There was a mild surprise that flickered across the flames that reflected in K'yohko's violet orbs. Despite K'mih receiving the bead of a firedancer, he had not expected her to perform. But then again, the dance was an important part of the night, of the ritual. It was expected to her to dance with the flames. She was clumsy and unpracticed and her inexperience showed in every misstep and flare of the flames. But her effort was sincere. K'yohko found he could at least respect that much.
He let his eyes linger to respectfully watch K'mih's performance, but he felt the sour glare of his eldest daughter somewhere off sulking in the dark. He paid that sourness no mind. Her ire did not deserve his attention. He could feel K'mih's eyes as well, seeking his form out among the crowded gathering. Was it acceptance and praise she was looking for? It felt like something of that nature.
As the dance came to a halt and the fire died to embers, the huntresses eagerly collected their things and began their trip outward. K'yohko looked towards some of their slowly fleeting forms yearningly. To hunt this night would be the greatest honor... He could not understand why it was K'takka had ordered him to refrain. But he could not deny her wisdom. If it was his place to take a mate this night, then he would take a mate this night. He remained still, quietly watching a certain sun haired miq'ote from a distance. He needed to wait until she was alone before he could speak with her...
A sour voice called K'yohko's attention away. He turned his head faintly in K'nahli's direction. Anger dripped from her words like a thick poison. K'yohko's expression remained unchanging, her ire simply crashing into a rock and falling back where it had come. He was stone against her onslaught.
"I have no reason to apologize, daughter of mine. Should it not be you who apologizes? You cause your sister anguish because of your own selfishness." K'yohko's eyes glimmered dangerously behind a straight face, his tail sweeping gently out behind him and relaxing once more. "K'nahli. Do not walk away from me. Your sickness disturbs everyone. I would have you stay and speak your mind. Your cryptic nonsense helps no one." K'yohko straightened himself up to his full height, his tail flicking out more aggressively behind him. "You will listen to me now, or you will be shown sense by The Elders. Do you understand?"
*********************
K'iara eagerly grabbed hold of her axes, spinning the hilt across her fingers as she stepped away from the flames. The ceremony could not have been longer or more irritating to the woman. Tradition was important, but she was hungry and eager to stretch her legs. Her axe ached in her hand to sink into flesh. The elder huntress licked her lips and pushed her way past K'mih and K'ile, leading the way off to gather the Chocobos for the hunt. Hunting would do no good if they couldn't bring back their kills, after all.
**********************
K'luha hummed deeply in her throat, petting K'tahja's ears and back as the ceremony dragged on. Little K'mih seemed to have grown greatly since she last remembered such a ceremony. Somehow, she wasn't sure if K'mih would be able to do such a bold thing as fire dancing, but K'ile had been a good enough teacher it seemed. A small smile stretched over her features, relaxing her grip on K'tahja as the fire died down with the end of K'mih's dancing. K'luha leaned forward gently to kiss the top of her niece's head.
"It's over Tahj. The fire is gone." Her words were soft and comforting, and K'luha stepped back gently to look down in an effort to meet the girl's eyes. "Are you tired? Should we rest in the tent until the huntresses come back with food?"
He let his eyes linger to respectfully watch K'mih's performance, but he felt the sour glare of his eldest daughter somewhere off sulking in the dark. He paid that sourness no mind. Her ire did not deserve his attention. He could feel K'mih's eyes as well, seeking his form out among the crowded gathering. Was it acceptance and praise she was looking for? It felt like something of that nature.
As the dance came to a halt and the fire died to embers, the huntresses eagerly collected their things and began their trip outward. K'yohko looked towards some of their slowly fleeting forms yearningly. To hunt this night would be the greatest honor... He could not understand why it was K'takka had ordered him to refrain. But he could not deny her wisdom. If it was his place to take a mate this night, then he would take a mate this night. He remained still, quietly watching a certain sun haired miq'ote from a distance. He needed to wait until she was alone before he could speak with her...
A sour voice called K'yohko's attention away. He turned his head faintly in K'nahli's direction. Anger dripped from her words like a thick poison. K'yohko's expression remained unchanging, her ire simply crashing into a rock and falling back where it had come. He was stone against her onslaught.
"I have no reason to apologize, daughter of mine. Should it not be you who apologizes? You cause your sister anguish because of your own selfishness." K'yohko's eyes glimmered dangerously behind a straight face, his tail sweeping gently out behind him and relaxing once more. "K'nahli. Do not walk away from me. Your sickness disturbs everyone. I would have you stay and speak your mind. Your cryptic nonsense helps no one." K'yohko straightened himself up to his full height, his tail flicking out more aggressively behind him. "You will listen to me now, or you will be shown sense by The Elders. Do you understand?"
*********************
K'iara eagerly grabbed hold of her axes, spinning the hilt across her fingers as she stepped away from the flames. The ceremony could not have been longer or more irritating to the woman. Tradition was important, but she was hungry and eager to stretch her legs. Her axe ached in her hand to sink into flesh. The elder huntress licked her lips and pushed her way past K'mih and K'ile, leading the way off to gather the Chocobos for the hunt. Hunting would do no good if they couldn't bring back their kills, after all.
**********************
K'luha hummed deeply in her throat, petting K'tahja's ears and back as the ceremony dragged on. Little K'mih seemed to have grown greatly since she last remembered such a ceremony. Somehow, she wasn't sure if K'mih would be able to do such a bold thing as fire dancing, but K'ile had been a good enough teacher it seemed. A small smile stretched over her features, relaxing her grip on K'tahja as the fire died down with the end of K'mih's dancing. K'luha leaned forward gently to kiss the top of her niece's head.
"It's over Tahj. The fire is gone." Her words were soft and comforting, and K'luha stepped back gently to look down in an effort to meet the girl's eyes. "Are you tired? Should we rest in the tent until the huntresses come back with food?"
![[Image: urVhoNf.png]](http://i.imgur.com/urVhoNf.png)
