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What a miserable day.

Kieran pursed his lips in frustration as he glanced up towards the gray skies. Soon enough fat drops of rain began to pelt the ground around him and then eventually even hit him in the face, "I guess we'll have to stop here." Commented the Yaeli before pulling a hood over his head. So much for covering a lot of ground while he was still in Yael.

Sighing, Kieran began to glance over the landscape before pausing. Once before a long time ago he had mapped parts of this area...wasn't there some small cave nearby? Of course his excitement to find some shelter faded as the man noticed some smoke as he got close to the cave. Grabbing his whip the Yaeli slowly crouched before moving forward, but he paused as he studied the figure who seemed pretty miserable. Her shaking was so obvious that even he could notice them. Frowning, Kieran moved his hood so that he could see better before taking a few more steps towards the cave and away from the rain. "Hello?" His voice was wary, but despite his desire to grab a weapon or stand tall the man tried his best to seem somewhat friendly.

Kieran almost laughed at the sight of the scrambling alkidike. Before going to the mainland the Yaeli may have taken the chance to slit the woman's throat, but now he was more reasonable. It also helped that she had a beast to protect her while she did flail about. The last thing the man wanted was to survive the mainland only to come back home and then have his throat torn out by some creature.

"I'm not here to fight." Kieran finally commented as he heard the sigh, "Now if you could get your radaku to calm down I would gladly step further inside to get out of this damn rain." The Yaeli moved his hood to reveal his face, "Unless you're one of those living in that cursed encampment with those new children then I have no need to attack you, Alk." The beast tamer reached up to touch the keldari who hissed softly towards the radaku, "Shh, Aia." Kieran smiled as the keldari slithered along his arms and allowed him to cradle her, "Seems neither of us checked the clouds before heading out today." He commented loosely before daring to take another step forward.

Surely if the woman had been one of those 'demons' then she wouldn't have seemed so threatened by his appearance. Which brought him even more questions - what was another Alkidike doing out here in Yael? Never before had he seen one leave the mainland to explore the prison that their sisters lived in. It was strange indeed.

"Sounds like a foolish study to me." Replied Kieran as he ventured closer, "But you're alive so far, so I wish you the best of luck in your pursuit of knowledge. If you've learned anything of interest and feel open to sharing then I wouldn't mind having some information about them myself." The Yaeli shrugged his soaked cloak from his shoulders so that he could be more at ease inside the cave. Others may have called him a fool or been in disbelief at how calm he was around an Alkidike, but after meeting less violent ones on the mainland his whole perception of the race had shifted.

"Do you mind?" He nodded towards the fire before getting close enough to catch its warmth as well, "And you do have a good point though strange to travel to Yael. Not the most comfortable place for your kind after all." He quipped back in turn to her own question, "I'm not like most of my kind, as you can probably tell. I explore and take notes on unfamiliar areas and...species as well I suppose. I've been to the mainland and back so I figured I may try venturing close to these vipers as well. Not too close mind you since they really don't like my race either."

Kieran watched the woman with interest. Out of all the races he had interacted with the Alkidike were the strangest by far. Not in a bad way, just in a very unique aspect considering their appearances, breeding, and their religion. It was strange to think of how so many cultures lived so close together yet each were different in many ways. I don't think I could ever call a tree mother, either. He noted silently as he settled into place.

"It would be appreciated. If you ever need as well I can offer you a place for a bit since I know the rest of Yael isn't so open to Alkidikes. In case you need a better shelter once the rains stop the offer begins whenever." He glanced about the small cave with a sly smile, "Though my home isn't the most traditional place either and actually is underground like this, but a bit more extensive." He shook his head at her poor joke, "Hopefully that's not the case, but I'll remember that Mnyiri. My name is Kieran if you ever happen to be looking around and needing someone familiar. Feel free to ask for me by vendors in the cities, I trade artifacts and other rare pieces so they'll know of me."

Kieran nodded and smiled at her enthusiasm, "Yes, yes. Ah, I heard that Alkidikes are limited in occupations. It's kill, kill, or kill, no?" He flushed lightly before shaking his head, "I apologize that joke was in bad taste, but I do understand that your race are proud warriors. Still I am surprised that there are no need for healers in their ranks. Do you naturally heal better than earthlings or is there simply no need as everyone knows a bit of something?"

Kieran couldn't help but chuckle, "It's understandable, the atmosphere is still a bit backwards here even after everything that has happened. It was hard for me as well when I visited Oba for the first time." How long ago had that been now? Two years? Three? It seemed just like yesterday yet was so long ago. The yaeli shook his head at the nostalgia, "Either way I'm not like most on this island, never was one for scary stories and spirits." Too inquisitive to simply listen to what the Sanctum preached and the old wives' tales.

Blinking in surprise at the flick the Yaeli studied the alkidike. She was far different from any of the sisters he had met before, but it was rather refreshing. "Ah, then I was truly in the wrong." He bowed his head in apology, "It seems we both lost someone dear then in a rather tragic way." Kieran shrugged his shoulders, "But here we are an earthling and an Alkidike sharing a cave together." He tried teasing to lighten up the atmosphere a bit, "What a twist".

"So I see. I suppose battle is that important to your kind then." The man pushed his glasses up on his nose thoughtfully, "The Yaeli are the opposite in a sense. None of our leaders dare to even think of touching a blade and instead pray for peace and teach kindness." His brow furrowed in thought, "A shame really since it leaves them weak to any attack, they're fortunate that fighters live in the city outside the Sanctum to protect them." Kieran leaned back against the cool wall.

After a pause he stared towards the outside. The rain was still pouring down, "Seems like it may be a bit before we can even leave here, but once we do I can gladly take you on the path that leads to my home."

Kieran could only pinch the bridge of his nose before shaking his head in amusement, "Dramatic yes, but scary enough they believe in it." His lips twitched upwards into a small smile, "Not all believe in it, but you would be surprised by how easily the populace will move for any superstition." Kieran leaned against the back of the cavern wall and wrapped his arms around his knees, "Even during my time on the mainland I never saw anything to match it."

Kieran raised a brow in interest, "That's rather interesting to hear, but good. I hope you can meet up with them." The Yaeli rested his head against the wall, "That would make sense then...is that why your hair appears to be different? I wasn't certain if the Alks had different haircolors or if that was a unique feature." He moved his head so that he could gaze at her, "Other than that I would never have even guessed."

At the question Kieran blinked thoughtfully, "Food.....I think..." He shifted so that he could dig through the satchel he had at his side, "Not much unfortunately but something. Here." The man reached over some dried meat and what was left of a loaf of bread, "Hopefully that will suffice for now. When we arrive at my home later I can prepare a true meal for you." No one needed to go hungry after all.

"Sounds like an a**." Kieran quipped before flushing lightly, "I apologize...I suppose I'm rather protective of the idea of family lately." The yaeli coughed into his hand, "But yes I would definitely say that does count for something and honestly it's rather fitting as it looks nice." He shrugged, "Outsider's perspective of course."

"I won't lie to you...I'm no hunter so it was something bought in the city. They sold it as aracala meat." He replied lightly, "Though I can't guarantee it since the stall keeper looked more the sort to raise normal cattle than anything else. Is sweet bad? I thought it was decent enough..." He pursed his lips thoughtfully. Not that he really cared about meat while traveling. It was a bad habit he had picked up while spending days in the wilderness....never much of one for taking care of himself until lately really.