[Stormhold Beach] Sandcastles and Silken Kites

[Nya Winters]

Location: Stormhold Beach Timestamp: 70th of Winter, 509 AV Time: Dawn Purpose: Reimancy Training/Practice Status: Open w/prior permission Nya woke her beloved mate early, which was unusual for the forest cat who made no secret of loving to get her best sleep in of the morning. But she hadn't prowled the night before, so she wasn't actually tired or needing the extra rest. She'd been settled into the bed long before Abashai was done playing his ould and having his evening tea. She had, however, went briefly out though it only took a short time before she was back. Instead, after their intense training session, she'd slipped off briefly then returned with a bundle in a bag that hadn't been one of her normal pouches. In fact, it was rather large though she'd said nothing of it to Abashai other than flashing her teeth at him when he'd tried to peek inside. It was obviously some sort of surprise. Nya was horrible at surprises because her lack of patience always overuled her ability to keep a secret when it came to giving something to Shai she thought he'd like. But in this, the benshira could tell she was really trying to keep a secret. But frankly, he'd been keeping her rather tired lately, even inadvertently. Even though she'd gotten a good nights sleep, the forest cat moved with an unusual stiffness that belied the effort it was costing her to learn something new. Along with her bondmate taking more than his usual training time during the day to work on his new weapons - Nya had showed him the cat saddle she'd had made and fitted a long time ago. And while Abashai had Sus, it was still important for Nya to make him understand that there would be times, places, and situations where the horse would either find the going dangerous or the battle deadly. And she wanted Shai and herself ready to fight together as a team. Forest cats were agile. They moved completely differently than horses or camels, which is what Abashai was used to riding. It was nothing for them to go vertical and climb or lunge off the side of a rock wall or building if they twisted midair to avoid arrows or sword swings. So, in order for the pair to be well prepared, Nya had insisted that Abashai add a section to his training regime that included swordwork from the back of a cat. And truth be told, it was not as easy as Sus made it look to carry a rider. Nya had to alot for her own weight and flexibility as well as Shai's significant form. She had to move to keep him as balanced as possible and his ride as elegant as she could without making him work to hard to stay on her and not hard enough to pay attention to whom might be wanting to kill them. So they'd added those training sessions. And the result had made Nya stiff, especially around the shoulders and chest, where she was using muscles to support Shai she didn't even know she had. It wasn't that he was too heavy for her, or that he was rough or that the saddle chafed. It was simply that the forest cat moved differently under a rider than she did on her own... and her muscles while they hardened and got used to it protested slghtly. But it made her proud to train with him, for along with his swordwork, if they could keep their bond open up enough, Shai could often tell when she was going to rear back and swipe with her paws, or leap, dive, or even swurve to slash with her teeth, which were just as formidable as his blades. The only thing now she was unsure of was how to handle pain from injuries... if her bondmate sustained them or she herself did and it transferred through the bond while they were fighting, distracting them. It was a problem they'd talked about and had yet to solve in order to truly become a formidable team. They were just too overprotective of each other. And they'd earned a long fun break - a day off - before they decided to go get to work - real work on following Zulrav (and Yahal or so Nya suspected)'s quest. And to that end, she'd gotten them some toys so they could do some alternative training, someplace fun, and maybe get some romping in or a late afternoon nap in the quickly warming Syliran sun. "Shai, wake up. Get dressed...." She nudged his shoulder with her forehead and leaned forward to lick his Chevai Mark and then nibble at his ear. Her bondmate was so painfully handsome, sometimes it hurt looking at him for he caught her breath and distracted her unconsciously. It didn't matter if it was the tall proud way he stood, or the brightness of mischief in his eyes, or the furrowing of his brow when he contemplated something important. She could even be distracted by his sweat-covered form as he stripped to the waste and worked on his blade kattas in the evening. It was still new to her, still strange, how much she craved this mans love and attention. They had a bond, but Nya knew it was no light servitude hardwiring that was typical of most Kelvics. Shai's bond with Nya was special, incredibly deep, and even as she rubbed her cheek over his as she leaned over the bed, she could feel him wake. Nya didn't linger over her bondmate once his eyes were open. Shai was an abrupt riser. He didn't take long confused moments to come awake, but rather was either fully asleep or fully awake depending. And as much as his soft smile tempted her to linger and turn it into a hungry look that she knew she could them transform into a satiated look, the forest cat retreated and picked up the bag that was fully packed still from the previous night. There was time enough later to linger with him. "Hurry Shai... I have a surprise for us today. We're taking a day off from training to play." She insisted, all but dancing by the door even before the man could slip from the fur coverings the pair slept either within or on in their small Traveler's Row room. Nya had the bag shouldered, and was impatiently pacing the room by the door waiting for him. Once he got dressed and asked any questions he was going too (which she'd answer), Nya lead him out of the room and on a brisk walk through the streets of Syliras and down onto the beach below. There she lead him to a spot they'd used many times before for training and Ry'vata and dumped out the contents of the pack, setting lunch packets aside in favor of what she had. They were tools, small hand tools that looked like a gardener or masonry expert would use. Along with the tools where containers of all shapes and sizes, some clay, some tin, some unusual or decorative. They look like they'd been collected from all over the bazaar. And in addition to that, there were two colorful pieces of what looked like silk and balls of twine to go with them. Small carefully tooled wooden sticks went with them and seemed to be used to somehow keep the silk stretched. One was a deep blue and one was a bright crimson red. It looked like, in that whole bag, Nya had planned a day for them that was thinly disguised fun in the form of reimancy training. She turned, eagerly looking at her bondmate to see if he was surprised and if he understood that they weren't going to actually skip a day of training... not really. But they were going to indulge their inner children - heavily - today. Sandcastles and Silken Kites.

[Abashai]

It was a rare pleasure to awake to the warm caress of Nya's tongue on his neck and the playful tug of her teeth on his earlobe. Abashai assumed the forest cat had amorous intentions in mind, knowing that it took little more than those affections to entice him to linger in bed with her. lately, a mere glance of her penetrating green eyes (she knew just how to tilt her head and pout her lips to make them irresistible) was sufficient for him to drop whatever he was doing. Their ardent intimate activities only added to the physical strain of the intense training regimen the couple had undertaken. In addition to increased weapons training and Ry'vata sparring with Nya, his beloved mate had unveiled the saddle. It took some convincing on Nya's part to persuade Abashai to try it out. Certainly, in all the dreams he had of having a family, he had never imagined putting a saddle on his wife and use her as a steed. But Nya knew Abashai better than any living mortal, and she plied equally copious amount of logic and affections until the Benshiran could not possibly say no. He did find it appealing that they could perform as one unit, and their deep bond made them uniquely able to act and react in unison. Indeed, with Abashia astride Nya, they would be a formidable opponent. That is, once they figured out how to do it. Riding a forest cat is about as close to riding a horse as sand is to snow. But the two of them were learning together. Abashai began to feel Nya's body language, knowing that when she crouched, she was going to leap. When one shoulder dropped, the opposite paw was going to strike out. The task was as mental and emotional as physical, working to use the bond to anticipate the other's next move, to sense what they sensed, in addition to their own assessment of the situation, all the while coordinating his strikes with hers. Just as the ache in Nya's shoulders and chest attested to the rigorous nature of the training, so did the sharp pains in Abashai's back and inner thighs So, Abashai anticipated a leisurely morning wallowing in bed together. He was mildly surprised when Nya stood and rushed him out of bed, promising a surprise. Actually, he had expected as much, the mysterious bag she guarded so vehemently yesterday obviously part of some plot she was hatching. Nya loved to surprise her mate, and Abashai found her schemes more sophisticated and creative as she matured. The Benshiran loved Nya's surprises, warmed by her desire to do these special things to please him. He did not wish to prod her for information, the Kevic found it hard enough to conceal her plans, and he did not want the surprise ruined, even by its creator. So he simply grinned at her as she anxiously paced and watched him dress. Nya led them through the city and down to the beach to their training spot. When she unloaded the secret contents of the pack, he stared at them for a moment, clueless. His analytical minde whirled, separating the items into two categories, tools and craft supplies. No, he had seen those items before, the sum of them at least....kites. Then her scheme came to light. Earth and Air. He looked up at her, hands on his hips and a beaming smile scrawled across his face. His light-hued eyes sparkled with delight. In her youthful wisdom, Nya had recognized their need for some fun, as well as the urgency to hone their reimancy skills. He closed the few feet between them, placed his hands on her shoulders (indeed, they were growing harder, more chiseled) and planted a firm kiss on her lips. "You never cease to amaze me Ny. What a wonderful idea!" He sat on one of the nearby logs to pull off his boots. Even in the late winter chill, he would rather feel the sand between his toes, it made him feel closer to the element. Today, sand would be his medium. He patted the log, knowing she too loved the feel of the sand under her feet. "Come on lazy cat!" He teased.

[Nya Winters]

Nya settled down next to Abashai and grinned at him. Her long brindled hair was loose, though it would soon be in her way, so she gathered it up and tied it with a thin piece of leather. Her eyes took in the silk kites and then the tools for making sandcastles and she gave her bondmate a long thoughtful stare. "I thought we'd have a competition between the two of us or anyone else that happens by... to see who could build the best sandcastle. I watched children make them when you first came here, Shai, and I thought it looked really fun though I was too shy to join them. You get to use your newly learned magic to help you... but you can also use the containers too. Some are large enough for water. I'm only going to use the containers though... and later after they are built, we can fly kites so I can stretch my magic as well and see how much control I can gain." She said, tilting her head to smile at him using her whole expression, especially her eyes. They would need water, lots of sand, and a lot of creative luck to compete the sandcastles. "The best castle wins... what would you like to bet?" She asked, running her hand across his knee before bending to remove her own shoes as well. Her tone implied she didn't mind if Abashai wanted to ask for as a prize if he won. She'd probably come up with something equally outrageous if she claimed victory. "Afterwards... we can fly kites to relax. I can practice my reimancy there." She said, wiggling her toes into the sand, and laughing slightly. Abashai could feel her child-like delight and her need to play rising up in her. Nya had grown more and more serious, almost equaling the way her hair had grown and her face had changed shape slightly to reflect her growing maturity. Though she still played at times, it was rarer now that she relaxed. The forest cat studied the empty sand, glanced back at him, and then back to the sand. "I want to do Lormar Tower, where my mother lives. I think I can build it, here in the sand, with the land around it. What do you want to do?" She asked, curious, as she tilted her head once more eyes scanning the firm sand to pick out just the perfect spot to start. The wind picked up then, briefly, and danced around the pair bringing gull cries from further down the beach. But it wouldn't last long. His bondmate had a tendency to micromanage the airflows around them, even subconsciously, which was excellent practice for control of her Stormwardency. It was a warm day, hinting at spring, though not truly hot at all. It would be pleasant, later that day, for when they were flying kites. Until then, though, Nya whispered brokenly, and the air seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and calm down, stilling the wind around them. Her actions were predictable as she waited for Abashai's response. After she had it, the forest cat stripped out of her cloak, rolled up her sleeves and pant legs, and got to work. She rose, started to gather a few round containers, and then ran down to the waterline to get a bucket of salt water to help wet her sand. It was obvious to Abashai that she was serious about the contest. And if it grew silent between them, the forest cat would most likely start on a tale, something heard from her mother, to see them through the building process. Until then, she smiled, began using a tiny shovel to fill a round container, and patted it firm with sand. Lormar tower would soon rise from Stormhold Beach, captured in miniature if Nya could master it.

[Abashai]

Abashai grinned brightly at Nya, he could see the delight in her feline eyes at the opportunity to play while they learned. It pleased Shai greatly, their work had been so serious lately, and he miss the playfulness of the forest cat. He too was more than happy to shed his recent stoic demeanor and have some fun. "A bet..." He rubbed the trim whiskers on his chin thoughtfully. Abashai was not a gambler (a wise Rapa once spoke to him of a gambler, saying 'a fool and his miza were soon parted'), but the idea of a competition was tempting. He thought a moment, straightened his back to feel several sharp pains in the muscles along his spine, then craned his neck to produce a series of loud pops. A boyish smile crept across his face, followed by a short laugh. "Alright my dear, recently, while passing the perfumer, I saw some massage oil, imported from Ahnatep, on display. If I build a finer sandcastle than you, you must purchase the oil and massage my back and neck every night for a week." He laughed again, proud of his clever wager. One of the miracles Nya had wrought was to release the boy that still dwelt deep within Abashai. In the end, he knew if he won, he would just as readily enjoy massaging Nya's aching shoulders. He still felt a little guilty about that, since her pains were the result of carrying him on her back. "And I if you win, what shall be your reward?" The Benshiran nodded at Nya's choice for her castle, Lormar was her home still, in a way. A breeze lifted about the couple, lightly stirring Abashai's dark locks and struggling to lift Nya's bound hair. He looked sidelong at her as she whispered her admonishments, and the errant wind drifted off. The man looked at his mate with pride. As a Stormwarden, she commanded powers that even he had yet to fully understand. But the forest cat remained humble and never lost the wonderful simplicity that, Abashai knew, would see them through many challenges. It took him only a moment to select the subject of his sandcastle. "I shall recreate the Holy City of Yahebah." His proclamation was made with jesting drama, his thickly accented voice dropped low and laced with a theatrical flair. Only a few ten-days ago, he would only speak of the city with a solemn tone. Just a few days after he had confessed to Nya his past adultery, he had revealed how Omri, his beloved cousin, had volunteered to accept the punishment meted out for Abashai. It was a penalty that would ruin his life. The shame and guilt of that incident had not only driven the young Abashai from his familyto the wilderness, but had haunted him day and night since. Finally speaking the words to Nya, he was ready to face them. His loving bondmate spent a night simply talking with him about it, asking questions and helping Abashai to face his ghosts. One day he hoped to return to Yahebah to face his family, Nya at his side, and make things right. Finishing rolling up his pant legs, Abashai started to fold his tunic sleeves up when he saw Nya grab a few containers and bolt towards the water. Not to be outdone, he grabbed two large containers and chased her down to the surf. Calf-deep in the surge, he deliberately bumped into her with his shoulder, trying to knock her down into the water. He chuckled, "Oops, sorry ma'am!", then scooped up water into the containers and turned to run back to the build site. When they returned, Abashai fell to his knees near a patch of open sand, water sloshing from the containers as he set them down. Grabbing a trowel and a small ash shovel, he surveyed his sand lot. "Now, I will tell you a bit about the bannered city I grew up in."

[Nya Winters]

The light was getting stronger as morning claimed its birthright more firmly, chasing away the lingering mist and leaving the pair in a beach bathed in sunshine. It was a perfect morning for a challenge, especially one that let them relax. But she barely believed what she heard when he announced his prize if he won, and then went ahead and confessed what he was going to build. Nya stared at him a long moment, holding her breath, before smiling slightly. Oil? Massage oil? "I don't know what that is, Shai, but if its something that will make you happy I'd do it anyhow." The forest cat said, wondering how oil and Abashai's back were interconnected. But more importantly than that... far more importantly, was that he wanted to build the Holy City of Yahebah. She'd always felt pain from him - a deep shame and sorrow - whenever he'd spoken of his ancestral home. But she could feel nothing, just a lingering sadness, as he spoke the name. Her eyes searched his and she smiled uncertainly, purring as if to reassure him though it was confusing that there was really none needed. "I think I will like very much to see that. Both in the sand and in reality." She confessed, reaching out to touch his shoulder. "You feel better... like a healer has been at you." She commented as if startled. Shai had changed in ways Nya didn't fully understand. She enjoyed it, accepted it, but was still surprised by his relaxation almost daily. But later... such thought was for later. There was a reward to pick. The forest cat glanced around, looking all over as if seeking inspiration. Shai had claimed something intimate, or so she thought, so it would be the same with her. There was something Abashai had done for her once or twice that she discovered she absolutely loved. He'd brushed her hair. As the thought hit her, she smiled. "I want a fine comb... something fancy. And I want you to comb my hair every night for a week." She said with a grin. Abashai knew Nya hated combing her hair, pulling the snarls out, and making it nice and straight. She never used a mirror, avoiding them as if she had some sort of affliction against them. It made her hair sometimes awkward, but at least she'd stopped hacking it off with a knife since she'd known him. Now it was long, slightly curled, and wilder than she perhaps liked. Deal? Her expression was playful, and then she bolted for the water. Nya squealed as Abashai gave chase and bumped her in the calf-deep water. His bondmate flailed slightly, awkward in the surf for all that she normally had grace, then grinned wickedly and grabbed onto him for support. The waves were washing outward rapidly, creating a dizzy illusion that lingered until another surged in around them. Her hands didn't touch him since they were occupied with containers, but her strong arms encircled his waist for a moment and she stepped closer, enchanted with him. Nya had a hard time, especially at first, getting over the fact that the physical boundaries Abashai had firmly set between them when they first bonded no longer existed after their marriage. To her, there were rules and areas she could take liberties with, but when they changed abruptly, it had confused her slightly. Even though Abashai got into the habit of drawing her close, her instinct was to follow the initial rules of their bonding making her slightly standoffish. Moments like this, when she laughed and grabbed onto him with her arms, hanging on and looking up at him as they both got thoroughly wet with the surf, were rare. So was the surprised suddenly passionate look on her face. Forest cat faded into human woman as she stepped closer, ignoring the cold water, the dizzying withdrawal and onslaught of the water, and laughingly rose on her toes to kiss him. She rarely initiated them, though she did other things that were incredibly affectionate. Nya loved to nibble the back of his neck, either awake or asleep, and lick the length of his spine along his back. Kissing though, was out of her experience. So when she rose up, captured his lower lip gently with her teeth, slowly released it, then leaned in for a kiss... it was nothing expected. Nya didn't know how to be delicate or soft. She kissed like she hunted, fast, fierce, and like she meant it. And when she pulled away, two things were conveying meaning to him.... their bond and her eyes. Love. Pure love. She captured her water in the bucket she carried then, stepped aside, and pranced back up the sand line to her designated plot - her whole body radiating satisfaction. Then immediately, with body language that said she was going to indeed listen carefully, began to work. She began to dig, working on the old moat and moving the sandscape around so she could pile it up into the slopes the tower was built on. Her moss gaze kept going towards him, a pretense of checking his progress, but truthfully she was simply watching him - watching his joy. "I want to hear about the city... and later, I'll tell you about Lormar." She demanded, eager for the promised story even as she got to work.

[Abashai]

Abashai was almost beaming. Though his playful collision with Nya in the surf surely had caught her off guard, her affectionate ambush had soundly surprised him. His lips still tingled from the force of her kiss. It left him dazed, standing in the cold salty water for several breaths before he noticed the sly girl racing back up the sand. He grinned. Nya made him happy. Distractingly, unbelievably happy. It had been a long, long time since Abashai could say that anything made him happy. Indeed, Nya didn't realize it, but she was the healer that was making him whole. Back at the sand, Abashai settled into the task of erecting Yahebah. He glanced sidelong at Nya, her damp clothes clinging to her lithe form, lengths of the fabric adhering to her skin in places to reveal finely molded lean muscles. The forest cat had always been strong, but her maturing physique and ardent training had shaped her into a formidable woman. He still found himself almost turning away as he admired how the garment clung to her feminine curves. Some habits were harder to break. He laughed at himself, then allowed his gaze to linger on his wife a moment longer before turning to the sand before him. Deeply inhaling the crips salty air, Abashai calmed himself. Before he began to share his memories of the Holy City, he wanted to try something. He reluctantly forced his attention from Nya, though he stilled sensed her, pleasing vibes resonating through their bond. Mentally prepared, he began to produce a measured amount of res. He summoned it to release through his hands, its form a very fine rusty mist. He held his hands out before him, palms down, the res hovering below them. Concentrating, he began to will the sand beneath his hands to move. A thin layer of loose dry sand began to tremor, individual grains bouncing lightly to the spot beneath his palms. It was not enough. Abashai closed his eyes again, biting his lower lip in concentration. He transformed a bit more djed and expelled the amount as res to increase that below his hands. More of the sand shifted, allowing him to create a feeble pile in the middle of his plot. He blew out a puff of air in frustration. Abashai was very cautious when he practiced reimancy, probably overly so. Terminus and Nya had both voiced warnings sufficient to inspire the novice reimancer to take excessive care when calling on djed. But Abashai was growing impatient with merely blowing around a few grains of sand or billows of dust. Sooner or later, he knew, he would have to push himself to know what his limits were. Then he darted a glance at Nya, diligently digging her moat. Knowing his bondmate, he wondered if that was what she had hope from him this morning. Abashai continued to summon sand, meager amounts at first, only growing slightly as he dared to increase his res production incrementally. After a few chimes, Abashai had created a low, uneven mound roughly shaped like a square. Satisfied, he glanced again at the forest cat with a smile before raising his voice over the pounding of the surf. Pouring some water over the sand, Abashai worked it in to moisten his medium. Then, seizing a trowel, he began to smooth the sides that would become the outer wall. "Yahebah is old, much older than Syliras, built long before the Valterrrain. The father of our people, Biyram, built an altar to Yahal on the spot where the city was later built." He paused, sliding the trowel around a corner of his wall. "The walls are high and formidable. Huge white and scarlet banners are draped from them, along the entire length of the outer wall." He realized he was not as adept at painting mental images as Nya. His descriptions tended to lack a certain flair, but he found he enjoyed recalling the great city. "Some would say it is not at elegant as the palaces of Ahnatep, with their fluted columns. But I have been to the Eypharian city. Ahnatep is beautiful to the eye, but a city is more that stones and brick and gold and silver. A city is its people. The Benshira of Yahebah are vibrant and friendly and bring the old stones of their home to life." He looked over at Nya again, her long hair drying as the ascending sun grew warmer. Her mottled mane brought to mind another recollection. "There are beautiful vineyards that surround the Holy City, where the sandy earth turns dark and rich. Grapevines dot the vineyards with green, browns and deep purple. They are called the Tangled Vineyards." His eyes remained on Nya for a moment, admiring how the dawning sun highlighted the subtle hints of gold and earthy tones amid her dark locks, just like those Benshiran vineyards. After he had smoothed out the outer walls of his sandcastle with the trowel, he laid it aside and moved to a corner. His boldness growing, Abashai created more res, a larger amount this time, using it to draw a sizable amount of sand from the middle of the mound to the corner. The Benshiran focused on more sublte control, moving his hands and the wisps of res to carefully tug the shifting grains into a short pile where his first tower would stand. Then began to pat it into a square structure.

[Nya Winters]

!Sorry for the delay, I swore I'd posted since I'd written out a response the day you posted this! Nya was blissfully unaware of the distraction she was causing her bondmate as she set about enthusiastically building her tower castle. She'd never actually built a sandcastle before, but she'd paused to watch many a child work on one and had the general grasp of what it entailed. Shai would have her beat on complexity, she knew, but in terms of lovingly building something she missed, Nya was certain she could try and reproduce Lormar accurately. First things first, however and she began to mix salt water with the sand in a large round tin to build up the foundation stone of the tower. Then, after packing it tight and inverting it to slide the round roughly cake shaped form free of the mold, it rested proudly uptop the slightly damp sand beneath it. She would have to build multiple layers this way, perhaps ten until she got it high enough to mimic the tower properly. As she worked, she listened to Shai speak and occasionally glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, watching him form res and shape the sand with incredible precision as he called it to him and seemed to will it to take a shape he desired or remembered in his mind. Impressive. Nya didn't have the same tactic. When her tower was fully ten layers high and looking more like a tower she began to summon her own res. Breathing it out by puckering up her lips and expelling it to coat the tower, she turned it into a precision carving device that began to not add sand to the sculpture, but take sand away, forming little windows as her res formed the wind needed to carve away unnaturally fast at the tall structure. It was time consuming, precise, and aggravating because often she'd have to add a dob of wet sand to correct where she took too much away in trying to form the blocks and stone crevices that made up the blocks that formed the tower. She paused then in her work, for her bondmate had begun to speak of his city, and that was a rare thing indeed. Nya was used to Syliras, which had been confusing for her at first with all its stone and cobble. But the picture Shai painted in her mind of Yahebah seemed even faster. She could almost see the banners fluttering and wondered how vineyards thrived in the desert when all she had heard was that the city was locked in a sea of fire and sand. "How do the vineyards grow, Shai, out in the desert like that? Isn't Yahebah just stone and fire and very little water? There isn't even a river is there?" There very well could have been all that for all that Nya knew of it, but she hadn't heard anyone talk of such things... grapes in fact where the first speck of green her mind painted onto the picture Shai was carefully outlining in her mind. "Is it like Syliras where everyone lives in the walls or the fortress or is it different? I really don't know anything about the Benshira... or how they fill out the city." She added, shifting to crouch and fussing until her long hair was knotted with its own lengths at the nape of her neck out of the way. The truth was, Nya was often curious about Benshira women and how they interacted within their families and towards their men. She knew that Abashai and herself didn't have a typical Benshira marriage nor was she anything like the gentle women who seemed internally strong in their quiet ways. But then, she'd only met a few of them. To Nya they seemed slightly inhibited while her personality was fierce and forward, reined in only by Abashai's restraint. It was probably not true, though, for Nya was well aware of impressions being far different than reality when one dwelled outside a culture. But for herself, time was wasted on ritual and tradition. When she was hungry, she hunted until there was warm meat in her stomach. When she was tired, there was no regret in her as she found a warm spot to stretch out and sleep. When she wanted to feel her bare skin slide against Shai's because her arousal was too great to be ignored, she let him know and acted on it if he was willing. Nya had no culture, no people, no long sense of history or tradition. There was no right or wrong other than what Shai's needs and culture dictated, and even then she knew he had modified some of those beliefs as well. She simply existed to exist. So she was always curious about others. And if her purpose was finding a purpose, then she'd done that well enough too. In a way, it made her a perfect Stormwarden... now around them there was a warm breeze and no chilled late-winter harsh offshore gusts. Nya was subtle about her weather manipulations and kept it tightly controlled, but it allowed for the pair to enjoy the day without being chilled or finding . Comfortable. Happy. Nya wanted to enjoy the moment. So she sat back, took a break, and turned to watch Shai build his sandcastle city .. a little amused and more than a little jealous at his ability and control.

[Abashai]

Abashai had formed the outer wall of his castle, trying to match the asymmetrical shape of the city. He began to form res between his hands to draw narrow piles along his wall that he would form into the short towers, shaping the square structures with reimancy and finishing them with the trowel. Nya's questions pleased Abashai. He had never really thought that she might want to know what his home was like. Their life has always been focused on the present. The one time he did talk about Benshiran traditions, he had sanpped at her comments and ended up hurting her feelings. But Nya was his family now, and he supposed she should know where he came from. "Yahebah isn't actually in the middle of the desert. It is in the southern corner. It is not too far from the coast, so the weather is a bit different than the Burning Lands. It still gets hot, but the summer air can get very humid, unlike the dryness further inland. Sometimes they even get a frost in Winter. There is some fertile land around the city, to be honest, I can't tell you why. There isn't irrigation like they have in Ahnatep. Anyway, it provides soil enough for the vineyards and orchards that feed the city." He glanced at Nya's creation, he was impressed by the manner in which she gently forced the res from her mouth to create her crafting tool. It was uniquely Nya,and it made him smile. Abashai returned to his project, carefully forming more res and carving out a smaller mound to shape into the Temple. "The city is not like Syliras, where so much is housed in the fortress. Yahebah is a maze of buildings within the walls. Then there is the Temple, which overlooks the rest of the city." He worked the small mound into a rectangle, then used res to create his own sand and dripped it from his hand to create pinnacles. "There are only two places Benshira live. Within the walls of the city, or in the desert. There are no villages or towns. Life in Yahebah is pretty good. There are plenty of wells for water and food in the orchards, and everyone is secure within the walls." Abashia picked up a stray stick, using it to press crenelations along is walls and towers. "In the desert, life is more difficult. When I first left Yahebah, I nearly didn't survive. The Tents, or groups of families, must constantly search for water for themselves and their flocks. There are dangerous animals, like wolves and tsanas. And then there are the sandstorms. But the Benshira are strong, and love life, wherever they live." He glanced back at Nya. Closing his right hand into a fist, he concentrated for a moment, oozing deep orange res into his fist. Giving his mate a sly grin, he opened his hand and tossed a freshly made pebble at her, the small stone bouncing off her arm.

[Nya Winters]

Yahebah wasn't as she'd pictured it at all. Nya had never truly seen 'hot' or 'desert' for that matter, but she'd imagined it plenty in Abashai's stories and the books she'd read when she was a bit younger. Under Abashai's careful hands and patient precise res, the city of Yahebah was taking shape. She thought it a place devoid of life and at the mercy of a Syna's brutal touch. But it seemed she was mistaken. It was not only coming to life for her in sand, but Abashai's words were painting pictures in her mind. Colorful banners, people mingling about happily, the vision of fertile fields and vast vineyards made her think someday they'd go see them in person. For Abashai it would be a walk into the past, for Nya a glimpse into the future. She couldn't help but smile. She imagined the mazes, both inside the city and in the vineyards. And once more she imagined Abashai's struggle as he left his family - alone and without a people. He'd suffered such losses in his life. First his parents, then his second family and his best friend. The forest cat wondered if life was hard for all such Benshira males or all people for that matter. And the thought of him perishing in the desert was painful to Nya - even as the false memory she had from him telling her stories of loosing his horse and hiding in a crevasse for a sandstorm to pass. "I am glad you survived. I cannot imagine what life would be like for me without you, Shai. I think about that now sometimes and it scares me. I know I think differently than I did a year ago, even from when I was very small. I didn't think well at all, really, and was confused a lot about humans even though I really wanted to be one. I think... I borrowed some of my mother's thinking while I was home and later your own. I wouldn't be who I am now without you. I could have easily bonded with someone like the priest we fought - I don't want to think about how I would be now." She said softly, suddenly reminded that she didn't want to keep looking at him full on. He'd see her face in the clear morning light. "I... I am really glad." Nya said, just in time for the pebble to bounce off her arm. She bared her teeth at him, growled, but made no other move though he could tell from their bond she was more amused than offended and her growling was just play. Still, Abashai's stick, when set aside momentarily, mysteriously lifted itself up in a breeze and scooted just out of his reach. Nya was smiling and conveniently looking elsewhere at the time. Later, when their creations had grown considerably and Nya was working on landscaping, the story of Lormar Tower slowly began to unfold. "My mother ran across a book in Novallis that spoke of a tower that a mage called Lormar used to inhabit. He was a glypher, someone who made magic and locked it into symbols. It was said, according to this small article, that Lormar hid his tower by encouraging plants to grow in the form of glyphs to hide magic in them. My mother knew his tower existed, but no one had ever seen it. She knew why too, the clues were in his writing the more she researched it. She found it too, after years of searching and found it empty. Lormar would be a few hundred years old now, so she thinks hes long gone from the world. But thats how my family came to inhabit the tower." Nya said, looking thoughtful. "My mother's never been social. She lives living away from other people." Nya explained, then looked thoughtfully at Abashai.

[Abashai]

Abashai was momentarily confused as his little impromptu wooden tool was lifted out of his reach by an errant breeze, but quickly surmised that it had indeed a devious intelligence behind it. He lunged for the stick, snatching it out of the air and shooting Nya a mocking grimace, who happened to appear suddenly engulfed in her sand work. He chuckled and returned to his work, now forming rough square shapes that represented buildings within the walls. He noticed how she did it again, how she turned away as he looked at her. The couple's bond was complex, and few were the secrets that could be kept from it. Shai's concern had waxed as Nya's behavior had altered inexplicably recently. Subtle, yet noticeable to the one who had become a part of her. Nya was avoiding his gaze. It would happen suddenly, as if a thought spurred her to look away. A sharp pang shot through his chest, wondering, his mind striving to find a reason. There was nothing Abashai treasured more than to simply gaze into Nya's moss green eyes, to study the curve of her brow or the bow of her lips. Her aversion to his gaze pained him. But as quickly as it came, she would change the subject, or make a joke and carry on as usual. There were great matters weighing on both of them, perhaps she was just worried, he had told himself. When Nya spoke so warmly about him, his survival in the desert, Abashai grinned to himself. But, at the mention of the evil priest, Abashai shuddered. For Nya to be bound to the whims of such a man made him shudder. After a moment, without turning from his work, he simply added, "I am glad I survived too Nya, though at the time I would have been content to die. If I had, I would never have learned what it meant to really live." He resisted the sudden urge to go to her, embrace her and roll across the cool sand with her in his arms. She made him feel like doing that often. No doubt there would be fur flying had he inadvertently toppled her model tower in doing so. As they each crafted their masterpiece, Shai listened intently as Nya revealed the story behind her birthplace. He was always fascinated when she spoke of the remote tower and her mage mother. The real-life stories of Zilvia Winters could match any told around the fire at a Benshiran masha. As intimate as he had become with his Kelvic mate, her childhood in the distant Talderian wilderness was still shrouded in a mysterious kind of folklore. His bondmate's sand tower was the first indication he had ever had of what it might of looked like. It was similar to what he pictured, a northern style structure. As his mate would tell her tales, Abashai would often imagine Zilvia as a beautiful and scholarly woman that looked something like Nya. He knew Nya missed her, terribly at times. He vowed to himself to take her back to Lormar Tower, for the Benshiran knew she would not leave him to go alone. But such a journey would have to wait. As Nya regulated the air around them to a comfort more suitable to mid Spring, Abashai pulled his tunic off over his head, allowing her warmed breeze to brush his skin. He sat for a moment, surveying is work of art. With a sudden look of inspiration, Abashai pressed his hands together, forming a thin layer of res between them and willing it into a thin sheet of rock. With the trowel, he chipped away at the edges until it was roughly square. Then he placed against the main gate of his city, as the great cedar doors of Yahebah.