Oma ta Kalah't

Oma ta Kalah't Lightning's Son

Kalah't, twin of Storm StarGazer, is even by the Lahayota considered blood-thirsty and cruel, and has been so since birth. He is very intelligent and refined, but at the same time sadistic, brutal, and savage, with a love for torture and the dark, mysterious Rifting Sorcories.
When he was very young (as the Lahayota count), he was naive enough to believe that he could have both the Light and Dark, but soon learned, as told here, that his fate would not have it so, for no one may walk both Paths.

When Kalah't was three and twenty years of age, he roamed the World much as his sister did, roving from place to place seeking enlightenment. Among the Dragon-kin of Senleneya he was known as the DreamCaller (from where he earned his true-name), but his own blood called him 'Pofyaanaakisi' ("the BlackHeart"); but none dared openly spurn him because of his penchant for torture and his great power as a sorcerer. And it was in this year that, when wandering along the shores of the Wolf River during the early morning hour, Lightning first saw RiverReeds SunsGleam.
RiverReeds was very beautiful, and it has been said that of all those of Fire, she was most beloved of the Goddess and those of the mortal World. Her hair was as red as sunset on the poppy-fields of the Southwest, and her eyes were as green as dawn on the leaves. And in seeing such beauty, Lightning stood stone-still and all darkness fled from him. He saw himself as a petty shadow before the vastness of the entire golden sun. He loved.
But RiverReeds soon percieved that she was being watched, and when she looked up and saw Lightning, she fled in terror of her life crying, "Lah Pofyaanaakisi! Lah Pofyaanaakisi!" Lightning ran after her, his heart aching at her beauty and fear; but he was angry also that she should flee, and so his speed was great and terrible as he persued her. Quickly he caught her, and in his wrath and desire he tore her clothes from her and had her in the tall grasses by the river's edge.
So Kalah't took RiverReeds as his mate, because he immediately regretted her rape; but RiverReeds only lived until the birth of their son, and never spoke in nine months, save once. After she had borne her son, she cried out to her mate: "Here is your son, Pofyaa-naakisi! Conceived in violence, borne in blood, and soon to be raised on viper's venom. I shall have no part of it, nor of you, any longer!" So saying, RiverReeds ran from Lightning's house in Senleneya where she had stayed for her last months, and cast herself into the Sea. Her soul has yet to return to the World.

Lightning's son was called Steel StormsFare, beloved of his father's kin, but a source of seething humiliation and anger for those of Liltra. Storm especially took an interest in her twin's son, even among her own troubles, and so young Steel learned much of the arcane art of shamanism. Lightning taught him of the magic powers of the World, and Thunder StormCry, his father's brother, showed him the Ways of Battle. But young Steel was confused. He loved his father, and held him in much awe, and Lightning's kin took him in and taught him all he knew; but he'd heard of his beautiful mother about how she'd been wronged, and so tried to love her too, but her family spurned him and called him evil names. Storm comforted her nephew as best as she could, trying to explain what only time would make clear; but Steel did not understand. Nevertheless, he loved Storm and thanked her for her council. Steel went to Lightning, and begged his father to take him to Liltra. After a month, Lightning conceeded.
The day was as sunny and pleasant as the day that Lightning had first saw his mate, but instead of a lovely Wolf-maid at the river's edge, they saw instead two scouts: Dusk DaysEnd and Comet's Tail NightFire. Comet's Tail had hated Lightning from when he'd first saw him, and hated Steel, the symbol of his cousin's rape, even more. So he cursed to see them, his kinsmen, and called then foul names, and though Lightning would swiftly have rid himself of such an annoyance, Steel would not let him. Instead, Steel begged to leave in peace, to go home, he'd seen enough; so he and Lightning turned to go. But Comet's Tail would not let them go without a fight, and fired his bow at Kalah't. Steel saw the treacherous act and pushed his father aside, and took the arrow in himself, so great was his love for Lightning.
Lightning cursed Comet's Tail, damning him with his cousin's blood; then he gathered Steel's lifeless form and bore him to the resting place of his mother, the Sea.
Kalah't became ever darker after that, sinking into despair; but Storm declared that Steel, as all of Naapi's creations, would live again. And Lightning, feeling the fresh breeze of hope, her twin revived and lived on, though still darker than before, and crueler also. Lightning even discovered love again, and not long after his son was reborn and returned to him... in the form of Falin Forlorm's son, Prince of Dragons.

Falin was a dreamer born, and his dream were sweet nightmares of his previous life; of Storm, his beloved amla, and the dark and powerful father he gave his life to save. These souls were bound to his, and tumbled along the ancient wheel of Karma, soon to be returned to unite and make each other whole.

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