Scenes with K'ile, K'luha and K'ailia [ooc welcome, Hipparion Tribe]

[Twinflame]

((Mostly unedited RP transcripts. The first of these scenes takes place immediately after this thread over here))

 

 

 

 

K'ile Twinflame approaches K'luuha after the meeting with the elders. His fire had been put away, and his bow now rides his back. The smell of smoke still clings to his body.

 

K'luha Haaz frowned severely as she examined the bottles of various medication. One in particular held her interest as she examined the clear bottle with a small crack. "Bastards." she hissed beneath her breath, glancing about the floor for something to mend the glass bottle.

 

K'ile Twinflame speaks without hesitation, but with a supplicating tone, "K'luha. Would you do me the favor of sparing my life long enough to have a word or two?"

 

K'luha Haaz turned her head back sharply to examine K'ile. She frowned for a moment before sighing. "Of course." she replied cooly, standing and turning to look at him.

 

K'ile Twinflame inclines his head before saying, "I don't always watch my tongue when I should. My words weren't meant to offend you or your daughter. It became obvious to me as K'ailia spoke that she didn't intend the offense I took. I stand by what I said, but I'm sorry for the conflict."

 

K'luha Haaz gave a warm smile and nodded. "It is alright. I apologize as well, for my behavior. It was unsightly. I should not have threatened you, reguardless of circumstances." K'luha paused for a moment before heaving a heavy sigh. "But truthfully, I do agree with you. I would truly loathe having to live off of an Ul'dahn's aid. I am beginning to fear that K'ailia has become too fond of the outsiders. If it was anyone but K'ailia suggesting it I would have backed you immediately." K'luha glanced shamefully to the ground and rubbed the back of her head with a free hand. "Still, my apologies. Was there something else K'ile?"

 

K'ile Twinflame deflates a bit, his demeanor losing its rigidity. "It's a pain, dealing with outsiders. They're so different. It's easy for the young to get confused. Maybe if we go together you'll ahve better luck! The elders want me to take you, K'ailia and K'haali to explore our options."

 

K'luha Haaz coughed awkwardly after a moment of thought and looked to K'ile. "I... would like to go ahead of time. If that was alright. I really wish to speak to that Ventus man concerncing K'ailia before anything else. But, otherwise I would love to have company." She smiled and nodded again, putting her hands on her hips. "Outsiders are not so much pains as they are pestilences." she added sourly.

 

K'ile Twinflame chuckles, but adds seriously, "I think I stepped in a bit of a personal matter between you two by questioning the motives of that Ventus fellow, didn't I? I'd like to meet the man myself, to be honest. I'd worry about you going alone, even if K'ailia trusts him."

 

K'luha Haaz smirked faintly and lifted an arm, showing off her muscular biceps. "Oh, don't worry about me K'ile. I'm stronger than I look." she chuckled cheerfuly before dropping her arms to her sides again. "But since I do know the road best, perhaps we should all travel together. I will request still, to meet with Ventus privately and firstly however."

 

K'ile Twinflame: If you run off and meet with him before I can stop you, I can't do anything about that. Just don't kill him without back up. The man's likely got supplicants if he's got gil. Like gems for a primal, gil is for Ul'dahns.

 

K'luha Haaz nodded in quick agreement, her tail swishing behind her in thought. "I wouldn't kill him anyway. We still need the trade from Ul'dah unforunately, and K'ailia values him too much for me to kill... yet."

 

K'ile Twinflame takes a few steps closer to K'luha, "By the way. While I was being offensive, did I manage to make sense? You agreed with me, but judging by K'ailia and K'rei I spoke nothing but insults."

 

K'luha Haaz waved a hand dismissively. "It was your attitude, honestly. You acted like you were a nunh or something. And K'ailia is so very defensive about it in the first place, to be totally shut down by you? She didn't like it. I only got mad because I could see you upset K'ailia." she sighed, lamenting her quick to anger nature. "But to me you made sense. I believe your unwavering stance was also perhaps offputting, which was why they argued against it so firecely."

 

K'ile Twinflame looks thoughtful, putting the back of his hand to his jaw and rubbing the hair on his chin. "To be honest it's K'yohko that bothers me. The man's far too many daughters to be open to settling with outsiders. He'd end up watching all his girls taken by men outside the tribe."

 

K'luha Haaz made a sour face again and looked away for a moment. "K'yohko is a... quiet man. He does not speak because he wishes to maintain balance between the tribe but... I do not think even he would let outsiders walk off with his daughters." she glanced back to K'ile again. "You could become a Nunh K'ile. Why don't you? The girls are all of age now. Although children now would be difficult to manage, perhaps in a few years you could serve as their support and father their children. I'm not saying have to but, I am curious why you don't seem interested."

 

K'ile Twinflame grabs his ear and makes a face of distaste. "You think? I feel like K'rei was trying to say... Well! I do enough for the tribe. I know we need someone, but... If only K'thalen has managed another son or two!"

 

K'luha Haaz laughs at you.

 

K'luha Haaz she smiled at him again and shook her head lightly. "If only, but alas it is not the case! I think you would make a fine Nunh, with a little tempering." K'luha smirked again, her tail curling around her waist. "But only if you want to. Alas, I am off topic. You and K'haali wish to travel with me, yes? Can you use the Aether to travel? I cannot remember."

 

K'ile Twinflame shook his head, "Don't know about her, but I'm afraid I'm stuck crawling in the sand with the rest of the worms." He puts a fist on his hip and remarks, "What do you mean, tempering? I'm about as well-tempered as I'm going to get!"

 

K'luha Haaz laughs at you.

 

K'luha Haaz she rubbed the back of her head lightly and grinned. "Well, I guess we better hope the sands temper you a little more!" she teased lightly before taking a more serious tone. She thought for a moment about his inability to use aether and nodded. "Right then. I will guide you to the Forgotten Springs. They have many travellers that go by there and from there we will get you on a straight ride to Ul'dah. I know some merchants who run trails up to Ul'dah from the Forgotten Springs. They will get you there faster than I. From the Forgotten Springs I will use the aetheryte to Ul'dah, and I will meet you there with some sort of time set up for us all to see Ventus's grounds and such."

 

K'ile Twinflame: And I'm guessing you'll be seeing Ventus alone while I'm traveling. Just make sure we don't ahve to stage a rescue first thing when we get there.

 

K'luha Haaz laughs at you.

 

K'luha Haaz: Promise, you won't need to.

 

K'ile Twinflame: Knowing K'ailia she's probably already back, isn't she? Wouldn't want to sleep in the desert like an actual tribesman.

 

K'luha Haaz frowned deeply, her eyes looking a little wet for a moment and threatening to water over into tears. She kept her mouth shut tightly about the matter though, but her ears flattened out again her head. The matter was clearly very distressing to her.

 

K'luha Haaz sees you and her eyes begin to well up.

 

K'ile Twinflame chocks, and then coughs, "Oh, dammit. I'm sorry! I won't... You know, I should know better. It's not like I've never had family run off on... Why don't we just pretend I shut up before saying that?"

 

K'luha Haaz sniffled lightly and quickly dried her eyes with the palm of her hand. "It's alright K'ile. It's not your fault my daughter grows further and further away. I should have never asked for her to study in Gridania..." K'luha sighed heavily and let her hand down to clench lightly at her chest. She gave him her best smile and tried to perk up a little. "You're going to need to start packing rations for the trip. We need to leave sooner than later after all."

 

K'ile Twinflame lifts his hands in surrender, "Okay, I get it. But y'know, you didn't do a thing wrong with raising her. The world's just like that sometimes." He spreads his arms, "You wanna beat me up a little bit? Let out a bit of that fire you got? Might cheer you up!"

 

K'luha Haaz smiled again and gave a playful punch at K'ile's chest. "There. How about we go for a hunt instead? Gotta make you useful after all."

 

K'ile Twinflame laughs, "If you want to temper me you'll have to punch harder than that! I'm gonna run off before you do, though. Have a good morning, K'luha."

 

You bid farewell to K'luha Haaz.

 

K'luha Haaz bids farewell to you.

 

K'luha Haaz: Good day K'ile.

 

K'ile Twinflame turns on his heals and heads back towards camp to trade his bow (which he doesn't even know how to use that well) for a spear.

 

K'luha Haaz turned back to the half cracked bottle of medicine on the floor. She scowled at it before chucking it as hard as she could against a rock and watched it shatter.

 

[Twinflame]

Days later, at the quicksand, K'ile and the others had set a time to meet at the entrance to Ul'dah. But nobody met K'ile there! He quickly tracked K'luha to the Quicksand's inn, and sent the innkeep to her room to let her know that he was looking for her.

 

K'luha Haaz slowly made her way down the stairs and through the door. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy, her ears flattened to her head and her tail almost completely limp. She could barely raise her head to look at K'ile as she stepped forward to greet him. "S-sorry K'ile. T-things um... h-happened and I forgot..." she coughed, her voice hoarse from crying.

 

K'ile Twinflame had been watching the crowded room around him with an amused and somewhat overwhelmed expression, but on sight of K'luha, his ears droop and his demeanor turns towards concern. "Hey, it's... What happened? Are you okay?" He trots over to her quickly.

 

K'luha Haaz sniffled lightly and quickly brushed her arm against her face to mop up what tears started to leak again. "Y-yeah... f-fine. I-i'm fine. O-of course I am... h-how was your trip?" she stammered, doing her best to hold herself together.

 

K'ile Twinflame shaes his head, "Uhm. It was okay." He puts his hands on either shoulder, "You don't look fine. Where's K'ailia?"

 

K'luha Haaz seemed to pale a little at the mention of K'ailia. The mother seemed to shake beneath K'ile's hands suddenly and what little facade she had put together collasped almost instantly. K'luha broke into a loud hystericaly sob, dropping to her kneels and covering her face.

 

K'ile Twinflame cringes very slightly, and tries to catch K'luha as if the woman is collapsing, "Ah, hey! Hey, it..." A bit undure what to do with himself for a moment, he eventually tries to pull K'luha into his best approximation of a comforting hug. "What happened? Is she okay? Is she hurt?"

 

K'luha Haaz could do nothing more than weakly return K'ile's hug and cry loudly into his shoulder. Her attempts at communicating what had happened were all but loud unintelligible sobs that ended with the word K'ailia.

 

K'ile Twinflame just awkwardly pats K'luha's back. "Hey, you're... Uhm. You're okay. Don't try and say it all at once. Take your time."

 

K'luha Haaz cried for a time more, not realizing that her loud crying was attracting any attention. She was trying to tell K'ile, trying so hard to tell him what happened. But all she was able to manage out in the end was, "K-k'ailia's g-going to a-abandon us!" She sputtered it out loudly before devolving back into hysterical sobs.

 

K'ile Twinflame pats K'luha's back a few more times and then says, "Oh," and delivers a quick, reassuring squeeze. "Now, pull yourself together a bit. It's okay to cry but let's go find someplace for you sit down, okay?"

 

K'luha Haaz realized that he was right. She couldn't go on sobbing like this in the middle of the Quicksand. It was embarrassing for the rest of the tribe. K'luha weakly nodded and quieted herself, standing and waiting for K'ile to lead her to a table.

 

K'ile Twinflame looks around and frowns. He doesn't actually know how places like this work. Can they just sit in chairs or does that cost gil? Everything costs gil in Ul'dah, right? "Uhm. There's a place to sit down, right? I saw some steps outside."

 

K'luha Haaz nods to you.

 

K'ile Twinflame just mutters, "Okay, right," and tries to get out of there.

 

K'ile Twinflame gestures to the steps, "Here we go. Nice and sunny, just like home!"

 

K'luha Haaz breaks out into a small tyrade of sobs at the mention of home. Still, she realizes it's imperative to get herself together and managed to reign herself in to simply sniffles and chokes with a small river of tears down her face.

 

K'ile Twinflame urges K'luha to sit, "Come on, let's take a few minutes and rest. Get your tears out before you try and get your words out, yeah?"

 

K'luha Haaz nods to you.

 

K'luha Haaz sat down and waited for K'ile to sit, slowly trying to pull herself together enough to tell him precisely what had happened.

 

K'ile Twinflame moves over next to and slightly behind K'uha, dropping into a crouch next to her and throwing an arm over her shoulder to pull her close. "Take your time. I've got nowhere to be. I think."

 

K'luha Haaz leaned lightly againstly K'ile as he pulled her close, still sniffling and weeping over K'ailia. It took a minute or two, but eventually she inhaled deeply and glanced to K'ile. "K'ailia came to me the other day and said if the tribe chose to remain where we were in the desert, that she would desert us. I-i... I was angry. So angry. I asked her how she could even say such a thing. W-we argued and she insisted she would leave us for good if we remained. S-so... I-i told her i-if she l-left.."

 

K'luha Haaz: T-that I would no longer be her mother. A-and she s-said that was o-oky with her... K-k'ile s-she's really going to l-leave us...

 

K'luha Haaz weeps in sorrow before you.

 

 

K'ile Twinflame rubs K'luha's arm, "Ah, that's not so bad. You just got in a fight is all. Happens all the time with kids right around the age they first pass their trial!"

 

K'luha Haaz: I told her I wouldn't be her mother K'ile! And she was okay with that! She's practically already left us!

 

K'ile Twinflame: Now, it's not the end of the world. We can have a talk with her once everyone's had the chance to calm down. I'm sure she only said it because she was mad. Just like, you're still her mother, right?

 

K'luha Haaz turned her head from K'ile and pulled her knees to her face. "Y-you don't understand... she would rather be with the outsiders than her own family. I-i... I-i've already lost her.."

 

K'ile Twinflame looks ahead, thinking. "Well. If she did decide to leave..." He looks back to K'luha, "You'd still be her mom. If she did. Not saying she's going to."

 

K'luha Haaz looked to K'ile strangely, sniffling still. "How? I told her I wasn't any more... You can't just... take something like that back."

 

K'ile Twinflame: Sure you can. Even if you couldn't, being her mom's not something you can quit.

 

K'ailia Yohko pauses and turns right around to walk the other way.

 

K'luha Haaz: N-no but I...

 

K'luha Haaz cried loudly again, bringing her hands to her face. "How could I ever look at her again?"

 

K'ile Twinflame shrugs. "Blood. No matter how far she goes or how mad she gets, she's still your daughter. Not like leaving the tribe's not a big deal, but family's in the blood."

 

K'luha Haaz stood sharply and glowered down at K'ile. "Not a big deal? How is abandoing your family not a big deal? She is leaving forever K'ile! Leaving the tribe means leaving the family! When you leave, you loose your family!" she yelled down at him loudly.

 

K'ile Twinflame lets his hand drop to his side, watching K'luha talk down to him. "You aren't the only person that's had family walk off on them. You think I don't get it?"

 

K'luha Haaz: I think... I think...

 

K'luha Haaz frowned, her ears flattening out again and sitting down. "I don't know what to think..."

 

K'ile Twinflame looks away from K'luha and says, "It's hard to feel and think at the same time."

 

K'luha Haaz sniffled and rubbed her puffy eyes a bit more, tears finally starting to dry. "I... I suppose you're right..." she mumbled. A sudden memory crossed her mind, something she had said to Ventus. "Y-you're right though... I... I cannot simply no longer be her mother... but I cannot accept her leaving the tribe either..."

 

K'luha Haaz: What would you say to her? I do not even know where in Ul'dah she is.. but I know someone who does I suppose.

 

K'ile Twinflame: I'm pretty good at finding people. I don't know if she'd be open to talking to me, but I think I could scrounge up a thing or two to say to her.

 

K'luha Haaz sniffled again and nodded. "I... yes... thank you K'ile. I don't know what you would say but... something is better than nothing."

 

K'ile Twinflame forces a smile, "I'll work something out. No promises." He leans over and playfully knocks his shoulder against K'luha. "Do you wanna beat me up?"

 

K'luha Haaz smiled weakly back at him and puched his chest half-heartedly. "I'd rather beat up K'ailia at this point... or that Ventus man. He's self-righteous and infuriating."

 

K'ile Twinflame: I guess that solo meeting of yours didn't go so well. I'm impressed you followed my advice and held yourself back from killing him.

 

K'luha Haaz smirked faintly and rubbed her knees. "I threatened him with death, but that's all."

 

K'ile Twinflame: We'll team up one of these days. As angry as you and I can get, he wouldn't stand a chance.

 

K'luha Haaz sniffled and gave a weak laugh. "No, I don't think he stands one anyway. I don't think he would fight back. He's too... I don't know the word but he would just let us beat him up I think."

 

K'ile Twinflame huffs. "Wuss. Typical." After a sigh, "How're you doing? I'm not going anywhere until I know you're okay."

 

K'luha Haaz: I'm... you know. A hot mess but, otherwise I'll be okay now... thanks to you. So, thank  you.

 

K'ile Twinflame shrugs, "I can hang out. K'haali seemed to know a lot more about this place than I did. Think she's prolly in the markets or something."

 

K'luha Haaz looked to the floor and sighed heavily. "I...it would be best if I could make up with K'ailia... especially if we are entertaining the idea of taking aid from the Ventus man."

 

K'ile Twinflame: Don't bother thinking about that right now. I'd still like to go by and judge him myself, but it's not something to stress over in this situation.

 

K'luha Haaz nodded faintly and glanced up towards the night sky. At least that looked the same in Ul'dah. "You're right about too many things K'ile. Have you ever been wrong even once?"

 

K'ile Twinflame chuckles, "Now you're making fun of me."

 

K'luha Haaz smiled back at K'ile and nudged his side. "Of course I am. What else will make me feel better?"

 

K'ile Twinflame: Heh. Fair point. Take your shots, then. I'm short, too, y'know!

 

K'luha Haaz: So am I! Nothing wrong with being short. But you've got some smug attitude sometimes.

 

K'ile Twinflame shrugs, "Well, I won't disagree with that. Part of being a Tia, though, is nobody gives me the time of day if I don't take it."

 

K'luha Haaz smiled at the ground a bit before shaking her head. "I suppose so. that's just the way it is unforunatly. But... to me... I think you've earned the time of day, anyday."

 

K'ile Twinflame: I think that's the best compliment I've ever gotten! K'luha has given me the time of day!

 

You burst out laughing at K'luha Haaz.

 

K'luha Haaz laughs at you.

 

K'luha Haaz: Oh shush. You earned it.

 

K'ile Twinflame smiles at K'luha, "Alright, thanks. And you... uhm..." He thinks for a moment, "You can have my time, too? Does that work?"

 

K'luha Haaz laughs at you.

 

K'luha Haaz: Alright. Thank you... can I use your time now to go find K'ailia?

 

K'ile Twinflame hums. "Probably a good idea. I caught her scent a few minutes ago, so I might as well run off while she's easy to find."

 

K'luha Haaz nods to you.

 

K'ile Twinflame squeezes K'luha's shoulder once and then stands.

 

K'luha Haaz: I'm going to stay in the inn. I don't think she'll want to talk to me tonight but... please tell her that I'm sorry at least.

 

K'ile Twinflame: I will. And I'll come back once we've talked. I've got no idea how a guy with no gil's supposed to eat around here!

 

K'luha Haaz laughs at you.

 

K'luha Haaz dug through her pocket before handing a few coins to K'ile. "That's not a lot of money, but it can buy you and K'ailia a meal at least."

 

K'ile Twinflame takes the money, moving it between his fingers and looking at it like it's otherworldly, "Huh. Okay. We'll see how it goes!"

 

K'luha Haaz nods to you.

 

K'luha Haaz: Good luck. Thank you.

 

K'ile Twinflame: See ya.

 

K'luha Haaz bids farewell to you.

 

K'ile Twinflame walks off down the stairs.

 

 

[Twinflame]

 

K'ile Twinflame walks out into the courtyard, immediately looking up to stare at the towers around him. He turns in a slow circle,, muttering, "What do they even do with buildings this big?"

 

K'ailia Yohko: They live in em.

 

K'ile Twinflame snaps his gaze up to K'ailia and smiles, "There you are, little woman! You know your way round Ul'dah pretty good, huh?"

 

K'ailia Yohko: Aye. This is my favorite spot ta think.

 

K'ailia Yohko channels the element of air, and drifts down.

 

K'ile Twinflame watches the act without comprehension, but accepts what she did without question. "What's got you thinking? Or shall I play at guessing?"

 

K'ailia Yohko: The tribes future. My future. An... my ma...

 

K'ile Twinflame crosses his arms in front of him for a second, "Do me a favor and forget the tribe for a few minutes. Let's talk about you and your mom."

 

K'ailia Yohko nods slowly.

 

K'ile Twinflame waits a moment to see if K'ailia will volunteer anything, and then prompts, "You two do keep busy while you were waiting for K'haali and me to show up?"

 

K'ailia Yohko: Aye... I've been doin' some studyin' an' a lot o' thinkin'...

 

K'ailia Yohko: but my thinkin' got me in trouble... ma hates me now.

 

K'ile Twinflame cants his head to one side, and his ears twitch, "How d'ya figure?"

 

K'ailia Yohko: She slapped me an' said she is no longer my mother.

 

K'ile Twinflame waves it off, "Ah, that don't mean she hates you. That's just gettin in fights. Always happens with moms round the time you start being an adult. What'd she slap you for?"

 

K'ailia Yohko: Well... it be kinda a long story...

 

K'ailia Yohko looks slightly annoyed, "This used ta be such a quiet spot..."

 

K'ile Twinflame: Usually that's something people say before they tell a story that actually takes around a minute.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Can we go... somewhere more quiet?

 

K'ile Twinflame holds up a couple of coins, "Your m,om gave me these. Said they'd buy food. That a thing folk do in Ul'dah when they're talkin?"

 

K'ailia Yohko smiles, "aye, but I aint very hungry."

 

K'ailia Yohko: I know a good place ta go though.

 

K'ile Twinflame pockets the coins, "I'm not hungry either and don't know a thing around here. Lead on."

 

 

[Twinflame]

 

K'ailia Yohko: Here's good.

 

K'ile Twinflame is looking straight up as they walk, "Why's the roof so high? They store other buildings in this building?"

 

K'ailia Yohko smiles at you.

 

K'ailia Yohko: I could give ya a history lesson, but then that aint why yer here.

 

K'ile Twinflame: No, guess not. So, go ahead and let me in on the big story.

 

K'ile Twinflame walks over beside K'ailia and drops into a stoic crouch.

 

K'ailia Yohko: well it has a lot ta do with the tribe.

 

K'ailia Yohko: I love the tribe so much. But I worry that if the tribe dun move... it will slowly die.

 

K'ailia Yohko puts a hand to her chest "It hurts here thinkin' about it"

 

K'ile Twinflame nods, "We all have that worry."

 

K'ailia Yohko: But... I also been havin' thoughts about what would happen if the tribe dun do nothin an does go on that path.

 

K'ailia Yohko: I can't help but keep thinkin' about bad case scenarios...

 

K'ailia Yohko: So... I went ta ma, ta talk ta her about it. I dun think I could handle seein' the tribe, my family, die around me like that.

 

K'ailia Yohko: I'd sooner exile myself before experiencin' it...

 

K'ailia Yohko sees you and her eyes begin to well up.

 

K'ile Twinflame sees K'ailia getting emotional and quickly says, "Hey. You've got nothing to cry about, I bet. It won't be as bad as you think it is."

 

K'ailia Yohko: An' when I tol' ma this, she told me I was selfish... ungrateful, and even a brat. Slapped me, and declared she was no longer my mother

 

K'ailia Yohko: An' mentioned losin' a child before.

 

K'ile Twinflame nods.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Everyone keeps seein' nothin but bad in outsiders. Always judgin' everyone based on a couple bad apples.

 

K'ailia Yohko: But... I dun think like that.

 

K'ailia Yohko: I see outsiders as bein' good, unless the individual shows they are bad.

 

K'ile Twinflame: Well. I've got no complicated philosophy on outsiders that I can help you out with, except maybe no assume too much about what the other tribefolk think. I can tell you right up front your mom doesn't hate you, though.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Ya' know... right after my mother left me, I returned ta this city, an Ventus an' another member o' the K tribe, a different branch, comforted me.

 

K'ailia Yohko: The K tribe member, said I showed a deep love for the tribe. But I was too... I basically was reactin' too fast ta what hasn't happened yet.

 

K'ile Twinflame: I agree with the K. You're tinking too hard. Trying to cover too much. You shouldn't be thinking about the tribe at all right now. Just you and your mom.

 

K'ailia Yohko looks to the floor. "How can I get her ta talk ta me though...?"

 

K'ile Twinflame: K'ailia, your mom's just scared. You know now she's lost a child before, and there's nothing worse than that. K'piru left because she couldn't handle it. Your mom /did/ handle it. She survived it once. She doesn't want to do it again. You threatening to leave her? Nobody could ever threaten anything worse.

 

K'ile Twinflame: She ran away from you same as you were thinking about running away from the tribe. She'd rather find a hhole to crawl into and never see anyone again than watch you walk away.

 

K'ailia Yohko: That's the other thing... I think I saw K'piru...

 

K'ile Twinflame lilts heavily to one side, "Eh? ... Well. Your mom's a lot like K'piru, I guess. But..."

 

K'ailia Yohko: How did she lose the child?

 

K'ile Twinflame looks distracted for a moment, then shakes himself. "What?"

 

K'ailia Yohko: The child Ma lost... how did she lose it?

 

K'ile Twinflame averts his eyes and brushes at his face. "It was... It wasn't fair. It doesn't matter. Just leave it be."

 

K'ailia Yohko: Alright...

 

K'ailia Yohko: So... how do I talk ta ma?

 

K'ailia Yohko: I've never gotten inta a fight with her before... I dunno what ta do...

 

K'ile Twinflame manages to smirk, though it takes some effort. "I've gotten in lots of fights with your mom. Just say you're sorry as soon as possible. And, by the way, your mom told me to tell you that she /is/ sorry. And she doesn't usually apologize first, so that means a lot."

 

K'ailia Yohko smiles at you.

 

K'ailia Yohko: I guess... I misjudged ya...

 

K'ailia Yohko: Yer not so bad after all.

 

K'ile Twinflame chuckles, "Oh, that's sweet. K'ile the not-so-bad Tia. I'll take the title to the grave."

 

K'ailia Yohko laughs at you.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Well I am jes glad I dinna send the chunk o' earth at yer kit makers now.

 

K'ile Twinflame: Eh, that wouldn't be so bad. Maybe if you did people would stop bugging me about being Nunh.

 

K'ailia Yohko bursts out laughing at you.

 

You smile at K'ailia Yohko.

 

K'ailia Yohko: An' ya would have a voice like mine!

 

K'ailia Yohko: Ya' know though... we got somethin' in common.

 

K'ile Twinflame ventures, "Your mom yells at us?"

 

K'ailia Yohko laughs at you.

 

K'ailia Yohko: okay two things in common.

 

K'ailia Yohko: I aint interested in makin' kits either.

 

K'ile Twinflame: Heh. That's fine. Give it another ten or twenty years and you might feel different, though.

 

K'ailia Yohko: I am gonna go find ma.

 

K'ailia Yohko: I think it is time we talked.

 

K'ile Twinflame: Me too. Oh, and stop worrying so much about the tribe. It's not that bad yet and it's not like we're going to do /nothing/.

 

K'ailia Yohko nods to you.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Ya' know, I do know a few areas we can scout. I hadn't been sittin' on me tail.

 

K'ailia Yohko quickly gets to her feet and brushes herself off.

 

K'ailia Yohko: So where is ma?

 

K'ile Twinflame: Worry about that tomorrow. Your mom's at the quicksand.

 

K'ile Twinflame stands with her.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Alright I will head there.

 

You bid farewell to K'ailia Yohko.

 

 

[Twinflame]

K'ailia Yohko pulls out her supplies and checks "Water... check two canteens o' it... snack... ooh chocolates! check! Bandages... check... an yep there's the healin' medicine"

 

K'ailia Yohko puts the supplies back in place.

 

K'ailia Yohko waves to you.

 

K'luha Haaz smirked faintly, noticing the slowpoke. "Well, look who finally decided to join us."

 

K'ile Twinflame: They built this place like a canyon. Can't find your way around if you don't have a map.

 

K'haali Thalen looks at K'ailia. "So, how is a white mage different to a shaman, if they still need medicine?"

 

K'ailia Yohko: I know the place by heart!

 

K'luha Haaz: Maybe you ought to get a map then.

 

K'haali Thalen ears prick up at K'ile Twinflame

 

K'ile Twinflame: Need gil for everything around here, and I've got no interest in needing gil.

 

K'luha Haaz: Well, let's get out of here then.

 

K'ailia Yohko: I dun think K'ile has a chocobo ma.

 

K'luha Haaz sighed looking at the others. "We're walking then? Fabulous."

 

K'ile Twinflame: Wouldn't be caught dead on the back of one of those things.

 

 

 

K'ailia Yohko: First place I know, is nearby

 

K'ailia Yohko: It's a giant canyon

 

K'luha Haaz rolls her eyes at K'ile and sighs. "That's only because you couldn't ride one to save your life."

 

K'ile Twinflame: Won't argue.

 

K'luha Haaz: Heh. Let's go

 

K'haali Thalen sighs

 

K'haali Thalen: This mist isn't going to help us

 

K'luha Haaz: It'll clear up

 

K'ile Twinflame: Keeps the sun off. I'll take the trade.

 

K'luha Haaz: A shirt would keep the sun off as well

 

K'haali Thalen: not seeking Azeyma's approval?

 

K'ailia Yohko laughs.

 

K'ile Twinflame stretches his arms over his ehad and hums.

 

K'haali Thalen dashes up to the outcrop

 

 

K'luha Haaz looks around.

 

K'ailia Yohko: giant froggies

 

K'ailia Yohko: water

 

K'luha Haaz: Yeah, but we're on top of Ul'dah and an Ul'dahin settlement.

 

K'ile Twinflame puts his fists on his hips, "Don't see that much water out in the open every day."

 

K'luha Haaz nods to you.

 

K'haali Thalen wrinkles her nose. "Frog leather takes a lot of treatting to make usable, it's slimey by nature, and not soft like sand worm"

 

K'ile Twinflame: Course the Ul'dahns own it.

 

K'luha Haaz sighs and shakes her head.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Yeah that's the down side.

 

K'ile Twinflame looks down the canyon. "They got more of those rickety-looking wood towers down there?"

 

K'ailia Yohko: Yep

 

K'haali Thalen: As I said would be a concerrn at the meeting not long ago. Wherre exactly can one go in Thanalan and not being standing on the proporty of ul'dar

 

K'haali Thalen: Ailia, you mentioend having a couple of places in mind?

 

K'ile Twinflame: That was one of the places you had in mind, K'ailia? How many of the places on your list are owned?

 

K'ailia Yohko: That one actually was the only one. This next spot, be kinda... dangerous

 

K'luha Haaz: We live in a dangerous place now. It doesn't hurt to look at least.

 

K'haali Thalen: Lead on fearless fruitcakes!

 

K'ile Twinflame reachs up and puts some weight on his longbow, "We don't have any kids with us, so no big worry about taking a glance."

 

K'luha Haaz laughs at K'haali Thalen.

 

K'ailia Yohko: This spot I know Ul'dah don't own

 

K'haali Thalen tries to stay stoic

 

K'haali Thalen bursts out laughing at you.

 

K'ailia Yohko: But we do pass through a couple o towns ta get ta it.

 

K'ile Twinflame tosses K'haali a confused look.

 

K'luha Haaz quirks a brow at K'haali as well

 

K'haali Thalen spots something

 

K'luha Haaz: K'ailia

 

K'ile Twinflame: Ailia, hold up

 

 

K'ile Twinflame: And what's this?

 

K'haali Thalen holds up a fronded plant. "Moko weed"

 

K'luha Haaz claps for K'haali Thalen.

 

K'ailia Yohko lets out a cheer.

 

K'luha Haaz: I can use that

 

K'haali Thalen: We occasionally find dry, long dead bushes in the desert, which with some loving care you can render usable

 

K'haali Thalen: but this area is rich in the actual, living plant.

 

K'luha Haaz looks around.

 

K'ailia Yohko: all set?

 

K'ile Twinflame: That's good and all, but how useful is that exactly? Something we can trade?

 

K'haali Thalen tucks the plant in a satchel on K'weh's back

 

K'luha Haaz: Seems to have decent game. Not much space to move around though.

 

K'haali Thalen: Mmhmm

 

K'luha Haaz: Very useful K'ile.

 

K'luha Haaz: You use it to make Hempen cloth, which I can turn into anything pretty much.

 

K'ile Twinflame: Alright. Good.

 

 

[Twinflame]

K'ailiaYohko: hehe mister K'ile

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: yer not scared o dark places are ya?

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Just cold and wet ones.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko snickers playfully.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: No worse than Ul'darrr...

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Never go to Limsa then.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: How do you suppose they built that place

 

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Stone upon stone upon stone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

K'haaliThalen: must've dug up a mountain

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: You don't find holes this straight on accident.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: I think Ul'dah was once a mountain.

 

 

K'haaliThalen taps the metal rail. "Rich in iron this cave"

 

 

K'haaliThalen bursts out laughing.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: It's owned.

 

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Of course it is.

 

 

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Ruins. The obvious end to permanent settlement.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: If this is owned the owners havn't put much effort into upkeep

 

 

K'haaliThalen peers in the water

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: this aint the spot

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Good. Too much water in here. Ain't good for ya.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: thugh definitely a lot o' water here

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Lot of large aquatic animals, seems likely there is smaller fish here too

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: You ought to take a bath in it K'ile.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: I'm going to say no, thank you.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: ....probably parasites too

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: an' after the bath, get on a shirt

 

 

K'haaliThalen offers an impish grin to K'ile

 

 

K'ileTwinflame is ignoring K'ailia.

 

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: we go north here

 

 

 

 

K'luhaHaaz makes a face at the statue. "How tacky."

 

 

K'haaliThalen raises an eyebrow at the giant statue of a lalafell. ((in Vesper Bay))

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Tacky's how they play it here.

 

 

Hawu'liTayuun: Does that mean you're buying, then?

 

 

K'haaliThalen examiens the stall

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Doesn't make me like it any better.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Good places to rade around here, K'haali?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz looks around.

 

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Hold up.

 

 

[Twinflame]

K'luhaHaaz: I never realized we were so close to the ocean.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: I never realized how big the ocean was!

 

 

K'luhaHaaz laughs at you.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Maybe that's it; we sell them tack... tacky baubles and jewellery made from sandworm teeth and mythril or gems. Lots of those in the sagolii, and easily traansported; easier than bulk ore shipments

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: How far you think that ocean goes?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Maybe. I could do a test run of some of those next time I come to Ul'dah and we can see if anyone goes for it.

 

 

K'haaliThalen panics!

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Mm... I think forever.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: From here to Limsa for sure.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: How big is that lake?

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: This aint no lake, it be an ocean.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: It's like, the dune sea; but all water

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: It's an ocean. It's bigger than any lake.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Canna drink that water.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: What good is a lake you can't drink from?

 

 

K'haaliThalen: No place to settle

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: It's not.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: haha. All that water and you can't drink it? Now that's not fair.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Well ya could but it's salty.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame hesitates before moving on. "Damn kids just run off."

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Coming?

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Kids take two minutes to look at an ocean and then run. It's like they don't know how big of a deal it is.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz laughs at you.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Of course they don't.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Neither do we K'ile. I don't think we ever will know either.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame shrugs, "Well, it's not going anywhere from what I can see. Guess we should catch up."

 

 

K'luhaHaaz nods to you.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: We can come look at it again later.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Too much around here to look at.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Would you rather shoot it?

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: I'd never make it home if I tried to take it all in.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko waves.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame chuckles, "What good would shooting the ocean do?"

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: We now out o' Ul'dahn territory

 

 

K'haaliThalen: You sure nobody owns this? - that's a lot of gates and construction

 

 

K'haaliThalen examines the coblyn

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: And these are...?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Coblyns.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Looks like lead crystals; virtually worthelss for our purpsoes these rocks

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Say it like it's obvious, why don't you?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: They eat lead I think. And I will.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz laughs at you.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Ul'dah built these gates ta keep their enemies out

 

 

K'haaliThalen: They eat ore deposits

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Can we eat coblyns?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz nods to K'haali Thalen.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: handy way to figure out what rocks contain!

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: I don't recommend it.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: This is the place

 

 

K'haaliThalen grins "depends how strong your jaws are"

 

 

K'ileTwinflame cringes suddenly, putting a hand to his face, "The hell's the stench?"

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Why is it... green?

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Why does it stink?

 

 

K'haaliThalen: This, does not smell good.

 

 

You

stagger.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: spores, an froggies

 

 

K'haaliThalen eyes the large pods. "You sure these aren't some kind'cve dangerous fungus"?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz covers her nose, her ears flattened against her head.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: So... guess this place be out?

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: I was going to guess carcasses. You're saying that's plants and frogs?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz looks at the yarzon scavenger and panics!

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: And Yarzons.

 

 

((InsertYarzon attack! Actiony stuff! K'luha and K'ile shoot arrows and K'ailia is all shiney and magicky!))

 

 

K'haaliThalen hides and let's the hunters do the work

 

 

K'luhaHaaz rubs her arm which was bitten.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: lemme look at the wound ma

 

 

K'haaliThalen grips K'weh's reign and keeps him steady to her shoulder

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: I think I would almost rather go with Ventus.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Well. I won't go that far.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: It's fine K'ailia. Nothing to worry about.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Alright, well then we should go ta central Thanalan.

 

 

K'haaliThalen examines the cliffs. I think I see mroe above us, be careful

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: West seems ta be out

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: I doubt anyone owns this. Much as it stinks, just for that reason it's open.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Hey!

 

 

K'haaliThalen points.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: What is it?

 

 

K'haaliThalen: What's that long metal thing standing out from the desert

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Oh dun go up there.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: That's who the Ul'dahns tryin' ta keep out

 

 

 

K'luhaHaaz frowns and examines the metal hulking thing.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Hmph. It's dead.

 

 

K'haaliThalen clabebers over it an peers in the holes

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: It's some sort of... struture?

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: It's Garlean.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Aye

 

 

K'haaliThalen: It's got fins like a fish; did it swim under the sand?

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Were you going to mention they were around, K'ailia, or jsut let it be a surprise?

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: No, it flew.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: like a bird

 

 

K'luhaHaaz looks to K'ile before looking back at the structure. It's so dark she can't really make out what it should look like.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz kneels respectfully.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: uh I was about ta mention it.

 

 

K'haaliThalen bursts out laughing.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: You're a kidder; how does a chunk of metal fly?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Ever seen an airship K'haali?

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Magic, K'haali! Get off it already.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: So I guess we should start headin' east

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: West seems ta not be very good.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: From afar, I was told they were "lighter than air", something to do with hot air or gas. But, these are metal

 

 

K'haaliThalen shrugs.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz looks at the yarzon scavenger and panics!

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Yarzons! Gah! I hate these!

 

 

((K'luharuns off.))

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: West is out, yeah.

 

 

K'haaliThalen sneaks up ojn the yarzone and buries a botany hatchet in the body

 

 

((Wecatch up to K'luha))

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: I'm fine. That smell was getting to me.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: You get that bite seen to when we're back in town.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Alright, there's one more spot, it's in central I want ta show

 

 

K'haaliThalen takes a deep breath of dusty mine air and ends up coughing

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: from there yalll can lead

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: It's fine K'ile. It's not even worth seeing someone about.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Ma, I am a healer, I can treat it here

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Heh. Alright, I get it.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: ...if it gets infected you'll regrrret it

 

 

K'ailiaYohko furrows her brow.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Leave her alone.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: K'ailia will never shut up!

 

 

K'haaliThalen shrugs to herself, addressing no one "It's true"

 

 

[Twinflame]

((As they head back to Vesper Bay, K'ailia and K'luuha manage to get K'ile alone while K'luha walks on ahead.))

 

K'ailiaYohko: jes a moment!

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: What is it?

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Yarzon be poisonous

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: I dun wanna take chances

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: I need ta look at ma's arm.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: She going to get sick before we got back to Ul'dah?

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Dunno.

 

 

K'haaliThalen grins. "Why don't you offer to suck out the poison K'ile"

 

 

 

K'ileTwinflame looks at K'haali, "Why don't you?"

 

 

((K'luha returns!))

 

 

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: What did I miss?

 

 

K'haaliThalen: I didn't want to ruin your opportunity!

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: They're still on about that bite.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Ma, Yarzon be poisonous

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: I really wanna check that wound

 

 

K'luhaHaaz rolls her eyes. "It only got one bite off. It's fine. You all worry too much."

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Just let 'em take care of it so they stop worrying.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: "She can check it now or check it when it goes purple and drops off; I heard yarzon bites do that"

 

 

K'luhaHaaz laughs at K'haali Thalen.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: I highly doubt it will come to that.

 

 

K'haaliThalen puts on her best game face

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Well can I at least use a spell ta treat any poison?

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Wont hurt!

 

 

K'haaliThalen raises an eyebrow at the suggestion that "magic won't hurt"

 

 

K'luhaHaaz makes a face and sighs, about to give in before K'haali speaks up. "Hrn, no. It's fine. I'll pick up an antidote at the merchant."

 

 

K'ailiaYohko sighs.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: And you lose. Well played, girls.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: I'd call it a draw

 

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Don't trust magic?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: No... well, not really but I just don't want K'ailia healing me. I already feel enough of a failure. I don't need my daughter taking care of me now too.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame smiles, "I hear ya. I don't think a little bite will matter that much, though."

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Bah. That's precisely why I don't want her healing it. It's such a stupid little thing.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Whatever you say. Let's go before they start making fun of us again.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz sighs and nods, starting off again.

[Twinflame]

K'ileTwinflame: What're you kids doing? Staring at walls? Let's go!

 

 

K'haaliThalen pouts at the accusation of being a "kid"

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: K'ile, I have got to teach you to ride a Chocobo.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Good luck. Find me a hipparion! I'll ride that til I die!

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: What about a courel?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Or a unicorn?

 

 

K'ileTwinflame thinkgs for awhile and says, "Yeah, I could do a Coeurl. Unicron's out, though."

 

 

K'luhaHaaz laughs at you.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: I think you'd look good on a unicorn though.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: We should definitely find you one.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: I didn't even think coeurl were native to this region anymore; where'd you find a herd to train. And a unicorn...

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: I'd look better on a hipparion.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: "kids"

 

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: or one of these!

 

 

((Queue Garlean mechasuit))

 

 

K'luhaHaaz looks at K'ailia Yohko and panics!

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Couldn't you just paint stripes on a horse?

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Put it up, K'ailia.

 

 

((K'luharan off again))

 

 

K'ailiaYohko laughs.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Ul'dah's tackiness is rubbing off on you a bit.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: I'm thinking of ways to fulfill your demands in your own lifetime

 

 

((Catchingup to Luha))

 

 

K'luhaHaaz expresses her annoyance with K'ailia Yohko.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Have a nice jog, K'uha?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Stop scaring me with that stupid thing!

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: hehe

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: You shush your mouth!

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: It's just an ugly toy.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Yeah, but she got it out of nowhere!

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: I don't like that thing.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Garlean magic is meant to scare people. Thats just how it's made.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Hey, hold up out there!

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: It works too well for my tastes.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: I don't hate this area. There any places around here that aren't owned by anyone?

 

 

K'ailiaYohko pulls out her map

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Is right here owned by anyone? It's pretty close to Ul'dah though.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Well I know a spot near here, that technically be in central

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: it's not owned by anyone, jes has tracks runnin' through it.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Let's see as much as we can before we really start deciding.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: We need enough room to have hunting grounds. It's like better game than piestes and cactuar, but let's not be too picky.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko nods.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Central's this way.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: cross this bridge we make a left.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Out here is nice.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Aye

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: But everywhere you look there's buildings and archways.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: the spot I saw is jes like this

 

 

K'haaliThalen: How can you tell, that mist still hasn't lifted?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: I can see enough.

 

 

K'haaliThalen points.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: This won't do...

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Look at those termite mounds

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: What's wrong with it?

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: What? no.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Where?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: That's a rock

 

 

K'ailiaYohko laughs.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz makes a poking gesture.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Rock.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz frowns at all the damn flies and shakes her head.

 

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Ugh. These damn flies.

 

 

((K'ailiadoes something sparkly and the flies all die))

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Oh, that's better.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame punches the wooden support beams. "Owned. Someone owns this land."

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Well this be the only other area I seen.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: No, I don't think so. It's just the train track.

 

 

K'haaliThalen unhooks her botany tools form her shoulder strap and replaces it with a hunting spear

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Aye jes a tracks, they dun own it.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: They own the tracks.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: But, I don't think we want to be so close to a train...

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: well oh wait!

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: follow me!

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: I had almost forgot about that

 

 

K'ailiaYohko points.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz looks around.

 

 

 

K'haaliThalen corrects her balance at the cliff edge

 

 

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Ruins again.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Awful lot of spprigans.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: I see rocks;...

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: The river is nice.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame looks to the left. "Waterfall. Ain't seen one of those in a decade."

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Sure there's water, but... that's all.

 

 

((K'luharuns off again))

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Heh. Your mom's exploring.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko laughs.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko plays in the water.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame doesn't look like he trusts the water.

 

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Well it's not a bad spot. All the water is very nice. And it's moving so it's fairly clean.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Huh... this water flows into the rocks; where does it flow from? - A location with caves would make excellent shelter from dust storms

 

 

K'ailiaYohko nods.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: If you say so. K'haali, how are the rocks?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz smirks faintly and kicks the water to splash K'ile. "And K'ile can finally take a bath here."

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Would you girls just leave me alone?

 

 

K'haaliThalen jabs the rock. "Just sandstone."

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Put on a shirt and maybe.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Sorry mister K'ile.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko smiles.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame looks to have a retort on his tongue, but swallows it.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: an' above be them giant bird things.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: good eatin'

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Well, the only problem is all the Spriggans but they seem to be friendly.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Spriggans carry things away, don't they?

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: We don't want them absonding all our stuff.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz nods to you.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: They carry ore mostly.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: From what I know at least.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Crystals, I thought. I think they consume the aether in them

 

 

K'ailiaYohko pulls out her map so everyone can see "Where ta next?"

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Oh?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz peers over at K'ailia's map and hums.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: we are here.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko points to the spot

 

 

K'haaliThalen peers over k'ailias shoulder

 

 

K'ileTwinflame doesn't bother to look at the map.

 

 

K'haaliThalen or tries, being short

 

 

K'ileTwinflame watchs the waterfall instead.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko turns around so everyone can see.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: I think we should track this water back upriver.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Sounds good to me. We could see who else uses the water for what.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Where there's water, there's a good site to settle

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: That aint a bad idea!

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Sure. Might find a place with fewer sprigans.

 

 

K'haaliThalen swats biting insects aside "and bugs"

 

 

((walkingonward now...))

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: well there's cactuses

 

 

K'haaliThalen: These rocks seem to contain minerals, but. I can't tell you what just looking

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Eck. Ants.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: there's the water

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: You could grab some of the rocks maybe?

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Annnd herrrre's our river

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: A... refugee camp?

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Orobon? - I thought they were sand-swimmers

 

 

K'ileTwinflame looks at the pile of rock and lichen before them. "Now that's awesome."

[Twinflame]

 

 

 

K'haaliThalen: This is what i hoped we might find

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: I said I don't like cold wet places. So they doung hte coldest, wettest place they could.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: It could be worse.

 

 

K'haaliThalen grins

 

 

K'ileTwinflame gestures to the Efts, "You're right. There could be efts."

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: There ARE efts.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Nooo.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz laughs at you.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Before either of you says it, we aren't living in any caves!

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: I agree K'ile

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: I don't think any of us were seriously considering that.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Just making sure.

 

 

K'haaliThalen looks quizziclly, having missed the conversation

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Hmm... that way leads ta eastern thanalan.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz pulls out her map from her boot again and glances down. "So... it seems we can go east or north from here pretty easily. Which way shouled we go?"

 

 

K'ailiaYohko points.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: hmm I got an idea!

 

 

K'haaliThalen: The ground here must be host to a huge ant hive; I doubt anywhere within miles of here is habitable

 

 

K'ailiaYohko pulls out a single gil and tosses it in the air "Heads we go north, tails we go east"

 

 

K'luhaHaaz frowns as she looks to the north. "Wait, the north is all industrialized... "

 

 

K'ailiaYohko 's coin lands tails up

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: We shouldn't be leaving this to a coin-flip.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko laughs.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: East is...

 

 

K'luhaHaaz trails off and goes quiet.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: East is Drybone.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: I can't see the guardian through this mist...

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Guardian?

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Azeyma, the sun!

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Come ta' think o' it, east had a lot' o' open land.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame looks up, "Oh. Of course."

 

 

K'haaliThalen: She'd show us east from west

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Ask K'ailia's map which way is east.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko points.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: that way

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Alright.

 

 

((...walking...))

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: They've got some crazy rocks around here!

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Damned frogs.

 

 

((Killingfrogs at the Unholy Heir))

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: frog legs anyone?

 

 

K'ailiaYohko bursts out laughing.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: No thanks.

 

 

((Theparty zones into Eastern Thanalan, going from cloudy skies to sudden torrential downpour!))

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Gah.

K'luhaHaaz shivers from the sudden change in temperature and going from dry to soaked.

 

 

K'haaliThalen shouts over the storm. "I thought you said the mist would clear!"

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: eeep!

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Well, I THOUGHT it would!

 

 

K'ailiaYohko puts her hood up

 

 

K'ileTwinflame lays his ears flat against his head, "Dammit. This is... Kind of nice, but cold."

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Cold and wet.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: an' the town out here be called drybone.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: How did it get its name with this rain?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Ha.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: On the upside, can we really complain about extra water?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: We can find shelter out here somewhere while the storm passes.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Rain like this in the desert can cause flooding.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: no actually, I kinda like it

 

 

K'haaliThalen: If it rains, we can try growing crops

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Aye drybone very close

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: we can go ta the inn or the church

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Those moles don't look very threatening; but plenty fat

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: We don't need shleter. Just listen for any waterwalls or mudslides.

 

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Now I know I smell carcasses here.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz crouches under the oning and shivers. "It's fucking cold."

 

 

K'ailiaYohko points.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Reeks of death yet everyone here is acting normally...

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: That's because everything that dies in Thanalan comes here to its final resting place.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: I found shelter!

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: I found shelter

 

 

K'ileTwinflame crosses his arms, looking up at the oning, "We're wasting time."

 

 

K'haaliThalen raises an eyebrow at K'ailia declaring the "place where things come to die" as a palce for them to go

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: So what shall we do?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz gets up, a bit irritated and holds her arms tightly across her chest. "Alright, fine. Get going. I'll follow."

 

 

K'ailiaYohko nods to you.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Well... followin' roads takes us inta settlements.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: If K'ile had brought a shirt, he could offer it to you right about now.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: So maybe we should go off road?

 

 

K'haaliThalen offers an impish grin

 

 

K'ileTwinflame weathers K'luha's irritation briefly, then shakes his head. "You look like a sad, wet old cat." He looks to K'ailia, "We can take shelter for a few minutes. Rain like this can't last too long, right?"

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Anywhere that has roads is obviously bleonging to, or clsoe to ul'dar property

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Aye, the inn is over there

 

 

K'haaliThalen: it's not like we can see much through the storm.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Who are you calling old?

 

 

K'ailiaYohko points.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: I'll be easier to survey by daylight

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Oh an they dun allow chocobos in there.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz grumbles irritably and follows anyway.

 

 

K'haaliThalen leads K'weh away

 

 

 

 

 

K'ailiaYohko pulls her hood down and shakes the water everywhere off herself.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: I think that was the stables... until they do fried chocobo out here.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: We'll just wait out the storm. Just that.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz wrinkles her nose and wrings out her hair. "Smells like dead bodies."

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Are you sure this is "that" kind of resting place?

 

 

K'ileTwinflame tosses his bow against a wall, rings out his bandana, drops into the seat next to K'luha. "I didn't say you were old. I said you looked like an old cat."

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Well gotta say one thin'

 

 

K'luhaHaaz shivered violently next to K'ile before glancing at him a bit darkly. "So I just look old then?"

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: We wont want fer water.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Get some pots, set em outside the tents an' we'd have plenty o water.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko laughs.

 

 

 

K'ileTwinflame shakes his head at K'luha, and his hair throws drops of water, "Old cats don't look old. They're jsut cats."

 

 

K'ailiaYohko delivers a confident smirk.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz grumbled irritably and reached over to pinch K'ile's arm. "Are you telling me I look like an old lady or not?"

 

 

K'luhaHaaz is annoyed with you.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: K'ile I think yer diggin' yerself a big hole.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Better ta jes say sowwy an' nod.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko nods.

 

 

K'haaliThalen dozes off quietly.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame glares at K'ailia, "Just leave me to die, okay?" and then to K'luha, "No, I'm not."

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: So say it properly then. What are you saying?

 

 

K'ailiaYohko falls on the floor laughing and rolling around.

 

 

K'haaliThalen dodges the topic by feigning tiredness

 

 

K'ileTwinflame crosses his arms, "Well starting now I'm not saying anything."

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Don't be a baby. Tell me properly. And K'ailia, don't be rude.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: I am gonna go out an' see if I can get the elements ta stop drownin' us.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: I'm not being a-... What, do you want me to call you old? I'm older than you are. I was just saying you looked all cold and sad!

 

 

K'haaliThalen watches her go

 

 

NathalaneeReinhart ducked in out of the rain, grumbling a bit.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame glances past K'luha, "And now you chased the girls off by being scary too."

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: I don't want you to call me old. You could have just said that in the first place.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz sighed and glanced down to the ground, going quiet.

 

 

NathalaneeReinhart raised an eyebrow, looking over towards K'ile and K'luha for a moment.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame sighs and stands, "you're only as old is you feel. Don't listen to what I say."

 

 

K'ailiaYohko waves to K'haali Thalen.

 

 

K'haaliThalen looks at K'ailia. "I think the old guys are still going at it in there"

 

 

K'luhaHaaz stays quiet, looking somehow mournfully at the ground.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: oi oi.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Ol' people move slow, an' worry about weird stuff.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko nods to K'haali Thalen.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: I am gonna ask around about the surroundin' areas.

 

 

NathalaneeReinhart spun around on her heel after a few moments and headed back out, shielding her grimoire under her arm again.

 

 

K'haaliThalen looks at a sky made of wet blankets. "I, think it might be clearring up?"

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Who'm i kidding...

 

 

NathalaneeReinhart: "That was bloody awkward."

 

 

K'ileTwinflame tries to come up with something to say but can't manage. After a moment he mutters something incoherent and walks towards the door.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz looks to K'ile as he walks off, but says nothing and looking back to the ground sadly.

 

 

NathalaneeReinhart moved to stand more or less in the doorway of the armoury, reaching up to wring a bit of water out of her ponytail.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Hey, Kailia!

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: This man at the tavern.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Said ther-

 

 

Youwave to K'ailia Yohko.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: yeah

 

 

K'luhaHaaz's eyes brim over with tears.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame looks past her at K'haali, then back to K'ailia, "Uh, what's going on?"

 

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: I went an' asked around about the surroundin' area.

 

 

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Ah. And... There goes your mom. Great.

 

 

K'haaliThalen shrugs. "I couldn't say, I've been seeing if I can out-stare the clouds."

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: This man at the tavern said there's a spot with a dead Goobbue that has grown a paradise o' plants an stuff.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Oi! what did ya do?!

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: I think I called her old or something. Someone should get after her.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: I will.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Okay, thank you!

 

 

((K'ilewaits a long time. K'haali wanders off, leaving him alone.))

 

 

 

K'ileTwinflame stands alone for a time before muttering. "Damn women." And venturing back out into the rain.

[Twinflame]

 

((K'ile finds K'haali outside of town))

 

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: What're you doing out here?

 

 

K'haaliThalen: I'm asking myself the same thing!

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Luha ran off; and Ailia went after her on chocobo, but I couldn't tell you where in this weather

 

 

K'ileTwinflame answers easily, "West. So much for taking shelter from the rain, huh?"

 

 

K'haaliThalen: ....and which way is west?

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Come on.

 

 

K'haaliThalen motions to lead on

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Leave it to Yohko's woman and kid to run off on us in a storm.

 

 

((Someminutes later...))

 

 

K'haaliThalen: You're lost yoo....

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: And now I don't have the scent anymore. The rain's pulling up all the dirt and stink.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Well, town's back down this road at least. if nothing else

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Feh. Alright, let's back-track. We'll have to wait for them to come back.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: I'm sure they'll be fine on their own. A little rain isn't going to kill them... perhaos they need the quiet time anyway

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Maybe. How long can this rain last?

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Looks at the sky, apparently made out of a sponge. "soon?"

 

 

K'ileTwinflame utter in exasperation, "Those women better not make us wait too long."

 

 

K'ileTwinflame stands with his arms crossed, brooding, "Let me know if you see them."

 

 

((Backin Drybone, having waited for a time...))

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: oi oi!

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Come on ya two!

 

 

K'haaliThalen welcomes K'ailia Yohko.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Hm? Where the hell'd you go?

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Ma thinks we found the perfect spot!

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: les go!

 

 

K'haaliThalen: K'ile's nose failed us

 

 

K'ailiaYohko beckons to you.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Oh, she just runs off intot he ran and sents a messenger back to get us, hm?

 

 

K'haaliThalen Don't bean old sour-puss

 

 

K'ailiaYohko laughs.

 

 

K'haaliThalen grins

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: We decided to wait out the storm cause she was being all cold and pathetic in the first place.

 

 

((Headingout of town))

 

 

K'haaliThalen: I thoguht you said they ran West!

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: THey must've ran back east.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Your nose isn't what it used to be

 

 

K'ileTwinflame grumbles.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: No shortage of game or water

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: If you like goats.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: It beats sandworm

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Maybe the cold has made his joints sieze

 

 

K'ailiaYohko laughs at you.

 

 

((Arrivingat that giant goobbue corpse in far eastern Thanalan, the rain suddenly ends and then sun comes out))

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: this is the place

 

 

K'haaliThalen: What is that?

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: A dead goobbue

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Yay! rain stopped!

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: The rain stopped..

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: I feel like that's a sign or something...

 

 

K'ailiaYohko smiles.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame shakes water off his arms, "Finally." And he fixes K'luha with a glare, "The hell is wrong with you?"

 

 

K'haaliThalen: If that's not auspicious I don't know what is

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: What?

 

 

K'ileTwinflame chews on his words for a moment and then shakes his head, "Later."

 

 

K'luhaHaaz flattens her ears to her head and glance at the other two. "Well, what do you two think?"

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Plenty o' plants. An up that hill be goats with lots o' meat

 

 

K'ailiaYohko points.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: ... It's a little creepy.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: The giatn dead carass you mean?

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: It's eyes and teeth.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz seems lost in thought.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Gotta love the view, though.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: What ya think sister?

 

 

K'haaliThalen: It is lovely; but a view doesn't make a good place to settle. I want to survey the area better

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: an' we'd have privacy too

 

 

K'ailiaYohko nods.

 

 

 

K'ileTwinflame crosses his arms, looks down at K'luha, "This is a nice hole, but we need more than one pretty campsite. We need land to move around in."

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Did you look at the lands on your way here? It's only Drybone and they mostly stick to themselves. All that other land is free. Not to mention there's a bridge to the east with more unfettered lands.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: An' a lot o' these plants bare fruits.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: I was watching. K'haali! What do you think of the resources here?

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: An some can even be used fer medicines.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: These plants are certainly of great value; even if there isn't enoguh here to support the tribe, if those rains occur frequently we can try and grow more

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: an up that path be lots o' game.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko points.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: plenty o' food

 

 

K'haaliThalen: I want to survey the surrounding land now the weather's broken. There's no doubt game, we at least stumbled upon those; but accessible water

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Water, I found a lil lake up this way

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: It was how I got back ta drybone.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Another thing to look for is alternate camp sites. We should pick out three or four.

 

 

((Upthe hill and back in the plains, there's a decently sized watering hole not too far off!))

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Well this is ideal; water, food, game.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Maybe they jes dun care about this land yet.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: I daresay we might all become fat and spoiled living here

 

 

K'haaliThalen bursts out laughing.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: No. There's one problem.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame shakes his head, "This water's only here because of the rain."

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Or maybe we've gone beyond Ul'dahn lands?

 

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: There's an Amalj'aa Encampment just south of here.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: That's why they haven't settled here. Because the Amalj'aa are trying to do the same.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame idly pulls at the leaves of the plant next to him. "How south is just south?"

 

 

K'ailiaYohko stretches.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame watches K'luha walk off unhappily.

 

 

K'haaliThalen seems lost in thought.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Can't be as big a camp as the one we passed in Sagolii

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: K'luha and I can scout out the Amal'jaa camp. You two don't need to worry about it yet.

 

 

K'haaliThalen tosses a rock across the water

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: want us ta scout north?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Maybe a day's walk south from here.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: That's my estimate.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: A day's walk isn't far enough to be comfortable.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Like I said. That's the problem.

 

 

K'haaliThalen looks dejected at yet another good opportunity running into a snag

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Course, maybe the Amalj'aa jes got a tiny lil encampment an haven't spread up anymore.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko shrugs.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Still not a big enough problem to knock it out of the list. It's got good resources and nobody owns it far as I cn tell.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: An' we'd be able ta get fed real good.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz closed her eyes and crossed her arms, thinking on it.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: How's the trading at that Drybone place?

 

 

K'ailiaYohko seems lost in thought.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Unless you sell funerary goods....

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Ma' an' I when we headed ta Gridania, our wagon went by another settlement at a bridge.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Why dun we check their markets?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Highbridge. They do okay trade.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Not to mention wer're only a day or two from the South Shroud.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame looks at K'luha. "Okay's good enough for us. We're not trying to get rich."

 

 

K'luhaHaaz nods.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Well... if we all in agreement.

 

 

K'haaliThalen shrugs.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: We should prolly map a good course fer the tribe ta travel ta get here.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: I'd certainly like to get a better look at the lands

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: I'm going to stay out here until someone secures a time to meet with Ventus. No better way to judge the area than live off it.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko nods.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: That's true. I'll send him a moogle message from Drybone then. Hopefully he'll respond quickly.

 

 

K'haaliThalen pouts. "I was planning on doing the same, but with you around you'd likely eat all the goats!"

 

 

K'luhaHaaz laughs at K'haali Thalen.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: K'luha. You and I will have to walk down and scout out the Amal'jaa camp. That's a couple days there. You okay with that?

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: So who goes back ta camp ta tell the elders?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz nods to you.

 

 

K'haaliThalen eyes turns to K'ailia

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: We haven't decided anything yet, so there's nothing to tell the elders.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Okay.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: What ya want me ta do?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Perhaps try and get in contact with Ventus again. Set something up perhaps.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: I don't think K'haali should be out here by herself though.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: I can do that when he stops sleepin'.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko pulls out her necklace with the linkpearl.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Then perhaps you should stay with K'haali then while you wait for him.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Okay.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Why not? K'haali, you scared of a bunch of goats?

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Actually... there's wolves out here too.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz looks irritably to K'ile. "That is what I thought a long time ago K'ile. And we all know how that ended...."

 

 

K'ailiaYohko points.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: like thatone over there

 

 

K'haaliThalen: This place seems like paradise compared to the sagolii and I spend plenty of days and night out by myself.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Oh there's high bridge

 

 

K'ailiaYohko points.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Still. You could be overwhealmed in your sleep. Or run across trouble you can't handle. I would feel better if someone where with you.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Kluha's right, but it's up to you, K'haali.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: I'll have K'weh for company!

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Well I can always go see about settin' up a meetin' with Ventus.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: While she scouts.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame smiles, and says, "Well, at least for the first night, I'll be within a stone's throw of the goobue. You can all stay with me if you want. After that K'luha and I will be on our way to the Amal'jaa camp.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko nods.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: So, rendevous here, tommorow morning before you depart?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: That works as well as anything.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Well; at the goobue.

 

 

Younod to K'haali Thalen.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: That suits me just fine; you watch - by tommorow morning I'll have found and prepared a full set of hunting gear entirely from local resources, just to prove it's viable!.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko laughs.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Hah. If you did that I'd be impressed!

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Where shall we stay tonight then? Here?

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: I'll be setting up camp at the goobbue and then hunting dinner.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: I'll stay with you then I suppose.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame nods to punctuate his statement, and then turns to head back there, "I'd like it if you did. The two of us together can hunt something more fun!"

 

 

K'luhaHaaz smiled faintly and nodded. "Alright then. Will the two of you be staying here as well?"

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Aye

 

 

K'haaliThalen looks to the hills to the north. "I'd rather hoped i might explore north before nightfall and set up camp along the ravine in a secluded spot.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Lily has my belongin's

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: So I can get some hand ta hand practice in.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko nods.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: Alright. We'll meet back here tomorrow morning. You should set up your campsit.

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Enjoy your mountains, K'haali.

 

 

Youbid farewell to K'haali Thalen.

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: I wonder though

 

 

K'ailiaYohko points.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: Maybe i like rocks!

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: what are them giant glowin' rocks?

 

 

K'luhaHaaz laughs at K'haali Thalen.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: But, see you in the morning

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: they shaped so weird.

 

 

K'luhaHaaz: I don't know.

 

 

K'haaliThalen: They remind me of aether crystals, but, collosal

 

 

K'ileTwinflame: Can't you ask your teachers, K'ailia?

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: Aye, when they pick their pearls up

 

 

 

K'ailiaYohko: hehe folks sleep a lot taday

 

 

[Twinflame]

K'ile Tia: Evenings in Thanalan settled in quickly this time of year. The sun had no sooner turned red for twilight than it had begun to fade into night. K'ile knew he would be hunting in the dark, so didn't bother to rush making camp. But camp, to him, was a simple thing: a comfortable piece of earth near the cliff opposite the goobbue's corpse, a pile of wood to make a fire that would warm him and guide him back from the hunt, and a decent place to lean his bow when he wasn't using it.

 

 

After building the pile of wood that would become the fire, setling some kindling about it and stacking up a reserve of dry wood behind him, he took one of the limbs and shook it. As though it were his staff back in camp, the thing spawned fires on either end, and he flipped it a couple of times with a playful smirk before sticking it lengthwise in the pile to start the fire.

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha had busied herself mostly with examining the platlife around the new area. Any sort of fruit would be good to try, albiet making sure it wasn't poisonous first. While she didn't find much in the way of fruit, she did find a plant good for soothing wounds and pulled out a small dagger strapped to her leg, cutting the plant from its roots. 

 

 

She carefully pulled off her ringband gloves and braces to examine the bite from earlier. It really wasn't that bad, although it had started to sting a little. K'luha poked it and winced before carefully slicing the plant in two and placing the inside over the wound in two covering strips. 

 

 

"Stupid..." she muttered mostly to herself, narrowing her eyes as she noticed that somehow it had turned dark already. Her eyes were quckily drawn to K'ile and his fiery staff. It was good one of them had gotten the fire together. K'luha hiked up to where the campfire was to be and sat down on the rock, looking over her makeshift bandage and treatment again.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: Humming happily at the fire that was growing, K'ile amused himself by grabbing an extra stick in each hand. A quick flick and they both lit on either end, and he spun them as he watched K'luha drop down near him. She seemed to be in some kind of mood, but everyone always looked like they were in a mood by the fire, and K'luha tended towards moods anyway.

 

 

Noticing where the woman's eyes were focused, he said, "How's that bite?" and tossed one of his two sticks onto the growing fire.

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha took parcial notice of K'ile's fire stick twirling, but didn't say anything about it. For a Tia, he really did like to show off, didn't he? Still, K'luha lightly picked at her wound only glancing up when he spoke to her.

 

 

"It's really fine. It's a bit nothing. Give it a day and it will be healed."

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: "One day on its own for the same end that your daughter coudl get you in five seconds," K'ile said, but quickly put a hand up to stave off whatever retort she could manage. "But I get it! You're not wrong, and it makes sense. Where is K'ailia, anyway?"

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: "Off to train. I assume she'll end up with K'haali or in Ul'dah or Drybone." K'luha frowned and clicked her tongue a bit irritably. While it was true that K'ailia could fix everything so easily, somehow it felt like wounds meant nothing if you could instantly heal them away. Didn't pain have to have some sort of meaning with it or something. She sighed again. Maybe not.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: "Kids. She says she'll camp, but off she goes! I swear, if she had to spend just one week in a single place, she'd never last." The single flaming stick in his hand spun idly, and he watched it. His staff back home was belt to contain the fire on the ends, but there was no such precaution here. The fire was slowly working its way towards his fingers, and he watched it. "Oh, but she's an adult now, isn't she?"

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: "Technically she is. Remember, that's what we argued about at the meeting?" K'luha gave a small sly grin to K'ile before looked back down to the fire. "Sometimes she acts more like an adult than I do... and sometimes I am reminded just how young she is." K'luha frowned deeply at the fire. "And then I wonder what her brother would have been like..."

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: The stick stopped suddenly in his hand, and it kicked sparks out into the sky. "Don't do that to yourself." The heat on his hands reminded him of the fire seeking out his fingers, and he tossed the stick into the coals. "I know it's hard, but don't."

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha stayed quiet, looking into the fire like she might find her son there. She wanted so badly to see him. To see what he would have become. He hadn't even gotten a real name yet when he died. He'd only lived a few months... If only she hadn't gone by herself. If only she could have saved him.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: K'ile dropped down next to K'luha, leaving the fire to grow and turn as it wished. The wind that blew across dirty land above eddied over the cliff and curved the wind around them, leaving the two Miqo'te in a windless haven. The smoke from the fire moved straight up for a few meters before it began to drift and was eventually dissipated in a sudden maelstrom.

 

 

"What kind of children do you think K'ailia will have?" he said.

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha stopped and glanced over to K'ile. When he had sat down next to her? Although, he question was a good one. She smirked faintly and playfully elbow'd his side. "Hopefully not arrogant brats like you."

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: He barely felt her elbow, but he embellished the squirm away from it. With a chuckle, he said, "I hope she does have a kid just like me. And one like K'thalen. And K'raqi, too! Three wild boys to drive her crazy!"

 

 

The eyes of the dead goobbue caught the firelight and flashed at him in the dark. The distant, endless thunder of a waterfall kept the air heavy.

 

 

Smiling at nothing, he said, "And she can have a daughter like you to keep her sane. Everyone deserves a little help with that."

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: "Three boys? Are you trying to start a Nunh war?" K'luha joked lightly, shaking her head. Although his last comment took her a bit by surprise. She was so surprised by it, she flushed faintly and looked back at the fire. That was... was that compliment? "Heh, I don't think I would keep her sane K'ile. More like infuriate her with my stubborness." she joked back lightly, her tail coming up behind her and moving to lightly smack the back of K'ile's head.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: Hitting people was one of K'luha's main methods of expression, and he was just going to have to deal with that. Shaking his head to make his hair resttled where here tail had tussled it oddly, he said, "You say stubborn. I say confident. Well-grounded! People who aren't like that just make it an insult so they feel better. Stubborn's a good thing."

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: "Hmm... Maybe. But maybe not sometimes. After all, your stubborness gets you in trouble as well K'ile." K'luha turned and raised a brow at him. "Don't you remember how angry we got at each other for being stubborn? And how angry K'ailia was with you when you so vehemently rejected her idea?"

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: The Tia just shrugged at that, "Apologies cleared it up. That's how it works with family. Anyway, it's possible to be stubborn without being rude over it. I just suck at it."

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: "That's true." she smirked again, looking him over. "You do suck at that." K'luha shook her head and looked back to the fire. Jeez, she was doing a lot of head shaking over K'ile. Despite him being older, she often felt like he was just a kit.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: K'ile couldn't help the smile on his face when he stood. The sense of great success had him as sure as he'd shot down a Sand Drake with a blowgun. For once in his life, he'd stopped a woman from crying on the first try! If only K'thalen could be alive to see it!

 

 

"Feel up to some hunting?" K'ile trotted around the fire to get his bow.

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha frowned slightly at the fire. Still, it bothered her. Especially now that they were here. Where it all happened. She could feel the place on her back where that Amalj'aa had stomped on her. She could feel where they ripped the bundle from her arms. All because she'd interuptted some sacred ritual. She hadn't even known. K'luha pulled her arm bands back on and readjusted her shirt. 

 

 

"If my son had lived... I would have wanted him to be like you..." K'luha muttered quietly to herself before picking up her own bow and forcing herself to give K'ile a cheerful look. "Of course I am. Let's quit wasting time. I'm hungry."

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: Not many things froze K'ile in place, but what K'luha said just then did. He stood with one hand on his bow as though unsure if he should take it, waiting for his mind to do something with her words. Her voice seemed to settle over his arms and shoulders, leaving him heavy. His head felt empty of thought, and yet somehow he scrabbled together enough of one to look over and say, "You're not going to start thinking of me as a son, are you?"

 

 

He had enough presence of mind to add a chuckle, making it sound like a joke. The cheer on K'luha's features probably helped. He pulled his bow up over his shoulder and added on, "Cause I'm just a few years short of being your dad." That was undershooting it. A few years as in, like, ten. But still!

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha had to chuckle softly at his reaction. She had almost hoped he hadn't heard that but, since he did she was glad he didn't take it badly at least. It was a compliment after all. As for thinking of him as a son, maybe. Not quite though. She wasn't as protective of him as she would have been of a child. Although, he did make her feel younger. She had to grow up so quickly because of the need for children. Trying to raise one, and then raising K'ailia when she was only seventeen? She had tried to grow up fast. But sometimes K'ile brought out that seventeen year old that never got the opportunity to be a stupid teenager. 

 

 

"A dad, or a mate." K'luha added, chuckling again as she walked past him. Her tail lightly flicked his shoulder as she nimbly hoped up a rock formation to look over the dark plains.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: K'ile was surprised by the strength of K'luha's tail against his shoulder. It didn't deel that different from getting slapped, except that the furt made it softer. His own tail whipped about self-conciously behind him. He stood still and watched her move away from him for a few seconds before grabbing his quiver and moving with her.

 

 

Looking up at where she stood on the rock above him, he said, "You're not going to see much this time of night. We should try and sniff out a wolf! Two hunters shouldn't settle for a dumb old goat."

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: "Way ahead of you old man." K'luha teased. She was already sniffing the air for wolf and bigger prey. She didn't want to go after something too terribly large though. It could be a waste of food... but if she salted it she could preserve it as rations for the next days of travel. 

 

 

"I smell... mostly goat and dust but..." Her ears flicked back and forth, listening keenly for the tell-tale sounds of a wolf pack. "No wolf. Maybe further out then... you?"

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: "Oh, there's wolves. Has to be! Picking them out of the damned goats and this godsdamned pollen would be a trick, though." K'ile was good help on a hunt, but it wasn't really his thing. His senses were better for tracking people. It was a less practical skill, especially out here where no one was. It would come in handy when they were scouting the Amal'jaa, though! "Want to try getting away from the goobbue some? Head towards that fresh water? We can follow the smoke back."

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha gave a short nod and deftly hopped up and over the rock. With a silent step, she glided gracefully across the nightscape. Her footsteps made hardly a sound and her dark skin and clothing in the nighttime made her very difficult to see as she moved. 

 

 

She lead, or rather she hoped K'ile could follow her, further inland. Her best bet was that water source they found earlier. No doubt game would come there for water as well. They just had to pick up a scent there. 

 

 

As they approached, K'luha ducked beneath some foliage and examined the watering hole. It was mostly empty now, but the scent of fresh game was all over it. Mostly goats, but where there were goats there would be wolves. 

 

 

K'luha glanced about for K'ile for a moment, hoping he had been able to follow her easily enough.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: That woman was a beast in the night. K'ile hadn't realized how effective her dark leathers would be until she'd gone out ahead of him and vanished. Once he'd lost sight of her, he paused for a moment. And then he followed again, this time by scent. She was easier to pick out than any wolf; he'd been exposed to that scent for most of his life, after all.

 

 

Besides. He knew where the water was, so he wasn't exactly going to get lost.

 

 

K'ile didn't keep her waiting too long, stepping from the night to join her by the foliage. No game hanging out by the water, but that would be too much to ask. The wolves would probably do something similar to what they were doing and track pray from here into the open desert. If he was lucky...

 

 

A smile split his lips. "I smell a kill," he said in a hushed tone. "Someone doesn't have anything against eating the goats." He pointed upwind.

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: "Get lost?" K'luha jibed lightly as K'ile finally appeared some time later. She squinted out into the night again and looked for any signs of movement. The dirt was more malleable here than in the sands of the Sagolii. Tracks remained for a long time after the prey had moved through the area. She would have to learn fresh tracks from stale ones. 

 

 

K'luha sniffed the air deeply as he mentioned a kill upwind. Yes, he was right. His nose was better than hers was, but she was glad for it at the moment. "Right. Let's go." she motioned with her tail to move and again darted out silently through the plains. She kept low to the ground even while running, obscuring her form to blend in with the local brush. 

 

 

It was probably about a five minutes run northward, but finally the thick smell of blood caught her nose. It was very close. She could smell the wolven scent as well; musky and earthy. It was distinct, and stood out strongly from that of the nannies and billies in the area. 

 

 

K'luha darted behind a thick brush and peered out at the scene about four hundred yards in front of her. She counted for wolves at least and a large Billy that had been taken for dinner. Four wolves, meant there was probably more around the area. It could mean trouble. They would be best if they could pick one off. But wolves had very keen hearing. The trouble was how to communicate with K'ile, and if K'ile would be silent enough to stalk a wolf pack.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: K'ile did okay with being quiet. He was up next to K'luh before she heard him at least, so he figured that was pretty good. He didn't know if the woman's hearing was a good gauge for the wolves, figured it probably wasn't, but still felt pretty prepared.He was about to say something to K'luha when he remembered the whole silence thing.

 

 

Sand worms, drakes and orobons don't hear that well, so he'd almost forgotten it. He wasn't clear how to communicate without speaking, so he just gave K'luha a rather helpless look and tried not to look ridiculous doing so.

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha frowned faintly. Well, at least K'ile was too terribly noisy. She peered past the brush at the pack, watching the alpha eat first before he started walking away and letting the rest of the trio fight for the carass. The alpha wandered off eastward and K'luha saw their chance for dinner. 

 

 

She let her tail talk for her, reaching back to tap K'ile and point in the direction of the Alpha. With that, she swiftly moved through the brush, crouching low and stalking the large wolf through the plains and waiting for an opportunity to strike.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: He almost missed the tail, and was again more surprised by it than anything. K'ile probably wouldn't have been if he'd been watching the wolves more closely. A few seconds after K'luha's gesture he noticed the one wandering off alone, and discerned her intentions.

 

 

Following her closely, he took his bow out and held it below him, watching to make sure he didn't hit anything with the arms and make unnecessary noise. Reaching back to take a bow from his quiver, he realized he didn't have his quiver and fuck that what in the seven hells was even wrong with him.

 

 

He padded over towards K'luha and whacked her with his tail to get her attention. Having no idea how to sign that he needed an arrow, he just decided to help himself to her quiver. He didn't feel very smooth in that moment.

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha was focused intently on her prey, looking through the dark with glowing eyes to find its weak spot. The perfect target would be... of course. On the neck. She could see precisely where to put her arrows. But the question was, could she hit her mark? Of course, she assurred herself. And even if she didn't she could take down a single wolf. 

 

 

Although, all was almost lost when something whacked her. She jumped faintly, making a rustling noise before shooking a glowering look back at K'ile. He took her arrow? She glanced back towards his back and noted he had forgotten his quiver. With another shake of her head she took her own arrow and looked forward at the wolf. 

 

 

Which had promptly spotted her. Fabulous. The wolf was snarling and looking directly at her, which mean she only had one shot. She pulled her own arrow out and stood, releasing the bow to fly true... and totally miss her intended target to hit the wolf's torso instead. The wolf let out a loud howl and before K'luha knew it she could ear the movement of the entire pack. Yay. 

 

 

K'luha pulled another arrow from her quiver and shot again, hitting the wolf between the eyes this time. The beast staggered and K'luha threw her bow around her body to pull out a dagger that was strapped to her leg again. This was going to get messy.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: Around the time K'luha was launching her first arrow, K'ile was putting his arrow against the string and trying to remember how he'd seen K'nahli do it. But K'nahli's fingers were so much smaller than his, and something just wasn't working. He'd fired some arrows before, but he really thought it would just come naturally once he was in a real hunt with his bow. And it wasn't.

 

 

His head popped up at that howl, and he heard the rest of the pack moving their way. He was too hungry to abandon the kill, and from how K'luha went for her dagger, she agreed. So they'd have to defend it.

 

 

Jumping up his feet, K'ile ran over towards the fresh carcasse, forgetting the arrow in his hands. He said quickly, "K'luha, get close to the dead wolf." With a shake of his wrist, the terminal ends of his bows' arms suddenly burst into flames. There was a pop as the bowstring snapped. He'd need a new bow.

[Twinflame]

K'luha Haaz: For some reason, K'luha had simply assumed K'ile could even use a bow in the first place. She simply assumed anyone in the tribe, save for K'ailia, was able to at the very least shoot and hit a target. Wrong. 

 

 

K'luha looked to K'ile, shocked for a moment that he was doing it all wrong. He was clusmy and had terrible posture and was totally going to get them killed if she didn't get him something he could actually use. 

 

 

At least he could use it like a torch. Wait, how the hell did he keep simply lighting things on fire!? K'luha dashed forward anyway before pushing her knife into K'ile's hand. 

 

 

"Use that." she snapped sharply, pulling up her bow again and readying an arrow as the pack started closing it. She pressed her back to K'ile to watch their oppositie direction and shot an arrow out, hitting another wolf in the chest. She laced her bow ready once more and turned to shoot another wolf that was starting to charge K'ile.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: Looking at the knife as though she'd given him a peice of lettuce to fight with, K'ile frowned. "If you just shoot them all before they get here we're not going to have any fun!" He slipped the knife in his belt and leaned a bit of his weight against K'luha, just so that she could feel he was still present.

 

 

He tested the spin of the bow. It wasn't really balanced like a staff, which meant he wouldn't be able to do anything fancy with it. Still, he was able to turn it at a decent rate, and in the night it drew a very definite red circle in front of him.

 

 

K'ile Tia: K'ile turned the fire on a wolf that had been in mere charge and barked, "Come on! I'll cook ya before I skin ya!" and the wolf changed its mind, probably more confused than scared. He wouldn't actually be able to cook or kill anything with the bow, though, now that he though about it. The wolves were kind of big.

 

 

"Actually, keep shooting them," he said. "I was wrong. It was a good idea."

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: Fun? They could get mauled by wolves!? And he was thinking of fun!? Was he fourty or freaking fourteen!? K'luha huffed irritably, letting loose another arrow into the torso of a third wolf and then a fourth. She glanced back for a moment when he tried intimidating a wolf. That was... weird. But a bit effective. Not very much so for K'luha. While she was distracted a wolf came up on her and jumped. 

 

 

K'luha yelped, the wolf pouncing on top of her and knocking her off to the side of K'ile. She dropped her arrow but held the bow tightly in her left hand. There were still what, like six or seven left? The wolf on top of her went for her throat, but K'luha shoved her bow in its bow instead and tried to push it back. She could feel its claws in her shoulders.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: Knocked rolling by the wolf that had hit K'luha, K'ile found his feet quickly. He turned first to her, his immediate instinct being to help, but the pounding of paws and the yip of a hungry beast invaded his instincts and turned him around to face the slathering jowls of a beast that was almost on top of him.

 

 

Wolves would all pounce at once, just like the tribe did. They were hunters after all.

 

 

K'ile swing the bow hard, laying the taste of fire on the wolf's tongue. Its body convulsed at the heat, its head shook, and when K'ile pulled the bow free of its teeth the wolf coughed out splintered wood and sparks. It's painful cries only came after.

 

 

The stink of wolves permeated K'ile's senses. He could hear them converging. His immediate thought would've been to throw fire on the ground, but thanks to the earlier downpout he knew nothing would catch.

 

 

In his hand he spun the bow, and he turned it on all sides of him as he looked for the animals. Unfortunately, the light from his fire was ruining his night vision. After a few moments of searching in darkness, he called out, "K'luha, let me know where you are!"

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: None of the beasts wanted to get near the fire. As K'ile rolled away to take on a few, the rest turned to the already subdued prey. K'luha's ears flattened in fear as she tried to fight off the wolf on top of her. It snarled and gnashed at her, his teeth continuously getting caught on the metal handle in the middle of her bow. K'luha pushed the bow up further against the wolf's mouth and kicked her feet up to kick it off her. 

 

 

No sooner had one wolf tumbled off but two more jumped forward. One bite down on hear ear and the other at her leg. K'luha screeched loudly and swung her bow blindly at the one nearer to her face. Her legs kicked to try and free her leg from the wolf's bite and she managed to kick the other wolf in the face. But the remaining wolves were beginning to swarm with the sound and smell of injured prey. 

 

 

Still, as the wolves released her she scrambled to her feet, trying desperate to put distance between herself and the pack.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: The sound K'luhai made wasn't one that K'ile had ever wanted to hear from her. Without thought or planning, everything in him turned and rushed towards her cry. The fire moved nturally with him, even as one end of the bow sputtered into streaks and coals. His other hand pulled the knife from his belt.

 

 

And that was all the preparation he had when he jumped bodily at the wolves that had beset K'luha. They'd seen him coming, of course, and he probably shouted as well, for one of them ad already jumped away. The other took fire right to the facce, and whipped about in a sudden panic made of teeth and fur.

 

 

Still, the best he was doing was scaring it and making it angry. He stabbed at its neck, but didn't have what he needed to kill it clean and easy.

 

 

He recoiled from that wolf. The others were still close. Even in the rush of movement and canine sounds, he could hear K'luha retreating. He hoped at least he'd startled the pack into taking a moment to regroup. Still, he gave a flourish of fire from his dying bow as he followed quick behind K'luha.

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: Much like a cat in trouble, K'luha's panic sent her darting across the landscape again. As hungry as she was, death really wasn't all that appetizing for her right now. All she could think of was to get out of reach of those wolves and figure out what to do from there. From the corner of her eye she caught sight of a tree and sharply made a b-line for it. 

 

 

Her nimbe form scaled the tree with relative easy and she came to rest at the top of a heavier branch, clinging to it like she might death otherwise. And it was true, she indeed might have. Wolves couldn't climb after all. They would be stuck waiting below, giving K'luha all the time in the world to think. 

 

 

Suddenly from her panic she remembered she was not alone and quickly scanned the horizon for her companion. "K'ile!" she yelled out, looking around in another panic. Even if she had to jump down, she would find him again.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: He really, really didn't want his bow to stop burning. So of course it did, and all but collapsed from his hand into ash and coals. This left him not only defensless, but senseless as well. All he could smell was smoke, singed fur, and the stink of wolves. The smell of a panicked K'luha was somewhere for sure, but he couldn't track it. And he couldn't see, either, his night vision by now completely claimed by the light he'd been swinging around. The clouds from the earlier storm hadn't cleared, leaving the moon completely blotted out.

 

 

So every sense he had was full of nothing but wolves, and an angry dozen of them at least. They didn't rush him immediately, probably afraid he'd pull out more fire, but that would only buy him until he demonstrated some kind of fear.

 

 

His first instinct was to run like hell. He obeyed that instinct. The wolves, sensing his fear and already having him surrounded, pounced quickly and caught him as he ran. His screams were more like blood-curdled sqwaks when his throat was peeled from his spine, leaving him to writhe pitifully while he was eaten alive.

 

 

Luckily, the above did not occur. About five seconds before that happened, K'ile's fate had actually been changed when he ran face-first into a rickety tree trunk that swayed in the night above him. Sparing a half a second to mutter insults at the "Bitch tree sneaking up on me," he dug the knife into the side and pulled himself up its length.

 

 

Not too long after this, everyone in the desert would see the canopy of a lone tree burst into flames seemingly without cause. Oddly enough, the base of it caught fire too, and in between was a laughing Tia throwing burning sticks at the wolves that surrounded him.

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha clusmily dropped from her perch to grope desperately around for her bow and an arrow. She spun desperately, looking for some sign of K'ile. Something, anything would do! And about three seconds later she yelped and fell over, covering her eyes from a sudden burst of light. In the darkness, it seemed and entire tree went up in flames just south of her. 

 

 

It was all she could do to collect herself only to screech and fall over again as the pack of injured wolves went running, yipping and howling from the fire. K'luha shakily sat back up and started to crawl towards the tree that had been set alight. No doubt it was K'ile... probably. 

 

 

"K'ile? K'ile!" she called out worriedly, only to yell again when she pressed her front hand into the corpse of the alpha wolf. She pulled it back and wiped off the wolf's blood on her good leg. Thank god it wasn't totally for nothing. She was slightly moritifed at how horrible hunters they were though. 

 

 

K'luha stood agian and grabbed the wolf corpse by its neck, hauling its dead weight across the ground and towards the burning tree again. "K-k'ile!?" she called, squinting as she got closer to the tree.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: There was a small circle of burnt sticks around the tree, all of which he'd thrown at the wolves. He was sure he hadn't actually hurt any of them, but exploding a whole tree ought to keep them away! To drive home the point, K'ile was calmly standing upon a branch, arms to either side, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Flee, beasts! I am the Sagolii Fire God! I hold the power of Azeyma in my hands!" He laughed at this a great deal. So much that he almost fell out of the tree.

 

 

He still eventually heard K'luha shouting at him, and when he saw her pulling the wolf's carcass towards him, he smiled broadly and waved over his head, calling her name, "K'luha!" When they'd given primary chase to him, he'd assumed she'd gotten away. Since she was still thinking about food, she was probably fine, too. So they'd done well! He was down a bow, but that was fine.

 

 

"K'luha! Hold on, I'll help you with that!" He shouted, and then clambered back to the trunk of the tree to climb down. Obviously climbing down was impossible, though, because he'd set the base of the tree on fire. So he went right back out on that limb. But he couldn't really jump off without hurting himself. He needed to do something different. So he made his way back to the trunk of the tree, which was still on fire, and actually kind of more on fire now than it had been last time. Yes, that fire was definitely coming up towards him.

 

 

So, okay. He was going to burn to death in the tree he'd set on fire. No, he decided he didn't like that plan. "I'll be right down!" he called out, still trying to figure out how. He ended up walking back out onto the primary branch, rubbing at his chin in thought. He'd just have to jump.

 

 

He cleared the ring of fire, landed foot-first but collapsed unpoetically right away, his body hitting the earth with a heavy thud. He lay there for several seconds before pulling himself up on all fours, forehead still in the dirt, and coughing.

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: Hnn... arrogant as ever. K'luha's ears twitched lightly when she heard him yell something about being a Sagolii Fire God. While she wasn't really sure how he lit things on fire so easily, she was sure that he wasn't a God. Sexy bodies and lighting things on fire didn't make you a god. Because if it did, K'luha was definitely a Goddess. 

 

 

She looked up as he walked back and forth on a branch... that was quickly burning. It was high up and, yup. He jumped and landed terribly ungracefully on the ground. K'luha winced at the sound he made and grabbed the carrass over closer to him before kneling down at his side. 

 

 

"You okay Sagolii Fire God?" she questioned, smirking faintly.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: K'ile's initial attempt to answer K'luha's question came out as a shuttering cough, so he took a few more moments to catch his breath. He managed first, "Fine," and then, "Immortal god," and finally, "Always fine," before just waving her off.

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha narrowed her gaze at him. Coughing? Really, she hadn't thought the injury was that bad. Even if it had been mortifying, she almost... ALMOST wished K'ailia was here to heal him. 

 

 

"You idiot." she hissed lightly, realizing he was more hurt that she at first thought. She reached a hand out to lightly try and press on his chest to assess the damage done.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: Nope.

 

 

K'luha's first breath of mothering was enough. He rolled to the side quick as could be and was on his feet before should could touch him. "I'm fine," he said, feeling faint. He stumbled a bit, shook himself. He supporessed a cough and decided he'd count broken ribs later. "I'm good. You good? How are you? Did you get bit again?"

 

 

A single cough escaped and he suppressed it.

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha frowned as the damned idiot Fire God rolled up and got to his side, practically falling over again. She clicked her tongue and motioned for him to sit again. 

 

 

"Sit the hell down. You've got broken ribs and I know it!" she ordered, her concern for K'ile very obviously overpowering any cocern for her own wellbeing. Namely her complete ignorance of the biting pain in her leg where a wolf had taken a nasty chunk, and her right ear which also was now missing a large chunck and bleeding profusely down her hair and the side of her face.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: Crossing his arms over his chest, K'ile protested weakly, "So what if I do?" and then, with a cough a wince, let his arms fall to his sides and dropped into a defeat crouch. "You're bleeding."

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: "Lay the fuck down." K'luha ordered sharply before crawling across the ground to sit next to K'ile again. "Let me check. I might be able to help. If nothing else I can assess the damage. Come on K'ile...please?" If she had to resort to pleading and giving him the saddest face she could muster, so be it.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: Rolling his eyes, K'ile let himself flop onto his back. Probably not the best idea he ever had, because he had him wincing and coughing again. He pulled himself back together pretty quick, though.

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha let out a small breath of relief. It was a little victory, but one that meant a lot to her. The younger Miq'ote carefully ran her hands over K'ile's chest and tried to remember something she learnt in Limsa. How did the healing spell go? Something... something... channeling aether... something something... life forces... In a small burst of green, K'luha managed a fairly pathetic healing Physick, about the equivalent of tacking his ribs back together with duck tape.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: Staring at the burning tree above them with a scowl on his face, K'ile tried not to feel too humiliated by K'luha's touch. Particularly since the woman was also obviously hurt and wasn't even acknowledging it. The sudden flash of green light surprised him, but not enough to make him flinch. His chest felt a bit different afterward, and the urge to cough was dimishing. Looking down at where she was touching, he said, "Now where'd you learn that?"

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: "Someplace cold and wet." K'luha replied with a small smirk. She pulled her hands from his chest and glanced over to their kill. What a pathetic attempt. She sighed to herself. She had really been slacking on hunting. K'luha quietly promised herself to start going on hunts again as much as possible. 

 

 

As her worry for K'ile's well being diminished, her hunger and pain started to set in. Still, she was more hungry than anything. 

 

 

"Still have that knife?" she asked, glancing back to K'ile.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: "You can have the knife," K'ile said, "When you do something about your wounds. You can't heal me and just sit there bleeding all over the place. You make me look like I can't take a hit."

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: "Well I'm hungry and I have no bandages." K'luha replied with a small huff, holding out her hand for the knife. "If you want to cut up the kill while I bleed, feel free but someone needs to start cooking."

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: Rising to a sitting position -- slowly, this time, to test the set of his ribs -- K'ile took a knife from his belt. It was not K'luha's knife. He'd actually had his own all along, but she hadn't really asked. "Do that shiney thing. I don't want any of your wounds getting infected. We've got a hike tomorrow, remember."

 

 

He got to his feet and walked around to the wolf carcass. The alpha's pack would come back, but probably not until the tree burned down. It seemed to have enough fuel to last a bit.

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: It was easier said than done honestly. Still, K'luha gingerly touched her bite wound on her leg and attempted the same sort of channeling. Blah blah blah aether blah blah blah math blah blah balh life force... although this time it was more like a pathetic spark that sharply fizzled out and then nothing. K'luha tried a few times, but every time it seemed to do the same. Apparently healing herself didn't work so well. Or maybe she was just stubborn that wound ought to mean something. 

 

 

Either way, K'luha sighed and looked to the tree. 

 

 

"Think that will last until morning...?"

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: "No," he said. "I'd try to take the whole carcass back to camp but that would make the walk take a long time. And I'm afraid those wolves will be smelling your blood." Even under the fire, with the burnt fur and wet dirt all around him, the blood cut right through. "I'll be better to cut off what we can carry and bury the rest until later. Don't suppose you borught a shovel and something to wrap it in, though, did you?" If they couldn't keep the meat around, they'd have to settle for goat in the morning. No way was he hunting more wolves when he didn't even have a bow.

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha shook her head no. She didn't really want the wolves to follow her back to the camp either. But how to get ride of the smell of blood? Maybe dirt? She frowned and glanced to the ground. "Cut what you can take I guess. I have nothing but my clothing, which I guess we could use but I kind of only have that and it's not very plible like that. So that's a no go."

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: "I'll try not to be disappointed. I'd offer my shirt, but, ya know." He began to chop into the wolf, and he put a smile on for it. The sounds of tearing flesh could be heard underneath his muttering, "You can't fight now cause you're dead. Who killed you? It was us. We killed you."

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha smirked faintly herself. "One of these days..." she muttered to herself before lying down on the ground for a few moments. She waited until she was sure he was done before standing and starting to limp towards the camp. "Come on. We'll eat back at the camp."

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: "Yep," he held the flesh to one side, having adapted his bow's strap into a makeshift sling for it. "Just gotta follow the smell of the smoke back to camp!... Stupid tree." He cast a glare back up at the burning tree, which was completely obscuring his ability to smell the fire he'd left at camp. "I really need to learn to stay out of my own way. Okay, I'll just follow you then."

 

 

*

 

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha smiled weakly back at K'ile and started out towards the general direction in with a limp. After a few minutes of walkign she finally picked up the scent of their camp and within another ten minutes they were finally back. K'luha clambered up onto the warm rock and flopped down, finally getting the chance to look at her injuries again. Save that she didn't want to look at them at all. She wanted to eat and sleep. She motioned for K'ile to pass her a share of the food so that she might eat in relative silence.

 

 

*

 

 

K'ile Tia: He cooked the food and gave it K'luha and was just a generally useless Tia all night.

[Twinflame]

K'luha Haaz had fallen asleep rather quickly after she had eaten, leaving K'ile to mostly fend for himself. Her leg burned and shot pain up her spine all night and it kept waking her up. Her shoulders too, cried out from the deep claw wounds that the wolves hand inflicted. Worst of it all was probably her ear, which she couldn't put any weight on but kept turning on it to sleep comfortably. After about the eighth time she woke up that night crying, she realized now that she was also freezing.

 

K'luha Haaz sat up and looked at K'ile with a small glower. Stupid idiot. If only he wore a shirt she could just still it, but no. He had to run around without a shirt all the time. Disgruntled, K'luha dragged herself across the rock and put her back to his to sleep, leeching whatever little or much bodyheat he had to try and get back to sleep again. Thankfully, it worked enough for her to finally fall back asleep until the sun came up. At the first touches of sunlight on her skin, K'luha winced and opened her eyes to note that her face was buried in something very red. And possibly also brown. But it was also rather warm and comfortable. For about ten seconds before K'luha realized she had at some point during his disgruntled back to back warm leeching, turned around to a full on cuddle. With a sudden and loud flail, K'luha promptly smacked K'ile in the head before scrambling to her feet like she had never done it in the first place. Only to regret that very much and fall back down to what was probably directly on K'ile's face. "Ow!"

 

K'ile Twinflame is kind of an inconsiderate shit, so he didn't once wake up all night. Sleep is top priority, even when some chick is snuggling up to you and there's nobody else in a thousand malms. He awoke not for the cuddling, now the flailing, scquirmed and resisted waking up for the smack and only finally stirred when she fell on his head. Which is where we must remember that he's inconsiderate and has no idea what's going on. So he obeys his instincts and reacts as though he's been struck. He knocks K'luha off of him with both fists, snarling, and jumps to his feet. A pile of curses so dense as to be unintelligble peels from his lips, and he stops just short of kicking the woman.

K'ile Twinflame doesn't manage a smooth recovery, just grabbing his head and growling out, "Ah, K'luha, what in the hells!"

 

K'luha Haaz cried out in pain as she fell ungracefully, only to cry out a second time; this time more loudly than the first and more desperate. She wasn't so terribly light as that he could kick her off and fling her around, but since she was already close to the wall her head managed to sharply smack backwards into it. K'luha sharply curled up into a, her hands covering the back of her head which had just struck rock, and cried. A cry of pain that sounded unlike anything a Hyur or any other race could make. A distinct Miq'ote cry that indicated an extreme amount of pain, and there had only been two other types K'luha had cried like that. The first was when she lost her son. The second, when she and her sister fought which lead to her sister's exile.

 

K'ile Twinflame hesitates in his sleepiness. He's not without pain himself, since his ribs were broken just last night (even though he'd been healed somewhat). It takes him a moment to work his way around to "Gods damn it," and then he moves over to K'luha and crouches over her, reaching out to her, "You okay?"

 

K'luha Haaz found her head throbbing heavily with pain. It felt like she'd opened something up on her shoulder as well, but maybe it was just lingering pain from moving so fast. Still, her tail was terribly frazzled and tucked between her legs from the sudden attack. She hadn't expected to fall, much less be thrown onto rock as quickly as she'd fallen. Her head was hurting so much she hadn't even heard K'ile, much less noticed his reach.

 

K'ile Twinflame mutters more curses as he puts his hands upon K'luha's. "Hey, what's hurt? What'd I do?"

 

K'luha Haaz mewled out in pain, curling up into a small ball when K'ile put his hands on hers. She couldn't even properly think of words as her head still seared with tremendous pain. He would simply have to wait while it died down before she could speak again.

 

K'ile Twinflame hissed, "Twelve-cursed... What am I supposed to?" he bent over K'luha to look her over. "You're bleeding. Hold still." He took his bandana off his head and pulled the shells and fetishes from it, shaking it out into a strip of cloth. Kneeling, he put one hand to K'luha's head to see if she would protest the contact.

 

K'luha Haaz did not protest, other than to mewl again with agonizing pain.

 

K'ile Twinflame put the bandana behind K'luha's head and put pressure against the wond to try and stop the bleeding, and maybe help with the pain some (though the immediate effect would probably quite the opposite).

 

K'luha Haaz cried loudly at the pressure, raising a hand to scratch at K'ile's arm weakly. She stopped after a few moments and went mostly silent, though her ears were presed down to her head still.

 

K'ile Twinflame stubbronly ignores her protests and, with one hand still on her head, puts his other beneath her shoulders and lifts her shoulders onto his lap so he can get a better angle on her poor skill. HIs next task would be to carefully tie the bandanna very tightly around her head, making sure not to pin her ears down.

 

K'luha Haaz whined loudly at his touch to her shoulders, which were still injured as well. Still, she didn't fight him back and tensely settled into her new position.

 

K'ile Twinflame successfully ties of the bandana and now has completely exhausted his knowledge of first aid. He looks over her, but all the wounds he sees were there last night, and she didn't complain about them then, so they couldn't be the problem now.

 

K'luha Haaz remained tense, moving her hands to grasp at K'ile's legs. Something, anything to cling to to help alieviate some of the pain. She dug her sharp nails into his legs and remaind still and silent, save for the occasional pained cry.

 

K'ile Twinflame didn't really have much to do, so he waited. Her nails didn't hurt him through his clothes, and he wasn't against just holding her until she felt better. He kept one hand on her shoulder and his other on his head to support it, well away from any injury.

 

K'luha Haaz after what felt to K'luha like hours, but perhaps was more like a few minutes, the pain started to recede. However, the broken and painful sleep she had gotten left her exhausted and the strange, but welcome comfort from K'ile lulled her back to a light sleep for a time.

 

K'ile Twinflame was busy waiting patiently for K'luha to stop being in pain, and when she wasn't groaning or writhing anymore, he muttered, "Hey, so... did I hurt you or... Oh you're asleep. That's... Uhm. Okay." And so he sat there like that. And his knees hurt and his legs cramped and his arm got so tired supporting her head he thought it might fall off, but he stayed there and just alternated between watching K'luha and watching the wall. It was fine.

 

K'luha Haaz couldn't sleep for long. Especially not with the sun rising higher in the sky. She was probably only asleep for another ten minutes before a soft whine alerted K'ile to her awakening. She slowly tried lifting her head and found it still throbbing dully. "Nngh..." she groaned, bringing her hands from K'ile's legs to her head.

 

K'ile Twinflame continued to support her and, but moved his hand from her shoulder to her side. Obviously he wasn't trying to make things less awkward. Any awkwardness in the situation hadn't occured to him. At K'luha's first groan he flinched, an instinctive reaction to having essentially knocked out one of the most volatile people in the tribe. After a moment's ponderance, he forced a smile, though it didn't show in his eyes. "Ah. Good morning. How... uhm... how was... sleep?"

 

K'luha Haaz ever so slowly moved to sit up, hands pressed to her head. She was trying to remember why she hurt so much, but the reason wasn't coming to her. She looked to K'ile hazily, taking a few seconds to first recongize him and second comprehend what he had asked. "Sleep...?" she repeated hazily, looking at him completely clueless and glassy eyed.

 

K'ile Twinflame blinking at K'luha and taking a few long seconds to consider his answer, K'ile at length replied, "Yes. Good morning. Are you okay? You hit your head pretty bad."

 

K'luha Haaz blinked at K'ile before wincing again. Head. Pain. Ow. "I... did?"

 

K'ile Twinflame: Yes. First you hit my head, and then you hit yours. I think. That's how you woke me up.

 

K'luha Haaz blinked at K'ile as if she didn't quiet understand what he was saying. After a few moments she leaned back against the rock wall and closed her eyes again. "Oh."

 

K'ile Twinflame stands and stretches to loosen the joints that cramped while he was cradling K'luha, "When you fell back to sleep I was abit worried. Are you alright? You were honestly bleeding."

 

K'luha Haaz opened her eyes slowly and looked down at herself. Her shoulders were torn, there was a huge chunk out of her leg, she could feel her head still pounding where it was hit, and she could still feel the missing chunk out of her right ear. "Fine."

 

K'ile Twinflame points at the sky, "Azeyma can't see so clear, so you can get away with lying to me for now. But either way, we're having K'ailia heal what she can when she gets here."

 

K'luha Haaz seemed to perk up a bit, well a lot, when K'ile mentioned K'ailia healing her. "Absolutely not." she snapped sharply, eyes coming into a quick focus on K'ile.

 

K'ile Twinflame crosses his arms and leans over K'luha, "Blame your injuries on me if you want. Say we got in a fight and beat you up. I don't care. But if you don't get healed, I can't take you with me on the scouting trip."

 

K'luha Haaz clicked her tongue and looked K'ile over. "Says Mr. Half-broken ribs." she grumbled, forcing herself to an unstable stance. "Our pathetic hunt last night is not something I am going to ever admit to K'ailia. There's no way I would let her heal me after such a mortifying night. "

 

K'ile Twinflame couldn't keep the hard edge out of his voice, "I'm going to have her heal me, too. The difference is that you hurt your leg and have a head injury. Those aren't things you play with. If you're not going to let her heal you, that's fine. I'll just go alone while you wallow in Drybone."

 

K'luha Haaz expresses her annoyance with you.

K'luha Haaz: You will do no such of a thing!

 

K'ile Twinflame: Maybe you hit your head harder than I thought. If you think I'd even consider taking an injured huntress to an Amal'jaa camp.

 

K'luha Haaz: Maybe you hit yours if you think I would let you go on your own after that pitiful display!

 

 

 

K'ile Twinflame: Then I guess you're going to have to let your daughter heal you, aren't you!

 

K'luha Haaz growled deeply in her throat at K'ile. He was right, like he was always right, but she hated it. She hated that he was always right. "Can't you just be wrong for once you stupid arrogant shirtless bastard!?"

 

K'ile Twinflame turns his gaze towards the goobbue. "I'm not going to apologize for that. Stop losing arguments so much and I'll stop winning them."

 

K'luha Haaz pulled at her hair furiously and screeched loudly before dropping back to the floor in anger and defeat. She turned her head away from K'ile and crossed her arms under her chest, fuming.

 

K'ile Twinflame mutters, "At least we know your head's okay. Okay as it ever is anyway. By the way," he looks back at K'luha, "I'd decided not to get you about running off on me during that downpour in Drybone yesterday, but as long as we're fighting in the first place."

 

K'luha Haaz blinked and looked back at K'ile, confused for a second. Running off? Oh, that's... that was... K'luha frowned again, less angry and more saddened. "Was that what you were talking about yesterday?"

 

K'ile Twinflame nodded, "Right. I told you rainstorms like that were dangerous out here, and off you go! K'ailia went off after you alone, putting her in danger. K'haali and I went looking for you too."

 

K'luha Haaz clicked her tongue, her ears flattening out while she looked away again. "You never said such a thing. Not that you needed to. And no one needed to look for me. It wasn't as if I wouldn't return after I did what I needed to."

 

K'ile Twinflame punches the rock wall next to him, "I did say, that there would be flash floods and mudslides in that weather. You should've taken someone with you or at least said where you were going. Or anything! Other than me just looking up and seeing your tail swing off into the rain."

 

K'luha Haaz: Tch. Don't break your hand too...

 

K'ile Twinflame grinds his knuckles against the stone for a moment, then puts his hand back to his side, "I doubt whatever you had to do was that important anyway."

 

K'luha Haaz: I... visited his grave. It was important to me.

 

K'ile Twinflame squints, takes a moment to think and then huffs, "Dammit, dont..." he swings a hand to one side, "I still have a right to be mad at you! You could've told me that! I would've understood."

 

K'luha Haaz didn't look to K'ile, but instead looked back to the ground away from him. "No... you can't. You can't understand what it felt like to dig that grave with your bare bleeding hands while you were dying. And you can't understand how it feels to dig up that dead body and move it to a real graveyard. That is something you cannot understand K'ile."

 

 

 

K'ile Twinflame looks away, muttering, "That's not what I was talking about. Is that were doing out there last night?"

 

K'luha Haaz there was a persistant silence for a time before K'luha sharply inhaled at a sudden pain her leg. She pressed her hands to it and frowned. "You cannot tell K'ailia what happened." she insisted, looking back to K'ile.

 

K'ile Twinflame shakes it his limbs, muttering curses, "Bah, Warden damn it all." He runs his hands over his face and sighs heavil. Then, he approaches K'luha, exhaling annoyance, "Which part of what am I not telling K'ailia about?" He drops down next to the woman.

 

K'luha Haaz let up a little, relieved that he was going to follow through on her request. Supposedly. "Our epic failure as hunters, obviously." she scolded, massaging her half eaten leg. "Come up with a better story. I don't even care what it is, but anything is better than that."

 

K'ile Twinflame: If we said we got in a fight, everyone would believe us. Probably better to say we took on a few wolves. We'll just flip it so they were hunting us and got their tails whipped instead of the other way around.

 

K'luha Haaz slowly nodded before crossing her arms. "Yes. That will work..." she mumbled before giving a relieved sigh.

 

 

 

K'ile Twinflame: Good. You should've taken me with you when you walked out of Drybone all alone last night. I know we'd just been arguing and it was personal, but I... Don't get it. I respect it.

 

K'luha Haaz looked down at the ground somberly again. "....Do you remember? When K'yohko brought me home after it happened...?"

 

K'ile Twinflame moves over against K'luha and puts his arm around her, carefull not to hurt her, "Yes."

 

K'luha Haaz leaned into K'ile lightly, looking still out at the ground. "I can't remember it. I just remember watching him die. I remember pain. I remember crawling across the floor. I don't even remember how K'yohko found me, or what happened when I got back to the tribe... Just... it's all a whitewash of pain."

 

K'ile Twinflame says, "It was nothing worth reliving. You shouldn't..." but he stops talking, and seems to run out of words. He's quiet for a few moments, and then. "I'm not saying to forget about it. I'm not saying not to talk about it. You didn't need to run off yesterday and you can talk to me about it when you need to."

 

K'luha Haaz nodded distantly, still lightly leaning on K'ile. Everything hurt. It was nice to have someone to lean on a little bit. "It's hard... to talk about it. I don't think... It's not something I can really explain. I just... I just remember overhearing someone outside my tent one night. Saying about how I would never be able to be any good for the tribe now. That I was just going to end up being a waste of food and space. And it made me mad. I was so angry that someone would think that... I..."

K'luha Haaz shook her head a little and looked away. "I went to K'yohko that night and insisted on it. It was... bad. I shouldn't have done that. Because I insisted on it while I was still weak K'ailia came out so small. I thought she was going to die too..."

 

K'ile Twinflame pulls on one ear, "Okay yeah I don't need to think about you and Kyohko doing anything!" He chuckles, awkwardly. "Sorry, go ahead."

 

K'luha Haaz smiled weakly at K'ile and rubbed the back of her neck. "Sorry... I didn't... It wasn't even that good. I was so angry... it was..." she laughed weakly at the memory without going into detail.

 

K'ile Twinflame looks uncomfortable, his ears pinned flat on his head.

 

K'luha Haaz looked over to K'ile, noting his discomfort very quickly. "K'ile...? What's wrong...?" she asked quietly, her brows raising to show her instant concern.

 

K'ile Twinflame looks away for a second, and his ears bounce back up. "Nothing! Uhm." Turning back to K'luha, "Listen, it doesn't matter how small K'ailia started out or why she started that way. She grew a big, powerful personality. Being small's not a huge problem, and you can trust me on that one."

 

K'luha Haaz flattened her own ears against her head. There was something... something he wasn't telling her. About why he didn't want to be the nunh. Did it have something to do about his sexuality? Or maybe it was some sort of physical limiation? He was hiding something from her. She sensed it inately now. Although... Was his thing small or something? Or maybe he was just refering to being short. K'luha frowned and rubbed the back of her head ever so lightly.

She was overthinking this again. "K'ile... You've been there for me so much... you know I'm here for you too. If you have something you want to talk about. Anything. I'll be here for you. Even though I'm stubborn and I get angry with you, I'll always do my best to support you too.

 

K'ile Twinflame listens to K'luha with an unmoving expression, watching her face as she speaks. When she she's done, he blinks at her, and his lips twitch. He turns his gaze to watch the goobbue's corpse for a moment, turns his ears to listen to the wall behind him. After a long time, her just squeezes K'luha slightly and says, "Hey, you know me."

 

K'luha Haaz bit her bottom  lip lightly. "I know you're hiding something from me K'ile.... but I won't force it out of you. If you want to talk about it, or anything else though..." K'luha shifted her hand lightly and grasped for K'ile's free hand.

 

K'ile Twinflame doesn't change expression or tone in response to K'luha's gesture, but he does grab her hand. "I'm not hiding anything. I've got nothing to hide." He smiles, "I don't even wear a shirt. I'm just how I look, right on the surface."

 

K'luha Haaz gave a small squeeze to his hand and continued to hold it while looking out towards the sunrise. It was really... a beautiful spot they had found. The tribe would surely, if nothing else, like the view. It was fine if K'ile was going to insist he had nothing to hide. There was something he wasn't speaking about, and in good time perhaps he would tell her.

 

K'ile Twinflame sits in silence for a time. After a minute or so, he yawns, then shakes his head. His bright hair twists back and forth beneath his ears and then settles over his eyes. "Wonder if we can catch a mole or something for breakfast."

 

K'luha Haaz snorted lightly. She had enjoyed the silence, but he brought up a good question on breakfast. "With your fabulous skills at the bow, we'd be lucky not to set everything on fire and kill ourselves." she scoffed, hitting him lightly with the side of her head, only to lead her head against him again. "Maybe one of these plants has fruit."

 

K'ile Twinflame: I usually hunt with a spear. Spears don't ned quivers.

 

K'luha Haaz rolled her eyes again. "Then why didn't you bring a stupid spear?"

 

K'ile Twinflame: Because I'm trying to learn the bow! I can shoot it just fine if I get the arrows on the stupid string and the thing I'm shooting at isn't moving.

 

K'luha Haaz narrowed her gaze at K'ile. Really? "So unless it's already dead on the ground, you can't hit it? You're such an idiot sometimes." she huffed. "Have K'nahli or K'yohko or someone teach you! Hell, I can teach you if you really want!"

 

K'ile Twinflame looks defiantly away from K'luha, saying, "K'nahli's teaching me, thanks. If I need someone to shoot /at/ me, I'll let you know." Though he said that with annoyance he laughs at it a half second later.

 

K'luha Haaz huffed somewhat annoyed, but also relenting. "Maybe if I shot at you, you would learn to bring a spear with you!"

 

K'ile Twinflame leans a bit more of his weight against K'luha, "Nah. If you were really after me, I'd know better than to defend myself. I'd just give up."

 

K'luha Haaz huffed again, leaning back against K'ile as if to compete against him. "Oh? Then you know what's good for you."

 

K'ile Twinflame: Yes. Allowing myself to be killed would be better for me. Assuming you'd kill me and not just aim for the knees or something cruel like that.

 

K'luha Haaz: Oh come now. Do you really think I'm so cruel? Although, I wouldn't kill you anyway.

 

K'ile Twinflame looks at K'luha, "Cruel, yes. It's not an insult."

 

K'luha Haaz stuck her tongue out at K'ile before leaning all the way against him. "Hush you. I'm going to sleep again until the others get here. Don't move. You're a good pillow."

 

K'ile Twinflame chuckles, "Not that again." He turns slightly, "You should hold me up this time. I'm not your cot." In the next moment, though, he just flops backward against the rock wall putting one hand behind his head and pulling K'luha against him with the other, "Or we compromise."

 

K'luha Haaz blinked as she was suddenly shifted again. Well... that was strangely comfortably. She shrugged faintly, mindful of her wounds before closing her eyes. "Good enough. I'm still exhausted..." she mumbled, closing her eyes again. "I'm sure K'ailia and K'haali will wake us up when they get here so..." she yawned and decided on stopping talking and just sleeping.

 

K'luha Haaz falls asleep beside you.

 

K'ile Twinflame half-heartedly protests, "We were supposed to meet them by... Well, whatever." And then is quiet as well.

[Twinflame]

K'ailia Yohko: hi guys!

 

K'ailia Yohko: Hmm they asleep?

 

K'haali Thalen bows theatrically. "I come bearing the gifts of the north!" before noticing they've dozed off

 

K'haali Thalen: Huh...

 

K'ailia Yohko: hehe I gots idea!

 

K'luha Haaz is completely dead asleep, still exhausted and looking a little bit like shit. Mostly notable was the dried blood, the tip of he right ear missing, claw marks on her shoulders, and a large chuck bitten out of her right left.

 

K'haali Thalen: Does it involve drawing, because, i have a stick of charcoal...

 

K'ile Twinflame is like all that except less wounded. All he has is a severely bruised chest. He must just be a wuss.

 

K'ailia Yohko begins moving her arms in motion as magic begins playing across her hands, and above... a glob of water forms...

 

K'luha Haaz would like to point out that K'ile is totally a wuss.

 

K'ailia Yohko stops the spell and the water crashes down on the two sleepyheads.

 

K'haali Thalen: I'd like to make it formally known I have no part in this plan of yours... and i object, but won't stop you

 

K'luha Haaz forgot to mention her head is wrapped up with K'ile's scarf, as she also has a head injury.

 

K'ailia Yohko laughs.

 

K'haali Thalen looks at K'ailia Yohko and panics!

 

K'haali Thalen pokes you.

 

K'haali Thalen gives a concerned look at K'ailia

 

K'ailia Yohko: Oi... what's wrong with em?

 

K'ile Twinflame stirs slughishly out of the water. Luckily he doesn't assosciate being splashed with water with being attacked or he would've reacted differently. Actually, he barely even wakes up, just muttering groggily.

 

K'haali Thalen shrugs at K'ailia Yohko.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Oi oi K'ile?

 

K'ailia Yohko: Ma?

 

K'luha Haaz squeaked loudly at the sudden freezing cold water being poured onto her. Her ears suddenly went alert , and her tail frazzled, but she had already learned her lesson about jumping and flailing. She was still too tired to do that yet. K'luha blinked a few times, still groggy herself and looked around. "The fuck...?"

 

K'haali Thalen points incriminatingly at K'ailia

 

K'ailia Yohko: Oh hi ma. Glad yer awake

 

K'ailia Yohko laughs.

 

K'luha Haaz slowly looks to K'ailia for a moment before scowling. "Very cute." she scoffed.

 

K'luha Haaz is annoyed with K'ailia Yohko.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Haali ya realize, I jes gave K'ile his bath

 

K'ile Twinflame mutters, "Don't need a fuckin..."

 

K'ailia Yohko: What happened ta you two?

 

K'luha Haaz lightly pulled at K'ile's ear. "Oiy. Wake up."

 

K'ile Twinflame pushes K'luuha off of him and rolls away from her, managing to his feet groggily, "Why are you women always bugging me?"

 

K'ailia Yohko: So... yer scoutin' mission seemed ta suggest maybe I should o' went with you two.

 

K'luha Haaz gave a loud 'oof' as she was pushed off of K'ile and onto her stomach. She grumbled, but didn't move quite yet. "Idiot."

 

K'haali Thalen: It was something that worried me while you were away; you wouldn't have access to treatment if you had to fight...

 

K'ile Twinflame mutters a general 'bleh' K'luha, then looked over at K'ailia, "You don't listen to anything, do you? We haven't done any scouting yet. Just heal your mom, okay?"

 

K'luha Haaz: Says Mister broken ass ribs. Go heal him first.

 

K'ailia Yohko: yes ma.

 

K'haali Thalen: You always were fond of tossing coins

 

K'ailia Yohko: bah! I am gonna hit ya both!

 

K'luha Haaz whips her tail back at K'ile, smacking his leg.

 

K'ailia Yohko begins channeling Medica II

 

K'ile Twinflame crosses his arms over his chest, "Your mom has a head injury. I'm fine until she's healed. Don't let her bully you."

 

K'haali Thalen ducks

 

K'ailia Yohko: That spell should help the more serious wounds.

 

K'ailia Yohko: But still gonna need ta rest.

 

K'luha Haaz blinks at the sudden and somewhat disturbing healing of wounds. After a few moments she legs to her leg, which is good as new. She carefully got to her feet and stretched.

 

K'luha Haaz stretches.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Anyways ma... got a question fer ya.

 

K'luha Haaz: What is it?

 

K'ailia Yohko: Do ya' know who a K'makanee Haaz is?

 

K'luha Haaz looks at K'ailia Yohko in shock!

 

K'luha Haaz: I... do.

 

K'ailia Yohko: So was she part o' our tribe?

 

K'luha Haaz nods to K'ailia Yohko.

 

K'luha Haaz: She was...

 

K'haali Thalen fetches a roll of fresh linen gauze from K'weh's bags and hands it to k'ailia

 

K'ailia Yohko: Alright... well... I got a letter from Gridania taday.

 

K'luha Haaz quirks a brow, wondering what a Gridanian letter has to do with it. "Is K'makanee in Gridania then?"

 

K'ailia Yohko: Seems they want ta give her daughter ta us.

 

K'luha Haaz looked quizzically at K'ailia and tilted her head. "Why would K'makanee want to give her daughter to us?"

 

K'ile Twinflame looks suspicious, "What does that mean?"

 

K'ailia Yohko: The letter dinna say it was from her. Jes from some matron in Gridania.

 

K'luha Haaz gazes upon K'ailia Yohko in deep reflection.

 

K'luha Haaz: Some matron? Why would some Matron have K'makanee's child... unless?

 

K'ile Twinflame: Matron? What's that?

 

K'haali Thalen gives a sad shrug

 

K'ailia Yohko: Dunno, very vague letter.

 

K'luha Haaz: There's no way K'makanee would ever give someone her daughter... she must have died....

 

K'ailia Yohko: So... should I go get the kid?

 

K'ailia Yohko: I know my way around the shroud better than yall

 

K'ile Twinflame says sternly, "No, K'ailia. You should not."

 

K'ailia Yohko: a-alright...

 

K'luha Haaz looks sadly at the floor, her ears flattening to her head. "So then... she did have that child? I thought for sure she would miscarry because of the fight..." K'luha shook her head and looked to K'ile. "Since she was exiled, is her child exiled as well?"

 

K'haali Thalen: It seems unlikely she'd raise her child to follow the tribe's customs if she was exiled. No doubt the Gridanians are simply looking at the closest family she has

 

K'ile Twinflame turns a frazzled gaze an K'luha as though she said something unthinkable, "What? That...! I don't. Hey, I'm not assuming Maka is dead."

 

K'ailia Yohko: But... if she is dead, maybe we can mold her daughter ta our ways?

 

K'ailia Yohko: We'd get at least, another huntress ta assist in huntin'

 

K'ile Twinflame scoffs at K'ailia, "We can't even mold you to our ways."

 

K'luha Haaz frowned and shook her head. "Maka is my sister, remember? I know her. She would have never given her child up. And she would have never offered to give her child to us if she was alive."

 

K'ailia Yohko: Who says I've forsaken our ways K'ile.

 

K'luha Haaz: Well, you parcially have.

 

K'ile Twinflame throws his hands in the air, "By the Matron can we not have that conversation right now!"

 

K'haali Thalen hangs on to one of K'wehs reigns and leans into his breast for support while observinging the exchange

 

K'ailia Yohko: Hmm... well... maybe the elders will know how ta address this letter.

 

K'luha Haaz winced a little and looked down to the ground again. Thinking for a moment she sighed. "We're going to have to deal with it eventually K'ile...."

 

K'ailia Yohko seems lost in thought.

 

K'ile Twinflame shakes his head, "No, Ka'ilia's right. It's not up to us what to do with the girl. That's all on the elders. They'll decide what to do about it and who should take care of it."

 

K'ailia Yohko: Mister K'ile... if it will make ya' happy.. if the tribe moves here. I will give myself over ta whatever ya wish ta teach me.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Ya' can mold me however ya want.

 

K'ile Twinflame frowns, "I'd have you breed, so don't make that promise."

 

K'luha Haaz nodded faintly in agreement. The elders would have to decide that girl's fate for now. "In other news... there's plenty of game here." K'luha quickly changed the subject, not wanting to linger.

 

K'ailia Yohko 's jaw drops

 

K'ile Twinflame hops on K'luha's bandwagon by turning to K'haali, "How'd your evening go?"

 

K'ailia Yohko looks shocked.

 

K'haali Thalen seems to recover from his breeding talk. "Well... as a change of pace from everyone else's day; fantastic"

 

K'ailia Yohko: Yeaaaah.... takin' that offer back. Anyways, I really like this place.

 

K'luha Haaz: Oh?

 

K'ailia Yohko: I definitely think it is perfect for our needs.

 

K'haali Thalen opens K'weh's panniers to reveal a bounty of fauna, some evidentlly edible, some of questionable use.

 

K'haali Thalen: "I think this is corn isn't it?"

 

K'haali Thalen: There's fields upon fields at the base of the hills to the north

 

K'luha Haaz peered over at the bag. "Wow..."

 

K'ailia Yohko looks it over.

 

K'ile Twinflame: That's edible?

 

K'luha Haaz shrugs at you.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Yeah that definitely is corn!

 

K'ailia Yohko: It is very good food.

 

K'ailia Yohko: We jes have ta cook it first, an season it.

 

K'ailia Yohko holds her hand out for the corn.

 

K'ile Twinflame puts a fist on his hip, "Medicine plants in there too?"

 

K'haali Thalen opening another satchel she pulls out a creamy-white crystal. "And, this is alumen salts isn't it?"

 

K'haali Thalen: I recognise it from the sagolii, but there's loads of it in the hills to the north.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Hmm... why it look more like a crystal though?

 

K'haali Thalen: Which is good, because we sued it to treat sandwurm hide, havign a supply close to hand will be useful.

 

K'haali Thalen shrugs. "Richer supply I guess"

 

K'ailia Yohko: Ya' sure it aint jes a crystal?

 

K'haali Thalen: Well, that's why I wanted your opinion, I'm pretty sure it's the same stuff we used tio treat the wurm hides. But i might be wrong

 

K'ile Twinflame: Why don't you try taking it to the markets near here and see if someone there is interested in it? If it seels like salt, that's what it is.

 

K'haali Thalen: That's a rather good idea... unless, they also assume it's salt incorrectly

 

K'ailia Yohko: Hehe if it be salt, there be two places I know that could tell ya' fer sure.

 

K'luha Haaz seems lost in thought.

 

K'ailia Yohko: The botanist guild in Gridania, or the culinary guild in Limsa Lominsa.

 

K'haali Thalen: We could just take an aldgoat rawhide and try treatting it, see what happens.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Oh that's not a bad idea!

 

K'ailia Yohko: Want me ta help ya take one down?

 

K'haali Thalen: If it tans it, it's good enoguh for the job, even if it's not the salt I thought it was 

 

K'haali Thalen: That depends if everyone feels like aldgoat tonight

 

K'ailia Yohko: Oh yeah an' mister K'ile, Ventus said he will see ya when he finishes some business o' his.

 

K'luha Haaz: When would that be?

 

K'ailia Yohko: Today.

 

K'ailia Yohko: His business apparently is eatin' a good meal an' takenin a bath.

 

K'ile Twinflame frowns at K'ailia. "He better be coming here, then. I've business of my own."

 

K'ailia Yohko: Oh aye, told him ta come ta drybone.

 

K'luha Haaz: K'ile should we delay to see him until we have scouted, or should we head to Ul'dah this evening first?

 

K'haali Thalen: Well, I'm content from what I've already seen, that this place is a veritable paradise!. And no doubt we'll discover more once we settle in.

 

K'ile Twinflame: No. He can come here and we'll ask him what his lands have toffer that this place doesn't. If he can't answer well, we can just take him out and throw his body in a ravine. Nobody will ever know.

 

K'luha Haaz laughs at you.

 

K'haali Thalen bursts out laughing at you.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Hey! No need ta kill him!

 

K'ailia Yohko: But, maybe instead o' takin' his offer.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Maybe we can hire him ta help the tribe get past the amalj'aa canyon

 

K'ile Twinflame: No. I prefer killing him.

 

K'ailia Yohko is annoyed with you.

 

K'luha Haaz: K'ile, K'ailia. Play nice.

 

You smirk confidently at K'ailia Yohko.

 

K'haali Thalen gives an impish grin at K'ailia. "I've always wondered what a hyur-leather saddle would feel like.

 

K'luha Haaz: Everyone has to place nice with the Hyur man.

 

K'haali Thalen wallows in self-pity.

 

K'ile Twinflame: You're joking.

 

K'ailia Yohko: But like I said, we could prolly use protection gettin' past them Amalj'aa

 

K'luha Haaz raises a brow at K'ile. "Do I look like I'm joking?"

 

K'ile Twinflame squints at K'luha. "... Yes."

 

K'haali Thalen: If nothing else, their stomping about would serve as an admirable distraction from the tribesfolk

 

K'luha Haaz reaches forward and pinches K'ile's cheek. "No, you have to play nice. He's K'ailia's teacher."

 

 

K'ailia Yohko beams with delight at K'luha Haaz.

 

K'ile Twinflame smacks K'luha's hand away, "Strange coming from you."

 

K'luha Haaz smirked faintly and dropped her hands back to her hips. "I already had a discussion with him. So we can play nice for now."

 

K'ile Twinflame: Hey, you're not the only one who has a right to bloody someone's lip.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Aaaan' I will be over there. Yeah...

 

K'luha Haaz: I didn't say I was. In any case, should we meet with Ventus tonight or later?

 

K'ile Twinflame: Hey!

 

K'ile Twinflame mutters to K'luha, "We'll meet him today if he's coming out here," and then to K'ailia, "We're still talking. Don't just run off."

 

K'luha Haaz nods to you.

 

K'luha Haaz gazes upon K'ailia Yohko in deep reflection.

 

K'luha Haaz: I think she's taking after me in terms of running off.

 

K'ailia Yohko laughs.

 

K'haali Thalen: Oh!. I almost forgot I also found these; they're fungi I think, but some fungi are edible... I'm wondering maybe someone could identify them.

 

K'haali Thalen presents a mixture of fungi, some rock lichens but also truffles and button mushrooms.

 

K'luha Haaz: We could perhaps get them checked out in Drybone?

 

K'ile Twinflame: There should be healers or shaman there who know.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Actually, there's a merchant that sells that kind o' stuff over at the bridge.

 

K'haali Thalen nods

 

K'luha Haaz: Then we could just go look at his wares and discern what they are for ourselves.

 

K'ailia Yohko nods.

 

K'haali Thalen: maybe I should just start digging up every likely looking object and have you run them by the merchants at highbridge K'ailia

 

K'haali Thalen bursts out laughing at K'ailia Yohko.

 

K'haali Thalen: Distribution of labour

 

K'luha Haaz smirks confidently at K'ailia Yohko.

 

K'luha Haaz: All yours then K'ailia.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Alright.

 

K'ile Twinflame: Alright, so let's do it this way...

 

K'ailia Yohko pulls out a little black box and presses a button.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Shall we?

 

((Garlean mechasuit appears))

 

K'haali Thalen takes the panniers off K'weh and drapes them over K'ailia's shoulders; they weigh a fair bit.

 

K'ailia Yohko: No problem, I be back soon!

 

((K'ailia disappears))

 

K'ile Twinflame was about to speak, but then, "Did K'ailia just run off again?"

 

K'ile Twinflame: Idiot girl.

 

K'luha Haaz laughs at you.

 

K'luha Haaz: Sorry, she takes after me.

 

K'ile Twinflame: Now we have to change our plans.

 

K'ile Twinflame looks over at K'haali, "Did she take the salts too?"

 

K'haali Thalen nods. "She also took a few other things they might find interesting to look over... she also took my medical supplies and lunch, I didn't expect her to actually take the panniers, they were rather heavy..."

 

K'ile Twinflame: Yes, well, she doesn't listen well.

 

K'ile Twinflame looks at K'luha, "Are you too injured to hunt down an Aldgoat on your own? They can get mean."

 

K'luha Haaz sighed and frowned. "I have to drop by Drybone first. I lost my bow last night."

 

K'ile Twinflame: Same. I guess we're together in that. Do we have money?

 

K'luha Haaz nodded yes and pulled out a small sack of coins from her boot. She kind of kept a lot of stuff in her boots. "Enough for a LANCE and a bow."

 

K'ile Twinflame: That's fine. I guess we'll just buy our food and weapons tonight and head south once we're ready.

 

K'luha Haaz nods to you.

 

K'ile Twinflame: K'haali, what's your plan?

 

K'haali Thalen: i guess i hadn't thought that far ahead. I was going to wait to see what you did, I presume we'll be meeting the gentlemen from that university soon, and then going back to the tribe?

 

K'luha Haaz: Yes, that's about right.

 

K'ile Twinflame: I'm meeting the Hyur and then K'luha and I will be heading south for a couple of days to scout the Amal'jaa camp.

 

K'ile Twinflame: Someone needs to let the Elders know about that child K'ailia mentioned.

 

K'luha Haaz: You're going to meet with Ventus on your own first?

 

K'ile Twinflame: Probably. You just pick out a nice big lance for me and we'll meet up in Drybone to eat.

 

K'haali Thalen: I could begin the journey to report in the the elders now; or might it be wiser to wait til after we meet Ventus so I can tell them how that went, if I go now they'll only know about the potential settlement site

 

K'haali Thalen: Interesting, but not that useful without the full picture

 

K'luha Haaz nodded to K'ile. "Alright. Do you want me to help you use the Aehteryte to get there and to Drybone?" she questioned before looking back to K'haali. "It's up to you really K'haali. Could you make it back on your own?"

 

K'ile Twinflame thinks, "There's no point telling the Elders about the migration sites until we've at least scouted out the Amal'jaa camp. I don't like leaving the matter with the kid alone, though."

 

K'haali Thalen: I believe so; a few days south of here takes you through broken water, and the little al mhigan mesas. After that it's familiar territory, the red labyrinth to avoid the amal'ja patrols

 

K'haali Thalen: However, as you say, leaving too soon seems like a wasted journey

 

K'ile Twinflame: You can keep harvesting things. It might be faster to just wait for K'luha and I to be done scouting and send her back through the aetherytes.

 

K'haali Thalen shrugs. "I'll just make myself useful here for now, and stand by to travel back to the tribe when you need me to"

 

K'luha Haaz nods to K'haali Thalen.

 

K'luha Haaz: Thank you K'haali.

 

K'ile Twinflame: Is using aetherytes something a person can help with?

 

K'luha Haaz nods to you.

 

K'ile Twinflame: Huh. That's... Okay, if you say so.

 

K'haali Thalen looks at the sun. "I'll prepare to make camp for myself  then."

 

K'luha Haaz: I can bring people along with me through Aetheryte travel. But... I would only do so once with either you at K'haali as it will pretty much exhaust your supply of aether for a long time."

 

K'ile Twinflame: I'm not even using my aether.

 

K'luha Haaz: That's probably a good idea. We should go K'ile."

 

K'ile Twinflame watches K'haali walk off, "Okay, bye."

 

K'ile Twinflame: Yes, fine. No reason to tarry.

 

K'luha Haaz: So how do you plan to meet with Ventus? Have him come out here?

 

K'ile Twinflame: That's what K'ailia said she told him to do. I assume she'll turn up when he does.

 

K'luha Haaz nods to you.

 

K'luha Haaz: We should start walking then. And avoid any wolves.

 

K'luha Haaz: Although, we could also the the Aetheryte there.

 

K'ile Twinflame: I'd assumed we would. I don't need you tiring out your leg before we head out south.

 

K'luha Haaz scoffed lightly before bringing her hand forward. "Alright, take my hands then."

 

K'ile Twinflame awkwardly grabs K'luha's hands, "Why does magic have to be so touchy?"

 

K'luha Haaz rolls her eyes lightly and squeezes K'ile's hand. "Hold on tight and don't let go, lest you be lost in the Aetherways forever."

[Twinflame]

((Having decided to wait long enough for their wounds to heal before they run off to do that scouting they talked about...))

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha shivered and pulled the small bands holding her hair out. She set them down on the nightstand as she passed and shook her head hair. She was practically soaked to the bone thanks to that freak downpour again. 

 

"K'ile the room isn't going to eat you. You can get comfortable you know." she shivered lightly before pulling off her shoes and leaving them in the corner. "They have a hot bath here we can use as well. I think I'm going to use it. What do you think?" she questioned, turning back to look at him.

 

*

 

Twinflame: His arms crossed over his chest and his back against the wall, K'ile frowned a bit deeper with every word K'luha said. He hadn't taken any steps to dry himself off or make himself comfortable. He honestly didn't know what to do with the room. Having tables and chairs in living areas didn't make much sense to him, and putting a raised bed indoors kind of defeated the point of raising the bed, didn't it? The walls kept the bugs out, so keeping the bed off the ground wasn't necessary.

 

All of those thoughts he kept to himself. He could understand the temptation the room posed to K'luha. It was shelter. Still, "Why would I take a bath?" he finally said. "It was just raining outside. And you know how wasteful baths are."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha frowned faintly, her ears flattened against her head. It was true... baths were very wasteful. Although, it was a secret guilty pleasure K'luha induldged in when she came to the cities at times. She chewed at her bottom lip for a time before sighing.

 

"Because it's cold and I'll be uing the water to bathe for several days while we stay here. I won't be able to buy anything from the markets being dirty. They'll turn me away as a vagrant." she explained before rubbing her hips lightly. It was still freezing because of the rain. She hoped it didn't rain too much around these parts. She wasn't sure she could ever deal with it all.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Hmph." He pulled at one ear. "There's a right and a wrong way to be filthy, and there's a right and a wrong way to get clean. The Ul'dahns might have enough water that they can waste it soaking their bodies, but I won't contribute to that."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha frowned again, her tail swinging around her leg awkwardly. She really quite wanted that hot bath but... it wasn't as if she was going to take one if K'ile was standing there reminding her what she was wasting. When had she become so wasteful like the outsiders?

 

"What do you propose then?" she questioned, genuinely curious to know what he thought of how to clean up.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Flicking his ears towards K'luha, he said simply, "Sand and oil, just like home. I don't know what kind of plants grow around here, but they ahve to sell that kind of thing, don't they?" He chewed on his cheek, then shook his head, his hair flaring around from his scalp like fire about a shaken torch. "Why do you even care? They can't smell as well as we do, most of them, and it stinks of corpses around ehre anyway."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I... I suppose so..." she mumbled, a bit crestfallen by his suggestion. The idea of a bath seeming so spoiled now, she instead moved to the bed and began pulling off her gloves and garments. She pased, folder her gloves and setting them on the night stand as well before looking to K'ile. "Did you want your own room? Or I can get an extra blanket for you on the floor. It's a little hard though."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Around the time K'luha moved towards the bed, K'ile stood away from the door and turned to put his hand on the doorknob. "No, I'm fine. I'll rest better outside. Good night, K'luha."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Ah, it's freaking pouring outside K'ile. How are you going to sleep in the rain?" she demanded, frowning deeply at him.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'll find shelter," he said, turning to look at K'luha with his hand stuck on the doorknob. "I don't need brick walls and blankets to sleep. Probably couldn't sleep in here at all, anyway."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha glanced down to the ground again, suddenly feeling like an outsider among her own people. Her ears flattern to her head again and she nodded briefly. "Alright... "

 

*

 

Twinflame: His brow knitting in thought for a moment, he said, "Just enjoy what you paid for, alright?" as he opened the door and stepped out into the hallway.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha watched K'ile go and looked back to the floor. Had she paid more than she thought for this comfort though? And more importantly, was it worth it? Feeling more disheartened than ever, she pulled off the rest of her wet clothing and flopped down, pulling the covers over her head to sleep.

 

*

 

Twinflame: The Tia spent his evening brooding in the lobby, for the most part. He wasn't actually that against use of an inn room, especially when it was raining outside, but he wasn't about to accept any one of K'luha's invitations. He wasn't very tempted by the idea of sleeping outside in the wet dirt, among the corpses. There was the comical idea that his sleeping body may be mistaken for a corpse and thrown in a coffin, which would at least provide him with shelter.

 

A merciful decrease in the ferocity of the rain saved him around the time the innkeeper instructed him to either rent a room or leave. He was able to find acceptable shelter in one of the covered walkways that led out of the pit, wedged into the architecture just as he had wedged himself against a cliff wall the evening before.

 

The following day he was at a loss for how to pass his time. Back in Sagoli he had responsibilities that would keep him busy even when he tried to rest. But here, he did not know where to find Ventus, and could not seek to buy weapons for he didn't have money. K'haali was doubtless in the mountains somewhere, and K'ailia? he had no guess.

 

So he went to the inn early on, to see if K;luha had awakened yet

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha had left her door unlock specifically for the purposes of hoping to lure in K'ile again. Reguardless of the waste, she had set about having a hot bath in the morning. She wasn't about to smell like mud for the next week, and she had to clean up her wounds a little as well. K'ailia might of closed them, but they still ached and burned and some of them tore open again in her fitful sleep. 

 

She stepped from her bathroom and dried off before looking at her old clothing distastefully. She needed something nicer to wear out to look for weapons...or they weren't going to take her seriously. 

 

With a quick call to the front desk she had some newer clothing brought in and quickly changed. She had just pulled on the tightly fitted black and white top when K'ile arrived.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Despite his tribal origins, K'ile was still very much a gentleman, if one's only standard of gentlemanly behavior is if they knocked before entering a room. As such, K'ile crossed his arms in front of K'luha's door and leaned forward until he forehead thudded against it. "K'luha," he hit the door with his forehead again, "You can't be asleep!" Anotehr thud, "How many baths are you taking?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha smiled faintly, hearing K'ile just outside her room. She clicked her tongue and let her hands smooth out the shirt and skirt. They were black, well tailored, and most importantly figure flattering. With the white high stockings that came to her thighs and black and white dress shoes to match, she felt about appropriate to go weapon hunting.

 

She stepped over to the door and pulled it open softly, still smiling. "I am not bathing or asleep K'ile. I'm up."

 

*

 

Twinflame: When the door opened, he had his closed-off posture and mild pout prepared. He saw immeidately that it would go to good use, as he looked her over. "Nice dress. I guess we aren't going to be hunting for our food today?" He exhaled, looked to one side, "I guess I can probably hunt an Aldgoat on my own. It's not like there's anything else to do in this corpse-hole."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Well great warrior without any weapon," She reminded him dutifully, her tail flipping out from her dress behind her. "We need weapons. And YOU need a lance." K'luha huffed, reaching forward to lightly flick his head. "So I will be hunting down some weapons today. There's not much in Drybone so I'll be traveling today. You're free to use my innroom and I'll give you some cash."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Trying unsuccessfully to lean away from the flick, he protested, "I don't need any of your gil. And what would I need an inn room for in the middle of the day anyway? That doesn't make any sense. Where are you going to shop? That bridge place?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha sighed heavily and rubbed the back of her neck. Why was K'ile always so... she shook her head. That was just who he was. He never accepted anything to begin with, much less even think about anything that was foreign to the tribe. K'luha tugged at her top a bit, adjusting it while she thought of what to say. "No, I've got a contact in Aleport who sells good weapons for cheap. He was in Ul'dah and we've done buisness before. So I think our best chance is there. I was going to Aether over and get a hold of him, but I'll be back before sundown..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Oh. Lame. He lilted subtly to one side. "Fine. I still don't want any of your money. I'll figure something out."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha frowned and gaave another sigh. Sometimes K'ile was very tiring. "Just... just take some. Okay? I don't want you to starve or try hunting without a weapon."

 

*

 

Twinflame: He took a moment to try and think up a good reason to continue rejecting the money. He did have to eat, and it was obvious that begging didn't work around here. He didn't want to end up... Oh! That! "I'll take the chance to scout out some of the plants K'haali was talking about up north. It'll give me something to do and something to eat."

 

*

 

K'luha was completely exasperated with him. There was simply no end to the reasons why he couldn't do anything she asked ever. "Please just... just take some gil."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Why is it-?" he groaned. The woman was too damned stubborn about little things. She couldn't just leave it be, could she? "Fine. But don't give me very much, because I'm probably not going to spend it." He extended a hand palm-up. "Just another thing to carry around."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha sighed, relieved and pulled the small coin purse from her hip pocket. She handed him several coins, each with about a hundred gil value. He had enough to bribe anyone into doing something he needed, of that she was pretty sure at least. "There. Don't loose them. And please please please come back to the inn room tonight so I can make sure you're alright."

 

*

 

Twinflame: He gave the gil in his hand an unsavory look, and his ears went flat on his head. "Stop mothering me. I'm not going to die between now and this evening."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha grumbled before shaking her head and moving to collect her clothing and fold it neatly. "Then don't be so reckless. Deal?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm not reckless," the answer was quick.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "You are." she retorted with equal quickness.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I said I'm not," and since he could predict what her retort would be, he cut it off, "Where is that Aleport place?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "And you're wrong,  you're very reckless." K'luha retorted forcefully, turning to glare at him. "You ran into a fight with a bow that you didn't know how to use, and forgot to bring a quiver of arrows. I wouldn't call that careful K'ile. And Aleport is near Limsa Lominsa. Out near the ocean. You'd have to take a boat to get there without an Aetheryte attunement."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Leaning in the doorway with his posture still closed, he muttered bitterly, "I'm usually not reckless." He pondered the description of Aleport. A town near the ocean. He'd seen a place like that when they were exploring, but he doubted that the place he'd seen had been Aleport. He tried to imagine having to take a boat to get somewhere. He ended up picturing a town floating in the middle of the ocean, with boats docked at ever wall.

 

It put a smile on his face. "I'd like to take a boat to get someplace sometime."

 

*

 

K'luha paused in folding her clothing to look at K'ile. He wanted to travel somewhere...? Really? She glanced down again and finished folding before starting towards the door. "I could take you sometime if you want..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: He waved off the suggestion, "Nah. Too busy to go wandering around just for fun. People like me need to hold the tribe down so K'yohko's damn kids can spend all their time goofing off in Ul'dah."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha's ears flattened. K'ailia. She carefully pulled down on her dress, adjusting it to hide her discomfort. "Yes, well... maybe if we had a different nunh we would have some variety in the children."

 

*

 

Twinflame: A smirk tugged at a corner of his lips. "There's Raqi."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha coughed loudly and turned back to look at K'ile with a frown. "No. Never. I will die first. That man, does not touch me."

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile laughed and tossed his head back, right against the doorframe. He winced in pain, but kept laughing through it. "Ah, well, there's your choices! Raqi's kids aren't any better, though." He leaned towards the center of the room and reported proudly, "Thalen was the last Nunh worth the title. You missed out."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha frowned at K'ile and leaned back against the opposite side of the doorframe. "Tch. Well you're his son. Why don't you go take back the title since the other two apparently aren't worth it? I was thinking about having another child anyway."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Brother. I'm his brother," K'ile corrected. It wasn't the first time he'd been mistaken for Thalen's son, for a variety of very complicated reasons he was sure. Mostly the age gap. As for the rest of what she said, it was hardly the first time. "Anyway, I don't hate K'yohko enough to fight him, and challenging K'raqi just wouldn't be fair. What with him all battered and broken and not around."

 

It was at least encouraging the K'luha was thinking about having another kid. She did deserve another chance affter how thing had gone with K'ailia. But the last thing K'yohko need was more children. That was the last thing the whole tribe needed.

 

Of course, she'd said the bit about the kid after the bit about challenging the Nunh, so maybe she did want kids but didn't want to give K'yohko anymore. In which case.

 

"Wait." He shot her a suspicious squint, his ears shifting back on his skull again. "What are you getting at?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Right. Brother. I forget." she waved a hand dismissively and closed her eyes, thinking for a minute. A kit right now would be asking for trouble, and yet... No. She would wait. For as long as she needed to. But she was still of a good age to have another kit, and seeing as all the young girls were so terribly uninterested in mating and K'aila was... as much as K'luha didn't want to admit it, was going to leave the tribe, they would need more kits. She blinked when K'ile questioned her and looked to him. "Hm? What? I'm not getting at anything. Other than we need weapons and a new homeland. Do you think it rains here all the time?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: He squinted at her a bit more, until his eyes were closed, and then he reset his posture and stared at the opposite side of the doorframe. "No. It's probably jsut the rainy season. It's still a desert, after all."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha nodded. Rain... she would not like to move here if it rained like that all the time. "Alright, well, I'm going to Aleport. The inn room's unlocked for you and bring back some of whatever you find okay?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: Stepping out of the doorway, K'ile said, "Go ahead and lock it. I won't be back until you're back."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha raised a brow but stepped back and closed her eyes before vanishing with a small pop.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Uhm." He blinked at the empty spot where K'luha had been. He could smell the change in the air, feel the static warmth of channeled aether already dissipating. "Oh. Okay." He closed the and left the inn with the coins uncomfortably heavy in his pockets. He didn't even know where to look for fruit within walking distance. K'haali had made it sound far away. He'd eat rocks if he had to.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha didn't return until very late at night. She sighed heavily as she trudged back to her inn room, vaguely keeping an eye out for K'ile as she walked. It was a tiring day of meeting Ventus and strangers in Aleport and she was more convinced than ever that K'ailia was going to leave. All she wanted now was to sleep and forget about the whole thing.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Resolute to his word, K'ile did not return to the inn until K'luha had come back. The fact that he had been watching for her didn't change the fact. He'd spent his day hunting for fruit and not finding any, though he had found some Amole, from which had squeezed enough use to give himself what amounted to a quick bath. Despite K'ailia's heckling inferences, this had been his first instinct when finding the plant, and it would actually leave him smelling soapy and probably looking cleaner than he actually was.

 

He took a decent portion of the plant with him back to Drybone, a decent number of six-petalled white flowers with a number of stamen. Upon seeing K'luha's entrance to the inn, he waited a requisite dozen or so minutes before intruding upon her. He entered, went to the room she had rented, and knocked his head against it with his arms corssed again.

 

K'ile said, already knowing the answer, "K'luha, are you back yet?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: The door pushed in with K'ile's head knock, as K'luha hadn't even bothered to close the door all the way. By the time K'ile had arrived Luha was already stripped and beneath the covers of her bed, soft muffles cries quickly stifling themselves as K'luha sat up from her bed and looked to the door. 

 

"Present..." she called back a bit miserably. She at least had the decency to keep her covers over her nude form.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Erm," he paused at the sight, and she sat up, he flinched. He could tell she'd been crying again over something or other. Why did women always cry around him? He forced himself to say, "I'm just checking in because you told me to."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha nodded and pulled herself together quickly. She shook her head and sat up straighter, forcing herself to a more normal attitude. "Alright, what did you find out there? Anything?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Just some soaproot," he held up the flowing bulbs in his hand. "Oh, and," he produced the gil she'd given him earlier, every single coin of it. "I told you I wouldn't need it."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha raised a brow at him and motioned for him to put it on the nightstand. "You didn't eat did you?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Uhm." Well she caught onto that pretty quick. "It's not like I didn't eat. I ate."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha gave him a deadly look. "Do not make me get up and chase you naked through the inn K'ile. You will go to the front desk and order some food for myself and yourself and then you will come back here and we will eat. Got it?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: He held up an assuaging hand, "Alright, sure. Put some clothes on if we're going to eat, though, okay? I don't want your daughter getting any ideas about us." Tossing the Amole down, he quickly retreated from the room and shut the door behind him.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Eh? Why would K'ailia...?" But he was already gone. She sighed and stood, pulling on her hunting clothing that had dried out by now before sitting back down on the edge of the bed and waiting.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile ordered "food". that's exactly what he did. At the prompting of the innkeep he specified, "A meal. Two actually," and after further prompting "Look I don't know look here's some gil okay?" He tossed down about half of what K'luha had given him, noted the expression on the innkeep's face and took a couple of coins back, then put one back on the pile because he had no idea what he was even doing.

 

He left things like that and retreated back to the inn room, where he hoped K'luha wasn't naked anymore. Which, upon opening the door, he found that she wasn't and was far more comfortable for that. He really wanted to avoid having K'yohko's women hanging around him in the nude. If the elders got wind of that and assumed anything based on it, they might take the fire away.

 

"So," he greeted, "I ordered food. And I guess I bought it?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha looked to the door as he returned and nodded. "Good. I'm hungry anyway. Guess whom I met in Aleport?" she stood and stretched before finding a more comfortable seat on the couch in the room.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Uhm," he looked to one side, then returned his gaze and guessed. "Your friend who was going to sell you weapons? No, that's obvious. Uhm. K'ailia!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Ventus." she replied, unamused before shaking her head. "God knows where K'ailia's gotten off to..." Luha muttered a bit sadly before looking back to K'ile. "He had invited us to meet him tomorrow at Bronze Lake, which is rather far away. Some sort of hot springs party for his company... I am unsure I wish to attend."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Parties at hot springs," K'ile rolled his eyes, "Yes, he's definitely teaching K'ailia more about fighting than about Ul'dahn excess."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Hrn... tis what i thought." she shook her head and looked sadly to the ground. "K'ailia... she's going to leave us K'ile... I can feel it. Ever since she threatened to leave us... I knew... I know..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Taking up an wakward position roughly in the center of the room, K'ile looked around at his surroundings as he spoke. "Well. I remember talking about this. If it happens it happens. There isn't too much you can do about it."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I.... I suppose so. I suppose she simply wasn't meant to live the way we do. She has no interest in our people. Her only interest lies in everything else..." K'luha laughed weakly before looking up to K'ile. "Have I failed as a parent? Or is there simply no value to our way of life anymore?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: He frowned down at her heavily, and his words fell heavily from his jaw, "That's kind of a bullshit pair of choices. You're not a bad mom, but there's only so much you can do. If she doesn't value home, then that's her choice to make."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha furrowed her brows. Was she not a bad mother? She lost one child and now another? She should really have a third child if she was only going to loose them too? "Why then? Why doesn't K'ailia see the value in our way of life? Why does she not care about her family?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I don't know," K'ile said. He could try talking about how home and family weren't the same thing, but he'd taken that approach with this issue already. And in all honesty, they were exactly the same thing. There was no separating them out. Maybe with small things, personal things, but not in general. "I really don't think she understands. Maybe the people in this Garden of hers don't value family and they're trying to convince her it isn't important."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Maybe... it seems like they're... sort of a strange family on their own though. I simply... don't understand. Family has always been the most important thing to me. I have given up everything I ever desired for my family. To see K'ailia throw it away when I gave up so much for her? I am both saddened and furious..." K'luha breathed out heavily, only to look back up as there was a knock on the door. "Ah, the food."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Flinching at the knock on the door, K'ile promptly muttered, "Oh, they just...?" he went to the door to open and said, "Oh, hello," only to have two plates of food thrust at him, "Oh, okay. The food. Thank you. That's alright. Goodbye." He kicked the door shut.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha sniffed the air and licked her lips. Delicious goat. And with drinks too! Which reminded K'luha. She stood and pushed the door open behind K'ile and called out for two drinks as well before closing it again. She looked to K'ile like he might criticize her and frowned. "What? I want to try one."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Still holding the plates of food, he just shrugged at her, "That's fine. Whatever it is we're trying." He looked around the room again, trying to figure out what to do with the food. He ended up putting it next to the soap weed, which was mostly not toxic, as long as the food didn't actually touch it.

 

Should he keep talking about K'ailia, or should he change the subject? He didn't want to keep her upset and he couldn't offer comfort. He might be able to share her emotions some, if he wanted to. Nobody else had ever really...

 

Yeah, no benefit.

 

"I'd rather have hunted and cooked this myself," he said instead.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Yes well. Tomorrow you can. I got in touch with my contact finally and we're meeting up in Ul'dah tomorrow." she replied, moving around to grab a plate a food from next to the soap weed. Food in hand, she moved to the edge of the bed and began picking at her meal.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Ul'dah? What's with all the moving around? Why couldn't you just buy the weapons in Aleport and bring them back?" He stood in front of his plate, and began to pick at it. His hunger, so long deferred, was slowly coming upon him

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Because apparently there was a large weapon theft in Aleport so it scared off the seller." she grumbled, eating her own food happily. "He contacted me and told me to come to Limsa. Also he said the weapons would be free if I did some work for him earlier in the day. Did I say Ul'dah? Shit I'm tired. It's Limsa."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "That's even... I don't even know where Limsa is." He shook his head at his food and muttered, "You can go anywhere you want anytime you want but you stay around the tribe. You'd think folk would learn a thing or two from watching you."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Of course I do." K'luha answered almost instantly as she finished off her meat. "My family is everything to me. I couldn't begin to think of life without it. My mother and my grandparents and you and all of nieces... you are all everything to me. "

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Same," K'ile said. "Even if the blood gets kind of thin in some places. I'll never be able to understand the kinds of people who can just... not come home. What's a person going to do without a home?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha shook her head. She had no idea. But luckily there was another knock at the door. She stood and fetched the drinks before shutting the door behind her and handing a bottle to K'ile. "I have heard it is good. But I've never tried it. I think it's... ale?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Just ale? Is it a special kind of ale?" He took the bottle. He'd had ale before. Once. Years ago. It was rather cheap as far as foreign commodities went, and travelers always seemed to have some. He couldn't remember what it tasted like, but he knew it was commong. "I thought outside the Sagoli people drank mostly ale and stuff."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha gave a nodd in return before taking a sip. She licked her lips still tasting the flavour, unsure if she liked it or not. "Yes, but I have never had any so I was curious while we were here."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Tastes like sand?" He said, making it a question. He didn't remember, so he took a sip, and made a face, "Tastes like dirt. And spices, I guess. Seasoned dirt. I'm not sure why they like it so much."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: She shrugged and drag the rest of it in relative silence anyway. She felt full now, and maybe a little better, but still tired. "Are you going to sleep outside again?" she asked after a long moment of silence.

 

*

 

Twinflame: He mulled the question over in his head for a bit. Uninterested in finishing the strange mud-drink which outsiders favored, he set the 'ale' aside. K'ile Tia was not fond of resting, especially if he was going to spend days at a time doing so. If he had his say, they'd have been off on their mission yesterday, but with K'luha's injuries...

 

"When do you think you're going to be well enough to go scouting," he said.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "As soon as I have procured the proper weaponry." she answered easily, stacking up her dish and empty bottle on the nightstand before sitting on the edge of the bed again. "Everything's pretty much healed anyway."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I suppose it's too much to hope you'll have weapons by noon, isn't it?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Hn... well I could try..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: With a groan, he muttered, "No. That's... We'll just have to 'rest' another day, won't we?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "No... I'll be back then." K'luha gave a definiative nod and laid down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling for a moment. "I'll be back. Meet me at the aetheryte. Then we'll leave. Still, are you going to stay here or not? Because I'd like to undress if you're not."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Okay, sheesh. That sounds a lot like being told to leave." He left everything near the soapweed on the nightstand and turned to head to the door, "Don't stress, okay?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I'm stressing." She called back with a frown. "And you don't have to leave, I just want to know if I should undress or not!"

 

*

 

Twinflame: He paused at the door and turned to her, making the most eloquent of arguments, "I just told you not to stress so stop it," and followed it up with a question of challenging depth, "What are you stressing about?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha groaned, irrirated with K'ile's lack of understand. For her equally eloquant answer she ripped off her shirt and threw it at him. "You're an idiot!"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Oh, would you-!" he smacked the shirt to the ground, "Sorry for... Ah, nevermind." He turned to the door and opened it to step out.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I'm sorry!" K'luha yelled after him. She waited before groaning and throwing the covers over her form to sleep again.

[Twinflame]

K'luha Haaz: K'luha materialized softly next to the Aetheryte in the center of town. She floated for a moment before landing softly and shaking her head. A strange day indeed. Becaue of the heat of Limsa, she had taken to wearing a black bikini top and a short khaki shirt with a side pocket that wrapped around her right leg. Her shoes were a fairly freqently worn gladiator style. 

 

The mother Miq'ote rubbed her temples and frowned. Maybe she shouldn't have promised to visit the actual garden grounds. She wasn't even sure she could convince the others to come... and of course there was the matter of Maka's daughter. K'luha's ears flattened to her head thinking of all the things that had happened. 

 

"Egh... shit."

 

*

 

Twinflame: The Tia that would never be Nunh was lingering in a corner of the pit where the wind mostly chased off the smell of corpses. He hated resting, and resting in Drybone was the worst fate he could imagine. His keen senses could pick out the differences between the smell of most of the corpses, could tell where they'd been by smells they carried, could even make out a hint of the fetid food in their bellies. It was sickening, and he'd been stomaching it for days.

 

He was trying to nap, because if hewas unconcious he would at least be able to kill some time without suffering. He didn't want to miss his appointment with K'luha, but he figured she'd find him soon enough anyway. The spot he'd chosen was within sight and earshot of the Aetheryte.

 

Still, it was not by sound or sight that he first dedected K'luha's presence. Instead, it was by smell; her particular scent, mixed with salt air and the appealing stink of fish and bait, managed its way through the corpses just barely enough to be picked up.

 

He rolled to his feet eagerly, swaying with dizziness for a moment while his blood tried to catch up. And then he chased after the smell, down to the Aetheryte, hoping to get his weapon, get K'yohko's woman, and seek the less unpleasant smells of the desert and Amal'jaa encampments.

 

"Luha!" K'ile called out, well before reaching the Aetheryte, and again when he got closer, "K'luha!" Quickly he picked out her bronze skin, clad in the light garments that clouder skies and humid air provided the oppourtinity for, and began towards her.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha blinked hearing something that sounded much like her name. Not many people called her Luha, but she had always allowed such a thing to happen if they did call her that. Still, it was enough to snap her from her recent thoughts and glance over as the fiery haired tia ran at her. She smiled a bit and waved back towards him. Strapped across her back were indeed a very well crafted lance, a bow, and quiver. 

 

"Waiting for me long?" she questioned as he got within proper earshot. As he came closer, she began unstrapping the lance from her back and offered it up to K'ile. "One lance, it's very good quailty so don't loose it."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Let's see!" he said, taking the lance with a big grin on his face. He tested it in his own way, which was pretty much just shaking it back and forth and seeing what the head of it looked like int he light. "Good? It's okay. It'll do. Don't lose it? So don't throw it that anything that won't die? Like I'd miss!"

 

He dug the blunt end of the lance into the dirt and leaned on it, turning his smile on K'luha, "So when do we go?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Well, now." she raised a brow and reached a hand forward to flick K'ile's arm. "Well, let me change again into something more suited to hunting." K'luha added before walking over towards a nearbye market stand. She took a minute to argue with the person at the stand before she was handed over clothing and finally she ducked behind a large building to quickly change in something more similar to what she'd worn on the way there.

 

She came out again and adjusted the strap for her quiver before looking to K'ile. 

 

"Let's go."

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile pouted that he had to wait. He stayed leaning on his spear for a moment, then swung it around a bit. He whavked the ground a few times, then got a warning glare from a Brass Blade who didn't appreciate him swinging a deadly weapon around a populated away. K'ile responded by swinging the weapon around faster and whacking even more things, the logical conclusion would've been him getting run out of town were it not for the timing of K'luha's return.

 

"Awesome," he placed the spear in the strap over his shoulders. "You have no idea how badly I want to get out of this town. Buildings and corpses and walls." He didn't wait for her, taking the lead to head for the southward ramp.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha shook her head at K'ile, but followed him without another word. He was so impatient. Just like a little boy. For all his brawn and attractiveness, he really was a little kid still. Maybe that was why he had decided not to be a nuhn. Too young in his head to handle such a responsibility. 

 

Luha mused on it for a time as they walked in relative silence. Eventually her thoughts shifted in her meeting with Ventus and some of his folk in Limsa. He was so much different than what she had originally though. He was weak and flimsy. Under pressure he seemed to crumble, though with a bit of encouragement he seemed to improve. She wished she had at least impressed upon him the gravity of his position. If he was stealing K'ailia away, she thought perhaps she also wished to understand him a little more. Him and his people, she would have to understand them more if she ever wanted to understand what K'ailia saw in them. 

 

She almost spoke up to mention to K'ile about visiting the actual garden with K'haali and K'ailia but saved it for another time. Perhaps after they returned. In any case, she would go by herself if need be. She had made a promise after all. 

 

Eventually K'luha broke into a soft song to pass the time. A song she had learned from her mother, but was unsure a little about where her mother had learned it from. A ballad about two princesses, one of the sun and the other of the moon. K'luha liked to think it was a ballad about Azyema and Mephina.

 

K'luha Haaz: (( interested in the song, I'm stealing it from a fanwork based off ponies. will link momentarily. ))

K'luha Haaz: (( replace pony with princess. ))

 

*

 

Twinflame: When K'luha started singing, K'ile's ears at first lay flat on his head. He walked ahead as if nothing had changed, his hands reaching behind him to idly pull the spear against his back, bowing it forward subtly on either side. He continued on ahead of K'luha, not setting a difficult pace at all. They'd left the pit and the smell of corpses behind, and moved well out into the desert.

 

It can be assumed that K'ile had heard the song before. He couldn't remember so well the stories that might of inspired it, but he wasn't a story teller. He wasnt one who thought deeply about the kinds of relationships and emotions that sad song appealed to. He knew songs as well, but they were sand by the desert beasts, or perhaps one or two the huntresses sang of their kills. He didn't think much about songs.

 

The smells of beasts that had gone before them was as plain as the sun in the sky to K'ile Tia. He could sense the Aldgoats of the morning and the wolves of the night, the moles beneath the ground a distance away. He could smell the leaving plants that helf stagnant puddles of dew, the sweet-scented places were insects would lay their eggs at the bottom of the foo chain.

 

These things were peaceful to K'ile. There were more peaceful than the song, though he did not dislike it. K'luha's voice was not unpleasant in hsi ears. Moreover, he eventually appreciated the simple fact that she sang.

 

He let quietness slip back between them when she was done. Her song faded back into the song of the desert. Once that familiar song, more readily interrupted, had returned, he said, "Have you thought much of Maka?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha paused mid word, the song dying in her mouth while they walked. Maka... of course she thought of her sister. Her eyes fell to the ground, brows furrowing. It was... unfair. What had happened. It seemed there was so much in her life that was unfair. 

 

"Have you?" Luha countered, picking up her walking pace to surpass K'ile and continue on into the sun across the dusty landscape.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Watching K'luha walk past him, he didn't immediately pick up his pace to keep up with her. He tried to judge her body language, the way she walked, the way she spoke. He answered her question, "Some. Everything waits for the Umbral Era to pile on, doesn't it?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Lhua paused in her walk, stopping to look up as the sun started to set. "Yeah... yeah it does..." she answered vaguely before hopping down a rock and starting to walk again. She walked with a heavy silence for a time more, not wanting to really talk about all that had happened. Loosing Maka, her daughter now, the tribe's decline, K'raqi's sudden injuries and abscence... She felt like more and more of herself was being chipped away from her soul everyday. Still, she walked towards the Amal'jaa with a feeling so heavy on her shoulders that it almost physically showed in the way she walked.

 

*

 

Twinflame: He allowed himself to be outpaced. The distance she'd put between them was one filled with wind and sand, and she seemed to lurch steadily away from him as he kept stride. Just trying not to let her get too far away. He wished that he knew some song to sing that wasn't so sad, and maybe she'd accept that, but she dind't. At least she wasn't crying again.

 

Walking, he could handle. It was good and healthy. The strain and the silence snuck into a person's mind and slowed their thoughts.

 

Sunset already, and they met at noon. As he realized this, he took a quick series of setps to get closer to K'luha, so he could talk to her more easily. "This area's pretty rough and the Amal'jaa are far enough east that the if the tribe takes sort of circumtuitous route and heads west for awhile out of Sandgate," he pointed with his spear, "The Amal'jaa probably we're migrating through."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: A sort of dark and anger look crossed K'luha's features as K'ile approached her to talk of the Amal'jaa. Her tongue clicked in a sort of signature tell-tale sign she was angry or annoyed. 

 

"There will not be an Amal'jaa camp to avoid when I am done with it." she answered somewhat sharply and picked up the pace of ther walk again.

 

*

 

Twinflame: The response stopped K'ile in his tracks for a moment, his ears laying back in his hair and his eyes narrowing to a squint at the woman. Then, with a huff, he dashed forward to get up alongside her and said in a harsh tone, "You know better than that. We're scouting. That's it."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha looked back at K'ile dangerously before continuing to walk without another word.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Don't be a child," he bit, keeping up with her and growling sideways. "This is already too dangerous without you throwing some kind of fit!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha refused to speak to him any further and marched on, ignoring K'ile as much as possible.

 

*

 

Twinflame: As K'ile waited for an answer, there were long moments of boots crushing sand and the desert shuttering in the evening wind around them. Shrubs bent by the breeze reached bor his feet and legs, and he kicked them away, knocked small stones skittering as he kept even pace with K'luha. His patience thinned and he began to bristle, the incredulity on his face downing down into a scowl.

 

Very suddenly, he reached to grab K'luha by an arm, and his feet took a stubbonrn, frim stance on the dusty ground. "You need to stop!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha stopped abrupbtly as her arm was grabbed. She tried to pull herself free and continue walking, but K'ile had a firm grip on her. She looked to K'ile, mouth turned into a thin frown. 

 

"Why? We have to keep walking. We're not even close yet." she retorted, ears and tail bristling with annoyance.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm not going to wait until we get close to ahve this conversation." It was difficult not to grab her arm too tightly. The breath in his chest pulled at every muscle from hsi shoudler to his fingertips, trying to turn them to iron. But he didn't want ot hurt her. Grinding his jaw, he forced himself to speak quietly, to feign calmness, "We aren't going there to fight any Amal'jaa. We should try not to be seen or heard. They shouldn't know we were there at all."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Of course." K'luha answered back with a chilly tone. "It's a scouting mission. I know what that is." she snapped, pulling and trying to pry her arm free from his grip. "Let go."

 

*

 

Twinflame: His hand felt paralyzed there. Of course she knew. She was just upset. K'ile frowned down at his hand on her arm, at how the meat of his fingers pressed into the lines of her muscle. He was numb; he couldn't feel her. All he could feel was the tightness of the grip, and the need to hold it back. And for a long moment, he couldn't let go.

 

Jerking his head to one side, his gaze breaking away to look on the desert instead, he spat, "Fine. Don't foget it when we get there." And he wrenched his hand from her arm. It fell to his side, still half-curled, and he reached behind him to grab the heft of his spear instead. Just to give his fingers something to dig in to.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha winced faintly as he tore his grip away so harshly. She quickly pulled her arm back and rubbed it, starting to walk on without him. She didn't answer him, she couldn't. Of course she wouldn't forget it... but that didn't mean she would listen to him either. 

 

"We still have another hour or so we could walk." she called as she continued walking, rubbing her aching arm where K'ile had held it moment's ago.

 

*

 

Twinflame: The Tia waited. Yohko's woman walked away from him holding her arm, but didn't say anything to condemn the gesture. She called back to him, but kept on, and K'ile stood still as she once again went ahead of him.

 

The desert filled his senses again. Animals and plants, life and death, dirt and water on the wind. The only sad songs that the desert knew where those that others sang to it, and it would never sing them itself. His hand choked the spear, and he strained it against his back so that it might break.

 

His voice caught in throat as he muttered to the breeze, "What a selfish bitch, right?"

 

When he let go of his spear it snapped back into a straight line with an audible shuff of air and treated wood. Even in the desert, K'luha's scent stood out, and it clung to his body like the stench of the corpses in Drybone.

 

He turned to follow, at a meandering pace, his mood unimproved and his expresison still dark. K'ile watched the woman moving away from him, and walked on behind her.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: To underestimate K'luha's hearing was to invite death to your door. The mother had honed her sense of hearing through fifteen years of listening for any sign that K'ailia might be in danger. The soft murmur, the faintest mutter, the most distant of moans, groans, or any such word were her specialty. She did not have the nose that K'ile did, but she had ears far more sensitive than he would ever have. In the desert's quiet dusk, the wind carried his muttered words the short distance between them and stopped K'luha in her tracks. 

 

She stopped abrubtply, stiffly, as if something had caught her by the tail. With all of her might and dexerity she turned and lunched to K'ile to pin him to the ground, hands grabbing for his shoulders and neck. 

 

"I have given up EVERYTHING for you and my family! Don't you EVER call me selfish! EVER! What more must I give up K'ile before I am generous enough for you? Am I not good enough? Is that why you refuse to take a place as nunh, even when we need you? Am I not good enough? Are our children not good enough for you!?" K'luha raged, eyes ablaze with unleased fury.

 

*

 

Twinflame: The sound of his spearhead crashing down on stone broke the quite of the night when he fell, a harsh steely crack that seemed to silence the night around them and leave it in a nervous hush at Kluha's words. Even the desert wouldn't interrupt her. K'ile lay in the dirt with an unbecoming calm in hsi features, even as K'luha's anger broke against him like hot steel breaking the surface of water.

 

He could feel her anger as much as he could hear it. That fury was red hot in the hands that pinned him down. He remember the way his own hand had felt on her arm, the way his muscles had been alive with energy he couldn't describe.

 

K'ile didn't struggle. He just lay there, and listened, and he watched her face as he words assailed him. When she was done, he took a breath, but didn't feel his lungs fill. He confessed, "I don't know, Luha. Maybe there's just something wrong with me."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Tell me K'ile..." The fury that burned in her eyes came out as a quiet intensity in her words. "What more do I have to give up? You know everything don't you? What is it that I still have to give before I can make things right? My eyes? My heart? My body?" K'luha clenched her fists around her hold on K'ile's shoulder, nails digging sharply into his skin. "Tell me!" she demanded, her voice raising to a yell again.

 

*

 

Twinflame: His lips were a straight line on his face. He couldn't frown. There was nothing in him like her sadness or her anger. There was nothing in him stronger than annoyance or bitterness. "I don't know," he repeated. Then, struggling for something with more substance, he said, "I'm sorry. Why do you even care about what I say? Just treat me like everyone else does."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha bit her bottom lip harshly before standing up. She dusted herself off coldy, turning her back from him and adjusting her bow and quiver.

 

"Then go home K'ile. You're not needed for this." she answered, the chilling anger in her voice not even bothered to be hidden.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Once she was off him, he sat up quickly, glaring at her back. "Bullshit. You can't even finish yelling at me, and you think you're going to go in there, kill a bunch of Amal'jaa, and then what? I'm nto going anywhere."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Bullshit yourself!" K'luah turned around again, anger surfacing in a red hot blaze. "If you really wanted me to treat you like everyone else does, you'd go home! Because they treat you like a worthless Tia and I have always valued your opinion K'ile! So pick one! You want me to treat you like them, or do you want me to treat you like I always do!?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: Exhaling a curse, K'ile pulled himself off the ground and readjusted the shaft of his spear where it had dug into his back. He spoke with a groan, "Alright, I get it. You're not selfish. You're not. But you can't go putting this mission at risk just because you want to kill something."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I know that K'ile!" she snapped, staming a food into the ground angrily. After a moment she sucked in a breath of air and looked away. "I know it." she added, a bit more calmly.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Pulling at one of his ears, he muttered, "I know you do. I don't know why I made a thing out of it."

 

K'il felt suddenly heavy. He felt like he'd lost something that he hadn't know he had, left it behind in the dirt somewhere, and was burdened by the desperate need to find it. But he didn't know what to look for, so how could it? He couldn't, so the feeling into the pit in chest, and he crossed his arms to hold it there.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha looked up to the sky. With all their arguging it had gotten darker and darker and very soon now there would be no light at all. She straightened herself out a bit before starting to walk. "We need to find a good place to camp for the night."

 

*

 

Twinflame: A reluctant, "Right," was all he exhaled. He didn't look at K'luha. She had become like a point of light that chased his eyes away. He followed her, but he followed the wake of heat she left in the dirt, the sound of her footsteps. After a time he said, "Just pick whatever rock you want. Something that will be shadowed in the monring. I'll keep watch."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha continued walking, her mind wandering from distressing thought to distressing thought until she felt like her mind might explode from all the tension. It made her dizzy and her lack of eating along with the heavy labour she performed while in Limsa made her all the more tired. 

 

Still, he feet carried her somewhat clumsily up to a rocky outcrop with a small inlay above the grounds. She clambered up and slipped herself into the outcrop, storing her bow and curling up into a ball, her back pressed to the wall.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Managing well enough to follow K'luha, he stopped when she clambered away from him. He remained with his feet in the dirt as she vanished from view, standing alone. He was not one who enoyed solitude, but he felt K'luha was different. The last thing he said to her was, "There will be food in the morning. I'll keep watch. You don't need to worry." And he stayed awake.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha did not sleep well in that outcrop. In fact, she did not sleep at all. She took shelter it in more to try and hide from her head that made her dizzy with thought and responsibility. The more she thought, the more sick she seemed to feel until she finally climbed down at some point during the night to curl up inbetween to two larges boulders nearby. Her ears faintly listened for K'ile, wondering if he was still nearby.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile was nearby, but he wasn't going to insert himself into K'luha's evening. He had absolutely no intention of lseeping that night himself. He loitered about the stones, deliberately keeping a distance between the two of them, but still keeping watch just as he said he would.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: After a long silence K'luha finally found her voice. "K'ile..." she called for him, her voice sounding hoarse and a little weak. She was too dizzy to stand really with her head turning in mental circles constantly.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Well within earshot, at first he thought he'd imagined his name on the wind. After a few seconds, he decided that was stupid, and that he was being an idiot. Finding K'luha was easy. He'd heard her moved and avoided her as if she was something to be afraid of. The boulders weren't as good for shelter as the outcropping had been, but maybe they were more comfortable.

 

The Tia appeared between the boulders, but did not initially approach K'luha. He said to her, "I'm here."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: There was a long moment where K'luha thought he wasn't around. Maybe he had just left in the night. It seemed all of her family wanted to leave her these days. It wouldn't have surprised her that much. But the thought was perished when she heard him call out, appearing out of seemingly nowhere. She was grateful he hadn't left.

 

"Is there anything around here that might help settle a headache...?" she mumbled, pressing a hand to her head, which was drenched in cold sweat.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Maybe," he said, but added a few seconds later, "I'm not much for my knowledge of herbs, unfortunately. You're not getting sick, are you?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha was silent for a few moments before dropping her arms limply to the ground. "I'm not... no. Just... too many thoughts all at once..." she breathed out heavily before beginning to take deep even breaths.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Leaning against one bolder, beneding far enough back that the back of his head was against the stone and his hair fell out of his eyes, K'ile stared at the stars and said, "Headaches are punishment for thinking too much. That and insomnia."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha grunted in reply and pressed her hands to her head again. "Punishment...? I thought that was your thing... are you punishing me now?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Well," K'ile chuckled, stretched, pulled at his ears some. "If we're being honest I had at least a little hand in that headache, didn't I? So, maybe, a little bit?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: With a soft groan K'luha turned onto her back and flailed a hand weakly out to hit K'ile's leg. She had no idea if she actually hit him or just the rock. "Then fix it. And sleep. You'll be useless if you don't get some sleep."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Hearing the movement but not feel the smack, K'ile muttered, "How am I supposed to fix your headache?" He moved further into the boulders and lowered himself down beside K'luha. "Your best bet is to just go to sleep, and that something you have to do on your own."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I'm blaming you." she grumbled, feeling him move closer. She paused for a moment, feeling a little more relaxed now that they had spoken again on better terms. Maybe that was all she really needed. "Make sure you sleep." K'luha insisted again, her hand groping across the floor for his leg.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Feeling her hand touch his leg, he reached down and took it in his own. "Yeah, sure."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "No. Seriously. Don't make me tackle you the whole night." A frown made its way on her face as she squeezed his hand and pulled it towards her. "Sleep."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Letting himself be pulled around limpy, K'ile responded, "I said I'll sleep."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha tugged K'ile down next to her before using his shoulder as a pillow. "Don't believe you. Stay put." she grumped, making herself comfortable. "And wear a shirt damnit." She added before piching lightly at his side. "And I met Ventus again in Limsa. I said we would go to the Garden to tour it. Mostly because I want to see where K'ailia will be going to stay without us. Please come with me when I go."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Flinching at the pinch, he groaned at the suggestion. "Don't start tolerating him or he'll take it as approval of whatever he's doing. I'll go to their damn gardening school but I'll wear whatever I want."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Sounds agreeable to me." she sighed, feeling more relieved at his agreement. K'luha had been very worried she would be the only one going. Getting K'haali to go might be a little more difficult but... K'luha was sure she could probably bribe the girl into going. If only to perhaps see K'ailia off.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Good," he sounded absolutely unentertained. A bit annoyed. That wasn't a remarkable tone for him to take, though. He lay rigidly, feeling pinned by K'luha. The interaction didn't make him feel any better. He had suspected it might, but in the end K'luha's prickly affection -- if that's what this even rally was -- did nothing. He was honestly annoyed by the thought of going to the Garden, of pretending he cared about Ventus and that place.

 

K'ile still felt like he'd lost something out in the desert. Perhaps a heavy portion of his patience for things like this. Still, he stayed, and he endured the contact with K'luha's clammy body. He knew it was odd that only days ago he'd drawn her to him, and now it was all he could do not to wish he was elsewhere.

 

Maybe there really was something wrong with him. Maybe there always had been. Maybe K'luha's propensity to think herself into headaches was contagious.

 

He muttered, "Let's just shut up and go to sleep."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Something still felt off. She was glad K'ile had agreed to go with her, and he sounded as per usual about it but... there was something different. K'luha had no idea what or why, but that sixth intuative sense was telling her that K'ile was repulsed by her. Even if he didn't act like it. 

 

Maybe he didn't like girls. Maybe he didn't like her. Maybe he only tolerated her because he had to. Maybe he was just waiting for the perfect moment to rain hot fiercy punishment down upon her. The thoughts were unsettling even if they were far-fetched. Because if they were true, what did K'luha have in her tribe?

 

When K'ailia left, K'ailia who had been her whole world for the last sixteen years, who was left for her? K'ile, if he truley disliked her and merely tolerated her out of duty, would not be. K'mih and K'nahli were adults now and not her own children, though she liked them and thought them dutiful. K'haali was similar to K'mih and K'nahli that way. Her mother was still there, but her sister was long gone. Her sister's daughter? They had never met and it was because of K'luha herself that her daughter was banished without a real crime. 

 

Without having a real reason why, K'luha turned her back to K'ile and adjusted herself to try and sleep. "Sorry..." she muttered, and with that would say no more.

 

*

 

Twinflame: To K'ile, all of K'luha's body language was beginning to blend together. Was she upset or what? Did it even matter? He'd come here and lain down by her, which was far more than he'd intended. There was nothing left to do, so he just lay beside K'luha and closed his eyes.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha had already closed her eyes, but sleep did not come easy. Even when sleep did come it was filled with stressful iamges and thoughts. What would the garden be like? How would K'ailia leave her family? What if she were exiled from her own family for K'ailia's actions? What if Maka's daughter hated her and wanted revenge? If they hadn't fought, would Maka have lived with the tribe even now? Or would the calamity which claimed so many lives, have claimed her anyway? 

 

By the time morning had awoken her again, she was grateful to stand even with her headache and walk around to try and clear her head.

[Twinflame]

Twinflame: The days began differently in this part of Thanalan. In the Sagoli, the heat would've preceded the sun. Perhaps it did here as well, but it was a subtler warmth, still humid from the storms that had been hangining over them when he'd first arrived. Once K'ile Tia had stirred, the strangeness of the light alongside the relative coolness woke him quickly. He was eager to rise and move, and his spear was in his hands early on.

 

There were no edible plants in their immeidate vicinity. Not that he could see or would know how to eat. Finding small game was easy in the rocks, though. The moles he found couldn't go to ground as easily, and the uneven earth let him sneak up on them wihtout too much worry.

 

K'ile returned with a dead mole hanging from his spear, holding it away from him. He noticed K'luha walking around near the boulders they'd slept in the previous night, and waved the weighty corpse over his head in greeting. It swung back and forth with the crack and keen of bone and flesh.

 

"Good morning," he said, when he was close enough to speak easily.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha had woken up shortly after K'ile, mostly because the warmth against her back was missing. She found herself walking about amongst the rocks just to warm up her body again and get her muscles to unlock. They seemed to have stiffened in the night's lack of particularly good sleep. 

 

On the wings she could smell.. fire. Amal'jaa. She scowled a bit, only to hear K'ile call to her. She looked over and grunted. "Morning..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Holding the mole in K'luha's direction, he said with a smile, "You ever eaten one of these before? I'm hoping they taste a bit less faty than the aldgoat. Wolf was all wiry. We need some good, dense meat around here if we're going to settle in long-term!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha offered a nod and a grunt in retort. She was still tired and angry. She was getting tired of K'ile constantly acting like he liked her, and then hated her. Still, she was angrier still at K'ailia for abandoning her family, or rather about to abadon them. Even more so, she was angry with the damned Amal'jaa. 

 

"Yeah. Make a fire if you can. I'll cook it."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Alright!" K'ile slammed the mole against the ground, set his foot against its body and hauled hsi spear from its flesh with a satisfying rip. He then stuck the head of his spear in the dirt and spun it, which affectively gleaned it of most of the globby fleshy bits, though not as much the fur and blood.

 

Starting a fire was easier. He found a few dead shrubs on the rocks and tore them free, shaking them out. Dead was important, because anything living would throw off too much fire and alert any Amal'jaa scouts of their presence. Really, any fire at all risked that, but they weren't so close that it was worth worrying about yet. And more importantly, they were upwind.

 

Taking a liumb from a nearby tree and giving it a single, firm shake, it lit on fire on either end. It burned fast, seeking his hand within moments, and he threw it into the pile of upturned shrubs he'd placed against a large slab of stone.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha grabbed the dead mole and pulled out her own small hunting knife to clean it of its fur and skin. When it was properly cleaned for cooking, she walked over to K'ile and carefully constructed a small sweker to hold it over the fire with. It took some time, time that K'luha was not interested in talking during. She silently waited until it was cooked before pulling it back and breaking off a piece to nibble on. 

 

"It's good." she muttered before handing it to K'ile. "Take your half."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Cleaning the head of his spear while he waited for K'luha to cook, he didn't find the silence disagreeable. When she held the mole out to him, he put his spear securely on his back and took his half of the meat in a great chunk, smiling at it as if he were going to kill it again.

 

Around this time, however, he decided they shouldn't be spending too much time eating. Day was rising, and the Amal'jaa would be as awake as they were by now. So even as he ate, he looked out over their intended path. The fire and the cooked meat blotted out his sense of smell the same way water would muffle his hearing. But he could see the rocky ridges and cliffs that would mark the Amal'jaa camp.

 

"We should approach it a bit more south than we are now," he said. "Further out of the way of the Drybone route."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha tore into her meat and ate it much faster than K'ile did as the other looked around. By the time he had spoken about what route they should take, K'luha had already stood and started snuffing out the cooking fire. 

 

"Then let's go." she retorted rather blandly before starting to walk.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Looking over at K'luha with a chunk of meat on his lips, he watched her movements and then, nodding and swallowing his bite, said, "Still got that headache?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Yes." The answer was instant and flat as the younger woman jumped down a small clearning of boulders and landed on flatter ground again. She would just as much rather stay silent until they got there.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Reacting to the response as if he'd been punched in the throat, K'ile shook his head and went quiet. The fire out and having brought nothing with them, quitting the 'camp' was as simple as walking away. And that's what K'ile did, cooked mole in hand, to walk with K'luha. He was barely twenty steps away when he got rid of what was left of the mole. Carrying meat around when stalking intelligent reptiles would've been a bit more effective than walking around with a torch held above his head to mark his position.

 

At his insistance, they went a bit farther south than they had to. He assumed the Amal'jaa would have more eyes looking north towards Drybone or west towards the road to Ul'dah, than South towards the Sagolii where (barring a Miqo'te tribe or two) was essentially just more Amal'jaa.

 

The foot and the heat of the day left him energized. He felt more at home in the desert, far from nearby towns, than he ever would've in an inn room or tavern. Two days of rest left him wanting to run, but he doubted K'luha would appreciate that pace and didn't even try.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha walked in front, silence and dead pan. Her eyes scanned the horizons for any sign of Amal'jaa. Her nose worked overtime to pick out their scent on the wind. Even her ears were twitching and flickering, listening and strainng for even the smallest noise. But for the longest time, there was nothing. 

 

Not until sunsent did K'luha stop in her tracks and duck behind some brush, her ears hearing the sound of the Amal'jaa far before she could see them. She motioned for K'ile to hide as well, but did not look to see if he did.

 

*

 

Twinflame: The Tia sensed the Amal'jaa, but didn't hide immediately. He was trying to pick out numbers and position, but the things stand so much that he couldn't tell if there were two or two hundred. He could smell smoke clinging to heir bodies, intense enough that it might have been the hellfire of their primal, but he rather hoped not. Meat and blood mingled in there too.

 

Wearing a grim expression, K'ile turned and walked to where K'luha had concealed herself. He dropped down next to her and pulled his bandanna tighter about his head, hiding most of his very bright red hair from view. He took his spear and lay it in the dirt next to him.

 

He watched K'luha carefully. K'ile wasn't so beastly that he could smell her emotions, but he watched her muscles and her poise, kep his eyes on her hands. He didn't tryst her not to try and claim a few Amal'jaa lives if the oppourtunity presented itself, so if she so much as appeared to think about it, he'd have to stop her.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha tensed as a small group of four passed them by. The dark thick reptilian skin, the thick smell of hellish smoke... yes. These were them. But she couldn't tell one from the other. As far as she was concerned, they could all die in a fire with their stupid primal and she would be happy. 

 

She wanted revenge for her son. The son she never got to raise. For the life that had been taken after it was so painstakingly brought in the world. Her hand moved to take an arrow from her quiver. She could take on four of them. She could land arrows in their stupid heads before they even realized what had happened.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Turning to look at his the passing Amal'jaa, he counted four of the massive bodies. Each one being large enough and difficult enough to kill that they might as well be worth two men like himself. Their weapongs stood out in his eyes, and the scent of meat spoke to him like a threat. There was no chance of taking them on, but they wouldn't have to, as long as they stayed quiet.

 

K'luha, though, had put her hand to her quiver. The tensness in her limbs and the way her eyes moved told him it wasn't out of fear or in the spirit of preparedness. When he was sure there was no risk of being seen by the Amal'jaa, he moved, quietly but quickly, and thrust his spear in front of K'luha. The gesutre was not subtle. He lay the shaft of the spear against her body, a firm and maybe even painful force, and leveled a glare at her.

 

His set jaw and stern gaze he set upon her, and his own body was as poised to act as he own. Only his was facing her, not the Amal'jaa.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha winced as the spear was thrust in front of her, and somewhat painfully into her as K'ile blocked her from her targets. She looked to him, a sour look as he stared back sternly. She slowly released her grip on her arrow and dropped her hand back to her bow instead, eyes glancing back as the Amal'jaa continued to walk away.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile continued to wait as the Amal'jaa moved away, and he kept the spear against her. His eyes stayed on her. When they were distant, he took the briefest of glances toward the sky, seeing it beginning to get dark. They weren't quite at the Amal'jaa encampment yet. Those four would be scouts, or more likely a hunting party.

 

Sparing K'luha a hiss, he stepped out of their hiding place, low, and began onward. Distance would be more useful than hiding, and if they stayed low, the rocky ground would favor them.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha hesitantly followed K'ile. She wanted to pursue the party of four... but perhaps she could cast her revenge further into the camp. She slipped behind him across the brush with all the grace and stealth that she had learned over the years of hunting and traveling. 

 

She wondered if they were to scout it at night. That would probably be best as the hunters would be sleeping and it would be easier to move about. If they followed the way the Amal'jaa had come from, they might find their camp more easily.

 

*

 

Twinflame: The Amal'jaa encampment stank so badly of the beasts that K'ile imagined a hazy cloud of stench moving over the ground at their feet. THat would be merciful, though. More likely whatever he was smelling was right at the level of his nose, invisible, and it was unpleasant to move towards.

 

A long few minutes after they left behind the four Amal'jaa that they'd passed, K'ile stopped and waited for K'luha to be beside him. "Another Malm, about." He reported at a whisper, almost quieter than the wind in the rocks. "We smell and hear better than they do, so if we can take a peak and be gone before sunrise, I'd like to."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha nodded faintly in reply. So they were to do it during the veil of night. A good choice. She motioned for K'ile to lead on and kept her hands tightly on her bow should she need it. Although, to be spotted now might mean death...

 

*

 

Twinflame: Before leaving, K'ile leaned towards K'luha. He hissed, "I'm not interested in being tempered or eaten. So if you plan on killing anything, start with me and save me the trouble." Then he turned and ran on. His spear was still in his hands, and his fist was tight upon it. His fingers wrung it like it was something he could hurt.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Tch. Maybe I will." she hissed back as he ran off, only to follow him at a quick pace. She lagged only slightly behind him but kept her own hands on her bow and pulled an arrow from her quiver, just in case.

 

*

 

Twinflame: A malm passes quickly when you're running to a place that you don't want to be. The stink wasn't as bad as Drybone, but at least there he didn't ahve to worry about K'luha starting a fight that could get him killed. Unless she was starting it with him directly, anyway.

 

He took them close to the cliffs. Near as he could tell, the encampment was built into a thin valley. Most likely so they could control the most conveient eastward ground passage through these rocks. What he was after was mostly numbers and scope, and the business of the Amal'jaa. Their scope seemed mostly restricted; he hadn't caught the scent of any parties until they were within close malms of the place, and they were few.

 

A hunting party of four large Amal'jaa implied to K'ile a need for a lot of meat, since they'd likely send out more than one party on any given day. The alternatives was that they were scouts, and the Amal'jaa here were of more dubious enterprise than that of a simple settlement. If he saw too many weapons, if he could see regiments and organization, then he would have cause to worry.

 

For this, he wanted to find a way to get above the camp. Stopping at a point near enoug to the camp that they could see the light of their fires and K'ile could smell the food they ate, he turned to K'luha and gestured up the cliff face. He assumed she could climb. he'd seen ehr do it enough times.

 

So he didn't wait for her. The shadows were deep this early in the night, but they'd turns shallow as the moon rose towards its zenith. His plan was to climb up now, stay high and out of sight through the night, and then come back down when the moon began to fall again.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: The passing of the malm was long and tortuous. K'luha had dealt with such smells since she was attacked, and they brought back fresh and painful memories. She could have sworn she had been here before such a long time ago, but the encampment back then was much, much smaller. 

 

As they came upon the clifface, K'luha put away her bow and arrow. She watched K'ile move first and got herself a steady grip before following. She was dexterous and strong enough to climb without trouble, save for the occasional rock face crumbling on her when she grabbed it. Luckily, nothing made much noise as she was about to climb to the top without much problem. 

 

Luha edged towards the edge of the overhang to peer down at the valley and quickly nodded the numerous tents and fires that covered the area. She could see what seemed like families and children practicing with spears and lances and magic. She saw cooking food and idols and things that looked like a permeant fixtures. So they stayed put, that much was good.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile exhaled in relief. This was good. He'd been worried he'd Amal'jaa adorned in that dark metal they forged with hellfire. The hint of sulfur in the air had made him imagine some kind of volcanic holy ground hidden in the cracks of the land, and the Amal'jaa preparing to march on Drybone and oust the Ul'dahns from their land.

 

But simple living? This was fine. The Amal'jaa were far from friendly even on the best of circumstances, but there was no motivation here for expension outside of their territories, and they were well enough south that K'ile imagined that there might enver be problems, as long as proper respect was shown. They would just have to impress on the huntresses, on people like K'luha, why spilling Amal'jaa blood was as deadly to the tribe as spilling their own.

 

He relaxed on the cliff face and set his lance aside. There was still the lingering threat. The Amal'jaa were still armed, territorial, vicious, pious to their primal god. But this they could handle.

 

K'ile turned his face towards K'luha and smiled.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha could not smile. She could not look at the Amal'jaa encampment and their children without thinking they should all burn in their own goddamn fire. She could not help but to relish in the thought that she might burn them all to ashes so they might pay for their sins. So that her son might truly rest in peace. She wanted so badly to set fire to an arrow and rain down her wrath upon them...

 

But when she continued looking at them and saw families with children, the thought of revenge soured in her. How could she ever think to harm someone that way? Although she hated them, to wish that sort of pain on another living thing was... inexcusable. 

 

K'luha looked to K'ile, a torrent of emotions before looking back to the encampment. They ought to make some sort of notes about their tribe or something before they returned...

 

*

 

Twinflame: Of course she wasn't happy. Whatever K'luha saw in that encampment, it wasn't what he saw. He knew what she thought, or at least part of it, he suspected. They had to be at least a hint of it in himself as well. It had its place and purpose. Tonight was neither, though.

 

He crossed his arms in front of him to take weight off his chest, and settled in to watch the camp for hours. He didn't need to move to see more or take a fluid count of anything. This was all that he himself needed, and so he would watch it until sunrise was near.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha took a seat a little further ways off from K'ile. She didn't really want to see him now. She gazed down at a tribe in full cheer and thriving. Even after the calamity, the Amal'jaa tribes began thriving and rebuilding. It all seemed so easy for them to rebuild. After all, where else could they go? There were no cities to lure them away. There was nothing but their tribe. 

 

When had her way of life become outdated to the cities? When had her foundation become... obsolete? Was there truly no purpose for her tribe and life any further? Was there any reason she had given up on her dreams and goals as a child? Life had seemed so much more vivid back then. Back when her first child was about to be born. Back when she could hold him and envision such a bright future for him and the tribe. 

 

K'luha hung her head, struggling with the confusion and grief and sorrow. She wanted the best for K'ailia, but was leaving the tribe really best for her? She had always devoted herself to her family, but was there something else she was meant for? If K'ailia was meant to be outside the tribe, what was her own purpose? She had always thought herself necessary for the tribe's survival, but she had been gone for two almost three weeks and no one ever noticed. They had lived on without her completely obliviously. Who in the tribe still gave meaning to her life? For what reason did she continue to be torn further in two directions? 

 

Questions with no answers haunted the mother until the sun was up and hitting her back. But withdrawn in her own internal struggling, she barely noticed it.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile reached out and shook K'luha's leg as the sun began to rise. The moon was still in the sky, far down in the west. Now was the best time they would have to leave. Early morning shadows were almost as deep and dark as those of early evening.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha jumped a bit at the sudden touch. Her eyes glanced to K'ile and quickly turned back in focus. Hopefully he had ordained more from watching than she had... perhaps K'ile was right. Maybe she was selfish for thinking of her own problems like that. Still, it did no good to linger on it now. K'luha stood and carefully moved to climb back down the cliff face and head off back to where they had come.

 

*

 

Twinflame: They went together away from the encampment. K'ile could smell the passage of last night's Amal'jaa hunters, but not any for the morning. So it seemed they had managed to sneak off during the between time. As they moved away, and K'ile thought it safe, he said to her, "That was good. I thought it would be a lot worse."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha grunted faintly in reply, her feet carrying her but her heart wasn't in it anymore. It didn't feel like she was going home. More like to a funeral. "How bad was it...?" she questioned, trying to sound even half-interested.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "We'll talk about it later," K'ile said, taking on a more relaxed tone and turning his walk into a stroll. He sidled up next to K'luha and nudged her with his elbow, "You know I got to thinking last night. Figured if it kept you awake, might be a good way to make sure I didn't doze off. Thinking."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Eh?" she quirked her brow at K'ile and frowned. "Do you think it's a joke K'ile? That I'm thinking this much because I want to or something?" she shook her head again, feeling ill. All of this stress and thinking was really taking its toll on her.

 

*

 

Twinflame: He frowned, but his eyes smiled. "Did I say it like it was a joke? You keep asking me what I think about things, so I figured you might ask me what I was thinking about."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I... no I'm sorry..." K'luha darkened her expression at the ground. If she kept it up, she was going to turn into her grandmother, wrinkles and all. "What were you thinking?" she questioned, hoping to sound a little more cheerful.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "There you go," he said, and he pulled at one ear, "For awhile I just thought about stupid stuff. The past and the tribe. After awhile I started wondering when and how K'haali is going to die. What do you think about that?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha paled a little bit and stopped in her tracks for a moment. "I... really... would not... like to think... about that..." she stammered out before continuing to catch up with him.

 

*

 

Twinflame: He looked back at her, and chuckled. Not at how what he said had upset her, but how she'd demonstrated it. He went on, "Well it's not like I wanted to think about it. But I guess I kind of take it as a given." He began to count off on his fingers, "K'thalen, K'airos, K'aijeen, K'hodla, K'airi, K'piru." If K'luha was paying attention, she might notice he was counting off the names of people who had died or left recently. He held up one final finger, "If things keep up, K'haali is next. See?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "K'haali? Why K'haali?" K'luha tilted her head lightly. Why would K'aali leave? "I would think K'ailia would leave before K'haali died K'ile..." she frowned sternly at him and continued walking.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Because K'haali's blood," he said. Then, with a shrug, "You're all family, but K'haali is blood."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Because... I..." K'luha frowned. He was right. All of that side of the family was... dead or missing. Or dead to the remaining family. K'ile and K'haali... they were pretty much it. "Don't you think you'd go and die before K'haali old man?" she snorted.

 

*

 

Twinflame: He watched her, growing a bit more somber as he walked. K'ile managed to lose a measure of his cheer long enough to say, "It didn't work that way with Thalen's other kids, did it?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha paused in her walking. Why...? Why did he have to..? She trembled and fell to her knees, covering her her face with her hands. "Why do you have to say that? Our family is already dying... I don't want to think about it... don't make me think about it K'ile..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Stopping alongside her, K'ile watched her. He found himself feeling... pitiless. No, that was just the surface. He could feel something pulling his muscles tight in his arm, putting a scowl on his face. He didn't like it. His right hand clenched into a fist as though it wanted to answer her pleading. And yet, he laughed.

 

He bit off the sound of his laughter almost as soon as he started, but he couldn't keep it out of his words, "Alright, that's fine. If you're just going to have a breakdown, that's fine. But don't tell me to open up to you and tell you what's wrong if you're just going to beg me to shut up as soon as I open my mouth."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: A laugh. He laughed at her. Although he silenced himself a moment after it. She felt like something cold had driven its way through her chest. It made her angry that he assumed she was going to have a breakdown. She clenched her fists and stood without another word and began walking.

 

*

 

Twinflame: He watched her walk away from him. With a look of disbelieving amusement on his face, he just watched. He didn't feel amused. In his arms and shoulders he could feel the same kind of frustration and anger that he experienced when he thought about so many others.

 

"You know who you're like?" He called after her, smiling, but hearing the anger beginning to seep into his words. "You're just like K'piru! She walked away so she wouldn't have to deal either! But she lost three children. You've only lost one! Why are you the only one with the right to...?" He bit down on his teeth, hard, until it hurt. He bit down on his words to crush them in his throat.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "To what, K'ile?" she turned and looked at him with a deadpan face. "Go on. Tell me."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "To ask stupid questions like that," he replied with a snap. He could feel the frustration oozing up from his shoulders into his face. "To be sad, to be angry, to feel alone, to say you've given up everything. You have K'ailia, and she's alive, and she loves you. Even if she leaves the tribe she'll be one Aetheryte away!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "She'll be dead to the tribe K'ile. To talk to her would be disobeying the tribe's laws, something I fully plan on doing mind you, but I will never be with her like family again. I will always go to her when she needs me, but the longer and further away from the tribes she gets, the less I will understand of her. The less she will be the daughter I raised until at last we have nothing in common and I am just a relic of ages gone past." K'luha replied shortly. She had well thought through what would happen. "So what then? I am selfish and shortsighted because K'piru lost three children and a mate and I whine and cry because I only lost one child?" She scoffed and turned away. "Is that it then? Do you enjoy comparing me to K'piru? Do you enjoy that I suffer and fail to find a way to fix it? Do you think that I enjoy wallowing in misery and self-pity? I do not. I am torn between my child and my family K'ile. I do not know whether to follow K'ailia despite the costs, or to once again give up my daughter for the sake of the tribe."

 

*

 

Twinflame: He listened, calmly. His jaw hurt from how hard he clenched his teeth to stay quiet. His arms ached with the tenseness of the muscles. He could feel his spine bending against the weight of his body.

 

When she was done, he exhaled a hot breath that stung his nostrils. And he walked onwards away from the encampment. He didn't move towards K'luha. His path was at an angle to her, bypassing her completely. "It doesn't matter what you do," he said. "But I what you to remember that I listened to you. Everything you had to cry about, I listened to. And cared. But when I tried to speak to you, you begged me to be quiet, because you didn't want to listen."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "When did I say that!?" she shot back at him, storming after him. "About K'haali? No, I don't want you to talk about how K'haali is going to die! What does that even mean K'ile!?" She ground her teeth and moved sharply to grab his tail so he couldn't walk away. "You listen, you say you care, but every other moment you keep giving me these angry vibes like you hate me. So which is it K'ile? Do you hate me or not? Make up your damn mind because I sure as hell can't!"

 

*

 

Twinflame: With a growl and a hiss, he spun fast and swung an arm to knock K'luha's hand away from his tail. He shouted from his aching jaw, "Why would I ever want to care about anyone! Ever again! If everyone I care about dies or leaves!?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha kept her hand on his tail regardless of his lashing and took the brunt of the blow. It only made her clench down on his tail harder and hiss back at him. "Because everyone dies and leaves us! Would you just live in isolation then forever so you don't have to deal with the pain? Your'e worse that K'piru! She left because she couldn't handle it! You can't even handle thinking about it! You would sooner reject everyone so you didn't have to get hurt!? Pathetic!"

 

*

 

Twinflame: Giving up on freeing his tail, K'ile gestured broadly with both hands and leaned his face close to K'luha's. "At least I keep it to myself and keep doing what I need to for the tribe! I don't shut down or hurt people or go pouring all my woes on someone that I'm not even going to listen to if they try to reciprocate!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I have kept it to myself for years! And I...I didn't realize what it was you were doing! I'm sorry!" K'luha yelled back at him, releasing his tail and pulling away. "I didn't understand it... I'm sorry." she added more softly, looking to the ground.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile moved his hands as though to shout again, but couldn't come up with any words. He struggled for a moment, he's freed tail whipping around behind him. Finally, he just growled out, "Well maybe you shouldn't have kept to yourself so long in the first place if you were just going to... Whatever you're doing."

 

Crossing his arms over his chest, he breathed deeply the hot aura of anger that he was emanating. He lingered still only half-way away of the emotion, though, and ended up muttering, "I don't even know what to do with you now."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha frowned at the ground, ears flattened to her head. What was she doing? Driving herself mad with grief, among other things. Why couldn't she just pull herself together like she always did? Wasn't that what she had prided herself on for so long? 

 

"I'm sorry K'ile... I didn't mean to hurt you..." she muttered as well, avoiding eye contact for the time being.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "You didn't hurt me!" K'ile snapped back, a little too quickly and forcefully maybe. He wasn't one to get emotionally wounded easily, was what he should've said. To recover, he swung his tail around and said, "My tail's just fine. You didn't hurt it at all. And I'm not upset, either."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha nodded vaguely in his direction and started walking again. "We have a long way to go still..." she murmured wearily.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Breathing in deeply and exhaling slow, K'ile said, "Right. We go on and on," and turned to walk with K'luha back towards drybone.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Yeah..." K'luha answered back dryly. "We do..." And with that she spent the rest of their journey in quiet. The sun rose high and set and still they were walking. Despite her exhaustion, she wasn't about to be the first to say they needed to make camp. She would walk for another damned day all the way back to the gobble if she had to.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile didn't want to stop. The tiredness and exertion took away the thought, and he wasn't sure if was ready to pass another night not speaking to K'luha. Worse than that would be whatever they might end up talking about. If he wanted to avoid thinking, the best way was to continue walking.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: The silence was the indicator to keep walking. And when the sun came up on another day and K'luha was starting to see doubles and her feet felt like they were falling off, she kept walking anyway. She had completely lost her sense of direction to the exhaustion and was just blankly walking in the vague direction of Drybone. Which she sincerely hoped was the right direction.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Eventually even K'ile had to admit this was a bad idea. The sun had gone down and come back up and they hadn't eaten or slept, and they were out in the wild where at any time a wolf or an Amal'jaa could happen upon them. Weakness was nothing to scoff at, and besides that, he was tired. Tiredness was a big thing on his mind at that point.

 

Having no real idea how far they were from Drybone or how late in the day it was, K'ile squinted about until he saw a convenient stone ditch. Mumbling something taking a break, he reached over to take K'luha's hand and pull her towards it.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Eh...?" K'luha mumbled as K'ile grabbed her hand and walked in the opposite direction. She hadn't heard him speak in the first place. Still, she followed him over to the stone ditch anyway and let him lead here... well wherever.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Thoughtlessly and without discussion, K'ile collapsed in the shadowed ditch and pulled K'luha down with him. There wasn't much pride or awkwardness left in him at this point, so he unabashedly lay down up against K'luha.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Equally exhausted, K'luha collapsed right beside him and let K'ile lay against her. She was far too tired to care where they were, she was just grateful for the shade and the slight coolness beneath the rock. Her eyes closed almost instantly and she fell asleep failing to notice she was still holding K'ile's hand.

[Twinflame]

((A couple days passed. After they got back to Drybone K'ile began to share K'luha's room in the inn, though not entirely without the occasional complaint. This thread happened. The subsequent evening, K'luha left K'ile alone in Drybone and vanished into the Aetheryte. A few hours after her departure, K'ile catches a familiar scent mingled with blood and follows it off into the drylands of Eastern Thanalan...))

 

K'ile Twinflame dashes through the desert, spear in hand, oddly silent. He moves quietly, too, but when he notices K'luha, he's fast to approach her. "Luha!"

 

K'luha Haaz grunted, her hand pressed to her wound as she sat. She had ripped off most of her clothing to inspect it better now that she was finally alone. Of course though, she wasn't alone. She glanced up as K'ile came dashing to her and grimaced. "K'ile..."

 

K'ile Twinflame dropped to his knees in front of K'luha, unafraid of touching her, though only aon her shoulders and arm, staying well away from any visible wounds. "What happened to you? WHy are you out here?"

 

K'luha Haaz grunted again and pulled back to pressing her back to the wall. Everything hurt like a bitch still. Damnit. She hadn't expected to be so completely ruined so quickly. "I thought... I wanted to test Ventus's strength. I knew he was in Ul'dah so I went out and found him. It's my own fault. I didn't know he could punch fire and control and manipulate the earth..."

 

K'ile Twinflame squints, and then shakes his head. "What? You're saying Ventus did this to you?"

 

K'luha Haaz scoffed and looked away. "I fought him. He punches hard. One of his friends interrupted us. That's all. He didn't attack me. I asked for the fight." she shot back, knowing where K'ile was going with this. "I refused medical treatment, but somehow I was dragged into it anyway. K'ailia was trying to treat me, but I have no desire to be treated by her so I left."

 

K'haz Tia : The murmer of claws against stone would announce K'haz's approach. He'd been following a bloody trail for a while now, sharp eyes spotting spots of red against the brown hues of the thanalands from atop his mount. The going had been slow - K'haz having been forced to dismount a number of times to relocate the trail. Finally, however he seemed to be approaching his quary. Not sure if the injured party was still being persued or not K'haz unslung his staff - guiding his mount by the regins as he rounded the bend right into plain view of the two miqo'te. 

 

K'ile Twinflame growls deeply, the scowl on his expression not managing to convery the extent of anger he felt. "You know you-" he shakes his head and starts again, "And you made it this far on your own? Why are you /here/ instead of Drybone? You could get healed there."

 

K'luha Haaz scoffed again and closed her eyes, her hand idly prodding and poking at her chest wound. "Because I suspect K'ailia will follow me and I have no desire to explain myself to her."

 

K'ile Twinflame the spear in K'ile's hand raises to point at the newcomer in warning. You cant sneak up on K'ile Tia. He had sensed K'haz coming. Turning his head slowly, he said, "Who are you? Are you with the Garden?"

 

K'ile Twinflame belatedly reached out to take K'luha's hand from her wound, wihtout comment.

 

K'haz Tia nose crinkled as the sound wind carried the aroma of blood. Lowering his staff, K'haz would relax into a more open stance. "Nay. Just a traveler who spot a bit an trouble and wishes to help." Pulling on his aether he lets a trickle of white, blue flame leap into his palms. "I'm a healer and it's my reckonin' one of you needs healin'" The shadows of the rockface hid the two's features from him - though K'haz was sure they were miqo'te.

 

K'luha Haaz squinted towards the stranger for a moment, at least until K'ile took her head. She grumbled lightly and looked back to him. Magic healers... she was getting a little tired of them. "Isn't there a normal healer? I'm sick of magic for one day."

 

K'haz Tia grin caught the magical light before he dismisses it. "I know more mundane remidies if that is what you prefer. Though if it's between that an' savin' your life you'll have ta' pardon a cure or two."

 

K'ile Twinflame glared, and said, "I don't know if I trust it anyway. COudl easily be just another one of Ventus' cronies."

 

K'luha Haaz scoffed and looked away from them both. "I'm not dying you ninnies. K'ailia fixed the worst part of it already.... It just opened up against when I ran."

 

K'haz Tia : His mount follows him steadily, her great head bobbing back and forth between the two miqo'te. K'haz frowns at the words and shrugs before pulling a vial from a pouch attatched to the bird's saddle. Gauze and a potion were tossed over. "Here then. Wrap yourself up. I'll instruct you on how if you don't know."

 

K'ile Twinflame looks down at K'luha, "You can't just sit here in the desert being in pain. You've done too much stupid stuff today, so how about breaking it up with some reason?"

 

K'luha Haaz huffed again but laid fairly still for the time being. "Fine. But no more damned magic."

 

K'ile Twinflame stands and turns to the newcomer, "K'haz, right?"

 

K'haz Tia grins easily, leaning against the rock face even as the voices sent his ears twitching. There was something familiar about them...Suddenly the male stood and spoke his name. His tail tucked around his leg as he made the connection. "Aye...more K tribers...been runnin' in you all alot lately." He flashed a lopsided smile.

 

K'luha Haaz opened her eyes immediatley and looked towards the newcomer immediatley. "K'haz?" she questioned, disbelieving before staggering to stand up.

 

K'haz Tia tail tightens even further as he finally put a name to the face. Ah shite. Instinctivly he offered a little finger wave - the one he'd always had whenever the other male caught him. "'lo K'ile, K'luha."

 

K'ile Twinflame puts a hand on K'luha's shoulder to push her back down, pointing his other finger at K'haz, "Don't get friendly weith me. You know we aren't supposed to be talking to you. Don't ask questions and do a good job, or I'll kick your ass."

 

K'luha Haaz grumbled at K'ile and moved to stand again. "We haven't seen K'haz since he was alittle bratty kid... I didn't even know he was still alive. Let me see him." she whined.

 

K'ile Twinflame ushes her back down and says, "He's coming over to heal you. Stay put."

 

K'haz Tia ears flatten and he ducks his head instinctivly - before a flash of anger runs through him. Gold eyes hardening he suddenly lifts his chin a bit higher. "Except I'm the healer here K'ile. Not you. An' if you interfere with my job I'll be the one kickin' yer sorry arse." Striding up to K'luha he kneels over her - replacing his earlier grin. "Hey, gettin' into trouble again?"

 

K'ile Twinflame smiles and chuckles a bit at K'haz, "Ah ha. Alright, that's fair."

 

K'luha Haaz grumbled and rubbed her aching back before glancing to K'haz. She smiled warmly to him and motioned for him to come closer. "I would hug you but it's a little difficult at the moment. How are you? It's been a very long time."

 

K'luha Haaz smiles at K'haz Tia.

 

K'haz Tia shrugs. "Aye it has an' I'm fine. Not the one bleedin' all over the thanalands. So what happened - and ye sure about the no magic thing?" He asks, leaning closer to further inspect the wound.

 

K'ile Twinflame rolles one shoulder, saying, "I said no questions, K'haz. Just cause you got a backbone doens't mean you start blowing me off."

 

K'haz Tia rolled his eyes. "Kinda hard to heal her if I don't know what I should be healin'."

 

K'ile Twinflame shakes his head, red ears flicking about like fire. He turns and walks a bit of a ways away.

 

K'haz Tia : K'wehkweh eyed K'ile's tail with intrest.

 

K'haz Tia : Just another inch...she opens her beak - ready to strike.

 

K'ile Twinflame flickes his tail away from the Chocobo and turns to glare at it.

 

K'haz Tia : The bird seems to glare back

 

Artorias Rivendare: She is your mother after all.

 

K'ailia Yohko growls upon seeing K'ile.

 

K'ailia Yohko then looks at her mother.

 

K'haz Tia ears twitch at the growl but ignores it - focusing on his healing for now.

 

K'ile Twinflame points his spear at K'ailia's face well before she has a chance to approach, "Turn around, go away."

 

K'ailia Yohko: Oh sure, go against my orders to stay put so you don't kill yourself?!

 

Artorias Rivendare stops his mount at K'ailia's action and holds back, giving the girl space and privacy.

 

K'luha Haaz shivers lightly in the rain and faintly notices K'ailia beyond K'ile. She frowns at his spear and throws her shoe at his head. "Knock it off K'ile!"

 

K'ailia Yohko: and where do you freaking run?! straight into this... this TIA'S ARMS?!

 

K'haz Tia He snaps his head up at the whistle of steel however. "Woa, woa! No pointy things! Healer's orders."

 

K'ailia Yohko: You talk about amturity!

 

K'ailia Yohko points at K'luha Haaz.

 

K'ailia Yohko: You are way more immature than me.

 

K'ile Twinflame glares over at K'luha, grits his teeth meanly, and puts his spear away. "You let me know if you want me to whip her."

 

K'luha Haaz sighs a bit and motions for K'haz to stop for a moment. She grabbed her wet robe and threw it on before standing again. "I can handle her K'ile." she mumbled, staggering over towards her.

 

K'ile Twinflame: Oh, I don't doubt it.

 

K'ailia Yohko shoots a look at K'ile, and now you've given me plenty of reason to strike" she then stomps her foot and sends a boulder flying straight for K'ile's groin as hard as she could.

 

Artorias Rivendare: o boy....

 

K'luha Haaz promptly noticed the boulder and stepped in front of it to protect K'ile.

 

K'haz Tia glances between the group, suddenly lost in all the family drama. "Wait...hold on. Everyone calm down."

 

Artorias Rivendare dismounts from the coreul immediately and moves in a bit closer as per K'ailia's orders, he reached for his belt where the tranquilizer darts were but held his ground for now upon the stranger's request.

 

K'ailia Yohko shoots an angered look at K'haz, I patched the bloody fool up, told her she needed to rest or she'd reinjur herself and she told me basically to screw off and ran to her lover!

 

K'luha Haaz looks at K'ailia Yohko in shock!

 

K'luha Haaz: What!?

 

K'luha Haaz: I ran off into the desert!

 

K'ailia Yohko: You want that no good brainless twit, you can have him! I am leaving the tribe.

 

K'luha Haaz winced at the stone's point of impact on her leg and rubbed hip. "K'ailia!"

 

K'haz Tia notes the movement and snarls - aether twisting aboud him as he sends a harsh wind to hopefully pull the darts away.

 

K'luha Haaz runs after her daughter regaurdless of the pain and grabs at her robe. "K'ailia, wwait!"

 

K'ailia Yohko growls deeply.

 

K'haz Tia looks between the men - hoping for morre sanity there. "What the fuck?!"

 

K'ailia Yohko shoots a look at her mother.

 

K'luha Haaz: I rejected your help because I never wanted to be treated in Ul'dah in the first place! And you have shown me a serious lack of respect for some time now. Just because you are an adult doesn't mean you can treat your family that way.

 

Artorias Rivendare blinked a moment and shook his head, looks like... The wind suddenly picked up and one of the darts did fly, however his reaction was just as quick and his armored hand snatched it out of the air before it got too far.  He narrowed his eyes at the Tia before stepping back to retreat after K'ailia.  He wanted this settled without violence if it could be helped.

 

K'ailia Yohko: You want lack of respect? I cared about you. Enough to patch your sorry ass up after you picked an uncalled for fight!

 

K'ailia Yohko: You talk about maturity, yet you lack it mother!

 

K'luha Haaz: I did not ask to be punted through a three with fire!

 

K'haz Tia looked to K'ile for an explanation - a drowning amn searching for a final boat to sanity island.

 

K'ailia Yohko: You picked a damn fight!

 

K'ailia Yohko: What the hells did you think would happen?!

 

K'haz Tia: "What's happenin?"

 

K'ile Twinflame didn't just stand there like a derp. He kept step behind K'luha, and seeing Artoias hands, points his spear at him in warning. "They're just arguing. You want this sto stay peaceful, don't you?"

 

K'luha Haaz: I asked for a match to test his strength! Not to have rocks and earth thrown at my face! K'ailia! I thought we would fight and I would loose, but I would be able to see if he was a capable leader! I didn't think he would try and kill me! Would you?

 

K'haz Tia kept a careful eye on the one with the darts, digging his aether into the earth as he pretended to be distracted. His family relationships might be...tense but that didn't mean he wanted them attacked. A mage might sense the tendrils of aether sinking into the ground beneathe the dragoon's feet - ready to make him knee high with the earth if the man made another move.

 

K'ailia Yohko looks at K'luha "I heard the whole damn story! You challenged him to the death! Even when you were beaten you kept trying to fight! You damn idiot!!!!"

 

K'luha Haaz: I did not challenge him to the death! I challenge him until one of us admitted defeat!

 

K'haz Tia ears flicked between the back and forth - trying to make sense of it all. Mates...somethin' to do with mates...agh women.

 

Artorias Rivendare: "I'm following what I've been ordered to do by the Chief herself."  Artorias replied cooly, his gaze level with K'lie despite the fact he had a spear drawn on him.  The other Tia was being watched as well and his instincts were alert as ever.

 

K'ailia Yohko: It was a stupid pointless challenge. You know this. What the hells is going through your head?! And then after I patch you up and tell you the wounds aren't fully healed to stay put you aether away"

 

K'ailia Yohko: You trying to kill yourself?!

 

K'haz Tia frowned at the words: Cheif. Tribal? No this man certainly wasn't miqo'te...another organization involved with his clan then? Since when?

 

K'haz Tia held his tongue - though he kept his aether ready. Best to just watch and listen. He wasn't involved with the caln anymore and he -certainly- didn't want to get between mother and daughter. That'd be a death wish by the looks of it.

 

K'luha Haaz rubbed her head in frustration and stomped a painful foot on the ground. "It was not pointless. I wanted to test him. Because I know that you have already entrusted yourself to him and I wanted to know that he could protect you. I did it because I have known you are leaving ever since we fought in Ul'dah and I cannot stand to watch my child leave me again!" she shouted, breaking into tears before sinking to the ground and crying. "I can't... d-do that again... "

 

K'luha Haaz weeps in sorrow before K'ailia Yohko.

 

K'haz Tia ears twitched, instinctivly moving forward at his sister's sorrow but does his best to hold himself.

 

K'ile Twinflame says to Artorias, "You just think about what those orders might get you into." He then looks to K'ailia, "You two better skip the fighting part and go right to understanding, if you want what's best for everyone."

 

Artorias Rivendare watched the whole drama unfold without a spark of emotion on his face.  He just hoped K'ailia wouldn't make him use the darts on her as she instructed if she got out of control.

 

K'ailia Yohko shoots an angered look at K'ile "You are a tia. Know your damn role and shut the hells up!!!!"

 

K'ile Twinflame growls, calmly, "Listen to yourself. You're just angry."

 

K'ailia Yohko looks back at her mother, "You seem to think everything needs to revolve around you. Guess what. My decision isn't just about the tribe. It's about all of Eorzea"

 

K'haz Tia can't help but nod along with K'ile's words. He however bristles at K'ailia's. "An' I'm a medic." He snapped. "And it anin't waise to be upsetting a wounded women like that."

 

Artorias Rivendare heard K'lie's words but ignored them, he would follow his orders to the point.

 

K'ailia Yohko: If I can help all of Eorzea to make things better for this land.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Then it benefits the tribe.

 

K'ailia Yohko looks at K'haz "You even been listening? I patched them burns, I started the healing on her rib and spine. She just basically tells me to bugger off and runs away even when I told her it could kill her"

 

K'luha Haaz looked back up to K'ailia through tear stained eyes. "I am selfish K'ailia! As much as I said I wasn't I am! You are my daughter! I-i have always w-wanted what is best for you but it is hard t-to watch you go! I-i don't w-want you to leave... n-not like this!"

 

K'ailia Yohko: It's time this spoiled brat needs told the truth. She is being detrimental to her own health!

 

K'ile Twinflame put a hand on K'haz's shoulder, "Get in there and heal her. They can argue while you work."

 

K'ailia Yohko: I am selfish to mother. I was healing you so I can keep you around. I don't want you to die.

 

K'ailia Yohko: But disrespecting me, is disrespecting what I do. You've made me feel worthless.

 

K'ailia Yohko: What good is you accompanying me to Gridania to learn healing, if you just going to run away with injuries?

 

K'luha Haaz shook her head and grapsed lightly at her daughter's robe. "I'm sorry I left... I'm sorry I didn't listen. I-i only... I don't know what to do. I c-can't leave you... but I c-can't leave the tribe. I don't know h-how to accept all of this healing magic... it scares me K'ailia."

 

K'haz Tia kneels down - running his hands over her wounds to reasure himself of the other medic's words. They rang true - and after doing a few touch ups of his own he flashed her a glare. He remains quiet - letting the women talk it out for now.

 

K'ailia Yohko: The magic is no different than what K'piru taught me. Conjury is just a more advance form of the tribe shamanism mother.

 

K'ailia Yohko kneels down before her mother.

 

K'ailia Yohko: But my training has now gone beyond Conjurer.

 

Artorias Rivendare continued to look on, keeping a stone mask for an expression, deep inside however, he seemed relieved that things were calming down.

 

K'ailia Yohko pulls out the white crystal that glows slightly.

 

K'luha Haaz shook her head a little and looked to the ground. "I know... you say that... but still. It scares me.... It somehow feels... invasive whenever you use it. Like it is wrong somehow... I do not like the way it feels when you heal me..."

 

K'haz Tia steps back as K'ailia kneels down - trying to give the two some mroe space. He knew how the tribe felt about outside magicks - knew even of his sister's distaste but to see this level of...fear startled him.

 

K'ailia Yohko: I am a white mage. My duties stretches beyond the tribe. Beyond family.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Do you want to know what the spells did to help you?

 

K'luha Haaz hesitantly nodded  and gripped at her robe.

 

K'ile Twinflame steps forward, and turns to fix Artorias straight on with a glare, "What exactly did your 'chief' order you to do?"

 

K'ailia Yohko: The first spell, removed the splinters from your mine and repaired the bone. That is something traditional medicine would not be able to do.

 

K'ailia Yohko: You would of been unable to move otherwise, maybe even died.

 

K'haz Tia ears snapped forward at the title. A question falls unbidden from his lips. "A true white mage? Of the padjal's keen?"

 

K'ailia Yohko: the second spell moved your rib back into place and had started mending the bone.

 

K'ailia Yohko nods "Yes, the same"

 

K'ailia Yohko places the crystal back inside her robes. "These are white mage robes. Attuned to me"

 

K'haz Tia tries to keep his attention on teh other convorsation but gold eyes were fixated on K'ailia, surprise holding his gaze. "How?" His own magicks had been learned in secret through the blades....but for another to know and for her to be flaunting it about...

 

Artorias Rivendare returned the Tia's gaze, but one with cool indifference.  He would enlighten him with the truth, he was a Dragoon and he would not hide his intentions.  "If the Chief was to lose control of her emotions and go ..*ballistic* I am to use these darts to tranquilize her to prevent this from escalating further.  That is all."

 

K'luha Haaz shook her head again, disagreeing with K'ailia. "I... I can see how they are useful but that doesn't change that they feel so invasive. I am left with a sicky feeling like something is in my body that I do not want there K'ailia... " she mumbled, although it seemed her daughter hardly cared to listen to her any further.

 

K'ailia Yohko smiles at K'luha Haaz.

 

K'ailia Yohko: In every person is aether.

 

K'ile Twinflame: Wait, what? Who is this chief person now?

 

K'ailia Yohko: It is how you use your teleport.

 

K'luha Haaz: I know about Aether. I have used it extensively to teleport you know...

 

K'ailia Yohko: The magic moves the aether in your own body to fix what is broken.

 

Artorias Rivendare shifted his gaze on K'ailia in answer.

 

K'luha Haaz: Maybe I am just... sensitive to it then?

 

K'ailia Yohko smiles at K'luha Haaz.

 

K'ile Twinflame blinks, "Oh." His ears bounce a bit, and his demeanor lightens, "That's alright then."

 

K'ailia Yohko: The world has changed mother. I have changed. I am not the scared little helpless kit I once was.

 

K'haz Tia "everythin' has aether," K'haz couldn't help but add. "Every livin' thing. There are sensitives - they're more common in Gridania due to the shroud but aye. Y you could be."

 

K'ailia Yohko: In my own way, I am doing what is best for the tribe. By ensuring the lands are safe, I ensure the tribe is safe.

 

K'haz Tia shakes his head and grabs firmly onto his tongue. It seemed teh convorsation had drifted back to being between mother and daughter. Giving his sister her peace he instead turned his focus back on teh two males.

 

K'ailia Yohko gives a smile to K'luha "You've already gone against tribe laws." she looks over to K'haz "Hasn't she K'haz?"

 

K'luha Haaz frowned at the ground. Well it explained a lot if that was the case but... she rubbed her legs which stung painfully from the cold. "No. You are not. And even if you have a duty to Eorzea... do you not have one to me as well?" K'luha looked up to K'ailia and bit her bottom lip. "I..."

 

Artorias Rivendare shifted his weight from one foot to the other while crossing his arms over his chest.  He listened to the conversation and for the first time, got a chance to learn about these so called "tribesfolk"

 

K'ile Twinflame takes a step to the side so that he is next to K'luha, and then drops into a crouch. "It's been a long time since K'haz left. People change. We are to shun the person who left, but I'd place my bet that that person doesn't exist anymore."

 

K'haz Tia frowns at Yohko's words - not catching her meaning.

 

K'haz Tia suddenly understood at K'ile's words and his ears flattened.

 

K'luha Haaz: K'ile... I can't shun K'ailia... no matter the tribe law... I... I can't... and I can't shun K'haz either....

 

K'haz Tia blinked, tail halting it's usual sway in surprise.

 

K'ailia Yohko stands "I am the chief medical officer of Ul'dah Garden. My duty is to heal those needing healed. Yes even that fool Ventus received healing."

 

Artorias Rivendare shifted slightly when he heard Ventus' name.

 

K'ailia Yohko: I do not think like the tribe. I trust all, until they give me reasons not to trust them.

 

K'ile Twinflame looks thoughtful at K'luha's words, but has nothing to say to K'ailia's.

 

Artorias Rivendare was thankful for his helmet because it hid the frown when the man was mentioned.

 

K'luha Haaz: K'ailia, there is something strange with Ventus. Something... wrong... with his I think it would be Aether?

 

K'ile Twinflame makes a curious hum, and his ears perk up.

 

K'haz Tia frowns at the title. Ul'dah Garden...he'd have to look into the archives about that group.

 

K'ailia Yohko: I cannot say. But I will set right, whatever is wrong with him.

 

K'haz Tia cocks his head, finally speaking up. "Perhaps another healer's eyes might help?"

 

K'luha Haaz: I just... I wanted you to know. To be careful. He is powerful, surely but... something is strange about it. Dark almost.

 

K'ailia Yohko nods to K'luha Haaz.

 

K'ailia Yohko: I will be careful.

 

K'ailia Yohko smiles at K'luha Haaz.

 

K'luha Haaz glanced back to K'haz and blinked. "Another healer's eyes on... Ventus?"

 

K'haz Tia shrugs. "I'm unfamiliar with the situation. Only know that somethin's wrong and you be needin' help by the sounds of it."

 

K'ailia Yohko: What will you do? Stick with the tribe? I am sure the rest of the tribe will not approve of you continuing relations with two outcasts.

 

K'ile Twinflame sits up a bit higher, smiling. He proclaims, "DOn't assume anything."

 

K'luha Haaz: I... that is my problem K'ailia. I don't know what to do. I can't... I can't leave you and... K'ile? What do you mean?

 

K'ile Twinflame: The tribe, like anything else, changes. We're moving to a new home, after all, and we need to subsist partially off trade going forward. Can't stay hermitted in the desert.

 

K'luha Haaz looks at you in shock!

 

K'luha Haaz: Then we could... perhaps align with the Garden and perhaps welcome back our exiled members?

 

K'haz Tia also stares at the other male miqo'te in disbelief. What the fuck had happened since he'd been gone?

 

Artorias Rivendare stood there blankly, being the only one who was clueless about the tribe.  Still, all that mattered to him was that this meeting went smoothly and that no complications came out of it.

 

K'ile Twinflame glances up at K'luha, saying sternly, "We will never align with the garden. Not if this Ventus is the man you all protray him as. I'm just saying it might not be a crime, in the future, to speak with those who have left the tribe."

 

K'haz Tia heart raced a bit at the thought of being welcomed back into his family but he quickly swallowed the feeling. K'ile's words were bold and K'luha's acceptance was heart warming but neither of these things could rewrite so many years of history.

 

K'ailia Yohko looks at K'ile, "Well I have just one warning for you. If you ever draw your spear on me again, not even my mother jumping in the way will save you."

 

K'luha Haaz looked disheartened. Really, she was weary about Ventus but he wasn't a particularly bad guy. She didn't care so much about Ventus as she did about having a alliance with K'ailia. "Well... then maybe we just align with K'ailia's portion of the Garden?"

 

K'ile Twinflame looks at K'ailia and says, "Do not threaten me with violence. That's not wise."

 

K'luha Haaz frowned and stepped between K'ile and K'ailia again. "If you two don't stop it I am going to... do somethign stupid again! Stop bickering! You're worse than me!"

 

K'ile Twinflame pretends to cower away from K'luha, "I'd better stop then."

 

K'ailia Yohko: It was only a warning. It's one thing to ask me to stay back. Another to draw a weapon on me.

 

K'haz Tia snickered. "K'ile's always been picken' on the young. Make's 'im feel less old."

 

K'ailia Yohko: And if you want trade with me, that's fine. I will gladly help the tribe when needed.

 

K'ile Twinflame tosses a frown at K'haz. "I'm not old. You wait til you see how I move before you call me old."

 

K'luha Haaz glanced back up to K'haz and smiled. "Well, I could see that being true." Her eyes slowly trailed back to K'ailia and she felt a heavy sadness. "I would rather have the Tribe in the Garden so you were closer..."

 

K'ailia Yohko smiles at K'luha Haaz.

 

K'haz Tia sticks his tongue out at the red head. "Probaly go deaf from all yer bones creakin' and groanin' from the effort."

 

K'ailia Yohko: You and I both know that was never going to happen.

 

K'luha Haaz: Maybe it could!

 

K'ailia Yohko: For now... I am going back to Ul'dah. Could I ask one thing of you mother?

 

K'luha Haaz nods to K'ailia Yohko.

 

K'ile Twinflame stands and says, "If we're done fighting, I need K'luha to rest."

 

K'ailia Yohko: Could you bring my things? And... maybe some of the ritual stuff K'piru left me?

 

K'luha Haaz weeps in sorrow before K'ailia Yohko.

 

K'luha Haaz: I... I will bring your remaining things...

 

K'ailia Yohko: Thanks mother.

 

K'ailia Yohko smiles at K'luha Haaz.

 

K'luha Haaz cried quietly now before suddenly moving forward to hug K'ailia tightly. "Where did my baby girl go...?"

 

K'ile Twinflame sighs in slight exasperation.

 

Artorias Rivendare just remained silent as he always did.

 

K'ailia Yohko: She grew up... she became a person that now focuses on learning and helping everyone in Eorzea.

 

K'haz Tia sigh is similar. "Always were a crybaby." He murmered light heartedly under his breath.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Hey, if tribe life ever becomes too much for you, there's always room with me.

 

K'ailia Yohko smiles at K'luha Haaz.

 

K'luha Haaz: Is she still my daughter though? If she helps everyone in Eorzea, is it possible to still have time for me?

 

K'ailia Yohko: Always mother. And... you've got another daughter waiting for you in Gridania.

 

Zii'na Fyr'bain agrees wholeheartedly with Aurora Vlondett.

 

K'luha Haaz: ... Maka's daughter? You met her?

 

Zii'na Fyr'bain pokes Aurora Vlondett.

 

K'ailia Yohko smiles at K'luha Haaz.

 

K'haz Tia tried to imagine such strong personalities sharing the same room....One would be dead within the week.

 

Zii'na Fyr'bain pokes Aurora Vlondett.

 

K'ile Twinflame clears hsi throat loudly, "Hey! We aren't talking about that right now!"

 

K'luha Haaz: How... how is she? Is she angry with me?

 

K'ailia Yohko pulls out a linkpearl handing it to K'luha "I gave her one. I also enrolled her in the archers guild. She will be ready soon for her trials"

 

K'ile Twinflame looks at K'ailia blankly, "...What?"

 

K'luha Haaz promptly ignores K'ile and smacks his chest with her tail harshly as if to tell him to shut the fuck up.

 

K'ailia Yohko: She's worried that her mothers crimes apply to her.

 

K'ile Twinflame has also honed his skills at ignoring K'luha and doesn't even notice.

 

K'ailia Yohko: But she's a good kid. Her mother has taught her much of the tribe even in exile.

 

K'haz Tia leans in to whisper dryly into a red ear. "Might not want to be interuptin' aye? Less you want 'em to turn their temper on you."

 

K'luha Haaz carefully took the linkpearl and examined it. "She... wants to come to us then? Truely? How do I use this thing?" she grumbled, shaking the linkpearl.

 

K'ailia Yohko: You just speak into it.

 

K'ile Twinflame swing a hand at K'haz to chase him off.

 

K'luha Haaz: Who can I talk to with it?

 

K'ailia Yohko: Also... she looks kind of like you.

 

K'luha Haaz: Eh!?

 

K'luha Haaz looks at K'ailia Yohko in shock!

 

K'ailia Yohko: You can talk to her, and to me.

 

K'luha Haaz: What about Ventus? I will... have to... apolgize I suppose...

 

K'haz Tia dodges the swat - flicking the back of K'iles kneecap with his tail in retaliation.

 

K'ailia Yohko: Give him time. He's undergone my... caring treatment himself.

 

K'ailia Yohko winks at K'luha.

 

K'luha Haaz laughs at K'ailia Yohko.

 

K'ailia Yohko: No one hurts my mother.

 

K'luha Haaz smiles at K'ailia Yohko.

 

K'luha Haaz: And no one hurts my daughter. Got that one K'ile?

 

Artorias Rivendare almost perked up about the fact that Ventus himself had some apologizing to do as well, but this was not his place to do so.

 

K'haz Tia bored now, K'haz stick his nose into the lancer's buisness, cocking his head curiously as he sidles up to the man.

 

K'ile Twinflame looks sideways at K'luha, "I was done with this conversation five minutes ago. You're wounded. You need to go to bed. Wrap this up or I'm going to wrangle you."

 

K'luha Haaz: As if you could K'ile!

 

K'ailia Yohko: For once I agree with dodo brains. You need to rest.

 

K'ailia Yohko: I will always be with you in that pearl.

 

K'ailia Yohko beams with delight at K'luha Haaz.

 

K'ailia Yohko: See you later.

 

K'luha Haaz cleared her throat and tucked the linkpearl into her clevage for safe keeping. "Alright... I expect frequent updates on Eorzea!"

 

Artorias Rivendare side glanced at the approaching Tia, though he did his best not to let his presence disturb his peace and quiet.

 

K'luha Haaz: If you're leaving me to save Eorzea then damnit, I want to know about it!

 

K'ailia Yohko: Of course.

 

K'ailia Yohko: We can go now Rivendare.

 

K'luha Haaz: K'ailia!

 

K'luha Haaz: Goodbye...

 

K'ailia Yohko smiles at K'luha Haaz.

 

K'haz Tia waves his farewells. "Nice to meet ya niece...perhaps teh next time will be less...dramatic."

 

K'ailia Yohko: not goodbye. Just see you later.

 

K'ailia Yohko smiles at K'haz Tia.

 

K'ailia Yohko: maybe you can teach me some of your techniques.

 

K'luha Haaz cried anyway, but nodded solemnly and looked back to K'haz. "Forgive me... I've been a bit of a trainwreck lately..."

 

K'haz Tia glances to the lancer. "An' perhaps this one will talk more...or be more interesting...and Aye I'd like that. Same to you."

 

K'ailia Yohko looks at Artorias "Mind handing me them darts?"

 

K'luha Haaz: Darts?

 

K'ile Twinflame crosses his arms, muttering, "This whole thing is a... train? What? Wrecked training?"

 

K'luha Haaz: Figure of speech K'ile. It's used in the cities a lot.

 

Artorias Rivendare: As you wish, Chief.    Farewell.....  Why, yes, of course.  

 

K'haz Tia nods. "Aye he's been twirlin' 'em about for a while now. Pay more attention K'luha." He winks cheekily.

 

K'luha Haaz: What are you on about K'haz? I'm fine. Pefect health.

 

K'ailia Yohko takes the three darts in hand then tosses one to K'haz "That's loaded with strong knockout juice. Ma don't do as she's told, use it"

 

K'haz Tia grins. "Aye just a bit blind is all...must be gettin' old too. Honestly I'm surrounded by ye decrepit folk."

 

K'luha Haaz frowned at K'ailia and then K'haz. "Don't you even think about it K'haz."

 

K'ailia Yohko laughs at K'haz Tia.

 

K'haz Tia notes the darts with intrest and grins sheepishly at K'luha's scolding. "Was think'n nothin."

 

K'luha Haaz: I swear if you use that on me I will... do... something... terrible to you!

 

K'ailia Yohko: Alright, time to get back

 

K'luha Haaz bids farewell to K'ailia Yohko.

 

K'haz Tia waves his own good byes - his lopsided grin becoming straigh and true for once.

 

K'ile Twinflame looks over at K'haz and says, "I told you not to ask questions because it's confusing. Don't expect an explanation."

 

Artorias Rivendare walks over to his Coreul and pats her on the head, glad that this time she behaved and didn't pounce on him like usual.  He mounted up and then ushered the feline to move forward after the Chief.

 

K'luha Haaz sighed heavily and flopped on the ground, holding her aching chest. "I can't believe she really left..."

 

K'haz Tia just chuckled good naturdly at K'luha's threats. "Like I said. Won't do nothin'." A shrug is K'ile's responce. "Ah I'll just find me' own answers. Makeing 'em up is more fun anway.."

 

K'ile Twinflame drops down next to K'luha and puts a hand on her, "It's fine. You were prepared for it."

 

K'haz Tia glanced at K'ile a sharpness to his grin. "Also..yer way to old to be flirten' with my sister."

 

K'luha Haaz: Honestly... if I had known challenging Ventus to a fight was going to send me flying through a tree I wouldn't have done it. Flirten'? What the hell is that?

 

K'ile Twinflame: You don't even know how old I am, kid

 

K'haz Tia snikers. "It's a form of couplin' old  man. Surly yer not so shrivled ye forgot about couplin?"

 

K'luha Haaz: He's like fourty. And he's still a Tia. Even if he wanted to he couldn't.

 

K'haz Tia shrugs. "Older than me."

 

K'haz Tia shruged again. "Not unheard of for...certain bonds to grow. Love's love an all that sweet fluffy shite."

 

K'luha Haaz fails to understand K'haz Tia.

 

K'ile Twinflame: Leave it to a child to call forty old. Anyway, I've got no interest in coupling, so you can take your suggestions and bury them.

 

K'haz Tia: "Also fourty? How come ye aint dead yet?"

 

K'luha Haaz: Speaking of coupling, would you believe Ventus came forward and apparently adores me or some nonsense like that?

 

K'ile Twinflame scoffs. "He has a fancy way of showing it. He knows he need to beat a Nunh to become a Nunh, not the woman, right?"

 

K'haz Tia cocks his head at the name. "Ventus again. Who is this exactly? Another Hyur with a miqo'te fetish?"

 

K'luha Haaz: That's about right. He's strange. And I told him so but I also told him if he couldn't beat me no way I would let him go near K'yohko. But... honestly? I think he could wipe the floor with K'yohko.

 

K'haz Tia ears twitched in surprise. "Truly? What kind of fighter is he?"

 

K'ile Twinflame: K'haz could wipe the floor with K'yohko. We haven't had a good Nunh since the Calamity.

 

K'luha Haaz: Well... he made the earth rise up in pillars. And then kicked them at me. And then he pucnhed me and somehow that punch exploded into fire and knocked me through a tree so...

 

K'haz Tia: "I'll take that compliment...backhanded or not. Also...ain't K'yhohko a bit...old to still be a nuhn?"

 

K'ile Twinflame: So it doesn't count if he just uses flashy magic to through you around like some wuss that doesn't want to touch you.

 

K'luha Haaz: He's only a bit older than me but... we have no Tias fit to take over as the new Nunh. Save for K'ile who refuses.

 

K'haz Tia frowned at the discription. "Sounds like a monk...who might dabble in a bit o conjury."

 

K'luha Haaz: Well he used his fists... I haven't the faintest idea. But then he tried to kill me with some strange... orb of dark Aether or something so...

 

K'ile Twinflame: Wait.

 

K'ile Twinflame: He fucking tried to kill you!?

 

K'haz Tia ears snapped up. "Dark aether?"

 

K'luha Haaz: Oh. Well. Sort of. For a moment I thought he would. Then the others insisted he was going to if he hadn't been stopped.

 

K'ile Twinflame: And you left K'ailia in that man's garden?

 

K'haz Tia frowns, cocking his head. "I'm still stuck on the aether bit. Mind goin' into more detail? How'd it feel exactly?"

 

K'luha Haaz: Well what are you going to do to stop her and bring her back K'ile? Drag her back only to have her pummel you with rocks!?

 

K'ile Twinflame: I don't know! You didn't say he tried to kill you! What the hell is that!? And you're still on about wishing we could join up with that graden? Did your brain get broken?

 

K'luha Haaz: As for the Aether it was... it simply felt wrong. Tainted almost. Very dark. There was simply something wrong about the way it felt.

 

K'haz Tia scowls. "Might it have been of the void?"

 

K'luha Haaz frowned and hit K'ile's face with her tail again. "I can't stop K'ailia, nor can I stop Ventus! And honestly, he threw me into a tree with a fire punch. So yes. It might be."

 

K'luha Haaz: The void...? I... maybe? I would let you know if I find out anything about it.

 

K'haz Tia leans against the rock face, crossing his arms as his tail twisted with his thoughts. "What's this man's station within' the guild?"

 

K'luha Haaz: The Headmaster.

 

K'ile Twinflame throws his arms in the air, "Okay, stop! This is... I'm getting K'luha back to Drybone."

 

K'ile Twinflame he grabs K'luha's arm and stands, attempting to pull her up with him. "Come on."

 

K'haz Tia frowns deeply and holds out an arm to stop K'ile. "Hold yerself and think a tick. K'luha is apart of this man's guild aye?"

 

K'luha Haaz: No. K'ailia is.

 

K'haz Tia nods. "Right then she knows him better than any of us. She knows what she's doin. If we go runin' in there flashin' our claws we might cause more harm then help."

 

K'luha Haaz: Trust me. Not planning on running after him for a fight anymore.

 

K'haz Tia shrugs. "An' if she's a white mage as she says she knows of his aether. Knows it's potential and can likely feel it when it's movin' about. If anythin' he won't catch her by surprise. She's probably better prepared for 'em than the two of ye."

 

K'luha Haaz nods to K'haz Tia.

 

K'ile Twinflame: Don't misunderstand. I'm not doing anything about it, except keeping him the hell away from the tribe. I know K'ailia can handle him. She's meddlesome and emotional, but she's not tame.

 

K'luha Haaz frowned and winced a bit, rubbing at her wounds. Too much stress and headaches... but at least she felt... somewhat relieved if not weightened with sadness.

 

K'haz Tia tail taps against stone and nods in understanding. "Alright. You've never been one to put the tribe in danger so I'll trust ye. Still...foul magic headin' a guild...one interested in all of Eorzea? I don't like the sound of it."

 

K'luha Haaz: You think he's up to no good then?

 

K'haz Tia shakes his head. "Aether is a thing of life. Wild, untamed - that's how healthy aether feels. Like sun itself. This...darkness isn't right. Ain't somethin' of life anyway."

 

K'ile Twinflame: Here's an idea, K'haz. Why don't you go find K'ailia and you two do something about it. I've got to worry about getting the tribe moved out of the Sagolii before they starve.

 

K'ile Twinflame adds on as an afterthought, "And K'luha needs to fix some of K'ailia's meddling in Gridania."

 

K'haz Tia nods. "I can do that. Not a problem. Just a matter of findin' her."

 

K'ile Twinflame: The garden's in Ul'dah. Ask around. You'll find it. Or they'll find you.

 

K'luha Haaz: Stay safe K'haz... I don't wanna loose you again and I don't care what the tribe laws is.

 

K'ile Twinflame pulls on K'luha's arm again, "Come on. If you're going to sit at least sit back in Drybone."

 

K'haz Tia boyish grin softens into something more genuin. "You won't be losin' me any time soon. Don't frest. I've learned a thing or two on my own and have good comrads watchin' my back for when I slip up."

 

K'luha Haaz glanced to K'haz before looking back to K'ile. "Alright..." she finally gave in before slowly standing. "It's freezing out here..."

 

K'haz Tia nods at the pair - already walking up to his mount. "Aye listen to the flirt. Rest up an' get some food. Healers orders."

 

K'luha Haaz nods to K'haz Tia.

 

K'haz Tia mounting the bird, K'haz clicks his tongue - offering a final parting. "An' K'ile...put on a shirt. Stop forcin' my sister to look at yer wrinkled old arse."

 

K'luha Haaz: Stay in touch!

 

K'luha Haaz bids farewell to K'haz Tia.

 

K'ile Twinflame begins to move away, pulling K'luha by her arm. He doesn't spare a farewell for K'haz.

 

K'luha Haaz grunts and is pulled along, whining ab it at a fair amount of pain. "You could be nicer about it..."

 

K'ile Twinflame: I could be a lot meaner about it too.

 

K'luha Haaz: You could. I would prefer nice though.

 

K'ile Twinflame: Let's just get back to the inn.

 

K'luha Haaz nods to you.

[Twinflame]

Twinflame: K'ile Tia still didn't like the inn and its rigid rooms, but caverns were good places to run to when someone was injured. Nothing kept the elements out quite like stone walls, though the stench of corpses slipped in anyway. The soapweed he had procured previously had at least taken over as the primary scent in the room, a mix of herb, dirt, and the strange smell of cleanliness.

 

He preceded K'luha into the room, if only because he was still pulling her behind him. K'ile had refused to talk about anything during their walk back to Drybone. Too much talking had taken place that evening, in his opinion. Now, though, as they entered the room, he said, "This whole situation's a mess now. You all love to take things that a perfectly under control and just complicate it."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha found her being dragged blindly through the sodden desert. All of those sudden storms were really beginning to get on her nerves and under her skin. She hated the rain more than anything. 

 

Still, she was tired now from such a stupidly stressful day and didn't try to make the walk over anymore pleasure. All she wished was for K'ile to stop dragging her by the arm, which was starting to hurt. 

 

Finally, and K'luha was extremely glad for it, they returned to the room. Athough he didn't stop pulling her behind him. She sighed at his final declaration of the mess she'd made of things and tried to shake her arm free.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Releasing her arm mostly on his own, K'ile turned to K'luha and crossed his arms over his chest. He frowned at her, looking her over. "How are you feeling?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Like shit." she answered bluntly honest. Normally she would attempt in some weak way to conceal this, especially after she had quietly vowed to herself to suffer in silence again, but really she just didn't have the energy anymore to hide it. 

 

Luha rubbed her wrist and sat down on the edge of the bed with a wince. Really... punched through a tree? How... pathetic. 

 

"My daughter talked down to me, I looked like an idiot, I was fire punched through a tree and almost killed then yelled at by everyone I know..." K'luha shook her head sighed heavily. "I really almost wish that stupid man had killed me. I don't think I've felt this dumb in ages."

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile pulled on one ear, looking away. "Well, all of that being what it is. It's not really your fault Ventus tried to kill you. That's all on him, and he's going to pay for it."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Don't." K'luha warned irritably, shooting K'ile a death glare. "He wiped the floor with me. He didn't even break a sweat. Don't challenge him K'ile. You'll just get yourself killed and Azeyma help me if you were to die."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm not an idiot, K'luha. Now let's just drop that for now." He began to look around the room as though lost. "How does that bath thing work? You look like you could use one."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Eh? You go turn the water on... in the other room..." she mmumbled, motioning.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Making a face, "Turn water on? How does a person turn water on?" He goes to peak into the room, and observes, "There's some kind of mechanical contraption on this basin?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha nodded and sighed before forcing herself to her feet and padding over to the bathroom. "Here, look. The nob, turn it to the right and water comes out of here..." she explained, demonstrating to him in the process of the explanation.

 

*

 

Twinflame: His expression rolled in a mix of bemusement and judgement. He mutted after a moment, "Ul'dahns have so much water it literally just comes right out of the ground on command." He shook hsi head brushed at his face with one hand. "Whatever."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha shrugged and let the tub fill up with hot water before she turned the nob again to turn it off. Grumbling, she rubbed at her wound again anyway and looked to K'ile. "It's rather nice you know but."

 

*

 

Twinflame: His arms crossed over his chest, a frown on his face, he said, "But what?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: She sighed and waved a had dismissively. "You going to watch me undress and bathe or are you going to go wait in the other room?" K'luha smirked faintly and raised a brow at the Tia, knowing he would never choose the first.

 

*

 

Twinflame: With a thoughtful blink and a moment of hesitation, he shrugged and said, "Maybe I'll get in too. Everyone already thinks we're screwing, apparently."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha blinked. What? He wasn't running scared at the mention of nudity? Well that was... uh... different. And as for that second part. "I don't get why K'ailia said that... do we really give off that vibe?" She pouted and carefully pulled off her robe. Her eyes glanced down to the wound which was nicely healed but still a bit strange looking and it still felt very weird and painful.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile averted his eyes when she began to undress. "She's a kid. K'haz too. A person has to mature a little bit before they figure out that not all relationships are about sex." After a few seconds, K'ile grudgingly looked over towards K'luha, eyeing the extent of her injuries. His expression showed his displeasure. "Do you feel like you've been healed well enough?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "K'haz is almost as old as I am." K'luha remark, slowly standing and continuing to undress. Although, she couldn't help but to look at her wound as well and poke at it. Certailny it looked healed enough on the outside and yet... 

 

She bit her bottom lip and grumbled. "It feels weird. Like there is something... inside holding it all together. I really... hate... that feeling." K'luha sighed and gave up on trying to figure it out before slipping into the bath and laying down. At least the warm water helped ease the strange feeling of the wound.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I don't blame you. We're talking about something K'ailia did, right? Her healing magic?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Eh? Well... K'ailia healed most of it yes... it feels very strange. So I suppose so..." K'luha frowned deeply and dunked her head under the water for a moment. She sat back up a little and shook out her now soaking hair before pulling the small clips from it so it might hand naturally. "My hair's starting to get long..." she mumbled to herself.

 

*

 

Twinflame: While K'luha was underwater, K'ile paced over nearer the tub, and then sat with his back facing it. Looking at the opposite wall, he said, "K'ailia shouldn't have meddled with Maka's daughter. She's made things more difficult.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha looked to K'ile's back for a moment. "Has she...?" Her voice was soft and solmen. "We couldn't leave Maka's daughter on her own K'ile... I... couldn't. It's my fault she's by herself now. I'm sure... that the elders will see her daughter as innocent. They will..." K'luha insisted, having to believe that herself more than she really had to convince K'ile.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I was thinking it over again, and it shouldn't be a problem." He spoke as if to the wall across from him. "I was going to say, before you went running off like an idiot, that we should go to Gridania and get her ouselves. She's your family and she hasn't done anything wrong, so the Elders just have to deal with it."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha smiled at K'ile's back and carefully put her hand against the small of the exposed skin. "You're a softie K'ile." she chuckled.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Stiffening at the touch, K'ile said, "I am not a-" and stopped himself. He pulled on one ear, "K'ailia just had to get involved and give her a linkpearl and enroll her in the archers guild and who knows what else! I know she's trying to help but damn it!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Of course she did." K'luha chuckled lightly, sitting up in the bath to reach K'ile's head and grab one of his ears. She tugged it lightly before smirking again. "It's K'ailia. A whole new K'ailia. She's 'saving Eorzea'. You heard it. One miq'ote at a time apparently."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Hey!" K'ile protested, but didn't really struggle. He turned his head to look at K'luha. "This is a serious issue. Maka's daughter needs to come back to the tribe, which means she can't be a member of an archers' guild in Gridania. And as much as K'ailia wants to help the world, she won't be a good influence on a kid."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I don't think Maka's kid will stay with us for long anyway K'ile." she sighed, reaching up to grab his other ear and playfully tug at both of them. "Probably only for a year or so before K'ailia usurps her to the Garden or something..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Letting her have his way with his ears, he still managed to look dubious in his scowl. "It bothers me that you think that's acceptable. This is why there's a rule against talking to those who have left the tribe! It makes other people more likely to leave."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I never said I thought it was acceptable. I simply see it as the way things will happen." K'luha frowned and pinched on of K'ile's ears before releasing them both and slinking back into the water. "I've said it before... is there really a purpose to our way of life anymore? We just seem to be a bunch of outdated relics living in the past to everyone else. Is that really what we are?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm not a relic. None of us are." K'ile exhaled, sullenly. He bent forward and kept his arms crossed, closing himself off. His ears lay flat on his head.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha watched him pout, closing himself off. Well then. If he was going to pout... K'luha smirked devously and slowly grabbed his tail before pulling it just enough to knock him off balance and hopefully have him land in the tub next to her.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Ever deliberate and mindful, K'ile instinctively knew what K'luha was trying to do the moment before it happened. This didn't necessarily save his balance, but he was able to control himself somewhat. He extended one arm to catch himself on the opposite side of the tub. It was wet, though, and his hand slipped under his weight, which twisted his torso and pitch him forward.

 

The next thing to hit the opposite side of the tub was his head, with an audible crack. He slid into the tub crookedly with his head drawing a line of blood on its way down.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha squeaked as K'ile so ungracefully. She winced and opened an eye to check as he somehow awkwardly slid in the tub. She noticed the blood instantly and cursed.

 

"K'ile you fucking cunt! You're a frail god damn fair princess!" She hissed, dragging herself from the tub and picking picking up princess style and carrying him back to the room. She set him gently on the bed and threw on her things.

 

*

 

Twinflame: When K'luha reached down to grab him, K'ile flinched and clumsily tried to push her hands away, sitting up in the tub under his own power. He was absolutely drenched, and his hair stuck to his face like a red veil. A line of blood ran down one cheek.

 

He sat stunned, and mutted, "What... dammit." And put a hand to his head.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "You..." K'luha hissed and jumped forward to hug him, being very mindful this time not to push his head around. "You tucking clumsy moron! You are a god damn fairy princess! Getting hurt so easily! Fucker!" She growled angrily, refusing to give up on hugging him.

 

*

 

Twinflame: He didn't struggle against the hug. With his eyes closed and pressing his hand firmly against his head, K'ile actually leaned limply into K'luha a bit. "What... the hell  did you think was going to happen?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Shut up you giant baby!" Luha snapped, gripping K'ile tightly and pulling him closer. "You weren't supposed to be a freaking idiot and hit your head and die!"

 

*

 

Twinflame: Uttering a quiet grunt at the strength of K'luha's hug, he replied, "Maybe you shouldn't be knocking me over into some kind of... watery death trap." He reached his free arm up and drped it over K'luha's back in a weak gesture. "And I didn't die. I'm just all wet."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "You're bleeding." She shit back sharply, scowling at the blood she could still see in the tub.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Don't make this about me," he said, rubbing at his head again. "It's just a little blood. Never hurt anybody." He took the hand from his head and put it on her back with his other one. Turning his face towards her, long hair still plastered on his features but leaving one bue eyes exposed, he said, "I'm fine."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha looked deeply into his eye for a moment only to shake her head. " You are the one who told me head injuries are very serious and should never be ignored! It's about you now." She insisted, running a hand up his back to lightly feel his head.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "And coming from you that's hilarious. Anyway." His arms over her back suddenly gripped, pulled and twisted, to pull her sideways into the tub.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Yeah but you-eh? What are you doing?" She questioned as she was suddenly moved somehow sideways in the tub. It was all very disorienting.

 

*

 

Twinflame: His response came easily, "Wrangling you, like you said I couldn't." Of course he hadn't thought out the action and had no idea what to do with her now. "And, uhm." In his daze, he'd actually forgotten she was naked, which he was now realizing anew since he'd pulled her up against him. "You're supposed to be relaxing. Not stressing out over my head."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Oh." She replied awkwardly. She'd all but forgotten in the sudden trauma. She blinked again realizing the somewhat, well more like damningly comprising position they were in. She smirked faintly at K'ile and chuckled. "Well, I never thought you would be so forward K'ile."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm not... It's not... Uhm." He leaned away from K'luha, back into the tub. She was more or less on top of him so he couldn't really just escape without throwing her off, which, she was still injured. "I'm not being forward about anything."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Kluha giggled at his awkwardness and stuck her tongue out at him. "I know. I'm kidding."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Oh," he looked at the ceiling. His face was almost as red as his hair. "Good. That's good." This bath was not very relaxing. He realized belatedly that he still had his arms around K'luha, and released her to fall backwards into the water with a slosh. He put one hand behind his head to protect it from the water, concentrating on his headache to distract himself from the lethal combination of K'luha's nudity, proximity, and the way the water washed over her legs.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: It was funny to see his face so red. So indeed he did get embarrassed with nudity. Kluha had never minded it so much. It felt natural and she tended to go with what felt right. "K'ile, hiding from me does not make me go away." She reminded him teasingly.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm not hiding!" He snapped back, very insistant. He turned his defiant eyes on K'luha, crossed his arms over his chest. The whole situation was very incomfortable to him, and not just because he was soaking in the water fully clothed. "Where would I hide? What are you getting at?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha raised her hands up in defense. "Alright alright, get out if it so pleases you. Or stay and take off your dirty clothes. They're making the bath dirty."

 

*

 

Twinflame: He sat up. That this put him so very close to K'luha's body again was not something he could do anything about. He said to the woman, "I'm not going to let you trick me into taking off my clothes."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I'm not tricking you. What? So you think I'm trying to seduce you know?" She smirked.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "You know what? Yes." Against his better judgement, he found himself moving forward so that the warmth of his body mingled with K'luha's, so that he was talking to her face to face. "It's so obviouseven K'haz noticed it. It only took him two minutes."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Hmmm. Well I'm not." She replies, still smiling slyly. "You would know if I was seducing you."

 

*

 

Twinflame: With a dubious frown on his face, K'ile said, "I don't think you could get much more obvious than this."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "You were pouting. I wanted to give you something real to pout about." She chuckled and crossed her arms over her chest . "Am I not allowed to have any fun with you? I only act this way because I trust you and I feel comfortable around you." K'luha smiled warmly at him for a moment before pinching his cheek. "Besides, I know there isn't much point to seducing you Mr. Tia unless we both want to get kicked out of the tribe."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Remaining stoic as his cheeks were pinched, he maintained his dubious tone and said, "You've expressed your wish for me to become Nunh. I would need a woman to commit to me before I even tried. Is that something you'd do?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Kluha blinked. What? Seriously? "I... I mean I would. I think you would be a good nunh. But seriously? Or are you just messing with me again." She quirked a brow at him and hummed.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm just asking a question," he said, but decided that was a week reply. So he added, "I don't want to be Nunh, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't consider it. Judging from K'rei's behavior I could probably get her to vouch for me. But I'm not interested in doing it for her. It wouldn't mean anything to me."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Kluha thought about it. K'ile becoming nunh... She nodded finally a yes. "No, I would support you if you decided to do that. I just, don't wanna get my hopes dashed you know?" She chuckled lightly.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile sighed, and was distracted for a moment by what to do with his hands in the small, suddenly very intimate space. He was dynamically away of the position of both of their bodies, and didn't want to alter the awkward equilibrium. Of course, because he was himself, he ended up just putting his hands behind K'luha and letting them sit on her back. Because he didn't know what else to do and she had accepted that earlier.

 

"There isn't much to get your hopes up about." He said. "I'm still not planning on it. I only mentioned it in the first place because I trust you and you seemed like you wanted a bit more from me than what a Tia can give."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Kluha shrugged, letting K'ile rest his hands comfortably on her back. Did she want more from him? She wasn't against it. More like she was worried he would hurt himself if she actually managed to seduce him. 

 

"I'll take whatever you can give. I don't really mind if you won't be a nunh. I wanted another child but I think another k'ailia would be my death." Kluha chucked at herself a bit and smiled at K'ile. "Besides, I think you'd end up hurting yourself if you acted tried that with me." She grinned widely at him and laughed again.

 

*

 

Twinflame: He quirked his expression and looked to one side. The headache was still serving as a decent distraction, so he wasn't going to freak out over the thought of it. It was hard not to think about sex in this situation, but he tried not to just obsess over the idea of K'luha's body. K'ile tried to imagine himself having kids, trying to be for the tribe what K'thalen had once been, and what K'raqi and K'yohko could never hope to be.

 

"It just doesn't seem like me. Being Nunh." He confessed. "It's a lot more than just being strong and having women. The whole reason we're in this situation as a tribe is because K'yohko's an awful dad."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "You think? Perhaps it's just me. Maybe I'm simply a bad mother." She sighed disheartened. "I tried so hard for K'ailia... I don't really think it was  K'yohok's fault. I think it was moreso, my own."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "No way," K'ile said. After a moment's heistation, he pulled K'luha up against him and squeezed her. "K'ailia got all of her best qualities from you. You didn't do a single thing wrong with her."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Kluha blinked, surprised but genuinely comforted by the action. She leaned into him and sighed a bit. "Think so? She's a wild one that girl... I did my best... I only hope that she'll one day understand a little more. I don't know when she started seeing me as such an idiot. The way she talked to me last night? I simply..." Kluha sighed heavily again and frowned.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "She's just mad," he said, his shoulders and back stiff. K'ile wanted to relax, but...

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Hnngh, but still! She shouldn't have talked to me like that..." Kluha pouted and grumbled. "I'm still her mother... That was rather rude."

 

*

 

Twinflame: He shrugged at that. "What's more rude was meddling with Maka's daughter. We're going to have to unenroll her from the Archers' Guild when we take her back to the tribe."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "It would be good for her to start leaning in the meantime though..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Meantime when?" K'ile said, pulling away from K'luha far enough to look her in the eye, "I would've talked you into going to Gridania hours ago if you hadn't gotten in your head to go start trouble."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Kluha frowned again. "Sorry... We could go now?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Now you're recovering from someone trying to kill you." And, flicking one wet ear on the side of his head where a line of blood drew down his face, he added, "So am I. We'll go tomorrow."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Kluha nodded and made a face of annoyance at him. "I have to teach you to use the aetherytes so you can stop me before I do dumb things."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I don't think that's something a person can just pick up and do." He said. He looked down at the cooling water, and said, "I'm not sure I understand how baths are supposed to be good for you."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Hmm, well usually the water is hot and you clean yourself with soap, rinse off, then get out. We... Kind if did it wrong." She chuckled, looking down at the water. "I propose another bath later."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Hmph." K'ile brought his gaze back up to K'luha's eyes, fixing her with a very serious look, and said, "You aren't allowed to get hurt anymore. So no more picking stupid fights. And stay away from Ventus."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Kluha could only laugh in reply. "When do I ever listen to common sense?" She smiled at him and fave a heavy sigh. "I need to investigate Ventus more. "

 

*

 

Twinflame: "No, you don't." He dropped his hands to squeeze her lower on her back, drawing her close while still being able to look her in the eye. "The tribe needs you, and the Garden isn't your problem. Trust K'ailia."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: For a moment, K'luha felt like her breath was gone. Truly? Did the tribe need her so much? Or maybe, it was just K'ile. She didn't think she would mind so much if it was indeed just K'ile. "I..." She tried to reply, but the words just caught in her throat.

 

*

 

Twinflame: He leaned in and pushed his forehead up against K'luha's, softly enough to not make his headache any worse. He said, "Just worry about our family for now, alright?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "K'ailia is still my family... And K'haz and Maka's daughter... But... I will try to not get hurt anymore!" She whispered in return.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Don't be so stubborn," he pressed his forehead against K'luha's more firmly, but stopped when it made his headache worse. "You know what I mean."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Kluha gingerly touched his cheek. "I know." She replied quietly. "But my family is more than those in the tribe now..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: With a note of bitterness in his voice, K'ile said, "You just don't want to admit that they can handle their situations on their own."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "No, I don't." Was her only sad reply.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Well, they can. It's the rest of us that are in trouble. You don't see K'ailia sitting in a tub all broken and half-starved."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I... I'm not half broken!" She scowled, moving her hand to flick his arm. "Starving maybe, but not half broken!"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Half starved, all broken," he reiterated. "You can't keep pouring everything into K'ailia. She doesn't need that and it's not good for you."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I am not all broken!" She hissed any, insistent on being perfectly fine despite being anything but. "K'ailia is... She is more important than I am. Besides, I put everything I had into her since she was born... I... What else would I even do?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "K'ailia is not more important than you," K'ile snapped, as though he were scolding her. "It doesn't work that way. Everyone's important. Can you really not imagine, out of everyone around you, the entire tribe, a single other thing that needs your attention?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Kluha winced and pulled back a bit. Something else that needed her attention? Well, the huntresses would be help and she was after looking for somewhere new for them all the live. "I..." Luha faltered again and went silent.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile dropped his head to K'luha's shoulder and exhaled in exasperation, "Really? There's no way."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha frowned and patted Kiles back lightly without an answer for him.

[Twinflame]

K'luha Haaz: The trip to Gridania was not an easy one. Well, it was easy in the sense that they were riding on a floating carriage but for a floating carriage it was rather uncomfortable and bumpy at times. Not to mention her injuries had been aching her and from seemingly no where, her hip was in excuriating pain. So much so that she did her best not to move it as much as possible and quietly promised herself to find some sort of potion to get rid of pain when she was in Gridania. 

 

K'ile and herself had yet to exchange too many words as usually she or he were sleeping out of boredom. That and he had insisted she rest because of her injuries on the way there. It was as good a time as any to rest. 

 

Finally this afternoon they had entered the Black Shroud and were beneath the cool canopy of the forest. It was a welcome break from the heat and severe weather of Drybone. K'luha eye's tensed in pain, the cooler weather making her hip act up. Her joints usually ached a bit with severe changes in weather but with the injury to her hip now thanks to K'ailia's stone, it was terribly painful. 

 

K'luha took a deep breath and looked up at the carriage's overhang, wondering if K'ile was awake now or not. She glanced over to where she thought he might be to check.

 

*

 

 

Twinflame: K'ile Tia was leaning over the side of the carriage, staring out at the woods. What he was really doing was smelling them. There were a thousand kinds of plant and animal out there that he'd never encountered before, and it was overwhelming to be able to sense them all at once. He could catch hints of their movement in the woods, of things that had passed along this road minutes or hours or an entire day before the carriage came along. But before he could sense enough of that passage to understant it, a new and vivid scent would find him and tear at his attention.

 

He caught a thousand tiny glimpses of everything that lived in the forest. And a whole lot of those damned, smelly chocobos getting in the way. Disgusting birds. Foul and diseased no matter how well cared-for they were, as far as he was concerned. He'd heard there were breeders near Gridania. The tribe would be wise to contact them and see if their mutual pursuits could lead to business.

 

His tail flicking around behind him, K'ile Tia was all smile and wide eyes, ears perked up and swiveling everywhere.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha watched K'ile's back for a few minutes. He was... well perkier than usual. Excited? He did seem to like to travel. She would have invited him to come to Ul'dah with her more if he really enjoyed the travel. 

 

Perhaps for the holiday season, albeit it was more of an outsider's tradition but she enjoyed it anyway, she would ask him if he wanted to go to Limsa. He had said something about it being somewhere he'd like to go. To see the ocean, if she remembered properly.

 

K'luha had meant to speak up and actually talk to him, but she simply ended up staring at his back for a prolonged period of time. She watched his muscles twitch everytime he seemed to swap his attention to something new. The way his tail flicked about behind him with so much energy. Even his ears were swiveling around his head like mad. 

 

So much energy. It was really like he was still a kid. He was older than she, and yet K'luha was starting to already feel like an old cat.

 

*

 

Twinflame: After a time, K'ile relaxed, easing back into the carriage rather suddenly. He was on the seat on his knees, with his back facing K'luha. The Tia flicked his tail near the woman's face, looking over his shoulder to smile at her. "Hey Luha, what're you looking at?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Ah. So he knew. K'luha smirked faintly, her ears shifting on her head to get comfortably. 

 

"Obviously your ass." she replied cheekily, glancing back up to the ceiling. "Get back up so I can stare some more."

 

*

 

Twinflame: His ears dipped in discomfort. "Uhm." He tried to decide if that was a demand K'luha would back with a threat. It took effort to disguise his uncertainty, and he wasn't sure if he succeeded. After a few moments he flicked his tail at her again and said, "No freebies."

 

He thought it was an excellent response and was very proud of himself.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha snorted loudly before breaking into a laugh that turned into a coughing fit and eventually settled into silence. She sighed after a moment of peace and rubbed at her hip uncomfortably.

 

"Come on. You won't even give a dying old woman a freebie?" Luha teased again, her eyes still glancing up towards the overhang and not at K'ile. Despite not looking at him she could picture him perfectly in her mind's eyes.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Dammit. She got him back with that one. She was injured so of course she deserved freebies. And that put him in a terribly awkward position of either giving her one or being seen as someone without any sense of generosity.

 

K'ile stretched his arms high above his head and lifted his haunched just enough to touch the ceiling. "I'm not sure," he said. The movement looked like he was jsut easing cramps, so he didn't feel embarassed by it. "You might still be indebt over the whole bath-tub thing."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Yes, right. Because Mr. Fairy Princess couldn't just do as planned and land in the tub next to me, he had to flail about and almost die first." She scoffed and peered sideways over to K'ile as he stretched. He was really bad at knowing when she was teasing, and that amused her terribly. A wicked smile slipped on her face as she reached over to pinch the base of his tail. 

 

"By the way I'm joking K'ile. I don't need you to show me your ass. I can just stalk you while you're cleaning, I mean, what?" she chuckled again more softly and shook her head. "I'm teasing again, in case you didn't figure it out that time."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Gah!" He flinched at the pinch on his tail, but not overly much. He recovered quickly and swung his tail around to ward her off, "I know you're teasing! I'm not five. I know what teasing sounds like! I even know what it smells like!" It didn't smell like anything.

 

He spun around and dropped into his seat, arms crossed. "And that's why I don't like rock-and-metal buildings. They're deathtraps! No give. One fall and you're done."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Oooh, please. Enlighten me. What does teasing smell like? I would very much like to know." K'luha cackled at K'ile again. For all of his red hair, it couldn't portray his hot-headedness enough. Maybe not hot-headedness... but his passion. Yes, passion was a better word for it. K'ile was certainly passionate, and that was something K'luha found she enjoyed about him a lot. 

 

Reguardless, she watched him spin around and sit, whining about metal-death-traps or buildings. She pinched the bridge of her nose and huffed at the comment. 

 

"They're not." She assured him, gazing over lazily at him again. "They really aren't. They can be very comfortable. Good shelter from the weather, really. Good places to store food where pests can't get to it easily. They have use if you're not nomadic. You're just a Fairy Princess who can't deal with them."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Skewing his features, he mutted, "I am not. Maybe you're a... strange person who finds rocks comfortable. I don't know," he pointed and said, "You got punched through a tree!" as if it completely invalidated any criticism she might have.

 

His attention turned back to the forest around them, gaze pointing out the back of the carriage.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Mmm..." she agreed with a quiet hum, letting K'ile get frustrated and turn away for the time being. They would be there soon. How she was going to walk was beyond her at the moment, but she assumed she would just have to power through it. Like usual really. Despite K'ailia's departure... everything seemed like it was going back to normal. Really, she knew when she would feel it the most was when she slept in her tent along after she gave K'ailia her things. It would be... empty. 

 

For awhile longer she laid still in silence, looking only at K'ile's firey hair absent-mindedly.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Staring off into space for a long time, K'ile would eventually mutter, "...It feels stange to be getting someone..."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Eh?" K'luha blinked having spaced out for awhile there. Her hand reached forward lightly to touch K'ile's head but it was too far away to reach it. A bit dissappointed, she dropped her hand down to her side again and cleared her throat. "You mean getting Maka's daughter?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: He flicked his eyes over to K'luha, blinked, and then turned to look at her. "Yeah. To be gaining a person for a change."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Loose one, gain one I suppose..." A heavy sigh and silence followed as K'luha's thoughts turned towards K'ailia.

 

*

 

Twinflame: With a sigh, he said, "I was trying not to mention the flipside. You're not losing K'ailia." He hovered a moment in stillness in quiet, though it felt a great deal longer than the half-second's pause it really was. Then he leaned forward and put his fingertips on K'luha's knee, "It's not something to wonder or worry or talk about. You'll see."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Right... she wasn't loosing K'ailia. She had already lost K'ailia. And her son. Of course. Where was the one who would make up for her lost son? With both of them having left her... the thought was more agonizing than the pain in her hip or torso combined. 

 

Thankfully she didn't get much time to brood on it as K'ile spoke up again and touched her knee. She glanced over to him, her eyes full of mixed motions that swirled about in gold and green. 

 

"No... it's not. It's just something I don't know how to deal with..." Was K'luha's vague answer before looking away again.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Just wait," he said, and thought that sounded a little stupid. Patting her knee dumbly, he overclocked his brain long enough to say, "Just be here in the woods with me and look forward to meeting this kid. Brooding's no fun."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I am having trouble not brooding when I think that both my son and daughter are gone and the reason we have to come out here in the first place is because my sister made some comment about K'ailia being a wayward daughter that was obviously going to leave the tribe someday and I punched her in the face." K'luha answered back in a completely deadpan.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Frowning, more in frustration than anything, K'ile said, "Well. Try. You've got every right to be sad but if you're not going to let anyone cheer you up, then that's all you're going to be. Do you want me to show you my ass again? Or I can let you beat me up! You haven't done that in awhile."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "You brought it up first." she mumbled more to herself than to him before looking back over at him. K'luha moved to sit up but the pain quickly made her lie back down and she grumbled. "I can't even sit up. How am I supposed to beat your ass?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: Smiling, he said, "I can make it easy! I'll just pput my ass in easy reach." Though, his smile faded after a moment. "Why are you hurting so much all of a sudden? K'ailia and K'haz said they'd healed you. If K'haz missed something I'm gonna stomp on his neck!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Bah. No one healed me after I took that stupid rock K'ailia casted at you. I think it reopened things. That and I've been laying down for too long. Everything's stiff." K'luha sighed heavily before forcing herself to sit up with a great whine. "Ugh. Not fun."

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile managed to chuckle at that, easing back into a relaxed posture. "See. You can sit up, so you can totally kick my ass if you want. I'm just a 'fairy princess' or something, right?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Yes. You are." K'luha grunted and forced herself unsteadily to her feet. "Stupid fucking princess..." she grumbled angirly to herself.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Canting his head to one side, K'ile's expression fell into one of concerned bemusement. "Uhm... Luha? Are you...?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Am I?" She mirrored back at him, glancing over to K'ile irritably.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Pulling his chin in and frowning, he said, "Give me a good kick if it helps. I'm within swinging distance."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I would give you a..." The rest of the sentence trailed off into unintelligable grumbles before K'luha clusmily sat back down and sighed.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Absolutely failing to understand K'luha's before while she stood and sat -- okay, she was probably just in pain, but she was mad at him for someting probably also -- K'ile was giving K'luha a dubious sideways look. He didn't bother crossing his arms to close off his body language. He could never dream of staving off the woman. "... Feeling better?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "No." came the once again deadpan response before once again she grumbled beneath her breath so K'ile couldn't hear.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Leaning forward again, he said, "Okay, keeping in mind I can't help you with the pain, what can I do to make you feel better?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha raised a brow at K'ile before laying back down on the bend to get comfortable. "What do you think you could do?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: Holy shit women. Seriously. K'ile rolled his eyes and his ears and his tail and swayed on the bench and eventually brought his attention back to K'luha, "I don't know. Well I do know. Maybe. No, you know what? You want such crazy things at such crazy times, let's just go with 'I don't know' on this one. So you've got to tell me."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Keep your tail on. I was just curious as to your thoughts for once." A frown crossed her features before it relaxed away. Her mind wandered for a bit and she chuckled to herself, having thought of something amusing.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "My thoughts are that your thoughts would be more useful than my thoughts," K'ile said dryly, staring down into K'luha's face with an only vaguely impatient expression.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "You wanna kiss it and make it better?" K'luha could barely finish the setence before laughing again.

 

*

 

Twinflame: His ears went flat against his head and his tail shivered. "Kiss what? Your... hip?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha waggled her ears at K'ile and smirked some more. "Was that a yes then?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Uhm." K'ile blinked, and his ears shifted on his head, and his tail shivered. "Wait." He fell back into sitting on his bench, leaning against the side of the carriage. He put a hand to his ear and pulled on it, his eyes pointing at K'luha but his gaze a thousand malms away as he pondered.

 

He wasn't even sure what exactly he was pondering. The significance of the invitiation, or the implications of acceptance, or perhaps the best method in which to reject? What would K'thalen do in this siituaition? K'thalen would probably just like her all over and then carry off to his tent for a few hours. but K'thalen was a Nunh, so that wasn't useful at all.

 

He shrugged. "Okay." It was just a hip. It's not like she'd asked him for a kiss on the lips or anything. And besides, he was betting that she was convinced he would say 'no'.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: What? He was seriously thinking about it? Seriously? K'luha gaped at K'ile as he sat down and actually seriously thought about doing it. No way. No way in hell. She was obviously already dead if he was really going to do that. K'ailia must have killed her with that rock or Ventus killed her when he punched her through a tree and she was just dreaming that kind of nonsense. K'ile doing something remotely sexual? No way. He might have had a dick, she was pretty sure he did at least, but she was also pretty sure it was there for decoration and he'd never touched the thing. 

 

Besides to clean it or something. 

 

K'luha's jaw dropped when he shrugged and agreed. No way in hell. 

 

"Holy shit, am I dead? Pinch me I think I'm dead."

 

*

 

Twinflame: He laughed at her. He knew when he did it that it'd prolly piss her off, but he couldn't help it. His back bowed forward and his hair shook while he laughed loudly and suddenly enough that one of the Chocobo at the front of the carriage squawked in surprise. K'ile clapped his hands, and continued to laugh far longer than was probably wise. For almost half a minute.

 

"I have never," he cughed through the laughter, "I've never seen you look like that! You really thought you had one on me!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha blushed fervently when he started laugh. It wasn't THAT funny. No seriously. It wasn't. The more he laughed the more she blushed until her ears were down on her head and she pulled her hair in front of her face to hid her embarrasset ment. 

 

"Y-yeah well! I never thought y-youd agree!' she shot back, stammering from her own embassment. God she had never been so embarassed before.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Well, I agreed." He crossed his arms, smiling broadly. He was smug. The laughter subsiding, he leaned over and loomed over K'luha, forcing her to bask in his victory and surveying her defeat as if it were a thing he possessed and prized greatly. "So what are you going to do now? Care to change your request? I just might let you."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Oh! But it's not over yet!" K'luha retorted, puffing her chest out a little bit to ward him off. "You're smug, but can you really go through with it? It's one thing to say yes, another to do it! I won't rescind my request." she smirked back as if she had one the fight.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Still looming, K'ile said, "Of course you won't. You can't. You've trapped yourself, Luha." He stood and bent over her, extending his hands to lean against the opposite wall of the carriage. His body was arched over her. "So, let's see that hip."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha's ears dropped again and she slinked backwards to the edge of the carriage. "Yes, well. I haven't!" she shot back before blushing again. "And where do you think hips are moron?"

 

*

 

((K'luha, by the way, is wearing pants with a skirt over them.))

 

*

 

Twinflame: Leaning back a bit, K'ile frowned for a moment. Then, he smirked again, "I know where your hips are. They're under your pants. Are you trying to suggest you want me to just take off your pants too?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha scoffed again and waved a hand dismissively at him. "Like you could ever have the balls to do it. You can just kiss it with my skirt on since you're too much of a pussy otherwise."

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile maintained his smile for a few seconds, and then it slowly lost its curve. His ears, so perky before, tiled to the sides. His lips moved to chew on his thoughts, and after a time, his whole body deflated. "Yeah, alright," he confessed, "You got me figured out. Just hold still, okay? Wouldn't want to hurt your hips at all."

 

He leaned back and dropped to his knees beside her, crossing his arms and leaning his elbows on her bench.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha smiled widely, finally having defeated K'ile. Indeed he was too much of a wuss, but that was too bad. She might have let him. Maybe. Perhaps. Still, she chuckled softly and waggled her ears in triumph.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Giving K'luha a look of defiance, he said, "Hey, what'd you think I was going to do? Just reach up into your skirt and pull your pants down?" As he did this, he reached up into her skirt and pulled her pants down.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Well I-" K'luha was about to reply before she realized that he had actually gone ahead and done it. And it was very cold without her pants. She squeeked loudly and her face turned about the shade of K'ile's haircolor. Her eyes promplty closed tightly and she hid her face with her hands. "I really did must have die..." she muttered to herself, completely mortified.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile declared, "I'm kind of tired of people underestimating me all the time. You think I'm afraid of a little hip?" He pulled up her skirt and leaned down to kiss her bare hip, absolutely not flinching at all.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "To be completely honest... I thought you were terrified of it..." K'luha mumbly mostly to herself, her face still completley red. Well this was really awkward now. She really had thought he was afraid of such a thing. Guess not. If his brother had been even half as attractive as K'ile was, it was a good thing she hadn't mated with him. Else she would have a lot more kids. And not because she wanted the kids.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Well, that was done. He'd kissed her hip so lightly out of concern for hurting it that he'd barely felt more than a brush between the lips and the skin, his sparse facial hair brushing her leg, before pulling away. He found himself staring down at her naked hip which, after all, wasn't a thing he hadn't seen and touched before. Now, however, it was dark purple with a bruise that had grown only after the injury had settled, as bruises often do. It hadn't been so bad on the night they'd spent in Drybone. No wonder she couldn't walk.

 

K'ailia had done this to her, when she'd tried to hurt him. K'ile choked on a sudden rush of anger, but a quick breath and the emotion was gone. he was angry at K'luha for thinking she needed to defend him, but that was the kind of person she was. She couldn't have acted differently. He should've made it more obvious that he wasn't going to let himself get hurt.

 

Thinking this over for several seconds in silence, K'ile at length leaned down and kissed K'luha's bare hip again. This kiss was just as soft, but it lingered. He honestly wouldn't have done this if not for the injury. But he was worried. And he felt a bit guilty. There was nothing he could say about it, though, that meant nearly as much as that kiss.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: There was this really awkward long span of time where K'luha could feel K'ile staring at her nude hip. But she couldn't precisely do anything about it. And she couldn't really tell him no. And she didn't really want to either but she simply was at a loss for what to do. Even K'yohko didn't stare at her that long. 

 

The more K'ile stared the more K'luha's face went red and her stomach turned in knots. What precisely was he staring at? Was there something wrong with her hip? Did it look so terrible he had to stare at it in disgust? No really, why the hell was he staring so long? Was it that amazing then? 

 

Never in a thousand years had she expected the first kiss, and the second kiss was really only an assurance to her that she was dead and imagining this from limbo or something. Although, there was something very distinct about that second kiss that made shivers run up her spine and her tail flick up, hair standing on ends. In a good way, of course.

 

*

 

Twinflame: A second after the second kiss, K'ile said, "It's up to you if you want to be sad. Finding something to smile about isn't hard," and then, so quick he didn't even look at K'luha at all, he was off the carriage. The sudden shift of weight made the Chocobos lurch and the carriage bounce in mid-air where it floated, as he landed on the ground behind it.

 

Keeping up with it was easy. He didn't even have to jog; a quick walk was enough. He felt the beginnings of cramps in his legs and back beginning to work themselves out. More importantly, he felt burning heat in his cheeks and ears, a certain breathlessness in his chest, and as he stretched and moved on the open road, the forest cooled it.

 

Catching up with the carriage, he moved to walk beside it, on the side opposite K'luha.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha was so taken aback by the second kiss itself she almost missed his words. Finding something to smile about? She was about to asked him what he meant when the whole carriage lurched and he was gone. It left K'luah alone on the bench feeling somehow.... strange. Too many fixed feelings to pick out any particular one. Besides freezing. 

 

She managed to pull herself back together enough to get her clothing on properly before scooting herself onto the carriage floor and curling up. K'luha was thinking... probably overthinking. She didn't see K'ile because she was too busy staring at the floor and thinking. Something to smile about? What could it be...?

[Twinflame]

Twinflame: Having left their carriage behind when they arrived in Gridania, K'ile Tia insisted on going immediately to retrieve Maka's daughter. He practically fled discussion of anything else, and would not cease moving in directions he did not know. After all, where was the orphanage? He was still getting over the fact that Gridania wasn't built out of a single giant tree, like he had assumed it would be based on how Ul'dah had appeared to be one giant rock.

 

Of course, left to his own, K'ile would get lost in Gridania immediately. He didn't know how to pick Maka's child out of a crowd, so he couldn't even get lucky. In fact, "I don't even know her name," he admitted, stopping for just a moment to turn to K'luha, "Hopefully you're better-equipped to find her than me."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha was none too happy about K'ile insistance. She'd slept most of the ride over after he decided to stop being a wuss, only to wuss out again. She wanted to get settled in Gridania again first but nooo. K'ile had to find her now. Right now. And there was no other way about it. 

 

"Of course I am." she snapped back. "I was here for a month with K'ailia remember?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I know that," he said. "I mean her name. Where we find her! What she looks like, and who to talk to."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "The orphanage is over this way." K'luha sighed heavily, motioning for K'ile to follow to another older looking building made of wood. She carefully came up to the door and knocked. "We'll talk to the woman who is in charge and she can tell us." K'luha huffed as the door opened. 

 

"Oh, hello. You're in charge of the Orphanage? I'm K'luha of the Hipparon tribe. This is K'ile." She motioned vaguely at the other miq'ote. "We're looking for the daughter of one of our lost members and we received a letter she was here? Would you direct us to her." K'luha smiled kindly before the elder Elezen would blinked at them. 

 

"Oh, yes. Of course." The orphange director nodded before walking the two in towards the main living room where most of the children were seated, reading or playing.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile followed quietly. He was vivdly aware of his surroundings, but he coudln't understand them. he could sense the many kinds of people, plants, various things of the city, but this mesh of things was so foreign from any experience that most of it didn't make any sense. There was a certain warmth to the smell of the place that he didn't understand.

 

The orphanage and the people inside were no exception. It leaft him careful and aware, but he didn't feel threatened at all. Just, out of place. And trusting that K'luha knew where they were going and what to do with it. She let him into a building full of children, and the sounds the made had him frowning before he took his first step in. he didn't complain, though. he just kept pace.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: A young Miqo'te girl sits reading to a group of younger children, one small boy is pulling on her tail while another is trying to sit on her shoulders.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Miss K'tahjha..." The Elezen woman called out, motioning to the miqo'te girl reading in the back corner alone. She gave a frowned and called out again. "K'tahjha, these people are responding to the letter." 

 

K'luha's eyes glanced over to where the Orphange caretaker motioned and nearly had to do a touble take. She looked so much Maka it was almost like... she was a young Maka.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj's ears twitched at the sound of her name and she glanced up from the book she was reading. Spotting the two strange Miqo'te her ears drooped slightly but she put the book aside and approached the group with a shy smile.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Doing his very best not to greet the orphaned girl with too much upfront examination, K'ile kept his lips a straight line and forced his ears to pop up and forward. The girl did look like one of them, at least as fair as features went. He found himself suspicious, though. Not because they were in Gridania or because he thought of the girl as an outsider. The girl was Maka's daughter, and that was enough. All the same...

 

To K'luha, he muttered simply, "She looks well taken care of."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha's ears flickered up and down, confused whether to be happy or sad or what entirely she should be feeling. "She does..." was all she could mutter back to K'ile before clearing her throat.

 

"Hi.. um. I'm K'luha. I would be your aunt. Your mom was... is my sister."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: For a second Tahj thought all the air had left her lungs, it was easy to see the family resemblence to her mother in this woman's features.  Hertail tucked firmly between her legs in a fit of nervousness, she offered her hand to K'luha,"H-Hello, my friends call me Tahj." her voice trembling slightly.

 

*

 

Twinflame: With his arm's crossed over his chest, K'ile moved ato stand beside 'Tahj', saying, "Hey. I'm K'ile. We're a bit more distantly related, but still family. Your father is nephew."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha took her hand and smiled. "It's nice to finally meet you Tahj. You look... a lot like your mom. Although... I hate to ask so soon but... what happened to Maka, I mean, your mom? We always used to call her Maka..."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj smiled shyly at the male and bobbed her head courteously,"nice to meet you."Redirecting her attention to K'luha, her ears flattened against her skull in repsonse to the question. Eyes fixed firmly on her feet she spoke soflty,"It was five years ago, our camp was destroyed.." her voice trailed off and she swiped at her eyes and fell silent.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Ah..." K'luha quickly shut her mouth and decided she shouldn't have said anything. "Maka... I'm so sorry..." she muttered to herself, turning away to take a few breaths.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile lifted a hand to put it on Tahj's shoulder, looking at K'luha with a smile, "Yeah, not the best hello, Luha." And then, grabbing Tahj by the shoulder and into her face, he said, "Hey, Tahj. We all loved Maka. How would you like to have a family so big you can't even remember who half of them are, but they've all got your back anyway?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: K'tahjha's ears lifted slightly and she managed a small smile,"I have more family? I'd like to see where mama was born."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha turned back around, putting on a smile. She couldn't fuck this up that quickly. Or she was going to look worse than K'ile. And that was just sad. 

 

"So much family you won't know what to do with them all. I certainly don't know what to do with them. Or K'ile." she chuckled softly.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm difficult to figure out," he said, sounding cheerful. "What have you been doing with yourself for the last five years? I heard you're good with a bow."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Allowing herself to be distracted Tahj grinned,"Mama started me on her bow when I was little, and the archery lessons have been helping. I've learned some about plants from the teacher here, and mostly learning to read and write and helping take care of the smaller kids." Finally stopping to take a breather she blushed faintly,"Sorry to talk so much."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha waved a had dismissively. "You can't get K'ile or myself to shut up most of the time so don't worry about it. Besides, I'd like to hear what you've been up to all this time." K'luha smiled brightly and Tahj and offered her a hand. "We can talk about it over some lunch  maybe?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: Somewhat less enthused about food hunted and cooked by others in a foreign land, K'ile just shrugged and said, "I'm sure we'd love to hear all about you, tahj."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Not hesitating Tahj took K'luha's hand with a smile,"It would be nice, can we eat outside?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Of course!" K'luha promised, leading Tahj and K'ile towards the door. "I know a good place around here. Even K'ile will like the food there." She chuckled.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Not following immediately, K'ile gave K'luha a frown. "Want to make a bet on it?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Grinning at the exchange between the two adults,Tahj walked beside K'luha quietly until her brow furrowed,"Mama taught me to scrape hair off the hides so she could tan 'em, and I can cook and she taught me to bandage wounds." she peered up at K'luha witha worried expression,"Is that good enough? I don't want to be any trouble."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha nodded to Tahj quickly, giving her another warm smile. "Of course. Anything you need to know I'll teach you, so don't worry about being a burden. We're really happy to have you." K'luha turned her hand back at K'ile and snorted. "Yes. I will bet on that by the way. If I win you owe me a favor. Etc."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Great. Favor." K'ile said, unenthused, but as he follwed them outside he stretched and grinned, saying, "I'm probably not going to lose a bet about my own tastes, ya know."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Eyeing K'ile curiously, Tahj asked,"Are you the tribe's Nunh?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha snorted loudly.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "That didn't take long," K'ile muttered, and turning his eyes on Tahj, he said, "No. I'm just a friend of Luha's. The Nunh is still your father."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Brow furrowed in thought Tahj was silent several moments."He'd be kinda old? Do I have many brothers and sisters?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha sighed a bit and rubbed her aching hip. Which was, yes, stil very painful. She was trying not to mind it as she walked. "No, he's actually younger than K'ile. A little older than me. And you have my daughter K'ailia. Then there's K'mih and K'nahli..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Giving K'luha a knowing look, K'ile interjected, "There's K'mih and K'nahli at least. And K'haali. A mess of others, but those three would be the closest to Tahj's age."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Eyes wide, Tahj smiled,"That's a bunch, kinda like here. Except here there's no kids like me, and the boys like to pull my tail,"she frowned slightly.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Well don't worry. No one's gonna pull your tail. But you can pull K'ile's tail if youw ant." K'luha chuckled, subtly moving her tail to hit K'ile again as they walked.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile moved his tail away, "If she can get it. It's not that easy."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Peering from one adult to the other Tahj was slighlty puzzled,"Why would I pull his tail? It hurts."shrugging and moving on she tugs at K'luha's hand,"Are we almost there? I'm hungry."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha smiled and shook her head lightly. "We're almost there. Just a bit further." she motioned as they walked out into Old Gridania. There was a small hole in the wall sort of place with outdoor tables and the best food she'd ever had there. She'd eaten there for almost the whole month she was there with K'ailia.

 

*

 

Twinflame: As they went, K'ile was mostly distracted by the strangeness of Gridania. He didn't talk much.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: With all the silence, it was good there were only a few feet from the place. "Here we are!" she smiled, presenting the place before walking inside of it. "Everything on the menu is good, but if you want I can order for everyone. What sort of foods would you two like?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj shrugs, suddenly shy again,"Anything is fine, I like fruit for dessert though."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "And you K'ile?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "It's you bet," he said, looking over the stall and the people around, smelling the various samples of food and business. "You bet I'd enjoy the food, so you order."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha sighed and gave a small shrug before motioning them to the tables. "Pick your favorite seats. I'll order and bring back the food. It'll only be a few moments." She smiled brightly at K'ile and at Tahj, a smile K'ile probably hadn't seen in awhile.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Studying the available tables the young girl reached for K'ile's hand to pull him towards a table in the corner.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Distracted by watching K'luha's behavior, K'ile's ears twitched when Tahj took his hand, and he let himself be led to one of the tables. "Oh, alright. So we just sit over hear?" Taking in the area again, he muttered, "This isn't too strange. Outside cooking and eating. Is this normal for around here?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: K'tahjha nods happily,"It's nice to sit under the trees and listen to the bitds while you eat."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "No birds and trees in the Sagoli," he said, sitting at the table Tahj had taken him to. "Well, there are birds. Just not as many of them. Not usually very pretty."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj settles in a chair next to K'ile hooking her feet over the rungs,"Is it very different than here?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "It isn't even similar," K'ile answered, looking Tahj over. "But you'll handle it jsut fine if you're anything like your mother, which I bet you are."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj sighs at the mention of her mother,"I miss her so much, she was always strrong she took care of us. Why did she leave home and bring us here?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Uhm." K'ile blinked, frowned, looked paralyzed for a moment. "You don't know why she left Sagoli?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: FrowningTahj toys with her right ear,"It made mama sad to talk about it, all she would tell me was we weren't alowed to talk to anyone from there."

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile made a face, and pulled on one ear for a moment. "That's... true. I guess you've figured out by now it wasn't exactly something good that happened, right?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: She nods solemnly,"But mama loved her family, she said family was more important than anything. She couldn't have done anything bad."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha returned after a few moments with three large trays of food balanced along her hands and one atop her head. She set the first one down in front of Tahj, the second in front of K'ile, and the third in the empty seat. 

 

"Here we are. Did you guys want drinks? I'll go get some." she smiled again and walked back up to the front.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj smiles at K'luha and nibbles on a slice of apple while waiting for an answer to her question.

 

*

 

Twinflame: (ah, hey, you should tell me what she got Twin, cause of the bet and all! No cheating!)

K'luha Haaz: ( How about a Miqabob with Oppopo meat and Muy Bean Sauce? )

Twinflame: (Sounds good. Dafuq's a Miqabob?)

K'luha Haaz: ( A shishkabob. )

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile gave the strange item on the plate a look, frowning at it as he tried to discern what exactly it was. Obviously meat. Not a kind of meat from anywhere near Sagoli or Thanalan. It didn't look or smell anything similar, but he could smell the residual blood beneath the char. As quickly as she'd come, K'luha was walking away from them, and K'ile's pleading look at her back didn't do any good.

 

"Urg." He looked over at Tahj, and said, "Is this stuff typical or did she get us something weird?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj eyes K'ile's plate,"Nope those are good.But I like my burger better."she picks it up and takes a large bite bloody juices oozing down her chin.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha busied herself at the counter again, procuring three drinks. Water for Tahj, Lemonade for herself, and Water for K'ile as well. She returned a few moments later and set the drinks down before taking a seat and sighing. 

 

"Finally. I'm starving." she smiled faintly and picked up her own kabob. With a swift movement she bit off the first vegatable on the stick and chewed it happily.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Giving K'luha a dubious look, K'ile tried to decide if she was plotting to poison him somehow. Not kill him, but get him sick. She would do that, to get back at him for earlier. There was no other way this bet favored her.

 

Well. If that's how it was, then that's how it was. He would just have to deal with her plotting. Thus resigned, he pulled a vegetable from the metal shaft and stuck it in his mouth to chew on it.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Soooooo~?" K'luha grinned widely, watching K'ile eat. He would love it. She was positive of it. There was no way he wouldn't like it.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj raises an eyebrow at K'ile with a grin,"It's all ready dead it won't bite back."

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile made a face, and muttered, "That thing tasted like a campfire. What kind of meat is this? Looks sort of... brown? Smells like wood." He gave the Miqabob an inquisatorial look, as though he could pressure it into revealing its secrets.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Eat it K'ile. Before I eat you." K'luha chuckled and leaned back in her chair, moving on to eat the rest of her own lunch.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile feigned intimidation, and looked at Tahj, "Well, I wasn't gong to say it up front, but cannibalization does happen in our tribe." He put the meat in his mouth, and chewed on it thoughtfully.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "It doesn't." K'luha retorted, looking to Tahj. "He's just a big baby."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj's ears flatten slightly as she peered from one adult to the other trying to figure out who was pulling her leg."Aunt K'luha,K'ile won't answer my question." she pouted.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Your question?" K'luha tilted her head looking at Tahj. "What was that? I'll do my best to answer it." she smiled.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile said warningly, "Wait a second, Tahj. Got a secret for you." And K'ile, who had learned the hard way how exquisite K'luha's hearing was, leaned in to whisper to Tahj, "Don't ask about your mom. It makes K'luha very sad."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Ears flattening slightly further, a spark lights in Tahj's eyes showing she recieved more than her looks from her mother, but she keeps quiet and takes another biite of her food, tail lashing against her chair.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Leaning back again, still holding that peice of meat in his mouth, K'ile followed up with, "We'll talk about it later," and then, to K'luha, "So about that bet..."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha was about to make a remark about secrets being rude but K'ile distracted her with talk of the bet. "Oh, yes? You like it, right? And don't lie and say you don't when you do!"

 

*

 

Twinflame: Shaking his head, K'ile said, "Sorry. It tastes like they cooked it over wood or something weird like that. Tastes like the trees smell."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. "You're too picky."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "And you should know I don't like things that taste like wood and dirt." He pointed at her with the miqabob, "You're aquiring the same tastes as the outsiders."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: With a sigh Tahj cuts a piece off her burger, exposing the rare, juice filled meat and shoving it towards K'ile's mouth. "It's antelope, it's good."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha pouted again and looked away. Aquiring the same tastes as outsiders? Well she was in Gridanai for a month..

 

*

 

Twinflame: His ears popping up and his eyes brightening, K'ile bit it right out of K'tahjha's hand.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj grins and shoves her plate in K'ile's direction,"Trade?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Awesome," K'ile said, eagerly placing his plate of food in front of Thaj. "Now, antelope is a thing I know. I can eat that all day. Hey Tahj," he leaned forward again, smiling from ear to ear, "Your dad, the Nunh, is a super boring stuffy guy. You should let me be your dad. I'll teach you how to cook all the best meat in Sagoli. And fire dance too!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha's ears flattened atop her head as she pouted at them. But only for a moment. She couldn't help but lighten up and chuckle at K'ile's suggestion. Wasn't it not that long ago he said how he would be a terrible father? Well, she guessed they were going to find out now.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj giggles at K'ile  biting a piece of well cooked carrot off the skewer and chewing on it.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Although," K'ile paused while he bit into the burger, and swallowed. "You did just lose the bet for me. I don't like that weird thin on the stick but the antelope is good, so now I like the food here.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha grinned to Tahj and gave her a thumbs up. "Excellent. Thank you Tahj!"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj flashes a smile at K'luha although still slightly puzzledas to what she had done,"You're welcome!"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Save your demand for later, Luha," K'ile said, still smiling as he munched on the meat Tahk had given him. He couldn't win them all, so why pout? "We wouldn't want you tramatizing your new daughter."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha blushed a bit and chuckled. "New daughter huh? So then we have a kid together now?" K'luha snorted again and picked at her meal. "Anyway Tahj, you never said if you wanted to come with us or not."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj's smiles fades slightly at K'ile's words and she looks at K;luha with a serious expression,"Are you adopting me? Do I have to call you mama?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile stears clear of this particular question, chising to hide behind the eating of his delicious plate of antelope.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha bluhsed again and coughed awkwardly. "Well, I think we might have to fill out that paperwork to take you home anyway but, but you don't have to call me that unless you want to. Haha."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "What're you going to call me?" K'ile snapped forward, his eyes twitching and tail swinging around behind him. "Dad? Papa? Pop?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj is silent for a moment, deep in thought then chooses this particular moment to be disobedient,"Before I say yes I want to know why mama left home!,"she demands dropping the now empty stick back in the plate.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha blinked at Tahj's sudden force. Feisty one... just like her mom. Still, it surrised her that she didn't already know. K'luha looked down, saddened for a moment while she recalled what she could of the fight. 

 

"She left because she was exiled." K'luha answered quietly, her eyes looking to the table in shame. "She didn't have another choice. And she was exiled because of me. We got into a fight. She accidently knocked my head back into a rock. By the time I woke up it was a month later and she was long gone..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile put on a disappointed frown, and said, "It was a mistake, and sometimes mistakes can't be undone even when everyone knows it." He watched Tahj carefully.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj sat quietly for several moments a few tears trickling down her face before she queitly gets up and crosses to stand behind K'luha. She slips both arms around her aunt's neck and nuzzles gently into her right ear,:Don't be sad, mama loved you and missed you very much and I think she's be happy for me to go with you."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: That was it. K'luha was so sure that Tahj would walk away now. So much for that trip to Gridania. It was so long ago, but the shame seemed to bubble up fresh like it was only yesterday. Luha gripped her shirt tightly, preparing herself to listen to those words of rejection. Strangely enough though, they didn't seem to come. Instead, she felt arms around her neck and a soft nuzzle into her ear. K'luha turned her head lightly towards Tahj and quickly tried to wipe her eyes. Damn waterworks. She had to stop getting so emotional. "I hope so... I never meant to hurt Maka. I never meant for her to leave. I loved her. I still do. I had always hoped she was doing well somewhere out in the world..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I spent a long time worrying, too, for what it's worth." He took another bite.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj hugs her aunt a little tighter for a second then whispers in her ear,"I have a present for you."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "A... present?" K'luha mumbled, glancing back to Tahj again.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile leaned back and tossed a suspicious look over at Tahj and K'luha.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj lets go of K'luha's neck and comes to stand beside her,"I notice you wear your hair like mama did."she reaches out to touch the hair ornament, then fumbles in her pocket pulling out a pair of silver hair ornaments."I-  I want you to have them, they were mama's."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha watched Tahj for a moment as she fumbled with her pocket. Just what was she getting...? Her face paled a little as Tahj pulled out her present and presented it to K'luha. Maka's hair bands...? She didn't... well she certainly wasn't hungry again. K'luha shakily took the present and unclapsed her own to replace them with Maka's. 

 

"T-thank you Tahj..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: He just smiled at that and finished off his food while the girls did girl stuff next to him. Hair braids? Okay, whatever.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha had to pull herself together before before breathing in slowly. "Well, if you want to come with us you'll have to see about that paperwork. It might take some time to process but we should sign it today."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm signing the 'dad' line," K'ile said, which thoroughly demonstrated his failure to nderstand anything about the adption process.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha chuckled faintly and wiped her eyes again. "Alright then Mr. Dad."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj smiles and nods reaching out to take K'luha's hand,"I'm ready."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha squeezed Tahj's hand tightly before standing. 

"Then let's go finish the paperwork. We can leave tomorrow morning bright and early."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Don't be in a rush," K'ile said, standing. "There's something I need to do in town that I'll need K'luha's help with. It might be wise to wait an extra day."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha blinked a bit confused and glanced back to K'ile. Something he needed help with in town? "Oh, yeah. That's fine then..."

[Twinflame]

K'luha Haaz: The day wasn't very long considering they had only just rode in that afternoon. After lunch and about an hour signing papers with K'luha under 'Mom' and K'ile under 'Dad', they had said a temporary good bye to Tahj for the night. She would be staying her last few nights in the orphanage and have some time to collect her things before they left via another carriage ride him.  

 

K'luha dragged K'ile off to the Carline Canopny and an inn room, which was made of wood and far nicer than the one they had in Drybone. Much more spacious with another private attached bath and a much bigger bed. K'luha quickly flopped onto the bed and rubbed at her aching hip. 

 

"So. Dad huh?" K'luha snorted, shooting K'ile a quirked brow.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Standing off to one side and looking at the fontain built into the wall as though he couldn't comprehend of what it was, K'ile answered, "Well, yeah. She's a smart kid. Seemed fun. She wouldn't fit in with Yohko's kids."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "She IS Yohko's kid." K'luha retorted back, pulling her skirt down to expose the skin on her hip and massage it. "But I find it very cute you want to be her dad."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Cute?" K'ile turned away from the fountain. "It's not cute. But, you know, there aren't a lot of people who know what 'fun' is back in the tribe. And I just got it in my head she might... How's your hip?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "It is cute." Luha insisted with a small smile, which kept flickering away everytime she hit something painful in her hip. Which was frequent. "Going to teach her how to have fun? I would like that. Only if you invite me too though. When we move, because I'm sure we will move, we should hold a feast. With dancing and singing and a lot of food. We haven't had one in a long time..." K'luha sighed softly, thinking of how nice a feast like that would be. Although her thoughts were distracted when her hip cracked loudly. "Fuck." Luha cursed, looking down at her hip which had turned a very dark shade of purple and blue and looked a bit like bone was jutting out against the skin. "Not good."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Actually, I had a feast in mind. That's what I wanted your help with. I thought we could set it up to have it before the move. Last hurrah for Sagoli." He blinked, frowned, walked over and dropped to his knees beside the bed, "Let me take a look."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I think that's a splendid idea actually." K'luha grinned, excited for the prospect. Maybe it wouldn't be a huge feast, but they could hunt whatever they could find. It would be a beautiful night. Something good to remember about their home and to commenmorate moving forward. 

 

As K'ile dropped down next to her and sighed and pulled back her skirt more to give him a better view. Dark blue bruise encirled by sallow colored skin and several points where the hip bone looked distorted. At the corner of the bruise was a distinct point where bone stuck out and should not have.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "... Yeah. Your daughter really fucked you up, Luha. And now i have to beat up K'haz." His delivery was deadpan, betraying no hint of frustration. If anything, he was fascinated.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Don't beat up K'haz." K'luha scolded instantly, her ears folding down on her head. "And it was meant for your genitals. What was I supposed to do? Let her maim you?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "She can't hurt me with one stupid-ass rock." He said, his temper finding its way into his voice. "I'm trying not to get mad at you for protecting me, because I know that's what you were trying to do, but your daughter doesn't have the backbone to injure me face-to-face."

 

He stood up fromt he bed, and said, "Starting now you aren't allowed to stand and move around. I'll find a conjurer to heal you tonight."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "She broke my hip with her stupid ass rock, she could ruin your face with them if she wanted!" K'luha snapped back, her own temper flaring at K'ile's insistance. "I do not doubt K'ailia would kill you if you were trapped in a room together an I have no idea why anymore!"  The frustration at both of them was evident in the way K'luha tugged at her hair. 

 

"And you will do no such thing! Haven't I made abudantly clear I am very uncomfortable with healing magic? I will not allow you to go drag one here to violate me!"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Tch!" K'ile gestured with his hands and sounded like he was about to protest, but cut it off and spent a moment in silence. He exhaled and said, "You're right. That's right. I won't. You still don't get to walk around, though. You're banned from walking."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha huffed, settling down now that K'ile had at least agreed not to bring magical healers into this mess. Non magical? Fine. No problem. Awesome. Magic? No way in hell. Especially after the ordeal with K'ailia, she was NOT accepting any magical means of healing. 

 

"How am I to walk tomorrow and help you with whatever it is you need help with them? I will walk. It will be fine. I'll pick up something to numb the pain and it will eventually heal on its own." Luha insisted stubbornly.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile leaned his elbows on the bed and gave K'luha a hard, unimpressed stare.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha stared back unphased.

K'luha Haaz: "I'm not bending on this issue." She added.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Yeah." K'ile reached out and poked her hip.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha winced and took a sharp breath before slapping his hand. "What was that for?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "You're bending on the issue, Luha." K'ile said, actually smirking a bit. "You don't want magical healing? Fine. But I'm not going to let you hobble around town in pain and make your hip even worse. You've got a broken hip. You need to deal with, not ignore it."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha frowned at K'ile and reached over to flick his ears. "I will hobble where I please, thank you K'ile."

 

*

 

Twinflame: He stood, "No. I'm not going to argue back and forth like this. INjuring yourself so you don't have to take a hit to your pride isn't a fucking option."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "And praytell, how are you going to stop me then K'ile?" K'luha shot back, standing from the bed and crossing her arms beneath her chest.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I can't," K'ile admitted. "I guess I was just hoping you wanted to portray yourself as something other than some idiot who's so afraid to sit her ass down for two days that she'd rather spend the rest of her life hobbling around the desert too slow to effectively hunt."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I!.... You!... That's not!..." K'luha attempted to sputter out some sort of retort but clamped her mouth shut after a few attempts before sitting down again and scowling. "So what then? Just sit around forever? That doesn't fix it either!"

 

*

 

Twinflame: Positioning himself in front of her with crossed arms, K'ile said, "Well you aren't going to be treated here. It's Gridania. They're going to want to use conjury, which you're against. So your best bet is to stay still and not hurt it any worse until we get back to the tribe, which you can do by riding the carriage."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and shot K'ile all sorts of dirty looks. "Once again Mr. Sagoli Fire God is right and I want to punc you for it." she hissed before laying back on the bed and moving her hand back to massage the wounded hip.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Turning his smile at the opposite wall, K'ile said, "Don't worry. I'm not gonna smile or gloat or anything. You need to stop getting injured so much. We were supposed to be back in the tribe last week or something."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "They probably think we all died out here." K'luha grumbled irritably, hissing at her painful hip. While she was on and admitting she was hurt, she wasn't going to suffer in silence if she had to put up with not walking anymore.

 

*

 

Twinflame: His smile fading quickly, K'ile was able to look back over at K'luha. "I'll help you walk around where you need to. K'tahjha will probably help too if we ask her. She's sweet. Maybe she can help me while you're in bed."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "How are you gonna help me walk? Carry me? I'm way too heavy for you to carry." She shot back, glancing to K'ile. Just what was he planning besides a feast really?

 

*

 

Twinflame: "We need to keep the weight off the bad side of your hips as much s we can. And that includes for things like when you need to go to the bathroom or whatever."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I can use the bathroom on my own at least!" K'luha grumbled, sitting up to glare at K'ile.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm not saying I'm going to do it for you. Just help you get there. Don't make me break your... other hip!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "If you wanted to see me naked that bad you could have just asked!" K'luha shot back, hoping to catch him off guard and derail the entire argument.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I've seen you naked." K'ile replied coolly. "And that's another one I've got on you, by the way."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "You never actually looked you wuss." She shot back, pouting that he wasn't falling for it.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I did too." He thought he did anyway. At least to judge her wounds. Besides, whether he'd looked or not, she'd been all over him in the bath tub. What did it matter if he hadn't looked if he'd touched? "I'm just trying to take care of you, so don't make it more than it is. It's okay to be taken care of when you're injured."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I don't need to be coddled. I can take care of myself you know." K'luha sighed heavily, running a hand through her hair now.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Okay, but you should be coddled." He sat down on the bed next to her. "You're the only person I've ever met who doesn't want someone else to take care of them every once in awhile."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Should be coddled? Why? K'luha huffed and laid down on the bed again, dropping her head in his lap heavily. "Hngh. Why? Does everyone else what that?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Yeah." K'ile lifter an arm and lay it ove K'luha's shoulder. "I mean, everyone seems to want it when they want it and never when they don't. That's how people are. But it's good to be taken care of when you're hurt."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Hnn, are you volunteering to take care of me when I'm hurt then? You know I get hurt a lot. You're gonna regret that if you volunteer." K'luha teased lightly, lifting a hand to poke at his stomach.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Right now taking care of you means making sure you stay in your damned bed." K'ile grabbed the hand that poked him. "So it's probably not going to pleasant for either of us. But, yeah, I'm gonna do it."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Hmph. You have your work cut out for you then. I'm not easy to keep in bed you know." K'luha smirked again, shifting her hand so she might entwine her fingers with his as he caught it.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile watched her fingers moving between hsi with a an expression of curiosity. Like he'd never seen anyone do that before and was trying to figure out just what it was. "Anyroad," he said. "There's not enough food in the Sagoli to have a feast for the tribe, so I was hoping we could get some here and bring it back with us."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha offered no explanations for her actions and instead made herself comfortable on K'ile's lap. If he was going to take care of her and make her lay down, then she was going to exploit the shit out of it. "There's plenty of Antelope here. Could buy a bunch and take it home with us. Of course, that means we should travel by Aetheryte so we can have it fresh for home, yeah?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I really don't think that's something I should do too much. And there's no telling if Tahj can travel that way at all, even with help. Not to mention with all the food and you being injured and all."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "So then how do we get the food from here to home? We'd have to make sure it could travel well... maybe magic could do something about that?" K'luha pondered, wondering if magic was good for anything other than murder and healing.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I don't know. Throw gil at it? If we presere the meat properly it ought to last. Or we could take root vegetables instead. Those are much easier to keep." He was still watching His hand as K'luha held it, though his thoughts were on the problem of getting food to the tribe.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I think we ougt to ask about some sort of magical method as well. Root vegetables are good, but we want meat for a feast right? We could always, well you could always hunt on the way there and I can preserve the meat pretty well for four days." K'luha mused, squeezing K'ile's hand a little.

 

*

 

Twinflame: The squeeze of his hand pulled a bit of a perplexed lok from his eyes. He shook his head to rid it of whatever thought had settled in, and said, "Well, I'll look into it. While you're resting. What did you want from me?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha gave a small hum of acknowledgement. "Let me know what you find. Keeping me cooped up in this stupid room forever then?" she smirked over at K'ile again and reached up with her free hand to bat at his hair.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile also caught this hand, without really thinking about it. "If you want to go out I'll have to help you hobble. I'm nto trying to keep you prisoner." He cleared his throat. "What did you want from me?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "No? Sure seemed to me like you're trying to. Between you and K'ailia I am going to die young." K'luha sighed heavily, ignoring the latter question he was repeating now.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Holding both of K'luha's hands and moving htem to get her attention, he said, "K'luha. You won the bet. What did you want from me?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Eh?" She blinked, relaizing finally that's what he was asking about. "Oh that. Well, techincally I think Tahj won but that is a good question. What do I want...?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "The bet wasn't with Tahj. She just helped you win."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I know." K'luha shot back, flicking her tail at K'ile now. She squeezed both of his hands before huffing and trying to think of what she wanted.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile didn't respond to that. He just watched his hands get squeezed, and squeezed back. He was distracted watching her tail flip about.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha remained quiet, just letting her tail swish as she thought of what she might cash in for a favor. She noted his returning the squeeze and returned it again as well. For some reason, this was kind of fun. Maybe she was just delirious.

 

*

 

Twinflame: After a period of silence that K'ile find himself strangely content with, the Tia crossed K'luha's hands in front of him and let them fall over her, so that he was hugging her hugging herself.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha gave a soft laugh and smiled warmly as he hugged her so strangely. She enjoyed the hug and leaned towards his head to nuzzle his neck.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "So..." he didn't struggle against the nuzzling. It was more than he bargained for, but at this point he figured he'd brought it on himself. "You wanted cuddles?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha giggled softly. He was calling them cuddles now? How cute. "I didn't need a favor to get those did I?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: He hummed his concession, and said, "I don't want this hanging over my head. Come on."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Oh, but I want it to hang there." K'luha grinned mischeviuosly and nipped lightly at his neck.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Smiling and letting a chuckle slip, K'ile said, "I'm starting to think I didn't like that food so much. I mean I didn't like the first thing at all, and that antelope... Did it make up for it?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha blew out a breath of hot air on K'ile's neck and huffed, feinging hurt. "Don't lie to me now K'ile. You said I won fair and square! No going back on your word."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm just thinking," K'ile said. "Of course you can still come up with something before I do. I'll try to think very slowly."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "So it's a race now? To think of a favor first?" K'luha smirked faintly, ears waggling with amusement at the prospect. What kind of favor would K'ile ask for she wondered.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Oh!" K'ile had forgotten that on the flip-side of the option, he would get a favor from her. And he didn't want to use it on something lame like 'stay in bed' because she was damned well going to do that no matter what. "I guess it is."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha giggled lightly, feeling very young when she hung out with K'ile like this. "Something good though, not like 'Stay in bed' or whatever. Got it? And nothing stupid like 'Don't talk to Ventus' or anything, okay?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile moved his head and dipped his chin so he could look down at K'luha's face. His cheek rested agianst her head. "What, are you surrendering now?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Never surrender." Luha replied, sticking her tongue out at K'ile before smirking at him again. "I'm just saying. Lame requests don't count."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I know that." He frowned, "You just trying to confuse me so you get more time to think of what you want from me."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Bingo." K'luha grinned and flicked her tail against K'ile's side.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm onto you now," he said, and squeezed her lightly across her chest. "So you'd best spit it out."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "But I haven't decided yettttt!" K'luha whined softly, hitting him playfully with her tail again.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "You're so busy keeping me from thinking that you aren't thinking," K'ile said, and pinned her tial with his tail.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha giggled again. "Ah, how am I supposed to think when I'm totally pinned K'ile? No fair, you already wrangled me once!"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "And now it turns out I can wrangle you any time I want."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Hmm, maybe. Have you prove your maniless one way or another right?" K'luha smirked and giggled again.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile frowned. Did that count as a favor? She hadn't swooped in and beaten him to the punch while they were playing, had she? "What do you mean?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Just saying that you have to prove your manliness by wrangling and injured old lady. That's all. Mr. Sagoli Fire God. Since you can't prove it with a bow." K'luha chuckled again.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Oh, right. No. I just like wrangling you." So it hadn't been a request. That meant he could still get in a request for a favor. But damn it, he didn't want toask for something he could just get by asking for it, and he didn't want to use it to make K'luha do something she didn't want to do!

 

Wow. He was really getting in his own way again with this one.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha hummed cheerfully while she waited. There were only a few things she would ask for, and she felt like they would ruin her light-hearted evening. So she decided she would just let K'ile win.

 

*

 

Twinflame: With a sligh and a small smirk, K'ile eventually said, "I know. My favor is to ask you to ask for your favor in the next thirty seconds. Go!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "What! No! No fair! Um... um... Idon'tknowdon'tmakemepickonsuchashortime!" K'luha blushed fervently and pouted her bottom lip out at K'ile, giving out her best cute sad face.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Smiling and laughing, K'ile squeezed K'luha again. "I'm counting! Twenty seconds."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Noooo! No fair! Dont' be so mean to me K'ileeee!" K'luha whined again. She needed a better pouty sad face. It always worked for the women in the cities to show that face!

 

*

 

Twinflame: The Tia wasn't even tempted to show K'luha pity. She could handle it, and he knew it. her own fualt for displaying such a powerful and independent image of herself all the time. "Thirteen... Twelve..."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "What happens if I can't pick!? Ahh, too much pressureeee!" K'luha's ears flattened. No really, what sort of favor could she even ask for right now!?

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Oh, you'll pick," K'ile smiled, and nudged K'luha's forehead with his cheekbone.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "You're making me rush so I'm just gonna pick something you won't or can't do then!" K'luha huffed, ears flattening again.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Six... Five..."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Ahhh! I don't know! Fine, fine! Kiss me!"

 

*

 

Twinflame: Laughing briefly, K'ile seemed utterly unphased. "Are you sure? We could get in big trouble for that!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Fuf! You made me rush so it was the only thing I could think of!" K'luha retorted with a loud 'hmph'.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Oh, so you're taking it back then?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Nope. You take yours back and then you can take mine back too." K'luha retorted decisively.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Oh, no. I'll do it." He kissed her forehead. "Done."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha blinked before huffing. "Oh, I got played. Lame."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Oh, come on. I didn't play you. You got to ask for whatever you want and you got what you asked for." he released K'luha's hands and moved to slide out from under her.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "You forced me to pick in thirty seconds!" Luha retorted, whining a bit when he moved. Well. So much for that. It was nice while it lasted at least.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile swung his tail in her face as he stood, a habit he was probably picking up from K'luha herself. "I'm going to go and 'order food' for us. You'd better still be in that bed when I get back."

 

*

 

 K'luha Haaz: "We just, oh fine." K'luha sighed heavily and tugged at her hair. "I'll be here. Not moving. Ever."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Tossing her a smile, he said, "Don't worry, Luha. I'll be back in a minute and you can try to seduce me some more."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Good." K'luha huffed, adjusting on the bed as she pulled off her skirt and threw it at him. That was becoming a bad habit. Of course she still had on pants beneath the skirt.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Remembering the last time K'luha threw clothes at him, he caught the skirt instead of knocking it aside, and smiled, "You're still wearing pants. Either I'm getting better at this or you're getting worse. Either way." He left the room, taking the skirt with him.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Wha... hey! Don't take it with you!" K'luha sat up quickly and watched him walk out the door with it. "I... I really like that skirt..."

[Twinflame]

Twinflame: K'luha was not a light person, and she was mostly dense, but K'ile wasn't having any luck with keeping her restricted to bed. He wansn't about to let up on his insistence that she take care of her hip, either, so what was he to do? Apparently he was to carry her through Gridania.

 

It was a doable task. He had carried heavier things farther. In order to move her without hurting her hip, he had sher slung across his back with her arms over his shoulders, and he was leaning forward so most of her weight was on his back. What weight he did have to support with his arms, he did by holding her... Well, not her legs. Occasionally the base of her tail brushed his knuckles.

 

Essentailly he was holding her by her ass, but as long as she didn't say anything to make it awkward, it would be fine. If it was anyone except Luha, it wouldn't have been a thing. But he still thought she was trying to seduce him, so he had been trying to be careful.

 

He took her to the orphanage to collected K'tahjha. The matron gave him a strange look when he kicked the door open, and he likely was an odd sight with a full-grown woman on his back.

 

Embracing the oddness of the situation, K'ile gave the matron a smile and said, "Where's Tahj? Tell her mom and dad are here!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha felt a little odd being carried around by K'ile. She wasn't so hurt she couldn't walk. Really. This was silly. But he was insistent and when that stubborn cat decided he was going to have his way she simply couldn't argue with them sometimes. So she was being carried. But maybe it wasn't all bad. It was kind of amusing. Mostly because she could tell he felt awkward with his hands placed where they were and K'luha was enjoying the fact that he was aware of it, and aware that it would become awkward if K'luha spoke up about it. Alas, she said nothing about the matter. She chose instead to revel in the awkward tension it gave K'ile that she didn't bring it up... yet. 

 

"K'ile, don't kick open the door. That's rude." K'luha scolded, reaching a hand up to tug on his ear. The elderly Matron of the orphanage whom they had arranged things with the other day looked at them a bit concerned before coughing. 

 

"Y-yes. Miss Tahj went to her archery lesson. She'll be back soon or you can find her over at the archer's guild. It's not far from here. Just down the road and make a left up the hill." The woman gave a kindly smile and K'luha looked down at K'ile. 

 

"You wanna just let me walk then? Or are you going to carry me over there too?" she hummed, continuing to tug on his ear passively.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Letting his head tilt to one side as K'luha pulls on his head, K'ile turned round to walk out of the orphanage. "I'm carrying you. And stop pulling on my ear! And we should've unenrolled K'tahjha from the Archer's Guild yesterday! She won't be able to take lessons from them starting around tomorrow anyway."

 

He trudged away from the orphanage, carting K'luha the whole way. The uphill walk wasn't significantly more difficult, and didn't take overly long. They were soon at the Archer's guild and K'ile was repeating his entry, minus kicking the door but only because the door was already open.

 

Looking at the lady behind the desk, K'ile said, "Where are the archery lessons? Thaj's dad is here to get her!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha smirked a bit and only moved her other than to tug on his second ear. If she had to be carried around, she was going to have some fun with it at least! As she was carted around to the Archer's guild she hummed the same song she had sung in the desert during their trip to the Amaljaa's encampment. 

 

Luckily everything was fairly close together in Gridania and they were there in no time. K'luha finally released his ears and peered at the woman at the desk, who was somewhat startled to say the least at their appearance. 

 

"We're looking for our daughter K'tahjha." K'luha smiled politely, tapping K'ile's shoulder as a signal she wanted down. She didn't always have to be on his back. She could lean on him too. "She's taking lessons now?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "No walking around," K'ile muttered to Luha, letting her slide off her bck but still keeping a supporting hand around her waist.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: The woman behind the desk directed them into the archery room; a long room with targets set up on the far end.

 

K'tahjha Yohko: The instructor was giving directions to Tahj,"I want you to shoot four arrows quickly, don't stop to refocus."  Nodding TahjPulls back on the longbow taking careful aim at the targets at the far end of the room. Letting the arrows fly one after another with her instructor complaining loudly that she was taking too much time.     

 

The first arrow hit dead center of the target, the second just outside with the last two being very wide. "You lost docus after the first two arrows, and you let your right elbow drop too much. You need much more practise!"

 

Tahj nods her ears drooping and goes to put her things away.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile points at a bench nd looks at K'luha, "Chill. I'll go get her."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha raised a brow at K'ile. Really? Chill? On a bench? She opened her mouth to protest but shut it again. Better to sit on a bench then be dropped on the floor. Which she was pretty sure K'ile would do. With a grumble she limped over to the bench and sat down, eyes darting around while she waited. Another Miq'ote sitting nearby seemed to be chewing something? Smelled.. minty...

 

*

 

Twinflame: Freed of K'luha's weight, K'ile trotted over to the room where the training took place. He noticed K'tahjha almost immediately, the girls very blond hair standing out to him, and waved at her to get her attention. "Hey, Tahj! Dad's here!'

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj's ears twitch towards K'ile and she wanders over to him, ears and tail drooping,obviously unhappy.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Watching Tahj's down-turned body-language, K'ile's tail swished one way and then other, and he made sure to continue smiling at her. "Hey, kid. They got you shooting flies at fifty yalms in here?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj sighs,"I'm not fast enough and my form is lousy. I'll never shoot like mama did."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "So you can actually get an arrow out of that thing? I can barely get one out of my quiver. But I still managed to kill a sand worm with a bunch of arrows the other day!" He didn't really know what to do with upset women. Kids depressed about their skills usually got over it. Maybe she just needed some food or something.

 

He gestured over his shoulder, "Come on. K'luha's waiting for us. We'll do some shopping and get htings set up to take you home."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj forces a smile and falls into step with K'ile,"are we going to leave soon?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile leads K'tahjha back towards where he left K'luha, answering, "Sort of! I want to try and find a way to get some food shipped back to the tribe. As long as K'luha has enough gil for it."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj thinks a second,"We should get antelope and I like Faerie apples. Do they have them in the desert?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "No. The fruit you get in the desert is nothing like the fruit you get here. Hey, Luha!" K'ile greeted the woman he'd left behind, "Tahj says we shoudl get antelope and faerie apples. How do we get that back to the desert?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha was sitting on a different bench than she had been left at. Previously there had been a girl sitting there as well, but now she was also gone. K'ile's very sensitive nose would probably notice Luha smelled, or rather her breath did, minty fresh. Not quite like normal mint though. The scent had a small tingly feeling that went with it somehow. 

 

K'luha waved to the two lightly before standing easily. She was chewing on something as well. "Teleport it and hire a carrier to move it to the tribe for us. Or just hunt a lot of antelope and trade pelts for apples. Or we can gather them from around here." she replied, casually walking to meet the duo.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: K'tahjha perks up and smiles at K'luha,"Hello!"and quickly approaches to hug her aunt.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Intercepting K'luha's walk with crossed arms and a frown, K'ile said, "No walking."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha huffed a bit at K'ile and reached forward to flick his chest. "The girl that was here gave me a few mint leaves. She told me it helped with the chronic pain she had in her arms so that she could still use a bow. I can't even feel the pain in my hip. I'm fine to walk, ok?" Luha grinned a bit like she had found a loophole and turned to Tahj instead to hug her.

 

"Hey Tahj. Ready to come home with us?" Luha asked excitedly.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj frowns,"Pain? Why shouldn't you walk? Is everything ok?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Her hip is broken and Luha is too stubborn to take care of it," K'ile said. "Apparently it's been broken for awhile andgetting worse every day. So now she doesn't get to walk. So now I've got to carry her everywhere.There's a lesson in that."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha huffed a bit at K'ile so quickly spilling it all out. She lightly elbowed him, as he shouldn't be making Tahj worried about her and should have instead thought about easing the girl into their lifestyle. 

 

"It's not... broken... maybe. It's fine. Really. It'll heal on its own and now that I have some painkillers I can function while it heals. And he doesn't need to carry me. He's being stubborn." she tried to explain to Tahj, hoping the girl would listen to her first.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj peers anxiously from one adult to the other,"If it's broken you should have it healed before we travel. A lot of healers here."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "She doesn't like magic," K'lie said. He took K'luha by one arm, turned his back to her, and pulled her against him as he ducked forward. More or less just throwing her over his back while trying not to hurt her hip. "We have ways of healing her in the tribe. Let's go shopping!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha frowned. She... really? It would be easier but she- "Ack!" Luha yelped as she was tossed over K'ile's back to go 'shopping'. She huffed a little, but settled herself down by tugging at K'ile's ears again. "Oh, alright. Let's go then."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj flinches then frowns at the cry of pain,"But you said we were far from the desert, and carriage rides are bumpy. I don't want you to be in pain all that time."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Grabbing K'luha's ass, he pulled her up onto his shoulders. "We don't have time to hunt, so hopefully this counts as me 'providing a feast for the tribe' just like I'm supposed to. Do you have enough gil for it, Luha?" He looked over to Tahj and said, "If you can talk her into getting healed before we leave, be my guest, but she has good reason and it's up to her. Pain isn't the end of the world."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha looked kindly to Tahj before making a small squeak at the less than subtle and less then gentle grab. She prompltly used her tail to smack K'ile's side before shifting a bit to get comfortable. 

 

"I won't be in pain. These mint leaves work a little like numbing agents. Makes my hip more tingly than painful. So we'll be able to make it back and let it start healing on its own." K'luha smiled, shifting her hands from tugging K'ile's ears to instead lightly pet the soft back side of the fur. "So shopping then, eh? I'm sure we can get some things that ought to be preserved enough. I should have enough gil, and if not we're going hunting to sell some pelts and meat."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj nods and suddenly giggles,"You look silly up there. Can he really carry you that far?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'm not going to carry her all the way to the desert," K'ile said. "Just to the market so we can buy our food and get it sent. But we all agree to say this counts as K'ile aquiring a feast for the tribe, right? You two are just helping because you believe in me!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Hey, I'm paying. Don't I get credit for this too K'ile?" Luha huffed down at him, resting her chin on the top of his head now. "Well, whatever. Let's go find the stuff first, okay?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: "The butcher should seel fresh meat, bit not sure how expensive it is." Tahj thinks a minute then grins,"Apples grow in the south shroud,if we pick them ourselves it will save money."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Moving his head as though to look at K'luha -- really just straining against her chin -- K'ile said, "If you take too much of a credit the elders will say I didn't have enough of a hand in it." And then, to Tahj, "Wouldn't it also take time to go there and get them, and then bring them back? I'm not against working for this, but we were expected back at the tribe days ago."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha frowned and reached forward to pull on K'ile's cheeks lightly. "That's... erk, true. They probably think we died or something." She sighed heavily and pinched K'ile's cheeks again. "So let's just buy it all from the market and have them send it to the U tribe's Aetheryte. We can pick it up there and make it back in a day and a half or so if you're not too slow. Maybe even only a day by carriage ride. Or... that migth be a bit optomistic of a timeline."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj takes the lead seemingly eager to get moving,"It's not going to get bought standing here. The faster we get home, the faster Aunt K'luha can get healed."she calls over her shoulder.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Ugh. Hey, I can only move so fast with Luha pulling on my damn cheeks!" K'ile pursued the girl.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha chuckled and relinquished his cheeks, moving her hands back to rest around his neck. "Alright, I'm stopping."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I like optimistic timelines," K'ile said. "Getting back to the tribe sooner means we can get everything set and moving sooner. And eat this feast we're providing."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj sets a fairly brisk pace through the twists and turns of Gridania, finally stopping in front of the butcher, "I think you can get bunches of meat here."

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile carts K'luha right up to the meat stand and proclaims, "The person on my back will do the talking because where I come from there is no gil."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha blushed faintly and hit K'ile's shoulder so he would let her down at least while she picked out meat. "A-ahem. Yes. We're looking for a few pounds of meat, mostly Antelope that can be transported fresh and remain fresh for several days...." K'luha proceeded to haggle with the butcher for about thirty minutes, at one point the two were screaming at one another but by the time K'luha signeled she was done they were both rather happy with their deal.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj, having watched her mother haggle with people many times watches quietly and grins smugly after the deal was struck,"Good job."

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile had wandered off and found a stick, which was now on fire and spinning idly in one hand. "Good to go?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha nodded to both of them and crossed her arms beneath her chest. "Yeah. I got him to put a special aether enhanced packing around it that will keep the meat fresh for a week. Best part is the package is reuseable. And he'll shipping it off the the U tribe where it'll be held for us for another week or two. All that's left is to pick up the apples from another vendor."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj spots K'ile approaching with the burning stick and freezes, eyes widening in fear.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile fails to note Tahj's reaction, his attention completely on K'luha. To him, the flaming stick is the most casual thin in the world, as long as the fire stays away from his hands, which it does as long as he continues to turn it. "We aren't going to need weeks, just a few days. Hopefully. Are you going to have to cuss out the apple guy, too?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Well of course, but..." K'luha paused, her motherly instincts kicking in hard when she saw Tahj's face. "K'ile put the fire out. Now." She barked sharply, disreguarding her supposed ban on walking and walking over to take Tahj's hand. "Tahj? Are you okay? Are you afraid of fire?" she cooed softly.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj's wide eyes reflect the fire's light, not noticing K'luha at all and upon feelingthe grip on her hand instinct kicks in and she bagan to fight to get free whispering under her breath,"fire, everything's on fire... mama run!"

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile flicked the stick and it went out in a fast moment, the heat of it blowing away quickly in the Gridania breeze. For good measure, he also threw the stick off to one side, before moving over to Tahj as well. The girl was old enough that she could easily hurt K'luha's hops by struggling like that, and he wasn't going to let that happen. He put firm hands on both of the girl's shulders to hold her in place.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha grunted a bit as Tahj fought against her, but she squeezed the girl's hands tighter and refused to let go. "Tahj, tahj, it's okay!" she called reassuringly. "It's not gonna, nothing's on fire anymore. It's gone!" K'luha shifted her hands to grasp Tahj's face and forced the girl to look at her directly. "Tahj, it's me! K'luha! Nothing's on fire. You're okay."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: The wild look slowly left Tahj's eyes and they begin to focus on the present she mumbles,"I'm sorry aunt K'luha.' and collapses in her aunt's arms weeping brokenly.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha looked worriedly to Tahj and hugged her close as the young miq'ote broke down into limb broken tears. "Tahj..." she whispered softly before looking to K'ile with concern. But she let Tahj cry and pet her hand soothingly.

 

*

 

Twinflame: His hands still on Tahj's shoulder, K'ile couldn't really connect with the strength of the emotion pouring out of the girl, so he was thankful she was pouring it onto K'luha. The two could connect in that, though he did worry that their sadness would mingle and magnify and they'd just end up making eachother feel worse.

 

The best he could do for now was to pat Tahj's shoulders and say, "There's nothing to be sorry for. We can take a break. It's alright."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Eventually the sobs racking the young miqo'te's body begin to taper off and she releases her grip on K'luha looking up at her aunt through red, swollen eyes,"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha continued to stroke the back of Tahj's head while she cried. This kind of break down... she still missed her mother so much didn't she? K'luha could only try her best to make up for what she had deprived Tahj of. 

 

When Tahj finally calmed down Luha shook her head no and smiled warmly. "No. I'm fine. Are you feeling better Tahj?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj Nods and swipes at her eyes, drawing a deep shuddering breath,"I am sorry." she says again.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "It's okay... it's fine. Are you afraid of fire? Does that always happen when you see fire?" K'luha cooed softly, petting her still for comfort.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj pins her ears to her head,"The woods were on fire... I- I still have nightmares."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "It's alright Tahj... We're gonna be here for you, okay? Me and K'ile and your family. You don't have to be scared by yourself." K'luha smiled warmly and hugged Tahj again. "You can always come to me when you have bad dreams or when you're scared."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Squeezing Tahj firmly to remind her of his presence. Even if he didn't know what to do with her emotions, K'ile was a bit hurt by Tahj's inexplicably singular focus on K'luha. As if he wasn't present. "And I can..." he thought. "I can teach you how to control the fire and make something beautiful out of it. So it doesn't have to scare you anymore."

 

*

 

[12/4/2013 9:48:52 PM] K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj smiled shakily at K'ile and shook her head,"I don't want fire lessons. But we should find those apples." Shaking her head to clear it tahj rediorects her focus to the task at hand.

 

*

 

[12/4/2013 9:53:16 PM] K'luha Haaz: "Tahj..." K'luha frowned quietly and looked to K'ile. He was offering something of himself. She didn't like to see him get rejected but... the girl was still terrified. She had seen a far worse Calamity then the desert had. All of these tress on fire? It would have been an inferno of death. No doubt Maka had... burned to death in it. 

 

Still, K'luha continued to pet Tahj's head. "Tahj you can't be afraid of the fire forever. I think you should take K'ile's offer. But not yet. Maybe when you've settled in with us and are feeling better, okay? If you're afraid of the fire forever Tahj... you won't be able to survive in the Sagoli." she warned softly. This brought her great concern for Tahj's wellfare in the Sagoli. If Tahj could not look at the fire or use it, how would she learn to cook? How would she stay warm during the freezing nights? How could she see at night when she was skinning? So many uses the fire had, and yet K'luha still understood her fear. If worse came to worse... she would have to entrust Tahj to K'ailia and Ventus in Ul'dah. She did not want that, but she couldn't let Tahj starve or freeze to death in the Sagoli either. 

 

With another sight she patted Tahj's back. "Here, come on. We can get the apples and talk about this later. Okay?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: Silenced and sombered, K'ile once again grabbed K'luha and put her on his back. The action was smoother and less sudden this time, but still forceful.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Emotionally drained from her outburst, Tahj nodded quietly and fell in step behind the adults.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha blinked as she was hoisted up again. The group suddenly had a very... downcast heaviness to it. Really... She let her hand quietly rub the back of K'ile's neck to comfort him as they walked. There was nothing she could say to make this better. Nothing she could think of at least, so she let them walk in silence for now.

 

*

 

Twinflame: He appreciated K'luha's touch, even if it was odd. He couldn't exactly hug her while he was walking around with his hands on her ass. Well, he could, but it would send the wrong image. The fire-dancing was more than just something that was his. It was something that belonged to the tribe. It represented the consistent presence of Azeyma, her warmth and light. It was the Warden, a representation of protection. It wasn't supposed to evoke fear.

 

And K'ile wasn't meant to be the only person in the tribe that could dance with it, but somehow, he was. He couldn't remember ever having offered to teach anyone before. He also couldn't remember ever pretending to be someone's father before.

 

His breath felt heavy and difficult to manage, and K'luha felt a bit heavier too. The silence didn't sit well with him, and he wanted to break it, but he couldn't find any words in himself that seemed appropriate.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj trails behind the adults all the way to the fruit stall, very aware of the silence and she assumes it is her fault. Ears and tail low she keeps silent.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha knew how much the fire dancing meant to K'ile. And she also knew he had never offered to teach someone before. There was no way Tahj could know how it hurt to be rejected for such a special offer. There was no way she could know what it meant to be offered such a thing either. 

 

The air between the them as they walked to the fruit stall was... ugh. K'luha couldn't stand it. As they finally made it there K'luha tapped K'ile so she could be put down and waited for herself to be put down before she decided. With a quickly she leaned over and kissed K'ile's cheek before leaning over to Tahj and kissing the young girl's cheek as well. 

 

"Alright you two stop acting like we all died. You want to mourn? Mourn my broken hip. You two cheer up already!" K'luha huffed, puffing out her cheeks. "Or I'll make you play tag me with."

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile was still trying to come up with some way to clear the air when he put K'luha down, taking advantage of the whole ass-grabbing pose to give her tail a squeeze as he did so. He didn't expect the kiss on the cheek, but in retrospect he was sure he shouldn't be too surprised.

 

Of course he was surprised anyway. He recoiled away from it violently and stumbled a bit, his first instinct being the she was coming at him fora bit more than a peck. She moved on to Tahj quickly enough that he realized he'd misjudged the situation, and ended up wiping at his cheek with a frown.

 

"I'm not mourning. And you said your hip wasn't broken! And if you try running off I'm breaking your legs and dragging you to the conjurers!"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj grinned at K'luha's taunt,"The matron that  runs the orphanage runs faster than you right now!

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Pft! With those moping faces, I bet even with both my legs broke I would run faster." She grinned back at both of them, taking a step backwards. K'ile might actually get mad at her for this, but it was indeed a good way to clear the air. 

 

"So what do you say? Happy faces or am I running for it?" K'luha taunted, her grin turning devious as she looked them both over.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile crossed his arms and walked back over to K'luha. He frowned at her for a moment, and then looked down at K'tahjha, "Hey, did you learn anything from watching K'luha bartar?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj appeared to give the question serious thought then grinned,"Aye, I learned I don't want aunt K'luha mad at me. "

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha chuckled and stood up straight, crossing her arms beneath her chest. "Good, you learn quick. But what's that about K'ile? Going to leave me here in Gridania and take Tahj back alone?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Nah." K'ile waved that off, "I don't want to have to raise the kid. I just want to play with her and teach her fun stuff." Rather without warning, K'ile tossed his arms over K'luha's shoulders and pulled hr over to him. "I was just wondering if she was paying attention. I've got a theory that the kid's smart."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj raised an eyebrow at K'ile with a grin,"I know all my letters and I write really well. But not sure how smart I am."she shrugged.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha squeaked as she was suddenly pulled to K'ile. What was that now? She blushed a bit and cleared her throat to glance back at Tahj for a moment. "Well, she's already smarter than me. It took forever for me to figure out how to read letters and such."

*

 

Twinflame: "Letters? I can read letters. Five of them." K'ile said with a chuckle, and nudged K'luha's head with his forehead. "But can she haggle?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj shrugged,"Not yet, because I can't say some of the words Aunt K'luha used."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha blushed again and not because of K'ile weird affection. She wasn't sure if it was affection. Maybe just him being weird. Also because she was pretty sure Tahj didn't know all the cuss words she used.

 

"Ahem. Well. We shouldn't teach you everything all at once now."

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile finally smiled, Tahj's cuteness drawing it out of him. "Right," he said, releasing K'luha. He felt like he'd pulled warmth out of her body to suppliment his own, but he really wasn't sure why he'd done that. He did feel a bit less down, though, now that he had. "Anyway, let's get those apples ordered so we can all head home together!"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj perked up and a smile lit her face at the mention of apples,"They're really good this time of year, still kind of tart. Besides we should get this done so Aunt K'luha can sit and rest."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha took a deep breath as K'ile finally released her. Well then. That was... she didn't have a distinct word or emotion for it so she simply let it go. "Right then. So, let me go barter." she smiled at them before limping over to the stall and starting the relatively long process of bartering for a lot of freaking apples.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Yeah, alright, we'll just be over here. Hey, Tahj." K'ile took a few quick steps to one side and picked up a stick, which were in plentiful supply around these streets. Holding it one hand, he began to spin it quickly between his fingers. "Bet nobody ever taught you to do this."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Flinching back suddenly at the sight of the twirling stick, Tahj began to relax as it didn't light.Watching intently she shook her head,"I'm not sure I can."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha proceeded to continue arguing with the stall vendor.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "The movements aren't that different than grabbing arrows from a quiver, actually. At least, finger-wise," he said, and raised his hand to eye-level as he continued to spin it, working his digits forward and back as the stick moved. "I mean, it takes practice. But I can do this and I can not nock an arrow, so it'd prolly come easy to you."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj frowned in concentration studying K'ile's fingers before reaching out,"Can I try?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: The stick stopped suddenly, falling into a natural and light grip in his hand. He extended it to Tahj, "Sure! There's no wrong way to do it. Your fingers will figure it out if you give it time."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: She simply held the stick lightly for a second trying to feel the weight and balance of it, then moved it out to her fingers to attempt K'ile's maneuver. Concentrating heavily she managed to get the stick almost all the way around once before her fingers got tangled and she dropped it with a frown.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: It was about this point K'luha screamed something at the stall vendor very loudly and the man gruffly slamned his hand on the table.  There was dead silence before he gave in and began writing up the order slip.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile tossed a smile over in K'luha's direction. If he was surprised, it was only that she let the man live. When he looked back at Tahj, he saw the stick on the ground and said, "So you moved it, right? It takes a lot of dropping to sticks to get one to work with you."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj stared in K'luha's direction for a second with a grin before leaning down to pick up the stick and try again.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Retrieving another stick, K'ile held it in front of him and just turned it very slowly, smoothly, without saying anything. He was half-watching K'luha's ears while she yelled at the vendor.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha argued another few minutes with the vendor over the wording of the contract before the man simply gave into every demand she had. If only to get her away from him at this point.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: After picking the stick back up several times Tahj finally got the stick to spin in her fingers, albeit painfully slowly, but moving.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "There you go!" K'ile said when he noticed, pausing the spinning of his own stick and giving Tahj a couple of quick claps. "And that's honestly most of what goes into it. No bad or good form or losing or keeping concentration. Just get better at spinning the stick however it works for you. Then just start moving around while you do it and it'll look awesome."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha finally seemed mostly settled with her buisness and with a small basket of apples she limped back to K'ile and offered him an apple from the basket. "What are you teaching her?" Luha questioned, having been too busy arguging to pay much attention.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Keeping one eye on her stick, Tahj reaches slowly and carefully for the bascket to retrieve an apple, looking quite pleased with herself.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Uhm," K'ile said, not really sure what to call this most simple of technique's. He didn't want to say that it was fire-dancing, because he didn't want Tahj to think about the stick being on fire or really anything being on fire and definitely not everything being on fire. So he just pointed and said, "Oh, that. You know!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha raised a brow at K'ile. "That, huh?" But she quickly relent and chuckled, pulling an apple from the basket to push at K'ile's mouth. "Well everything will be in the Forgotten Springs by the time we get there and it will last for about another week fresh after that."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj stopped her stick, taking a large bite of her apple, eyes half closing, savoring the flavor,"Is it time to leave?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile bit into the apple K'luha had thrust at him, tossing his stick over his shoulder and speaking around the fruit, "Hiy himahi eh eou ih ie a ahiaeah?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha looked to K'ile and reached over to flick his head. "Don't speak with your mouth full. It's rude."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Staring in puzzlement Tahj frowns,"What did you say?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: Cracking off a loud bite, he repeated, "Right. Don't we have to find and pay for a carriage, too? Or can Tahj use Aetherytes?

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "We'll get a carriage." K'luha answered quickly. "But I know where to get one. The only real quest is, do we leave now? Or later?"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: "You can rest in the carriage, if we give you a bench to yourself, you can even lie down!" Tahj pleads, seemingly eager to get moving.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Oooh, someone's ready to go. Then are you ready K'ile? Or do we have something else you want to get?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "That was it," K'ile said. "Just needed the feast as soon as possible. I don't really like this forest that much anyway. Smells weird."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Well, then, let's go. I have enough mint leaves for the ride home." K'luha nodded finally and started forward. "Follow me~"

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: "Oh, I need to get my bag, it's all packed. Meet you at the gate!"she called over her shoulder as she raced off through the city.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile waved to Tahj, "Okay, we'll see you there!" And then ran over and put a hand on K'luha's shoulder. "Hey."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Hey yourself." K'luha retorted, looking back at K'ile while Tahj ran off. "She's certainly energetic. I think she'll come around quickly."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Mm hm." K'ile said, only half hearing K'luha as he turned her around, grabbed her face with one hand and her waist with the other, and pulled her into a sudden but firm kiss that completely claimed both of her lips.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Don't you think-" K'luha was about to continue before K'ile suddenly grabbed her. And she would have asked what that was all about before he... Wat? That was about all K'luha's break could think of.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Holding the kiss for almost two seconds, K'ile broke, spun, and smoothly pulled K'luha onto his back. "No walking allowed, remember!" He gave her very little waring before grabbing her ass to lift her and begin to trot off through town.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Somehow K'luha had completely lost the strength to fight him at all and simply allowed herself to be carted around. That was... really? Did that seriously happen? She was still in shock from the abrupt action. Somehow she never thought K'ile could do that. Like seriously. What? When did he decide he was going to do that? Did that mean he was going to be the nunh? Or where they just going to break the rules? Both prospects were  kind of exciting however. 

 

Still, K'luha was red-faced for awhile and she remained quiet as K'ile carted her over to the gates.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Meanwhile Tahj had retrieved her bag from her bunk and raced to the gates at full speed, arriving slightly out of breath.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Showing up a bit after Thaj (because let's face it, the kiss didn't take more than two seconds no matter how you slice it), K'ile greeted Tahj energetically with a, "Hey Tahj!" as soon as he caught sight of her. He was moving it a quick jog, even with K'luha's weight on him, desperate to get to the gate and be around people again before K'luha got it in her head to ask abut what he'd just done.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luckily for K'ile, K'luha wasn't going to ask. She was still processing the whole event and hoping she wasn't just delusional and had imagined it or something. Not to mention she had to pull herself together for Tahj. She quickly cleared her throat and gave a small wave to Tahj as well, forcing the blush on her face to dissappate.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj grinned and waved at the pair as they approached, but suddenly her eyes widened,"OH no! I forgot  Rhiki! Can he come? I can't leave without him." she pleaded.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Uh..." K'ile slowed down as he approached K'tahjha, looking like a startled animal. His mind emptied of thoughts of kisses and asses and began to wonder who this Rhiki person was. Some adopted brother? An orphan minion? If Rhiki was her boyfriend K'ile was going to kick his ass! "What?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Who is... Rhiki?" K'luha blurted out, a bit confused. "Is he... your chocobo perhaps?" Somehow the name just struck her as the name of a pet of somesort. Did she even have a chocobo?

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj nods and puts her fingers to her lips blowing a piercing whistle; shortly amid the loud rustling of brush a large chocobo approached from the stables. The large bird stopped in front of Tahj and lowered his beak to tap on the top of her head gently.

 

She grinned and reached up to caress the bird,"How are you old man?" Then turning to the adults she pleaded,"He was mama's and I did odd jobs to feed him. I can't leave him."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Oh!" Yeah, that was far better than some non-Miqo'te man touching his new daughter. "That's fine. We actually have chocobos back in the tribe, so he'll have family, too.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha smiled. She knew it. Somehow the name Rhiki sounded familar. And it sounded like a chocobo's name. She chuckled light and put her head on top of K'ile's again. "Of course. He can walk alongside the carriage and when he gets tired we can see if we can't put him inside it."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: With a smile that lit up her face, Tahj threw her arms around the bird's neck then turning around and hugging both K'ile and K'luha in quick succession. "Thank you! He won't be any trouble, you'll see. Except.." she winced,"I don't have a rope for him."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "He comes when he's called, right? Does he really need a rope?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I'm sure the carriage will have rope on it or we can buy some before we go either way."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: At the mention of the carriage Tahj peered down the road,"Is it coming soon?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "We still have to order one, but there's usually a lot of them at the gate ready for order you know." K'luha smiled, tapping's K'ile's shoulder again. "Down. Come on. I want to limp to the gate myself."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Fine, fine," K'ile said, once again grabbing her tail when he let her down. Little things like that seemed to be coming easier. "But Tahj has to help you limp around so you don't put weight on your hip." Which he knew completely invalidated her request, but whatever.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha glanced back at the touch to her tail, but limped over to Tahj anyway. "Oh fine. You know I can walk around myself but if you'll be quiet about it I'll lean on Tahj."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj smiles at her aunt and slips an arm around the woman's waist to help steady her. Glancing back she clucked her tongue for Rhiki just as he helped himself to an apple from the basket. "Hey!" she fussed, then sighed,"Sorry, he likes apples."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha chuckled at the Chocobo's antics and gave a little shrug. "No worries. The apples were for everyone and we have more coming to the Forgotten Springs."

 

*

 

Twinflame: Not having anything better to do, K'ile followed along, having nothing to say at the moment. He actually, on a whim, did a little K'yohko impersonation and tried to look as distant and uncaring as possible for a few seconds, but he couldn't hold it. Unlike K'yohko, he actually had thoughts and feelings, so he ended up smriking and chuckling at himself.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Continuing to walk slowly out the gates, Tahj carefully tried to match her speed with K'luha's although she had her suspicions that her aunt wasn't leaning on her very heavily. But said nothing.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha was hardly leaning at all and mostly lead Tahj over to the stables where several cart drivers were hanging around. She picked out what seemed the most normal and of a decent size before going to once again barter with the Elezen.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj pulled an arrow out of her quiver and practiced twirling it while watching the negotiations carefully.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Never thought of practicing with arrows," K'ile observed, "THat's smart. They're pretty balanced and smooth, right?" He was sort of just hanging out off to one side and letting K'luha worry about the money. There was no money in the tribe, and gil had no use to him. He had no concept of its scarcity, but he did understand its importance. All he really knew was that it was needed, that K'luha possessed it, and that he did not.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: After a few minutes of arguging, much less angry arguging for some reason, K'luha handed over a good portion of her gil and motioned for the rest to get into the carriage. 

 

"We've got our ride. It'll take about four days according to the carriage driver, but he'll get us to the Forgotten Springs and then we walk. Or rather, we use our chocobos and K'ile will have to hang on to me for dear life or run to keep up with them." Luha smirked, hopping in the carriage herself and taking a seat.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Tahj giggles at the thought of K'ile running through the desert chasing the large bird and vaults easily into the back of the carriage. She wsistles to Rhiki so that he knew he was to follow her.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile climbed into the carriage in a quick, subdued motion, already easing into a relaxed frame of mind for the liesurely ride. Or he's just tired from carrying K'luha around all morning. "I could just let you guys go ahead once we get to Forgotten Springs. Or I could catch a ride with the food. That's probabyl more what I'll do. Ride it back into the tribe heroically. K'ile the feast-bringer!"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha snorted at the idea of K'ile the feast-bringer. "Bringing feasts that I bargained and paid for are we?" she sighed and gave up on the idea of convincing him otherwise. He never got much glory. Sure, he could have it this time around. "I'll probably have to collect K'ailia's things soon after I get home and return them to her." she sighed a bit solemnly. "She'll want them as soon as possible..."

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Glancing sharply at her aunt's change of tone, Tahj sat down and carefully pulled her into a hug. Snuggling her head into K'luha's shoulder she smiled gently.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Smirking at Tahj's display of affection, K'ile reclined and put his hands behind his head, "Just make sure you don't miss the feast. You'd hate yourself if you did."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I'll do my best." K'luha shot back with a small smile, petting Tahj's head at her display of affection. "But for now, I think I'll sleep. Do you want the bench to yourself Tahj or are you gonna sit with K'ile?" Luha asked kindly. She didn't mind cramping K'ile's personal space if Tahj wanted to sit by herself.

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Grinning Tahj slipped off the bench, "You can take the bench I'm not sleepy yet." sitting carefully on the back of the carriage with her legs dangling, she talked cheerfully to the trailing bird.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Alright then." K'luha smiled and scooted herself up on the bech so she could lay down comfortable. Or at least as comfortably as one could on an uncomfortable bench. Once she was comfortable she glanced over at K'ile, wondering faintly about that kiss.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Reclining and looking rather content, K'ile crossed his legs in front of him. He caught K'luha's gaze and held it, but didn't say anything to her. Did she have something to say to him or what?

 

*

 

K'tahjha Yohko: Not paying any attention to the adults behind her, Tahj was biting off bits of apple and holding them out to Rhiki, giggling as he put on bursts of speed to snatch them from her fingers.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha didn't say anything either, though the look on her face was clear she wanted to say or do something. But instead she simply closed her eyes and tried to get comfortable again.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Well, okay, guess she didn't want to say anything anyway. K'ile shrugged and closed his eyes too, feeling safe and relaxed and finally on his way home.

[Twinflame]

K'luha Haaz: Luha awoke some time late in the night when Tahj had already gone to sleep in the carraige. It was relatively spacious of a carriage, so there was plenty of room for them all the sleep. She sat up carefully and rubbed her eyes groggily, the mint tingling sensation having run out hours ago and the bumpiness from the carriage making her hip agitated and painful.

 

*

 

Twinflame: K'ile was awake. He'd giving his bench to Tahj to sleep on and lain himself sideways between the benches, his back leaning against K'luha's bench with his head just past her feet. One leg and his tail hung off the back of the carriage. His attention was on Rhiki, who followed along obediently and watched the shadows with some interest, likely seeing something the Tia could not.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha hadn't seen K'ile beneath her and when she sat up accidently put her feet on his chest. She pulled them back up on the bench quickly and winced at her hip's pain before looking down. 

 

"Ah, sorry K'ile..." she whispered carefully, not wanting to wake Tahj.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Looking vaguely confused -- though not scared because those were, after all, Luha's feet, which as a rule aren't very terrifying -- K'ile looked up to K'luha with a flick of moonlight in his blue eyes. "That's fine. I'm not asleep or anything." His voice was smooth and low, a sort of whispered melodic baritone.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Luha scooted over to the edge of the bench closer to his head and looked down at him. Not asleep? It was rather late for him to be awake. Hell, it was rather late for HER to be awake. Still, she reached into the pouch on her leg and pulled out a mint leaf to chew on again. The taste sent chills down her spine and for a moment her tail bottlebrushed before cooling down and laying on the bench, falling off and dangling over K'ile's head. 

 

"Why not asleep? Have a lot to think about?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: When he felt her tail against his features, he reached up and took it in his hand, just holding it idly. "No. I don't think about things. I'm just sort of being here."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha blinked as he held her tail, but looked down and allowed him to do so anyway. "Really? Well... that's probably a good thing. You already know what I do when I think..." she smiled a little and shook her head.

 

*

 

Twinflame: He smiled at her. "Yeah, I've seen it once or twice. You should try and be like me and just... Well. I'm nto sure what it is I do. I don't think about it."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "Hmm... not sure you would prefer that either." K'luha teased lightly, wigglign her tail to free it from K'ile's grip.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Stubbornly holding onto her tail, K'ile let a chuckle slip, "Hey, it's been working out great for me, hasn't it?" He pondered that for a moment, despite the irony that he was pondering the effictiveness of his claim to never ponder. This was distracting enoguh that he didn't almost not think that people had low opinions of K'ile Tia for reasons that he was also not almost thinking about mostly.

 

"Anyway. It works for me."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha puffed her cheek out as he insisted on hanging onto her tail. Not thinking worked for him? Really? "Well if I wasn't thinking..." she began, shifting from her seat on the bench to sit carefully on K'ile and the floor. "I would certainly do more of this." K'luha smirked faintly and leaned over to kiss at the corner of K'ile's lips. Of course she couldn't move to fast, so it would have been relatively easy for him to swat her away.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Great. He'd carried K'luha all day and now he was going to have to carry her weight some more. Well, this was different. It was easier. The weight settled more comfortably, more intimately, and wasn't forced to hold her by her bum. He moved his arms so one lay over her legs and the other wrapped around behind her, to keep her from falling out of the carriage.

 

When she moved to kiss him, he just turned his head and leaned it so her lips hit his cheekbone instead. "Come on, Luha. You do that whether you're thinking or not."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I'm just saying I would do it more." She replied casually, resting her head against his shoulder and getting comfortable. Laying on K'ile was far more comfortable than on the bench. Of course it wasn't like she could stay like this. It wasn't good to give that impression to Tahj but... while Tahj was asleep it was fine.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Ah. Well, that's..." he paused, then said, "It is what it is, I guess." He did his best to make himself comfortable, but he prioritized Luha's comfort on him. Not just because of her hip, but patially.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: After a few moments of silence K'luha lifted her head to look at K'ile again. She was a mix of happy and confused and concerned. "Why did you suddenly kiss me?" she asked softly. "I'm not upset, I was just curious why all of a sudden..."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Oh, that's easy." Looking back out at the night, K'ile smirked, "When I lost that bet and you told me to kiss you, I was just making fun of you with that kiss on the forehead. I was always going to kiss you full on. Just didn't want you to see it coming."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "You jerk." K'luha smiled, hitting K'ile lightly with her tail. "And you made me think you actually wanted to do that." she chuckled half-heartedly before slowly starting to stand up again. "I'm sorry I've been such a bother to you. I'll try to stop doing that."

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I didn't not want to, but it's not something I would've done on my own," K'ile said, and pulled on K'luha's tail to keep her from getting up. He'd decided he liked her where she was, at least for a few more minutes. "And you're not a bother. You're still helping me provide the feast, and you're going to vouch for me with the elders, right?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha whined that her tail was pulled on and somewhat quickly laid back down on K'ile. She looked at his eyes for another few moments before sighing. "I don't' know what you want me to vouch for but you know I will. What am I vouching for again? That you provided the feast?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: With a grimace, K'ile said, "We talked about this, remember? Before a Tia can become a Nunh, he has to have a woman pledged to him or else the challenge can't take place. That and provide a feast for the tribe."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "I..." K'luha opened her mouth and closed it again. Really? He was really going to do it? She had completely forgotten about that feast thing. She couldn't even remember if K'yohko had gone about that or K'raqi. So that's what the feast was about? He really deduced to do it. "You said you weren't planning on it..." she finally was able to cough out quietly. "Something changed your mind?"

 

*

 

Twinflame: "I'unno," K'ile shrugged. "I haven't taken the time to think about it. Just a thing I might end up doing. I still might not."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: Still... he was still sitting there at maybe. But he had taken the time to get the feast together so... maybe it was more on his mind. Or maybe he just hated K'yohko so much he wanted the chance to fight him. Reguardless, K'luha smile a bit and shook her head. "I'll vouch for you when you decide." she answered finally.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Thanks. Without that it isn't even a maybe. Not because I couldn't get one of the other women to vouch for me, but... you know." He shrugged, closed his eyes and leaned his head back.

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha wasn't sure she really knew but she also wasn't sure she cared that much. With a smile she shifted her head to lean forward and attempted to kiss his lips again.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Well, this time K'ile wasn't looking, so... He only flinched a little bit, mostly keeping his composure. Damned women. Did K'thalen have to put up with this?

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha enjoyed stealing her kiss from K'ile and lingered there for a few moments before pulling away smugly. "I am going to have fun with you if you do it." she chuckled, lightly prodding his side.

 

*

 

Twinflame: Keeping himself under control, K'ile didn't move too much while she kissed him, and succeeded in not kissing her back. He even ignored her poke and chuckle, replying with a rather cynical, "I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: "It means you'll have to find out. Also that I have first dibs on you." K'luha chuckled again, prodding at his side again and nuzzling his neck. "Don't be so stiff unless you're trying to act like K'yohko you dork."

 

*

 

Twinflame: He was being stiff, and when she said that, he laughed. He tried to keep the laugh quiet, though, so he didn't wake K'tahjha, btu K'luha was right. His body loosened and her wrapped his hands around K'luha, leaning forward to press his forehead against the side of her own head, "Alright, but no more breaking the rules. I'm gonna have to confess all that to the elders."

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha grinned, glad to see him loosen up and smile. That was her favorite part about K'ile. His stupid happy smile. His smiley face was contagious. Really, it was. But she had to pout a little when he made her promise not to break any more rules. "Awhh, what? We have to get ourselves in trouble? Shit." K'luha stuck her tongue out at K'ile. "Grandmother's gonna kill me." she whined quietly.

 

*

 

Twinflame: "Ah, we'll be fine." K'ile said. "The elders aren't that scary. Besides, we're bringing food. How mad can they get?"

 

*

 

K'luha Haaz: K'luha huffed a bit but didn't say. K'deiki was absolutely going to kill her. She would be... well she had no idea what kind of punishment awaited her but it wasn't going to be fun and she was pretty sure it was going to suck. A lot. The lack of talking made her sleepy again however, and it was within a minute or two that she fell back asleep on K'ile.