Closed The One Stone in Nyka (Save)

[Roshtah]

6th, Fall of 513 AV The 6th of Fall. It was clear to Roshtah that Fall had come. Between the temperature dropping and the lack of customers in the shop, Roshtah could hardly stand in one place very long. "Roshtah!" His father called out. "Can you pick up today's rations so your mother can cook?" He asked. "Of course!" Roshtah called back. It wasn't unusual for him to get it, but his parents knew the monks better. Not that it made any difference but all the same Roshtah would go. Walking through the streets of Nyka is quite an experience for those who haven't done it before. The people are filled with purpose and it wasn't something that could be hidden easily. All four districts in Nyka were specialized, meaning each one had a specific job to do like Uphis' Disctrict were the protectors and are the only monks who can wield blades in combat. The Laat district where Roshtah lived were the coin holders and the monks who can handle the currency in Nyka. Where Roshtah needed to go for rations is the Skerr District where the monks distribute food. No food can be eaten unless approved which is why it must be distributed by them. Walking down the street, Roshtah saw a few things that he doesn't usually see. One of those things were two foreigners arguing. The topic at hand was whether they were going to fight over in Ravok or go to Syliras for the fighting instead. Both looked to be lightweights to Roshtah's eyes so he wasn't sure fighting at all would be a good idea for them. After some more words they decided to duel and winner gets to choose. 'Fair enough' Roshtah thought. The man in green pulls out a club, the man in white does not use a weapon. The man in white seemed much more confident about winning though he was more against the fight to begin with. It's very hard to describe the way he fought but the best I could can say was that he was dancing. It seemed less like fighting. His movements smooth and more technical than anything else. Roshtah's interest peaked and before he could talk to the man the scene had dispersed and Roshtah lost track of them. Maybe he would see it again in the future. The other note worthy event was when he saw someone wandering the street. He wasn't watching for long when he saw the woman "trip". Roshtah hurried towards her and slipped on a rock. "The one stone in Nyka!" He yelled. Eventually he collected himself, enough to ask if the woman was ok. Turns out she dropped something and he was the one who tripped. Some luck. "So what brings you to Nyka?" he inquired hoping to change the subject.

[Erosynielissave]

Save` stood up quickly after hearing a young man curse the stone he tripped on. She had thought she dropped her heirloom but it was still safely in her backpack. The many sights and sounds gave her a headache, overwhelming her keen senses. She had been wandering the city for a few hours now but had only been met with glares of distrust and the occasional rude remark for what seemed like no reason. She was tired as the cold, crisp fall air replaced the summer heat she adored so much. She was already homesick but she hated life in the nest enough to travel so many cities away from her home.

"So what brings you to Nyka?"

As she was about to respond, her attention was drawn to his eyes. Much like the color of her own yet somehow brighter. She took a step back unsure of how to respond. She didn't want to bring too much attention to what she was; not yet at least. She was barely able to speak the common language well enough. With a deep breath she slowly spoke her answer.

"I heard ssso much about Nyka, I jussst had to sssee it..." the sound of her lisp annoyed and frustrated her. Maybe one day she would be able to speak in her human form without it, but until that day she had to tolerate it.

Save` quietly watched the young man carefully. There was something about him...something unique... could he be another dhani?.....no....His scent was different than that of a dhani. She was lost in thought when there came a yell from behind her. Her first instinct was to pull out her iron fan, but in a foreign place it would not be wise to reveal a weapon. Besides she had heard yelling all day. The man was staring at her. It annoyed her.

"Ssstop ssstaring." she hissed.

[Roshtah]

After asking his question, it was a little clearer that she was not from around here. With the backpack on, she probably just entered the city and was taking it all in. Though she seemed flustered. "Maybe you want to go somewhere quieter? It is kinda hard to take in all at first. I mean take it all in." Roshtah stumbled on his words a little, still embarrassed by his previous demise by rock. While waiting for her reply he couldn't help but look her over. She was extremely beautiful, between her shoulder length hair and her gorgeous green eyes, Roshtah couldn't stop looking. Though, after he looked at her, he felt she was important somehow. 'Have I seen her before?... What if one of the Gods lead her here? Maybe these questions were for another time when she wasn't staring right at you!' He quickly broke his contact and heard a man behind her yelling. Normally it was unimportant but he was talking to her. "Where's my Miza," is wait he was upset about. He stared her down for some time so she said "Ssstop ssstaring." "When you thinking about giving back my gold miza?" He was a very intimidating man. Roshtah was pretty sure he would lose a fight so he made a quick story to help her out. She may not need the help but he looked he might drag her away and beat her to death. "Excuse me sir, she thought it was mine, but as this is clearly yours, please take it." He gave the man one his and prayed it was believable to at least some degree. The man still upset tells her, "Yeah, well next time you find currency sweetheart, best leave it alone so you don't get hurt."

[Erosynielissave]

Save` glared biting back her flaring temper. Her body shivered trying to shift, a low hiss escaped her lips. She spat venom almost literally. Back home no man would dare speak to her that way. She was the superior after all....but she had to remember, she wasn't home. She was in a place very unfamiliar. A place that would see her death if it so desired.

"I'll keep that in mind sssir." Her temper still dangerously hot, Save` managed to stop her transformation just in time to prevent any more problems. She continued glaring at the man who obviously didn't realize how angry she was. He got his miza back. Why wouldn't he leave? Save` had a very uneasy feeling about her surroundings. Something felt off. She looked at the young man who had just helped her and softly asked if there were some other place quieter to speak. She was feeling lethargic due to the cold weather and wanted to be someplace warm not to mention escape that ominous feeling that she just couldn't shake off. She hated feeling like she wasn't in control of situations.

Save` watched the man storm off. All that over a miza? Was that really worth it? She had only been in Nyka a few hours and she felt like she learned so much about the people. Well the majority of them. But the young man still had her interest....maybe it was her hormones raging but it didn't completely feel like that was the case, although he was very handsome; she would admit that much. But for now she had to ask.

"What isss your name, kind gentleman?" her voice had an added allure to it. She wanted to keep his attention at least until she learned more about him.

[Roshtah]

Although not obvious to Save` or Roshtah at the time, the man was more upset that Dhani had came to Nyka. Their kind are generally disliked but slightly more so in Nyka due to their beliefs of strangers. Save` felt this as a very tangible feeling throughout her stay. It was a very strange thing seeing the way people were reacting to this woman. Most would disregard her completely while others whispered about her quietly. Nothing about the man escorting her though. Is she famous? Is that why Roshtah thinks he has seen her before? It's possible, but for now she needed to be warmed up. "You're shivering, I have a place in the Eastern District. I can get you warmed up there. Not like that! haha." He stumbled some more. 'A real talker aren't you' He thought. "What isss your name, kind gentleman?" her voice had a little extra in it. Probably just happy that didn't turn out badly. Roshtah noticed she was emphasizing her S' while she spoke. Almost like whistling. It was definitely cute. He remembered to answer her question. "I'm Roshtah, let's make sure you're ok." He smiled to lift her spirit. She did seem as though she might be tired or even upset. It always helped Roshtah when he was down. His parents give him a big smile and say its going to get better. With so much controversy over one woman, he had to know more about her. Quietly he took her inside, got a fire going, and made sure she got the biggest blanket he had. "Did you just get here? In Nyka I mean, not the house." He laughed at the misunderstanding he had with his own words. Roshtah looked at her hair which glowed slightly in the fire's light which he sat next to. It reminded him of a friend he knew when he was younger. But that wasn't for now...

[Erosynielissave]

Save` looked down shyly avoiding eye contact with this stranger as much as possible. Roshtah seemed kind enough but it was clear that she was not welcome in this city. She should have never come here. The weather didn't appeal to her much anyway.She turned to leave the place not really wanting to go but for her safety she felt like it was fully necessary.

"Ssank you for your help kind sssir, but I mussst take my leave. It isss clear that I am not welcome here." A look of sadness fell on Roshtah's face. He obviously didn't want her to leave. And those eyes. By the gods those eyes. This instantly made her conflicted....should she stay? Should she take the risk? Yes. She should and she was going to. This city cant make her run. No human could or ever will.

"I guessss I could ssstay a night or ssso." His face instantly lit up with joy and curiousity, so much so that she herself couldn't help but smile. It was a strange sensation to her. Joy was one of a few emotions she hadn't felt very often. It didn't bother her since the world she knew revolved around anger, violence, and domination by the females of the nest. This place was completely different and in order to keep her secret she had to quickly adapt to the Nykan way of life or suffer in more ways than one.

[Roshtah]

It was clear by this time that the woman did not want to be here. She was cold, the people were being rude to her, and she was very far from home. The only other person who was that hated in Nyka was that insane fellow who enjoyed murder. But this creature in front of him was clearly not like that. At least he hoped night because he let her in his house. "Look," he began, "Nyka is one of those places where new people aren't accepted to easily. I don't know much about leaving home but you look homesick to me. Stay here tonight because the less money you spend the more you'll have to go ho-," Roshtah stopped when he looked back up at her. "Well, wherever you're going... Let's get you a bed, this way." Roshtah lead the woman to his room, made sure she was comfortable, and left the room. He would think over and over, 'Who is she?' which lead him too deeper and darker questions. 'Do the Gods not want her here? Did she do something wrong? Shouldn't she be given a second chance? What if she was already given another chance?' It was a hard concept to swallow for Roshtah that she might be dangerous, let alone evil. It's possible they could talk in the morning if she's feeling better, but only if she wants too. The sunrise came slowly as Roshtah slept very little that night. His parents had slipped away while he was getting the rations yesterday so he couldn't ask for their advice. He was very unsure of what he was going to do next. She probably didn't want to stay any longer which made Roshtah sad. Nyka is very mean to foreigners and he always tried his best to make them feel that connection the people have with the city. That sense of belonging and purpose. Although he pulled, Nyka pushed them back and most people left within a few days, never staying longer than absolutely necessary. "Maybe I should leave one day, go on my own business trip. I hear Ravok is pretty nice, or Zeltiva," Roshtah chuckled at the fact he was talking too himself, "Yeah, maybe..."

[Erosynielissave]

She didn't sleep very much that night. In fact she spent the night crying after Roshtah left her to herself in his room. So much conflict within her mind, it was agonizing. She was only 100 years old. Barely an adult. What was she thinking. The what if's and why's stormed around in her mind.

Why is this man being so kind to me?
What if he tries to take advantage of me?
What if he finds out what I really am? Will he try and kill me?

She pondered and questioned everything for what seemed like an eternity as the sun slowly rose to begin its never ending dance with the moon. She finally fell into a deep sleep just as the sun broke over the horizon. It was a dreamless morning.

[Roshtah]

While the sun rose, warming his face, he got an idea. There were several things his parents loved to do when Roshtah was either feeling sad or had fallen ill. Breakfast in bed was number one. Remembering what was needed to make an omelet, he forgot that his parents were still nowhere to be found which was not like them at all. Once in a blue moon they left without saying anything and last time it was because of father's heart attack. Well, it was probably not serious or he would have heard something by now. Grabbed a skillet, two eggs because mother hated three egg omelets, and some cheese. Crack. Sizzle. Oh yeah. Roshtah sliced the cheese as thinly as possible so it would melt faster. Ok, now it was time to flip. Maybe just use a wooden spatula. Carefully, he managed to flip the omelet with only some structural integrity. Filled with cheese he placed it on a plate, salted it and quietly entered the room where Save` was sleeping. Roshtah wasn't sure if she had slept all night or if she just started sleeping but either way it looked like she was completely out of it. Her hair had fallen over face. 'I don't want this to get cold but I don't want to wake her up,' he thought. This was quite the epidemic, but eventually Roshtah settled to leaving it next to her on the nightstand while he left the room. He'll sit by a freshly made fire while she awakened and hopefully eat. He sighed to himself, "Yahal give me strength.."

[Erosynielissave]

Save` woke slowly, still extremely groggy. She noticed a dish with an omelet in it. It was strange looking but it smelled wonderful. She hastily scarfed it down. It would be rude to waste the food that Roshtah made for her. She smiled a little. She couldn't stay here. He was nice but she didn't want to risk revealing her secret. She tried to sneak out as silently as possible in case anyone else was still asleep. She felt bad but she needed to find a job and get a place of her own. She had business to take care of, and all though she had all the time she needed, the sooner the better. But for now, she just needed to go for a walk.