Flashback [Bronze Woods] Which Is The Real Hunter? (Kyo)

[Kaie]

Timestamp: 30th of Summer, 512 AV









Thunk! The sound of an arrow lodging itself into the bark of the tree was the only sound one could hear. All else was quiet. Perhaps too quiet, even. The night was young and the sun's rays rippled off sterling blue sky in fits of pinks and oranges. A beautifully violent combination of colors that accentuated the hues that made up these woods. The forest floor seemed to ignite with the light in a fiery orange that could only be evened out with the vibrant greens of ferns and shrubbery. Despite the liveliness in the surrounding area, not even the breeze stirred the foliage. The world appeared empty and at peace. That is until a darker entity entered into the opening with an aura of intensity and fiery passion. One whose very demeanor was more wild than woodlands outside the city of Syliras.

Kaie growled to herself quietly as she reached a bronzed hand up to tear the arrow from its landing place. It all seemed so easy to her, the firing of an arrow. Of course all archers made it look easy. They always so gracefully hit their targets with such precision. Such a sight lead her into buying a longbow of her very own to begin with. She knew that her skills with her hands could only go so far, and long range combat was inevitable. What could she possibly do when her attacker was over four hundred yards away with a spear of an arrow aimed at her throat? The answer was obvious: not a whole lot. Learning archery with a functioning bow was the only solution. Becoming skilled with it was another challenge. Quickly she was understanding that this might've been a poor investment. Maybe she should just switch to stalking her prey with simple knives...

Crunch! The Myrian woman whipped around with a vengeance at the sound of disturbed branches. Savage instincts kicked in and she returned the arrow to the bowstring. Sure she wasn't in such good shape to get a shot off, but if all else failed, her gladius and limbs would do just fine. Kaie was alone in the little clearing. A predator dressed in traditional Falyndar attire consisting solely of a simple vest and loincloth. Harsh amber eyes scanned the expanse for the source of the sound. Deer? Squirrel? Or something else? She strained to see through the cluster of tree trunks in the fading sunlight, waiting for the creature to show itself.

[Kyo]

The coyote was not stopping. His dogs were pressing nearby, sister-dog rumbling low in her chest, ears pulled back, brother-dog dancing nervously ahead, nose scenting the thick air. The coyote had smelled what his brother was smelling, heard what his sister was hearing. A hollow thunk noise, sharp and blunt in the ears. More important by far, some strange scent. That strange scent that Kyo would sometimes come across in the woods. That scent that his dogs never allowed him to follow.

But tonight he was not stopping. The scent was too strong. Maybe it was that thing that he was looking for. He was close, so close.

The coyote was not trying to sneak. The coyote was tracking, nose snuffling along the ground. The wind shifted. Fresh scent came to his nose. So close. So close. His sister-dog faded back with a low whine. Then she was gone from sight. Gone into the shadows where she would hide. Brother-dog nipped at the coyote's paws, a warning. The coyote leapt from his punishing jaws, landing on some dried leaves --crunch! Then brother-dog had backed up into the night. Both would hide and wait. And watch, silent.

Then the coyote saw it.

It had a female scent, and so the canine figured that it was a she. A girl-one. Different than his girl. This one was like his other form, that form that was not good for the forest. The coyote trembled faintly with happiness and licked at the air, tromping closer. Closer. Closer. Suddenly he was out in the open. She would be able to see him. He wagged his tail, ghosting towards her feet.

The coyote stopped approaching when his hackles finally told him that this was close enough. He yearned to be closer still. Instead, he sat. He wagged his tail harder, lolling out his tongue and showing his teeth in a friendly manner. He tilted his nose up towards her and scented the air. From behind him, so low he almost did not hear it, his brother groaned, huffing out a breath. Another warning. The coyote scratched his ear in disdain. Then he looked at the female again, trembling to be nearer.

[Kaie]

Kaie stared at the direction the sound came with a million thoughts running through her head. There was so many possibilities she could be potentially facing. Anything from wildlife to commoners. Patrolling knights to bandits and sellswords. Although had she just heard something that sounded just like a whine? Between the thick shrubbery she thought she caught sight of something. A creature with a palette of white, tan, orange, and brown. Whatever it was, it was coming closer. Kaie's expression hardened and her muscles tensed. With a near perfect stance, the Myrian waited a few extra seconds before truly pulling back on the string. Now all she could hope to do was pray her arrow found its target. Then it arrived.

A scrawny young coyote. Relief flooded her being and she almost laughed at loud at herself. Immediately her expression relaxed along with the string. Slowly she drew the bow down until the tip of the arrow was too loose for a good shot, aimed only at the ground. Bold brown eyes studied the animal with bright curiosity. She appraised its coat's worth and even the quality of its flesh. Finding someone back in that damned city to buy a coyote pelt wouldn't be too difficult. She could use the Mizas and the practice anyhow. Though just as she was prepared to raise her bow once again, her eyes found the animal's. Behind the sharp black nose laid intelligent brown eyes. Ones not so unlike her own. For such a savage at heart, a cutthroat woman who hadn't even flinched when she killed her first man, it was an odd thing for her to pause. She looked at the coyote for a few moments. Watching the way it loped toward her so happily, chocolate covered tail wagging all the way. Ultimately, she decided she could not do it. Not this one. There were plenty of other animals in the woods. Plenty more with larger pelts and more meat on their bones.

Quietly, Kaie returned the arrow to the quiver on her back. Then she fastened her longbow to her back, all the while watching the animal who bounded her way. Eventually she noticed it stopped its advance. He was a funny creature, the way he just sat there with a lupine grin on his face. Tongue lolling in the summer air like he had nothing better to do. She'd never seen as animal approach anyone the way the coyote had. He did not hide or pursue her. He simply sought her out and planted himself right in her path. The savage watched him tremble once more, fighting against some instinct she did not know or understand. Oddly enough, she wanted him to approach. She wanted to see the animal up close and run her fingers through his colorful fur. Of course she didn't want her fingers to get bitten off either by frightening the animal.

An idea struck her and soon enough she was reaching her hand back into the pack. She dug out a small tin, took several steps forward, and then crouched before the animal. There was a solid yard or two between them. A diplomatic range between Myrian and Coyote. Her deep brown gaze found his and kept it as she opened the tin to reveal its contents. Reaching a bronzed hand inside, Kaie withdrew a long slice of meat and held it out to the animal. She knew words would prove futile, but her eyes conveyed what she intended. Hands outstretched, dangling the flesh, she waited to see how the animal would receive her friendly offer.

[Kyo]

The female was doing something. The coyote longed to know what. His curiosity was like the sun, hot and bright and burning. He shifted his paws, letting out a whine. He perked his ears towards her. He panted out his need to know what she was doing. Again, the coyote wished to press close to her side. To snuffle his nose in that holding-thing she was digging through.

She stopped. Holding another thing. So many things. This one was a flash of silver in the dull, evening light, like a fish in murky water. Then the female was coming closer. The coyote's body wiggled, his tail beating the ground, thump-thump-thump. She stopped. His tail slowed. So close. So close, but not close enough. Then the silver thing was opened. The smell of meat arose in the air, dry and heavy. A chunk was held out for him.

The coyote did not hesitate. He rose to his paws and zipped over. The meat was taken in his mouth. But he did not rip it from the female. He did not pull it away hard with a jerk of his head, like flesh from bone. No. He was careful not to let his teeth bite her. Once it was his meat held between his front teeth, he gobbled it up into his jaws. The feel and taste of it was different. Stronger. Tougher. Chewing was longer. He swallowed it down. Kyo puffed out his praise in a breath. It had been good meat, sat good in his belly. Solid. Filling. And tasty.

Finally close to her, the coyote snuffled enthusiastically at the female. He pressed his wet nose against her palm, licking at her skin. Trying the flavor, before moving on. Always moving. Running his nose along her arm. Stepping closer til his fur was flush to her skin, her knees brushing against him. He rumbled deep in his chest, a happy noise almost like the purr of a cat, vibrating in his body. Tail creating a soft breeze as it whipped back and forth behind him. His nose searching for any new scent. Teeth gently picking at the strange hide she wore to cover her. Tongue lashing out to try the texture and taste. He pressed himself as close as he could without knocking her over.

This female made him very happy. Happy like when his belly was full and his paws didn't hurt. Happy like when his nose was full of the scent of wind and wild grasses, fresh and reassuring. Happy like when he was running to find that something he was looking for and felt like he might actually find it. Happy like when he played with his dogs and chewed on their ears and legs. Happy like when they curled up together under the dark sky, warm and safe. And then, more happy than all that.

Curious, too.

He wanted to push his face into that holding-thing she had dug through and look at what was inside. He wanted to take the other silver thing in his jaws and teethe on it, test its strength. He wanted to press his nose to that sharp-ended, glinting stick that she had pointed at him, feel its cut, investigate its pain. Take her fingers in his mouth and suckle and gnaw on them softly, discovering their bend and movements, compare them to his other form. Sniff at that long hair falling down from her head, and press his nose against her ears and face. Hear her make noises, hear her make her voice. And many other things. Sensations, scents and sights and touches and sounds. All for him to learn. All about her. She was endlessly interesting. He was endlessly curious.

[Kaie]

The coyote's touch was gentle, a soft pair of jaws removing the meat from her hand. He was not hasty or aggressive. Just very elated. Oh so very curious, too. As soon as he had finished the meat, he was onto other tasks. Her simple act of kindness broke the invisible boundary between them. It was an odd thing to her, the close proximity of the animal. Hardly did she ever get a chance like this in the jungle. Well, no one ever really wanted to anyhow. The predators there were far more harsh and aggressive. Wild. There was something about this animal in comparison, though. The way he moved around her, sniffing her here and there. Testing her clothing and familiarizing himself with her scent. He wasn't tame by any means but he wasn't the typical bitter carnivore of the forest either. Immediately she was happy she had decided not to try to kill him. He was far too interesting.

His fur. It brushed against her softly at first, but soon enough he had moved in close. Pressed himself to her and he explored with his senses. He was incredibly soft. Warm. Kaie couldn't help but go against her better judgement. As soon as he was playing with her clothing, she lifted a bronzed hand to his vibrant fur. Her touch was soft and gentle. A smooth run of a hand from his head to his back. The Myrian woman couldn't help but smile absently at the touch. It was inviting. Natural and comforting. She opened the tin again, this time leaving it wide open for the taking. Trusting him to choose what he liked. To build trust with the animal.

"Don't worry. There's plenty more where that came from," Kaie assured him with a gentle laugh, feeling his ever wagging tail create a breeze that disturbed strands of her brown hair. Meanwhile, she looked at him expectantly and waited for him to react again to her offer. Her eyes couldn't help but wander toward the shrubbery he emerged from.

"Your friends aren't so brave, huh?" She asked rhetorically, tilting her head in thought as she stared through wood. Her voice was soft and detached. Almost waiting to see if she'd catch a glimpse of one of the creatures whose cry she had heard before. Naturally she didn't expect the animal to answer her at all. It would be silly to think for a moment that the furry creature might communicate back, right?

[Kyo]

The coyote let out a whimper of pure joy when the female touched his fur, leaning against her hand. She opened the silver thing and there was the smell of meat again. The coyote snuffled at it but his teeth did not touch the meat; his belly was full enough already.

He heard his brother-dog give a few hungry pants just past the treeline, though, begging for scraps. Sister remained silent. Kyo couldn't hear her anymore, though he pricked his ears around, listening. Sister-dog would be gone, now. Moving in the shadows, getting to a new place. A better place behind this new female. Ready to jump out and defend her young-brother coyote.

Then the girl talked, and the coyote's attention snapped back to her, ears turning. He cocked his head to the side, peering up at the girl with brown eyes, nose-to-nose, wagging his tail softly at the sound. He liked the noises she made. The coyote tried them in his mouth, tilting his face down. He moved his jaws open-shut like he was worrying a bone, letting out a soft noise as he did. But it was not the same as her noise, her voice. He had to be his other form.

The coyote was a coyote, the female's hands pressed into his fur. Then he was in his other form, still so close to her, her hands resting against his furless chest. He tilted his face back up so he could peer into her eyes again, and when he moved his mouth a noise more like her own came out. "Fruh-ends." The young man rocked back in a crouch, and then leaned forward, reaching an arm out towards that holding-thing for her sharp-ended, glinting sticks, a fumbling, grasping movement that he did not know too well. This form was not a form he was most days.

The female's voice made sense to him. The noises she had made. Like how looking at his dogs made sense to him, the things they meant when they put their ears back, or when they wagged their tails. One of the noises had been one like when his dogs nuzzled into his throat and chest when he was sick. Reassuring. He used that one now, thinking it was a good noise to make at the female, along with the one he had already made for her to hear. "Dunt woo-ry. Fruh-ends." His eyes, like a morning sky, were clear and blue and soft.

OOCYour last sentence was just so much of an invitation I could not resist.

[Kaie]

He was far too intelligent for his own good. Unnaturally so to be frank. One moment he was gazing off into the forest and then the next he was focused solely on her, studying her as she spoke. As soon as words slipped from her lips, he gave his full attention. It reminded her of the way she'd stare off across the Rearing Stallion, zoning out intensely. Only when a greasy patron called loudly at her for another round did she return to reality.

Mulling ideas about in her head about her friendly companion, she slid her hand to his chest. She pet him softly while her eyes scanned the treeline. She was expecting that at any moment one of the hidden coyotes might show themselves. How that would go over, she didn't know, but either way she'd be ready for any scenario. Always aware. That is until her furry friend lost his pelt. It was all so sudden, the change. Kaie just about leaped back and swung her gladius at him in alarm. For there he was, her coyote ally, standing bare naked and crouched before her. Her hand still laying across his chest mid pat.

Wide eyed and jaw agape, Kaie just barely removed her hand from his skin. Instead she let it hover over his chest with uncertainty. To say she was caught off guard would be a ridiculous understatement. For here she was, alone in the woods with some animal, who spontaneously transformed into a human. Truthfully, she hadn't a clue how to react to the occurrence. Continue petting him? Run or better yet cut him down on sight? All ideas were absurd, but not as absurd as how he spoke to her.

His speech was slow and verbalization was off. Kaie was pretty good at Common, but certainly she was no pro. Understanding his broken attempts at the words were almost as hard as when she tried to understand more sophisticated speakers. The Myrian woman actually had to repeat the sounds a few times before she understood what he had actually meant. Friends. Did he mean the coyotes hidden in the brush? It seemed like the only logical assumption.

She really shouldn't have been as surprised as she was. Shocked and all. Kaie had seen a few Kelvics in her short days. She knew two actually. Solin, the wolf man who joined her in battle with Razkar and Kouri, and Kyra. The latter of the two was quiet and some sort of feline but she left before the battle had even begun. All that said, Kaie still was completely intrigued by the man she saw now. As he sat there fiddling with her tin, working his ill practiced fingers like they were brand new, she couldn't help but compare him to stories she'd heard. Stories about feral children. Children raised in the woodlands and jungles with no parent or companion beside nature herself. Kelvics were different, but she still couldn't shake the similarity. At least this one wasn't travelling alone. Besides, maybe she could use the same principles to communicate with this one.

Kaie set herself and turned her body to become face to face with the man. Luckily her culture's skimpy clothing and "primitive" lifestyle didn't make her feel too uncomfortable in the face of a naked man. She'd seen men naked anyways. This situation of course wasn't going to be quite the same. She lifted a bronzed hand to her chest meaningfully, chocolate eyes staring deep into his as she spoke.


"Kaie. My name is Kaie," She said slowly without going so slow as to insult his intelligence. Of course she would've introduced herself fully with most people, but frankly, this Kelvic wasn't most people. It was best to keep it simple. She searched his eyes hoping to find a hint he understood what she was saying. Then she removed her hand from her chest and moved it toward him. She rested her warm hand against his chest, directly over his heart, and stared into his eyes again. Hoping she could communicate with both words and body to create clarity.

"What is your name?" She asked upon touching him softly, reminding him he was the subject they were discussing. She waited calmly, gauging his reaction. Really she just hoped he wouldn't find her moves aggressive.


OOC:That was the idea!

[Kyo]

The young man was busy. These fingers were strange, even though they were his body. He was not used to them. He was busy bending them, learning the right way to hold them. His eyes watched the female's fingers to see how she was having them, her hand right over his chest. The young man could still feel the heat of her skin against his. Heat felt strange in this body. Stronger, and yet more distant. It was a strange feeling.

If the young man noticed the female's surprise, he didn't show it. He was still busy. Busy with his hands, busy holding that silver thing that the meat was in. His fingers pressed and slid at the top. The female had closed it, before. He wanted to close it now. It snapped shut. The smell of the meat was gone. Kyo sniffed at the strange silver thing. Then he put his teeth against it, feeling the texture with his tongue. He brought it back from his face, looking at it, then looked up at the female. Now he wanted to open it again. His fingers fumbling at the top, trying to get it to open up and release the meat-scent into the air.

Soon the female started making her noises again, and the young man's eyes looked to hers, giving her his full attention, mouth opening in a grin that was like his coyote grin. His tail would have been wagging if he had still had it in this other form. As he was, his eyes lit up as she brought out her sounds. And he shivered when she put her hand back onto his furless chest.

He put the silver thing on the ground. Then the young man gently picked up the female's hand. He held it in front of him, leaned his head down to sniff at it. He brushed his face against her knuckles, his chin and cheek, a nuzzling behavior. Kyo didn't know why, but he had a natural affection for this female. This-- Kaie. Her sounds made sense in his ears. Kaie. She was Kaie. The coyote tilted his head, eyebrows drawing down as he looked at her face. Kaie. That was not like calling sister-dog and brother-dog. That was a different call. Coyotes had no need for calls like that one. Coyotes called each other by scent. By relationship. By behavior. Not by a sound. Not by a sound like 'Kaie'.

And yet. The young man placed her hand on his shoulder, wanting her to continue to touch her hand to him, but wanting, too, to reach for something else to play with. His grasping hand went for the other holding thing she had, the one that she had on her back. The thing the silver-thing had come out of. He wanted to see what else sorts of things she had in the holding thing. All the while he had his eyebrows drawn down, thinking. Kaie. A call. She wanted a call for him. A sound-call, not a scent-call or a look-call. A sound like Kaie.

There had been that one. Back when he was a pup. Before he ran with Sister and Brother. Before he had met his girl. Back before he had run with those other dogs in the wood. He remembered-- he remembered that something he was always looking for. That feeling. And a call that he had been back then. A call for him.

"Ahhh~" The sound he made was a question-sound, a thinking-sound, almost like a yawn. He stopped reaching for her holding thing, frowning. Instead, he touched his hand to his head, to his hair. A thinking gesture. Before he leaned forward and rested one finger to her heart-place on her chest, like she had done to him, and then his hand went up and he lightly laid his fingertips on her temple. Thinking. Trying to remember that call. Wanting to please her with his noises how she made him so happy when she talked out hers.

And then he remembered how the noise was supposed to be made. It was foggy in his mind, like morning mist or dew. But he knew the call-sound that would be 'Kyo'.

"Kuh-yoo." He tried to get his mouth to do the right noises, while his hand lightly touched her hair, so smooth and soft. Like fur. "Kuh-yo. Kuh-yo. Kee-yoo. Keh-yo. Kee-yo." That was so close. He felt his face give a big grin with his teeth, and shifted and wiggled excitedly, shivering and happy. "Kee-yo." He shook his head, like he did when he was a coyote and his fur was wet. So close. "Kee-yo." There! His call. His 'Kaie'-sound. He made the noise again, eyes bright. "Kee-yo." The young man brought his hand back, touching his fingers to his lips, then to his chest. "Kee-yo." He smiled. Then he put his hand to her lips, then her chest. "Kay-ee."

From the forest came the soft sound of growling. Sister-dog did not like this. Brother let out a whimper, and Kyo turned his head and let out a soft noise, almost like a coo. There was a rustle, and then brother-dog stuck his face out of the underbrush. He was a big brother-dog, bigger than Kyo was in coyote form. Heavy with muscle. Tall. And brown like dirt and mud with a patch of white snow on his chest. The deer-stalker dog did not get closer than sticking out his head, but he panted out at his coyote-brother and sniffed the air, hoping for the meat that he had smelled. Sister-dog rumbled again from the trees, staying hidden. A warning to Brother, but he didn't retreat, golden eyes looking wary at Kaie.

OOCI'm not actually certain how one pronounces Kaie, so I tried my best with Kyo. Also, I assume you know but I'll just put it here, just in case: Kyo's brother and sister aren't actually coyotes like him, they're dogs. Akinva Deerstalkers; they look kinda like huge pit bulls.

[Kaie]

This was the strangest of barbarian encounters by far. If he didn't look so human, Kaie would've automatically labeled him as an animal. Considering the way he interacted with her, the way he fixated on things, and how he spoke, she probably wasn't so off target. There really wasn't anything human about him at all. Somehow he still managed to be a coyote in different skin. Then again that's how it worked, right?

She watched him make gestures, sometimes at himself and other times at her. Shockingly, Kaie never became hostile to his touch. The touch of a barbarian. Instead she saw the whole thing as their own form of communication. An improvised language they both understood. It was through such gestures that they could bridge the barrier that untrained tongues could not.

The Myrian did her best not to laugh at him as he tried to pronounce his own title. Granted, she did grin a bit throughout his stumbling. Her eyes were bright as she studied him. She watched his lips and his eyes as he worked to speak. Watched that brow pull and arch throughout his fumbling of sounds. Really she was trying her best not to look there. The fact he'd probably never even worn clothes before didn't help, either. Maintaining eye contact was the safest option.

Finally he got it! Kyo? It seemed to fit him nicely and she gave him a radiant grin to convey praise. That smile only widened when he began speaking with his hands again, putting a finger to her lips and gesturing between them. He was getting the hang of it at least. Pink lips parted in preparation to congratulate him and maybe even give him extra help with pronunciation. That was before she was distracted of course.

When the beast poked itself into view, Kaie couldn't help but curse under her breath. Considering Kyo was a Kelvic Coyote, she assumed his companions would be the same. She was blatantly wrong. The wild dogs she had heard in the brush were nothing more than common Akinva Deerstalkers. One of the most common dogs. Almost tame. How had a Kelvic Coyote gotten mixed with a pair of dogs? That was assuming that both creatures were identical in breed.

Kaie watched the Akinva patiently, watching how it moved and looked at her. No one had to be a dog whisperer to see the animal craved the meat she gave Kyo. At least she could see that instinct worked the same. Without hesitation, Kaie picked up the tin and popped it open. Then, the meat landed with a plop right at the dog's paws. A second slice landed in the brush where Kaie had heard the growl. That should do it.

She then turned her attention back to Kyo. He was so very interesting to her. A true enigma she wished to solve. There was plenty of time for that though. Now, she might as well entertain him while they're in a decent position.He had seemed to be interested in her pack. As long as she kept him from grabbing weapons, he'd be fine. Right?

Turning behind her, Kaie tore the backpack off her and placed it between her legs before him. She let the strings and belts loose so he could learn to maneuver with his new hands. Letting him explore what he could do in that body. While she let him have free reign, an idea popped into her head. An idea she had to voice. Hand gestured accompanied her explanation.

"Kaie. Myrian," She said leaning forward toward him, trying to install the fact mentally. The last thing she wanted was for him to think she was a barbarian. Some of the many barbarians who trekked into these woods and terrorized the forest with heavy, reckless steps. The way he behaved though made her question if he'd had negative contact with them at all.

"Kyo. Kelvic," She clarified, speaking slow and tapping him again. Her voice was almost questioning. Not wondering if he was a Kelvic, that was rather obvious, but if he knew what he was. Had he even met others like him?


OOC:Don't worry, I've been asked that before! Actually I'm glad you had him pronounce Kyo the way you did. I wasn't sure how to say that one for certain. I remembered the dogs but assumed Kaie would automatically think they were other coyotes until they appeared. Thanks for the reminder though!

[Kyo]

Kaie moved her face into a smile after he said his call, and Kyo felt his world go dizzy.

It was like that sweet smell when the leaves fell from the trees. It was like the colors, too, the reds and oranges and browns and yellows and goldens. Especially the goldens. Felt good when you looked. Felt good in your eyes.

It was like the scent of water flowers, lying in a pond. And the scent of other flowers, too. Those ones that the rabbits liked to eat, the purple-pink rabbit-flowers that looked like little bundles of petals. And the tall, wild flowers in the tall, wild grass.

It was like the sky at night. Mostly like those lights up there in the dark sky, those little lights. So far away. But sometimes they felt so close. And how he would be sad when they covered up in the dark clouds. But he would be so happy when they snuck out again, and the clouds were gone.

Like when he went away in his dreams. Dreamed that he had found that something he was looking for. Dreamed that his paws no longer needed to run on and on. Dreamed that that something was there, next to him. And when he dreamed those dreams in the night, his heart was like the sun.

That was what this was. The Kaie's smile made his heart feel like the sun. It made his heart hurt, too. All hurt. Like it had been pierced by the great claw of a bear. Torn.

Kyo rubbed at his eyes with the backs of his hands. He was panting. His eyes were wet. He didn't know why. He felt a drop go falling down his cheek. He rubbed the water away. His heart was still aching and full from that smile. If he had been a coyote at that moment, he would have howled and his dogs would have howled, too.

His dogs. The young man could hear brother-dog take the meat in his teeth. And he heard when the dog vanished back into the bushes. He could hear him chomping.

Still silent from sister-dog. She was probably sniffing the meat. She would not eat it.

Then Kaie was letting her holding thing sit in front of her, and the coyote no longer paid attention to Brother and Sister. He tried to copy that smile the Kaie had given him, and then he was leaning forward. His hands went from his eyes to the holding thing. That hurt in his heart went away when he wasn't remembering that Kaie-smile.

Things. More things in here. The young man pressed his fingers to the holding thing, bent down his head to touch his teeth to it. Feeling. Then sniffing along it. Different smells he had never smelled. Strange smells. Then he poked his face in the opening, sniffing deeper. He moved his head back. His hands went forward. Touching all the things. Light. He lifted one up. Put it back in. Lifted another. Gave it a lick, smacking his lips at the taste. Then put it back in. Then he was looking at the shining things that had been holding the holding thing shut. The things that Kaie had played with to make it open. He chewed on one gently. Had a strange taste. Very strange. Like blood, but not blood at all. Too hard and cool. There were long strips, too, to hold the holding thing shut. The coyote grabbed them, rubbing one on his face, feeling the soft feel of it. Chewing on that one, too. It was good to chew. Tough. And good on the teeth. But he did not try to swallow it. This was not food. These things. None of these things were food.

But if not food, what were these things? What were they for?
Kyo looked up at Kaie, almost scared to see her smile again and wanting her to very badly. She was making her noises. There were many different kinds of noises. The Kaie call. His own Kyo call. And the Dunt woo-ry sound, and the Fruh-ends sound. And all the others. And now more.

She was looking in his eyes. She leaned closer to him, and he wanted badly to wag his tail. This form had no tail, and no tall ears to point forward and back. This form was odd. But being it was good, when Kaie was here. She reached out a hand of hers and touched his chest. Her eyes were watching hard. Serious. Kyo wanted to make her happy. She liked it when he made her noises. So he would do that.

"Kay-ee. Myr-an." He touched his fingertips lightly to the back of her hand. "Kee-yo. Keel-veck." He touched his chest where she had touched it. "Keel-veck."

Keel-veck. Something. Something was familiar to that noise. He moved his mouth, breathing it out. He titled his head to the side, eyebrows down again. He put his hand to his head. Keel-veck. It made him think of that something he was looking for. It made him think of a long time ago. Those men's voices, shouting through the grass to his ears. Going along by those great big wheels. Keel-veck. It was a dim memory. But Keel-veck...

That was bad. Somehow he knew that was bad. There was something. Something about Keel-veck. Or-- Or Kelvic.

Kelvic. Shut away.

The young man was shaking his head, now, and his eyes felt sad and big. No, not him. Not Kelvic. Not Kelvic.

He was different from Kaie. He knew he was. But they were the same. In this form, they were the same. He had his hands and she had hers. He had his furless flesh and she had hers. He could make her noises. They were the same.

Why did he want her to know that, too? Why did he want her to understand? This form and her form. The same. They were not 'other form' and 'coyote'. They were two 'other forms'. Two, and one.

His hands were gripped around hers. He let out a long, low whine. Sister growled from the dark.

"Keel-veck. Dunt woo-ry. Dunt. Dunt." He shook his head again, that seemed right somehow, to mean no. Dunt Keel-veck. Not Kelvic. No.

He held onto her hand. Guided it. Pressed her hand to her heart. "Myr-an." Myr-an was not Keel-veck. Myr-an was good, then, yes? He led her hand back to his heart, pressing it against his skin. "Myr-an. Myran. Dunt Keel-veck. Myran." He stayed where he was and watched her, holding her hand close. None of it made sense to him. But he had to make her know. They were no different. Kaie was the same as Kyo. He didn't know why that was important to know, but it was. It was important.

He remembered the men's shouts. He wanted to lay his ears back.

After a moment, the young man let her go. Dropped his eyes back to the holding thing. Put his hands on the things inside. Picked one up. Put it down. Picked up another. Put it down. He glanced back up at her. The anxiety and worry were clear on his face. He felt like a pup. A pup that had done something wrong and needed a nip.