Fate Has A Way Of Laughing At Us (Vahn)

[Kavala]

TIMESTAMP: 21st of Winter, 510 AV
LOCATION: Endrykas
PURPOSE: Finding A Stallion
STATUS: Attention Vehn

Though young, Kavala had been around a while. Endrykas had been her home for a good number of years though since then she'd moved on to Riverfall. She didn't mind visiting and did so as often as she could, keeping in touch with her family and visiting her father who was her one parent that was still alive.

The cold was welcoming, blowing snow lightly across the grasslands and bunching the horses that lingered around Endrykas together. They stood proud, their rumps pointed into the slight wind and gathered in herds maintained by stallions that stood watchful over their mares. Some pawed at the ground, revealing nutrient rich grass beneath. Kavala was proud of the show of horseflesh in Endrykas which always seemed to her to be a testimony to the Drykas ability to survive. Their horses were their lives. And if the herds of Endrykas were any indication, the Drykas were indeed rich.

So as Kavala walked around the vast parameter of Endrykas, she looked, always keeping a sharp eye on the horses around her. She wanted to find something - something special.

The best way to find a horse wasn't to tell someone what you wanted and have them show you what they thought you meant. The best way to find a horse was to actually go look at a lot of horses until you found something you liked. If there was one place in the whole of Mizahar that had horses, Endrykas would be it. Seven clans in winter residence meant the bulk of the Sea of Grass horses would be here. Kavala knew that as sure as she knew the sun was rising and setting, on time, every day.

So she was grateful when the wind died down a bit and the sky cleared up. Sunlight shimmered down on the snow and caused it to glitter like a thousand powdered diamonds. She was alone, but she didn't mind. Sometimes alone was the best way to look and make important decisions on the future. She took it one step at a time, looked at each horse, and kept walking knowing it would take her the entire day and then, after all that, she may not find what she was looking for. She didn't care though. Spending the day outside walking sounded pretty good to her.

[Vahn Gremio]

Vahn hated the cold. It kept him from running at his best, making him cluster together with others just for a bit of warmth to survive the bitter cold winds that cut into their flanks. He especially hated hunting for barely-alive grass deep in the snow. The stuff tasted horrible compared to the rich, dew-covered, fresh green grass of the spring and summer. The worst part of it was: he was not a part of this herd. Not officially, at least, but he melded in well enough with them, and since he was another stallion to protect the rest of the herd and was skilled at hunting for fresher food, he had been welcomed into their lot.

This day had been like any other, with his herd wandering about near the campsite of the herd's clan. Vahn had tried to find some decent grass to eat for everyone, but again the only thing on the menu was the typical dead, brown weeds that allowed them to fill their bellies and nothing more. Of course, in the terrible stuff called snow, little else flourished under that blanket of horrid white. His tail flicks behind him, annoyed, as his hooves scuff about in search of something better. A flower, carrot, even a prickly weed, so long as it was green...

His ears perk upwards slightly at the sound of someone approaching. Leaning around one of the other stallions, Vahn peeked at the woman with his large, brown eyes, his left hoof pawing the snow absent-mindedly. Who was she? She certainly did not look to be of pure Drykas stock...a visitor? But wait..visitors were not native...so she was an outsider? Outsider...

OUTSIDER?!

Vahn's ears went back as he slowly backed away from the herd, his eyes locked upon her. What did the Masters say about outsiders? Weren't they supposed to have a guide with them at all times? Who was she? Where was she from? Why was she here? Was she going to hurt him? He did not like being hurt, especially not by outsiders! Maybe he should run? Yeah, running was always a good idea...but he had to protect the mares...but why were none of the others acting? They were standing there...did they not notice she was an outsider?

Left with only one other option, Vahn darted behind two of the other horses and changed into his human form, walking around beside them, completely naked save for the necklace around his neck.

"You are outsider, yes?" he asked in broken Common...

[Kavala]

Kavala moved among the horses, at ease in their midst, not at all considering one or more of them might consider her a threat. She'd been raised Drykas all her life and even at Sanctuary surrounded herself with things that were Drykas in nature. Riverfall was a magestic place, one she'd chosen to make her home. But it felt good visiting Endrykas again, even for a moment. Here, she could pretend the things that happened to her hadn't happened.

She could be the innocent Ankal's daughter, the healer, she once was.

Kavala let the furred hood of her cloak slide off her head revealing a sleek waterfall of white hair. With the wind died down, it almost felt like spring would come sooner than later. Snow could be deceptive, hide spring's traces of brightening green grass emerging from the winter-dead thatch nestled beneath it. But that too was a dream. Here and now winter had Endrykas locked in its icy heart and there would be no escaping it until winter itself lost its battle with spring and the seasons shifted into a new balance of power.

Kavala longed for it.

Until she was back on the grasses, she hadn't known how trapped she'd felt. Caged. Forced to ride a single ridge line with no chance of dropping off either side and into new scenery. There was so much to do and time enough to see it done. Things hadn't turned out quite as she'd envisioned them. Other women in her clan had marriage on their minds, children they would produce, the plotting of their movement around the run to calculate. There were weaving and tanning and knotwork aplenty. But not for her. Eachann had taken a konti wife as his second. He'd done it for lust and prestige and for the fact that she was a reknowned healer. She'd given him offspring of course, but both daughters had been as white as snow and scaled like their mother. Konti. They had grown slowly and added nothing to the pavilion of their birth other than the other Ankal's scorn at Eachanns such thoughtless choice. When one had ridden south to learn more of her blade, Eachann hadn't forbidden it. When the other had rode north to Mura to learn healing, he had said nothing at all.

It was hard to belong nowhere to nothing completely. Too Drykas to be Konti and too Konti to be Drykas. So Kavala was building her own world, a Sanctuary where she didn't have to be one or the other. And in doing so, it eased her pain ever so slightly.

Coming back to Endrykas brought it all back to the forefront. But she needed to be here. She needed to find a stallion if she could. Not Seme. Not Strider. Not anything she could put a finger on. Was it possible to find the best of all worlds?

Kavala kept moving among the horses, touching necks, drawing hands down flanks, offering a small sweet to a foal here or a kind word to an elderly mare that felt the cold more than she should in her arthritic knees. A touch and a tap of Kavala's gnosis mark eased the mare's pain, taking away the inflammation as Kavala quietly thanked her for her years of service to the clan she served.

There was nothing here that she sought. The horseflesh all around her was amazing but almost pure strider. Kavala sighed and continued moving through the snow, slowly deciding to work her way back to the center of the city where she could find something warm to drink and work up the courage to go visit her father and reveal some truths to him she'd rather not have to share.

Birthdays sucked.

Kavala had come home for hers, as if looking for some forgiveness or respite from the mess she'd made of her life. She'd come home to be a child again - where others would take care of her just for a moment because they saw her as a girl and not as a grown woman or the leader of all of them. Sanctuary had taken its toll. Always the protector. Always the leader. Always making the decisions. Kavala walked through the snow looking for more than horseflesh and realizing that her mind had played a trick on her urging her to return home because that place and that girl no longer existed.

Lost in her thoughts she hadn't been prepared for the outburst that hit her sensitive conscious like a sledge hammer on ice. OUTSIDER?!! Pain filled her mind momentarily as well as the urge to fight or run. Run was winning out as she tensed up and glanced up. She saw the flanks of a powerfully built buckskin stallion standing with a herd of mares that he seemed somehow not part of. Her eyes scanned back and forth, but he was the only one that snorted, threw up his head, pawed at the snow with his hooves, and then lunged into the suddenly confused crowd of mares.

She stood startled uncertain of what she was seeing as the stallion retreated and a man reappeared. Naked save for a necklace hanging from his neck. Kavala tensed in fear for a moment and mentally reassured herself she had her blades on her even as her mind penetrated her awareness with a single word: Kelvic.

She could feel him. Ordinary men she could not. Her konti gift didn't run to truthspeaking or reading the future or seeing the past. It ran towards animal empathy. She could read their feelings and know their pain. If their thoughts were strong, she could even pick up images of what they saw or tell exactly what they were feeling. It depended on the animal, the individual, and she was particularly sensitive to horses. And this one was challenging her outright and thinking loud thoughts.

She winced, pulled her gift in protectively, and realized he was speaking.

Azure eyes studied his form automatically, looking for sign of injury both old and new. Old habits died hard as she assessed his strength and automatically looked for a weapon. Scars were noted and even his maleness was examined. Kavala knew Kelvics when she saw them, being uniquely qualified and generally surrounded by them. So she knew he wasn't worried about his clothing or shyness. So she was not either. He was big, not as big as the Akalak she was used too seeing, but big for a Drkyas and hosting one heck of a presence. His stance said stallion, as did the unaltered state of his organs. His demanding words allowed for no hesitation in her answer, though he wasn't threatening yet either.. It was the way horses treated each other; males were protective and at the same time bossy.

She answered him in perfect Pavi, and then again in Common that was only slightly less fluent. "I am Kavala Denusk of the Denusk Pavilion, Sapphire Clan, Daughter of Eachann Denusk, Ankal." She said once, then twice, allowing him to pick which language he was more comfortable in. "I am here clearing my head, thinking, looking for something. I offer you and your mares no harm nor did I wish to disturb you. Most of this herd is my father's and they know me." She said softly. Her words had to ring true because none of the other horses seemed particularly upset by her presence. In fact, they almost ignored her as if she were one of them.

"If you are the big buckskin I saw, you are lovely. I am out here looking for a stallion for my herd at home. I no longer live here, but in Riverfall, and I am just home for my birthday. I'm starting to think it was a bad idea." She said wistfully, then offered him a smile. "Do you have a name? Most just call me Kav or Kavala. Feel free to use it." She said softly, her words gentle and nonthreatening.

A mare beside her nudged her hand then and she offered the lovely little strider mare a soft word and scratched her ear. "I learned to ride on her mother." Kavala said, affection in her voice.

[Vahn Gremio]

Vahn was used to outsiders as much as a human was used to becoming filthy rich overnight: skeptical and wary, always looking for some sort of hidden meaning, alterior motives, or perhaps just a practical distrust. However, the more he stayed in this woman's presence, the less she began to feel like an outsider and more like one of the herd. She did not look like the typical Drykas nomad, but something about how she moved about the horses with ease, touching each one with a gentle carress along their necks hinted at a Clan's upbringing. Perhaps he had been wrong to have called her an outsider with so little information gathered...but he had never been one to think before acting. That was best left to those who preferred to plan rather than act in impulse, like himself.

Vahn opened his mouth to speak, and found his teeth chattering very loudly. He had forgotten just how weak the human body was to cold, and made him even more miserable than when clustered with his fellows for warmth. As he listened to the woman speak, the kelvic changed back in front of her, finding that she had already guessed his nature by asking if he had been the horse she had seen earlier...and that he was lovely? Even the equine face he now sported could show a bright blush of embarrassment, his hoof slightly pawing at the snow in a bashful manner.

His tail flicked a bit as she asked for his name in the first tongue he had been taught. Of course, now in horse form, he was unable to answer. Instead, he simply nodded at her own introduction of her name, and his acknowledgement that she had indeed had previous contact with this herd. No wonder the others had not been wary of someone not of Drykas race coming amongst their gathering. He truly did need to learn to trust others a bit more...

Vahn trotted up towards the woman and nudged her lightly with his nose. his eyes looked off into the distance, towards the nearby caravan encampment. Perhaps there, there would be enough warmth for him to stand being on two legs...that, and humans did usually eat better than dried, dead grass. It would be nice to have a better meal to keep his stomach full.

Turning to the side, the kelvic swatted his back with his tail, as if signifying something to the woman. He would offer her a ride, just this once, as an apology for distrusting her amongst the herd, and if she did turn out to be one of those bad outsiders, at least he would be the only one she'd get. It would be the least he could do for the herd after their hospitality towards him...

[Kavala]

Perhaps another person would have treated the Stallion differently. Maybe they would have tried to impose humanity on him where Kavala knew none truly existed. Kelvics were their animals except that someone in the past had given them a voice and a human form which they could often imperfectly imitate. But inside, deep where it counted, they were still what they were born to be and in this case the man was a stallion. Stallions needed special treatment - moreso than most people realized. They had instincts that were powerful and often swept them up. Fight or flight, protect the herd, suspect the suspicious. Kavala took no offense at the man's actions. He was what he was, and that in her eyes was magnificent.

When he shifted and stood barefoot in the snow, Kavala stepped forward to offer him her cloak. She did not do it out of embarrassment. The Kelvics at Sanctuary rarely bothered with clothing in the summer, and more often than naught slept together upstairs with her and the rest of the denizens in a pile on their pavilion-like bed. She was used to it, though it didn't mean she didn't take a moment to look at this she probably shouldn't have. As it was his nature to be what he was, it was her nature to be what she was: a healer. And her eyes always roamed checking for health. Of course, offering him her cloak wouldn't have solved the problem of him standing barefoot in the snow. But evidently he wasn't an idiot either, for he changed back immediately, letting tough dark hooves and along winter coat protect him from the worst of the chill. So she kept her fur-lined garment.

She smiled slightly, feeling his annoyance for a moment that he'd switched forms too quickly to speak. Kavala smiled even as he approached, appreciating his friendliness, and laughed lightly as he nudged her with his nose. "I am a Konti. My mother was Konti though my father was Drykas. We all have... special gifts." She said, even as Kavala stepped close and laid her lightly scaled hands on his neck. She ran them up the length of his topline and paused to pull a snarl free of his long black mane. "I feel animals, what they are feeling and thinking. Kelvics too because for some reason my gift makes no differentiation. You only have to think loudly, sir, and I'll know your intent." She said lightly, almost in a whisper as she moved her hands to his back. "Easy now, Avastia." It was the pavi word for beauty and grace. They often called their horses thus. Kavala walked around the stud, stooping slightly to run her hands down first one then the other of his front legs. She paid careful attention to his knees, though he could tell she was admiring him even as she firmly grasped one of his hooves and automatically said firmly 'Pick it up. Good.... easy."

She seemed to hear his invitation to ride loud and clear, but she wanted a moment before she accepted. "Patience. Just a moment. I want to look at you." She said, knowing some kelvics would take offense at this. Some, however, would preen under the scrutiny. She wondered which type he was.

A knife came into her hand, one with a long metal hook on it, and the bottom of his hoof was gently dug into to dislodge a stone that had been wedged up into it. Unlike other people, she didn't simply release his hoof, she leaned down and gently set it on the ground. Her hands were light on his flanks, traveling back to his hind quarters and down his stifle to check his back elbows.

"By Rak'keli, you are perfect." Her eyes shown when she said it, then she gently pulled a long piece of winter bramble from his tail. She rubbed his rump, passed behind him, and continued her examination. Kavala was firm, strong, and oozed 'leader' as she did so, trying to make the horse feel at ease with what she was doing. There was no hesitation in her touch, and always there was praise. She admired him and he could feel her pleasure at his form all but oozing from her as she continued the circuit of his body and finally looked into his eyes.

Her own was shining with excitement. "Are you bonded? Does someone own you? Gods.. I'd give a great deal to talk you into spending a season or two in Riverfall with me, covering mares I have there. I need someone like you. It's the reason I came home to Endrykas, to look for a stallion." She said, stroking his nose and reaching up to gently scratch around his ears.

Her own scent filled his senses with information about her. Young. Strong. Healthy. She was pregnant too, like any female her age should be. In the spring she'd give birth, like many of the mares that surrounded him. And then she'd be open again, ready for the next year's cycle. People weren't all that different from horses.

When Kavala was done with her inspection, she moved to his side and accepted his invitation. Grabbing a fistful of his mane, she heaved herself up and over him lightly, settling behind his shoulders and instantly adjusting her weight so she was even less of a burden on his back with her position. Her warm legs wrapped around him and her cloak drapped over his rump adding extra warmth. She sat naturally on him, as if she was born riding a horse, in the same way most Drykas did. Then she leaned forward, stroking his neck as she did so.

"You are cold. I can tell. But do we have to go get warm in a pavilion so soon? I'd rather feel you run and share your joy at it until we're both hot and tired and more than willing to sit down for a few moments. My Pavilion is pitched next to the Denusk encampment. Lets run the length and breath of Endrykas and as far as you want to go, then settle there and I'll make you some mint tea." She said, her legs gently squeezing his sides and her weight shifting forward. She asked him with both her voice and her body: run.

[Vahn Gremio]

The woman was indeed someone he was not used to, but her actions were all too familiar to him. Her hands running across his body, her eyes looking over every detail, every muscle, every scant scar he might have aquired running through a bramble patch...if he was more of a human mindset, he might be fidgety and uncomfortable.

however, to him, nothing was more praising than someone admiring his figure, feeling his powerful legs built for running and carrying large burdens, carressing his muscular flanks and neck. The necklace around his powerful neck jingled slightly as he nervously went to back up at the sight of the knife, but his wariness was replaced with affection as he felt her pry an annoying rock from his hooves.

Her words also struck a deep chord in his heart: she wanted to look at him? Well, take all the time you need, then. After all, I am a rather impressive male of my species, if I do say so myself...He then remembered that she had informed him that she would be able to hear his thoughts, and immediately tried to add a few remoarks to feign modesty. Yet she was praising him above the others...how could he not get a bit cocky at that? Perhaps the other mares might find him more worthy to breed with them than the rest of the stallions...

Her words spoke to him once more as she mentioned something about breeding mares...she had mares to breed, and wanted him to come with her? That made him a bit cautious...was she trying to draw him away from the herd after all? Were there actual mares to breed with, or was it a trap? It sounded too good to be true...

His thoughts all but vanished, however, the moment she mounted his powerful back, his muscles rippling in anticipation all along his body. her hands upon his mane, her legs on each side, pressing lightly against his ribs...she wanted to run! Any thought of her being a bad person vanished as he gladly obliged her, pawing the ground in a few trost-in-place, showing his excitement. She might get more than she bargained for...

With a powerful leap forward, Vahn began to sprint away from the herd, a loud neigh escaping his lips. He was running! Finally, no more huddling around for warmth, no more pawing for scraps, no more standing around in a bored daze. He was running, and with a rider, too! The day had gone from dull to amazing in that split moment. The snow flew up behind him as his legs churned into the ground, propelling the two at an amazing speed through the winter tundra. The cold bitter wind cut at their faces, yet the pleasure of running warmed him far too much to let that bother him.

In moments, the herd was nothing but a small spot against a white backdrop, trees zooming past in a blur of motion. The necklace around his neck clanked merrily with each gallop, a perfect rythym of joy as his hooves clopped onto the frozen ground. He could run like this forever...the Konti woman was truly raised amongst the Drykas, as she claimed! She was an expert rider, a wonderful companion, almost like...

His running slowed to a trot and then to a slow walk as he neared a small ledge. The memory of his past owners and of his parents flooded his mind...the one curse of having a higher intellect than other horses was having a decent memory...and some memories hurt...

[Kavala]

There was living, and then there was actually living. Kavala took what she could get, measuring her life from one instant of perfection to another and then tolerating all the things in between that didn't seem as perfect, comforted in the fact that perfection lurked in unexpected places and in doing unplanned things.

The run with the kelvic stallion was definitely unplanned, unexpected, and one of those memories she'd hold close for long after it was over. Mizahar was filled with people, but only one true culture in the whole of the world understood how powerful horses were, what freedom they granted, and what a gift from the Gods they could be. The Drykas survived because horses existed in the world. The Drykas thrived because some of them were as majestic as the one that now ran between her legs.

Kavala leaned low over his neck, shifted her weight forward, and blended her profile in with his so she didn't become a drag on his back. The buckskin moved with a confidence that belied his youth and made her laugh with joy even as the herd and Endrykas disappeared behind them. Kavala guided him subtly, as any good rider should, watching for him the things he could not always see for himself, urging him onto smoother ground or to curve slightly to avoid an old washout they'd have to jump otherwise.

She could feel his joy at the run and the rumble of his deep neighing as he thundered across the snow packed grasslands. The Konti knew he was warming up for his sides steamed in the cold air even as he brought in great breaths. There was nothing like riding a sentient creature. Nothing like it at all.

Kavala always had a theory about horses. They were the power all condensed and earthbound that the Gods always sought to lure men with. If harnessed correctly, there was nothing men couldn't do with a good horse at their side or even beneath them. Abusing them was about the greatest sin ever because it was mocking a gift the Gods had given. Harsh words, strong hands, painful whips... none of it made any sense. They had the lightheartedness of children and the fierceness of storms. Horses like this one belonged in Zulrav's realm and the only reason they were earthbound was Semele's love for them. It was a miracle really, watching the Goddess of Earth and the God of Storms share something eternally. That's what a horse was - a creature of two worlds.

When the stallion slowed to blow a bit, Kavala shifted her weight and relaxed her seat on his back. She opened her awareness to him and felt a cascade of emotions tumbling off his mind. There was pain, perhaps even suffering, as he remembered something she was not willing to ease drop on. Slim legs gripped his side again and she slipped off his back to walk beside him. Her hand reached up, under his mane, and stroked his neck. She seemed so unafraid, so assuming he'd not hurt her. And when she spoke, it was when they paused to look out over the small ledge he'd brought them too.

"Thank you for the ride. It was a gift, for sure, especially for someone with only two legs. You can think faster than I can run and for that I envy you." She said softly then suddenly leaned against his flank absently stroking his shoulders. "But I feel your sadness, as if something's hurt you. I'm sorry if I've caused this. It was not my intention to do so by asking you for a ride." She remarked quietly. Then she grew silent staring out over the ledge. Finally, after a time, she spoke to him once more.

"Life is short for your kind Sometimes it is even short for my kind as well. And it is a precious thing - too precious to be so filled with sadness. I don't want to be telling you what to do, but things hurt me in my past as well. I was lost too them a long long time. The best way, the only way, to survive is to fill up the empty places inside yourself with warm welcoming new ones that make you smile and comfort you when you are alone so the sadness and pain can't hurt you any more." She said softly, giving him a final pat even as she swung comfortably back up on his broad back once more.

Her fingers curled into his mane securely and she asked softly 'Where too now?"

[Vahn Gremio]

Vahn was glad this woman could read his thoughts, for it made conversing with her much easier, but there were some things he would rathe rkeep to himself. Him being in a sad state was one of those things, and he did not mean to ruin the joy of running for his rider...

Nudging her hand as she carressed his muscular neck, he seemed to almost smile at her, his sadness evaporating like the sweat upon his body. She did indeed remind him of his past rider, the one who had cared for him while his parents had been away, but she was not her. In fact, she rode almost better than his past owner, something that impressed him greatly. He had never felt the body of a two-legged pressed so tightly against his body before. It had felt wonderful to run almost as fast with her on his back as he would have alone.

Her words were indeed touching, but his attention span skipped out quite a few times during her speech about life to watch a passing bird, swat an annoying bug on his flanks, or to paw at the ground for a little snack to replenish his energy. It was in no way being rude, just being natural...

As she got back astirde his powerful back, he let out a joyous snort as he circled about and trotted back towards the encampment. He got to run to his heart's delight, and was quite satisfied for the moment to merely trot. After all, he could always sprint later in the day...

The herd came back in sight, the horses still huddled together for a bit of warmth. Vahn was plenty warm from the run to and from the ledge: amazing what exercise could do! His hooves kicked up a bit of snow, making his rider bounce a bit as he strutted past the mares, as if showing off to each of them.

Within a few more minutes, the two came to the encampment Kavala had mentioned earlier. He paused just outside of the gathering place, letting her off of his back and slowly changing into humanoid form. She might not have been offended by his nude appearance, but he did know that there were colts amongst the Drykas whose mothers would not appreciate the sight.

Turning towards kavala, he smiled once again, speaking in fluent Pavi. "Would you happen to have some sort of cloth I could use to stay warm and...what's the word...decent? yeah, decent amongst the others in this clan?"

[Kavala]

Kavala loved the power of the stallion beneath her. He moved like liquid, in fact, something that couldn't be taught to a horse but rather was something born in their blood. She knew kelvics - jaguars, foxes, birds and bears - and they all seemed to be incredible members of their race. Kavala sat him gently, letting him pick their course as he eased his way back towards Endrykas, moving with little effort. She gripped him with her legs, shifted her weight, and forced a lead change out of him just to see if he was graceful enough to preform one on the move. Horses had energy in their body and the riders that truly understood about a horses' energy could shift it with simple subtle motions of their body, asking a horse to move one way or another without seemingly moving on their back. Legs and light leg pressure became a guide to which direction a horse needed to go. If she closed off her leg on one side and loosened on the other, a horse often shifted its weight and changed directions, moving its whole body into the space beneath the rider that the rider suddenly created.

More intense riders could control their horses' headset and thus their balance by shifts of weight as well. The stallion carried his head at a perfect height, so he was attentive yet still alert enough. The other more important thing she noticed about him was that he drove with his hind legs. Horses who had poor conformation often forced their front legs to do all the work and their ass ends just trailed after them, lazy and noncontributing. A horse's true power lay in his hind quarters. A good horse, a truly fine one, drove with his back legs and used his front to steer and balance. Horses that did otherwise often 'fell forward' on themselves and were incredibly clumsy. Kavala had automatically thinned out her herd by selling anything or trading any animal that displayed the 'falling forward' traits.

This stallion did not. In fact, he was so graceful that her heart hammered in her chest and she couldn't seem to catch her breath due to how excited it made her. She'd come to Endrykas looking for the perfect stallion to found a bloodline with. She'd found one. And truthfully, she wasn't certain if his kelvic nature was a plus or a minus. If he was owned and just a normal horse, she could trade everything she owned for him, or at least the rights to breed some mares to him. But a Kelvic was a whole different story. If he wasn't owned or bonded, then she'd have to deal directly with him. Stallions did what came naturally if they were full stallions. Kavala had no idea if Kelvics could be bargained for in terms of convincing them to sire a legacy.

With her luck lately, he'd belong to a child, someone truly not knowing what they had or what he could be. But then, why would he be out here with her? Kavala had no answers. Nor did she have time to contemplate further.

He started into a bouncy parade trot that jarred her spine and made her laugh all at the same time. He strutted by the mares in the herd he had been loitering with and started showing off just in time to catch the herd stallions eye. She hissed under her breath, thumped him lightly on the shoulder to get his attention more fully, and hissed 'Knock it off.' She said, her voice filled with mirth rather than chastisement. She knew he was showing off, even teasing the herd stallion a bit. Kavala didn't mind.

When they stopped in front of her Pavilion, she smiled and lightly slipped off. Running her hand down his neck, she thanked him softly and stepped back while he shifted. Nodding to what he said, she pulled her fur-lined cloak off and offered it to him. Turning, she pulled the tent-flap back and escorted him into the pavilion. "I'm sorry its so small, just two rooms, but I didn't want to stay with my family this time so I brought my own pavilion. Won't you come in? I can get you some wool socks for your feet, but I'm afraid I have nothing that would fit you. I only brought a three changes of clothing for me, and well Konti winter gear would not even remotely begin to fit." She said softly.

"My father's pavilion is the next one over. I can go borrow some clothing from his stores though, if you need them." She said thoughtfully in Pavi. Kavala showed him into the Pavilion. It was a two-room affair with the outer room being designed for entertaining. Kavala lit a brazier and then a second, frowning at the chill inside the dense tent walls and put a kettle on the second to heat some tea. She gestured to a pile of pillows opposite of the doorway and invited him to have a seat. Curtains lead to a second room that obviously was a sleeping chambers.

She ducked outside, raced across the snow and into a second enormous pavilion on the far side of her own, and returned a short time later. There was a bit of sparkle in her eyes as she tossed him a pair of pants and a shirt as well as dense men's wool socks and a pair of worn leather shoes that looked about his size. "They're my brother Vanator's things. He'll not miss them." Kavala slipped into the back room to get the tea bags for the kettle and gave him a bit of privacy that he didn't seem to need anyhow, then she settled gently onto some cushions across from him in the seating arrangement and smiled.

"I don't know your name, yet." The Konti asked, smiling slightly. "Are you from around here? Some kelvics will find this too personal, but I need to ask. Are you bonded? I know this sounds forward, but I think you are what I came to Endrykas to find. You or someone of your bloodlines. Your horse form is better conformed than I could have dreamed up had I the ability to ask Zulrav and Semele to find one of their children to suit my needs perfectly." Kavala tried the open and honest approach first, knowing it was better than dancing around a bush about a topic. But she did so gently, for she didn't know if this man was aggressive or how well socialized he was. Kelvics came in a whole range of degrees, and those she knew she'd been lucky that they were decent people regardless of their animal natures. He seemed, from the little he'd spoke, to be of that sort, but she was still cautious making sure.

Stallions did their own thing and made up their own minds. They weren't pressured. Training them correctly took time and effort and a whole lot of attention to their needs. She had no idea what it would be like dealing with a kelvic stallion nor what he wanted or liked.

He might not be willing. He might not be available. He might even resent the fact that she wanted him for his bloodlines and for her mares not exactly for herself. Kavala had met a few kelvics and had liked the ones she'd met, but most had been bonded or wounded deeply inside and had to be treated with care and respect. She didn't know a thing about him and endeavored to learn as much as she could as quickly as she could.

"Your necklace is lovely... will you tell me about it? Along with your name?" She asked abruptly, suddenly nervous about him no matter how much she liked and coveted what he could give her mares, she had to be cautious and make sure it was doable and find out indeed what he wanted and what his needs were.

[Vahn Gremio]

Vahn blinked slightly as the woman guided him into her pavillion, feeling the warmth sink into his furless skin. He still was not quite comfortable in being in such a body: not as fast, so weak to cold, muscles seemed less powerful...yet he did seem to like the fact that he was allowed inside a pavillion like this. Too bad he couldn't show off a bit more to the local mares. There had been a few who caught his eyes, much like there had been a few Drykas woman who seemed to look at him in the same way.

As she led him into a nearby room, he saw her pile on a bunch of clothes that he could wear. Unfortunately, she left before he could speak up and seemed to go on talking, leaving him with little room to speak. He held up the things called socks and thought hard: how did one wear these? He did see a few Drykas wearing items on their hands...was that it? He had never dressed himself before: his parents had never taught him how. He was, after all, mostly in his horse form, for it had been the most valuable for his past caravan.

Then his ears twitched slightly as she began to ask questions: was he bonded, where he was from, what his name was, and even about his necklace. Bipedals certainly did enjoy talking. Perhaps that was why they could speak wo many languages yet run so slowly: they were too busy learning how to run their lips than their legs.

"Allow me to answer your questions with a few of my own in the process...I am Vahn Gremio, I am not bonded to anyone, I was born and raised here in Endrykas, and my necklace is a memento of my parents...yet why do you wish to know so much about me? Why do you ask if I am bonded? Are you wanting to mate with me?"

He walks out of the room, both socks on his hands, the rest of the clothes still on the floor in the other room, leaving his body just as bare as it had been, his powerful, scultped muscles exposed by wherever the cloak did not cover.

"I've done that before with bipedal women, so I do know how to do it, although it still feels a bit awkward..."