River Reunion

Sjach doesn't come to the city all that often, but after a recent encounter at the trading post that necessitated getting himself a new cloak, the city was nearer than Wilderness Pointe or Mictlan. And so here he is. Little Flame, not so little anymore, was /supposed/ to be left at the stables but she's escaped and found her way back to Sjach- and he doesn't seem particularly inclined to send her away, although it has lead him to take paths less traveled to avoid panicking the smoothskins with an adolescent swiftclaw wandering around.

His travels revealed to him the scent of wood smoke and steam, and he has found himself drawn down to the banks of the Tornmawr where the log sauna was built a few days ago. It seems whoever had been using it no longer are, but the stones are still hot- and so he ventures inside, which is where he is now. Squatting on his haunches and heating his hands with the residual heat- perhaps intending to cut some more wood and rekindle the flame, or perhaps simply enjoying the remaining warmth.

GAME: Seyardu rolls survival: (5)+6: 11

Seyardu was still regularly present in the city, as her duties as an althean cleric required of her, though she was spending as much of her time in mictlan as possible, helping those outside the city as much as inside.

Her work in the city had led her to be wandering near one of the bridges when she spotted something strange. Not entirely certain what left the tracks in the snow and mud, but wishing to make sure everything was safe, the cleric slowly made her way down to the riverbank.

Ah, it was just a massive swiftclaw, nothing to worry about, if the sigh of relief was anything to go by. "Good to see you little flame, what brings you out here?" Seyardu rumbles, peering at the nearby building.

Little Flame seems to have grown more accustomed to the Alexandrian cold than Sjach- she has, after all, spent a greater portion of her life here. Right now she is rooting through the snow with her snout, looking for burrowing critters she might snack on. When Seyardu arrives, she stands up straight on her hindlegs, and it is clear she is now taller than Seyardu. She huffs, clearing the snow from her nostrils with a spray, and then bounds over towards the shorter silver-scale. The Swiftclaw chuffs happily, and gives Seyardu a few little affectionate headbutts to the shoulder in greeting.

Sjach hears the sound, and emerges from the cabin to see what the commotion is. Seeing Seyardu, his gaze immediately softens. "Cihuaa." he says, and then pads over towards her- his feet are wrapped in oilskins to keep them off the cold and icy ground. "Thiss one wondered if you might be in the city still." he admits.

Seyardu was nearly bowled over by the swiftclaw, but the smaller makari rumbles in amusement. It was getting difficult to wrap her arms around little flame, but she barely manages it, patting the best on the flank. "Good to see you too, you've grown so much in so little time." She offers, turning her attention to the makari leaving the building. Seyardu gives the swiftclaw one final pat, before closing the rest of the distance. "Cihuaa, peace on our nest." She greets warmly, taking one of the hunters hands in her own. "The day is brighter for your presence. I am here, did you come to look for me?"

Sjach, for his part, has something a little different about him, too. His eyes have always been sharp like a bird of preys, but the resemblance is even closer now- some of the quills which line the top of his head and run down his spine have bloomed into feathers. Oily black with an iridescent sheen. He takes the offered hand in both of his, "Thiss one was working nearby." he answers. "There were... rotten things. Little flame bit one of them..." he says, turning his attention to the Swiftclaw. After giving Seyardu's hand a squeeze with both of his, one of them comes up to pat the swiftclaw on the side. "Sshe lost her appetite, so I thought it better to resst here before making the journey back north."

He eyeballs Little Flame again, and she chuffs once more, lifting her head and preening indignantly at having her tummy troubles called out. "She has found it again, now. But thiss one wanted to find you before returning to Mictlan, yes." he tells her.

Seyardu let herself rest against Sjach, gently nuzzling the makari's neck, where she glanced up at the makari's quills. There was a scent of surprise, and a small bit of worry. "You look different, Sjach, did something happen?" She wonders, turning to Little Flame as he explains his business in the city. "Oh, poor thing, you did well in helping Sjach, but that can't be pleasant. Would you like me to tend to them?" She offers, already reaching for the familiar holy symbol she almost always wore.

Sjach shakes his head then at the concern, "Thiss one has been learning wild magic." he explains then, for the source of his newfound avian features. "Thiss one wished to surprise you, but it's not permanant. The feathers fade, after some time. Thiss one used the magic to fight the dead that walk." he says.

As for Little Flame, she gets a side eye, "Thiss one told her not to swallow any." he chides softly. "But she was as fierce as any swiftclaw of the deep jungle. Her mother would be proud." he says, and pats the swiftclaw once more on the flank. "Still, though, thiss one must find a shaman skilled in fashioning equipment. Perhaps, before leaving the city. Sshe needs protective wards, if she's to fight by my side. Hunting animals is one thing, but beasts and villains is another matter. And she won't take barding, thiss one has tried."

GAME: Seyardu refreshes spells.

"Ah, I see. I just wanted to make sure everything is alright. They do look quite beautiful on you, cihuaa, as difficult as it is for you to be more so." The cleric chuckles, reaching to run one hand over the soft quills. "What color are they now, if you might describe them to me?"

Still, the cleric reluctantly steps away, turning to little flame with the holy symbol in one hand. "Celestial mother, who cares for all of her charge, Little Flame has been sickened in working to defend life. Cleanse them of any sickness and poisons which may have taken hold in their work." Seyardu rumbles in prayer, placing a hand on the swiftclaw's flank which infuses it with a warm glow of energy for several seconds, before dissipating.

"You have been learning magics, Sjach? I'm not surprised, this one knew you might have aptitudes for such things." She offers, no small amount of pride evident. "Yes, we should make sure Little Flame is well protected, if she is to be accompanying you hunting more often."

GAME: Seyardu casts Remove Disease. Caster Level: 15 DC: 19

GAME: Seyardu casts Neutralize Poison. Caster Level: 15 DC: 20

Sjach hisses an embarrassed sound at the compliment, "You flatter thiss one too much" he insists, but he leans into the hand that reaches for his newfound feathers. "They are black, but shimmer like... like lamp oil on water." he tells her then, before letting her work her magic on his companion.

"Only the magics of the woods and the wild places." he says to her then. "Thiss one has no talent for arcane sorceries, nor so deep a connection to the godss." he says to her then. "But the nature of animals and the green word? Thiss one is beginning to understand." he says then.

When Seyardu finishes her spells, Little flame gives a shudder as she feels the divine energies wash over her- if her appetite was back before, it definitely is now, and she moves over to nudge at Sjach until he relents and hands over a sausage from a pouch, procured not so long ago at the market.

He nods his head towards the cabin, "Do you know thiss building? It was not here last time I came to the city. There are hot rocks inside." he tells her, as though revealing a great discovery.

"No, this one worries they do not make it known enough, how this one finds you. So this one must endeavor to make sure it is known. " Seyardu rumbles in amusement after finishing her prayer, giving a chuff of approval as Little Flame appears to be feeling better. "The magics of nature are just as important as all, and this one is no less impressed, cihuaa."

She turns her attention to the building, and tilts her head to one side. "They keep hot stones in there?" She muses, peering inside. "Ah! This one heard of this, I believe it is referred to as a sauna? It is supposed to be filled with hot steam, I believe, perhaps the stones are for that?"

Sjach follows along while Little Flame concerns herself with consuming the sausage. She has discovered that things taste better when they are not swallowed whole, especially those things not pulled from their burrows moments before and so she chomps at the parcel of meat merrily.

"Ah, a Sauna? Is thiss like the pools they warm?" Sjach wonders of Seyardu. "Thiss one finds it interessting. Many people of the city speak of the inhospitality of Am'shere. And yet they emulate the steaming jungles and dragon pools here." he says, amusement in his tone.

He seems to remember something, then, and stands up straighter. "Ah, thiss one just recalled. Thiss one knows we have spoken before of how our works take us far apart." he says to Seyardu, placing a hand on her shoulder as he speaks. "Thiss one has taught Little Flame your scent. If thiss one cannot come to you, she will seek you instead." he tells her.

"It may be like the warming pools, though I believe this is mostly steam, not direct water." Seyardu considers, sounding pleased at Sjach's amusement. "Would you like to investigate it together? It would be interesting to see what it is like, and how it might compare."

The smaller makari looks up as Sjach stands straighter, listening intently with a nod. "This one would be surprised if Little Flame did not recognize this ones scent by now." she chuffs good naturedly. "But, in a productive way, this makes sense. This one will always care for Little Flame, even when you may not be able to, that is a promise."

Sjach nods his head, "Lets at least go inside. Thiss one did not believe it when he firsst came through the portal, and those here claimed that at times the rain fell as ice from the sky. Thiss one was from the low wetlands in Am'shere. There, it rained every day for much of the year, but the water never froze. Thiss one wishes it had not been true." he says then as he casts a distasteful glance at the offensive white blanket of snow on the ground.

He scoffs at the second comment, then, and says, "That is good, yess... but this one hoped Cihuaa would come find him instead." he says, chuffing amusedly and giving her shoulder a squeeze.

"Yes, the snow was certainly a surprise, was it not?" Seyardu chuckles, joining Sjach in the building, taking a curious look around. "Though, it seems you do not like it as much as this one or their brother does. Understandable, as this one does not mind the cold as much."

Seyardu stops and tilts her head, giving a soft breath. "Right, they would still be able to find you after, of course." she nods. "Of course. This one will remember, and seek you out should Little Flame come looking. There is no one this one cares more about, after all."

Sjach nods his head solemnly, "Thiss one thought it was a... what's the word... a prank." he says then as he pads further into the room, poking around. He finds a store of firewood tucked away, and lifts a few of the rocks- still hot, but not sizzlingly so- from the bed of dying embers below. He feeds some more wood in, and takes a shard of flint and his knife to feather some of the firewood and then strike it to get a new fire going. "Thiss one has never liked the cold." he says, as though it wasn't already abundantly obvious. "Little Flame has adapted to it well. She would not wear the foot wraps if thiss one did not make her. Even though it cracks the scales when she goes without." he says then.

Seyardu found a seat on one of the benches, careful of her tail, and watched the hunter work, as she had on so many occasions, seeming content. "And yet, you are so willing to let this one soak up heat from you." The cleric chuffs. "This one is glad, as they are not the physically warmest of kin."

"Yes, the cold comes with many challenges, there are more in need during the winter months at the temples. This one hopes you are doing alright, yes? If the winter causes you any pains, do not hesitate to let me know."

Sjach gets the fire going after a few strikes, and then smaller bits of firewood are piled ontop of it and the burning pile is pushed back down into the pit. "This one wantss for little." he admits. "Thiss one has preserved meats and fish from the summer, still, and tradess for what cannot be grown. The softskinss do many things strangely... but they seem to be able to acquire food well even in the winter months." he admits then. Once the fire is going, the rocks are put back ontop- they start to smother the fire a little, but it smoulders still.

"Your company is a resource thiss one cannot trade for anything, though, and would not." he offers then, reaching up from his kneeling position near the steadily warming stones to take her hand again. "If there are spare pelts, still, perhapss this one could bring them, so you can give them to those who have need." he suggests then.

"This one imagines after so many years for a city of this size,there must be many preparations that are made to ensure as few go hungry during the winter as possible. Still, this one has noticed an increase in those going to the temple for meals in recent weeks." Seyardu sighs.

The small cleric takes the and and leaves her seat, electing to kneel down with Sjach instead in front of the fire, resting against the hunter. "And this one treasures every moment they get to spend with you, Cihuaa." She rumbles, dragging his hand to her lap. "That is an excellent idea, yes!" She replies, giving a wide grin. "It would be a good help to many ensuring they have warm clothes to last the winter."

Sjach cracks a small smile back- a rare occurance on his face, but one which Seyardu has seen more than most. And he leans against her, squeezing her hand again. "This one has no talent for making the clothes. A cloak is the best this one can manage." he says then, "But will bring the pelts at least, whatever the stores can spare." he offers. The fire steadily continues warming the stones, and some of them begin to sizzle a little where snow had followed the two of them inside.

"No, but you have an exceptional talent for hunting, this one knows." Seyardu rumbles, her tail wrapping around Sjach's and pulling him closer. "But much like the people provide for each other, a master tailor is not expected to source their own hides in the city. This one is sure that someone will be able to make the most of your donations, here."

"Although, this one may wish for a bit of selfishness, to be honest." She continues, watching the sizzling stones. "Do make sure to keep enough for us at your camp, so that this one might rest beneath them with you."

Sjach nods again then, and allows himself to be pulled closer, his own tail finding hers as he leans his head against her. "This one is getting better, but still not as accustomed to relying on otherss." he admits to her then, and nuzzles against her. The rocks are getting good and hot now, and he parts from Seyardu- just enough to lean over and toss an experimental cupfull of water on the rocks, it hisses and steams immediately. He leans back against Seyardu.

"Of course. It was a good year for hunting, there should be pelts to spare without having to pilfer our tent." He assures, and huffs amusedly.

Seyardu watches the steam with a pleased chuff, curling up next to the hunter as he leans back and returning the nuzzling gently. "Ah, now that feels more like a warm day in am'shere after the rainfall." She says happily. "That must be why the water is here, yes?"

"That is good, that it was a good year. In spite of so many things it has been, and this one knows no small part of that is their Cihuaa at their side, no matter how far the physical distance may be."

Sjach nods once as he settles against Seyardu, relaxing tension he didn't even realizing her was holding onto as the atmosphere warms up. "Mosst years are good and bad." he says then, "the hunt may be lean, or the weather harsh." he says then, "or, as thiss one is increasingly finding, the dead may rise." he says with the faintest snarl at the reccolection. "But even sso there are good thingss in it. Clutchess hatch, seedlingss sprout." he says then.

He takes her hand in both of his once again, feeling her palm with his thumb. "But yess. Knowing you are there, even when you are not with me, makess every year a good year."

The cleric nods, giving a slightly angered growl of her own, but it soon passes as she relaxes again. "The dead rise, but others rise to the occasion, and help each other to solve it." She answers, pausing to reach for some more water and pour it onto the stones. Seyardu tugged at her sleeves, causing her robes to vanish as she tucked them into the bag, intent on enjoying the warmth of the sauna.

"And there are so many good things to celebrate, it is true, even in the darkest of times. This one's life is better for your presence Cihuaa, this one feels blessed every day that you were willing to take such a chance, even if it has been difficult for you to trust others."

Sjach closes his eyes as he enjoys the new wave of steam washing over the room. For his part, he's wearing the same threadbare shirt and pants he's had for as long as Seyadu has known him. They are more threadbare than ever, but he seems intent of wearing them until they disintegrate. But he sheds the shirt so that he can feel the steam on his scales.

"Thiss is nice. They should build one of these in Mictlan." he suggests then, and pauses, "Ah, but the weather there is alwayss mild." he says. A pause, "Thiss one does not think anyone will complain, even sso." he chuckles softly. "What of your travelss?" he wonders of her then, settling in next to Seyardu. "What great deeds has the mighty Seyardu accomplished lately?" he wonders.

"Hmm. This one should take you out to find new clothes sometime. This one worries your pants may not last much longer." The smaller makari rumbles in amusement, electing to rest her head against the hunter's chest.

"I think that sounds like an excellent Idea, Sjach. This one would certainly be happy to have another which could be enjoyed with you closer to home." She nods softly. "This one's mighty work?" She repeats, shaking her head and sighing. "This one has not done much of note, truly. Time has been spent caring for those in the city after everything that has happened, and caring for those in Mictlan. Every new hatching leaves me with much less free time for the several months after. And outside of that, this one has been studying the wards of Mictlan, so that they might replicate them nearby. The work on the greenhouse has been going well, but it will be for not if this one can not find a way to replicate Am'shere's climate year round."

Seyardu's comment on his pants has Sjach draw up, "They are fine." he insists. "They can be patched." he insists a second time, although he is perhaps a hint more defensive this time. "But... they could be warmer." he admits, finally, as he considers the possibility of less breezy pants.

He quiets, then, and listens to Seyardu talk- her hand in his still being absently played with as he traces the shape of her palm with his thumb. "Mmm, perhapss the owner of those heated pools. This one has heard they use magic to heat the water." he suggests then.

"Well, if they can be repaired, that would be fine. But this one would like to make sure the winters are not too harsh on you." Seyardu hums, looking up to Sjach as she rests her head in his lap. "Perhaps I should speak to her, then. if that would be able to solve the problem, it would be a great boon to Mictlan, for people to have access to necessary medicinal and culinary plants here. Hopefully a comfort."

"And, what about you? Aside from recent work, what have you been up to?"

Sjach leans back as Seyardu lays her head in his lap, and his arms come to wrap around and rest ontop of her, holding her against him. He pauses to consider what he's been doing, "There iss little to hunt in this weather, and besides, the animals need to reserve their strength for the breeding season. There has been maintenance work, cutting firewood... but much of thiss one's time has been spent with Little Flame." he tells her then.

"She has learned many things. Not only to hunt, as that is her nature, but to fight." he adds then. "She is growing strong. She will soon be big enough to bear a mount, though she still bucks at so much as a stirrup. Thiss one will not use a bit and bridle as they do to the horses in this land. A hunter must have teeth." he says then. "But she learns well. Sshe is no longer my charge, sshe is my partner." he says with some pride.

"That makes sense. It's just as important to make sure that hunting is sustainable, part of being a good hunter, yes?" Seyardu nods, nuzzling against Sjach with the movement. The cleric closed her eyes, but had a scent of contentment, and a relaxed smile showing.

"You've been hard at work in other ways, it seems. Still much to be done for a hunter, even in the winter months." She muses. "You have both done well, your training, and her hard work. Perhaps in time she will be willing to bear us both on your travels, at least for a short while."

Sjach smiles again, "I'm certain she won't mind." he tells Seyardu then, "If she can bear me, she won't even notice you I'm sure. But it'll be a little while longer yet. Perhaps six moons or so, before she reaches her full size." he says then, as he considers. "And perhaps six more after that before she'll allow anyone to ride her. I am beginning to suspect that I have been too soft on her until now. She's... willfull." he muses. But, he doesn't sound like he minds that.

"Right, I suppose I wouldn't weigh that much extra." Seyardu chuckles. "I don't believe that it was a bad choice, we have many years after all, and time to work. It's best that Little Flame is able to grow up like the swiftclaws from am'shere, yes? There will be time for training later."

"She's been a handful ever since I met you, Sjach, and I don't think that will change. But I think if anyone is up to the task, it would be you."

Sjach nods his head then, "Well, perhapss not just like them. We were lonerss for a long time, after all." he admits to Seyardu then, "But, thiss one thinks she will do well with or without this one's help." he adds then. He reaches one hand out, to toss some fresh water on the steaming rocks, and then brings it back to wrap around Seyardu. "Ahhh, thiss one could forget about the snow in here." he says contentedly.

"There are differences, but there are always differences. I suppose what I was saying, was that it is good for them to have experiences like the swiftclaw they are, and not be forced into training." Seyardu muses, running one hand along the hunter's chest with a contented chuff. "This one thinks they are better for your presence, much like this one is."

"This one can think of no better way to enjoy a day such as this." The small makari rumbles, dangerously close to drifting off to sleep. "Though perhaps if not mictlan, we might have something similar to this back at camp? Then this one could enjoy this any time, with you."

Sjach, too, seems to be about ready to drift off- perhaps dangerous, with the fire so nearby, but the wood is already embers, partially smothered as it is by the rocks outside. So he isn't too concerned- besides, there is water nearby if they need it. Little Flame has decided she's had enough of rummaging through the snow in search of tasty critters. As she's gotten bigger, she's not so good at catching the little critters in their burrows anymore anyway. She scratches at the door, and then manages to push it open with her snout, before coming in to lay on the ground near the hot rocks. She huffs, blowing the snow off her muzzle again, before curling up.