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 Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 2:28 pm
Two victories. Two losses.
Maybe he should have been happy with that result but Poa could not think of anything worse than coming fourth place. So close and yet so far! It didn't matter to him how close those matches had been or how well he had fought. The simple fact was that he hadn't been good enough and he had come away with only a damaged ego and a great deal of bruises.
Huffing to himself, tail swinging back and forth, he navigated the crowds looking for Kalanu and no other. Anyone who got close to him was met with a grumpy face and the slight curling of a lip as he warned them away. He wasn't in the mood for small talk. He was tired and he was grumpy and he didn't want to have to listen to anyone saying: 'there's always next year'. Because next year didn't matter. It was this year that did. The year he was newly wedded and with in-laws to impress.
The plan hadn't gone too well.
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 2:37 pm
The whole Sky Ceremony had been unnerving for Kalanu Kalisetsi, it was hard to watch even when you knew the fights were not meant to be dangerous. Especially since she and Poa had just gotten married, had just started their life together.. and, of course, Kalanu did everything with zeal. She was excited and worried throughout the whole ordeal, now she was just tired. Unfortunately, she had a pretty good guess what Poa's mood would be like now, so she too was navigating through the crowd to find her mate.
"Poa!" she cried when she spotted him, smiling brightly in an effort to counteract his frown.
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 2:43 pm
Her smile did a reasonable job at disarming him of his moodiness and he made a real effort to smile back at her - though it seemed crooked and maybe a little bit forced. Kalanu was not the only one who was tired and he could think of nothing better than dropping into the deepest, longest sleep with his head pillowed against her shoulder.
"Kalanu." He rumbled back, his throat still dry from the fight. He almost hoped that she hadn't seen his poor performances but if she hadn't then she'd ask questions about them and he really didn't want to have to tell her, either. "Did you...watch the ceremony?" Even as he asked the question his ears flinched back as if not wanting to hear the answer.
A couple of paces later and he drew to a halt in front of her, feeling the weariness settle heavily on his shoulders.
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 2:48 pm
His forced smile didn't visibly affect her, she knew she needed to be especially positive-- though it was a bit surprising how seriously he had taken the whole ceremony. He had never seemed too worried about public appearances, though there were a few obvious reasons he might want to be especially impressive now.
"I did," she said, gently pushing forward to nuzzle against him, "You did marvelous! I bet you're ready for a nice long rest, though."
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 3:00 pm
"Marvellous isn't exactly the word I would use." He grumbled, leaning gratefully into her nuzzle and pressing his face against the smooth fur on her neck. Yes. Rest sounded good. "Hmm-mm." Now, if he could just stay right there, everything would be fine. His eyes closed and for a moment he focused on nothing but the warm scent of her fur in his nose. His body seemed to be prepared to stay right where it was--for the next few days if need be.
"I guess the lack of attacking rogues meant I was out of practise." He huffed, thinking back to the days of endless patrolling where it had been nothing except him and the expanse of sky. And then later when it had been Kalanu and him. He remembered how annoying that had been at first and smiled. He'd been so stupid back then.
"You think anyone would mind if we skipped on the rest of the festivities?" Though even as he said it he highly doubted his family would let him get away with that. And what about Kalanu's...? The thought of that twisted his stomach into a nervous knot and he shifted anxiously.
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 3:10 pm
Kalanu smiled at his grumbling, staying exactly how she was- and she would have stayed happily that way until Poa continued to huff about being out of practice and asked about hiding away from the rest of the festivities. She leaned back, shaking her head at him.
"Don't be so hard on yourself, these kinds of duels are different than if you really needed to defend yourself," she said confidently, "Or your pride." No doubt if it came down to it, Poa would be better than most at defending the pride.
"We can't skip the rest of the festival," she continued in a more gentle voice, "Tonight is the Moon Ceremony, it's all that's left before we all split up again in the morning."
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 3:23 pm
His ears dropped back into his mane at hearing her answer and no matter how much he had expected it, it was still disappointing to hear. There would be no sleeping through the Moon Ceremony, it seemed, no matter how much he wanted to. Later, when he'd gotten over the fact that he had come fourth, he'd likely agree with her. The mock duels were nothing like having to defend against a real enemy. Still...he'd thought better of his abilities even if he had been nervous at the time.
He exhaled slowly and lifted his eyes to look up at her. He wasn't particularly looking forward to the Moon Ceremony either.
There would be goodbyes. Hard goodbyes.
"You're right." He spoke after a moment. It might be the last time he saw Shadow Clan for a while and the thought of it stirred that all too familiar panic in him. "Do you think...uh...that your parents might be there later?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 3:30 pm
When he frowned she leaned forward, touching her nose to his affectionately before turning herself around to be at his side. Slowly, she started to walk and hoped he would follow along with her. They couldn't skip the Moon Ceremony but they could rest until it was time for it.
"Yes," she said, "My parents will be there. But I was thinking we should stick with your family for the night."
Her family would be there tomorrow and every day after. The Shadow and Mantis clans traveled near each other sometimes but it would be a while before they would get within casual visiting distance. And, as much as Poa would miss them, this was one of few chances Kalanu would get to meet more of them, too.
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 3:35 pm
The relief must have shown on his face, clear and true. His family could be annoying at times but at least they were familiar and they weren't about to yell at him for being an idiot. He couldn't help but feel that a real possibility with the Kalisetsi family. He had been an idiot, after all and he had made their daughter sad.
He nodded, getting up onto his paws and moving closer to her. "Okay, that sounds fine to me." And he tried to keep the relief from his voice, too. "What do you say to getting away from the crowds? I have the feeling that if we tried to rest here we might just get stepped on." His tail twitched anxiously; part of him glad that soon they would be leaving the crowds behind. It wasn't something he was used to and the chaotic atmosphere had his head spinning.
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 4:05 pm
Kalanu wasn't quite sure how they had avoided properly confronting her family so far in the festival but she was happy for it. They were enjoying themselves, just like they ought to do- though part of her worried getting it over with while his own family was still within reach would have been easier for him.. but their decisions were made now.
"Of course, we'll find a nice quiet spot to rest," she said, starting to lead them away from the crowd, biting back more questions and commentary on how the Sky Ceremony had gone. It would be better saved for another time when the losses weren't so fresh, she'd find a way to convince him she was proud of how well he had done even if he didn't win. But for now, they'd find some peace and quiet away from the crowd.
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2012 1:29 pm
With a sleepy nod he stretched his legs one at a time as if to get some life back into them and trailed after her. A nap would be good. After that perhaps he'd be ready to face everyone at the Moon Festival.
Quickening his pace so he was walking alongside his dark-pelted mate, he leaned briefly into her; a gentle motion that portrayed his gratitude and love. Married life was still very new but he was already enjoying the closeness of being with her. How could he ever have said no all that time ago?
He shook his head, not wanting to think about that and instead, thought of what tomorrow would bring. A new day. A start of a new life.
/fin
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