The first step was always the hardest, even if it was nothing more than standing among potential friends and packmates. This a step towards unity just as she had hoped for, but they were awkward, tentative steps like a puppy threading on ground for the first time since leaving its mother's bosom. The open road, a time of solitude was her bosom and now she had chosen to thread the strange and wondrous.
The woman arrived not in Secui, but in Optime form for once, braving against the emotional distraught to appear as she had often seen bother Jaden and Nayru; comfortable. Around her shoulders was her trophy groomed and hung with care. So used to her traditions, she wore the banner as her mark as a Nomad warrior. She did not expect others to understand its meaning, but the nervous female found comfort in elevating her tension through caressing its fur. She breathed deep the many scents that filled the air; the aroma of food and wine, of company and strangers. The Nomad hadn't been part of a gathering like this since her coming of age as an Exultare, and wondered what celebration brought many together like this... but her nervous tongue kept her silent simply observing.
The echo of the assembling call still resonated in her ears long after her approach upon the gathering. It looked nothing like an urgent matter for there were relaxed spirits and ease in interaction. They were happy and talking among themselves, even new members as they announced themselves. The woman's tail swayed hopefully. Perhaps they would be willing to talk? Though her eye had caught the Jiryu and steps lead her immediately forward, X'yrin realized she could not rely on the Shepard's shadow. This was her opportunity to brave a step toward the unknown, not keep to the familiar. Wasn't this what she sought out of Ichika?
Of course it was!
The woman raised her head with swelling chest of determination, then just as quickly exhausted her nervous tension. It would be alright, she calmed herself, retreating from Nayru's shadow to stranger pastures. Her eyes fell first upon the lupus formed Kiara sitting with a smile near the fire, then drifted to the stammering Shiloh, wrecked with nervousness worse than she. X'yrin felt the weight of her ears as they dropped against her skull, suddenly mirroring nervousness of the like. She opened her mouth to speak, standing like a towering fool among the flickering light of the radiant flames. Where had her voice gone since that new-found determination? She at least recognized the arctic female, and after that time working their task together, why couldn't she speak even to her? She felt her lips trembling, the excitement she had nearly giving way to fear. For the life of her she needed to get together, less she look like a fool! Hurriedly her head whipped around the gathering, seeking something... anything to rid her nervous spell. Again her eyes darted to Nayru but to the bottles in her possession.
She was upon the other in a matter of seconds, towering over the petite form with an almost pained look upon her face. "Shepard Nayru," the Nomad asked meekly. Her kempt dark auburn mane obscuring her eyes as carefully groomed long layers cascaded off shoulder as she bowed her head. Her fox pelt fell lifeless to the ground. "May I have one of your bottles to-" her ears twitched as she paused. What was the word? When she had gotten so used to speaking why NOW did her tongue decide to withhold? "-give? No... share. Yes! May I have one of your bottles to share?" She felt the tip of her tail tap her inner calf as she subtly tucked tail began to tremble.
Edited due to a plot change in another thread