The Heart of a Fox
The hustle and bustle of the Sapphire Avenue Exchange always created an uncomfortable place for Kiht. People were packed together like a herd of sheep – all looking for their own place to graze. The Moon-Keeper carefully made her way through the crowd. She avoided tripping on the Lalafells, being knocked over the Roegadyns and being bumped into by distracted Hyur. If Aya wasn’t at the Quicksand then another common place for her to be was the markets.
To Kiht, it had always felt like she lived in a different world from Aya. She was beginning to understand why. People were pushing through each other to buy things as if they were starving, yet many were simply buying trinkets. Kiht’s expression betrayed an irritable mood. She moved through the crowd as if it were a nuisance.
Her mood quickly changed as she found who she was looking for.
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Aya Foxheart is involved in the final stages of a conversation with a trader, in her usual energetic and cheerful manner. “It’s a good thing I didn't wear my usual around-Thanalan outfit!â€
Kiht Jakkya grows a smile as she paces towards Aya. "Buying uh." She glances to the wares. "Wilderness stuff? Aya? ....Or tools?" She glances to the Marchant. "Or whatever the Hells this person sells."
The highlander looks surprised turning her head before her wide-eyed gaze settles on Kiht, "Aaaah! Well look who it is!" She grins, stepping away from the momentarily confused merchant. "Just a little bit of everything I think!" She laughs.
"You are buying a little bit of everything, or they sell that?" The Keeper asks with a slight smirk.
Aya pulls her lips to the side in an amused smirk, "Both, maybe. Pens and ink; a couple of plant pots!"
"I can only assume you are writing about plants then.... Botany?" She cants her head a bit. "Hobbies are good I suppose." She teases.
"How -are- you?" She laughs, reaching her hand out to Kiht's shoulder. "It’s been -so- long."
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The two found a place to sit after exchanging brief formalities. The Markets were still crowded, but stone benches were set in the shade of alcoves built into the walls. The masses of people gave the benches a wide berth as if the idea of sitting was taboo. Shade, space and quiet was a relief.
Kiht considered Aya a friend, but she wasn’t one she worked with much, so they did not see each other often. The Huntress was always distracted, and this resulted in infrequent casual visits.
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"So much happens to me and around me I find it hard to imagine a peaceful living." She pauses. "Then again, I learned that I seek trouble. I have a hard time living without it..." Kiht admits.
"Life offers plenty of its own excitements without requiring danger〜" Aya responds.
The hunter snickers. "Does it? I have not found such." She pauses. "And that is what I mean when I said we oft do not think alike."
"Or that you just don't look in the right places!"
"I was raised in a forest full of danger. Mayhaps I just find things that many find exciting to be mundane."
"Or, perhaps, it’s the other way around."
"That what I find exciting is mundane?" She lets out a chuckle. "Aya, clearly you see it is a matter of one's own mind then."
"I never suggested otherwise! Only that I'm sure you'd find a diversion you enjoyed if you looked hard enough."
"What makes you think I have not looked hard enough?"
"That you haven't found one!"
Kiht slowly shakes her head. "Failure to find something exciting that does not have danger does not mean there is something I am missing. Unless you have ideas you wish to share?"
"The alternative is so thoroughly depressing as to not warrant consideration."
"Why is it depressing?" She asks as she leans over a bit.
"That you shall either fall to one of your violent escapades, or to existential ennui when you are fortunate enough to no longer engage in them."
Kiht sits up straight again. "Mayhaps that will change when I am old. Mayhaps I will fall before then, and not have to worry about it. The truth does not depress me. Apologies if it does you."
"What, shouldn't I wish for my friends to be happy?
The Keeper sighs. "I am happy, Aya. You can not imagine being so in my shoes, and that is again why we do not think alike. Do I wish there were some threats I did not need to face? Indeed, but they are there, and I will not flee from them."
Aya shrugs with resignation.
The Miqo’te sighs lightly once more, and averts her gaze. "I have always been like this. I did not intend for this conversation to go here. Apologies."
The highlander woman slowly shakes her head, "Of course you have been. You've also never been happy as far as I've seen, and I know you'll never find it in violence whatever you tell yourself. You throw yourself out there for friends, or whatever cause you have found to embrace in a search, I suspect, for lasting satisfaction." She presses her lips together firmly for a moment, "But it’s alright, Kiht. I just have high hopes."
Kiht bites her lower lip at that as she furrows her brows, but not in anger. Her expression is pensive. She is quiet for a long moment. "I can not deny that you may be right." She says quietly. "But without a cause, without allies that need me, without something to fight or hunt, I know not what to do with myself."
"I hope you'll find it. Somewhere. In the meantime, I'm here to help you, whatever your cause. Because that's what dear friends are for, isn't that right?" She smiles softly and slips a hand into a belt-pouch, offering an opened bag of jelly candies toward Kiht.
Kiht glances to Aya at the sound of a bag opening. Her eyes fix on the bag of candies, and she can't help but crack a slight smile. She reaches into the bag to draw out some candies; taking a moment to study them. "They make funny things to eat in the cities." She snickers. "You are kind, Aya, gratitude."
"Most things made in the city are pretty funny." She laughs softly, "But sometimes a little candy brightens the day. They're part of the Starlight Season, too."
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Often agreeing to disagree was the best Kiht could accomplish with Aya. It did not hinder friendship, but both were stubborn in their own ways. Foxes are adaptable, elusive creatures that live by taking advantage of opportunities, and taking minimal risks. Kiht’s life; however, had always been this constant fight against the wind. She feared complacency, and had to keep ‘flying’ from cause to cause. Without the hunt, she was afraid. But in a world of never-ending problems, it meant Kiht might never truly find peace.
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"Do you remember aught of where you were born, Aya?"
Aya lets out a deep breath, though her smile remains. "That's a good question. I can still see bits and pieces of our home. More of a castle, really. And I recall the spires of the city of Ala Mhigo from the road, but to be honest I do know not if that's memory, or just a picture I have seen." She smiles, "mostly what I remember is the smell. The scent of burning wood, pine needles, and the sounds of a feast.â€
“I think it’s all been harder on father than anyone. Osvald and I were young enough that I don't think we even know enough to miss it."
"As someone oft paranoid about the protection of my home, I can imagine his pain. " Kiht responds. "It is hard to say if I would try to lead those twenty cycles my junior to take it back.â€
Aya's expression fades somewhat, "I fear he's in no condition for that sort of thing any more. My brother Kale, though... I fear he just may do something so foolish. He has a young family of his own to tend to now, but that's always been his dream. His place, were you to ask him."
“Father was more than a soldier. He had a tradition, a family, a bloodline to protect. That's why, in the end, he chose us over a glorious death as honor demanded." She swaps her legs over, looking out toward the opposite wall in a mostly undisguised look of disapproval, "He's older than Osvald and I and he does remember. And he was raised from birth knowing that he would succeed father, and that the family legacy would become his."
"I think if you asked him, he'd rather father have died nobly, regardless of what happened to us. He thinks of nothing but our 'place'.†She sighs and turns her eyes quickly back toward Kiht, "Don't get me wrong… He's a good man, a wonderful brother who did everything he could for us when we were children. He's a terrific father, and has been successful in Ishgard. But he cannot leave Ala Mhigo alone, he's never been able to move on. And with the gates now open... I do fear for the worst."
"I prefer to live in the world we inhabit, rather than in the one we wish we did. Father made the tough decision, and the right one. I know he doesn't regret it, though I don't know how he bears everything he's been through. What about you? Would you risk everything to try to make the world like it was when you were a child?"
Kiht grows pensive; her gaze averting to bring her thoughts into mind. "Were you to ask me over a cycle ago, I would have said yes. But that has changed. I look to the future now." She pauses. "But Aya, the world we inhabit still has war with the Garleans. For the Twelveswood, they are still an ever-present threat. So my answer to your question is nay, but I still find myself doing what I would have done even back then."
Aya nods, smiling softly, "and, regardless, you do not have two young children and a wife to think about." She swaps her legs again, scooching a bit on the bench as she seems to get comfortable again. "I don't suppose you know I've just been to Gyr Abania, myself?"
The Keeper’s eyes widen a bit. "Nay, I did not. How? When did you do this? What did you see?" She asks the questions a bit quickly in surprise. Her posture tenses.
"You won't believe it." Aya lets out a laugh, "Well, it was just for the pictures. I'd had a few people ask if I could make one for Ala Mhigo as I had for Ishgard and so on... They raised some funds, and we took a small group and snuck through the frontier and into the foothills."
"And right by one of their massive walls I assume. Holy shite, Aya... You did that for some pictures? And I am the one who needs to do less dangerous things?!" She speaks with mild exasperation, but bites back a smirk. "Just... Swiving snuck in there. I will remember this, and if you ever call me crazy one sun, remind you of this." She teases.
"The Garleans aren't half as clever as they think, it’s an incredible frontier. With a couple of bateaus, and some local know-how, you find a way by! Of course, we were literally out in the middle of nowhere." She lets out a laugh, "Oh I think I'm a little crazy... Maybe more than a little!"
Kiht leans back. "I do not suppose you would be willing to part with this information? This secret way in."
"I don't think you could get -anywhere- without running into Garleans, but if you just want to see the landscape, of course."
"Indeed, but getting that far without them knowing is still impressive... And potentially important."
"I'd be surprised if you don't already know of some woodsmen who could show you the back-water ways about. Garleans are so accustomed to traveling by air and sea, but I think they overlook travel by small boat through the wetlands."
Aya leans toward her, her voice softening as if sharing a secret, "That's what happens when you rely solely on soldiers, engineers, and politicians. Few are as clever as hunters and woodsmen, hmmm?"
"Indeed, and it is hard to wall off the wetlands. I will ask around. If anyone is doing that, they are not talking about it much. Mayhaps as to not rouse the Adders. Gratitude, Aya."
"I'm guessing this isn't idle chit-chat. Ala Mhigans, hmm?" She cants her head, peering a bit. "The next cause?"
The huntress exhales then nods curtly. "But I would be lying if I said it was for them. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Garleans encroach from the East, so at least helping those that wish to fight there will help the Shroud. If they were to actually accomplish the take back of their home, mine would be safer."
Aya tilts her head to the side, "I cannot blame you. The Garleans are a threat, its simple truth. Even I can see that... Is there anything I can help you with?"
"You already have. To tell you true, I was merely wishing to see how you felt about it. I had not thought to ask. I am somewhat surprised." She lets out an exhale. "Information can help, but even simple things like food for the refugees helps. After all, many who join the resistance come from the refugee camps."
Aya nods, "of course... I've visited a few recently as well, as part of the same effort... I suppose I'm giving back a little bit." She shrugs again, it’s clearly an issue she's grappled with, "My feelings on the resistance are mixed. I think many people would be better off worrying about adapting to their new lives, rather than expending all their energy trying to reclaim what they lost. But with all of the violence in the world, and the threat to Eorzea the Garleans pose, I cannot fault their efforts. And I gladly offer them my encouragement when able."
"Then you are helping already." She glances to the markets. "Mayhaps our views do not differ on it as much as I thought.†She sighs softly. "I should have visited you sooner, Aya. Apologies for being away so long."
"It’s on both our shoulders, mon amie, but we shouldn't have gone so long, I have to agree." She grins brightly, sneaking a candy before offering another to Kiht. "I hope you're taking the time to enjoy some of the amenities of city-life while you're here. Like a hot bath?"
Kiht grows her mild smile once again as she takes the candy. She then sniffs herself. "...Springs and rivers do not quite remove the scent of nature it seems." She lets out a short chuckle. "That sounds like something I should do, indeed."
