An Interesting Encounter [Rhi!]

[Blue]

The cart rumbled and rocked as it moved over the uneven path, rocks and dips causing it to jerk and toss mildly from time to time. The wooden frame creaked with the effort, adding to the symphony of sounds that followed them on their journey. A tall blue skinned figure was walking alongside a large ox, the creature pulling the cart along, the lead for the animal in her hands. Sitting on the little wooden ledge at the front of the cart, which acted like a seat, was a much smaller figure in a pale green dress. Her slender dragon like feet dangled back and forth as the cart swayed, bright green eyes scanning her surroundings as the forest thinned and the outskirts of the city came into view. Her grin grew by degrees as the sounds of people bustling about hit her pointed ears, excitement bubbling up in her - they only got to make this trip once or twice a year, so it was like a treat!
"Momma, we're almost there!!"

Turning to look back at her daughter, they Drygan had a gentle smile on her face - and she was none other than Sakkata, the Chosen of their race. All her white hair was in it's usual braid, with a few smaller ones hanging about her face - most were interwoven with beads and feathers, but one in particular had a delicate hair ornament adorning it. Looking at her daughter, she could not help the overwhelming sense of love she had for her first child - though sometimes it was bittersweet. Raamalooke, Raama for short, sported a darker shade of blue skin than her mother - and that was all Sakkata could see of herself in the young girl. Everything else reminded her of the man who had also contributed to this darling creature...from Raama's bright green eyes, to the way her hair was white all over save for her bangs, which were black...and then there were her tiny feathered wings, a mottled brown and white color. No natural Drygan would ever have wings, and it stood as an obvious reminder of Raama's father.

"Yes yes Raama, we'll be there soon. Once we set up our stall, then we can have a bit to eat. Just wait a little longer."
Her daughter was already bouncing on her seat, and Sakkata could only chuckle and shake her head. Soon their cart was rumbling through more crowded streets, her amber eyes scouting for a good nook to set up shop. A few regular stall owners nodded or waved, and Sakkata did the same in return - she was easy to pick out of a crowd, and though she did not make it to this market very often, she was enough of an oddity to stick in people's minds.
Finally, a good place opened up, and she was quick to pull her cart in.
"Raama, take care of Brother."
"Okay!" The little girl bounced down and got to unhooking the large Ox (yes, he was 'Brother'),  before leading him to a small open patch behind the stalls and staking his lead into the earth. The large creature took to grazing idly on the nearby grass.

Sakkata took a few minutes to turn her cart into a stall - fold down poles were erected, the tarp originally covering her goods now strung between them to create a sun shield. In the back of the cart, already strapped into wooden racks, were a number of swords and other weapons. Beneath them were a few pieces of armor as well - what she lacked in quantity she made up for in quality, each piece was nearly a work of art, while still remaining incredibly effective. Now that everything was set up, she sighed and glanced around at the people slowly passing by. It was still rather early in the day - it would pick up soon. A tug on her pantleg had her looking down at Raama's bright face, the girl already holding their little lunch bag in her other arm.
"Let's eat momma! I want to have those berries we found!"
"Go ahead Raama." She gave the girl a pat on the head, and then she was off to sit by Brother, her hand already pulling blackberries out of the bag. Though her daughter appeared to be about twelve, she was actually only six - Drygan grew incredibly quickly as children, and then their aging slowed down entirely. Sakkata herself was a good example - she appeared to be thirty, but she was actually closer to eighty.
She watched her daughter for a moment longer with a smile, but finally she had to tend to her shop. Leaning against the side of the cart, she continued to watch people pass by, nodding to them here and there. She adjusted her own sword - a beautiful silver thing inlaid with gold and jewels - at her hip, hiding it somewhat with the long hem of her undershirt. Even though most people here had no idea it was another symbol of her status as Chosen, it was still a valuable object that many would probably like to get their hands on if only to sell it or melt it down.

[Rhindeer]

Even after weeks of staying in Ketra, the city was still a scary, ominous, crowded, noisy place that stank of many unnatural things that his poor nose was only beginning to learn how to handle.

But even if he hadn't come to like or accept it, he had come to tolerate it, at least, because there was some good here. There was Nadia, for example, and her...pastries. And he liked that! And he'd even begun to venture out on his own a little, though not too far from where he and Ra'rin were staying. There was only so much stimulation he could take before he started to feel trapped and panicked and a trapped, panicking Drygan was bad news all around.

It was an empty belly and the smell of cooking meats that got him to venture out that day, dressed in his usual loose vest and trousers tied off at the ankles. The crowds weren't that bad today so it was bearable, doable, and he had a few coins on him, enough to buy a bite to eat.

Heading into the market, he was more focused in the milling crowds and how best to avoid rubbing elbows with strangers that he didn't notice the other Drygan until he had stepped around the cart--and wound up nearly face-to-face with her.

A Drygan.

Here.

With all white hair.

His red skin went a shade paler and, with a high-pitched yelp, he stumbled backwards, tripped over his own tail, and landed with a grunt on his bottom. Another Drygan! He never dreamed he'd stumble upon another Drygan here! And the Chosen?! The Chosen had many enemies; he wouldn't put it past her to kill other Drygan she came across rather than risk them hurting her.

He froze in a mixture of awe and fear, eyes wide and staring, and when he was finally able to move it was so he could prostrate himself before her, hands covering his head. "D-don't hurt me! I'm not an enemy!"

[Blue]

Sakkata had been scanning the crowds somewhat lethargically. Only a select few people would have interest in her wares, so she didn't really anticipate many customers. Of course, the few she did have generally made the trip worth it - she could make more here than back in the small village she called home. What she expected even LESS to see, however, was another of her own kind. It had been six years since she'd last seen a Drygan, and perhaps she'd become somewhat complacent.

But that default reaction was still there, ingrained in her since her parents were murdered by their very own species. When her amber eyes spotted the reddish Drygan - around the same time his spotted her - she felt her blood turn to ice, her pulse pounded in her ears, and instantly her magic began to well up into her body from somewhere deep in her soul.

And then the Drygan fell flat on his ass.

And then prostrated himself.

The Chosen found herself momentarily stunned, and though her hands were tensed and ready to blast this guy into next year, she just stood there and stared down at him. He was...cowering, covering his head and everything. Not to mention that amazing show of 'grace' earlier...
All of her predatory instincts told her this creature was not a threat at all, and his own body language was all but screaming that as well. Even though she felt it would be safest to just kill him on the spot, she wasn't the sort to condone useless violence (the only exemption being Hatame).

"I have no need to hurt you if you can say the same. You clearly recognize me, and you likely understand my situation as well. State your business." Her voice was sharp, filled with the wariness she felt as well as her own domineering personality.
And then suddenly a tiny figure was next to her, small hand holding her pant leg, bright green eyes looking at the man on the ground quizzically.
"Momma? What's wrong with that man?"

[Rhindeer]

Shakily, Yarra peered up at the Chosen through his clawed fingers, eyes ridiculously large. His business? His business? His tail curled around his leg, the tip twitching nervously.

"I...I, um...I was just..." What was he doing? His mind had gone blank and he scrambled to find a satisfactory answer that wouldn't get him killed.

That was when a small voice piped up near the Chosen and Yarra jolted and spread his fingers wider so he could see where it came from. His heart plummeted. A child. The Chosen had a child. Which meant she was a mother. Which meant she would be that much more protective. He swallowed hard, an almost audible sound, and looked back to the Chosen.

"Y'see, I, uh...food. I mean, I was, ah, looking for food! That's all, I swear!"

[Blue]

Sakkata, for once, did not immediately answer her child. She was far more concerned with their safety than answering the curious question Raama had posed, and so her sharp amber eyes remained completely focused on the quivering Drygan before them. It certainly seemed he was not a threat, however it could also be a ploy to get close to them - body language and all, he could simply be a good actor.
Then again, by the tiny bit of white in his hair, it was clear he would likely be unable to do her much harm even if he wished. Her daughter had far more magical potency than him for that matter...hmm, he could be working with others though...well, so long as she did not attempt to go anywhere with him, or such things, it should not be much trouble. There were too many people, many of them armed or having magical powers themselves, to risk starting a battle here.

His response made her blink a few times, at least until she realized there was indeed the scent of food on the air, most likely from one of the many vendors in the market that morning.
"I see. I do not trust you, as a matter of course, but I will do you no harm."
Her words were still curt, but she relaxed slightly. Honestly, she just wanted this fellow Drygan to not mean her harm, and for her to be able to stopping worrying over it. But the only time that had ever happened had been when she'd met Terri - every other Drygan before and after had only wanted her dead and her power their own.

Raama could feel the tension, but she didn't quite understand it. She knew her mother was naturally a pretty wary sort, but it seemed like that was the best way to stay 'safe'. More than that, though, she was quite curious about this strange man who looked an awful lot like her and her momma. She glanced up at Sakkata, still clinging to her side, before looking back at Yarra and giving him a wave and small smile.
"Hi!"

[Rhindeer]

Yarra let out a low sigh and noticeably relaxed at those words, practically wilting as his tense, quivering muscles gave out. He let his forehead hit the ground and closed his eyes as he thanked whatever gods were listening for letting him live another day.

"Thank you. Thank you," he breathed, and when he thought he had himself under control again, he slowly lifted his head (and now had dirt stuck to his forehead but didn't seem to notice or care) but still didn't get up. After her words, and considering she was the Chosen and all, he really, really didn't want to make any sudden moves that could even be interpreted as hostile! No, he could keep groveling. Self-preservation always came before pride.

He opened his mouth to speak, to say something (like more reassurances that he meant no harm and that the Chosen was great and he was on her side, honest!) when a little voice caught his notice and he looked to the Chosen's daughter.

O-oh gods.

Yarra's eyes flicked back and forth between the Chosen and her child. If he was worried about anything being interpreted as aggression toward her, that fear was magnified tenfold when it came to the girl. An angry mother bear might be content scaring off a pest that was bothering her, but she would destroy anything that looked the wrong way at her cubs. Right then, Yarra saw the Chosen as that angry mother bear.

Managing a small, awkward grin (careful not to show too many teeth), Yarra raised one hand and sort of wiggled his fingers. "H-hi...little one..."

[Blue]

Sakkata sighed, glancing around to see that quite a few people had paused in their passings-by to stare at what had apparently become quite the spectacle to the audience present. Just what she needed, a lot of unnecessary attention. Snorting, her tail whipped sharply to one side, the tip lashing the ground and creating a little puff of dirt.
"Please get off the ground and stop groveling. You're drawing a crowd." She growled irritably, arms coming up to cross over chest - if there was anything Sakkata was good at, it was looking damned intimidating to anything that had eyes.

Raama, on the other hand, was rather enjoying this. She giggled when Yarra waved, pressing her face into her mother's side in a wave of shyness. Just as quickly though and she was hopping away from Sakkata and toward Yarra, a bright grin on her face.
Giggling again, she slowly pointed at her own forehead, clearly holding back a great deal of her childish mirth.
"You've got dirt on your face."

Sakkata momentarily debated between pulling Raama back or letting her continue talking to the strange Drygan. This was a battle she waged with herself constantly - letting her daughter explore, and wanting to keep her daughter safe. But even as a new mother with no prior experience in these things, she knew there was such a thing as taking 'protection' too far to the point of stifling a child's growth. Besides, with the way the man had been cowering this whole time, she highly doubted he'd try anything against Raama when she was right there boring holes into him with her intense amber eyes.

[Rhindeer]

Yarra twitched at the command but was not about to disobey. Scrambling around, he rose to his feet--but slowly. No sudden movements, just nice and easy and harmless and cautious, tail dragging on the ground and back hunched to make himself look shorter. The last thing he wanted was to give her any reason to change her mind and he found himself utterly terrified by her--and yet also fascinated and admiring, deep beneath the fright. This was the Chosen, the legendary Chosen!

Who could also kill him.

"S-sorry," he muttered, avoiding direct eye contact and keeping his eyes on the ground, just as a precaution, though the child's words drew his attention and made him look up. With it came yet another fresh wave of uncertainty--was he allowed to talk to the child? Or her? What was he supposed to do in this situation? He lacked social awareness on the best of days and now, when he needed it most? He was a complete and utter blank. In those other cases, however, he could cover up his uncertainty with hostility.

Not here.

Reaching up, he rubbed at his forehead and gave a weak grin. "Heh. Oh. Yeah, dirt." He cut off abruptly and shot a quick glance at the Chosen, to find her staring into his soul. With a sharp gulp, he looked back to the child. "Uh. It gone? Er...I'm...I'm Yarra?" Another quick glance at the Chosen, a nervous twitch of his tail and shoulders.

[Blue]

Yes. Directly into his soul. And should he even think the wrong thing, she was sure to swoop down upon him in a fiery crescendo of a mother's wrath. For now, though, she was simply standing there and watching with hawk like intensity - ordinarily she might have been far more willing to give him a good thrashing and send him off. These days though, she wanted most of all to be an appropriate role model for her daughter. And though her own aggressive way of life had worked fairly well for her, she was hesitant to raise a daughter to be similar in that regard.
Though it had kept her safe, her natural tendency toward violence and anger made many other things very difficult.
Like dealings with a certain perverted Gryphon...

The very thought made her visibly wince, and she finally looked away from Yarra and back to the potential customers milling about on the street. She tried not to look at anything or anyone in particular, lest the brooding storm in her darkening amber eyes became too obvious. Not that anyone could really know what she was thinking, but she already felt uncomfortable just letting the thoughts sneak up on her in the first place.

As if sensing her mother's attention had finally turned elsewhere, Raama's tiny feathered wings ruffled with the shiver of excitement that ran down her spine. She quickly hopped the few feet of distance between herself and the stranger, smiling, white teeth bright against her darker blue skin.
"Hi Yarra, I'm Raamalooke! Momma calls me Raama though, so you can too. Come here!"
Bouncing up, she grabbed hold of the highest part of him she could reach (unfortunately, the poor man's bangs) and proceeded to pull his head into a better position to reach it. Then, with a quick lick to her free thumb, she reached up and rubbed the dirt completely off of Yarra's forehead before releasing him.
"There! All gone!"
His molestation was rewarded with another glowing smile from the peppy child.

[Rhindeer]

"Wha--oww!"

Before Yarra could react or mentally prepare himself or anything, tiny hands were yanking at his bangs. He started to snarl, thought better of it, and turned it into a pained whine instead as the child pulled his head down. Tail lashing behind him, the only outward sign of his carefully controlled irritation and unease as his personal space was breached, he endured it all. Endured it as she clutched his hair, endured it as she wiped his face with a wet thumb, and he only straightened up again when she let go.

Reaching up, eyes wide with shock, he touched his face and blinked several times at the girl, then at her mother, then back.

"I, uh...ah...thanks? Raama, I mean. Thank you, Raama," he managed to choke out, still completely lost as to what to make of this situation, nor did he know where the boundaries lie.

He was out of his element here--which was bad, because social graces had always been his number one weakness. He kept hoping one of them would give some sort of cue as to what was going on and what he should be doing right now! But if they had, he hadn't picked up on any, so instead he did the safest thing he could think of in this situation:

He stayed very still.

[Blue]

Raama giggled at the odd man, but she nodded vigorously to his thanks. His thrashing tail had earned a set of narrowed eyes from Sakkata - she knew that bit of body language very well. As in, it was her most used...which meant her daughter had seen it plenty, and thus was not at all phased.
Giggling softly, Raama decided Yarra would make a suitable playmate - it wasn't every day she saw someone who looked like momma! Grabbing three of Yarra's fingers in her much smaller hand, she tugged softly on his arm, trying to lead him toward the back of the cart.
"C'mon Yarra, I want you to meet Brother!"

Yes, Brother, the large Ox currently grazing idly on some grass near where he was tethered. Sakkata's tail twitched slightly as she watched her daughter's antics with one eyebrow raised, but again she forced herself to bite her tongue. She didn't like it, but Raama was always lacking for company and generally had to come up with unusual ways to keep herself entertained. Perhaps it was actually for the best to let her interact with someone (who was not an Ox), and even...another of her own kind.
And anyway, Raama had far more magical power than Yarra did - that was obvious, as it was for all Drygan, by the amount of white present in their hair.

[Rhindeer]

And once again, Yarra was helpless to do anything but go along with this. He tossed a look at Sakkata as he stumbled along after Raama, expression caught somewhere between horrified and apologetic, like 'I promise I'll play nice and not try to eat her, really!' But apart from that, he followed along without a fuss or fight, though deep down inside he experienced a pang of dread.

Brother?

So there were more children?!

If he was at a loss around other adults, he was even more at a loss around children. They were small and tiny and he didn't know what to do around them! Raama alone was yanking him so far out of his comfort zone he didn't even know where it was anymore--yet at this point he just felt...resigned.

"Ah...you have a brother?" he finally said, trying not to sound too panicked--and trying not to eye the ox too much. It was a little distracting, though, especially as they grew closer. It had been a long time since he'd last hunted, and a tethered animal was easy prey. Yesterday had also been the last time he'd eaten. His stomach rumbled at the thought and he hissed at it. The ox belonged to them! This was not the time for inappropriate thoughts, fat as it looked!

[Blue]

Oblivious to Yarra's thoughts on the subject, Raama stopped and then pointed to the 'fat' ox with a bit of flair.
"That's Brother! He's very strong and nice, and he takes us places when momma makes him. But usually he just likes to eat and sleep and poo. But he's a good listener. And he's got a slimy tongue!"
It was as if she was talking about a dearly beloved friend, rather than a large barnyard animal who was currently chewing a mouthful of green mush idly and flicking his tail now and again.

Leaning over then, she pushed her ear against Yarra's belly, grinning and giggling as she listened in on it's muffled language.
"I think your tummy wants to eat. Oh, I know!"
She scampered a few feet away to scoop up the bag of berries she had previously been snacking on, darting back to Yarra just as quickly. Still grinning happily, she offered him the plump burlap sack, the aroma of ripe blackberries quite evident on the breeze.
"Here, have some! We picked them on the way!"

[Rhindeer]

Yarra blinked, looked past the ox to try and see if maybe the kid was hiding somewhere over there, because even with Raama's description (eat, sleep, and poo) it still sounded an awful lot like a kid. It took a couple seconds before it clicked that "brother" was the ox.

And he felt within him a strange mixture of relief and puzzlement.

"That's your bro--oof!"

He stared down in alarm as Raama pressed her ear to his belly and before he could say or do anything, she off again to who-knew-where. Once again, Yarra flicked a look back at Sakkata.

This kid was kind of exhausting. And with Sakkata not saying anything about this at all, he was starting to suspect that, somehow, he'd gotten saddled with the child. Somehow.

Then Raama was back and his delicate nose picked up on the scent--and his stomach gave another loud growl. Berries! For all that Yarra preferred bloody meat over most things, he absolutely adored sweets, and fruit was no exception! His tail twitched in anticipation and his mouth watered at the smell, at the sight of all those plump berries in the bag, and he didn't have to be told twice! Moving fast, he scooped up a good handful and popped some in his mouth, dark berry juice staining his fingers and dribbling down his chin and eyes closing in pleasure.

For all his earlier caution, food was the fastest way to his heart. Who was he to say no?

"These are amazing," he rumbled between mouthfuls, and dug out another handful when he finished off his first serving and sucked the juice from his fingers, not wanting to waste a drop. "Where did ya find all these?"

Because he didn't think he'd ever leave that place.

[Blue]

Tail tip flicking idly, Sakkata kept half an eye on the...interesting shenanigans going on with her daughter and fellow Drygan. She was still wary, as a matter of course, but amusement was quickly seeping in as well. It would seem Raama had found a friend - much to that "friend's" chagrin. At least until the food came out...honestly, what creature on this earth was not placated with the offering of a meal? Men especially. Snorting mildly to herself, she continued to tend her shop quietly, letting Raama entertain their unexpected guest a while longer.

Grinning brightly at Yarra's obvious appreciation of the berries, she flopped onto the grass with her dress askew around her spindly little legs. Her tail slid back and forth behind her with a rustle, a happy movement for the time being.
"There was a whole thicket of em on the way here! Momma stopped so we could pick a bunch for later. We have lots of thickets like that back home too, in between the trees and all. It's fun to pick them, and eat a whole bunch even before getting home!"
Another giggle as she recalled fond memories of berry foraging out in the woods surrounding their quaint home, stuffing half as many as they picked into their mouths and napping when the sun was high and playing seek-and-find when the shadows got big. She was glad she got to share a bit (even if it was just the tasty bit!) of this sort of happiness with someone else.

[Rhindeer]

"Mhmmm," Yarra agreed, shoving another fistful into his mouth before, finally sated, he paused to lick the red juice from his fingers and claws and even where it had dripped down his arm. He licked his lips and rubbed the juice off his chin--or tried to, at least, because he only ended up smearing it across his face. He didn't notice, of course.

He let out a low belch, thumped his chest after--and then glanced toward the Chosen abruptly, actions still nervous and birdlike. She was still watching, and he was still worried about making the slightest misstep.

It wasn't often a Drygan interacted positively with their own kind.

He wiped his hands off on his cut-off breeches and looked back to Raama. "Home?" he said, and tilted his head. "Are there more of ya?"

[Blue]

When Yarra managed to make a large red-stained mess of his own face, Raama couldn't help the snort that erupted from her nose. She clasped both small hands over her mouth, but her peel of giggles was still heard, just slightly more muffled sounding. She kicked her feet as she fought back the laughter, before finally letting out a burst of air that sounded suspiciously like a squeal.
Managing to compose herself (or as much as one her age could 'compose' themselves), she pointed at her face.
"You have juice here."
And then proceeded to gesture to nearly her whole face, trying not to giggle again.

Sakkata tensed at the question about their home, and if there were others. But from what her sharp ears could tell, he was just honestly asking. Nothing terribly suspicious about his tone...but the question itself was the sort that could pose a great threat. She was hunted. Thus her daughter was an obvious target. The idea of many others knowing their exact whereabouts and who all lived there made her uneasy.
Making a concerted effort to just breath in and out, she chose not to say anything, allowing the conversation to continue a bit longer.

"Oh lots of people live around us I guess, but it's just momma and me at our house! Well and Brother, but he lives outside, so he doesn't count hehe! What about you Yarra? Do you have a big family?"

[Rhindeer]

"Huh? Oh." With a shrug, Yarra licked both hands and proceeded to wipe at his face, though it didn't really bother him and he'd never before even considered that it was an issue. He'd never really lived around other people, after all, and had always been a loner. Looking good for other people had never been, and still wasn't, a priority, and he didn't really understand the humor of it. How other people looked was likewise not a concern, after all!

He wasn't sure whether he'd made the issue better or worse, but after a few halfhearted cleaning attempts, he gave a content sigh and sat down on the ground, tail curling around and resting over his legs.

"No. It's always been just me," he answered, the tip of his tail twitching like a cat's. "Ever since I was little. I've been alone a long time."

[Blue]

OK SO THIS THREAD IS ENDING HERE AND WE BOTH AGREE BECAUSE OMFG THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE SO WE CAN THREAD SAKKATA AND HATAME LIKE BURNING ASLKFJADSKJ;GASLFKJDSAK;LFJADS;LKJFAS

SO BASICALLY EVENTUALLY SOMEHOW YARRA GETS ROPED INTO GOING WITH THEM AND IS GOING TO BE THEIR LIVE-IN NANNY WHEREIN HE MUST SURVIVE THE DOUBLE TEAM THAT IS RAAMA AND SAKKATA.

THE.FUCKING.END. \o/