|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 7:22 am
Having left his grandmother behind in Sol, the young Earthling traveled to Andile in search of his friends. Along the way he stayed in Ast for a few nights, and considered a permanent move because of it. Not only was the smaller settlement much closer to his final destination, but they didn't give him the same weird looks as the residents of Sol because of his mixed heritage. They actually like it, which was...beyond odd. It was a give and take, really. His mind would be at ease there, but his grandmother would be uncomfortable, so Callum bid them farewell.
Closing in on Andile was a longer undertaking than he had originally thought. Callum had never seen so many trees in his life. At this point, he couldn't tell if it was a good thing or not. Digging around in a hip pouch, Callum pulled out his grandmother's worn map and frowned. "Is this...what happened to the road...?" Callum mused, looking this way and that. There had been a road, or at least a well worn path, what seemed like a short time ago. Now he found himself hopelessly trapped by red, purple and blue trees.
"I'll go with you! You don't know the area, Callum, you're going to get lost."
Callum felt more like a fool with each passing moment. He knew he was close, since large Alkidike women had already chased him off twice, but how close? What if I just walk into the middle of their settlement? He snorted, and laughed nervously before trailing off into worried contemplation. I wouldn't, right...?
He had to keep going. Callum was dead set on finding Ming'we and Minga even if it killed him. The young mixed blood just hoped it wouldn't have to come to that.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 9:10 am
Ming'we stretched and gave a yawn as she left her grandmother's house. It seemed she was the only one home apart from the elderly Alkidike. Though she had to wonder if the woman truly was aged since she moved around like an adolescent. The blonde hybrid shook her head and looked around before she decided to do something useful around the house. Literally around it. Ming didn't want to be stuck inside the house with her Gran so she decided she would pick up the fallen leaves and sticks out of the yard. What little yard they had. It would be a pleasant surprise to her mother as well. Doing her best to keep her hands clean as she worked Ming'we took up singing softly to herself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 5:30 pm
Callum wasn't sure how long he dodged groups of Alkidike, or how he'd managed to do it period, but at least one had been kind enough to talk to him when she spotted the hybrid. She'd given him pointers; vague ones, but it was all he needed.
Pushing through the vegetation, Callum's lanky form came across a house. At first he didn't want to get too close. Normally he wouldn't have a problem asking for directions, but he knew enough to keep his head down here. This wasn't Sauti, nor was it Ast.
Still, the noises he heard didn't sound all too threatening, rather it sounded like movement and...singing? "Hello?" Callum called out tentatively, craning his head around to see. He kept walking, but was just out of eye sight.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 5:51 pm
After a while she had managed to make two separate piles. One for the twigs and broken branches and the other for the leaves. Ming'we had thought about just making a giant pile, but the more she gathered the more she realized she wanted to jump and lay in the leaves. It would definitely be a good reward for her hard work. About halfway to the end of her song her ears caught the timid sound of someone speaking. Ming paused mid word and looked around. Her pure blue eyes found no one right away and she seemed confused by this. Was she hearing things? Wouldn't that be just great. She starts to hear things and it gives the alkidikes around her one more thing to pick on her for. The hybrid shook her head and went back to what she was doing. Since she picked up her singing she decided to dance along as well. It wasn't like there was anyone out here to see her. Cept maybe her Gran if she were looking out the window. Giving a casual glance at the house she tried to make sure there was no face lurking there. Nope, no face of an angry Alki Gran. Back to singing and dancing she went as she picked up the yard.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 6:07 pm
For a moment the singing stopped, and Callum quirked his brow. Was this going to be hostile, or...? It wasn't long after that it picked up again, and he got a little braver. Stepping around the home, Callum saw a dancing girl, and a familiar one to boot!
Callum was so excited to see Ming'we that he wanted to run to her. However, she hadn't seen him yet and watching her reminded him of home, so he hung back. If he took away the prejudice of their neighbors and the trees, he could imagine himself coming up on Ming'we and Minga's home back in Sauti.
Deciding he was branching into the territory of stalker, Callum whistled and laughed. "Is it me, or has your dancing actually gotten worse while being in Jauhar?" He placed a hand on his hip with a grin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 6:20 pm
Her ears gave a twitch when she heard a whistle and her cheeks gained a pink tint when she heard the laugh. Oh great. Someone had been watching. Ming'we felt a bit mortified by the knowledge. That was until the person behind it all opened their mouth and spoke. She knew that voice! The blonde hybrid turned instantly and gave a small squeal. "Callum!" Any sticks and leaves that had been in her hands were dropped as she took off in a run at her friend. There was no slowing down either. She was too excited. Once upon him she'd throw her arms out and practically jump on him. "I didn't know you were moving here too! Oh thank the winds for pointing you in this direction!" With her added weight the two might fall over, unless her friend had braced himself for the inevitable impact and clingage.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 6:34 pm
Callum's smile brightened like the full moon on a clear night. "I've been looking everywhere for you!" He was too happy to see her that he didn't notice her speed until it was too late. The youth took a half-step back, trying to hold himself as Ming'we crashed into him, but it wasn't enough. They went down, with Callum's body being used as a landing pad, and for a moment the air was knocked out of him. He shifted, trying to get in a better position so that he wasn't wheezing, though the smile never died from his face.
"I..." He cleared his throat and found the tension leaving his chest. Callum leaned up on his elbows, still flat on his back and perfectly content with her sitting or holding onto him should she choose. "I came to Sol with my grandmother not too long ago." Of course, he chose to omit any unsavory information. "You look well, Ming'we. As pretty as always." Callum smiled and reached up to tuck some of her hair behind an ear. "How do you like it here? And where is your brother? Is he around?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 6:46 pm
On the way down she closed her eyes and ducked her head a little to try and make sure she didn't get hurt or hurt Callum. It didn't stop her from laughing once the landing was over, however, and she stayed clung to him. Unbeknownst to her she was tearing up both with joy and with loneliness. At least now she had a close friend that was near by. She pulled back a little so that she could look at him as he told her he'd moved here a short while ago. "Where? Do you live close?" Oh she hoped so! Ming'we would love to have a friend's house to hide out at. Sometimes her stern grandmother could be a little too much for her to deal with. "Well, it's not too bad. I miss Sauti though." And she missed her wind mother, though since she had passed there was no helping that. Ming took a deep breath and released her hold on Callum so that she could slide off him and sit on the ground beside him instead. "He's... somewhere. He hasn't really stayed home much since we moved. I usually only see him before bed. Gran has a curfew for the house and she's pretty strict about it too."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 7:09 pm
It was impossible for Callum to see Ming'we misting up, and not get the vapors himself. He wiped at his eyes with the backs of his hands, pressing the crystals that resided there against his skin. "If only," he commented. "We live in Sol now, with the Shifters. It's where Corine used to live and she thought it would be a good influence on me." Callum said it as nice as he could, but his grandmother was stern in her love. There was definitely a hope the culture would rub off him, even tempt him to live their for the entirety of his life, but he wasn't so certain. "It's nice there; just a little far from you."
Sitting up fully, Callum reached up to tuck his own hair behind his ears. He was lucky when the pointed tips would hold back the curling mass, but with all the excitement his hair was running wild. "You too?" He smiled, a little wistful this time. Jauhar had it's nice points, but it didn't compare to the memories he had in Sauti. Frowning, Callum looked back to the house as if he expected Minga to show up, and then back to her. The thought of his friend being as lonely as he disturbed Callum. It wasn't supposed to be that way! She should be nothing but smiles and excitement. "I'm sure she only has it to keep you safe. The rumors I've been hearing aren't...comforting."
He shifted around so that he could face her. "...You haven't had any problems, have you?" Mixed bloods had to stick together, and he worried.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 7:31 pm
Seeing that he had watery eyes just as she did made her give a harsh laugh as she swiped away the tears to make sure the two didn't end up as bawling babies in the back yard. With that done she'd give her best smile. "Sol?" It took her a moment to think about the location of the town he'd mentioned. If they had been in Sauti and he'd told her a random village she'd have been able to pin point exactly where it was and how long it took to get there. When it finally clicked in her mind she started to frown. "Oh.. that's kinda far, but at least it's not all the way in Sauti." She nodded her head at him. Though Ming'we would have walked all the way back to see her friend if need be. She wasn't sure why she hadn't thought to do that lately. When he asked if she'd had any problems she turned a little red but shook her head. It was too quick of an answer. "No. No problems. You know how rumors are. They come. The go." Ming'we had given a very generic answer. Though her hand had taken to rubbing at her leg. She was remembering the bruises and such she'd gotten from the conflict in the marketplace some days ago. Thankfully they were in their odd yellow and green stage so they seemed to blend in with her skin tone. "I did meet a very interesting Alkidike." She tried to change the subject.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 2:03 pm
"Exactly," Callum agreed with a soft smile. "Our visits may be fewer and longer in between, but at least now they can happen at all." The walking would do him good, too; with luck, he might actually develop some muscle. After all, stranger things had happened.
Frowning, Callum tilted his head and gave Ming'we a knowing look. "Mm'hmm." He didn't want to push matters, since this was their first meeting in what seemed like ages, but there was obviously more going on here. In time he would get to the truth of it. He was too focused on her reddening face to look at the way she rubbed her leg, though it was probably to the benefit of her cover up that he didn't.
"Aren't they all interesting?" Falling back into easy smiles, Callum decided to let it all go. Now wasn't the time to worry; it was a time of gossip, celebration and friendship. He laughed and shook his head, "But go on. What was she like?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 5:08 am
Ming'we was pleased to hear that they could visit one another now. It wouldn't take days or weeks to cover the distance between them. It made her happy to know that she did have her family in one spot. Kind of. By Callum's reaction she knew he didn't believe her but was hoping he wouldn't push the issue. She didn't want him to think she was weak. When he let it go and commented on what she'd said she grinned at him. "Well yes, I suppose they all are." Unless they were the radicals that had been cause troubles. "Her name was V'demhe and she had a very inviting lip ring." Since it wasn't known whether Ming liked male or females more, this might shock her friend to know. She gave a chuckle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 17, 2015 7:19 pm
"Is that so?" Callum chuckled, and shook his head before looking excitedly to Ming'we. "You should have told me that you liked ladies, Ming. I could have introduced you to so many in Sauti." And there had been many. Though Callum wasn't sure all of them would have gone for another woman, much less a half-blood, it wouldn't have hurt to ask.
"Did you get to taste her lip ring, or were you just mesmerized by it?" His teasing was light hearted, but Callum was generally curious. Could this possibly be someone to steal his friends heart?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 3:41 am
Ming'we giggled slightly before she shook her head at him. "I didn't think I did, Cal. Actually, I'm not entirely sure I am. I think it's selective." After all there was just the one out of how many that she seemed to be attracted to? The blonde shook her head. "Mm, I tasted it." It was then that she gave her friend a very mischievous smile. "Still, there are a few good looking shifter men here." And she'd spotted a good many of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 1:48 pm
Callum had to laugh. He grasped his knobby knees and rocked back a bit. The young hybrid couldn't sit still for long if he tried. "You'll have to introduce me to her someday. If she is special enough to grab your attention, then I would like to meet this lip ringed girl."
Thinking on it, the young man had to shake his head. "I think that's pretty relative to your types. I haven't met enough shifters to really know if there are good looking men out there or not." Not that he was actively looking, mind you. Callum might have spoken with anyone who struck up a conversation with him, but his friend ground could be counted on one hand.
"My grandmother keeps assuring me that they'll warm up to me the longer I'm around, so maybe I'll meet some soon."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
