Pretty much nobody's read this. It feels more like I'm writing it for myself than for other people to read. Which sucks. Can someone just review this chapter? I'll take one review to show that someone's actually reading and enjoying this.
Sive POV
After a long night's sleep, I sat in the Rookery library, staring at a map of the city. Each side so decisively avian or serpiente. I sighed. I looked at Rosalind and Salem. Danica and Zane refused to take place in these discussions, feeling we'd need to do it on our own soon enough.
"There needs to be a standard for conduct in public. We can't say that one culture's behavior can be excused just because that's their way and make the other deal with it." I piped up. Salem looked at me.
"And what do you propse, Sive?" He asked.
"What's the most polite way a serpent can greet another?" I asked. They both thought about it.
"Handshakes or quick hugs." Rosalind answered. I nodded.
"Both cultures need to be taught that that is acceptable. Nothing more." Salem looked worried. "Avians need to learn to be more accepting of such gestures." Both nodded. "I propose we get scholars of both species to put together a class of sorts. It will be an introduction to how society will be. Mandatory for everyone. Including us."
"Showing everyone the ways society will bend and how to deal with it." Salem summarized. I nodded. "We'll go speak to the scholars." I smiled.
"I have something to do." I stood, spreading my wings and making my way to the serpent part of town. I landed in front of the nest. You didn't go in unless you were a dancer or invited. I looked around. A young rat snake solved my troubles though.
"Sive!" He cried. "Someone told us to expect you, that you'd be wanting to speak to A'isha." I nodded, giving him my thanks. I stepped in, the warmth of the nest hitting me. The floor was covered in carpets, only giving way to allow for the large fires. The beautiful leader of the dancers, A'isha, greeted me.
"Hello, little hawk. What can we do for you?" She asked. She was calm and unaffected by my prescence. Many others in the room were not. Salem was a dancer in the guild. It had been my alistair who'd put him in a coma that nearly ended his life and reign. Many were none to happy to see me. I looked down, afraid I'd made a mistake. A'isha would never allow me to dance with the guild.
"I want to learn to dance." I mumbled. A'isha blinked at me in surpise.
"Say again, Hawklet?"
"Dance. I want to learn to dance." I said, louder. She smiled softly.
"Hawks. Do you become so tired of dancing with air that you begin yearning to dance for real?" She pondered. I shrugged. "Very well." She looked me over. "the first thing we must fix is your attire, Hawklet. Come." She lead me to the bottom floors of the nest, where there were private rooms. She handed me a dancer's costume of deep, vivid purple. It contrasted wildly with my eyes and hair, making them seem more golden. It was revealing, but I decided while I was here, I wasn't heir to the Tuuli Thea, or even avian. I was just Sive.
"Thank you." I said as A'isha painted symbols onto my skin.
"Who is the lucky man? No bird dances just because they wish to."
"I've always been curious about dance! I just ... I don't know him. I only know he's a mamba and a dancer here." A'isha looked at me, curious.
"I could ask for you, Hawk."
"No, he doesn't wish for me to know him yet." A'isha finished and led me back upstairs. In a far corner, much to many dancers' dismay, A'isha began showing me steps. Many I'd learned from watching Olivia perform for years. I caught on quickly, and by late evening, A'isha and other dancers, who were warming up to me, were teaching me many dances. Even those meant to be intimate. I loved those the most. They were beautiful. They were as raw as the air currents under my wings. I collapsed to the ground, spent from my afternoon of learning. I was surprised to see someone offer me a black melos that would go well with the color of my costume. I got up once more to perform a dance in exchange for the melos. I finally pleaded fatigue and was allowed to leave the nest for the night. I slipped down through the streets to my alley.
"Beautiful, Hawklet." A voice whispered. My skin flushed deeper than it ever had. This man had his arms around me, but where they usually came in contact with my attire, there was no fabric to separate us. "So you danced. I can tell you enjoyed it."
"Do I know you yet, Mamba?"
"Perhaps so. Come here tomorrow at noon. We shall stroll through the market place together." He slid away and I knew he was gone.
The next morning ...
Salem and Rosalind looked at me in shock. "We heard you're a student under A'isha. When did this happen?"
"I've watched Oliza for years." I muttered. "I wanted to try."
Salem looked at me, suspicious, but said nothing more. "We got the scholars to work on it. They worked all night. The first class is at noon. We need to be there to encourage others." I wanted to protest. I had something else to do. Love would come second to my position. Always. I nodded.
What will the class be like? Who is the mystery mamba? What will he do when Sive misses their rendezvous? Tune in next time! Seriously though, review. Please?
~The Jessi Kitty