A Sky Full Of A Thousand Stars (Open)

[Haeli]

Timestamp: 70th Fall 510 AV Task: Social, Skills Practice, Learning Lores Location: Just Outside of Lhavit Tag: Open She'd never truly been deep in the mountains and paid much attention to anything that involved looking upwards unless it was to check the canopy above her in the Gyvaka for hostile snakes, birds, and spiders. There, everything ate you. Here, it wasn't the same. Here there was barely anything to eat. The Gyvaka was life on top of life. Here, life perched on top of stone and tried to survive it. Haeli wondered if that was why there were more people here than in the Gyvaka. At least that was starting to be her suspicion. But she wondered what was better;abundance or safety. Haeli was tired of cleaning. Not normally a clean person (having been raised to ignore dirt from an early age, especially swamp dirt that tended to penetrate everything) Haeli knew that in order to open her business, she had to be at least as appealing as the rest of the places in Lhavit. Her plans for the future were simple. Seven days here then three back in the swamp hunting and gathering more supplies for here. Having an egret shape really helped because Haeli could make the trip back and forth fairly quickly. A day flying there, a day gathering, a day flying back. At first it would take lots of trips. But once she had her seedlings, transplants and a stockroom full of dried preserves, then she could open her business completely. Still, there was a lot of work to be had. And she wondered if Ozantha wasn't right about living in the swamp and letting the traders come to you. It had made life easier, for certain, but only if there were more people. Visits by ships once or twice a year simply didn't satisfy Haeli's loneliness like sitting watching people and stars. And oh the stars. The swamp had had them, but they were never the focus of Haeli's world. Here though, there were a great many stars. They filled the sky like sand splashed out over a river beach. Some made shapes and some filled the sky with patterns that made them recognizable from others. And so it was that she was perched on an outer wall of the building the city had just given her - the garden wall which faced the street - and was relaxing in the dark, watching the stars and people mill about walking either home from their activities or to more activities. Lhavit had a full force nightlife that often confused Haeli. She figured people wanted to go home after working all day, not go somewhere else and be with still more people. She hadn't joined them. Not yet. Which was probably why she was on top of the wall watching the stars instead. One step at a time. First, she'd master shoes, then she might talk to some new people, then she'd find out where everyone went after dark. Until then, here was good. Very good.

[Tao]

Tao was most definitely not lost. He may have lost his map to the wind, but he was not lost. He may have been wandering around for hours after sundown, but he was not lost. He had no idea where he was, but he was not lost. He was fairly confident that if he continued to tell himself this with a great sense of certainty, he would magically stumble onto a street or even a building that looked familiar. It didn't even matter that all of the buildings looked the same under the stars. Lhavit couldn't be so big that he couldn't eventually find something. He sighed, shoulders hunched over and eyes on his feet, feeling very small and insignificant in the giant, gaping city. Too nervous of his clumsy hold on Lhavitian to attempt to get directions, he had instead headed off on his own. At the time, it had made some sort of sense. "And the day started so freaking well." He muttered, kicking his foot on the road as he walked. It didn't make him feel better, and only served to scuff his boot. The old things were probably almost worn out by now, he realised. That and the rest of his belongings. I'll have to buy some new clothes, for work. He thought, automatically making the calculations in his head. The slowly dwindling amount of savings he had left was a real concern. Even with some semblance of a job, he didn't know if he had what it took to handle that kind of responsibility. Every little problem, every issue that sprung to mind in his cross country journey from his childhood home had been pushed away with the excuse of 'I'll deal with it when I get there'. Now he was 'there', and it was all coming back to get him. He couldn't even handle walking through the city on his own without losing his way. He was tired and poor and he couldn't even speak the stupid language. Realising that his thoughts were beginning to take a turn for the self pitying, he stopped for a breather. Standing on the side of a street he didn't recognise, he rubbed his forehead clear of sweat and looked up at the stars. They shone here unlike any other place he had ever been, but like always brought to mind happier, less complicated times. He missed those days. His father had handled the expenses, then. OOCI couldn't find a way to make this clear without sounding a bit silly, but he's standing not too far from Haleli's wall. He hasn't noticed her yet because he's sulking. >.>

[Vendaril]

Vendaril glanced about the illuminated mountains, shining blue-grey under the heavens. The sky was unusually bright tonight, a myriad of stars shining out in full vibrancy. It was good for hunting, scuffed dirt and split branches were presented in deep contrast of shadow and silver light. Again, Vendaril had felt the urge to hunt, the need for meat. He told himself he would have to grow accustomed to the city lifestyle, eat fruit and socialize. This period spent in Lhavit wasn’t about surviving, it was about living. He was sure there was a difference. Still, tonight had been a good night, and he had found his game swiftly, satiating his hunger. Still wide awake, he wondered how he could spend the next few hours. Wandering slowly around the outskirts of the city, the Symenestra leapt across the occasional gap or crack in the mountain, enjoying the brief feeling of freedom and the rushing wind tossed his long hair. This was his favourite time, roundabout the eleventh bell, when the day has died and the nocturnal creatures were awakening. People often hailed the song of birds at dawn as a beautiful chorus, but to Vendaril the chirrup of insects and rustling of rodents created a more subtle, creeping melody. After dusk, the air grew cool and the intrusive noise of everyday life cut to a halt. He basked in the majesty of his surroundings as he walked, humming softly. Vendaril thought over his first week in the city. He had accomplished much – found a place to live, gotten a job – but he knew there was more that he had to do. Get clothing, equipment, supplies for his next great excursion. He also remembered the animals at Piramba’s, and considered adopting a fellow hunter – a great bird, or some dog. Finally, of course, he had to keep his eyes open for any fine looking women. Not for his own sake, his heritage dictated that a pure-blooded Symenestra should carry his offspring. No, he was still on the harvest, despite a lack of action in the last three years. He could only imagine that the web had given up on him, but he was still on the lookout for a damsel worthy of bearing the child of a Symenestra; a strong, intelligent, virtuous lady of stature. From what he had seen of the Lhavitian womenfolk he may yet again fail to find the ideal candidate, but he liked to think there was a possibility of someone appearing who fulfilled his requirements. As if as in reaction to his speculations, his eyes caught on the silhouette of a girl sitting on a wall just within the city, cast black against the large moon. Intrigued by this apparent act of providence from Lhex, he scaled the exterior walls, the tiny hooks lining his skin catching easily on the masonry. Silently creeping towards her as she sat on a garden wall, he eyed her up. From what he could see in the ethereal half-light, she seemed to be a girl with fair features, although there was a certain earthiness to her – perhaps in her posture – and she had a slightly bemused look, as if she had just awoken to find herself in a strange new place. Vendaril settled in the shadows between two buildings, keeping his distance as he continued to study the girl, weighing her up as he usually did upon encountering any other prospective surrogate.

[Haeli]

The stone was cool under her legs, slightly damp too, but she didn't mind because moss grew upon it and cushioned the hardness of her seat. From her vantage point she could see some distance without really being seen by others unless they possessed sharp eyes. The city was a soft place, Haeli had decided, having grown up in the Gyvaka. Everything there was going to eat you if it had half a chance. Here, there simply was nothing to eat but people. Haeli sighed softly, shifted, and took note of a man walking beneath her wall. She was a little confused at first, trying to decide if he was indeed male or if he was a female with very short hair. She'd never given haircuts much thought until moving to the city. Haeli thought all humans let their hair grow. The sailors certainly had. But here she could tell gender by hairstyles often, and that was a new one to her. But this man was different. His body was slightly feminine and she took note of that as a casual observer of people. And he looked well... lost. Not that she couldn't sympathize. Haeli had spent hours walking the streets of Lhavit and learning its territory before she'd tried to move from one place to another. Learning the lay of the land was important. One needed escape routes and safe passageways to traverse naturally hostile land. She'd kept walking - kept exploring - until she'd thought she was safer knowing which way to go. The Swamp Witch had spent hours gazing through windows, looking at people interacting, and seeing how many things were for sale. Even shoes were for sale. Haeli knew she needed to get some soon, but was still afraid to go into a store to see if she could buy some. For one thing, they looked expensive. For another, she wasn't yet ready to talk to people. She was till working on the shop, still getting it ready. Once it was ready, she'd work on herself. Haeli shifted again and something caused the skin on her neck to crawl slightly. Danger. Her eyes went amber as they glanced around in the darkness trying to locate the source of her unease. She saw nothing. Her eyes cast over the shadows but she was nothing extraordinary and had no means of seeing into the darkness. Uneasy, she looked up at the stars once more and wondered why something so untouchable could still be so beautiful. Then she shifted on the wall, unfolding her legs beneath her, and just in case preparing for flight if indeed flight was necessary. As for the man below, she simply watched him. Haeli wondered if he was even aware someone was above him and so close. Had she been a mountain cat or a jaguar, he'd already be dead. Lucky then, indeed, she was just a girl.

[Tao]

It took a few minutes for Tao to finally feel calm again. He ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it away from his face, and sighed, sliding down into a sitting position with his back against the wall nearby. His feet were still aching in protest of all the walking that being lost entailed, and the rest of his body seemed ready to join the revolt. A little break before going back to being hopelessly lost wouldn't hurt, he decided. Once he was as comfortable as he could be sitting on the sidewalk of the street, he looked back up at the stars again, the only interesting thing in the area. It still amazed him how clear they were, so high up in the mountains. He couldn't help but wonder if it was because they were closer to the sky. He remembered standing out in the fields in the spring with his rusty telescope, squinting up at the speckles in the sky, scattered like dust. Here, they were like vibrant smudges of silver paint, clustered together on a dark blue canvas, striking everything below with their gentle glow. It was easy to forget his pains when he could distract himself by identifying some of the old star signs; a game they had used to play to remember the shape of the sky. The patterns had shifted as he had moved across the country, but he knew the ones here, as well, thanks to his books and stories. He lifted up a hand to connect the dots and form the signs. The sign of the boar was just near the head of the girl sitting on the wall above, and- wait. Startled, Tao leapt (or rather struggled gracelessly, but at least he was quick) to his feet, staring at the girl on the wall. She was watching him without a sound, dirty blonde hair hanging around her face. She looked like a wild thing, more suited to the wilds of the forest than to be reclining in the city of Lhavit. How long had she been there? Had she been watching him stumble around this whole time? He flushed, fixed under her penetrating stare, and dropped his eyes to the wall just below her dangling legs. "S-sorry." He mumbled, feeling that he had to say something. "I... I didn't mean to disturb you."

[Vendaril]

Vendaril shuffled into a more comfortable position in his hiding space. He noticed another human, a dark haired male ambling towards the woman, evidently unaware of her presence. His face stirred a memory within the hunter, but even in the past week he had encountered so many individuals it was difficult to put a name to the figure – especially at this distance. Evidently the man was exasperated, his stance radiated frustration and hopelessness; hunched shoulders and drooping limbs spoke of a wearied mind. He slumped against the wall, upon which the strange girl was perched. Evidently she had been observing him as Vendaril had. Speaking of her, she kept glancing about, and was positioned as if ready to flee at the first sign of trouble. Twice he was certain he’d been spotted, but her alert gaze was evidently not strong enough to penetrate the gloom he sat in. Once her attention reverted to the youth below her, Vendaril deemed it safe enough to make his way a little closer. Creeping up the side of the building he was concealed beside, he made his way onto the rooftop and scuttled across on all fours like a large insect; dodging around chimneys and leaping the chasms between residences, alighting with the quiet clatter of nails on ceramic. Eventually he found himself situated above the odd scene he had been observing previously. The mysterious pair had now turned their eyes towards the heavens. “Just my luck” Vendaril thought. As soon as I climb up here for a closer look, they decide to do a spot of stargazing. Drawing back a little, he continued to watch as the young man noticed the girl for the first time. His sudden start, and fumbled attempt to raise himself struck another chord within Vendaril’s mind, but it wasn’t until the man stuttered out a string of uneasy words that it clicked – Tao! He had fond memories of their joint hunt earlier in the week, and was put off guard by his presence. He clicked his tongue as he wondered what his ex-companion was doing, wandering the streets at this time. Phasing out as he considered the implications if Tao grew to know a woman intended for surrogacy, Vendaril began to curser the man for not simply keeping his eyes to the cobblestones, or even just having stayed indoors this starry night. A soft noise from below brought him back into the physical realm, and he refocussed his attention on the happenings in the street.

[Brig]

It had been a rough two days in Lhavit for Brig. The Kelvic had been propelled by a sense of anticipation, adventure when he’d first set out from the forested wilds surrounding the high place where the city perched. He’d climbed the trail with a growing sense of awe the closer he got to walls that seemed to him to be planted into the very crowns of the several peaks it occupied. And he’d gained a new case of nerves when he got there, and his acute senses went wild under a barrage of sight, sound and smell. The gates had only been the beginning. He’d never seen so many people in one place, at one time in all of his life! The way they went this way and the other, where were they going? He’d wondered, and being somewhat at a loss himself, he’d immediately taken to following a particular flow of bodies until he’d realized they’d been leading him in lopsided circles around the edges of an open gathering place of some sort. Within a half an hour, he’d become lost in a sea of mortal souls. He’d stopped one or two of them, once or twice, and asked if they knew his friend and where he could find her. But the language barrier had defied both his forms. Still, there was plenty to eat in Lhavit, even if Brig never set foot inside one of its shops or eateries. Cellars or windowsills were equipped with marvelous things, and the things people threw out in a proper city had astounded him. It was better that night when he could tuck his things away and shift. Even the mice ate well in Lhavit and surely didn’t need to worry about the coming Winter. It was a small rodent in fact who’d told him where the best place was to sleep for the night without being run off by landlords or housewives, or inconvenienced by packs of stray dogs. But in daylight he’d shifted back to his two footed self and began his search again. Near the walls, she’d told him. But there were so many walls! Eventually he’d done the practical thing and found the edge of the city and began a systematic search. Surely he’d recognize it when he saw it. Or he’d be lucky and catch her remembered scent on the breeze. But there were more scents to mingle than there were walls. By multitudes. There was no telling how many times that day he’d passed it by, circling and backtracking as he’d been doing. But now it was nightfall, the stars were out and while his vision during daylight was as fine as any man’s…if not quite as colorful, it was surely designed to excel in the dark of night. He carried a leather slack slung over his shoulder with his woolen cloak beneath it, and the soles of his soft boots made little sound on the cobblestones as he followed a section of wall that he was sure he’d passed at least once before, if not more times than that. There was a man there ahead of him, getting up off of the pavement. Dark haired, shorter and slighter than Brig, but why he’d been seated there, the Kelvic could hardly guess. There were more souls close by, he could smell them. Brig was sure of it and might even find them by sight or sound if he tried. But then there’d been so many new sensations in the past day or so that he was only just beginning to properly sort them out. He’d paused near the wall, a stone’s throw from the man. Should he ask him if he knew anything of where Brig was going? Knowing again that he might get back that blank stare? He wasn’t sure, and he hesitated, alternating between thoughts of asking after his destination, or shifting again and taking to the tops of the walls for a different perspective.

[Haeli]

Haeli was wary of strangers. Strange men were a little more familiar to her than strange women because most ships didn't carry females of any sort, so all she was used to was rough sailors and the occasional sailor's wife trading with her. Still, the people shuffling by going about their lives in a quiet contented way still confused her. They all seemed to have goals, destinations, and purpose. They had families too, undoubtedly, people they were hurrying off to see or join. Meanwhile, Haeli had no one. The building the stone wall encased behind her had become everything to her. It was an obsession she was trying to bring to life in the thirty days Chaya had given her to open the place. It wasn't going to be easy, and half the things she was doing blind, but all in all Haeli was confident things would work out in the end. They had too. Otherwise, all would be lost. Haeli didn't want her adventure to Lhavit to turn into failure and worse yet be in debt to the city. Life would be too complicated if that happened. It was already complicated enough as it is. But it was neither time nor place to worry about such things. Instead, she had to worry about the man sitting below her wall. Blond hair spilled forward and she leaned over, getting a better look at him. When she spoke, her voice was soft, almost speculative. "You should always look up before you sit down. One lives longer that way. It's a good thing I'm only a girl and not particularly hungry. You might not be so lucky next time." Haeli forgot to add in a smile to soften her strange accent. A smile would have helped. But it was an unpracticed gesture she wasn't used to making to soften introductions. "You aren't disturbing me, though, not really. I was just watching the people walk by. They all seem so strange here." All but one, that is. She recognized Brig immediately when he halted by the gentleman sitting against the wall. Now she smiled, remembering the greeting properly. "Where are they all walking too, Brig, wandering all over the way they do?" She immediately asked the kelvic, as if he would have some insight to shed on the subject of why the citizens of Lhavit were simply out for their nightly errands and strolls. It was about the same time she looked up again, still mildly disturbed as if being stalked, and locked eyes on someone fairly close; inhuman eyes. Haeli rose immediately to a crouch, slowly backing up from the stranger who only vaguely resembled mankind. She had seen the Symnenestra before, but she wasn't certain if this one was friendly or hostile.

[Tao]

Tao ducked his head as the woman softly chided him. He knew that she was right, though it was something he had never considered before. He had grown up in a city where anyone with ill intentions did not last long, and had considered the Shinya to be similar in that level of protection. He couldn't help but wonder where Haleli had come from, to be so wary of other people. She turned to the side and addressed a man suddenly standing next to him. Startled, he couldn't help but yelp, jumping back a step. 'Brig', as she addressed him, stared back at him with dark golden eyes. Both of them seemed to be watching the people as they bustled by, even on one of the quieter streets. The city was aglow at night, scrambling with activity. He was still finding it quite unusual himself, used to spending his nights deeply asleep. "... Lhavit is the city of stars." He decided to reply to her question even though it wasn't directed at him. (It was a relief just to find someone that could speak Common.) "The people here are, to a degree, nocturnal. ... At least, that's what I've read. I haven't been here very long." Haeli didn't seem to be listening, though; instead, her gaze fixed on something - someone? - sitting on the rooftop, watching them all. As she backed away a few steps, Tao stepped back to get a better look. "... Vendaril?" He frowned in surprise, trying to remember if his sort-of friend had mentioned he liked to climb rooftops. "What... what are you doing up there?" What had started as a simple and almost typical day of being lost was beginning to become a little unnerving. Vendaril seemed to be displeased to see him, and he had no idea what the other two, strange and wild as they were, had planned. It was beginning to look like a good idea to make his excuses and move along.

[Vendaril]

As the girl’s eyes locked with his, Vendaril froze. Shock coursed through his body as those odd eyes stared straight at him. He’d been spotted, the stalkers nightmare. Gradually, Tao noticed the direction of her gaze and spotted the Symenestra on the rooftop. Another man, with an animalistic appearance was striding towards the unlikely gathering. Soon enough, all eyes would be on him. Unfreezing his mind, he made a quick leap onto the garden wall they had congregated around and dropped the cool road. Smoothing the hair from his eyes, he took a breath and launched into his explanation. “Ah, good evening Miss, my name is Vendaril Ixora.” He shot a look at Tao, acknowledging his presence. “Tao. And to you sir,” he directed to the unknown newcomer. “As you obviously noticed, I was practicing my acrobatics –a hobby of mine – the interesting architecture around the city provides an excellent foe to pit my skills against.” He glanced between the three, seeking for any sign that they had bought his story. It was weak, Vendaril would be the first to admit, but he wasn’t just going to come out and state his true intentions. “I hope I am not interrupting anything? I – I guess I had better be moving on, I shouldn’t wish to detain you any further.” He started along the shady street, wincing at the shameful display he had just put on. As a gust of wind knocked his hair out of place again, a thought came to him. Pausing mid-step, his bare foot hovering above the chilly flagstones he composed himself. Quickly swiveling around to face the trio again he opened his mouth to speak again. Why, he didn’t know – it had hardly helped so far. His usual suave demeanor began to return to him after the flustering events of the past few moments. “Might I enquire as to your name, milady?” He cocked his head as he looked to the strange girl, making again to smooth his ruffled hair with his hand. “And you, good sir,” he added, nodding to the darker man. “It is always a pleasure to meet new acquaintances.” Finally he addressed Tao, stating, “It is good to see you again my friend.” He caught his hand on its way to his silver mane again, and managed to change the motion into a strange gesture, as if trying to illustrate his brief monologue. A prickling sensation ran down his back as a gust of wind ran down the street, and he waited for the startled group to reply.