Vander whirled, pushing off the ground and reaching, feeling Searsha finally pull from his body, the big red serpent letting him grab one of its spines and surging forward and Meala braced letting him lean to the side and use her to spin in the air before he let both serpents retract...except Searsha didn't the big male just abruptly stopping and yawning, long purple fangs glinting as Vander tripped over him and had to twist hard and fast to bring his feet back under him, hitting the ground on the balls of his feet, thighs taking most of the concussion as he slammed a hand down to help arrest his skid.

He narrowed his eyes looking up at Searsha, he'd named his serpents, figuring his parents had named theirs. The big male was Searsha, which meant Freedom in Caelish, and then his girl was Meala "Honey" because she was sweet and of the two, that one that sent affection his way the most.

Searsha just hovered then turned and flew off through the trees while Meala curled around Vanders waist, sliding up his back and resting her head on his shoulder.

"Your man is a pain in my ass Meala." Vander sighed, rubbing the serpent behind her horns, she loved that.

He'd moved his things down into the village, had in fact cleaned his childhood home, had even washed things, surprised the old washer still worked. He was more comfortable in the house, could cook, shower, and it did rain occasionally, which resulted in soggy everything because the sort of almost cave he'd been staying in didn't shelter him if the wind blew a certain way...which it always seemed to do.

So he was staying in the village, and had been pleasantly surprised when more of the serpents came down from the peaks upon noticing activity there. He only had less than a week left here, had his magic stabilized, and, he could sing again, had been singing to Meala just the night before, the elegant black serpent cooing back at him with her own soft songs.

"Earned it" wasn't exactly a soul song, but she'd seemed to like it.

Now he slid a foot back, humming to her, loving the feedback he got, the waves of affection, excitement and eagerness when he started to move and sing. He'd learned both powered up when he did this. He'd always loved dancing anyway, and Meala slid around him as he moved, pushing magic into his lacrima player that he kept on the fountain while he trained, arching his back, reaching to flip backwards onto his hands. Immediately sliding into the relaxed state he was mastering now that he had Meala and Searsha as the black serpent slithered all around his body while he sang and twisted, dancing and flipping into handstands, splitting his legs and letting the burn build before arching again so a foot came down enough he could twist and push back to his feet and spun, smiling as Mealas body helped his spin.

Searsha actually came back to watch, usually didn't come in and Vander noted the serpent seemed to be peering into some trees alot but there was no alarm, just mild curiosity, and Meala was way into their dancing and so was he, it settled him, stretched out his body really well and he was so happy his voice was back as good as ever he could have sang every damn thing, fuck talking for a while.

Crouching in some trees, Vander was...in fact, being watched. Peridot colored eyes following the man and serpent, riveted. He was graceful, incredibly so, and the serpent...gorgeous...she had grown up in swamps, her first pet had been a large Encan Python, so the serpent was...gorgeous to her, the way it...danced….with the man, it had her entranced.

She knew this was a protected island, but she'd seen the flying serpents and had been unable to resist coming for a closer look. Now here she sat crouched in some undergrowth, watching something beautiful, he could sing...his voice was actually amazing, the best she'd heard, and the way the serpent slithered around his tall body...how agile he was...it was impressive.

All muscle, head to foot, and she hadn't missed where this had started, she'd seen the serpents emerged from the vivid tattoos on his body, watched the color bleed from those tattoos when it happened and was wondering what she had found...a God? He didn't smell like more than a man. No demonic scent or aura, and she was letting her senses reach, but was finding only the smell of smoke and cherries around him, maybe bittersweet chocolate, the really dark stuff that made her nose wrinkle.

"Salsa Meala?" The man grinned as the song ended and the serpent bumped her muzzle to his chin and he started again...smiling Cida slid to sit back on her heels and just watch, "d'esposito…." he started in a language she didn't know but it sounded amazing and the serpent loved it...a larger one...the big red one finally came down, his big body swirling with the smaller females, both moving fluidly around the man as he sang and danced.

Her eyes widened as she watched the jerkin hugging his torso float from him in smoky wisps, his long black hair flying around him, red streaks in it catching the sun when it peeked through the gathering clouds...definitely handsome, young, her age or younger...but he was as tall as her King and built slimmer, Gods he was agile, seemed able to make that tall body bend any way he wanted, and she noted other things...his breathing stayed steady, wasn't getting labored...stamina...fitness...he was sweating, but not much, just enough his skin shined...a body conditioned for hard use...when he went up on one hand and held his whole body aloft, bringing it down till the serpent on the ground was wriggling as he nuzzled her before with the one hand he pushed himself all the way back up until the arm was straight...no shake or shudder to the muscles, no sign of strain...seasoned conditioning…

Balance...breath control, this was a formidable warrior, and his serpents...clearly a mage…but no type she had ever heard of or even imagined was like what she was seeing she'd just never even heard of something like this, it stunned her and when he flipped over and came down on his boots, both serpents were back within the tattoos, which were again vivid in his smooth skin. She watched him sit on the edge of the fountain, splashing water over his hair, face and chest to cool off.

She was about to retreat, when he looked...right..at..her.

"Nobody is allowed on this island sugar." He said, she narrowed her eyes, nope, no doubt, he was looking at her for sure. Shrugging she stood.

"Jus stopped ta see the lovelies eh? You've got some pretty gorgeous ink there."

"Nice change of subject, not that I mind such pretty company, but I'm not kidding, this island is off limits, as in I call the Citadel your ass sits in a cell for a year for stepping foot on it." Vander said seriously. He hadn't been ever before, had always almost wished Husen Island would disappear, get swallowed by the Grass Sea and take all of his memories of it with it. The last weeks though, once the serpents were with him, he'd settled a lot, and now...he was protective of this place...his blood was here, deep parts of him were here, and he wanted it protected. He understood now why Clans so viciously defended their islands and sacred animals, if each clan had a tie to their animal like his did to the Havati? He was surprised there hadn't been more wars, more fighting than there was.

It was an almost irrational sense of protectiveness, and maybe it was because he was the last of his line, the last Husen, and the island and her Havati had saturated his being during his time here, but he wasn't as anxious to leave as he had been, and he even planned to start petitioning for regular trips here in the future. He wanted to clean up the village, get Beck here to work with the serpents, see just how much he could do, being the last of the Husen and the only person left with any claim on this island...to at least...honor those who had come before him...like his parents.

Just two days ago some poachers made the tragic mistake (for them) of coming onto the island, Vander had gotten some nice training in, killing them, and hadn't felt bad at all watching the fish eat the bodies when he had his serpents fling them out onto the Grass Sea.

It had made it clear Meala and Searsha were as Corvus had said...his, they hadn't hesitated to shoot out and attack when he'd called and while he could have killed the seven men fine on his own, it had been a hell of a fast take down with Meala and Searsha involved.

"Yet yer here.." She tried.

Vander smirked, holding a hand out, Meala sliding out to slither down his arm and nuzzle his wrist.

"I'm supposed to be here, all legal like, this is Husen Island and Husen blood flows in my veins...you? No." He said, narrowing his eyes slightly. Something about her...she wasn't just a mage...she had decent magic, good power, but there was more, he sensed it...or well...Meala did…

She held herself different...he couldn't put a finger on it.

"Your girl there is beautiful." She said.

Vander lifted a brow, impressed she knew Meala was female, also a little mystified why he wasn't hitting on her...she was pretty, with peridot colored eyes with tiny flakes of yellow in them. Not busty but slender and curvy, nice legs...she was in little black shorts and a tight black tank top and combat boots, black hair in a ponytail down her back...maybe 5'3"? He smiled faintly, three strides he could be on her, one sword through her left eye before she could blink twice…

Meala hummed in his hand...it was the serpents keeping him from doing anything he realized...she didn't bother them...and they didn't want him to scare her or hurt her. Why he had no idea...but there it was.

He was milder than usual, and it was them doing it, he shrugged inwardly, not concerned by that, if she made a wrong move...he'd kill her. After he tried to get her in bed because it had been a week since Corvus' last visit and he was antsy.

He almost sighed at the chastising feeling and Mealas red eyes snapped to him. Ok...not killing her, not fucking her, damned if he knew what to do with her then.

Humor

He suppressed a snort.

"You two better not mess with me at the clubs when I get back...because I swear to the Gods when we get back home I am fucking my way across the club district until I can't move." He said quietly to the serpent.

Humor from Meala, distaste from Searsha.

"Sounds like a hell of a party." The woman said.

Vander smiled, shrugging, he didn't need to be an ass, if the serpents were ok with her, he was too.

"I mean it to be, been on this island almost a month now." He said, getting to his feet and plucking his music player off of the serpent part of the statue before looking over his shoulder at the woman.

"I'm Vander, my girl here is Meala, the red dick is Searsha." He said waving his hand at the large red male that gave him a bored look before slithering back into his tattoo. Vander was almost used to that sensation now...almost.

"I'm Cida. Nice to meet ya." She replied and he eyed her again, trying to place the accent.

"Well Cida, I've got food, drinks, and shelter, sky says it's gonna rain again soon, you're welcome to lunch and my pleasant company." He grinned.

Cida looked up at the sky, sniffing the breeze and smiling faintly...he was right.

"I got a grassrunner…" She said and Vander pointed to the pens, there was a half barn there that would provide good shelter for the runner.

"I'll fill a trough, I have some fish I caught, but not much…"

"No problem, I caught her somethin...I'll go get er...try an beat the rain Oui?" She chuckled and jogged off, Vander watched her for a moment then drew a breath and went to get a pen ready for the womans grassrunner. Encan, he knew the accent, she was Encan, but why did her magic feel so...different? He couldn't place that and he was usually good at it because of all his time spent with Presca, who could ID a magic type faster than a person could blink because of his magic.

He eyed Meala as she lounged on a post watching him fill the trough.

"She tries to knife me or rape me...just stop the knife ok?" He smirked.

Humor…..and Disgust

"Piss off Searsha, I'm blue ballin over here!" he chuckled. For him, the time on the island was a long stretch, even with Corvus visiting twice now, and delivering both spicy noodles and, blessedly great sex both times. He was in the mood for a woman. Odd for him, he usually had no preference at all, but somehow, he was wanting to be in a womans arms, feel soft curves under his hands, run his tongue over soft breasts and a sweet set of lips between thighs….

Humor, smugness...followed by cold wet dousing down his leg as the trough overflowed on him and Vander cursed, reaching and shutting off the water.

He glared at Meala "You COULD have let me know."

Much more humor...from both of them….

Vander laughed, shaking his head and glancing up as drops started to hit his bare shoulders and back.

"Here it comes, hope she hurries." He sighed, moving to open the gate to the overgrown pen.

Cida came jogging back into the village then, a good sized bay Grassrunner trotting along behind her, no bridle...which was odd, Runners were intelligent and easy to train, but rented ones like this, and he saw White Seas brand on it's shoulder so it was absolutely rented, usually wouldn't follow anyone like that, only people who had trained them, worked extensively with them...but then...he had no idea how long the woman had kept this runner out. He knew he was probably an easy weeks ride from the nearest runner stable right now.

He helped her unsaddle the runner and as the skies opened up a deluge Meala darted back into her tattoo and Vander grunted, rolling his eyes as he ran for the house with Cidas packs while she carried the saddle.

Once in the house he sighed, nodding to the side. "You can leave the saddle there. There's a spare bedroom…" He said, carrying her packs across the living area to the hall that gave access to the two bedrooms and single bathroom.

He'd been somewhat busy, going through the houses still standing, many were for the most part untouched, the attack hadn't gotten too far into the settlement before it had been ended by the shades. He'd found some...horrific piles of dust he knew had once been people...two that were still...shaped like people that had crumbled when he'd entered the house disturbing the air for the first time in years. Those moments had left him shaking every time too...knowing who had lived in those homes...who the shades he'd let through had killed.

Hoping to bring his family here, and Beck for the serpents, he'd gone ahead and helped himself to a nice queen sized bed from one of the houses, washed the linens and set it up in the spare bedroom, putting his little toddler bed into the house across the square close to his, having decided to use that one to store things.

He'd called his father, talked a long time with him more than once now about it all, and Arman would be coming to get him when this was over, having now gotten permission to go onto the island so Vander could...show him.

Kaleb was due to be there as well, with Lucy, Bickslow, Hestor and Zen in tow. His older brother would let his family…"see" his memories, the real ones...not the ones twisted by demons.

So, he was setting the house up so everyone would be comfortable, he'd commandeered the one next to his...where his mothers sister had lived with his uncle and three cousins. That was now set up comfortably too, and was bigger than this one, but he couldn't bring himself to sleep anywhere but in this smaller house. For the first time in his life, admitting sentimentality and accepting it….he blamed Meala…

Cida set the saddle down and followed the man. She usually was not fast to trust, but the serpents...the way he interacted with them...she herself had tried to coax one to come close to her, finding them absolutely beautiful beyond words, and usually she had good luck with those sorts of things but not this time, this time they did look at her, a few even stopped their lazy cruising around the island to peer at her curiously, but none would come close.

So, she was inclined to trust Vander, his easy smile, smooth silky voice and humor filled eyes all helped her usually slow acceptance of anyone move forward with him. That...and she was very much hoping he'd let her touch one of them. Had no idea how to ask either.

"Hey, can I pet your snake?" Yeah...no...definitely sounded all kinds of wrong and, given what he'd said earlier? She would bet he'd take it wrong on purpose. Still...she really wanted to see what those soft looking scales felt like, the leathery wings and beautiful faces. She'd heard of Havati, their venom was famous, the deadliest on Earthland, but beyond that? Pictures in a book did not do the graceful elegant beasts any justice.

He set her packs down by a nice sized comfortable looking bed. "You're welcome to stay, wasn't lying about liking some company. I have people coming in a week, my family and a couple of officials...so, we'll need you gone before those guys show up, but, long as you don't fuck with the serpents? I'm good with you staying." He told her.

He had plenty of food, had gone fishing in one of the ponds and had some catfish and even a few sunfish in the freezer along with the cases Mr. Elan had filled with way more than he could ever eat on his own...though he'd put a dent in the deserts because the man had made all his favorites….

"Thank you...don't mind if I do ta be honest...haven't been in a bed in a month." She smiled.

"Your accent…" He asked without asking and she shrugged, hefting a pack onto the foot of the bed and rummaging for a change of clothes, she was soaked to the skin.

"I'm Encan, born on the Cerulean Coast." She replied and he frowned, right about the accent but there was a tattoo on her back that was unmistakable. The Goldern Dragon of Seven on her said otherwise and she smirked noting his look.

"Long story there." She said and he shrugged, stepping away, heading to the bathroom to grab them both towels, they were dripping all over the tile floors.

"We have time, I'm a damn good listener too." He said over his shoulder. Not that he generally sat around and listened to people...unless they were tied up and he was ripping that information out of them through painful methods...but details right? He could listen, and he was interested...again unsure why...he'd again blame Meala...the soft natured serpent seemed to...coax feelings and behavior out of him that he'd always stamped down and kept in check.

He was glad the woman was here, showing him this shit, gave him time to adjust a little before his soul seeing brother, soul hearing father and mind reading brother all showed up...fuck his life...yeah, he really hoped she would stay...he needed to lock this shit down before then or he'd be crying and sharing his feelings and shit and scare the fuck out of his family.

When he came back, holding a towel out, he was pleasantly surprised to find her already stripped down in nothing but a tiny black thong…

Holy hell she was lovely too...pale creamy skin...legs...legs for miles...and a tight ass that was beautifully round.

"Thanks" She said, accepting the towel and patting her wet skin. Her breasts weren't large, but he'd bet they would fill his hands, and perky nipples hardened by the wet and cool air about screamed for his tongue and teeth.

She glanced down...the leather he wore seemed to have...shed the wet somehow, he had a towel around his neck and his tousled red streaked black hair showed he'd used it...his eyes were moving hungrily over her too, and he made no move to hide his arousal.

She turned back to squeeze the towel through her ponytail. She'd been in barracks for years, co-ed no separation, modesty was gone from her and her...other side...certainly lacked it. Let him look, he didn't seem the type to get pushy, she'd already turned him down, and he was giving her space, standing leaning against the doorframe, so...let him look.

"I was stupid, always loved running around, wandering as a child. My Papa always scolded me, Mama too, but I was willful, I love animals, and we were in a strange place...travelling while my parents bought materials for the family business. I ran off, was chasin these crazy purple weasel lookin things…" She sighed.

"Tupa Ermine, Purple weasels would be Tupa Ermine, those are in...fuck...that's Sin, close to the border with Pergrand…" He said frowning as he saw her eyes cloud.

"Yeah...I chased one I saw in town, right out of town and into the forest, saw some pretty lizards and was all about them too, figured I'd catch me a new pet to sneak home Oui? But slaver caught me...Pergrandian slavers...I was a girl…" She sighed.

"So not worth dog shit. They sold you to Seven?" He put together fast and she nodded, modestly impressed he figured it out so quick.

"Yep, Kressa had power, I went right to the labs, they were experimentin a lot back then…" She shrugged, pulling on a green shirt and brown pair of shorts before bending to wipe the water she'd dripped all over from the tile floor.

Vander let his eyes enjoy the pretty ass in the air but was still frowning. She had White Seas seal on her back...that alone put him at ease fully now, she was guild, the golden dragon tattood down the back of her right shoulder and arm...that was all Seven, the Dragon Kingdom always branded their property when Kressa was queen.

He knew that King Nuryev was in Bosco, a special 50 day visit for conferences and treaty talks being hosted at the Citadel, Princess Hisui from Fiore, the three Princes of Minstrel, Lady Hishoko from Stella and Lord Byzanthi from Iceburg were all there for the lengthly talks and negotiations. He'd been excused from guard work for the thing, and Presca had even begged off...sentimental asshole was worried about him…

"I'm sorry...must have been hell. My older brother was in the labs in Pergrand for years...then the Pits as a gladiator...we got him back...your family…" He started.

"I can't see em yet, still workin to get what the labs and wars did to me, sorted...I'm not the safest woman to be around." She admitted, hoping as she said it he wouldn't turn around and ask her to leave. She didn't want to lie though, nor would she hide the truths and realities about herself to anyone…

If the beast in her got control...they all deserved the right to know the risks, anyone around her did.

"Yeah? Well, I have my moments too, I won't hold it against you. Hungry?" He offered and she smiled nodding, she was starved actually. Left the Sea Deer she'd caught that morning for the Grassrunner out in the pen, certain it was hungry, they had been on the move non-stop since leaving Pelerno. Taking time to sleep but mostly, just wandering the Sea and islands she came across that weren't marked as having aggressive hostile clans inhabiting them.

She was taken by the beauty and wonderful sights of the Grass Sea, understood now why it was called the heart and soul of Bosco and why the country protected it like they did. It was a true wonder and treasure of nature and she was happy, for the first time in a very long time, free and out in the wilds.

Still, some cooked food would be a really nice change of pace over raw meat and fish.

"You like spicy food?" Vander asked, going to the fridge while Cida took a seat.

The woman cocked a brow "Cerulean coast sweetheart, bring da fire…" She cooed and Vander laughed, pulling out some of enchiladas, made extra spicy because Vander loved it that way and so did most of his brothers, Emzadi? If it couldn't burn a hole in your tongue she was never impressed.

Once he'd heated everything up he made a large plate for her and himself and grabbed out a couple of beers, bringing it all to where Cida sat at the small kitchen table looking out the window at the rain.

"Oh you beautiful man…" Cida moaned at the spicy delicious smell and grabbed a fork greedily digging in.

Vander smirked, knowing how cooking usually hit people...Cida was no exception, the sounds she made were indecent and he was smirking, looking out the window at the driving rain outside.

Cida followed his gaze, through the rain a house across the square just looked so...empty.

"What happened to tha people here?"

It was an innocent question, one he should have expected really, but it still hit him. He stiffened involuntarily and Meala suddenly slid out, nudging his jaw with her snout before making a soft sound and staring, hard...at the food on his fork poised by his lips.

He rolled his eyes and held it out to her, letting her take it.

Calm...happiness, enjoyment...and his anxiety...that he hadn't even realized had flooded him...eased.

"They all died...well...I didn't...20 years ago." He said he waved his fork. "I was actually born in this house."

Cida had seen his reaction and felt bad, she hadn't meant to stir anything up, but clearly the memories were hard. She hummed.

"Ya don have ta tell me more...Not my business yeah? Sides, we're eatin some heaven here, dont want ta spoil it." She smiled and Vander grinned, grateful she dropped it, because he had a feeling, Meala was making him confront things again...something he couldn't seem to dodge AT ALL anymore with his serpents anchored securely to him.

"Good beer, spicy food and rain keeping us inside, usually I'd suggest sex, but...since you already said no, I've got a tablet with access to White Seas whole entertainment library, we could light the fireplace, share a blanket eat sweets and watch a movie?" He offered.

Cida frowned "Whats a "movie"?" She asked.

Vander almost dropped his fork. "Seriously? Come on, don't pull a blue balled mans leg, you guys have lacrima vision on the Cerulean coast, I've been to some bars there." He said, narrowed eyes on his guest.

Cida shrugged "I was 10 when I was taken luv, and ma and Papa, they made guns and we kids played in the swamps. I did see those big screens in the Guildhall while I was there." She admitted. She hadn't watched them, unsure what they were showing, but she'd seen them.

"Ok...we are so doing some key important movies you need to see…." Vander said firmly, settling in to finish his meal then rifling through the deserts plucking out a chocolate cherry cake and was pleasantly surprised when Cida curled right up against his side under the blanket, accepting a fork and helping herself to some cake, peridot eyes doubtful on the screen but she watched and he found himself relaxing with an arm settling around the woman, serpents lounging on the back of the sofa begging for bites of cake that Cida offered as often as he did.