RP:Voted Most Likely To Be Prey

Frostmaw Tavern

Orikahn lays curled by the fireside. The massive man-cat is dressed in naught but a loincloth; his armor is hanging on an armor stand against the wall. In the light of the fire, his black and coffee striped coat shimmers and scintillates, shapes and shadows crawling over him as the flames and embers dance. His eyes are only open to the narrowest slits, and his big, bushy tail twitches to and fro.

Alvina comes into the tavern, cloaked in heavy furs and dusted with snow. Her frame shivers, throwing off a small cloud of moisture on the surrounding Tavern floor (nowhere near the fire thankfully). Once her cloak and boots are discarded, the bard finds herself drawn to the flickering flames, only to find Orikahn there. She pauses, a little uncertain, before finding a nearby chair and taking it as her own. “G-good morning,” she says, not really wanting to disturb his sleep.

Orikahn peeks one eye open a little farther, revealing the bright jade green of his irises and the narrow vertical slit of his pupils. "You," the cat lazily growls, not bothering to move from his comfortably curled and oh-so-warm position by the fire. "I know you. That voice," the hunter's own voice rumnles, "that's it. You're the one I tried to kill in the mines." A low growl sounds from deep within him. "I should have known better than to think I could leave you conveniently discarded in the past." His tail waves and thumps the mantle in agitation.

Alvina fiddles with the hem of her dress, letting her pale fingers interlock between the fabric. This is where her gaze settles as he addresses her; more like a shadow from the fire than a person sitting next to him. “I’m not just a memory, you know.” She huffed, sounding brave but feeling frail. “I’m sorry you didn’t get a chance to kill me.” Honestly, he didn’t look threatening now. He looked adorable; just a giant kitten basking in the warmth of the flames. The bard would –never- dare to tell him that he looked harmless without his armor or bow. She knew he was far from that, the phantom pain of his arrow in her shoulder reminded her quickly.

Orikahn hums to himself. "No use crying over spilled milk," or unspilt blood, he silently muses, "besides, we aren't in Xalious anymore. I'm sure we can find a way to get along." The giant feline's shoulders rise and fall with a deep breath, and he stretches before resettling, twisting halfway around to lay on his side instead of his front. "So you knew Cerinii." Orikahn makes a tactical change of subject. Both is eyes are open now and glinting at Alvina out from the shadows.

Alvina nods, watching him move. He reminded her of Aria. Maybe that was why she was so keen on gaining his approval. “Cerinii was my teacher in all things engineering. She also saved my life, once or twice. As she was wont to do. Became like a mother to me. Proud of my accomplishments but always pushing me to be stronger, better.” She blinked, the glinting of his eyes in the fire light reminding her of his observant nature. It must be a feline thing. “How…uh, how did you know her? Good friends? Did she make something for you?” Her own emerald gaze settled on his, with a little less fear and a little more interest.

Orikahn speaks out from his cozy spot on the mantle. "Cerinii was an old friend. I can't say I had many here on the mainland." The feline gives a haughty snort. "I digress. She was a friend to me, and she managed to lure me into Armantium. I spent a lot of time there." It's the first time Orikahn's ever discussed his days with the avian, and he grits his teeth, surprised by how difficult it's become to go on. Never one to back down, the feline manages to keep the story going. "She'd managed to find my soft side, and I was beginning to learn what it meant to live in peace and contentment. I had to leave before I lost whatever it is that makes me feral. My savagery was at stake." His tail makes a long, wide sweep. "I left her, left the city, and never saw Cerinii again. Nor shall I ever again, I suppose. Hmm." The cat doesn't sound too broken up over it. His eyes fall sleepily shut again.

Alvina listens. It wasn’t hard to imagine. Cerinii had a way of breaking through to the core of most creatures. Even a naga had once called her sister! “I saw Armantium once…” she admitted, rubbing her arms to fight off the chill of the snow she’d come in from. “Everything about it was inviting, and Cerinii fit right in.” It had been a long time since she’d spoken about her teacher. Living in her old lab outside of Kelay had been hard, some drawers still remained unopened, dust settled firmly on the handles. Alvina cleared her throat, watching the lids on the feline flutter closed. Cerinii tried to tame him? And it had almost worked? Maybe it was her secret wish to still remain connected to the avian or to someone who might understand the hole she left in her passing that brought Alvina to shift into the floor and make her way beside Orikahn, leaning against the side of the hearth. If he was Aria, she would have already scooped him up in her arms. Aria was a lot more tolerant probably. “If you knew she had passed, why did you bother letting me go?” She asked, thinking that Cerinii had meant a lot more to him than just being a dear friend. But all kinds of love, including friendships, were complicated.

Slytheria enters gracefully, unfazed by the biting cold. She scans the room and it's inhabitants as shadows play across her face, inexplicably obscuring those who might wish to gaze upon her form. She glides to the darkest corner as if drawn to it and settles into a chair without removing her cloak. She sits and watches, and while she seems at ease she also seems coiled, ready to strike out. Very little escapes her constant assessment of her surroundings, a by product of her upbringing.

Orikahn furrows his brow, looking momentarily troubled, not when she seats herself but rather when Alvina mentions Cerinii's passing. "The she *is* gone," the hunter mutters to himself. He clears his throat. "I had suspected. Your words confirm it." With a heavy sigh, Orikahn lets the news settle in. "It didn't matter either way. She'd rescued you the moment you mentioned her name. But don't press your luck," the mighty hunter teases, peeking one eye open to give Alvina a very dry look, and his tail swings around to bat at her arm and shoulder, smacking her with ticklish fluff. "I'll still eat you someday, if you tempt me too sorely. How long, then, has she been gone?"

Alvina frowns. “A year or more now…she sent me a letter right before… she knew, of course. She was too bright not to. It had to do with the metal in her body, something she was developing. A reactionary armor that shielded it’s wearer in times of crisis. I think the metal decided it would make more sense to just cast her completely. There was nothing anyone could do…” The bard catches Slytheria’s entrance while Orikahn’s tail tickles her. “Hey,” she complains with a laugh, trying not to sour the mood too deeply with her own sadness. The newcomer is given a careful smile before she delves into the darkness of her chosen corner seat. “You can’t eat me. I’m really gamey. Hardly worth the effort.” She dodges away from his tail, thinking he feels just a normal cat! Maybe even softer! “She’ll be saving my life until the day I die, I wager.” She smiled, reaching out a hand to gingerly pat Orikahn’s head in the most non-offensive way possible. Alvina couldn’t help but feel like they should be friends. Don’t friends pet friends? “Are you ever in Kelay? You could stop by, I could make food that isn’t me, as a bribe or as thanks.”

Slytheria listens to the chatter with inward disdain. These creatures... so soft, so willing to be led to slaughter. Her eyes still dart about the room, her hands never stray far from a blade.

Orikahn wrinkles his nose as she pats his head, sending a sour look up at her hand. "Maybe I'll just eat your fingers;" the cat grins wickedly, growling through his teeth, "you don't need those, do you?" His tail gives one more swish before curling up beside himself. His eyes slide over to Slythera, then, studying the new arrival over and trying to get some idea of what she might be like; he was beginning to feel a sense of territory in this tavern. The massive sabertooth watches the draconian for only a few seconds, then he stretches and yawns again, his fangs gleaming in the firelight as he lays beside the hearth. "You make food, hmm? Do you catch it yourself?"

Alvina removes her hand, thinking it had been a daring move to try and pet him as she shifts back to a comfortable distance against the hearth. Slytheria’s eyes catch in the fire’s flickering light and draw Alvina’s attention. “Those might be the only thing I need.” She laughs, flexing her metallic digits with a grin. “If you can digest metal fingers, I’ll make you as many as you want. As for the food…I buy it after someone catches it. Does that count? I’m a terrible hunter…” Her brow flattens. What a wonderful thing to admit to him of all creatures. Could she seem more useless in the food chain? “I could try! You might have to show me a thing or two, from the hunting side. You’ve already shown me the whole ‘being attacked’ portion.” She grins, like a clever child.

Aira shouldered her way into the tavern, hands occupied with a blackwood bow in one and and a bloodied sack in the other. She shook her head as the warmth of the room enveloped her, causing her hood to fall away. The runaway did not bother casting her copper gaze at the other patrons for she walked with a purpose towards the bar, booted footfalls echoing with each step she took. She silently regarded Drargon before dumping her sack on the bartop and waited. A rag and basin of water was handed back to her in a silent exchange, one that had clearly happened before. Aira took up her newly acquired items, settling them on a vacant table. She rested her bow carefully on a chair before shrugging off her quiver full of arrows with were equally as gory as the bag had been. The high elf unclasped her cloak and draped it over the back of her chair before sliding into the seat. She drew the rag and basin towards her before carefully selecting one of her arrows where she then proceeded to clean it off.

Orikahn clicks his tongue in disapproval. "Feed me metal fingers, she says." After giving his head and imperceptible shake, the sabertooth shifts again to lay back on his front, folding his arms beneath his chin to make a makeshift pillow and keep his fangs from setting awkwardly on the stones. "I show you the napping portion," his tail gives another long, slow flick. "Observe my flawless technique." Funny that, just as Kahn says this, Aira walks in, making the cat raise his neck up a bit to see what the noise and the door were all about. He hums in recognition before settling himself back down. "She might be able to show you a thing or two." The fluffy tail jabs indicatively in the air toward Aira.

Alex enters the tavern with dried blood spilled across his upper lip and his chin from a broken nose and busted lip. The pale human eagerly posts a note on the tavern's board before retiring to the table nearest his room trying to avoid the gaze of any patrons while he tries to clean himself but can't stop wincing from the pain of his broken nose like a big ol' baby.

Alvina laughs at Orikahn’s wit before looking at the female he points to. “Maybe you’re right.” She smiles, leaning back, feeling the warmth of the flames against her back. “I’ll ask her,” she starts to stand, regarding the giant feline like a housecat instead of the feral beast he was, when Alex enters. The tavern was getting busy all of a sudden. Oh Gods, and the male had injuries. Maybe just a quick swig by Aira’s bar perch before asking if he needs any assistance with his wounds. “H-hello, I am…” The bard’s stomach turns slightly at the sight of all the blood on the arrows that she’d cleaning. “I’m Alvina and I was directed your way by the ‘hunter’ curled up in front of the fire place.” The comment alone makes her grin shamelessly.

Aira had her attention pulled from her cleaning as a man entered looking battered and bloodied. It was just a casual glance, not one that she lingered on before she moved back to her cleaning. The elf reached for a second arrow when a woman appeared before her, introducing herself and indicating a hunter over by the hearth. Aira leaned to the side to peer past Alvina, confirming her suspicions of who might be snoozing in the warmth. Metallic eyes flicker up to the woman's face expectantly, clearly waiting for an explanation as to -why- she was there. She lowered her arrow and rag then, crossing her arms over her chest as she tipped back in her chair waiting.

Alvina cleared her throat, feeling too much attention on her now that she’d gone and introduced herself. Normally this was the part where the other person was suppose to say their name right? Right? She wondered in her internal dialogue before filling the silence with an explanation. “He, uh…he said you could show me something about hunting or catching food. You know…with bows or arrows or…that very strong gaze you have….” What did she just say?! “I mean! That it’s so…captivating. Like, being struck by an arrow. I’m basically paralyzed now.” Cue the internal scolding for lacking basic conversation etiquette. “I’d hate to see what you shot, by the look of those arrows,” she adds with a chuckle, as if she hasn’t already done enough embarrassing damage to this woman’s perception of the bard.

Aira lifted a brow as Alvina stumbled over her words, throwing a slightly narrowed glare over to Kahn for volunteering her to show this bard something about hunting. Slowly those copper eyes land on the female again and listen to her prattle on, a half smirk pulling at the corner of her lips as Alvina mentioned her eyes, which continued to look upon the pretty face with slight amusement. As she spoke of Aira's arrows she plucked the gloriest one from her quiver and extended it towards the woman, the head pointed towards Alvina's chest. "Just hunting some little bards who got in my way," she offered in a low tone, her words slightly rough from her lack of knowledge on the common tongue. The runaway let the woman sit on that for a moment before kicking out the chair next to her under the table. Perhaps it would startle her, but it was also an invitation to sit before pulling the arrow back and resuming her cleaning. "Rabbits, mostly."

Alvina looks back at Orikahn when Aira points the arrow at her, even though she’d holding an unsteady smile, her optics are screaming helpmepleasedontlethermurderme. Why did everyone have to keep pointed arrows at her?! At least this woman hasn’t actually shot her yet. Where Kahn was concerned, being shot and almost killed was pretty much par for the course. The arrival of Agoyoanye sparks a smile in Alvina. She remembers speaking very briefly to the vampriss when she was disguised as a male bard in Kelay many years ago. She’d enjoyed his love song without a happy ending. It seemed she was there for the injury male, so he was no longer in need of Alvina’s bardic healing magics. So it was just her and Aira then. Slytheria had almost been forgotten; so was so still and silent in the back…it was easy to put the probably threat out of mind when someone was pointing a weapon at her. Err, half a weapon. “ You must be very well trained, do you practice a lot?” Alvina asked high elf with a warm smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever even tried to shoot a bow proper.”

Aira couldn't help but grin as Alvina continued to smile albeit uncomfortably, her eyes speaking otherwise. Her eyes reminded the elf of prey right before she shot them through the orb and the keeled over dead...she quickly shook her head then, causing her platinum hair to fall over her shoulder, at least the part that wasn't sheared away. "I really just start about a month ago. I not allowed a bow where I come from. I start working for Kahn then." Another cursory glance is thrown at the slumbering cat before she shrugged. "I shoot critters as payment to Drargon for room here. Then I take down bigger beasties when I go out west." Those metallic pools seem to shine brightly at the mention of a hunt.

Orikahn stretches low, reaching far in front of himself and scratching at the stones. He yawns widely again, shaking his head briskly as he returns to the world of the waking. The hunter blinks blearily, then straightens and spreads his arms wide, hands balled into fists as he gives another stretch, then stands, bouncing on his pawlike feet and shaking off his sleep. The massive sabertooth cat is over seven feet tall, must weigh at least 300lbs (all of it muscle), and is covered head to toe in black and coffee striped fur. With a deep breath through his nose, he drinks in the heady tavern air.

Alvina would have been voted –most likely to be prey- in high school if such a category or such a schooling class existed at the time. She’d never hunted anything in her life. Everything she’d eaten was ordered, bought and prepared or…grown. Better not mention vegetables to carnivores. “Um, well, we should get together sometime and I can help you hunt rabbits while learning how to actually hunt them at the same time, you know? A trade of sorts!” She was speaking a little too quickly, on the edge of nervous laughter. “I would love to sit but I actually have…some things…I have to do. But I promise I’ll be back! Consider it okay?” It was normal at this point for the bard to throw her arms around whoever she was talking to in parting but, maybe hugging a high elf training with Orikahn who was cleaning bloody arrows might not be the best thing to do. Not on the first encounter anyway. “Here’s my information, if you need to reach me. I’m nearby for a while.” Another smile before she turns on her heels to head out. “Thanks for the hint,” she winks at Kahn before throwing on her cloak and boots, and out through the doors.

Aira visibly scooted her chair back slightly as the woman's quick speech, almond shaped eyes widening as far as they would allow the yawn. She shot Kahn a "why did you do this me?" Glare. The runaway let the bard chatter on, not accepting the offer, but not exactly denying it either, at least not yet. Aira remained stoic and silent, watching Alvina leave her information on the the table and turn on her heel to leave. The elf's metallic gaze found Orikahn once again, finally waking from his snooze. She dropped her arrow down on the table as she began to drum slender fingers against the surface, pursing her lips into a thin line.

Orikahn rolls his neck and shoulders. He spots Aira's glare. Unable to help himself, a grin breaks his thin, black lips and he makes an attempt to hide it, disguising the expression with a forced cough. The hunter noisily clears his throat and begins making his way back toward the bar. With a little hop, he slips up onto the barstool and makes himself comfortable. "Anytime," he answers Alvina as his eyes rove over the selection of liquor. The cat is bad at hiding his emotions, and his amusement is quite apparent.