Sorry for the wait. (WC: 549)
Tayui gave Kaena a satisfied nod, glad that the hybrid recognized her. The woman looked a little older than the last time they'd met, but that was a given. Time had passed, and she knew they both looked older. Their scars had faded, though, Kaena's were still far more obvious than Tayui's. Upon her arrival to the Bleeding Souls lands, Tayui had met with various apothecaries and healers to try and 'fix' her appearance. Although she was not as ashamed as she once was, it was still a reminder of things that had been. Kaena's fluidity in her Optime form and the certainty with which she spoke conveyed her years as a warrior. She knew her body and moved with an ease Tayui envied. A tattoo composed of arrows and blood stood out on her breast, and Tayui found her eyes drawn to it, conflicted between the symbols Kaena carried. Scars, a missing eye, and a dark tattoo, some of which was hidden by shaggy fur. The pale woman didn't know what to make of it, but it seemed fitting, for a woman who made her life out of war and commanded a clan that thrived in conflict. Tayui knew it was hypocritical to think this after having reprimanded Asha for espousing similar views, but anyone who met Kaena would be obliged to think the same. While Tayui had fled from war (perhaps she was a coward, then) and allowed the wild forests of Ashen Mountain to shape her, Kaena had been born into conflict. Perhaps this was why Tayui found herself so curious about the woman, and this war now. It fascinated her in ways she had never considered, and it fed her curiosity like nothing else. Perhaps Tayui was a little darker than she let on, and perhaps Kaena possessed more light than most knew.
But this was all feeble guesswork. No matter how perceptive Tayui thought she was, she had made her own errors, and would pay for it dearly. Tayui's eyes snapped to Kaena's face once more as the woman spoke, reflecting on Tayui's comment. Yes, the Infernian remembered their first meeting; that was a good sign.
“I led Shadowed Sun for a time, but it is long gone,” she replied after a pause. She weighed her words carefully, knowing that this was the truth, but not the whole truth. AniWaya was not allied with Inferni, and Tayui would not go around brandishing her allegiance so foolishly. She offered a noncommittal shrug to punctuate her words, the paused once more. “I was hoping I would find you,” she added, almost shyly. “This war,” she began, then paused, finally emphasizing: “what is it?” She did not know how else to phrase her thoughts, and she supposed it would be better to let Kaena interpret her question and answer it as she pleased. “If you don’t mind me asking, that is,” she concluded, not wanting to intrude. Certainly, she was curious, but she did not want to seem too curious. After all, she didn’t know how much Kaena had changed since she had seen her, or if she had ever known the Infernian well enough to judge her. Tayui was taking a huge risk here, but she knew her curiosity would never be sated unless she did.
Table by Kate!
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