Restless (Pygmy, open)

[Khiara]

27th day of spring

It was a nice afternoon. The sun didn't seem to hold its usual bite and the weather was unusually cooler than usual. A breeze blew in from the north, bringing with it the lighter northern winds. In the coral used for the horses at her pavillion, Khiara's frostmarch pounded his hoof and snorted, sniffing at the breezes with quivering delight. He could smell winter and snow in the air, carried from far far away. It reminded him of the comforts of home, and the more desirable weather.

Leaning against the fence, a violet eyed Khiara watched him thoughtfully, knowing exactly how he felt. She had felt the restlessness creeping in on her, Eliac's memory haunting her. Too much time to think, it was time to go. Pushing away from the fence, she returned to the tent, walking to her bedding and beginning to roll it up. She'd already packed her backpack, even if it made her heart heavier. She had enjoyed Endrykas, and Pygmy, and Vanator....but it was to hard to stay. Her soul ached. Tying up her roll, she stood, brushing off the knees of her breeches and sighing. It was going to be hard to say goodbye.

Leaving the pavillion, she made her way through the now familiar city, heading towards Vanator's tent. Pushing aside the heavy doorflap, she called out.

"Pygmy? Are you here?"

[Dhanya]

The warm and heavy hand of sleep was gentle on her shoulder, lifting, rising as the voice crept to her ear. She was miles away, then in her room, eyes open, blinking. Yawning first, familiar voice, a woman's voice and there were many women in the world.

She took her moment. Then, the necessary neuron fired and the connection was made. The voice belonged with Khiara.

A moment later Pygmy was outside, thankfully dressed in her tunic and embracing Khiara as though she had not seen her in years.

"Khiara! You came to visit me!" Pygmy chimed, pleased. "I was about to make breakfast, come in."

Pygmy liked visits and she quite liked this whole entertaining business. She'd never associated it with small-scale gathering until Endrykas and even if it lacked grandness, it was fun.

Khiara could see that Van's tent was clean, well kept and devoid of his presence, for now. His habits had spread to Pygmy, her personal items were much more neatly kept in recent days.

[Khiara]

Khiara smiled fondly, hugging the kelvic in return, before following her into the tent. It was clean, tidy, organized and most definitly had a more feminine touch. The vantha felt the familiar and unusual twist in the pit of her stomach. Vanator's tent with Pygmy's touch. Why did it bother her? Shaking her head, she turned back to Pygmy.

"Breakfast? My dear its the afternoon. You seem to be settling in here really well." The violet eyed woman said softly, still smiling. How was she going to do this? Moving to the centre of the tent, she looked at her hands.

"Pygmy, we need to talk." Her voice was hesitant, unwilling to hurt the young woman, but feeling the familiar pain tugging at her. Vanator had told her time, not distance would heal her heart. But distance was all she knew. Swallowing, she looked up at the kelvic and waited.

[Dhanya]

Pygmy had already breezed by, rummaging around through their food box. Pygmy had become increasingly impressed with it. Someone, somewhere had designed it so it kept out the heat. Remarkable.

"We have ham and eggs, I think there's bread in here..." Pygmy rattled off. "Hey! Cheese, score!"

She paused when Khiara spoke. The other woman sounded surprisingly reluctant, even for her. Khiara was a much more cautious person than Pygmy, there had been many a day where she had been forced to stop Pygmy from doing something stupid. There had been almost as many days where Pygmy had been forced to make her do something fun.

Sometimes they were the same day.

She wondered why Khiara wasn't as excited about cheese and ham as she was. She turned to meet her gaze.

"But... we are talking, right?" She was in fact being deliberately obtuse in this instance. She knew something Not Good was coming her way.

[Khiara]

Sighing, the vantha bit her lip, moving closer to the kelvic as she rummaged through the icebox. Pygmy wasn't stupid, far from it...her statement said more than she did. Yes they were talking, but Pygmy knew her by now. Knew her voice. Meeting her strange eyes with now dull violet ones, Khiara paused before continuing.

"Pygmy...you know what I mean. I...I've been here for too long." Shaking her head, she threw her hands up a little in frustration. This was hard.

"I mean...I care a lot about you. A lot. You have to be the best friend, I've ever had, in this whole world...but Its hard for me...to stay still. I..." Turning away from the kelvic, Khiara looked at the ground.

"I have to go." She said in an almost dissapointed tone, the internal conflict audible in her voice.

[Dhanya]

There were diplomats in Mizahara that were capable of changing a mind with their words and their manner. Clever women and men who carefully chose each sentence that left their mouths with cunning skill. Some were born with the ability and honed it through years of practice and study.

Then there were those who knew that you didn't need all that to get your point across.

Pygmy didn't actually burst into tears right away. She took a moment to confirm that Khiara had indicated a desire to leave and then her face crumpled, mouth opening into a despairing wail that heralded the downpour that followed. It was difficult to even fathom Khiara's reason for leaving, as Pygmy was currently thoroughly absorbed in the effect it would have on herself, personally.

"I don't want you to leave!" She sobbed, taking quite a while to make her point as each syllable was punctuated by a round of heavy weeping.

She hadn't actually moved from her original spot, yet. She was too caught up in crying to do anything else, like move or put the cheese down.

[Khiara]

The outburst startled Khiara, even if she knew to expect it. Well, perhaps not THIS...but something at least. A few tears, maybe a tantrum, but this was a fullscale hysterical overload. It was so much like the children in her care back home when they were in complete dispair. Raising her hands, brow furrowed, the vantha tried to soothe Pygmy.

"Pygmy I...please...Just listen for a...don't cry...I..." What could she say? It was hard enough as it was, torn between her broken heart and her loving friend. Pushing her hair back with both hands, the now golden eyed woman made a quick decision. Steeping forward, she put her arms aroun the wailing kelvic - cheese and all - hoping to the Goddess no one though she was killing the poor girl.

"Alright Mi! Alright! Shhh!! Come on, calm down honey, calm down." She cooed gently, holding her close. Pulling back, she stroked the goats brown hair, smiling.

"I'm not gone yet, okay? Look, I'm still here!" She tried to sound enthusiastic, knowing there was no way she could leave now. Not today anyway. Not at least until Pygmy had calmed down.

[Dhanya]

Pygmy took the offered hug with gusto, wrapping her arms around Khiara's waist and sniffling into her shoulder. Khiara could probably feel the dampness of her tears, though she didn't take her arms away.

"Don't go!" She sounded young. "You're my best friend, what'll I do if you go?"

It was the most manipulative thing she could have said, though at least it was said on reflex and not with purpose. Pygmy had now spent the best part of a season with Khiara, which was longer than any prior friendship she had ever had. She normally moved too quickly to keep friends. She had grown fond of and reliant on the older woman's presence, for advice and comfort and care.

She didn't want to leave Endrykas yet but she didn't want Khiara to go on without her.

[Khiara]

Said with purpose or no purpose, Pygmy's words were like a hot knife of guilt twisting in her stomach. Squeezing the kelvic, she took the cheese and smiled.

"I feel exactly the same about you, Mi. If I hadn't met you, I know I would never have gone as far as I have. I just..." Bouncing the dairy product in her hand, she sighed a little.

"I'll slice the cheese if you start the eggs. We can have an omlette!" It was a good way to sidestep saying "yes I'll stay", but it wasn't a comfirmation she was going to leave. Pygmy had already mostly won, Khiara just needed to accept it and try to puSh past the restlessness and aching. It still needed to be talked about, but she would at least wait until the kelVic had eaten and was a little less hysterical. As she moved to find a knife, she spoke.

"Did I ever tell you the story of Lanik And Lopa?" The vantha asked, looking to see if Pygmy was paying attention.

[Dhanya]

Pygmy was still sniffling but no longer as bereft. When Khiara let her go, she stayed where she was, listening to her speak. Pygmy gave her one last, short hug as Khiara asked about her story. She released her and shook her head. It wasn't a tale she had heard yet, though she always enjoyed Khiara's storytelling.

She broke the eggs into a bowl and whisked them with a fork, listening to Khiara. The cooking fire was down to embers, so she took a moment to throw some wood on it before going back to the eggs.

She felt more at ease than before and she was glad Khiara was giving her time. If she had to make the choice, she would leave with her. She liked Van, more with every day but it wasn't a feeling she was used to. It made her uneasy. There wasn't the casualness she was used to, there.

Khiara was different. She would never have admitted it to herself but she needed her kindness and maternal affection. Khiara was nothing like her mother, save in her patience and loving nature. Katya had hidden hers but it had always been there for Pygmy to see. Khiara made her feel safe and good about herself, wanted.