Ancient Pyramid - Argalia
Up on top of the mighty obsidian pyramid stands the ever-impressive black portal. From up here, you can see much of Argalia and the pyramid city, Menari, spread out below. To the north spreads the Kalacann Mountains range. To the soutwest you can see the Veltagar Mountains with Light's Gate's flickering tower showing the way home for miners. To the west spreads the Bayoon forest from Menari all the way west as far as one can see. To the farthest south, one might see the Dowresh Mountain range. To the east is the rolling grasslands with glints from the water shinig on a sunny day. The city of Menari spreads out in a circle around the base of the pyramid, the northern half controled by the Vehrakt the southern half by the Aldani.
It's late evening in this part of Argalia. The sun has just recently set, though the deeply over-cast skies took away any chance of a sun-set. There's no rain to fall from these clouds. Just darkness, and an early, starless night. The air is warm, thankfully, but a stronger wind blows through the valley of cloud and land. Not enough to bother the more expreienced fliers, but a newbie to it would likely falter. The gate fluxes a few times, passers into the Core coming and going. Now that it is evening, the travel into the Core has slowed quite a bit. Only the few merchants who are coming how, and yet fewer buyers of anything Core, are the only ones left to make use of it. Except one. This dark-scaled beauty steps through the gate...and comes to a stop. Head raises up, glancing up to the sky, then rolls around to survey the land about. After a moment, she lifts an arm, clawed hand resting against the side of her head, and she grimaces faintly, as though she has a headache...
Fireheart is down below the pyramid practicing with another dragon on the Vehrakt side, but within sight of the pyramid's top. Despite being put in recent charge of things elsewhere, Fireheart takes a sadistic pleasure in initiating the New Ones to the Vehrakt way of life. Spear clashes with tonfa stick time and again. The spear's twin remains sheathed, standing as an empty banner pole behind the firey one's back.
Rathamarakan shakes her head, snorting faintly, and steps forward near the edge of the pyramid's top. Claws just overlap the edge, trying to dig into the indestructable obsidian, and really doing nothing for grip. The winds are just right, at the moment, to not make her realize this fault. The ebony slits of her green eyes narrow, focusing in to the ongoings just below. She doesn't focus on anything particular, only pausing on the dueling pair a moment, before glancing on...
Dragons can be seen coming and going on the wind, despite the hour. Off to the southern end of the city, a caravan can be seen leaving the gates barely seen beyond the buildings and trees in the distance. Back to the north, other dragons can be seen drilling, marching and sparing in larger groups besides the two nearby below. A horned dragon dressed richly in flowing clothes tied down at wrist and ankles glides in towards the pyramid's base. He practically runs up the stairs, taking them as quickly as he can to reach to the top. He barely nods a greeting to the darker dragoness there before dissapearing into the glimmering void of the portal.
Rathamarakan does glance for a second at the quickly passing dragon, before a shift of wind finally brings her to realize her poor position. It gusts against her front, putting her off balance. Wings flare, flicking to gain balance, and she falls forward to snap a clawed hand at the edge of the pyramid, keeping her from going anywhere else. She grumbles quietly, and stands back up, making the keen decision that staying up here isn't exactly a good choice. Thus, carefully and ill-practiced, she makes her way down the slick staircase...
Fireheart snaps the end of her spear in a sharp jab aimed at her sparring partner's feet. With practiced ease, he jumps the swing, avoiding being tripped. As he pulls back with one stick, he points with the other towards the pyramid, saying something only the two can hear. With more practiced ease, he swings the other stick towards Fireheart's head with the drawn back tonfa stick, hoping to catch her off guard. Fireheart merely leans backwards to avoid the blow. She plants the butt end of the spear she carries into the ground, holding it upright to help block the incoming blow as she turns to see what was being pointed out. More unheard words are said before they both stop fighting and step towards the pyramid's base, awaiting the arrival of the dark female who can now be barely seen there.
Rathamarakan makes her way down without incident, and finds that the ground is far more comfortable to stand on than the damnable pyramid. Wings finally takes to settling down against her back, just faintly overlapping around her arms. She returns to her intensive study of the surrounding area. Her expression is pretty neutral, just a slight hint of irritability showing over the darkly hued scaled head. After all, who wouldn't be irritated when they are clueless to their world, suddenly...
Fireheart walks up with her friend, letting him make the first move. She stands back a step as he walks up to the new female.
With a smooth motion, he bows at the waist, "Greetings, M'Lady. I have not had the pleasure of making your aquaintence. I am known simply around here as Smoke." He reaches a hand out for Ratha's hand gently.
Rathamarakan turns her head as she gets a glimpse of the pair walking closer. Head tilts a little curiously, and tail hugs closer to her form, the tip curling around her right ankle some. It wouldn't impede movement in the least as is, and she does it unconsciously. She blinks once at the bow, and glances at the hand reaching out to hers. A look of concentration, then a faint shake of head, and she takes hold of the hand. The grasp is shifted so it is sideways, so there's more of a chance to a handshake than something gentlemanly, like the other dragon could have the chance of giving. "Sssmoke...Rathamarakan."
Smoke takes the hand gently and turns it so he can plant a gentle kiss upon the back of it. He does not let it go, however, as he looks Ratha in the eye. Softly, he rolls the sound of her name over his tongue. "Rrrathaamarrrakannn. A beautiful name and one appropriatly befitting a gem such as you. Please tell me, have you been here long, or have I been given the honor of meeting such a delicate flower first?" He is very chivalrous and fawning of this darker, shorter version of himself.
Rathamarakan doesn't seem to particularly enjoy the kiss of her hand, but keeps some sort of manners. She's got about as much clue where she is as who she is, and the name just sort of came to her. "I...don't know." She tenses her jaw faintly...then glances up to you, slits narrowing again to focus on you...
Fireheart simply looks back with an expressionless glance. Finally she asks in a quiet voice, "You know not where you are or any of this, do you child? It is all a blank slate., is it not?" Neither moving closer nor further away, Fireheart leans on the still unsheathed spear as if using it for an ordinary walking stick.
Smoke remains quiet during this exchange, yet remains near Ratha.
Rathamarakan glances back to Smoke, as she gives a single nod in return. "I have my name, and that is all." She gives a slight tug of her hand, to see if this other dragon, which she does 'naturally' realize he is, will let go of it. She's not too comfortable with him staying so near, either, given she knows nothing of him excpt that he, and you, were busy dueling moments before...
Smoke lets the hand go readily, content to be standing next to the fair female as Fireheart talks to her.
Fireheart asks yet more questions, "You know not where you came, yet you know your name. Do you know what you were before, or what you are now, child?" Still no movements other than to speak. It is as if one was talking to a statue almost. Other dragons continue to come and go, oblivious of the interaction going on here.
Rathamarakan swivels her head back to you, equally content enough that her hand is free to return to her side. Her eyes focus fully for a moment, the slits becoming almost totally consumed by the surrounding green, before she has the answer. "Wait. What do you mean, before? I am a dragon, and have obviously always been a dragon." Its amazing. The Core actually did a proper job of erasing a mind, for once. It was beginning to really slack on that job, as late.
Fireheart finally moves enough to wave a hand flippantly, "Never mind, it was a random question." Pointing at Ratha, she asks, "You are a dragoness, but do you know where you are, where home is, or how to get there? Do you know how to fly and are you capable of this? Can you defend yourself and do you know all of your natural weapons?"
Rathamarakan tilts her head again, eyeridges shifting into something of a furrow as best they can. Eventually, after scanning her now blank mind, she shakes her head. There is a faint rumble in her throat. "I have never seen this place, and have no clue where it is. I do not have a home I remember, nor a family. Eh..." She glances over her shoulders, actually coming into realization of the wings that, like the pair of you and all the others around, are settled there. "Don't remember flying," she mutters thoughtfully to herself, though it doesn't irritate her much. Then, looking forward to you, she crosses her arms against her chest. "Anyone can defend themselves if they give half a thought to it." The last question she doesn't even put an answer to. Mostly, she seems to give off both an irritable air, for not being able to remember anything, as well as a fairly strong show, unlike the clueless and halfway scared attitude of a lot of New Ones...
Fireheart nods slowly, coming to a conclusion. Looking to her companion, she nods to him and says, "You were correct, she is a New One alright, and no memories. You win the bet, Ssmoke. But let's deal with that later, we have someone here to teach." The priestess turns back to the taller female and finally gives her own name and title. "I am Priestess Fireheart, current head of Gateway Fort. You, child, are a Tal'Vehrakt. Your home is to the north of here in the mountains there around the base of a volcano, the throne of our God, Viktiss." Pointing up at the top of the pyramid, she further explains, "You came from the portal up there, from a place known simply as "The Core". Whether you had a former life or not no longer matters for you remember nothing of it. You are a dragoness now and you should be proud of it. We of the Tal'Vehrakt are a strong and hardy people, proud warriors who strive to better ourselves and to maintain our standing as the greater species."
Smoke inhales deeply, sticking his chest out proudly on hearing the brief explination of his own people from the priestess.
Rathamarakan is quiet, listening to the explination of what she was, where she may have come from, and where she's likely to eventually end up. She glances over at Smoke, seeing him puff up proudly to Fireheart's words. She works her jaw a little irritably again, before giving the slightest nod. "Sssso..." Hmmh. Not a thing to say to any of this. Except. "What is done for eating? I will obviously have much to learn, but I will likely listen better on a full stomach...."
Smoke steps up to take Ratha's hand again and waves an arm before him. Smoothly, he says, "Where are our manners, let us away to find some repast, for the eve is upon us and hunger not far behind for us all." He let's Rathas hand go long enough to hold his arm up for her to thread hers with if she so chooses. "Please, if I may have the honor of escorting you to such meals as we have here in Menari, I would be deeply grateful, M'lady Rathamarakan." As fluid as his voice comes, her turns his head to look at Fireheart to ask her, "And will be be graced with your presence as well, M'lady Priestess?"
Strong, hardy warriors? Smoke didn't quite seem to fit that kind of ideal...but, then, she could not really think of what /would/ fit. She glances around again, taking the time to notice some of the other dragons around the area once more. She did notice her own lack of clothing, but also the lack of any attention to it from others. Thus, that was, for now, accounted to being unimportant. There was a lack of showing what kind of manners dragons did show to one another. Her eyes snap back to the arm, as it holds up. After a moment, she threads her own with Smoke's, as, for the moment, at least these two seem to have information she could sorely use. No need to be insulting...
Smoke hugs onto the arm gently, patting it with is free hand, "There, there my dear. You are in good hands now, for the charming Smoke has charged himself with your care until you feel ready to spread your wings and take flight, hoping you will return to grace him with your radiant beauty and charming personage."
All the while Smoke is fawning over Ratha, Fireheart has already turned on her heel northwards and heads there to the messhall to eat, mentally going over what all this new one needs to know and judging from what she has seen what to do with her.
Smoke soon follows behind, guest in tow.
South Terra Lane - Menari
You stand on Terra Lane just north of the pyramid. Older symbols are being removed stone by stone, newer symbols, these of the Vehrakt god Viktiss, are being placed everywhere. Large trees, their branches arching overhead, line the lane here making it shady and cool. Beds of ivy lie between the trees, also lining the lane. Busy Vehrakt are seen constantly, either rebuilding their section of Menari into their designs, or patroling, or trainging, or any number of other tasks.
To the east is the old university which the priestesses have turned into their headquarters here for themselves and the training of New Ones. To the west is the main training and parade grounds. Terra Lane continues to the north.
Rathamarakan doesn't have much to say in return to Smoke on all of that. She has yet to know what she even really looks like, for one, and...already there's a male working for her attentions. Signs to come, maybe. Or is that 'unfortunatly'? "What does one generally eat, here?" She busies herself with looking at the surroundings, glancing over the reoccuring symbols and the few that have found their way of not being changed, just yet...
Smoke reaches up to his jaw, pulling back the skin there to show his sharp pointy teeth. After giving enough time to see his teeth in the torchlight, he answers the question. "Why, my dear, we are meat eaters. While it is true we can eat other things such as vegetables and breads, we do not always do so." He leans over and says in a blatantly loud whisper so Fireheart can hear, "But if you ask me, sometimes they make great accoutrements to a well cooked roast."
Soon the trio comes up to a building with the front door wide open. Light spills from inside as do the sounds of loud and boisterous dragons. Fireheart stops at the entrance to be sure that the other two are still with her before stepping inside.
Rathamarakan does just touch her tounge against the sharp teeth in front of it, but doesn't open her maw to do so. "I meant more toward...avians? Ground based creatures? Fish?" Given such basic principles, these are things she can remember. They're not uncummon even on other worlds. She does take a quick glance around as she reaches the door, the sound of the inhabitants audible even before the trio get that far...
Inside the messhall tables lines the room in neet and orderly rows. Most are filled with red-spined dragons of all colors and sizes, but all are trim and in shape, ready and on active duty. Many are still armored in what armor they do chose to wear. Weapons are everywhere nearby, ready at hand should the need arise, be it defense or offense. Smoke doesn't miss a heartbeat leading Ratha into the messhall as he answers her question. "Ah, the delectible range of foods leans primarily towards the ground-based Slon. They are easily raised and are hearty enough to survive harsh conditions and weathers, plus provide a very good service as beasts of burden. But when raised on a primary diet of only the best grains and plants and cooked just right...superb!" He really gets into his speech about food that it's almost unoticeable that all three are already seated off to one side, a little away from the majority of the crowd in here.
Rathamarakan takes her own seat, which of course ends up next to Smoke. Though its more because its easiest to detach her arm from his that way. She shifts a little, figuring out how to get most comfortable, tail lifted just slightly so it passes over the bench easily, and wings held up just a tad. She nods her head, then, questions appeased for the moment, and stomach wishing to have the same. She glances to Smoke, then to Fireheart...and waits. She's not going to make a comment about 'not having a way to pay', as that's about as obvious as the wings on her back...
Fireheart flags over another dragon and just holds up three fingers. The dragon waved over simply nods and heads off into another doorway. Looking at Fireheart, it's uncanny, but both spears are slung up behind her back. When that happened, who knows, but they're there.
Fireheart lets Smoke continues for a little while longer about dragon cuisine while she sits quietly. Her eyes always move to watch what goes on around her, yet they always seem to be watching the New One opposite the table from her.
Rathamarakan pays Smoke proper attention, asking a question or two, but doesn't miss her own chance to collect images of the rest of the room. Every now she catches Fireheart's eyes gazing her way, and she'll pause her own scans to see if Fireheart has more to add. The other dragoness is very quiet, she notices, and it makes her wonder...
It's not long before the dragon returns, carrying a huge tray with three plates, three mugs and a big pitcher on it. He sets each plate and a mug in front of each dragon and the pitcher in between the three. The plates are full of chunks of cooked meat covered in some odd gravy. Smoke reaches over, saying, "Oh, allow me, My ladies, to pour your drinks." He starts a short litany about different types of drinks and his opinions on each, but what he pours is simple water, cool and crisply cold.
Fireheart just takes the fork from her plate and starts eating, letting Smoke ramble along.
Rathamarakan takes to eating her own food much the same, having nothing new to add to the more and more one sided conversation. She's a fairly quick eater. Not messily so, just quick, eating down the plater in no time. Hunger is partially thwarted, and the headache she's had since walking past the gate dies down some. She then sits there, quietly, waiting for the pair to finish their own meals...hoping, just a little, than at least one of the two will decide to get full, and be willing to pass on the remnants of their own meals on.
Smoke continues rambling on between discrete bites of his owen meal, completely ignoring the fight that suddenly breaks out on the far side of the room. Voices are raised and after some hand to hand fighting, weapons are suddenlt brandished. A few join in and it becomes a minor baroom brawl in the messhall. Eerily enough, half the room just ignores it and continues eating or holding their own conversation as Smoke still does.
Rathamarakan 's attention, however, is drawn right to the fight, and both Smoke and Fireheart are instantly ignored. Eyes flicker back and forth between the fighters while the weapons are sheathed, and her whole body tenses up when the weapons are pulled. She doesn't know much about these other dragons, or why they seem to lack any care about the fight, but she, for one, isn't going to get caught off-guard if it makes its way near her. Of course, she'll realize later that those fighting fit a little more into the Hardy, Strong Warrior catagory she was trying to think of...
The fight works it's way slowly towards the end of the room that the trio are sitting at, leaving a swath of destruction and injuries behind it. A dagger goes zipping past Fireheart's crest to bury itself point first into the table near the water pitcher. It stands here at an angle quivering from the force with which it was thrown. Fireheart mearly reaches for her mug to take a drink of her water.
Smoke finally acknowledges the fight by pointing at the sharp addition to the table, "Seems Rithen's aim still needs much work. He only had one other trying to hold him down and he missed Parro by a long shot. If you ask me."
The conversation is abruptly interuppted as a dragon's head is slamed onto the table into the juicy remains of Fireheart's meal. The dazed male is looking crosseyed upwards at Fireheart while being pinned down by an apparently pissed off female who is gripping his neck with much force. Fireheart simply reaches over to grab the collar of the female's harness and puts it bluntly, "Do you mind? We're eating here. Take it outside."
Rathamarakan is getting more and more edgy as the fight gets ever closer. The sudden centerpiece addition is actually getting to be quite enough for her...but the only thing keeping her from actually getting up is the fact that, for some reason, she's sure the fighters would mistaken her for another to go after. She does, however, lean up against Smoke for the moment, trying to keep back away from any swipes of weapons that might try to pass through the air. "I'm happy the pair of you seem so comfortable, but perhaps you could both finish your meals? I'm not exactly up for having myself killed an hour after I come to consciousness. Thanks much." Her own voice is gruff in this. At least she's not scared...
Oddly enough though, when the priestess gets involved, even in so minorly a manner, things calm down rather quickly. The female holding down the male just grabs a hold of one arm of the male she had pinned as someone else runs up to grab the other arm and both drag him outside to the hoots and catcalls that follow.
Smoke reaches over subtely to put a reasuring arm around Ratha's shoulders, "Fear not, my lady, for I shall let no harm come to such a flawless flower as yourself. Yet I agree, it is a fine night, let us away from here to walk out in the open air under the stars." He stands up with the fluid grace he has shown all night, offering an arm to Ratha, more for politeness's sake than for actual need.
Fireheart stands on her own, pulling the dagger from the table, slipping it into her harness within easy reach but where it won't slice anything too easily without a sheath.
Rathamarakan watches the set pass outside...and calms again. She starts to get settled again when the option is made to get back up, instead, and leave this place. "Fine with me," she murmurs, standing back up herself. She watches Fireheart stash the dagger, then turns to Smoke to shake her head to the arm offer. "Perhaps once we get a bit past this messhall," is the only answer she gives to his possible question.
Smoke steps back to give Ratha room to stand and walks behind to allow the ladies to go before him. Fireheart makes her ways outside a little after the previous fighters have had time to move along. Once outside, there is no sign of them, but it doesn't seem to surprise Fireheart or Smoke any. Smoke turns to Fireheart asking, "So where too, my dear priestess? Shall we give our fragile flower the tour of the city or save that for daylight?"
Fireheart looks up at the moonlight, judging how much light there is. The sky is still pretty much overcast, so very little light makes it through to help light the paths with the torches that line the path. "No, I think she will see things better in the daylight." Fireheart turns around to face Ratha, just looking at her expectantly. Yet no questions are asked, nothing said. Just staring and waiting.
Smoke goes silent as well, waiting to see what happens next.
Rathamarakan paces after Fireheart, joining her and Smoke. She does seem a little surprised, herself, that the fight isn't still going on out here...but perhaps Fireheart's incursion made the others think twice about continuing. She returns her full attention to her first aquantences since coming here...and blinks as both suddenly turn their full attention to her. She waits, as well, wondering what is expected of her all of a sudden. "I don't know anything about this place...so what ever your suggestions are is fine with me..."
Fireheart looks over to the dark companion. "I feel up for some excercise, how about you, Smoke? Shall we continue our practice from earlier?"
Smoke bows deeply at the waist, one arm crossing his chest, the other outstretched in a courtly bow. "My Lady, I would be delighted to continue our practice from earlier for the benefit of our gorgeous gem of a lady, Rathamarakan." Smoke raises, looking to Ratha, "would you care to grace our humble practice with your precense, My Lady?"
Rathamarakan steps back a few paces, then motions toward the pair. "Feel free." She crosses her arms, and gets ready to stand around for a while. She's not tired, as yet, and isn't sure how long the two will decide to go on with their sparring. There is a faint feeling that she didn't give the 'right' answer, but oh well. When they give her a clue about what they want, she'll answer...
Fireheart stands straight as a rail, arms crossed over her chest, spears still sheathed behind her. She gives a slight nod to Smoke, "Start when you are ready."
Smoke reaches into hidden pockets in his robe along each sleeve to pull out the handled sticks he was using earlier to fight with. He holds them parallell to his arms, holding them up as if blocking, legs bending at the knees, giving him flexibility of movement.
Rathamarakan squats down as the pair get set, settling a hand to the ground a moment to get herself properly balanced. Her tail, as before, curls around her right ankle, seemingly more than happy to snuggle there. Given the lack of anything else interesting around the area, for now, she waits to watch the spar. Maybe even pick up on a few things. Who knows.
Smoke bounces a couple times, getting his balance, holding his tonfa stick at the ready. He almost purrs, "I insist, ladies first."
Fireheart merely arches an eyeridge sarcastically before becoming a blur of sudden movement. She steps forward, using the building momentum to twist her around in a spin, arms reaching up to pull out a single spear, pulling it forward to sweep at Smoke's feet. She uses the moemtum of her spin to give her the needed power to pull him off such a well placed stance.
Rathamarakan is very silent and still as the two begin. The only thing that even needs to move is her pair of eyes, having moved far enough back that Smoke and Fireheart are easily in view...
Smoke steps into Fire's spin, knowing this move well. When she swings the end of her spear where Smoke's feet were, they're not there. He lashes out with one tonfa towards her shoulder now that he's behind her, holding up the other one to block the backswing she brings up from the opposite side with the upper end of her spear. At this point, the only sounds that matters are the clacks of the woden shafts of tonfa stick against spear shaft and the steady, yet heavy breathing of both combatants. Blow after blow is traded, block, parry, block again. It is a well rehearesed dance between the two, they are well matched.
Rathamarakan does watch with interest, eventually wondering if this is actual sparring, or if it's something practiced that the pair of you do often. Both seem to know exactly what's going to happen, and neither one seems to be suddenly surprised by an meanuver his or her partner comes up with. She does, slowly, get a little more tired, as being the only one not moving is keeping her from getting the blood to stur...
Fireheart works the practiced steps through the dance. It is always the same, yet is always different. She has sparred and practiced with Smoke so much that both know each other movements and attacks instinctively. Yet, it is this kind of practice that gives her an inner pleasure. Here is a warrior worthy of fighting her, one who is matched in skill as she. She saw how Ratha reacted when Rithen was slammed to the table right after his dagger thunked into the table so close to her. Now to see how she reacts to actual attacks in her direction. She takes a different action than she usually uses with Smoke. She plans the butt end of the spear into the ground and uses it to extend a somersault fully over Ratha's crouched form, spinning on her heel around to face Ratha, pulling the spear around with her, halting the point inches from Ratha's shoulder.
Rathamarakan is getting a bit dulled-eyed as she watches the hypnotic dance. She starts to see ahead two moves, as she begins to understand certain patterns, expectant of what the two will do...until there is a sudden, drastic change in everything. She becomes alert again, head lifting to follow Fireheart as the other dragoness jumps over. She tenses as Fireheart suddenly spins, feet shifting to brace her form, one knee coming down to the ground. A hand opens at shots out, at the same time, grappling the shaft of the spear very near the blade. It's a good reaction, though the dark-hued dragoness is really quite open for another fast attack, now...
Fireheart holds still as a statue, spear still extended, held by the darker female. Fireheart holds her stance for a full minute silently, letting it all sink into Ratha before slowly pulling her spear back, waiting to see it she lets go before pulling it fully back. It seems the practice is over. "Good, your reflexes are very well defined already. Instincts keep you from making fatal mistakes easily. You were lulled by the dance, but you snap to attention as soon as something changes. You watch everything, letting nothing distract."
Smoke stopped his movements soon as Fireheart broke the usual rythm, expecting something like this.
Rathamarakan 's eyes stay directly on the spear for half of Fireheart's silent minute, then raise up to the previously attacking dragoness. She doesn't let go of the spear, and in fact keeps a tight grip on it at first when Fireheart tries to pull it back. She relenquishes the spear eventually, and closes the hand into a fist as she moves it to her side. She's not sure what to expect all of a sudden, and feels very uncomfortable now that Smoke is on one side, and Fireheart on the other. There's no telling if all his fawning was just to get her off guard and unconcerned about him. "I told you anyone could defend themselves if they had half a mind..." she murmurs in return. She doesn't even really know if you're right about your definition of what she did, but she does know she did what she needed to to stop that spear. Fun. First the fight in the messhall, now this...
Fireheart takes her time slinging her spear back and expertly into it's sheath on her back before leaning over with an arm extended to help pull Ratha from the ground. "You would be surprised how many new ones show up who are not as adept at defending themselves as you have proven yourself to be. That is why I asked earlier. Our people are warriors, every single one of us. From the might Warlord and his Warchiefs to the Priestesses, to the lowly servant who brought our food earlier. It is survival of the fittest and we are the fittest. I feel you will go far, young Rathamarakan. I look forward to the time when we may spar off sometime. But it is getting late, we all need our sleep, you especially. You are going to have a busy day ahead of you."
Rathamarakan slowly stands up as Fireheart talks, eyes glancing back to see where Smoke is for just the briefest moment. She's....not really stunned. Not even really irritable. She feels a little insulted that they would test her like this out of the blue, but equally relieved that it was JUST that one swing of spear. "I don't know if I should thank you, Fireheart, or hit you square in the jaw." She's also very honest. "I hope what sleeping quarters I get are safe for sleeping in, and not getting stuck with a thrown knife?"
Fireheart grins genuinely, looking over at Smoke with a raised eyeridge.
Smoke's only reply is a frank, "She's got spunk."
Fireheart nods and reaches into her harness and pulls out the dagger from earlier. "Then you may as well have something to defend yourself with, then won't you? Come, let's get going."
Smoke's tonfa's dissapeared back into his sleeves during this little talk and he reaches out with an arm for Ratha, doing the gentlemanly thing to do for a lady. "M'lady, I would be honored once again if you would allow me to escort you to your temporary living quarters during your stay here in Menari. And I assure you, no more attacks, attempts or the like shall befall you this evening, not with me here to keep things in line." He sounds very sure of himself.
Fireheart says nothing but snorts, trying to hide a little smile.
Rathamarakan takes the dagger steadily. She holds it for a second...before giving it a flick in her hand, which spins up and under. Finger wrap around the handle, and the cool blade settles up against her wrist. An easy hold, and very unlikely of hurting anything or anyone by accident. She works her jaw a moment, looking back to Smoke, before just faintly nodding. Her free arm threads with his again, though she does give him a glance over. No word is spoken about /why/ she does so. A second glance, toward Fireheart, seeing those spears still put away...and then another nod. "Lead on, then..."
Fireheart leads the trio east towards the dorms set up for the training and teaching of new arrivals to Argalia.
Smoke is back to his talkative self as though nothing out of the ordinary happened.
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