That Cuddly Side...[Ishgrameer]

[Hoa]

She tried smiling at him, but it was awkward and lopsided. It was obviously forced. She was very flattered. But this was the first time a male had ever really taken notice of her before, and-- well, she had just met him. This being said, he was very nice and understanding. And he got her to reveal majority of who she was. But at the same time, she was still very afraid and unsure of not just herself, but him. What if there were things she needed to know? Things she must understand? Things that maybe she didn't have to know, but before being with a person for so long- that she would like to? She listened to him as he stuttered, trying to make her and himself understand what it was he really meant. She believed she knew what it was that he was getting to.
"Traveling companion, perhaps. Hunting? That's up to my dear bird. Protection," this was when she patted her bow proudly, and she continued- "as for much else, I cannot say what I mean for I myself am not aware." when he spoke again, this caused her to laugh a little awkwardly.
"I don't think any of this could be forced upon me, Ishgrameer. If I see something that I, indeed, do not approve of- it will not have much more to do with me." this was said sternly, powerfully. To assure him that she was the authority figure in her own life, and that she made decisions for herself, on her own, and was a very independant individual. She noticed a weird transition in his eyes that reminded her of when people spoke about enlightenment. She raised an eyebrow, and stood up, bow in one hand, arrows in the other. She walked right past him, shoulder brushing his arm. Without a word- though it had been clear she wanted him to follow her- she walked slowly in the direction she believed he came from. Without checking and seeing if he was following, she passed a few trees before she decided to settle down again, sitting by a tree and resting her weaponry.

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

Ishgrameer was glad that for the most part Hoa understood what he had meant. He also was delighted to see that she carried herself with strength, and was concise and stern about her life. One’s life was not something that you should let anyone walk upon. He smiled as she laughed. It was a sweet laugh, and the laugh of a youth who had yet to know too many of life’s woes. What surprised him was when she stood abruptly and gathered her things, but he noticed her briefly motion for him to follow. He did so with haste, and stood-while gathering his things-in a single fluid motion. He admitted to himself that he was slightly confused when she followed the way he had arrived at the grove, and then sat down again. He had not noticed anything out of the ordinary, but then again his focus had been transfixed upon Hoa. Even Lane had not seemed disturbed by anything save for the change in position. All the while Ishgrameer was at a loss for what to make of the encounter so far. He had found something infatuating about this woman, and it was not merely just one attribute of hers. Something about her resonated within him, and he wondered what it was-what it truly was. He waited and waited for her to respond. Then he broke the silence “What was that all about, if you don’t mind me asking? and is that all you have to say on the matter of my offer? And if so do you have any questions for me? Fair is fair after all, he who questions should expect to be questioned.” He smiled at his last comment. He tilted his head from side to side so as to allow his eyes to scan his surroundings. He tentatively touched the wood of his longbow, and then a feather in his hair.

[Hoa]

She smirked, not caring if Ishgrameer saw or not. He was confused, obviously, at why she had changed location in the grove. To herself, all she knew was that she could not stay in one place for too long. So she didn't. And this she recited to him, adding on more so he would understand.
"I can't stand in one place for very long, so I do not do so. It's not that I get tired of that specific place, exactly, but I want to be able to get to know the rest of it." this didn't make much sense to herself, although she knew what she meant.
At the next statement, she shrugged. "I never have very many questions. Usually, I'll just accept what is heard. Otherwise I feel like I'm intruding." then, she stretched out her arm, Lane clutching to her fingers. Oftentimes this hurt, but it had been just recently where the skin on her fingers had toughened up a bit, and were getting used to the feeling of talons. Not that it didn't hurt like it did before. She was just learning to block it out. Lane enjoy perching. This was when with her other hand, Hoa patted the ground beside her as she leaned back against the tree. "Sit?" she offered, then yawned, slightly tired.

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

Ishgrameer smiled. He was glad that nothing was amiss. He was sometimes shifty in the same way that Hoa was, but he often found solace in remaining in place for a good deal of time. He walked closer, and sat down beside her. They were closer than they had previously been, and Ishgrameer took the moment to study her facial features. He also took notice of Lane’s features, which were rather remarkable. “Well if you did have any questions I wouldn’t find them intruding whatsoever. Oh and if at some point you’d like to take a walk around the grove to keep moving we could. Also I thought that some time perhaps Lane and I could fly together-with your permission of course-and perhaps through that dissolve some of the tension-if any exists.” He studied her features, and eyed her from head to toe-for the first time actually. He had missed some key features of her figure that made her stand out as a rather beautiful woman, and he wondered if she knew just how beautiful she was-he thought she tried to hide it most likely. He slowly pulled at the straps of his leathers, and loosened them one by one. He set aside his pack, his bow, and his quiver. Then when the last of his leathers were off, he was only clothed in a simple black cloth pants and shirt. He waited till she had asked any questions that she had on her mind before asking “If you’d like I could turn into my animal form? Perhaps Lane would like to play for a bit, perhaps some casual flight.”

[Hoa]

She shrugged. Like herself, she knew Lane still had some things to think about with the whole idea of Ishgrameer himself.
She watched as he took off his pack, and then offered to reveal his animal counterpart. Her eyes widened. Didn't Kelvics usually get naked, before they changed..? So they wouldn't...ruin their clothes...? Blushing, Hoa's hands were shakily pulled up to her face, and she hummed to herself for a minute before realizing that she hadn't responded, and that she probably look like an idiot with her h ands covering her face for no apparent reason.
"Sure. Go ahead, now. My eyes are covered." this was certainly not for Ishgrameer's comfort as it was for Hoa's. She began whistling this time, instead of humming. She had never seen another organism naked- well, Lane was naked. Of course. But that clearly was not the same thing. Ishgrameer was going to be taking his clothes off. He was going to be naked, and then he was going to change. And she was not going to open her eyes, until she was completely sure that he was changed.
She stopped whistling, and sighed. even her voice was shaky and nervous. "Tell me when you've changed.." she mumbled, careful not to choke on her words.

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

Ishgrameer was confused when Hoa put her hand up to her face as he pulled the last of his leathers off. He had seen Cin do the same thing, and then he remembered that normal folk had some aversion to nakedness. It still confused him to this day where the aversion came from, because in the wild everything was naked. “I have always found that aversion to nakedness most amusing, but to each their own I suppose.” He chuckled He stood and pulled free the last of his clothing which he laid atop his pack. Then he transformed. It all happened in a quick bright flash. Now that he was in his owl form he looked completely like any other eagle-owl. He looked up at Lane perched atop Hoa’s arm, and cocked his head to the side; which translated into something of a look of curiosity. He had changed, so he now had to tell Hoa. He screeched, not loud or threateningly, but just enough to get her attention. Then he began to pick his plumage, and hopped over closer to Hoa, as if he were hoping she’d pick her up. He then cocked his head to the side so he could actually see Lane and said to her “You are most lucky to have such a partner; she is truly a wonderful lass.” However to Hoa this exchange of words was nothing more than screeches. Ishgrameer then looked to Hoa and waited for her to do or say something.

[Hoa]

She began to wonder why it was that Kelvics were so okay with being naked. But then she remembered learning a while back, that Kelvics seemed fine with nudity. Probably because they had to change into their animal counterpart in front of other races, or because they simply wanted to. They were closer to nature in Hoa's opinion, which may also be a reason for them being perfectly fine with being...naked.
She sighed, and then jumped when she heard the loud noise of the animal. "What-" and then she remembered. He was an owl. Her hands had slapped down onto the ground, searching for something to grip. This had caused Lane to hover in the air for a second before she could land safely on Hoa's leg. She looked at the eagle owl, knowing that it was Ishgrameer...but.. she couldn't exactly wrap her mind around it. "You're... a bird." she whispered. She watched the bird hop, and then she watched as he squacked noises that would most likely be unattractive to any other race, but as an Inartan female, Hoa found them a natural thing to hear. She figured, that he was speaking to Lane. As Lane was, well, tilted her head to the side.
"Ishgrameer, what are you waiting on?" Hoa asked, reaching out and rubbing his head with two fingers, petting him the same way she had pet Lane earlier.

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

Ishgrameer turned his head in order to look at Hoa, and was utterly delighted as she scratched his head. It was a most delightful sensation, and his body language would say just as much. He listened as she mumbled a few words, and then asked him a question. He picked at his plumage and then-hopping first on Hoa’s leg-beat his wings until he took flight. The gentle rhythm of wing beats flooded his ears, and he let loose a screech of delight that Lane would have understood as him saying “Oh what joy it is, the joy of flight”. Ishgrameer circled around a few trees nearby, and then circled about the tree that Hoa was sitting at-and then Hoa herself. At first it appeared as though he was trying to show off to both Hoa and Lane, as he went about various aerial maneuvers. However someone who could see things for what they were would notice that it was simply pure revelry. As Ishgrameer flew overhead Hoa a single feather fell loose of his body. It fell gracefully and slowly, and came to rest in Hoa’s lap. After a short while he came to rest in a high branch of the tree Hoa was sitting against. From there he gazed out at the vista around him, and felt as his breath was stolen from him-for it was most majestic. Then he pushed off from the branch, and swooped down into Hoa’s lap without making a single sound. He looked to Lane and decided that perhaps while they had the mutual opportunity he could say a few things, and see how Lane responded. “I hope we can come to some sort of mutual acquaintance, from one bird to another. Despite our natures. I’m sure we could enjoy a hunt once in a while. And you much like this lovely lady here are yourself a strong and lovely bird. Although I’m sorry to say that she takes the cake when it comes to beauty.” It was then that he let loose a single screech that was something akin to a chuckle. Ishgrameer looked at Hoa, waiting for her to do or say something. Waiting to see if she wanted him to do something, or if Lane would show how she felt about his little bit of conversation.

[Hoa]

Hoa listened to the bird as he screeched, and while leaning back, she watched as he flew about the trees. She yawned, covering her mouth. She got to watch as the feather landed in her lap, and then as Ishgrameer landed. She picked it up, felt the feather. She smiled.
All of a sudden, when Ishgrameer landed, she quickly moved the feather out of the way. Now she had two, and they were both very soft. One was more or less coarse than the other, but that was to be expected. She looked at him, one brow raised. She watched as the eagle owl looked from the human to the falcon, and said something to Lane. It just sounded like screeches to Hoa, though Lane's eyes just got harder and more piercing. Though the last screech sounded a bit different than the other ones, and more humble. Less... shocking to the ear.
She felt the owl's eyes back on her, and she didn't really know what to do. She shrugged, sort of laughed. "What do you want to do, Ishgrameer?" she asked, tapping his head.
(not a lot I could say...)