Azreal never felt true worry until that night. Memories of how Zakia had been missing, of saddling up Midnight in the hope of some miracle happening and of the miracle actually happening for him to watch as they rushed healers into the spare room with the largest fireplace to help reduce the chill of the nearly frozen teen flickered constantly through his mind during the following weeks. Why was it that when he was accustomed to slamming insults and throwing tricks at each other that he would be so afraid of losing her? The thought was like a snake that crawled along his skin, pricking the flesh there into goosebumps as he realized that he was terrified of losing someone and being helpless to do anything about it.
While he would be adamant in his denials of ever showing concern while she recovered and would definitely never be the one holding onto her hands for dear life while she slept it was noted that Azreal was rather busy in the following days. His attention was focused on studying more than ever and the teen had even taken to riding Midnight through the training area, his previously soft palms slowly turning rougher as he picked his way through the family's array of weapons and trained with them. Sleep was scarce as he simply had no time to waste on pleasantries and Zyphire had caught him walking into the kitchen more than once to pick up a warm bowl of stew or cup of tea to leave beside Zakia's door while she rested. Would he stay to admit that he was the one leaving meals and even sweets at her door? Probably never. Yet he was determined to keep an eye on his friend and to continue training both his body and mind. Even when she finally started venturing out again and had picked up a bow to take towards the local village to stay with some huntress, Azreal made certain to linger around wherever she went just in case. Today happened to be one of those days where he was already up at the crack of dawn and helping to prepare fresh meals for everyone who was planning on being away from home for the day, a small basket on his arm with a wrapped package of food for both him and Zakia already nestled inside.
Fears are meant to be overcome, but often are hard to do so. What are the fears that plague your character at night? How long have they dealt with these fears, and where did they originate from? How do they deal with their fears, and how does it impact their life and relationships? And will they ever work to overcome it?
[ Spend this World Event working through the fears of your character, either on their own or with some moral support of a friend ]
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2021 5:31 pm
Sabra Knight
Life had never really returned to 'normal' after that night.
It was hard to remember what normal even was when all Zakia could remember were bits of a chill so deep it froze her tears. Her body would curl in on itself, willing a sob from her very core, without so much as a sound to accompany it. And yet, those memories were so patchy she could have almost imagined them. If it weren't for the pinched looks of those closest to her and the near hovering behavior she could have dreamed it all up.
The niceties didn't go unnoticed. There was something inherently kind about opening her door and finding her favorites sweets outside, as fresh as can be, or a nice bowl of warm soup on a frigid night. It seemed like when she needed someone the most they would be there...but it did make her question why. Why not just knock on her door and come on in with it? It's not as if she'd ever barred anyone from her room, especially not after this.
It wasn't until she'd formally accepted Maud's invitation that Zakia's worries started to crop back up. She was supposed to pack up all of her things, meager as they were as far as winter wear was concerned, and move them into Maud's shack. Instead she was out with the raptrix, as she'd done everyday since being allowed back outside. Only during the day, they said, and never off the property. The fact that tomorrow she would be back out in those wilds...
Midnight whined and shoved his nose into her side, eagerly rooting around until she finally caved. "Fine, but don't blame me when they put you on a diet." Producing another treat caught the canine's attention and soon enough he was happily munching away.
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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 9:22 am
Painted Moose
Azreal was caught up in a whirlwind of thoughts. One may have not expected the usually abrasive loner to be somewhat motherly in nature but he did seem to be developing a bit of a protective streak since recent events. A sigh left his lips as he shook his head at the empty room and after some backtracking Azreal found himself heading outside towards where the raptrix stayed. "At this rate you should just keep him so that you can worry about his diet." He found himself quipping as he shifted towards the side, the basket sliding slightly on his arm as he stopped walking and studied Zakia and the familiar from a few paces away.
Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 9:31 am
Sabra Knight
"I wouldn't mind taking him with me if I wasn't sure Maud would skin him and turn this big, fat fur into a cozy cloak." To punctuate her words Zakia ruffled his back with her fingers, worming her way down to his skin as the raptrix just seemed to enjoy the affection. When she stopped the raptrix turned back to her as if to ask for another treat, but she 'firmly' bopped his nose. "No more. Go out and hunt for your own snacks."
Despite her admonition, he still didn't leave, even when her attention turned to Azreal. When she caught sight of his basket Zakia quirked a brow. "Were you bringing him treats too?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 9:57 am
Painted Moose
"So why did you decide to train under a wild woman again?" Azreal cringed at the very idea of someone skinning a raptrix like that. He understood the necessities of survival but at the same time....no thank you. It was probably for the best that they were in Southern Zena and not in the harsher northern mountains. Winters could get freezing and they had bad storms but it was nothing near the constant harshness of the north. He would feel so useless there and the thought irritated him even more. Midnight was more useful and he was already getting spoiled rotten with treats. Azreal frowned at the thought before glancing back to Zakia.
"Not really. I was thinking of going out and about today and just happened to have extra food." He gave a slight shrug before holding up the basket towards her. "I didn't see anyone else so I figured I would offer you some."
Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 11:02 am
Sabra Knight
"She's the closest thing to an Alkidike huntress I could find outside of Jauhar. I don't agree with a lot of her methods, but I can learn a lot about survival from her." Towards the end her voice started to trail off. It wasn't often that Zakia was pulled into her own head, but lately....it just seemed like she was fighting to stay out of it. "If I train with her then maybe that won't happen again..."
Still, the offer of food wasn't enough to completely wipe away the melancholy but it did gather her attention. Her smile turned a little wry. "So I'm the last one on the list? Fine, I'll take the bait." She stepped forward to take a peep inside the basket. "What about you? Shouldn't you be picking a path to study?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 11:12 am
Painted Moose
Azreal instinctively took a step forward. "Fair enough though I worry about what Alkidikes normally deal with if that's the level you must train at." He found himself quipping despite his movement towards her almost as if subconsciously he had wanted to try and offer comfort instead of his usual sharp words. He knew what she was referencing since those fears had haunted him recently as well and inspired his own training. He would pick up a weapon eventually and he just hoped that his tactics could match any savagery that the older huntress could teach Zakia.
His gaze darted away almost shyly as he recognized the wry smile. "Yes, yes. I mean I hate wasting food and no one seems to be around lately." His brother was off flirting with some girl in Sauti while his parents were adventuring without them and now....well either way! Azreal shook his head before handing over the basket completely so that he could take a couple of steps to the side as if to inspect Midnight rather than being too close to Zakia. "I am. He replied after a moment, his lips pressing into a tight line. "Magical studies seems to be a thing in the family so I'm assuming that's what I'll be taking up."
Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 11:21 am
Sabra Knight
4/7
Zakia simply shrugged her shoulders. "It's a tribe of warriors; it's pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Finding a soft one is like finding an earthling with a star shaped mole." Even the most 'studious' of Alkidike, like her mother, worked hard enough physically not to get flabby. The only soft areas were the ones that her thicker northern garb tended to hide.
"Kuno's been pretty busy, huh?" She couldn't help teasing a little. From what little she'd seen of the other brother lately he'd been wrapped up in some girl. "Ooph!" Zakia took the basket and scrunched up her face. What was that all about? He'd been so nice and just boom - back to his old grumpy self.
"You don't sound very excited about it." Zakia slipped the basket onto her left arm and riffled through it with the right. When she came across a loaded pastry she lifted it out, gave it a sniff and smiled. "Ooo, fishcake~"
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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 11:29 am
Painted Moose
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Azreal blinked. "I suppose that's one way to describe things then." He supposed that he tended to forget about the whole warrior concept when dealing with Zakia and her mother. They didn't seem to be the type of brutish women that he had heard described by others and so Azreal usually kept that out of mind save for when he used to throw various insults towards Zakia as children. Then again it wasn't as if his own family didn't train so perhaps he just thought training was normal and didn't consider the survival aspects? At least not until that night happened...
He couldn't resist rolling his eyes at the observation. "Busy enough that I'm surprised mother hasn't gotten after him. It's painfully obvious that he's not staying on the estate." Azreal could only cover for him so many times. He just hoped that Kuno didn't get wrapped up into anything dangerous cause of some cute girl. Odd that he was less concerned with his brother's shenanigans and more worried about....well others.
Azreal gave a slight shrug as he ruffled Midnight's fur. "I suppose it's hard to be excited about something I've always expected to happen, you know?" The teen didn't want to admit that he was honestly afraid that it wouldn't be enough and that he wouldn't be powerful enough in the future to protect others. The very thought made his jaw clench before he forced himself to relax once more. "There's a lot of paths within magic but I suppose only time will tell where my talents lay. Did you get many choices within your Sisterhood?" He found himself asking almost out of curiosity. If they were a warrior tribe then what all did that entail?
Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 11:38 am
Sabra Knight
5/7
Zakia waited until she'd finished a bite before responding. "Seems like your parents have been busy enough on their own to worry about him. Kuno's trickier than I gave him credit for." She hadn't seen too much of the pair lately, and every time they were away so was Kuno. If I had taken bets as to which one would have been the trouble maker I would have lost big time. Then again, even she hadn't had much time to worry about him because of her own issues...
"Not as many as I would have liked. It's hard to grow up spending so much time around earthlings and not want something more." Zakia groused. "You're given the option of stabbing things with a sword, stabbing things with a spear, using a bow or crafting. To me it just seemed like a bow was a better fit. It's the most adaptable path considering all the travel I do." Honestly it didn't seem like either one of them had much choice in the matter. If Azreal didn't train his magic it would grow chaotic and hurt someone, and the Alkidike were so set in their ways that Zakia had limited options.
"You're allowed to have other interests, of course, but in the end you need to be prepared if you're ever called to defend Aisha. Like, mother with her research."
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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 11:47 am
Painted Moose
"Lucky more like it." Replied Azreal with almost a chuckle. He had not expected his brother to be successful in sneaking around, especially considering their childhood with his loud bluntness, but so far things seemed to be going his way. "They do say a woman can change a man." If one could consider the pair that. They were mostly kids still in Azreal's honest opinion. At least he supposed that was how he would view Kuno for a while yet.
His expression shifted towards understanding as she described the Alkidike ways. "I see. Archery isn't bad and at least you have plenty of options to learn from if your current mentor grows tired or troublesome." Azreal offered finally with a small shrug. "It is strange to me though that your kind don't raise healers or many craftsman. I suppose many Alkidikes just grow accustomed to pursuing other interests while keeping their arms at the ready." How many wars had occurred in the past for them to keep such traditions? Azreal could only imagine how strange a peaceful world must look to others considering the strife of even the more recent past. "Either way your weapon does not define you or everything you do. Surely you can enjoy life in your own way without feeling limited because of the bow." A rare bit of optimism but one he couldn't' help but to offer. After all wasn't she already finding some freedom considering she could live out in Zena rather than Jahaur? Azreal couldn't imagine being restricted to one place for his entire life and that was something he hoped to remedy himself in the near future.
Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 12:06 pm
Sabra Knight
She gave a little snort around the fishcake. Maybe that was it. Still, she had to wonder what kind of girl would make him want to risk it? Any pretty girl who smiled at him. She loved Kuno like her own brother, but she had to admit it wouldn't be hard to distract him...
"It's mostly the elders that are our healers. Their bodies can't handle the hunt anymore so they hang back and tend to the less fortunate. It sort of works out? But only if they want to; I've seen far too many stubborn old woman swinging a sword." How many times had she come across a hunting party on their way back and an elder being carried because her back went out? If Zakia had been given the option she might have chosen a less strenuous path, but after what happened in the snow her life was set.
"That's why I'm here. I miss seeing my friends, but there's still so much of mother's research she hasn't been able to finish. I can do so much if I just hang in with Maud." Speaking of the aging Zenan, she would be expecting Zakia bright and early tomorrow. "I guess I really should be packing...I haven't even gotten started."
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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 12:13 pm
Painted Moose
"That's one way to make things work." He replied thoughtfully. He had only known others who had trained their entire life for the healing arts so it was strange to imagine others just taking it up because they couldn't fight any longer. Then again hadn't he disregarded the healing arts himself in order to pursue fighting? Fair enough indeed. He'd rather stop the injuries from occurring in the first place if possible rather than wait around to pick up the pieces later.
Azreal's expression shifted once more at the mention of Maud. "I suppose so." The teen crossed his arms as if contemplating saying something else before shaking his head. "I won't distract you any longer. Just....take care, Zakia." He stared at her for a moment, his cheeks almost flushing before he turned away. "You'll probably just want to take some spare food with you then. I'll make something new for myself later." A hand raised in the air and he gave a half hearted gesture as if waving her away before walking back towards the manor himself.
Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 12:26 pm
Sabra Knight
7/7
If he'd meant to turn away before she saw that little side of him he hadn't done so fast enough. She'd caught just enough to bring some color to her own cheeks and a sparkle to those deep, obsidian eyes. "You too, Azreal." In all honesty she had no idea if he would even hear her or not. It was almost...strange not to be constantly bickering with him. When she looked back into the basket she noticed it's contents were all of her favorites, much like the....the offerings that had been left at her door?!
It couldn't be...could it? Was he...? No. No...but maybe?
Asking him would just ruin the mystery and likely would get him to start bickering so Zakia chose to keep the illusion. It gave her some solace to think that someone was looking out for her and now she could get a solid start on a new chapter in life.
