"The Protection of the Hunter" Log Date: 2/2/01 Log Cast: Faanshi, Mehul, Salmalin Log Intro: Ever since her settling in Haven, Faanshi has been accustomed to being alone on her forays into Bordertown. Luck -- and although she does not know it, an unspoken agreement amongst many in that quarter of the city that the healer who so freely heals anyone she meets should walk unmolested through the streets -- has been with her, keeping her safe from harm for all that Bordertown is the most dangerous part of Haven. She has sometimes been guarded, for the Agni-Haidar have not forgotten what she did for a few of their own... but she _is_ a shudra, and she _is_ a halfbreed, and for the most part deemed unworthy of protection. Especially by the Lions of Fire. But with the coming of Mehul into her life, the healer has a new protector, and one who turns frantic when she disappears out of Atesh-Gah to heal someone in the night. One who remains frantic until she shows up again the following morning... and one who is finally about to impress upon the shy halfbreed the depth of his concern for her welfare.... *===========================< In Character Time >===========================* Time of day: Morning Date on Aether: Saturday, October 15, 3907. Year on Earth: 1507 A.D. Phase of the Moon: Waxing Gibbous Season: Fall Weather: Clouds Temperature: Cool *==========================================================================* It's not too often that come the morning Faanshi is trudging _in_ through the gates of Atesh-Gah rather than _out_. But inward she does indeed trudge, Kosha scampering along at her side; the maiden's face and form are demurely veiled and sari-swathed as always, making her condition perhaps a bit difficult to glean, though she moves as she always does, as unobtrusively as possible. Perhaps, however, the dog's high good humor might be taken as a positive sign, for his ears are up and so is his tail, and his canine body language proclaims that as far as _he_ is concerned, all is right with the world. A dark panther paces within the confines of his cage in t he noonlight, his coat glimmering in the sunlight and smoldering fire burning mercilessly within his eyes. Claws rap, tap themselves with nervous anticpation, as accusing glares are sent off in the the unseen distance where only the imaginable resides. The Hutner at unrest, hands behind his back, clasped, writhing, a frown creasing his powerful face, walks in a maelstrom of conflicting emotions, fury, worry, disgust... but mostly worry. Gone for too long. She never told him... He's looked, and even he couldn't find her! So for the entire day he's stood here, he's walked here, and he's waited here... and perhaps now it has paid off at long last. A head snaps, sending unattended silken strands of dark hair in a sharp wave back over the shoulder of the massive Varati that is Mehul, and his gaze fixated on the approaching shudra. He hesitates not. An overly quick stride carries him whatever distance rests between them, crossing it in mere seconds. Caring not for the others around, him, if there even are any, he has paid little attention to such insignificant things... he takes her up in to his arms, clasping her shoulders tightly and pulling her to him, a smile perhaps beginnign to tug at those hardened lips and delicate features. "Where have you been?!" he exclaims in a deep, rumbling breath of sighed relief, attempting to keep his voice from trembling with anger or affection. The moment he espies the big Varati so anxiously awaiting the maiden, Kosha lets out an affable bark and breaks into a faster lope to close the distance between himself and Mehul -- and as the man crushes Faanshi to him, another oddity for an autumn morning in the courtyard of Atesh-Gah, he wags his tail at top speed. As for Faanshi herself, she has barely enough time to lift up her gaze to the man before his arms claim her. "I... I... forgive me," comes a breathless little squeak from behind her ebon veil. "Ushas... forgive me, Mehul, I had no time to tell you, the call came for me in the night--" Salmalin stops dead in his tracks as he leaves the fountain area. His hair is messed and impressions of grass criss cross along his body as though he had just awoken from a nap. Do his eyes decieve him? Mehul and.. and Faanshi? Trying to suppress a grin he moves toward them slowly, watching carefully those about them. How odd, it feels like a dream or a nightmare. Stopping short of them he just waits quietly, picking grass from his hair. Unfortunately, for all the closer animal and Varati have grown over the past days, Kosha might find himself, for the time being forgotten, for it is Faanshi who arrests the full attention of Mehul, his arms relinquishing her but a small distance from his massive form, his chest heaving, rising and falling with an unbidden uneasy and excited breath. A right hand, smooth and fluid in motions, delicate in caress but rough and caloused with the years of wielding steel shifts to hook and capture the chin of the shudra maiden, through her veil, disregarding its existance as trivial and tilting her face up to his so that his eyes, burning, churning with a ferocious and invisible flame might meet her own and stare, to perhaps ensure she is truly safe, to gaze in to the depths of her soul and search her being for a sign, any sign of harm or peace. "I had no idea where you were!" he breathes, shaking his head and silencing those roaring charcoal orbs with a snapping of lids. "It is of no matter... you are safe and you are here... that is all that..." It's but a flash of movement, a pale and sickly flicker within the light of the noon sun and a dagger, colored completely that of obisidian is in the hands of The Hunter, and the arm is extended, his body sheltering, towering, and protecting over that of the shudra maiden, toward the newest intruder, Salmalin. It lasts but a moment, for with the falling of the limb, the weapon vanishes, and he only glares, daring this drunkard to speak. Oftentimes the shudra maiden's eyes are hollow and dark about their corners, and this morning is no exception; indeed, Faanshi's gaze might well seem a trifle more weary than usual. And startled too as she feels Mehul move. For a fraction of an instant she gives a tiny gasp, not having realized the man could change position quite so quickly... nor is she even quite certain what he did, for she is weary enough not to entirely trust her senses. "I am safe," she assures. "Tired... but that will pass. I did much healing in the night... I have not been awake for long..." And she lifts up a hand of her own, though without the deadly grace of her big companion, and scrubs the back of that hand across her eyesl. Dare to speak? Salmalin is a drunkard, but he is also no fool. His own hands move to his back as the man draws a weapon upon him. But nothing is brought forth in response. Instead Mehul is offered a rather dark look that spreads across his body like a cobra preparing to strike. Of course that all disappears into a wide grin as he steps closer, his eyes upon Faanshi. "Why Imphada... You look tired. Perhaps you should rest or at least sit down if you still wish to relay your adventures with us." Oh that smile is sincere enough, yet seems to disappear as he glances at Mehul. "I had come to discuss a matter with you and was told you had left hastily. I hope everything is well." Savage fury is all that could ever possibly describe the smoldering fury that resides within the darkly burning charcoal eyes of Mehul, luckily turned, for the moment, away from Faanshi. That was excitement as the drunkard's hand went behind his back, and blood already, can be tasted upon the lips of The Hunter. He will not relinquish her, however, not to this vermin. Wherever Salmalin steps, Mehul is there, casually and conveniently between the shudra maiden and the other Varati. "Yes, Faanshi..." he turns his back, once more staring down in to the beautiful, even if haggard eyes of the woman he adores, his features and demeanor breathing nothing but unwavering devotion and affection, nodding, "Lets at the least sit you down somewhere, in the shade." Sitting sounds like a marvelous idea, and Faanshi bobs her head solemnly to both of the men, oblivious to the reactions they have to one another for once. "There is not too much to tell," she murmurs, even as she peers off to locate the nearest place she can comfortably sit down. "A Mongrel man came to the gates in the night... his roof had fallen in, on his daughters...!" Salmalin falls back as they move away and with no other sign then a blink he starts to laugh. His laughter is of true mirth as he watches Mehul and Faanshi. Oh.. this has to be a dream to be so wonderful. Scratching at his head he steps back, looking toward the emassy doors. "Ahh.. well then.. if everything is fine I think I shall go seek a drink for my dry throat. May you both walk in His Light and find happiness." Not event he satisfaction or dignity of a resposne shall Mehul give the drunkard, for he knows from where that 'humor' stems and he will not throw more wood unto a flame, less it be Salmalin's funeral pyre. His back toward the pathetic excuse for a Varati warrior, he who would dare to threaten The Hunter, his attentions are for Faanshi and Faanshi alone, the other dismissed completely fromt he course of his mind and heart. Do not tempt the hand of death. One hand finds a partner from the shudra, lazing and clasping with it securely as he guides her to the nearest bench, giving it an affectionate squeeze, one that is sure to be seen, and intentionaly so, as the maiden is helped to her seat. "When was this? They are alright now?" Concern laces his tender and rumbling voice, surprisingly fluid and pleasing to the ear in a delicate manner that matches those smooth and flawless features of his face. He does not take his place upon the bench, rather he kneels before her, examining her more carefully. "Thank you, Salmalin... namaste'... I-I shall remain in Atesh-Gah today if you wish to discuss matters of the Sylvans with me--" Even though she looks worn about her edges, Faanshi remains conscious of duty. And while Mehul might be disdaining to acknowledge the Voice's presence, the maiden appreciates the kshatri man's consideration whether he is a drunkard or no. She give the Voice a shy, kind glance that might perhaps go with a wisp of a smile, but such an expression is effectively hidden as always by her veil. In the meantime, she sinks tirely down onto the bench, and while the dog wanders over to sniff his own greeting at the Voice, Faanshi murmurs to Mehul, "It happened in the night... the Imphadi Micah's daughters will be all right. On the way back though I-I had to help someone else... a man I know and his friend... they'd been hurt. The Empyrean's wing was broken...!" Salmalin reaches down a hand to pet at the dog, but it is not for long. He is up the steps in a sprint and soon is pushing open the doors, disappearing into the shadowy depths. Salmalin ascends the stairs to Atesh-Gah's sturdy double doors, allowed past by the ever-present Agni-Haidar. Salmalin has left. Through all that she says, Mehul doesn't hear most of it, making his note known with acknowledging nods and small little smiles, some worried, some happy and proud... he is just glad she is safe, and the thoughts that had so consumed his mind the past night and day swirl and rage throughout him, finally beginning to disipate and drift off in to oblivion, sedated and set to rest by the shudra maiden, in reality, sitting here before him. The Hunter had not slept at all last night, he had been out, searching, endlessly searching for her til he thought he would drop from exhaustion... which in itself is not like him. Emotional exhaustion it must surely be, but it does not show much upon his features, at least not to those sensitive to him. "What had happened to them?" It is not very often either that men kneel before Faanshi, and the rather strange experience of having Mehul do so now has pulled her attention to his position. "Y-you don't have to kneel," she shyly murmurs, indicating the bench and the space upon it beside her. "There is plenty of room... I-I do not know. I think the dominus told me they had been ambushed, it ws Bordertown so I am not surprised... his wing was pulled out of the place where it was supposed to join with his body..." The words come out of Faanshi in a bit of a babble, perhaps because of her consternation at Mehul's kneeling, and perhaps simply because she is tired. She sheepishly concludes, "I think I must have fainted when I finished healing them both. I woke up in the Palladium...!" The only response to her protests about him kneeling before her is a dismissive shake of his head, repeated if necessary. It is best this way so he can stare in to hr eyes, examine her for injury or weakness or whatever else might plague her. Besides, with the sun cascading over her form as such, crossing its zenith, it casts an aura about her... and makes her look even more beautiful than ever. He would not dare move from this position, or give up that spectacular view. Fainted! She fainted in Bordertown and he wasn't there for her! "I'm sorry Faanshi, I should have been there... But at least you are safe, and you did a good many people a great favor..." He smiles lightly and just as such, pats the back of one of her hands, clasping it between both of his. Just as she'd been to the tensions crackling back and forth between Mehul and Salmalin, so too is Faanshi oblivious to whatever effect the autumnal sunshine might have upon her appearance. The hand of hers he holds squeezes against his own, while she brings her other over to join its mate. "I simply did not think to leave you a-a message," she admits in humble tones. "The Imphadi Micah was frantic and needed me to come at once -- the fault is mine...!" "No. No fault here Faanshi." Mehul insists with a fevered shake of his head again before once more capturing her gaze and staring deeply in to her eyes, now actually smiling, not just a bit, but a full-fledged one full with tender affection. "You are safe, thats is all what matters. But know whenever you need to go somewhere, no matter the time, please, you may come to me and I will accompany you. I am your guard..." and his voice suddenly falls quite hushed, so that what he speaks can not be heard beyond their own little circle of privacy, "And I... care for you..." Even still, he's not about to speak those words in such an open space, "I wont let any harm come to you..." He might be kneeling, but nevertheless the barely banked power and ferocity just beneath the surface of Mehul's outer self give him a commanding presence utterly at odds with his current humble position... and Faanshi stares down raptly into charcoal eyes, all at once flustered and humbled and deeply moved by what he breathes to her. "All right," she promises, "I will come and get you, when I am called out in the night...!" A nod is given, one that lazily bobs deeper than perhaps it should, one that is accompanied by a great, if almost silent sigh of relief, and when it lifts, so does Mehul, his arms wrapping about Faanshi, enfolding her and pulling her in to an embrace, clutching her to him snugly, "Thank you..." he breathes in to her ear through the fabric that covers it, nuzzling his cheek so softly agaisnt her own... just so thankful that she is safe. It is a time before he pulls away, and when he does, he places a brief kiss upon her lips, one that hopefully, and most likely, everyone else missed. Even if it must be over her veil, he does not care as his mouth parts from hers and he settles back to kneel before her once more. [And with her promise of accepting his protection given by the shudra to the Hunter, end log.]