danger.

[Nyahna Sasin]

Sasin was saved by a woman stalking over to them. He recognized her from before. She stopped in front of them, and took up a attacking position "OK, I'm not ssaved after all." He decided.

This did not look good. If it came down to a fight, he could likely take them, but then he'd have to deal with the rest of the city. And he did not like the idea of running away from yet another city. He's have to talk his way out of this one.

"Get away from them. I can smell you. And it smells like nothing good." His eyes widened as he understood. She was a Kelvic. Sasin scowled. He hated it when people assumed the worse of him because he was a Dhani. If there was one thing he hated, it was racists. "I mean you no harm, Kelvic." He said icily.

He saw another man and woman approach him. A flick of the tongue showed him they were both human. "I've been walking with Stitch for a while. If I wanted to kill him, I'd have done it then."He snapped.

As he watched, the human leaned towards the Kelvic. Sasin frowned. A mated pair? He certainly acted that way.

Sasin paused for a second, considering his next move. The logical thing to do would be to back off. And yet, this was something his pride would not allow.

Making his decision, Sasin bent down, pulled his dagger out of his boot, and straightened up. He flipped it so the point was towards the ground, raised his hand to chest level, and dropped it. "Satisfied? Now can we get along?"

[Stitch]

Stitch chewed absentmindedly on his lower lip as more and more of the recently-met friends continued to swell around him, something attracting them all back together again. He subconsciously glanced around, letting his vision sweep over the people gathered. Yes, they were all getting here, but there was something amiss. There was some kind of emotion in the air, some kind of emotion that was out of place. The aura of the emotion lightly danced around the group, like a cloud, but he couldn't quite place a finger on it. Biting his lower lip now, he focused his mind, trying to touch the wisps of emotion with a mental finger, and draw it to his lips. What did the air taste of? What was it that he could see? Was it suspicion, a bit of fear, some wariness, and anger?

It tasted more like fury. His sight immediately swept to the side, and he was greeted with the swelling aura of a rather intimidating Lady Nya quickly advancing her way to the group. Stitch automatically took a step back, a kind of worried expression catching his face as he did. She hadn't found out that he hadn't donated yet, had she? He didn't want to upset or insult her, he was planning on paying, but he wanted to give it to Abashai directly. He was soon relieved to find out it wasn't him that was being targeted, and let out a quick breath. He was lucky, she was instead stopping in front of the newcomer.

Oh dear.

Stitch winced as she suddenly let loose some stinging, harsh, angry words, her anger pushing against him and making him want to take another step back. Hearing her words and realizing how harsh she was being, he blinked, and took another look at the relatively new figure. Yes, his aura was odd, and yes, it did give him a uncomfortable sort of feeling. But that was no reason to treat him as such, not quite yet, not when ill intent on his part had been yet to be proven.

Oh dear. He just pulled out a hidden knife.

Stitch cocked his head, considering. Right now, the Lady Nya scared him, but he couldn't back down. Hopefully she wouldn't take his argument as rude, or insulting, but he didn't fully understand her anger, nor her words. Perhaps there was a reason, but perhaps she was over-reacting. Oh well. Stitch smiled, shrugging, stepping forward to place himself slightly between Sasin and Nya. He had never been able to stand down anyway. So, Stitch stepped forward, and did what anyone would never expect, yet what everyone who knew him would likely predict. He defended the man.

Like a gentle breeze, yet solid as a wall, the Lady Nya and her anger would suddenly find themselves facing something peaceful. Stitch simply stood, his tall figure moving to the middle of the small group they had gathered, radiating his gentle nature and calm peace to everyone nearby, somehow. Just looking upon the man gave off the feeling he was in the right place, that he was somehow void of all worry, and everything was right. Everything was right in the world perhaps, or at least with this one. Perhaps there was some hope for everyone, then? Whatever the case may be, whatever emotion may be felt by those around, Lady Nya would be the only one to suddenly feel her gaze caught, and matched. Not challenging, not angry, not accusing, simply... there. A gaze that could not be seen, a gaze that should not exist.

"Excuse me, m-..." Stitch paused, coughing, his voice timid and soft. "...milady?" For all the peace he radiated, for all the firmness of his stare, the poor man had just stuttered when put up against the will of a very angry cat. Stitch continued on, his voice still a bit timid, but firm nonetheless. Soothing, friendly.

"This one doesn't mean to belittle you in any form, nor does this one wish to be rude in any way... But this fellow here, Sasin is his name; he is a new-found friend that this one just met. He is new in town." Stitch paused, cocking his head, maintaining mental eye contact with the woman. Vaguely, he could sense the others on the edge of his vision, and they were all standing back. He would have too, he partially wished he would have. But like stated before, he had never been able to stand down, not in situations like this. "And he did pay the fee to support a very charitable cause. Perhaps he just wants some roasted pig? Someone who likes to eat, and who doesn't mind donating can't be all that bad. Anyway, this one would like to consider him as this one's guest, if he would be so kind as to accept the offer."

At the mention of roasted pig, Stitch glanced to Avi. At the mention of being his guest, Stitch mentally glanced at Sasin, trusting the man would feel the gaze, and hopefully accept.

He really hoped he wasn't lighting a fire here.

"Please." He offered up a friendly smile to Sasin, nodding down at the knife he had revealed. "You can keep that, if you wish, milord. One of this one's friends is carrying a spear around, one knife shouldn't be all that big of a deal. Should it?" He offered another beaming smile to the rest of the group, once again radiating optimism.

[Kadurro]

Kadurro tilted his head back into the sand, looking back towards the festival. The music was still playing quite loud, and everyone seemed happy. Almost everyone, he thought, seeing the small huddle of people, steadily growing as people walking by took quick glances at what was going on, and then decided to stay and see what happened. A fight, probably. He sat up in the sand; his eyes had teared up again. He wiped his eyes, stood up, and turned back towards the group, still steadily increasing in spectators.

"Alright, then," he said to himself, replacing any former feelings of discontent with a blazing ambition. "This is what I came here for. Let's find someone interesting," he said, moving towards the others, brushing the sand off of his backside as he walked. As he moved closer, he saw that the confrontation was between a rather angry-looking woman and a man in black. One who wears the night could be a practitioner of stealthy ways, he thought to himself, excited by the prospect of an accomplice.

He stepped up behind a woman with black hair who was also watching the spectacle. He leaned in silently, gazing over her shoulder. He figured he could ask her if she knew what was going on, but before he had a chance to even think about the right words to use, the man in black had drawn a dagger from his boot. Kadurro's eyes became a blend of ruby and gold; a combination of his being excited and his happiness in knowing that his prospect was certainly a capable being. When the stranger had dropped his dagger, and declared that he didn't want to fight, he could barely stop himself from laughing aloud. As another man, who's eyes were covered by a white cloth, stepped in to calm the storm, Kadurro looked away, biting his lip in an enormous grin, and his mind began racing.

Someone with the sense to hide a dagger in one's boot, surely one of stealth or of preparedness, and the sense not to start a fight when it could end poorly... His head snapped back to the circle, the one with the blindfolded eyes now smiling, the man in black still there, under tension of a possible scuffle with the woman; the slight frown he wore on his face sealed the deal for Kadurro. He's perfect, he decided. Absolutely perfect.

[Avi]

Avi smiled at Term's remark about hunting. "I would be glad to teach you," she decided. "Maybe after the Festival. The Forest? We'll start small. Maybe deer," the young Kelvic considered. "In Taldera, the prey is biiiiig. Seals are my favourite." You could do so many things with seals, after all, and they were such good eating. Walruses were harder. Much harder. Besides, then you usually had to deal with the tusks and the polar bears and then things were just a hassle. Besides, there were a lot of seals.

She stared at Stitch at his response, though. Maybe the snake just wanted to eat pig and get warm? Whaaaaaaat? "Snakes in crowded areas mean people get hurt when they step on them," she told Stitch, head tilted. There were nestlings and elders here. Did this not make sense to anyone but her and Nya and Terminus, who had accepted the importance of the hunt? Nya had a bond-mate here. She had to protect him. There were people here that Avi already considered her friends - and she would fight to protect them. She was about to continue when her eyes dilated, and went from ruby to violet as Sasin spoke. Her ears seemed to twitch, pinning back against her head. "I haven't seen the snake, but I hear it," she breathed, staring at him, her grip tightening on the spear.

She'd found it!

Except... it was in a human body... but she'd found it... so... that... that meant...

THAT THAT DIDN'T MATTER!

NYA! NYA, SHE'D FOUND...

Oh, there she was. Nya's sharp arrival confirmed what Avi was sure she was hearing. Nya's nose didn't lie, after all. She let out a bird-like hissing sound, and her grip tightened on her spear, even if she would be far more comfortable as an Owl and attacking from above. At the very suggestion of harming Stitch, though, she took another step forward, her features tight and tense, only to stop when Stitch actually put himself between Sasin and two very displeased Kelvics.

She wasn't about to strike Stitch, even if he was defending the snake. As she inched towards one side, leaving Stitch between Nya and Sasin to create an opening if she had to. She stared at the Dhani behind the tall man, even as he took out a dagger and held it up, only to drop it. She didn't glance at Nya to watch her reaction to this development, but waited, as tightly wound as piano wire, for any indication of what Nya wanted to do. This was her turf. This was her party. Avi would trust her judgment.

[Terminus Norin]

Terminus smiled himself as she suggested meeting in the forest for a hunting lesson after the festival. He did need to know how to hunt and part of him wanted the chance to get to know Avi better so he said.
I would love that Avi, small is good for me as I am small. I have heard that everything in Taldera is big. I know that Nya is quite large, we played on the beach last season and she showed me the cat.

He hoped that that confession would put Avi more at ease with him. He thought of Nya as noble and beautifull when she was in her wild form he figured he'd see Avi much the same way. They continued the hunt till they came to Sitch and Sasin.

Terminus had been listening to the entire exchange with some detachment. Nya's rage was palpable through his mark as was Avi's concern. He had to detach to keep from being ovewhlemed. Abashai as he had been sinc e they met was calm and Stitch his usual pleasant self. The snake man Sasin radiated several emotions..most of whiich was pride. He knew the Dhani couldnt take all of them before one struck a killing blow.

He listened to Stitch and thought about the two very displeased Kelvics. He knew Sasin was right but Nya's growl and Avi's shriek told him that someone needed to intervene and Sitch alone might not be enough. He did not make direct eye contact with either Kelvic as wild creatures saw that as a challenge. He did however speak in a level voice.

Now I am sure we could fight this out till one or more of us is dead. But what purpose would that serve? This snake man or whatever he is has not made any threatning moves and the gentle man is willing to vouch for his behaviour.

His voice never did change nor his gaze, but he conveyed his scincerity.
Normally snakes are not to be trusted, most would harm you as look at you It is their nature. But this one is more intelligent than that, I suggest letting him go about his buisiness but if he gets out of line then we do something.

[Nyahna Sasin]

Sasin stared at the human. Stitch had just stepped up. After he had used killing him as an example. Still, he shouldn't have been surprised. It had been very obvious that Stitch was very peaceful.

And apparently, very shy. Ah well. Sasin glanced down at the dagger in the sand, but made no move to pick it up. He could pick it up in a heartbeat if it came to that. And hopefully it wouldn't.

Sasin growled softly. Another had joined the growing crowd. He was getting attention. Unwanted attention. This was not what he needed. "I came here to come, have fun, and leave without any bloodshed. I only brought the dagger to defend against racists like you." He snarled. He hoped that by playing the embarrassment card, he could get out with out drawing any more attention.

"I have no intention of hurting any of you, although that will change if you do not lower that spear this instant!" He barked, turning to glare at the woman with the spear, who he noticed was inching to the side.

Sasin was startled as the other human spoke up for him. "Hmph. Perhaps I was wrong about you humans." He murmured.

Sasin thought for a moment, then smirked. "If I'm such a danger, I'll leave. But on one condition. You, and every other kelvic here leave with me. " He said coolly.

[Kadurro]

Kadurro backed away from the group; he didn't want to get pinned down where he was by the ever-growing crowd when the man in black finally took his leave. He began to circle around, never letting his target fully escape his line of sight. As he heard the man raise his voice, he found his skin with goosebumps, chilled by his own excitement, as the tension of the situation became more palpable with each passing moment.

Another man, certainly more serious than the first, tried once more to break up the fight. What will you do now? Will you flee from the spear? Will you pick up your dagger and fight? Kadurro was now standing behind a group to the side of the ring, his newfound hero to his right, and the hero's unyielding villainess to his left. His recent burst of energy had settled, his eyes now a mix of a dull red and violet. Or will you wield the power of the spoken word? A threat? An insult?

Kadurro's question did not go long unanswered. He strained his ears to hear his champion clearly: "If I'm such a danger, I'll leave. But on one condition. You, and every other Kelvic here leave with me." A grin found itself materializing on Kadurro's face. An ultimatum! A figurative double-edged blade. He had had his fair share of ultimatums; each one a collection of words that could seal a deal, or ruin negotiations completely. If words could be considered weapons, and Kadurro was quite sure they could, then the ultimatum would certainly be the double-edged blade. Of course, his words are crafted from weak metals -- only threatening to one who cannot tell the difference between an empty threat and a full-blown bluff. Kadurro stood in anticipation with the rest of the crowd. Would his champion's words strike true? He certainly hoped that would be the case.

[Azar]

While Azar returned to assessing the situation forming, she caught the gaze of a man apparently close to the green-eyed woman. Something about his features, just little hints of something, brought on the memory of her oldest brother. It was not as if you could confuse them for one another, it was simply the similarities. The light shade of their eyes set in a tanned face framed with dark hair. They were Benshiran features, no doubt. When he smiled and silently cautioned her, Azar gave a quiet nod off acknowledgement and a small, almost shy, smile of her own. Maybe she would approach him when this was all over.

With effort, Azar focused her mind on the border-line fight brewing in front of her. It was hard to, despite her interest. That man had inspired too many memories of Galan [her brother] and the bitterness of her last meeting with him. She had stolen his horse and then left, possibly for good. Azar struggled with these recollections as she always did, pushing them down deep inside her where they couldn’t bother her. It was sort of like trying to push an upside down cup of air into a tub of water; there would be resistance but it would stay so long as you forced it. Any lapse in control could send it shooting back up to the surface.

A voice stirred her from her task. Azar looked up, clearly surprised. She had never heard that voice before and whoever it was wasn't speaking to her, but it was the feeling that came along with it that stimulated something. Azar openly stared for a few moments, not quite sure if what she was thinking was truly legitimate, and yet undeniably knowing it was. She hadn’t heard his name spoken, so she could not address him.

He has to be sensing what I’m sensing, doesn’t he? That we’re marked by the same god.

He was a fairly short, athletic looking man with his hair braided. Her gaze came to rest on his armband, which he so openly wore. A flaming bird? That was getting into hot waters in Azar’s opinion. She’d never want people to associate her with fire so frankly, incase they guessed.

Now she had two people she felt inclined to accost; one who prompted memories of her past in the desert, and the other bringing to surface her present life and situation.

The build up of emotion, not only of her own, was starting to make her twitchy and anxious.

[Terminus Norin]

Terminus could see the situation beginning to escalate as he was certain Nya would not back down and see this as a challenge. He suspected that Avi would see it much the same way. Then there was the burning in his mark, the sign a marked was near. He looked and saw the young woman approaching, she was simialr in feature to Abashai leading him to believe she was of Banshiran descent, but a Benshira Ivak follower? Not impossible, just unlikely with their devotion to Yahal. But for certain she was the one he was sensing. This and the emotions running rampant had him a bit distracted. He managed to speak however.

I don't think anyone has to leave. Nor do I believe anyone here is racist. Unless Milord Sasin you are racist as you intimate we are ? The ladies are not human and acting according to their nature so by not recognozing that you subscribe to a racist veiw that all beings are racist. But we are all intelligent beings here and should be able to come to a peacfull resolution.

He finally looked somewhat at Avi and Nya. Milord Sasin may indeeed have snake in his blood, but as I have discovered,not everything is as it seems. I believe he is as he says, just here for food and fun. You will agree that all intelligent beings have the right to food and fun.

He looked right at Sasin,his hand loosely at his side not touching his sword, but ready to defend should he need to.

I think Milord Sasin what we have is a misunderstanding. The ladies did not untill now understand you mean no harm and you obviously have reason to believe we will strike first and ask questions later. I suggest we all go our own ways and if any of us causes any trouble, then we deal with it then. Milady Nya cannot exactly leave as she is hosting the feastival and I agree with Milord Stitch that you should be allowed to attend as long as you only desire food and fun.

He looked at Nya and Avi with a pleading look in his eye that simplay asked them to stand down for his sake.

Let me ask you ladies one question. If Sasin speaks true and you were in his shoes, how would you feel right now?

He waited for responses