Open [Sharai Peak] Summer Wind

[Kelski]

Timestamp: 1st of Summer, 515AV

Sharai Peak was Kelski's favorite hangout. There were long sloped fields and glass domes everywhere that grew food year round. Now that the heat of summer was upon Lhavit, the domes had their crystalline windows thrown open to evacuate as much heat as possible because the fragile plants inside would burn up otherwise. Kelski tipped her face to the sky. She didn't like Zintia Peak with all its hustle and bustle though she had to go there for work.

Not today though. Today was a work free day and one she could use however she wanted too. As usual, she'd started out with no plan, having just decided to take a walk and clear her mind. Sharai peak was good for that with its winding trails weaving through pastures and between hothouses. There was even a city center where she'd purchased a spot and was having a building built. It was ambitious for a jeweler, but she didn't want to be under her Master's thumb forever. Li was a good man, but he was ancient even by Lhavitian standards and enjoyed being in the throng of the crowd on the other peak. Kelski liked the quieter life. And what she wanted to build here in Lhavit was different, more kelvic thought driven, than what most people would have thought.

She wanted a quiet place where people could go to relax. There would be music sometimes, and the strange poetic spoken words of those who loved writing others. It would be a place for professional people and commoners alike. Kelski had it all thought up in her mind. But making it a reality was more difficult. And so she wandered, getting to know Sharai Peak's layout. She even ventured close to where the slopes dropped off into wildlands. The Misty Peaks didn't even have lines of separation here sometimes. They simply all blended together with pasture transitioning to steep forested slopes that plunged downward to the sea.

It was down there somewhere that Kelski made a home for herself, having moved into a deep cave and furnished it. It was the whole reason why she liked Sharai Peak better too. It was closer to home and easier on feet when wings would not be appropriate.

There was a small well at a crossroads. The roads were lined with stone fences made of piled up rocks. Kelski drew a bucket, drank deeply, and climbed one of the stone fences to perch on top and bask in the sun a moment. She'd wandered enough and though now hungry, had grown to appreciate just watching the world go by at times. Night would be even better. Her perch would show a thousand stars and maybe even the moon as well.

But in the here and now, in the early morning light, the kelvic just sat up top the stone fence and watched butterflies float by. She listened to bird song and sunbathed, content in letting the day progress as it saw fit. Okomo grazed in the background, their soft sounds almost musical. It was a perfect day, especially since the watchstones had flared and summer was now upon Mizahar.

[Fehn]

Summer was finally here and Fehn was relieved. The previous season had been one of the strangest times in his life. Leaving his home spontaneously, the young man had experienced emotions he never knew existed. Life was simple before; it was just a matter of doing what you were told. But for once, he felt free. He knew that he could choose his own path in life, which is something much more difficult to do in Wind Reach. With this notion in his head, he wandered Lhavit, basking in the openness of the inhabited peaks.

This particular morning, his wanderings took him to the far peak of Sharai. This was by far one of Fehn's favorite peaks. He would have like to been able to live there. The other peaks were much too busy for Fehn. The large crowds of people were just too overwhelming. There seemed to be no sense of community in Lhavit, just a mix-match of peoples focused only on their own daily living. However, Sharai was different.

The peak consisted mostly of agriculture. There were clear hot-houses scattered about that helps maintain the plants and vegetables which support the city. It seemed to be one of the only places in Lhavit with a proper function. Although, this was not the reason for Fehns attraction to the peak. Fehn was more concerned with the nature around Sharai.

The area was a special place where many elements met. To the north, the mountain sloped off into wilderness: tall trees, rocks, and a large assortment of wildlife. The terrain below attracted Fehn, but he would not dare to go there on his own. He was curious by nature and he wanted to explore the world below. Maybe after some time in Lhavit he would be comfortable with his skill and knowledge to do so. Adjacent to the wilderness was the ocean as far as Fehn could see. He could stand on the peaks and watch the wind's control over the waves. They swayed back and forth and crashed along the edges of the cliff. Opposite of the wilderness was the misty peaks. They were a whole different type of attraction. Fehn would have loved to venture them and climb as far as he could manage, but recent tragic events but a damper on those thoughts. They were tall, mysterious, and beautiful. One day he would go there as well but this day Fehn was far too happy to long for such things.

When Fehn arrived to Sharai peak, he took in the familiarity of the nature scene. There were the usual few workers about tending to their crops. The Okomo grazed and bleated in their easy manner. Fehn walked down a narrow road until he came upon a well.

He squinted towards the sun and saw the silhouette of a woman with long, dark hair sitting atop a fence made of rocks.

Since he had arrived in Lhavit, Fehn hadn't made the effort to reach out to anyone. His usual relaxed facade was replaced with distress and confusion. During the first morning of summer, Fehn felt more like his old self. He felt confident and happy. He smiled and without thinking, made an attempt to interact with the unknown woman.

Fehn made a sharp bird call to get the woman's attention. “Hey, what's a lovely thing like you doing up there?” he called out. For all he knew, the person on the rocks might have been a young girl or a slender man, but he didn't think so. The shape was much too feminine and pronounced.

[Kelski]

The man's approach didn't disturb Kelski. She'd never had cause in Lhavit to fear a strangers approach. The Kelvic did however slowly lower her head from where it was tilted towards the sun and eye him carefully. Her gaze was perhaps hidden by the sun framing her, but if he could see then he'd note her steel grey eyes were curious and not concerned at all.

So few people ever took the time to talk to her.

She shifted her stance until her feet were under her and she was more perched than sitting uptop the stone fence. The girl gave herself an all over shake, like a bird ruffling its feathers to settle them, and offered him a flash of bright white teeth. Her smile ws bright and quick, not unfriendly but not exactly welcoming. It was as if she had no clue how to greet him.

She tried though.

"The watchstone changed color. It's summer now. I like how we mark time with them. I was telling the sun how welcome it is and how I am going to enjoy the long warm days and short cool nights." The girl explained, rubbing her thighs a moment and resting her hands on her knees. She was standing on the fence now, her legs tucked down so her rump ws perfectly balanced on her heels.

"It's a good day to be out doing anything other than work, no? I usually work, but today is my free day and I have nothing to do. So I decided to come here and look around. I was thining someday I might want a home here.... on this peak instead of the one where I work. There are too many people there. I like it here better. Okomo are good company." The kelvic said. She moved then, lightly leaping off the stone fence and finding her feet under her as she hit the soft dirt of the path.

"I'm Kelski." She offered simply, in the way of an introduction.

[Fehn]

Fehn

The woman atop the fence acknowledged Fehn's presence. Her greeting was unlike anything Fehn had expected. She had explained her reasons for being on the peak in a matter-of-fact tone that was nothing but honest. She didn't seem uncomfortable, just a little awkward. She seemed to talk a lot with the air of someone who doesn't socialize often. The woman seemed to be unconcerned with the world around her and simply content with her own life.

As Fehn looked more closely at the silhouette on the fense, he noticed a pale figure with long dark hair. She appeared to be pleasant enough, though she only smiled for a brief moment. She was perched upon the stone much like a bird, Fehn thought. The resemblance was obvious when she had shook her body before speaking. It was just as many birds do when they ruffle their feathers. Fehn spent much time around the birds of Wind Reach, so it is not a surprise that the presence of the person in front of him was comforting.

The woman explained how she preferred Sharai due to the lack of people, and Fehn instantly smiled at their mutual feelings toward Lhavit. He was glad he had approached this person. People were often turned off by Fehn's forwardness, but this woman was different. She had a confidence that didn't transfer over to arrogance and seemed content to speak with him.

The pale woman climbed down from the fence and introduced herself as Kelski.

“My name is Fehn,” he replied with a smile. “Pleased to meet you.”

Normally when Fehn met new people, he'd attempt to make subtle jokes to try and win their favor, but he was swayed by the bird-like Kelski's honest behavior. She didn't look like someone would be affected by such social intricacies.

“Would you like to spend this fine summer day with me?” he asked. Kelski seemed like someone he would enjoy spending time with, so he asked this honestly. It may have still been a little forward, but he returned friendliness with friendliness and sincerity with sincerity. “I also enjoy Sharai and the company of the animals,” he added.

[Kelski]

The Kelvic smiled at the man again, this time tilting her head to the right slightly as if in consideration of his name. "Fehn." She said, then nodded, as if somehow inserting it into her memory or making a note of his nae and linking it to his face. The woman wasn't what one would consider guarded. Her expressions crossed her face in an animated fashion so her thoughts were easier to follow than perhaps a more sophisticated or fully human person would be.

"I do not know if I am glad to meet you yet or not. But if we spent today together, then for sure I could say more about that when the sun sets." Kelski added, looking a little puzzled as to why he was pleased to have her name. "So yes... I'd like to spend the day with you. I like having free days, but sometimes they are lonely. At least if I am at work, I have Master Li to talk too." Kelski said, glancing around and then meeting Fehn's gaze again. She was watchful, in the way of a predator, but not overly concerned with what was going on around her. It was more force of habit than anything else.

"I had no plans for the day. I know people make plans, but I am not very good at being like the other people here yet. I tried to make plans, but my feet wanted to roam and so they took me off to this place. I should have planned better because now I am hungry and thirsty and have a lack of an idea what to do." Kelski said, wondering if she should offer to take him hunting. She could fish as well, and truthfully that's what she had a taste for today.

"The other peaks have places to eat. You give them coin and they give you food. It is a good set up if you don't feel like hunting. Today I'd rather have fish. Salmon sounds good, but a fat trout or two would be nice as well. I thought maybe.... go fishing for something. Cook... then relax. I'm learning to swim at the hot springs. Have you ever been there? It's further down the mountains on the trail of Waterfalls. We could go there... through the woods. Or we can go back to another peak. I don't know much about spending the day with someone else. I'm sorry if that makes me bad company. I would very much like to be good company but I've had very little practice." The woman said, reaching up and pushing her mass of hair out of her eyes. Kelski had dark hair but it faded to snow white on some of her tresses. It marked her either as eccentric or inhuman. And so far she showed no signs of vanity that would lead to the unusual coloration being cosmetic.

"Are you even hungry?" She asked suddenly, as if the thought just crossed her mind that he might not be. Just because she was hungry didn't mean necessarily that he was. Kelvics were big eaters usually. They needed the food to fuel their shifts. Kelski was no exception. She could eat all day long happily and not get full or fat.

"What do you like to do? I should have asked you. I'm bad at this..." Kelski said, opening her hands in a gesture of apology.

[Fehn]

Fehn

The more Kelski spoke, the more unusual she seemed. It wasn't something that bothered Fehn. In truth, he found it to be intriguing. It was often easy to predict people's reactions in common social settings, but this woman was an exception. She appeared to be trying hard to socialize, making suggestions for things to do and then almost unsure if it was an appropriate thing to say. Fehn thought it rather amusing.

When Kelski met Fehn's eyes, a wave of understanding washed over him. She had the sharp steel-gray stare of a hawk. Or an eagle. They weren't the eyes of a human, they were much too aware. Fehn wasn't too sure what Kelski was at all. She had the eyes of an animal and some coloring in her hair suggested that she was of a foreign race. If Fehn had been more cultured he might have distinguished her as Kelvic, but he was much too ignorant of the world's different inhabitants. What these signs did tell Fehn was that the woman lacked an understanding of human social skills because she was not human.

Another person might have been dissuaded to continue interacting with Kelski out of fear or disinterest, but this wasn't the case for Fehn. The man didn't seem threatened by her. She was different, but not intimidating. Some animals and birds are often misunderstood because of their differences, so the same could be true for Kelski.

As the woman mentioned getting something to eat, Fehn's stomach rumbled. He'd been eating rather poorly since he had come to Lhavit. He had a limited supply of money and one way he decided to make it last was to cut back on food.
“No, No, I'd like to go fishing,” Fehn replied. “Although...” he said a little embarrassed. “I've only ever fished once before. I wouldn't mind trying it again, though.” He was a little more selective of his words this time, knowing that Kelski might understand them differently. “And don't worry, I think your company will suit me just fine. I've been wanting to see some things outside of the city, but haven't had anyone to go with. I'm too unfamiliar with the area to go alone.”

At the thought of spending time away from the business of Lhavit fishing and swimming, Fehn was genuinely excited. It sounded like a wonderful way to spend the first day of summer. Fehn loved nature. He enjoyed the mountains and the trees, the sea and the springs, and he also enjoyed all the wildlife that could be seen. He smiled at Kelski, happy to have met someone so friendly. “Since you look like you're more familiar with this place, I'll let you lead.”

[Kelski]

The Kelvic decided she liked the man. It wasn't anything he said, but it was more the body language he displayed as he stood there talking to her in an easy going manner that really didn't cause her any concern. She liked that he listened carefully to her words. She also liked that his voice wasn't harsh and that he tended not to interrupt her.

That feeling of acceptance was really all Kelski needed to decide that fishing with Fehn would be relaxing and maybe even fun.

"Sure... do you mind following me?" She said, brushing off her pants and glancing around as if getting her bearings. She tilted her head, got a reading on the sun and nodded. If Fehn seemed agreeable, the kelvic would start out at a confident pace. She knew her way around Sharai Peak, only for the fact that she spent a great deal of time there. Kelski took them on Okomo trails, the one easily hiked, and headed for the edge of one of the cliffs that lead down into the misty peaks. One could descend off the peaks if one knew the woods well enough. The Kelvic did. She'd roamed far and wide since she'd arrived at Lhavit. It was probably the only thing she could really competently talk about to the stranger.

"I haven't always lived here. I just came here less than a year ago..." Kelski started to talk as she walked, wanting to practice making a conversation with the new person. Maybe he'd even want to be friends? The Kelvic didn't want to hold her breath on that one. Lhavit was filled with strangers who were all strangers to each other. It was, by and large, the strangest thing she'd ever seen.

"I spent a long time wandering around on this peak and in the woods... I know an easy trail down and a stream that has fat trout in it usually. Unless you don't like trout? Kelski asked, not sure if that ever happened or not. "We could go to the beach or the river and fish for rock fish or salmon." The Kelvic said, knowing it was a long way down, but downhill was easy. They could take the beach ot the port and head back up to the peaks via Okomo if he tired easily.

Soon they passed through tall grass fields on top of the flat peak and out into more woodland. They took deer trails and sometimes cut down rock slides, carefully picking their footing as they headed downhill. The kelvic was confident as to where she was going. And she was a courteous hiking companion. She waited for him often and seem to try and pick the easiest routes rather than the most direct.

"Your .... language.... I don't know the word for it. The way you speak...." Kelski started out when there was a lull in the conversation. "It sounds different than most people here. Are you from elsewhere too?" She asked, not sure if it was polite to do so or if she would be stepping on his toes. He didn't look different from the people of Lhavit. Nor did he sound THAT different.... but there was something about his accent she couldn't place.

"I came from Alvadas. But I was born on the sea. I was supposed to sail places and have blue eyes and worship Laviku. But that didn't happen. My eyes turned grey. So my parents left me in Alvadas. But I didn't much care for it, so one day when I heard someone talking of Lhavit, it sounded good to me. A city in the sky appealed to me. So I came here and have been trying ot figure it out ever since." She said, pausing to stretch and take a break to catch her breath after scrambling down a particularly steep section of the little deer trail they were on.


"We are almost there..." She said, knowing they'd come off the mountain quite a bit since they'd started. Fehn probably wouldn't doubt it. They had chased streams heading off the mountain, cascading in beautiful little waterfalls and gleaming with icy cold water. It was the type of thing that indicated fishing at sea level or just slightly above would be good.

[Fehn]

Fehn

As the two new acquaintances hiked down the mountain they made simple conversation. Kelski talked about her familiarity with the peak. Fehn mostly nodded and listened. He envied the woman's knowledge about the mountain. Kelski seemed very comfortable hiking down the peak, and Fehn hoped that after this hike he'd be a little more comfortable himself. All the while they were chatting, Fehn looked all around, taking in the sights and landmarks on the Okomo trails. When they went further down the misty peaks, he spotted a few various birds and some rodents in and around the trees. Even though Lhavit was a small walk away, it felt like an entirely different world.

Just as Fehn suspected, Kelski was great company. She steadily tried to be courteous. Not in an annoying way, just little things like slowing down so he could keep up, or making sure he liked trout. Her friendliness was simply a pleasure. She moved quick down the paths and in the woods as if it was natural to her. If she was awkward in social situations, she made up for it with her navigation and hiking skills.

After a moment of silence between the two, Kelski asked him if he was from outside of Lhavit. That was always the question he hated to answer. Talking about his reasons for leaving Wind Reach made him so emotional that he often tend to avoid the subject in conversation. He was about to say something when Kelski continued speaking. Fehn sensed that she did this as a reproach, knowing she might have asked something he didn't feel comfortable answering.

“I came from Alvadas,” the dark-haired woman said. “But I was born on the sea. I was supposed to sail places and have blue eyes and worship Laviku. But that didn't happen. My eyes turned grey. So my parents left me in Alvadas.”

Realization struck Fehn like an arrow to a deer. Of course her eyes turned grey. He had heard stories as a child in Wind Reach that told of creatures that were born human and then turn into animals. They were called Kelvic. He was told that you could be born a normal person and then be able to shift back and fourth from an animal a few days later. He was told that they always keep one part of the animal, such as the eyes, while in human form, though he doubted this part until now. When Fehn was young he always held on to the imagination that he could be Kelvic and transform into one of the great Wind Eagles. He'd never actually seen one of the Kelvic before, but seeing Kelski's sharp grey Eagle eyes and her strange yet fluent movements as she hiked down the mountain, he was almost sure the woman was Kelvic. Fehn felt like asking about it since Kelski seemed comfortable telling about her personal life, but he thought better of it. Besides, realization soon became overpowered by empathy. Fehn thought about what it must have felt like to know she was abandoned by her family because of her differences. He was never close to his family, but he was aware of how it feels to be abandoned and alienating and it was not a pleasant feeling.

Seeing as how Kelski openly spoke of her roots, Fehn reconsidered speaking of his own. It might not be so bad, he thought. And maybe she'll understand.

“I'm from Wind Reach,” he said. “I came to Lhavit only several weeks ago. I lived in Wind Reach all my life. As a hobby, I would climb the mountain to see the eagles in flight. One day I...” Fehn paused, recollecting himself. “I slipped and fell. I did some damage to the bones and muscles in my hand and now I can't move it.” He held his limp hand in the air, displaying its immobility. He waited to see Kelsi's response and then continued. “I was never particularly good at anything and with my hand as... useless as it is, I was likely to become a slave. The Inarta call them Dek, but to anyone else they would be called slaves. That is why I left: to start again and find what I'm meant to do.” As Fehn said this last part he ducked his head, embarrassed that he might have sounded a little too dramatic or childish. “In saying that, I am sorry to hear about your family leaving you,” he said honestly.

Fehn could feel the sweat on his forehead. It was the first time he'd spoke of his past since he came to Lhavit. He was glad to have had someone like Kelski to speak about it with, but it was still a little difficult. It might have been easier if they had continued hiking and had his mind set on another task. Unfortunately, they had stopped for a short break just before they reached the river. Fehn shook nervously as he stood next to Kelski.

[Kelski]

Th woman paused when Fehn didn't speak of his past. She was in a shadowed area that a true human would understand about. Was she overstepping her boundaries and being rude or was he just shy? The conversation moved on and then doubled back. Words were funny like that, thought the Kelvic. Some things needed to be said, and if they were unsaid, they'd work hard over and over in someone's brain to escape.

So unsure if she should pursue it further, she did what was natural to her.... investigate to satisfy her curiosity. So when Fehn's story came tumbling out his lips, she stopped, listened quietly, and gave him her full attention. She wasn't sure what Wind Reach was or why someone with a damaged hand would become a slave. But she understood the sincerity of his words. And when he lifted his hand and waved it as if to put it on display, she captured it with her own and stepped closer to have a good look at it. Kelski didn't consider it might embarrass him or be rude. She only wanted to see what he offered to show her. The Kelvic cradled his hand in one of hers and tentatively touched the damaged digits with the other. She glanced up at him, met his eyes, and then gently released his hand.

"A person is not his hand. A person is so much more than that." Kelski said, though she understood if it would have been her hand she'd have never flown again. Her fingers translated to digits that controlled fine muscle movement on her wingtips. Without them she would never get airborne.

The Kelvic swallowed.

"Why do things happen like that?" She asked softly, shaking her head and meeting Fehn's gaze again. "I understand about not wanting to be a slave. Sometimes among the svefra... my parents people... a child is born and their eyes go brown or green or even grey like mine. But that's not good enough. Blue is the color of eyes that worship Laviku, even though I've seen a stormy grey ocean. I too was a slave, Fehn. My mom traded me to a man for coins and then I worked for him the rest of his life. When he died, I came here... because I could finally. It felt good that I didn't belong to anyone here. I can see how you wouldn't want to belong here or in that place... Wind Reach.... either." She said, reaching out and squeezing his shoulder. It was a strangely comforting gesture.

Then she smiled, as if something he said only then dawned on her. "So you like watching Eagles? I might know one. A very fine Sea Eagle for all that. She's very good at fishing too." Kelski said, laughing slightly and taking him by his good hand. She tugged at him like a child would, urging him to get moving again and they descended further off the mountain.

Kels didn't say much. She was digesting what he said and trying to figure out what everything he said meant exactly. Fehn was more complicated than she suspected. The hand was a surprise. She wasn't sure how to deal with someone who wasn't exactly normal. He was a mixture... bold and shy at the same time. That confused Kelski. Usually people were easy to read, stubborn, and not surprising at all. Fehn was almost the exact opposite.

Kelski released his hand only when they burst into a clearing that flanked a hill and came out onto a wide spot where one of the streams pooled. It was a decent size, far large enough to swim in. One side was damned up with a bunch of logs that had fallen into the stream probably during a landslide. Past the log jam was a small waterfall then the stream gently fell further down the mountain. If he looked, Fehn could see the brightly colored fish glittering in the shallows.

Kelski smiled.

"We're here! How do you want to try and fish.... hook and lines or shall we dive in and throw them up on the bank if we can scoop them out?" Kelski asked, her eyes were flashing with anticipation and her mouth was pursed like a beak.... like a bird would, and glanced around as if getting her bearings and waiting for his answer.

[Fehn]

Fehn

At first, when Fehn was telling his story, he was unsure how Kelski would react. It made him unusually nervous. However, Kelski's reaction could not have been more perfect. It was both simple and uncommon.

The woman held his disabled hand in her own, inspecting it. Fehn couldn't really feel her touch aside from a light sensation. It wasn't an overstepping gesture; she merely seemed curious. When she let go of his hand, she met Fehn's eyes with her own steel gaze and said, “A person is not his hand. A person is so much more than that."

Fehn was a little shocked, though he tried not to show it. He did not expect something so profound from Kelski. She could have pitied him as a way of sympathizing, or told him it wasn't a big deal to make him feel better. But Fehn could see in her eyes that she understood exactly how severe the problem was, yet did not devalue him because of it. It took someone with real honesty to say a thing so well fitted as that. Those words were probably the only thing keeping Fehn from breaking down. Fehn could be very emotional at times.

After telling his story, Fehn stood silent, contemplating everything he was feeling. Kelski's voice filled the emptiness as she responded to what he had said. She too was a victim of unfairness. She apparently had been a slave herself for some time. Fehn hadn't expected her to be able to relate so well to what he had gone through. Who would have guessed that the woman he'd seen sitting atop the fence earlier that day could be one of the rare people to actually understand his situation. She knew how important freedom was, in the way only someone who have been stripped of freedom could understand. Kelski squeezed his shoulder and the reassurance he felt was enough to put a smile back on Fehn's face. Kelski may not have been human, but in this short period of time she reached Fehn in a way most humans cannot. “Thank you, Kelski,” Fehn whispered. “I feel better knowing you understand.” These words released something inside of him and the happiness he felt earlier in the day once again caressed his soul.

Kelski must have noticed this, for her tone seemed to change from serious to jovial. She commented on the fact that Fehn enjoyed watching the eagles and mentioned she knew a sea eagle that could fish well. She laughed, and there was a certain coyness in her voice. Fehn guessed that there might be an eagle that made a home near the area where they would fish. He looked forward to seeing it.

Now that the two were past their moment of seriousness, Kelski grabbed Fehn's right hand and lead him the rest of the way to the fishing area. This time Fehn felt her hand clasp his.

The fishing area was beautiful. They came upon a wide clearing next to a natural dam made by logs in the stream. The dam made the section of the stream appear like a small pond. Fehn looked around, taking in the sights of the waterfall past the dam and the matted grass beneath their feet. It was probably a common place to visit for the few who knew about it. It made a good place to fish, as well as a comfortable place to sit and relax next to the water. If Fehn could remember how to get here, he'd make a mental note to return sometime.

Upon reaching the stream, Kelski asked Fehn if he would prefer to fish with a line or attempt fishing with their bare hands. She seemed rather eager to get started. Something about her body language told Fehn that she would prefer to jump right in the water and fish. Fehn sort of hoped this was the case because he didn't feel confident in his fishing abilities. He'd fished with a hook and line only once before and he didn't feel like making a fool of himself.

“I think I would like to get in the water,” Fehn replied. “It is summer after all and the water looks nice. I think I might be quick enough to catch a few with my hand.” The truth was that Fehn was unsure how hard fishing with one hand might be, but he was feeling adventurous. Fehn was hardly ever afraid to try new things. More often than not, new things excited him.

After checking Kelski's approval of his answer, Fehn unbuttoned his katinu and removed his pants and boots. It would be nearly impossible to fish in his heavy Inartan attire. Eventually he'll buy some more local clothes that will blend a little more, but without a job money was somewhat of an issue. Besides, the Inarta were not overly shy about nakedness, so Fehn never considered how others might find fishing in their undergarments to be odd.

Now undressed, he strolled over to the pool, first crouching to test the water with his hand. “I think I see one already he said,” excitedly pointing to a trout he spotted. He walked in the water until it was near his waist and began sweeping his hand through the water, trying his luck at pursuing a fish. If he was more experienced with fishing he would have known the key was being calm and waiting for the right time, but experience was something Fehn lacked in regard to this discipline. When a fish came close to him, he reached deep for it, offsetting his balance. He tumbled headlong into the dammed stream. Fehn sat up in the pool, wiping the water fom his eyes. He couldn't help but laugh at his own foolishness. It was the most exciting thing he'd done since he came to Lhavit. He glanced up at Kelski, expecting her to laugh at his clumsiness as well. “I think I need some help. I've been here for less than 10 chimes and the fish are already proving smarter than me,” he said jokingly.