Closed [The Sanctuary] Wanted: One Father

[Kavala]

Timestamp: 72nd Day of Fall, 513 AV

Kavala was sleeping soundly. It had been a big upheaval and something of a relief in the last few days. There had been all kinds of excitement, some of it surrounding Tasival, but most of it not. Both brothers, Tasi and Shay, had managed to stay out of trouble since the Otani had decided to try and make them a playmate, inadvertently scaring his mother and Riaris near to death and causing Caelum to plunge into the sea after them.

It had felt good, in that moment, to have so many people care about them both and to have what seemed like a real family. Even having Nanali and Johan around had been something of a relief. The Akontak had not been alone with Riaris' sisters hanging about. And The Gods knew they'd been patient with the smaller younger boys. And it had been Johan, truth be told, that had put the thought into Shayru's mind that Recoomas would make a good father for him. She'd went on and on and on talking about how good the Akalak was in battle and how smart he was in teaching what he knew to his kin. And though it had taken Tasival a few days to get on board, Shayru was on a mission.

Wanted: One father.

And it was here he had ended up, perched in bed next to Riaris and Recoomas, ignoring his mother who was sleeping like the dead, and instead staring at the man's face he wanted to talk too. Tasi had long learned - a habit he'd picked up from the Imperial Watchers - that if one stared at someone sleeping long enough, something in them would acknowledge you being there and they'd wake up.

And so he'd climbed up on the bed where his mother and her lover were sleeping, perched beside Riaris' head, and stared at him. Then he'd just waited. Shayru was there too, hoping and praying it was Recoomas that woke and not Riaris who was more prone to seek Kavala's advice on things rather than make up his mind and do the warrior thing like Recoomas.

The boys had a question. It was an important one, and only something that the Akalak men could answer.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Riaris and Recoomas had kept their word, and had been spending a lot more time with Kavala and the boys. Nanail and Johan had been just as eager to return to their dream home. Things were better now, and the family was growing stronger and closer together. Nanali and Johan couldn't wait to return to the Sanctuary for different reasons, but they enjoyed being with Kavala and her sons. They liked having another Akontak around, and Tasi and Shay were too cute. Nanail and Johan were also becoming close with Kavala, and Riaris was glad to see the two take to her better than Recoomas had.

It had been great for Riaris and even Recoomas to spend more time with Tasi and Shay. They had already adopted the boys in their heart, and said as much to Kavala, but not to the boys themselves. It was a sensitive subject, and for them, it was easier to just be around and act the part. No words needed. But it was there in their minds and in their hearts, they were all family and that was all that mattered.

Sometime during the night Recoomas took over, and it was he who woke the next morning beside the sleeping beauty, Kavala. The relationship between the two was still rocky at best, every since the darker brother had tasted the goods and then slipped away, it had left a bad taste in all their mouths. He could feel her next to him, and wanted to reach out and hold her, but he didn't have the place to do so.

Then, there was something else. A nagging feeling as if eyes were watching him and waiting on him to rise. Recoomas blinked and turned his head away from Kavala to see Tasi watching him. He knew that it was the lighter brother, Recoomas could recognize the darker side of others very easily. Something was on the boy's mind and after giving Kavala a pat on her rear, Recoomas sat up and tossed his hair back, before turning to the boy. "I had forgotten what that felt like. My sister Nanail used to do that all the time when she was small. It's annoying."

Recoomas glanced back at Kavala again, and he recalled that she and Riaris had gone to be naked as usual. He thought for a tick of a few ways that he could give her thrilling way up call, but turned his attention back to the huge eyes boring holes through him. "Well you have my attention boy. What of it?"

[Kavala]

Tasival almost yelped when Recoomas came fully awake, sat up and tossed his mass of hair. Actually, the hair tossing distracted Tasi for a moment because he’d had a fight with his mother the previous day when she’d tried to cut off his hair so she could ‘see his lovely eyes’. The boy had said NO firmly in a way that made Kavala think it was Shayru and not Tasi. But it had been Tasi and he’d been coveting Riaris’ long hair so he could braid it sometimes, and his mother was not going to ever touch it with scissors again. Of course, if he’d been alone, he’d backed down immediately, but he’d had his dark brother there, whispering in his ear, coaching him on all the things to do to frustrate his mother so intently that she’d give up on the hair cut in favor if simply concentrating on not killing him.

Oh yea. It had worked beautifully.

But now, faced with Recoomas, Tasi was a bit intimidated. This wasn’t his idea, after all, though he was on board with it and liked it enormously. Instead, he was fairly sure Shayru should be doing the talking, for that particular three year old was far better spoken than he was, especially when he wanted something.

And oh boy did he want.

So Tasival did the only thing he could do. When Recoomas gave him his attention and demanded to know why he was doing so, Tasi fled and left Shayru in charge. The little boy’s grin changed, his demeanor leveled out, and he was a whole lot more brave than his softer side. He was in fact a bit grateful that he didn’t have to actually get the man’s attention once he had him woken up. For a moment there, he saw how Recoomas looked at his mother, and had worried that he’d loose the man’s attention as his affection turned towards his mother.

Nothing was secret, not in this household, and as usual the huge bed they all slept in was littered with slowly cooling warm spots where either Lark or Cadra had vacated early to start food or chores, or someone else had come to join them. To Tasi and Shayru, waking up with his mother and her lover entwined was not uncommon. He would be more scared waking up in a bed with no one there to look after him and tell him good morning. So when Recoomas didn’t pursue what he laid his eyes on for a long moment, Shayru knew he’d be uninterrupted.

“I want you.” The boy said simply, reaching out to run his hands over Recoomas’ shoulder. There were lines of ink etched in Recoomas’ skin that old of his bravery and worthiness to be a man. That impressed Shayru to no end and made him firm in his determination. “No one else has ever had as much ink as you have on your skin that has come here and stayed. I go into town and I see other ink, but yours is the best. I know what it means. I know it means you are strong and brave and that people should fear you. I want to be like that. We both do. We want to have your blood inside of us and for you to be our father.” Shayru said, pulling a razor sharp dagger from beneath the pillow where he rested next too. It was one of his mother’s throwing daggers, designed exclusively for her hand. And that meant it was slim and small enough for the boy to use without much trouble. And he did so, planning it carefully in order to impress Recoomas and to make him see how serious he was.

The boy reversed the dagger in his grip as only a child could that had been practicing and training in knives since he could hold one, and then ran the blade across the palm of his hand, not cutting himself deeply but cutting himself nonetheless. Blood flowed freely from his palm as tears welled up in his eyes over the pain. The tears were Tasivals though, and not Sharyu’s. Shayru wasn’t afraid. “See. Your blood is not in there. But I made you a hole so it could be. I want you… we both want you... to be our father. Our brother is lucky, it's already inside him.” He affirmed as his crimson life force streamed from his palm. Among the tears was a ruthless smile.

Akontak children, unlike Akalak boys, were often very very well blended together at a very young age. Tasi and Shayru shared everything that most Akalaks struggled half of their lives to find. And they didn’t’ try to staunch the blood nor did more than a few tears fall. Instead, they sat stoically waiting for Recoomas to say what he was going to say. They just hoped he didn’t laugh.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

It was good that Recoomas didn't believe in luck either. If he did, he would have to find his own to be cursed. For once it was he who woke up in the bed besides Kavala, the beauty and brains of the Sanctuary. The konti was sleeping peacefully, and in her most vulnerable state, not to mention sensitive. Morning had a way of waking one's body fully, as if it was being birthed all over again. It wouldn't have taken much for him to woe her, and the dark Akalak would have the woman in the throws of passion..or something like it before she was even fully awake.

That would have been possible if not for the tiny child staring a whole through him. Recoomas could be called many things, but he wouldn't take advantage of the woman while her son watched. But, the time would come and he would taste the lips that she had denied him before, otherwise he'd end up powering through the others just to make a point. Recoomas looked at the small boy, and he often wondered what the child Riaris and Kavala created would be like. Akontak's were special, divine almost, but the Akalak was a power all it's own.

In secret, Recoomas hoped that Shayru and at least one of the souls in the child to come would be like him. In fact, he planned to make sure of it. The dark Akalak respected Riaris as he cared for Tasival. But he could already see the lines being drawn, it was the exact same with Nanail and Johan. One soul attracted and drifted towards another and a bond was formed. In the end, they were all family, but even family chose sides. Riaris wouldn't do so, not consciously anyway, but Recoomas didn't have a problem choosing his favors.

Sitting on the bed, he watched the young child and he noticed the change. Shayru appeared and Recoomas was glad to see his favored. He watched in mild surprise as the boy stated his case, and the offering of blood was met with a smirk. Recoomas knew it was a reason Shayru was the favored, and he reached to find his lakan where he had left it last. Meeting the boys' gaze, Recoomas cut into his own hand. "Do not fear pain young warriors, it is only mind over matter. If you learn to embrace it, you will find a new strength given only when that blood is spilled."

Recoomas lifted his hands, allowing the boys to see the dark veins, the gift and curse from Krysus. He was just about to tell them more, when a booming voice inside his mind fought with him. It was Riaris, he didn't want the boys to learn of it yet, not when Kavala was still coming to terms with it, and how one dealt with it. Instead, he pressed his palm against Shayru's, allowing the blood to mix as it trickled down their hands. "I will make you both mighty warriors my sons."

[Kavala]

Shayru watched in awe as the warrior listened to the boys request with all the seriousness the boys could have hoped for. He didn’t laugh nor deny the children what they desperately wanted. Shayru was proud. He’d been afraid his voice would tremble or he’d not be able to speak his actual mind to Recoomas and Rairis. But the words had come out and the man had seemed to understand the boys’ needs. And when they’d drew blood, he hadn’t reacted like his mother would with hasty alacrity to repair and make the boys whole. Instead, the adult had understood what the boys were doing was indeed an attempt to rectify a lack in their lives. And after all, that’s what men did. If they saw a need they went out and filled that need. Riaris and Recoomas were their choice for that and it looked like they were getting their wish.

If he could get this man, then he could gain a whole different family as well, and that family included Nanail and Johan whom the boys already loved and wanted as their sisters. They were, after all, just like them and understood things in a way that their Konti mother could not. Nanail took them swimming and Johan showed them all the dangerous cool things she knew about under the waves. There were no two better companions for the boys since she didn’t yell and wasn’t short tempered. And they liked stuff the boys did as well… frogs and snakes and creepy crawlies that endlessly fascinated Shayru and secretly made Tasival practice his dagger skills harder.

So when Recoomas drew his Lakan and showed them his hand, the boys gaped quietly. They were not about to wake their mother nor put any sort of damper on this ritual. Shayru started to reach out and touch the hand, knowing something was god gifted when he saw it. But Recoomas hesitated, then reached out and took the boys’ already bleeding hand. His palm was so huge wrapped around their small one. But they saw the blood mingle together as their wounds merged momentarily. Small fingers gripped the larger meaty hand and then the boys flung themselves into Recoomas’ grasp, holding him tightly as if they’d found a treasure they were not going to let go ever.

There were no words for the boys. They couldn’t properly say thank you for the gift Riaris and Recoomas gave them. Holding the huge man too them, both boys couldn’t stop smiling and touching him in a way that was both possessive and reverent. Small hand still clasped in the larger one, the boys weren’t typical children. They didn’t start chattering all at once. They didn’t cry. They didn’t do anything at all but stare at Recoomas from where they hugged on to him and watched for the longest time. It was as if they thought he was too good to be true and would disappear in a moments notice.

Then Shayru turned serious, pulling back slightly, though not breaking contact between the wounds. He was the boy of action between the two of them while Tasival was the boy of thought.

And even though it was the darker boy, he still spoke quietly and with great thought. “Father…” There was a pause, as if Shayru was trying the word on for size. “Will you help us be the best sons? We don’t know how to have a proper father, but we will do anything to be the best at it.” It was evident why he didn’t use the word ‘good’. Shayru had no intentions of making promises he knew he wouldn’t keep. “How do we start?” What Shayru wouldn’t say is that he wanted Recoomas to be PROUD of them and to be so happy with them that he didn’t mind introducing them as his sons. “We know we gotta protect momma and our little brother. And listen to Nanail and Johan and protect them when we get bigger. But we don’t know about anything else. Will you tell us?” The boys asked, having forgotten to cry because of the cut already. He could see one set of eyes and two souls staring intently at him waiting for direction.

Someone overhearing the conversation would never have suspected the boys of being just three. But they were Akontak and whipsmart, maturing fast, especially under a mother that talked to them all the time and expected them to be just as articulate back. Recoomas would be used to it with his sisters as well, for the whole hybrid race seemed to come into its own fast and be unusually intelligent early on.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Recoomas sat silently with the boys hugged against him and he smiled a bit. He wondered what Kavala might think if she awoke and saw them bonding. If she realized that her sons liked him more than Riaris. It was sibling rivalry at it's best, or something close to it. If she did wake and see them, he imagined that she'd be surprised and perhaps it would allow her to see where they were missing. The boys didn't talk a lot, they stated their case then hugged him, something he felt Kavala could learn from.

In his mind a lot of things were fairly simple, and didn't need any long explanations, over thinking, and all the extra feelings that she seemed to bring into everything. Recoomas was a brute of an Akalak and he liked being that way. Riaris could keep the sensitive, boring life. What he wanted was action and excitement. Of course he knew that Kavala could be very exciting, but sadly he would have to work through all the talking and feelings before he could really get to know her.

"Father.."

Recoomas was a bit surprised when the boy called him father, it seemed strange and sudden. Like many men would think, he would have imagined it happening in stages. First he would find a woman to mate with, and then after a short time, she would tell him that he had a child on the way. From there he would go through the process with the knowledge of the child on it's way and the fact that he was going to be a father. He never thought he'd adopt a son, and so with a simple yes he was now a father.

Smiling, he ruffled the boy's hair as if he were a puppy and patted his back. Recoomas didn't know what to tell them, they would be his first children, adopted or not, and until he met them, he hadn't any experience with children. "Well my boys, my sons. " Recoomas said proudly. "First you should learn what it means to be an Akalak. I will teach you to use the Lakan, and to build your body to be as hard as stone. But before any of that, I think we need food."

[Kavala]

His comments, of course, caused more questions than naught. Tasival and Shayru let them fall with equal measures.

"Does that mean we get to learn to make a Lakan of our own? How does one make ones body hard? Do you use reimancy like mother does on the walls? Food is good. Let's go see if Cadra cooked. She always has something cooking. Probably oatmeal this time of morning. I don't like oatmeal but Tasi does. I wonder if we can just have cold meat pies instead? Does this mean we can drink Vanator's beer too? Mom wont let us but we think we are old enough." Shayru went on, slightly excited and speaking more than he was prone to do. With his voice so mixed, Recoomas could tell that the boys were blending, coming forth together, each asking questions, though the last question was pure and simple Shayru's.

"Does this mean we get to learn to kill?" He said, perfectly serious, and without preamble. His voice had a deeper richer tone than Tasi's even though they both used the same voice box to produce sound.

All while these questions were happeing, the boys had been steadily moving across the suite, out into the hall, down towards the kitchen where Chalce, not Cadra, was indeed cooking.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Recommas moved slowly across the floor with measured steps, he had to for there was a tiny boy scampering right under his legs and if he made the wrong move he would either trip or step on his new sons. He smiled as he watched them, they had plenty of energy which would do them well when they needed to fight. They were also blending well and fast, much more so than Akalak. That was a gift in it's own and he and Riaris could breathe with a sigh of relief. Their sons wouldn't be going over the walls.

The questions came in bunches and he arched a brow as he looked down at the boys. "Yes, when the time comes and you pass your rite. You will make your very own lakan and place a part of your life force inside. Your lakan will be one of a kind, no one else will have one like it. "

That question was a good one, and Recoomas and Riaris could talk about that for chimes at a time. The next question however caused the Akalak to frown. Recoomas didn't like magic of the mortal kind, and neither of them would ever use it. "Magic is for those without strength. I don't need to use such magics and neither will you. I will teach you to be warriors using your body and lakan as one."

The boys mentioned Cadra when it came to cooking and Recoomas recalled there was a girl by that name somewhere around the place. He couldn't remember if she was a cousin or some other form of family but if the girl could cook, then she was who he needed to see. Recoomas moved on and made his way into the kitchen area to find this girl, a kelvic if he remembered. A grin spread across his face when the boys asked for beer. "Sure, if you think you can handle it, we'll find you a tiny cup and see how that goes."

Recoomas really wasn't the person to leave alone with a child, he was far too rough and not nearly strict enough. When asked about killing , the dark Akalak's chest filled with joy and pride. "Yes, I will teach you to hunt and you will kill, you can be sure of that. Now.." He paused as he sat down in a chair. "Hunt down this Cadra so we can eat."

[Kavala]

“It has my soul in it right? Like yours? What exactly is that? Mom won’t explain it.” Shayru said, eyeing Riaris’ Laken on his hip. The boy hopped off the bed and was already grabbing clothing, though he managed to put his shirt on backwards and wasn’t at the point where he could lace up shoes yet. Barefoot was fine in the stone halls of The Sanctuary, though it was cold. Kavala had installed rug runners down most of the hallways. Tasival had liked that, but Shayru hated rug beating duty so much that when the little boy was in charge he opted not to walk on the rugs so he could say instead he didn’t add to the dirt on them and thus didn’t’ have to help beat them out.

“But.. mom has magic. A lot of it. Does that mean she’s without strength?” Shayru asked, already screwing up his nose at the thought of his mother telling him he had to learn magic eventually, just days ago in fact. “I’m really strong. Larik says so each time we wrestle. He threatens to peck my eyes out when I sass him. I don’t think he will, but his beak is pretty sharp when hes wearing his birdskin.” Shayru said, wondering for a moment what it was like to have feathers instead of hair.

With Recoomas though, Shayru knew that he’d learn a lot of if he just shut up and listen, so after the first volley of questions, no more were forthcoming. Shayru instead took in the answers to the already asked questions and seemed satisfied to leave it at that.

They followed Recoomas down the hallway and indeed Cadra was cooking porridge. She took one look at Riaris/Recoomas, noted Shayru was there and not Tasi, and pulled out a cold meat pie from the ice box instead of dishing him up porridge. “What will you have, Sir?” She asked Recoomas politely. She frowned when Recoomas fished out a cup that was Sharyu’s size and then found one of Van’s kegs of ale.

“Sit down please.. I’ll get you both something to eat. “ She said, trying to smile but scared out of her mind by Recoomas. The Kelvic cat had no idea what her aunt saw in the man. He was huge… and purple… and just well huge.. and prone to scowling.

She brushed him out of the way politely, filled him a big mug of the ale, a bowl of the porridge, and then gave him several of the meat pies as well. She set the ale down on the bar in front of him and offered Shayru’s size so the boy had water if the harder alcohol wasn’t to his liking.

Then the Kelvic cat busied herself sorting out the things in the icebox, checking to see how far off the block was from being completely melted, and making a slow inventory of the supplies in the kitchen.

Shayru grinned at Recoomas. “I want to learn to hunt. Can we start today? Can we hunt a cat?” He asked, peering towards Cadra out of the corner of his eye. “I want to learn to snare one too… I’ve heard you can get bunnies with snares, and cats as well. Maybe even ghosts! There’s a ghost that lives here. Did you know that? Momma talks to him sometimes.” He said, a slow grin sliding across his face.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

"You'll learn the true meaning when you are older my boy, but think of it this way. This lakan will be so unique that it would create a bond between you and the steel weapon. You will always know where it is, you will always be able to feel it. And, should you decide to give it to someone..say a pretty lady? As long as she keeps it, you will always be able to find her." Recoomas decided to tell only small details at a time to make sure that he didn't overload his son's mind.

Recoomas chuckled at the boy's observation about Kavala having a lot of magic. "No, you're mother isn't weak. But true Akalak strength is something that she nor your uncle will ever have. But you will, I will make sure of that my boy. Akontak are a special breed because they get the best of both worlds, but that doesn't make you any less Akalak." He chuckled at the tale Shayru told him about wrestling his kelvic cousin. Even so small he was already ready to battle. "Not to worry Shayru, we will get you in shape, and soon you'll be stronger than all of your cousins. Doesn't that excite you? To be the strongest around."

He was more than ready for a meal and they headed to the kitchen. Recoomas was the type to make himself at home quickly unless someone told him not too. He had went to work looking for ale and cups for them to drink out of when Cadra slipped in to take over. "You can call me Recoomas. No need for a sir. I'm no Knight." he smiled and patted his son's head and took a seat beside him. She reminded him of Kavala in that way, independent and not shy to take charge in a room. The food she prepared looked great, and in his barbaric fashion, the darker brother dug in and enjoyed his meal.

Shortly after he noticed an odd look coming from both Shayru and Cadra, but that didn't stop him from eating his food as he always had. It took him a moment to realize what Shayru was getting at when he talked about hunting and mentioned cats a tick later. "Well my boy, cats are very fast and agile. You'll have to be fast to catch them. But we should pick our prey wisely, no reason to hunt a cat that can make a good meal." He chuckled again, there was a reason why Shayru was his favorite.

Recoomas smiled and took a drink, eyes wandering to his son to see if he was doing the same. The small boy stared at the cup for a moment and sniffed it with hesitation. All eyes were on the little guy when he finally took a drink. His faced turned almost completely purple, and just a tiny bit of ale drooled back out before he forced himself to drank the rest. "Blah!" Recoomas chuckled loudly and slammed his fist on the table. "Too much, don't worry I promise it will put hair on your chest."