A Chat of Questions (Sariana)

[Sylkra]

The tears wouldn't stop coming from Sylkra's yellow eyes. She wanted to hurt herself, she wanted to be punished for yelling at Sariana like that. It all got worse when Sari seemed upset not for the yelling, but for the punishment Sylkra was inflicting upon herself.

Sylkra sobbed, and she quickly ran after Sariana in obedience. She did not notice, nor would she care, the heads that had turned in their direction. Her eyes were focused through blurred tears where they were going.

She followed Sariana outside, where she howled in sadness. A real, genuine howl. Her breathing was quick, but she calmed herself down by breathing in... and out deeply. She looked at the spot where Sari grabbed her arm, but then looked away, she did not want to relive the moment she had disagreed with her master. She instead said desperately, "Sari! I'm so sorry!" She stared deep into the Drykas' blue orbs, her eyes alight with sadness, hope, and fear. She let out whimpers.

As the Drykas started talking, Sylkra's wasn't listening. She was reflecting on the sheer moments before when she had disagreed with her master on something. She didn't know why she burst that out, she should have stuffed it in, and made sure Sariana didn't feel uncomfortable or sad. Sylkra should have let the Drykas speak, and then agree. She didn't want to hurt Sariana. She would never, even if Sariana wasn't her master. But since she was, and Sylkra said it, in Sylkra's mind there had to be a punishment. Even if it was a cruel one, Sylkra did it. To her, there was nothing worse than upsetting her master.

All she could hope for was that Sariana wouldn't get mad at Sylkra for their scene.

Sylkra listened to the Drykas' last words, and her scolding tone, before drooping her head and arms. She let out a soft howl, a little melodic tune, looking up at the starry night. She then looked at Sariana, and whimpered, "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me." Even her voice sounded like a depressed little song.

[Sariana]

Listening to the mournful little howl rising from the wolf, Sariana sighed again, pursing her lips. She hated the self-punishment Sylkra attempted to inflict every time they had a difference of opinion. The drykas wanted Sylk to have her voice, her say...and to stand her ground if needs be.

"I forgive you, always. But Sylkra, no more of this...hurting yourself. You and I are a team, a family...a pack. If punishment is due, ever, then I would be the one to decide that. Not you. And not like that." Moving closer to the kelvic again, the brunette stroked her hair.

"Sylkra, I don't want a..a pet that bows and bends to my every whim. I want a friend, a companion. A guardian. The bond between a drykas warrior and their Guardian is one of mutal trust and understanding. You are a Guardian. Stand with your head high, your pride and your honor worn in your gaze. I know you are a kelvic, but you are my equal...and no one will change that. And I will never stop believing that."

[Sylkra]

Sylkra whimpered, and then hugged Sariana as she stroked her hair. She smiled, and then felt the Drykas' own hair as well. It was so smooth, so silky, she wanted to fall asleep into it. She sighed, sad for making that huge scene and maybe embarrassing Sariana. It was a shame for her. She would have to learn to never do something like that again. She looked up at the moon, and then down at Sariana's arm, how she stroked her hair ever so softly. Sylkra's bright hair always shimmered under the moonlight like a stream. She smiled again, and then pulled free from Sariana's grip.

"You're right," she said, confident in her own words. She was looking at Sariana in her beautiful eyes, and then continued. "I need to stop." Her head dropped for a moment, and her face drooped into a pitiful frown. But then she pulled it back up, giving her a weak grin. "I just don't know what to do with myself when I disagree with you. You are, always have been, and will be the nicest person to me I've ever met, the closest. And if you ever get pinched by sadness or hurt or pain, or any bad thing, I feel like it was my fault, because I am supposed to be protecting you. I am supposed to be your guardian." She could feel her lips drooped uncontrollably again, and her eyes milking up into a soft glaze. She wanted the best for Sariana, she wanted her to always be okay. If that didn't happen, Sylkra was the one to take the blame, she was the protector.

And as the protector, she didn't want Sariana to get hurt.

"Sariana, we are equals..." She trailed off, and mumbled, "I think," looked down and thinking about it. Were they equals? But her scrambled mind pushed it away and she kept talking. "And that means I deserve as much pain as you do. Which you don't deserve any. You are the kindest, friendliest, smartest, most perfect and amazing person I've ever met." A smile leaped onto her face. "I just thought I deserved punishment. Like a hunter gets no pay when he comes back with no meat or skins." Sylkra had gotten into the habit of describing things with hunting.

[Sariana]

Shifting the halter across her shoulders, Sariana shook her head and smiled at the kelvic as she watched the emotions play across her expressive face.

"A hunter might get no pay, but he doesn't go beating himself up for it. Sylkra, you don't need to be in pain for me, you need to just...be there. And give me a kick in the behind if I'm moping about silly ethaefals and stuff." Looking up at the sky, the drykas turned back to the wolf with a grin.

"It's a gorgeous night, we should go for a run." The warrior loved running with the kelvic, their own two-man pack against the world. It made her feel carefree. And she knew Sylkra enjoyed it too. Right now, the woman didn't want to dwell on the sad or confusing feelings that swam around them.

"I bet I can beat you to the beach." She said with a grin, setting off at a run with the full knowledge that without a doubt, the pretty young creature had the winning advantage. Still, it was fun to tease.

[Sylkra]

Sylkra just listened to the rest of the Drykas' useful knowledge with sorrow and anger towards herself. She simply nodded, and when Sariana was done speaking, gave her won last little hug. She gave a small glance at the moon, but before she knew it, Sariana was off and running, and she gave a small bark! And followed. Not before shifting, of course. She ran towards the barrel to the right of the bar, and ripped open the cap, shoving her hand in and pulling out her backpack. She stripped off her clothes quickly, put them in the bag, and then dropped the bag on the floor.

She shifted, and within the swirling pink sparkling mist that formed around her, shifted, and her skull cracked and lengthened, and her limbs shortened, and a tail began to sprout above her hindquarters. Soon, she was a full-blown wolf. She barked happily, before picking up her sack with her mouth and speeding after Sariana as fast as she could. She flattened her ears up against her head, to be more sleek and aerodynamic.

Soon, she caught up to Sariana, and slowed down a bit to match the Drykas' speed. the beach was just in front of them, at the end of the street, Sylkra could see it. She streaked past Sariana, flattening her ears again. When she was about to touch the sandy ground, she leaped, as far and as wide as possible, but when she tried landing, she tripped to the ground with a Thump! She gave a small yelp, but it was because of the surprise, not pain.

She stood back up, shaking off all the sand, and sending it flying everywhere. She wagged her tail, and then turned around to find Sariana.

[Sariana]

Even with having to change and shift, it didn't take long for Sylkra to catch up to the drykas and surpass her. Sariana laughed as she ran, rapiers tapping on her shoulders and breath burning through her lungs. As they reached the edge of the city that led towards to beachfront, the kelvic launched herself with a great leap and a sudden yelp. Not to be outdone, the warrior jumped onto the sand with a thump, catching herself as she stumbled and was greeted with a sandy waggly wolf.

Stopping, hands on knees, Sariana doubled over with a grin, gulping in great mouthfuls of air and laughing between breaths. Looking up at the young creature through her thick curtain of black locks, the traveler reached out and ruffed the fur on her head before dropping down on the cool sand to lay looking up at the moon, still catching her breath.

"I so nearly had you." She said between gasps, her sapphire eyes sparkling with mirth. After a while, her breathing had settled enough for the drykas warrior to pull herself into a sitting position. Resting her arms around her knees, Sariana sighed and enjoyed the evening air. Life with the wolf was uncomplicated and carefree. It was so easy to just...be. They would have to head out to Avanthal before the winter...with or without the infuriating ethaefal and his old rickity boat.

Still, it was only summer, they had time.

Around the pair, a cool sea-breeze blew, tugging at raven locks and stippled grey fur. It was a beautiful night, and the woman was glad to be here.