A/N: Alita is getting closer to finding out what she is. Have you guessed it?
Disclaimer: Nintendo owns Fire Emblem.
All attention is on the group of beasts running their way, particularly the massive red lion. When they reach the entrance way they slow down to a walk, the three retainers staying back as their king pads forward. Alita watches as the lion walks and transforms at the same time, sparks of red swirling around him as he does. Hind-legs form feet, the transformation working its way up to peel the lion away and reveal the man beneath. He walks the last few paces on human legs, bringing his right arm up to cross his chest, keeping it parallel to the ground. A greeting that the dragons return immediately.
His eyes flicker over to Alita in mild interest, taking note. While not immediately afraid, Alita plays to the guise she is wearing and takes a step back in, what she hopes looks like, fear. The lion man hums in thought, preparing to say something when he is interrupted by a screech.
Everyone looks up to acknowledge six birds circling. Alita watches as they bank to the left to circle once more, before lowering into the courtyard. The green hawk and heron change just before they land, floating a moment then touching down. Naesala follows moments after, completing the same maneuver the first two did. The other three birds remain in their laguz forms behind their respective kings.
Alita recognizes Reyson from when she stayed at Kilvas, and wonders why he is with the hawks now. Which draws her attention to the man beside Reyson, the one covered in scars. She makes him out to be the hawk king, the one the beorc were talking about regarding piracy. He does kind of look like a pirate... Her lips twitch in amusement, but she quickly covers it up by stepping behind the two dragons, feigning intimidation.
"There's nothing to be afraid of. We're among friends," the dragon king glances down at Alita, feeling her presence behind him. "What happened to him?" she whispers in response, looking back up at the king.
"The price for a battle is not cheap young one, and I have been in many." The hawk king himself answers, looking at Alita curiously. She ducks her head in apology, noticing that they have all gotten closer. "I apologize for bringing it up."
"Who is this young one anyway? It's not like you to welcome strangers," the lion king muses. Stepping aside, the dragon king reveals Alita to the group of royals. "This is Nesela. She was found unconcious, and is without memory of what occurred so I have granted permission for her to stay for the time being."
"She's a pretty one, that's for sure," Naesala comments beckoning Alita over. "Come here a minute." Inwardly scoffing, Alita refuses by stepping behind the closest person, which this time happens to be the hawk king. He glances down as Alita hides behind him, crossing his arms with a snort. "Looks like you scared her, Naesala."
"He's only mad that a supposed servant got away, Tibarn. He's been searching for several days" Reyson waves offhandedly. Several days...? How long was I swimming...? Alita frowns in thought, trying to recall how long the trip took. No matter how hard she tries, she can't discern how long she was in the water. Granted she did have moments of hallucination, so it's quite possible she lost time in those moments.
"The thief made a pact!" Naesala explodes in frustration, earning amusement from the others. Alita takes this moment to jab at Naesala, coming out from behind the hawk king.
"Why would you trust a thief's word? I thought they were without honor?"
"Most are, some aren't. It's not worth figuring out. But that is not what we came here to discuss" the dragon king steers the conversation back to the original objective. "If you will excuse me your majesties?" Alita bows her head to them, exiting the group by side stepping around the hawk king and the lion king. She leaves them to discuss whatever it was they came for, heading to a back entranceway. Outside the enclosure there is a copse of trees, including brush coating the ground.
Looking around to make sure she is actually alone and none of the retainers followed her, she yanks the knife she brought out of the sheath. In one swift movement, the closest tree is suddenly marked with a series of cuts, suffering from Alita's fury. Naesala had been wearing her knife. Her father's knife. She was going to get it back. Now.
Taking a breath to center herself, Alita takes another look around, but this time really looking at what is there. Absently twirling her knife, she inspects the different bushes and trees that are fruit bearing. Finding a surprisingly wide variety, she begins collecting almost one of everything, smirking to find a certain fruit she was looking for, gleefully picking one that was still immature.
With a tray woven of grasses, her knife back in its sheath and the fruit sliced for consumption, Alita returns to where she had left the royals. They appeared to be at a standstill and Naesala was pacing separated from the larger group. That made it easier for her. Putting on a smile she walks over, "Would anyone like something to eat? I have a little bit of everything..."
"You found a sweet child my friend," the beast king compliments as he takes several pieces of fruit off the tray. Alita glances at the dragon king, who nods in response, selecting some slices for himself. "Yes, she is very sweet."
Alita hums to herself, making sure the kings in the group were fed first. Since the laguz still in their animal form were closer than Naesala, she takes the tray over to them and allows them to choose. Once they have been satisfied, Alita goes over to Naesala, ensuring the fruit she picked special for him is on display. "Would you like some?"
Naesala glances over, absently grabbing several pieces and continues to pace. Alita watches him eat the trap, holding the tray out again to see if he wants more. His lip curls slightly, but he takes a few more before waving her off. Satisfied that things are going as she planned, Alita goes back over to the group. "Would anyone like some more?" Laughing heartily, the beast king takes another and nods, "Thank you child." She smiles in response, looking to the others. They all decline, giving Alita the opportunity to leave. As she makes her way to the back entrance, she casts her gaze over at Naesala to find him watching her. If she hadn't been expecting it, his intense predatory look would have unnerved her.
Looking away quickly, Alita acts the prey by scurrying through the entrance back to the copse of trees. Arriving, she gives a little laugh to herself as she takes a seat to wait. The fruit in its immaturity can cause hallucinations and alter one's thinking, bringing out the base desires. However fully ripened it's perfectly safe. She had seen its effects once before, praising her luck on finding it here to use to her advantage.
She doesn't have to wait long, hearing him make his way to her. She looks down and pretends to play with the grass, keeping her ears trained on him. "What's the matter?" Alita pretends to jump at his voice, turning on her knees to face him. He comes to a stop just beside Alita, forcing her to crane her neck to look up at him. "Are they finished?" she asks in return.
"No" comes the scoff, "I needed a breather...and perhaps some fruit" he looks down at Alita. Inwardly Alita smiles, outwardly she hops up and runs over to the trees. "Really? What kind would you like?"
"It's a special one," he replies having come up behind her. Alita turns to face him, giving him a wide eyed look at his closeness. "A special one? You mean the one you had before?"
"No, it's one only something as sweet as you can give." His maneuvering backs Alita up against a tree, blocking her sight of everything but him and his outstretched wings. "I...I don't understand" Alita stutters, taking note of where the knife is on him, loosening hers in the sheath. "Come now Nesela, you're not that young. You know the workings of men and women" Naesala leans in closer, breathing in her scent. Alita shudders turning her head the side, "Please don't..."
"Now now Nesela, I'm not going to hurt you" he whispers against her neck, resting his hands on her shoulders. Alita closes her eyes partially, pulling her knife out all the way. While Naesala is otherwise occupied, Alita carefully relieves him of her fathers knife, replacing it with the one she had. Quickly her fathers knife goes into the sheath at her hip. "Please don't..." she whimpers out again, managing to work up some tears.
Naesala tsks and picks Alita up, rocketing into the sky to fly away. As thrilled as she is about flying, she keeps up her act by screaming as loud as she can. An answering roar and screech lets her know that the others have taken notice. Naesala curses, changing in mid air and shifting Alita from his arms to his talons. His speed increases, the downward rush of wind from his wings buffering Alita and hindering her struggles.
"Help! Somebody help! Make him stop!" Alita yells gasping as the two hawks that stayed in their laguz form attack Naesala. Unable to defend himself with his burden, Naesala drops Alita to retaliate.
Riding through the air was exhilarating, being carried off by a horny raven she could deal with, but free falling with nothing to help? Alita screams in true terror, tumbling head over heels in the air. Her stomach flips in time with her, lodging itself in her throat and cutting off her yells. Suddenly her descent halts by a pair of strong arms, forcing her stomach back down with a sharp intake of breath at the impact. It takes her a moment to orient herself, then Alita is wrapping her arms around him half feigned distress and half real relief.
Shivering, Alita hides her face against the chest of Tibarn, only realizing it's him from the dark green outlining the feather necklace he wears. The scent of brine, wind and male engulfs her, triggering something in the back of her mind, but at the moment she could care less. His scent relaxes her in addition to the gentle down beat of his wings. Vaguely she is aware that the movement has stopped only to be distracted by a wave of song. It washes over her, relaxing her further to the point where her heart returns to its normal rhythm.
"Are you alright?" Tibarn rumbles, gaining Alita's attention. She nods with a glance at him, carefully slipping out of his arms as he sets her down. "Yes... thank you."
"What happened?" groans Naesala from the ground several paces away. He is sitting and holding his head and looking around. Eventually he gets up as the situation is explained to him. Alita sighs softly to herself, schooling her face into apology to confess. "I think it was my fault..." Having everyone's attention, she continues, "I think it might have been the fruit he ate. There were some I was unfamiliar with but I still brought it out. I am so sorry. Please forgive me?"
"Well, no one is hurt and everything is back to normal. We will adjourn here" the dragon king gives the final word. Once it's decided, everyone is going their separate ways with Alita remaining with the Goldoans. She stays with them for about a week, studying the book she brought, and learning what she can from their extensive knowledge. When she insisted on leaving, Kurthnaga agreed to fly her over the mountains into Begnion, dropping her off at the base of them.
Back in her original attire and armed with her father's knife, Alita sets off for the Serenes Forest where she believes answers to her heritage hides.
