His first breath filled his lungs, pushed his small ribs out, and swelled in his belly. Awareness shot through the cub, flooding every nerve and limb with life. Sensations washed over him, almost overwhelming him. For a few long moments all he could do was lay there in the soft grass and allow his body to come into itself, his spirit to settle, and his senses to connect. He felt the grass, the solid ground under his small body, the wind against his face, and the sun warming his fur.
He dared a small peek, cracking his eyes open. The light almost blinded him. He hissed and lifted his paw over his face. He didn't know it would have helped, it was a pure instinct. It helped, blocking the light out, but it put pressure on his face. Damp pressure- damp? He lowered his paw to touch the grass. Grass? It was covered in a thin layer of...water. Why? What was water? He knew, somehow.
Groaning, he lifted his head and cracked his eyes open again. This time his vision was more clear. He was marveled at the sights that rushed to meet this newest of senses. Blue skies, a large open field, and a part of the land where it seemed the sky had fallen to earth, rippling on occasion as wind moved over its surface. Suddenly, he was very aware of how small he was. All this space, the massive rocky formations standing tall against the sky, rising above the forms of trees and shrub alike.
He curled himself into a small ball. In doing so he felt something just beside him. He froze, his eyes going wide. For a moment he remained still, afraid to breathe. After a moment of harmless nothingness he turned his head, slowly. Just beside him lay another cub. His alabaster back rested against a golden brown back. What...was it?
He slowly reached a paw out and touched at the strange creature. "...H-hey...?"
Ririka
Post Word Count: 332
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 5:09 pm
OOC
I will be logging an AIM RP here! Riri's posts will be clearly marked.
Riou || [ Ririka ] His small, new found mind could not even begin to comprehend what was going on at the moment. But then again, being a soul that is new to the world his mind had much to do in terms of registering the information given to him in order to ease his way into the world, and working through his own existence when compared to said information. Some lucky souls just eased into the world like they always existence. Oh so lucky. Then there were souls like himself who needed a bit more time to understand and feel comfortable, and, well, if anything like his current state of whimpering and pawing at the ground said anything, he needed a moment or two to understand how the task of breathing worked. His mind knew. His mind sat confused as to why he was not listening to the direction given to his body. Obviously mind and body were as out of sync as a floofalo trying to take flight with a flock of paroos. It might look comical. It is comical. It is just not comical for the poor soul that is landed on by the floofalo. just as it is not comical for the cub's lungs to have a very distinct lack of air at the moment. 1, 2, he can't breath. 3, 4, his chest feels like a floof just rammed into his chest. 5, 6...there he goes with a gasp and a kick of one of his back feet. Congratulations, dimwit. Welcome to the world. The golden ball of fur may never be the brightest soul in the world, but maybe the Weaver had plans for him to make up for that in other ways.
After a few more painful gasps, the sweet taste, or lack of taste, air has no taste, the small life quickly rolled over onto his stomach. His paws seemed to instinctively move to cover his face, though he did not understand why. It just seemed like the right thing to do at the moment. Maybe it was meant to give him a feeling of safety among all the confusion over his own existence.
It was then that his senses started to slowly pick up on what was going on around him. The passing breeze gently caressed everything in its way, causing the small cub's fur and the grass beneath him to shift in its direction. Expectantly, he was unsure of what to think about the new sensation. Why did it cause such a strange sensation in his stomach? Was the feeling a good feeling? Was it a bad feeling? Wait, what is good and bad? How did his mind know such terms so easily? At least the..thing...the gwras? Grus? Whatever it was, at the least it felt soft and not to threatening. Such a nice thing to rest upon, this grwuras.
With his attention turned elsewhere the cub barely even took notice of the other cub resting beside him. More so, he barely took notice of it, yes he thought of it as it at the moment. What else was he supposed to call "it?" if he did not even truly know what "it" was for now. But yes, he barely even registered the fact that it was attempting to speak to him about...something, or at the very least it was just trying to get his attention. What did it even want anyway?
The darker of the cubs groaned while a small frown painting itself on his groggy looking face. It was then that he finally made an attempt to raise his head, which felt as heavy as a bag of rocks at the moment. Not to mention that he could feel the beginnings of a dizzying feeling swirling around his head. Why did the start of his life have to be so confusing and annoying off the bat?
"No..." he groaned at the feeling of something touching him. It certainly was not the grwuras beneath him, nor the feeling of the wind picking up again.
This 'no'. He did not know what is meant, but it something within him told him that it was the perfect word for the situation. In his mind is just seemed to mean, well something along the lines of...what was the word...negative? Yes, negative! Whatever negative meant.
With just a simple 'no' is all seemed to be alright. His head laid back on the soft grwuras where is felt like is belonged forever. His paws were set back on his face to give him the feeling of comfort once more. Everything was just alright. Peachy keen.
Well. not completely alright. That was a lie. In truth, the darker cub wanted to go back to the place he was before he 'woke up'. The darkness? The blackness? He did not know what to call it or how to describe it, but it seemed to be a wonderful place while he rested there. Nothing bothered him in the least. There was no confusion. Everything seemed right in the world while he was there.
And still, even in the darkness something, a voice different from the one that whispered to him within his head, told him to awaken. It told him that he needed to get up. That his eyes needed to open. That something awaited him in the world. And still, just like a cub would do, he ignored the voice and insisted to stay in the darkness that enveloped him. Why? Because it just felt right, yet not right, but still right. But that is how life is for many anyway, correct? The most pleasing things to do in the world are the acts that are so right, yet so wrong. The ones one knows are morally wrong, and yet they still do them. Why? Because the taint that comes with the act just makes them feel so good during the moments before, during and after.
But that is besides the point is it not? The feelings of the darker cub can not, at least not at the moment, be compared to those kinds of acts. Or can they? Who knows. He just wants to sleep and there is nothing wrong with that right now.
Post Word Count: 1034
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 5:20 pm
The brown-haired cub was squirming, his ribs strangely still. He didn't know why, but the pale cub was troubled...troubled? By the way the other cub was acting. He gasped, filling his lungs and swelling his little rib cage. Oh.... he was trying to.... to.....breathe? That seemed right. The pale cub drew in a slow breath, filling his own lungs and releasing. Easy. Perhaps this cub was having a harder time of it? He hadn't rolled up to his belly or gotten to a sit- the pale cub had. Perhaps he was a little...better at this whole thing. Whatever this whole thing was.
He took a moment and lifted his eyes to take in the world around them. He and the other were laying in an endless field of green...green fur? He glanced down to the ground, testing the blades of grass against his paw. It was much longer and much thicker than fur- colder too. How'd he know what fur was? He just did. Maybe he was just good at knowing things.
He looked up again. Above them was even bigger- and somehow far more imposing. The blue went on forever, stretching farther than he could see with only faint whispers of fluffy white to break it up. It seemed to taper, fading into white the further it went but something deep inside him knew that it was endless. The land was broken up differently. He could see a chunk of the blue laying gently against the distant green, reflecting the sky almost flawlessly. A breeze made the surface shimmer. Just beside the sky-piece rose up an imposing brown tower of stone- tower? Fortress? Something massive. Water- water? Spilled over the sides of the stones into winding sky-piece trails that gathered into the large sky-piece only to stretch into whiskers and follow the sky into the forever.
The cub beside him spoke, breaking his thoughts. No...he didn't quite like that word.
"Hey-", He nudged at the other cub's paw and jerked his chin out towards the lake. "Look at this thing....uh.... what are we called?"
Post Word Count: 351
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 5:44 pm
Riou || [ Ririka ]
Why did the other voice have to keep making noise? Talking? Something within him insisted the word he was searching for was 'talking'. He wasn't going to fight the voice with him, his instinct. At least not at the moment anyway. So far it had not done him any kind of wrong, besides the whole not breathing thing anyway. Maybe it would just have to be something he would have to work on as time went on, to become in sync with the knowledge he had been gifting. That was too much to think about at the moment though. Especially when he was still groggy and trying to find the dark peace again. Had it left because of everything that happened? Had the other cub chased it away with all his talking? NO! It had to come back! It just had to!
"I am not 'Hey'", the darker cub stated as he rolled over onto his back. It was then that he finally opened his eyes for the first time. It was so bright that it hurt! Hurt. Hurting is not a good thing, so why would such a simple thing such as trying to look at the world hurt?
"Neh! Stop the hurt!" he shouted, eyes blinking and dripping out wetness in an attempt to ease the pain while adjusting to the light. "Why would you try to make me look at something that hurts?"
Why had the Weaver woven him with someone like the pale cub?
He wakes up next to him, and he could not breathe. The cub calls out to him and the nice peace leaves him. The cub insists he look at the..whatever he wanted him to look at and he gets hurt!
What was with the pale cub and bringing him such back luck so early into their existence. And yet, and yet even with all that was going on at the moment he did truly feel any real negativity towards the pale one. Just maybe the slightest bit of annoyance, but nothing terrible.
Once the pain had stopped and he could see clearly the golden cub could not help but look out into the world in awe. The light didn't seem so bad anymore. In fact it was....pretty? It was pretty. So much blue with the puffy white floating along like they had no care. And then, then he followed the pale one's gaze and...
"Wow. What is all of that!?"
Was it safe? Could they touch it? He could not help but be pulled towards it. He wanted to be in it? Yes! He wasn't to be in it!
Smiling, awkwardly rolled onto his paws and started to make his way towards the water, tripping a few times along the way. It wasn't until he got near the place where the blue met the green that he looked towards the cub in confusion.
"Called? What do you mean what are we called? Does your little voice know something my little voice does not know? What is your little voice telling you?"
Post Word Count: 511
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 5:54 pm
He gave a sympathetic smile as the other cub opened his eyes for the first time. Light, sudden and flooded with colors had not been a fun thing to suddenly have thrust upon them. It was a lot to drink in. The colors were not just one thing or the other either. Black was just that- black. Dark. Nothing. Before he opened his eyes there were no shapes, no forms, no figures, nothing. It had been...empty. Comforting in its simplicity but somehow scary at the same time. He had been fine in the dark, but now that he'd seen the light, colors, shapes, and now had...questions rolling through his slowly rousing mind, he couldn't even begin to dream about going back to the black empty place. Still, coming into the light had hurt.
He followed the other cub's gaze upwards. Curious, he reached a paw out, stretching his tiny pink pads upwards and flexing them as if to grab the puffy white things. He frowned, maybe if there was- OH! Something came out of his paws. He yelped and jumped back, his white fur standing up on end- that was interesting...
He glanced to his paw- where'd they go? Maybe- He flexed again- there they were! What were those? He held his paw up, turned it one way then the other. "Hey- I found things in my...my...paws. They look- HEY!"
The other cub had beat him to something- moving. Walking? Well... kind of. The other cub was kind of stumbling and rolling mostly. The pale cub planted his paws on the ground and watched the tan cub move. Like that? It sure looked...odd. Determined not to be out-done, he rose to his paws and began to waddle. The grass came right up to his belly, tickling the sensitive fur there. He snorted, glanced down, and continued on. "Wait- don't leave me here!"
The pale cub slowed as they reached the edge of the sky-piece. His eyes widened as he inched forward, his fur fluffing up against his back and tail once more. Was it safe?
Huh? A voice? Is that what that was? It sounded like...himself. But words were coming to him- grass. Sky. Paws- CLAWS. That's what they were.
"Oh uh...well... things have...words. Paw-" He held up one of his and tilted his head. "We should have words too."
Post Word Count: 398
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 6:22 pm
Riou || [ Ririka ]
"Well then hurry up then! If you are too slow then I might get away!"
The darker cub could not help but smile while watching the paler one try and catch up with him. Though he himself had been the first to move from the spot they had awakened in, he did admit that the other cub was better at moving around. Not to mention, better at understanding the on goings of the world. For some reason that bothered him a little bit, and yet he did not understand why. Why would he feel bad about not understand that which someone else does. Was he supposed to understand? Was he supposed to be...better than the other cub? No. Not that did not seem like the right answer. It should not bother him, no. Because if the other cub understood, then that meant he would eventually understand, because the pale one would...tell him the things, yes? Yes! They would...what was the word? HELP! They would help eachother find their way in the world! Yes! Too bad it did not help that the cub looked awfully weird at the moment, sitting at the border of there the green not fur stuff met the Earthly sky. He still had the smile on his face, but it seemed to grow bigger with each passing thought. Not the mention his chocolate brown eyes also seemed to grow more distant with each thought at well. It was as if he was lost to the world, and semed awfully happy about it.
It was not until a breeze floated by and caused some of the Earth sky to splash onto his paws that the darker cub snapped out of his thoughts.
"Gah!" he screamed while tumbling away in a panic. He didn't understand. What just happened!?
"Am I going to be okay? Is it going to kill me!?"
Besides his racing heart and wide eyes he seemed well enough. He was alive. There was no pain. But his fur. The fur on his paws where the Earth sky had touched him...it seemed different. Wet? The voice said wet, but what exactly is wet? Frowning, he held out his paw to the other cub, his eyes drifting between the two of them. Both paws looked the same, basically anyway. His own were darker, obviously. But, the pale one's paws was slightly bigger than his own. Weird.
"Does it look okay to you? The wet stuff is not bad, right? You know more than I do 'bout these stuff."
Oh right! The other cub was talking while he was...thinking? Yes! Luckily he caught bits and peices of the rambling before completely drifting off. Something told him not listening to others was a bad thing to do, or not do...or is it do?
"And I don't know much about words. The voice hasn't said anything about me having a word. Do we not have words? Does something else have our word? ...Are there others like us that do have words?"
He didn't like the thought of there not being others like them. It felt...lonely.
Post Word Count: 521
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 6:47 pm
The other cub actually managed to TOUCH the sky! It didn't react the way he expected it to- odd that he had any expectations. What else would a sky piece do? It looked...smooth, puffy in parts. Maybe it was supposed to feel like fur- or air. Air fur. Instead it made a sound- a splash? - and shimmered where the sky piece had been touched. The pale cub watched the sky piece react, rippling outwards towards the mirror-still surface of the lake. It smoothed back into place in moments, as if nothing had happened.
The other cub was holding his now wet paw out. His panic did something...strange. The pale cub felt oddly...angry? Protective? What was he saying? Kill? What was a kill?
Puffing himself up, the pale cub marched to the edge of the sky piece and freed his claws- those odd, curved things. It felt like the right reaction. "Hey, sky! That wasn't nice-" He slapped the surface of the water, only to have his paw pass right on through. The sky returned fire with a spray of water that slapped the cub across the face and spritzed his chest. He let out a mewl- a sound he might come to deny he ever made - and jumped back.
"It...it... it moved back. Did you see that? It bit me!"
He flicked his tail and looked down to his now damp paw, claws still stretched out. He frowned. Well- if it was bad, he'd find out first. Maybe the other would be able to get away. Get away from what? How? He didn't know...flee? Flee from...the sky?
Silly thought. Somehow.
The pale cub licked at his paw, frowned, and continued until it felt a little better. "Well...it doesn't taste bad, or killing...ish." He held his paw out with a smile. "Actually, the sky tastes pretty good."
He opened his mouth to speak but his words were cut short as something nearby simply rose up from the ground. Something...GIANT. How did they not see that thing!? The pale cub bristled and stood himself up, putting his little body between the other cub and this moving thing. It...looked kind of like they did- just taller, bigger, and blue-er.
"Easy, there." The other spoke. His voice was strangely calming, easy, much like a cool breeze over the lake. There was really nothing threatening about the water Magus, even among those that had lived within the realm for years now. He was smaller than the other Magi- though few would know that thankfully - and he had not a hint of hostility in his posture, his movements, or his expressions. He had naturally awoken into his mannerisms. Other B'alam had roused as being a little more restless or suspicious, but Stillwater had come as easy going as a slow brook. He took the changes in direction and pace easily, seemingly in perfect control.
He had been napping some distance from the capital. The workers were expanding the Water Palace and sometimes the dust, spray, and sound were a little over-whealming. To come to a place of serene silence was a rare treat for the Magus. There was always something to do but choppy waters and choppy minds only grew muddy and confusing. Taking an occasional rest to let the dust settle was necessary.
"I think he means names." He offered. "A name is our own special word. Sometimes The Weaver whispers it to us upon waking, other times we find it for ourselves, and still other times it is a word that is given to us."
Post Word Count: • Jowy: 376 • Stillwater: 225
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 7:28 pm
Riou || [ Ririka ]
B-but..what are you doing!? Please, stop!"
He did not know what to think about what was transpiring before his widening eyes. He did not know what to think at the moment, nor what to do, if anything about even be done. Should he drag his acquaintance back to safety, back to where they first awakened? If he did chose to do such an act could it even be done. As he had found, the pale one was slightly bigger than himself, so his mind insisted that he would be harder to drag back, if compared to dragged away a being of his own size and weight. Oh, this was all becoming too much in all the confusion and discoveries. He could not even figure out why the pale one was screaming at the Earth sky.
The Earth sky had obviously done no wrong against the bigger cub, only himself. He must have done something wrong to make the Earth sky attack him. Maybe it was because he approached with no..caution? No safety. Or maybe there was a special way one had to approach it? There must be a reason, but no matter the reason there was no reason for the male one to yell at it! Unless...was the paler cub angry because of the Earth sky's actions against him. Was he being...protective? He did not know how to feel about such a thing, but he could not deny the positive feeling bubbling up at the taught that someone was looking out for him, even if they barely knew each other.
And then it happened. The Earth sky turned against the other cub with such a mighty show of force. In his head it all played out like a scene from an over dramatic tale being acted out by some kind of over the top story teller. Do not get the cub wrong, sure the story teller probably had years of practice under his belt. Not to mention he probably also had many admirers of his work to back him off reference wise, but there is a thin line between enough and too much, especially when it comes to acting. Obviously someone is compensating for something, but that is a tale for another day.
"I saw it! I saw it!"
Running over in worry, chocolate eyes carefully inspected the other cub before calming down a bit. "You should be more careful, you know. Even if the Earth sky did not kill you this time. I do not want to see you get hurt, even if you-"
He did not even have a chance to finish his sentence with the other cub's speed. What was he doing now? Was something- oh...
What in the Grand Weaver's name was that...THING!?
Slowly, the darker cub lowered himself into the grass in an attempt to hide. Maybe if he did not move the thing would not notice him. Maybe the pale one could protect him from the bigger being, and then teach him how to protect himself. Yes? Good plan.
"I-is he talking to us? Is he talking about what we were talking about?" he whispered to the other cub. "M-maybe he can help us? Maybe he can help us find our names, our words? Or help us find others like us? He does kind of look like one of us, only...bigger."
Just as slowly as he lowered himself, he rose. He was scared, as shown by his wobbling steps and shaking body, but he carefully approached the magus since the being seemed nice enough with the calm words, and the white hair, and the...thing on his back. Whatever it was. It looked nice.
"Are..." well dang if his neck didn't break looking up at the guy. "Are you here to help us?"
Post Word Count: 635
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 8:00 pm
The pale cub held his ground. He was small, pitiful, and ignorant to literally everything in the world. If this big thing did something harmful- what could he do? He didn't know how to fight. He'd only just discovered his claws. He didn't know, but he didn't want to move either. The other cub was smaller, sheepish, and...he felt like he needed to be there, if only to face whatever this new creature had in store for them. His ears rolled back and his shoulders hunched up. Maybe he'd look...intimidating? Certainly not bigger. His entire body seemed to tense, seize up, expecting something. It was different than the confrontation with the sky piece, this was somehow more real.
The other didn't seem...bad. Still, the pale cub held his ground. This creature was big. One of those paws could easily smash his little head. His mouth was full of big, white teeth- pointy white teeth. One bite and half of either himself or his companion would be gone- gone? Where would they go? Was that the "Kill" that the other had mentioned?
The pale cub glanced back as the tan cub observed the stranger with a mixture of hesitation and fascination. He was certainly more trusting...maybe he was here to help them? The pale cub glanced between the two and lowered his voice- maybe only his companion would hear? "I don't know...he's so big. But...maybe he is like one of us. Is one of us." He certainly looked like what he would assume a bigger "one of them" would be. Paws. Ears. Fur- funny colored fur, but fur. His hair was so long too- longer than he and his companion were from nose to tail. He also had a ...thing. Many things. Light things that fluttered in the wind, a shiny shawl thing- like a very thin, very grey cloud. His pelt had marks too- darker things. He was...different, but the same. Something in the back of his mind confirmed this.
The same.
He relaxed slightly but regarded the stranger with stubborn defensiveness. "...well?"
Stillwater couldn't help but smile a little more. The cubs were newly-woven. There was a freshness in their gaze and in the clumsy way they were trying to communicate. Both had yawning spirits, not entirely awake but far from sleep. It hung over them like a thin fog, clouding their actions and thoughts. It would only last a few days. Soon they'd be on to bigger matters like chasing bugs in the grass and learning how to climb. Oh, Weaver, that would be fun. He wasn't looking forward to going up trees and rocks after stranded little cubs who hadn't figured out how to return to the earth.
Speaking of...earth cubs? Here?
He lifted his gaze, regarding the landscape for a moment. Perhaps they were someone's- travelers? But there was no one. He couldn't sense another spirit within miles of here. Alone. Newly-woven. And very, very young. Weaver, what did you put them here for?
The two cubs were eyeing him expectantly. One a little more...accepting while the other had a dark cloud of suspicion. How curious- they had already formed a bond.
"I am here to help." He confirmed. Slowly, he settled in the grass so he was closer to their level. His long tail curled around himself, the tip twitching. THe pale cub's eyes locked to the movement and something more primal sent a ripple through his little body.
"I could give you names- but I would like to ask a favor in return." He settled back to look them both over. It would give him time to think up something fitting. "I would like you both to escort me home. I don't like walking alone- and you seem so observant and strong, I think I might make it just fine. It's a big, empty place too- perhaps you might make a home there?" He nodded back towards the lake.
"See the structure there? That's the Water Palace. It's going to be amazing one day. All the stories of the world will be guarded there."
Post Word Count: • Jowy: 350 • Stillwater: 339
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Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 9:29 pm
Riou || [ Ririka ]
The darker cub looked on in awe at the structure that sat so comfortably in the distance. Without a doubt it looked as if the, what did the Magus call it? The Water Palace? Yes. Well it looked as if the Water Palace was a natural part of the world, just like anything else like a tree or the grass they walked upon. And to think that such a structure was still a work in progress. If it looked so beautiful now, then the cub could not even begin to imagine the splendor it would emit once the construction was finished.
And, by the grace of the Weaver himself, did the bigger thing that looked to be a creature similar to himself and the pale one say 'home'? Home. Home. A home. For the darker of the cubs it held so much wonder. It held such a positive energy, as well the feeling of promises untold. Because of this he wanted to know what exactly a home was, and so he was willing to do whatever it was the Magus asked in order to get his answers. Well that and if the Magus promised to give a home on top of the promise of a personal word, a name, then who was he to deny the bigger version of what looked to be his own kind whatever it was he was asking?
Smiling a big and goofy looking smile, the dark cub quickly turned his head to look at his pale acquaintance as if expecting him to look as excited as he was at the Magus' promises. "A home! What do you think, Pale One? Would you like to help this one if he means the words he uses? It should not be hard to...eshtort...esquirt...es-curt him, right?"
The smile still glued to his face, he looked back over at the Magus for a moment. If his excitement was not evident on his face, and it would take one dull B'alam not to see it, then it was clearly apparent in his body language. His ears says high and alert. His eyes were wide and shining with happiness. And his butt, well it wiggled like a fish fresh out of the water. Plus, he could not keep his paws from fidgeting on the ground as if he was doing everything in his power not go bouncing around like a Wotter with a new toy.
"You mean the words you use, right? You really do want to help us, because I will do whatever it is you ask to have my own word, and and! Um. To find out what this home thing is! If it is a good thing then I will take it, because I want to know! I do! I am not as strong as the Pale One, but I can still help in other ways."
Quickly, he turned back to the other cub. " I mean, you will come along, right?"
In all honesty the darker cub did not know what he would do if the other cub chose not to come along with the Magus. Would he even take the offer without him? They had only know each other for so long, but something inside him told him he would not be well without the paler cub at his side.
Post Word Count: 555
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 9:46 pm
Home...
The word rolled around within the pale cub's mind, tossing and flipping about like a feather caught on a gentle breeze. He couldn't quite grasp it, and whenever he tried the word would bob and drift away. Still, he felt drawn to it, reaching for it, trying harder and harder to grab at it. What was a home? Why did the word bring out such...strong, warm feelings? Did everyone have a home? A home? A name? Were these things that were meant to be theirs?
He glanced towards the Water Palace as it was pointed out to them. It wasn't a far walk- and he wans't sure what an "escort" was, but if it meant answers- and a name - he was willing to do it. The "palace" itself was rather crude. The naked stones facing the water were crude, but he could make out the beginnings of tall, natural pillars in front of what looked to be a series of mouths- mouths? Openings? Grass hung long over the edge of the cave and thin, silky vines drifted like long fur down from the grass. It looked natural- but somehow regal and controlled at the same time.
Home.
The pale cub smiled as the darker one addressed him. Where tan cub was bubbly, bouncy, and hardly able to control himself, the pale one sat with the composition and patience of a falcon. He was smiling, and his eyes were shining with excitement, but somehow he managed to keep it below a veil of calm. The complement- stronger - earned a deep breath and a swelling of his chest. He was stronger? Whatever that meant, he liked the sound of it.
"I think-", He looked back to the taller like-them creature, "We will accept your offer."
Stillwater sat a little taller as the cubs accepted. Both looked near to bursting in excitement- in their own ways -and were watching him eagerly. So many questions... strangely, each of the newly-woven that he had encountered has their own set of questions to ask him. Different observations, words, thoughts, concerns, and feelings all filled the newly formed vessels differently. It was a marvel. How the Weaver managed to color each one of his threads in such a unique and diverse way, right from the moment their knots were set on the grand loom, was beyond him. In a way...it was humbling.
Still. Cubs. He had watched a young family bring a new litter into the world, watched their cubs grow and get themselves into trouble. He had even found one laying alone for a time by a tree overlooking the great mirror lake. They required a good deal more care and instruction...but he couldn't just hand them over to someone else. He was the Arch magus, blessed with knowlege beyond even adult B'alam. That gift came with a responsibility...and one that he could not ask anyone else to shoulder. Perhaps the cubs were a blessing. Two little paws that would grow strong at his instruction. Perhaps one day they would be able to find woven-born such as themselves and raise them up in the ways of the Weaver.
"Very well then. First thing's first- we'll not call each other by the first observation. It rings hollow." He motioned to himself. "I am called Stillwater. It's a name I chose for myself after some meditation. Still waters reflect the world around them. There's more to it than that- but I'll spare you both until you're a little more able to understand."
He rubbed his chin. "I think... I'll call you Riou." He motioned to the tan cub. "It's a short name. Strong. Heroic. Memorable. You have something about you that's... well hopeful and pure. I think it will suit you well."
The pale cub tilted his head, as if in thought, and eyed the magus expectantly.
"And I think Jowy is the right name for you."
The cub wrinkled his nose and opened his mouth to protest but Stillwater raised a paw and continued. "Short- like Riou - and in the written language, you both share the same number of characters that make up your name. It's a name that begs humility of the one who bears it- and brings a smile to the maw of those that say it. It's a gentle name."
Post Word Count: • Jowy: 295 • Stillwater: 426
Thalion Vice Captain
Conservative Seeker
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Thalion Vice Captain
Conservative Seeker
Offline
Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 5:30 pm
Riou || [ Ririka ]
"What is a hero? Am I supposed to be one so I can keep my word, my name?"
Riou, as he would now be called from now on, was so so happy to finally have a name of his own. However, he was no sure what to think about the meaning that his name held. To be pure. To harbor hope. To be a memorable hero, whatever they was. How was he supposed to live up all of that? Where was he supposed to begin? The thought that he could potentially lose his name if he did not fit his name scared him greatly. He did not want to lose something he just got. He would not. He could not.
It was then that he took a moment to look back at the pale cub, now know as Jowy. He, well, he did not look as happy as Riou when it came to their new names, which was sad. He wanted Jowy to be as happy as he was about this new little adventure of theirs. But something told him that the other cub would not greatly vocalize any negativity he may feel about what was currently going on.
Well maybe seeing their name home would put a smile on Jowy's face. Yes! Doing a little exploring and seeing this Water Palace would surely make his friend a little more positive! All the questions they could ask and would be answered. All the things they would see and learn. Oh, he could not wait to have their walk back to the Water Palace. But he must be patient. The Magus, Stillwater would let them know when he was ready to go, right? Right.
Now what was this Magus' name again?
"Stillwater," he asked curiously, "Are there others like Jowy and I at the Water Palace? Will we get to meet them?"
It was a valid question to ask. If he and Jowy ended up here then why couldn't others be woven in the same manner. But if they were the only ones, then what would they do? What would that mean? At least Jowy and him would have each other to learn from and entertain each other. Maybe it wouldn't be that bad, to be the only ones like themselves, at least for the moment. Others would eventually come along, he hoped. If so, then hopefully they would not have to wait too long.
Post Word Count: 404
Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 6:31 pm
Riou. It was a fitting name for his companion. It rolled out easily, a name that he wouldn't easily forget. The pale cub glanced to his companion and echoed his new name through his mind over and over, Riou, and gave a genuine smile touched with pride. It suited him well. Strong but short, somehow gentle and pure. These words he knew, somehow, and they touched an odd part of himself. They were qualities he wanted- but he wasn't sure just what they were, how he would know them within his own being, how he saw them in his friend as the Magus clearly had. He'd even known the words, names, for these qualities.
Jowy...
He rolled his own name in his mind a few times. It was short- like Riou. At present, he had no idea what the other had meant by number of characters. Whatever a number or a character was, he was sure he would learn in due time. To know that somehow his name was equal to that of his companion was...comforting. It sounded strange to his ears, and more strange in his mind, but that one small fact eased that over. Jowy. He was Jowy. Humility... it begged it of him. What did that mean? Gentle...was he gentle? Did it make others smile?
He shot a glance to Riou again, who was grinning his way. Yes- it seemed it did. He couldn't help but smile in turn, his little maw curling shyly. "So you're Riou now. I like it. He's right- it's a good name- and it's all yours."
He watched the cubs absorb their new names, each looking curious, perhaps a little apprehensive, and in Riou's case, almost afraid. He laughed at the cub's concerns and waved a paw. "Of course not. Your name is yours forever. You bear it until you are called back to the hand of the Weaver. Like life, it's a gift that's been given to you. What you do with your life, and your name, is completely up to you. That's why we're all here, after all, to find our own road to the Weaver's purpose."
He rose to his paws and shook the loose grass from his fur. The cape unfurled around him, hanging off his back and along the base of his tail.
"There are. Some even your age- perhaps a little older." That was another puzzle. How mature were woven-born compared to idol-born? He'd know in time, he hoped, or it would be among the mysteries that tickled his mind in the late hours. "I was hoping I could introduce you to them slowly. Perhaps once we get the two of you settled in and your feet properly under you, we might expand your world a little more."
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