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 Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 12:14 am
"... And, do you know? The young Black Dog's blood ran so hot, that the water about him steamed," the old storyteller finished, grinning, while the crowd giggled as they were wont to do at the conclusion of that tale.
In the rich and wonderful garden that were the stories of the kimeti, it could be said that the flowers of Black Dog were the most viewed and beloved... and watered and fed, so that they grew overlarge and rife with weeds. How hard he had worked through all his life to weed that garden, to uncover the flower's true form! But the only thing storytellers would agree on, often, was to disagree, and extol their telling above all others'. Wildflower Breeze knew this well, as he had been plying the storyteller's trade all his life.
Finished with his tale, he stepped back from the fore of the crowd to let someone else take over for a while. They'd run him ragged if they kept him telling stories all night - by the sound of it, they wanted to. Wasn't every gathering got a buck blessed by the Motherfather herself to tell their tales. But, he also needed time to rest, and eat and drink and make merry... and watch and listen. Those were important parts of his trade, too - both of his trades, really.
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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 6:49 am
There was one that didn't giggle and snicker at the end of the tale, a doe that looked solemn, quiet, determined... as if trying to remember every word that the storyteller had said. When the storyteller pulled away, however, so did the young doe, and Whispering Haze looked for the buck, head held high as she tried to track down where he'd gone in the middle of this crowd.
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 9:21 pm
The buck in question was resting quietly on the edge of the crowd, a small pile of fruit within reach. He was watching the crowd, and so saw the mottled blue doe questing about. As she looked hither and thither, he decided she must be looking for him. Ah, one of those situations, he supposed. With this change, it was bound to happen, he supposed - one seeking blessing for the health of their young.
As much for practice (and, admittedly, to show off a bit) as to be helpful to the doe, Breeze called up his second body, a delicate songbird. He closed his-the-kimeti's eyes to see through the his-the-bird's, and fluttered over to her where she walked. He thought to lead her to him, and not have to stand - very convenient, if rather lazy. He trilled sweetly as he neared, to make sure she heard and saw him.
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Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 2:56 pm
Startled by the presence of the bird, Haze tilted her head, then gave a flip of her tail before padding cautiously after the songbird. If this turned out to be nothing, she was certain she'd look ridiculous -- a thought she balked at -- but if the bird led her to the storyteller, then it would be all worth it.
Maybe some sort of a blessing would help the babies turn out more like her than... well... the other side. Like their father. Oh, it wasn't that Wind-Sings-Through-Stone was a bad buck, really... He was just... dumb as a rock. If Haze was going to leave some sort of legacy in the world, she wanted it to be through children that felt the same as she did: that every nook and cranny must be explored, every story learned, every secret uncovered.
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 3:29 am
Sure enough, the songbird landed on the storyteller's head - that is to say, he landed on his own head. This close to, it was rather obvious that they were linked - the patterning was too close for it not to be intentional, and they shared the eyes - which was apparent as the buck opened his, the songbird's form fading. It was all rather impressive, really, or at least he thought it would look so.
Meeting the blue doe's eyes, he said with a small smile, "I believe you were looking for me? How may I help you?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 4:56 pm
Whispering Haze just stood stock still for long moments, her eyes widening as she stared at the buck, now that the songbird had faded. That was a trick she had never seen before. She gave a quick shake of her head, then padded closer, ducking her head a bit to show deference to the storyteller. "I... I have never... I am pregnant," she offered, chiding herself silently. She sounded like an idiot, not like the eloquent doe she considered herself to be. "I have heard that there are certain kimeti who can ask for the Motherfather's help with these things."
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 7:59 am
Breeze nodded somberly, politely disregarding the doe's stuttering as more than excusable. Confronting a legendary often made people nervous - he found it odd, since he was still himself, but he sort of knew where they were coming from, too. The wickedly long beard, the gnarled horns, the powerful light in his eyes - despite his wiry, lean frame, these things commanded respect and awe. The whole bird form thing probably didn't help matters - he probably should have just walked over to her.
Turning his mind back to her request, he nodded in assent. "It is common, and advisable, to seek a blessing for the health and well-being of a clutch," he said, standing again. Beginning to circle her slowly, he asked, "Is there anything specific you find yourself worried about?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 8:06 am
This time, there was no hesitation. "I want them to be smart, and strong, and brave. I want them to never settle blindly for the answers given them, I want them to seek the truth out themselves, to learn as much of the world as they can." Haze lifted her head proudly, her gaze fixing on Breeze as he circled her. "But above all, I want them to find happiness and to find their place in the world."
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 8:43 am
He paused mid-stride and matched her gaze. Oh, she'd found her tongue again. He paused a moment, then called upon his songbird body again, and plucked a sprig of mint from the garland he wore, tucking it behind the doe's ear. As he did, he assured her, "Then so it shall be - they'll be as curious as cats, as cunning as foxes, as brave and fierce as eaglehounds. They will have ample chance to make a place for themselves, and the will to seize the opportunity." He studied her, as if judging the effect of his words, then nodded, satisfied. As a last note, he added, "You'll want to eat that mint later."
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 9:31 am
"I will," Haze agreed, content now that she had a blessing for the clutch. "Thank you for the blessing. This is my first, I've never been through this before, and I wanted to be certain everything would go smoothly." Granted, she was actually terrified of the impending ordeal, but the thought of her line continuing on was... appealing. "I'll leave you be, since I've bothered you enough already. Thank you again, I am grateful."
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 9:46 am
"You're welcome, not a trouble," he said.
Listening to her worries, then, he felt the need to offer some token of comfort - surely it wasn't so bad, since they kept on doing it, but he remained unsure... the two does he had quickened had both stopped talking to him, one of which he was pretty sure actively disliked him now. It was with a little uncertainty, then, that he assured her, "I'm certain you'll pull though just fine. Fare you well, friend," he wished her, and turned to take his leave of the gathering, firey tail-tuft swaying pensively.
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 9:54 am
What an interesting creature Breeze was... Haze watched him go, thoughtful and quiet; then, pleased, she turned away, heading off. Perhaps she would have to find Breeze again sometime, and get to know him a little better...
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