PM to join Broken on the floor (Taylani)

[Fallan Windchaser]

The light had faded noticeably as Fallan had been returning to the camp but it made little difference for the days were now shorter and his eyes adjusted well enough out on the Grass for it not to matter so much. Of greater issue was the cold dry flakes of snow which blew into his face causing him to blink and to turn his head away from the wind. Fortunately he was not in any case relying purely on his own vision for Stormdancer had more sense than he did of where the tents lay and where feed could be obtained more easily than by nipping at the frozen grass.

Fallan allowed the wind to whistle softly past him, it's tugs and playful pushes merely reminders of greater powers than mere humans and a note that Zulrav was always present out here, inserting himself into all parts of the Drykas lives.

His god aside Fallan had other things on his mind for he had a warm tent with warmer company awaiting him and though it was harder now to find anything on his foraging trips for the world waited for the seasons to turn once more, the Spring growth just a hint in the landscape. What little he had found was tucked carefully inside his jacket and he settled it back into place once he'd dismounted from Stormdancer and removed her gear. She was less interested in him and his ministrations than she was in the relative shelter of the tents and the small portion of grain that he offered her.

The lights spilling from some of the tents diminished his night vision adaptation and so he was careful as he walked, turning his head away from the lights and keeping his eyes down for carelessly placed lines which might trip him he quickly threaded his way through to their tent where he ducked through the entrance and turning his head away from the light, which dim as it was dazzled him fastened the opening to keep the warmth inside.

He turned with a smile on his face, an expression which froze slightly as he realised that they were not alone, his eyes flickering to the bedding, recognition of who lay there coming immediately as did the bruises which caused his smile to slip away and be replaced by a frown, his pleasure at returning to Tay mitigated by the concerns for Isedan.

Realising that he was staring he pushed his attention back to Tay and raised his eyebrows for an explanation, adjusting his expectations as what he could read in the small expressions of her face told him that this was not some mere minor accident.

[Taylani]

Taylani lost track of the chimes she sat waiting, knowing that simply waiting was what made it seem to take an endless amount of time, yet she could not bring herself to focus on any one set of tasks. Anger stirred in her heart, and the longer she sat the longer the injustice had time to brew within her belly. The Drykas had some misguided notions on reproduction but they protected the women of the city fiercely, Taylani knew that someone would step in. She just had to know who to go to, since the man was an Ankal himself.

When the flap of the tent first stirred as someone from the other side was working it open, the first think the bloomed in Taylani's mind was relief. Relief that Fallan had returned and she could finally tell him everything that she hadn't spoken of out of respect for Isedan. The second was abject anger that grew at the thought that it might be one of the Autumnrun pavilion..or even Coctice himself. There was no fear, when she got like this there really was little concern about her own well-being. With the use of webbing Taylani knew intimately that they would be able to find Isedan as soon as they really wanted to.

Standing, adjusting her clothing around the swell of her breasts and belly, both more pronounced as her time slowly ticked forward toward having the baby, Taylani moves slightly so that she was between Isedan and the entrance of the tent. But when the flap finally opens and a familiar welcome figure walked in, the red head sags a little with relief. She did not hesitate, stepping forward, one hand raising to her lips to indicate quiet. She was not sure if Isedan had managed to fall asleep but she hoped so.

Raising, not much just a an inch or two she offered her lips for a kiss, before she found herself having to explain yet again. This time though the secret hadn't been hers to divulge, though Taylani is not sure just why Isedan had trusted the family to do right by her. "It's bad Fallan." She spoke, her voice quiet as she turned her head to look at the figure that was Isedan. "She came to me tonight, I did what I could but I had to go get Sharika." Sharika was the healer with dual gnosis from her goddess Rak'kelli, healing marks and who had apprenticed Taylani at the beginning of winter in the arts of Midwifery.

"Sharika healed her but she told me if we didn't do anything about the man who did that to her.." Taylani allowed her voice to fade when she realized that Fallan might not know the particulars. "She was bought into the pavilion Autumnrun..Cotice Autumnrun is their Ankal, in the Emerald clan. He has been beating her all season..since he found out that she was Kelvic." Her hand fell to her own stomach, a flash of anger at the thought of what the man might have succeeded to do had his kicks been better placed then on the woman's arms, and legs. "She is further along in her pregnancy then I am Fallan, he could have killed his own child..he almost killed her. She can't go back there Fallan..Sharika healed her body, " Taylani's hands raised to indicate gnosis marks of which Sharika bore two, "Sharika told me that we had better do something, this is not the first time that she had to heal these sorts of wounds on Isedan."

OOC infoWent ahead and posted, because it just seemed to fit better for Taylani to explain quickly.

[Fallan Windchaser]

The news was as bad as it could have been and it left Fallan feeling incredulous that such a thing had been allowed to have happened. His feelings however were mixed for he could understand the desire to frighten and to hurt, but equally there was a time and place and that place was never at home with an unwilling partner and especially never when they were someone for whom you held responsibility.

His breathing came harder as his anger flowed strongly. This could not have happened without others of the Clan being aware of it and the fact that they allowed it and did not deal with it angered him all the more. He would have expected more of the Emerald Clan, but then they were not Amethyst and what could be expected?

He reached out and pulled her in to him and held her for a moment, distressed that she should have had to deal with this and yet proud that she had done so. He used the moment to attempt to put his thoughts into some sort of order for this was so unexpected that it was hard to comprehend.

”Healer right. Need be dealt with now.” Now whilst the guilt was still fresh and now before it could be allowed to happen again. Clearly the Emerald Clan was not going to deal with it and even if it became public the chances were that they would simply close ranks, protecting the Ankal and quite possibly allowing him to continue, and if he did, who next would be his target? Such things did not die away and this was too much. Once more he attempted to grasp his anger but he found it hard to separate in his mind the one pregnant woman from the other, especially since he knew them both.

Anger washed away common sense and the decision which had been inevitable from the start flowered in his heart. ”No doubt that this done by Ankal? Not another?” He was concerned that blame was being placed in the wrong place and though the words of the healer, relayed second hand as they were tended to confirm it, still he would not be a party to something that was not sure.

[Isedan Autumnrun]

The kelvic dozed uncomfortably on the matts and furs, shifting frequently to find that better spot, but never quite obtaining it. When the tent flaps stirred and a rush of cold air pressed at the blanket, Issy finally stirred out of the barely obtained rest, rolling onto her back and then her side again so that she could look at the figure.

Humans didn't tend to change as quickly as kelvics, especially ones that aged fast during their first couple years. This was true of Fallan. He had a few new lines around his face, and the sharp rumble of an excited heart could be heard from where she lay, sensitive hearing picking that out in the otherwise quiet tent. He and Tay were talking, their lips moving and the quiet words carrying to her as she watched them.

In the end, it was Fallan who wished to act, and immediately. Issy, of course, couldn't blame him; had she the strength and access to what may be needed, she would have pursued the course herself the first day he'd struck her. But then, his brother and mother had thought he was just angry at the secret. They'd stopped it from escalating beyond a bruised wrist and a single black eye the first time, but as the days into winter went on, and more bruises began appearing, something had to be done.

But the situation was a delicate one. Ankals were law in a pavilion, so how could they go about this without dooming the rest of the family? They all, Issy especially, knew this could not continue, but...

The woman sat up on the matt, the blanket falling around her waist. She was surprisingly quiet during this adjustment, eventually getting to her feet and only taking the blanket with her as a courtesy to the pair. The soles of her feet did not make much in the way of noise after she halted a few feet from them both, clearing her throat, and saying "I most certainly do not doubt who it is that strikes me, Fallan." She said in crisp, but tired Common. "His name is Cotice Autumnrun, his brother is Corsal. They went on the bison hunt earlier in the season. Tay and I played in the first snow during it." She looked over at the woman, smiling at the fun they'd had.

"I don't know what to do about it beyond what must be done...His family are good and kind and Corsal has been consoling, but they worry for the bastard." She looked away and down, her brow knitting in wary frustration and anger. "String him by his gut for all I care; they all think he's sick or some nonsense." When her eyes rose, they pleaded with the man, imploring through her gaze an alien look from the wild spirit that had flushed dove in the swamps and helped them bring down a rabid boar what, to her, felt decades ago. This was a look of desperation and misery in a shifter who had known love in her bondmate and the joy of freedom. But even Issy knew they likely would not let her just walk out of the tent-city once the debacle was over. As far as they were concerned, she carried one of THEIRS. No freedom would come until it was born, and even then...

The woman sighed and held the blanket around her with one hand, the other brushing through the slightly tangled mop of dark hair on her head. "Fallan, will you mind if I remain here until it is settled? I think I can shift one last time and just sleep in the corner if that suits." She let her eyes drift to Tay. "I know what you said, but I really don't mind. The grass is usually more comfortable to me anyways." Issy tried to smile in reassurance, but it still looked forced and fake.

The number of Shifts she'd done over the course of the season had been plentiful enough. Her urge to was muted by the pregnancy, but her fight-or-flight instinct was not, and every attack summoned the flight a little more, encouraging her to it without a care to the life she carried. When it came down to it, Issy would most certainly force an abortion if her life was that much endangered. Tonight had very nearly come to that point.

[Taylani]

Taylani sighed a grateful sound when Fallan pulled her into him. So familiar, his strength had carried her through much in their short time together, and only just now was starting to overshadow his behavior and actions when they had first met. For a long moment she simply wanted to stay in his arms, comforted and try to hold on to what little naivete she had left after spending nearly two seasons in the harsh reality of the world. She had finally began to learn just how sheltered she had been in Syliras, Isedan's situation driving the lessons home.

But the comfort was not meant to last for there was still the matter to deal with. She knew, though Isedan likely did not, that Cotice, Corsal and perhaps even Tudav would be able to find her here easily. Though she stepped back so that Fallan could react as he wanted, her hand slid down his arm to tangle her fingers within his fingers, squeezing gently. She had been his companion for two seasons, and she recognized the anger that bloomed in his eyes. Her own anger rising in response, though muted some what by concern for the kelvic.

Concern that only raised higher when Isedan rose from the bedroll and spoke. "I trust Isedan to know that she is not carrying tales. Sharika had to heal her wounds, but when she came while you were gone to the Bison herd she had bruises then too." Taylani smiled bitterly, mostly because she had allowed Isedan to convince her to be quiet about the abuse. Guilt rose anew, and it was this guilt that drove her conviction even further. "Of course you can stay here, and no you will not be shoved into some corner." Perhaps she shouldn't be so free in offering the bedroll, technically it was Fallan's but she turned her blue eyes back up to meet Fallan's grey eyes. Searching his face for approval. "Fallan, we can't go to your father but.. there are other Ankals are there not? That will know what to do?" Taylani did not understand Drykas hierarchy past the Ankal and his pavilion. She had no idea how the Drykas dealt with an Ankal gone too far.

[Fallan Windchaser]

It was a struggle not to be impulsive yet the new information was not giving him any new options. He trusted Tay on her word and had not considered that she might attempt to mislead him and if she said that Isedan was unlikely to be lying then he accepted that as the truth.

Tay was right, he could not go to his father, that option was not possible even though he might wish it, but then Ankal was not a formal position and perhaps these two had not quite appreciated the truth of that.

He smiled reassuringly at Isedan, a dip of his head acknowledging her and her words, and he attempted to modify his tone and think more clearly so that he did not upset her further. "Thank you Isedan. Welcome stay here. Not need change, rest, save energy for healing." He knew as well as Tay did that her Pavilion could and would track her when the time came to it, and clearly they did not wish rid of her just yet for all that they used violence upon her, accidents could be arranged all easily if that were the case.

Her words though had made clear the truth of the situation and given him a more clear understanding of the dynamics of her pavilion. He could understand how family ties had caused them to overlook their responsibilities for it was an ugly choice, but then if Tay had noticed and the healer had noticed then so too must have others in the Clan. They had condemned themselves by their lack of action and removed themselves from an ability to interfere.

He was clear in his mind about what needed to happen and confident as to the grounds of it, but he was unwilling to leave their guest alone for several reasons not the least of which was the risk of her Ankal appearing whilst he was gone and he might attempt to use force to retrieve his property since he clearly was not concerned about what was acceptable by custom.

He spoke directly to Tay now, "Fallan deal with problem. Tay stay with Isedan?" He would not force her to this but he saw no other good option.

[Khida]

Isedan Autumnrun

Should you return, PM me and I'll grade your posts.

Taylani

Should you return, PM me and I'll grade your posts.

Fallan Windchaser

Skill	Points
Law	+1
Observation	+1
Politics	+1
Socialization	+1
Wilderness Survival	+1

• Autumnrun: Pavilion of the Emerald Clan
• Isedan Autumnrun: a mistreated Kelvic captive
• Proper behavior of a Pavilion towards its members
• Survival: firelight degrades night vision

Notes

A pity this thread was cut so short! I really would've liked to have seen Fallan 'deal' with this problem. I awarded Politics and Law here for the situation and Fallan's recognition of Pavilion and Clan dynamics. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade.