Completed The Arrival To Chaos (Thalj)

[Xavior Silhouette]

Winter 01 511AV The winds whistled in his ears as he flew over the land below. He had started his journey from Zeltiva just as the sun had pushed above the horizon. The sun’s light seemed to melt away the height he had as an ethaefal. It made his skin grow warm as hair began to spread through over his body. Horns vanishing and hair growing shorter the transformation from beauty to beast was quick to complete itself. When it did, Xavior flapped his wings and took flight. He had remembered the celestial bodies the night before, and used the sun’s rise to supplement his flight direction. He arrived at the edge of the southern reaches of Sunberth at around mid day. His body was dripping with sweat, despite the bitter cold that had been blowing that day. Winter was here and it would be only a matter of time before snow and ice was brought with it. Xavior was glad that he made it to Sunberth. He was prepared to have a merry time at this city. Someone he had met along his travels, probably in Alvadas, had told him about Sunberth. They told him about the rich culture, the peacefulness, the civility, all of that went out the window when he flew above a mansion whose tree was decorated with bodies hung by the neck. Xavior growled knowing he had been tricked. But he had come this far, it couldn’t be that bad right? As the forest grew thinner only to open up to large clearings that seemed to stretch on for miles. The farmlands looked almost barren at the time, covered in frost. Perhaps he could find a home way out here to live in. But he didn’t intend to just bum a room, he wanted to buy and be stationed out of this area. He didn’t know why, but he felt drawn to this city despite it’s rough ways. As he continued to travel he looked down toward some hills that seemed to roll like humps of some sea monster from the ocean of farm land. His eyes soon found an odd shape as it moved through the trees on one of the hills. The bright white that teased through the leaves and tree branches made Xavior curious as he flew down a little closer to investigate.

[Thalj]

Black lines thick and hard, bars made of steel had been all the creature had known for the last four years, traveling from one city to another; forced to perform like some dumb animal that didn’t know anything outside the crap of a whip and the hole within the center of a hoop. Thalj had come to experience a hell that no man or Kelvic should ever have to face, the life of a circus ‘slave’. Yes a slave for there had been no other way to describe it other than that of a prisoner. Bound within a form he had once loved by a tight leather band around his neck, like some beast of burden or a mortal man’s mutt. Thalj was now free, thanks to that of a dumb young girl, a cub in human standards (given she was only 16) that had thought she could own the white lion that had supposedly slept within the confines of his cage, a cage that had been built upon a wagon and kept behind the Tamer’s tent, when he wasn’t being forced to amuse the monsters known as humans and other races. Free of the horrible collar, free of the whip and chains of the Tamer, but most of all free of the infernal collar! Having used a tree’s branch to get the thing off, Thalj had ran until his limbs were weak, his muscles burned, and his bones felt like steel when he tried to lift them in a simple walk. During the night he had found a resting place within a hollow formed out of the roots of a long dead tree. As the sun rose, Thalj crawled out from under his make shift den and stretched, his mouth opening wide with a yawn, barring his teeth to the rays of the sun high above. Once his body was loosened up, the Kelvic began to run again, this time he didn’t realize it was near another city. However as his ears caught the sound of voices, the lion froze in fear. After all seeing a lion, especially a white lion, would cause humans and others, hunters to come after him. He wasn’t ready to lose the gift the gods had given him. So moving around away from the sounds of men and women, he moved back toward the cover of the trees, the shadows within the trunks and branches. Under the cover of the shadows, Thalj looked around, his tail flicking as he sniffed the air for man, and then slipped behind a group of boulders. He could change here and change he did. Shifting from his animal form into that of his human, Thalj’s body had seemed to turn into a glowing torch until the light disappeared, leaving behind a young man looking to be in his middle twenties instead off the white lion of two and a half years old. Kneeling down he began to go through the backpack, that he had dropped from the mouth of his animal form before changing, not realizing that his plan to perform a change without any witnesses had failed.

[Xavior Silhouette]

As he drew closer to the ground, he was mindful of his flaps. Instead he glided in circles as they followed the strange animal further. He had never seen such a large beast before, it appeared to be an overly fuzzy cat of some sort. “What is such an exotic beast doing alone in the wilds? Or perhaps it isn’t alone.” He flew to the right just as Thalj turned away as they heard people talking at the same time. Xavior hovered for a moment and observed the people who were near by, but far enough away to have privacy. he observed as the large feline walked away as if unassociated with the people, it was then that Xavior made the decision to get a closer look. He was satisfied that the animal was a stray. With the intent of testing his suggestive powers on an animal he soon glided toward a near by tree. His land on a sturdy branch wasn’t exactly graceful, but it would of sounded like a squirrel or rat landing as it jumps from branch to branch. His wings folded in and tucked themselves behind his back. His strong torso exposed to the world, as was most of his lower half. He favored a loincloth while he roamed as a Zith. It was the only form of clothing that would work between shifts. He looked over at the lion as it looked around cautiously. He could tell it feared something, but what exactly? Perhaps, it had escaped from a previous owner. An animal that large would probably go for a pretty copper. But as Xavior watched from above, he witnessed Thalj go behind a boulder. There was a brilliant light that radiated from the lion’s body. Streamers and flashes of light swirled around the body moving to a verticle position. Xavior was blown away at what he was witness too. Never had he seen such magic before, the lion that once stood behind the boulder was now replaced with a young man. He appeared to be around his age in looks, but had nothing to base the actual age off of. Xavior shamelessly looked over the man’s body with curiosity as well as a tad bit of attraction. Attracted to the mystery he had witnessed, as well as his looks. The man seemed to be digging through his pack, to distracted to look up. Xavior took that time to sit down on the branch and look down at the man, preferring to stay at a safe distance at least initially. “Ahoy traveller,” Xavior yelled from his branch, “That was some trick!” Xavior’s voice was loud, scratch and abrasive to the ear, but didn’t carry far in the forest. Though the sudden burst of noise would startle most, his voice eased the nerves almost soothingly. A natural charisma, or was it manipulative djed, seemed to always surround the man as he sat and studied the man below with great curiosity.

[Thalj]

Nearly jumping out of the new skin his muscular form was adored in, Thalj turned around not really ashamed of his exposed form but also knowing that his little secret had been blown. His top lip curled back in a growl as he looked down, scanning the undergrowth and trees for the origin of the voice. However the more he listened and looked around for the speaker, the more he felt an odd calm feeling wash over him. Shaking his head trying to clear the feeling, ice blue eyes looked up toward the tree tops and finally landed where he could make out a shadow that did not belong among the more natural shadows of the day time. Fighting the urge to hiss or roar at the creature, Thalj instead spoke the basic common he knew. “It was no trick, and it was something you should not have seen. Do you make it a habit to spy on people?” Now that was a loaded question given Thalj wasn’t a person but a creature by all rights. Now normally Thalj wasn’t so grumpy but he didn’t like the idea that this… thing had been spying on him and seen his shifting of forms. Damn it was he the hunter the circus had sent after him? “What do you want… why not bother someone else.” He asked the thing as he bent down to try and get dressed. After all he would need clothing if he was to blend in among the humans of the city that was nearby.

[Xavior Silhouette]

Xavior scratched his back as he listened to the man below finish his thoughts on the intrusion. His eyes seemed to wander around only half listening to the conversation. After a moment to take in the surroundings his eyes returned to the deep blue ones of the man’s. “There is no need to worry my comrade,” Xavior smiled as the man hurried for his pack, “I am merely a traveler as well and was wondering if there if you have seen a city near by? I’ve flown for a long while and am tired. If you know anything I’d love to know...Why are you so quick to look for cloth. Your body looks fine just the way it is, modesty isn’t needed around me.” Xavior chuckled as his wings unfurled a bit. He slid off the branch and hunched forward to allow the air to catch in his wings, making his fall a tad more graceful. When his feet landed he sighed and grinned.

[Thalj]

Stopping in the middle of pulling out a pair of cotton pants that had been dyed black and held a long line of corset styled lacing on the outside of the legs, Thalj looked at the creature. What was he? He definitely wasn’t a human, given humans didn’t have wings or was that fur?! Eyes colder than the Northern lands of Mizahar yet bluer then the Suvan Sea looked Xavior over, studying him and his anatomy. And usually the Kelvic wouldn’t have stared so hard but his mind was puzzled by the physical features and strength he could see in the other male… yes it was very clear to Thalj that the dark skinned one was a male given the loincloth did nothing to hide that feature. “Because not many humans like the idea of a man running around in his own skin. Not sure why I mean I agree it’s very natural to do but well… um I don’t need any more attention then I seem to already attract.” Thalj looked down at the fabric in his hands and began to mess with the opening at the top, as if he didn’t’ really want to wear the clothing but well he had no choice if he was to hide among them. Then he remembered the man had asked about a city nearby. “Forgive me I am unfamiliar with the geography around here, but from what I heard earlier there must be something nearby. I don’t think most humans would be this far out in the wild if there wasn’t. Sorry I can’t help you, I’m … new here myself.” Thalj was still coming off uneasy, though if it was because he was being stared at by this creature, the chill that was seemingly in the air or because he felt like he was being hunted by invisible eyes.

[Xavior Silhouette]

Xavior didn't mind the eyes on his body. He loved the attention and even seemed to flex a little as if to show off to the man or animal thing. The idea intrigued him, was the man more man then animal or the other way around. What was he, he felt an identifiable draw toward Thalj as he could see the similarities between him and himself. The sun grew lower in the sky, soon turning it a deep red color. The air grew chillier by the second, but Xavior didn't mind it. His body, at least in this state, quite used to the cold temperature experienced through flight. Little did Thalj know that he may be witness to a very personal transformation himself. Syna's light grew weaker as the sky began to darken. Xavior knew it would be pointless to fly only to transform mid flight and plummet to injury or an untimely death. He chuckled at Thalj's reply about being modest. He thought to himself, "Mortals, they think they are higher then animals and feel the need to implant modesty into each other." Xavior's black pools of eyes seemed to stay glued to the opposite's. Thalj could feel a sense of relaxation seep into his mind just as Xavior began to walk toward him. He watched as he fiddled with the pants for a bit and chuckled when Thalj continued to ramble on, clearly the man was nervous about something. Xavior wanted to know why, among other things. When Xavior was within arms length of Thalj a thought crossed the kelvic's mind. "I am safe when I'm with him." Him being Xavior, nothing was out to hurt him. Xavior's hand reached up behind Thalj's head and confidently began to scratch just behind the ear. "Relax comrade, I mean no harm. Now hurry and get dressed so we can explore where those voice had come from. Perhaps there is shelter near by." Xavior's hand slowly scratched down Thalj's neck and over his spine as he waited for him to get dressed. His hands massaged Thalj's back as he would a common cat, "My name is Xavior by the way." He didn't know why, but he felt more comfortable to approach Thalj then any other stranger. It was almost as if he trusted animal over man.

[Thalj]

Thalj hadn’t felt attraction toward anyone really, even Jlaht had never been anything a keen to love or viewed as a mate even if the lion Kelvic had enjoyed his life with and around the man. But he knew and understood the feelings that often came from the emotions humans called lust, desire and physical attraction, and while he had always felt somewhat physically attracted toward his Master there had been nothing more than this ‘emotion’ between the Kelvic and his former owner. However he was starting to realize that that feeling was starting to stir within his body again as he watched Xavior flex before him and then moved a bit towards him. Now normally Thalj would have backed up and maybe tried to shift back so he could run away or defend himself better, but something in his mind told him he was safe with this … whatever Xavior was. There was a bit of doubt as was clear as he began to look around but the Kelvic had yet to run or flee in fear. Lids gradually closed as soon as he felt that familiar and much loved ear scratching he had developed a fondness for during the time he had lived with Jlaht, his breathing at first seemed to be slow and even paced a sign of contentment but as it turned into a bit of an arousal, his chest began to rise and fall as he exhaled and inhaled a little quicker, thus supplying more oxygen to his heart and the rest of his body. The male lion barely seemed to registered the words of the Ethaefal, though Thalj had no clue as to that was what Xavior was, or at that moment even his name. “Hard… hard to get dressed when you are doing that.” He informed the other creature as well if the scratching and petting continued Thalj would end up falling to his knees before this man. “Tha...Thalj.” He stumbled and fumbled with his name as much as he was his clothing. His back had even arched toward the caressing hand, and had he been a normal house cat he most likely would have been purring however his vocal sign of pleasure and contentment came out more as a pfft pfft noise at first then a humming sound. By now his eyes were completely closed and his body was leaning as it might when in his animal form, just as if he was about ready to roll over and expose his under regions (belly) for a bit of the scratching and rubbing his ear, neck and back had been gifted with. The Kelvic almost fell over on to his side when Xavior stopped the attention to his skin and body, taking a step back so that Thalj could get dressed. Stumbling a good two steps, he felt his cheeks flare to a crimson red and heat up from embarrassment, after all felines were supposed to be graceful not clumsy. However Thalj had yet to realize or rather was actually hiding an injury he had sustained while trying to escape from the imprisonment he had been under before this new freedom he was enjoying. His hip had been pulled and he even had a slight cut to the underside of his hind paw which of course was now his foot. There were of course fresh whip marks upon his back, which Xavior would have noticed during his little exploration of the spinal area. Getting dressed which was still a bit odd given he had been in his animal form for almost half a year now so he would have to get used to the garments and the feel of fabric pressing and rubbing against his flesh and form again. But at last Thalj stood before Xavior dressed in clothing that definitely made the young man look very handsome and pleasing upon the eyes. “Well I guess you could um lead the way?” It was clear from his voice Thalj didn’t like the idea of getting to close or friendly with humans again.

[Xavior Silhouette]

As soon as Xavior didn't receive and undesired response, he freely explored Thalj's back. He admired the beast, veiled in human flesh, beaten human flesh apparently. Xavior's fingers glided over te raised scars along his back. "Perhaps he is a well trained kitty?" He thought to himself, before stepping back and watching as the man stumbled. "Huh, even bigger cats love petting attention," he continued to carry on his connotation of subtext. Xavior gave one last look over the other's body. He didn't know why, but he knew he was drawn to a male more then woman. Perhaps he distrusted woman, the carry over of heart break from a past life, manifested in homosexual attraction. Regardless, his eyes ate up Thalj's beaten body. His eyes paused just under the man's belly button, "Maybe he is enjoying this to much?" He smiled warmly and disengaged from Thalj's body, "I apologize, I wouldn't want you to have a hard time getting dressed." His tone was apologetic, but was also laced with sarcasm, suggestion, and possibly a bit of lust. "Thalj, is your name? How simple," he said nonchalantly, no harm meant as he continued, "It's a wonderful name. Rolls off the tongue yet still being strong and powerful." Now away from Thalj, he looked around the forest and closed his eyes a moment. He focused in on the sounds of the forest, hearing the wind and brush as they slid and clicked against each other. He waited a bit more until his ears tuned out the natural white noise of the patch of forested area. He could soon hear the faint voices of man close by. Laughs and chuckles as well as nondescript chatter manifested near by. He was drawn out of his time with nature when Thalj's voice appeared near him. Xavior's black pools turned to look at the now clothed Thalj. A small smile crept across his face as he scratched his fuzzy abs. Forest parasites were always miserable with his fur. "Why do animals have to be so, nice to look at?" He asked himself while he adjusted the strap of his pack along with the crossbow. "Wait, he is an animal but human, he is more honest then common man and many other species that exist in this world." The thoughts in his head confused him, so he decided to just speak up. "You want me to lead? Feh, you seem more and more like a house cat the more I get to know ya." He teased, then turned his back to Thalj. His body seemed sculpted to perfection, an upside to not always needing common food. "I think I heard some people off in this direction." He looked over his shoulder, a slight grin across his face, "stay close now, closer then close I mean. Wouldn't want to be stabbed now would you?" It was unsure if his question meant fatality, the openness of it could be his way of flirting. Xavior began to walk and push aside some brush, not waiting for Thalj, he already knew the kelvic was butter in his hands. He didn't get a bad feeling about the forest, possibly blinded by his own needs, but he couldn't help but feel like being watched. Maybe something was with them, just hidden or to shy to show themselves. "Oh I bet a big man like yourself is hungry," he called back, "I am too, but I'll be feasting on something much quicker then yourself. The sun is almost near the horizon."

[Thalj]

The young man looked away as he felt the soft fur that peeked around the edge of Xavior’s finger tips, which was interesting to feel as it was now a mix of toughened skin upon the toughened scars and a fluttering of softness from the dark fur. The Kelvic had stiffed a little upon the touching of his scars as many still held painful memories, while others while healing were still sore when brushed by things like fingers and clothing. Sadly they would always be badges of survival that he would wear until death took him. Feeling the other male’s eyes upon him was making it very hard for Thalj to think about anything other than being admired or stared at. He wasn’t sure which the man was doing that was until he realized the way the man seemed to be studying his nude form, almost like an artist watching a model before sculpting a statue’s form. However when the fur covered winged man mentioned having a hard time, well that sent Thalj stumbling backwards into a boulder that ended up becoming his seat. What a time to have a play on words, he was glad that by now his pants were pulled up to his hips. A soft blush appeared on his cheeks as if the chill in the air was the reason he was blushing. “It’s just been awhile since I’ve had to wear anything other than my own skin,” He confessed though he was starting to wonder why his mouth was so easily giving up that kind of information. “It means ice actually, according to the man that had ‘given’ it to me.” That was only part of the truth but talking about his former master still was too fresh of a wound for the Kelvic. While not an overly strong bonding, Thalj had been closer to Jlaht then any other person. “Not many people can sad it without butchering it, then again not many people would take the time to ask me my name either.” This time the young Kelvic shrugged as he was starting to realize that not everyone gave a name as to whether or not a beast had an actual name. Alas that seemed to be the norm with those that had once held Thalj as a prisoner nothing more, nothing less. “well you seem to be less hunted then I am, though in this form I doubt my captures would realize it was me they were looking for, even if I walked right up to them and said hi… or boo.” Thalj shrugged as he doubted he would ever be that dumb, or careless. However the real reason was with Xavior in front Thalj could hide from the gaze he was sure was always on his form. It had been almost a year so he was a little unnerved by the consent admiration it seemed the furry one had on him. When the term house cat was brought up Thalj began to nervously chuckle, his right hand coming up to scratch or rather rub at the hair that was at the nape of his neck. It was funny the man would use those terms given before his imprisonment Thalj had been nothing more than an over grown house cat in all respects. “Or Shot.” Thalj finished for Xavior as he did move closer to the Eth, even if he didn’t realize what Xavior was. In fact Thalj was close enough to the wings that surely his breath would be felt upon the membranes and the tiny blood vessels that were woven within. The Kelvic wondered what the wings or the rest of the man before him felt like, as subconsciously one of his hands rose up and out toward the right wing, the other hand was a bit busy holding on to the strap of his backpack which had been placed upon one shoulder. Senses were on alert even if the lion was more focused on Xavior’s backside. ‘How can he stand to walk around in nothing more than that loincloth? Surely he is cold. Thalj puzzled this over. “Sun? What does that have to do with you being hungry, surely you can’t dine on sunlight alone.” Yeap the Kelvic had no idea or knowledge about the Eth before him or even the race as was clear from his confusion that rung in his voice. “But yes some food would be nice, some meat actually. Been a few days since I had a nice hunk of meat.” Thalj didn’t register how that could be taken. "Do you know where there is some meat?" Oh how innocent the Kelvic lion could be.