The caravan had come to a standstill. The broken wheel casting a pit of unease to form in the wind youths gut. The knowledge of a lack of supplies just adding onto it. Bar’dulren jumping down to give out directions to set up protection should they need it. Kyrian and Cassio helping with what they could. Kyrian blinked as he looking between two trees...was that a path. He knew from his time in Sauti what old paths looked like. Specially in a cavern, those were sorta hard to miss. Kyrian watched as one of the younglings spotted it as well. The youth ran over to stop the child before their curiosity got the better of all of them. The mother noticed calmly walking over, “What did you children find?”
Kyrian looked up at her, “I think this is an old path.”
She looked at it, “It is. Rare out here. I thought this forest was abandoned…” she was slowly rubbing her younglings shoulder as she spoke. Her worry etched on her gentle features as she looked back, “Bar’dulren...I think you should look at this.”
The male walked over his eyes narrow and wary, as he looked at the start of the path. He hummed a little looking back. The last thing Kyrian wanted was to go down a desolate path in a terrifying---he squeaked as Bar’dulren motioned for the group to follow it. The young rogue whimpering as he followed. As the group walked further in they saw glimpses of what seemed to be a homstead. Kyrian started feeling like they were in some sort of ghost story, as he looked around at the ground he noticed that the leaves were off in one spot ahead of them. Trill let out a chirp at hearing something and flew ahead of the group. Two of the younglings taking off after him. Cassio and Kyrian both shooting forward. As Kyrian saw one youngling going towards that spot, Cassio saw his siblings about to get lost. Kyrian managed to move the youngling to the side before he let out a breath. Then he blinked before looking down to notice his foot was in a...ring?
“AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!” he let out a cry as he felt the world spin. As it came to a stop the blond found himself blinking dazedly as Cassio let out his own cry for his Father. Bar’dulren and the others ran out in time to see Kyrian stop swinging. The wind male gave a watery big eye look to the others. The group as a whole trying very hard not to laugh but a few failed. Bar’dulren walked over, taking out a dagger. Kyrian felt Cassio hold his upper body as the elder male cut him down. The wind male rubbed at his ankle as he looked up hearing...a song. It was pretty. The group followed the song to see Trill sitting on a long as a female played a flute. She was good...Kyrian thought to himself, his head tilted. But...wait...what was she?
Before the group got closer a arrow sailed to impale the ground in front of them. Kyrian and Cassio lept back as a bellow resounded.
“What are you doing on my lands?!?” the gravelly voice bellowed. Bar’dulren turned as the group moved back a little. Trillion flying up to glide to the large Leaf male’s shoulder, there was silence which Kyrian took in the two leaf tribespeople before them. The female wasn’t that young, her hair was plated to her skull to a nice half point then flowed in thick waves to her elbows. Her dark green eyes and peach toned crystals were pretty. But Kyrian had a sense of forbidding with her. Like there was something lurking there. She didn’t stand, but Kyrian saw the layers of skirts and the sash which hung loose around her upper body. He had a really bad feeling as he looked at the male which he could tell was her Father. Both father and daughter held the same dark green eyes, same forbidding feeling. Kyrian decided it was so not in his best interest to be out in the open. The female stood, she was tall, then strode to her Father’s side. She glanced to Kyrian and then back to her Father. Waiting.
Bar’dulren made sure to check that Kyrian was mostly hidden. He smiled at the elder male, “My Family and I are travelling to Yera. We seemed to have miscalculated the sturdiness of our caravan. The wheel broke...and...we find we’re low….on supplies…” the male’s words started to fail him as he watched the female lean in to whisper to her Father. She drummed her fingers on her Father’s shoulder, she leaned out to gaze impassively at the group.
The elder pointed directly at Kyrian, “You have a Wind with you...carry on out of here. Leave at once! I will not have one of
them here to plague my mind.”
Cassio was the first to react, “Excuse me?!?”
The elder waved an arm, “Those types of people are nothing but whimsy and flare. They care not for those around them!!”
Kyrian let out a series of small squeaks. Bar’dulren’s eyes narrowing. His wife held up a hand as she smiled at the elder, “That youth is of no concern to you Sir. He is traveling elsewhere. We are just taking pity on a child out here on their---”
The elder cut in, “Then your as careless as them! You all get nothing!!! NOTHING out of me!!!” with that he stormed back into the house. Raving as he did so. The daughter smiled at them before turning around.
“You provoked him!!” Cassio accused as he stepped out. Kyrian tugged on his arm to get him back to his parents’ side. The wind male’s feeling with this woman was getting worse. Only intensifying as she slowly turned to look them over.
She turned crossing her arms, “I’m sorry?”
Cassio gulped. Kyrian figuring that it finally kicked in she was the real danger here; “You...you said something to him….”
She shurgged, “No I didn’t.”
Bar’dulren was keeping the older children back as he kept narrow eyes on the female. Cassio’s mother was close to where she could pull both boys to her if need be. Cassio didn’t waver, “Call. Your cruler than him.”
She smiled sweetly, “You don’t know the half of it…leave before I use force.”
Kyrian spotted her flute, “A wicked heart played so beautifully…” he muttered.
She heard his comment. Twitching she huffed, “I’m not that wicked. You have to be out here…” she saw they were convinced. She sighed. Then got an idea, “Fine. One of you must have musical talent. That’s common with caravans. I’ll offer you this challenge. Best me in song. You’ll get enough supplies to last you to the next settlement. Lose. You leave and good luck making it.”
Bar’dulren knew of a friends Caravan which would be passing through, but that wouldn’t be for a few days at least. He sighed knowing that even a day’s worth of supplies would sustain them till his friend arrived. He looked back…
Kyrian blinked inhaling he stepped forward, “I do.”
She chuckled, “Of course you would…”
As she walked out to stand where she had been sitting she curtseyed. Kyrian squeaking as he bowed in return. She smiled, almost warmly before holding out a hand; “I’ll let the challenger go first…”
Kyrian’s bad feeling came back with full force. Taking calming breaths the youth started his song. The one he played for the family at the end of the start of this journey. His body remained tall as he did so, never noticing the female’s odd look. When he finished the family behind him clapped. The female’s confused expression stayed, “That was it?”
Kyrian blinked, “What?”
She sighed, “Child. Where was the movement. A minstrel’s whole body should be their song...not just their instrument. Here...watch. Listen.”
She started her song. The one the heard coming up the path. Kyrian didn’t see but her foot tapping, then...she started to dance. Kyrian gasped realizing that’s what Kenriss did with Uturii. What no one else in his family group would do. The youth
felt her song, looking back he saw the families jaws drop...he knew then she was good. He looked back feeling a tug as she hit a thrill, she was really good. He felt his shoulders drop as she came to her end. The female ended her song with a twirl smirking.
“Well? Who won?” she chuckled at the silence, “Thought so.” as the female turned to walk back into her home she heard a thud. Then Cassio’s cry as she glanced back….
Kyrian was on his knees, the heels of his palms pressed into the ground. Tears were prickling at his eyes, but he held them in. She blinked, turned then strode back to Kyrian. Kneeling she placed her hands on the youth’s shoulders.
“You didn’t fail them. You didn’t fail anyone. Your song. Was you. It was entirely you, child. Your young. You…” she tilted up his chin, “You remind me of myself. Its hard at first, you have to bend for others. Till you find yourself. Till...you realize…” she sighs as her words resonated with her past, “That not everyone is going to hear your song for you.” she patted his cheek. Standing she brushed off her skirts, “Change of plans. The boy’s song earned you all a day’s worth of supplies.” she walked away.
Cassio helped Kyrian to his feet. Rubbing his back as the group took turns comforting the youth. They took the food the female walked back out with. Bar’dulren quirked an eyebrow, “Won’t your Father get mad?”
She chuckled, “He’ll think the Kinfa got into the supplies again. Go. I hope you all make it to your destination.” the group started to leave, “Child...they call me Vanyri of the Wood.”
Kyrian looked back at her, “Kyrian.”
She smiled, “Come back when you’ve earned a title.”
Kryian smiled as they left. His mind turning over her words to him. He would have to bend. He would find trouble. He has to find himself. The youth was thinking now more than ever…
Just who was he?
((word count: 1725))
