Just Another Day

Shanku balanced her new chest on her arm and clapped with the crowd as the dancer finished and took a low bow.

"She's good," she said happily as she watched the dancer bow a few more times to the onlookers. Some threw coins to her.

"Indeed," said a man beside her.

Shanku looked up to see he was also a kurach, but neither Sylvan nor one of the tropical ones. Long ears and tail, spots and bars on his wings, and a long face marked him as one from the prairie. Kind of.

"Are you from the plains?" Shanku asked with a grin. He was dressed a bit differently in loose clothes and a sash about his waist and neck, but he still bore a striking resemblance to her friend Anoki.

"Yes, but think 'shifting sand' rather than 'rolling grass'," he nodded.

"Your friend too?" Shanku asked when she noticed a man standing beside him dressed the same. His skin was very dark and made his bald head seem extra shiny.

"Yes," the man nodded. His voice was deeper than any kurach or man Shanku had heard.

"I'm Shanku. I come from the forest," Shanku grinned. "Your markings are exactly like those my friends in L'aernth have," Shanku continued giddily.

"His clan was an import to my people's lands," the man said. "I am Junaid, and this is Zos."

"The stories say that many years ago, my clan lived in L'aernth," Zos said. "You've probably met my distant kinsmen."

"Maybe," Shanku looked at the spots on his primaries. "Why'd they leave L'aernth?"