Flashback Nightfishing [OPEN]

[Kiyeri]

29th of Winter 511 AV the 24th Bell It was the night after her fifteenth birthday. Actually, it was the first hour of that morning, but it was far too early for the day to really start. In the clanhome of the Flint Knife, not many were awake at that time. Her sisters, the ones who weren't already married, slept in their own rooms, while her nieces and nephews all stayed with their parents. They had eaten, celebrated, and were now reaping the benefits of a good rest. All except for Kiyeri. She flitted in and out of sleep, in between reality and her own, hazy colored dreams. Secretly, she wanted to blame it on the excitement she experienced only a mere few hours earlier, but in reality, there was something eating at her. Her mother seemed to resent her more and more, each day and it'd be the same issue, "When are you going to be a warrior?....Where is your tattoo?....You are turning fifteen and you've proved nothing...nothing!....Oh Myri, why is this girl so worthless?!" "STOP CRYING!" Her mother had caused her so much grief since she let herself get lost earlier that winter. And in return, she began to rebel more in minor ways. It started with taking things - small things, like jewelry, scraps of clothes - from her mother's possessions and hiding, or in the case of Kiyeri feeling more vengeful, burning them. Tima would always, always find out, of course, and their already strangled bond would tear. There were times that Kiyeri would wonder if her mother's words had some truth to them. There was a possibly that she would never really leave her mother's clanhome as a warrior, or even as a hunter, like her father. She would probably never do a dance or receive a tattoo or serve under Myri. There was a possibility that she was actually...worthless. Kiyeri had finally sat up in her bed, her eyes bleary and drunk with sleep and the left side of her head was pounding. This was the sixth time she woke up in only two hours. And after six times, she gave up and surrendered to her insomnia. An arm fell over her face, it was one of the little ones that couldn't sleep alone, Kanuk, the youngest boy of four. He usually slept with his parents, but he opted for her bed since his new sister took his place. He had a habit of rolling himself in his sleep so he land in weird positions in the morning. There was one night, where she spent the better part of that one with his butt in her face. This night, he had wrapped his arms around her neck and his cheek against hers and while it was a cute thing to see, she needed to get up. Swiftly, she shifted his tiny body away from her stomach and, gently, placed him back on his side. His thumb never left his mouth and he was already beginning to move around. What type of dream made a person sleep upside down? He was a weird kid. In the dark, Kiyeri fumbled around for anything that might trip her and wake the household. Her parents slept beside the door and after freezing for what felt like a time, she finally ran out of her family's sleeping quarters and out into the open. It was darker than it was on the inside and for a second, she began to go back. "A fishing pole..." She eyed one of her father's fishing poles and formed an idea. She ran to the nearest body of water with the pole in hand. If her mother felt she was worthless, it was best that she tried to learn a skill. She would practice every night until she at a level that would make Tima proud. At this point, she would do anything to make her mother eat her own words. Worthless, ha! Try saying that when she makes a living selling fish in Taloba. Kiyeri wouldn't be so worthless, then, wouldn't she? Once she made it to the water's edge, she realized something...she had no bait. "Petch!" It was far too late for her to hunt for some grubs, no...she just had to do it the hard way. With her head cleared, she dunked her legs into the pristine surface and kept an eye out for any movements underneath.

[Sekka]

It had been at least two seasons since she had had a conversation with her Parents. She understood her father had left Taloba now, and she knew her mother was a revered part of their society, as a Myrian Tiger. A young girl, she looked like now, around the age of 13. She was naked and wading through the lightly rippling water of a stream silently as Leth sprinkled moonlight in flecks onto her black head of hair and exposed back. Silently she shifted without hindrance into her stronger form. The light she created as she changed didn’t bother her, for the time was not one that Myrian’s usually inhabited. She saw no reason why she should see anyone this early morning.

She was still a cub in this form, but with very large claws and even lager teeth. She only created a slight disturbance as she glided through the water, sensitive eyes forever searching for the perfect catch. Fish. The tantalizing thought consumed her, but she remained ever silent, and focused. Hunting was effortless at night, it was methodical. The river was growing more shallow, but she could feel that just up ahead was the perfect spot. All it took was patience and a little luck. But something had stopped her, disturbed her flow. There was another presence up ahead, one that bewildered her. She felt her mouth pull into a snarl as she viewed the darkskinned humanoid figure who'd had the same idea as she, fishing in the area she had wanted. No question about it, she was a Myrian female.

Sekka retreated to the bank, and looped around the girl, remaining out of her sight to contemplate, and evaluate. Sekka wanted that part of the river to hunt, and the girl occupied it. She was smaller than the girl, only a cub, but she was powerful and agile. She had full confidence that flight would not be a necessary move.

When she was confident that upon returning she would have the upper hand she moved into the Myrians line of sight, head low, stance ready, upper lip curled. This was a curiosity to the Leopard. She wanted to know how the Myrian would respond. Would they choose fight, or would they choose not to engage her, and let her keep her chosen spot? The cub moved further into Leth’s glow and let a low rumbling grow emit from the cub’s throat. Her head sank low to the ground and her long black tail swished slightly from side to side. The cub was gearing up for what ever was to come out of this stand off, and with full confidence. Her stance was not very agressive, it was more of a challenge. An invitation.

[Kiyeri]

She had some difficulty at first. Her eyesight fared well when Leth shone over in the clearing, but thick canopy above hindered his glow. Fair enough, Kiyeri assumed. If she was going to learn at night, she just needed to adjust to the dark. Her first attempts were fruitless and frustrating. Kiyeri's hands were still very small in comparison to her father's wooden pole. She just might have to cave in and ask him to teach her how to make her own. After a few misses, she able to stab her first catch, a small one, but after what felt like an hour of effort, it was enough. The young Myrian leaned against the fishing rod as she took a break and decided whether or not now would've been a good time for her to go home. There could be anything lurking about at this time, yukmen, loose Tigers, anything. She could hear a low, guttural sound in the distance, and immediately she put her defenses up. Kiyeri crouched down to meet the face of what looked like a type of large, young cat. She knew better than to not start a fight with the feline, even if it were still just a cub. She decided to give a peace offering; her small fish. She relaxed and, carefully, offered the black colored hunter, "Here, kitty. I apologize for being in your way." Now, if the cat accepted the gift, she'd be on her way. If not, then, she hoped that she was awake to outrun the panther.

[Sekka]

The Myrian immediately became defensive upon hearing her growl, and crouched down to meet her stare. A spark of approval appears in the intense green-gold eyes of the panther as the two of them started each other down. For what must only have been minutes, the two of them stood poised, waiting for the first move to be made. This Myrian was young, Sekka noted from experience. Still, Sekka’s human form was years younger than her. She also looked somewhat different than the others of her kind, with their fancy styled hair, and their pierced flesh. Sekka couldn’t stand the idea of putting a lump of metal through her skin. As Sekka observed her movements carefully, she saw the girl visibly relax her tensed muscles, and, carefully, she would offer the Panther her only catch. Her eyes, her posture and her tongue spoke of peace.

The panther found this a little disappointing. She had wanted a chase to night. Of course she had no reason to hurt the Myrian, but a heart pumping chase through the wilderness did her good. As it was, Sekka moved forward carefully to observer the Myrian’s catch. She sniffed at it, then snorted. It was tiny, scrawny. Not good enough. Sekka turned around on her heels and moved back into the water, snorting at the Myrian indignantly, the amusement of the situation flashing in her eyes. Diving into the water the Panther swam around looking for its own catch, no longer concerned about weather the peaceful Myrian would stay and keep trying or leave her to her hunting. Surely it was late for the girl to be up, maybe she should just leave.

Sekka’s eyes flashed as she caught sight of a medium sized fish, lazily hugging the muddy bottom of the river. With a swift movement she kicked her powerful legs and snapped her jaws around it’s scales. She kicked off from the riverbed, causing the mud and pebbles to unsettle and dance around in tiny spirals before falling slowly back down to rest. Emerging from the water with a signal leap Sekka threw her catch to rest on the bank at the girls feet. She moved out onto the opposite bank and lay down facing the girl with a distinctly smug expression on her midnight face, inviting her to keep the catch as her own piece offering. As a nocturnal animal, Sekka was plenty playful at night, and this teenager was her plaything.

[Kiyeri]

"Rude." Did that cat just deny her catch? Well, she really couldn't blame the thing. It was a little puny..okay, it was pathetic. But she tried. She watched as the panther cub snorted its way into the water and took some notes as to how it moved so easily and gracefully even if it wasn't full grown. She should've went home. But when she found a well sized fish planted near her feet and saw the flicker of mischief in the coal black creature's eyes, she began to wonder. "So, you want to play, huh?" Gripping the fishing rod's handle, she formed an idea that would entertain her and her new found 'friend'. "Fishing contest. First one to the surface with at least one fish, wins." She gulped a heap full of air and splashed into the dark water, swirling bits of rocks and water grasses in her wake. If the cat wanted to play, then, who was Kiyeri to deny herself such a fun oppurtunity.

[Sekka]

The Myrian was satisfyingly hurt at Sekka’s rejection of her puny catch. When Sekka had risen out of the water with her own fish, she seemed to initiate some sort of fishing contest. How perfect. She was sure she would win. After all, she had been hunting all her life in this form. If she was human however, Sekka was sure she wouldn’t fair so well. But she wasn’t about to eavan up the stakes and lose her claws to become an awkwardly shaped humanoid figure. Pluss, Myrian women were much stronger than human women, which made her feel unsafe.

The Myrian spoke in her language and Sekka understood at a basic level. But what she lacked in language skills didn’t matter, because it was all about a person’s body language. This warrior looked eager, at least. Good. She would need it to have any chance at winning. With a childish stab of excitement, she observed the Myrian jump into the river with a splash.
Sekka moved out of her way, diving into another section of the water. Who would rise with the best catch of the day? It would certainly be her! There was no way on Mizahar that Sekka would be outdone.


The darkness of the river didn’t hinder her sight too much, but there were no big catches about. She stilled herself, trying not to disturb the water too much. Watching and waiting. Forget about the girl, focus, Sekka.