Welcome to Gaia! ::

It had been several long, hard years since Callum had passed through Zena's borders into Sauti. His homeland was just as expansive and mountainous as he remembered. The skies here were warmer, with far less snow to greet him, and a golden hue in the air that reminded him of a fine ethereal mist.

The swordsman was nervous to be traveling once again. After the events in Oba he had barely traveled out of the modest village in which he and his partner raised their young. For a naturally nomadic soul the isolation had been as much torturous as it had been comforting. Should he leave, to stretch his legs, or stay with his family while he could? So many nights Callum had woken up in a cold sweat, his lungs still aching from the screams, guilt consuming him at the thought of having woken his small family. Those nights were far and few between now. With so many years behind him, Callum felt brave enough to take his son and show him all of the wonders that Sauti had to offer.

Faulina seemed relieved by it all. The large, powerful kinfa sailed easily over Sauti's crags and caverns, taking her master on one wild ride. At times he had to remind her to slow down just so that his son's raptrix could keep up, but the kinfa didn't seem to care.

Not until they landed in the settlement of Mez and she had no choice, but to slow herself. Callum dismounted easily from her back, reaching a hand up to affectionately pat the feathers just above her beak. His hair was a wild mess, as were his clothes, but Callum's wind burned cheeks were alight with a smile.

She was headed for a border town that she knew held a certain item she liked. Since it was the only town that had it, mainly because it was a Zenan good, she was more than willing to make the trip. With a hood over her head and her head down as she walked she was hoping to avoid meeting any wayward strangers. Then she heard the wings of kinfas not too far off. Either someone's familiar or the birds had gotten lost. Ming'we lifted her head and brought one hand up to shield her eyes from the sun as she tried to see the large avian. There were two.

With the loss of her antennae she was starting to notice that her eyesight was much worse. She couldn't make out anything beyond the blur of feathers. Ming wasn't even really sure about the colors. She sighed and dropped her hand back to her side as her head lowered. If and when she got to see Ilyra again she would need to mention that.

Moving her feet along she kept on track to the village she had as her destination. Only, the kinfa found land and she could see the outlines of riders. Beneath her cloak Ming'we put her hand on her crossbow just in case it was needed but approached all the same. Until Faulina's colors came into focus... Could it be that there was another bird like her? It was possible. But then, would it have a pale skinned rider? Ming paused some twenty or so feet away from the beasts and their owners, staring at Callum.

"Shake it off, Sol," Callum tried to keep the chuckle out of his voice. The surly look on his son's face was priceless, and reminded him so much of a young Nimueh. Already he missed his lover, but this trip wasn't about the family as a whole or even what Callum personally wanted. Ygraine got as many solo trips as she wanted, but Sol...he so rarely left their village that Callum worried for his well being. He needed to get out, see the world, and what better way to do it than with his papa?

In the Sauti sunlight Callum glowed. His plethora of golden jewelry was almost as bright as his son's hair, which may have distracted the villagers long enough not to notice the translucent nature of his pants. Modesty had never been part of his nature; and being a parent hadn't changed a single thing.

Brushing a hand through his hair, Callum stopped and noticed his son tense further at his side. His eyes followed Sol's line of sight to an approaching figure. Slowly, subtly, his hand moved to the hilt of the sword on his hip. "Well met, stranger. My son and I are-" At first he had been chipper, even falsely so, hoping to wear down any mounting aggression before they began but something about this cloaked figure seemed familiar.

Faulina reacted before he got the chance. The large avian made tucked her wings in at her side before clipping her way closer. Callum held out a hand, hoping to call her back, but really, who was he kidding. He hadn't been able to control her as a chick, so what chance did he stand now?

She quirked her head this way and that before head butting the stranger.

What in the world...? Callum watched curiously as Faulina "playfully" attacked the stranger, much in the same way she did Nimueh's female relatives when they tried to come close. As if she had grudging respect for them, but still didn't care for them because they were female. Which, was something she only ever did around those she knew...

Moving his hand away from the hilt of his blade, Callum stepped forward. By the time he had halfway crossed the distance between them Faulina was chirping, and lowering her head to accept Ming'we's pat. He didn't have to see those familiar eyes to know who the speaker was. Those tell tale markings, that hair, which had grown so long now...

Callum didn't even bother stopping once he reached her. Instead, he picked Ming'we up in a sweeping hug and held her close. He was laughing now, and kissing her cheeks, then he moved to kiss the base of her antennae, as he always had and paused at the obvious lack of appendages. Instead of commenting on it right away, he placed two kisses, not so close to her scars as they would anger them but close all the same. "I've missed you so much, sister. It's been too long."

When she was allowed to pet the beautiful avian she did so and smiled. Affectionately she had started to wiggle her fingers and scratch under Faulina's chin but she was taken away from her task when Callum lifted her up. The hug that had her legs swinging through the air made her chuckle. Once she was returned to solid ground she accepted the kisses as usual but when it came to her antennae she turned her head away, allowing for only one to get the attention. Ming'we gave a shake of her head so that her bangs would cover the scars and then he had her attention again. "It has.." And oh how she hadn't realized just how much she had missed him.

Reaching up with both hands she took his face gently, rubbing her thumbs over his cheeks. Ming had seen him once, some years ago, at the festival and it had been her turning point in life. Callum didn't know how much he had changed everything for her. With a sad smile she ran her hands down his neck and over his shoulders. "You are here.. in front of me.. Oh, Cal.." Tears sparked and she cleared her throat as it had suddenly grown thick with emotion. Patting him on the shoulders she turned to look toward Sol.

That boy. That beautiful hybrid. The one that she had seen as a child. "He's getting so big.." She murmured to herself.

Now they were crying and patting...? Sol brushed golden lockes of hair away from his face, unwilling to have his secretive view blocked of his father's private - not so private? - reunion. He busied himself with pulling the saddlebags free of Sev, eliciting a pleased little grunt from the chuffy raptrix before the canine rolled onto her back. As he was setting the bags onto the ground he heard his name being called, and the boy instantly stilled.

He knew it was going to happen at some point; introductions were an inevitability. Sol just...hoped he would have had longer to think of something to say. Righting himself, he took a deep breath and moved closer to the pair. Despite only being fifteen Sol's alkidike blood made him nearly as tall as Callum, even though for an earthling Callum was quite tall in his own right.

When he walked, though, Sol carried Callum's natural grace, despite his inner tumultuous nerves. His father would expect him to say something in greeting, but he wasn't going to. What was he supposed to say, anyway? Hello seemed to informal, 'greetings' was for strangers and she was family but also not...?

Sol didn't understand what was going on.

He flashed a look to his father that spoke 'help!' on all volumes, but Callum seemed just as enraptured by the 'moment' as Ming did. Why was she crying? It made him uncomfortable to look at her directly, so he tried looking elsewhere - until she touched him. Then Sol had no choice, but to look at her. With his shoulders stiffening, he watched as tears fell down her cheeks, which...made him feel guilty. There was something about him that was making her cry, but what?

"Have...we met?" Maybe she had seen him as a kid, and he was too young to remember? And now she was sorry? Sol furrowed his brows, struggling mentally to keep up.

Her hands went to Callum's and she shook her head. "You don't understand.." The emotion was soon becoming too much for her. The blonde turned back to Sol and quickly embraced him in a hug. Squeezing her eyes shut and stroking his hair she let out a sob. "I have seen you. You were so little but you saved me, Sol. My star." Ming'we shifted so that she could bury her face against him.

She stayed that way for a few minutes before she sniffed slightly and reluctantly let go. When she pulled away to look at him again she forced a smile. "I was in a dark place then and I am so sorry." She wanted to hold onto him forever but she knew she couldn't.

"Oh. Gales.. look at me." The hybrid woman wiped at her face and chuckled. "Heh, falling apart as soon as I find my family again." Clearing her throat she looked at her brother again and gave him the more envious smile. "You have a son, Callum. Who is the lucky lady?"