Closed The Strange Ways We Make Acquaintances [Fraha]

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

Ishgrameer listened intently on Fraha, as they continued down the corridor which was progressively getting darker. This didn't hinder Ishgrameer, but he imagined that Fraha wasn't as fortunate to be able to see as well as he did in the darkness. As she spoke he noted a undertone that lingered beneath her speech, it seemed that he had stunned her a little with his final question. He wondered why people were always caught so unaware by such questions, then again he still didn't fully understand the concept that most people held in regards to nudity. Then he remembered that he was a Kelvic and not exactly ordinary, still. He smiled at her when she commented on his wings. He was interested to hear more about her, and as she spoke he did realize that she carried herself with an air of self-confidence, a certain sense of strong-will, and independence. "What do i mean? Well i mean, can i be your companion, travel with you, protect you, be your friend, and perhaps..." he trailed off his thoughts solidified on a single concept that stirred a memory of snow and his dead mother, robbing some of the smile from his face "bond to you. In this i am serious". Finally into the darkness, he imagined her sight would become useless within a few minutes, since he didn't see any light coming to brighten their way. "It is strange, perhaps this way is not traveled much. No to be honest i have not met many of my kind in the wilds, i have met some here in Wind Reach though, a lynx, among others. I apologize if this answer does not please you, my life for most of my youth was, well solitary". He thought for a minute "However there was this one time, when i was hunting. While flying i saw an octopus Kelvic, strange fellow he was". "I do not know the strength of your sight, but i imagine in this darkness it must be hard to see. If you need a guide, you can just grab my hand and I'll see us through it".

[Fraha]

*wo wo woo…wha what?* thought Fraha as he spoke about bonding, this was totally unexpected, and even if someone might consider such thing it normally is not to be expressed so directly in such short time. For an instant Fraha felt naturally crept out but considering the nature of who said such thing the feeling faded. “aha…ehm, yeah..lovely, and most certainly unexpected words but, don’t you think that…” considering that Fraha was in Wind Reach for a specific reason, she was in a dead end now. If she wanted him to join she would have to tell him the reason why she’s here. There again he might not like it and get in her way. She had to figure out his intentions further. “…there is a slight possibility that you might not want it, since you…well don’t know me and don’t know what is my mentality and my…goals. And I cannot actually reveal anything given the delicate nature of the revelations required in order to seal what you call a bond.” However it sounded awesome as fuck, Fraha needed just to check what he’s ready for. “Say, we start to travel together, what are you ready to do?” She had to start from afar in this. “ Would you like to help me with some…issues I found myself in need to solve? If yes, how far would you go if, say, some inappropriate or…morally questionable things occur during this problem solving?” Her tone was not the same as before, she spoke calmly as before but her tone more emphasized. As she noticed the darkness growing stronger than her eyesight she grabbed his wrist before he would offer to help her “Sorry, but I believe you can see better than me now,heh,” She slowed down, being in a complete dark rocky dungeon wasn’t exactly the most comfortable situation. Her steps became more careful and she could as well close her eyes so at least she wouldn’t look ridiculous to him seeing her trying to…see. Fraha silently singed “hmm hmm hmm awkwaard” before smiling, she must’ve been looking like an idiot now.

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

Ishgrameer was confused at the manner in which Fraha was taken aback, although a part of his knowledge did tell him that most humans bonded in a more intimate nature, although his races bonding was non the less important. Perhaps he had been a little to forward in his presentation of the option. Yet he didn't feel so, due to the fact that he had never fully understood being too forward. He noticed as she spoke that the manner in which she spoke changed, ever so slightly. She seemed to be searching her thoughts for something, trying to debate about an issue that required her immediate intention, but that was all he could discern. Then as she asked him of his morals, and what he was willing to do in the face of certain challenges he thought hard to himself. His morals, were different than what the average person would consider of his morals. It had been something his mother had taught him to discover of himself, for she had told him it was up to him to decide what they were an no one else. Yet it had taken him much contemplation during his youth to derive them. They at first were very primal, the basics of survival, but over time to slowly grew out of his worldly interactions. He slowed as he contemplated his answer, and it was an honestly decent amount of time before he gave Fraha a proper answer, and as he thought his face truly looked like a contemplative owl,. The reason that such an occurrence was so rare, was because the instances in which he was presented with such a contemplative question were far too few and in between. He was not chaotic, and he sought little of personal gain, beyond necessity for survival. However he was not evil, and he despised the abject cruelty that some individuals or groups could exhibit. He often found himself on good ground, he often found that there is state in which everyone should strive for good but in their own way. "What am i ready to do? Well when the situation arises i will be ready to do all that it takes to see that you are unharmed. To see that your goals are fulfilled. Also you are wrong. I may not know you, but i know enough. I have a good impression of you. A good sense of who you are. That is enough for me in this instance. Though i am more weary of people when the necessity arises. I am sure that as time goes by, i will better know you, and vice versa". He smiled as they continued to walk into the darkness his vision allowing them to find their way. As they did so he smiled, "Besides. You do not know me entirely. Unless you do of course. Still you trust me to lead you out of the darkness". "I don't think its awkward. It is what it is" with that he smiled, and awaited her response, eager to her of her answer to his previous questions. The prospect of being close to finding someone to bond to was exciting, and the feeling exhibited itself as an expression across his face. Off in the distance he thought he could see a faint trickle of torchlight returning, but it was still a ways away.

[/color]

[Fraha]

Fraha felt a bit of anxiety during the silence that spread after her question. She realized she made a mistake not to ask what is actually he doing here specifically or at least she didn’t inform herself about who he really was. She guessed that Ishgrammer would naturally could be trusted. However as he answered she felt relieved and despite his simplicity in trusting people just from the impression she smiled knowing that he was right to have a good impression, after all she couldn’t call herself evil. Quite the contrary, actually. “mmh, well, you’re sure one of a kind, Ish…may I call you Ish? Or do you already have a nickname?” She wanted so much to tell him more about everything and seal this friendship but it was not the time yet, she was also pretty embarrassed to just throw out such story. It would be easier after a few drinks! Walking in the darkness was uncomfortable, Fraha lost track of the space around her, they could be anywhere now, all she had was the sound of their voice, their footsteps, a mental map of the approximate position they are and the echoes of their emitted sounds. She always wondered how the echo works, why would it be present in some places and absent in others. All she knew was that with echo she could understand basically where is emptiness and where walls, which was pretty useful, or might become useful sooner or later. “yeah that is true but do I really have a choice?” she replied sarcastically “maybe you’re just waiting the proper moment to..” Fraha poked his shoulder with the index”…stab me.” Whispered she before giggling. That would be first ridiculous, second very disappointing…and painful. "I don't think its awkward. It is what it is" That sentence kind of reassured Fraha and the embarrassment wore off. “mmh yeah, I guess you’re right, hey how do you see things right now? Like…I don’t know do you see everything as if it was daylight or it’s like having an invisible torchlight or…maybe you see everything with the same color.” For a moment she felt it sucked to be just simply human, Kelivcs were so much superior in a certain way, an animal with the brain of a human and the ability to transform had certainly a ton of advantages.

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

"Ish is fine. Since arriving here, it seems to be the name given to me, by all whom i meet" he wondered the necessity for nicknames, in his youth he had always referred to individuals by their full names. He laughed a little in the darkness of the corridor as Fraha mentioned the possibility that he was waiting to kill her. It was truly humorous, as was his laugh. "You need not fret about such things. I would not hurt you, you are kind, and good. Besides such things are not in my nature. I am how you would say. Direct in my approach". He kept walking his eyes allowing him to lead them through what would otherwise be a debilitating darkness. His eyes were structured thus that in less light, they would take in more light, making it appear more like daytime, so the cascading lights that seemed so far away made to hallway seemed as though it was modestly lit. "It looks as if it were daylight. As if there were still torchlight around us. No i am not colorblind" the last part made him chuckle. "You sure are intrigued by Kelvics aren't you?". "Is there anything else you'd like to know about me? Or anything more you can tell me about yourself. A conversation is a two street after all" he looked at her, taking the opportunity to observe her in the darkness where she couldn't see what he was looking at. She seemed strong, of body and will, though the latter was greater. She was smart, intelligent, good at figuring things out. She seemed honest, and trustworthy, though reserved, like she was holding something back, something she wanted to say, but not until she had enough information. Time would only tell he supposed. He liked Fraha, there was something in the way she carried herself that made him eager to journey with her, if not get to know her more, and then, if circumstances were willing, bond to her.

[Fraha]

Fraha smiled, “yeah, it makes sense, Ishgrammer is pretty long to say. People like to spare time in every way possible. And a nickname is less…you know, formal.” She was getting used to the darkness. Still holding his wrist she was now much more concentrated on the echoes of their voices and footsteps. Plus the corridor was pretty much straight and Ish would tell her in case of an obstacle. “If you want I can make up a new nickname for ya” the tone was light and joke-like. Indeed she had no reasons to fret, this guy was reassuring and his comment though superfluous still pleased Fraha painting another smile on her face. This darkness was comfortable, feeling protected by a night predator created an effect of shelter in her mind, that kind of shelter one feels under fat sheets while lying in bed in a cold winter night. She wondered if he looked at her, if so he would not look and talk at the same time since Fraha could feel the voice wasn’t going directly at her. Fascinated by his abilities she could only imagine the possible uses of such power. “Amazing” replied she with enthusiasm. Enthusiasm that faded as she heard the question. “yeah, you picked the right word, intrigued.” Memories about Ethan popped like fucking soap bubbles in her head. “I’ve met a Kelvic before, my first encounter was…funny you could say if you watch it from afar. That one was an eagle, freaked the soul out of me 2 times in a row” a giggle came out as she considered that in total honesty, she left her pain about Ethan in Syliras. Here she wouldn’t feel as she felt, that chapter was nothing but a lesson of life. “but yeah, I’m intrigued by these enchanted humans that morph in animals and vice versa. Also…” she clenched his wrist a bit, “...you lucky ass can fly when you want” seriously how awesome was that? “If I woke up and discover I have wings I would…I don’t know explode out of joy haha! That’s for sure!” What could she tell him about herself? Compared to a life of a Kelvic her could be pretty boring anyway. “Well…I was born in Yahebah, a city in the south south south of known land where nothing grows and sand gets in every possible place you can imagine.” Crap…that could be misunderstood “uuhm..my father was a guard of the city, my mother made clothes, my brothers would sit do nothing special or important while I was the one bringing the clothes for my mother to her customer and bring her back the money. I always liked swords, blades and sharp things, probably because of my father, and since child he would sometimes train with me. And he did a pretty good job I think” the modesty “ In fact these two Wakizashi’s are from my family, I started with this one..” said she while tapping on the hile of the left blade “…her name is Strophe , while the right one I got it when I first beat the old man in a spar, I call her Kata” stated she proudly. “But life there was boring mainly, all I did was running errands, running with friends, sparring, learning some new things about our boring culture and nothing interesting really happened until I simply said good bye to my people and ran off to travel.” She spoke pretty quickly in the last part and had to stop to take breath again. “then I reached Syliras, met people, fought people, discovered that the world wasn’t the sugar I thought (I actually had a great dose of luck in my life) and after a few unpleasant things happened I decided my new goal in life for now.” She spoke with a narrating tone to make it look more interesting and fun also if possible. Of course one does not simply tell her whole life in 3 sentences but it was a good source for questions she thought. “What about you HootHoot?” she thought she would sneakily throw in a new nickname to see if he likes it. She said it quickly so quickly that it might also not be noticed immediately it was like [huthut] and despite Fraha tried to act as if nothing were a grin that she tried to hide by licking her lips widened on her face.

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

Ishgrameer contemplated her offer of a nickname. It did not bother him to have one, he just never understood them. Still he thought on it. She was indeed a lighthearted individual and yet, there was an air of seriousness that materialized around her when certain questions were brought up. He wondered what she was locking away from the world, something personal he thought, something that changed her. He was delighted by the feeling of her small, somewhat ruff but delicate hand, as it held around his wrist. He listened with a moderate level of intrigue as she recounted a brief story of her life, and an encounter with another Kelvic. However he only shared a part of her enthusiasm for his kind. It was not that he believed his race was abominable or evil, but while they gained much from their animal nature, they lost much in their brief mortality. It was a hard concept to swallow, but one he had been forced to do so upon the death of his mother, who had left him while he was young, and her still young by all regards. The life of a Kelvic was truly magnificent, but all to often just a flash in the pan of life. Light slowly came to them as they finally turned a corner and found lit torches lining the walls. He was still thinking on his own mortality, and it showed in his face, creating lines of worry, and sad realization. He however realized how he must appear, so he tried his best to bury the emotions, away from where Fraha's concern could discover them, for the time. He had heard what he assumed was her attempt at a nickname, and while he liked it to a degree it was a little to long, "Hmm, Hoot sounds fine". He wondered if it was wise for him to push his luck by asking her a rather pointed question. Instead of doing so he decided to offer up something of his past, before asking her. "Life is indeed a hard thing sometimes-especially for me while i lived in the wilds of Kaela-and it is strange that we survive many of the things we do. Perhaps luck is ever watching, no. The world is wild, and savage, and yet we strive, to live, to be, to be free. It is a long journey to find one's true self, and it is a journey that is riddled with trials. Sometimes that journey is not started on your own terms, and more often than not it is started for you. That journey all to often begins when you lose something precious, or everything you hold dear. I am proof of this. It is strange, if i look into the snow, i can occasional see my mother's face staring back, but the wind blows it away as soon as it is clear. The world is harsh, but the people therein less so. We are all bound to meet another, who will make the dark nights bright, and make the roads ahead of us free of obstacles. It is strange how far a single promise to a dying mother can bring a man" he paused, collecting himself. It was perhaps the longest continuous string of sentences he had ever spoken to another person, and there was crystal clarity in how it was enunciated that was lacking in his otherwise quick sentences. His voice held the tone of a man who was recounting his life to someone, before he died. "So what is your goal, if you don't mind me asking?" he said after a moment or two, regaining his composure. A small part of him hoped that she wouldn't let go of his wrist.[/color]

[Fraha]

Fraha mentally shouted “yee” as he liked the name. It was a proper one for an owl like fellow, however, she noticed the silence before his answer, an she was not new to than kind of silence, the one of someone thinking about something more complex and relevant that a nickname. It was an brief time yet it was there. She chose to remain silent, but it was not much of a choice since the situation caused her to run instantly out of arguments due to this unconfirmed paranoia. As he spoke she noticed the switch of his tone, as he told his sad tale about the death of her mother Fraha could only wonder what he really felt. She was not new to death, but never she had suffered from the loss of someone close. The speech of her new friend was so deep and elaborated that Fraha just listened, trying to understand the true meaning of those words, trying to figure out the riddles, so poethically connected one with the other. “I…I…see..” she had nothing to say, so much but nothing. While her brain was processing this whole heavy input she just hoped to find the right words before it would get too embarrassing. “I’m probably supposed to say sorry..” What to tell? “..I would never imagine such thing, I mean that was unexpected” she tried to fix it but would only do worse. She sighed looking down. “I’m sorry Hoot.” Yeah there wasn’t more to tell actually, she sucked at these things. Hardly ever being sad it’s hard to know how to react properly in such occasions. Luckily the light started to fade in as they proceeded and as she could see shapes again she left Ishgrammer’s hand to fix her hair and clothes, just in case. His question was coming and she knew that, it was just a matter of time and this was an appropriate time due to the solemnity of the moment. She paused for a second, squeezing the eyebrows together as if blinded by sunlight. How to tell him? What to tell him? Tell him? As they reached the corner a door were to be found a door probably leading to people, and hopefully to a tavern, A drink would ease things up. “My goal.” Stated she raising the left hand as if she was weighting a bag of coins. “ It’s complicated, and I might need some time to explain it properly” then she turned back to him and stared him straight in the eyes, pointing an index on his chest “Before I tell you, promise me it will remain between us, whether you like it or not, no matter how right or wrong it might be ok?” She was pointing the index but in a very humble way, frightened by the act of trusting him or by the possibility that he’ll refuse or suddenly think less of her. “Promise.” Her eyes were opened wide and stared deeply into the soul of his.

[Ishgrameer Windwalker]

As the light returned to them, the first thing he felt, was a tinge of sadness as Fraha removed her hand from his wrist. He was not all to surprised by the awkward flow of words to that she birthed from her lips following his rather deep description of his mother's death. He didn't expect her to respond, or even comfort him, for there was nothing much to say on the matter. It had happened, and was now in the past. A memory of a simpler time. However he did notice that she was trying to be comforting, and even though she didn't seem to know how to act in such regards, he appreciated her attempt. "Do not be sorry. She lived a full life, and loved my father very much from what she told me. I may miss her, but i still have my life to live, and through it i shall honor her memory".

She seemed delighted by his nickname, and he did his best to grow accustomed to it. Then there was a momentary silence that he noted. It stretched out between them, and he wondered how far their trust went. She was undoubtedly questioning herself if she could trust him. He didn't know, but he did want to travel, because he doubted that Wind Reach would have what he was looking for. Not to mention his lifespan was indeed brief, and he wanted to start making a difference, if not on a large scale, at least in someone's life.

She looked him in the eyes, arching her head up so as to account for their difference in height-which was staggering in a way. Yet as he looked down into her eyes, he couldn't help but be immersed in the feeling that her eyes were swallowing his-still he imagined the feeling was mutual. There was a look in her eyes, a calculating depth, and he imagined that she could see his soul-however that feeling to was mutual. Then she launched it to a well enunciated speech, and made him make a promise. He thought that was a strange parallel. His life was a series of promises, which he wondered if he would ever fulfill. However this was perhaps the fulfillment of one, and the beginning of another.

When she had finished, her eyes still looking into his, and her finger still pointing at him, he ran a hand through his hair. His rough fingers brushed up against various feathers which were woven into his hair. Eventually his fingers found one, which had yet to be given a memory, it was nothing more than a fallen feather. He pulled it free of its abode, and held it by the vain. He held the feather in his outstretched hand and said:

"You have my word, that whatever you tell me shall remain betwixt us. I swear this on my name, my life, and this feather, and the memory that it shall hold of this moment forever more. You also have my word that i shall not think less of you, no matter what you tell me."

He let her take it, and then smiled. Awaiting her explanation, or the beginning of it. He hoped that she took his words for what they were, honest, pure and simple. He doubted she'd understand the meaning behind the gesture of the giving of the feather, but then again his mother had told him only few would understand such a gesture.

[Fraha]

Fraha looked at his feather, with slight surprise in this action, was it a symbol of trust or something? Was it as if she gave him some hair? It was not the point anyway, he seemed very serious about it so she might as well tell him. “well” she turned away from him staring into the empty wall. “I must find someone…” she looked around left and right to check if there were no other ears listening. “Some people, probably many people” she could feel the agitation growing in her body, flashback of that night in Syliras. “And when I find them I must punish them. Even with death if necessary.” She turned back to him, eyes on fire, “this is why I wanted to follow those who harmed you earlier” she came closer to him “These people are not normal, these people are there to harm others, gaining profit from pain, joy from slavery, pleasure from abuse. I risked to lose but I got lucky but many people don’t! The guards won’t protect them, nobody will, unless someone starts to do something!” She could feel her eyes become lucid so she turned away hoping he wouldn’t notice. She raised her tone unintentionally and was now trying to calm down. “ So yeah, that’s why I’m here, I believe one of the “big ones” might be here, secure from his hunters in a vault that lasts till the spring.” She clenched her left fist “I need to find and take down Drake Silverstone.” What would his reaction be? Will he burst in a laugh and leave? Would he get scared? Drake was no lowlife thug. According to her information he was one of the three sub leaders of a growing criminal organization named Blackwing from what she understood. “So.” Asked she after a deep breath “mister WIndwalker” She gave him a challenging look “Are you sure you want to follow me in a dangerous path which may lead to painful death and no reward?” and a grin, at this point the cards were all out, no need to hide anything. She was ready to team up as she was ready continue alone, but a help from an owlish fellow would indeed make things better.