It's said she's made of storm cells
and a wild wolf's hungry heart

Kiada was angry with the serval from the Rotunda. She was angry that her brother had seen through her flaws. She was angry that she had allowed such cracks in her usual façade. The child was still young, but she was trying to be so much older than she was. She was already two seasons old now, she needed to start learning things – and quickly. Khairi flew above her as the sun began to set, pleased with the light that emitted from his bonded as Kiada walked along familiar paths. The flames that licked along her spine were a mix of lions and wolves, a show of her courage for braving the Threshold after being turned down every time, and anger at her thoughts. She was growing taller, now. She wasn’t quite the filly sized companion she was before, and where the tuft of fur lined her neck and tail, it had begun to grow out. Small trails of fur made up her tail, as well as a rather floppy appearance to where her mane would soon grow into took place. Her white forelock was beginning to grow longer as well, and her horn was nearly twice the size it had been when she was born. She noticed the slight spiral to it, as well as the curve as it reached further toward the sky instead of straight like Mother’s did. She was beginning to realize how much like Father she appeared.

It didn’t bother her, though. She adored her father from the one night she had spent with him. And she held on dearly to the time she might meet the large King again. For now, though, she wandered. Her back emitting a small amount of light for her oceanic gaze to take in as she followed scents. And soon, she found herself wandering into a group already. There were two creatures, a pale dappled stallion that wasn’t as tall as her father was, but curious enough was Kiada to try and figure out if he was from Helovia or not. But Tilney was there, the tree marked man from the serval gathering. The man who had gotten his wish to speak with the gods, and for that she was partially jealous. She did her best to not let it affect her, using her practice with Romina on keeping her emotions under control. And so she stepped into the field of view with lions leaping along her back in the shape of fire. She had heard Tilney say welcome to Helovia before she had appeared, and was fairly set that the pale dappled man was the newcomer.

Khairi let out a gentle coo of hello as they stepped in, just about the time the pale man had finished speaking. He swooped down to her, landing along her back in familiar already scarred parts. She smiled to the two, dipping her ink dipped head slightly in a means of hello. “Jambo!” She called out to the two of them, the word learned from her dearest father in the time she had spent with him. “I’m Kiada, this is Khairi. We’re from the Aurora Basin.” She noted, motioning her head to Khairi as she introduced him. The white bearded vulture squawked a hello to the two as he settled, his orangey gaze drifting from Tilney to the man she hadn’t quite gotten the name of yet. “Are you looking for a home?” She asked, tilting her head – her tuft of mane flopping over as she did so. Her voice was soft and innocent, eyes wide and bright as she tried to finally accomplish the job she was determined to do every time she stepped foot into the Threshold.

"Talk."

---

Jambo = hello

that she's learnt the lightning's secret—

to ripping darkened skies apart.

Kiada