That Cuddly Side...[Ishgrameer]

[Hoa]

She nodded very slowly as he spoke, wrapping her mind around the words. It was sad. The promise was more than that. A last wish, sort of deal. But instead of just finding it as a "and protect them with your all", sort of last wish, she found it as a "and never let them go. But find the one who will love you back the same way you love them enough to call them your bondmate" kind of wish. One more heartfelt. She wasn't going to say this, though, for she was unsure if she would offend Ishgrameer. And she certainly wanted to avoid that, especially on such a sensitive topic. She decided that she would keep her mouth zipped shut, just like she was so adjusted to doing. She found the part where he had to leave the wildnerness except for the day of her birth, quite...different. It caused her head to tilt to the side slightly confused. But only a second later, she understood. "Oh wow," she breathed.
She watched as he looked at her..almost in a new fashion than previously. And he smiled at her. Despite everything he'd just spoken aloud, he was smiling. What the hell made him smile when he just talked about his promise to his deceased mother?
Then, when she least expected it, she heard him say something that made all of her was rebuild themselves, and new armor protecting her.(metaphorically, of course). "You are rather lovely.." he'd said. Lovely? How was he using that? Very loosly, of course. She was not lovely. She was rude, and arrogant, and... she went on to herself, thinking constant thoughts to counteract what he'd said to her. But it kept repeating in her head, louder than her own thoughts. So she blew out, cold breath. And spoke, trying to act as though the words hadn't phased her.
"That's very sad, Ishgrameer... I don't know what I would have done in the predicament. If my mother had asked me to promise that to her." she then realized this was a very vague response, and probably required some sort of explanation. Of which was sort of personal, but while they were sharing things...
"I'm obviously not the most social butterfly. And I'm especially not one for... opening up. If my own mother had asked me to promise to find a companion, I would tell her, that I would. I would promise it to her. But I would probably never go out of my way. I would never be thinking to myself, 'now I have to do this. I have to find a companion. I have to one day love.' I would never.." she trailed off. "I guess it's just something, that someone has to be very passionate about. I guess you're just one of those people that can dedicate themselves to that." she paused again. "It's not a bad thing. I swear, that's not how I mean it... but..." she sighed, closing her eyes. "And thank you." I suppose. she wanted to add, but she didn't.

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

Ishgrameer wondered how the words had slipped free of his grasp. Yet as they did he felt elated and not upset with himself. A fire was being stoked in his chest. He noticed that the words had a notable effect on Hoa as she stumbled about for a second awkwardly through her words. He was however confused at the words she said social butterfly, he mused to himself. He wondered how to progress without pushing Hoa into a corner where she would lock herself away behind what he imagined was a series of emotional gates. “I don’t know what it was that got me moving, to be honest I didn't at first. I waited alone in the silence of the wilds for a time. However eventually I could not bring myself to shed another tear, and so I decided that I had found a purpose in life. Something that would give me a reason to live and perhaps through that quest, that purpose, I’d find someone to fill the hollow cavern that opened in my heart after my mother died. She had always talked of my father with a smile on her face, and it always made me happy to see her smile even if I never knew my father.” He paused wondering if he should continue the grove was silent for the most part-a single bird chirped in the distance as if a sign that all was not lost. “I’m sorry that sort of slipped out, but it is true. Of the few women I've seen in Wind Reach you are lovelier than most. Perhaps it is something about the grove. Perhaps....” He smiled an honest smile and began whistling again while Hoa gathered her thoughts and responded. The sound of falling leaves resumed despite the lack of them in the grove. Yet there was an underlying tone that had not been there before, and it was sweet. Like a fresh picked cherry. Like two souls that were bound for more.

[Hoa]

She bit her lip, blinking. Hoa thought about what he said. That he was just happy seeing and hearing his mother was happy, even if he'd never met his father himself. And... to just mope around for so long... the idea reminded her of herself. It was a strange comparison, but it was a relevant one at that. She wasn't very outgoing. Always shied away. She was more or less one to snap at someone she wasn't familiar with. It was similar to moping. Keeping herself separate from others because she didn't want to face it. Their untruths, their lies. But all of a sudden, around someone so sensitive, she didn't want to shy away or hide. She then, smiled at Ishgrameer.
"Ishgramer, that's very... sweet of you." it felt like a breakthrough, although she wasn't quite sure what it was. She felt an uneasiness in her stomach, like she was queasy, sick. Maybe she was just nervous.
"About your mother and father...it's tearjerking, yet it's good to hear that hearing of your father was a wonderful experience. You're very...sentimental?" she wasn't quite sure if that was the right word, but she spoke it as though she didn't know if what she was saying was correct. Maybe to hint at it.
"Thank you for the compliment..." she murmured.

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

Ishgrameer was surprised. There was something in Hoa’s features that seemed to hint at something, something akin to blushing. He felt a sense of familiarity that resonated between them that he had never know with another person which was most strange since they had just met. Yet it didn't matter. He felt something shift in Hoa’s persona, a figurative switch releasing some of the gates that hid away the person she was on the inside when not another soul could watch her. He smiled, a genuine smile, because he was glad that Hoa was working through some personal qualms in order to maintain their conversation. It showed that she possessed strength, of body and mind. “No thank you, it’s strange usually it’s all just words. Remembering that day, that promise, and the emotions that go with it are usually mellow. Somehow it was different this time, and for that I thank you.” He thought to himself for a second. “Despite how I seem I am not too social. I tend to not notice some people’s boundaries. It’s in my nature. I tend to do more harm than good sometimes. But I try to give everyone a good first impression, and the chance to do the same to me. I often stay to the fringes. But this chat of ours has been most enjoyable.” He went to grab a feather from his hair and placed it in his palm. He extended his hand out for Hoa to take it. “A wise man once told me that our memories are locked away within feathers. That if one has but the patience they can listen to that memory unfurl one day. Take this, who knows the memories it holds.” He hoped Hoa would take the feather. It was one of his feathers. The one he believed that had fallen out during the death of his mother, or so he thought. As he held his hand out palm up with feather resting in the center he noticed the weathered skin that lay beneath it. The calluses that stood out hinted at a lifetime of work. He waited for her to take it, and as she did their hands met, and a wave of something washed over him, warmth. No, it was bliss. He was wondering what was going through Hoa’s thoughts. He was waiting, wondering what she would say.

[Hoa]

She watched him smile to her. At that point, she knew she had done something right. She was relieved, and let out a breath of air. Her finger had somehow made it up to the side of her head, and was numbly, slowly scratching. She pulled it down as soon as she'd noticed. She began to understand what his words meant. He felt different, saying them to her? She wondered why that was, and she was almost positive he was wondering the same thing as well. Even if he hadn't expressed that much. But she was thanked, and her eyes her bright and cheerful.
This man, not social? She could hardly believe what it was he was saying. She shook her head slightly, before she caught herself. It would be rude to say something, as if knowing someone better than they know themselves when you had only just met. She smiled at him. He had definitely made a wonderful first impression, as he said he tried to do every time when meeting someone. Then, her brows raised as he handed to her, a feather. As soon as she saw it, she wanted to hold it, look at it at every side. To determine the specific breed of bird, of which it came from. Looking at the other feathers in his hair, it matched all but one, and she assumed it was his. From the feather, she would be able to tell of which bird he was. But, she restricted herself for a minute, to listen to what he said. She was already on her knees, right hand to her chest, left arm out to take it. After he finished, she did this gently, and looked it over. She didn't very well notice the calluses on his hands, or very well feel something when she brushed his hand with her own. Most likely, because she was so entranced by the offering itself.
Not wanting to make Lane jealous, instead of saying beautiful, Hoa whispered the word, "wonderful."

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

Ishgrameer contemplated for a moment what it was that was flooding his veins, and his thoughts. He studied Hoa’s features trying to ascertain what was going through her thoughts. She seemed utterly delighted by the offering, and he wondered for what reason. Part of him thought she just wanted to figure out what type of avian he was, and the other part thought that she found some deeper meaning in his gesture. He…wasn’t sure himself. What had he meant of it? As she whispered her approval, he was ecstatically delighted to see that she was happy. “Would you like to know what animal I am, or have you already deduced it? If you have it would not surprise me. I am sure, because you are as smart as you are lovely, and you are very lovely. It is told in your eyes. Also what can you deduce through my eyes, if you don't mind me aksing?” He hoped that this would cast astray the awkward silence and tension that had built between them. He didn’t want the conversation to end, but more importantly he didn’t want to part with this young lady yet. There was something utterly entrancing about her. Even the presence of Lane hadn’t triggered his predatory nature, and he felt at peace, even…at home. It was then that a thought fluttered into his head. It glowed at the center of all his thought’s, as if it had taken root long ago, but was only now being noticed. Perhaps it had been there ever since he first saw her, or when they first broke down their respective barriers and opened up to one another. It was like an epiphany, but more akin to hope. Was Hoa the one? Even if she had a falconry partner he cared not, for he would find a way to make it work if it somehow could work. He wanted to say this, no scream this, but he was unsure how to word it without coming off to forward. It was then that he realized his visage had shifted from simple joy to a more of a contemplative sight, as if it was obvious that he was struggling putting words into proper order. He snapped back to the visage of joy, and did his best to pay attention to Hoa’s words and…figure. It was then that the second instance of self-control faltered and he loosed another statement he had not meant to at that moment. “Do you live alone? Do you have a bond mate?” He blushed for the first time in his life, the man who had walked naked through a city or two and countless groves during his youth. It was honest, and it was obvious what the cause was.

[Hoa]

"Owl," she blurted. Then, looking up to him, she bit the inside of her cheek. Biting was common for her, when she was thinking. "Well, I don't know. Right now you just seem... like you're kind of soulsearching. Though everyone does that once in a while, right?" she tried to keep it simple, not go too in depth to where she didn't say something that was too far from relevant to how he really, truly was. She smiled at him, though. He called her lovely again. And intelligent. But she wondered how he managed to continue a conversation with her, when she didn't really talk much in the first place.
Suddenly his whole demeanor changed and, Hoa chuckled a bit. He seemed off guard by his own words. This caused a natural grin- something she hadn't felt in a while. She watched him recollect his senses, and then smile.
She thought about his question for a moment. "Well, no. Lane happens to be my only 'companion' at the time. No man has ever really made any backtracks to really look at me and, I've never been noticed by anyone other than my mentor who chose me for apprenticeship of archery." at this moment, she remembered her shortbow, hiding behind the tree she was leaned against. She reached back and pulled it out, caressing its arched figure. "The whole thing is difficult- archery. But it's worth it. The time, the effort. When you make that kill and feel a spurt of success, you get so ecstatic you almost forget that you aren't there for just one kill, but multiple. And you have to restrain yourself and then go forth, searching for something else. And even if you don't find anything else, returning with that one kill is still a success. You can pride yourself on it." she stopped abruptly, blushing sheepishly. She had been rambling.
"Anyways," she tried to catch her breath. "No. No 'bondmate', as you said."

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

Ishgrameer smiled “Yes I am an owl, an eagle-owl to be exact.” Ishgrameer smiled as he noticed Hoa grin, but it was delighted grin. He was glad that she seemed to be warming up to him. He was however coming to a real qualm. How would he present her with the offer…? Wait was this real? Was he sure? He didn’t know. His thoughts were discombobulated as he tried to pick from the chaos. He wanted to tell her outright, but his common sense told him that would be a less than wise move. He was intrigued when she took a larger lead in the conversation, and he was even more intrigued when she pulled the bow out from behind the tree and starting discussing archery. He had noticed the bow before he had seen her earlier on. He delighted in what she said, for it was all true. He nodded along with eager eyes and ears as she relayed her opinion of the entire concept of archery. “Yes the way of the bow is challenging, but then again so are all forms of weaponry prowess. But there is a sensation from hunting from afar. The feeling of the string being drawn. The arrow flying through the air. Plunging into the prey. It is the closest thing I have ever been able to find in this form that is the same as hunting in flight as an owl.” He realized he had sounded perhaps a little eager about the hunt, and so blushed for a moment, and recomposed himself. “Sorry I sometimes get a little carried away when I think about hunting in flight, the wind blowing through my feathers.” He smiled and turned his head to Lane “you know what I mean don’t you; it’s an experience that’s hard to describe.” “When the winter storms subside and spring returns anew we will have to hunt together, of course as long as Lane approves?” “I admit that I prefer the larger longbow, but that is more of a personal preference. And so I can make use of my size and strength. Who knows perhaps before the day is done, I will show you what owl I am.” Then it happened a third time. “Could I be your companion…?” He said it passively, and so naturally that it took him a moment to realize what he’d said.

[Hoa]

Eagle owl, she repeated to herself in her head. He looked deep in thought for a while, until he finally began to speak again. He apparently thought that archery was close to killing with his own talons. She thought about this for a moment, and though she could see where it was he was coming from, she didn't think the two were very similar at all. Owls and other birds could propel themselves, while the arrow needed guidance and a push from the archer. It seemed he was comparing himself to the arrows.
She shook her head. "No, it's fine. Really." she paused, listening to him as he looked for her for comfort when asking if she could possibly understand what he meant. She nodded, telling him that, "I understand you completely. Some things just get so hard to express. You can understand it yourself but then when you try to put it into words, you just can't seem to find the right ones." she smiled.
When he offered to go hunting with her, she immediately looked at Lane. The bird almost appeared to be scowling, and a light squak erupted from her tiny throat. Lane then took her two feathers, and again as had been done previously, caressed the bird's head. Lane seemed to look at Ishgrameer as if saying, aha, see? Who is she pretting. Me, or you?
And although most of what Ishgrameer had said had been a shock, and it was quite different, the next question was overwhelming in itself, and she had to stop to process what it was he had really said. "My... companion?"
"Do you mean, traveling partner? Hunting partner..? Or..?" her throat caught, hoping he would understand she was utterly confused.

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

Ishgrameer looked to Lane, and though the bird didn't say a word he knew it was showing off the fact that Hoa was petting it. He smiled. He was delighted by the fact that Lane cared so much for Hoa. He was glad that she understood what he had meant in his ramble about archery. He had never been able to voice that opinion without it coming out a little strange. There was just something akin to flight that could be gained from simply shooting an arrow, and watching it fly through the air like a predatory bird before impacting the target. Then his question had slipped loose of his lips, and he watched as Hoa stuttered. He could tell that she was confused, and was perhaps wondering in her head what he meant. He wondered as well. What had he meant? He thought he knew, but how could he be so sure? He tried to put the words together. “Well I mean, I’d love to travel with you…to spend more time with you, and perhaps hunt with you when Lane approves…and…well…to protect you when you need me to…and…perhaps to someday…” the last line was struggling to fight free of his lips. He wanted to say something, but he was afraid of ruining the moment. He didn’t want to scare her away, and he didn’t want to be alone again. The emotions were placid across his face. He calmed himself enough to regain his thoughts, but his hands began to fidget with the feathers in his hair, and it was clear that he was nervous. “Of course…that is all up to you. I would not force anything upon you; I would not do anything without first your permission.” He sat there, waiting. A weak, but honest smile. He was nervous, and it was stifling his thoughts. He awaited Hoa’s reply. He needed to hear his side of the whole idea. He hoped that he hadn't ended their conversation…he hoped for so much. He looked up for a moment, and his eyes locked onto her eyes. He saw…peace. Tranquility from the storm of the world in those eyes, and an expression grew to life on his face. It was an expression akin to an epiphany, as if someone had found what they’d been looking for all their life. His eyes glimmered.