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 Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 12:32 am
(CRUNCH TIME!)
It had been awhile since the Academy had approached the young wolf Mononoke for anything. The last time she had been there, had been to talk to the powerful sage and had been found by someone else. Her ever so insistent companion Savage, the smaller version of herself pretty much followed along her trail as she stopped in front of the Academy grounds.
She wasn't particularly fond of the place, the teenagers and young witches around made her feel awkward and out of place, as one of the few Ars Lilium's to gain the title out of respect only, she had never attended the Academy formally. In such, social situations with a group of her own age companions, she never understood a thing they did or said.
She reached down to pet the wolf before trailing her hand over the dream-catcher that she kept around her waist, the object provided her with protection and a small enhancement for her divination skills, and it provided her with the comfort of something familiar in the place.
She looked around as she studied students. They peered at her unnaturally, like she was a rare commodity when in truth she was. Not many Mononoke in the world. Graveyard in fact only knew of one other Mononoke, but by reputation only, the white wolf Kiarei. And wasn't it odd though, that she had been called her to help a young Mononoke prodigy? A student of the academy by the name of Chanda, A Tiger. Raw power, Gravy thought to herself of the image of a tiger.
She had made it to the girl's dorms by herself before she had to stop some of the students and ask if they had seen the younger Mononoke girl.
"Well Savage, How about would I go finding a Tlv-da -tsi(Tiger) in this forest?" She stopped, tapping a finger to her chin.
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Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 5:16 pm
 Chanda was not thrilled about having to take a tutor for Divination...but then again, she wasn't really thrilled about her D- either and this was the only option left to improve her grade (outside of cheating of course, but she would never stoop to such a level). Personally, she found the subject rather droll and, frankly, useless for someone whose magical focus was purely offensive but Makai dictated that she had to have passing grades in all subjects before she would even be considered for the Grave of Fireflies trial. So here she was, forehead against the door to dorm room, taking slow, methodic breaths to center herself before approaching her Divination tutor. She would rather be late than approach her tutor without being calm and collected as that would just be a waste of time for both of them. And as an Ars Mononoke Chanda wanted (though she would never say aloud) to make a good impression. Erebus floated above her shoulder and, when Chanda remained stationary he gave a cold, insistent push to her cheek. "Ṭhīka hai ṭhīka hai! (Okay okay!)," she said in exasperation and, with a deep breath, opened the door and looked down the hall. Her teacher had said the tutor would meet her at her dorm but she didn't see-... ... "Oh. That would be her," she thought to herself as her eyes fell on the slowly shuffling, uneasy crowd around the only non-uniformed person in the hall. Also the only person who happened to have a bushy black tail and an extra pair of ears on their head. "Do people look at me like that Erebus?" She asked to the still open doorway. The Alchemia gave a noncommittal shrug and then, after a pause, nodded meekly. "Mahāna... (Great...)"At feeling her uncertainty, Erebus closed and locked the door, forcing the tiger Mononoke to go meet her tutor. Another deep breath and she was striding confidently down the hall even though every nerve in her body was singing. "Miss...Graveyard," Chanda jutted a hand out to her, her nerves blatantly apparent in the stiffness of her arm. "Is that what you preferred to be called?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 10:02 pm
Graveyard was intently aware of the students stares and coolly walked past them, her tail swung in a easy rhythm with her legs. Savage made small growling sounds as students whispered to each other, and although to most humans, they were whispering, Gravy's ears gave her the same heightened sense as any other Wa-ya(wolf) naturally born, she heard the mixed fear, fascination and awkwardness of teenagers. Though she heard mostly compliments from the students, there was a pack of them that were scared or hated her. She again, had no experience with the school settings and so ignored most of the people. After all, she was here for only one person.
Her head swiveled as she smelt the Tiger girl before she had stepped up to her and she turned her twilight purple eyes to that of the snowy gray tiger girl. She could tell the other girl was nervous and it showed only to Graveyard's heightened senses.
"Hello Chanda." Graveyard looked at the outstretched hand and smiled softly, such a odd gesture, her village never did such things. Clasping the other girl's hand in her's, she turned that same soft smile to Chanda's, locking eyes with her before speaking again, "You can call me Grave, or Gray for now. I am far to young to be called Mrs. and far to old to be called Miss." She laughed at her joke and picked the two easiest names to remember, though some dared to call her Gravy, it was really only reserved for family and esteemed members of her village. She cocked her head at the young student and pulled her hand back, Savage coming around to sniff the girl and her floating Alchemia.
"While we are at introductions, this is my Famaliar Savage. He is a bit of a grump but don't mind him." She bent down to pet the wolf, "I hear you our having trouble with you divination Tlv-da-tsi(Tiger) Chanda. It would be easier for me to help you channel some magic into that area if we had a quieter area to work. Do you mind walking to the edge of the Academy and to the woods? I think it would suit us both better seeing as we seem to draw a crowd." She gestured to the growing students, curious as to why there was two Mononoke together. It was beyond rare to see two together after all and Chanda was the first Mononoke that Graveyard had met in person. She had heard of the white wolf, a Owl reaper and a Kitsune but that was it as far as her kind went.
"You can bring your friend if you'd like." She waved to Erebus and smiled at him, "I don't think he wants to leave your side anyways." Graveyard nodded before turning around and heading to the said outskirts of the Academy. She needed quiet, and she would need to focus.
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:45 pm
Chanda too heard the whispers amongst the students. She heard many things she figured she should not be hearing wherever she went, but the whispers of her peers were the most disconcerting given that she had to see them every day. When she had written to her brother about it he had advised her to tune them out and so, trusting in his knowledge of the school (he had graduated from Makai after all), she did. Besides, it allowed her to focus on more important things, like her upcoming classes, and it was good practice for when she needed to meditate. Not to mention, given her tendency to social awkwardness it was probably for the best that she did not hear, or rather, that she did not acknowledge the remarks made. Even the compliments would have pushed her deeper into isolation. Just as the eager hands and shrill voices of children push domesticated felines into hiding, so too did the eager eyes and loose lips of her peers.
Chanda's hand twitched ever so subtly as it was grasped. It was an involuntary movement as Graveyard's own flavor of mononoke magic shot through her arm like a bolt of electricity. She had never been in contact with another of her kind, and the introduction to the "feel" of another mononoke was almost enough to make her jump. But after the initial shock she felt...at ease and the tension singing throughout her faded away. "As you wish M-..." It felt so odd to be addressing a teacher without any honorific. So odd in fact that she couldn't simply just speak her name. "Śikṣaka (Teacher) Grave."
At the introduction of Graveyard's familiar her bright blue eyes met with Savage's almost identical ones for a bit longer than was probably good for predators to hold each other's gaze, but the tiger in her refused to back down. It was only when she was given a question that she broke the gaze and looked to her teacher. "Yes, the woods would be preferable. I do better in the-"
Her words were cut off at the mention of a friend. "Friend?" Chanda looked in the direction of Graveyard's smile and wave and stiffened when she saw her Alchemia floating beside her. "Erebus," she yelled, tail twitching in irritation. "Āpa kamarē mēṁ rahanē vālē thē! Tuma kyā kara rahē hō? (You were supposed to stay in the room! What are you doing?!)" Erebus averted his gaze, knowing he had done wrong, but retaliated with a mournful look in his eyes.
The two stared at each other for a long minute before Chanda sighed, caving in to her Alchemia's wants. "Fine, you may come along," she grumbled and followed after her tutor, her tail twitching in annoyance at the fact that she could never win an argument with what was essentially a mute pet. Erebus looked simultaneously overjoyed and relieved and as she walked he gave a long, awkward hug to his owner's cheek.
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Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 11:32 am
Savage kept his gaze on the student, piercing blue eyes to blue eyes as a small challenge rose between the two predators. Gravy didn't notice it really, as she for some reason or other, regardless of her predator's blood had no urge to claim dominance like Savage did. Instead she was already turning to walk.
Patting the bag of her supplies that she had brought, a slightly more chipper mood exuded as she moved through the throngs of the students to the woods. Perhaps it was the wolf in her that made her crave nature rather then the confines of the academy walls. If she felt confined, wouldn't the poor Tlv-da-tsi(tiger)? She had nothing but the scents of humans and majins clouding her after all, how could she focus to do divinations when so much surrounded and fogged her senses? It was no wonder the girl needed a little guidance.
Her ears perked at the strange words from Chanda's mouth, amused that she had no idea what the girl said being that it was said in a different language then her own, and even more different then their shared language. She liked the way the name for herself came of Chanda's tongue, assuming it was a honorific name. "Ah you are quite the polite one." Gravy's looked over her shoulder as they walked, bringing her hand up to stroke one of the feathers that laced in her hair.
"Do you smell it?" Gravy took a deep breath as the exited the school, woods surrounding them instantly. "I do love the smell of U-ni-tsi E-lo-hi(mother earth)." She turned now, her familiar wandering off into the woods to do whatever he pleased before looking for a spot to settle and begin the tutoring.
"Alright Little Tlv-da-tsi(tiger) Chanda." Satisfied that they were deep enough not to be bothered into the woods, she came to a little clearing of flat dry ground and pulled out a small knit blanket, setting it on the ground, tree's hooded them as small animals chirped and scuffled through the woods. She slowly begin to pull out items out of her bag. One was a dream-catcher, one a brand new pack of tarot cards, another was a empty teacup, a elegant hand mirror reflected light as she pulled it out, a small orb sat heavy next to the sister items and lastly a small ceramic bowl which she pulled a bottle of water out to pour it into. Satisfied with the set up as well, she sat cross legged on the ground.
"Divination is an age old magic that started before our times. It was greatly revered though for its practical uses." Gravy smiled at the Tiger mononoke, patting the blanket so that Chanda would sit with her. Erebus of course was welcome to do the same. Savage, previously wandering returned as well, curling behind Graveyard resting his head on his paws as he watched the exchange of information begin. "It requires the skills to gather information through magical means. While you are gaining information though, you must be able to handle and read what your magic tells you." Gravy rested her elbows on her crossed legs, leaning forward. "My magic is severely different from yours, and any other witch or witch eater's. Only you yourself can read what your magic tells you after all." She smiled softly, "We each have something we are stronger magical wise. Whether it be summoning, evocation of physical magic or simple healing." She tapped her knee, "Some have power in transformation. Our kind, Mononoke's are destined to have powerful magic, in most types of magic there is. We are known as Prodigies of the witch world." Graveyard frowned, trying to think how to better explain, "U-tso-a-se-di Da-no-si-si-s-gv(trouble explaining)." Clapping her hands, "Okay, I have a way. I will explain to you how my magic works." Graveyard reached over to grab her dream-catcher, pulling it to sit in front of her before look at Chanda. "Since I was A-yo-li Wa-ya(young wolf), I was blessed with visions of dreams in my sleep. For me to understand them though, I would weave dream-catchers to catch them and then look back into them to gain information. Divination is a magic that is solely used for gaining information, whether it be from looking into the past, to focusing on the present to predicting the future." Graveyard touched her finger to the net of her dream-catcher, it slowly glowed a purple color, lacing the strings in the coloring before it drifted upwards to show a small scene of two witches fighting a witch eater, it slowly faded into another scene of a woman holding a newborn baby and once more, it slowly faded to show a Ars Lilium man stealing money from his friend. Scenes faded in and out from the dream-catcher before Graveyard touched it again, the purple coloring disappearing and the dream-catcher returned to being a simple object.
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:58 pm
Chanda had lived in the wilderness far too long and, not to mention, was far too young to suppress her predatory instincts all the time. Other animals made her tiger blood pulse wild and hard in her temples, predators more than prey, but both tended to fog up her human sensibilities. Thankfully, despite that spark of predatory conflict with her familiar, her teacher still found her to be polite. "I suppose I'm getting a little better at least..." she thought as they made their way out of the confines of man and into the freedom of nature.
"I do." Chanda breathed out the words in a sigh in an answer to her question, strings of tension associated with the academy slowly severed by the branches and leaves of the woods as they brushed against her body. She felt so much better out here, free from walls and stale air. Chanda felt so good in fact, that when Graveyard began pulling out her divination tools there was a tickle of hope, like maybe she really could do this.
At the invitation to sit she immediately did, though rather than sitting cross-legged she sat with her legs straight underneath her. Having a dress for a uniform required certain uncomfortable postures. Everything that Graveyard told her she had heard in class before: everyone’s divination techniques were different, everyone’s magic was different, only you can truly understand what your magic tells you, and so on. Chanda tried to remain still but the repetitive nature of her words made it easy for the discomfort of her position to distract her.
But then the dream catcher came out.
And then from it, the dreams.
Suddenly Chanda wasn’t sitting but she was kneeling, almost standing as she watched the scenes fade into each other before disappearing entirely. “Yaha…adbhuta thā... (That…was amazing…)” Chanda’s blue eyes flicked their intense gaze over to Graveyard’s own purple ones. “Śikṣaka…how do I have my magic do something such as that? When I try,” she looked down at her fingers, the slightest twinge of disappointment curling the edges of her mouth down, "it is never so...clear."
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