Saekana did her best not to bounce, standing beside the open port of the massive metal thing called a space ship-- the Dyr aSashyn, which meant something interesting in the native language of these strangers, called Sythyn, from another world who had named it. Any minute now, she would be stepping on board that space ship: she, the first adult, unbonded Enkeyn to leave Kartyn entirely and travel to other worlds.

I really am an explorer! she told herself proudly. Not only had she explored this new continent she had been born on, but she was now to explore the whole galaxy-- the whole universe-- where none of her kind had ever set foot before.

All for the small task of educating and looking after one orphaned, bonded pup!

Well, "small" task. Kiralraes, for all she was tiny, was hardly going to be a "small" task.

The Sythyn woman, Athanora, stood beside her, waiting, with that very teal-and-brown pup in her arms. Little Kiralraes rarely left that safe place whenever she and Athanora left their rooms together, unless she was in her creche, another "safe" place, and even then she was quiet and tense most of the time. Saekana had never seen a pup so tightly wound, and wondered how she ever relaxed enough to sleep, much less learn anything; she was a little worried that Kiralraes would never loosen up enough to trust her own teacher. She had met with Neralt and Athanora privately almost as soon as she'd returned to Kenist Miana, and had immediately agreed to the new assignment even before meeting the pup. Now that she'd spent some time watching Kiralraes and attempting-- without much success-- to engage her in conversation, she didn't actually regret the decision, and she certainly wasn't going to back out, but she thought her task might be harder than she'd originally expected.

Ah, well. Live, learn, make the best of it, and you'll always find some way to have fun with even a difficult situation, she'd always thought. There were plenty of bright sides, and perhaps Kiralraes would open up once Saekana became the only Enkeyn to talk to, the only one of her own species out in the great unknown. Maybe she just needed time. After all, she'd managed to latch onto Athanora and trust her... at least, she seemed to have, if that requiring to be carried and cuddled close, and her terror of being left without Athanora, was any indication. Rumor had it the pup went into panic attacks if Athanora left her for more than an hour. 

At any rate, she wouldn't have to attempt to be a teacher for six months. Until then, she would be a student-- as well as a measuring device, a test subject, an oddity, or whatever else she ended up being, as the only Enkeyn on a distant planet! She intended to learn as much as she could about the Sythyn while on their world-- she'd learn their language while en route, of course-- read as many of their books as she could, write down as many as she was told, and basically enjoy herself. Or, rather, to find out as much as she could that might help her understand her student's bond, of course.

Right.

At last, her flight-partner approached with his belongings, one Aavayl Vraanabotha, a sturdily-built Sythyn man with white-streaked brown hair and extremely thick, weathered, and pale gray skin stretched over his muscles and wrinkled a little over the bones of his face. He seemed a nice enough sort, though not particularly cheerful, but Saekana thought she could make up for that, herself. Most importantly, though, he was very willing to help her learn the language, as well as keep her entertained to the best of his ability. There was a gymnasium on board, whatever that was, that he said she could use to work off energy, somehow or another. She had yet to see it, but was sure that her first tour of the huge silver craft would include it.

Saekana waved a wing cheerfully, beaming, and made another effort to contain her energy. "Hello, sir! Or, uh, no... no sythvaa?"

"Nossury," Athanora prompted under her breath, correcting her from "good night" to "good evening". "Nossury sythvaa."

"Oh, right! Nossury sythvaa, Aavayl Vraanabotha," Saekana amended, fluffing up her feathers and perking her sizable ears proudly. She wasn't really very good with spoken languages, being very much a reader, and she was pleased she'd pronounced it at least nearly correctly. At least she was certain she had his name right. "Ready to go?"

"Yes, ma'am," Aavayl nodded solemnly, and she pulled her ears back against her horns.

"Oh, please, please, no ma'am. I'm not really very old, I promise."

A smile hinted at existence around Aavayl's mouth, but Saekana wasn't sure whether she imagined the expression or not. She hoped not. "If you wish... just Saekana, then?"

He had an accent-- unlike Athanora-- but he was understandable. Saekana could sympathize; she doubted her own rendition of his language would be so easily understandable! "That's just fine," she nodded eagerly.

"Are you sure about this?" Athanora asked quietly of Aavayl, interrupting in her own tongue, probably thinking it was quiet enough to be private, and she looked a little concerned. Saekana tried her best to look like she didn't have excellent hearing to go with her very large ears-- and, more pertinently, telepathy to eavesdrop on the meanings of words-- rolling her eyes heavenwards and twitching her tail idly. Neralt would call her a nosy little sneak, and Saekana might agree with her, in some situations. This, however, was not one of them, especially since listening to the meanings of words would help her learn them.  

"I'll be fine, 'Nora," Aavayl answered with something that probably was a smile. It didn't look particularly natural on his dour-seeming face, but at least he was capable of it. "It's only two weeks, and then I'll be home."

"We can still all come with you...."

"No, no. Kiralraes needs a little more time before we uproot her, I know, and it will be good for you and Thyravon to spend some time together."

From the expression on Athanora's face, that was the last thing she wanted. Saekana hadn't met this "Thyravon", and she hoped he wasn't too abominable, for Athanora's sake-- and for Kiralraes' sake! Athanora frowned up at Aavayl, pushed at her glasses, and quite abruptly stood on her toes to kiss his cheek, before turning on her heel and stalking off. Kiralraes, to Saekana's pleasure, craned her neck around to look over Athanora's shoulder, eyes on her future tutor, and waved a wing mutely at her. Saekana smiled at her, and waved her own wing in farewell, before looking back at Aavayl, who looked somewhat embarrassed.

"Shall we, then?" he suggested, back in a language Saekana could officially understand, after clearing his throat awkwardly.

"Ready when you are," Saekana grinned at him, rolling her shoulders and shifting her own pack of belongings on them: mostly books, but with a good comb for her mane, a few tools for careful feather-preening, and a few cakes' worth of her favorite Sharian candy, among other things. Aavayl nodded and lead the way on board, Saekana falling into step behind him, unable to completely banish the bounce in her step, this time.

The ramp-like hatch closed up behind them, and then they would be on their way: off Kartyn, into the sky, among the stars, and to places Saekana had never seen before. She couldn't wait!

Chapter Six

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