When Raemos visited his sister, he had been intending only to spend some time in a port to do so. He loved Serenia, but – especially since his mission to Soldul a few years ago – he had felt as though he was intruding upon it, a visitor treading mud onto it's beautiful paths and staining its leaves. So, he spent his time on the periphery, a day here or there in a port town where his uniform and pass meant something. He would spend a few hours, a day at most, with his sister before he would leave for Eowyn again and another job.
This time, though, Vona had gotten sick of that nonsense and practically kidnapped him, arranging things so that he could come with her to her friend's country home. This friend knew of his true nature, the raw fact that Vona did not often reveal, and had been interested to hear about his adventures.
He had to admit, it was nice to wake up in the Serenian countryside again: it was like being a child again.
Vona was sleeping and it was clear that she would be sleeping for a while yet – she had been talking with her friend for hours that night, long after Raemos himself had turned in. He was alone in the morning and the idea of a walk in the Serenian autumn appealed to him.
Picking up a book to read, he set out in the early morning to find a lovely spot to read it. He'd return in the afternoon for supper, to allow the girls some time to chat. Girls did so love to chat, and far be it for him to stand in their way.
So, he walked out into the nearby farming village, a hood over his head to keep his ears warm against the chill and, also, to ward off any unwanted peripheral attention.
Today promised to be an enjoyable day.
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 6:22 pm
DraconicFeline
Avani had come to town to pick up some supplies for her family as well as her parents. Honoka, having a day off from her khehora lessons had come along as a treat. Nix too accompanied them, the little fea riding on the little khehora's head in the small wagon.
As Avani hitched up the wagon and watched her two charges enter the store, as Honoka had become more adept with grasping and turning two-legger door knobs, causing Avani no end of worry as to what she could be getting into now.
Avani hurried along into the mercantile to catch up to the fast khehora. Luckily no one but the shopkeeper was there, and he seemed to be warming up to Honoka.
After taking orders, finding the goods, and paying, Avani payed for three peppermint sticks, two of which were being munched on at the moment by a fea and khehora retreating out the door of the shop.
Avani grabbed the full basket and quickly yelled goodbye to the owner, trying to catch up with her two children.
As she got out side, she saw Honoka and Nix heading towards the town square, not paying any head to the large cloaked and hooded figure she was almost about to run into.
"Look out! Honoka, stop!" Avani said almost dropping the basket.
She hurriedly placed the basket on the ground and tried to run after Honoka as she stopped short of the figure, bumping into them, rather than just hitting them head on.
Avani's heart seemed to stop. Most people in town did not like khehora, and she really didn't want to get yelled at again.
Honoka had stopped short of the obstacle, yet still had bumped into it. She fell onto her bottom, but still retained her peppermint stick. Which of course was the most important part of the whole ordeal. Nix though had bumped into her as she was trying to keep up with her. Nix had ran right into Honoka, fell too, and shook her head wondering why Honoka had come to a dead stop.
Honoka, meanwhile, looked up at the tall obstacle, noting it was a two-legger like mama. But they didn't smell like mama. It was a new smell. Honoka grew excited as she realize a new thing was happening and couldn't contain her excitement.
Quaint was a word he would use for the farming town, the sort of idyllic quaintness that he appreciated and that he liked to think he defended in his role as a Guardian. He kept his hood low, smiling at the pleasant errands of the villagers.
It was in a moment of distraction that Raemos was nearly bowled over by a sudden, careening force. He reached for his sword, only to find that he'd left it behind: he hadn't been expecting trouble, and a sword would have made him seem too threatening for the quiet place.
He was about to reach for his magic when he saw that his opponent was small, and young, and a khehora, likely someone's bonded. He tugged his hood over his face and gave his hungry, roiling, rousing magic a gentle rebuke. No, this was not for fighting.
“Hello there.” he greeted the young khehora gravely, offering a hand to sniff (ready to yank it away if the beast decided to snap).
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 4:53 pm
DraconicFeline
Honoka perked up at the offered hand. She took the peppermint stick out of her mouth and sniffed it, her tail swishing along the ground nearly hitting Nix. Nix, anoyed by the ever moving tail, climbed on top of Honoka's head, peppermint stick in mouth, and looked up to the face of the owner of the hand.
She was confused to see the face of one of the two-leggers without eyes, but she didn't sense anything wrong with the person so she nuzzled her head against the offered hand.
Honoka, finding nothing wrong with the smell of the owner of the hand, extended her tongue to lick it in greeting.
"Honoka...." came the warning tone.
Honoka quickly pulled her tongue in and turned and smiled at her mama as she came up to her and the stranger. She wasn't allowed to lick strangers.
"Honoka, you need to say you're sorry." Avani said to the khehora as she came up to the child, "You bumped into the person without looking again."
Avani watched as her child smiled in what seemed to pass as a sheepish way, and turn to the person she had bumped into.
"Sorry!" the little one said to the person with a smile. "You ok? You smell fine!"
"Oh dear." Avani said placing a hand on her forehead. She then looked to the person and said, "I am sorry about my daughter, she's a little clumsy." Avani was a little shocked to see the deep hood on the person. Perhaps they were cold, "You are ok aren't you? She didn't hurt you did she?" Avani tilted her head a bit and wondered still about the cloak, "If she did, I'll be happy to help you in anyway I can."
Raemos accepted the nuzzling as a gesture of peace and proceeded to gently pet the khehora's muzzle, offering a pleasant smile to first the Fae dragon and then the Orderite that approached. He hoped his hood covered his face and empty sockets.
“No harm done.” he said, reassuring, “I was simply surprised, that was all.” His attention snapped to Avani as he regarded her carefully. Yes. She was an Orderite, a pureblood at that, calling her Khehora 'daughter'... was this an unusual effect of the bond? Had she convinced herself that the slavery of the khehora was something akin to a mother with a child? It was not his place to judge, however... it was Grrel's.
“She was simply overexuberant...” he looked at her, “Weren't you?” he did hope that he hadn't gotten the poor creature into trouble. It was too nice a day for such an unfortunate occurrence.
Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2015 8:47 pm
DraconicFeline
Honoka purred and nuzzled the hand that was petting her. Her tail wiggled faster as she loved to be petted like that
Nix licked the gloved hand that petted Honoka. It tasted fine to her, so she ran from Honoka's head, down her back, and dodged her wiggling tail to curl around her mistresses feet purring herself.
Avani smiled at her charges. They were the greatest in the world and she didn't care what other people said about her behind her back at all since she knew she was loved. But she didn't want trouble with the locals. Some accepted Honoka quite well, some tolerated her, and a few hid their disgust, but Avani knew it was there.
"She just needs to learn that not all people like her." Avani said bending down to pick up Nix and cradle her. She looked sadly at Honoka, "Some farmers here dislike Khehora, bonded or not, and I don't want trouble just because some people are.... Narrow minded...." Avani hugged Nix a bit and said, "She's been raised on a farm and knows not to eat farm animals, but those people think she'll just go razing their farms when she grows older..."
There had been disagreements with farmhands about Avani bringing Honoka there to learn about farms. Those were given the choice to either deal with it or take their pay and leave. She loved her parents for backing her up even if it wasn't their fight.
Honoka, not aware of her mama's feelings, pranced around the new person and asked the new person, "What you do here? You smell like you not from here. You smell like that one person in the windy place. He like you with no eyes."
Avani turned her head at her daughter's ramblings in curiosity, but said nothing. If he was "a person with no eyes", then he could be caught. But she said nothing. If he intended harm, he wouldn't be in the middle of her village. Thank the gods Avani seemed to be the only one who heard Honoka.
"Oh do stop pestering the nice person Honoka." she said with a smile. She then looked to the new person and beamed at him, "If you wish, I could cook you some dinner if you wish for an apology for her bumping into her? I just bought some fresh vegetables from the store and could make some leklan stew."
"YAY! STEW!" Honoka said bouncing more around the new person. Nix jumped out of Avani's arms and started chasing Honoka
Avani just shrugged and smiled. She couldn't help but love her little ones.
Such a sweet creature Raemos thought, as the young khehora wiggled with joy, A shame it is bound to such a fate.
“If she is bonded, she won't raze farms.” he said, straightening as Khehora proceeded to sniff him all over. “The bond will have her behave as you wish, for good or ill. She won't cause harm unless you allow it, or unless it seeks to harm you.” he shrugged, “If they don't know this, then that is their loss.”
Narrow minded indeed he thought, his mind drifting not to the orderites around him, but to the Oblivionites he had met in Soldul. Narrow mindedness went all ways. Besides, if the khehora was used to farm animals being off limits, then there was – doubly – no issue.
Ah well, people were entitled to their denseness. He smiled as she began to speak, but tensed. Of course the creature would sense his otherness by scent. “He is like me, with no eyes.” he corrected quietly, automatically, realizing what he had said. He sighed, and bowed in an attempt to reassure her.
“Corporal Raemos Medrol, of the Guardians.” he said, flashing his insignia, “Here on unofficial business.”
Yes, visiting his sister was very unofficial.
“And, though I would love to take you up on your delicious-sounding offer, I do not require an apology at all. As I said, she was simply overexuberant, as young creatures are.” he straightened into a military pose, at attention. “Also, my...” he hesitated, “Friend...” Yes, his sister was his friend. That they were 'kin' was not something he wanted to spread around haphazardly. For her sake. “Will be expecting me back soon.”
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2015 5:56 pm
DraconicFeline
Well, Avani thought, he trusts me with his secret, why can't I trust him with mine?
"Nice to meet you Mr. Medrol!" Avani said smiling, "I'm Avani Autumntree, and that's Honoka," Avani said pointing to the excited khehora. She pointed to Nix and said, "The fea is Nix."
Nix chirped at her name and sat happily between the two content to watching the exchange.
Avani stepped close and leaned in towards him, "It's no mind to me who or what you are." she smiled, "If you really wanted to hurt me, you would have done so already." She chuckled, "Besides, I've never met a guardian before, I bet you've been everywhere!"
She paused a bit and looked both ways and said, "But you entrusted me with your big secret, perhaps you would like to know mine."
Avani stepped in closer and whispered, "Honoka isn't bonded to me." Avani shrugged and said, "I-I guess I didn't want her to be less than she could be..." Avani looked at her happy child, "I raised her from an egg, but reading about how powerful she could be away from me, how she could be what she wants without her life predetermined... I would want that for any child of mine, even if they weren't my own."
Avani quirked her head at him saying unofficial business, and also that he had a friend. Another Oblivionite? Avani smiled and said, "If you can't make dinner tonight Mr. Medrol, then if you are ever in the area on business or unofficial business, then please come to my house for dinner if you can. You just have to ask for the Autumntree ranch, and people will tell you how to get there! Then Mama or Papa can direct you to my house or someone can come and get me if I'm there working." Avani thought for a moment and smiled saying, "And please bring your friend. I have more than enough food, and room if you need to spend the night."
Honoka stopped her prancing and looked up at the stranger, Ray-moes?
"Ray-moes?" She looked at him suddenly saddened that he couldn't come for dinner, "Rae can't come? But..." Honoka looked at her mother and scampered up to her, "But I like people at home." She curled around her mother's legs and said sadly, "I like Rea... He different!"
"He has to go to his own home for now Honoka." her mother said rubbing her horns. She then sensed her mother's mouth beside one of her ears. Mama whispered, "Besides, that means more stew for you."
Honoka never thought about it like that, "Oh!" She uncurled from her mother's legs and sat up smiling at Rea, "I see you again?" Her tail wiggled a bit, "I like new people."
A post or two? Maybe another RP with him and Vona and maybe her nameless NPC noble friend?
“A pleasure to meet you.” he said, with a wary glance – unknowable of course – at the fae. His experiences with Fae dragons had been... less than positive. This one, at least, seemed to be content to stay where it was and not attempt to devour his fingers.
She came closer, and he was both flattered and wary. What secret would she have? He didn't believe someone as clearly sweet and innocent as her, Orderite blood aside, would assasinate him, of course, but there was a thought of danger, of too-closeness...
And then she told him her secret. His empty eyes widened, his form – already stiff from his military discipline – stiffening further. “You mean to say...” he looked at Honoka, his thoughts clicking like gears in his head, “She is not bonded, but a...” his voice trailed off and he relaxed, overcome by powerful emotion. It was the same sort of thing he would want for any egg that should happen, by fate or luck, to enter his care – a full life, raised by him but not bonded to him.
As suddenly as he had tensed, he eased, his face relaxing into a genuine smile. “I see. Good. Very good.” he said, “And I think I shall bring Vona by.” he would have to – a lone Oblivionite asking around town was never a good idea, Guardian or no, and it was obvious that this woman already had more trouble than she deserved.
He knelt by Honoka and pet her long face again. Now that he understood she was a child and not merely a bonded slave, he felt he could treat her as one. “Yes.” he said, “You will see me again.” Which brought an interesting question to mind. Curious, he looked up at Avani Autumntree – a beautiful name for such a wholesome woman. “What brought you to town with her, if I might ask?”
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2015 6:26 pm
DraconicFeline
It's all fine with me! Just tell me when you wish to quit ^_^
"Good! I'll be happy to have you and your friend for dinner!"
Nix flapped her wings and flew to mistress' shoulder, swinging her tail across her back and nuzzling her head into her neck.
Avani scratched Nix's head as she watched Honoka and Raemos talking. It made her smile that someone could accept her daughter so much just by being by her.
"We just came into town for supplies. Honoka had a day off from her lessons so these two follow me around on days like these." Nix made happy fea noises close to her ear and Avani chuckled. "It's a treat for them both, but my pockets are lighter as they tend to lighten them for peppermint sticks the merchant sells."
Avani tilted her head and said, "May I what brought you here? We don't get many visitors here, just the occasional traveler."
Honoka smiled as Rae pet her. Closing her eyes, she pushed her head into his hand in an affectionate manner, hoping he wouldn't stop. She was really glad that he would be coming back. He didn't smell bad, so she accepted him readily.
“Ah, yes. Peppermint.” Raemos was wary of going to the merchant stands, for fear that they would see him for the 'other' he was. “I didn't know that khehora or...” he smiled at Nix, “Fae dragons liked it as well.” His sister liked it too, but Cearlan... His heart clenched at the name. Cearlan had abhorred the stuff. Maybe Cearlan's sister, or her mate, would like it?
“A very valid question.” he said, “I am willing to bet my salary that you do not get many who look like me.” an understatement, of course, “But my intentions are pure – as I said, I am visiting nearby, and I wanted to take a walk and ensure all was well. I see that there is a Guardian outpost here, and that you have little damage from the Mara incursion. I'm glad – you are well protected.” he said. That, and clearly Ashen City's guard and Aevah's military did a good job of protecting their people... better than Lord Draco did, certainly, he thought with much bitterness.
He tried to assuage his feelings with a few choice scritches behind the khehora's jawbone and horn, smiling at her innocent sweetness. “Such a sweetling...” he murmured at Honoka, “You have clearly raised her well.”
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 5:36 pm
DraconicFeline
"I have to keep an eye on them when they get near the candy, they tend to take before I give permission." Avani said smiling.
"No, I have never seen an Oblivionite anywhere on Serenia... But I have heard the wild tribe here has some. But I have met an Oblivionite before and he was really nice. He's mated to a friend of mine and they live on Ayr with their family." Avani smiled and said, "I can see no trouble with you being here, but that's just my opinion." His talk of the Mara intrusion made her shudder, "That whole mess. They mostly attacked the Ashen City and the lakes..." She looked to Honoka and smiled at how the little one loved the attention, "We had one at my father's farm, but I got rid of it thank the gods... For the most part though our farms were protected, yet our buildings could be rebuilt. The harvest was spared thank Seren."
"Thank you for saying so," Avani smiled at his praise of how well Honoka was behaving , "Sometimes it's hard, but I do hope she can become as strong as her father and learn the ways of her people."
Honoka leaned into his led, loving the places he scratched. It felt sooooo good.
I was all ready to tag this too XD Lets finish it up?
Raemos chuckled as the khehora clearly enjoyed his petting. “I wish others shared your opinion.” he said softly, longingly. Even his own father did not like him coming here, but in the end his father could do nothing about it.
“Good... I had heard about that: that they didn't seem to realize that food and crops were important...” he said, studying Honoka. “Her father?” he looked up at her, “So you were given the egg by a parent?” That changed things in an interesting way. Why any parent would want their child enslaved, Raemos had no idea, but that was far superior to the purchase of a stolen egg, or the stealing of one from its natal nest. He turned back to Honoka, lavishing attention on her further. “Well, my dear Honoka,” he said, very importantly, “If you ever need training, advice, an escort, or stories, I would be happy to oblige you.”
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 7:59 pm
DraconicFeline
Yush O 3 O
Avani smiled and watched the pair. It was nice to see Honoka getting along with another person, and it was nice to see someone else getting along with her. An Oblivionite at that!
"Yes, her father gave me her egg." she smiled at Honoka leaning into Rea, "I have known him since I was about Honoka's age, and he needed a safe place for his egg to grow." Avani felt herself blush and said, "I was honored he thought of me."
Avani watched as Honoka looked up to Rea and smiled. "Stories! Yes!"
"Perhaps dinner is in order then for stories?" Avani said looking up at Rea with the question on her face, "You can bring your friends if you wish!" She smiled, "It's not far from town, and I can meet you here to take you there!"
Raemos didn't think that he could continue to hedge or refuse – to do so would be rude and, moreover, undesirable. He smiled at Avani, giving Honoka a set of scritches under her chin. “All right” he said, “I'll ask my... friend... if she can join.” He had stories, and clearly Avani had stories, and at this point it looked like he would be telling them. He frowned at the sky, taking note of the shadows – he needed to start heading back to his sister and her friend, all too soon. He stood. “Then I suppose I shall meet you this evening.” he said, inclining his head graciously.
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