{FIN} Tis The Season (ir,se,sa, dy, vo, ru)

[Aukai Oceansoul]

Sezarra grinned madly as she was lifted up. She could see everything now! "Ahh she is indeed an elegant queen." Sezarra said respectfully, graceful, light, and plumb full of personality.

Sezarra offered the treat looking just below Direk's eyes deferring to her dominance. She was fascinated, and she adored the mobile ears that told so much about mood and attention. Her coat was thick and lushious, Seze was happy to note. Ruelash obviously kept immaculate care of her and she liked the ice man all the more for it.

"She is beautiful. How much can she carry, where is she most effective in a battle?" She asked getting down to the nitty gritty of the wonderful creature before her, sure Ms. Direk didn't have any fangs or claws but she was not to be underestimated, a tough and spunky spirit shone from her eyes and Sezarra admired that, it took a lot of oomf for a herbivore to challenge all who came before her as she was sure Direk would.  

[Aukai Oceansoul]

Sauron smiled as Ruelash lifted his daughter up. Deciding he might as well observe the creatures too, he walked down the rows, taking a good look at the mammu, he didn't see them very often, along the way there was a big janarim on the other side, thankfully behind a divider and a little ways away. He was glad sezarra hadn't seen it, this creature didn't look like it should be messed with, and this was coming from a shifter who had a radaku of his own. Yipes, all muscle and teeth and from the gleam in its eyes it was smart too.

In another life ...a more reckless one, he might have wanted one of his own...now he just worried about his kids meeting them. They came from Oba and he was sure Sezarra would be heading there the first chance she got. Hrrnngh, he needed some headache tea, he was going to give himself an ulcer if he kept up all of this worry buisness. How was it that Kres didn't worry him this much?  

[Aukai Oceansoul]

DraconicFeline

Iroia grinned and held the feather out for him to inspect. "Thank you, my aim has never been great, definitely a close combat warrioress." She watched with interest when it was his turn. He came much closer then she did, he must have practiced throwing more. Course that wasn't hard, she always got pretty frustrated and took it out in close combat when she tried throwing things. But she had threw descent when it really counted in battle.

"Nice shot", she cheered when the ball thunked in the perfect place on the target. Her eyelid twitched at the attendee, she let a bit of the fire show in her blazing green eyes. He better hope he was never against her in battle. It was highly unlikely but she would still have taken great pride in trouncing him into the dirt.

She thought he should get two points at least for the shots, they had been closer then hers were. They had all touched the target for one thing.

Iroia had no doubt he could, he seemed to have a more sophisticated style then she had, of course that wasn't that hard she was a bit pathetic when throwing but she made up for it in ferosciousness. She grinned toothily at the shop keeper hoping one of the balls bounced and got him right in the forehead.  

[DraconicFeline]

”Aye, she's a beautiful girl.” he said appreciatively, daring a pet of the aldabuk's muzzle, ”Not deadly on her own most o' the time, mind, but a solid kick of her hooves could bring a warrior down...” he re-adjusted Sezarra into a more convenient position, where he could hold her more effectively.

Direk allowed the petting with clear disdain, and accepted the treat with grudging gratitude. It wasn't as though she liked either of them. Fools.

Oh all right, a prance for them, since she was obviously being admired. She proceeded to show herself off, turning to reveal every angle of her gleaming black body.

'Lash watched her appreciatively. ”She be best when no-one sees her coming. From behind, she can stab 'em with her horns – that can be pretty nasty, all told, gets 'em in the kidneys. O'course, she can do that from the front too, and those hooves may look all dainty but they can cut when she wants 'em to, and break. Her teeth can crush bones, an' I once saw her crush off a finger.” he beamed with pride, ”Aye, though, she does need a partner, someone to finish 'em off. I do that well 'nuff.” he offered another treat to the Aldabuk, which summoned her over to show off a little more while devouring the bar of fruit, nuts, and honey.

Now admired and fed, she deigned to give the small interloper a more than cursory sniff. Interesting... sort of. She huffed her opinion of small annoyances that got underfoot and tried to pet her without showing her the proper respect.

”But you should see her run. She be faster than a radaku – they have to be, y'know, since they be prey. But she can outrun a warrior, stop him real effectively, and then I catch up an off 'im.” he made a slicing gesture across his neck, complete with very energetic sound effects. ”Like that.”

He was very pleased at his partnership with the aldabuk.

”As fer carrying, she's got a coat fer Zena, since she's a Tale beast and all, but other than that...” he chuckled, ”She'll carry only what she pleases.”  

[DraconicFeline]

Unlikely Dyakida thought. Such games were designed to prevent easy wins, and three full target hits would be an easy win if ever she had heard of one.

Then again, she – the blind one – had scored three partial hits, so perhaps this game was not as difficult as she had thought. She had no way of knowing, other than groping the entire setup. So, she decided to wait.

”We shall see.” she said, without irony. They would see, and tell her. ”Do your best, Votzhem.”

There, that was neutrally supportive towards his ridiculous goal.  

[DraconicFeline]

Duke Edward Drake

Just after making his boast, Votzhem knew it was stupid, but he'd been given support by two beautiful ladies and now... well, now that was on the line. He had to impress them and show them that their confidence in him was not unfounded.

Sure he was reasonably certain that Dyakida was into women and taken besides, and he wasn't sure if he should be attracted to someone as distinctly not an Alkidike as Iroia (or whether finding her attractive was somehow a betrayal to his tribe), but that did not change the fact that he was a guy. They were female. He had to impress them now.

He took a deep breath and focused on the targets, readying his first ball to throw. He released both ball and breath, striking the target with a loud Thok

One down... he picked up the next ball and concentrated again, aiming up a little higher, just for variety. His hand hurt with tension as he aimed, and he was afraid, as he threw, that he would mess up the throw. But his stiff fingers opened when he needed them to, and the ball hit its mark with a thunk.

Two down... He was doing it! He couldn't screw up now! He took a series of deep breaths, trying to hold back an almost manic glee. He could be gleeful when he hit that last target. Only then, only then, when he rubbed the win in the shopkeeper's face, would he allow the smirk he felt forming. Before then, everything could go wrong.

He took one last deep breath and threw the last one, looking away as the ball left his hand, unwilling to see where it went.

Thok

Votzhem looked up to see the astonishment on the shopkeeper's face. “Well?” he said, smugly, “What do I get for three points?”  

[Aukai Oceansoul]

Sezarra was incredibly happy when Direk took the treat and not a finger or two. A true lady could be gentle as well as dangerous she would remember that. She listened raptly to her abilities in battle wondering how she could use Thorvin her radaku to her advantage similarly. She examined all the parts mentioned in detail from her lovely perch.

"She sounds like a wonderful partner," Sezarra said as the aldabuck displayed for them. Seze smiled as Direk came back for another inspection. She wasn't the most playful creature but demanded respect up front.

She made a comical face as he drew his finger across the throat. She could learn much from Ruelash. She was after all going to be a beast tamer, he seemed to have some really good strategies nailed down. "Do you think you could teach me to work with my animal partner when I'm older? I think you are a lot more advanced in the area then my father. He seems to have devoted most of his time to hovering.

She grinned at the carry what she wants part. " I think she is way smarter then some of the kids in my village. What else does she eat?"  

[Aukai Oceansoul]

Sauron by this time had wandered back around the pens getting bored. Were they still talking about that aldabuck? I mean they were nice and all but was there really that much to talk about? A muscle twitched near his eye and if he were less mature he would say he was getting bored. Perhaps it was time to meander on home. The radaku would need feeding and so did they.

A fat grey cloud peeked over the horizon and he thought it might storm tonight, which just made his homing instinct all the more insistant.

"Er Ruelash, Sezarra, I think its time Seze and I started to head home, it looks like it might storm at some point, and our familiars need to be fed. Thank you for showing us your aldabuck."

Seze groaned and went limp in Ruelash's arms. Strange and unusual punishment dragging her away from a new beastie, father should know better.

Sauron sighed so she was going to use the floppy method on him today.  

[Aukai Oceansoul]

DraconicFeline

Iroia cheered gleefully when he hit all of the targets. "Not a single miss!" She sneered at the portly shifter atendee who looked like he had drank sour milk and was happy Sauron was not like this guy, if she didn't know better she would think this blockhead didn't like alkidikes. Grouchy old codger he was anyway, probably never seen battle ever just hid in his house like the worlds largest mouse. Eh.

The shopkeeper flushed red then purple but bit his lip. They had of course payed, which was good. But now he had to give up some of his finer stock, not the best of course that went to his wife. She would just tell him to set the target further back next time but from the look of that blue man no meager distance would have saved one of his scarves. "You get one of the scarves," He pulled their lengths out. "You may choose the color." He held the array out for the man. He was both proud of his scarves and somewhat uphappy to see one go, but that was the risk one took. Maybe he should have been a fisher instead.

Fortunately not everyone was as good as shot or he would be stuck with a box of feathers before the carnival was through.

Iroia smirked at the shopkeeper. Take that bone-head. She wondered how the old man had gotten into this line of work, he didn't seem to enjoy it, not all the game keepers looked quite so grouchy.

She wondered idly what color Vosh would choose. The fabric might not be the best but the colors were vibrant, that much could be said for the dye master who had been tasked with them.  

[DraconicFeline]

”Grass. Anything from a plant, really.” Ruelash said, ”And she be smarter than most people, that's for sure.” He was enjoying this more than he thought he would, but he knew he shouldn't be so surprised: he had long knew he liked brats, especially smart brats. Again, with that one notable exception. But this brat... she was fun in a way most other brats weren't.

”Sure.” he said, grinning at the girl, ”You thinkin' about being a rider or somethin'?” he asked. While a dual sword wielder himself, he could admire – easily – the power of someone riding a ferocious creature. They were especially fun to fight, and about as fun to kill. When you had two things fighting for each other's lives, you had a challenge, one Ruelash would hate to pass up.

Not that he'd kill the kid, of course... Chi's breath, no.

Her father, however... He was tempted. He didn't want to stop hanging out with this kid, and her pop had no right to drag her away. He looked down at the girl, who had suddenly become heavier, if that was possible, giving her a puzzled look. ”Er...” the words were unfamiliar, ”You okay, kid?”  

[DraconicFeline]

Not a single miss?! Dyakida blinked – a useless, yet expressive gesture. Had he really, truly, managed to hit three targets with three throws? It seemed impossible and unlikely to her. But apparently, even the shopkeep was willing to admit to it, and who was she to argue with someone who's livelihood was tricking people out of their money?

”Congratulations, Votzhem.” she said quietly. She would have to keep an eye on this hybrid brother in the future. Metaphorically speaking, of course.  

[DraconicFeline]

Duke Edward Drake

A scarf? What would he do with that? Giving it to a girl he liked as a gift seemed the likeliest option, and that was good enough for him. It wasn't his color anyway... But... It was the most suitable one there.

”This one.” he said, selecting a deep forest-green scarf. ”I'll take this one.”

The attendent folded it carefully and reluctantly and slid it into his hands.

“Thanks for playing!” said the shopkeeper. Get lost was what he meant.

”Sure.” Votzhem said, taking his scarf and tucking it away. He grinned at Iroia and Dyakida. ”Well!” he said, ”That was fun. Where to next?” He was talking to Dyakida, but of course, Iroia was now included in this.

”Actually.” Dyakida said, ”I've had enough excitement for the day. I should return to my stall, or what remains of it.” she smirked, ”I do hope Kaalnia hasn't lost me a profit today.”

”Peyla wouldn't let her.” joked Votzhem. He turned to Iroia, giving her a very genuine, very pleased smile. ”Hey.” he said to her, ”It was nice to see you again. I'll tell Kaalnia you said Hi, all right?”  

[Aukai Oceansoul]

Sezarra blinked, smothering a giggle. "Yes I'm quite alright, and I suppose Daddy is right, I am indeed getting hungry. Thank you so much for showing me Lady Direk, she is indeed lovely." Seze indicated she wanted to be put down and skipped up to her father taking his hand. "I hope its not stew today, we have stew too often."

She turned and waved sweetly at the cool ice man and his dark, cloven hooved sidekick. "Safe Travels!" she called back to him. "Bye Direk!"

So she hadn't won a prize today, she had seen something so much better! A new creature she would have to tell her brother about. Maybe he would want an aldabuck, she wasn't sure he liked the really toothy things like she did and an aldabuck was a stealthy unexpected fighter.  

[Aukai Oceansoul]

Sauron waved cheerfully to at Ruelash. "Thank you again, save travels." He hoped he would spot Iroia on the walk home but it wasn't to be, she was either still deep in the fair or had trundled off to meet back up with Ruelash.

They were an effective fighting pair, he admired that greatly. He patted Seze's silver head as he walked, she would make a fantastic Beast Tamer, he could see the passion in those bright eyes of hers. She was determined and he had no doubt she would surmount the obstacles in her path. Maybe she would inherit his luck too.  

[Aukai Oceansoul]

DraconicFeline

FIN?

Iroia smiled back, "Thank you, that means much to me, I had a lot of fun today." And she had it was nice meeting new people and old friends.

"It was a pleasure to meet you Dyakida, I look forward to seeing more of your masterpieces. Nothing beats fine weapons." Her eyes shone with her own merriment. She was not used to being this happy. She lightly touched Dya's shoulder in farewell.

Then she hugged Vosh before she could get all awkward and chicken out. "Tell Kaa I missed her presence, but try to make it sound like I'm not flirting?" Iroia winked.