As the silence continued, the bat gave his eyes a tour around the cave, soaking up the details, the patterns of the rock-walls, the shadows flickering, cast by the ever-changing flames, the tunnels stretching out to other parts of the woman’s home. It seemed like a nice place to stay, a bit bare, like Kelski had stated before, but he didn’t mind, it felt really homey. However, that might have been because he was quite fond of caves, their coolness and quiet, the rough but comfortable walls and ceilings and the darkness that almost all of them possessed, as well as the occasional dripping sound of water falling down in tiny droplets and joining its compatriots below.
One hand wiped a wet strand of hair out of his face while he shuffled closer to the orange with yellow flames, the heat washing over him with a gentle stroke, crackling happily and telling stories of warmth and comfort. While the fire indeed provided warmth, the thief felt like his eyes were running dry, so he closed them quickly, actually liking the feel of the hot flames near his wet skin which he couldn’t see. So comfortable…. So soothing…. So lulling …. He could fall asleep any chime, he realized while the gentle caress and breath of the flames sang him into slumber, his mind fuzzy.
Tired… Walking had been tiring, shifting had burned some energy as well, and food, yes, he needed food. That thought and the gnawing sensation in his belly kept him awake, and though it wasn’t a gentle prod to wake him, it worked quite well. “I think rat is fine. I could eat just about anything right now,” he grinned slowly, slumber tugging at his eyelids, but the wonderful scent of the stew holding them in place. “Yea, rat’s alright.” He nodded sleepily, not really being fully awake anymore and though he did hear what the like-bird-smelling Kelski spoke of, he had a hard time processing it, until he decided that this couldn’t go on like this, quite annoyed himself. As quick as possible he returned to his original position, a bit further of the fire, not too far for the heat to vanish before it reached him, but not too close so it wouldn’t wash over him with all its sleep inducing powers.
All of a sudden, more or less awake once more, he found the conversation revolving about bread, which was quite the change. Though, since it was along the lines of food, he did not really care, it wasn’t too drastic. If she would have been talking about … Artificial manufactured humans –whatever those even were- or so he would have objected. “Bread huh? No, I can’t bake bread… I can’t cook either, so that’s no surprise really. I do like bread though, there are quite a few stands at the Azure that sell bread, some good, others nasty, but yeah. I should learn how to cook one day too… this dependence on merchants and money isn’t really something I like… Depending on my skills on the other hand is quite a different matter.” He beamed the woman with the bird scent a secretive smile.
About that, no one smelled so much like bird and so strongly. Not to mention that the cave too smelled like it and that there had been bird poop outside, if he hadn’t known better, he would have thought she took care of several of the feathery flying creatures, but her movements –or rather, the lack of them- as well as her nonexistent reaction to his nudity led to one conclusion. A conclusion that was quite easy to reach actually if one knew what they were looking for. Kelvic, definitely Kelvic.
Kelski scurried about the cave, one moment stirring the stew, then off to search something to return with a spoon and bowl which she handed to him. A nod of appreciation was her reward, and he watched as she returned to her own spot near the fire, warm and relatively close to him, yet far away still, precaution no doubt. A brief chuckle escaped him, not too trusting she was, huh? It was a good thing, Brandon should actually try and follow her example more while interacting with people, it certainly couldn’t cause him harm.
“Define long. I have been living here for one third of my life as of yet, having arrived only last Summer. While I wouldn’t say that I am new, I haven’t been here for that long a while either, but I do know that Lhavit is a good place for our kind. That is, if you don’t do naughty things…” he laughed again, enjoying himself quite a bit, but got serious soon after. “People don’t mind us, we are treated like equals here, more or less, I have heard that there is even one of us revered as one of the top-rank people in the Library, though I don’t know who and if that’s the truth. I just heard. Mind though, it’s not like people like us. As per usual, it’s probably the same anywhere we go that we are not fully trusted. In public we are treated here the same as anyone else –if they know what we are of course. But that isn’t necessarily what happens in private. The same goes for people’s minds. Some think we are nothing more than filthy beasts, animals. That we are stupid and can’t reason. The usual.” Another grin and a shrug. “I haven’t told anyone that resides in the city yet, and I do not plan on doing so. I see no reason why I should and don’t really think it matters. Besides, people don’t really like us walking around naked in public, so they don’t need to know, right?”
He silenced himself as he noticed the female Kelvic voice the exact same feeling that once had inspired him to set off on a journey across Mizahar, a journey that had ended sooner than expected as the crystal city had become too much a home to leave. Still though, it was but for a short while longer that he would stay, when the time was right –and that would be soon- he’d leave and continue his trek. The feeling had been explained by his mother a long time ago, a feeling that he had found natural but scary from the tick he’d started feeling it. But never had he been worried like Kelski seemed to be right now.
“I do know that feeling indeed, so did my mother and my father too, probably. I assume that all of us know it, but we don’t always know what it means until we find what we seek. This was the case with my mother.”He fell silent for a period, wondering if the stew was almost done cooking and continued: “She once explained that it is because we are not complete, that which –or rather who we are looking for will fill the gap, the itching emptiness, the feeling that something is missing. She said that we are indeed –it’s just like you worded it- drawn to the people. She did not know why or how, but just that that’s what it is. We have to find someone, someone we care for, someone we’d die for, someone we respect, trust and love. Someone who deserves our utmost loyalty and support. Someone to bond with.” He gave her an understanding smile and sighed deeply. “That is also the very reason I ever left my own cave. That and my thirst for adventure.” |
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