“The absence of love is a torment I would not wish on even the devils in the lower after life.”

  -Za’Rexkla

  A mature Ruksha woman with brilliant feathers and obsidian scales lays out a bountiful meal for two male Ruksha, one a child and the other weathered by the years not unlike herself.

  “Rex, have you spoken to any of the young maidens that are propositioning you?” The older male Ruksha asks.

  “No, I need to focus on training to get stronger, why would I waste my time on females?” he asks bowing his head as he accepts a plate of cowlligator meat.

  “Now now son, young maidens can be a fun distraction from your training, just ask your father, he thought I was so fun that we had you,” the Ruksha woman says with a pleasant toothy smile.

  Rex rolls his eyes.

  “Now now son, you might not appreciate the company of a young maiden at current, but soon you will, at least choose two of the maidens that you fancy and spend some time with them, you may find that your time is not as wasted as you believe,” the older male ruksha states.

  “Fine,” Rex scoffs.

  The next day Rex meets with thirty female ruksha that are propositioning him. After the meeting he is exhausted from asking and answering questions that have yet to hold any meaning to him. What is an open congregation? And why would he want to congregate with several females at once when he can barely stand to deal with them individually? Only two stood out to him. The Ivory scaled adventuress Cel’Sariah, and the Horned Princess of the Bog Ver’Deskla.

  Cel’Sariah is an ivory scaled ruksha with emerald eyes. Her feathers are violet with obsidian accents. Rex finds her straightforward attitude and honesty refreshing. Most of the other ruksha females were less than truthful and avoided many of his questions. Especially ones about loyalty and a single partner relationship. Sariah not only expresses her interest in him for noble reasons but posed her own questions about his strength and willingness to venture beyond the borders of his clan.

  Ver’Deskla has dull blue scales with a strange brilliant rainbow pattern running down her back. Her eyes are a pale blue leading Rex to believe that she has problems with her vision. This is further elaborated by her desire to envision him by touch. She assures him it is for formal reasons and has something to do with a skill she has. She conducts herself in the formally taught manner all ruksha nobles should. She is polite and concise with her answers and questions for him. Rex allows her to observe his scales and feathers physically and even feels a subtle connection with her.

  After much deliberation Rex chooses to invite both of them to a cordial meeting. Unfortunately, Ver’Deskla is summoned away on official business. So he is left to meet only with Cel’Sariah.

  Candles light a small table meant for two as torch flies assist the moon in illuminating the night. Rex pulls out a seat for Cel’Sariah to sit, and she thanks him respectfully. He takes his own seat raising a small stone etched in the language of the Ruksha. After only a few moments an older Ruksha woman approaches their table raising a stone tablet and pressing a small coal colored cylinder to it.

  “Der’Clara would have your order, if you perhaps need more time, then Der’Clara would like to know of what liquids you desire.”

  “I’ll have dewdrop tea, hold the sweet salt,” Cel’Sariah replies.

  “The same, but let the sweet salt remain,” Rex says.

  “And to order?”

  “A moment more please lady Clara.”

  The Ruksha server bows before leaving their table to retrieve their beverages. Rex and Cel’Sariah claw through their menu as they search for an appetizing meal. Most of the dishes seem fit for the nobles, small portions of meat to keep them slim and presentable. Cel’Sariah stops on a menu item, but her ivory scales soon become blush with embarrassment. Rex notices and lowers his menu before prodding her.

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  “What is it, have you found a desirable option amongst these pitiful entrees Cel’Sariah?”

  She perks up hearing that Rex also finds the menu, lacking.

  “You may address me as Sariah, and there is a particular meal that is interesting,” she replies.

  “Ok lady Sariah, what is it that you desire?” He questions placing a claw on the table with a toothy grin as his eyes meet hers.

  For a moment she cannot speak, and neither can he. That is soon broken as the server Der’Clara returns.

  “Der’Clara wonders if you have decided on what you two would like to eat?” She questions laying out their drinks with some obsidian ware.

  “I’ll have the full roasted boardrel,” they reply in unison.

  Clara gives them a toothy grin etching their order onto her stone tablet before leaving their table. Rex turns his attention toward Sariah.

  “So, what are you interested in?” He asks.

  “Against the wishes of my clan and specifically my mother and father, I have taken up adventuring,” Sariah replies.

  “So, you’ll not be long here, perhaps this meal is to be our first and last meal for a while,” Rex states.

  “I am due to leave by moonlight of the morrow, sorry if that doesn’t leave a lot of time for us to get acquainted, I was hoping to offer you a spot on my caravan,” Sariah says.

  “It is not an optimal time frame no, so I guess we’ll have to make the most of what little time we have, let’s see how dinner goes before we make any binding decisions,” Rex replies.

  There is a bit of small talk, mostly flattery about Sariah’s appearance, before their server returns with a full sized roasted boardrel. The carcass of the beast takes up most of the table and Rex and Sariah find themselves moving their chairs closer together as to avoid their view of one another being obstructed.

  “As a lady you should take first cut of the meat, point and I will slice you your desired portion,” Rex says.

  “We should both have a leg, no point in starting our night eating the ass,” she says with a toothy grin that expresses she is making a joke.

  Rex chuckles considerately before cutting the hind legs off the beast and placing one on each of their plates. They enjoy small talk for a few hours as they devour the beast. The server returns when they need refills and finally when they are finished. Though his parents have paid for the meal, Rex tips the server generously and they leave the restaurant.

  The marsh is alight with bioluminescent plants and animals as Rex and Sariah exit the restaurant. The fluttering of insects and croaking of frog creatures liven the air as Sariah runs her claw over her brilliant feathers.

  “I guess this is fairmoon, perhaps I’ll see you around sometime,” she says nervously.

  “Nonsense, the moonlight is young, and so are we,” Rex replies with a toothy grin.

  “Are you inviting me to fornicate?” She presses.

  “I am inviting you,” Rex replies.

  Dawn liberates the land from the moonlight bearing its light through every unblocked portion of Rex’s window. He wakes alone a note and a small box on his nightstand.

  Time spent with you was not wasted. I am not ready to settle in one spot though. My adventures call me to experience the lands, the winds, the struggles, and even the turmoils of the lands of many. I do hope that we meet in the future and that we may again share the pleasures that we did in the moonlight. I leave with you this ring as a token of my gratitude, and so that you may never forget your little ‘Moonpetal’.

  -Cel’Sariah

  Rex sits on the edge of his bed recalling the pleasantries of the night before as he twirls the ring through his claws.

  A few weeks later as Rex is training a familiar young ruksha maiden meets him in the proving grounds. Ver’Deskla.

  “Lady Ver’Deskla, to what do I owe the honor?” Rex says bowing.

  “Raise your snout,” she says drawing a blade.

  Rex rises giving her a confused look.

  “My father told me that if I wanted a strong mate then I would have to be strong myself, and if I wanted a weak mate then I should choose amongst the rabble, are you rabble?” She says charging him with her blade.

  The cold steal of the blade cuts through the air as she directs it downward toward Rex. He side steps and the blade digs into the dirt. She doesn’t even have time to look up before he disarms her pressing her against the wall of the nearest structure with ease.

  “You come and assault me in my own home, in the lands of my clan, how dare you, explain yourself,” Rex demands.

  “My father was going to marry me off to another, I didn’t want to marry him, so I killed him,” she says cold tears running down her soft scales.

  “Why did you kill him, and why did you come here?” Rex further questions.

  “He came to my room, my father let him in, he said that I was his and he had come to claim me, I took my mother’s sword, and I told him no, I didn’t know who to go to, I remembered you, and how strong you were, and maybe I fantasized about you, maybe I love you,” she cries.

  Rex leans in sniffing her neck before running a warm tongue over her scaled cheek. She relaxes and returns the gesture running her tongue over his scaled cheek.

  “What do we do now?” She asks.

  “Nothing, you’re home, I accept your proposition.”