Mura By Moonlight (Quelen)

[Cilaes]

24th day of Spring, 511 AV Having returned to his tent on the northern edges of Mura after meeting with the Charoda, Cilaes slept most of the afternoon, waking up in time to make himself a small meal before the sunset. He never missed the sunset, or the sunrise for that matter. Though the Ethaefal didn’t revel in Syna’s bright light, he welcomed the moments she spent close to this lord. Sitting in the soothing glow of the sunlight it was sometimes possible to feel the warmth of the lovers joy spread out of the land as they were reunited. He had taken the time to make sure his bowls were clean and his fire safely smothered well before the Sun Goddess brushed against the horizon. No distractions. It was a warm evening and Cilaes had shed his shirt after supper. Letting Syna’s last warm rays brush against his tanned skin he sat before his tent, the small scars on his chest shimmered slightly in the soft light. The man’s back was straight and his head held high, but the pose lacked any sense of rigidness. His heavy shoulders hung loose, and his arms flowed smoothly, limply, to where his hands rested on crossed knees. Abdominal muscles relaxed his stomach undulated with each controlled breath that filled his chest. His left side, the westerly facing side felt the last few rays of sunlight as she fell below the trees of Mura. Fluid oranges swirled around the pink underbellies of the clouds in the sunset, the last bright colors bursting through the thin black silhouettes of the trees. Eventually the warm colors of Syna faded as a brilliant ceiling of deep cyan arched gracefully over the island. This color belonged to neither deity, and shone with its own glory, a bright, smooth and clear beauty. But it too faded, slipping west over the spires of trees and cottages as Leth strode into the sky for his nightly duties. Cilaes meditated with his eyes open, letting the embrace of the two gods fill his vision as they moved across the sky. But his eyes were unfocused and his breath steady and slow. He tried not to think in this transitioning time. It was a time to celebrate the joy his master felt, and to appreciate the goddess who shared the ecstasy with him. From his periphery the Ethaefal could see the silvery edges of the moon creeping over the island. The warm brown eyes were the first thing to change as moonlight brushed against his body. Blue soaked into the irises, leaving them a dark indigo. Leth’s cool touch soon spread to the rest of Cilaes’s body, bringing about the familiar sensations of the transformation. His skin tingled as Syna’s bronze stain leeched away, leaving him pale and nearly reflective in the moonlight. Scars large and small wriggled and melted into the new skin, which quickly sucked up the dark ink of his windmarks. Beneath the surface the Ethaefal’s muscles squirmed about, rearranging themselves to fit a new body that was slightly taller and more lean than the large Drykas man. Above the shoulders more changes took place. His eyes had changed, and the old marks of injury on his temple and chin dissolved. Cilaes’s hair began to grey, until it was the dark, soft color of heavy clouds, tinted with blue. From his scalp horns sprouted and spiraling their way up through the roots. They were white as pearls and six inches long, looking like twisted cones that tilted back slightly over his head. With a final deep breath the electric feeling faded from his body and Cilaes stood up, putting his shirt and jerkin back on, straightening the fabric with gentle, guiding tugs. He glanced up at the moon, nearly full, his eyes full of longing as they rested on his master’s face. Good evening my lord. I thank you for the light you will lend us tonight. With a soft sigh the Ethaefal walked briskly to the bridge where he had me the Charoda this morning. Leth’s reflection was huge and silver on the surface of the lake, nearly as perfect as the image of him that hung in the sky. Cilaes stood watching the unbroken water, waiting for Quelen patiently.

[Quelen Dran'Sora]

Inside the water of Silver Lake Quelen was working on finishing her little resting spot in the coral as the sky above started to grow dark. She'd stopped singing, or even humming, putting her whole focus on her work as she shaped the last bit of coral into place.

She had considered taking a nap before meeting back up with Cilaes, but she was worried she would oversleep and make him wait. So she worked on making her little shelter, focusing to get done so much that she almost missed the sky going from light to dark. When Quelen did notice she gave a gasp, and turning around she swam as quickly for the shore as she could.

Emerging from the water much as she had earlier that day, with a great splash and much water following after her, Quelen climbed onto the land and stood up, looking around for Cilaes. Her eyes came upon his night form, and for a moment she looked at him questioningly before she gave a little gasp, "Cilaes, is that you? You look very different now!"

Smiling brightly Quelen made her way along the beach towards the bridge where Cilaes stood, assuming it was him, "I didn't recognize you at first. How do you change? It doesn't hurt does it?" Curious as ever, despite the first pulls of drowsiness in her head, Quelen approached her new friend with a warm and wide smile.

[Cilaes]

Broad smooth ripples crossed Leth’s reflection as Quelen bounded from the water. The Ethaefal smiled at her questioning. “Yes, Quelen, it’s Cilaes. It feels… Hmm… Have you ever sat on your leg for too long? As the blood flows back into your limb, that tingling sensation is a lot like what transforming feels like for me, although over my entire body, and not at all painful. As for how, I’m not entirely certain, everything in me simply shifts when Leth rises.” The tall, pale creature made a small, graceful bow in Quelen’s direction before speaking again in an airy voice. “Were you able to complete your resting place? If you still have chores to do I would be happy to wait, otherwise we can start.” He grinned again, the Ethaefal’s mood was visibly brighter underneath the moon. “I wouldn’t want to keep you up too late, not many people are as nocturnal as me.” There was a very faint breeze moving through the trees around Silver Lake. It ran through Cilaes’s silvery hair, twisting strands around his curling horns as he stood by the bridge. I wonder if she gets cold on the land, wind doesn’t seem like something a Charoda would be used to… “I was thinking of taking you through town first, and we could make our way up to the coast eventually, where you could see the Opal Temple, unless there is somewhere else you would rather go?”

[Quelen Dran'Sora]

Quelen's head tilted slightly at Cilaes' explanation of his transformation, and then she gave a small gasp as her eyes lit up with understanding, "Ah! I think I know what you mean. I rested on my leg on a stone once for a long time, and when I tried to move it felt like it was being poked all over by little needles. Like that, right? I'm glad it's not painful, that one time was very unpleasant."

At Cilaes' nod Quelen paused in her walking, and did her best to repeat the gesture in return to him, "Yes, I just finished the last of it right before I came, and even if it wasn't it would be close enough that I wouldn't need to keep you waiting for me."

The feel of the breeze drew Quelen's attention, and she gave a musical laugh as she held out her hand and wiggled her fingers in the moving air, "That sounds great to me Cilaes. I might need to take to the water when we go to the coast, to make sure I don't dry out, but wherever you want to show me would be great. I certainly don't know enough about Mura to suggest places to go."

Feeling the breeze slide by her again Quelen gave another little laugh at the feeling, giving a twirl in the sand as she held her fingers out wide to feel the air moving through them, "This feeling, like a very gentle current brushing past, is it the wind?" she asked, and after a few moments stopped spinning and looked towards Cilaes for an answer.

[Cilaes]

OOCI am so sorry for taking so long, I had major WB, and then was far too hyper to write for a moody Eth. I’m also sorry for how short it was, but I figured I’d better get something up. “Quelen, what happens to a Charoda that dries out?” Cilaes was very familiar with workings of Konti and human bodies. His time at the Opal Temple had prepared him well to deal with problems that type of anatomy might encounter, but the curriculum had been sparing in its references to Charoda biology. He watched her spin in on the shore, the white light of the moon bouncing off of her slick, rubbery skin as Quelen twirled. “Yes, that’s wind. Let me know if it makes you cold. Zulrav is being gentle tonight, but sometimes his winds are a bit more energetic.” Looking up briefly at Leth Cilaes sent a small prayer to his god before beginning the tour. Help me be thoughtful in showing Quelen Mura tonight and thank you for illuminating the sights so I may show her the way. He smiled softly at the silvery beauty of the moon’s surface, everything should go smoothly, but it never hurt to ask. “Quelen, let’s head into the city, shall we?” The tall Ethaefal began walking toward the Konti’s city with a purposeful and light stride. The leather of his boots making soft noises against the fine wood of the bridge and whispering sounds against the gravel of the shore when he stepped off.

[Quelen Dran'Sora]

Quelen paused for a moment at Cilaes' question, tilting her head to the side, "Well, when we start drying out it becomes more difficult to talk and breath. I've always been told I'd die if I got too dry, but I've never really heard of it happening to anyone," she gave a little shrug.

Giving a small nod at Cilaes' explanation of wind, she smiled brightly, and then eagerly responded to his question, "Yes, we shall!"

While Cilaes' footsteps were soft and measured Quelen's own steps were irregular but rhythmic as she danced along beside him. Skips, hops, and twirls interspersed with slower measured steps and elegant movements of her arms to keep herself roughly in pace with Cilaes as they made their way into the city of Mura.

"Have you ever danced Cilaes?" Quelen asked as she paused in her dance, balanced on her left leg and right leg extended out in the air behind herself, and she offered her hand to Cilaes, "I was thinking as I worked, and I thought of a way to do a Charodae dance on land."

[Cilaes]

Buildings that would have shimmered with bright pastels and whites beneath Syna were more subdued in the night. The pink, green and blue corals that adorned Konti architecture were warm and light shades of grey embedded in the white walls. The smoother surfaces beamed up at Leth with his own light, imitating the stars as silver danced over the shining shells. The lush plants that grew under the care of the inhabitants of Mura were not so bright, and wrapped the extroverted structures in a more modest darkness. The air of the island was still warm, the sunset had not been long ago, and it felt soft against Cilaes’s skin. He could hear a few small insects beginning to sing over the last sounds of the day, falling into silence whenever larger passersby burst rudely into their concert hall. The evening was incredibly comfortable as it settled about the odd pair, one glistening from the water on her slick skin, the other from the odd way his flesh held the light of the moon. Through it all he was walking slowly, smiling and pointing out notable buildings, memorable and useful shops to Quelen. Her steps were much less regular than his own, and he smiled as he spoke, watching the way her long limbs cut through the cricket chirps and nighttime breezes as she danced. She moves with so much control, but it doesn’t seem as though she forces it, or has to pause before making her next decision. Her body just hears her, and listens. The Charoda had paused in her twisting and balanced before him, offering her hand. It is beautiful. “No, I never have, and I must say I’m a bit hesitant to try. You move so gracefully it makes even my walking seem clumsy and heavy, and those are movements I’m quite familiar with. I’d be afraid of how awkward any attempt I might make would seem,” he said, the Ethaefal’s face looking more amused than embarrassed. The callouses he bore during the day had faded with the dusk and his palm was smooth and firm as it slid into her own rubbery grip. “However, that sounds remarkable. I would hate to miss such an opportunity.”

[Quelen Dran'Sora]

"Don't worry," Quelen's smile was warm and encouraging as she brought her right leg down, and with a few twisting steps and a turn of her body she brought herself so her and Cilaes were face to face, "We'll start slow, and I'll guide you through it all. Just try to relax, and follow me."

Holding lightly to Cilaes' hand Quelen carefully stepped backwards with first her left foot, then her right, gently persuading Cilaes to follow after her with a light tug on his arm, "This dance is called the Four Pearls," Quelen instructed as she brought the stub of her left arm up and forward a little, so that if Cilaes mimicked her they would form a rough oval between them with their arms, "Normally it's done with two or more pairs, but we can do most of it ourselves," she took another pair of careful steps backwards, turning her torso to the left as she pulled her left arm back a little so the two of them would form a more U like shape.

"We start with just two basic positions, open and closed," Quelen smiled at Cilaes encouragingly as she slowly took a pair of steps forward, pushing lightly against Cilaes' hand to guide him backwards, turning her torso back so she was facing him fully and bringing her left arm back forward to make the oval shape again, "One after another, opening and closing like an oyster sitting on a rock," two more steps forward and she again turned her body and arm to the open position from before, "Once you're comfortable with these movements we can go on to the next part."

[Cilaes]

Cilaes stepped forwardly awkwardly with his left foot. Realizing he had chosen the wrong limb the Ethaefal shuffled to catch up to the correct step and hold his balance over both legs. He was staring at his feet, taking small half steps and pausing, checking that it was the right motion, before completing it. Watching his boots drag quietly over the surface of the street he failed to notice Quelen’s arm move toward him until he glanced up at her for reassurance. It was with caution that he followed her motion, his indigo eyes lingering for a moment on the rough scar tissue that capped her arm. I can’t help but wondering how someone who dances and moves so gracefully could receive such an injury… Oh, she’s moving again! His thoughts quickly snapped back to the stuttering motion of his legs as they tried to mimic Quelen’s steps, twisting his own body as he saw her doing, opening their stance so the moonlight could flow openly between them. “Quelen, does this dance have any particular meaning, or is it something that exists only for its beauty?” It must look truly splendid with four dancers who could move in any direction they wished. And who knew exactly how to move… The changes between open and closed position were beginning to makes sense to him, and he shifted his weight easily onto his outer leg as they opened up once more. It was a simple matter of lifting the leg that would be furthest from the partner, moving it to the side. Once that was done CIlaes could move his weight from the center, onto the open foot, opening his chest to the empty street. “You’re a fine teacher. Let’s see if I can manage what comes next.”

[Quelen Dran'Sora]

"It's a," Quelen paused for a moment to think of the word in common, "a social dance. For meeting and getting to know others better."

Smiling brightly at Cilaes' compliment Quelen gave a slightly embarrassed giggle as she stopped moving her feet, "You're too kind Cilaes, and you're doing great. Now, this next part we'd normally join our other hands but," she paused a moment, glancing down at the stump of her left arm, "We should be fine without it. Follow me."

Stepping to her left Quelen gently tugged on Cilaes' hand to guide him after, slowly crossing her legs as she took circular steps so the two of them were circling around a point in between them. She kept her pace as slow as she could manage, watching Cilaes' feet so she would know when to stop if he accidentally tripped up, "Just focus on placing your feet carefully and slowly. Once you're comfortable with it then we can speed up slowly," Quelen continued to walk slowly around the circle between them, flashing an encouraging smile up at Cilaes every few steps.