"Under the Full Moon"
"Hey there," Kai'sa said cautiously as she sat down across from Taliyah, "Hey, you look nice," Taliyah complimented. "Thanks… Where's your family?" Kai'sa asked, seeing her alone at the table. "My father is running late, he'll be here I'm sure," Taliyah replied. "Anyone else?" Kai'sa asked. "No, just him and me, they don't make the family tables smaller than 8 seats," Taliyah replied. "Your mother?" Kai'sa asked. "My Dad said she was mildly sick and didn't want to make the journey here, so she's with my father's herd close to the northern coast. My Dad said he would have stayed, but apparently, Azir has requested to meet the tribes at this gathering, so he felt it was his duty to represent our family here," Taliyah explained. "He seems nice," Kai'sa replied. "Mmhm," Taliyah muttered back. "So… I thought about what you said to me, I'm not going to apologize for anything, but I will try to do what you said about not rushing forward. You're right, it's hard to take into consideration what's best for others when I decide everything myself." Kai'sa said. "Well… thanks, I'm glad to hear that," Taliyah replied.
Kai'sa then gently reached out across the table and grabbed her hand, "Taliyah, Listen, I… I lov…" Kai'sa started to say. Taliyah then quickly got distracted by seeing something behind Kai'sa and pulled her hand out of Kai'sa's hand. "Hey darling, I saw the food done in the kitchens, should be on its way soon," Taliyah's father said as he walked around the table and sat down next to his daughter. "Kehm… that's good to hear," Taliyah nervously replied as she brushed some of her hair off her face. "I never learned any formalities to call you by, where did you say she was from?" He asked, addressing Kai'sa. "There was a small settlement by the border of Icathia I was from when I was a child, but there are no formalities, it's just Kaisa," Kai'sa replied. "Well then Kaisa it's good to meet you, we've all heard a lot of stories about you, not sure if it's all true or not, desert folk can be a bit liberal with storytelling. Someone catches a stone crab with a wire and before you know it they saying they caught a rockbear with a silk thread. "Most of all the monstrous stories are wrong and pretty far-fetched, except for the symbiote; she's pretty normal," Taliyah said. "I doubt that," He replied back as the food was just being set down in front of them.
"What do you mean?" Taliyah asked, ignoring the food. "I mean it probably took a special amount of courage to survive what she did, it's certainly not normal," He replied. "I don't know if I'd call it courage, for years I was just trying to survive, but yes I suppose it isn't normal," Kai'sa replied. "I guess normal is overrated haha, case in point," Taliyah's father said jokingly as he gestured pointing to himself. "Don't say that, you have no idea how much I wished I was more like you growing up," Taliyah interjected sheepishly. "Nah you fine dear, you were never cut out to be like me, and there's nothing wrong with that, heck even all your first crushes were the adventurous hero types," He replied, while Kai'sa nonchalantly reached for a roasted bird leg and slid it onto her plate. "What, who? I don't remember anyone besides that butcher's boy," Taliyah said, blushing. "Nah he was a total coward," He replied. "I agree, why I never went out with him again, despite the outstanding meals his mom tried to bribe me with," Taliyah explained. "Yes, but before him, Femir was his name, I'll never forget how distraught you were when he left and didn't say goodbye." Taliyah's father said as Kai'sa was still trying to eat in silence and not disturb their conversation.
"What! Ok, that doesn't count, he was too old and we hardly ever spoke!" Taliyah said, kinda laughing at his comment. "That didn't stop you from asking if he mentioned you every hour," He replied. "What! I did not! Your memory must be off," Taliyah said blushing. "Nah, A father always remembers these things," He replied. "I think you're exaggerating but oookay," Taliyah said as she poured some stew into her bowl. "There was even that traveler from Piltover that stayed in our camp for a couple months, what was her name… oh Patricia," He said as he grabbed the body of a roasted bird for himself. "ACK.. COUGH… What!" Taliyah snapped back, choking on her stew. "There was never anything to that, I was just intrigued by stories of distant lands," Taliyah added after catching her breath. "And you just happened to ask me if it was possible for a woman to fall in love with another woman at that time out of chance?" He replied laughing. "Wha, What, I seriously don't recall that conversation," Taliyah said, nervously blushing. "You seem pretty good with names," Kai'sa said, taking a breath from eating. "Hell, he even names the sheep…" Taliyah replied before getting back to eating. "All 148 of them, You bet I do, haha," He replied laughing.
The smell of food made Sehla's stomach rumble a bit as she heard the chattering of hundreds of people eating in the settlement as she neared the far side. Sitting about a thousand feet from the encampment just out of sight of it on the other side of a dune stood a ragged black tent. Sehla approached it cautiously, wishing she had her blade with her. "Yashla's ointments and insights," the small wooden sign said that hung over the tent's entrance, not exactly what I was looking for Sehla thought, still she decided to walk in, curious of what insights there was to offer here. "Hello," Sehla said timidly as she walked into the tent. "Anyone here?" Sehla asked, not hearing anyone respond. She cautiously started looking around, there were jars filled with many different small animal organs behind the counter, as well as a small fish tank filled with thick green water and what looked like tadpoles. In front of the counter, there were a few small bookshelves that had scrolls and books disorderly piled on the shelves. One thick book caught her eyes, "Unabridged catalog of magical gifts and afflictions," curious, she reached down to grab it. "Stealing isn't polite missy!" A sharp bitter voice spoke behind her. Sehla spun around, startled by the voice "I wasn't stealing anything I was just curious about a book I saw," Sehla replied.
She then saw the silhouette of a woman, she couldn't see her face because her body was completely covered in black robes and her face covered in a black mesh. "And what of the book you already have stuffed in your belt," the woman snapped back with distrustful vigar. "Oh that I bought from one of the shops on the other side of the gathering, it's not one of yours," Sehla replied nervously. "Let me see it!" The woman demanded. "Sh…sure here," Sehla stuttered as she handed over the booklet. "Basic principles of Hextech… You're right, this is not mine, you'd never find me having a book by that charlatan Jayce Talis… here" the woman replied, handing the booklet back to Sehla. "Um…thanks," Sehla said, not knowing what she was talking about. "So you like to read? Rare for these parts," the woman sharply asked as she walked back behind the counter. "I suppose so," Sehla replied. "So, about this book, is it for sale?" Sehla asked. "Missy, it's been almost a decade since I sold a book, but I suppose I am willing to part with a book if I think it is going to someone who will use it better," the woman replied.
"Oh, well, I'll definitely take care of it, and read it well, plus I got a few gold coins that should compensate you well enough…" Sehla said while trying to get some money out of her pants. "Eh eh eh, come here, I don't want your money," the woman demanded. Sehla sheepishly walked up and sat in the chair in front of the counter that the woman was pointing to. "There are many types of souls, some destined for adventure, greatness, mediocrity, suffering, light, darkness, the weave of our souls is written from the moment we are born and there's nothing we can do to change it," The woman explained as she unrolled a cloth filled with all kinds of different articles of crystal, stones, vials of fluids. The words the woman said troubled Sehla greatly, like a hot fork in her chest, though she didn't show her discomfort. "These will show the weave of your soul, and if you are worthy of my aid," the woman added as she reached the artifacts. Sehla's discomfort grew as she disdained this woman saying she would judge who she was, without even knowing her.
"Well, I've had my fill and there's a lot of business I still need to attend, I'll leave you two to eat your fill," Taliyah's father said as he got up from the Table. "It was nice talking with you," Kai'sa replied thankfully, while Taliyah gave him a gentle head nod as he left. "Well was nice," Kai'sa said to Taliyah after he left. "Mmhm," Taliyah replied. "Not sure why you were so nervous," Kai'sa said. "I don't want to talk about it, but yes he took the news of us a lot better than I expected," Taliyah replied. ………….Now about a half-hour passed, Taliyah was stacking all the used plates to bring to the kitchens, even though someone would have come and got them if she hadn't. On one plate there were the carcass of bones and a bit of leftover meat of a bird that was making it hard to stack the plates, "hey what's that over there?" Taliyah said getting Kai'sa to look the other way. As soon as she looked away Taliyah grabbed the bird carcass and dropped it into one of Kai'sa's shoulder pods where it was incinerated immediately. "YOO!" Kai'sa yelled as the burst of energy ripping throughout her second-skin caught her off guard. "Kekeke" Taliyah laughed as she finished collecting the dishes. "What the hell!?" Kai'sa asked. "Needed a place to throw some trash hehe," Taliyah teased. Kai'sa just kinda looked back at her like she was crazy. Finally, after her dumbfounded look faded, she went to help her move the dishes to the kitchens.
"Uhg, I'm a little tired from eating so much," Kai'sa said as she stretched her arms as they left the kitchens from dropping off the dishes. "Yeah, people will be up and busy till 3 am at least, we tend to all stretch our body's clocks at these gatherings so most of our awake time is at night when it's cool," Taliyah explained. "Taliyah! There you are!" Ziafa exclaimed as ran up to them. "Hey, where's the others?" Kai'sa asked. "Kadira and Samir I think are outside the camp exploring the ruins, the others are probably still in the travelers' tents," Ziafa replied. "Sure hope Samir and Kadira ain't making trouble," Taliyah said. "So is it true!?" Ziafa asked giddy. "Is what true?" Taliyah replied. "Why… you know!… are you two dating?" Ziafa asked, trying to keep her voice down as she burst with excitement. "Oh, um…" Taliyah nervously tapped her fingertips as she thought about what to say, Kai'sa looked at her to see her response. "Yes we are," Kai'sa added, with a little teasing smile at Taliyah. "I was gonna say it, you didn't have to," Taliyah murmured. "Oh my goodness, AHH! Great Weaver this is so perfect!" Ziafa said, jumping up and down excitedly. "So you know my sister!?" Ziafa asked. "Don't you have like 9 siblings, which one are we talking about?" Taliyah replied, a bit uneasy with how excited Ziafa was over them.
"Oh silly me you're right, my oldest sister Uola," Ziafa replied. "Can't say I know her but we met so I know who you are speaking of, what's up?" Taliyah asked, not sure where this conversation was going. "Okay okay, so she's quite a talented seamstress and just made this durirazah that is to die for! And it's your size and would look amazing on you!" Ziafa explained, talking so fast and excited she was almost out of breath. "What's a Durirazah?" Kai'sa asked, curious about the matter. "What! No no no, I'm not doing that," Taliyah snapped back, putting her hand in front of Kai'sa to gesture to her to stop asking. "But, it's tradition, and It's really really beautiful," Ziafa replied, her tone kinda sad that Taliyah was not wanting any part of her request. "I don't care, it's not happening," Taliyah snapped back. "But…" Ziafa started to reply. "BUT NOTHING MY ANSWER IS NO, Come'on Kai'sa," Taliyah snapped back again as she grabbed Kai'sa's hand and pulled her along, walking away from Ziafa.
"Um Taliyah, What was that about!? You were kinda rude to her," Kai'sa asked, seeing Ziafa walk away looking all depressed. "Please, I don't want to talk about it, she'll be okay," Taliyah replied, sounding very agitated. "But, what happened to communication and being honest…" Kai'sa asked. "Please don't start…" Taliyah replied now sounding angry. "What!?" Kai'sa said. "Grrr, there are some things I have to deal with that you really have no place commenting on in your rule and morally free naivete!...UGH, I have to go before I say something I'll regret," Taliyah replied, yelling at first before checking herself and walking away from Kai'sa. Kai'sa stood still for a second watching Taliyah walk off until the crowd hid her from view, come on think Kai'sa… what does she need, Kai'sa thought as her mind raced to try to think of a solution.
Sehla's nerves became restless as the woman lit some incense and one candle, placing it in front of her, and then holding the various artifacts over the candle in front of Sehla's face. First was a red crystal that seemed to glow from inside with heat, "hmm, Nothing special there…" the woman coldly said as she looked at Sehla's through the crystal. She then grabbed what looked like crystallized amber and looked through it, "Nothing special there," the woman said before putting the crystal down. She went through a few more, a lump of salt, a vile of a clear liquid, and a vile of a purple mush, at the end she announced the same thing, "Nothing special here," with a cutting attitude as if she was saying you are boring. An agitation continued to stir in Sehla, "Welp, you seem completely devoid of magic, so what use would my book be to you?" The woman asked harshly. Sehla then looked at the candle and focused on the candle, feeling the world around her disappear from her mind as she watched the shadows at the bottom of the candle climb up until they consumed the light. Sehla then snapped herself out of her trance and stared at the woman defiantly, the light filling the room again as she did.
The woman leaned back in her chair, her hand trembling violently as reached for a black crystal that was in her draw. She lifted it up to look into it and as soon as she did a violent burst of wind blew into the tent, opening the curtains slightly. The interior seemed to get much darker, as if the whole room was shaded gray. The woman threw the crystal into the bookshelf shattering it as she trembled into a fetal position. "NO DEMON, NOO IT WASN'T ME," She screeched in fear, Sehla started to get worried now as she could feel the presence of something else here that was making everything fade dark. "NO NO NOO!" She continued to scream as the place got darker and darker even though the curtains and door were blown open completely now and it was a full moon. "Here!" Sehla slammed all the money she had on the table then grabbed the book and ran out the door. She ran as fast as she could, away from the woman's tent and the tribes' encampment, she ran towards the old runes, ignoring the screams of the woman behind her.
"Excuse me, sir!" Kai'sa said as she got Taliyah's father's attention after looking for him for at least a half-hour. "What can I do for you Kai'sa?" He replied. "Um, first of all, I never got your name?" Kai'sa asked. "Dewen, Chief Dewen, even though my tribe is a pretty minuscule one, I'm still considered a chief… However, for you it's still Sir," He replied, looking down at her with a little smirk. "Mhm, yes Sir," Kai'sa replied. "So what do you need help with?" He asked. "Um… Sir, sorry I don't mean to pry, but something seems to be bothering Taliyah and she won't discuss it with me," Kai'sa asked. "Well, did it have anything to do with me? Perhaps she wishes her mother was here," He replied as he walked over to her and ushered them away from the crowds. "Here come sit" He added as he leaned up on a wooden fence railing. "Thanks…" Kai'sa said, "I don't think it has to do with her mother, she just seems very stressed here, and she has always been rather reluctant to talk about you, sorry I wondered if you would have insight as to why Sir?" Kai'sa asked.
"Hmm…I'm not sure, there were times when I may have been a little demanding and impatient, but most fathers can be that way I suppose," He replied. "I suppose so," Kai'sa quietly said. "She's had issues of being unsure of herself for a long time, so I've tried to give her all the space she needed to figure things out," He explained. "How so?" Kai'sa asked. "Well it was clear growing up she wasn't going to be like her mother and be a weaver. She loved being with me outside tending to sheep, so I just assumed for the longest time that she wanted to grow up to be a shepherd like me. However, when her abilities started manifesting and she would send the sheep bolting from little earthquakes all the time, it was clear she wasn't really cut out to be a shepherd either, also… looking back I don't think being a shepherd was her calling anyway even if she didn't have magic." Dewen explained with a little laugh at the end. "Why you say that?" Kai'sa asked curiously. "She's a little too hot-headed for that job, it requires a lot of patience," he explained. "Yeah, you're probably right there," Kai'sa replied with a smirk, agreeing with him.
"Okay, well I'll not keep you any longer, I'm sure you're busy," Kai'sa said as she stood up. "I am but I can always take some time to talk if you need it," He replied graciously. "Thanks, you're really kind, Taliyah definitely gets it from you I think…I should probably go now," Kai'sa said with a small blush as she turned away to go and try and find Taliyah again. _ After looking for about twenty minutes, Kai'sa was surprised when she found Taliyah still in the kitchen tents. She was alone in a smaller tent that had a large flat stone placed over a fire pit that was burning lightly. She was sitting down in front of the firepit, pouring some very thin gray-colored batter across the stone. "Hey, what are you doing?" Kai'sa asked. "...Making piki," Taliyah replied after a sigh from her as she rolled up the paper-thin bread that was already done after a few seconds and placed the roll in a basket that had to have at least a hundred already finished portions. "I can see that…" Kai'sa said as she grabbed a stool that was in the corner of the tent and set it next to the fire pit then sitting down on it. Taliyah continued her work, ignoring Kai'sa.
Several minutes passed by, Kai'sa not knowing what she should say to break the silence. Finally, after some thought, she moved her stool behind Taliyah who was sitting on the floor. "What are you doing?" Taliyah asked. "Nothing," Kai'sa replied as she sat down behind her. Kai'sa then started gently massaging Taliyah's shoulders, using the side of her palms so she didn't poke Taliyah with her claws. "Eh… um… Kaisa…" Taliyah stuttered as she shivered a bit. "Yes?" Kai'sa replied, her voice sounding gentler than usual. "We… we can't, someone could walk in here," Taliyah replied, gently trying to push Kai'sa's hands off her shoulder. "So? We're not doing anything out of the ordinary," Kai'sa replied as she flicked Taliyah's protesting hand away and started massaging her neck. "So?...sigh," Taliyah said, though she lost the words to her response as her muscles were stretched. "Taliyah, what's troubling you? Is it something to do with your father? You've been super tense since you saw him," Kai'sa asked as Taliyah leaned back relaxing into her arms. There was a moment of silence as Taliyah looked up at Kai'sa's face thinking what to say. "He seemed nice, I even talked to him alone just a few minutes ago," Kai'sa said. "You did?" Taliyah asked, looking almost shocked but still keeping her composure.
"Yes I did, he really sounds like he just wants you to be happy," Kai'sa replied. "Sigh, maybe he does… There are just, several things I kinda feel guilty about I guess," Taliyah said, almost whispering as she bowed her head and slumped her back against Kai'sa's stomach. "Please, tell me if you can, I'll try to understand," Kai'sa replied. "...Fine…" Taliyah said, huffing as she slid a metal lid over the firepit to snuff it out, then stood up and nervously paced the room. "I am my family's only child, so it's supposed to fall on me to be the future of my father's family," Taliyah explained as Kai'sa sat listening. "And so far, I've proven to be terrible at the two things my family does well, weaving and herding. I caused a ton of headaches left and right because of not controlling my gifts, and then I came home with an outsider and another woman as a girlfriend… it's just… ugh I don't know what I'm doing!" Taliyah said as she buried her face into her palms while still pacing back and forth. "Is it not allowed to love outsiders or people of the same sex with your people?" Kai'sa asked. "There are no rules against it in all the writings of The Great Weaver… it's just traditional, a family grows in influence and pride by the history of their family and families that join theirs, and outsiders have no history inside the tribes so it is not desired. As for same-sex relations, it's rare but not unheard of, I've only seen it in a few larger families, but me being his only lineage, well, you can't exactly get me pregnant and grow our family at all." Taliyah explained.
"Okay, I think I understand, but your father seemed to not be concerned with any of that, maybe his attitude changed, he seemed to just be happy for you," Kai'sa replied. "That makes me think he's just given up on me, because I wanted to make him proud for so long, the fact that I can tell him, hey I am considering ending your family tree and he's totally chill about it, UGH!" Taliyah said, dropping back to her knees out of frustration. Kai'sa got up and knelt down beside her as she thought she heard light crying. "Tali, It's okay… shhh…" Kai'sa said, trying to comfort her as she gently hugged her from behind. "...My mother was made baron from giving birth to me, she almost died…" Taliyah explained, still sobbing. "I've been a disappointment to my family…" Taliyah added as Kai'sa hugged her. "Taliyah stop it, you can't beat yourself up like this, you should speak with your father about what is bothering you, he really loves you as I'm sure he loves your mother, as I'm sure your mother loves you," Kai'sa said firmly. "Here, listen," Kai'sa added as she leaned back and looked Taliyah in the eyes. "Please wipe your tears…" Kai'sa said, wiping the tears off her cheeks for her. " Go find your father, and ask him what he thinks about all this stuff, doubt is a dreadful foe and I won't allow you to linger with it," Kai'sa said firmly again as she pointer to the door for Taliyah to leave. "I'll be waiting for you here, " Kai'sa said. Taliyah said nothing, after seeing the determination on Kai'sa's face she decided to get up, wipe her face off, and walk out of the tent to do what Kai'sa asked of her.
Sehla finally stopped running, leaning against an old pillar in the ruins as she caught her breath. What happened at the tent she didn't understand, she wasn't sure if she caused it or if the witch had, she quickly tried to forget about it as she grabbed the book and opened it, searching to see if maybe it had answers. She scanned the table of contents looking through page after page of all the list of chapters. Finally, one chapter caught her eye, "Shadow Magic other forbidden magics, page 483," She flipped the book as fast as she could to see what it had to say, upon landing at the beginning of the chapter she saw disturbing drawings of demons and runic symbols that made her skin crawl, she gulped as she tried to start reading it. "What ya got there!?" Kadira said, startling her as she stood right over her. "WHAT THE, WHERE DID YOU COME FROM!?" Sehla exclaimed as she slammed the book shut and stuffed it in the back of her paints. "Me and my friends have been here, why you out here? " Kadira asked, as she pointed to Samir and a few other people she didn't recognize about fifty feet away with small lanterns in their hands. "I… Just looking for peace and quiet," Sehla replied, looking behind her to make sure nothing was following her here.
"Looking for a place to practice the superpowers? Hehe," Kadira asked, lowering her voice so only they could hear her. "What do you… sigh… okay maybe," Sehla said, being angry at first before taking a breath and coming herself. "Well come join us, it will be fun," Kadira replied. Sehla paused for a moment, taking a long look back towards the witch's tent to make sure nothing was following her, "Sure, I guess," Sehla finally said after she saw nothing and decided to relax a bit. "What exactly are you guys doing out here?" Sehla asked as they started walking towards the Samir and the outers. "We wanna find a rock bear cub, not to hurt it or anything, we'll return it the next day, But can you Imagine the look on Taliyah's face when she sees us with one kekeke," Kadira said giddy with excitement.."Sees you guys, you know, 'cause I'm not invited on your folks' side," Sehla replied, with a bit of sas. "Yeah, sorry about that, I can't change rules like that," Kadira replied.
"Hey Samir, find any of them bears yet?" Kadira asked as the two groups joined each other. "Nothing yet, It's strangely silent for a full moon Oh Hey There Sehla!" Samir said. "Shhh, keep your voice down," one of the people said, correcting Samir. "You guys go to sleep, it's gotta be like 2 a.m.," Sehla asked. "Hey we not traveling anywhere so we can sleep all day, the night is the fun time," Kadira replied. "Here why don't you check in there," Samir said to Sehla pointing to a ruined stone building while he handed her a torch. "Is it safe?" Sehla asked. "Yeah, why ya scared?" Kadira teased. "No, I would feel safer if you guys didn't disarm me," Sehla replied. "Don't worry it will be fine, just come get us if you find anything interesting," Kadira said, encouraging her. "Will do…" Sehla said grudgingly as she walked towards the structure.
About an hour had passed, and Kai'sa was sitting on the ground outside the tent where she told Taliyah that she would be waiting for her to come back. Kai'sa noticed Ziafa walking by eating some kind of meat on a stick, "Hey there," Kai'sa said getting her attention. "Oh hey, just you here?" Ziafa asked. "For now, I waiting for Taliyah but she may be awhile, I don't know," Kai'sa replied. "So, what was that all about? What you were talking to Taliyah about?" Kai'sa asked as Ziafa sat down next to her. "About the Durirazah?" Ziafa replied. "Yeah, what is that?" Kai'sa asked. "You would love it, it's just a nice beautiful dress, it's custom for a lady to wear one for her date the first time they attend one of these public gatherings together. And well I don't see it fitting your style much, plus, it's not in our culture to wear one," Ziafa explained. "Yeah, I'd probably ruin the dress if I tried to put it on," Kai'sa replied. "Did she say why she didn't want it? It's such a shame if she doesn't want it, I think it would be fun for her," Ziafa said. "Personally I think she feels a little guilty of her relationship with me… I suppose I don't blame her, I feel a little guilty of it… not because I care what other people think, I just think there's probably less damage people who could treat her better than me," Kai'sa said.
"What do you mean? You've almost died for her several times, is there anything more right for someone than that?" Ziafa asked. "Living for them I suppose," Kai'sa replied bluntly. "I suppose your right, but still, I know she loves you, and you seem like you love her, does anything else matter?" Ziafa said. "I guess not," Kai'sa replied. "So anyway, Whenever Taliyah comes back I'll try to talk her into accepting your gift," Kai'sa added. "It's in my tent, Taliyah should know where that is," Ziafa replied. "Okay, you can leave me here, I'm fine waiting here alone," Kai'sa said. "Okay, best of luck to you," Ziafa said cheerfully as she got up and left. "Thanks…I'll need it," Kai'sa said quietly to herself.
………
About thirty minutes later Kai'sa finally spotted Taliyah walking her way slowly, she seemed fragile in how she walked, Kai'sa wasn't sure if she had pushed her too hard, but a light greeting smile from Taliyah pushed away Kai'sa's worries. "You okay?" Kai'sa asked. "Mmhm…"Taliyah said hesitantly after nodding a few times. "Um… well here come back inside away from all these people," Kai'sa said gently pulling Taliyah's arm inside. "Careful…" Taliyah gently said, as Kai'sa was walking backward with her eyes fixed on Taliyah and didn't watch where she was stepping. "OUCH!" Kai'sa yelled as she pulled her foot out of the hot coals in the firepit, her shoulder pods rumbling violently as the protested the pain, Kai'sa had to duck low so her second-skin didn't poke a hole in the top of the tent with her opened weapons. "Are you okay!?" Taliyah asked concerned. "Ehk, I'm okay, suit's pretty thick at my feet," Kai'sa replied. "So, are you doing better? You don't have to tell me everything if you don't want to," Kai'sa asked, concerning her chat with her father.
"Um… well, we talked for a while, he definitely was more supportive of me than I thought… I don't know, I'm still trying to work out how I feel, but yes I am doing getting, Thank you." Taliyah replied as she sat down, gesturing to Kai'sa to sit down next to her. "Well, I'm glad to hear," Kai'sa replied while sitting down. "So did you want to do anything?" Taliyah asked. "Hmm, not sure, also just saying, these are bland as shit," Kai'sa said with a laugh holding up a half-eaten piece of piki bread. "They're made to go in soups and stuff not eat plan you dunce!" Taliyah snapped back, yanking the bread from her. "I'm just messing with you," Kai'sa said. "I know," Taliyah replied as she messed up Kai'sa's hair a bit. "So, since you are feeling better now, you okay with taking Ziafa's gift?" Kai'sa asked. "What,uhg, did you speak with her?" Taliyah asked. "Yeah, while I was waiting for you she came by, I don't see why a dress is such a big deal, You already told everyone here about us basically, so what's there to hide?" Kai'sa asked. "It's not just a dress… and it's not about keeping our relationship secret why I don't want to wear it," Taliyah replied. "Why don't you then?" Kai'sa asked. "Um…How do I explain this… so a Durirazah isn't just any dress, the woman wears one on the first big public date, but there's kinda a reason why… So basically, meetings between tribes are rare, so we kinda try to be a little forward with dating, since we don't meet often, best to get to know each other fast before the tribes split up again." Taliyah explained.
"What does this have to do with a dress?" Kai'sa asked, growing a little confused. "I'm going to explain, be patient," Taliyah replied. "Okay go ahead," Kai'sa replied with a little chuckle. "So, while we tend to be a little forward with dating, our cultural dress and behavior tends to lean rather conservative, However, the Durirazah is the one exception to this, a Durirazah is normally a little seductive and almost always has an open bottom," Taliyah explained. "Why?" Kai'sa asked. "...what do you mean why… Uhg, so the lady can make a big enough impression on her date so she scores and they have sex," Taliyah explained, speaking very fast and growing impatient. "OOOH, I get it now," Kai'sa replied. "There, now you see why I don't want to wear the dress. "Um… No actually I still don't get why you don't want to wear it," Kai'sa replied with a smirking grin. "Uhg, No I'm just not," Taliyah replied. "Still feel guilty about us?" Kai'sa asked. "No it's not that, Just shyness I guess, Plus I don't think I could control myself around you," Taliyah explained. "Ok, well, it's a shame I think you would have looked beautiful," Kai'sa said as she stood up.
"Do you want me to wear it?" Taliyah asked curiously. "Would you wear it if I said yes?" Kai'sa replied with a question. "Not in public," Taliyah replied. "But in private?" Kai'sa asked. "I suppose, I could meet you at your room and wear it if you wanted that," Taliyah replied. "Well yeah, I'd really like that then, plus Ziafa doesn't have to have her gift turned away," Kai'sa said. "Sigh…Okay..Very well then, I'll go get it from her and get ready, then meet you at your tent in about an hour," Taliyah said, trying to muster up some courage as she spoke. "An hour?" Kai'sa replied. "Yeah a hour, You want me to look good don't you?" Taliyah said. "Okay okay, an hour then, I'll be waiting," Kai'sa replied. "See you in a few love," Taliyah quietly said as she walked out of the tent. "YES," Kai'sa said to herself as she pumped her fist after Taliyah left the room.
"KADIRA COME QUICK!" Samir yelled, ignoring the fact that they were supposed to be being quiet. Kadira ran fast, taking her a few minutes to reach him because they had all spread out while searching the ruins. "What is it?" Kadira asked, seeing Samir and the others huddled around something. "HHU!…" Kadira immediately covered her mouth as she saw the mutilated corpse of a rockbear, "No NO NO NOO," Kadira said, her voice cracking as she choked up at the sight. "Must have been dune hounds, look" one of the others said as they pointed to the footprints in the sand. "Dune hounds wouldn't leave meat behind like this," Samir snapped back. "Maybe we scared them off with our torches, you see the footprints, they're fresh," - "a dune hound never surrenders it's kill" They continued to argue. While they argued, Kadira got up and looked out over the moonlit dunes. "What is it Kadira," Samir asked, seeing Kadira walk away. "Oh Nasus," Samir said as he saw what she saw, there were dozens of corpses of animals laid out across the desert, about a mile or two in between each making a line that stretched to the horizon. "We need to get the hell out of here," Samir said. "I can agree with you there," one of the others said. "We need to warn the tribes," Kadira said while wiping tears from her eyes. "Wait, where's Sehla, SEHLA?" Samir yelled.
Sehla sat quietly in the dark of the ruined building with her torch lying beside her for light. "The dark magics include Void, antimagic, and Shadow magic." Sehla read through her book unaware of anything going on outside. "Of these shadow magic is the least known, as most records of its practice were indiscriminately destroyed. Several lifeforms have been recorded as having antimagic properties most notably the white trees of Demacia, While Void magic is not native to our world, its infectious nature has touched a great deal of life on Runeterra. Shadow magic appears to be the only magic type that has no natural mages or sources and since texts concerning its practice are destroyed, the art is considered lost forever." Sehla read. "Then what am I…" Sehla asked herself wondering how her having shadow magic was possible. "I guess I should probably get going," Sehla said as she picked up her torch and closed her book, preparing to go meet up with the others. Walking out of the room she was in she looked around the corner and was immediately startled by the sight of some kind of massive animal. Instinctively she darted behind a pillar to hide from the creature that looked like a nightmarish dog with knives coming out of its back. Sehla's heartbeat and breathing increased exponentially as she tried to keep still, hearing the beast's breath sniff her scent. "Ahh," Sehla said trying to muffle the sound of her pain from the torch burning her hand as she was trying to put it out against the pillar, but as she did she dropped it, sending it into the dirt beyond her reach and into the sight of the beast. Selha held her breath so she could hear what the beast was doing before she heard it speak… "What Game Skitters By, Unaware Of Death?!"