[The Passenger Quay] Going Home to a Strange Place (Open)

[Galio Keln]

Season of Summer, Day 45, 511 AV The passenger quay felt warm and solid beneath his feet as he walked, a surprising difference to the cold sea winds. Galio let a small smile form as it slowly dawned on him that he was no longer on a ship, no more rocking, no more salt water, no more sickening salt water fish. Thoughts of food and filling his stomach slowly formed in his mind and then his sense came back, bringing back reality with it. The other passengers from the boat he had been on were already walking down the quay, towards an inn at the end of the quay. With a sudden rush of excitement he took off down the quay to the end. Memories of when he was younger began to form, yet as he looked at the different buildings he began to notice that things seemed a bit…different then how he remembered them. Slowing his pace he stopped as realization that he could only recognize a few buildings. All the excitement evaporated from him as his mind began to rethink his situation. Moving to the edge of the quay he sat down and let his legs hang over the edge just above the water. Looking up he stared towards the groups of people, trying to catch the eye of anyone who might notice his distress.

[Syllke Skyglow]

Syllke had not got far along this first leg of his venture out into the world beyond Avanthal, before he came to a rather abrupt halt. At times, the young Vantha could be quite absorbed in examining some aspect of his environment to the exclusion of all else. As he was walking up the passenger quay, though, his head was swiveling back and forth like a weather vane in a good breeze, trying to see everything at once. When his dark eyes fell on the other boy, his gaze locked on the face beneath the rather ruffled, windblown brown hair. Syllke was for the most part kind hearted and empathetic, and the worry he saw etched there in those features brought his feet to a stop in mid-step. He looked over his shoulder to the little boat used to ferry the passengers to the pier, and already the sailors manning it were making ready to shove off. Wondering if perhaps the boy was distressed over something maybe left behind, or unaccounted for among his things, Syllke’s face turned once again to his ex-fellow passenger. If that was the cause for that unhappy expression, the guy had better get moving to flag down the sailors before they were gone.

At that moment, the boy’s eyes caught Syllke observing him. Smiling, Sllke stepped over, but didn’t sit down, still thinking perhaps some action was called for to remedy whatever the problem was.

“Hey. Is something wrong?” He asked, his voice friendly, concerned, ready to help. “Are you missing something? I think I was about the last one out of the boat – I didn’t see anything down under the seats.” His gaze went back to the sailors who had the boat untied. “If you need to go and look, you better do it quick. I think they’re just about ready to leave.”

[Galio Keln]

Galio slowly shook his head, he stopped taking a moment to look at Syllke. He recognized him from the boat, but couldn’t quite place his name. The first thing he noticed where his eyes, which seemed to change color along with their almond shape. He could tell right away that he wasn’t a Kelvic like himself, though he couldn’t quite place exactly what this other boy was. His body build didn’t give of any clues as well, his body was lean and toned, giving off the impression that he was someone who worked in the sun for long days on end. “No I didn’t leave anything on the boat.” He gestured to his bag which was on his back and had everything he owned in it, including his father’s fishing pole that protruded from it awkwardly. “I’m looking for someone, though I am somewhat lost…” He smiled as the irony of him being lost came to mind, and then once again the smile faded. “I used to live here. But everything is different from when I was last here. I’m just not quite sure what to do anymore…”

[Syllke Skyglow]

Syllke nodded, with an odd twist to his lips that, for him, was meant to be a sign of yeah, I hear ya friend, as he smiled down at the boy.

“I wish I could help you out, but I’m brand new here myself.” His gaze switched to the individuals who were moving to and fro about them. “Were they supposed to meet you here? The one you’re looking for?” He looked again at the boy who indeed had an air of being more than a bit lost, though perhaps not just in terms of his physical location. “My name is Syllke, by the way.” He smiled. “Obviously from Avanthal. You don’t have the look of a Vantha about you. Are you Denvali?”

Syllke gazed about them again, as he added, “I’m sure we could find someone to get you pointed in the right direction. Where are you headed?”

[Galio Keln]

“Well I’m glad I met you Syllke, my name is Galio” He grinned sheepishly before answering his other questions. “Along time ago I considered myself Denvali, but in truth I’m a Kelvic. I haven’t lived here all my life like a real Denvali.” He raised his hand, gesturing to his bearlike eyes. Which now seemed clearly evident of his true nature as a bear. “I’m looking for my sister, Luna…though she wasn’t suppose to meet me here at the Quay, just here in Denval. We didn’t really specify a time and place. So I guess I should be trying to find out if she’s still here in the city.”

[Syllke Skyglow]

Galio’s revelation that he was Kelvic didn’t come as a surprise – his race was common enough in Avanthal, especially those who took the form of polar bears. The eyes indeed were not typical for a human, and Syllke had already admired their unusual hue. What animal form the Kelvic possessed, though, wasn’t entirely apparent. The fact that he was wandering about, apparently without a bondmate or master, was perhaps more unusual, but not unheard of.

“It all sounds very fluid.” Syllke said with his almost always present smile. “If she wasn’t expecting you, then perhaps a little walk around the town might reveal if she is actually in Denval or not. Or you could sit and wait, here – but you might be sitting a very long while.” He laughed softly. He gestured with his head towards the road leading up the hill. “All roads lead to Denval, or in this case, the one road. Come on, if you want to walk with me. I’d be happy of the company. It couldn’t possibly take very long to see the entire town – it’s pretty small from what I hear.”

He looked again at Galio. “Is your sister Kelvic as well? Maybe she is a seal and that’s why you’re sitting here, hey?” He was only teasing of course, though sometimes other people did not know quite how to take some of the Vantha’s offhand comments.

[Galio Keln]

Galio narrowed his eyes at the seal joke, though as realization that Syllke was joking came to him and they softened. He thought for a moment, trying to think of a fitting comeback. "If my sister was a seal I'd probably eat her before I went trekking across the world to find her. I myself am a grizzly, and if I'm correct my northern cousins do in fact eat seals. Luna is a wolf, she'd probably eat you for thinking she was a seal." He smiled widely before imitating that he was biting down on a seal. He laughed before standing up and turning directly towards Syllke. "I'd be glad to join you, I have a feeling I won't be finding Luna here on the Quay. Though I must ask, what could prompt you to be so nice to a total stranger like myself?"

[Syllke Skyglow]

Syllke laughed. “Yes, seals are a favorite meal for your white cousins – and me too. Fermented seal flippers are amazing.” As Galio stood, Syllke shouldered his pack and they began walking towards the road that led upwards. “I’m afraid I wouldn’t make much of a meal for your sister, though. Kinda skinny.” Syllke smiled broadly. “But if we run into her, you’ll be sure to point out that we are on friendly terms, yeh? Just in case.” He looking sideways at the boy who walked besides him, and he considered Galio’s question. It seemed quite odd to him, so it took a moment for the Vantha to answer it. His eyebrows had come down in a slight frown of puzzlement. “You aren’t a complete stranger – we’ve traveled together from Avanthal, though we didn’t get to know one another. And . . . if I don’t reach out to touch those I don’t know, well . . . I will never get to know anyone, will I?” The concept of not befriending strangers was just totally foreign to Syllke. The Vantha welcomed newcomers to their holds with open arms, generally – unless they already knew a reason why they should not. There weren’t even really any inns in Avanthal, visitors were usually housed with willing families in their various holds – their homes. So . . . why would he not befriend the Kelvic? He gave the boy a direct look. “It doesn’t bother you does it? I don’t know how else I would be.”

[Galio Keln]

Galio could only smile as he listened to Syllke. It was exactly the kind of answer he was looking for, the kind of answer you would expect from a Vantha. He thought back to this time on the ship, he had spent more time cursing at the ocean and trying to hold down his lunch than paying any attention to his fellows on board. “Well I guess you got me there, don’t worry I don’t think Luna would really eat you. No it didn’t really bother me, even if you were a slave trader or something I’d be more than willing to eat you if you meant me any harm.” He grinned, his bearlike eyes standing out more the usual once more. Galio knelt down removing his own pack, after checking it he stood placing it back on as he rose. “Sorry if it bothered you for me to ask, but I have to be careful you know? Being a Kelvic with wanderlust I mean. Most people see a Kelvic like me walking about without a bondmate or master and instantly think they’re going to get a new pet.” He laughed as they walked, thinking about what they’d discover in the city. It was going to be like coming to a new place again, even though he’d already been here and lived here for at least half his life.

[Syllke Skyglow]

As they began to walk up the road that wound its way up the cliff, Syllke looked about eagerly, trying to absorb everything – everything. His feet didn’t exactly tingle with the rush of energy he felt in his soles, but he smiled brightly. The sun above was warm, the people mingling with them chattered in a friendly manner. Life was good – and he was on his way, with a new companion at his elbow.