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Sol - Post Five

Who was Li? And why did they want to look for him? Maybe Li was another Janarim, and he'd gotten lost. They didn't seem like very independent creatures, so Sol thought that maybe once it was one it's own this "Li" would have been upset.

Watching Uli was one thing, but climbing up onto Polaris himself was another. Sol repeated the steps in his head, voicelessly moving his lips as he thought it over. Grab the horn, check. Put his foot on the shoulder plate, okay, and haul himself up...His ascension wasn't nearly as smooth as the other boys, mostly because Sol lacked any semblance of upper body strength, but he made it.

Riding along to the bonfires was exciting. It was almost as good as flying on Faulina's back, or sneaking onto Morrighan when she'd let him, but in a way this was better. During those moments he was either alone or trying to keep Ygraine away, but now Sol had someone to ride with him. One friend behind him, and another near her father.

Yep, this festival thing was working out pretty good.

He wasn't so sure about everyone else, though. Their little group was about to get bombarded; he could feel it.

Huyana Post 7


With his little one settled onto his shoulders and using his head as a makeshift pillow he smiled contently. Making sure to keep his hands up, just in case Iriyana lost her balance, he settled into an easy stance. He knew the length of the tale and since the children would surely want to hear it all that meant that he would be standing for a while.

((Short post is really short. D: ))

Jakkoa | 5

As the evening waned, Jak could see the surrounding activity increase. Small children scurried about, enlivened by the heightening excitement to new zeniths of squealing energy. The adults — or more of them, certainly, though not the full crowd — were gravitating more calmly, but still with purpose towards where the festival fire would be lit. And overhead, the sky had just begun to darken enough that the first stars pricked through the hemisphere into visibility.

Jakkoa’s gaze flicked upward at his company’s commentary—and lingered a moment longer that perhaps it ought to have on the other man’s mouth: was he smirking? Odd expression though it seemed for him — and in spite of the instinctive need to rebut anyone directing an expression quite that smug at him — Jak took it for its worth, relaxing significantly purely from the fact that the alkidike, at least, did not seem especially interested in their activities.

“I do, yes,” Jak said, and with the comment, he slipped his hand down again, hooking two fingers into Hargitt’s and giving a small, meaningful tug as he stepped forward in the direction of the moving crowds—and the music.

This night was one of celebration, and though honoring the gods of Zena and Sauti’s barren landscapes was not the first of Jakkoa’s priorities, the heavens had enough of a place in his life that it felt appropriate to send a thought of appreciation that way, and take enjoyment in the night the best ways he knew how. As they closed in on the space where music rang full and rich in the air, weaving itself into the night and already inspiring several couples move with it, Jak turned another glance upward, and his expression stretched into a beckoning show of teeth and gold, dancing eyes.

“Have you danced before?”

]Hulis- Post 7

Uli was glad when Sol managed to get up on Polaris. "Its fun right!" he giggled. As they made their way to the bonefire, Uli patted Polaris' back. He always liked feeling the shifting plates underneath him. Polaris was careful about his steps...once they were there the storyteller had the child's rapt attention.

[>> short...omg why muses?!?]

Callum - Post Six

"Brave or foolish, we haven't decided." What scared him most was the simple fact that Faulina was barely trained. She listened to Callum's commands when it suited her best, and beyond Ygraine, Ming'we and Talisia she attacked any female that came near her. Which was an awkward, horrific concept when one thought about just how many women Nimueh had in his family.

He followed her eyes with his own, settling on a family just across the way. "Your mothers are smart women." Turning to his own child, Callum noticed with no small amount of dismay that his son seemed to care less about the legends. So you can sit through stories about Aisha, but not this? Still, it did his heart good knowing Sol had at least talked with some kids, maybe even made some friends, today. It was a step up for him.

"Come along, Sol. Let's see if we can't sneak around the bonfire and find your Baba. I'm sure he and Ygraine miss you." They had already intruded on this families festival time, anyway, so it seemed as good a time as any to make their exit. Besides, with his mother and father cuddling up, little sister on his father's shoulders, surely Hulis would want to join them?

Jakkoa | 6

Jakkoa’s expression warmed further, relaxing into a familiar — if slightly more genuine than normal — smile of contentment. If anything, Hargitt’s touch of unease was endearing—in a sort of quiet, awkward, and lumbering variety of shy-attractive. Jak hummed.

“As the fates would have it, then, you’re in luck. I am quite practiced, myself…” He adjusted his grip, moving to step in front of the other and slipping his hand into the other man’s at an angle more apt for baiting to the dance floor. “And I can’t recall having turned down a willing pupil yet. Who would I be if I couldn’t handle my own ‘fiance?’ The first step…”

Jak guided Hargitt’s opposite hand to his waist as they backed gradually into the area where persons were actually dancing.

“Is to get close…” One tug and a step, and they were chest to chest, the night air brisk as a dancing spirit against their skin—and Hargitt was the warmest and most solid force of nature in the vicinity, “…and familiarize your body’s rhythm with your dancing partner’s.”

Jakkoa | 7

It wasn’t the first festival Jakkoa had been to. In his youth, especially, he had attended several both during his father’s travels and in his stays in Zena. The capital, despite its frigid nature, was a central hub, the pride of the snow mountains, and its people were relatively wealthy in the midst of the harsh landscape. They could afford to celebrate, and did so.

This, though, was the first that Jak had participated in one on his own—or, since his emancipation from his family, more accurately.

It was impossible to feel alone in Hargitt’s presence, for though the man was not loud, he made a mark for himself in any room, drawing eyes and whispers. But, perhaps more critically and curiously, he radiated a sort of quiet energy that leant itself to calm.

It wasn’t Jakkoa’s style, mind.

But in the shadows of the dying day and under the sprinkle of night stars and bonfire sparks, it was peaceful to stand near to him even if he hadn’t ever danced in his life. And for the moment, Jakkoa was happy.