Chapter Three.

The dream came.

I had a recurring dream, one that had started a few months ago, back when the days were shorter and the nights colder. I hardly had it unless something heart-wrenching was about to happen (as it proved those months ago, but that is another story). And it was always the same, always in color, and always tragically beautiful.

I was standing in the center of Wyvern's Court, the market. Everyone that I knew - Elisa Beth and Sal, Revel and Emilihai, Kallithea and my raven friend Rorik, well, they were all there, too, along with numerous other avians and even serpientes. People of all different kinds, and for one night, differences didn't matter. Someone would play a sweet tune of a flute, something different than the sensual sound of a serpiente's music. Everyone - except me - were wearing richly embroidered fabrics and clothes, beautiful garments hardly found nowadays, jewels that glowed in the moonlight. I was merely in sheepskin slacks and a light tunic, nothing more, nothing less. A thousand bodies moved around me, yet somehow I remained in a little lone bubble in the center of the Court.

And then, they'd start to dance.

Everyone had a partner. It was a strange sort of dance - the male would put one hand on the waist of the female, and the female would grasp the male partner's shoulder, and the two would link hands and start to dance in steps of rhythms of 1-2-3-1-2-3. I remember watching all the flowing, glowing bodies around me, and started to dance on my own. I had an invisible - or imaginary - partner, and I remember feeling both blissfully happy and bitterly sad, exhilarated and sleep-deprived all at once. At some point I would tilt my head up towards the light of the moon…

…and the dream would end, everything going dark, just like that, like the only candle lighting your way suddenly getting snuffed out. I'd often wake up with my cheeks wet and my pillow damp, my eyelashes clinging to each other wetly. I'd sit up, rub my eyes, and dismiss it as a dream. Even though my parents had decided not to stick to avian tradition and give me an alistair, I would not end up alone in life. The dream meant nothing. It has always meant nothing, and will always mean nothing. It was simply a strange recurring dream, that was all.

I went back to sleep with thoughts twisting and writhing in my head.

-

"AMAAAA!"

I snapped my head over my shoulder, my thick hair swinging messily into my face. I brushed it impatiently out of my eyes and arched a brow at the person who called my name. I had been stretching out, warming up in Wyvern's Nest, getting ready for a day's session of dance. Winifred had recently taken a break, so Revel, Emilihai, and I had been stretching out by ourselves for the past week or so. (She wasn't due to come off break until August.) In fact, I had to leave fairly soon anyway - I was going to visit the market in Hawk's Keep for the first time since I was little, though I used to visit it every summer for the first few years of my life. It was only for the span of a week, but I knew I would miss all my friends very much.

As a note, I had made it into Destiny's Crowd, along with Kallithea and Cailys. But Emilihai and Revel…they hadn't made it. Em actually had no inclination to join it, and Rev was only vaguely interested.

I was shaken from my thoughts by those bright sapphire eyes blinking into view below me, along with a head of golden-streaked short black hair. "Tabitha!" I exclaimed, and put my hands on my hips, arching a brow. "What is it? Did you really have to shout all the way across the room for me?"

"Yes." Tabitha snickered, shaking her head. "Jeez, Ama, do you have to always be so uptight? You're like…I dunno…quiet all the time!"

Shaking my head, I waited for her to get to her point.

"Dai says hello!" she chirped.

"…who?" Do I even want to know?

As if she could read my thoughts, Tabitha rolled her eyes. "Dai's my cousin," she explained.

"Oh…" I blinked, not sure what to make of that. "Er…tell him Amali says hi? Or you can use my nickname in place of that, in case he already knows me." I wracked my brains, trying to remember if I had met a 'Dai' anywhere. The name didn't sound very familiar…

"Even though he's in Destiny's Crowd," Tabitha replied lightly, "he doesn't know anyone yet. He hasn't even meet Nao yet…nor will he," she added to herself, somewhat under her breath, though my excellent bird ears picked it up.

"I…see…" Actually, I didn't see, but oh well. I wondered even more if I had met him before - Destiny's Crowd was a bit exclusive in their members. Perhaps I'd seen him dancing before, but I didn't know it…?

"Here, I'll introduce you." And Tabitha stepped aside.

…well, he was good-looking, I'll give him that.

He was tall and pale, with dark brown, nearly black hair that fell over his jeweled blue eyes, bright like Tabitha's. I could see the resemblance. I had to crane my neck to look up at him - he was perhaps of eighteen or seventeen years, and tall for that, compared to my measly fourteen years - immediately not acknowledging his looks. I'd met many a handsome man with personalities like cows. Not an ideal match for me. I didn't care for looks, I looked for personality.

He opened his mouth to speak, and his voice sounded like Tabitha's, too, except perhaps a masculine version. They were definitely related. "Amali, I take it? Oh, and apologies, this is Dai, as I'm sure my cousin has informed you well enough."

I must say, I was taken aback by his properness and cadence. He had grown up in a place of high society, it seemed. I immediately felt intimidated and reverted behind my reserve, cool and collected. I nodded once in confirmation of his words. "Yes, she has. Nice to meet you."

"As it is to meet you," Dai replied cordially. I allowed myself a little half-smile, and Tabitha slipped away to join a nearby crowd of dancers. It was getting later in the day, and the Wyvern's Nest was filling up with mostly serpiente, though I did catch sight of an avian or two here and there. Were they becoming less afraid…?

"So, how are things fairing for you this eve?" Dai continued, shaking me out of my reverie, but not out of my calm reserve.

"Eh…fine, I suppose." "Eh"? That wasn't even a word! I tried to make my voice light and remain myself, even if I was behind the reserve. "You sound so formal" - which, now that I think on it, was very, very strange for a serpent - "and I admire it."

Dai shrugged off the compliment indifferently, at which I arched a thin brow but did not question. "It's a talent that needs practice, much like an instrument or physical ability. Some have the discipline and others do not, or merely think they don't."

"I don't," I replied automatically, somehow getting flustered from talking with this strangely-speaking serpiente. "Well…I mean…that is to say, sometimes I do, but mostly I don't." Gibberish, bird, you're speaking gibberish. Remember the reserve, speak politely. "Well, speaking of instruments…I do play the flute a little bit, as well as the voice, which I suppose can be considered an instrument, heh."

I was failing at this. I couldn't seem to speak properly to him. But Dai eyed me with interest, folding his arms. "You seem to be quite talented. That's interesting. Be proud of that."

Uh…talented? You haven't even heard me play either of those things yet! But I shrugged it off with a small smile and a simple "thanks." "I also dance a bit, too…" Then I winced. Of course I danced, I was inside a dancer's nest! "I'm…artsy in a musical way, I suppose."

Artsy. What horrible powers had spurned me to say that?

To my utter surprise, Dai smiled a little bit back at me - he had an enchanting smile. "Grand!"

I was completely bewildered and blinked slightly, thrown off. "Heh," was all I managed to muster up.

"Our family," he said, still sounding as cordial as ever, "and on Tabitha's mother's side, in particular, tend to be more advanced in the visual department of that branch." Did he just unknowingly rhyme? "Though the littlest one seems to not see eye to eye on that." He glanced over at Tabitha, who was merely a little ways away, but not paying attention to our conversation, enjoying herself with some of her other friends from the dancer's nest.

I nodded, not quite sure what to say.

"However, I shan't boast," he breezed on, and I wondered if I had ever heard someone utter the word "shan't" before. I daresay I haven't. "It's rude and nothing you would wish to hear about at this time of day."

Well, it was getting late, and I ought to head home soon, so that was a perfectly good chance I should have taken there, yet…I couldn't help staying. My interest was hooked. I was intrigued by this serpiente boy…man, rather. So, instead of stopping the conversation as I was supposed to, I moved it forward. "Ah, I'll hear about anything at this time of day."

Dai frowned. "I suppose you're correct on that subject," he allowed me, and I felt a surge of triumph at my quick thinking. "Well. Our family tends to sell arts to local merchants and buyers. Everyone has sold one, almost."

An artist. I was talking to an artist. Oh, I loved art, adored it so. But most fellows I talked to were dull…Dai was not proving to be so. There weren't enough artists in the world, serpiente, avian, or anything else. "Oh? That's wonderful!"

"We all specify in different categories, my brothers in different forms of painting, father sculpting, mother in pottery. The list goes on." He sighed. "Tabitha is the only one who can't find her inner muse. She sticks to arithmetic as it would seem."

It was no secret that Tabitha excelled in mathematics. Perhaps she'd find her calling in architecture? I doubted it, though. However, I stuck up for her in this case. "Well, that's fine for her. Arithmetic is just as useful as art, in my opinion." I was about to stop there, but suddenly I didn't want him to get the wrong idea about me. I meant what I said, of course, but I didn't want it to sound as though I were better at arithmetic. Art was more suited for me. So I added, "Though, I'd rather take art over arithmetic…"

"Opinions," he said, so brusquely that my face nearly fell, until I let my reserve take over myself. I got the feeling I was talking to someone very opinionated, and strong about what he felt. As if he sensed how I felt, he changed the subject, though why he would spare my feelings was beyond me. "Sadly, my muse seems to be kept prisoner under my new apprenticeship… Working with a tailor is something that restricts it."

"Ah, I see."

"Might you be apprenticed?"

"I am but fourteen…my parents have not let me become apprenticed yet, though I do take care of fellow avian children occasionally for a coin or two."

"Oh, my apologies." He seemed a bit stunned at my age, which caused me to wonder exactly how old he was. But it was slowly becoming clear that he may have a better reserve than even I, which greatly threw me off. A serpiente with a reserve? Unheard of. What would he need to hide from the world? "And watching youngsters… Something I never personally had to do. My older brothers were always there. Sadly, now they've moved."

"Ah," I found myself saying, "I heartily dislike it." I do? I asked in my haze of a brain. But the children are always so sweet to me!

"Just think of the end result," he said, in somewhat of an encouraging manner. "Bring some paints or some form of enjoyment to keep yourself zoned out of the children."

"But if the children are pining for attention, that would be difficult, don't you concur?" I'd never heard myself phrase things in such a professional and…older manner before. Not even behind my reserve. Was I still just that much intimidated that I needed to phrase things differently?

Dai looked at me for a moment, and his gaze was unreadable. After a moment or so of silence, he said, "Perhaps."

"Exactly," I said, according my mind, stupidly, for lack of anything else to say.

He seemed to be struggling internally with something akin to surprise. I watched him, hiding behind my reserve, ready to flutter away if he were to insult me.

"You are quite clever."

…clever?

"I'd drink to that, had I some wine on me."

I was flattered. Immensely so. This intimidating, well-spoken, artistic boy, no, man, not to mention a serpiente, was calling me, the awkward little avian girl, clever? It appeared that reserve was working - it was hiding me very well. "Thank you." I started to babble, still stunned. "Normally people view me as intelligent but not…street-smart, if you know what I mean. It's difficult, being ridiculed by peers."

He actually bowed. "A pleasure. And your peers know nothing, they've yet to be released into life, have yet to truly develop. Don't take their word on things."

"My old nickname for my chicklets was something akin to 'Neanderthals'."

"Chicklets…I take it you live on the avian side of town."

I blinked. For a moment, I had forgotten that he wasn't avian, but a serpiente. I nodded a little bit, shaken slightly. "Next to the flute market, to be precise."

He chuckled a little bit at that. "I know nothing of the avians' market."

"Heh…" I couldn't believe it. I knew something he didn't know? "Well…let's just say it's very close to the very center of the market, where avians and serpientes can mingle."

"Ah, that was much help, thank you."

"You are very welcome, Dai."

"Odd to hear a name stated by someone you've just met, and that someone is an avian," he remarked casually.

"Very true. Would you prefer I call you something else…?" I was on the verge of losing myself in my reserve, as the emotions bubbling behind my mask were not even revealed through my cool brown eyes.

"Oh, I have no problems with it. Though, I'd prefer you'd stick to my alias as 'Dalian' around Destiny's Crowd."

Alias? So Dai was his real name, and Dalian wasn't? I wondered why he felt the need to hide. Well, no matter, it was my turn to speak again. "I'll keep that in mind."

"If you could fill that request for me, I'd greatly appreciate it."

I nodded. "Of course."

There were a few moments of silence as the two of us went over our thoughts. I waited for him to break it, but it was obvious he wasn't going to. I cleared my throat. "Are you wondering whether to call me Ama or Amali right now?"

"I've not known your name," he murmured, and I realized that he meant he thought 'Ama' my real name. Well, that suited me fine. "Though, now I have the pleasure to. I'll address you as whatever your heart desires."

"You may call me Ama outside of Destiny's Crowd," I instructed, not unlike his earlier instructions, "but please address me as Amali when surrounded by them unless I've otherwise specified, all right?"

"Understood."

Silence fell again when I realized I didn't know what to say. I backtracked, thinking of earlier topics we'd conversed about. Painting seemed like a good place to go from… "You know, I think painting is such a lovely hobby. I am a woefully inadequate painter." I let myself grimace, which was all too real - I'd just never had a feel for that sort of art.

"Painting is something you feel," Dai replied simply. He seemed a bit distracted. "I feel like I've already been a 'nature artist' enough just by stating that, so I shall stop there before I ruin my image."

"No, no, it's fine," I assured him, merely because I did not want the conversation to end. "I could say the same thing about dancing…" A topic we both knew, most likely. "It's really just a way to portray your emotions. Dancing is painting with your body, I suppose…so perhaps I am a painter too, just of a different style."

"A different brush, different materials, same result; a magnificent work."

I recalled Emilihai saying much the same thing many times before, but Rev had never actually thought of dancing like that. I did, however. "You're the only person - besides one of my friends - that's agreed with me on that aspect."

"It's true."

"Extremely so."

Once more, quiet surrounded us, like a thick blanket, each trapping us with our own thoughts. I, for one, did not want to investigate what was on my mind, which was spinning out of control. I awaited his voice, but he did not speak - he seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. It was up to me to bring up a conversation again.

So, I simply blurted out what was on my mind. "I'm sorry for not talking, I just don't know what to talk about."

"Bring up anything. The conversation is a blank canvas, paint your masterpiece."

"Well…how long have you been a dancer?"

"…that's a good question." He was silent for a moment, thinking. "A few years now. I'd give it a good five years or so."

Five years… "Oh, that's a good long time. You must be quite experienced, then." I thought quietly in my head before sheepishly admitting, "Yesterday was my two year anniversary of the dance."

Yes, actually, I'd been dancing that long. Just not in the Wyvern's Nest. I would dance on my own, or with Em or Rev, or sometimes with Kal.

"Quite the memory," Dai complimented again.

I fought back a light flush with a simple, "I like to keep track of the good things."

"Short memory is something that runs in our family. As I'm positive my cousin's demonstrated."

"Oh, she has," I confirmed (which was very true). "Countless times." I chuckled slightly. "Just don't tell her I said that."

"Oh, she won't care," he replied, and there was something dark about his tone…dark, or sad. "She talks far worse of herself, and her parents are even more terrible."

I'd heard about that, and had actually been witness to her own self-tauntings. It was no good for her… "I know…I really try and cheer her up, but she's indifferent to my attempts… I just want her to be happy." Softly, I admitted, "She's my friend." And that Tabitha was - a serpiente, but still my friend.

"She's…" Dai searched for a word. "…different."

"You're saying…she's not like everyone else, correct?"

"Correct."

"I'd figured that already."

"Clever, once again."

"Not particularly," I said honestly. "Just a tad observant."

"A keen eye, don't misuse that."

"I do my best…it occasionally gets myself into spots of trouble, though. Mostly I keep my observations to myself, but…sometimes I let others know." I felt myself getting slightly awkward (as if I wasn't enough already).

"Information is a valuable tool."

"Yes, it is, isn't it?"

"Without it, I fear where we would stand today."

"I still fear where we stand today…" I said quietly, and it was true. There was much hate still thriving amongst the avian and serpiente, despite how much we've worked for peace.

"Spare your words if you wish to preach me, I understand how the world works."

I was a little stunned - the words were a bit harsh. Dai had strange mood swings. "Oh, I won't preach," I murmured, which was true - preaching was not my intention. "I've got plenty on my mind to think about anyways, too many words for preaching," I said honestly.

"Nothing wrong with having knowledge on your mind."

"I suppose."

Ah, the silence again. Awkward as ever, it made my thoughts clearer in my own head. However, I was going to be stubborn - this time, I wasn't going to break the silence. I'd let him. That way, if he didn't want to continue talking to me, he'd have a choice not to.

Eventually, however, when I had thought he wouldn't, he spoke up. "Hmm…fourteen," he mused aloud. "Does that mean you have an alistair?"

"No…I will be allowed to choose." I drew myself up at that proudly.

He arched an eyebrow. "Congratulations," he offered.

"Oh, that's nothing special…"

"I wouldn't have a clue."

"Ah." I wondered what he meant by that. Most likely that he'd never grown up with the tradition of naming an alistair in the first place. I was about to fall silent again, but I suddenly gave a wide yawn, and fluttered my hand over my mouth to cover it up, my eyes widening. I suddenly realized how late it was…my mother might worry. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I ought to head home now."

"Very well," Dai said politely.

"It was a pleasure talking to you," I said quietly, giving a small smile. And, as interesting and confusing as it had been, the words were true - it had been a pleasure.

"As was to you, princess."

"…Princess?"

He laughed slightly, shaking his head. "Oh, sorry. Old habits with Tabitha. I'll try to recall not to call you that."

I frowned a little bit. It had actually sounded a little sweet to my ears. "It just caught me off guard…if you really wish to, feel free, I suppose…" Off guard…what an understatement. "Well…have a good night!" I fiddled my fingers in a little wave, heading towards the door where Em, Rev, Kal, and Cailys were waiting.

I heard him chuckle behind me as I fled to the exit.