Flashback A Chance Meeting {Fenris}

[Kallian Windrunner]

This man… animal…. man-animal was a quite the flirt. She was used to the smiles, the looks, the subtle hints of attraction, as she was in her prime; she was young and vibrant and wore her windmarks with pride. Suitors were common, though were usually turned away after a challenge. Many men her age could not best her in archery and those that could beat her with such intolerable arrogance. Older men also looked her way, but she showed no interest. Kallian loved her people dearly. She loved the web, the striders, and running through the grasses. She loved bounding across the plains like a sprite, soaking in the sun and laughing with reckless abandon. Her people lived rough lives, but were passionate and close knit. She was a Drykas and would never doubt her heritage. But she really did not want to be one wife in a line of many. It was tradition and she hoped that one day she would mature into acceptance and marry a man and become one of his wives. For now, however, there was no desire for that life. Kallian was not sure if that made her incompatible with the Drykas life, and this was a thought that scared her. Yet to have this non-Drykas openly flirt pushed the fear aside. The feeling was nice, interesting. She tended to miss traders as they passed through the pavilions and avoided the Akalaks when her people traveled by their city. Whether or not he was serious, Kallian decided to play his little game. She gave him a grin. “Mmkay,” she started. “Well, first we’d best find your shirt. Would it be easier for you to fly around?” She threaded her arm through her longbow so it rested against her back and remained out of her way. Kallian licked her lips and brought two fingers up, letting out a loud high pitched whistle. A few moments passed before the sound of thumping hooves became audible, growing louder every second. A galloping strider slowed as she neared Fenris and the Drykas, whinnying softly. Kallian raised her hand and laid it upon the horse’s neck. “This is my companion Allyria,” she said cheerfully. “I can ride below you.”

[Fenris]

This girl was quite the looker and didn't seem overly offended by his attempt at charming her. Her inquiry gave him immediate reason to grin, the expression warm and amicable. Yes, it would be easier for him to fly, but the thought of leaving so soon was not appealing to the Kelvic. With downward turn of his lips and a casual shrug he quirked another smile her way.

"Might be, but then I'd be lamentin' your absence," he replied smoothly. The sun was beating down upon him but he could care less, Kallian's radiant face taking up a great deal of his attention. He was ready to respond with another coy statement when he was promptly halted by a shrill whistle. Gods, had he read her wrong? what was she doing? Hopefully not summoning an army of brothers to tear the ever-loving flesh from his body for flirting with their sister.

But the sound of a single set of hooves alleviated his concern, expression adopting a relieved countenance for his preserved life. The horse was a sight to behold, just like its rider. But unlike women horses did not tend to rub Fenris the right way. The Drykas introduced the horse like it might shake the Kelvic's hand and he let a breathy heh before looking at the mare. Wiping his hands on the thin material of his trousers he then clasped them together.

"Ah, yes." He nodded to the creature, a sign of what he hoped was received as respect. "Good day to you, Allyria. I thank you for not kickin' me in the face for having words with your lovely Kallian, here."

Fenris had the tendency of speaking to animals as if they might answer him. Perhaps it was a Kelvic tick. Or perhaps he was slightly mad from sorting through corpses every day. Regardless he smiled at the horse, though he maintained a comfortable distance from its mouth. Returning his attention to the Drykas the man beamed once more.

"To the skies it is," he announced. "I doubt your mare would be fond of a bloke like me on her back when she's used to a lithe creature like y'self." Ever a flirt. "But I have to warn you, I'll be losin' my pants as well before the shift, so y'might grab 'em if you're so inclined."

He cast her a gentle wink before turning around and walking a few paces away, whilst untying the laces that kept the beige trousers on his hips. Without so much as a by your leave, Fenris dropped the pants, the copper skin of his legs and buttocks completely in view of Kallian. This fact bothered the Kelvic none, casting a glance over his shoulder at her.

"I'll stay low on the wind, cha?"

With that, the shift began. It was an odd thing for one unfamiliar with the process. Swirling beams of light, fizzing pops of electricity - it was like his own personal storm cloud. Within seconds the effervescent haze dissipated like mist, leaving a large vulture in its place, standing on the crumpled pants. He turned to look at the girl, raising large wings and bobbing his white head.

Thank you, Wanda Endust, for the box

[Kallian Windrunner]

Kallian was very interested in how Kelvics transformed, as she had never actually seen the shift. Stories described a flash of mysterious light or a stench of burning flesh or the sounds of agony; she was not sure what was true and her curiosity was set ablaze with this meeting. "But I have to warn you, I'll be losin' my pants as well before the shift, so y'might grab 'em if you're so inclined." It was clear these creatures lost their clothing before their shifting, which was logical. Yet the way he said it, accompanied by a wink, caused her to blush. He turned and walked, hands low to his waist as they fumbled with the laces. Next thing she knew, she had an eyeful of nice-looking skin, though she closed her eyes and held up her hand in surprise. “Um…” she said, voice low and trailing. "I'll stay low on the wind, cha?" Then came the transformation. Underneath her eyelids, she saw light, a shining silhouette brighter than the glow of the sun. She opened her eyes to watch, seeing the strange… cloud? It made sound as well, something like thunder if only smaller and high pitched. Strange, she felt herself take a few steps closer. Allyria remained stoic and perhaps disinterested; she glanced to the right before lowering her head to graze. The shifting cloud disappeared and Kallian looked on at amazement. Where there had been Fenris the man there was now Fenris the vulture; she let out a small laugh and approached with a delighted sense of awe. He lifted his wings and bobbed his head, a natural movement. She knelt slightly and held out slender fingers to touch the top of his crown for a moment. “Wow,” she said, grinning. Kallian let her knees take her lower, hand resting on the discarded pants. She waited for him to move before collecting the garment before heading back to Allyria, climbing up, and taking off at a quick trot. Blue-green eyes watched him steadily and a large smile seemed plastered to her face.

[Fenris]

The vulture shuffled to the side so the girl might fetch his trousers, sharp eyes watching her as he stretched his wings again. As much as he would've liked spending the bell with her as a human there was the undeniable freedom of soaring the skies that he could hardly ignore. He half wondered if it was bred into all Kelvics, the absolute liberty of returning to the animal state where human concerns were just a quiet voice in the back of the brain.

Kallian retrieved his pants and mounted the horse, all in a flurry of grace and poise. Meanwhile the giant carrion bird waddled to the side, shuffling on feet not meant to traverse the land. When he was sure she was situated, Fenris bobbed his head once more before taking a loping stride to gain momentum. On the ground vultures are... well, awkward. Clumsy even. It was a sad and embarrassing fact. But one free of the earth they are masters of the sky.

Large wings took one enormous downward thrust as his legs propelled him forward, the propulsion ascending and pushing him forward. It was always a bit comical to watch large birds become airborne with no cliff available. Even the damn eagles for all their regal nature and snotty disposition looked like great beached fish writhing in the dirt before catching air. It was a sad fact of life. Some are simply not meant to be earth-bound.

Finally gaining some height and adjusting for the northerly wind the vulture peered down as Kallian rode beneath. Keen eyes watched her with interest, the very strands of her lovely hair standing out to him. She was truly a beauty and Fenris was decidedly despondent to be so far from her. But per her suggestion the only way to find that damn shirt was to split the job, her on the ground and him in the skies. Though he now considered how much he really wanted to find the thing. Being half naked in front of Kallian wasn't necessarily a bad thing...

Shifting his direction with a low thermal, the Kelvic dropped in altitude. Flying only a few feet above her but careful not to shroud her in shadow, the vulture scanned the vastness of the grassland, golden eyes casually checking on the Drykas as they went. Truthfully he didn't know as much about her people as he probably should considering he was squatting on their land. But from his interaction with Kallian it seemed they were decent enough. Though the thought of being assaulted by an contingency of male Drykas for being on the plains alone was less than appealing.

Another great flap of wings as he rose up again, his thoughts still on Kallian. He really wasn't doing much in the way of searching. It wouldn't bother him if the shirt was lost to the sea. But dammit all if he wasn't getting hungry...

Thank you, Wanda Endust, for the box

[Kallian Windrunner]

Kallian rode somewhat fast, though did not push Allyria. The pace was perfect for scanning the grasses, yet she hoped that it would take quite a bit to find the Kelvic's missing shirt. He was charming and handsome, and seemed very interested in what she had to say. Chuckling to herself, she knew that to be a half-truth. He was a flirt. Like any man, he seemed to want only one thing and feigned interest to get it. They covered ground rather quickly despite the high grasses and it did not take long for Kallian to spot a strange object rested on the ground. The color was vastly different than the foliage around her; if it had been similar, she doubt she would have been able to spot it out. Calling out to the bird above her, she pointed to it. It remained still as they drew closer. Normally she would have not have approached something so quickly and without caution; however, their noise had not caused a retreat or attack from whatever it was. Small and unmoving, she could only conclude it was the object for which they sought. Dismounting Allyria, she knelt and picked up the cloth, holding it up to the sky. "This it?" she said loudly, aware that he could hear her fine from his vantage point. Her eyes lowered to inspect it. Taking the shoulders by her fingers, she judged its size. "You could fit my brother's clothing."

[Elysium]

Kallian

Experience
Riding +2
Observation +3
Flirting +2
Socialization +2

Lore
Fenris the Vulture
Kelvic: Transformation
Flirting: Playing it Coy
Observation: How to Identify an Object in the Grass

Fenris

Experience
Observation +3
Flirting +2
Socialization +2
Flying +2

Lore
Kallian of the Diamond Clan
Allyria the Strider
Flirting: Compliments are Key

Notes
Oooh, just when it was getting good! Oh well. If you have any questions about the grade, please let me know!