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 Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:42 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Ronan loved whenever they went to Kahi. The foreign islands were just so colorful that he adored exploring the areas around the little docks and markets that his family visited with the rest of the crew. However, he was also really good at getting lost in said markets when he shouldn’t be going off on his own, which the boy once again did today. “It can’t be that far off!” Ronan sighed as he twisted back and forth once again looking for the way back to the local village where the others hopefully waited for his return. The little hybrid had taken a detour to try and chase some strange furry creature he had seen, the little guy with its bright pink stripes coming down to snatch a fruit from a vendor before darting away towards the outskirts of town, and Ronan had foolishly followed him around a corner and up a few paths until the docks were far out of sight and there was only beach with dense jungle in the distance. “I will find you and catch you.” He had promised the creature before realizing how far away he had actually gotten, his distraction a perfect opportunity for the fuzzy creature to n** at his hand and escape his grip.
“Well, this…sucks.” Ronan kicked at a loose pebble and watched it bounce across the sand. “Do I go left or right from here?” All he had was his travel bag and a small knife clutched in his hands that he had picked up as a self given gift from another member of the crew.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:43 pm
[1/10]
A fat satchel of fresh fish thumped against Enya’s hip as she walked. The Elidae had her trident laid out across her shoulders, arms stretching up and over the weapon to keep it in place as she meandered through the jungle back to her home. Her dreads were thoroughly soaked from her adventures with the Hapuna and even though her muscles ached from the effort of moving she couldn’t help grinning. Today’s fishing had been amazing and she even got a nice, big eel for dinner! Maybe that would make things easier to deal with when she got back…
With everything that been happening over the past couple of days the young Elidae just needed a break from her family, but she was hopeful that life could go back to being happy again soon. Still, just being out in nature helped her mood tremendously and she might have remained lackadaisacl if she hadn’t heard the noises. At first it was just a lot of movement from her left, then a voice? Having lived a perfectly charmed life, Enya had no qualms with blindly following the sounds, but when the figure came into view her smiled dipped a little in confusion.
It was a child; one roughly the size of a little Hapuna, but…well, it clearly wasn’t. If not for it’s brighter colors she might have overlooked the little thing in all the brush. “Are ya lost?”
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:44 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Ronan jumped at the sudden voice and appearance of a very tall foreigner. As much as he would love to express that his scream was very manly the fact was that he may have screamed more like a girl...just a little bit at least. His whole body froze for a moment before he snapped back to reality and shook his head, his expression turning into a scowl as he tried to cover up his earlier fear. "Maybe and maybe not!" He called back defensively, crossing his arms as he looked up towards the foreigner. Why was she so tall? Was that even fair? And did she have a ton of fish? At first he had thought she was a Kahi with some sort of strange fishy smell that he hadn't met yet but the Hapuna weren't that tall and then he realized that she had antenna and a bunch of fish on her hip. A fisher...something then?
"But if I was lost...maybe I could get some directions to the nearest settlement." Ronan managed finally as he glanced away, trying to hide his embarrassment. "There was a weird striped creature that was snagging melons from the market. I was tracking it out here and had it for a moment." Stupid little creature getting him lost and what not. Totally wasn't his fault at all that once again he was out in the middle of no where...nope not at all.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:45 pm
[2/10]
The corners of her mouth quirked with a playful twist. Oh, she’d spooked it! And now the little one was getting all huffy. It was cute and she was tempted to say so, but with the way they were trying to look bigger than they actually were she didn’t think it would be appreciated.
“Well, if you were lost I’d have to ask you where you came from. You’re not a Hapuna so I can’t send you back to them, and if you were lost giving you the wrong directions could be bad.” Enya adjust her grip on the triton until she could more comfortably lower the weapon and leaned against it. “You said you chased something out here, right? From a market? What did the people in the market look like?”
Every little settlement had a market and since there were so many different tribes existing on the islands it wasn’t as if Enya could just pick one and run off that.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:47 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
"Well-" Ronan shifted awkwardly as he listened to the response from the intimidating foreigner. Even if she was trying to be nice she was super tall and just looked like she could toss him into the other side of the island if she wanted! "Hypa-something, say I'm not from around here and lookin' for the nearest village with ships." He really couldn't remember the name well at all. Shoot! Why didn't he pay more attention to these type of things?
"The people were colorful, lots of vibrant everything really." This one he did know! "It's a hapuna village with lots of shopping. Like so much that you could be there for hours! If a furry long tailed animal hadn't just gotten in the way and distracted you like....yeah." Ronan quickly added as his desire to try to seem somewhat aware added to the energetic words that rushed from his lips.
Eventually he stopped talking and looked towards the woman again, his lips pursed thoughtfully. Was that enough information or did she need more? His mind was already trying to process whatever he could remember though he truly had been too distracted by the animal!
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:48 pm
[3/10]
Village with ships? And it was a Hapuna village? Enya made a sort of ‘hmm’ noise and shifted her footing. She knew the village the child was talking about, which was unfortunate because if she escorted the kid then she’d be backtracking. The ships that came in were visible enough from the reefs she’d been taught to fish from and while she’d never directly interacted with those that came from them she knew the area well enough.
Was the kid old enough to go back on their own? If they were out here by themselves then maybe? Still though…What if something attacked? The kid already admitted to chasing creatures they didn’t even know into the jungle so who knew what else they might get into.
“If the shopping was that great then how did you end up out here?” She stepped back half a step and motioned the way she’d come with her trident. “Sounds like you want to go that way, but it’s not a main path; just one I know. It’s quicker but rough. How about we make a trade? You tell me more about that thing you were chasing and I’ll make sure something doesn’t gobble you up.”
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:48 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
"Well..." Ronan blinked at the question before making a face. "There's only so much shopping a person can handle." He retorted finally, as weak as a response that it was, but Ronan was going to stick to it. "A rougher path?" Maybe that would scare any other young teen but Ronan immediately perked up at the very thought. It was like a little side adventure while going back to the village! He needed more of those now that he was supposedly more mature than any child. And if the number of fish said anything then this foreigner surely could fight any beast that popped out at them! Just look at that trident!
But did he need to play a bit more at this? Shouldn't he act like it was a tough choice? Ronan shifted once more, tapping his fingers against his chin as if pondering the thought. "I 'spose even though I surely could figure it out the company and a quicker path would be nice." He finally admitted with a nod. "So the thing was like furry but the size of maybe your forearm and had a long striped tail. It was really good at snatching things and climbing trees." He started before looking around. "But I can fill in more details later...where do we go from here then?" (edited)
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:49 pm
[4/10]
This wouldn’t be the first time she made it back home a little later than planned and certainly wouldn’t be the last. Her own mother was known for taking extended sabbaticals into the wilds so surely she could squeak out an extra day? She was already planning on being back by nightfall anyway so this little detour would extend that. Enya was sure if she just spun a story about making camp it would work out.
Enya took to walking as she pondered the creature. “The size of my forearm…and a tree climber…” Why did that sound familiar? Had she heard one of the other sisters talking about them? “Can’t say I’ve seen anything like that, least nothin’ striped.” As she walked away from the well worn path, heedless of how her longer stride would affect the child, her path started to sharply descend. “Be careful; it’s a little slick.” So far, at least, that was the only concern.
"What island are you from anyway? Haven't seen a tribe like yours before."
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:50 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
"I'll be fine." Ronan expressed confidently though his mind was really focused on the creature. Someone from the islands didn't even recognize the thing? After nearly slipping once the teen twisted so that he was walking at an angle rather than simply forward, while he didn't understand a lot of things but he did have a good sense about physical and athletic situations so at least he could adapt to some risky path.
"What if they don't all have stripes? Do you know of any chattering thieves then with fuzzy tails?" He finally mused before blinking at the question tossed his way. "I should be asking you that!" Ronan quipped back with a grin before puffing out his chest. "I'm a sailor, we don't have a set home though my mother comes from Belrea and my father is Matori. If ya even know what that means."
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:51 pm
[5/10]
“You do realize there are a lot of things that live on these islands, right? I haven’t seen them all.” Enya responded in a huff. Honestly, how was she supposed to know every living thing that came through? What if it was on an island she’d never been too? And that was a lot more than she was willing to admit! “Sounds like a Hanaluke though. The group I’ve been the most are all blue, though, with some kind of spotting on their toes. Maybe that’s them?”
When Enya came to a trickier part of the path she slowed to a stop. The path abruptly broke with a very deep ditch bisecting it. Even if she stood in the bottom she wouldn’t touch the top; something she’d found out the hard way. Thankfully for her if she stretched her legs she could reach the other side, but the blue one…Well. While she was stretched out, Enya offered her hand to help them across. “So you’re an earthling? I thought you were Kahikian.” That changed everything! No wonder they didn’t have the right markings or features. “I’ve seen the ships before, but I’ve never actually talked to any of your kind. How far is Matori? And Belrea?”
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:52 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Ronan made a face back towards the stranger. "Just figured since you look older that maybe you'd know more if this was your home." If he had been stuck on an island all of his life then surely he would have searched ever corner of it! And then he could have sailed to nearby islands to trade and find out more...he was at least interested in animals while plants and medical stuff just made his ears buzz. "Maybe? I could go with a hanaluke. Either way it's a trouble maker." He gruffed before noticing her offered hand. Ronan made a face at the hand before moving backwards as if to jump before noticing how deep the ditch truly was and finally moving back again to take the hand with flushed cheeks. Screw it. He couldn't risk an injury today though he totally could have made that jump too!
"Yeah, so are you not a Kahi either?" He asked with a frown. What Kahi would confuse an earthling like him? Though he did have some similarities...not as much as the other Matori with their finned ears though! Not that he was jealous of such a thing with his boring round...bah. Ronan made a face before looking back at the foreigner, finally pulling his hand away now that he was across the ditch. "Matori is far to the southern ocean and belrea is north of here across the ocean. It takes a few weeks to sail to Belrea, more to Matori." He offered before frowning again. "You ask a lot of questions for a stranger."
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:53 pm
[6/10]
“I’m seventeen.” Enya said in a dead pan tone, “And this isn’t my home.” She pointed through the trees to the East, “It’s that way. My island’s name is Kiros.” If she had a second to spare between her studies, training and chores then Enya was diving beneath the waves in the reef. There wasn’t much to the islands that called to her, but the ocean? That was something else entirely.
For a moment she stood awkwardly, legs splayed over the pit, as she waited for him to jump. When he inevitably came back she shook her head with a smirk before helping him over. Once he was safely over Enya rocked her hips a bit before leaning sharply to one side and adjusting herself on the other side. “I’m an Elidae; not a Kahi. Have you never seen an Aishan before? There are more of us out there, they just look different.”
Southern ocean…Northern ocean…Sounded about as varied as Aishans, really. “At least I’m not lost.” She reached over to flick his head.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:54 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
"Could have fooled me." He thought surely she was already an adult! Ronan had to wonder what gods thought it would be funny to make earthlings so short in comparison to all of these giant races. Why couldn't he tower over someone like a giant tree? "Kiros and Elidae." He knew there were multiple islands in the area, but he had never been to this Kiros before. If he hadn't heard from the other crew about how anti-social Aishans in this area were then he would be more inclined to think she was pulling his strings, but she looked too different from any Kahi and so it made sense that he hadn't been to this Kiros. Probably lame anyways with no sunlight because of all the giants living there. He huffed silently, his frown growing as she flicked at his head.
"Have you ever seen an earthling before?" He quipped back as he waved the offending hand away from his head. "Guess it's a first for both of us, Elidae." The teen shrugged as he turned around and looked about the path that they had taken. Was she actually leading him to the village or somewhere further out in the jungles? Though she had plenty of fish and it wasn't like he was that much for a stew...right? Ronan winced at the thought. And would Elidae even care about earthling money in this area? Probably not so it wasn't like she could try to hold him ransom. He nodded at the train of logic before focusing back on the foreigner. "Wouldn't have gotten off track if it wasn't for that stupid Hana-Hanakule or luke or whatever." He grumbled, his gaze darting towards the ground almost sheepishly. "Are they prone to stealin? I guess so if the merchants seemed upset at the very sight of 'em." So much for catching the creature and bringing it back to show off at the ship. Ronan's expression shifted though whenever he swore he heard rustling in the nearby bushes. "Hear that?" What if it was the Hanathing?!
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:55 pm
[7/10]
“Enya; my name’s Enya.” He really didn’t like being needled, did he? “How old are you then? You don’t look old enough to be out here on your own.” Then again, if Earthlings were like Kahikians then maybe he was older than he looked? They were just so small that she had a hard time judging. There had been a moment in her youth when she’d tried to start playing games with a grown woman because she assumed they were the same age due to height. Her friends never let her live it down.
“Maybe it wouldn’t have to steal if you gave it something? Could just be hungry.” Pausing with one foot on a stone, Enya’s antennae flicked toward the sound and her gaze subsequently followed. “Yeah..yeah I heard it. “ She gripped her trident and stood at the ready. Chances were that they could find a Hanaluke out here, especially if he’d already been tracking one, but then again…
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:56 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
"Ronan." Even if he could be a bit dense, the boy at least knew that it was only polite to give his name in return. Though the old healer on the ship always warned against it because of some silly superstitions. His father often teased that it was more like the geian woman was a Yaeli instead of anyone from Belrea. Those who grew up further back in the mountains from the last generation or so though apparently had a bit of belief in things that could not be unexplained, which Ronan secretly enjoyed learning about. It was the only time he would tolerate sitting still for Fran, especially since listening to stories didn't usually involve any medicine. "And I'm old enough, I'm almost fifteen!" In like ten months...that counted, right?
"Isn't there enough for it to find in the wild?" Ronan replied with a frown though now she had him worried. What if the creature simply was hungry? Would have fed him fine if he had just let me snag him to take back home. Mused Ronan with a soft sigh before the noise had him standing a step or two back behind the Elidae, his gaze darting between the bushes and the trident. His heart nearly jumped out of his chest as a glint in the bushes caught his eyes, the claws emerging first as another growl warned them back. "What is that thing?!" He didn't want to sound like he was scared, but at the same time...those were big claws!
Ronan found himself taking another step behind Enya before something cute actually emerged. Despite the growling those floppy ears...Ronan found himself letting out a laugh towards the creature. "Those ears are just..." He literally could just pet them, it was like one of those old toys that he had growing up! But the appearance of those claws kept him a step back as he tried to see how to interact with the creature. "Do we just veer a bit away from the bushes or can you intimidate it?"
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