(Lines by The Only Black Uke, Color by Sabra Knight)
Inventory
Weapons Simple Trident
Items None
Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2017 10:40 am
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Directory / Updates Kaimana History Relations RP & Plots Inventory Growth
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Sabra Knight
Feral Galaxy
Offline
Sabra Knight
Feral Galaxy
Offline
Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2017 10:43 am
✮Kaimana✮
Nicknames: Kai, Mana, Fish Stage: Apprentice Race: Matori Gender: Male
Appearance Lean and muscled with a bit of a wild look to him. Clothing wise he will wear almost anything but tears them up easily - so usually he wears a pair of capri like leggings that can either have patches or just simply be frayed/torn at the ends due to his constant swimming/jungle running/etc... Hairstyle A lot like this, but light green
Base Traits: Loving, Energetic, Wild Personality:
A boy full of love for the world Kaimana has taken to looking on the bright side of life despite losing his parents early on. The way he acts is more like he has instead decided to pour all of his love for the family he has left as he showers his sister and grandmother in adoration. In a way it can be seen that his love and optimism were created to help out his sister. He didn’t want to see her cry any longer and so the boy was determined to become the best brother than he could for his twin. It meant shoving away his own frustrations with the world and just instead embracing what they had – the jungle, their grandmother, and the small community that acted as cousins and parents for them as they grew.
Kaimana is also loving in the fact that he tries his best for most. In times of crisis he would be the guy running about comforting others and even trying to joke to lighten the mood while trying to resolve things. He is also very charitable to those in need and is constantly offering a helping hand to others – especially to the elderly and weak. In a way he feels that it is his responsibility to help those that for the past decade have helped to raise him and his sister.
His energetic nature keeps him on the go and so if anyone ever needs a favor or an errand run then Kaimana is the boy to ask – especially if it requires going into the ocean. Swimming after all is his forte and he enjoys every moment in the waves. The only downside to his eagerness is the fact that sometimes he will pile on too much work and be mistaken for forgetful when in fact he simply gets caught up doing more errands -before he finishes the first- for others along the way. It may get him a smack on the back of the head, especially from his grandmother, but the boy will just laugh it off before promising to do better next time as he would much rather save his excuses and spend time moving onto the next thing. Leading to another thing – sometimes he can be a bit annoying in how light hearted he seems. That does not mean, however, that he is immune to negative emotions. It’s just that he has worked hard to hide them as to not worry his family. Whenever he does feel down or frustrated Kai will go swimming for long hours or take a walk somewhere secluded.
He does also have a bit of a wild side. The boy loves to adventure around the coast and in the jungles. If there’s dangerous tasks he’s willing to go towards them so that he can be the one to tango with a snaptrotter. His desire to go cliff diving into the ocean or to even swim out further than others may worry those that care about him, but for Kaimana it’s exciting. Anything that makes his heart race will get his interest and he’s never turned down a challenge. This of course has obviously gotten him in trouble before for those that do worry and care about him while losing a challenge among peers has led to various results. Some were simple losses leading to giving up a unique looking shell, a trinket, or even just making him do their chores. Others were a bit more embarrassing, such as having to sing a ballad about his loss or to go wear a friend’s dress, but the boy takes it all with a light heart.
Notes: -He is quite the looker but totally unaware of it so beware anyone trying to flirt
-He enjoys swimming and finding things along the shore and in the ocean (shells, starfish, pearls, etc)
-Is prone to goofy grinning and very open about his amusement to others
Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2017 10:44 am
✮History✮
Kaimana and his sister were born towards the end of the Oban war. While things were reaching a conclusion there still were calls for help. This call reached all the way through the area and sought out two Matori. This couple had lived further inland and had lived freely by evading the Obans for some time. Yet they were not immune from the dangers of slavery – in fact Kaimana’s mother had lived as a slave for several years before running away with her own mother, Orkai. Both women had slipped away during a party, where their master’s defense had lowered and it was easy enough to slip out with cloaks in the flurry of guests coming and going from the manor, and had continued running through the deserts of Oba until finally arriving in Matori. There in Matori they were led to find a sanctuary hidden deep in the jungles.
This sanctuary was a place created by a few refugee Matori who had escaped slavery themselves. Decades ago there had been a village in between Sald and Arota which had existed with a small community of fishers. But when Obans began to raid Baun and other villages the Matori there grew fearful. Those that ran away from Baun had told stories that warned of slavers coming further and further into their islands. The decision then was settled – the village would relocate in a place that was seemingly inhospitable.
Fishermen, all strong swimmers, took to the coast and cliffs. They explored many paths and ways that could lead to potential homes. Eventually they found an opening beneath a waterfall. This opening would lead to a series of caverns and would cut a path, through the underground, that would eventually emerge further inland. This area would slowly be cleared out by those bold enough to venture into the caves and the jungle beyond. Structures were built around what was already there, ruins from others who perhaps had once years ago lived in the jungle before moving back out towards the shore, and slowly as a few years passed families were brought into the hidden village. It was here that the Matori thrived away from the eyes of slavers while leaving ways for those that could to find this place, a sanctuary to offer protection for runaway slaves and those who did not dare risk becoming slaves in the first place. As years passed rumors simply became of the village and many forgot about it save as a hopeful story to tell younglings at night.
Their grandmother, Orkai, had been born in that sanctuary and it had been by her own folly that she had been caught as an apprentice. The Matori woman had ventured out and away with a few other bold friends that swam through the passages and came out along the beach. They had been tired of living without seeing the great Ocean and had dared to go against their parents by venturing out. What they had not expected was for a band of slavers to be coming up that shore the same day. Out of all four apprentices only one had managed to not be seen. It was his fate to go back to the village and spread the sad news that three of his friends had been taken by the Obans.
Orkai then was branded as slave and knowing the danger to her family kept her mouth closed about her true home. Not that the slavers wished to question them – all they cared about was getting paid for catching some young and fine specimens. Years passed and Orkai grew – she was treated well by her master who admired her beauty and her cooking. Her master, however, lost his gentle tone when she refused him and then came out that she was pregnant with another slave’s child. Not one to kill a child, especially one that could be raised to help out around the house in the future, the Oban man instead just lowered Orkai’s rank and kept her to the kitchens. No longer was she brought around to serve guests and to be offered food from the higher tables.
As her daughter, Mika, was born the woman decided that she could not bear to leave her child in slavery – especially when she knew that they had a home back in the jungles. A place that her child could be free of the Obans. So when the youngling was old enough Orkai took the chance at a grand banquet to slip some strong herbs in the food. While the crowds were lax she slipped herself and her daughter out of the manor and ran.
While others may have only imagined finding the hidden village, Orkai knew it as her destination. She had saved gold and had smugglers help smuggle both her and her child back up the coast and towards where she knew the familiar paths. Soon enough they would arrive at the caves and Orkai would carry her child through the maze of tunnels and into Artale.
There Mika would grow up and fall in love with a boy named Yoah. They were two similar spirits who adored each other and just wished for a simple life – a free life. Mika had unfortunately inherited her mother’s love for the ocean and against the woman’s best wishes both lovers ventured back out into Matori to live. Thankfully they managed to go further out towards Besaji and lived simply in their own little hut by the ocean. While the fear of the Obans was still present both had taken precautions by not being exactly near a village, but by also hiding their home within the cliffs. Anyone looking for slaves would have to search hard for the small hidden hut by the sea. Here they lived freely and even began to raise their two young ones, Devika and Kaimana.
Their desire for freedom, however, was dangerous as they believed all Matori should live freely. So when they heard about the Oban war it was no surprise that both Mika, a trident wielding warrior, and Yoah, a healer, would venture out to help with the cause. Both felt that it was their duty to help out their kind and hearing about how the rest of Tendaji was warring against Oba inspired them. If foreigners could fight for the Matori why couldn’t they? If the foreigners won wouldn’t having the aid of Matori make them more indebted towards them? They could then have a stronger plea for their freedom.
But they could not simply abandon their children, nor would they take them to a war. Rather than living them with strangers the couple decided to venture back towards the jungle where Mika’s mother lived. The grandmother of the younglings would become their guardian because they knew that despite her anger the woman loved her family deeply. She would never deny their younglings a home. Since time was of the essence the family opted for the water way into the village (taking the cavern would have taken days of twists and turns, something that Mika and Yoah were not confident with doing) and climbing through the jungle would have been even harsher on the younglings along with taking too long as well.
Kaimana’s memories of this time are dark. All he knew was that his parents had taken him and his sibling away from their happy little place and was leading them into dark waters. At first he had struggled against it before his father had finally convinced him that they were going on a fun adventure to see ‘gramma’. Taking a step into the waters the boy held onto his father’s back as the Matori dove. Unlike Devika he was better in the water and managed fairly well. Though he does remember the urgency in which his father blew air into his sister’s mouth and also worked healing magic to help clear her lungs. It had been a scary mistake and one that he would never forget as he tightly grabbed his sister’s hand. Never again would he let her do such a scary thing alone.
From there on they met their grandmother who after some harsh words with their parents, a lot of yelling behind the closed doors and then tears, took them in. Their parents kissed them and promised that they would be back soon to take the children back to their simple home again. They just had to fight for the betterment of the world first, they claimed. Kaimana held onto every word. Days passed, then weeks, and eventually months even turned into years. At first he had kept praying and kept saying that they would come back.
But even reality has to hit eventually.
Kaimana would never forget the night that the reality sunk in. He had tried so hard for his sister’s sake to be happy and to positive, but as an apprentice he knew – the war was over. If his parents were coming home, then they would have come back years ago. This sparked a rather erratic nature in him where his cliff diving days and jungle venturing would truly take off. Around his family he would joke and laugh, but when frustrations truly got to him he would go find ways to burn those feelings. The last thing he ever wanted was for Devika to worry about him when he was supposed to be protecting her and grandmother.
Meanwhile the freedom of the Matori meant change in the village. Fishing was taken back up and families left the jungles to start setting up new homes. These homes grew into its own village that began to secretly trade with those who stayed in the jungle. Crops and fish were passed through the tunnels and the paths became more well-known to families who took to walking through the main paths with goods for back home. It was here that the siblings began to venture out towards as even their grandmother couldn’t’ stop them from staying with close friends and others who had spent years watching them in the hidden village.
It was bitter sweet knowing that they could live freely by the ocean again. Kaimana would smile though his heart ached – if only their parents could be here to see the village forming back to its old ways. Fishing and trade was flourishing again and he was personally becoming one of those active swimmers who helped with nets and also carried back belongings to those who decided to stay in the jungle.
This included their grandmother who still did not trust the Obans. She had grown tired and preferred living in the shade of the great trees. So while she allowed Kaimana and Devika to venture out as they were ready the woman opted to stay. She would continue to plant her garden and harvest herbs here for her people. Many of the elderly actually agreed to stay here while those that had mastered farming and had some livestock stayed under the promise that trade would flourish between both the hidden village and those along the shoreline.
In a way Kaimana feels like he gets the best of both worlds – both he and his sister have their own small hut along the shore while anytime they need they can go back to stay with their grandmother in the jungles. At least three times a week the boy will visit her and bring her fresh fish and other things from the ocean while traveling back to the shore with her herbs and other goods taken from the jungle. It’s a free and easy life one that Kaimana is proud of as he goes back and forth between the two different places.
He doesn’t really know what the future has in store for him, but he is content. For now he just wants to help fish, help his grandmother with her errands, and take care of his sister until she feels more prepared to face the world (and water). For his family and community the boy is determined that he will stay brave and reliable.
Sabra Knight
Feral Galaxy
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Sabra Knight
Feral Galaxy
Offline
Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2017 11:01 am
✮Relations✮
* Devika - His dear sister who he lives with and helps take care of in his own way. Most of his time is spent as a goofball around her while trying to entice her into trying new things and getting into the water.
✮ Apprentice Solo 1 ✮ Balancing a journal in his lap Kaimana stared out across the sands. It would probably be easier to actually sit at a desk or something but the boy prefered to draw outside where he was actually witnessing the subject. Pursing his lips Kaimana studied said subject and watched as the snaptrotter shifted in the sands. Many would probably call him bold to be so close to the dangerous creatures but Kaimana had wrangled so many in the past that he truly held very little concerns when it came to being near one. His biggest concern was hiding from Devika whenever he did something dangerous like this. Now that would be more trouble than a bite from any snapper. His sister’s wrath was the most terrifying of sorts.
Twisting the piece of charcoal in his hands the boy focused again on the dark green snapper and started to trace out the arch of its back followed by a curving line that noted its tail laying there across the sands, “Hrm.” Kaimana paused as he inched closer and then settled on the sands once more so that he could study the intricate pattern of scales that shimmered gold in the sunlight, “You’re a pretty one.” He commented to the snapper who was eyeing him back by now, “Don’t mind me I’m not food nor am I getting in your way.” He was thankful that he had chosen a snapper that had a good meal before this so he wouldn't’ be considered some appetizer. I’m a good choice of snapper. He quipped silently to himself as he opted to ignore all the past memories of how many snappers he had to run away from since they had opted to try and make a meal out of him when all he wanted to do was study them more.
He was getting better at this after all. From starting up the hobby a few years back to help tell stories to children in the hidden village to actually drawing pretty realistic animals and people was definitely some feat. Not that Kaimana enjoyed bragging but it definitely was fun to be able to sketch what he saw so he could keep the images for reminiscing in the future. Maybe I should just become an artist for a living. He teased lightly as he started to add shading into his sketch. But how could he defend anyone with just a piece of paper and paint? Kaimana frowned as he quickly added in layers of gray to help make the snaptrotter on his page come more to life. If it wasn’t for his other training, the ability to swim and to fight, then he probably would have been eaten long ago during this drawing journey.
It wasn’t as if he despised fighting either. In fact he enjoyed sparring with other boys in the village and often would use a weapon when he was travelling between the hidden waterways that cut through the caverns leading to his grandmother’s home. Before he had pondered over which weapon to use - if he should use a spear, a lance, a whip, or even swords - but he knew which weapon fit him best. It was the same weapon that had served his father all those years ago - a trident.
Resting his journal on the sands Kaimana leaned back so that he could rest there and study the sky that was starting to darken as clouds gathered above, “I suppose I should thank Grams for that gift.”
After all it had just been a few days ago when she had approached him with questions about his aspirations and he had confessed to her that he had decided to try and learn how to fight like others in the village. He wasn’t just meant to be some fisherman nor did he think art alone was enough to satisfy him. What weapon? That was what she had asked and when he said he preferred a trident she had told him to stay still…
”Where are you going, Grams?”
“Stop askin’ so many questions boy and just sit still!”
Frowning Kaimana found himself pacing through the small sitting room of his grandmother’s home and it was a few (very long moments for Kaimana mind you which could have easily been yeaaaars) seconds when she appeared with something wrapped in cloth, “Take it.” She gestured for him to take the item and ever so carefully Kaimana moved so that he could take the cloth off. His gaze had widened ever so slightly when he saw the cool blue metal of a trident resting in his hands, “It was your father’s favorite trident. I kept it here for a few years for silly reasons I suppose but it seems you’re wanting to go out into the world soon enough. Why not take it?”
“Grams…”
“I know it’s probably better suited to a real warrior but if you are as determined as you seem to protect those you love then it will serve you well. I don’t know how well you could draw with the thing, but it just seems fitting to see it in your hands. Even if I didn’t like how he took my daughter for himself that man did have a golden heart and you reflect that, Kaimana.”
His gaze softened as he set the trident on the ground and moved to wrap the older Matori in his arms, “Thank you Grams.” It meant the world to him to receive such a precious gift like this. He definitely would cherish it!
Chuckling at the memory Kaimana rolled in the sands so that he could reach out and pat a hand along the cool metal of his father’s trident, “I suppose I’ll have to train hard so that I can prove myself to her.” He grinned, “I may be a fool, but I’m not that lackluster.” He also wasn’t naturally a violent type, but to protect those he loved he would become stronger. That much his Grams was correct about. Perhaps if the world around him wasn’t full of dangers (bandits, monsters, and now even the Dretch) then perhaps he would have been content to travel as an artist but it felt much better to have a weapon in hand.
Shifting movement on the sands caught his attention and Kaimana found himself quickly rolling backwards, “Oops!” He had almost forgotten that he had come to sketch a snaptrotter! “Sorry to have bothered you for this long.” He managed as he scooped up his items in his retreat from the larger creature. There was no need to be in her way now that he had sketched her after all. Kaimana paused though and glanced over his shoulder once more, “Perhaps though…”
Maybe there was a reason he loved to sketch snappers. It was almost as if fate was trying to draw an obvious line for him and he was just so dense as to never realize it before now. Perhaps it was also because before getting his father’s trident from his Grams the boy had opted to avoid all thoughts of future classes and battling, but now that he held the trident in his hands he found himself thinking very deeply on the subject.
“A rider.” The words escaped his lips as he glanced one last time towards the snapper. Immediately a smile brightened his features as he held up his trident boldly, “I’ll become a rider!” What was the fun in traveling alone after all? He could have a friend in his mount and go across Tendaji if necessary while knowing he could have someone else to rely on! Not that he didn’t have his dear family, but should something arise that would take him from home then he would at least know that he could leave them with some comfort by proving that he would truly never be completely alone.
It was only natural that he would be attracted to something like a snapper since the beasts frequented the beaches near his home and he had always admired them as a child. But how did one tame a snapper? Now that was the bigger question that he would have to ponder and try to conquer in the future. Surely it wouldn't’ be too impossible right? As if to answer his question the emerald snapper moved forward as if threatening to chase him and Kaimana found his feet moving once more away from the cove and towards the familiar stretch of beach that would lead his way home. Perhaps on the way he could stop in town and pick up some treats for his sister, maybe some fresh bread or those sweet rolls that were so good. And then he could go and practice some more and show Devika how awesome he was with a trident~Now that sounded like a fun way to spend his afternoon!
Whistling Kaimana continued on his way, unaware of the sketch page that had escaped his bag and fluttered down along the beach with his signature attached.
[WC 1513]
Conclusion: While sketching Kaimana reflects upon his recent decision to pick up the trident and realizes he would like to become a rider with a snaptrotter mount.
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 2:55 pm
✮ Apprentice Solo 2 ✮
“She’s been very sick, Kaimana.”
Twisting his hands together Kaimana leaned forward on the shabby wooden table before him. While the older Matori healer was speaking to him the boy was focusing on every knot that was showing in the wooden boards before him. There was even still that gash in the tabletop from the one time he had been joking about hunting snappers as a child and had accidentally dropped the knife and nearly cut into his own hands. His Grams had been super angry with him that day - a thought which caused his lips to twitch in a small smile despite his current concerns, “She hates that.” He found himself saying before he slowly raised his gaze to look at the doctor, “Sickness really isn’t her thing so what can we do to help her, sir?”
“Medicine from the city may be able to treat the illness, but it’s hard to procure. The ingredients are costly to attain so even if I knew how to make it myself...”
“Then I’ll get you those ingredients doctor.” Kaimana’s hands smacked against the table as he rose, “Just do what you can for now and I’ll figure out how to cover the costs?”
“Kaimana as much as I cherish your grandmother and the village does as well it’s still not an easy feat to do this. I can’t promise that I can cover for you for long as I have my own family to take care of.”
“I’m not asking you to foot the bill, doc.” Kaimana smiled, “I’ll just try to go out and figure out how to gather some coin.”
“It may be more than you can gather, the herb is rarely found here and to ask for it from the new continent takes someone to travel there and bring it back along with funding the trip....” The healer reached out a hand so that he could rub the younger Matori’s back comfortingly, “It may be best just to stay here with her until those final moments. Perhaps she’ll pull through on her own.”
“The chances are slim without the medicine, right?” Kaimana shook his head stubbornly, “She’ll have Devika here and we have neighbors who are constantly in and out of this house. I guess I’m just not the type to sit still and let things play out.” He quipped faintly before showing the healer to the door, “I’ll find a way so please just do your best sir.”
It was when the door closed and Kaimana knew that he was alone that he sank to the floor and lowered his head into his hands. What did he do to come up with that much coin? If his grandmother was as ill as the doctor said then it wouldn’t be long before something happened without the medicine. At first she had just complained that she was tired more often and had fallen short of breath but now that she had actually passed out while preparing herbs in her own home Kaimana was truly frightened. Other than Devika their grandmother was the last family they had and he was not prepared to go through such loss again. He had to save her!
Last time I was a youngling, but this time things are different! He was older and stronger! Surely there was something he could do to gain the money. Maybe he could work on the boats more? Pick up some odd jobs around the market in town? Go to the city and work even? All of those thoughts seemed likely but he sighed again. Making coin in the city would probably pay the most but then again he wasn’t guaranteed a job there. No one here as well could pay him a lot for working odd jobs since it was a smaller, poorer fishing village. Kaimana grit his teeth in frustration as he leaned back against the door and slowly raised his head so that he could glance about the small room. Even their home wasn’t worth much as it only housed three rooms, a kitchen and sitting room and the small bedroom which had been divided by a curtain when he was a child still living here with his sister and grandmother. Out back was a small shack that was used for herb storage and other necessities that his grandmother had needed while working as an herbalist for the healers here.
But apparently the pieces needed for her own medicine weren’t even accessible to her. The ironies of life. All those years gathering rare herbs for others but when she needed something desperately it was out of her reach. Now that was truly frustrating. Kaimana closed his eyes again as the burning sensation of tears started to drip lines down his cheeks in silent streaks. The last thing he wanted was for anyone to see him in a dark place like this. His sister should not be worried nor did he wish to guilt his grandmother who was resting in bed. That would only worsen her fragile health.
He would have to go into town in the morning and look for jobs to try and foot this bill. Or did he simply go to Belrea? Kaimana shook his head. That was risky enough as it was since he would know nothing about where to even begin looking in the new land! For now then he would just focus on gathering what money he could to fund the herbs that were currently already in Tendaji to help with his grandmother’s illness. It was the best option for him and he was determined to work his way through this for himself and for his family’s sake.
Even if he tried rational thought, to plan out how to gather funds and to think of how to help provide his grandmother with everything she needed Kaimana still felt his heart sinking in his chest. Damn that healer! He always had trusted the man before but for the old guy to be so blunt this time...it truly was disgruntling. Kaimana clutched at his head again before a soft noise caught his attention.
“Hm?” The Matori boy blinked as a tan perzi came into view, “Ah, kit. I’m sorry did I disturb you?” He forced a smile, painfully faint as it was, and reached out to rub the familiar’s head, “How’s Grams?” Was she sleeping okay? The perzi at least was always here for her as well. Kaimana shook his head before forcing himself to his feet, “If you’re awake that must mean she’ll be up.” Else the Perzi would still be sleeping on her bed with her. Wiping his eyes Kaimana forced a smile before stepping around the table and heading through the small kitchen towards where the bedroom door was slightly ajar, “Grams, I’m coming in.”
“Kaimana?” The elder blinked as she struggled to sit up in bed and Kaimana instinctively rushed to her side and helped to prop her up against pillows, “What happened?” She rubbed at her temples with a slight grimace, “I was preparing tomorrow’s orders…”
“No worries I already prepared them for you.” Replied Kaimana quickly as he pulled blankets up around her slender frame, “You fainted Grams and so the healer came by. He left some tonic for you and will be preparing some more medicines soon enough. It should help you with your headaches and fatigue.”
“Ah.” Her amber gaze lowered, “Kaimana I’m…”
“Don’t worry about it.” Kaimana cut her off quickly because he knew any apology would cause his own heart to ache more, “I’ll prepare the rest of the orders for the week and will be back and forth between here and the fishing village.” He raised a fist in determination, “The problem is that you simply don’t know how to rest, Grams! I’ll make certain to take care of all the things for you this week so you focus on resting. Do you want stew as well? I can make you some now and then prepare tea.” He smiled, “I’m not completely useless you know.”
“I suppose.” The elder lowered her gaze, “Let’s take it a day by day? I’ll see how I feel in the morning since you’re so insistent upon helping that is. I’ll ask Foine to come back as well so I can talk to him about my treatments you speak of.”
“Sure.” Kaimana nodded, “For now though please rest while I prepare everything.” He kissed his grandmother’s cheek before pulling back, “Just call me if you need anything while I’m in the kitchen, okay?”
“Thank you, Kaimana.”
“Don’t sweat it.” Grinning once more he turned his back and headed towards the kitchen where he could make dinner and work on those herb orders. It was also nice to be alone so that no one else could see those tears that silently fell from his lashes onto his cheeks and the floor below. One day at a time Kai. Just one day at a time.
[WC 1503]
Conclusion: Kaimana learns that his grandmother’s illness isn’t a simple cold and requires a rare herb that may be found in Belrea. For now he just needs to focus on gathering as much coin as possible to help afford her medicines...
Sabra Knight
Feral Galaxy
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Sabra Knight
Feral Galaxy
Offline
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2017 4:33 pm
✮ Growth Solo to Stage 2 ✮
A glorious sunset decorated the beach in an array of warm colors that reflected in the glistening waves that were tinted rose rather than a deep emerald blue. Despite the beauty of the ocean scenery there was one soul who was quite disgruntled with the world. If not disgruntled then the preferable word would be conflicted as he had a burden on his shoulders that he simply did not know how to deal with. Or rather he knew how to resolve things but was hesitant? For the past two days Kaimana had continued to push off his decision, had worked hard with his Grams and to play around with his sister in order to hide the decision that was his alone to make. A huge decision, one that he wished to share with them but refused to do so. Wasn’t he supposed to be the man in this family now? So why bother them when they had enough troubles of their own?
“Dammit Kai!” The Matori flung a pebble towards the ocean and watched as the waves swept over it with the rolling tide, “Ugh!” Why was he being such a coward? It was so rare for him to hide from the world - he was the boy who wrestled snappers and went with his gut into any situation regardless of the dangers. So why was it that he was suddenly afraid of crossing some silly line? It was necessary to make the money for the medicine and to even possibly find something better in Belrea. Was that land not the land of new knowledge and possibilities?
He was afraid of leaving his family though. All of his life he had been in Matori and had never been more than a couple of hours away from his grandmother, even when he had moved out with Devika the two of them had just been a simple swim away from the elderly Matori. But now if something happened he would be far, far away. Perhaps the healer was correct in advising him to give up on the silliness of finding some miracle medicine and instead he should just stay and spend his the last year or so with his grandmother. There was no estimate on her life span nor would the illness fully consume her instantly.
More reasons for you to accept the fact that you could leave.
Kaimana rolled his eyes at the thought that crossed his mind, “Dammit.” At least he had one more day to decide. For now he could go home and prepare dinner for his grandmother, spend his last night with her and then spend the last day with Devika. If I do go. Latching his trident on his back the boy headed through the tangle of trees until the familiar stream that led underground appeared. Closing his eyes Kaimana took a deep breath and dove in and swam. Swimming, after all, was his preferred mode of travel when it came to the underground path that led to his grandmother’s home.
Brushing vines to the side Kaimana walked along the familiar stone path that led to the small hut that his grandmother lived in, “I’m back!” He called out as he opened the front door and stepped inside.
“Oh, Kaimana.” His grandmother’s surprise was obvious as the healer next to her quickly stood and nodded towards Kaimana, “I didn’t expect you here tonight.”
“Ah, well I thought I would make you dinner.” He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly before moving past them towards the kitchen, “Don’t mind me I’ll just go ahead and grill some fish that I caught today for you.”
It was when the murmurs stopped and the door closed behind the healer that Kaimana returned with the fish anou read the small salad he had prepared for his grandmother, “You really didn’t have to come here Kaimana.” His grandmother chastised him though she accepted the food and sat down to eat it with him, “Why do you do this?”
The boy blinked and glanced up towards his grandmother, “Do what?”
“Baby me so. You act as if…” Her voice trailed off and she shook her head, “Well rather you are acting upon it way too much, Kaimana. The healers haven’t said I’m dying anytime soon. It’s just a bit harder on me is all.”
“Still.”
“No.” Her amber gaze was stern as she glanced towards the Matori, “That’s not the only thing I was told recently. I was hoping you would bring it up but I suppose I will have to address the issue since you like to flit about things, Kai.”
“What are you talking about?” He paused and lowered the piece of fish back to the plate, “Grams?”
“Someone overheard the job offer. Why haven’t you told me about it? Better yet why have you not taken it?” The older Matori pointed towards him, “Why do you hide from such a good offer and use me as the excuse?”
“What?” Kaimana found himself staring at his grandmother, “Now that’s a bit harsh don’t you think? I’m concerned about you!” He found himself confessing, “I...if I leave and go on this journey then it may be a year if not longer before I come back, Grams! What will you do then?”
“What I’ve always done - I’ll tend to myself and take care of work.” She snorted, “Even if I’m ill I won’t falter that easily, foolish boy. Why don’t you just admit that you’re afraid of leaving Matori? Afraid of doing something for yourself for once?”
“Hey it wouldn’t even be for me. It would be for you.” He replied curtly, “The medicine could be there and I can get good pay for it…”
“Then go.” She smirked, “You were the adventurous type while in Matori, but any chance of leaving the island has terrified you. Now you’re using my pending death as an excuse and I will have none of it Kaimana.”
“I…” Dammit she was right, wasn’t she? Kaimana frowned and shook his head, “You don’t understand Grams. What if something did happen while I was away? What would I do then?”
“Don’t you mean what if something happened to you when you leave Matori? Kaimana...I know that your parents lost their lives when they left but that doesn’t mean you can’t venture out into the world either.” She moved so that she could reach her hands across the table towards him, “Nor would I want you to be stuck here because of me. I want you to explore the world, Kaimana. If you happen to find this medicine then that is great, but more than anything I want you and Devika to live your lives. I’m old, I’ve had my years, I got to raise two wonderful grandchildren and now it’s time for them to find their way.”
Tears stung in his gaze, “But Grams! We’re family and I don’t...I don’t want to lose that or myself.” It was true he was afraid. What if he died when he left Matori and they never found him? Or if he left and then was gone for so long that they became like strangers? For once in his life Kaimana was terrified and he was acknowledging it. Just the memory of his parents’ passing and the fear of losing his grandmother had tears rolling from his eyes and down his cheeks, “Is it really okay for me to go?”
“You should face your fears, dear.” She moved from her chair so that she could wrap her arms around Kaimana, “This is the first step towards great change for you, I feel it.” The older Matori kissed the top of his head, “Even if you need to use me as an excuse use it as an excuse to go out and explore rather than to hide here in Matori. I made the mistake of hiding here for my entire life and while I’m glad it allowed me to raise you two children I also regret that I didn’t go out and see these wonderful things.”
Kaimana nodded as he cried against her shirt, “I’m so sorry Grams.” He managed in between ragged breaths as his fingers clutched into her shirt, “I’m so sorry. I’ll do it.” She was right, she always was. He had been afraid of venturing out and still was. But how could he live his life freely if he stayed hidden, stayed afraid of the outside world? He had to take this first step and truly begin living his life.
He would do this, he would go to Belrea and he would become stronger and he wouldn’t be like his parents because he would come back. He would come back home and everything would be okay because he was better than that. Nothing would make him lose his family and they wouldn’t lose him either, “I’ll get a lot of goodies and find that medicine to help you, Grams. I promise.”
“Atta boy.” His grandmother rubbed a hand along his back, “Now get those last few sobs out of there and let’s focus on dinner and getting you prepared for travelling. I hear it’s quite a trip after all.”
Kaimana nodded, “Yeah, it is.” He replied quietly as he sat there and finally let his emotions, his fear and sorrow, free so that he could finally push through the chains that had bound him to Matori and explore this world.
Conclusion:
Kaimana has received an offer to go visit Belrea as an assistant. However he hesitated to take the offer because he has never left his home before and honestly is terrified of leaving home. The trauma from losing his parents has made him wary but in this solo he is forced to face that hidden fear and with coaxing from his grandmother decides to go. This is his first step outside of Matori, away from home, and a plot point in growing up as he is moving past his childhood fears to actually go and travel.
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