Just Another Day

There was an extra air of liveliness and anticipation as the Sylvans gathered the next morning to see the day's events. There was to be a flying race and a display of weapons skill. As expected, many of the Ferals were skeptical of the latter event and a bit miffed they were to be judged by their use of such fighting methods reserved for the elderly, infirmed, or lazy.

The flyers were brought out onto the field of the foot races of the day before where they were met with a great applause. A sleek dragon was waiting for them and alighted before them. She was a mid-sized dragon of the variety that was found around the Nyre, with the top of her back about even with the tops of the heads of those she was to lead and judge. She seemed about as uneasy as the racers, but held her slender head high anyway.

"I know your kind has more stamina for the ground than the sky, so this will be shorter than the foot race. Just eight furlongs. We'll go about in a long loop. I have no obstacles planned, and I have attendants in waiting should there be a disgruntled flock of gryphons or harpies nearby," she explained calmly. She bobbed her head to suggest they line up, and after they had, she called the signal to start and took to the air with a running leap.

The Kurach were quick behind her and she kept her pace slow so she wouldn't lose them. The dragon kept her head turned a bit so she could keep an eye behind her to check for any cheating or sabotage.

Despite her concerns, the flight was absent of external influence. Within the flight, there was plenty of competition. With the Fernwicks having the most at stake, they were working the hardest. Ryan, the one who helped bring about the rebellion and relayed the most messages, was the representative for the rebels, and kept neck-and-neck with his rival from the fundamental counterpart of their clan.

Close on their tails were the two from Sushaw and Waebre, and they had worked to form a bit of a wall to keep the others from advancing further, without drawing suspicion from their dragon escort. The flyers from the Scissortail and Weolcen clans did their best to pester the sneaky saboteurs before them, while the ones from Blade and Falnor just tried to keep up.

The race ended in a steep dive between the two Fernwicks. Paris hit the ground just a half-step before Ryan, and was declared the winner. Tempers were flaring when the rest landed, but they were too winded to say or do much.

They were dismissed, scores were counted, and it was time for midday meal. Tensions were high between the two tribes as rumours spread quickly of the subtle workings during the flight and they kept themselves rather separated as they ate.

"I must applaud the cleverness," Shanku mused. "Cheating right under a dragon's nose? That takes skill!"

"Who's side are you on, anyway?" Muso asked grumpily.

"Ours, obviously. I didn't have a pair of knitting needles brandished at me for nothing," Shanku giggled.

"I wonder what'll happen this afternoon at the range?" Muso wondered.

"I'm looking forward to it. Ferals rarely use weapons. I can't help but wonder if this'll be the one thing the Imperials have a clear advantage with."

"I don't want to hand the whole day to those bullies," Muso grumbled.

"Might makes right," Shanku shrugged.

"Strength is nothing if you don't have the speed or skill to use it correctly," Muso grinned deviously. "I've outsmarted my fair share of big ugly brutes."

"I don't know why they couldn't just stay home and behave themselves. Perhaps you could enlighten us, wayward sister?" Banhi asked as she gave Shanku a look.

"Hey, now," Shanku playfully huffed. "I came back! And I didn't cause all that much trouble while I was out and about. I can take you with me the next time I go, if you'd like."

"Next time? What's this 'next time'?" Nari asked suspicously as she peered narrowly at Shanku.

"Oh, nothing, nothing at all," Shanku said with an impish smile and waved her hand dismissively.

"Whatever you've got planned, please what a few years," Nari sighed. "I'd like to spend at least some time with you."

"Maybe we could make a family outing of it! We wouldn't have to go far," Shanku started.

"No, thank you," Nari said curtly.

Shanku continued to smile like a fox as she finished her lunch.

Like the day before, the second event was started after the spectators returned from their lunches. The lizardlike kirshani had swarmed the field while the flying races were being had and had set up multiple targets with which to test the Sylvans slingers. The first series were simple enough. Very thin mats woven from wool were draped over sacks of hay and nine squares were painted on them. The goal was to strike the center square and points would be deducted the further away the mark landed.

The slingers had their choice of either handheld slings or slingstaves, whichever they were more familiar with. The kirshani provided them with their ammunition and let them choose which hay sack they wished to target. Being a static target, the sack attack portion ended with very competitive scores.

The kirshani then directed the slingers to the woven mats with weighted bottoms they had dangling from rope lines and strung up by a few armoured dwarves on pedestals. When given the signal, the dwarves began to vigorously shake the ropes, making the mat bounce and bob wildly.

"Don't be shy. It doesn't bite!" a kirshani said cheerily.

This served as a much more difficult challenge, and of the five shots each were allowed to take only one or two were lucky to hit. One of the slingers slipped on their footing and their bullet pinged off the side of a dwarf's helmet.

"Looks like we're safe from your aim!" giggled the kirshani referree. "We're even faster than those mats when we're in the trees!"

"Speak fer yerself!" growled the assaulted dwarf.

"I'll be nicer on this one," chirped the kirshani and pointed to clay disks set at various heights. The lowest was propped against the ground a good distance away while the highest was close but nearly at four times the height of the kurach. The slingers lined up and took their turns again. The three lowest targets were easy and all hit their mark. The three highest were a bit harder due to the angle and only two were able to hit the highest, while a third was able to chip it.

"Final round," the kirshani said as his helpers scurried to set up the last line of targets. "Stopping is allowed, but the faster you can run and clear all the targets, the higher your score. Go!"

This excited the slingers and they gladly obliged, and even tried to show off a bit. This had an unexpected side effect of having either side cheer for a contestant based on how well they performed.

When they were finished, the scores were tallied, and the kirshani announced who had placed at what rank. Waebre, Falnor, and Scissortail were the top three, and this was accepted more readily than the morning's results with the flying races.

The slingers were dismissed to their families and the spectators dispersed to go indulge in more autumnal celebrations, many with cubs in tow that were trying to imitate their favorite contestant.

"I really like those slings," Shanku mused as she left the stands with her family. "I think I should like to learn how to use one. The little stringy ones would fold up nicely inside a hip pouch. The handheld wooden ones seemed to difficult to use."

"Not confident with teeth or claws?" Muso teased.

"Plenty confident and capable," Shanku shot back playfully. "But there would be a distinct advantage to having such a useful little rock tosser. Being able to thump you on the head at a distance, for example!" As she said that she bopped her little brother on top of the head.

"Maaaa!" Banhi whined as Shanku and Muso began to tussle and rough house.

"Cuuubs," Nari groaned. "Settle down."

"Shanku started it!" Muso protested.

"I don't care who started it, I'm ending it!" Nari said flatly.

Muso grumbled and contained himself sullenly. Shanku grinned and stuck her tongue out at her brother when their mother wasn't looking. Muso raised an eyebrow and shook his finger at her, and mouthed "just you wait" silently. Shanku just giggled.

"I'm going to go find Katari. I think they're going to set up a little practice range and I want to challenge him to a slinging match," Shanku announced to her family and disappeared into the throng to find him.

"I'll bet she wins," Muso said devilishly to his little sister.

"I'll bet she misses and knocks him out cold," Banhi replied with a roll of her eyes.

"So, do you come to tournaments often?" Ina asked as she slipped next to Hilael. He cut a quick glance at her and said nothing. "Strong, silent type I see. I like that."

"If I talk, will you go away?" Hilael asked bluntly.

"Quite the opposite! I'd love to hear what you think for once," Ina said with a broad grin.

"I think you're annoying," he remarked.

"Not what I had in mind, but I'll take what I can get," Ina giggled.

"Why won't you leave me alone?" Hilael asked.

"I like you. I think you're nice," Ina replied.

"You don't know me," Hilael sighed with resignation.

"Well then, help me change that, and then I can give you a more thorough explanation why I think you're nice," Ina laughed. Hilael simply gave her a sideways glance. "Aw, c'mon now," Ina said lightly and playfully pushed his shoulder. "What's the worst that could happen if we become friends?"

"Lowborn dog gets his ass kicked by jealous highborns?" Hilael grumbled.

"Ah," Ina said as she shifted uneasily. "Well, um, what if I could help with that?"

"I'm not going to drag you into my problems," Hilael said sternly.

"Can't drag what's running ahead of you!" Ina teased. "Upon my honor as the best upcoming scribe, I shall fight off would-be rivals together with you!"

"I don't fight," Hilael reminded her.

Ina just raised an eyebrow. "You can't let Shanku and Muso have all the fun."

"I don't. I don't find it fun. I'm a gatherer and healer, not a hunter or warrior."

"Oh, really?" Ina asked and her ears pricked up. Hilael silently cringed as he realized he had just let some personal information slip through. "Scribes and healers pair well, you know. I'm already well trained in the art of sketching and recording, and think of how beautiful our book would be since my mother is teaching me her calligraphy. Word through the ferns is that you handled yourself pretty well on the trip up to the Fernwick clan when that strange netherbeast attacked."

Hilael glanced back at her, mildly alarmed.

"Oh, don't worry. You're not going to be called on for demonstrations or anything," Ina chuckled. "But if you ever decide to share your secret for others to learn, I would like to be the one to write it down for you."

Hilael walked on in uncomfortable silence. It hadn't been his knowledge of plants and herbs that had saved his sister. The little fairy dragon currently keeping herself hidden near his sleeping quarters had lead him to what he needed. Now he had further suspicions on why this dame kept chasing him. Ina began to prattle on about her various observations on the games and generally make idle chit-chat in an attempt to engage him further, but Hilael was determined to stay silent despite her best efforts. In time, she left him to go seek out her own family for the night time festivities.

Meanwhile, Katari and Shanku were making their way toward the main clearing for the evening meal.

"You don't think our folks will miss us?" Katari asked.

"What trouble could we possibly get in to out here in the crowd watching whatever entertainment there is to be had tonight?" Shanku said nonchalantly as she waited in line with him near the supper table.

"I try not to underestimate your talents," Katari teased. Shanku rolled her eyes playfully and passed a bowl to him.

"Looks like a stew tonight," she remarked as they came upon a large pot.

"Smells like a stew, too," he replied cheerfully.

Their bowls were filled with a few ladle-fulls by a Weolcen chef quite proud of their concoction, and the two made their way to the mossy base of an old, knobby tree.

"I'm glad it's hot," Shanku said before blowing on it. "It's so nippy out here tonight! You'd never believe I lived somewhere colder for a several months."

"Next time we'll bring a blanket then," Katari suggested.

"Nah, we'll do it old-fashioned," Shanku said and sat very close to him. "If you don't mind."

"Er, not at all, I guess," Katari stammered as Shanku settled in next to him and slid one of her wings under his wing. He realized he hadn't been in this close proximity with her since they were cubs. Part of him was nervous she'd suddenly become playful and tackle him. He always lost their wrestling matches back then. Luckily, she seemed only interested in watching the bards. There was the issue of his own wing nearest her. Either it could stay squished up to his side, or he could wrap it over the wing she had extended under his. Tentatively, he eased his wing around. To his relief, she paid him no mind, and he relaxed. They sat quite snug together, enjoying their stew and watching the show.

After the evening meal, the attendees slowly meandered off to their various quarters or went about to enjoy the evening in the forest. Shanku bid Katari goodnight and went off to find her family. The first she found was poor Hilael, still having his ears jabbered off by Ina.

"Hallo, there!" Shanku said cheerily as she came up to them. "Lovely night, no?"

Hilael glowered at her.

"Quite!" Ina replied. "This is the most fun I've had. Who'd have thought those grumpy ol' Eor would have such silly bards?"

Shanku engaged Ina in conversation about the evening's performances as Hilael slowly and carefully positioned his sister between him and his avid follower. When the air became decidedly chillier, Ina finally dismissed herself and left for her nest.

"I thought she'd never leave," Hilael huffed.

"You weren't kiddin' when you said she hung around you a lot," Shanku giggled.

"I'm being hunted," Hilael grumbled. "And now I'm not sure if she's just overly friendly or wanting to be the first to write down that poultice Innugati showed me for the yamaer's venom."

"How'd she find out about that?" Shanku asked.

"Apparently Piram talked to some people about it and word eventually got to her about the 'miracle' healer," Hilael sighed. "As if I'm going to be able to talk about how I did it. The last thing I need are cries of 'witchcraft'."

"Nope," Shanku shook her head. "Not any time soon. Not until they get a bit more comfortable with fae."

"It is very annoying. A lot of those plants have been forbidden for a long time for who-knows-what reason. What if they also work on snake bites? How much useful knowledge has gone to waste for baseless fears?" Hilael growled.

"Probably not entirely baseless," Shanku replied curiously. "Somebody probably used it the wrong way and then we all got punished for it."

"I'll never understand why the innocent get punished for the sins of another," Hilael said flatly. Shanku shrugged. She could somewhat explain it, but she didn't understand it either. They made their way back together to their parents.

Muso and Banhi were sound asleep under a layer of blankets when the older cubs returned. Zanzen and Nari were cuddled up, but still awake. They quietly greeted each other as Shanku and Hilael got ready for bed.

"Did you enjoy yourselves?" Nari asked.

"Yes!" Shanku chirped.

"No," Hilael hrmphed.

"Get a good rest. Tomorrow is the big battle royale," Zanzen told them. "It's bound to be long."

"I look forward to it," Shanku said gleefully.

"I look forward to this being over," Hilael sighed.

Shanku carefully crawled in bed with Banhi as Hilael did the same with Muso and Innugati curled up near Hilael's head.