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 Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:23 pm
 Whenever one thinks of the Tidewalkers and those that walk their territory they think of hardy kin, mostly kimeti, who are lean and strong, weather worn, but healthy with legs that can carry them over the toughest terrain not an acha and a crippled one no less, but despite what anyone would think, there that acha was, making his way in a stiff, but manageable gait that was surprisingly fast considering that he was unused to the terrain and had only the bare usage of his legs. Nonetheless, Breaking the Surface seemed unconcerned by the fact that his legs were strangely set and not prone to bending where they should, he merely continued on, ears pricked high, vague smile on his face.
Usually he might have been one to sing, but dusk was soon falling and an unnatural hush had fallen that compelled him to remain quiet. Not so distantly, Dive could hear the sound of water and though he had never been to a beach, he could imagine the waves crashing against the shore fairly well in his mind. He continued along, hoping to break over the steep hill that loomed in front of him to be greeted with the sight of water, something that he had grown to love since coming from the desert and learning to swim in the swamp. He was more graceful in the water, faster, and in a way it felt like he could dance again when he swam. He was quick in water where he was slow on land, he could twist and fall when he was bouyed up by water where he would stumble and fall firmly on the ground.
And though this acha had no knowledge of the Tidewalkers, if he did, he would likely admire their way of life greatly, their strength, but also their affinity in water for that was how he danced and that was how he hunted, a strange crippled creature who suddenly became new when submerged.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 12:09 pm
And so dusk was soon falling.
The grim toil of work on the Tidewalker shore was slowly milling to a close, most of the day's tedious labour done. The blazing doe, lean and taut and effortlessly hardy, loped along the splashing surf, then pranced straight into the sea. She thrust her head under the rippling tide, then tossed her short mane back with a shower of droplets as she looked to the sands, "The waves are teeming today, Mudlark - we'll feast tonight, I daresay!"
Without waiting for reply, she waded further, throwing a floating verse of made-up song to the strong sea wind in her easy, ringing voice as she looked for the best spot to begin:
"Come, little fin, bid your father goodnight,
bid your mother goodnight and goodbye -
your soul may be tender
but your flesh, it is sweet:
a delicate meal for my mother to eat;
my mother, my Mudlark, and I."
And thus was Shanty.
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 6:20 pm
The ascent up the step hill, riddled by rocks and other pitfalls that could easily send a crippled kin tumbling to his or her death, was understandably slow for Dive for though he was fit from his work to overcome and work around his disability, he was nonetheless still impaired by his legs limited motion and thus he was still making his way towards the crest of the hill when the rumble of voices started and, more importantly, when the sound of singing reached his ears. The song was not poetically beautiful like those sung by his kindred back in the desert, nor was there any particular depth to the song or even the soul searching beauty that imbued many an acha's voice, but it was clear and strong, with a confidence that made it a pleasure to hear despite what other more critical acha might have said had they heard the singing.
The sound of splashing urged Dive to walk faster and so he hobbled up step by step as quickly as he could and when he finally crested over the hill, he was greeted, as he had hoped, by water and milling around where kin, all over the beach, but his eyes were immediately drawn to a doe who was already far out in the water, bright orange against the blue, clear even in the dim dusk light. She had to be the source of the singing and for that, even if she was not already stunning in her colors, she was beautiful.
Determined to get closer, to feel the water surrounding him, Dive made the perilous descent, steeper and more dangerous than the side that had brought him up. Though he was careful, there was simply things that he could not adjust to without the full range of motion that should have been available to him in his legs and so when he stepped on a raised section that required more bend and adjustment than his stiff, misshapen legs could manage, he lost his balance and tumbled down the side of the hill. He didn't cry out though for though he loved to raise his voice, he didn't raise his voice when he tumbled, not even that first accident that had led to the permanent damage to his legs.
Luck, apparently, was on his side for none of the large rocks that had littered the descent hit his body and when he stopped with a spray of sand, he was winded but unharmed, well unharmed in his opinion which was rather adjusted to the life he has led since the accident, so perhaps for another kin this tumble could seem much worse and the injuries to his body cause for more pain. All in all though, in Dive's mind, the fall was not terribly bad and since all accidents were compared to that first, it was rather hard for him to feel too badly when his legs went unbroken. With some awkward shuffling and rolling, and strange, painful looking twists of his legs, he managed to push himself back up on the sand and find his bearings. Almost immediately, he was already refocused on the water and the doe that was in it.
With little heed for the other kin on the beach, he made his way over to the edge of the water, his hobbling gate carrying him over the sand, and when he could at last feel the water lapping and crashing against his hooves, he dived in with no hesitation, reveling in the freedom that he could suddenly gain.
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 9:37 am
The strange entrance, bordering on the comedic in the sheer scope of its tragedy, was observed in silence. A more tender-hearted Kin might have gasped and rushed to offer aid, but Shanty was a Tidewalker, and her heart had never been particularly soft outside of Mudlark. It was, at least, fair enough that she held back the laugh out of respect for his obviously hobbled legs, but she never stepped forth till the Acha had slid into the water.
"Well, now," she then called out with cheer at his suddenly powerful glide, "are you a fish?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 1:53 pm
Grinning with obvious delight, Dive pushed forward, deeper in the water, easily gliding over to the doe a few lengths away. He laughed at her comment and immediately answered, voice turning the words over with a lilt so typical of an ever singing acha it might be laughable if his voice was not also strong and deep (never let it be said that Breaking the Surface’s voice was breathy or overwrought). “Why, with my obvious grace on land, it’s a wonder that I’m not already growing gills and my legs turned to fins.”
His wide, playful smile matched the happy sarcasm in his voice. He continued on, sarcasm replaced with amusement, “Though, judging by your song, it must be a lucky day that I am in the water as a kin rather than swimming on a fin.”
Swimming past the doe with quick, easy grace, Dive crashed into an oncoming wave that he had wanted to meet and was brought tumbling back to the doe’s side. Above the noise of water, his clear ringing laugh could be heard. He shook the water off his head and neck, sending the feathers behind his ears, eternal accessories from his youth, flying from side to side, and when the feathers plastered themselves to his neck, he paid them no mind, responding to the doe’s earlier song with an impromptu song of his own:
“Oh!
The huntress sings
and with it brings
a warning to her prey!
If they were wise
they would swim and hide,
but look, there they swim waiting to be eaten!”
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 6:51 pm
A doe, silent and still as stone, had watched the Acha’s arrival. She witnessed his tumble down to the shore and his hobbled progress into the ocean. His limitations were obvious. Such disability did not belong on Tidewalker land. It was a weakness that, in her mind, could not be undone by discovering grace in the water. “If you are distracted from catching dinner, Shanty, I will get my own.” Mudlark called as she stepped forward until the waves lapped at her hooves. She was tempted to draw her sister away entirely, but she held back on the request, merely staring at where the two swam, her disdainful blue gaze following the Acha buck. Perhaps he had come to put himself out of his misery and give himself up to the ocean? If that was the case, she would be happy to help.
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:09 am
She laughed heartily at the Acha's words, savouring the strength of his voice - but as soon as Mudlark reached the lapping waves, she rushed out of the water to nudge her sister back, "Oh no, my darling, it wouldn't do to get your pretty fluffy hooves wet if we don't have to! I'll catch your share, for sure...and as for more..." With a sly, if utterly good-natured, smile, she splashed back to where the buck swam, "So you are not a fish! You do look more like a bird," she nodded at his feathers, "perhaps you are a fisherbird?" She capped off the challenge with a broad wink - whether at Mudlark, the Acha, or both, it was unclear but hardly seemed to matter.
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:54 pm
Looking back at the other doe's words, Dive watched as the singer, the huntress, Shanty, rushed to the shore to keep the doe from entering the water. Shanyt, what a delightful name, and if Dive had to hazard a guess, this white doe with dangerous markings must be Mudlark. Perhaps they were sisters; they had the same blue eyes, yet not the same for where his singer had laughing eyes, this new doe had eyes of stone, precious stones, but cold and hard nonetheless. Her posture and expression spoke of cold disdain and even as Dive tread water in place and simply watched the two does interact, the acha couldn't help but feel as if he were being judged supremely lacking, which was not the most comfortable feeling in the swamp. Despite this, at the return of Shanty in the water with her good-natured smile and challenge, Dive couldn't help but return the smile in equal, if not greater, measure. "Perhaps so, Shanty!"
She couldn't possibly know of the bird that had swooped down into the water and emerged with fish in its beak that had come with his naming dream. Little had Dive known as an acha in the water-sparse desert that he would one day feel just like that bird. Swimming out deeper, a hunter's glint entered Dive's eyes. Watching the fish gliding through the water with their easy tail flicks, Dive automatically adjusted to the water's distortion. He kept his treading motions smooth and as still as possible, biding his time for he did not have the grace of legs that allowed him trash his prey with his legs or even to take great leaps, not even in the water. No, he was all quick strikes and snapping jaws. Right before he struck down, jaws clamping down on a struggling fish, he called out with a grin, "It wouldn't do to let my name down, would it?"
And with that, he dived into the water, breaking the moving surface with a splash and his teeth found their mark.
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 12:22 pm
Shanty let out a triumphant whoop at his's magnificent capture, pushing off into the waves to give him a companionable, congratulatory shoulder bump, "Marvelous! A masterful performance! What is your name, fisherbird?" Quick as a flash, she somersaulted into the deep, emerging seconds later with a wriggling fish in her jaws. Kicking back to shore, she deposited the fish before Mudlark with a flourish, and turned to nod her head at the buck to do the same, that he may speak.
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 10:12 pm
Mudlark stepped back from the water as bidden by Mudlark, and it was from there that she watched the Acha dip beneath the water in search of his prey. When he emerged triumphant, she barely reacted. There was no hint of approval, no lightness in her eyes; just cold hard contempt. It would take more than that to impress her.
However, when Shanty returned with her own catch, the doe’s face transformed. A smile appeared, adding a sudden softness to her features that before had been nothing but severity. “It is a fine fish.”
When she looked back at Dive, her expression hardened again, though there was now a faint spark of curiosity, as if Shanty had somehow smoothed away some of her reserve. “It is considered a mercy to kill a bird that has broken a wing.” She said smoothly.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 4:40 pm
Something warm blossomed in his chest at Shanty's approval and he watched her with undisguised glee as she gracefully caught a fish of her own. At her bidding, he too gracefully moved to the shore. He didn't stop at the other doe's, Mudlark's, words. Though they stung for there was no doubt what she was really referring to, he had long since gotten over the bitterness of his injury. He had his voice and he walked well enough, hunted better than many so long as he had water on his side, and had survived the long trek from desert to swamp when others who had their legs on their side hadn't. Setting the fish down at Mudlark's hooves he backed away a few stilted steps before stopping to regard her carefully, his eyes cool, but not hard or angry. "Perhaps so, but then, that bird can't live without it's wings, is relegated to a short, meager life spent wallowing on the ground starving to death."
He smiled, face to happy-worn to accommodate much else, "An acha does not need perfect legs to sing or walk or hunt. I'll consider my death a mercy when my throat is wasted and I can no longer bear to move."
"I fear my manners have gotten away from me for I have received both your lovely names before I gave you mine." His smile was brighter now and he tossed his head as many an acha were want to do before continuing, "I am Breaking the Surface, though many have called me Dive."
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 4:26 am
"Dive! The perfect byname for a broken-winged bird," she bounded up to drop another fat fish with its predecessors; hooking her neck playfully across his shoulder, she winked at her sister with mirthful eyes, "you can't kill this one yet, Mudlark, he breaks the surface and still swims."
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Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:17 pm
A kinder kin would have been able to see Dive’s strengths and marvel that he had overcome his disabilities. But Mudlark was incapable of that sort of mindset. She was not a truly cruel doe, especially not to those she loved, but there was no room in her world for those who did not fit her specifications. Dive’s shortcomings were too great for her consider him worthy of her time.
She ignored his fish, looking instead at Shanty. If the other doe wished to play with her broken bird, so be it. "I will leave you to your games then, sister. When you are done, you know where to find me." She neatly picked the two fat fish Shanty had caught up by their tails, not even touching Dive’s offering. One last nod at Shanty and she turned away, heading back up the beach.
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Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:06 am
Dive was not one to hold grudges. He could understand why some looked at his legs and could not understand why he would want to shoulder on on hobbled legs. He accepted that easily. He accepted it as easily as he accepted his own easy desire to live despite the injury. The incident was too long past to cause him any pain in his heart and perhaps it was this injury that made his naming dream a reality. The MotherFather worked in mysterious ways and he would not live life holding a grudge against past injury, against those who did not see it as he did, or anything else. And so, he watched Mudlark go, leaving his offering of the fish on the ground.
A careful moment passed and then he smiled, speaking cheerfully, "Ah well, the broken bird will gladly enjoy the company of one songbird if it can't enjoy that of two."
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Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2012 1:23 am
Still, Shanty's gaze was cast across the sands, where the silhouette of her sister steadily disappeared along the horizon. A faint smile, indulgent and perhaps that tad wistful, lapped at her lips, softening the sharp, bright blue of her eyes.
The effect was rather ruined by her sudden, gleeful sigh, "Isn't she adorable when she's jealous? My darling Mudlark!"
When she turned back to Dive, she was all cheer and sparkle again, rubbing a quick cheek against his own orange one, "And this solo songbird shall have lots of fun with the broken bird - not so very broken if it can still fish! Let's catch a veritable bounty, that even Bitterleaf would be impressed with you!" She took a brief moment to chuckle at the thought of Bitterleaf impressed, before wading back into the surf, kicking a splash of tide at him with a ringing laugh.
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