Kyiala The Songbird Actress

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Cyan Cockatoo Meat No one is quite sure why, but this species of cockatoo mingles regularly with flocks of magenta, yellow, and black-feathered birds. 42 5 Bubbly Buddy Trinkets Better than an actual hyena in every discernible way. 33 Blue Rose Plant White roses can take on many colors by tinting their water. Plant connoisseurs have also tried to encourage them to take on other flavors as well. This one tastes faintly of blueberries. 17 2

Kyiala comes from a working family in the Ashfall Wastes, raised on her mother's songs. Immediately taken by music, she dreamed of leaving the dust of her home and traveling Sornieth to inspire others- to become a musician and idol for all. Her optimism is a never-ending fount, only matched by her determination to succeed. Through numerous, numerous failures, she found a place to settle- traveling with the clan of some of her first dedicated fans. Now, her shows are on the road, with a growing following across the lands of dragonkind. These travels have even led her to re-meet childhood friends, and make new ones (to her delight.)

Partner Best Friend Childhood Friend

Given Bee 7/2/2023
Finished 7/2/2023!!!

Little Show
Kyiala swallowed, nerves blaring, fur standing on edge. The stagelights weren't on- the music hadn't started, the curtain hadn't raised- but her feet tapped on the floor regardless. She had worked so hard to get onto this tiny, backlot stage, and now...

It was quiet, too quiet. There wasn't a peep from outside the stage beside the regular click and clack of the backstage crew, and it made Kyiala antsy. After all, if this went poorly- if everything fell apart now- then she'd be down and out. Totally wiped, debt-ridden, and her dreams crushed. Well, probably not for long, it had only been about three years since her last all-or-nothing gambit, but it'd still be unfortunate. Her endless optimism and determination to reach her dream could only last so long. Every failure, Kyiala wondered when she'd finally give up the ghost, when her dream would seem just a bit too far out of reach.

She hummed to herself, a gentle melody her mother had taught her however many years ago, and slid back and forth across the stage. Get into the music, mom always said, and you'll never stray. Hearing the rhythm and the steps, the soft notes only a velvet voice could make, always comforted her. It wasn't as scratchy and earthen as her mother's rendition, but it wasn't bad, either.

The intercom crackled and Kyiala returned to the center of the dingy stage, the wooden creaking just a bit under her. She noted to avoid that spot once the performance began. A tired, slightly slurred voice announced her name as a 'newcomer musical act,' packed with as much enthusiasm as a late-shift factory worker. Kyiala grinned despite herself, taking in a grand breath as the lights flooded in, the curtain receding.

She didn't let herself look at the audience- or lack thereof- even a lick. She knew she would stumble if she did, no matter what outcome she saw, so she focused on the lights and the noise as a tinkling piano began to play. Slowly, she moved, a dance coming into motion, a song streaming as mightily as it could from her mouth. It was a song she'd learned back home, a worker's song, refitted to an upbeat tune. She wanted to lift her audience's spirits, to lighten the burden of their hearts, and she let the words of the song consume the air.

She tried to imagine a light, flickering on in the dark, banishing the darkness of her own fear with a furious illumination. If she could do anything for herself, then maybe- just maybe- she could help the people who would listen to her, too.

That was her dream, after all; she wanted to lighten the hearts of Sornieth's dragons with a song and a smile. No matter how many times her shows ended with slow claps, or a still and empty room, she would keep trying. Though it would be nice, if she got a reaction... one of these times.

The soft piano faded out, and Kyiala stilled, her eyes finally focusing past the stage-light to observe the run-down setup of chairs and tables she was facing. It was still pretty empty. A few patrons sat at the bar, though they had turned to face her rather than the barkeep- the old guardian offered an appreciative nod as she glanced over his area. The tables offered a scattered dragon or two, offering some light applause before returning to her meal. Kyiala's mouth twisted, a tiny, whispering hiss of dismay strangling her words. She forced a bow, lowering her wings and arms to dip her head down.

A clattering burst of applause suddenly hit her, and her head swung back up, not particularly gracefully. There was a mirror in the very front that she hadn't seen, his chair pulled over for a better view of the stage- for a better view of her performance. A daft, stunning grin was cast across his features, a glaring, rich blue color, his four eyes electric as the Stormcatcher's. Kyiala was taken, instantly, by the width of that grin, by that enthusiasm and delight directed at her show. At her!

A small entourage surrounded him, too: an attentive-looking coatl, a bespectacled tundra, a very brightly-colored wildclaw. All of them contributed to the clapping, smiles upon their faces.

It had been so long since anyone even enjoyed her song, let alone showed it so openly- and Kyiala felt hope burning in her chest, brighter than it had in years.