Shayra - there was an age undreamed of...

[02:17:16] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) sits on her spot at the river, a high rock that has no easy access. One has to climb to get there, and barely any people see a reason to do that seemingly. She sits there, holds her belly that grows more and more round by the month. She has never had these dimensions and had never considers that she could ever have it. She had only seen on other women to be pregnant and proclaimed that her muscles are too hard at the belly that a baby would fit beneath. How wrong she had been. She recalls how she had trained with a guest this morning. It was a tall man, maybe as tall as Dirk, and he had swung a long spear. She had told him that she had those encounters with the huge wolf and the ogre, and how she had learned to evade them. The man seemed impressed, yet self assured as he often had fought against orcs and ogres in his past.

[02:24:09] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) closes her eyes as the cold breeze that flows over the river also waves over her exposed belly. She remembers what they had done, how the man had offered her to spar. They had begun to spar, and he had demanded from her to only evade and dodge, to not do counter attacks for now. She had done right that so, and she had to imagine that the long spear he had swung after taking off the tip would be a foot in diameter nearly - and still as long as it was when swung: He had held it at between five and seven feet. Those first attacks had been easy to dodge, when he repeatedly stabbed against her center. She had just made a sally sidewards, left or right, or jumped back. Simple swings had followed, for her to jump over or to dodge under.

[02:29:11] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) remembers further how they had trained. He had told her then that such beasts might be faster than that, and that evading sidewards would not always be an option. Simple tricks he called it, for her it was highly innovative new tactics in battling. He had told her to put on her war gear, the heavy iron armor parts, strapped firmly about her body. She should always put thick furs under it, as then the iron would not just forward any heavy blow against her body beneath. That she had already known and done though. Then they continued to spar, and he taught her how to take those harsh hits of these giants beasts if she cannot just jump about.

[02:34:55] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) learned from that man how to take the blows, that not only parrying with the sword or dodging is a means of winning a fight, but that also controlling how to take a blow would enhance the chances to win. What he would mean she had asked, and he had just asked back if she would prefer to slam full front against a tree or if she would rather have her head slashed off or her shoulder crushed unter a tree sized club. Surely he had used shorter sentences to make her understand, and she had replied that of course she would prefer to hit the tree. So then she should take the blow with her armor, move her armored body parts into the way of the blows and move the other parts safely away if she could not dodge or parry a strike. She had not understood at first...

[02:38:32] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) had begun to practice that with the man then. At first he had shown her slowly, by guiding her very body parts. She had been so excited about learning that, focused on it, that she had not even realized that the man mainly used that session to grab and touch her baby belly, her breasts, her neck and even her female privates. He had shown her to raise a shoulder and move her head aside in the meanwhile to capture a heavy blow with the pauldron, or to let a blow glide off her let armor as if that itself would be a defending sword, or to present the hard side or front of her thick iron belt against blows. It would hurt she had objected, and he had said yes, but less than if the pussy would be impaled, the head slashed off or the belly stabbed.

[02:45:21] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) remembers how the man then had again taken his spear, and how he had placed herself with the back against the cave wall. He had began to swing again, and she indeed had far less chance to evade backwards, and his spear hilt surely was far from as thick as the club the ogre had swung. The first blow she had tried to parry then, which only leaded that the tip snapped against her bare upper arm. She sports there a heavy bruise now. But she had learned that he meant it. After that she had begun to do what he had told, to let the spear hilt crush against her pauldron. This weapon was thin enough to bounce off that iron, but she could understand and imagine what the wolf claw would have done, what the ogre club would have done. Low strikes she let run against her shinguards, against the iron bracers.

[02:51:02] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) had practiced that long with the man. Each armor part she learned by that to use as defense, as damage reducer. Only her belt they spared for now, the man would not want to endanger her child. Would he have put harm there, only his death would be coming to him by the Bear Scar clan. There would be no forgiving, and he would be hunted down to the end of the world if needed. Hours later her shins, her shoulders, her lower arms, all was well reddened and partly even bruised. She did not cry from that, she had even demanded to practice longer until that guest was pretty exhausted, but she wanted to learn. She will in future have to practice that more, it would surely help her, alone the understanding, but then also incorporating this knowledge into her reflexes...

((Later the day...))

[08:13:46] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) makes her way to the tavern. That practicing was exhausting, and she wants to have ale now, much ale. Helga, the bar maid already gets that look in her eyes when she sees the barbarian woman approach so merrily again. That always means work. She trudges into the drink house, and already booms a brief "Ale!" into it, loud enough to have it sound all over the village square.

[08:13:58] Applebottom's Tavern & Inn: As she nears the tavern's open entryways, the light and scents of food and drink give off a friendly warmth. There are tables and chairs aplenty to take a rest, with a barmaid who seems always ready with a smile and a drink. Helga's her name, if the calls of others are any indication, and Helga will point off to the door of the building to the side when asked, saying, "That's where you can rest your head. The Inn."

[08:17:19] Gretchen Birgitta (Khamis Luminos) had a job to do, though being around people always made her feel uneasy.. She'd not know precisely where the infirmary even was, it'd become apparent she'd have to ask someone, but whom..? She looked around, but most people steered clear of her out of instinct. Dejected and frustrated, she was about to leave when she heard someone shouting for ale. Slowly she turned to catch glimpse of fur and steel walking into the tavern. She'd sigh,'May as well..' she'd grumble as she followed Shayra into the tavern. Socially awkward though, she'd stare at her from the door way, not sure how to begin the dialog. Her eyes were naturally threatening despite her rather good intentions. It'd take her a moment to try to figure out how to talk to her though.

[08:20:07] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) grins a broad toothy grin to the bar maid. "Shayra know! Shayra want drink, not rest." She replies to that. Helga had surely been urged to tell that. She moves straight to the bar counter, pressing through any possible other guests and shoving enough away from the bar to find room herself. With a huge earthen pitcher filled with dark ale, and a strong wooden one liter mug she returns from there, makes herself room at one of the seats. Her mantle is open, one can see that a good bump forms under her breasts, a second trimester sized belly. So she sits down - this makes work harder. She does not even notice the other woman for now, just wants to drink something.

[08:27:55] Gretchen Birgitta (Khamis Luminos) had noticed the woman was pre-occupied with her drinking, and didn't want to be a bother. She strongly contemplated just leaving, but she had a job to do. After a deep breath she'd just call out,"Where is the infirmary." It was easier this way, no pleasantries or awkward social scenarios. She'd wait for an answer, deciding to look down rather than at her.. She didn't seem to really care for eye contact.

[08:31:52] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) hears that call, and looks over, seeing the woman stand there, clothed like a ranger, but masked strangely. Strange people on the island. She shrugs for now - the ale is more important to her. So she sets that one liter mug to her lips, begins to drink, and drink, and lays her head back to tilt the mug further, and drinks further, and yet a bit, until she slams the wooden mug to the table. She gives a hearty belch that might amuse even a dwarf, then sighs content. She starts outright though to refill the mug from the earthen pitcher. "Shayra know where is infirmary." She narrates into the room, why Helga had not told such she does not even think about, nor would she have cared if she knew. She looks up briefly to the woman again while telling such, then focuses again on her refilling.

[08:37:20] Gretchen Birgitta (Khamis Luminos) sneered a little and turned to depart. Most people didn't answer her questions these days, so she couldn't feign surprise when again; no one said anything, until someone did. She'd pause, and looked back into the tavern to see it was Shayra. "Does Shayra care to show me, or even give me directions?" She'd ask politely. From a distance, she did seem to be a rather polite person! She'd wait patiently for her to finish drinking so she could get an answer.

[08:42:09] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) takes a big swig from the second filling of the mug. In total there are two more liters in the pitcher surely. The second fill she does not down in one pull anymore though. "Now Shayra drink, then perhaps show!" She snorts in her crude barbarian dialect, with a focus on the word perhaps. She can only modulate her sentences into commands or questions, and if it is not a question, it is a command - sounds like one. She looks over to the woman again, and grins. Under the chair she lays a boot against a chair leg and pushes that chair backwards a good bit. "Who is who want show? You scared of Shayra?!" She grunts, taking it for sure that the person is scared of her, surely near everyone is. She is a barbarian in the end, considers herself a strong warrior. Of course everyone is scared. Pride and arrogance is quite a part of her mental world.

[08:47:26] Gretchen Birgitta (Khamis Luminos) was not really use to this level of hubris speaking to someone, but she was quick to adjust. She'd watch the woman drink for a moment, then answered her,"Oh yes, I'm absolutely petrified." She'd say in a rather cordial manner despite her oozing sarcasm. She'd walk around the pillar, standing more in view yet slightly further away as she asked,"There is a plague in these lands. Who I am doesn't matter, all that matters is that I am here to help." She'd say with a slightly aggressive edge to her tone.. She'd think for a moment, she hated talking to people.. Eventually she'd force a terrible smile, awkward and insincere as she said,"... But my name is Gretchen.. I am here to... Help..."

[08:53:47] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) nods at first, the woman confirming to be scared. A grin follows. Such verbal plays like irony or sarcasm are not easy for her. What is said stands as such. The middle part, the explanation of why the woman tells about her reason to be here, is partly lost on her, too long for her to understand, but bits she gets still. "Yes, there is plague here. Plague of village be cowards! All cowards, no values, no pride, no valor! Weaklings." She grunts her command and resumes to drink. "You want help, you set fire their asses! Then make run in battle!" And even without having fully swallowed, she bursts out in a guttural, hearty laughter, which makes some ale spray well about. She drinks again to replenish the lost for her belly, still laughing. "Gretchen Fire Maker, Gretchen Ass Igniter! Yes, you help!" Again a roaring laughter, and she slams the mug so hard onto the table that about all ale jumps out. She has to start refilling again, does not even mind about the mess she had created - and Helga surely only rolls her eyes about the work inbound to her.

[08:58:08] Gretchen Birgitta (Khamis Luminos) was thankful she'd opted to stay a fair distance away from this woman. The splashes of ale seemed to make her irritated the more she saw,"There.. Is a food and resource shortage, is there not? You should be more careful with your drink." She'd say with a tone of measured aggression. Seeing food wasted of any kind was her greatest pet peeve, but she needed Shayra so she'd keep herself calm. "I will get to that point. I prefer battle to this; but I have a task to fulfill." There was unease in her tone, but still she'd adhere to what she was told, yet curiously she'd ask,"You speak of battle though.. Pray tell, just whom is to be fought?"

[09:04:07] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) looks at the drink upon the woman's words. She does have to focus a lot to understand what the woman tells, alone by word count, and still cannot compute all the woman says. That does not ease her mood really. The tone she does not mind - her own folk holds not rarely aggression in their voices, it just means pride, strength. She refills again anyways. "You not tell Shayra drink! Shayra drink when want!" She growls, and if there is no ale, she drinks water, alcohol is nice for feasting, but still a luxury in a way. "You want Shayra show, you pay ale! Then tell what task! Task without battle no good! Battle is good!" The other had said she would prefer battle to something else, what that other is she does not know, but respect comes to those who like to fight as she does. "You fight enemy of clan! That whom you fight! You fight weak defender! You slay their men, you take their goods, you make their women lament! That is fight be fought!" And with that her voice gets more loud and proud by the word again.

[09:09:52] Gretchen Birgitta (Khamis Luminos) listened to Shayra with a twitch of her brow. Thankfully the mask hid partially just how irritated she was now. Mentally she'd start to tally up just how much of a tab Shayra was running giving the increased cost of everything in the tavern. She'd wait for the woman to finish talking, this time though she'd drawn several conclusions from listening to her. She'd look to her raven for a moment, then back to Shayra as she said,"I will not pay your tab. Only the weak drink what they cannot afford. I will not pay you to help save lives, including your own should this plague persist." She'd take her raven onto her arm from her shoulder, and moved a little closer to Shayra as she said with a calm, smooth tone,"Really; I don't give a damn if the sick people die. I don't care, really. I seek to aid them because I am tasked to do so. Now; tell me what I need to know.. Or don't.. It's your choice." She was done pretending to be normal. her eyes were set to Shayra's if she could, cold and threatening, and her expression and body language mirrored her more honest approach.

[09:15:13] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) looks up, understanding really only that the other will not pay. People talking so long sentences, or partial sentences, that she cannot understand them due to length anger her. About the bird she does not care. "You speak too much!" She grunts, sounding seriously angered already, "you no want Shayra tell, Shayra no tell, no need!" She drinks again, though without letting the other get out of her view even through fury narrowed eyes. There is not much left in the pitcher, but she does not plan to waste that.

[09:18:48] Gretchen Birgitta (Khamis Luminos) watched her talk, then nodded,"It seems we are at an impasse then." She'd turn to head off, though she didn't seem upset or anything. "Should this plague claim your life, or the life of someone you care for... Imagine the sound of my laughter. Here, I will give you a sample." She'd say with a somewhat dark tone, and true to her word; she'd laugh as she departed. A laugh that frightened most people to move even further away from her, she didn't care now. She'd just loiter about until she found what she sought.

[09:22:49] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) shrugs as the other departs. Civilized people and her own folk not rarely do not get along well. She despises civilized people, and the more if those prefer talking over fighting. All the mocking of the other is lost on her anyways due to length of words, so she takes it as the other being intimidated and trying to save her face somehow. She turns back to the drink. The laughter leaves her as unphased as it would likely leave the bar proprietor or the other women about the village.

((Later the day...))

[09:48:10] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) makes her way back to the Wayward, to her cave. She stops though in the light forest aside the river, seeing someone stand on a mountain ledge to her right. She looks over and up, then quirks a brow. "You alive!" She barks her command up to that woman. "White hair thought, Shayra thought, you got lost, that big panther ate you! Shayra fought big panther, made run!" She obviously does not know that the woman was the panther, is the panther who attacked her. "How you escape big panther?" That woman is somehow sympathetic to her, she also speaks short sentences and adds no fluff around all the babble.

[09:52:39] Elka Otterpop™ (adylin) had her eyes shut and her face turned up to the sun. With the weather turning colder it wasn't often that she got to do her lazy cat thing and soak up the warmth of the sun. Her ears picked up the rustling of footsteps in the grass, but she didn't open her eyes. Instead she took a deep breath searching for the scent that she knew would be there. At the same moment she recognized the scent the woman began to talk and a smile formed upon her lips. Her eyes opened and her head tilted as she regarded the woman, "I'm alive." She didn't need any time to formulate the believable lie as she had already done it with Snow and instead she pointed to the healing wounds upon her face. They weren't done by the panther, but the barbarian didn't need to know that. "I was attacked. I fought. Still alive." It was as short as sweet as she could make it so that the other woman would understand. Lying was so much easier when you didn't have to fill it up with extra details.

[09:58:02] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) steps closer to the woman to see better what she is pointing at. She sees those wounds, does not count the parallel stripes though, so she does not realize if it was really from a panther or something else. She just believes that. "You strong, good fight give much honor!" She grunts, though the panther had not been wounded when it came to her, and after likely not much able to fight really anymore. She does not even think about that detail much - wounds are there, the woman lives, no need to question her. "Where been since? Lay recover? Gather strength for kill panther? Kill it soon? Shayra help?" That last question is surely the most important, fighting that beast, killing it, would be such a joy. No, there is no noticing of her any kind of lie, she does not expect it, she does not hear it from the other's words, does not see it in her motions, nothing. She just believes.

[10:03:36] Elka Otterpop™ (adylin) lowered herself towards the ground until she was squatting on the rock, her arms encircling her legs. Her gaze lifted from the other woman to the forest around them, "Yes. Recovering." Her eyes went back to the woman and she wondered how much she knew about what was going on in the forest, "Panther long gone. Animals leaving. Forest is dark." She stopped speaking, her jaw tensing slightly, "Cannot fight what isn't here." Her eyes were locked upon the woman's and she stared intently for some time before looking away again. Her fingers tapped upon her knee as she considered saying more, "White hair. Have you seen her since?"

[10:09:47] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) grins as she hears that the panther is gone. The wound she had inflicted on her its back must have made it withdraw to die in a quiet cave then - is as she takes it. "Yes, forest very dark, Shayra went through forest, went even deep to Innawoods!" She tells, freely, not making a secret from that - the likely utmost deep places of the forests where the huge threats live as well. "Shayra slay wyvern in Innawoods. Innawoods even more dark, dense!" She has absolutely no idea what is going on with the forest, why it becomes more and more dark, considers that perhaps some dark forces conquer it, but in real does not think much about it. As long as she does not face it, or gets asked to face it, she does not bother even. Then she shakes her head. "Shayra has not seen her, White hair never appear anymore. No in tavern, no in Wayward!" She commands, in fact she had seen the white bird fly, but could not link that to the white haired woman. "White haired had vanished too, soon after you vanish, when panther came. Shayra think White Hair scared, coward to fight! But white hawk hate panther!" No, she is absolutely innocent about all that shape shifting of the various races. She just at times feels like a huge boa snake, which is her totem, but that's really all.

[10:18:16] Elka Otterpop™ (adylin) nodded slowly as she listened to the woman talk. She hadn't seen Snow since they were made to spar and she definitely had a bone to pick with her. Her hand lifted and her fingers softly traced over the deep scratches on her face, without her even realizing she was doing it. The Therian would pay for what she had done to her and she would make sure it hurt. Snapping out of her thoughts she forced a smile upon her face, "As birds should." She considered warning the woman to stay out of the forest, but quickly shrugged that off. It wasn't sure job to protect her or any other humans. "Your people..." she struggled to find the words that she would understand, "affected by animals leaving?" She didn't have to protect them, but she was damn curious about how the other races were dealing with the food shortage and the weather.

[10:25:00] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) grins about the bird, so true what the other said. Birds should hate cats, yes, funny conclusion. At the other question though she looks a bit thoughtful, and that needs quite some time until she can gather what it means the other asked for. "Shayra slay wyvern, wyvern give much meat, last for long time." She tells - maybe that animal leaving is the reason why Dirk, her husband, is gone since so long? He is passionate hunter, but if the prey leaves, he has to follow it into maybe far away regions of the island, which would take a long time indeed. "So Shayra no need hunt, but Dirk hunt, Dirk long away, maybe follow animals to hunt!" She grunts, making neither a secret from that even, "Shayra folk so no affected!" She had never yet thought about it maybe having a reason that she saw less animals. And for sure she does not consider the village to be her people. "But villagers maybe affected. Ask more money drinks. And villagers are very coward, maybe no dare hunt far. Then no get animal prey. Eat their words, they speak a lot...." She chuckles heartily, "Dirk dare go far hunting. He no coward, will pursue prey long times."

[10:29:32] Elka Otterpop™ (adylin) had to chuckle at the woman's spirit and ferocity. Though, she wondered if she truly understood the threat that the ichor that spread through the forest meant. That the entire island could starve without prey and without ships being able to make it to the island. Things were becoming dire, but it seemed that not all of the races were realizing that. "Wait. Wyvern? You found it?"

[10:34:38] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) nods gravely at the question - isn't it hearty to dwell with such a simple mind? So many problems never occur! She slams her fist onto her bosom. "Shayra find wyvern! Shayra slay wyvern!" She bursts, boasts, "Shayra march into deep Innawoods, Shayra meet dwarf Ulfric, Ulfric murder brother, walk with Shayra, but flee when see wyvern! Shayra fight!" Her eyes glitter in pride and selfesteem. That prey gets scarce she does not yet really see as a problem - they had hunted so much before, by coincidence even, that, with the wyvern, her clan has meat for weeks yet. It might help in that that her clan is mostly two people large, or two and a half if counting what is in her belly. There are guests now and then, but those also can only eat so much. "Shayra ram spear in shoulder, slash off arm! Then turn sword in wyvern, destroy heart! Wyvern dead!" Now that is a tale that's to her liking to speak about as it seems.

[10:40:21] Elka Otterpop™ (adylin) raised her brows listening to the woman tell her tale. In one swift, graceful movement, she laid a hand upon the rock and then jumped from where she was. Moving to stand before the woman, her scent stronger now that she was so close., her mouth beginning to water almost immediately remembering how she tasted. Her eyes closed and she took a deep breath trying to focus. She couldn't very well pounce the woman and eat her right now. Although, she couldn't very well remember the reason why she couldn't. Her eyes opened and a hungry look flashed through them, gone almost before it had come. "Yes, you are brave. Good hunter." When she was completely healed and people had forgotten, the perhaps she could try again. Offering a smile, she gave a nod, "I must go. Duties call."

[10:44:54] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) follows the woman jump down so gracefully with her eyes, and sees, as she is closer, the wounds in the face even better. She herself had magical healing after the fight with the panther and later the harpie. That had closed her wounds at least, and she has grudges about the missing scars on her body. The hunger in the eyes of the other she sees, but mistakes it maybe. "You no find prey either? You want eat, must go far, follow prey if prey gone!" She commands, tells, informs - her old tribe had done the same, when the prey was gone in one part of the desert, they went elsewhere or raided others for it. At the last, the information about having to go, she nods only though. "Blood and honor, woman!" She greets her, does not feel rejected or offended that the other has to go. If one remembers duty, one goes doing them, and telling to have to go is good with that.

[10:47:49] Elka Otterpop™ (adylin) gave a slight nod to the woman's words, her eyes lingering long enough to notice the woman's belly. Interesting. Those choosing to reproduce always mystified her. She mumbled blood and honor to the woman as she walked away, only because she supposed it was proper with her kind. And with that she disappeared back to the den.

[10:49:00] Asani Kolidon watched from a distance, her dark eyes narrowed due to the harsh sun above. The tree she leaned against had been damp with what left water she had on her body from slipping out of the river. The siren couldn't help but tilt her head at the nearby conversation before letting a few small clicks that almost sounded like bones cracking lift from her gills. They were hard to see from the distance that the girl was at, though she did take note that one was wearing what seemed to have been wearing some heavy coat. Oh, wait. One was leaving? Disappointing. "How boring..." She spoke aloud before just letting out a small huff.

[10:53:32] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) looks to her left as she hears sounds. She sees a.... gray skinned woman? How strange! It is likely about 40°F only, so pretty cool on the lands, and herself as desert originated person, feels that as even more cruel and cold, and wraps her body hence in a thick fur coat. "You no entertained?" She growls, not aggressive, rather amused, "you no have work? No have battle? Always work! Or feast!" She growls further, basically giving a run down of her own daily business.

[10:58:00] Asani Kolidon just tilted her head to the side. For the fact that she was from an abyss this weather was rather nice for her. Still a tad bit warm even. Seeing that she had been noticed, she just quirked another brow up before shaking her head. "I find it time consuming." She spoke, her tone seemed to be blank, though still alive. "Your language is rather weak." She mumbled once again, this time more to herself it seemed. She had nothing much to say other than that, more or so just to continue examining the girl from a distance. She did step forward a bit though so she could see the girl a bit more, a few more clicks rising from her gills as they sounded a bit louder, once again bone-cracking sounded.

[11:02:28] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) shrugs at what the woman talks at first, there is nothing she can really, or sees need to, reply to that. If the other does not want to work or fight, it is her life, her entrance to the goddess' paradise as she sees it. No fighting means no way to gain fame and honor. "Shayra language strong! Shayra strong!" She growls though. cannot be that someone tells her that something on her is weak, unless it is fear that is said to be weak or non existing or likewise. "Shayra say what need said! No more, no fluff. Words be worthless, strength counts, battle counts! You prefer talk? Then you worthless too!" So far she is not feeling offended, hard, taunting words between people are normal in her folk.

[11:06:38] Asani Kolidon rolled her eyes, letting a yawn slip her lips. "Your words are just as worthless as me then, dove." She spoke softly before fixing her eyes onto the girl once more. "Who said I was wanting a battle, hm? Who said I was asking for you to fight me." Her tone seemed to be a bit more condescending how, letting out a slow purr with those bone-cracking clicks from before. "To me, dear..." She paused, tilting her head as she brought her hand up to tap her long dark claws against the corner of your mouth. "You're just a weak human, nothing more, but nothing less. I've seen many like you. You're nothing special as you believe you are. Just another boring copy." She hummed, going to twirl some of her hair between her fingers now.

[11:13:14] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) does not understand that first line, far too many words in a row for her. The next as well. What she understands though is that the other calls her weak. Now that reflects in her eyes at once, a major offense. Given the other has legs, walks on tip toes and her gills likely hidden under the long hair from her sight, she does not even take her as a mer person, and that there is no weapon to be seen must be her own fault. "You make mistake!" She growls, even lower and outright begins to charge against the other, drawing her blade in the run for an initial slash. Going into mutual taunts within the clan is one thing, if outsiders go too far in that it becomes a challenge - and that gets replied to right away...

[11:13:36] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ rolls R8 (IoV:#8d7b#): 12 - Attack, heavy weapon, 3 dmg
[11:26:17] Please Set Name! rolls R5 (IoV:#0ab0#): 11 - Dodge

[11:38:42] Asani Kolidon rose her brows in surprise for the fact that the girl had suddenly gone into some type of violence. No fun at all for a mental break. Before she could even think fast enough, she saw the sharpened blade coming for her. Moving out of the way to try to avoid it it was obvious that it had still hit her side, letting out the most blood curdling scream that anyone had ever heard, almost ear shattering in a way. Her instincts were to use her siren abilities, though she wasn't too sure how well they would work in this new land. A smarter choice would be more or so to just back down, allowing herself to tumblr backwards as she held the sensitive skin that had been sliced into. No sushi today. "Okay, okay!" She let out a pitiful yelp, though with that being said, she was just simply acting. Deep inside she cursed to herself. "Please, no more. I was mistaken." Asani just stared, still holding her side as she winced to try to move a bit.

[11:39:17] Bandit (banditslostcause) moves up close to Seraph and nuzzles against his side nervously, then looks down at the two lower on the hill.

[11:39:41] Seraph Draco Dragonblood (seraphielcassiel) was out trying to find the reason behind the black forest and followed a few scents along the way. He goes to a ledge to where he sees two beings and sits above them and watches their goings on. His future mate is right behind him. They wish to know who they are and if they know why the forest has changed to black. They sit and listen quietly and hears the female scream out in pain.

[11:44:10] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) steps closer to the gray skinned woman as she fell aside, the blade with the bloody tip from the hit still in her both fists. She points that very much against the other's throat, close, but not touching. "Shayra is not weak!" She growls low, "Shayra is strong! Shayra is a good warrior!" She lets those words sink a bit, not long though, as the other had admitted her mistake. Such is enough for her. The offense had not been that bad or dishonoring that a kill was enforced in her mind. So she takes the blade away, reaches out her left hand to help the other stand up. "You learn! Now stand up, Shayra brings you to healer. Wound big, no good left alone. Or Shayra burn shut?" She offers, wanting to know basically if the other wants professional help or if she should just burn the wound shut with heated iron or similar. "Then we go drink! Ale good, Grog good, make pain less too." The two wolves or dogs behind her, she had not even noticed in this brief turmoil, and if she would, she would likely question the words about missing prey she had heard...

[11:49:05] Asani Kolidon rose her head when the tip was pointed at her neck, not particularly showing much fear but more or so just loss. When the blade was taken away she exhaled from her gills before looking at the hand. "I'd...rather not you burn it shut." She mentioned, frowning a bit before taking the hand. It was obvious that her skin was scaley, even still a bit of a slimy damp texture to it as she pulled herself up. God that hurt. "You might turn me into seafoam." She mentioned, pursing her lips softly. Taking notes of the two animals in the distance, she just let her eyes wander from the two back to Shayra. Asani didn't particularly reply to the drink comment, rather she just placed her hand against the gash while wincing.

[11:53:58] Bandit (banditslostcause) lowers her ears at the scream, ducking her head against Seraph and trembling a little. She looks back the way they came from, then noses at his ear.

[11:54:02] Seraph Draco Dragonblood (seraphielcassiel) could smell blood in the air and began to get a bit worried for his future mate. He was uncertain as to why the one with the sword had cut the other. They would move off a bit away so as not to get caught by the bladed one.

[11:55:14] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) has serious issues understanding the sentences of the woman, as usual when people speak so long without dot or comma - long for her cerebral capacities. But it does not matter now, the other knows whom she faces. "Shayra no turn woman foam!" She grunts yet, having understood that at least with more concentration, about her limit, "No foam come from fire. Steam come from fire. Now come, Shayra bring to healer hut." She would begin to bring that woman towards the infirmary, supporting her if accepted, yet she does not sheath her blade yet either. In turning she sees the two wolves dash off, at least for a certain distance. "See! Wolf also know Shayra strong!" She grunts to that...

[12:02:58] Asani Kolidon just watched. "If you hurt me much more I might turn into sea foam... Do you not know about mer?" She asked, cocking her head, though she did accept the support from the other, it was obvious that she was stiff. She felt uncomfortable. Noticing the animals had walked away she just scoffed, not saying much more for the fact that she had nothing else to say. She limped, still on the tops of her toes for the fact that walking on flat feet hurt her more than what she was doing, most likely having to do with her mertail and what not.

[12:08:33] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) cannot understand that first part, the second though, as she has to focus a lot on the woman's words anyways - she is talking so long sentences. "Shayra know ocean people, know priestess Nixie, know shark man. Mer folk strong, Shayra strong! Shayra will fight with mer! Shayra fight aside strong!" She commands alike into the air as reply. She does though not know that mer, when killed, turn into sea foam - and is not able to link the earlier talk about foam to just that in this woman. She has legs, so she must be some kind of land creature in the end. She begins to support her to get to the infirmary though, and when they come to the steps, she even lifts the fragile woman onto her arms to carry her up.

[12:14:54] Asani Kolidon was a bit surprised when she was lifted, raising her brows for the fact that she was basically being bridal carried up the stairs. No complains for the fact that her legs were painful to walk on anyways, though she was definitely caught off guard with it. As they reached the infirmary, if she was let down she'd follow Shayra to the back and sit down on the table with odd cloth on it. Uncomfortable, but still better than standing. Swiping her hair all to one side she just glanced down to the wound against her side. "Does it look deep?" She asked Shayra as they waited for the doctor to arrive.

[12:22:13] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) brings the woman to the infirmary finally, kicking against the door with her boot until a nurse or similar helper offers, then brings her to the treatment area - as guided. A doctor is being sent for but will need a while to arrive. There though she lays the woman onto the treatment bed or table. She cleans her blade at first on the fabric hanging down the table, then sheathes it. "Doctor come!" She roars into the house, demanding attention right away - there cannot be bigger problems to be solved when she comes, unless someone can convince her of something else being more important. She behaves likewise in the tavern. Getting ale is as important there as getting someone healed is here. At the question though she turns back to the woman and looks at the wound. She has landed a good hit, the broadsword being heavy and sharp, and her arms strong from a life long work and battle. She regards the wound though for a while. "Wound deep, yes, scales broken," She explains at least what she sees without touching it. The wound might basically just have missed the organs, but else went all through skin and muscle tissue. Then though she reaches out a hand and tries to touch the woman's skin, away from the wound, near the bosom rather. "Why you have scales? You be snake changeling? Snakes have other scales!" That sounds to her somewhat illogical even, but fish... currently left her mind so she cannot relate that.

[12:28:21] Asani Kolidon nodded softly. "I'm assuming that my body is reacting to it already." She mumbled to herself, pursing her lips softly before shifting. When the hand was placed against her chest, she tilted her head. "I'm a mer." She mentioned, not wanting to speak about the fact that she was a siren. That'd give away her intensions on everything in being in this new land. "I grow land legs... At least every now and then." Mentioning that, she spotted the (npc) doctor sliding in to examine the gash, his face seemed quizzical as he glanced to the other and then back to the gash against Asani's side. The siren remained silent as she adjusted, letting out a low hum as she kept herself calm. It hurt but she hated to admit that. "I need water soon." She mentioned, glancing to where across the room was a tub, she could only see the edge of it due to the boards around them.

[12:34:28] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) does not get the first sentence. When sentences become too long, she shuts down mentally, cannot understand it anymore after a certain word count, and loses interest as well, forgets even usually the first part spoken within the limit of words. Yet the other words seem more important to her, and she does not need to admit her short coming. "You fish people? Why not tell?" She grunts, and does not even get the idea to step aside for the doctor, the man has to work from an inconvenient angle to sew and bandage the wound, clean it as well. "Shayra friend of fish people, Shayra want swim with fish, want fight aside fish people!" She proclaims in her commanding tone, "Shayra know priestess Nixie, know shark man Sira'Kess! They want Shayra fight with! Mer people strong, Mer people proud, yes, can do bloodshed village square, villagers too coward for revenge! Shayra despise coward!" Now that last did not please the doctor at all, but what should he do? He has to help the wounded mer woman, and offending that warrior aside of him? For that he eventually does not have the guts, or the time.

[12:39:26] Asani Kolidon began to tense up when the wound had been sewn shut, gripping the sheets on the cot that she had been laid on to avoid making any disgruntled noises in the time that the wound was being closed shut. She didn't reply to the fact that Shayra knew other mer, for the fact that she didn't know if any of those were siren. She hated other siren for territorial reasons. Seeing as the doctor had a bit of a concerned look when he heard Shayra talk about bloodshed and what not she just hummed a bit. "Bloodshed is nice, I suppose." Asani mentioned, trying to keep a steady breath. "Though if all died at once..." She paused, pursing her lips. "I'd most likely starve." She spoke, huffing softly as she did her best through the rest of the stitches.

[12:45:18] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) forgets why the other woman had not told to be mer before the battle about her opinion of a bloodshed. "Yes! Bloodshed is best! Fighting is best! Crush enemies, see them driven before me, hear lamentations of their women!" She growls to that, a kind of standard sentence for her, someone had once told her, and it suits her living style, so she had learned that so well by heart that it now even sounds normal when spoken. At the later words of the siren though - she still cannot differ one mer subrace from the other, no one ever told her - she tilts her head. "You also shark woman? You eat other people?" She asks, and of course do sharks eat humans when those swim in infested waters, "you strong fighter under water?" Fighter and hunter are also very similar words for her.

[12:49:32] Asani Kolidon just stared, feeling the thread tug more tightly before tying and clipping it. She exhaled slowly, glancing to where the wound had been. Soon though the words from the girl made her head turn sharply to glance up to her. "Not shark." She mentioned in a sharp tone, obviously it might've hit a sensitive mental spot. "I'm much stronger underwater." She nodded softly, slowly sitting up to move off the cot. "I need water." She mentioned once again, glancing to the exit of the small room they had been sitting in.

[12:53:34] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) would do what might surprise the doctor even who just wanted to object against the standing up of the patient, and tries to push her back against the treatment table. "You need bandage! Then water, or better: Then ale." She commands, this time even meant as command. Of course the other must talk about drinking when mentioning water, right? She does not know much about Mer, so she has to consider what might be stronger than a shark. "You are not shark, so you are sea serpent?" Those are bigger than sharks according to the tales from sailors. She had never seen one herself. "Shayra totem is snake. Snake is strong, snake is fast. Snake is good totem! Strong spirit, yes!"

[12:57:21] Asani Kolidon shook her head. "If I'm in water it'll be better." She mentioned. Though the wound wouldn't heal fully and would be a painful process, it might help her just a tad bit. Though being called sea serpent did stroke her ego, she couldn't help but laugh. "You could say that." Her words trailed, shooting a glare to the doctor. "I will be fine without bandages." She hissed almost, glancing down to the stitched wound now. "I suggest we move to the water..." Once again, those words trailed off. Asani really didn't want to become dehydrated.

[13:01:33] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) does not get the words about the water really, too long, but she does get that the woman seemingly is too proud to be further treated - also the doctor moves away - and that she confirms to be a sea serpent. That makes her smile, really, honest and broad. "Shayra like sea serpent woman!" She proclaims loud about that, the doctor trying to silence her so that the other patients would not wake up further. She gives him just an irritated look, then a low growl, and he withdraws entirely. "Snake be good totem, Shayra snake, mer woman snake. Fight together!" She extends her arm to grab the wrist of the other, and let her own be grabbed - if accepted. Afterwards she would surely not stand in the way of the other anymore to return to the river, much rather escort and accompany her.

[13:06:34] Asani Kolidon rose her brows at the fact that Shayra had proudly announced that, not able to help but give a small laugh. "Sure, sure." She spoke in a soft tone. Though when the doctor tried to hush them, she just let out a loud huff from her gills. "Follow." She mentioned to Shayra, letting her fingers slip around the other's wrist as so did the others. She was a-ok with all of this to be honest, though with the bloodloss she had she was a little weak, not to mention hungry. If she was allowed, she'd began to lead the girl out of the clinic and back down to the river.

[13:12:07] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) follows then walks aside the other back to the river. She does not stop proud people from walking with wounds, she would not let herself like to be stopped either in such a case. Pride and strength, if someone shows that by such action, it is worth respecting them, not calling them dumb. She has very old values in that. At the very rocks aside the river though she stops, does not go into the water herself. "We back, now you can swim!" She commands in her tone - and pulls the cloak more firm around her body as the breeze going over the river makes the world appear even more cold to her. Oh how pesky this coldness is: 40° where she is used a 150 about from where she hails. "You turn sea serpent? Shayra can see?" She asks, curious in her question. She had never seen such a beast, and would love to - foremost as the snake is near holy to her.

[13:16:51] Asani Kolidon couldn't help but lean against the girl for the fact that she did in fact need help walking back down through the stairs and larger bumps. When they made it to the rocks, she exhaled slowly. Even the humidity helped her a bit, he gills flaring as they took in whatever moisture was in the air at that time. When Shayra question, she hummed. "It's a bit disappointing if you're wanting it to be just as a snake..." Her words trailed, though she didn't take much time to literally walk into the water going feet first as if she were to walk onto the water like it was solid ground, sinking quickly before coming up about eight minutes later, only peaking her head above the water to watch her acquaintance. "I do ask you something, in return for injuring me." She spoke, her tone seemed to be different, a bit more pleasant to listen to.

[13:23:34] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) does not understand the sentence about the disappointment. "You talk too much!" She grunts the typical verbal reaction to that - if she does not react verbally she would attack or at least get angered more and more if people speak so long sentences. As they then reach the water though and the woman walks onto it as if it was soil, she watches amazed, including the process of her sinking. She takes some time to think about that, a difficult task, and would have nearly left as the other seems gone. Yet then reappearing and talking, she hears the plea. "Shayra no owe for winning. Winner never owes to defeated." She proclaims, not in aggression though, rather as if stating a matter of fact, and such it is for her. She crouches down nevertheless to be closer at the other's face. "What you want?" She asks so, "you be friend Shayra, you have honor." She considers such as to how the other had fought even without weapons, without landing a single hit, and how she had behaved after.

[13:27:57] Asani Kolidon just kind of stares when the girl mentioned that she shouldn't give anything for winning, which was understandable but was not what Asani was speaking of. When crouching down she moved to the rock's edge, propping her front body open. "With so much blood loss..." She paused, trying to figure out a way to speak about this that was more simple for Shayra. "I'm hungry... I need blood." She mentioned, scooting closer. "If you could spare some..." Her words trailed off as she reached up to try to trail her fingers against the girls cheek, giving a sweet, almost loving smile to the girl. "I'll make it worth your while." She spoke, this time her tune was in a more sing-songy tone, most likely her trying to use her siren racial traits as an advantage.

[13:36:07] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) looks at the other, quite alienated from that request. What would the other mean with needing blood? Why should she give her blood? .... Then an idea forms in her! There can only be one reason! Her eyes grow big, and the brinks of her lips go up into an honest smile. She moves closer to the other and draws her sword again - and holds it for now in her left hand. "You honor Shayra, Shayra not even know name!" She states, and the commanding tone even gets something like a ceremonial subtone, something very rare for her. It needs a lot of extreme emotions for her. She runs her palm over the edges of the blade, not deep enough to cut muscles or tendons, but so that it bleeds some, and holds the hand out for her, as well as the blade's edge. "Shayra accept you blood sister!" She states likewise, and that is what she considers the other to want, to become her blood and blade sister - given the other is one of those highly strong and valorous mer folk - as she considers them all to be due to her tiny few experiences of the past - she accepts it even more willingly.

[13:40:44] Asani Kolidon just watched Shayra speak and cut the palm of her hand, grinning a bit. "Asani." She spoke, introducing herself finally before lifting the hand that had been reaching over to gently stroke the girls cheek to soon grab the slitted hand, not taking much time to soon press her lips to the palm and lick the excess blood off, only to suck slightly at the wound to get a bit more; Only a snack for Asani. She wanted to keep this one alive. In order to keep Asani full she'd use this one to bring her more blood. More humans to feed off of. Grinning once again as she pulled away, she licked whatever had been left on her lips before glancing to the blade that had been also held out to her in a bit of a confused look.

[13:45:39] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) gets totally caught offguard by that blood brotherhood procedure. Is the other not supposed to also cut her palm and then take her hand, or however they can exchange blood? But that she kisses her wound? Now that is a strange habit. Maybe though it is the way to do it under water as blood spreads there faster or something. So she lets her just do. "Now Shayra Asani blood sisters?" She asks, just to be sure. For her it means of course that Asani would have to follow her honor code as well, as those are the best available everywhere on the world. Not that she considers that necessary to be told. She looks at her palm a bit, the blade left in place for that moment yet. She looks up again. "Some day," she begins, slowly, "Shayra swim with Alani, then Shayra Alani fight aside! Crush enemies, make their women lament!"

[13:49:15] Asani Kolidon didn't honestly know what to say for the fact that she wasn't quite familiar with this procedure, though she wanted to go along with it. Pursing her lips lightly, she nodded softly. "Yes, yes." She said with a loving smile once again, slowly sliding. "Though I must go now, let my wound heal underwater." She spoke, glancing down to the stitches now. "Safe waters, sister." She spoke calmly. Before the other could reply with much more, Asani slipped back down into the depths of the water.

((Later the day...))


[15:24:50] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) walks back to the village square. She is in high moods, even if she has winded a leather hide strap about her right palm, the root of the hand as well as the fingers being somewhat bloody. She did not outright come for another drink though, but rather to visit the spot where the mer folk had caused a huge blood shed. So, right there at the top of the stairs, she crouches down to touch with the tips of the left hand's fingers a spot where the stones are yet dark from the else washed away blood. By that she misses to see Kindo on the square at first...


[15:36:13] Kindo picked his teeth in idle thought. He'd spent the day doing odd jobs though they were tedious and hard to come by. If only a few coppers richer, he claimed a deeper knowledge of the businesses in Upper Aberwyth and some of the surrounding paths into the forest. Peeling his hand away from his jaw, his tongue slapped and ran slick over his teeth before his jaw bound itself closed. His eyes came off the tree tops and down onto the Square. In amongst the scuffling crowd, he spotted a bulging figure clad in dark, earthy colored fur. Studying a bit more intently in his pause, his eyes blinked with recognition and he paced his way over to Shayra. The heavy iron heels stamped into the stones with a flat announcement of his arrival when he stopped roughly an arms length from Shayra. He too stopped and studied, though only long enough to see what it was she prodded on the ground. "Bar fight carried too far?"

[15:42:18] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) looks up from her almost caressing way of touching the dried, cleaned spot of blood, sized to reflect a whole human having leaked dry alike. At first she does not notice the steps, but then the scent and the voice are known to her, the shoes she sees stopping in front of her as well. She looks up, then stands up. "This was no bar brawl!" She grunts in her commanding crude dialect, "this was mer folk, made bloodshed on town square. Villager no dare get revenge, too coward." She explains the origin of the darkening that is yet in many places of the town square. "Or Kindo mean Shayra hand?" She shows that makeshift bandaged hand, her right hand with the hide wrap about it and the yet bloody fingertips and palm. "That was neither bar brawl."

[15:49:02] Kindo observed Shayra as she stood up from the edge of the stain, his eye dancing away from her as he sought to examine just how far the outline crept. His eye struggled to tail the line but with enough glaring he came to understand. "Lots of blood. Didn't see it all, but now I understand." His skin pearled uneasily with the thought. "Merfolk?" He didn't comment on them directly, but sneered through gnashed teeth. His attention was then brought to her hand, which he also failed to notice immediately. She showed him and he took a step closer to observe. "Missed chance to spill blood. You live though. And they?" He inquired directly about the wound, immediately assuming she hadn't simply cut her palm while sharpening a blade or some other mundane activity.

[15:54:48] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) nods about the merfolk. She does not yet quite know that he is shy of water. "Mer folk is strong, Shayra is strong. Shayra despise weak, coward!" She concludes about that folk. But then her hand comes back to her attention as he also commented on that. She begins to grin a wide toothy grin again. "Woman at shore think smart, think say Shayra weak smart. Shayra slashed woman, woman learn Shayra strong. Will not make mistake again!" She begins to explain - she had so slashed a woman down for basically telling her that she would be weak. She looks further at her hand. "But woman have honor, woman accept Shayra strong, say belong mer folk too. Woman wand exchange blood, so Shayra cut hand for exchange! Mer folk strong, ally Shayra. One day Shayra swim with folk!" Indeed she had cut her palm herself so...

[16:03:58] Kindo listened carefully to what Shayra had to say about the folk, as well as what had happened to her hand. He did so in unflinching quiet. She wasn't asking him to dive into water and start swinging at those water dwelling phantoms, that was enough relief in itself to give him pause. "I see. Merfolk ally to Bear Scar? Or Merfolk ally to Shayra?" Surely these two things were not mutually inclusive and it might be information he needed in the future. He didn't see himself making any pacts with the folk, but so long as they were favored he would honor them as best he could. "Share blood with folk. Is good. Their strength, your strength. If they aren't treacherous." The darkly amber eye he had left set on her with certainty before his whole composure relaxed.

[16:11:56] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) tilts her head at the first two questions. She had understood them by length of words, yet she had never thought about that maybe being a difference. "Shayra say fight with folk, Dirk no object!" She grunts in reply. The man had never much objected her words told to others, he had just always demanded from her to remain honorable according to their values, and add honor and fame to the clan by fighting and winning. It is what she is also used to from her prior tribe. "Shayra say fight with folk, clan no object, no make Shayra look stupid. That be shame. But Shayra care what say, so no say dishonor clan." She explains that detail so, and once Kindo would be member, she would grant him the very same support - never speak up against a clansman in front of externals, never contradict him, but remain careful what to tell others. The usual rather word scarce nature of her folk usually helps with that anyways too. "Shayra no think they betray, have no reason!" She proclaims, at least think so that they have no reason to betray her. As long as she does not know better, which would likely result in the others becoming an enemy, she considers everyone to think like she does. "Fish priestess test Shayra worth, so Shayra get goddess blessing. With blessing Shayra can swim, swim like fish folk. Fish priestess sure like Shayra, won't talk to goddess else. Right?"

[16:26:24] Kindo mulled over the words Shayra shared. It might have been worth expressing his doubt in the honor of fishfolk, but he did not desire the chance to inspire Shayra's rancor. "If you trust, Kindo trust. But test their loyalty. Make sure you know them." Folding his muscular arms over his stomach, Kindo narrowed his eye down upon her with a wise expression on his face. "Spend time with them. All Bear Scar should. Find out what they want. If they betray, we know why then." Kindo continued to mull over her words as she spoke, and wanted most of all to help. If he thought he could help prepare Shayra, he tried to do so. " Priestess mean different things. Merfolk have Priestess, have gods. Like all. Do not let Kindo doubt, cloud mind. But Priestess...could be clever mage. Blessing could be spell." He offered the possibility gently, not wanting to rattle her cage too much.

[16:34:59] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) nods a lot, listening at first, about testing them, about getting to know them better. That sounds very smart to her, very wise even. She does not have such wisdom herself, so people of the clan, or about to be of the clan, telling her such things, she listens as if it would be her father telling, her brothers telling. And she trusts the words of such people, unconditionally. "Shayra do that, will get to know fishes. Kindo give good advise!" She says to that - it has a reason why men are - in her folk or former tribe - members of the war councils, why women have to earn their participation in such obviously. She had earned such, but she kept her voice low unless it was about whom to fight, why to fight, and at times also how to charge them. More refined tactics are alien to her. "Priestess cannot be mage. Shayra say hate magic, no touch magic!" She objects though to the second part. "If priestess is priestess, priestess is no mage, no?" Simple logic, "so blessing by goddess, blessing no spell either. Shayra hate magic! Only clan shaman good, get power from ancestors, not from magic." She grins to him, fishing for compliments and confirmation for her smart logic. She would never object or offend a clans man, not when others out of the clan can watch or listen, but if doing that internal to the clan, it might as well end in a brawl, the winner of which is correct in his opinion, the other believing that then, or at least supporting it fully.

[16:43:53] Kindo nods gently when Shayra accepted his advice. To know was better than to not know in situations that might turn to battle. Kindo would much rather know his allies than his enemies. When she defended against the latter ideas he offered, he did not protest. Trusting her judgment of the Priestess was wiser than blanketing them with potential misinformation. "Shayra right. Priestess is priestess, Mage is mage. Kindo say again. Be careful. Must impress their god now to." Unfolding a heavy arm, he pointed a soot crusted finger to the sky and chuckled. "Now what Shayra do?" He inquired to diffuse the subject.

[16:51:18] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) follows his finger pointing to the sky with her eyes. She sees nothing special though, or at least does not know what to pay attention to. Eyes back on him so. "Shayra work, Shayra fight, Shayra care for clan." She tells so, "and Shayra seek proof, proof of worth fish blessing, and proof fish no evil." Basically all that fills her day entirely. But something else indeed comes to her mind. "Shayra repaired cave gate." She explains, and he might remember that he was brought in through a quite makeshift gate that looked more as a pile of broken planks stapled. "Ogre had attacked cave, Shayra slay ogre. Ogre had broken gate. Shayra repair. But Shayra no have hinges. Use rope so far, Strong iron hinges better!" She looks at his arms, then back to his face. "Kindo say Kindo is smith. Maybe make hinges? Shayra help, shovel coal, work bellows, so Kindo can work." She had once heard that smiths often hated to do that pesky work of refilling the forge with coal, at times adding more coal or moving some aside to fine tune the heat of the forge, as well a to blow the heavy or tall bellows for likewise reason - all taking away from their time to work finest quality iron products. Hence likely she offers that.

[17:04:37] Kindo 's expression fell flat just as his joke did, though with no harm done. Shayra was a busy woman, and her mind didn't seem to dwell far beyond what needed to be done. Nodding affirmatively to her reconciliation. She'd take it on her own, or full fledged members of the clan to deduce whether or not the Merfolk could be trusted. In the meantime, his concerns were singular. Prove himself worthy of the Bear Scar. His eye came unglued from Shayra only momentarily to glance toward the Tavern. His gaze shortly after came back to her and her would-be task. "Aye. Rope won't do. Fray, break after time. Kindo will forge hinges. Need hammer. Clay and sand. And iron, of course. But since you help me, I get materials. Fair is fair." Nodding his knotted up head properly, he concluded that their project would be underway before too long. "If Shayra have good bucket, help mold hinges."

[17:13:59] Sʜᴀʏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Sɴᴀᴋᴇ™ (shayariel.tigerpaw) is indeed quite straight forwards. Do what is needed, work, slay who is to be slain, and feast afterwards. As the man begins to count what he needs, she already begins to consider where to get all that stuff, until he says he would get those materials. A bucket then... well, that should not be too difficult. And he said fair is fair. She nods. "Yes, Kindo help is much appreciated, so Shayra help of course. Kindo very fair man!" She confirms, as usual in commanding tone. She is simple. One points her to something she marches until she runs against a wall - metaphorically - or gets the task done. Straight line, if many curves are needed she gets into trouble. Intrigues and verbal tricks are beyond her. "Dirk has hammer, big war hammer. If Dirk return from hunt, maybe he help?" She asks further, her first idea for a hammer, "Dirk follow prey animal, animal flee area woman said, so Shayra think Dirk follow. Dirk never give up, enjoy hunt, will not return empty handed." Another topic in real, one though that she had not fully grasped: The curse in the forest that causes the damn low temperatures she suffers from at the moment, as well as most animal prey to get really scarce in the area. "Forest very dark, very cold on island, maybe animals flee coldness. Shayra hates the coldness!" Her only explanation for it. Maybe he would find out more? She does not even think to ask about such more, as her explanation sounds already logical enough. Then though she looks towards the stairs down to the river area. "Shayra go now. See for bucket, then see cave...." Another look down there, then again to him, with a grin: "Shayra is very tired. Needs rest."

[17:25:54] Kindo nodded pleasantly, a gentle set of fishhook curves framing a crude smile. "I help clan. Bring honor to all. Clan need sturdy door." A good door is essential to all homes after all. Gives a small sense of security, and cuts down on the need to string planks up by rope. "War hammer? No, no. Too big. Too heavy. Need work hammer. Small, flat and round sides. Precise. Not bother Dirk for hammer. If he want help, he bring strong hands. I get hammer." At her leave, Kindo nodded and waved her off. "Good eve'in. I find you later to build hinges."