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 Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 3:36 pm
As curious as Imri was about his Aishan heritage they didn’t seem too keen on getting to know him. For all his mother’s influence the boy was still kept on the fringes of their society while his sister was seemingly tolerated. Their hybrid origins made for a tenuous relationship at best with some of the elders, but despite some of the younger generations coming around to it they still weren’t as keen on a son of Elzira prancing about.
So, on the rare occasions that Imri attended classes he was always with Zivah and when he wasn’t he spent time with his earthling mother. He loved Lucijah, really he did, but sometimes…Well, sometimes he would just break away and that was that.
He’d managed to sneak just to the edge of Zinris closer to where the visitors made their camps. They didn’t have many throughout the year, but it was a lot easier for him to blend here than it was to go into the settlement itself.
Especially once he pulled his hood up; that made it all the easier for him to sneak about.
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 3:46 pm
[Sabra / Discord]
Zira was more than excited to tag along with one of her older cousins on their trip to Yael. She was always eager to explore and the opportunity to learn about another of the trees and see more Aishan settlements was not to be missed! Even if it was a slightly more dangerous area that had been created by extremists the treaty made something nearly impossible a couple of decades back actually feasible now for the hybrid youngling. How could Zira resist such a chance? Obviously she had to push her parents to get permission to tag along! While her father had been especially weary at first the fact that her cousin was a full blooded Alkidike warrior who was bonded with an Elaria had given him some reassurance that his daughter should be safe. Should be.
It would probably be more reassuring if she hadn't sneaked away after promising to stay within the tent that her cousin had set up for their stay outside of Zinris. Zira loved camping and the rocky terrain was a lot of fun to explore, hence why she had opted to take a peek on her own around the settlement. While she had only gotten to visit Elzira once briefly the girl still wanted to see what else she could find that was interesting. It wasn't in her to simply sit idly by while her cousin got to have all the fun! Her papa had mentioned some rare herbs that grew throughout Yael and Zira was hopeful to see if she could gather some for him while she was away. Despite her family's worry the girl was walking about with her hood down, her silvery hair shining in the sunlight as she crouched down and stared at a strangely pointed plant with purple leaves. "This looks like a prickly thorn, right?" She mused as she poked at the plant with a stick, just making certain it wasn't something that liked to actually chew things like some of the plants back home in Jahaur.
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 3:49 pm
Save for his lack of fade, Imri looked the same as any other Elarian youth. The eyes that shown out from his hood were the same seagreen as any others and among those who weren’t native to these lands he could slip by without consequence. A few spared him a glance before going on about their business and that was why Imri preferred it here to Zinris proper.
Because there, even with his hooded cloak, they knew him. His markings gave him away as easily as fresh blood on a hunt.
For the most part the faces he saw were the same. Travelers who came to Zinris were rarely new; most were traders who had some ties to the Elaria here. A few earthlings were among the mix, but even they were Yaeli. So, naturally, when he saw the rather pale figure moving away from the camp Imri’s curiosity was peaked. He followed her and did his best to decipher what exactly he was looking at. Her dreads were like his and yet everything else was off.
“I wouldn’t touch that.” Hesitantly, he spoke up. It hadn’t been his intention, but, well… “You’ll get a rash.”
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 3:50 pm
[Sabra / Discord]
The sudden voice made Zira immediately stop, her fingers hovering just inches away from the deep purple leaf. "Huh?" She blinked as the words registered and her hand immediately dropped from the air to rest against the ground. Her bright green gaze was baffled as she finally turned to face a cloaked figure, someone who was surely around her age or so since he didn't stand above her like most adults. A light flush covered her pale cheeks as she slowly rose from the ground, a sigh on her lips. "Thanks for the warning." She breathed before giving a glance back towards the plant and then back towards her mysterious helper. "I was hoping it was a prickly thorn. Which....maybe it is?" Her expression shifted almost sheepishly as she realized she didn't know too many details about the list of herbs that she had stolen from her grandfather's desk. What if some of them were poisonous or like the stranger said a good way to get a rash?
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 3:52 pm
“Is it or isn’t’ it?” Imri’s tone was sharp and precise, but not necessarily annoyed. The boy was direct in almost everything he did. There just wasn’t time to skirt around things when he lived in a community that despised him.
“I don’t know what a prickly thorn is but I know that that-“ He pointed to the purple plant. “-will make you itch.” He’d learned as much the hard way when he pushed Zivah into a bush, she’d pulled him down with her and they were both a mess. “Is that why you came all the way here? To get a rash?”
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 3:54 pm
[Sabra / Discord]
Zira tilted her head in confusion. So he didn't know either. Another sigh left her lips as she eyed the plant thoughtfully. Maybe her cousin could let her know later if she asked? If so at least Zira knew where to find the plant. Surely she could borrow some gloves and a bag or something to keep the threatening rash inducing plant at bay. Though the absurdity of the stranger's next question had her laughing. Surely they were kidding, right?
"Who wants to travel just for a rash?" Zira shook her head quickly. "I was just hoping to gather some rare herbs while my cousin takes care of other business." She explained though her cheeks felt warm when she realized how much she didn't know about the area. "I've never been to Zinris before so a lot of things are different compared to back home." She admitted before glancing back over towards the stranger, the green gaze catching her attention. "What about you? You're not here for a rash, right?"
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 3:55 pm
Imri immediately bristled. He didn’t care to be laughed at and a scowl, so like his Aishan mother’s, took over. Who was she to laugh at him anyway? He should have just shoved her into the brush and walked away. If she was stupid enough to get that close then it’s what she deserved!
She looked more earthling than he did so at first he couldn’t place the girl’s Aishan heritage. He’d just assumed she had a mother from Zinris, but now Imri wasn’t as sure. “You’re from Chibale?” Because that was the only other option, right? Earthling settlements were possibilities, Mama Lucijah was from one, but Aishans wouldn’t be raised there. It was unseemly. “I live here.”
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 3:56 pm
[Sabra / Discord]
Did she make them upset? Something about the stranger's stance seemed to change but it was hard for the youngling to tell with the cloak hiding so many features. Why the mystery? Would prying make the stranger upset at her? Her Papa could sometimes get a bit tense, especially around outsiders or even some family, and Zira had to remind herself that not every youngling was as open. But so far they hadn't walked away so that surely was a plus!
"I am." She replied with a small smile before holding out a hand in greeting as if to test the waters. "I'm Zira." She paused thoughtfully. "So if you live here.. are you Elaria?" Those green eyes seemed to make her think so but she also had similar eyes even though their green came from her earthling heritage.
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 3:57 pm
Imri looked at the offered hand with a mixture of disgust and trepidation. He barely trusted his sister on the best of days so why would he hold the hand of a stranger? Her smile reminded him of Zivah when she thought he wasn’t looking, but that didn’t mean she meant it. If anything her kind gesture made him take a half step back, bringing himself further under the cloak.
And of course her name was Zira. Zira was close to Zivah which meant she was lying.
“I am.” Even if he was hidden the youngling stood a little taller at the admission. He had no reason to out himself as a hybrid just yet so he chose to hide it. If she told on him then his whole mission for the day would be ruined.
Actually, he’d said too much already and the interaction was already more than he was used to. So… “Goodbye.” And with a firm, yet decidedly awkward, heel turn Imri started to leave.
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 3:58 pm
[Sabra / Discord]
And there it was. Her hand slowly lowered to hang at her side again as the gesture was rejected. Her family had warned her that Elaria were not the kindest and certainly not the most welcoming but...but well she wasn't certain what she had been thinking! Still, if th3 stranger was so cruel would they have stopped her from touching the prickly plant? Zira's gaze narrowed, frustration making her lips twist into a pout but it was only the slithering of a nearby keldari that startled her into actual movement. "Wa-wait!" She persisted as her fingers clutched at the edge of the cloak, the snake's rattling tail making her take another step closer to the stranger.
"Sorry." A flush decorated her cheeks again as she looked at the strange creature that was slithering away. "You're Elaria and I'm Alkidike blood so maybe...you wouldn't mind helping me? I don't know the area well and could use a guide." She had nearly said friend but was afraid that would make them even more ready to leave. What Elaria would want to be friends with an obvious hybrid like her? Her pure cousins were nice enough but even Zira recognized the stares that she tried so hard to ignore. "Diascia." She blurted after an awkward pause as suddenly she recalled the strange creature her grandfather had also mentioned. "I heard they're good for healing but have no idea where to find any...do you? It would be nice to bring something home to show that...well I can be useful." She was tired of being left behind whenever her father went hunting because she was too little! Picking the herbs and such could prove that she had taken her trip to Yael very seriously and taken advantage of the resources there. Then traveling like this wouldnt be a waste of time like her Papa worried!
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 3:59 pm
Imri wasn’t outright running so much as he was shuffling his feet very quickly. If he moved too fast then any adult in the area would notice and think he’d done something to do or maybe taken some of the plant for himself or- “Wha-what?!” His surprise pulled him into a knee-jerk stop and with his own motion, plus her tug, the hood fell back from his head exposing his lack of antennae. It didn’t stay down long before Imri yanked it back into place. “Let go! Why are you- Oh.” As flustered as he was, the youngling hadn’t heard the keldari at first and now that he did he, too, took a step back. Still, that didn’t mean he wanted her close and he made that very clear once they were safe by pushing himself away again.
“Why don’t you just ask your cousin? They brought you here; they can show you around.” It was as much a logical statement as it was an excuse to get out of it. He didn’t want anymore contact with her than he already had. His eyes were already darting around him, looking for all the world like a prey beast that knew a predator was watching.
For a moment she had him. As much as he wanted to leave her behind for his own well being there was something in the vulnerable admission that cut. Taking one more look around them, Imri took a step away but this time motioned for her to follow. “Two rules; no loud sounds and if I tell you to stop you stop. Okay?”
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 4:01 pm
[Sabra / Discord]
It was almost as if time stood still whenever the hood dropped back and exposed the boy. Zira found her gaze widening with surprise, her mouth forming a little 'o' as she tried to register what she saw. Another hybrid?! Even if it had only been for a split second it was enough for her to see that he was obviously not a pure Elaria. Still, she quickly closed her mouth before blurting her mind in fear of chasing him away. Why did he wear a hood though? He was cute! But then again some of her other cousins had teased her that the Elaria would rather leave a child on the cliffs instead of raising a hybrid, even if their tree could bloom them now. Was that truly the case? Was being a hybrid a really bad thing here? Was that why he was so skittish and bristly all at the same time? So many questions!
She shook her head at his own question as she kept quiet for fear of saying something that would get her in trouble. If she always relied on her cousins then she was bothering them and that wasn't what she wanted to prove. Then again she was probably bothering the stranger....so she probably should just leave him be even if it meant getting a rash or two on her own. Before Zira could leave though she found herself actually following instead. "Got it." She repeated with a nod, her lips curving upwards into a bright smile before she quickly smothered the emotion aside to try and be more serious. "The diascia make slime that helps with healing poultices. Are their trails easy to find?"
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 4:02 pm
[7/10]
The youngling was absolutely avoiding making any sort of eye contact now that his ‘true’ identity had been exposed. His gaze was focused on the path he made through the undergrowth; eyes firmly downcast and away from the other hybrid. As soon as he got her to where she wanted to be Imri was getting as far away as possible.
“…Not really. You just need to know where to find them.” Whatever ‘urge’ that had spurned him to talk earlier had died. Now Imri’s tone was clipped and barely above a murmur. Still, when he walked around prickly bushes he made a show of it so she couldn’t run into it and side stepped holes that might twist an ankle. They were subtle little things; things an outsider might have missed but Imri knew by heart.
It took a little while, but Imri stopped near a fallen tree. The carcass was in the process of decay making the wood brittle and easily moved by little hands. “Help me push it over.” Still, it was too heavy for one and he braced himself on the side of the log, waiting for Zira to do the same.
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 4:55 pm
[Sabra / Discord]
Zira pursed her lips thoughtfully but simply nodded as she followed the other youngling. She was still afraid to talk too much since he had been so skittish earlier and now that they had a goal she was determined to see this quest through to the end. It was one thing to gather some herbs but another thing to actually gather some diascia slime, something she was eager to do since she had a couple of empty jars tucked away in the small satchel bag that bounced at her side. It had been originally for herbs and maybe to store anything more poisonous but this was a far better option since she had overheard her cousin mentioning the diascia being helpful. Imagine their surprise if she came back with slime or even one of the creatures! Her dedication to the task made her stay sharp and attentive to every little detail, her feet following the stranger's path and making certain to avoid everything that he side stepped and the like. Zira was stubborn and resilient - she would not be messing this simple task of following another up.
As the stranger requested her aid, Zira paused. Was this the best way to go about things? Couldn't they just step over it or find another path? She opened her mouth and then promptly shut it again before simply nodding. So far the stranger hadn't given her any reason to not trust him even if she didn't know his name yet and so she was willing to go along with the instructions. "Okay." She murmured as she moved to the other side of the log and reached around. "On the count of three?" She offered as she waited to follow his lead.
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2022 3:46 pm
[8/10]
While the log had been from a mighty, powerful tree at one point it was nothing more than a half formed shell. Still, in it's carcass a cacophony of life would feast and Imri knew what he was looking for. So, when she stepped into place he hunkered down, squared his stance and rolled his shoulders as he'd seen his mothers do hundreds of times before. They didn't need to push it far; just enough so that it would roll over.
"One...two...three!" Imri shoved and dug his bare feet into the porous earth. With their combined efforts the log began to roll and with that it's underbelly was exposed. Hundreds of insects scurried away and even bits of rotted woods stayed behind, leaving a few of that which Imri hoped to see.
A few fat, cylindrical creatures remained in the cool earth.
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