Stringwork (kovac)

[Shayth]

As the archer fell to the ground, Shayth straightened and stood back, catching her breath. Her stomach ached where he had caught her, and she was expecting a violent comeback. Kovac was winded, the rider could see that, and it gave her a chance to pause, turning away. Pushing her hair out of her face, Shayth shook her head. The anger she'd felt bursting forth before had dissolved, spent. It seemed stupid she'd even got angry in the first place. A sudden sound spun the tall woman around and she stared in shock at Kovac. He was laughing. Not a spiteful or angry laugh. But a proper amused laugh. Shayth blinked, did she break him? In a heartbeat he was on his feet, smiling back at her. There was no tension or anger, and the woman couldn't help but return the grin. It might have been painful, but the whole thing had been fun. Sometimes one just needed to let it all out.

There was a movement, too fast for her, and an arm across her chest. Without warning, the man had rushed her and his arm was like a solid iron bar. In one smooth move, she was on her back. She gasped as she hit the ground, a jolting pain wracking her body. That one was going to be felt tomorrow. Laying still for a moment, she realised her eyes were shut.

"Ouch." She said softly, before letting out her own laugh and opening her eyes. Reaching up to move a lock of hair from across her face, she groaned. Yup, she'd definitely feel that one tomorrow.

"Your fast, Kovac." There was a note of impressiveness in her voice, and no sign of the biting anger she displayed before.

[Kovac]

After sending Shayth to the ground with a satisfying thud, Kovac straighted his back, already feeling the muscles along his spine tighten from his own impact. He looked down at the supine Rider, her red hair mussed up about her face. The woman's wince, to Kovac's surprise, gave way to a hearty laugh of her own. Kovac found himself smiling. It was a strange feeling, but the absurdity of their brawling at the archery range and the odd moment of comradery the Avora and Endal seemed to have found by simply laying each other out struck the archer as very amusing. He did not want to like the female Rider, she was one of them, and a particularly ill-tempered one at that. But, he admitted, she showed a human side that interfered with stereotyping her so handily. Kovac walked closer to stand over Shayth. He grinned mischievously down at her and stuck out his hand as an offer to help her up. "You are no slouch either, apparently you don't spend all of your time lounging on the back of your eagle."

[Shayth]

Shayth laughed, propping herself on her elbows and looking up at him. The rider had to admit, he was rather attractive - when he wasn't scowling at her. And he had a sort of cheeky charm that she could appreciate, when she wasn't just being annoyed by it. Focusing her blue eyes on the sky behind him, she frowned and suddenly grabbed his hand, wrenching on it. Swearing, she pulled him down onto the ground and rolled on top of him, arms covering her own head. Above them, Kovac would hear a snap and a sweep of wind blow across them, followed by a fast shadow. The rider raised her head, not even remotely aware she had the man straddled between her legs and swore. Sitting up, she watched the sky, turning her head to follow a massive dark shape.

"Stay down." She said softly, a dire warning in her voice. Standing up, she kept herself over the man. There was a piercing screech, and with a gust of wind, Turiska landed on the range just meters from them.

"He hit you, I saw it. I heard it! I will rend his head from his body, I'll disembowel him where he lays!" The eagle raged in her mind, feathers around her neck fluffed up and beak snapping angrily. Her golden eyes were fixated on the man beside her rider, ready to kill him at the smallest movement. Shayth kept herself between the two.

"Turiska, it was my fault. I started it. He didn't do anything wrong, he didn't even hurt me." The woman said in a firm voice, her hands raised slightly in a placating way. There was a bond between them, but the bird was admittedly bigger. If she wanted to do something, she would simply do it.

"He shouldn't have even fought back, is he damaged in the head?! I have a mind to tell the Valintar about this. See how that goes!" Turiska made a low keen in her chest, moving around to try and get past Shayth. The red head moved to match her, much to the eagles frustration. She hissed, snapping her beak again.

"No, he's a friend. Okay? We sorted things out, and you only caught the last of it. Don't do anything, just let it go okay? I'll come fishing with you later, and I'll explain it all." Turiska shook her head, feathers fluffing up before they settled back down smoothly. Her golden eyes still glared at the man, but she didn't come any closer.

"A friend? That's amusing. He probably just wants what all those other males want. Fine. If that's what you want, you can find your own way home." Shayth blushed suddenly, ignoring the comment and thankful their conversation wasn't out loud. Finally the bird turned, and with a huge flap of her wings, lifted into the air. Shayths hair twisted in the wind, whipping at her face. She watched the massive bird as she disappeared towards the aerie and swore again, before walking away from the man on the ground to retrieve her bow and her quill.

[Kovac]

Shyath's laugh was disarming, coming from the Endal who was so indignant moments before. Her mirthful response left the typically cynical Kovac without a snide remark.  Shayth had caught him off guard in a lot of ways, calling into question the stereotypical Endal box he had conveniently placed her in. She appeared almost appealing when her nose wasn't so far in the air. Confused, Kovac found himself simply flashing her a crooked smile like a Yasi child. But the man had no time to ponder the strange encounter with the woman as he saw Shayth's vivd blue eyes widened and her laughter sink into a frown. The Avora was startled when the Rider seized his hand and yanked him to the ground, rolling on top of him.  Kovac, now totally perplexed, felt a sudden thrill at the feel of Shayth's weight on him, but he soon discovered her behavior was not motivated by a sudden amorous notion, but by a need to protect the man beneath her. As Shayth dropped against him, Kovac heard the swish of giant wings, felt the woosh of air, the sudden gust sending the Endal's ruddy hair cascaded over Kovac's face. He detected an ominous, huge shadow passing over the two humans. A Wind Eagle.  Shayth's notoriously mean-spirited eagle, to be precise.  Kovac heeded Shayth's hushed warning, lying still, heart pounding, confused but convinced by the dire tone in the Rider's voice that danger was eminent.  He moved his head only enough to see the great dark raptor land directly in front of them,  harsh, yellow avian eyes staring at him. The Avora held his breath as he watched the she-rider, statuesque and bold, obviously arguing with the eagle, whose feathers had ruffled up in anger. Shayth's stance went from defiant to defensive before the glowering Turiska. Kovac could not hear the telepathic conversation between Rider and mount, but as the eagle's piercing eyes never left him, and Shayth shifted to block the raptor's advances toward the prone man, Kovac surmised he was the subject of the partners' debate. He did not have to muse long to conclude that the Wind Eagle wanted to do him harm, and Shayth was championing him, a mere Avora archer.  Kovac's mind wrestled in wonder as to why the Rider would defend him against her own mount.  Whatever her reasons, he was uncharacteristically grateful, and as soon as his stark fear loosed it's grip on him, Kovac would tell her so. The pair came to some shaky resolution, Turiska finally smoothing out her black feathers and launching into the air, heading towards the Aeries.  He heard Shayth curse as she walked over to pick up her weapon.  Kovac got up slowly, furrowed brow and unsure gaze following the distressed woman. The archer was unsettled, shaken from the whole incident, not knowing what to think of Shayth the Rider now. "Uh, thanks...for..." The words had to be forced through a screen of pride. "...for protecting me.  I didn't mean to cause any trouble between you and your eagle." He could have played it cool, smarted off that he didn't need some Endal to guard over him. But the fact was, he did at that moment, and Shayth's actions cooled his sardonic facade. Kovac bent down to retrieve is own bow and collect the practice arrows thrust into the ground. He kept a watch on the tall, fit Rider from the corner of his eye. No, he did not know what to think of Shayth, and it both bothered and intrigued him.

[Shayth]

The redhead slung the bow over her chest, quill over the other side in an almost angry gesture. She couldn't look at the man, embarrassed beyond belief by Turiska's actions. The bird was far too protective, and far too possessive. Any form of friendship she began with anyone - male or female - always resulted in them being scared off by her. Shayth didn't regret her decision to bond with the eagle, but she wouldn't mind having someone human to talk to. It was like some sort of personal prison, in a way. However, Shayth would never separate from the creature. They would need to talk, one day, when the bird would listen.

Hearing Kovac's voice, the rider waved it off.

"You didn't cause any trouble, its my fault really. I forgot she was around, still listening. It was careless of me. Its alright, she'll forgive me later on. Turiska is just...very...possessive." Crossing her arms, she finally looked up at the man, cheeks still hot with shame.

"I'm really sorry." It was wrong to hurt others, she knew that. And even wronger to let a giant eagle tear someone's head off. Regardless of their caste. Shayth was a rider, but she was a keeper of the peace - or tried to be. Murder was murder, no matter what the weapon. Sighing, the woman turned to look up at the aerie, frowning slightly.

"Petching bird. That is a long walk."

[Kovac]

As Kovac fiddled with his bowstring, he could see Shayth gathering her gear. She was angry, apparently not at him, but at Turiska. Kovac had always thought the RIder's and their mounts lived peachy little lives. But looking at Shayth's unhappy expression, and hearing her honest words, made the archer realize she was more normal than he thought, or wanted to think. Her bond with the Wind Eagle had cost her something, friends, maybe even love. The raw danger and emotion of the encounter seemed to evaporate both the heated rivalry they had displayed, and the moment of laughter. It wasn't that Kovac pitied the Rider, certainly, or even felt bad for her. It was just that, after all that had just happened, she seemed so...human. He tried, but could not muster a grudge against her. Sure, there were things he did not like about her, but he found as he watched her, that there may be things he actually liked about the charismatic Endal. When Shayth apologized, Kovac simply shrugged. He looked back towards the entrance to the warrens and the aeries above them. "Yeah, it is a long way. I can walk with you, I'm heading that way anyway. I am sure your legs are too used to riding to easily manage carrying you that far, so you better have some one to help you when they give out." He tried to conceal a grin as he glanced down at the Rider's legs, which were far from weak or spindly. Kovac's eyes darted away when he found himself admiring them a bit too much.

[Shayth]

Turning to look at Kovac again, Shayth laughed suddenly in mock insult, an eyebrow raised and a smile on her lips.

"Oh really? Well, lucky I have you then, right?" Pushing her hair back away from her face and adjusting her gear, the Rider nodded.

"Sure, that would be good actually. Company would make it a little less far." Bending down, the red head plucked a small lavender flower from near her feet, before she began to walk. Twirling the little creation, she found herself enjoying the company. Kovac was alright, once you got past the bite. Even though he was shorter than her (most people seemed to be anyway) he made up for it with cheek and attitude - something the Rider could admire now it wasn't a source of irritation. She knew how the ranks were, had been born into it. But Kovac was no Dek, it was already obvious when she had landed. He was an Avora, second only to the Rider. Most of them became sort of 'hands' to her caste, and it wasn't uncommon for friendships between them. Slightly unbalanced friendships, but a camaraderie all the same.

"So, Kovac, I think I've seen you around before. Near the aerie? I never really pay that much attention except to make sure Turiska hasn't killed anyone." Looking up suddenly, she made an expression of shame.

"Oh, I didn't even tell you my name. Its Shayth." She smiled apologetically, before shaking her head and looking back at the flower. It wasn't like there had been time or reason to introduce herself before. Now it just seemed rude and inappropriate that she hadn't.

[Kovac]

Kovac watched Shayth pluck a small flower from the ground and play with it as she walked. The archer found it a bit out of character, somehow too feminine for the brash Rider, he thought. They walked in silence for a while, the Avora feeling somewhat awkward in the presence of the Endal. Before Kalle and Qual's betrayal, a few of the Riders befriended him, though they rarely socialized. After having distanced himself from the eagle riders, it was now odd to find himself in a civil conversation with one. The Endal woman finally broke the silence. Kovac reached up to spin the red and black glass bead in his earring as he listened. He turned to Shayth when she offered her name. "Kovac, and I know who you are." He replied. He saw no need for a handshake or nod or similar gesture of introduction. Afterall, they had already slugged each other and Shayth had lain on top of him, a formal greeting seemed to be pointless. "Well, I am a hunter, so I have been around the aeiries some." He did not like having to go into the den of the haughty riders, but it was necessary for the hunters to hitch rides outside the crater when the road was snow-locked. "But I have intentionally avoided yours...with your the reputation and all." The Avora gave Shayth a look, his green eyes smiling even as his mouth remained flat, only a hint of a curl at one end. Kovac retained a nonchalant attitude, though his eyes frequently darted to the sky, just in case Turiska decided to return. Several Riders had come and gone from the Aeries in the distance, and he kept an eye on all of them. "What would your Rider friends say if they saw you walking and talking with me?" The archer looked over, and slightly up, at the tall redhead, lifting his eyebrows.

[Shayth]

Shayth listened as they walked, wry smile on her face as he revealed he knew her. Or of her. As he continued on, she couldn't help but blush and raise both eyebrows. Reputation? Well, that was interesting. The redhead couldn't help but wonder just what people actually thought of her - and how much was influenced by Turiska. The rider reflected on herself some then, not really paying attention to her surroundings. Turiska wasn't anywhere near them, and had no intention of coming back. She was in a huff, and that was that.

Am I really that unfriendly? The woman thought to herself, a little ashamed. It was so easy to forget the people around her sometimes. She had to focus so much on Turiska, and the bird was constantly in her head. It affected her, but she didn't realise how much. A lot of the eagle's personality rubbed off on her, and obviously it showed.

Looking up as Kovac spoke of the other riders, Shayth chuckled a little.

"They aren't my friends, I told you, Turiska isn't much of a social bird." Shaking her head, she looked at him.

"Chances are, they'll gossip. Shayth taking a light stroll with a hunter, without her overprotective bird? Has the world gone mad?! I imagine they will come up with all sorts of interesting scenario's before bed this evening." Smiling conspiriously, she leaned closer to his ear.

"I would put money on a rumour, by tonight, that you and I are in some lavish affair - and that's why Turiska is so mad at me." Pulling away, the rider laughed again, continuing on. So what if they made their rumours? Shayth didn't socialise, wasn't allowed to really, so it wasn't like it hurt her feelings. Not really.

[Kovac]

The two unlikely companions continued their walk, Kovac still somewhat uneasy. There were a few things bouncing around inside of him, some of them contradictory. Shayth was an Endal, a higher caste, so there was the hierarchy thing...she commanded some measure of authority over him. She was a Rider, one of those whom, upon the actions of one, he had purposed to dislike as a whole. She was an attractive woman, a fact which added its own dynamics. She was scrappy, a trait he admired. And finally, though she started out coming across as stuck up, she was a person who had seemed to accept him on some level, her unexpected casual friendliness skirting some of his social defenses. The Avora was somewhat surprised to hear Shayth admit she had no real friends among the Riders. In a way, it made him feel better about her. That may explain why, on rare occasions, she had been seen drinking with residents from the lower castes and outsiders. Kovac grinned, flinching at first when Shayth leaned closer in mock secrecy to joke about a trist between the two of them. He glanced sidelong at her as she laughed, realizing the boldness of the jest. The betrayed archer glanced back up at the Aeries. He laughed at the absurdity of the thought, but paused to speculate. That would show those Riders...and Qual and Kalle. He stole another glance sizing up the tall woman, letting his thoughts wander a bit further. His musing was interrupted by the image of the giant eagle Turiska and her gnashing hooked beak. His head shook slightly, as if trying to dislodge the unnerving mental picture. Even a baseless rumor about he and Shayth could be enough justification for the Wind Eagle to rend him apart. But still.... Kovac turned to grin at Shayth. "Yeah, and by morning, I would be the primary prey for the Rider's daily hunt! Of course, the female Riders would be hunting me too!" He winked and laughed at his cheeky egotistical jibe. Then his smile faltered as he realized that there may be more truth to his joke than he would like to admit, at least the part about being hunted down like an animal. They walked in silence for a while, the entrance to the habitations growing closer. Shayth had raised some curiosity in Kovac's mind. It turned out, they were both anti-social, Kovac restrained by his self-imposed pathetic attitude, Shayth by a jealous eagle. Common ground? No, he did not want to have anything in common with a Rider, did not like that she was not conforming to the prideful, arrogant persona he had assigned to her. But he begrudgingly admitted that he was not totally hating hanging out with Shayth. Maybe it was the danger that made it appealing. Looking over again at Shayth, Kovac caved in to his curious side. "Were you born an Endal, or were you elevated to that lofty state by some twist of fate?" One of the archer's eyebrows raised curiously.