Strolling away from his shaman, the young two spirit had taken quite the time in making up his mind when it came down to his achieving his own goals and deciding upon how to work his future in a way that would make everyone happy. The very ideas that he had been countered with were painful to say the least and held no real proclamation for the future. Due to this fact he had shied away from what the shaman told him, trying to hide behind his own shadow of life. It was best, for Edorta, if he could hide behind himself when it mattered, and that way he would never have to taste the grim taste of defeat. This, of course, had been what he had told his dear Shaman.

Walking from her long house with an invitation to go gather herbs on a many day journey, the young man had realized that he had not seen his mother and father all day. The night he had spent out in the woods with Xanti, hopefully he would not have been too badly missed. The idea of being missed dearly by his mother was a bittersweet thing. To know she loved him was one thing, but to know that he had hurt her with his own ignorant wanderings was another thing entirely.

But, before he could go home and sleep, as his body screamed at him to do, the male spirit riled the female and drug her from her own space and turned toward the lands. Perhaps their Warlord would be out there, they had to speak with him about something rather important. Sure, he was the central guard for the camp, he took care of the people that needed him, but Nekane thought that he would make a fine shaman. This was a matter he had to bring up with the Warlord.

Of course, he wore Nekane’s tunic that she had lent him, due to the fact that his own were soaked with rain from being out all night, but that wouldn’t have bothered many. Considering the female spirit was the most dominant within his male body he had the tenancy to wear the clothes of women over those of men. Besides, they fit his feminine body to a close tee. He looked almost like a woman for some reason, but that didn’t really bother the male spirit as much as one wound thing.

He had bound his hair with a piece of twine, so that the long strands were held behind his head, and for a moment he took up gazing toward the sky.
“There you are, Warlord!” they told him in their entwined male and female voice. The laughter in it was obvious, and, hopefully, his parents hadn’t come forward about their wayward child when he had not returned back to the long house before dawn. He didn’t know if he wanted a scolding before he had had any sleep.

Warlord Ekain sem'Edur was indeed up and about that morning. He took very few liberties as Warlord, treating himself much as he treated most of his people, but one of the few things he usually took advantage of--especially lately with the exhaustion they had all faced from mining gold for the greedy interloper king--was waking up a bit later then most. Usually he slept in a bit unless he was intentionally up early for something he planned in advance--a hunting expedition for example.

Today, however, was different. He was up earlier then usual...earlier then most all his people...much to Miren's chagrin. This morning he was on a slow-paced walk. One of the younger foals was giving him some trouble, and he needed to rectify that situation. The young horses needed to grow and be trained, and they needed it quickly. The tribe was short on horses ever since they had given the team that had taken the interloper's metal to them. Ekain hadn't been happy about doing it, but he had done it for the sake of perhaps the greatest Shaman in the current generation; his sister-wife, Nekane. As much as for his warrior's prowess, Ekain was perhaps best known for his skill at breeding and raising horses. He had turned out some of the finest horses in generations according to many of the elders, and he took pride in his capability. Now more then ever that ability was needed, and so having difficulty with any of the younger horses was a matter of concern and pressure for the Warlord.

It was while he was on his walk, trying to clear his head, that he heard the young double-spirited boy call out to him. He raised his head, smiling congenially as he did so. Many regarded him as a force of good luck in the tribe, and looked to him for various things, and though Ekain was hardly the type who came to Edorta for advice or questions or commentary, that didn't mean he was unaware of the boy. He tried to know everyone among his people that he could, be they stand-outs or not. Unlike most, Ekain did not regard double-spirited people as either good or bad luck, nor did he expect anything great of them. He simply regarded them as unique beings.

"Good morning, Edorta," his strong voice called out with a tone of friendliness, "What brings you out and about outside of the camp this day?" When he wasn't in the process of making serious decisions for the fate of the tribe, he tried to be on as friendly and personable a level as possible for his people. So much so that he didn't at all mind people wandering up to him and starting any type of conversation they wished. Edorta was no different.

He was a bit of a peculiarity, though, for more reason than his two-spirited nature. He refused to hunt, refused to fight, and seemed to be steadfastly against most shamans. He wasn't at all sure why that was, though he figured if it was something that he wished to speak on, he would in due time. It was then that he noticed something else odd, something perhaps only he, who had seen them all a thousand times, would notice.

"...and why, addressing the itch of curiousness, are you wearing Nekane's tunic?"

Edorta had been glad when his calls were answered, but he was not one hundred percent sure what he was going to do with the man once he saw him. He would know something, Edorta just knew it! Both spirits within his body were yelling at him to just run away, but the body didn’t seem to listen and kept moving forward.
Both spirits were very kind, and because of that they would not allow a prank to be pulled. The Warlord would have thought that they were making fun, but anyone who knew Edorta well knew that they did not play tricks upon anyone if they could help it, and if they did it was all in good humor.

He was fully aware of what was going on around them, of the decline of horses, of the kidnapping of Nekane. She was his best friend in the village and he had worried so horribly when she had gone away. He had not been able to sleep and had wandered the Earth more, pondering. The very idea of the interlopers doing as they did made the male’s blood boil and the female wish to do nothing but cry for the land and the horses in which would be sacrificed to those... pale faced creatures!

If anything, he was grateful for the man, Ekain. He did not ask so many questions, did not try to be important to Edorta, and he did not try to ask advice like so many others. Edorta didn’t even think the man saw him as special, which made him feel better than all the horses coming back could have, as bad as that was. He did want to find a way to get them back, however, and would find a way if he had to steal them back one at a time... even if he knew it was impossible, it was good that he held a small level of optimism.

“We were already awake!” they replied to him in a cheery voice, watching the older man stride, they were not about to say that- ah, he couldn’t lie! “We were out all night...” Do not ask why! both spirits mentally pleaded, because they did not want to tell their Warlord who they had been with... for some reason they thought that this would bring strife to Xanti and his people. They did not want to cause the male any more trouble than they already had. Eyes turned away from the Warlord to the Earth to say that he did not want to speak any more about it.

But then he had to when Ekain asked about his tunic. “Oh,” Edorta muttered in the androgynous voice that was laced with a slight bit of personal problem. “We were out last night... and it rained... we returned home and went to see Nekane. She fed us and allowed us rest in her long house... then allowed us to borrow her tunic because we were wet from the rain in our own... and we had set it out to dry and were under the furs.” There would be no jealousy when dealing with Edorta. Everyone thought that Edorta had no attraction to anyone in the village. And they were right. Nekane was a well known friend of Edorta, so there was no problem!

The two spirited body gazed at the Warlord, “But we did not come to speak about the night! We came to talk about a choice...” a choice that Nakane backed him into, “and we wonder if you would approve or our conditions... if we were to take us our chosen path...” They offered a smile to him, as if asking permission to breathe when they realized that that whole sentence had come in one burst of air.
“Oh,” The two spirit mumbled, the more feminine of his vocals coming out to show he was female now, a physical way that the body had learned to show the difference between who he was at the moment, “We were thinking... would a Zerui ever be accepted into the Ekaini... if they really were out of place where they were? And what of loving one? Has an Ekaini ever loved a Zerui? We could not place a memory of it anywhere!” It sounded suspicious, but, if the need be, she would lie. The male spirit might have been adverse to lying, but the woman would do what she had to to keep Xanti safe, even it it meant doing something she didn’t like to do.

A bold move, and a dangerous one... but she did not care.

When Edorta replied to Ekain's question, he saw an edge of pleading in the gaze, as though there was something he didn't want to say, or that he wanted Ekain to keep quiet about...something. He wasn't sure what was going on, but it was clearly something. Edorta was not usually so vague as that. When he mentioned that he'd been out in the rain during the night, Ekain grew more concerned still.

It was no surprise that he'd gone to see and rest in Nekane's home; the pair were friends and he'd often hide from the world at her place especially during disagreements with his parents. Some men might have wondered, but Ekain did not. He believed and trusted in his love with Nekane. He had loved her before he'd ever known any other women existed, and he knew she felt the same. Because of it, he never once wavered on the thought of her faithfulness to him. In a very real way, their connection and love transcended even most marriages.

When he spoke of his path, a smile threatened to quirk the corner of his mouth. He knew Nekane had been wanting Edorta to train to become a shaman for some time, and based on Edorta's current situation, it seemed he was coming to accept such an idea. It was a slight surprise to the Warlord, as this boy hadn't been a fan of shamans for as long as he could remember, but everyone grew into their roles at some point.

"Conditions? Go ahead, I'm listening." He waited, hearing the double-spirited boy out, and when he at last spoke, his eyebrows drew together in a very slight frown of thought.

"A Zerui...?" He was surprised at such a question. To be honest, he'd never really considered that many of the Zerui might wish to leave their people and join the Ekaini. He let out a long sigh before beginning his reply. It did not take the wisdom of a shaman to see exactly what Edorta was getting at, especially with the notable desperation he heard. There was someone he liked, and they were Zerui.

So that is what you were doing out last night...

"That is a...complicated question. I'm not against it, but pragmatic measures will need to be taken. For instance, such a person would never be allowed to hold a very high position in the tribe and could probably never become a warrior, and there's a high chance that they would be treated with suspicion and antipathy. The Zerui do not believe in jainko, and so have never found their spirit. As such, they can be considered, essentially, Lost Ones, and would be treated much the same way." He smiled warmly and reassuringly, shrugging.

"That's not to say that they won't be accepted over time, especially if they decide they wish to try and find their jainko, but the initial response would be fairly negative, and both the Zerui and the person who loved them would need to be ready for such a thing...especially considering that the person who loved them would probably be condemned for that love, at least until that Zerui could prove themselves and become accepted by Ekaini culture."

His message was clear. If that's a path you wish to take, know full well it will not be an easy one, for you or the Zerui you love.

"However, there is no law condemning such a love, and I personally see no problem with it. We love who we love, whomever they may be and whatever their background. So long as the Ekaini grasped the social ramifications of that love, I would hardly call it forbidden, though as a courtesy we would ask the Zerui to cease any public bloodletting while in our camp, as it has a tendency to upset many, and they would hardly need additional reminders that a Zerui was among them." He smiled softly.

"There are legends that speak of love between Ekaini and Zerui, but most of them end in tragedy, more as a warning of the adversity such love would face than anything else. As to actual cases...one of our tribe's best known warriors, Bikendi...his mother is actually Zerui." He shrugged, though his soft smile still remained in place. He waited, wondering when the next barrage of questions would come from the curious Edorta. Those too he would answer good-naturedly, as he knew what an undesirable position the youth had found himself in if indeed he had fallen for a Zerui.

It will be tough...but you're used to adversity, aren't you?

Edora gazed at Ekain and wondered what that face meant. He didn't want to seem suspicious, so he pulled a smile upon his face, which, to the poor young man, he looked more suspicious then. The young male didn't want the leader to know that he was seeing a Zerui, or that he had been doing things since the other night. But, for the moment, he had a little more to think about. He bit his lip, and waited, his hands going behind his back for a moment. It was only afterwards that he realized that he had been more evasive than usual, so he couldn't pretend that he had been doing anything else. Besides, the male would guess eventually, wouldn't he?

Resting at Nekane's was what was good for him. Peaceful, quiet, and very good for him, he was happy that he had her to protect him when he was feeling vulnerable and to be there for him when he needed someone. She was a good friend to him, and he adored her. But, also to be regretful, was Ekain's trust of him, so that he knew that he meant nothing but friendship with his wife. If a man suspected anything, especially their leader, the man could try those that he suspected, which made Edo feel better. IT was nice that just someone's friendship could make him feel better when he thought there was nothing else.

He didn't like that look. Confidence. That meant he knew something that he didn't! Edo shook his head. He was starting to feel like he was being a little more paranoid than usual. He mentally sent that off his spirits and then he stood up straight and then, finally, he adjusted his footing and watched the man before him. It was different to be standing on common ground as both of him, rather than one. Sometimes they didn't want to speak at the same time. "We... would like... to be able to retreat to the woods for about seven moons at a time in between summers... and we would like the right to have who we love, no argument on who they are...were." he stared up into Ekain's eyes boldly, "and... if we get that we will do whatever Nekane asks and learn to be Shaman." This would take him away from his defense of the tribe when the males left. That was what he did, he protected the village. But, he supposed, he could do that whenever the men left anyway. "Oh! And... afterwards...you place more protection around Nekane. I don't want her taken by those interlopers again." This was his more masculine voice, not asking, but ordering. He didn't dare do such a thing unless it was something that Ekain would agree with. "While I am there I will use my spear and guard her as a student, but as I leave...I would like her to be protected..."

There was a knowing in his leader's eyes and he blinked back a nervous look. He didn't want to felt like this, he didn't want to love a Zerui, but last night had been magical, and he had felt both spirits connect in a way he had never felt before. And he loved it. He had loved every breath taking moment with the Zerui warrior that had been before him.

"Y-yes," he offered, looking at him with a smile. The two spirit swallowed hard to look away from him, running a nervous hand through his thick, dark hair. "a Zerui warrior... high up warrior..." a warrior such as a Zerui future head. He bit his lip, twisting his hands almost to the point of pain, lacing his fingers with one another. These were the same fingers that had wound over Xanti's back, the hands that had gripped hands, had wound into the hair that was styled into a mohawk. He couldn't think of such things! As he did his cheeks lit up with both embarrassment and passion, just remembering him. It was embarrassing!

"But he's a skilled warrior! He-" Edorta stopped talking, diverting his eyes for a moment before finishing, "he saved my life when I did something stupid..." Edorta looked up. "Please don't ask?" he pleaded softly, stuffing his hands behind his back. "He's a good warrior, already proven to me as a good person... should be to the others, but I've said too much already..." Edorta sat down in the grass and looked at the male before him with intensity that most wouldn't see in Edorta. The people wouldn't condemn him, would they? So much trust couldn't be misplaced just because of who he chose to love, could it? People wouldn't hate him for being in love? He shuddered. Were they really that fickle? His own people wouldn't hate him for loving Xanti, would they?

Fine. That was something he was going to have to face when the time came. He would choose love over those that judged. Edo wanted to be close to the young man, Xanti. He wanted to be more than his one night lover, to feel more than that touch to the spirits more than once. He lay back in the grass, staring up at the sky. "We are sorry..." he said quietly, "we feel like we're following the world's most winded path and all we want is... augh but we don't know anymore!" he squeezed his eyes shut. They felt like crying, "all we can think is of him! The words he said, the way he moved it isn't right! I've already asked Nekane what she thinks... and she said it was not a punishment but I do not know! He can't come over to the Ekani... he's far too important to the Zerui... add to that his future with the Zerui... we are so lost and confused that we feel as if..." [i]as if the world were crashing in around him, completely ravaging both spirits.

"We don't mean to talk to you about our problems..." he whispered quietly, looking up at him from the grass. "Can you forget we mentioned it at all?" That was all he could do, ask.