Goats are People Too (Pygmy)

[Khiara]

Khiara couldn't help but smile at the man again, feeling much the same about Vsenri. As long as she had him, she wasn't truely alone. Turning her gaze to Pygmy, the vanthian smiled.

"Pon would be so offended." She said lightheartedly, before adding a soft laugh. The tidal pony probably wouldn't care...that much. Vsenri would possibly disown her for an hour or so if she rode someone else..but he was a funny sort of horse. Watching Vanator as he leaned back, she nodded. He grew up on the plains? A Drykas then, from what the caravan companions said. Her smile faded a little as she looked distant her eyes wavering between violet and gold - hadn't they said too that the drykas were dangerous? Returning her gaze to Vanator, firmly violet, the smile returned. It didn't seem like he was dangerous. As he moved to scan the horizon, she noticed the inkwork across his shoulders, peeking out from under his tunic. A clanmark? Or just decorative design? Part of her felt like it had to be more important than that. Vanator did not seem the type to mark his body for the sake of artistic pleasure. Khiara's eyes followed the dryak as he turned to walk towards Vsenri, broken from her study by the mention of glassbeaks. She turned shifting gold eyes onto Pygmy with a slightly wide eyed glance. They hadn't even mentioned the glassbeaks.

As Vanator scratched Vsenri, the stallion nickered, raising his head to sniff at the man. He smelt different to Khiara, and nothing like Pygmy. This was not the same type of creature as the goat. There was a strong undercurrent of Backlash on the golden haired man, and it fascinated the white frostmarch. Nuzzling the drykas' hand, satisfied there wasn't a treat hidden in it, Vsenri snorted and returned to the grass - to hot to care to much.

Taking his hand gratefully, Khiara stood. The brief contact gave her an indication of how much better suited he was to this environment, his skin feeling cooler to her touch. Letting go, she moved towards Vsenri, releasing his reigns from the tree as Vanator addressed Pygmy. Touching the backpack secured to his saddle, she found the comforting familar shape of Eliac and The Whale. She smiled whilst the other two talked, thinking of him, wondering what he would think of all this. Turning to face the others as they waited for Pygmy to make a decision, Khiara nodded.

"I agree with Vanator. Your fast, and sturdy...but I think it would be better if you rode with one of us."

[Dhanya]

Pygmy preened as Vanator mentioned their earlier conversation, even in passing it meant he'd listened to her. The talk of monsters was a bit deflating. Was he pushing the ruse or was he telling the truth? Knowing him as well as she felt she did, she assumed that they were real. He didn't seem the type to lie. Annoying though, stupid monsters, cut down on her wandering goat time.

"Pon won't mind, he's easy going like me." He might have minded if she chose someone else while she was there but she hadn't, so it would be fine. "He and I have an understanding."

At least she assumed they did, it wasn't as though they could talk to each-other. She pouted when Vanator told her she wouldn't be able to keep up with the horses. Just because it was true didn't mean it wasn't annoying. She was some sort of magic person, why was it she couldn't outrun a horse if she could turn into a goat? Khiara salved the old wound by appealing to her vanity, as she often did to smooth Pygmy's ruffles. Khiara had the patience of a saint and the manner of an excellent school-teacher when it came to dealing with Pygmy's changing moods. It was a measure of the kindness of her spirit.

Who to choose though? She wondered if she'd had as much as she could take of Drykas riding for one day but at the same time, she would have opportunity to ride Vsenri again that she probably wouldn't with Backlash.

"This is hard!" She said, lips drawing together into a small frown, arms by her sides.

She wasn't good at making such difficult, important decisions.

"Pick a number between one and five." She said.

Chance would decide.

[Vanator]

With a subtle click of his tongue, Vanator summoned his Strider. The buckskin mare sidled to the Drykas' side, lowering her head and pressing it against his shoulder. His hand reached to her dark mane, his fingers running through the course hair. He watched Khiara approach the Frostmarch, the white animal standing out starkly against the earthy tones of the grasslands. Vsenri raised his head to greet his rider. It was obvious to the horseman that the woman and beast were close, not surprising knowing how far they had traveled together. Vanator noted her hand pressed against the hanging backpack, a lovely, longing smile crossing her face as she felt the shape of something within the pack. The distance was too far for him to see the detail of the northerner's eyes, but Vanator guessed the color had shifted as well. Pygmy's bright voice drew his attention back to the charming Kelvic and the matter of horses. He had gathered that Pon was Pygmy's mount. He wondered what breed she rode, and how the short girl managed to mount a full-sized steed. Vanator did not miss Pygmy's crestfallen frown when both humans suggested she could not keep up with the horses. Well, it was true. She was an amazinig person, indeed magical to Vanator, but prone to pouting. Another thing the Drykas quickly learned about Pygmy was her resilience and tendency to bounce back. The girl had swiftly left her insulted ego behind and turned to the critical matter of choosing a ride. When she boldly demanded that the humans pick a number, Vanator stifled a laugh. Another fact learned....Pygmy was pragmatic. "I choose four." Vanator announced, as if declaring some profound revelation. His eyes turned to Khiara with a playful grin, his rival in this numerical game for the honor of carrying their gregarious friend.

[Khiara]

Khiara watched Vanator and the buckskin mare, noticing there was a deep connection between them. She could see how the mare responded to his touch, and the ease of familiarity between them. Backlash wasn't just any horse. Looking at the landscape again, she wondered if the duo were part of a larger party - or whether this wa it. Didn't the caravan guards say the drykas were clans? Tribes? Did they often roam alone? Curiosity pulled at her...but the questions would have to wait.

Turning amused pale violet eyes on Pygmy, Khiara smiled. The goat was a smart little thing, why choose when others can help choose for you. No hurt feelings. As Vanator declared his choice, she raised an eyebrow at him and her smile turned into more of a wry grin.

"Four? A bold choice if ever there was one. I pick two." She countered, leaning slightly against Vsenri as he nudged her shoulder impatiently. Pushy stallion.

[Dhanya]

She'd picked five. The gods had chosen.

"Backlash wins, can you help me up again?" As majestic and well-spirited as bigger horses could be, she was beginning to long for Pon and his shortitude.

It didn't take much to be able to climb onto him and he was usually pretty patient about it. He would have been dwarfed by Backlash and Vsenri, though his gelded status wouldn't have stopped him from trying to boss them all around. He was a plucky pony.

It was sort of scary to get up onto Backlash's back again but it wasn't as though she could go against the laws of the number game. She did feel the advantage of tallness, even if it did feel less safe than walking on the ground. She wondered if this was how naturally tall people felt... Sort of superior, really.

She was going to have to start kicking people in the knees so she could taste that exact feeling again. She towered above approximately no one.

"Well, come on, come on, I want to swim!" She said, almost bouncing with eagerness to be moving again.

Khiara was aware that Pygmy dropped her clothing to swim. Vanator was not.

[Vanator]

Raising his fist in a dramatic affirmation of his victory, he vaulted into Backlash's yvas and reached down to hoist Pygmy up behind him. The Drykas mischievously considered sending the Strider into full gallop again, just to see the Kelvic's wide-eyed beaming grin again. But he decided against it, not wanting to leave Khiara and the Frostmarch behind. Vsenri was certainly a strong beast, but the overheated stallion could not match a running Strider on the open plains, no breed could. Reaching back to pat Pygmy on the knee, he reminded her to hold on. He glanced over at the Vantha, giving her a stern glare. "Now, stay close, its not far." Vanator's grim features broke into a subtle grin, then he turned to urge Backlash out of the depression and onto the grasslands. Nearly twenty chimes later, after the wanderers crested a low knoll, they saw the telltale line of small trees and foliage snaking across the savannah. Vanator, scanning the land around them, plainly announced, "There it is." The horseman led them to the waterway, a small, slow moving river about seven meters across. The banks were not steep, and were lined with short trees and leafless brush, still barren from the winter molting. Vanator dismounted, reaching up to take hold of Pygmy's waist and helped her down. "The water is about waist deep in the middle." He looked down at the short Kelvic girl, realizing his statement needed amended. "Or slightly higher." The Strider instinctively moved to the water's edge, lowering her head to suck up the cool running water. The Drykas slid the large battle ax from the loop in the yvas and stepped to the top of the bank, giving the horizon one more good look. It was not possible to be too diligent in the Sea of Grass.

[Khiara]

Khiara smiled as Pygmy made her choice, turning to put a foot in the stirrup and hoist her self up. Settling into the saddle, she wondered if the kelvic would be peturbed at all by the company on hand. It was obvious to the taller woman that the youthful creature had an interest in the golden haired drykas, and whilst she hardly expected modesty or a change of behaviour from Pygmy - she'd yet to experiance the goats behaviour around an attractive and interesting stranger. Meeting Vanator's eyes as he turned to warn her, the vantha saw the hint of a grin on his features and couldn't help but wonder if he was playin with her or not.

Nudging Vsenri on, she followed the strider as she carried her riders across the depression and up the slight incline. Knowing they were headed somewhere he could cool down, Khiara pushed Vsenri into a lazy gallop, black hair shimmering in a slightly violet stream behind her, sun catching the gold highlights as it bounced with each step. The air was cooler when she rode, and the young woman enjoyed stretching the frostmarch's legs. Feeling the grass swish past her breeches, she leant forward, urging the white stallion even more. It was almost a blink of an eye it seemed, before they reached the telltale signs of water. Slowing Vsenri, she stopped and dismounted, leading the huffing horse towards the stream. Taking a moment, she spoke to him in the lyrical language of her homeland, whilst moving to remove his bridle and saddle. It was going to be impossible to keep Vsenri out of the water this time, and she didn't want the leather to rot. Slapping his rump, she let him lead her this time, following his swishing tail towards the crystal waters, sparkling in the bright sunshine. Dumping the saddle and harness on the ground under a sparse tree, she paused to contemplate. The water was inviting, more than she could imagine, but the outclothes she wore were leather, the only other clothing was her light set of cloth under garments. Khiara was not used to wearing only her under garments in public - particularly in male public...but watching Vsenri as he splashed into the water and drink deeply, the vantha could almost feel the sun melting her. Discomfort won over propriety, and avoiding any glances at the drykas, she remove her leatherwear, leaving only knee length leggings and a thin cloth camosile.

Keeping her deeply purple eyes on the river, Khiara stepped in and moved deeper. The contrast of the cold water on her heated skin made the young vantha gasp quietly, before sitting in one fluid movement so only her head was above water. Instant relief washed over her, making her forget her embarassment, and with a sigh she ducked under the water. Rising with a smile, she pushed her wet tresses away and looked up the bank at the others.

"Its beautiful." She said with feeling, laughing as Vsenri pawed at the water, splashing himself with abandon - not to mention herself. Already he looked more comfortable, as the still wintery chilled water cooled his body down. To the foreigners, the was a perfect temperature, warmer by far than anything in Avanthal. Khiara waved to Pygmy and Vanator, her liquid eyes a comfortable almost lavender violet.

"Are you coming?"

[Dhanya]

Pygmy found she was better able to enjoy her second ride on a Strider. Backlash's more relaxed pace allowed her to look around her at the grass without losing her breath. She felt more as if she were the one running. It was comfortable or would have been, had she not been feeling a secondary adrenaline thrill running through her. She was going to be exhausted by nightfall.

Pygmy was running for the water as Khiara called for her and Vanator looked back out over the grass. She had none of his caution, content to rely on his as she crashed into the water. Her belt and tunic had been divested and thrown to the short, dry grass by the waterhole. One moment there was a goat paddling, then a girl again.

She liked to feel the water through her fur, though only for moments. Wet fur got old and heavy quite quickly. Pygmy rolled onto her back, floating as well as she could in the fairly shallow billabong. Water was surely a blessing.

"See any worm monster... things?" She called out to Vanator. "If you do and you beat it, I'll write a song about you. Khiara, my hair is in my face... Can you help me cut my hair later?"

She switched between topics as if they were related or even mildly important. All the shifting and riding she'd done that long day, it was tiring. If either of her two companions had seen any experience with children, they might have noticed it seemed a lot like the heightened hyperactivity young children experienced right before their energy fled and they either bustled off to bed or cracked it.

Pygmy was probably more likely to just shift back into a goat and curl up in the sun until she was rested again.

[Vanator]

The lyrical sound of a foreign tongue brought Vanator's attention back towards the water's edge. The strange but pleasant words had come from Khiara as she removed Vsenri's tack. As she looked at the water, The Drykas saw the the Vantha's hesitation, some internal debate taking place. He did glance her way as she removed her leather outer garments, noting she did not look his way. There was no playful glances or feigned coyness from Khiara. She had an air of decorum about her, maturity that her rambunctious traveling mate did not. Had she moved to disrobe any further, he would have turned away. It was obvious the woman had some modesty about her, and he would respect that. Vanator did find her form pleasing, even as the short breeches and light undergarment suggested more of the curves and lines of her body. He chuckled as she entered the chilly water with a gasp, bravely ducking under its surface. When Khiara reappeared, her face beamed with relief. It pleased him that she was enjoying herself and he gave her a wide grin. Not to be outdone, Pygmy, again, simply shed her tunic and left it on the bank as she charged into the water. He was not particularly surprised at the Kelvic's lack of modesty, he had already witnessed that. After all, why would a goat worry about being clothed? What did amaze him was the magical myriad of lights that would burst from the water as Pygmy shifted between goat and girl. She frolicked in the water like an excited child, naked as the day she was born. the Sight made Vanator laugh out loud. The Drykas himself paused for a moment, halted between the need for diligence and the desire to swim with Pygmy and Khiara. Watching the women enjoy the water, His boysih grin returned, and with one fluid motion he pulled his tunic over his head and yanked off his boots. The hand ax and dagger at his belt were tossed to the ground. His breeches stayed put, not out of shyness, but out of respect for Khiara. He didn't think Pygmy would have a second thought about it. Laying the battle at the edge, Vanator slipped into the water. The women could now see his full Windmark, a dark tattoo design across his muscled back and shoulders of curves and sharp points. At the center of his chest was what appeared as another tattoo. It was, in fact, a Lacun mark, the mark the goddess Cheva put on those who had lost or divorced aa spouse. It appeared upon his chest the day that Tamar died, shortly after the Chevas mark that celebrated their marriage vanished from his neck. The Lacun mark was in the shaope of a small cirlce, formed by a thick, woody vine entwined with a delicate, flowering one. Vanator grimaced slightly as his descent into the water brought its cold sensation up over his groin. His hands trailed the surface of the water, in slow circles, then flinched quickly to send a spray of water splashing at Pygmy. "Did I not tell you this would make you feel better?" He offered, smiling at his companions.

[Khiara]

Khiara laughed as Pygmy bounded in, shimmering back and forth from goat to girl. Turning her head to avoid the inital spray, she moved towards the kelvic as she floated on her back, reaching out to push the wet locks away from Pygmy's eyes.

"Remind me about it later, or I'll forget." She said with a smile, glancing up at Vanator whilst he made a decision. Watching him remove his other clothing, she noticed she could now see the full extent of the tattoo across his shoulders. Wading where she was, knees resting lightly on the bottom, the vantha looked down at her hands in the crystal clear water, watching tiny fish dart away only to slowly come back again. It was strange seeing fish in the water, tiny fish especially. In the colder waters back home, the fish were either frozen into the ice as the weather turned colder, or swimming deeper in the dark blue ocean. And they were a lot bigger.

Glancing up again as Vanator entered the chilly water, the woman noticed a mark just below his sternum, and felt her blood run cold for a moment. A lacun mark, clear as day. Her eyes shifted, color dull and dark. He'd been married, but what had happened? Divorce? Perhaps. Or perhaps, death. A bitter lump formed in her throat and unexpected tears stung her eyes. She had no mark, there hadn't even been time for a wedding before...

Turning away from the duo as the drykas splashed Pygmy, Khiara fought to compose herself, closing her eyes and swallowing hard. It was not the time, or the place. Had Vanator experianced the same heartache, the same unrelenting pain of loss? Part of her felt a little guilty hope, wanting someone to talk to who could understand her grief. However, she didn't want to bring down this moment...and it was too hard. It was easier to push it away, lock it down and grieve when she was alone. Taking a deep breath, she ducked under water and swam across the river. Rising again, pushing the shoulder length locks out of her face, she swam back again, smile recomposed on her face.

"Its wonderful, so cool! I don't think I could have lasted much longer, neither would have he." Glancing at Vsenri, she chuckled as the frost march sniffed the water carefully, before gathering his legs under him and rolling onto his back, wriggling and kicking in the water - all dignity and majesty out the window. Looking back at her companions, she shook her head.

"I don't think I'm going to have a white horse for too much longer if he keeps this up!"