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 Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 6:56 pm
It wasn't too long after the run in that the Elaria and their cousins had with the creature called the Dretch, a run in that had changed a lot of stuff on the lot of them. The rules that they were living under became a lot more strict and a bit stifling... but she supposed that she could understand the reason behind them. She might not like being stuck in the village all the time but she also didn't like the idea of being kidnapped. She just had to deal with it until the Dretch had been taken care of and the restrictive rules were lifted by those in charge.
As she thought of those in charge she found herself thinking on the Elaria's mystic, wondering how she was doing. During the incident with the Dretch things had seemed to be a bit tough on her. If the normal Elaria were under such restrictions she couldn't help but wonder about their mystic since she was likely having to deal with even more rules then everyone else given her position. Should she check in on her? See what she was doing? See if she was needing anything? Did the mystic really need her to come poking around though when she had a lot of sisters and cousins likely wanting to help her out?
How about just a walk by? She could check in on her, see how she was doing, and if she was alright she wouldn't bother her. She was sure that as a mystic she had to be rather busy with mystic things. Ceylinae wasn't certain what a mystic's daily life consisted of but she'd put her bet on it being quite busy since they were a very important person in the tribe.
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Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 4:43 pm
Recent days had been busy. After the incident with the dretch, two of Nivalis' sisters, Atris and Niteo had been assigned to stand by her side, guard her, and mostly see that she did not run off alone on a whim and do anything reckless. It was true that while the threat had been present, visible, and directly in front of her, Niva had felt a great and pressing need to rid the menace from the world.
Her matron and her sisters thought that she ought to take a more passive approach. It did nag at the back of her mind, to be able to do nothing physical, but she'd been convinced that there was no other way. Her role was not to lead warriors and fight monsters, only to guide her tribe in the ways of Elzira.
She was not meant to fight. She was only meant to remain safe in camp and give counsel to those who needed it.
That was what she did. She mingled with her sisters, tried to calm their fears, inquired about their efforts in their training, and informed them of whatever knowledge her elder cousins had chosen to gift her. Nivalis was permitted to attend council meetings now, though they mostly consisted of the batty old Alkidikes rambling on about what they knew of the old stories and various suspicions they had about defeating such things. There was still so little solid evidence, but Nivalis picked the most reassuring things to report on.
When not with the council or at the matron's side, she stayed beneath Elzira's branches, as she was now. It was only when a gentle touch came to her shoulder from one of the twins, that she looked up. "Mystic," the older Elaria murmured before casting a quick glance back at the eldest among them. Ceylinae breezed by. She didn't speak, but Niva's current guards could see the girl's eyes on their charge.
Niva's expression brightened when she spotted her eldest sister. She waved the twins away, and they receded far enough back to give a sense of privacy as Niva rose and approached. "Ceylinae," she beamed. "Have you come seeking wisdom from the Great Mother?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 12:34 am
As Ceylinae did her best to walk by in what might have been a casual manner it seemed as though she was noticed. Likely because she was looking the way of the Mystic in such a direct manner? She'd never bothered to learn such skills as being stealthy or subtle it would seem. No matter it seemed as though the guards with the mystic pointed out Ceylinae's presence and a moment the mystic was actually coming over to her. That wasn't really expected but it was more then welcome. Giving a smile she took a couple steps toward the mystic to help close the gap between them, "Good morning, Mystic." She greeted her, before she found herself posed with a rather deep question. Had she come to seek wisdom from Elzira? That would have been a better way to approach the mystic, wouldn't it? Her many antennae gave a twitch as though thought about it before she said, "Ahh... if there is any wisdom that she can offer me I am more then willing to listen. It's not what brought me here today though. I was curious as to how you've been doing since the incident with..." He trailed off a moment, thought about it, and finished with, "the Dretch." It wasn't just that part she was wondering about, instead worried that maybe the mystic had been being hassled more by those older and more experienced then she was. She'd leave that part out though and just see how Nivalis had been doing in general.
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 7:46 am
"Elzira always has knowledge to give us, if you only open yourself up to it," Nivalis replied with a grin and a slight dip of her head in acknowledgement to her sister's greeting. She cocked her head to one side, and leaned her weight away as if she were a bow being pulled taught. "Though I suppose there is no need to be here, specifically, to receive it," she admitted with a shrug. Niva believed firmly that as the Great Mother reached with her roots to touch other trees, and the roots of those trees touched further trees, and further and further, that Elzira's wisdom could span the full of Yael.
She also thought that if the Great Mother would share with anyone ways to conquer the new threat, it might as well be one of her first daughters. Ceylinae, Naqenni, or Ku were surely the only three who could even be fit to lead them to battle. The matron prayed and sought wisdom of her own, of course, but she was not an Elarian, and Nivalis didn't think the Alkidike bat deserved to have so much power given to her by a goddess that was not hers.
For the moment, she shook the thought away.
And then blinked in surprise at her eldest sister's words. "You've come to check on me?" Niva prompted, with curiously wide and delighted eyes. Her antenna coiled up tighter in response to her glee, and Niva gave a quick, hurried nod. "I am well! Better for your concern for me. Our sisters rally eagerly to learn whatever they can to face the threat, and I've spent much time beneath the Great Mother's branches in the hopes that she will send me a sign for a time or place that we might work to reclaim our island... But I suppose she still has more work for the matron than for me."
"That part is still very disappointing."
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 6:45 pm
If she opened herself up she could gain wisdom from their Great Mother? That was something that she would have to attempt though to be honest she had a bit of a hard time sitting down and trying to open herself up to outside forces. She could meditate on things or she could keep going forward with her training. It was a difficult decision but given that she couldn't leave the village these days she did have some extra time on her hand that she could devote to such things. "I apologize if it's a bit forward of me but I wanted to make sure that all was well on your end." She said, antennae giving a bit of a twitch. She wouldn't think that she was a better protector then those that she already had, they were older and better trained Alkidike after all. It didn't mean that she didn't still wonder given that the mystic did seem to be given a bit of a hard time during the Dretch incident. She said that she was well though and that was a relief to Ceylinae. Giving a nod of her head she said, "I am glad to hear that you're well, Mystic." She seemed to be quite busy from the sounds of it with her work... though it seemed that a lot of the work that Elzira might have for her were going to the wrong person. Shouldn't Elzira being speaking more with Nivalis then the matron since Nivalis was actually born from her? Was it because Nivalis was still young or was it because Elzira didn't want to see her daughter hurt so wanted to keep her from danger too? Questions that wouldn't have answer to them since she wasn't privy to what the Great Mother might be thinking. "I hope that things become clear to you soon, Mystic." She said when Nivalis mentioned it being disappointing that Elzira was speaking to the Matron instead of her.
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Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2017 8:14 am
"No, no! Not forward at all!" Nivalis assured, reaching to grasp her older sister's arm. "I appreciate it, I really do," she replied sincerely with a reassuring squeeze. In fact, it really ought to have been more Nivalis' task to go and check on Ceylinae before the other girl had time to be concerned for her. So many of her sisters had come to be in quite an ill temper, since none were permitted to leave the camp alone anymore... As a girl who surely had her own training regimen to keep up with, it wouldn't have surprised Nivalis if Ceylinae was among them...
Standing a bit straighter, Niva focused her attention on the older girl's face once more. "I should've sought you out to make sure you were well," Niva admitted. "I have been offering my company to anyone who needs a partner and wishes to train outside of the main camp, but..."
But very few wanted to take her up on the offer. Though the Alkidike had the strongest concerns for the mystic leaving the safety of the group, the Elarians had already taken that note from their elders, and also expressed a certain wariness for taking Niva out for a session of training in which their numbers would be minimal. Nivalis decided she didn't mind if they wanted her to stay behind, though she did sort of wish they wouldn't be so concerned.
She shrugged. "I suppose everyone agrees it is safer here," she admitted after another moment.
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2017 4:14 am
Ceylinae felt relief fill her as the Mystic assured her that she wasn't being too forward. Good, good... the last thing she wanted to do was come off in a manner that might be insulting to her Mystic. The woman would one day be the most important member of their tribe... at least when the Matron stepped down or passed on, allowing her to step up into a leader's role. Given the perceived age of the Matron she'd guess it was perhaps only a matter of time? Best that she stayed with them through the Dretch threat though since she likely had more information then anyone given that she knew all the old stories in a way that others did not. Giving a nod of her head Ceylinae said, "Please, don't worry about me. Save for the pain of getting used to all the stifling new rules I have been well." At the mention of Nivalis offering her company as a training partner and guide to the outside her antennae perked up... at least until the 'but' part of her sentence. It seemed that everyone agreed that it was safer inside the village... though Ceylinae really wondered if that were so. Someone had been snatched right out from under them in a crowd within the village after all. A thought she kept to herself. "Well, Pruu and I have been doing a bit in the way of planning, trying to figure out ways to train in the village that aren't completely boring so maybe we can figure something out?" She said, then after a moment of thought added, "Or perhaps a trip outside if we can gather a large enough group that it would be deemed as a 'safe' trip?" Enough people that would make it so they could keep each other safe, maybe to go rock climbing or swimming. Likely it would be something they would have to get approved by the Matron and their cousins though. Especially if Nivalis were going along since she was so important to the Elaria.
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Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2017 8:38 am
The corner of Nivalis' lip quirked up in thinly-veiled amusement. "I will always worry," she admitted softly. "You are my beloved older sister, and we have always been led to believe that it is our destiny to conquer this world. I will always fear for you, Ku, and Naqenni in particular, that your aspirations may lead you to hunt and battle in lands beyond Elzira's reach... For a time, at least. I expect if you leave, you will all return at some point." More than just 'worry,' Nivalis held this concern as a deep and inevitable fear.
During her youngest years, she'd spoken to the matron of her eldest sisters, and the old Alkidike told her of Naqenni's drive during her teenage years, coupled with a desperation to expand and take. Around the same time, she'd spoken to Ku privately. She was an explorer, Niva could tell. She wanted to travel such that every land was beneath her feet and bring trophies of her conquests back to the then-young-and-starry-eyed mystic.
Even then, Niva had thought that she didn't really want her sisters to leave. She'd never given thought to the possibility that they may never return, as their strength would be more than enough to keep them safe from earthlings, but now...
Now she held a fear that if any of her tribe left these lands, she may never see them again.
It was an unbearable thought, made worse because now might seem like the best time to travel to the mainland. As far as any of them knew, the dretch threat did not persist across the seas. Perhaps eons ago, they too had been banished fro, Tendaji and onto Yael, as their 'extremist' cousins had been...
Nivalis shook her head. "It was only said that you shouldn't travel alone. So long as you and Pruu train together, just the two of you should be as safe as you would be if you were joined by many. Two or twenty opponents seems to make no difference to the dretch, if they are so brazen as to appear in the middle of our camp... I think, if it would make the two of you feel less stifled to train together elsewhere, that would probably be acceptable."
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Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2017 1:08 pm
There was a moment where Ceylinae lifted a hand up so that she could chew on her thumb nail in a somewhat worried manner. So that was why the mystic was worried about her? It was something that she'd heard before, something she understood to a point, and yet the drive was missing when it came to Ceylinae, "I'm I may be honest with you, Mystic... I believe I might be a touch defective compared to some of my sisters. I lack the desire to go rushing off to foreign lands because it feels as though it's far too soon for such things." She lowered her hand then, clasping them tightly together behind her back, "There aren't many of us yet, what feels like barely a handful, and we aren't well established yet even on Yael... we aren't ready for a full scale war against the rest of the world..." That part was all muttered, as though she didn't want anyone hearing her say as much out loud. "I fear saying as much will make me sound like a coward but I think that we should make sure that our homeland is secure before we go wandering off... lest we have nothing to return to." They should concentrate on their homeland, on Yael, they should focus on getting rid of the glowy eyed weirdos but their cousins were far too obsessed with the idea of going back to Aisha and fighting there. It was a distant place, a Great Mother that wasn't her own, and as such she had no reason to go rushing off there... and the rest of the Elaria shouldn't be forced to do so just because their cousins told them to. Not when Elzira was here. Glancing away she said, "Forgive me, I'm sure that I am the only one with such thoughts in my head. Something that I should likely keep to myself." She didn't want to be seen as weak or as someone who went against what the Matron, cousins, and sisters thought was the right thing. Giving a nod of her head she said, "I... you could be right. The Dretch did come into the heart of our village to grab someone, as though making a point to show off their power." There was likely no where that was truly safe, meaning the strict rules might be for naught. Still, the idea of traveling in a group would at least instill comfort in some and that was something at least.
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Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 5:27 am
"You are not defective!" Nivalis assured hastily, as her hand flew to clasp reassuringly at Ceylinae's shoulder. It was true that several of her older sisters held ambition that wanted to whisk them away from Yael and toward the mainland, but just as true that there were some who had no intention of leaving. A few wanted to stay, build families of their own, rid this island of its inadequacies before sighting their sights higher. Nivalis would've loved for her sisters to take Yael, Tendaji, and then Belrea as well during her lifetime, but she did not expect to ever see such a thing. Even if an Elarian girl could slaughter ten earthlings with a single blow, their numbers were too great, and would remain as such for a long while yet.
And to be perfectly honest, the matron may have told her of the ambition and impatience of Naqenni's younger years, but Nivalis had never actually heard anything of the sort from the older girl's mouth... In fact, she'd only ever expressed wariness during the time she had escorted Niva to the mainland. Perhaps it was just youth that made them all want to be reckless.
Regardless, Nvalis shook her head. "It is foolish to incite war at this time," she agreed. "But war is not the only reason our sisters may seek shores not our own. Our tribe is so young, and so small. We have gained so little knowledge for ourselves and have only what our cousins offer us."
"If our sisters were to set out in this lifetime, they would conquer nothing. If they tried, their lives would be wasted. But there is more to that long-future battle than just fighting. Before we can take, we must learn, and it is impossible to do that if we remain here for eternity." Nivalis expected there was a chance she may never leave Yael again, and she feared for any of her sisters who might do so, but nor could she forbid it, if that was the path they wished to walk...
There were things out there now,- a new land, with even more earthlings- that even their matron and their cousins had never seen. Earthling numbers just seemed to grow and grow, far more quickly than their handful of Elarian could match, maybe ever, particularly when their tribe members could be picked off by this new threat. "You are right to be concerned, but don't let it keep you from achieving great things."
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Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 5:31 pm
The Mystic really was a kind one, wasn't she? The manner in which she was offering Ceylinae reassurance caused her to give a bit of a smile, her antennae bouncing a bit. It seemed that as far as a war went that the Mystic didn't seem to like the idea either. It made her feel a bit better because it meant that she wasn't alone in her worry over such a thing. It wasn't the time for such a thing, especially now that they also had the Dretch to worry about. The war could wait, especially since there were far more pressing matters... especially the one that Mystic Nivalis pointed out, that they were in need of much more in the way of knowledge before they went racing forward toward such a future. "Knowledge... seeking it does sound like an important step in growing the Elaria. There is only so much that our cousins can teach us." They were colored by the past, by their biased, and that would give the Elaria knowledge from one perspective. Did that meant that they would need to strike out on their own to seek that knowledge? Giving a humming sound she found herself curious about what she could do herself going forward. It would be stunted until the Dretch were dealt with so she supposed they were step one in all plans, huh? Giving a smile and a nod Ceylinae said, "I am training hard in hopes of one day doing just that." Here was to hoping she'd be able to reach the goals that she wished to reached, the main ones tending to involve Savage and raising him into being a mount that was worthy of an Elarian Guardian.
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Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 2:10 pm
"I suppose it is all we can do, to continue training here until our cousins across the sea decide if they will allow us access to the information passed down by their mystics..." Nivalis hummed softly as her gaze flickered to the earth.
If anything, that matter disturbed her more than the dretch, themselves. Her elder cousins and the matron herself had agreed that there should be some sort of communication with Chibale, in order to learn from any of the tomes that may have knowledge of the threat currently facing them. Nivalis understood the need, and she would do anything to protect her tribe, but she also wanted nothing from an island and a goddess that were not her own. She wanted nothing from the soft-hearted cousins who had banished her elders. She wanted nothing to do with them.
Or rather, she didn't want her tribe to ask for anything from them.
If the information had been given to their mystics and then written in tomes to be passed down, it was surely true that the very same information could be given to her by Elzira. It hadn't been, yet, but it could be, and she would rather wait than show the weakness of needing help from those already against her.
All measures that could be put into place to protect them, had been, and that would surely be enough until the Great Mother chose to speak to her.
Looking only marginally more somber, Niva's gaze slid back up toward her sister's face. "Understand that this is a hypothetical, but if you were given the chance to leave, for reasons that you'd been led to believe may help your tribe- your sisters- would you? Even if you had little company and were asked to go to a faraway and unfamiliar place, with no real assurance that it was guaranteed to be beneficial, and only knowing that it could mean your death?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 3:39 pm
Ceylinae's many antennae twitched for a moment at that thought before she asked, "Would they? I was lead to believe that they were no friends of ours?" She had thought that everyone out there were to be seen as enemies... and while she was sure that they could ask them for information she had to wonder if they would even bother. They had broken the tribe apart after all, chose others over their sisters, and left them on a place as dangerous as what Yael was. Why would they bother to help them now? Giving a shake of her head she decided that it was probably something to leave to the Matron and the others in charge. She was young yet and couldn't really say what she thought about getting help from outsiders, especially the other Alkidike cousins that they had out there somewhere. The information on what they were dealing with would be nice but would it make them weaker for having to reach out to those that wanted nothing to do with them? It was hard to say. Ceylinae's eyes went for a moment wide as the proposed situation was laid out before her. Crossing her arms over her chest she seemed to think on it for a bit, "It's a difficult situation. I would want to do whatever I could for our sisters. At the same time it would be a bit intimidating to head out knowing that I might not make it home." Her antennae twitched again before she said, "I think that despite that I would go if I was asked to do so, for the sake of our sisters. If it's possible that I could help I would want to even if the situation isn't really ideal."
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Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 8:27 am
"They aren't," Nivalis hissed, her answer perhaps a bit too sharp to be neutral. "Our cousins across the ocean... It is impossible for me to believe that they would have any care for their sisters, or the Elarians as a whole. If it were truly up to me, I would never suggest that we try and make peace with them." But it wasn't up to her. It was still the matron and the elders who dictated their path, and Nivalis understood that the fear they held toward the tribe's well-being may spur them to act in less appealing ways.
Besides, was there truly a better option? Nivalis wanted to believe that their physical strength, as well as their passions and loyalty to each other would be enough to dispel the threat that hung over them, but if it wasn't, would it really be so bad to have at least tried to ask for outside aid.
Yes. The answer bit at her. Of course it would be so bad, of course it would be. But she needed to set her pride aside and pray that Elzira would guide them down the proper path.
She refocused her attention back on the matter at hand. It stood true that if they did want this information and the aid of their cousins across the sea, someone would need to retrieve it. Nivalis would be hard-pressed to believe the elders would trust any Elarian with such a task, and Niva herself wouldn't be so bold as to send one of her sisters, when the Alkdike would be so much more familiar with the terrain. But it was their tribe that needed defending, and she expected some of her sisters would feel obligated to be ones to bring their salvation.
"I would expect no less, Ceylinae," Nivalis murmured. "Though I would never place such a task upon you or any of our sisters, you should know that there are few I would trust more than you. Your age and experience would serve you well, where so many of our sisters are still so young yet..."
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Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 5:03 am
Ceylinae's antennae gave a bit of a twitch at Nivalis's hissing tone of voice, then gave a humming sound. So she didn't believe that the Alkidike across the sea were going to actually offer them any help then? She couldn't say she was all that surprised by Nivalis's words. Why would they offer help when it was their fault that their tribe was on Yael. Best that they were on guard when it came to those sisters then she thought to herself. After glancing around for a moment she turned her attention back to Nivalis and said, "I will take your words to heart and remain ever cautious when it comes to that particular group." Dealing with Earthlings, that was easy, they were what they were... but cousins that looked like those that lived with them but didn't carry the same ideals or love for the Elaria, those were the ones they had to be the most cautious of. Who knew what they might think of the fledgling tribe that had been born of Elzira. "Even if I don't end up leaving Yael or venturing forth toward the unknown I will still be here for our sisters. I will use all of my training and skills to keep them safe." Especially those that were too young to carry a weapon and those that were fresh from their lotuses, those were the ones that would need the most protecting. A shame that there were so many enemies out there and no allies. Not that she was open to the idea of trusting any outsiders to guard her back. She'd only trust her sisters with that sort of thing.
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