Harbinger (T63 Blake/Open)

[Bailey Oleander]

"It warms my heart to hear you think so." She picked up the pace to match Timur's feeling her lack of familiarity with the dance putting her at a disadvantage as the flames grew higher still. Her people had agreed to a peaceful assimilation, but they were staying where they were or coming to till a new land with new people. The people of 63 had been the ones to lose the majority of their home and security in their way of life.

The sounds of cheers that broke up around the flames, warriors joining in as a young fighter leaped across the flames, his shadow soaring across the night as she continued.

"Even more, I'm glad to see there are others who feel the same way."


Caleb's gaze flicked over his competition as he chilled beside Avice, taking in the scars and gashes that already lined his well-toned body. The kind of thing that could draw her attention without difficulty. He watched as the fanfare erupted along with the cheers and back slaps. He nudged Avice when he noticed her attention seemed focused on the guy, entranced with the jump.

He applauded along with the others in a slow clap, appreciating the show but also knowing he had to beat the demonstration. Stripping off his own shirt and shoes, one could see Nika had the more muscled frame compared to the wiry scout. Some of the muscle tissue appeared to have gashes that came more from their excursions to the mines and keeping the land scouted beyond.

"I see you're as good as competition as you promised." His grin was almost cheeky as he stepped up towards the pit, mentally preparing himself for this.


"There may be losses, but I can tell that you're all working to take steps forward from that pain. We're glad to be able to help, too." Leena took that next tep forward, letting her hand rest on his as Blake let it fall to his side.

"Since you've taken a break from singing, would you be willing to dance with me?" She hadn't seen anyone come towards him or address her in a jealous fit, though she did glance around again once more to confirm it.

[Blake Oleander]

Nika would turn from the adoration to loop upon Avice and Caleb from across the flame gesturing toward it as a final challenge for his rival to brave the challenge himself. If he dared.

"Sure."

Blake would say, taking her hand and leading her out to where the others were dancing. He was passible, but he felt somewhat awkward. It was his first time dancing since becoming Elder, and whether or not they were, he felt like all eyes were on him.

Timur continued to dance with the music. Stopping to cheer and whistle for those braving the fire. A rite of passage completed.

"Few things are as beautiful as when two people become one..."

He'd say it with a bit of distance in his voice and gaze, looking at something in the distance. But it would last a moment before his attention returned to Bailey. "Would it be presumptuous of me to seal this blessing with the embrace of your lips?"

[Avice Locke]

She felt Caleb nudge her and she would smile and pour them both a another shot. "For luck, aye?"

She tossed her own back and watched him strip his own layers. Avice was not picky on body types. She didn't have preferences to either scars of baby smooth hides. But she would admit they both had a different glow when standing in the light of the flames one that made her grin and bite her bottom lip a bit. She hid it behind lightly touching fingers of her metal hand but she was excited to see how he would do especially as hyped as she got with Nika.

She would raise another freshe shot on the air and agree with Caleb and cheer for him.


She also looked at the tall blaze and started to calculate how she herself was going to make that kind of jump.

[Bailey Oleander]

Leena smiled as she took Blake's hand, letting him lead her to the group of dancers that were slowing to watch the competition. her fingers laced with hers as they joined the others, observing moves she'd never seen before, noting differences to add to her own dancing as they began.

"I didn't think we'd be coming back to a celebration. It's good to see smiles on people faces tonight." It was good, a sign she could tell the others about to ease the distance between them.

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Caleb smirked a bit as Avice offered another drink, accepting it and toasting it in her direction.

"To challenges and victories, and the ones we share them with." His eyes lit up as he tilted back the drink, turning his attention to the roaring flames that awaited him along with his challenger. He could hear the silent taunt coming from Nika, the warning that this was his last chance to save face and back down. Maybe it was the challenge itself, or the alcohol, or Avice herself, but he wasn't going to say no now. Not after all that build up.

Taking a deep breath, he took a step back before charging at the flames, leaping at the blaze and he felt the flames lick at his skin, burning the back of his legs. The skin was raw and red as he landed, rolling as he hit the ground instead of the graceful and solid landing of his opponent, but it was far better than landing in the fire itself.

There was a few seconds of heavy breathing, ragged for a second before he laughed, pushing himself up as the rush of adrenaline took over.

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Bailey paused as they watched the display of the warrior jumping the fire. The blaze lit up the sky with an aura of it's own that caught her attention, grinning at the victorious fanfare and the pride in the young man's demeanor before realizing that the next to step up was one of her own people. She remembered looking after him along with her own younger brother sometimes, a hand coming to cover her mouth for a brief second as her breath caught in her throat before falling back to her side. Caleb had been more successful than she thought.

Her expression softened when Timur spoke, turning her attention back to him as she caught the tone of his voice, his eyes looking but not seeing what was before them. She didn't need to ask to know he felt the loss of the majority of the people he had known all his life. His question threw her, though not as much as it might have, and Bailey felt her chest tighten with nerves. Her smile didn't fade, though her thoughts went to someone else for a moment until she saw him join the dancers with another girl, reminding her of the differences. She nodded after a moment, the tightness easing as her expression warmed, the firm boundaries she normally kept easing as she remembered her own desires.

"You may."

[Blake Oleander]

"The hunt was good and we are rebuilding. Something better than before. The future is as bright as the sun, we have only to grasp it and claim it with a united voice."

Blake responded, dancing and lacing his fingers with hers as they moved with the music.


Timur smiled softly at Bailey's permission and would cup her cheek with rough calloused hands as he brought his lips to hers to punctuate the celebration with a brief, but pleasant kiss.

"Sometimes fleeting moments are the most precious because of their scarcity. I thank you for indulging me in this one."


Nika watched as Caleb made his jump, clearing it through without the grace of the warrior. The burns on his leg would need to be tended to with ointment but he had made it. And like the others in the crowd, Nika was roaring with approval. He was the first to offer his hand to help Caleb up, slapping him on the shoulder in congratulations if he accepted.

"Not bad softie. You'll be a brother yet!"

He was all grins as his gaze turned back to Avice. Placing two fingers in his mouth to let out a whistle of encouragement. The beating of the drums growing more intense as the next person jumped and cleared while Avice decided how she wanted to tackle this challenge. All eyes were not on her, a stranger to these lands. But Nika's were.

[Avice Locke]

She raised her arms and clapped with a loud cheer for he who landed on the other side. She would stand from her seat at it was now her own chance to try it. Taking one more shot before setting the cup and the flask down.

She felt warm on the inside. Looking at the two shirtless men on the otherside of the blaze she began lifting her own shirt! But getting about half way and stopping she playfully winked and smoothed it back down.

She'd get serious now. Gauging the size of the fire and in a couple of seconds she calculated with a visual feel of distance, speed, and force it looked steep. Without using Qi she would have to fly. But she'd get into position and take off! With a running start she'd kick off and shove her fleshy leg forward tucking her metal one close and she can see...

She wasnt going to make it...

Going to land right in the blaze she unfolded her metal leg and found ground on a tall log as it crunched beneath her weight she felt just enough shove from it that it got her forward enought to land in a tumble. Landing on her side and momentum keeping her in the dirt extinguishing what fire she might have carried. She smelled burning hair and cloth and along her back she felt tender to the touch. But it seems other than some crispy jeans her clothes and lower half were decently protected by the denim.

She blinked disorientated. And groaned trying to figure out which way was up and what was solid. She'd make an effort to stand full on busting out laughing at the ale and the shake in her fingers of adrenaline rushing through her thinning blood. She felt better right now than she had in months.

[Bailey Oleander]

Leena would give Blake's fingers a gentle squeeze at his words.

"Then let's reach together and see what a new day brings."


Bailey's cheeks flushed at the touch, the kiss sweet but short-lived. She returned the kiss, smiling as they parted. It was sweet; a few months ago, she might have wanted to stay for more. But it wasn't there, and they were both content with the short but sweet moment as the cheers and whoops surrounding them.

"Thank you, Timur. I hope you are able to find even more joy in the days to come."


Caleb took the hand and clasped it in a grip of his own as he stood up, grinning and laughing alongside Nika as the flames crackled merrily now instead of promising to make meat of him.

"Thanks, flame strider. And here you thought I'd be part of tonight's roast." He grinned and thumped Nika on the back. "I'll beat you one day yet, just wait." He grinned and raised his fist to the sky with a whoop as they signaled for Avice to take her turn when she was ready.

He stepped forward when Avice fell halfway into the fire, limbs and all.

“Looks like we both could do some extra training for that,” he said as Avice pushed herself up with a laugh.

[Blake Oleander]

"I would like that."

Blake said. Speaking as a leader to one of his people rather than as a man to a woman. His mind still thinking about how far they had come and how far they still had to go.

"May the best day you have now be the worst of those to come." Timur would say with a small bow of his head, wishing her the best in life as he'd slowly let go of her hand. "If you will forgive me, I think I will retire early tonight. Thank you for the dance."

Nika was there shortly after Caleb giving her a once-over with his gaze, but trying to not look concerned.

"Well, at least you both made it."

Trying to be positive about the mishap. She didn't seem to be worse for wear at least.

[Avice Locke]

"Aye! That was a riot. Though I... want to ask the both of ya if ya dun mind sharing my tent tonight?" She grinned feeling what ever was in her spread like wildfire on a dry plain. It was euphoric and being herr helped her to feel more welcome than a cushy bed in the halls of Prestigious Cabal. She looped one of her fingers on each hand around their belts and loops.

"What ya say?" she flushed hot on her cheeks and her eyes glossed a bit under dark curls and thick lashes.

[Bailey Oleander]

"So would I." It was clear he didn't mean it on a personal level, much to Leena's dismay. Still, she wasn't giving up, and if he thought of their future on the whole, then he was as good as Bailey's promise to her parents sounded.


"And to you. May your sleep bring you peace, Timur." Bailey nodded and stepped away from the group of dancers, taking water rather than alcohol when it was offered to her. She wasn't much of a drinker anyway, but tonight it just smelled off, like the fruit was too sharp or too ripe. No one else seemed to notice it, though. Absently, her gaze went to Blake, realizing, not for the first time, that he had come to mind first tonight, yet she hadn't even danced with him.

It felt odd that she was even thinking that, like their first days at Cabal together were a life time ago. Days where he intimidated her into silence, and she was sure he only tolerated her because he had to while he was there. She blinked when she saw him dancing with Leena, a young woman she didn't know much of from home. They hadn't spent much time together, with Bailey far more content to be alone. She'd wait her turn, unperturbed. Instead, her focus was on the young woman who had joined Blake, the one from Cabal. It seemed her leap had not be as successful, but they were all laughing and having a good time.


Either the miss was really drunk or alright, maybe both. Caleb gave Avice a cheeky grin and a laugh.

"Well I'm down for an adventure if our new friend here is." He's assuming they're not going to share it at the same time. "If that's what you want, Avice."