Welcome to Gaia! ::

Teiluj rolled her slender shoulders and sighed in order to relieve some tension. Her body was still sore from the travel back home. It hadn't helped she had spent most of the day in the market attempting to help find a younglings mother. The world was a dangerous place, as a child she pushed her own boundaries frequently but her mother, Maya, was always onto it sooner or later and would scold her for going to far.

High up in the branches Starline slept calmly. Teiluj had to wonder if that was because the Kinfa found it boring here. The birds large size was almost at the point of being fully grown. And from what she could remember from spending time in tale. That meant it was probably time to start outfitting her with a saddle. Mentally Teiluj berated herself for not having sought out a leather worker who could help build a proper saddle. But then again it was possible Starline would outgrow it.

Dangling a piece of dead wood in front of a small Radaku pup Teiluj wiggled it about on the ground. Catching Tao's attention who leapt forward fervently trying to bite and pull on the outer bark. The sound of tiny footsteps alerted Teiluj from her play. She was sitting in the outskirts of the village, still within easy eyesight. As much as she wanted to retreat to her meadow to think, it wasn't possible. There was still a chance things could go wrong at home so she needed to linger by just in case.

Tao stopped playing when he caught scent of the youngling approaching. Which only caused Teiluj to frown. Her yellow eyes watching as the Radaku promptly darted out of sight. She knew it wouldn't be long before he found something else of equal fright and ended up coming back her way. He was so different from his mother Pacju and yet so alike sometimes. Twitching Teiluj felt the stabbing pain of the girls question, she should be used to being noticed as different by now. But when it was obviously put out there Teiluj wasn't exactly sure how to respond. Snapping at the youngling would only end up making matters worse, as the chance of her mother or mothers seeking retribution could happen. She would have to be as sensitive as always.

She blushed with embarrassment at the question looking sideways before giving the youngling a half smile. Was she from around here? Didn't seem so the way the girl stared so obviously at her. Cringing inwardly Teiluj chucked the stick into the trees, turning to look the youngling Alkidike full on. "I'm what I am, I'm Teiluj." She responded calmly. She didn't really want to say she was this or that. It only made the feelings stronger that she didn't belong anywhere. So her name was who she was.

Twitching her antenna in search of more footsteps Teiluj gave the youngling a stern look. "Where are your mothers?" She asked.

Nodding at as the youngling gave her name Teiluj patiently waited for the answer to the more serious question. Where was her mother? This wasn't the first time in the past two days that a youngling had been separated from its caregiver. And she couldn't help but wonder if there was someone trying to get younglings lost for some reason or another.

Teiluj wondered if it was something worth looking into until her mother's words floated to the top of her head. It always takes three to make a pattern. Two is just coincidence. Perhaps that's all this was, coincidence. The proud look was something Teiluj had become accustomed to being part of the Alkidike's mannerisms they all seemed to have it. Even the twins, her mind wandered to them momentarily before the girl spoke again. Her mother was home, that sounded familiar. Cringing inwardly when the next question was asked Teiluj regarded the childs comment for a moment.

She had heard the term 'pretty' 'Exotic' only a few times. But more often then not it was filled with vehemence, or ridicule. Like it was some inside joke among the others. That didn't seem to be the case with this youngling. "Thank you," said Teiluj with a bow of her head. "Where is your home? I don't think I've seen you playing with the other children here. Did your mother recently move you here?"

Teiluj pondered over the comment over her mother. Was she referring to Aisha? Or to an actual Alkidike? But from the way she was talking Teiluj could only guess she was referring to someone of flesh and blood like them. Thinking further on it Teiluj's brows stitched together. If her mother hadn't moved with her from the Isle as the information she had gathered seemed to lean towards. Did that mean the mother was visiting? If not then the child had come here alone?

No, that wasn't possible. It took a full grown Alkidike several days of rowing to get across the waters. So who was stupid enough to bring a youngling away from Aisha? Even with the diluted Alkidike blood in her, her mother maya was still a fullblooded one and had done her best to attempt to raise Teiluj in the ways of the Alkidike women.

When V'demhe spoke again Teiluj focused on her finger before looking off towards the forest. Oh she was asking of Tao. "That was Tao, he my friend. He's a Radaku."

Having finished speaking Teiluj rose up onto her feet walking towards the girl before crouching down to her level to get a better look at her. Teiluj reached out to lay her hands gently on the girls shoulders. She had to get her attention away from Tao, younglings weren't safe along in Jauhar. "If your mother isn't here... Then how did you get here? A long journey across the water for several days must have been hard."

Teiluj didn't go to Aisha, she wasn't welcome there. Even during the rituals she was often outcasted because of how much earthling blood coursed in her veins. But that didn't stop her from trying to get close. And one day she would prove her strength to the others that she could be part of them. Part of Aisha's daughters.

Teiluj raised an eyebrow and the girls display of strength and gave the youngling a gentle reprimand. "You know your mother is probably worried sick by now right? You've been gone for several nights at least. Can you imagine how much pain she must be in to have lost you." Had she been like that towards her mother? Teiluj shook her head, no she had been submissive even blamed for things she didn't do but she never strayed from home.

Sighing and letting go of the girls shoulders Teiluj looked towards the small Village of Ast. Holding out her hand to the youngling she spoke with a calmer voice. "There are dangerous creatures out here who eat younglings, not just younglings even big people like me can get eaten by them if we aren't careful." She paused motioning with her fingers for the girl to take her hand. "Come, let me take you back to my mother. She can take you back home to yours, it's not safe for a youngling to be wandering so far away from home ever. This place isn't Aisha."

Teiluj waited until the small hand was in hers. Closing her fingers around V'demhe's Teiluj looked forward before holding a finger to her lips in a signal to keep this a secret and turning to the girl with a wink. "Between you and me, explorations should be done in a timely manner. Go where you know your mother can find you first. Have a safe call set up, like this." Teiluj whistled into the air. A second later and she was quickly answered by a louder and clearer one. "Ah! see, Starline knows my call and can answer. Now she knows where I am, and I know where she is. I can still explore like this. Do you understand?"

Giving her a soft reassuring squeeze with her hand. Teiluj looked away and started walking before responding. "I wont be saying anything to your mother because I'm not coming with you. But my mother will talk with her. I don't know what she will say. But didn't you say you were strong? Strong Alkidikes don't complain or avoid trouble when they deserve it. They face it head on and learn not to make the mistake again." Teiluj found she was only repeating her mothers words to the child but it was really all she knew herself.

Feeling the tug Teiluj stopped and turned to look at the youngling again her antennea twitching to listen to the world around her. Incase V'demhe had seen something she wasn't paying attention to. "It's nice to hear that you like me... uhm V'demhe." Teiluj struggled to remember the girls name and hoped she had gotten it right. "But listen to me very carefully. I'm not allowed on the island because I don't look like you. You wont be alone, you will have friends to keep you safe warm and fed." Reaching out she ruffled the girls dredlocks.

"While I believe you, there are many who do not like 'my colors' as you say." Giving her a tug of encouragement Teiluj continued towards Ast. "i'm sure my mother will allow you some time to stay and get to know her. Eat of course. But she will want to return you quickly. She is a mother too after all."

Teiluj wandered in silence for a while. Not because she was being rude or inconsiderate of the girl, but rather she had grown up learning that saying nothing was often better than speaking to much. She also wondered if it would be ok to bring a youngling back to the house with Nkole so injured in the upper floors. The place was purposefully kept quiet so he could sleep properly and heal. She could only hope that V'demhe would understand when they got there that being quiet was very very important.