Closed [Thunderbay] Aerobics with an Akalak (Rengar)

[Lavira]

The woman was absolutely speechless. It was quite a lot to absorb, that's for sure; and a great deal of it was...troubling.

Vira found herself looking away from him to likewise stare at the fire as she struggled to fully understand what he'd just revealed. The teen had heard vaguely of Riverfall, a city of great beauty and mysticism in some far off land to the south and east. It was said the new trade system was connected to it, but that Wind Reach set up was not something Vira was involved in and thus did not really understand it other than it would bring in product the Inartans and other residence of the volcanic city would not normally have access to.

She was particularly disturbed at the dual-souls housed in one body, this idea sounding far too Nuit-like to the chiet, though Nuit's were more akin to skinwalkers than double-spirited creatures like this akalak. The other troublesome thing was this bit about how his kind reproduced. No women in Akalak culture; women baring their children had longer pregnancies, which were known to be difficult. It was quite a bit to ask of her.

Clearing her throat, the young woman began. "So...you are two in one body." Her voice was barely a whisper, startled into submission. "And you're Garren. But it's not a disorder. You simply...are, right?" She tried to wrap her mind around this, but the concept was absurdly difficult to comprehend. Vira continued, hitting the next big point. "And it was you who I..." She nodded back towards the Sanikas, frowning and bringing her eye back up to him. "Not this Rengar. And I've known the dangers of Inartan promiscuity, besides and I...I don't know if I should feel violated or not." She felt somewhat hurt at this point, her self-reservations in life brought back to the surface. The ginger clenched her fingers in the fabric of her bryda and looked onto the log between them. She hurried nervously over this part. "Not to say it wasn't nice, and all, but that wasn't fair at all, Garren, or Rengar, or whichever you are now. What I did last night was very reckless and foolish." Her cheeks blossomed red, her innate sensitivity that made working with the eagles easier shining through in the brimming of tears at the corners of her eyes.

"But...but you took advantage. That's not fair in the least. And then you want to drop this...this...this shyke on me." She sucked a breath to keep from hiccuping and rubbed a palm quickly over her eyes. "Lost yourself to me..." she scoffed a little, fingernails biting at her palm. "I bet you say that to all the girls to get them to sleep with you." This spoken bitterly as her eyes rose to meet his. It was only her lashes keeping the tears at bay, this whole thing stinging. "But the real kicker, the one that really beats all? You did this without any consideration to me. And then drop the P word almost like it's commonplace, eventhough it apparently isn't for your race. I don't know if I want to hit you or hide under a rock for how ashamed I am of myself."

She finally fell quiet, shoulders tight and eyes downcast. There was no doubt that the red head was hurt, but she hadn't run, at least. The thought of running back to the city right that second was as far from her mind as it could be, primarily due to the guilt she felt for this having happened. That silence would hang there for the longest time, her hands staying clenched and now tucked between her legs.

When it felt that stillness but for the call of the birds and the nearby drone of the river could last no longer, The young woman said in a low voice, "I'm scared."

[Rengar]

Garren was ashamed at himself, that much was certain. He wanted to hate his brother for even suggesting bringing this up, but couldn't find the words to do so. Because Rengar had been right. It was the right thing to do, even if it was hard, even if it was painful. It was still right. But he couldn't even begin to imagine how she felt. Then she mentioned that she might feel violated by his brother. He growled jealously, maybe a bit too aggressive, "NO! I would never let him touch you! You've not met him and he's never touched or met you! I will take control of our body before I let him do that!" Calm down Garren, don't make me force you back in. You can try brother, you know I'll win this time! So shut up and take a back seat! Fine, you're on your own then. A whoosh of a sigh escaped his lips. His anger diminished as he returned back to her, now more exasperated and apologetic lines on his face, "I didn't take advantage of you. I may have held some things back, that probably should have been told to you, but I never did anything that we both didn't want. I would never do that to you. And don't scoff at my losing myself to you. You felt it, you were there. I wasn't the only one lost in the moment. And I'm sorry for dropping that word on you. I've lived long enough to be realistic with everything. And if I just wanted to sleep with you, I'd have left you there in the waterfall. Thinking of you, of your feelings is what led me to telling you all of this. I may have petched up, but I'm not some scoundrel. And hit me all you want, I welcome it. Just don't hurt your hands, I wouldn't want to cause you anymore pain than I have already." And then it was silent. For a really long, uncomfortable time. 'I'm scared.' And Garren was too. But he knew what he had to do, and wasn't even sure how he knew it. It was just a feeling in the back of his... Rengar. He was still trying to help, even when it wasn't wanted. Gingerly he pulled the woman in close, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He embraced her intimately, protecting her, hopefully from everything, himself included. "I am too, Lavira. But I'm not backing away from this, from you. You're too special to lose. I'm not perfect, but I'm at least honest. I never meant to hurt you, but I never meant to fall for you either. But I'm glad I did. I've not told anyone these things about me for decades. And for once, I'm not the one hiding from a woman's heart. Hate me, hurt me, do what you want, but I will protect you, be there for you, no matter what. So do as you please, just know, I want you here with me. With me." Garren had never felt so exposed before, nor had he ever had to fight for a relationship that wasn't one yet. But he liked the thought, he just hoped it didn't hope to bite him in the ass.

[Lavira]

When he snapped back at her for suspecting his sibling, Vira's eye locked with his, mouth tightening. Her nails had bit little half-moons into her palm at this point, tiny droplets of blood rising where the skin had broken. She was about to speak when he got that vague look again, the anger in him still on the surface for her to see. What was he thinking about? Or maybe the question was not that but, who was he talking to. Was it his brother? Vira considered snapping cruelly at him for this, but this was not the moment to bring it up.

"I never said I didn't like it..." Admitting she too got lost in the moment was too much just yet, almost as much as trying to fully wrap her mind around what he was and what he had explained. The woman turned to the next, snorting a little. "You're three generations older than me, Garren. I'm eighteen for gods' sake! We're pretty realistic in Wind Reach, too, but come on? I didn't need to hear about..." She waved her hand over her belly. "You make it sound like I should wake up with this big ol' belly and pop out a child after one time beneath a waterfall!" The teen was a little shrill sounding after that, a tremble in her lips.

It was her turn to take a breath, the young woman rubbing a hand through her still slick hair and then shifting on the log a little. But this did not do to comfort her. It wasn't fair of her to say he violated her, either, that much Vira was understanding. He was right that they'd both kind of become lost from themselves. The way he'd given himself to her, how she felt in tandem...The chiet's cheeks colored shyly and her eye turned from the purple man once more as if to hide these thoughts from his overwhelming eyes.

When this moment came and he drew her into his chest, the ginger felt a shudder roll through her, her head resting over his heart and the strong thunder of it echoing like the bells on high through her head. She was hesitant to embrace him now, whether out of fear or shame, she could not say.

Finally, Vira let out a long, slow breath, and let herself crawl up into his lap. She felt diminutive compared to him, but there was comfort in his presence that she'd not find up in the city. "I'm not going to hit you. At least not today." She said quietly, keeping her ear pressed over his heart. "There's hungry hatchlings who need my care and if I hurt my hands, I'm screwed. Not that they haven't nipped me a few times already, mind you." The shaky laugh was an awful attempt at lightening the mood. "I've never really had anyone call me special. Except my parents before I entered into Yasi..."

[Rengar]

"It's nothing to do with whether you should or not be pregnant! I'm just making sure you know the worst that can happen. I wouldn't wish that upon you, not now, that is something that is more your choice than mine. Is it so wrong to warn you? To warn you that I could be the worst mistake of your life? That I know the damage I can do, yet my heart won't let me do anything other than want you?" He was a little surprised as she crawled into his lap, accepting his embrace. He'd thought she would've spurned him, slapped him, something. Then he'd heard her admission. He knew the way of life in Wind Reach was different than most, that children, Yasi in particular. But to not have someone to look up to, no mentor, no father figure, no one to be proud of you, that was a cold way of life. In Riverfall, children were sacred, even when he traveled, and his children were born, he made sure to return to rear them properly. But he couldn't change the system, and wouldn't even consider trying. What he could do, however, was be a mentor to as many people around him, make Oriana proud, make his own father proud. Garren moved the hair out of Lavira's face, then planted a single kiss upon her brow. "You are special, I promise you that. None of this would've happened if you weren't." He paused, sighing, "Look, I wronged you, and I may not be the perfect man for you, but I will never lie to you, and I will do my best to treat you right and never let you get hurt again. Even if you won't have me, I will still protect you, take care of you. But you are special, and special to me, and I want to be with you, and not just with our bodies. Will you have me? A poor old Akalak that you've just met whose heart you've stolen?"

[Lavira]

The woman closed her eye when his kissed her brow, accepting the simple carress of lips upon flesh with quiet uncertainty. He had frightened her, that was the truth as sure as Syna rose in the east. And now, the teen didn't know what to do. Here was this man that would far surpass her in life, remaining young and handsome when she grew old and useless; this virtual stranger who'd just poured his heart out to her as though she were the pick of the crop in Wind Reach, instead of just some half-blind chiet who preferred the birds to the people of the volcano-city.

That thought made her sigh, wondering in turn how many he might have seduced before her. It was a womanly thing to wonder, true, and her inexperience did not make it any better. But this was made worse when she realized what it could mean for something else.

Fenris.

He'd been an interesting friend for the last three years or so, and the only man she could almost imagine courting. Maybe getting her first kiss from...But this morning had changed that considerably! Those key firsts some girls dreamed about had just been shattered in one slightly hungover, exciting, lusty, wet morning.

What am I gonna tell him...

"I have no idea..."

This was barely whispered, her lips against his chest and her eyes closed tight to block the warm light from her sight. Finally, she leaned back and looked up at him, using his arms as support to peer at those dark eyes of his. "Thank you for your honesty, Garren." She started carefully, testing the water with one quavering, ethereal toe. "Really; but you can't do that to me again..." She paused, watching his face carefully for signs of understanding. If none were shown, or the wrong emotion perhaps, the maiden-no-more would go on. "...that." A hand to the river again. "Not if I've had too much to drink. I can't even remember what happened to me last night; guess I'm not much of an heavy weight with wine, huh?"

Vira leaned back into him, resting her ear over his heart once more and finding a strange level of peace in listening to it. The steady thunder that boomed within his toned chest soothed her almost as much as sitting in the aeries and talking to the mother birds did. "It's like a storm over the bay."

[Rengar]

'I have no idea...' reverberated through his mind. It wasn't a direct answer, not a no, not a yes. What was he supposed to say to that? She locked her on gaze on him, as he'd done several times to her. She'd captured him with a single look. And then she began to speak. And his mind began whirring fast. She didn't want to share that moment, that moment in the river with him, ever again. As if it were something to regret, something that was bad. Had he truly taken advantage of her? He gave her enough time after she'd awoken to gather her bearings, to ensure that she wasn't drunk after all. He may have taken a small liberty before, but that paled to what she was speaking of now. And the look his eyes conveyed was one of pain. He'd been accused of being a womanizer, immature, rash, irresponsible, but never... that. And after having put it all out there, all that it got him was pain. "I... I won't... ever do that with you again." A lesser man might've cried, but he was an Akalak, and didn't do such foolishness. But he had an inkling of understanding of men who might do that. He knew she had qualified that he wasn't to do that when she'd been drinking, but what about at other times. All she'd done is left him hanging, left him wondering, questioning, hurting. He felt her place her ear on his heart, and it quickened as he thought about possibly having ruined everything, having lost her. Was she just another beautiful moment in his life, only to have passed as quickly as she'd come? A single hand snaked around her and cradled her head there against him. There was only one thing he could think of doing. He had to make it his choice, and not hers. And if she couldn't decide, than the only answer would be to go their separate ways. This hurt him, but in the end would be best for her, in so many ways. If she wanted him as he wanted her, she'd be coming after him. But she wasn't. So his heart started racing. "I understand. I'll leave you alone Lavira. I'm sorry for hurting you, it was never my intention." Childish, yes. Immature, yes. But it felt right to him. He could still make sure she was safe in life, for a little while, until she found a man who was better than him. Which at the moment, he was sure wouldn't be hard to find. Surely she had many suitors, as pretty and kind as she was. And this was the time that Garren would normally drown his sorrows. But that wasn't what he wanted, not this time. "Perhaps you should go, I have a lot of work to do, and you probably do too. I am so sorry Lavira. I guess you were right when you called me mean those several times." Then as easily, and as gently, as if she were a babe, he lifted her off of his lap and set her on the log. He grabbed his hatchet, moving past the Dek and the fire, ignoring both, the Dek at least smart enough to not get in the way. Garren kept striding until he'd reached the tree he'd felled earlier. Normally he would strip the branches off, but he needed to get this, this feeling out. So several feet from the base cut, he roared and slammed his axe downward, sinking it further into it than he would normally. He pulled it free, wood chips flying as he did so. He then chopped downward again, and again, and again, a man in a fervor. Wood chips were flying, grunts were heard, and he began to lose himself in this, trying to forget about this entire day.

[Lavira]

Something about how he replied felt wrong, even as she leaned there against him, listening to the storm in his chest build and build. It boomed against her eardrum, but she still heard the rest of what he had to say; and from it, she felt a surge of guilt and hurt much deeper than the shock of his previous revelations. Furthermore, she felt he misunderstood.

His apathy and delicate removal of herself from against him clanged louder than the mark of each bell in a day. This wasn't what she'd meant at all. And here he was just...sweeping her aside. Confusion filled her mind, the sentimental woman watching him rise and move away, fading a little from her sight as the shadows of the wood made it harder for her to distinguish things. But he wasn't gone; his unique skin tone stood out against the green of life and earthen browns as much as the guttural roar did.

Why can't I have the eloquence I had with the Valintar...He's got me all befuddled! She thought, staring at the moving form, trying to read what was there. It was like he was trying to run from this now. Part of her still wanted to do the same, but it wasn't that easy now. Gods, reading men was a great deal more difficult than reading the birds. Vira looked back towards the Sanikas still murmuring in the near distance.

"Then allow me to make up for my cruelty." She remembered him saying. He wasn't that mean; far too charming for his own good, maybe, but not that mean. The woman blushed again at the thought of the time beneath the waterfall, but hardly in shame. How could she deny how enjoyable it was? He'd been gentle and her willing. Distractedly, she touched her lips, turning her sight back to him; he'd tasted like how she thought a forest might taste. Wild, slightly earthy, leafy (how else to describe the flavor of an oak or willow tree). The offhand flavor of sweat and musk paled compared to that. It was a taste of strength and stability. And yet there was a man baring down upon that felled tree as though it were some monster needing slaying but was already dead. Her heart ached at that thought and she understood now. It wasn't apathy.

It was sorrow being drowned in work. Oh how she could relate....

While he chopped away, the chiet reached over her shoulders with both hands and carefully undid the leather thong and feather from the knot of her katinu and brought it before her to stare at.

'Remember what truly lies in your heart' The echo of her parents voice as she stared at the delicate feather which hung from the thong, the pretty beads glinting in the sunlight.

But what lies in my heart? Nobody's really...treated me as he has. And for all that I may like Fenris, he's a Kelvic. Even as an Inartan, I'm gonna outlive him. Besides, I don't even know if he would want me.

She looked up to Garren once more.

But he does. And he was honest enough to tell me directly. Lhex, Cheva, what's the right thing to do?

Her contemplation finished; she just had to choose, right? Just get up, and choose. Vira did just that, standing, and moving through the grass and low brush to where he continued to brutalize the downed tree. She stopped opposite the akalak, still holding the thong and feather and staring at the gap he was making in the trunk. Waiting for him to raise the blade again, Vira reached forward after and layed the heirloom upon the bark, near the gap. Her voice was soft and shy this time.

"I'm not really great at talking to people, Garren. I'm better with birds than I am with those that can talk back..."

Her eyes turned to the river unseen, a softer smile rising to her lips then, one that was kind, endearing. One could almost call it maternal. "But I'll have you, if you'll still have me." A maiden stricken by his own endearment.

[Rengar]

Garren could feel the muscles in his back screaming for rest, for each swing was the hardest he could muster. There was no pacing, there was no preparing for each swing, none of that. There was him, and the log he needed to kill. He didn't sense Lavira approach, nor did he see her walk around opposite the tree. But he did see her hand place the feather upon the log midswing, and he managed to force himself to a stop, straining all of his back and shoulder muscles to do so. He knew that trinket belonged to her, he'd seen it on her, and he couldn't forget it. And only one thought came to mind when he saw it. 'She came back.' He heard her words, smelled her scent, one of avians, fresh mountain air, and a floating innocence. If he was of the earth, she was of the wind. He lowered his axe to the ground, leaning it against the tree, slowly, ignoring the pains in his torso. His eyes traveled from her feather to her legs, and slowly followed her form upwards, a kind, gentle smile upon the face where his gaze stopped. One that reminded him of the mother he'd met on Mura many decades after his birth. Then she said the words he'd wanted to here many moments ago. She would have him. A goofy smile, one that you would expect from a hubris, young man, adorned Garren's face. He stepped over the log, picked the young woman up in a huge hug, lifting her so her chest touched to his, lips finding lips, as he kissed her. With a single choice, she'd changed the lost man into a teenager who thought he had everything in the world. After several ticks, he set her down, then led her back to the log they'd originally been sitting on. He was still ignoring the pains in his torso, not wanting to ruin this moment. The Dek had moved the wildcat from the fire, fully cooked now, and Garren, being in a good mood rose. "I want to thank you for our meal. Just one moment," Garren went over to his tent, grabbed some coins from his coin pouch, then handed the Dek ten golden pinions. It wasn't a lot for the Avora but it could change the Dek's life. "What's your name Dek?" "Kherov." "Kherov, you now will work under me in Thunder Bay, understood? And you're done for the day. Go enjoy yourself, get a good meal in you, and thank you." The Dek nodded appreciatively, then left the new couple. Garren looked over at Lavira, "So, since you'll have me, and I will definitely have you, would you like to eat?" He grabbed his carving utensils, and carved off a leg for her, and one for him. "We probably SHOULD get back to work soon, though we don't necessarily have to."

[Lavira]

The woman oofed loudly when he picked her up and squeezed her to him, lips meeting lips. But the initial surprise quickly subsided in favor of delight. His youthful enthuasiasm was amusing, to say the least, and yet to deny she too felt that way would have been a lie. So it came as no surprise that the maiden-no-more returned the kiss for however long he wished to hold it, her heart fluttering excitedly in her chest.

When at last he set her down and spoke to the Dek, Vira could not help but watch him with a slightly childish grin of her own, one leg tucked under the other as she sat upon the log. A hand rose to brush a lock of hair from her sight, tucking it carefully behind her ear as she watched him hop inside the tent and pay off this Kherov to henceforth work for him. Once the akalak returned to her, speaking of the cat that still awaited feasting, and remarking on the tasks they still must do, she nodded simply. "Yes, I do need to get back up to the city, but I'll stay and lunch first. There's always work needing done in the aeries, work that I can't afford to neglect. You'll have to come by there sometime. I'm sure I can find reasons worthwhile. We always need supply boxes and I think some of the egg-crates might need replacing; I thought I saw some rot in one of them." Either that, or she would find an excuse for him to come visit.

Finally, once things had settled enough, she added, "Thank you, Garren. I've always wondered if I was unappealing to the boys...that I was doing something to turn them away. Maybe I was just being close-minded." A shrug and finally a hand reaching for a portion of the cat. It was definitely time to eat and get back to work. This day had turned out to be quite an interesting one.

[Whimsy]

Lavira

Experience	Lore
+2 Bodybuilding	Hangovers
+1 Cosmetology	Toting Wood
	Manual Labour as a Cure for Hangovers
	The Duties of a Nesting Attendent
	Akalak Anatomy
	Resisting Seduction
	The Loss of Maidenhood
	Inartan Dress
	Riverfall: Home of the Akalak
	The Life Span of Akalaks
	Akalak: All Male Race
	The Dual Nature of the Akalak
	The Danger of Akalak Pregnancy
	Garren: In A Relationship

Rengar

Experience	Lore
+3 Woodcutting	The Width of the Tree and Yield of the Wood
+1 Intimidation	Taking Advantage of Unconscious Women
+3 Seduction	Felling a Tree
+1 Massage	Commanding Dek
+1 Cosmetology	The Female Anatomy
+1 Teaching	Taking a Woman's Virginity
	Methods of Cleaning
	A New Woman in a Long Line of Lovers
	Telling the Truth
	Proposing a Relationship
	Lavira: Your Lover

Comments
An interesting thread of passion and new beginnings! I'm interested to see what happens to Lavira, especially with the pregnancy possibility! Lavira, I'm sorry I could not award you more skillpoints, as Garren was the one who did the actual seducing, but I tried to award you lores for all the knowledge you acquired. PM me if you have any questions or concerns.

.