[Stormhold Beach] The Midwinter Fire Festival (Open)

[Klane]

Klane watched the trio run off. He knew that the Dhani was causing all the trouble, and not wanting to see anyone get hurt he ran after Nya. I must be the biggest idiot in the world for doing this... It's crazy... The Kelvic spoke to himself to try and, unsuccessfully, calm his nerves. He stopped in the sand near Nya and Abashi. Water from a wave soaking his uncovered feet he spoke, "What's going on? Is there anyway I can help?" The second he offered assistance he wished he had the ability to take it back. What's going on? I came here assuring myself I wouldn't get involved in something like this, I can't see another death... Not now...

But he couldn't take the words back, they were already spoken. So he took an uncertain step backwards towards the rest of the party, not wanting to get killed and awaited an uncertain answer.

[Nyahna Sasin]

Sasin paused as the human called to him. He hissed softly. He knew. He turned, eyes narrowed, body tensed in the event that this human wanted to fight. But it seemed that he only wanted to talk.

Sasin scowled as he listened to the human speak. He was right, of course. His kind would do the same. But those kelvics, they were as much a danger as he was, perhaps even more so. He would not, could not back down. "I don't.." He stopped as the cat came up to them. He glared at the Kelvic. He could take her. It would be worth it, being run out of town for killing her.

His lovely thought track was interrupted by a human coming near. He didn't seem important, so he ignored him.

As he glared at her, a thought came to him. He should leave. Kelvics were wild. Perhaps he could take them, but he didn't know what they could do. He scowled as an image of a fight popped into his head. He shoved it to the back of his mind. He'd be a fool to try and fight everyone here. He wasn't stupid, he knew when to back down.

This kelvic had been a fool. She had made an enemy of him, and that was a dangerous thing to do. He knew her name now. Nya. He wouldn't forget it. Or her.

Turning, he walked off, heading towards the city.

(OOC: No character is complete without a lifelong enemy )

[Kadurro]

For a moment, Kadurro was worried that he would have to deal with another crowded confrontation between the man and the woman, but it seemed that whatever they were talking about, they had come towards an arrangement, because the man in black was leaving, and the others were staying. He moved quickly; if he let him get too far away, he would probably lose him to the night, and then it would have all been for nothing.

Moving around the man and woman that had been fighting with the man in black, keeping his eyes on his prize, he quickened his pace, hoping to catch up before he left the festival. What do I say to him? "Good work back there"? "Can't win them all"? "Want to plot a heist with me"? He had been so excited by the possibility of making progress with his grand scheme that he hadn't thought about the short term: how to break the ice, for starters.

He was close enough to call out to him now. Come on, now, say something witty, something clever to grab his attention. Talk, damn it! "Excuse me, sir! You dropped something!" As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them. What was that Kadurro?! That wasn't clever at all! Should have opened with a complement, he thought. Still, there was no sense fretting about it now; words cannot be unspoken, after all. He hoped that his blatant lie would be enough to at least spark some sort of conversation between them.

[Abashai]

Abashai had barely finished addressing the Dhani when Nya shouldered by him, placing herself at his side, her shoulder in front of his as if to guard her bondmate. Abashai wasn't quite sure why he had attempted to reason with the creature. He grew up hearing tales of their cruelty. But this was a public festival, he was armed only with dagger, and he really had no idea what Sanis was capable of.

The benshiran heard someone behind them offer help, and he glanced back to see who it was. The tall , thin young man seemed to realize the tension of the situation, and stepped back towards Stitch, Avi and Terminus, all who seemed ready to charge should things turn violent.

At Nya's arrival the serpent-man turned a deadly gaze upon the kelvic. Abashai found it odd that Nya locked her gaze on the Dhani's but made no threats, not even a low growl. Abashai's hand wrapped around the dagger thrust through his belt. Moments later the Dhani's stare grew grim, then the creature spun and stalked out of the festival. Abashai placed a hand on Nya's shoulder. Though he knew he could not physically restrain her if she chose to go after the Dhani, he hoped the touch would calm her enough to prevent a chase. He knew Nya would not be satisfied until the serpent's scent was gone, as he guessed Avi would not rest until Sasin was out of sight.

Watching the Dhani leave, Abashai leaned slightly towards Nya. "He is leaving, let him go for now. I will inform the Knights of his presence in the city. But we should be wary." The hatred in the Dhani's glare left no mistake, Nya had made an enemy that night. Just in case, after a moment of calm, Abashai would go to the cart and retrieve the short sword stashed under ths seat.

[Terminus Norin]

Terminus was not suprised by any of Avi's reactions or statements. She was Kelvic and she saw things differently, however he did not feel humans to be stupid for their desire for peacfull interaction. Had he known what Sasin was he might have thought differently as he knew of folk lore regarding Dhani...every child was told the scare stories.

He withdrew his hand instantly when Avi spun round and started mentally counting his fingers to make sure she hadn't bit. The look on her face was unmistakeable, she would have bit had she not had more presence of mind. He did not know that her urge to bite came as much from wanting to protect him as it was not wanting to be touched. Had he known he would have been less upset with himself and more likely to touch her in the future. He would simply have to ask her how she liked to be touched...or if she liked it.


He knew once he saw Nya leap to her feet and pursue Abashai that Avi would follow, so he pursued along sied her as if he had always been there. He noted the forest cat's stare and the suddenness with which the Dhani left. He figured he had been aided by Nya some how as he did jnot yet know of her ability. The abject hatred in Sasins eyes told him that Nya had made an enmy this night and he would have to be on guard from now on for he would not let his friend be harmed..even if she could better take care of herself than he could.

Once Sasin was out of sight and if Nya did not pursue forcing him to follow to give her back up. He spoke to Abashai

If Nya is sufficently calmed down..I think I'd like to have that mug of tea with you. I have something I'd like to talk to you about as well as simply just get to know each other a bit.

[Klane]

Klane watched in silence as the snake-man walked towards the city. At first he acknowledged Abashi's words. Even if the Kelvic had only walked in late on the confrontation, he had still had enough of this strange business. Nervously, without a word he began to walk back towards the party to try and squeeze some fun from the night. Yet, something stopped him. It was the same feeling that caused him to offer help before, and as such he didn't want to risk anything by letting it control him.

He couldn't stop the feeling though, it surged through his veins. The feeling was loyalty, something he had not felt bound by for a good year. Yet, the curse was back. He also felt another emotion he hadn't felt for a year or so, trust. He hadn't even talked to these people until now, and yet... He felt that he owed them. Klane turned, his will finally gave in.

He spoke again. What he said may not seem monumental, but to him it was a risk, a risk that he wouldn't have taken even yesterday, "Are you serious? Some snake-man is walking towards the city, and you just want to let him be. Let him possibly kill? How can that happen?"

Why!? For the second time that night, Klane felt the wish to pull his words back. He'd never spoken like that, whatever compelled him to not just walk away then, that force was beyond his comprehension.

[Stitch]

Stitch blinked as most of the people around him went rushing off, after the retreating snake man. He paused, touching fingers to his forehead once again to rub the area of throbbing pain, but it did little to ease the annoyance. Seeing them head after him, seeing the auras of anger, fear, it worried him. He took a step forward, held out a hand, trying to stop them, trying to make them listen to reason. "Please, wait..." They did not stop, nor did they look back. They simply continued on, stalking after him, driving the man from the festival. He had done nothing wrong, and his presence could not be considered wrong. Yes, perhaps snakes were dangerous in the forest. They were probably dangerous in the city too. But, that man wasn't... He wasn't a snake. He still had a heart, much like a human, didn't he? He could see the man pulsing with his heartbeat, just like the rest of them. Why couldn't they see what HE saw? A man very similar to all those around him, only one real difference in the swirling of his auras. He understood though. The Kelvics, they had reason to be protective, to react the way they did to any other snake they would find in the forest.

As he watched her, he noticed an odd kind of aura leaking from her. He had seen her use it before, on the Snake man. It had pushed at him, touched to his temple, his eyes, twirling around him, tugging at him. Like it was trying to bend Sasin to it's will. Was the Lady Nya doing that, somehow? Last time he hadn't bended to the odd will of the aura, but this time... The pressing aura was harder, more stubborn, more forceful. And Nya did seem to be controlling it. Was she using some kind of magic on him? Just for being snake-like?

"This isn't the forest, my Lady Nya..." He spoke the words softly, casting his eyes to the ground, a sad expression on his face. Perhaps sorrow for the man, being drove away like a wild animal.

Upon casting his eyes to the ground, Stitch noticed something. The dagger. The glinting metal weapon the man had pulled, shown, and tossed to the ground, as a sign of peace. He had forgotten it! Stitch cocked his head curiously, glancing up to see if Sasin was still about. No, no, he was gone. Stitch glanced back down, and bent at the knee, kneeling to reach out for the weapon. He could return it to the fellow, and hopefully apologize for the actions of his friends, and maybe explain them a little better to the Dhani. Perhaps that would change his impressions of Syliras? Closing a hand around the leather-wrapped hilt of the dagger, Stitch automatically winced, and released the weapon, biting down on his lower lip. It was a weapon. Very much made to kill people. Grabbing his shirt sleeve, Stitch easily ripped it off, and wrapped the dagger in it. Best to conceal it, and he didn't want to be touching it, later. He would find out where the man lived at, hopefully, and be able to return his weapon to him.

Satisfied, Stitch glanced about, looking for Fentya, and Damien. It had been awhile since he had seen either of them... He walked toward the bundle of new-found friends, looking around quickly, trying to locate them. Likely getting into trouble, in the midst of a still-massive throng of people.

[Nyahna Sasin]

Sasin slowed his pace as he heard someone coming up behind him. His hand slipped down to his leg and closed on the hidden dagger there. Or tried to. A second later, he remembered that his dagger is still stuck in the sand. Biting back a curse, he looked over to where Stitch was, in time to see the blind man pick it up. Scowling, Sasin made a mental note to retrieve it from the man.

Looking back at the person coming up to him, he frowned. He really didn't want to risk his life staying here.

He...dropped something? He knew he had dropped the knife, but he doubted that was what the human was referring to. He looked at the man before him. If this was some sort of obscure insult, rules be damned, he was going to kill someone.

"Who are you? What do you want?" He demanded suspiciously. He was still irritated that he had forgotten his dagger, and was in no mood to talk to anyone, perhaps save a client.

[Nya Winters]

Nya nodded at Abashai's words and reached out awkwardly. Her hand touched his arm, slid past it, and touched his hip to slide her fingers around his belt. She blinked once, twice, and nodded. "Let him slither away... it is for the best." The Kelvic responded, stepping close to Abashai but not saying anything else. The truth be told, her head pounded, and she knew she'd used her djed too fast to repeatedly in the last effort against the snake. And it cost her a little for the clear bright vision she normally had in the ever encroaching darkness of evening was fading to a more human level and she felt blind. She was glad the failing light concealed the pools of liquid that welled up in her eyes, which she blinked away in streaks of red - blood in her teardrops. She reached up with her free hand and rubbed at the corner of her eyes briefly, as if working stray sand or dirt out of them, then blinked, taking a deep breath to clear her head a little. The headache was going to be a bad one, she could tell, because her shoulders and the small of her back was already breaking out with sweat.

Her hand on Abashai's belt remained firm, and she wondered again how humans saw in the dim light and flaring torchlight which seemed to cast unholy auras around the whole of the festival. She refused to move from Abashai's side, and if the man took a step, she'd easily move with him.

There was a strange scent on the wind, a canine scent, and Nya brought her nearly blind eyes up to meet Klanes. A smile played across her lips, for the other kelvic was very near her and her bondmate. He would be able to clearly see her bloodshot eyes and the tears tinted with red as she blinked again. Nya whispered a soft greeting into the darkness in the direction Klane stood, but made no other move to approach him. If she weren't half-blind she certainly would have... but the pounding of overgiving was decidedly about to make her ill. She was glad she hadn't yet eaten, having been to busy mingling and moving around the others.

When Terminus invited Abashai to talk, Nya made no move to leave. But she did lift her head and say softly... "Do you two need to be alone? I'll find something to do to stay out of trouble if so..." That something would be going off to find the other kelvic and introducing herself. Truthfully though, she didn't want to leave Abashai, not half blind and not with the snake still out in the dark somewhere.

[Abashai]

Abashai turned his head to accept Terminus' invitation, but faltered as he felt Nya's attempt to steady herself, firmly gripping his belt. He looked down at his bondmate, who stared off in the direction of the departed Dhani, working something out of the corner of her eye. She had become suddenly quiet and still. He sensed a physical uneasiness in the kelvic, a faint ache and nausea. Through their bond, Abashai had felt the pain of Nya's wounds before, most notably her grievous injuries during their battle at the dark temple. But this was different, more like a subtle illness. He never recalled his bondmate ever being sick. The feelings of infirmity were mixed with, or the source of, an emotion... vulnerabililty.

Giving Terminus a glance that indicated his sudden concern for Nya, Abashai wrapped his arm around her waist and spoke softly to Nya. "Are you alright? Maybe you should sit down." Again eyeing the firedancer in an unspoken request to follow them, he carefully lead Nya to the nearest fire, where he encouraged her to sit. Taking a seat on the log next to her, Abashai looked into her unusually pale face. He noted her bloodshot eyes, but Nya had successfully masked the bloody tears. He wondered if the confrontation with the Dhani had worked her up so much that she was literally ill, or maybe she had eaten something that did not agree with her, though Abashai had not seen her eat anything since he arrived at the festival.

Taking her hand in his, he spoke, his voice laced with worry. "I will go fetch you some water." With a soft stroke on her arm, Abashai stood and looked to Terminus. "Would you care to walk with me?" Abashai's first concern was to make sure Nya was alright, but perhaps the firedancer and he could begin their conversation along the way.