Living Treasure
Aug. 26th, 2007 03:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tygatiFor whoever requested Keiki and Kiha's first meeting. Though, I'm not sure it actually counts as a 'meeting' per se...
From The Prince, The Wizard, and The Dragon
---
Summer had always been his favorite season. Summer was warm (he hated cold), dry (he hated wet), and the sunlight always managed to make even ordinary things sparkle. The things it did to extraordinary things... there were no words.
Unfortunately, hideously ugly tended to remain hideously ugly, no matter how flattering of light was cast upon it. Trying not to grimace, Ahi'kiha made his way quickly through the marketplace and beyond. Sometimes there were hidden treasures in the human marketplace, but most of the time it was just ugly and smelly and unpleasant.
Far more interesting, when he wasn't in the mood to admire his treasures or steal new ones, was to go look at what the weathier humans possessed. Most of them didn't seem to have much in the way of good taste, but a few of them gave him new ideas on how to arrange his treasure to its best effect.
Sadly, little seemed to have changed in the manors of the rich and powerful since his last visit, and he didn't particularly feel like sneaking inside to see if things were more interesting beyond the obscuring walls. There was no sunshine indoors, and today was a good day for sunshine.
Sudden commotion caught his attention and he followed along a winding street until finding himself at a large gate flanked by two armed humans... neither of which was paying him any attention. Instead, they were both watching whatever was happening on the other side of that gate.
Interesting.
Ahi'kiha cast a silent spell, making himself invisible to the eyes of watchers. He slipped easily past the distracted guardsmen and through the gate, stopping short at the sight that greeted him.
Living treasure. Wild, untamed curls like the purest spun gold. Eyes that shamed the finest emeralds in his hoard to shame. Skin so smooth and silken it seemed to have been fashioned of pearl. The human child dashed this way and that, easily eluding his frantic pursuers despite their far greater size and reach. Delighted laughter bubbled up into the air every time one of them made a lunge for him and missed, the concern of the adults becoming nothing more than an elaborate game for the boy.
He appeared to have lost nearly all of his clothing, to the dismay of his attendants, and was liberally streaked with dirt and grass. It did nothing to hide his sun-kissed beauty, and Ahi'kiha suffered a pang as he wondered for a moment what this wild child would become when he grew to adulthood. If he was a living treasure now, what would he be when he reached his full potential?
He wanted this boy, more than he'd ever wanted any of his other treasures. No human would ever be able to properly appreciate all that he was, all that he could be. Not like Ahi'kiha could.
Cloaked in magic, Ahi'kiha waited for his moment. All he had to do was snatch the boy up and cast a simple spell...
The child's course changed, stubby legs carrying him with full speed toward the open gate. He crowed in triumph as he darted through - then screamed in pain and crumpled to the ground, barely three steps past the gate. In moments the attendants were upon him, scooping him up and sweeping him back into the yards, petting and caressing the tearful, shuddering form.
Ahi'kiha blinked. Magic?
The cluster of humans remained oblivious as he approached them, not a soul noticing as he reached out to press two fingers to the boy's forehead. He frowned, feeling the unmistakable touch of magic, more complex and elaborate than anything he'd encountered in decades, if not centuries. A curse?
Drawing away, he listened to the clucking of the women as they re-dressed their charge, ushering him away inside the castle itself. Most of it was pointless, save for one short comment that gave him pause.
Poor little prince, cursed to never leave these walls. Poor precious one.
Never leave? Then... Ahi'kiha could not steal him away. Could not claim this treasure for his own. He would remain forever out of reach, safe behind these castle walls where no one could ever appreciate him.
Unless...
Carefully, Ahi'kiha retraced his steps back out into the city, making his way as quickly as he could to a place where he could change and fly home. There were things he needed to do, spells to be cast, books to be consulted. If he couldn't bring the living treasure here, then he would simply have to go there.
From The Prince, The Wizard, and The Dragon
---
Summer had always been his favorite season. Summer was warm (he hated cold), dry (he hated wet), and the sunlight always managed to make even ordinary things sparkle. The things it did to extraordinary things... there were no words.
Unfortunately, hideously ugly tended to remain hideously ugly, no matter how flattering of light was cast upon it. Trying not to grimace, Ahi'kiha made his way quickly through the marketplace and beyond. Sometimes there were hidden treasures in the human marketplace, but most of the time it was just ugly and smelly and unpleasant.
Far more interesting, when he wasn't in the mood to admire his treasures or steal new ones, was to go look at what the weathier humans possessed. Most of them didn't seem to have much in the way of good taste, but a few of them gave him new ideas on how to arrange his treasure to its best effect.
Sadly, little seemed to have changed in the manors of the rich and powerful since his last visit, and he didn't particularly feel like sneaking inside to see if things were more interesting beyond the obscuring walls. There was no sunshine indoors, and today was a good day for sunshine.
Sudden commotion caught his attention and he followed along a winding street until finding himself at a large gate flanked by two armed humans... neither of which was paying him any attention. Instead, they were both watching whatever was happening on the other side of that gate.
Interesting.
Ahi'kiha cast a silent spell, making himself invisible to the eyes of watchers. He slipped easily past the distracted guardsmen and through the gate, stopping short at the sight that greeted him.
Living treasure. Wild, untamed curls like the purest spun gold. Eyes that shamed the finest emeralds in his hoard to shame. Skin so smooth and silken it seemed to have been fashioned of pearl. The human child dashed this way and that, easily eluding his frantic pursuers despite their far greater size and reach. Delighted laughter bubbled up into the air every time one of them made a lunge for him and missed, the concern of the adults becoming nothing more than an elaborate game for the boy.
He appeared to have lost nearly all of his clothing, to the dismay of his attendants, and was liberally streaked with dirt and grass. It did nothing to hide his sun-kissed beauty, and Ahi'kiha suffered a pang as he wondered for a moment what this wild child would become when he grew to adulthood. If he was a living treasure now, what would he be when he reached his full potential?
He wanted this boy, more than he'd ever wanted any of his other treasures. No human would ever be able to properly appreciate all that he was, all that he could be. Not like Ahi'kiha could.
Cloaked in magic, Ahi'kiha waited for his moment. All he had to do was snatch the boy up and cast a simple spell...
The child's course changed, stubby legs carrying him with full speed toward the open gate. He crowed in triumph as he darted through - then screamed in pain and crumpled to the ground, barely three steps past the gate. In moments the attendants were upon him, scooping him up and sweeping him back into the yards, petting and caressing the tearful, shuddering form.
Ahi'kiha blinked. Magic?
The cluster of humans remained oblivious as he approached them, not a soul noticing as he reached out to press two fingers to the boy's forehead. He frowned, feeling the unmistakable touch of magic, more complex and elaborate than anything he'd encountered in decades, if not centuries. A curse?
Drawing away, he listened to the clucking of the women as they re-dressed their charge, ushering him away inside the castle itself. Most of it was pointless, save for one short comment that gave him pause.
Poor little prince, cursed to never leave these walls. Poor precious one.
Never leave? Then... Ahi'kiha could not steal him away. Could not claim this treasure for his own. He would remain forever out of reach, safe behind these castle walls where no one could ever appreciate him.
Unless...
Carefully, Ahi'kiha retraced his steps back out into the city, making his way as quickly as he could to a place where he could change and fly home. There were things he needed to do, spells to be cast, books to be consulted. If he couldn't bring the living treasure here, then he would simply have to go there.