Closed Good For Business (Kavala)

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Riaris fell silent again as he thought over their conversation. It may have seemed strange to Kavala, but it was a normal thing for Akalak to fall to quiet contemplation. It was his sisters that he thought about. Still so young but so ready to get out into the world and be become an adult. He thought that his mother had said it best when she told the sisters not to grow up too fast. But of course Nanali, Johan wouldn't hear of it. The world was calling to them, and they in turned wanted to heed that call. He could imagine that it was hard for her, being of both races but not truly belonging to either. He wanted to help her and protect her, as he did the others in his family. He connected with Kavala in this way as well. He could see it, and he knew that she would do anything to protect her sons as he would with his sisters. He felt this way for her as well now, women were so precious to life and without them nothing could go on. They had spoken again and decided that theirs was to last, or at least that is what they both had wished. It was likely now that he would spend days with the konti, getting to know her in the none physical way. But for now they would continue. With her cloak removed, Riaris could see the tattered clothing beneath and it reminded him of the fun they had in the club. A thought that only fueled his desire to have her again even more. He was more than happy to help her remove what was left of her clothing, and even found a bit of amusement at her expressions when he aggressively pulled at the stubborn materiel that refused to release her. He wanted her bare, with nothing between them and nothing to dilute the sensations once they started to move against each other again. Riaris smiled then, standing still and allowing Kavala to go to work at removing his clothing. At least in this, he knew that they were of the same mind all of the time. He moved towards the bed as she guided him, and almost predator like stance and glare as he moved towards her. She nuzzled him, and he pulled her into his arms so that his hands could explore her slender body as well. She was intoxicating now, even more than in the club where the scents and aromas were intertwined with everything else. He kissed her lips, hands roamed through her long hair and up and down her back to find her pert rear. Her body felt amazing against his in this way, and the tiny cuts from her scales only excited him more as he kissed at her neck. When she rolled away from him, he relaxed, watched, and enjoyed the show that she put on for him. Kavala was having fun, she was glowing and for the moment, Riaris was content with just watching her moving about on the bed. She had asked him to go slow the first time they were together, though his excitement didn't allow for it. But now that he was able to think with a somewhat clear head, he imagined that he could try and give her now what she had asked for before. Riaris smiled at her when she moved back to him and started to explore his body and face again. His hands started to move also, tracing her arms and down her back, around her hips and to her thighs. "And you..are just to good..." Kavala was on the move again, and Riaris laid still and watched her as she planted soft kisses all over him. He smiled, feeling a bit tickled at the kisses against his stomach, but he made no complaints. Riaris completely relaxed himself as she took him into her mouth and enjoyed the sensation of pleasure that she was giving him. Indeed, he would try to take it slower for her, but he made no promises.

[Kavala]

There was nothing quite like the feeling of taking a lover, of having a choice, of expressing oneself in the arms of another. Kavala let her whim and her whimsey drive her desires as she tasted and touched him wherever and however she wanted. There was an uninhibited sense of release about the whole night, indeed about the whole day, as Kavala gave herself wholeheartedly to the task of loving Riaris and enjoying his body thoroughly. No one had ever let her take the lead, roam her hands at will, and do the things she did to him in those hours of the night. There was not an inch of his skin left unexplored. Kavala offered up everything she had for his pleasure, and in turn demanded everything he could give. When she wanted him, she took him, and when he could give no more, she let him rest within her arms until he had his breath and his stamina back. And when he did the same to her, leaving her crying out and shaking, begging and pleading, she would relax against him afterwards and catch a moment or two of sleep before he either awoke her again or she woke him once more.

The Konti said no to nothing he wanted. There was no place off limits and no boundary lines she enforced. She gave him everything, sometimes on her hands and knees letting him dominate, and sometimes sprawled across his form taking the lead. She took the night and made it her own, filled with her choices and her sense of freedom. They explored each other everywhere. They did everything... things Kavala didn't even know were possible for two people to do. And it was almost as if he sensed her need for this, for Riaris never seemed to deny or complain or demand. He was just as enthusiastic as she was, treating her offering as a gift, and taking full advantage of it.

Kavala lost track of how many times they came together. She could not, later, have related how many ways he gave of himself and took of her. All she could do afterwards is smile, collapsed across his chest completely naked, and utterly and completely spent. Her fingers, with the last of her energy, traced small circles on his chest, her eyes completely closed. The motions of her fingers were the only hint that she was awake even conscious. Her breathing was rhythmic, matching his, her heartbeat finally slowing to a more normal breath.

Kavala knew him now. Hours ago he'd been a stranger. But now, after this night, he was nothing of the sort. And she held close the knowledge of him, knowing she'd cherish what they'd shared the whole of her life... never forgetting any of it. Kavala didn't know what the future held, but she did know that even if he walked away with the morning light, the night had been worth it to her. Someone had found her beautiful. Someone had embraced wholly her Kontiness, not finding her lacking for not being human or anything else other than what she was. Kavala felt grateful to Riaris, indebted to him even, for allowing her this time, this escape... and quietly she whispered this to him, thanking him for it with a soft heartfelt smile.

But through it all she barely moved. The Konti would be sore in the morning, was sore even now, but it was a good kind of feeling, like being tired after an incredible horseback ride, one she'd never forget.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Kavala was a caring lover, Riaris learned this in waves of pleasure throughout the night. She was very giving with him and proved her want for him more so than her words ever could have. She tasted him hungrily, and wiped his mind of all thoughts save for the act that she was performing. It was his turn then, and he laid her out flat and made a delicious desert of her body. His lips and tongue raced across her slender frame, leaving no part of her untouched or unsatisfied. It was a new experience being with her completely unclothed. As intense as the Akalak could be, he had wanted something, wanted to give Kavala the gentleness that she had asked for during their first time. And so he did, relaxing himself and letting her lead them. Although Riaris wasn't the calming waters, he continued to wave his body to keep their motions alive and passionate. He felt amazing and was more than willing to allow her to dance atop him for as long as she wished. But then the look in her eyes changed and he could tell what she wanted. He knew that look of desire as he had the same look as well. They wrestled wildly against the bed and Riaris was attentive but gave it all he had also. Whenever they would tired, or feel a cramp coming on, he would simply move her and continued on, giving the next position that would allow as much pleasure, if not even more. They were hot, and sweaty, their voices singing the praises of the other, all consumed and mixing with the thunderous clapping between them and the bed. Again and again they went, until Riaris was sure that Kavala could take no more. But when she proved him wrong and invited him to partake on another adventure, he was more than willing. Finally after a night of raw, hungry passion they succumbed to their aching bodies and collapsed onto the bed. There were no words to express how he felt at that moment, nor did he have the voice to speak them. He only laid still staring at the ceiling while slipping one of his arms around Kavala to pull her closer. It only came to him now that their roars of lovemaking might have make it outside of the walls of her room, but it was too late to take that into account. He recalled once again that there was something that he needed to do, but at the moment he didn't feel like moving, or doing anything else.

[Kavala]

She slept deeply, locked in his arms, tired in a good sort of way and holding no regrets. Later, late into the night, others joined them. Kavala kept her family close, and her niece and nephew were no exception. Larik came with Cadra, who was watching Tasival and so when the night got too late and there was quiet from Kavala's chambers, everyone came to bed and joined the Konti and Akalak in their slumber. Everyone, with the exception of Riaris, were raised Drykas and such things weren't unusual. Nor was the sense of being stared at by a toddler and being awoken by small hands tracing lines of ink on his skin.

"What's this? It doesn't come off." Tasival said to Riaris, leaning up against Larik's snoring body not more than a foot away on the bed. Cadre was curled up in her cat form at their feet, keeping Kavala's toes warm. The Konti was still wrapped around the big Akalak, though when Tasi spoke, she lifted her head, blinked and yawned. She dropped her head back down on Riaris' chest after her barely awake mind registered that it was still very early - not yet light out - and that everyone was alright.

The boy rubbed at Riaris' arm again, puzzled by the ink. "Does it mean you have a wind horse?" Tasi said, referring to the Drykas and their wind marks that denoted the cyphrus striders. He touched Riaris' hair again, shifting to reach it, which woke up Larik. The kelvic eagle was in his human form, and a total grouch being woken up before he had enough sleep. The teen reached out, wrapped his arm around the toddler and pulled him close to his chest, pinning him down. "Bug, go to sleep. It's still too early." Tasi squirmed for a moment, the movement and the sound of Larik's voice waking Cadra up which caused her to start purring. Kavala cracked an eye open again, seemed to realize Riaris was still there, and then smiled slightly.

"Good morning. Have you met my family? Y......" A yawn interrupted her speech. She blinked again, took a moment to rub her right eye not with her hand but with one of Riaris' convenient abs and then started again. "You should... they rarely sleep anywhere else. That's Cadra at the end of the bed... my niece. Her twin brother Larik, who's got Tasi pinned but not for long... and I'm sure there's others around though not usually that sleep with in here." Kavala said, half sitting up. She let the silken sheets fall away, unashamed, and leaned up to brush her lips across Riaris' before turning to slide out of bed.

No one seemed bothered by the nudity. She stretched then padded barefoot across the room and into a different chamber that probably held a restroom. Her hair was a snarled mess, there were slight bruises here and there on her body, and she moved as if she'd had just a little too much fun the night before. He could hear water hitting a pitcher. Sounds echoed out of a face being washed and teeth being brushed. Soon enough Kavala was back looking refreshed and with her hair brushed out.

She collected Tasival from the bed and took him for a trip into the same washroom. Larik just rolled over, after briefly cracking an eye open to nod at Riaris, and went back to sleep. Cadra jumped up off the bed, shifted into that of a petite teen girl with strawberry blond hair not unlike her housecat coat, and grinned.

"Aunt... do you want me to start breakfast? I'm wide awake!" Larik grumbled again, threw a convenient pillow - the bed was full of them - at Cadre and burrowed back under the covers. Kavala smiled, reappearing from the bathroom, setting Tasi down who ran towards Cadre, hugged her fiercely, and then turned to go find something to wear for the day from his own little chest.

Kavala seemed to be doing the same thing, only opening an enormous wardrobe instead. She glanced at Riaris, smiled, and said .. "Hungry? Or would you rather sleep in? It's fairly early still. I feed before light and then run on the beach, but we can make an exception today and feed and skip the workout." She said, which caused Larik to laugh from beneath the covers. He popped his head out briefly, grumbled something about 'everyone heard how much exercise she got last night" and burrowed back in. He would not wake until the sun was up, and then he'd not be able to sleep until sundown. It was his curse as an eagle. He could stay awake late, but he never got up before the sun. Kavala didn't blush at Larik's words. Instead she just grinned at him, retrieved the pillow he'd thrown at Cadra, and tossed it back at him playfully.

"Hush. We never tease you about your nocturnal doings." She added, then waited for Riaris' answer. "If you don't mind getting up, Cadra will cook. But we need to tell her what you like. Otherwise she'll fix ten of everything and expect you to eat it all." Kavala said, as her niece turned shyly, laughed, and looked guilty... as if that's what she was already planning.

It took Kavala waking up, taking care of morning business, then seeing to Tasival - whom she noticed was having trouble putting on the jumpsuit he'd picked - to wake up enough to realize how good she felt. It was the truth. She felt incredible... a little sore ... but otherwise like she could take on the world. She smiled at him, trying to convey that feeling, and hesitated before leaving the room. Someone had laundered Riaris' clothing and had left them over the end of the bench at the foot of the bed. Her clothing - what was left of it - was still smoldering in the fire, shredded beyond repair.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Exercise was a huge part of Riaris' life and something he did daily. Whether it was his work at the shipyard, with the Kuvay'Nas, his training, or personal time with Kavala, he always got a workout. When he awoke, first feeling soft fingers against his arm and a soft voice speaking, he thought it was Kavala. But as his mind was spurred, he remembered the voice as that of her son. Riaris opened his eyes to find the small child snuggled close to him and Kavala along with other bodies splayed about the bed. "This is a tattoo, a mark I decided appropriate after I became a man." He smiled weakly to the child, remembering the times that he would wake up and find Nanail buried under his arm. She had her own room, but at times when she was afraid, or simply missed her older brother she would slip into his room at night where she stayed until morning. To him, the boy looked a lot like his mother, but there was also the Akalak's resemblance in him, a man that Riaris didn't know. He almost chuckled when another tiny arm rose and pulled Tasival down and pinned him to the bed. He glanced down when Kavala awoke and hugged her slender body as he placed a soft kiss on the top of her head. In a strange way, he somehow felt as if he was a part of a family. He and Kavala together and the many tiny bodies snuggled around them. It was a different feeling, but one that he didn't mind at all. If the time came and he was able to start his own family he could see himself living that way, and with Kavala he could see that future being a happy one. "Good morning." he replied and listened as the lovely Konti introduced the children to him. When she sat up on the bed, his fingers pinched her flesh as if he wasn't ready for her to move away just yet. However he was sure to take the kiss that she offered and sat up as well. Once Kavala left, Riaris sat silently in the room with the tiny forms of the children. He hadn't thought much about it, but this was surely not the way he imagined waking up. With all the moving around, and people rising to freshen up, he decided to stay put for the time and allow them their daily routine before he would attempt to get out of the bed. There was also the fact that he was naked, and while Kavala didn't seem to have a problem allowing them to see her body, he wasn't sure if she'd want them all to see his. "It's a rare thing for me to sleep in and normally I do workout in the early bells of the day myself. So..we could feed and workout." He was impressed that Kavala wanted to be so active so soon and had the strength to do so. If she was this strong then he figured he didn't need to hold back anything that might prolong her tipsy walk. Riaris chuckled softly from Larik's surprising comment. The Akalak had wondered if anyone had heard them during the night, and it seemed that everyone had. It would be an interesting walk out for sure. "I have a healthy appetite." Riaris said, his words having more than one meaning. "Let the child fix whatever she likes, and I will do my best to finish it all." He smiled to girl and to Kavala, though his gaze did linger on her for several ticks before he finally reclined on the bed again. Just being near her, seeing her beauty was enough to excite him all over again, but now was not the time to awaken certain muscles.

[Kavala]

The Konti seemed to understand Riaris' hesitation and disappeared out a different door, heading down too the bathing chamber where there were robes for Akalak's his size. She returned within a few moments and laid one over the edge of the bed. Lowering her voice, she spoke quietly to him below a level everyone else could easily hear except perhaps Larik who still was passed out on the bed as well. "I teach them not to be afraid of their bodies. And not to be afraid of nudity in others. Someone somewhere can always strip them of their clothing, but I do not want them to be able to strip them of their dignity as well if that ever happens. You are free to wear clothing here or not, it doesn't matter. But I realize not everyone's ways are our ways. So here's a robe if you prefer. No one will think anything of it or not." She said, leaning in to where he reclined and leaving a lingering kiss on his lips. Her hair was combed now, sleek, and caught in a ponytail behind her ears. Her breath was fresh and her face slightly pink from the cold water scrubbing she gave it.

The look she gave him was beyond sleepy and more into the realm of '.... if we were alone...." But she smiled, moved to her wardrobe, and began pulling out tights, a brief tunic that did not cover her midriff, and pulling on boots that were good for the stable yard. Tasi was dressed accordingly as well, though she didn't send him off with Cadra like Riaris might have expected. Kavala's son took chore time very seriously and he was going to accompany them every step of the way. It was just when she went running that she left the boy at home.

"Cadra, just make us something good and filling... eggs, some ham, maybe some of those wheat cakes you are so good at with the maple syrup and fresh fruit. We'll go feed, run the beach, and be back in a bell? I'll drop Tasi and Shayru off on the way to our run if you don't mind?" She glanced at Riaris to see if that was okay, then finished while he himself got ready. Cadra nodded, having shapeshifted from her cat form to a human form and had done the same routine on herself Kavala had... scrubbing her face, her teeth, and finding a tunic to wear. She padded barefoot from the suite in search of the kitchen.

Once everyone was ready, Kavala lead Riaris a new way out of her chambers... through a massive library, a great room that looked more like a fancy Inn gathering room than an actual hall, and past the attached kitchen. They went up a tunnel, Tasi tightly holding Kavala's hand, and began at the stables. Aweston was already there, opening the main gates and herding horses out to the grasslands to graze. But there were boarder horses and patients that had to be thrown hay, and that was hard sweaty work. Tasi helped sweep up and even held the ladder to the hayloft where Kavala climbed up to throw down hay to horses in stalls below.

In the mews they chopped meat and hand fed the birds, where Riaris was introduced to an Inartian by the name of Chalcedony who was in charge of the mews for the time being. They really just helped her cut up meat and left her to the hand feeding for a time. They threw more meat and grain to pigs, and then more hay to cows that got turned out to a larger pasture within the walls from their nightly confines.

Tasi helped the whole way, and Kavala simply explained the inner workings of the facility to Riaris as they walked. The Kennels were more complicated, because Kavala fed the dogs that were nursing pups or were recovering in one way or another. The rest of them she let out and they followed the Konti, the Akalak, and the Akontak like a living wave of wagging tails. Once the dogs were loose, Raris would get the impression that they were coming with the pair on their run. And in mass they started back down the tunnel, dropped Tasival off in the Kitchens with Cadra, and then traveled back down through the sea cave and out the gates to the sand.

From there, they started running... the dogs flowing around them like a living river. They ranged out actually foraging for their breakfast, hunting gulls and keeping the pair company on their run across the loose sand to the firm sand that was perfect for exercising.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Riaris knew that he was entering a different world before he arrived, but he hadn't know just how different. It didn't matter to him though, as Kavala had excepted him and his ways, he would do the same for her. The Akalak didn't have any kelvics in his family and of the ones he knew of, were looked at as pets, yet in Kavala's world they were equal family. Or so he assumed. He smiled when his lovely companion returned with a clean robe. It appeared that she had sensed his hesitation. Riaris listened to her story, and going by that and what she had already told him, he could tell that she had been through a horrible ordeal. What she did now with her family was her way of offering them protection from the same. "It's not a problem for me, but I wasn't sure if they were used to seeing men..like me." He didn't gesture or anything else to point out differences. He'd assume that she knew what he was talking about and if that didn't bother her, he wouldn't care either. Instead and smiled and leaned up to meet her sweet kiss and apply his own at the same time. His hands moved to her body slightly, giving her the same expression with his hand as she had with her eyes. Once she moved away he stood up, not bothering to cover anything and moved to the chair where he took up his clothing and redressed himself. Riaris looked to Tasi, seeing the young warrior with his mother and it spurred something within him. He could remember that he too, had been so young, so tiny many years ago and also clinged to his mother. "He really takes after you Kavala...I can see it." The conversation from that point shifted, and Riaris nodded to agree to what their breakfast was to be for the morning. Once everyone was was dressed and ready to leave. Kavala started the Akalak on tour to another part of her home. He smiled a bit, a light chuckle escaping his lips as he glanced around. "I must say, the Denusk do live well. Remind me never to bring Johan to this place, or you will never be rid of the child." His sister was the adventurous one, and had a love of fine things and the more expensive the better. He met more people working different jobs and was glad to help out with whatever he could along the way. The dogs that Kavala released were like an unending wave of fur and barks, and Riaris wondered if little Tasi would be okay. He realized soon that this must have been an everyday thing and the boy was used to it all. Once Kavala dropped her son off, Riaris offered Tasi a warrior's salute before leaving with his mother. Riaris did so enjoy his time alone with her, but now was the time for a different sort of exercise, which meant that Riaris would have to behave himself...for now. At the start of the run, Riaris found it a bit hard to get going with the dogs swirling around them. He didn't want to make a mistake and step on any of them. Kavala was used to it all, but for him, a mistake could be fatal. Once they started to scatter and Riaris found his rhyme, he felt more relaxed and just enjoyed the jog. "This is something that you do each day? Maybe I will return and join you more often."

[Kavala]

Kavala offered him a smile as she handed him the robe. It was a soft one, slightly puzzled, before a more stoic expression fell across her features. "No. Larik and Cadra no. Tasival never. But it would be good for them to get used to seeing an Akalak about. They know Vanator and Aweston, who you've met. But I don't want them to be afraid of strangers, nor of nudity or the beauty of bodies. Clothing has a power over people sometimes, especially someone young and vulnerable like Cadra. I want her proud in her own skin and not afraid of what flesh looks like. I don't want her to ever equate nudity with violence or being demeaning. I want her to understand family and comfort, and being proud of what she looks like. We rescued her and Larik from... from a bad situation. She hasn't opened up to me yet, not really, about what happened to her, but I do know that sometimes when she doesn't sleep with me she has nightmares. And those nightmares make her scream." Kavala said softly, glad her niece had set out ahead.

"Someone like you being around... not being afraid or ashamed. Someone who doesn't hurt her because he sees her bare skin... and someone who isn't afraid to be as his mother birthed him as well... will be exceedingly good for her." Kavala admitted, not sure Riaris would understand. But itw as something that needed to be said anyhow. She wanted Riaris as a role model to the young Denusks. She wanted to teach them the best of the Akalaks when they've already seen the worst of humans.

But she said no more on the topic, having already conveyed what she meant and not wanting to dwell on the bad in a morning so full of promise of good.

As they took the tour, Kavala smiled at the mention of Johan. "Please, bring her anytime. I know it would be good for Tasi. He's had so little Akalak or Akontak interaction. And hes so curious... almost to the age where he will ask me questions I'm not sure I can answer. You're family is welcome here anytime. Any of them. To us... to my people, family is everything. I know it is a great deal like that with the Akalak as well. In that way, I'm glad the Drykas culture isn't so different. And as for living well... we've worked hard to do so. I came from nothing, Riaris. I literally rode into town wrapped in a borrowed cloak with nothing to my name. Everything I have, has been given to me in seeds by the Akalak to grow into my own garden. I'm exceedingly grateful." She said softly, not sure he'd understand.

They started their run, letting the dogs loose and taking to the beach wading through the loose sand until they got to the firmer harder ground. Kavala shifted her stride, matching it up to the Akalaks, though he had a far longer and heavier gait than she did. "Yes.. often. Sometimes I ride though, if I want to school a new horse in the art of wading into dogs and not killing them. They get out of the way for the most part, but it still makes the equines nervous until they get used to the dogs." Kavala said, her mood lightening even more.

She loved to run. Swinging her hips, Kavala kept her weight on the balls of her feet. Barefoot, she ran well across the sand, not very winded at first at all. Her white, almost translucent hair was caught up in a ponytail and it whipped back and forth in the wind. The salt air was good for her, and Riaris could catch subtle glimpses of her gills moving slightly against her neck in the moist air, comfortable so close to the sea. Her hips she kept loose, letting her waist bend and twist with her stride. Her upper body she kept tightly confined, arms swinging yet close in to her body, and her torso tucked neatly upon her lower body. There was no wasted movement in her run, and as she stretched her legs, her breath coming evenly and deeply, Riaris could see she was enjoying herself enormously.

Kavala let Riaris pick the topic of conversation if he wanted one at all. To her, spending time with the dogs flowing around them, the sun shining just over the sea, and the waves crashing just feet from where the ran was good enough for her. She was happy, in good company, and content in a way she hadn't been in a long time.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Riaris thought over what she told him, and in doing so he learned a bit more about the way that she chose to raise her family. It wasn't something he had thought about in terms of how he would want to rasie his own, but then their circumtances were very different. It was conversations like this that made him want to take care of Tasival even more. The boy needed to grow up with a strong Akalak leadership, in that, he would be able to grow up and do anything that he set his mind to. Not that the common lifestyle was bad, but he thought the boy deserved more and he was sure that Kavala would agree. "Well I don't plan on going anywhere, and I'd like to get to know your family better. That would be good for me as well. I haven't have much personal relationships with humans much, but I'd like to try." He fell silent then, too serious of a moment and too soft-hearten for an Akalak to continue. He was glad with the change of subject and smiled as they spoke of his sisters. "You say that now, but once she gets here you won't be rid of her." he added with a chuckle. He had to agree with her thoughts, although his sister had plently of Akalak's around, she didn't know any other Akontaks and in that she felt alone. Spending time with the young warrior would do her good. The more of Kavala's story that he heard, the more Riaris wanted to find the ones who had harmed her and her family and feed them to Krysus. But he knew her heart was gentle, kind and she didn't seem to harbor any angry feelings or want vengeance. For this, he decided not to dig deeper to find out, knowing that he wouldn't be able to stand by and let it go. "Your family is blessed to have you and so are all that live within these walls...including me." The run was just what he needed, and although it was different, he enjoyed it even more. Normally if he ran with a friend, it was more of a race than anything, a way of pushing themselves to their limits. But this was different, a steady run and nothing more or less. Kavala was swift, keeping pace with him and seeing her running, such beauty in motion excited him in ways that were better safe for another time. "I imagine that it would take anyone a while to get used to this group. They are fiercely protective..and playful." Riaris didn't slow his pace for Kavala to catch up, although he did glance over just in case she started to fall behind. However she didn't and the Akalak steadied his breathing and paced his run as he had before. He wouldn't tire easily and at the pace they went he might be able to stay with Kavala for a while longer. "So tell me more about your dreams Kavala, and what of the young-lings, what do you see in their future. For me, I plan to sale far and wide, possibly even visit the homeland of my mother. Nanail wishes this as well, and perhaps you would even join us?"

[Kavala]

She smiled as she ran, nodding to his words. "I think my family is in the opposite of yours. We haven't had much doings with Akalak. But I think they'd like to try too. So that puts you both on fairly equal footing." The Konti lengthened her stride, trying to match Riaris' so he could run comfortably. She ran almost daily so it was fairly easy for her to talk and jog at the same time. If he increased the pace or lengthened her job, she might not be able to talk and run, but as it stood, she was fine with the sea of dogs surging all around them.

"You worry too much. I know I'd like your sister. The Drykas are all about family. We aren't happy unless we are surrounded by an overabundance of them." Kavala said, laughing slightly. "Including pesky little sisters." She added, having been one herself once upon a time. Kavala thought of her older Konti sister, a woman obsessed with swords, and shook her head. She missed Akela terribly. So far, no other female had taken the place of her closeness to her older sister. Someday she hoped Akela would be back.

She shook her head a moment, letting her pale white hair trail out behind her. Turning to look at Riaris, she rejoined the moment and smiled. "No, I'm very blessed to have them. It's completely the other way around. Without them I'd be utterly lost." She said, glancing back over her shoulder at The Sanctuary where it perched up on its cliff, looking a lot like a smaller version of Riverfall, a city ready to pounce on something on the sand below.

"They are no different than most of the Drykas out on the Sea of Grass... whats left of the Drykas anyhow. It's been an adjustment for them having stone walls and nowhere to travel too every two or three days. But I think they are getting to understand the appeal and safety of stone walls. Vanator feels the need to move most keenly of all. Last time I went back to Endrykas I bought enough fabric in the color of the Denusks - a deep sapphire - to resew him a pavilion if he ever wants to move out onto the Sea once more. I don't want him to leave, but I think trips out on his own would be good. It's why I keep draft Mele horses here and a wagon. Someday he'll want to roam, and I don't want to cage him when he does. If he can go at any time, then maybe he'll be more prone to stay... to live. LIfe out on those Grasses are hard. We loose too many of them. It used to not be so, but recently its like a big target has happened out on the Sea and it keeps spreading. I am afraid there won't be any Drykas left if they can't recover." She offered, then suddenly turned and called Ink and Indigo back to her as the dogs darted off to investigate what appeared to be a small shark carcass in the flotsam line.

"Leave it." She said, calling out as she ran. The dogs turned, disappointed, and jogged back to where the people were running.

Kavala glanced up at Riaris when he asked his question. She nodded, knowing he was the restless sort. But his question was a hard one. Leaving her dreams aside for the moment, she thought of the younglings. "I want them to be free. I want them to have enough room in their life to decide what they want to be and feel free to do so. Bond, if they are kelvic, grow up balanced if they are Akontak... I want their happiness. That is my dream." She said, picking up her shoulders and trying really hard to hold her head high and not let it bob as she ran. Kavala focused on her breathing, drawing long lungfuls in by her mouth and releasing the air through her nose.

She concentrated on her stride, evening it out, lengthening it to more closely match his. Kavala felt strong, powerful, and like she could run like this forever. It was good to have a partner that talked back instead of just a pack of hounds that sent her images of really intriguing dead things and ghostly echos of new smells that fascinated her not at all like it did them.

"As for my dreams? I want to kill someone. Someone who I killed in another life and needs to die again. I'm not sure I'm ready to talk to you about it, but its a long term goal. I want to build a safe haven here... I wouldn't mind traveling a bit, like you talk of, but it won't be my life and make me happy. Here is where my heart is, with my family and this land. I'm too Drykas not to love it here and put down roots... even if they are stationary roots and not ones that move." She said, looking stoic and almost emotionless for a moment.

"I've been to Mura. I could go again, but I found it... too safe, to beautiful.. like a globe of glass with a castle and snow trapped in it. You want to shake it up to make things happen. But nothing ever happens. Everyone knows too much, feels too much, and your life is an open book to them." She shuddered slightly, glancing at him as she hoped over a bunch of washed up seaweed.