[Stormhold Beach] The Midwinter Fire Festival (Open)

[Nya Winters]

They were at such a disadvantage, each and every human in the crowd. They let creatures walk among them unknown and had so little concern for their own safety. Nya knew half the crowd was comprised of children, which were easy prey for a creature that smelled like a snake. Snakes ate their food live. They dripped poison from fangs that were designed to pierce even the toughest hide. Didn't they care? Didn't they see the wrongness of the person standing among them?

Abashai cautioned her, but she knew her bondmate would understand. This was her defending the crowd, not her being too feral.

Nya growled low in her throat again, taking a step forward. It would have been a different story if her bondmate wasn't in the crowd. She might have backed down and thought first. But as it was, the cat was far wiser than the human in this instant. Snakes had no conscious. They were predators through and through. They defended their territory, battled each other, and had no loyalty whatsoever. There was not a doubt in Nya's mind that the creature before her would kill if he was provoked or it suited him. And she doubted he had any friends, knew love, or wanted either anyhow.

Nya was pretty sure they had no souls. To her, even the creature's eyes looked dead.

When Stitched stepped into her path, the forest cat was startled. Her fight was not with him. Was he crazy? Did he not recognize the threat? She started to shove by him - and shove him out of the creatures way - when the wave of calmness struck her. It twined around her and leeched all the anger and protectiveness out of her. Had she been aware that he could do it, she might not have been so taken off guard, but she simply was. And so when she reached him, instead of shoving him out of the way, she dropped down on one knee beside him purring. Her moss green eyes never left the snake man even though her demeanor had changed drastically.

She caught the dagger tossed up and then allowed to drop into the sand. Unimpressed, Nya flashed her teeth at the creature, even as she bumped her head against Stitch's hand, trapped in his calming aura. The forest cat had been prepared to settle this tooth and claw. It wouldn't have been the first time she killed a snake. They didn't taste to badly either. And if that made her a racist, she didn't care. There were only two creatures Nya had very little tolerance for. One was a symenestra - whom routinely kidnapped human women and used them for food and breeding. The other was a snake. She could co-exist peacefully with an entire forest of hazardous creatures, respecting each in its own place, but snakes did not need to be on beaches at charity events among her friends.

Nya would have growled again except she was still caught in Stitch's calming aura. Forest cats were especially prone to stares. Her bondmate realized long ago that all he had to do to gain Nya's undivided attention was to catch her gaze and hold it with his own. Stitch, though blind, did essentially the same thing. And so it was she deferred to his judgment because he was manipulating her inner beast with waves of unnatural calmness - calmness that could be very dangerous, even cost the forest cat her life if the creature was indeed dangerous. Stitch didn't truthfully know if it was or wasn't. If she realized he had manipulated her later, Nya be incredibly angry about.

Abashai too would realize, in an instant, that Nya was not acting normally. Probably so would everyone in the crowd. If she wanted something gone, she'd get rid of it, any way she could. Talking her out of something rarely worked.

And so as her gaze locked to the snakes, she reached inside herself and gathered her djed. Stitch's influence left her not wanting physical contact, but she still wanted to know exactly what it was. Exactly. And she knew enough hypnotism that while it was looking at her like it was, she could use the djed to her advantage. She reached out with her mind and inserted a very potent sudden thought into the snake's mind in its own mental voice... You're in danger if you don't tell them what you are. Show them. Tell them quick before they all decide to kill you. You know they will. It always resorts to violence. The unknown is far more frightening to them than the reality. Just show them. Nya poured djed into it, flirting with overgiving to compel the creature to reveal itself in its defense.

She could do that non-aggressively and still remain calm kneeling one-kneed at Stitches side. Nya left the snakes questions and demands unanswered. She wouldn't be leaving. The kelvics were welcome here. These were their people, their friends, and they were defending them the best way the bonded knew how.

Terminus, however, deserved more respect and an answer. "I am neither a snake nor a threat, so your question makes no sense, Terminus. I understand what you say, but you humans can be so trusting, so naive. It is how the cat takes down deer. It is how the snake feeds on mice... or human children. Racisim as he calls it is necessary. Would you let a Symenestra steal your women and eat or breed them all in the name of peace just because they claimed they would never do so? Even a forest cat knows better. Do not trust snakes. Do not trust spiders. And do not trust those that are neither or both." The Forest Cat said, never breaking her gaze off the snake.

[Nyahna Sasin]

Sasin scowled as a thought popped into his head. "That could help but......" He glanced at the boar. With the amount he had eaten, he wouldn't be shifting for a few days.

Placing a hand on Stitch's shoulder, he gently, but firmly pulled the blind man back. "I can fight my own battles. But thank you." He murmured quietly. He was grateful to the human for defending him. "I'll not be forgetting this in a hurry." It was a thanks to Stitch, and a veiled threat to the kelvic before him.

Undisguised contempt showed in his eyes as he glanced at the forest cat. He spoke in a cool, level voice. "And naturally, since I am a snake, I must also be a threat, hmm? But of course, it's only natural." His voice was pretty much dripping sarcasm and venom. Inside, he was shaking with anger. They had no right!

Turning away, he walked away from the two kelvics, daring one of them to attack and prove themselves animals. He was almost hoping that they would.buffet table

[Abashai]

Abashai studied the responses of the other men. Stitch, (Abashai had already pegged him as a man of compassion), placed himself between Nya and the man in black to avoid violence. Terminus, an intelligent man of balance according to Nya, attempted to apply reason to the situation. But Abashai knew very well logic does not motivate a threatened kelvic, let alone two.

When Nya moved towards Stitch, Abashai stepped forward, not sure what was going to happen. He decided he would back Nya in whatever response she took. But when she reached Stitch and knelt beside him, purring, the benshiran knew things were not right. He could see the source of her change in behavior was Stitch, and though he put a lot of faith in the man he just met, he was very displeased to see his bondmate manipulated in such a way. Perhaps, for the moment, it was necessary to avoid bloodshed, for he knew Nya was well capable of great violence.

But as Nya spoke to Terminus, a startling realization came to Abashai, like looking at a reflection in rippling water, only when the water stilled could you recognize the image. He was fully confident that Nya sensed snake on the man, as did Avi. Humans relied almost completely on what they saw. But Nya knew what she smelled, and she smelled snake. It would have done no more good to tell her that she stood before a man and not a snake than to tell her that the man's dagger was an apple. And now the benshiran saw it too. Abashai knew what he was. Dhani. A chill ran down his spine. There were Dhani who lived among the Eypharians. Viper-people who could change into venomous serpents. They were said to have insatiable appetites and attack and eat humans. Dhani were the subject of stories meant to terrorize children.

He moved to follow Sasin. As he passed the kneeling Nya, he placed his hand on her shoulder and leaned down to her ear, whispering. "I know what he is Nya, you were right, he is dangerous." Then he strode after the man in black. He knew Nya woud be angry that he went after the snake-man, but Abashai hoped to speak with the man for a moment alone.

His long strides brought him up behind Sasin in only a few moments. Abashai suddenly wished he had a larger weapon, but had decided it was not necessary, he had only stashed a short sword under the seat of the cart. He spoke out in a harsh whisper, calling for the man's attention. "Dhani!" He did not want to alarm Sasin, cause him to turn and strike out. When Abashai was nearly by the man's side, he continued. "I know what you are. They know you are snake, but they don't know what I know. You cannot deny that your kind feed on humans, on anything. It is even said that your kind tortures their prey before devouring them. I am not accusing you of anything, but can you deny the truth of my words?"

"Their alarm may be misplaced, but is no less valid. Even your own people fiercely guard their young from danger. Would you take the time to interview a golden wolf to see if he maybe wasn't going to steal your hatchling for dinner before you defended them? I dare say that you too would strike first and worry about the level of threat afterwards. My friends have done no less. We are not talking about racism, we are talking about survival, which sometimes must defy civility."

[Stitch]

Kelvics?

Stitch blinked behind his bandages, not daring to move his gaze from Nya's fierce stare, but mentally glancing back and forth between Avi and Nya. Kelvics! It made sense now, everything made sense, from why Nya had been so hostile toward the snake-like man he was trying to protect, to why Avi was so... odd. An out-of-place grin blossomed on his face, completely natural this time, as the realization struck him and all of the pieces clicked into place. So that is what the problem was! Well, perhaps now, they could work things out, now that Stitch was completely aware of why the situation had unfolded the way it had? He let his mind sway back to the task at hand, the fierce deadlock his "eyes" had with those of the Lady Nya. Once again he found himself caught within a very fierce, intense, angry gaze, and that also hit his stomach like a pile of bricks. This wasn't going to be as simple as settling emotions with words, and simply appearing calm and happy wasn't going to help either. And he would never resort to violence. What was there left to do? He felt Sasin pulling at him, pulling back a bit, whispering words to him. It brought a small smile to his lips, and he nodded if to confirm, but he still couldn't look away from Nya.

If he did, she would erupt, he felt.

Suddenly, the lady started forward. Stitch winced, taking a step back, already bringing up a hand to hopefully soften any blow she might throw in his direction. He had been very aware that he was putting himself in a dangerous position, and he had done so nonetheless, and now he was about to pay for that move. Her aura swirled with anger, and now his gaze was no longer holding her, no longer keeping her back. She wanted at the man behind him, and he didn't know how to stop her. He didn't want anyone to get hurt, he didn't want any violence, he just wanted there to be peace. To protect both Nya and Sasin from anything that may follow. To protect everyone else here from any violence that may erupt.

It was when he visibly saw the swirling, angry, raging aura of Nya enter his own still calm aura, that the smile fell from his face to be replaced with a look of shock. Her aura flickered, vanished, and suddenly melded with his perfectly, taking on an aura of peace just like his. Exactly like his. Had he calmed her somehow, had some of his words rang true? But why had she started forward like that, with such primal anger readied in her gaze, in her aura?

Distantly, he realized she was kneeling on one knee at his feet, nuzzling his hand.

His hand jerked away as if dipped in pure lava, a stricken look crossing his face as he realized the position he was in. "Milady Nya, no, no, you don't have to calm down that much." His words and tone echoed the state of mind he was in, and he quickly fell to his knees, shaking his head. "Come on, stand up, no need for silly antics such as this. This one is no one to kneel to." He reached out to help her up, and then pulled back again, unsure. Avi would feel his gaze connect with hers, a gaze filled with worry and confusion, as if he didn't know what had just happened. He didn't! Why was she kneeling? His mind groped for peace, and he glanced around, searching for one other person that he somehow trusted, even after meeting him only an hour or so ago. "Milord Abashai?" He faintly realized the man had strode past him, after Sasin, and he turned to look towards him, and call out to him. "Milord Abashai, the Lady Nya, she is... I mean, she... I..." He trailed off, confused once more. His head hurt. A vein throbbed visibly on his forehead, leading down into his bandages.

He was suddenly tired. So very, very tired.

[Klane]

Klane walks slowly towards the beach. He is still nervous and scared, but the Kelvic decided to give this festival a chance. After all, no one had given him a second glance... Yet. Even as he entered the main area of festivities, he stayed in more secluded, less noticeable places. On one particular venture to grab something to quench his thirst.

Taking a drink caused Klane to open his increased senses to the enviornment. What the... Something smelled... Snakey... Turning in the direction of the strange scent he began to hear voices. The tone said they were angry.

Klane's first, unreasonable, thought was that it was an enemy from the past. Then, realizing the stupidness in that idea he decided against it. Still wary, he wandered a little closer to see what it was all about. A quick view of the scene made him decide not to get involved, yet seeing his fellow Kelvic, there was an irresistible urge of loyalty. Unable to think, Klane agreed with himself to just stand on the sideline until he saw there was something he could do. His long time in the wild taught the Kelvic that snakes... Snakes were not the friendliest opponents.

[Kadurro]

Moving quickly around the outside of the throng of people to keep up with his prospect, Kadurro was so focused on the man in black that he barely paid any thought to the near-miracle brought on by the blind man, and almost failed to notice that he wasn't the only one who wanted a private word with his "champion". Before he had a chance to catch up, he was cut off by another man. Kadurro held back; patience had its virtues. I'm so close now...so close.

He wasn't close enough to hear the conversation, but he picked up the word that got his target's attention. Shyke, quite the insult. The fact that his accomplice-to-be could actually be a Dhani didn't even cross his mind; after all, Dhani were the stuff of myths and horror stories, meant to keep children from going astray. In four years of travelling he had never seen one -- surely such a creature couldn't exist. And even if it did, why would it bother coming to such a populated area? Kadurro wished he could move closer, and listen in on the conversation they were having, but moving any closer would draw attention. Besides, now that the moment of tension has passed, the crowd will soon break, and something tells me that plenty will be avoiding my "hero". His eyes had changed into a mix of gold and emerald, as the fact that the man in black could deny his proposition hadn't yet registered in his thoughts.

[Terminus Norin]

Several things went on at once and Terminus found himself awash in a sea of emotions again. He was beginning to regret this gift Ivak had given him, it seemed a major distraction. However it was still a gift from Ivak and he would learn to live with it.

The first thing that happened was with Nya. Shortly after his little speech , she stepped into Stitch's calming aura and her anger suddenly snuffed out replaced by a calm so intense that he could feel it. He knew that Stitch had done something and when Nya figured it out he would have a very pissed forest cat on his hands. He did not envy Stitch, having seen Nya's cat form personally Her words to him rang true for who and what she was.

He started to reply to her and Sasin then snapped his reply first and seemed to be stalking off. His anger was also genuine and strong. Term also saw Abashai head off after Sasin and seemed to be whispering something to him. The tension in that direction could be cut with an eating knife.

Then he had to chuckle as Stitch realized what he had done to Nya. His reaction was one of pure horror and embarrassment Clearly he had not had much interaction with animals..specifically cats. If he had he would know that Nya was reacting normally considering that he had calmed her. It was amusing to say the least.

He almost laughed at the comedy playing out in front of him except he was sure Nya would not find it as amusing as he did should he have to explain his laughter. He looked at Avi and if she was calm enough, he gently touched her hair in a calming manner and spoke softly.


No Nya I do not blame you for being protective nor do I blame Avi. We are too naive for our own good sometimes. That is why I'm thankful I have you two to watch out for me, obviously you know something I don't. I just hate to see your fine festival marred by violence that may not be needed. However should it ever come to that, I will be with the two of you to whatever end comes. You have my word. And you are right I would not allow a Symenestra to steal my women and use them for breeding and or food. If Sasin is a snake of somekind I do understand your lack of trust. I also give you mine.

he hoped she would remain calm after Stitch released her as he didn't want her to put his words to the test tonight, but if she did she would find him true to them.

[Sondra]

Sondra was left at the edge of the dancefloor. Her brief subjects had departed, one unsettled the other passing to new concerns. Funny, they usually stuck around when she was that blatant. Her curiosity met a wall, and could only sputter and scowl.

A little furor was gathering where her subjects had moved to. Sondra watched from a distance, reading poses and expressions. Words were fuzzed, but tone carried. It was an entertaining pantomime.
Kelvics were in the thick of it, if she read her postures right. The creatures made her uncomfortable. She was always wondering if one would lift its leg and pee on her boots or disrobe in a fit of exultation.

Sondra smirked as the cluster scattered. These good people were always so cautious of a fight. The Konti gave a mental shrug, there were worse things than hurt feelings and a gash or two. When they didn't leave her bedridden, a brawl was enormously cathartic. They also reminded her that nothing was as terrible as she feared. She'd dread that first punch, but when it landed, it was never as debilitating as she thought.

The Konti pulled her gloves on again, considering what remained of the evening. She took a deep breath, letting the cold remind her of Avanthal and the past she left there. It was as distant and deranged as a dream, but she had a few memories she could delight in reliving until the present afforded its own distractions.

[Avi]

Avi was not pleased. Not at all pleased. She had yet to actually point the spear at anyone - it was still aimed at the ground. She actually let out another one of those hissing sounds, not at all like those of a snake, but sharper, shorter, more like a sharp intake of breath. Her knuckles turned white as she clenched the spear tighter at Sasin's demand that she lower it. In fact, she even took a step forward as her eyes flashed a dark green, even as Terminus spoke and tried to calm things down. Avi wasn't afraid of an altercation. Not remotely. She knew Terminus was looking at her, but every nerve in her body was strung as tight as a wire. But she let Nya answer first while she was still trying to formulate her own answer, to put the feelings she had in her head and heart in words. "I am not a snake," she told Terminus grimly. "I do not hide underfoot and bite at those who do not see it. That is nature. That is what snakes do."

Her dark eyes never left Sasin's back as he turned and walked away. She didn't move - she stood her ground, not daring to go near Stitch, or pass him - not with Nya on the ground beside him. She didn't get that, either, and it bothered her. She watched as Abashai walked after Sasin. Even from the distance, she could hear him. Later, maybe, she would see if she could drag Nya's bond-mate aside and ask him for more information, even if that meant letting him know she'd heard what he said. She couldn't help it - that was part of being what she was. She didn't know what a Dhani was to the word, but she would damn well find out before the night was over.

Avi turned the spear upwards, so that the sharpened end was pointing up at the sky, and she was reaching to tap Nya's sandal-clad foot with the butt of her spear to try to see if that would wake her out of whatever was going on. She wanted to leave, to take to the skies, and wait for that snake to turn its back or go somewhere where she could try to catch it. And then someone touched her.

Her head whipped around, her expression frozen. Her braid swung over her shoulder, landing with a resounding thump as it struck her in the side as she stared at Terminus. Unlike Nya, who was rubbing her head against Stitch's hand, Avi did not want to be touched. She drew her head back as she grappled with an instinct to actually reach out and bite. She wanted to bite for a number of reasons. She didn't want to be touched, she didn't want Terminus around the snake, and she didn't know what was going on with Nya. There was going to be no relaxing for her tonight. They were letting the threat go. All Avi wanted to do now was go put herself somewhere where she could see everything and everyone, including that snake-man. Dhani, Abashai had called him. Because clearly, she wasn't going to be able to do what she wanted to do -- which was stalk him until he was well beyond the city limits.

She stared at Terminus' hand, the one that he had touched her hair with, before turning and looking back to make sure Sasin was out of reach before tapping Nya's ankle again. "Nya...?" She'd go climb a tree later - there was something wrong with her friend, and that came first.

[Nya Winters]

As far as Nya was concerned, they had every right. Syliras was founded on the principal of everyone having the right to defend their own space, their own families, their own friends. What she was doing was absolutely in the same context as that philosophy. And well, if she let a little secret like the snake was a snake out, it was better for it.

Nya was annoyed, however, in a distant sort of way (Stitch's Aura was still affecting her) that the creature totally ignored her use of djed. The spell was designed so that if the creature couldn't shift, it should have at very least revealed what it was to others for it hadn't been specific enough... show them... reveal them... it should have been singing its nature to the entire crowd. To her, that made it even more of a threat. And if it made any sort of move (other than leaving) that remotely looked threatening, she'd make sure it wouldn't be a threat any longer. She didn't care if it was walking around like a person - snakes were cold blooded killers - and she didn't want someone like Damien to be in danger just because someone followed through with societies niceties. Being nice in Mizahar, especially outside the city gates like they were at this event, just got one killed. There were predators in every crowd. And just because they looked like everyone else (Nya knew this first hand) didn't mean they were any less dangerous.

When Stitch jerked his hand away, Nya blinked as the wave of calmness left abruptly. Stitch was talking to her, kneeling by her, but the fog was clearing out of her mind rapidly and she growled low in her throat to see her bondmate pursuing the serpent. A spear butt nudged her foot and she swiveled her head around catching Avi's gaze. Anger rolled up through her, unchecked now that Stitch's influence turned from calm serenity to confused embarrassment. "I'm not wrong. That's a snake. And my bondmate is after it." Anger turned to the cold clear spike of concern straight through her gut and Nya rose, forgetting Stitch.

Nya raced across the sand, determined to intercept Abashai and make sure he kept out of the snake's way. Some serpents could spit venom from a distance. Some would have no trouble sinking their teeth into another's flesh even if they weren't hungry. She was at his side at an instant, leaving Stitch still kneeling in the sand. She hoped Avi and Terminus would follow for if she needed help, the eagle-owl and the Azenth would be the best possible help. Nya didn't exactly want the snake dead, she just wanted it away from her friends and family... and from the innocents in the crowd. Bloodshed at a festival was never a good thing.

Once at Abashai's side, she locked eyes with it again, tried a second time, and reached deeply into her personal power and sent another sudden thought directly into its mind. I should leave. Immediately. These people are dangerous. This time she backed up the thought with a flash at the same time... a strong image of a battle breaking out where the entire crowd was out to kill him.