|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:00 pm
Sunbeams poured into the glade, warming the faces of the flowers and their guardian.
Asrai didn't notice the sun; she was too busy fluttering through her vines, pruning, training,
and listening to the flowers. Each had a story, and the sun was making them sing for her.
The vines entwined with huge, old trees that grew in a nearly perfect circle; an over-grown
fairy ring that the purity homunculi called home. The garden wasn't hidden, but it was rather
far off the beaten path and there were very few other 'lore that Asrai called "friend."
As the little homunculi fluttered down from a high, outer branch, she knocked a plump
petal loose from a pale purple flower. The petal tumbled through leaves and along the
trunk toward the ground, crystallizing as it went; and landed among the stones outside
the ring of trees... no longer a flower petal, but a delicately colored piece of amethyst.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:32 pm
The sun was out, a beaming ball of gold in the center of a clear blue sky. Serenity loved sunny days, the air smelled more...alive somehow. Having just come from lunch, she meandered slowly, without any need to hurry. Walking though the tall grass was a treat, and she savored it as she walked further off of the path. She so rarely left the village anymore, it would be nice to get back out into the open air of the untamed forest. Passing underneath the treeline, she looked up to see the sun's rays reduced to a scattering of gold across the canopy. Birds sang, small creatures burrowed through the undergrowth, deer st-
Serenity paused, head tilting to the side in curiosity. Ahead, a line of trees grew right next to each other, in what appeared to be a perfect circle. Blinking, she moved to the right, walking around the perfectly formed trunks. It wasn't a complete circle, only halfway formed and filled with flowers. She wondered suddenly if someone had attempted to make a dwelling there, before movement caught her eye and interrupted her thoughts. Danger didn't even pass through her mind, it felt as though the air had gained a magical quality, something sparkling and good.
Something small and purple darted amongst the growth and Serenity watched in silent wonder. A Purity Homunculi, she had never seen one before. She, for it appeared to be female, moved away from a flower, her back to Serenity, and a small petal worked loose, and began to fall. As it lilted downwards, it changed in the sunlight, reflecting off of many surfaces. When it reached the ground, Serenity saw it had become a perfect cut amethyst.
She gasped in shock, then threw her sleeved hands to her mouth. The small Homunculi most surely heard her, and Serenity hadn't even made a proper greeting yet. Spying on someone else's work without even a hello, Serenity blushed fiercely at her forgotten manners.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Silent Comet Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 5:04 am
The musical sound of a gem striking the rocks below her home was what drew Asrai
from her haze; the sound wasn't out of place, but she'd have to go retrieve the fallen
stone and plant a new vine. Otherwise, one risked new vines springing up right in the
path where the gem presently lay and that simply wouldn't do!
But the sound of a gasp quickly following that tinkle was what startled the homunculi into
turning away from her beloved plants to see a Constellation, one that looked as elegant
and soft as one of the moon flowers she was presently tending. Asrai hovered for a
moment, simply observing her visitor. As only one or two others had ventured far
enough off the path to find her sunlit grotto of living gems and as none had ever come
with any sort of evil intent, she knew no response but to welcome.
Quick as a wink, the little homunculi zipped down, stopping directly in front of the
Constellation's face. Eyes wide, child-like, Asrai cocked her head and blinked as a blush
rushed over the fair Constellation's cheeks. A giggle chimed out of the little one as she
reached out to touch the moon marking on the Constellation's forehead.
"Pretty... pretty! Welcome, Pretty! You have come to see the flowers?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:16 am
A small "Oh!" escaped as the homunculi rushed up to Serenity's face. Such a curious little thing, her eyes seemed to glow out of the deep violet of her skin, a deeper color than any flower Serenity had ever seen. Serenity blinked a few times as she reached out to touch the moon crest on her forehead, the mark of her lineage.
Laughing shyly at the compliment, Serenity curtsied shortly, still smiling. "Why thank you! I'd love to see the flowers, they are indeed quite lovely. What's your name, little one? My name is Serenity."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Silent Comet Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 5:06 am
With a wink and a grin the purity homunculi mimicked the Constellation's curtsy, mid-air.
"Pretty is Serenity... Asrai is Asrai!"
With another bubbling giggle, Asrai flit about the Constellation in a quick circle, halting just
in front of Serenity's right ear; her arm outstretched to invite her visitor into her grotto.
Straightening suddenly, eyes widening in a highly comedic manner, Asrai zoomed down
to collect the fallen amethyst and cast a quick eye about for other loose stones that had
escaped the boundaries of her gardens. Looking back up at Serenity, the little one
offered a sheepish grin.
"Be careful walking, loose stones are slippery!"
Darting ahead, Asrai went to the outer, guardian vines; stroking, reassuring, coaxing
them to part enough for the Constellation to enter the open side of the grove peacefully.
Slowly, a small path became visible in the tangled carpet of green; baring broken rocks
that could easily break the ankles of the unwary had the vines and their guardian wished it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:06 am
Serenity covered a giggle with a sleeve at the miniature mid-air curtsy. "Well, it's very nice to meet you Asrai." Still laughing, she turned her head, trying to follow the Homunculi's quick movements. "And thank you, I'd love to see your beautiful garden." Watching in amazement, Serenity's mouth hung slightly open in an incredulous smile as Asrai darted about, first scooping up the fallen amethyst, then touching and soothing the vines along the outer wall as they slowly moved to allow entrance.
Lifting her skirts slightly, she ducked under the curtain of twisting and shifting vines to pick her way along the suddenly rocky floor. She wondered how such a lush grotto had come to be through such a rocky and somewhat forbidding looking ground. Could this tiny violet of a creature, who exuded a feeling of softness like a veil, control the whole garden as she did the vines?
She straightened, looking about. The grotto was ablaze with color, the sun filtering through to alight on leaves and petals of every shade and variation, each more lush and vibrant than Serenity had ever seen in the outside world. "Are they yours, Asrai?" Serenity asked breathlessly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Silent Comet Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:55 am
Looking for the perfect place to 'plant' the amethyst, Serenity's question
brought the purity homunculi's attention back to the Constellation who
had now moved safely through the stony path.
"Asrai's?" She hummed in thought a moment. "Asrai helps them grow,
protects them... but who can possess them? They live, they are theirs!"
Nodding, satisfied, the gem-toned creature summoned a vine to take the
amethyst from her and tuck it in a small nook where it could sprout a new vine.
Living gemstones.
Fluttering back over to Serenity, she perched on a loop of vine and
indicated some smooth, moss-covered stones.
"Please sit, Serenity; enjoy the sun! Still smiling, but eyes now slightly
concerned, Asrai added, "you aren't lost, are you? We don't get many visitors."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:00 am
Serenity smiled happily at the homunculi's answer to her question. A true spirit of the flowers, loving but never possessing. She was suddenly inspired by the thought that the tiny thing would never pluck the beautiful flowers to sell, nor harvest the gems they apparently produced. She watched in fascination as Asrai apparently gifted the amethyst to a vine, who secreted it away. Did they plant the gems, these vines, or were they sentient enough to keep the treasures for themselves?
Tucking her skirts beneath her, she sat gently on the stone, picking the least mossy area. "Oh no, I'm not lost, but it is such a pity you don't get more visitors to your lovely flowers. I only happened upon this place because I enjoy wandering quite a bit. I used to walk everywhere, but now..." She trailed off and looked up into the sunlight. "I miss moving about the wide world, I suppose." Her expression becomes wistful for a moment before she blinks and smiles at Asrai. "Do you travel very much? I've seen some lovely flowers on my own travels, but none quite as lovely as yours."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Silent Comet Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 5:04 am
Watching the Constellation curiously, Asrai noted the longing that passed over her
face before Serenity turned a smile back on the purity homunculi. Travel? She
giggled softly at her own thoughts.
"Thank you, we are happy here and grow strong," another small giggle escaped.
"Asrai travels... to the big lake, to the field of red flowers... sometimes to the Lost Village!"
With a shrug and a wry grin, the little one gestured vaguely out beyond the trees.
"The world is very big, Serenity. Asrai is very small and fears travelling alone."
The forest was very beautiful and not horrible dangerous for her, so Asrai rarely felt
reason to leave it. She had her home, she protected the vines and they protected
her. But when the urge to see did strike her, there were many hidden places in the
forest to explore. But that did not make her any less curious about the larger world.
"When you travelled... tell Asrai what you saw, Serenity? Please?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 4:15 pm
Serenity sighed softly and was a bit saddened by Asrai's fears. "Yes, the world can seem so big and frightening at first, but only if you take it all in at once. When I was a little twilif, a wise man once told me, 'The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.' When you first start out, all that matters is the road in front of you." She laughed lightly and leaned over, tweaking the homunculi's nose. "But of course, company does make it so much more enjoyable."
"But, oh, I don't even know if I have the words to describe the things I've seen..." She swept up and took a few steps along the periphery of the grotto, looking with dazed eyes at the multitude of colors. She paused and lifted her head up to a ray of sunlight, closing her eyes. "I once saw a sunset so deep, it seemed to light the entire sky aflame..." She turned back to Asrai, skirts spinning, arms lifting to gesture widely. "There was a forest, with trees so tall, it would take near a dozen people to reach all the way around!" She continued as she gestured excitedly, the gold chains of her jewelery clinking and flashing in the sunlight. "I passed a lake once, so clear and smooth it seemed like glass. And there was an ocean! Beautiful blue and calm, with these massive crabs that walked about the beach and collected different colored shells to stick to their backs!" She was almost out of breath from talking so excitedly and as she looked up again into the sunlight, the excitement wavered into an almost desperate wistfulness. "I remember, right after I left my kingdom, I saw a maze, a labyrinth, stretching as far as the eye could see..." Her voice trailed off for a moment before she snapped back to reality. Blinking, she looked again at Asrai. "The wide world is full of such wonderful things, my memories of them are as much a part of me as..." She looked around and smiled. "As much as your beautiful flowers seem to be a part of you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Silent Comet Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 5:07 am
Asrai wrinkled her nose and grinned when the Constellation was teasing her and
then got nearly as excited as Serenity as the other described her travels. The
purity homunculi was all but vibrating where she sat; the vines had been listening
too and oddly enough, they longer to travel as well... perhaps.
Perhaps they could.
She would ask before the Constellation left if Serenity wanted to take a flower, that
way a piece of the vine could travel. And maybe she could venture to the village and
let the gems choose owners... they were rather fussy about who they went with.
"Sesheta says Asrai should travel. Maybe Asrai will go and see wonderful things
too!" Her eyes sparkled, trying to imagine such vivid sights and colors. Color wasn't
a difficult concept, the vines bloomed even through the cold season. But trees that
large? Lakes like glass, ocean waves, giant cra----
She blinked, sitting back down on her vine; she'd not even realized she was standing!
Eyes shimmering with curiosity widened as her next question poured out.
"Serenity... what are crabs? And why wear shells? Asrai has not heard of this!
This sounds... uncomfortable." The little one fluttered her wings slightly, twitching the
soft fabric of her garment, attention rapt. Sesheta, her ...adventurous... sister, had
brought her a shell, a tiny perfect spiral. But Asrai could not conceive of wearing that!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 9:28 am
Caught up in her own excitement, the sudden memory of the labyrinth, and particularly the man who ruled it, brought Serenity back to reality. Asrai had stood up and seemed to be positively awed by her talk of the outside world. Serenity smiled, and let her hands fall to clasp in front of her.
A look of confusion passed over Serenity's face at the mention of Sesheta's name. Was she, or he, a friend? Or had Asrai named one of the flowers, or perhaps it was Asrai's name for the flowers as a whole. Wait, that meant she not only talked to the flowers, but they talked back... The tiny homunculi was certainly full of surprises, Serenity wouldn't put it past her to be able to converse with the plants she so obviously cared for.
"Have you never seen crabs before, Asrai?" She asked kindly, eyes twinkling with mirth. "Oh they're such strange looking creatures with a wide shell on their backs, and four thin legs on each side of them..." She mimicked the description with her hands, wiggling her fingers as she spoke of the legs. "And two pinchers in the front, one big and one small." Flipping her sleeves back with her wrists, she imitated the pinchers with her hands, opening and closing them slowly. "The ones I saw were as big around as an oak tree, but usually they're only about the size of your hand. These ones used their smaller claw to find the shells in the sand and they used their s...saliva," She wrinkled her nose at the indelicate word. "To make it stick to their backs."
"Does...Sesheta travel? Is she a friend of yours?" Serenity asked delicately, letting her hands fall again, head tilting in interest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Silent Comet Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 4:59 am
Asrai was transfixed by Serenity's 'claws' and mimicked the Constellation's movements.
"As big around as an oak tree? Asrai should avoid those... they could snap her in half!"
Giggling as she mimed one hand snapping the other, she waved her hands at the question
of Sesheta. "Sesheta is Asrai's sister! She is very fierce and very brave. Very different
from Asrai! She travels as far as her wings will carry her." The little one's eyes dimmed
at that statement. She always missed her sister when she was out and about adventuring.
"Does Serenity have family to miss her when she travels?" A mischievous gleam came
into the homunculi's eyes, "Or perhaps someone special who she misses being near?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 8:39 am
Serenity laughed and let her hands drop, watching Asrai's miniature puppet show as the claw-hands battled each other momentarily. "Oh they wouldn't hurt a fly, they're really more scared of you than you are of them..." Her smile faded a bit at Asrai's momentary lapse in excitement. Did she wish she could travel with her sister, or did she miss her when she was gone? Sitting down on a rock, Serenity hugged her knees and smiled softly. "Why don't you travel with her? I'm sure she'd like a companion since she travels so much, and she could show you the wonderful things she's seen!"
Serenity had often wished for a traveling companion, but the people she met in her travels rarely had any desire to leave their homes or their own travels for the aimless wandering Serenity loved. Asrai's question caught her completely off-guard, and she attempted to brush off the shock with a slight wave of her and over her bangs. "Yes, I... I have a sister as well. She is with my father, in my home kingdom. She..." Serenity swallowed, the subject was an old bruise, still hurting when prodded. She will rule the kingdom when she succeeds our father. I do not know what they think of me, we have not spoken in such a long time..."
But somehow, as much as that bruise hurt, there was another closer to the surface. Serenity wondered if she even could explain it, Asrai seemed so young, untouched by heartbreak. "Asrai...do you know what love is?" She asked tentatively. In all her years traveling, she'd never spoken to another about her ex-betrothed, had hardly even thought of him. What had brought on the memory and, even more alarming, her sudden desire to even speak of it? She suddenly regretted saying anything; who was she to burden this innocent girl with her emotional baggage?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Silent Comet Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 5:49 am
"Travel with Sesheta?" Asrai let out a long 'hmmmm' sound, soft as a sigh and somewhat forlorn.
But she managed a smile for her guest. "Asrai cannot keep up with Sesheta and does not wish to
slow her down. Maybe... maybe someday Sesheta will ask, then we could adventure together!"
Serenity had a very expressive face and Asrai was distracted from her own lonliness watching the
expressions flitting momentarily across the Constellation's face, but lingering in the depths of her eyes.
How lonely to avoid one's family! Asrai would never avoid Sesheta and always missed her in her travels.
And love?
Looking down at her hands where they lay---still for once---in her lap, Asrai considered the question.
The homunculi knew others found her to be incredibly innocent; Sesheta had tried to explain this before.
Well, she could not claim great age, but she was not as ...simple as she appeared. She simply had a
hard time extracting herself from the sometimes-overwhelming consciousness of the vines she tended.
"Asrai thinks love is the greatest gift one can give or receive." Cocking her head, she met the
Constellation's eyes again. "This makes love very powerful, yes?" Gesturing around them the
homunculi tried to find the words to make her point, ignoring the sun-song of her vines to try and keep
her thoughts clear. "But the flowers say love is sun, clean water, fresh breezes..." trailing off,
Asrai looked up as a stray gust danced musically through the grotto. The homunculi closed her eyes
and tilted her head back, enjoying the cool rush of air. Almost as an afterthought, she continued;
"...so perhaps the question should be, what is love to you, Serenity, that it seems to haunt you so?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
