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 Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:43 pm
“Final day.” Noelani walked along the smaller cove that was nestled away from the Elidae settlement, the area previously home to her grandmother and now belonging to Quiana. It was far enough away that they weren’t imposing on the community at Kiros, but close enough that they could get to the others after a short walk. “How does it feel to be back in the islands?” She found herself asking her beloved, the hybrid looking over at Nanami who was picking through some loose seashells as they explored the area. It was the best that they could do considering how neither of them could directly enter the settlement, Noelani not wanting to push her luck and not wishing to leave Nanami alone either. She had gotten her moment with her grandmother, managing to say her greetings before the elderly Alkidike had departed this world. It was a bittersweet feeling to finally have a grasp on that missing part of her heritage only to lose it a moment later. Though it wasn’t completely lost since they had Quiana in their lives now, the Elidae a welcome addition to the family. They were currently waiting on her to gather her supplies and say her own farewells since the Elidae had decided she would be traveling to Belrea after this while Noelani and Nanami took their family through Kahi for an adventure.
[Noelani 1]
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:43 pm
Ami was focused on the gleaming ocean waves, the sight warming her spirit despite the depressing atmosphere of losing a loved one. Even though she was not personally connected to the elderly Alkidike and didn’t have the pleasure of meeting her, Ami knew how important her passing was to others in their group and did her best to offer support. Making tea so that Quiana and Ocayle could relax in the evenings, the calming brew one of Ami’s specialities, and researching plants with Chantara while the rest spent time with family and explored Kiros had taken most of her evenings until today. Now she was simply cherishing a few moments with Noelani before they went back to the bustle of traveling, picking up their children to explore Ami’s homeland. As for how it felt to be back home? It was a good question and one that had her pausing, her fingers curling lightly around a shell as she pondered it. “It’s strange.” She finally admitted with a small smile towards Noelani, her lips curving upwards ever so slightly as usual. “I missed the islands, but at the same time I feel out of place now. I’m so accustomed to seeing a different type of ocean, the darker waters and the cliffs so different from this tropical paradise.”
[Ami 1]
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:44 pm
Noelani nodded slowly, the hybrid patient as she allowed Ami time to sort through her feelings. It was hard to return home especially considering these circumstances, and she knew that Ami had some unresolved issues with her own family which she prayed wouldn’t be a problem when they did encounter them. Surely time and letters had softened their feelings, right? Then again based on what Ami had said about her mother it would be tricky, the Kawena had high expectations for her daughter who had left to go live overseas instead of pursuing a higher position within their community. “It tends to happen that the place you’ve truly settled in with a family, building your own home from the foundation and spending years there, can replace that feeling of a childhood home. At least that’s my belief since you’ve created a home in Matori with us.” She offered as she picked up a broken shell and twisted it in her hands, tossing it towards the ocean so that the tide could sweep it away.
[Noelani 2]
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:44 pm
“It’s a fair assessment.” Replied Ami as she watched the shell spinning in the air before falling into the water with a splash, the tide sweeping it out towards the ocean. She kept the newest shell that she had picked up, a pale pink thing with yellow and blue swirls on the inside that were almost pearlescent in the sunlight. Moving it back and forth between her fingers, feeling the slight edges as a momentary distraction, Ami let out a soft sigh before shaking her head. “I missed home for the longest time and now I feel like a foreigner here. Perhaps being back in Po’lua will help, these islands are still far too bright compared to my home. Do you think the children will be alright there?” She was admittedly worried. The area could be dangerous for outsiders and unnerving to those who were not accustomed to the darkness of caves, even their own home was only partly in the cliffs while the rest of the ocean manor was open to allow sunlight in during the day.
[Ami 2]
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:44 pm
“Now you’re making me feel guilty.” Noelani teased, partly actually being sincere with how her heart twisted in her chest at the forlorn expression Ami had for a moment there. She had never meant to separate the Kawena from her home, it was just that she had so much left for her in Matori and now with the excursions it was even harder to imagine leaving the area. They could easily get between their home and Sulburi, it was only a few days of travel while she could not imagine a life in Kahi….but that was because she never had experienced it save for her brief experience over here when she was young and simply adventuring around without an intent to settle. Matori was where they had their manor, she had work between Matori and Oba while their family was also settled there. Even Quiana seemed eager to travel, giving Noelani less reason to want to linger near Kiros now that things were settled. Her own mother didn’t seem completely at ease with the other Aishans, her lifestyle so adapted to the earthling ways that she didn’t truly fit in with the Sisters now. “Truly, I never meant to take you from your home. I’m delighted that you crossed an ocean for me, but I never wanted you to feel so homesick.” She had been greedy, so eager to embrace love that she didn’t even think of the consequences Ami would suffer for leaving her home like that.
[Noelani 3]
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:44 pm
Ami moved closer to Noelani, gently taking her partner’s hand so that she could press the shell into it. “I know, it was my own decision.” She acknowledged with a soft smile. “I never said my life here was perfect and while I miss the scenery there was so much more gained by chasing you.” Anyone would be a fool to not realize the treasure that Noelani was, the explorer had brightened Ami’s days and made them so much more exciting with each new adventure. “As it is my own home is much darker than this, I don’t know if you or the children could thrive there.”
[Ami 3]
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:44 pm
Noelani’s fingers curled around the shell, the hybrid giving it a gentle squeeze before holding it up towards the light to admire the colors. “I suppose this one is also a keeper.” She mused quietly, grinning at Ami before tucking it away into her satchel where they had already placed a few others. Her jade colored went back towards Ami, a frown crossing her lips at the statement. It had apparently been rough from what she gathered, but surely Ami had some happy memories here. Why else would she have some moments of homesickness, after all? “How dark could it be? I know you lived in caves, right?” Po’lua was the one area she had not gotten the chance to explore, it simply had been too dangerous and there was not enough time during her trip to find a guide for the area. If anything the last few days in Kiros had taught Noelani that there was still so much of Kahi that she needed to explore, they had simply stopped by a few port towns on that last journey and it was only by good fortune she had even encountered Ami.
[Noelani 4]
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:44 pm
“Very dark.” Ami replied, not even joking despite her words. “Po’lua is a very dangerous area for those not familiar with the cavern paths. If you get lost you can be lost for days once you go underground without a guide.” She shook her head, thinking about those who had been lost in the deeper routes. She had never feared the caves, they were her home and she could easily guide them thanks to her heritage while others much preferred trading in the area before the caves where there was still sunlight along the coves. “I grew up in Hota, the largest settlement that was near the entrance of the caves. Many traders would go there while not daring to go any further. My father’s family was actually from Tamar, that was the place which many did not dare to venture.”
[Ami 4]
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:44 pm
“Hota and Tamar.” Noelani repeated the names quietly, frowning as she thought about everything. “So we’ll be going to Hota then. Do we dare venture into Tamar?” She was curious to learn about all of Ami’s family, even if that meant venturing into the darker settlements. How could she be worried since Ami was with them? There was no way that they would get lost with her as the guide.
[Noelani 5]
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:44 pm
“Definitely Hota, it’ll be nice to experience the caves even if we stay around the outer settlement.” Ami agreed before pausing at the question of Tamar. “It would take a few days to get to Tamar….I suppose we’ll see. Don’t you think it’ll be too risky with the children? It’s a bit more wild in Tamar, or as others call it the center of the world. My father’s family was not that welcomed when it came to relations with my mother’s more haughty relatives and background. They were established members and leaders of Hota while my paternal grandparents raised their children to fight all sorts of creatures and survive on their own.”
[Ami 5]
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:44 pm
“Some of our children would love the adventure.” Admitted Noelani after a moment before letting out a soft sigh. “I suppose we’ll see where our path takes us. I don’t want to keep them from seeing part of their heritage, but I also do not want to put them in danger if I can help it.” Even taking them to Kiros had been too risky. If Tamar was truly that wild and dangerous of a place should they even consider it? Noelani pursed her lips, debating the option. Zoicite would probably try to be bold to protect his younger sisters, but the girls could be rather reckless so she could only imagine the danger he would dive into to protect them. Another sigh left her lips. “Maybe just Hota unless there’s a dire need. Do you have a desire to go into Tamar?”
[Noelani 6]
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:44 pm
“My own feelings are conflicted.” Ami offered, seeing her partner’s own dilemma at the option. “If my father is in Hota then I will be alright staying there, otherwise it would be nice to find him. He’s a healer so he travels between the settlements as necessary.” She explained, just in case Noelani needed a reminder. Not that Ami talked about her family often, they were only brought up at various moments and mostly whenever she was reminiscing about the past after a drink or two. Other than that she didn’t talk about her family much, her father being the best support she had before his work took him away and left her to the studies her mother placed upon her. It would truly be nice to see him in person again, to seek his forgiveness for leaving as suddenly as she had.
[Ami 6]
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:44 pm
“You’ll want him to meet his grandchildren, I understand.” Noelani reached out so that she could lace her fingers with Ami’s, the hybrid swinging their hands as the pair walked along. “So we’ll go to Tamar if he isn’t in Hota. How dangerous could a path be, right? If you know the way then surely we’ll be fine. Even better if your father is in Hota so that we can save some time and spend more time with him instead of traveling between settlements.”
[Noelani 7]
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:45 pm
“Thank you, Noel.” Ami used the nickname, leaning her head against Noelani’s arm for a moment before they continued along on their walk. “These last few months have definitely given us some twists, haven’t they?” She mused, thinking about all of the changes in their lives and how far they had come for this to even happen now. Treasure hunting in Matori, artifact research in Oba, long-lost family members showing up and now a trip back to her own homeland. How busy they had been as of late!
[Ami 7]
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:45 pm
“They certainly have.” Agreed Noelani as she squeezed Ami’s hand, a tender expression crossing her features at the simple gesture of the Kawena resting against her. It always warmed her heart when they had moments like this, the peacefulness of the cove and the sound of the ocean creating the perfect scene for them to enjoy together. “I suppose it was too quiet for a while there, minus the children of course.” She joked lightly. “They definitely have been a twist of their own. Do we dare think of more showing up in the future?”
[Noelani 8]
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