Flashback A Chance Meeting {Fenris}

[Kallian Windrunner]

Season of Spring, 5th Day, 508 AV It had been nearly a week since she had last been out in the Sea of Grass. The sun was high in the air, yet the wind blew over her with a cool breeze that kept her comfortable underneath the heated rays. Looking back, she could still see the outline of her family’s tents; there was nothing to fear so close to home. With Allyria steady underneath her, she would no have issue galloping to safety. Her strider let out a snort, expelling a fleck of grass that had entered a nostril. She patted the side of her neck lovingly and nudged the horse lightly with the tap of her boots. Kallian rarely hunted alone, as she enjoyed the companionship; however, every so often it was good to be alone. To listen to the grass move, to watch the sky, to feel the breeze. She could not appreciate these small things with others due to laughter or competition. Today was her day alone with her strider. Her hair, usually free, was bound in a thick braid that rested against her neck and chest. One Windmarked hand held her composite longbow while the other gripped the shoulder bar of the yvas. Her quiver was strapped against her lower back and the arrows within were in easy reach. Glancing at her surroundings for a moment, she swept a leg over the side of her companion and dropped to the ground. “Stay close, Allyria,” she said softly. “I’ll whistle if I need you.”

[Fenris]

Fenris pulled his pants up hastily, tying the leathers almost too tight and cursing his carelessness. The heat of the day reigned down upon his golden skin, a sheen of sweat coating his flesh in less than a tick. No more could he cool himself down by flying, feathers deflecting the hot air and channeling the cool breeze. How he wished he was a vulture for all of time rather than occasionally. Now with only a shirt missing the Kelvic was no longer wandering the Sea of Grass stark naked. But where was that damnable shirt?

"Agh," he fumed quietly, shifting through the long reeds, bent over to search for the grey tunic. He should've known better. Leaving one's clothes in the middle of a literal sea of grass was stupid, even for one with brilliant eyesight. Now he'd gone and lost his shirt.

"Petch," Fenris mumbled as he pushed grass aside, sharp gaze turned earthward as he walked swiftly. A wonderfully irritating end to what was a decent day. He'd spent the morning lazily riding the thermals and, to his great delight, managed to find a decayed rabbit to pick at. Nothing better than an unexpected snack.

But for all his enjoyment he went and lost his shirt. He detested the formality of wearing clothes in his human form. Why not run about with naught but your skin? Animals had no sense of modesty and he couldn't help but retain the wildness in human form. But societal structure often dictated apparel, lest you find yourself being condemned for an indecent display. Rubbish as far as he was concerned.

Had he been looking he would've immediately caught sight of the girl but his hearing was poor and his attention elsewhere. Head tilted downward, muttering to himself about the evils of clothing, the man looked quite mad. He pushed through the grass, stepping confidently forward in bare feet. And so it was that he came to collide with a Drykas female, knocking into her and stepping back immediately with a predatory glare in his gold rimmed eyes.

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[Kallian Windrunner]

Kallian had not even heard a rustling; she must have been daydreaming, staring off into nothing. The collision was brief and hard, and she took a few steps forward to keep her balance. Surprised, she raised her bow and nocked an arrow, whirling around to face the man. Though she did not have the string fully drawn, she was ready to pull it back in an instant. Blue eyes glared at the man, looking him over. He was shirtless and her eyes darted across his flesh, searching for a sign of Windmarks. None on his front and she could not see his back. She had never seen his face in the camp. This man was not a Drykas from her pavilion, or from the Diamond clan. The adrenaline in her veins began to die down, however, as she watched him carefully. She lowered her bow, but kept the arrow in its place out of caution. As her hands were taken, she could not speak Pavi with full fluency, so she dipped into her knowledge of Common. “You aren’t from my clan,” she said. Blunt. “Who are you? And…” Her eyes glanced to his torso. It wasn’t uncommon to see some of the male Drykas walking without shirts, as it allowed them to show off their forms and Windmarks. But this man was unknown to her and had a strange look to him. If he was an emissary from a different clan, there would have been news. And where was his strider? “Why don’t you have a shirt?”

[Fenris]

Hands flew up to indicate innocence, feeling just as surprised as she looked. Despite this obviously tense moment the Kelvic couldn't help but notice how pretty the girl was. She commented on his lack of shirt but he was privately glad he wasn't without his pants or else she'd probably have loosed that arrow without a second thought. Ducking his head in embarrassment Fenris quirked what he hoped was a disarming grin, tossing a few strands of hair from golden eyes.

"Forgive me," he replied with a slight bow, careful not to get too close to the arrowhead directed at his person. Rising he kept his gaze on the weapon, a loose smile on his lips. "My shirt...ehm, it's..." glancing around the tall grasses the Kelvic let out a slight laugh. "... Well I don't know. See, I've gone an' lost it."

He ducked his head again in vulture fashion, indicating supplication and humility. Hopefully she would see no need to shoot an arrow at him given he was clearly without a weapon and clearly bare. Chewing nervously on one side of his lower lip, Fenris flicked his gaze up to the pretty girl once more hands still raised until he was sure she wouldn't end him.

"Clan?" he said almost as an afterthought, eyebrows raising. "I'm part of no clan. In fact, I'm what y'might call a lone bird."

Another charming grin. He was really banking on her lowering that damn bow. It was getting hot and without a shirt his skin was burning quickly.

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[Kallian Windrunner]

When his hands flew up, Kallian continued to watch him cautiously, but felt a sense of safety. He had no weapon and consistently showed signs of humility; she felt decently secure that he did not have any intention of harming her. For now, at least. This man was without a clan, however, which meant he was either a non-Drykas or an exile. Based on his mannerisms, she assumed the first. “Mm,” she grunted at him, taking the arrow from the string. “Put your arms down. I’m not going to shoot you.” She placed the arrow back into the quiver near the small of her back before threading her arm through the bow. “No clan? It’s dangerous for you to be wandering around the Sea without a Drykas accompanying you.” Now that her alarm had abated, she took a second look at this strange man. He was not particularly handsome, at least to Drykas standards, though she found he had a unique, attractive face. She could tell he was uncomfortable, though with something beyond their tense meeting. Placing her weight on one leg, Kallian tilted her hips and leaned on her longbow. “If you like, I can help you find your shirt,” she said. “If you’re hungry, you can come back to my pavilion and stay with my family for the night. I’m sure one of us could accompany you back to the road tomorrow.”

[Fenris]

Thank Eywaat's black feathers the girl saw no threat to Fenris. He visibly relaxed when she dropped the bow and returned the arrow safely to its quiver. It would've been a most unfortunate end. Cracking a more congenial smile the Kevic took a step back so they no longer needed to stand in each others' personal space and yielded to her command to drop his arms. He offered a simple shrug at her comment, rubbing a hand across a stubbled jawline as he glanced at the sky.

"That's real kind of you, mistress. I 'ppreciate the concern," he replied as his gaze found her again. "But you needn't worry on my account. I don't spend much of my time wanderin' the Grasses, despite all evidence to the contrary," another warm smile. "T'be honest I mostly keep to the skies 'round here."

Fenris observed her keenly now, hoping to judge her reaction before she spoke. Some folk were strongly against the idea of Kelvics lurking on their land. Others simply yielded to suspicions that his kind were crafty and not to be trusted. The girl was a youth and perhaps hadn't yet been molded by dangerous lies of other races. But then, they did like to start those vicious rumors young. He was entirely prepared to react should she respond negatively, though he had no wish to hurt her. Cocking his head to the side Fenris' expression adopted a hopeful yet guarded visage, the tenseness returning to the negative space between them.

Steady on, lass, he encouraged her silently. I'm just testing the waters. Don't react rashly...

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[Kallian Windrunner]

Kallian gazed at him, rolling over what he said through her mind. The fact that he did not want her help was strange, as most folk were pleased to meet a Drykas in the grasses when lost. But he was not lost, nor interested. Confused, she continued to think. What did he say again? Keep to the skies? "Oh," she said, then immediately added another, more emphasized, "Oh!" She looked over him again and tensed, but did not move from her position. He was Kelvic then. There were stories of ferals attacking Drykas out on hunts, or women seducing men and eating their flesh after transforming. However, there were also great stories of Kelvic companions. They were to be approached with caution. Her family did not mind the strange creatures, but did have issues with those unwilling or those uninterested in usual human life, as these creatures were more aggressive. This particular man seemed good-natured and obviously bared no ill will towards her; therefore, she had no reason to assume he was feral. Kallian released the tension in her body and smiled sheepishly. "Soooooo, you're..." she trailed off for a moment. "What kind are you? Bird, I mean. I thought you could tell by looking, but you seem pretty... normal. No offense."

[Fenris]

When the girl didn't respond by retrieving her arrows Fenris grinned. Her smile was radiant and despite the ever growing heat on his skin the Kelvic couldn't help but return the expression, shrugging gently to indicate he wasn't offended by her reaction. He liked the fact that she thought he was normal. What a relief from the constant wariness and occasional hostility he'd been met with on prior occasions.

"Vulture," he replied after a moment. Bringing a hand up to rub the back of his neck, ruffling the sandy hair at the base of his skull the man quirked an embarrassed grin. "Nothin' exciting like a hawk or eagle. But I manage well enough. An' thank you for not jumping to any conclusions. I appreciate it. Can't say I'd fair well 'gainst you and your weapon," he nodded to her bow.


Dropping the hand from the back of his neck he used it to shield his eyes against the sun, watching the girl with a squinted expression. He'd run across Drykas before but none as congenial (or as pretty) as this one. Kicking a toe around in the dirt, Fenris chuckled softly to himself. An odd meeting but one he wouldn't soon forget. The lost shirt was all but forgotten as he stood their in conversation with the lovely girl. Looking at her once more, he held a hand out, careful to keep it out of her personal space.

"The heat's deprived me of manners," he stated at length with a disarming smile. "I'm Fenris."

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[Kallian Windrunner]

Kallian’s grin changed and grew wider, more welcoming. She let out a small laugh as he nodded to her bow, giggling from his appreciation. And to think, she had been afraid of him! If it had been another man or woman from her pavilion, they would not have hesitated to shoot him, as they were of the Diamond warriors’ blood; but Kallian was also from a curious stock. She stood up straight and shook her head, giggling. “It’d be a lie to say I didn’t have any assumptions going through my head,” she replied. “But I’d like to think I’m getting a handle on my impulsiveness. I’m sure my brothers would’ve shot you straight away, if not by accident… they like to shoot first and panic later.” She paused, looking up at the sky for a moment. Her eyes fluttered back to settle on his face. “A vulture? Never would have guessed. You don’t look very…” Her voice trailed off as she searched for the right word. Scavenge-y? Nah, that wouldn’t do. “You don’t look very… vulture-y,” she finally said, though immediately let out a short laugh. “That sounded stupid, didn’t it? Damn it.” He extended a greeting and introduced himself as Fenris. Kallian returned the gesture, grasping his hand with long fingers, calloused from the use of her bow and carving. Her windmarks, tattooed with dark ink, blazed underneath the sun. The intricate markings created a gauntlet-like figure that spread up her slender forearm. The handshake was brief, though strong. “I’m Kallian, Windrunner of the Diamond clan,” she beamed. “Now, I know you said you didn’t need help… but I insist. I’ll help you find your shirt…” Her head nodded towards Endrykas. “Or I can get you a new one. Either way, I’m more than happy to help.” “And,” she quickly added, “to be honest, I’d really like to learn more about you. For… science?” A quick nod, approving her choice of words. “Yeah, for science. It isn’t often you meet a Kelvic willing to chat.”

[Fenris]

Fenris laughed in response, the quiet amused chuckle of a man not wishing to embarrass the lovely lady. Rubbing a hand along his stubble laden jaw the Kelvic smiled at her. Fortune favored him today that he did not come across another more hostile trigger happy Drykas. And Ovek blessed him with a beautiful Drykas, not some smelling sweaty one. A lucky day, indeed.

"Not stupid," he reassured her gently, ceasing the habitual chin rubbing as her hand encapsulated his for a firm shake. "Kallian. I'll be sure to remember that. And I'm more than glad I didn't come 'cross your brothers."

He flashed her a toothy smile, eyes squinting against the glaring sun. Raising a hand to rest against his brows he regarded her in the moderate shade. He wasn't sure how to respond to her inquiry. Questions of science and nature were enough to put any Kelvic on edge, just by virtue of their convoluted collective past. But he had nothing to hide and honestly wasn't the most knowledgeable among his kind. And she was awfully pretty. Flashing another smile he shrugged one shoulder slightly.

"I appreciate your help," he replied, wiping a trickle of sweat from his neck. "You can learn all y'like from me."

Even in the hottest piping day of the season he couldn't resist any opportunity to flirt and charm. But Kallian seemed the type to stand her ground and remain unruffled by his gentle advances.

Thank you, Wanda Endust, for the box