Closed A Meeting in the Nighttime.

[Aranta]

Aranta watched the Symenestra turn and walk off, his head tilted in curiosity. Non-Zith are strange creatures, he mused, picking up their kills and walking with a slightly bigger stride until he could catch up with Snaeha. He felt, despite the woman's words, that she had not quite forgiven him for recoiling-- but he was not going to apologize any further than he had. Zith had pride, and he had expended all of his willingness to ignore it on the apology and explanation he had given.

"What do you want to do with these?" the Zith asked after a few moments of uncomfortable silence, holding the hand that held Snaeha's kills up a bit higher to indicate what he was talking about. Idly, Aranta thought that, had Snaeha been a slave in his colony, he might have tried to claim her for himself-- she was beautiful, in a way most Symenestra weren't, something Aranta had noticed right away. It definitely would have made her a desirable slave in his colony, for attempted breeding if not just the status that having such an attractive slave would bring a Zith. Aranta debated saying as much, and then decided that it couldn't hurt much more than what he'd already done; perhaps the compliment might help.

"You would be quite valued in a colony," he started. "Few slaves are as beautiful as you. You would have many males and females fighting for you."

[Snaeha Datura]

Snaeha glanced up at their kills, three birds and the small, disappointing looking mole. The bigger bounties - the pigeon and spare owl - would serve as breakfast for her web. The mole, which was barely bigger than her hand, could perhaps be readied for her family to feed later that night. As promised, the third owl would be Aranta's. She glanced back up at the Zith as she considered her answer to his question, and wondered how familiar he was to the digestive system of her race. "I will need to prepare them for my family before we arrive," she said cautiously, taking the mole from Aranta - careful not to touch him again.

Once the mole was in her grasp yet again, Snaeha looked down at it, licking her lips to aid in the stimulation of her venom. Should Aranta be watching her at that moment, he would see her canine teeth inexplicably lengthen, as if they were shifting downwards from her gum line. After another tick or so, Snaeha bought the mole to her lips and sunk those elongated canines into the creature's fur. Though she continued walking, and her amethyst eyes looked ahead of her as normal, the hand holding the mole remained at her mouth for the next few steps. Eventually, she unhooked the animal from her teeth, pulling it away slowly to avoid ripping the furry skin on her still extended canines. The whole process took about two chimes, though the mole would not be ready for her family to feed until four bells at the least. "I assume you will eat your owl... differently to us?" She wondered, glancing at Aranta. The word 'differently' was sounded out carefully, as if she did not want to offend the Zith's feeding techniques. The idea of chewing solid food was something utterly foreign to Snaeha, and from what she had seen, it was a messy job.

It was impossible for Snaeha to hide how his compliment made her happy - as did all compliments. Oh yes, she was beautiful; she knew that. But somehow, it had escaped her vain imagination that other races would appreciate her beauty as much as she did. The idea of people fighting over her gave Snaeha a thrill, and in her mind she imagined herself as the most desired prize in all the land, with hundreds of individuals dying to just share her company. She hoped her joy was not to obvious. "Oh, really? She said, straining to sound surprised and modest, but secretly wishing he would continue telling her such kind (and accurate) things. "How nice of you to say. Do colonies always fight over - gee, what did you call me? - Beautiful women?"

Of course, the word 'slaves' had been completely skipped over by her vanity.


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[Aranta]

Aranta watched the Symenestra curiously-- he had never seen anything 'prepared' by the Symenestra before. He had heard about their preparation and how they could not eat food like the Zith did, but he'd never seen it before. It was quite interesting. In answer to her first question, Aranta studied the owl in his hand. "Later," he decided. "And yes. I don't have... venom, like you do. I eat like other Zith." Which meant that he would pluck the feathers from the bird and eat it raw; Zith didn't particularly care for cooking, and Aranta had no skill in it.

Aranta nodded at her next question. "Of course. In the colonies, the intelligence and beauty of slaves is a sign of how powerful the family and individual are. If you were a slave, and I were to own you, you would be much coveted and I would have to fight many males to keep you. Zith prize beauty and usefulness in their slaves."

[Snaeha Datura]

Snaeha nodded along as Aranta spoke. She had guessed that the Zith people did not produce venom (as far as she knew, only the Symenestra did), but it was nevertheless interesting to hear him speak of his own digestive system and eating habits.

Of course, what he said next delighted Snaeha just as much as his previous compliment. Now she was beautiful and intelligent! Though... Something he said - the words if I were to own you - made her frown. Snaeha did not like the idea being owned by someone, and the use of the word certainly bought to her imagination visions of what unpleasant tasks such slaves have to carry out. She remained quiet, as if she daren’t ask anymore questions.

Luckily, they were now at the border to Kalinor, so her question would not have necessarily betrayed her nerves. "Will you be okay to follow me to my web?" Non-Symenestra typically had trouble navigating around Kalinor, and Snaeha was not sure whether the Zith's wings would be a help or hindrance.


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[Aranta]

Aranta sensed that Snaeha was busy with her thoughts, and he left her to it, careful not to let the kills get dirty. at the Symenestra's question, Aranta stopped to consider for a moment. "If it is not far, I can do it," he said finally. He was good at navigating through the city after staying there for a few seasons, but he was by no means an expert. He could navigate short distances using his wings to help offset his weight upon the webs. "And as long as there are few tight spaces." There, his wings definitely would be more hindrance than help.

[Snaeha Datura]

Having spent the evening at ground level, it was a relief for Snaeha to be back in the underground city that was her home. She felt something close to guilt, as if she had been spending the time with a lover and was returning home to her husband. Snaeha had dared to prefer the outside land over her beloved Kalinor, and now she had to deal with the realisation that her home was actually, the perfect soul mate for her.

She led the way to her family's home, taking the widest paths to accommodate Aranta's wingspan. It took longer than usual, but eventually she reached the Datura family home; a stalactite that looked remarkably similar to all those that surrounded it. The silken path led her upwards to the top of her home, and Snaeha peered down the inside of the stalactite. "I'm home!" She called out, in slithery Symenos before quickly adding, "with company of the winged sort."

Someone, a male, responded also in the Symenos language, but Snaeha ignored the mystery voice. Instead, she glanced to Aranta and indicated that he should follow her into her home.

"Aranta here," Now Snaeha was speaking in common, making her way down to the bottom of the stalactite by the long, narrow staircase that curved down the side of the strange house, "was kind enough to help me hunt..."

By the time she finished speaking, they had reached the bottom of the staircase, which had opened up to a modestly furnished room that clearly served several functions: there was a table in the centre, which currently held a selection of soft fruit; in the far corner stood a bookcase holding at least twenty books, written both in Common and Symenos; two chairs, presumably more for the use of guests as both were cover in a fine film of dust.

There were also four individuals standing awkwardly beside the table, clearly having gathered together in a hurry to welcome this mystery guest. Two were Snaeha's parents - a woman with silver hair tied back in a bun, and a gentleman with bright gold eyes. The other two were her brothers: one older than Snaeha and deadly serious looking, and a younger lad who seemed to be far too interested in the Zith's wings.

"Aranta, allow me to introduce my family." She positioned herself between Aranta and the four other Symenestra, all of whom looked a little... shocked at who (or rather, what) Snaeha had bought home with her. She began to reel off their names, and for each one she would point to the relative individual, who would nod their head solemnly or (in her mother's case) give a little wave. "This my father, Veldron Datura. My mother, Narissa. That's Dorav, my older brother, and finally Druston - the baby of the family."

"How far can you fly with those things?" This came from the youngest of the family, who now stepped out of formation to get closer to the Zith.

Narissa Datura looked horrified at her son. "Druston!" She huffed, brushing a lose strand of hair from her red eyes. The older woman turned to Aranta, speaking in a hurried little apologetic voice. "I am so sorry - Aranta, was it? My son is perfectly well trained, I promise. He's just... curious. Please, help yourself to our food."
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[Aranta]

Aranta followed Snaeha easily enough, careful to watch his footsteps. He was able to discern her calling some sort of greeting, and something about someone with wings. Him, perhaps?

Still, he followed her down into the stalactite, feeling only slightly uncomfortable. It was one thing to be in a cavern-- Zith were used to that-- and another to be in such a small home as this. He was pleasantly surprised to see more Symenestra waiting for them, including a young one-- Aranta had yet to interact with a juvenile of another race.

He nodded in acknowledgement of each introduction, and couldn't help but chuckle at the youngest one's question. "I take no offense," he reassured Narissa. "Zith much appreciate curiosity." Setting the prey down on the makeshift table, he crouched so that he didn't tower over the young male. "Zith can fly very far. Our wings are strong. It only depends on if we must stop to eat; no Zith really counts the distance they travel."

Straightening once more, he offered Narissa a smile. "I thank you for the offering," he said politely, "but Zith stomachs are not made for the spider-people's meat." A Zith stomach needed something more palpable to digest than mush, or they would not get the vital parts. "If you have fruit, that I would be thankful."

[Snaeha Datura]

Druston Datura nodded smugly as Aranta defended his own curiousness. The lad, at age sixteen and being the youngest of his family, had been allowed to cling onto to childhood a fraction longer than his siblings. "I bet you've travelled around everywhere, then. I would if I had wings." A warning look from his mother, whom Druston looked incredibly similar to, shut the boy up.

Snaeha began plucking one of the owls Aranta had killed, her thin fingers working deftly at tugging each feather from the meaty breast and back of the bird. When the main body of the owl was featherless, she pushed it across the table towards the Zith, "don't worry, we've got plenty of meat and fruit. You helped me hunt, the least I can do is offer you one of your own kills." She gave him a small, assuring smile.

Around them, the Datura family had begun eating, spooning out small heaps of softened fruit before sucking them up delicately. Druston watched Aranta from the corner of his eye, trying to catch a glimpse of a non-Symenestra eating - it was apparently freakish and messy. A quick tap on the head from his older brother made the young Symenestra focus back on his own food.

To break the slightly awkward silence, Snaeha turned to Aranta, "so, do you have a... job in Kalinor?" She slurped up the innards of a peach after she spoke, a quiet sucking noise accompanying her feeding, "I'm just surprised I've not seen you around much."

oocWas there anything else you wanted to happen for this thread? I was thinking we could wrap this one up in the next few posts and get it up for grading . Would be fun to thread with you again sometime!
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[Aranta]

Aranta couldn't help but chuckle at Druston's words. "I have only seen my colony and Kalinor-- for a Zith, I am young," he explained. "And Zith are greatly feared; I am not welcome in many cities."

To Snaeha, Aranta offered a grateful smile. "Thank you," he said, taking the bird and not waiting any further before sinking his teeth into it; Zith could eat all parts of all animals, although Aranta personally liked to leave the bones for last, to savor them. As he ate, he pulled the bones from his mouth and piled them carefully next to his elbow. He didn't bother wiping his mouth while he was eating; he'd do that last, no point in doing it now. He'd just get more blood and juice around his mouth while eating.

He did pause, however, to answer Snaeha's question. "And what would Zith do?" he questioned. "Zith are not craftsmen. We are hunters. That is how I spend my nights-- I hunt. Sleep during day." Finishing the bird, Aranta used his hands to wipe around his mouth, licking and sucking the bits from his palm and fingers-- he would not let anything go to waste. Once he was certain that he was presentable again, he picked up a wingbone and started sucking on it, licking up the flavor and eventually cracking it to get at the marrow inside.

OOCSounds good to me; I would love to thread with you some more, too! I kinda want to explore Snaeha and Aranta learning more from each other about their respective races.

[Snaeha Datura]

Druston, having clearly entertained the Zith, practically glowed with pride. To Aranta's comment about his people being feared, the young Sym also chuckled, "I guess your kind are even more disliked than our kind. But you don't seem so terrifying." This time, he dodged the swipe from his elder brother - but failed to see one from his father. He barely felt the back of Veldron's hand, however; he was too entranced with watching the Zith eat.

The Zith's comment about his lack of job made Snaeha look a little sad. She had always considered her own people to be non-judgemental, and to allow anyone the opportunities they wanted. But her viewpoint was of course biased, coming from a pretty Symenestra woman who was valued by her people. "I guess you're right." She looked down at her piece of fruit, considering how she could best help her new acquaintance, "hunters' wares are always welcome at the Orchid Market," but the suggestion was tentative, as if she herself did not believe it was the best idea.

Narissa Datura, ever the maternal figure, also wanted to help her houseguest. Her face was full of concern, so the gentle lines surrounding her eyes and mouth seemed, for a chime, all to be due to her worry for the Zith. "Is there a chance you could learn a craft? Or, perhaps you could discuss with your supervisors at the Place of purging, Snaeha?"

Snaeha, jolted by the sound of her name, turned to her mother and nodded. "Possibly, yes." She glanced back at Aranta, "if you ever needed work, I could certainly ask if we're in need of any more guards." It was unlikely that the medical centre in Kalinor would ever be willing to hire a Zith, but she did not feel like dashing all his hope completely.

The rest of the meal was eaten in relative silence, and soon the Datura web began cleaning up after themselves and Aranta. Snaeha, having received several pointed looks from her father, rose from her place. "I have work tomorrow," she said quietly, trying to avoid the prying ears of Druston, "so if you don't mind, I'll take you back up?"

She led the Zith back up the same flight of stairs they had climbed down earlier, and at the top of her stalactite home, she paused. "Thank you for your help tonight, Aranta. I am glad to have met you." If he had been anyone else, Snaeha would end their meeting with a gentle hug, handshake, or even a light kiss on the cheek. But his previous reaction to her touch still unsettled her a little, so eventually Snaeha decided on an awkward little wave to see her new acquaintance off.

oocYes, definitely. Once this is up for grading we can plan their next meeting. I think Snaeha is truly intrigued by him!

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