Declaration of War [Hipparion Tribe. Closed]

[Clover]

 

"K'nahli Yohko!!"

 

The blue haired female Miqo'te had been engaging in her daily, solitary training with the bow. Nothing out of the usual, until a boyish voice yelled her name from behind. It was a harsh sound, one that perhaps went too far in order to get her attention.

 

When she turned her head, she could recognize a member from her tribe, K'rahto Tia, standing at a safe (very safe) distance from her. He looked at the girl with his trademark aggressive eyes, as if she -and the whole world, really- was an enemy.

 

The situation certainly might have come as a surprise; not because he was being unfriendly, but because he'd approached her to start with. Few were the words K'nahli had exchanged with the Tia during all her life. He wasn't the most social creature around either, always training on his own with perpetual anger in his face. They'd never been friends, they'd never shared anything, and yet he had gone out of his way to talk to her today.

 

His voice was as loud when he spoke again, as if it was any sort of declaration of war.

 

"I'm going to become Nunh for you!" He stated with sheer force and a slight touch of pink under aggressive eyes. "I hope you will accept me when that happens!"

[K'nahli]

 

 

The arrow that had been armed securely into her bow immediately slipped free and popped dangerously into the air, landing a few feet before her. The sudden and unexpected announcement by the tia had caught her completely off guard, causing her to accidentally release her grip on the weapon in an awkward fashion.

Her eyes trained back over toward the tia as her face flushed slightly in embarrassment in response to his shameless declaration, something that half the tribe easily could have heard even from that distance.

 

Her crimson gaze was an infusion of both embarrassment and fury as she stared the distant male down with contempt, briefly uncertain of how to even respond in such a situation. The fact that he felt the need to bellow such a remark so boldly to her as opposed to saying it privately and directly had earned him no favours with her.

She drew in a short breath in attempt to cool her temper before indulging him with an answer.

 

"Claim the title in the name of another" she finally answered in a bitter tone as she turned to continue her training, her flushed expression slowly fading.

 

"I will have no part in supporting a challenge from the likes of you"

 

 

The morning sun beared down upon her oppressively that morning, tingling the back of her neck continuously and keeping her in constant awareness of the unnatural heat that made every small action feel laborous and consuming. As much as she wanted to believe otherwise, she felt certain that the matter would not lie dormant there.

 

She blinked slowly with this realisation. Azeyma's wrathful subjugation was nothing other than a discreet confirmation of the matter, today was going to be a long day.

[Clover]

"........................."

 

K'rahto's expression almost remained the same against K'nahli's cold words. To his permanent frown was added a brief pang of surprise, which was quickly covered up by his usual aggressiveness. It was too early to lick the wounds of his pride. He'd taken the most difficult step, his declaration had been made; he couldn't back out just yet.

 

"I'd take good care of you, K'nahli Yohko!"

 

Even if the girl had turned her back to him, he insisted with the same tone-- loud and clear, a mix of aggressive and apparently respectful. And clumsy, very clumsy. His position was firm, his head up, and every single muscle of his body was rigid with tension.

 

"As the highest form of respect towards you, I would also take good care of your sister K'mih! This I promise!"

 

In his Tia mind, that was a suggestion that K'nahli should appreciate: her beloved sister in hands of a Tia she could trust. How could she refuse?

[K'nahli]

No sooner had it faded than another, even brighter flush of red crossed over her face as the tia persisted in spite of her rejection. Her hands trembled subtly now as she grew increasingly angry. She grunted in agitation, now turning in the direction of her harasser and promptly closing the distance between them. As strong as the temptation was to merely strike him and be done with the whole business, she struggled with the desire in attempt to try and remain collected. To her, this was not what the tia had made it out to be.

 

She drew in close to him, her eyes alight with malice as they returned the fierce glare of his.

 

 

 

 

 

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"What in the seven hells is the matter with you?" she spat viciously in an unnecessarily hushed voice, her gaze unfaltering. Though they were far from the camp and there was no further need for either of them to continue shouting, she couldn't help but resort to discretion. It needn't have taken a keen eye to notice the embarrassment occupying her expression beneath the more prominent flare of anger.

 

 

"Did someone put you up to this? If so then I fear they only wished to see you hurt, as understandable as that feeling is" she questioned him with harsh uncertainty. His actions were beyond strange, in her eyes it must have been someone's idea of a joke. Though the concept of him submitting to such a request was strange in itself, resulting in a lingering cloud of doubt to hang over her while she awaited an answer.

 

The cold stare the young and audacious tia was opposed with was a powerful contrast to the sweltering heat that weighed down upon the sands. He was picking a dangerous fight.

[Clover]

He didn't want to show it, but K'rahto tensed even more when K'nahli started approaching him, a drop of cold sweat traveling down his cheek. The boy maintained his firm position and aggressive expression, a nice mask to conceal how nervous her proximity made him. They'd never exchanged as many words as they were doing now, he thought, and she definitely had never looked at him with such fierce eyes.

 

She had never looked at him, period.

 

("Did someone put you up to this?")

 

Her inquiry actually and visibly surprised him, for his offended eyes opened a bit more, displaying something akin confusion.

 

"What...?"

 

So that's how it was. She wasn't accepting his offer because she wasn't taking it seriously to start with. Well, that had to change; K'rahto just needed to let her know how deadly serious he was, and how willing he was to become a good Nunh for her.

 

"That's not...!"

 

And then he tried, but for some reason, words wouldn't come out. Granted, the boy had never been much of a talker, but he didn't remember any other time where speaking had become as painfully difficult as it was now. It was better when she had her freaking back turned to him, he concluded.

 

With parted lips that wanted to say more (anything, just say anything), K'rahto's mind went blank. Above them, the sun kept shining like a smile.

[K'nahli]

A disgruntled sigh escaped the young girl's throat as a soothing hand reached up to her temple. Her now, relaxed gaze peeked out from beneath her lowered lids lazily as they studied him briefly for a moment with anticipation, calmly awaiting an explanation for his behaviour, though no such thing came.

 

"Oh... have you lost your voice again?" she spoke sarcastically with a modest flick of her head. She was not ignorant to the rudeness of her own nature but she figured that someone with a personality much like his would take little offence to her words.

 

"Wonderful, then you can get back to doing... whatever it is that you do" she continued with a dismissive wave of her hand while turning her back on him and beginning to make her way over to her original training spot.

 

 

"And for future reference, little do I appreciate being made fun of..." she added spitefully, but with a tone that may have hinted something more downhearted.

[Clover]

K'nahli's harsh words did nothing but aggravate the mute Tia. His frown deepened and his fist closed tightly, infuriated. If there was someone he was truly annoyed to, it was himself. He'd made a fool of himself with no one else's help; it'd been him and only him.

 

(Wait...)

 

And there she was, turning her back to him again, dismissing him like a useless Miqo'te she'd go back to ignoring. He needed to speak; he needed to let her know. It had to be now, for there'd be no more chances if she took another step.

 

(Wait, I'm not done yet...)

 

Inside his noisy head, he was screaming at her, but it weren't his words what were heard next. It was K'nahli's last statement, a claim that felt like knives against the Tia's chest. All the courage he'd gathered, the tension and humiliation he'd endured-- everything had been reduced to a mere joke in the huntress' mind.

 

For a moment, K'rahto just saw red. His dizzy mind screamed again, with so much force that his voice managed to break through the invisible wall that had been covering his throat.

 

"YOU ARE MY FAVOURITE, K'NAHLI YOHKO!!"

 

From the top of his lungs and heart, the new confession fell harder and louder upon her; upon himself. It'd been raw and impulsive, as desperate as it'd been sincere.

 

The following silence was stained by his own breathing, agitated as if he'd just survived a battle against a sandworm. His eyes, well open, remained glued to the girl's figure. The next trail of voice was a weak one.

 

"...Always been."

 

He was right. It was easier with her back turned to him.

[K'nahli]

His words shot through K'nahli like a poison-tipped arrow, slashing clean through her flesh and producing a tingling, burning sensation in her stomach that slowly radiated outward in all directions, creeping through her being until she was finally engulfed entirely by a discomforting sensation. Her body had come to an abrupt halt, the shameless declaration stopping her completely in her tracks and forcing her irked expression into one that displayed nothing less than complete and utter shock. Her eyes had grown wide in disbelief as she resided alone in the spotlight now; her jaw hanging slightly open, body rigid and unmoving.

 

"...."

 

She was caught momentarily speechless. She had no quick-witted response for something so embarrassingly destructive. She could feel the soft skin on her face quickly becoming overwhelmed with an unbearable heat, but a heat that did not stem from the blistering sun which hung, torturously, in the clear, cerulean sky above.

Slowly, she peeked back over her shoulder. The small motion to the onlooker would have been immediately perceived as something made with dire apprehension. The tia was defiant in his posture, looking as angry as ever while he continued to pursue his unknown intentions as he stood determinedly upon the saffron sands behind her.

 

 

K'nahli pivoted on the spot, turning once more to face the tia as a moment of inspiration descended upon her suddenly from a gentle veil of wind-carried sand that brushed lightly against her exposed skin, something that could potentially save her from this reprehensible situation.

 

"I....I.. um" she tried to begin, struggling to form the words necessary as her flustered state served no less than a choking vice upon her closed throat. She drew in a deep breath again, hoping to retrieve her composure before attempting to speak once more.

 

"I'll tell you what.... if you can best me in an archery contest... then I'll consider supporting your challenge..." she added coyly while averting her eyes from his mischievously.

 

"Or you could more easily earn my respect by submitting now and refraining from further harassing me" she suggested with a slightly more bitter tone, indicative of how his behaviour was only having a negative impression on her.

 

Their eyes met after she had concluded speaking. She had given him an ultimatum, one that he could not see completed. Hopefully, the young girl thought, his failure to succeed would only emphasise his lack of competence and throw him off of this ridiculous idea he had inexplicably obtained.

[Clover]

The longer the female Miqo'te took to react to his latest confession, the more tense K'rahto'd grow. She finally turned to face him, graceful like the wind, with beautiful, always intense eyes that didn't fail to freeze him on the spot once more. At least it was her turn to do the talking, though that was hardly a comfort at this point. He knew he wouldn't be able to push the matter further. He'd placed his heart on her hands already; the rest depended on her, and her next reply would be crucial.

 

Far from condemning him definitely, however, K'nahli's words spoke of chances and hope, albeit those became very thin when the Tia realized what she'd just asked. An archery contest... against one of the best archers from the tribe. K'rahto had some experience with the bow, but (and he mentally cursed himself for this) the spear had always been his weapon of choice and the one he'd mostly been training with. K'nahli knew what the outcome would likely be, but the Tia couldn't blame her. She was a fierce huntress, it was only natural that she'd expect her Nunh to be either equal or better than her.

 

For a moment, he stared at her with uncertainty in his half frowning features, thoughts racing. The sound of her next sentence was so unpleasant that he felt the rush to speak. K'nahli hadn't even finished pronouncing the last word when K'rahto raised his voice with urgency.

 

"I accept your challenge! Just tell me when!"

 

If that was what she needed to feel respected and safe with him, so be it.

[K'nahli]

"Eh...?"

 

K'rahto hardly gave her the opportunity to finish her sentence. Her gaze locked on to him once more as his impulsion had caught her off guard. It seemed to be the boy's specialty.

 

The girl's face was a painting of bewilderment. She hadn't expected him to actually agree to such one-sided terms. It was not out of arrogance that she had proposed such an offer, but simply as a matter of fact. She was in full knowledge of each and every competent archer in the tribe, even if she did not associate with them. K'nahli, being the passionate huntress that she was, had always been an eager student when it came to the subject and was more than happy to apply different styles and techniques to further refine her own in her endless pursuit to better herself.

K'rahto was no such person of interest.

 

She wasn't even sure if he had ever wielded a bow in his life. Perhaps she had seen him before but simply didn't remember.

Could he see into the girl's mind, however, perhaps he could have realised that it was not something to lament. Ever since then, since that day... she had never paid particular attention to anyone other than K'mih.

Only her loyal sister, the one person who had persevered and saved K'nahli from herself; only she was worth loving... and protecting.

 

A soft breeze was the only sound that interrupted the brief silence as the girl gave his response some further thought. Her eyes narrowed as she studied his expression carefully. He was... serious, truly. The crimson-eyed miqo'te folded her arms across her chest quietly, subjugating the tia to yet another peculiar stare, though this time it was not one of anger, frustration or even embarrassment. It was one of pure intrigue.

 

"...five suns from now..."

 

She finally answered with a little hesitation, growing continually doubtful that she had chosen the best method to dismiss the boy's nonsense. However, she had already presented him with the chance now, she could not go back on her word.

[Clover]

Even if K'rahto was fully aware of his almost non existent chances to win K'nahli's challenge, he decided to follow with it until the very end. It might be an impossible task, perhaps, but it was also the only obstacle separating him from her now, and that made it still better than her initial rejection.

 

His eyes stared at her with fierce determination, as if that alone could save him from his almost imminent fate.

 

"Five suns... Alright. You'll find me here then!"

 

Those were the last words he shared with her. There were no good-byes or polite bows. K'rahto simply started running in direction to the camp, wanting to waste no time to start his training. He had 5 suns to improve his skills at the level of someone who had trained for years; the odds were clearly against him, but he hadn't given up yet. No-- he couldn't allow himself to give up. Five years ago, he promised himself that he'd become a man. A strong man. This was nothing but a small -albeit very important- step.

 

K'nahli would be his goal during the next five suns. After that, he'd have to face the consequences of his own desires.

 

 

 

[END OF THE SCENE]