Dirt and Discipline (Aoren)

[Sarai Naavah]

43rd of Summer, 514 AV

Sarai was sitting in the tall grass with her legs folded and her skirt hiked immodestly up her legs, clothes were so bothersome but she knew the humans preferred them so she grudgingly wore dresses. Dresses felt like she wasn’t wearing so much, she didn’t feel as confined in them and if she felt the desire to shift it was much quicker to kick off boots and a dress then it was to shuck a shirt, pants and boots. Before the small girl sat a dead rabbit and in her hand was a dagger that was held with awkward inexperience as she prodded her kill with the point of the blade. She felt her stomach rumble at the sight of the animal but she was attempting to learn how to skin the rodent so she couldn’t eat it yet.

Grabbing the rabbit by its long ears she lifted it to be level with her face, its gold and caramel coloring seemed to match the girl who captured it as it hung lifeless with button black eyes staring at her lifelessly. I’m sorry. She thought to the creature before setting it down again and shifting her weight to her knees so that she could keep a distance should blood splatter. People didn’t tend to appreciate a small girl with hair as wild as the jungle prancing through town splattered in animal blood, people talked. Hesitation faded from her movements and she took the blade and plunged it into the neck of the carcass. She tried to avoid the parts she assumed were bloodier just from experience of actually biting into the animal when she was in her leopard form but still a steady spray of blood rushed from the neck and off to the side staining the grass in its attack.

Angling the dagger she attempted to slide it down towards the belly of the rabbit in a straight line, but the skin was tougher then she thought it would be, and her hand jerked to a stop an inch lower then where she had started. Sarai pressed her lips into a thin line and her brows scrunched into concentration and tried again with a bit more force. The cuts she made along the belly of the rabbit were jagged and rough but soon she exposed the guts, she didn’t know the names for these insides but she was careful not to destroy them since some of them were tasty. After the long cut she tilted her head, her free hand bloody from poking around at the dead rabbit and in her prodding she noticed the skin wasn’t attached to the meat and ribs like she thought it was.

Taking a deep breath the human leopard dropped her dagger to the side and grasped the hind legs of the rabbit with her free hand and then used her other to slide between the fur and the meat she normally ate. She couldn’t believe in all her time hunting these little yummy creatures she hadn’t noticed it was like they were wearing clothes! Perhaps it shouldn’t be to shocking, they weren’t her favorite food and they were really quick and changed direction in the blink of an eye. She was fast in her leopard form but half the time they were faster and left her tired.

Wiggling her small hand into the space she began pulling the pelt from the rabbit in an excited flourish that ended in ripping the fur unattractively at the joints of its hind legs and leaving it hanging around the neck of the head. Just as she was about to bounce on her knees in excitement the entrails slid out slowly and then all at once and the intestines ripped exposing the foul smell of the animal’s digestive track. Sarai dropped the rabbit and backed away several feet with a look of disgust. The scent clung to her nose and she tried to wipe her nose into the crook of her arm to get rid of it but it was all over her hands. Her hands desperately sought grass to wipe off in, her mass of hair bouncing and swirling into her face as the breeze circled her carrying her scent and the dead rabbits scent away towards the city.

[Aoren]

It was with increasing regularity that Aoren found himself exploring the wilderness surrounding Zeltiva. Such was in his nature. He could not remain confined to the walls of a structured city for extensive periods of time if it could be avoided. It was not that he found civilized life unpleasant there was just a great simplicity to be found away from it all. It was a simplicity that helped ground him. It prevented him from veering too far from his roots. Even so, Aoren could say without a doubt that he was not the same man that had ventured through the Mirahil Pass the season prior. He had grown too much both in his strength and his knowledge to ever say he was as he had been when he came from Syliras.

Adjusting the pack on his shoulder, Aoren foraged further away from the borders of the Zeltiva. He made his way toward the trees resting at the foot of the mountains that surrounded the city. They were a quiet enough place if one didn’t mind the sighting of an occasional deer, a mountain lion or perhaps other predators that made their home in the trees and in the mountains. At his side was the ever present canine who had become his closest friend and companion, Isikai. The dog had grown considerably since the day Aoren had first purchased him at the Bazaar in Syliras. The canine had found no shortage of activity while in Zeltiva. Aoren was certain to stay very active with the dog. It was a good way to take his mind away from the heavy material he often covered in his studies.

The Drykas man was a solid six feet and three inches. Isikai’s head was level with Aoren’s thigh. If he had to guess Aoren would say that the dog weighed roughly the same amount as he did. The canine certainly cut an intimidating figure standing next to him. The hound was of a more gentle demeanor though. Isikai only really grew agitated these days when he felt Aoren was being threatened. He was thankful for the dog’s companionship. So it certainly put Aoren on edge when the dog paused in his trot to sniff at the ground allowing a low growl to escape his throat.

“What is it?” Isikai edged nearer to Aoren his growl remaining low. The Drykas followed Isikai’s gaze to see a waving mass of hair flailing about in the wind. This mass of hair was attached to a young woman. The young woman it seemed was frantically trying to wipe something off of her hands in the grass. It was then that the scent finally reached Aoren’s nose. He could smell blood or at least the barest hint of it on the wind. Fearful that someone might be injured he lay a hand on Isikai’s head carding his fingers through the dog’s fur.

“It’s okay, boy. It’s okay. I’m fine.” The dog did not seem to lose the slightly agitated edge to his demeanor but he followed alongside Aoren nonetheless.

“Excuse me, ma’am? Are you alright?”