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RP
http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=23559423&page=1

I met Rishima today. He is a really good fisher. Mama says he's someone like me and I should treat him with respect. She says I'll never know when I might need the help of people like me. I don't know what she means... or what she's talking about. But I'm starting to feel like I'm not like mama or the other alkidike. I see how they look at me.

Rp

http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?page=1&t=24584705#370021701

I met a shifter girl today. I don't know her name. And she was interested in meeting Starline. I learned about a new race called Obans. I'll have to ask my mamma about them.

RP

http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=24620459

Momma and I cam across alot of Nondwa when we returned home to escape the rain. It was sooo beautiful.

The Radaku tiptoed through the tall grass, pausing to sniff the air now and then. The myriad of late spring scents combined into a sweet aroma, a delicious succulence that made her energetic and playful, made her want to run, to jump, to play around the usual tumble games. Shaking her head slowly, she focused again. She could smell her close at hand. Her scent was warm, invigorating, like clothes dried in the sunshine. It was hard not to remember the child's scent. So different from that of her loyal companion back home. She had grown to love her child though, like another pup of the pack.

Teiluj caught the swaying grass off to her left though the vibrations in her antenna as she pretended not to notice Pacju's proximity. The nearly Fourteen year-old girl sighed and tried to concentrate on her text books. 'Six more moons, Teiluj. You can do it! Concentrate!' It was a very real concern to her, finding a location where she could learn about the kinfa. But that wasn't all, the young Prentice was starting to come of age where she was expected to choose a path to walk. Her mother had supplied her with all the knowledge she knew of the Alkidikes, and the earthlings that she could.

Flicking her Multi colored hair over her shoulder as she leaned in closer to her books, the prentice Teiluj frowned in concentration as she absently fingered the blue orb that hung from a thin twine around her neck. She had chosen to study on her way to Tale. Glancing towards the deeper part of the forest Teiluj sighed inwardly. She would have to make a choice soon. Her mother had insisted that it would be best for Teiluj to aquatint herself with all the forms of the Alkidike people. Sadly, none of them felt quite right to Teiluj.

Teiluj sighed and closed the book with a loud snap. She had met a shifter who had shown her what magic was like and that had sparked a strange desire inside her. Something her mother had agreed would be a good opportunity. If magic fit, she would try to set her up with a teacher, an earthling teacher. If not then she would explore more options. Teiluj shook her head and closed her yellow eyes her fingers running along the edges of the book in thought. Now wasn't the time to focus on such things. She had already been greatly distracted from her journey by a strange male Oban. One that seemed to tickle annoyingly at her thoughts.

Nkole wasn't at all like Teiluj had pictured Obans to look like. Living in Ast it was hard to really grasp the idea of what exactly an oban was. She had only seen shifters and other Alkidike. She had once seen a glimpse of someone from tale when passing through Sol.

Rolling her slender shoulders to alleviate the tension below her neck, Teiluj sighed and let her head fall back, absently noting how nice the warm sun felt on her skin. With an exaggerated gasp of surprise as a blurry ball of fuzz tackled her to the side. "Pacju!" Teiluj exclaimed, curling up into ball before kicking out with her right foot. Hooking it around Pacju's hind leg. Reaching with her hands towards the front foot on the same side. Teiluj pulled as hard as she could while dragging with her hind foot. Pacju yelped playfully as she was quickly turned on her side. Teiluj rolled out of the way of the falling animal before quickly correcting her position and winging her legs around the large creature. Her hands and fingers reaching out to rub her companions underside.

Pacju 's leg started kicking and she started to wriggle out from under Teiluj. Once free, the female radaku was running off in another direction. "Hey! that's not fair." Teiluj yelled as she almost tripped in her attempt to pick up her books and shove them back into her bag. Staggering as she slipped in the sand. Taking off after her companion.

Starline gave a rather loud squawk, having noticed the rapid movement of the Prentice. Flapping her wings furiously Starline took flight and tried hard to keep up with the fleeing pair. Squawking even louder as she felt the distance between herself and the young prentice grow.

The mixed blooded girl stopped, her head snapping back to take a good look at the growing bird. Her arms opening as Starline crashed into her chest. "You silly Kinfa. C'mo-" Sounds in the distance suddenly had Teiluj pausing and looking behind her as Pacju came running back to her side. Stopping and turning to face the noise that was coming from behind a set of trees.

"I saw it go this way." Came the first growling voice. Teiluj jumped into action dodging behind some trees as a pair of Wind tribesmen came into view. "There see! It is a radaku. They never come out of the forest. If we can catch and tame it. Imagine the prestige we would have."

"Chi blesses us this day."

Teiluj raised her eyebrows. Her arms wrapped protectively around her rather large young Kinfa. Pacju wasn't an animal to be caught for some gain with whoever Chi was. Irritated the young mixed blood stepped out into the open her yellow eyes staring down the men before her. Watching as another joined in the crew. "She's mine!" Teiluj growled defensively.

"What in all of..." The first spoke as his eyes landed on Teiluj.

"It's an abomination that's what." The middle one spoke, grinding his teeth together in disgust.

Teiluj swallowed hard as her eyes danced from one earthling to the next. She didn't have any weapons on her save for a couple daggers her mother had insisted she take. Another reason that Pacju was with her. She could hear the Radaku's snarls as the creatures tail flipped back and forth in a warning.

"Yeah but it's got a Kinfa. And it's got some features of our kind." The final one said as he stepped forward to lay a hand on the one in the front. "Look, it doesn't seem intent on attacking like the rest of those Amazonian women. What are you doing in these parts little bird?"

Teiluj shivered at the way he spoke not really sure what to expect. Honesty had seemed to work with the Oban she had met. Why not with these guys? "I'm looking for someone to teach me about Kinfa's. I heard they grow bigger than this. And I want to know more about the wind tribes." The young prentice shrugged her arms lifting the Kinfa for the others to see.

The man in the back burst out laughing. Stepping past the other two and giving Teiluj a sweeping gaze. His smile was the biggest feature on his face and it gave the prentice chills. "C'mon back to my place little bird and we can talk about Kinfa to your hearts content."

"You can't possibly find that... thing... attractive." A firm grip on his shoulder was all it took to silence the man.

Wincing Teiluj tried to give the friendly man a smile. "Alright." Walking forward Teiluj placed her hand on Pacju nervously. Following the man who had waved for her to follow. Watching as two seemed to move on ahead.

"I live near the edge of the settlement. It's a prime location for my pair of Kinfa to spread their wings. Your fledgling might like the chance to see it's own kind. How did you come across such a find anyway." The man asked as they fell behind the pair of men ahead of them.

Yellow eyes blinked as she gave the man a cautious look. "My mother gave me the egg. As a test to see if I could care for animals. She doesn't know anything about them though. That's why I've come to Tale. I want to make sure I care for Starline properly."

The man seemed impressed but said nothing as they walked through the sandy forest towards a small villa. A few houses dotted here and there and the pair stopped in front of a small one. "Here we are." The strange man walked forward to open the door. Nearly shoving Teiluj inside as quickly as he could before walking in and closing the door again. "Like your bird you are very interesting to look at."

Teiluj couldn't help but blush. "Please, I'm only here to learn about the Kinfa. You said she's a fledgling? Does that mean she's still small? I thought this was as big as she was going to get."

Once again the man was laughing. "Come come." Reaching out he took hold of her upper arm to lead her through his house. Towards the back he opened another door. "Look up there." He pointed towards the top of the trees where two massive birds fluffed their feathers and settled back down into a rather large nest. "I'm a beast tamer. They were my first acquired creatures. But enough about me and my hobbies. You were able to raise that fledgling from an egg. That is impressive for a hybrid like yourself."

Teiluj felt uncomfortable with the way she was being tugged about. And it made her itch to have Pacju beside her as a form of protection. Her antenna twitched at the thought. She really did rely on her mothers Radaku alot. What would happen when she ventured out on her own? How would she protect herself? So this was the reason that her mother had been so insistent that she take a weapon with her. A sudden pang of guilt hit Teiluj, and she was starting to regret not having chosen her path sooner.

Her thoughts were interrupted as she followed the pointed finger up to two very large kinfa's up in the trees. Her eyes grew with surprise and joy. Was this what the fully grown Kinfa looked like? They were massive and beautiful. She was aware of the sound of the earthling moving but she paid him no mind. She was too exited to care, her mind ran away with the idea of her own Kinfa that large that stunning and that dangerous. Did her mother secretly know that a Kinfa could be just as much of a fighting companion as Pacju?

The sudden feel of breath against the back of her neck, and hands touching her shoulders made Teiluj's skin crawl. "You know little bird, my Kinfa have eggs in the nest up there." Teiluj shivered and blushed as the earthling spoke in her ear. "I would love to give you one."

Repulsed Teiluj tried to pull away from the earthling. Her eyes turned towards the nest as he spoke. "And it would be simple. After all a tainted soul like yourself must know a few tricks." The hybrid jerked as she tried to get away from the man. Only to be spun around so that she was facing him. She watched his eyes scan her over. Before her knee reflexively came up to meet him.

Giving a yell out, the fledgling Kinfa was the first to arrive with squawks and barred talons. Igniting the two resting Kinfa in the trees above into a frenzy. Teiluj screamed again as she threw her hands over her head, breaking free of the taller earthling. Squatting down to protect herself as the two adult kinfa swooped down upon the scene. Joining Starline in an attack.

Teiluj scooted back out of the way fearfully. Just what was going on? Weren't these Kinfa his own? Why would they attack their own tamer? The way the kinfa attacked was not something Teiluj had become used to seeing. The blood was something she was supposed to be used to seeing. But it wasn't. Watching people hurting only hurt her as well, she really didn't like to see anyone suffer.

"Stop!" Teiluj yelled though there seemed to be no reaction to her call from the larger ones. Starline however did seem to back off and take to the air. Her heart beat quickened when the two larger Kinfa's eyes settled on her. Another screech and it was aiming for her.

A loud commanding voice in the distance stopped the Kinfa before it's talons could rip into Teiluj's skin. Looking up Teiluj's eyes fell upon another half breed. Wind and shifter from what Teiluj could tell.

"I was waiting for him to try something stupid here." The girl walked forward and extended her hand to Teiluj. "Don't worry it's okay. I'm Purie, this is my home. He probably had you thinking it was his. He's a thief, and has been causing me alot of problems as of late." Reaching up she stroked the side of the second kinfa as it hovered over the earthlings prone body.

"You're..."

"Yeah, I'm a mixed blooded earthling." Purie shrugged as if understanding what it was Teiluj wanted to say. "These are my Kinfa. I noticed yours a while back. What interesting colors. You don't often see that kind of melanoid coloring. May I?" Purie extended her hand out to the fledgling as if asking for permission to inspect it.

"Ah! well she doesn't like her wings touched." Teiluj cautioned as Purie approached and plucked up the wary Kinfa.

"Oh that's alright, probably because she is that. A she. Her beak is a little on the frail side though. Have you been giving her much in the way of Calcium?"

The prentice only opened and closed her mouth in surprise. Not only was this girl like her but she was devastating and friendly at the same time. To top it off she had great knowledge of the Kinfa and was the true tamer of the larger ones. She watched as Purie continued to inspect Starline. Coaxing the bird gently when she seemed like she was going to bite. Eventually producing a treat for the fledgling before putting Starline back on the ground. Holding out a fistful of feathers.

"She's been raised away from other Kinfa hasn't she?" Purie questioned dumping the feathers on the ground. "It shows. She's not good at cleaning her feathers and isn't as good at flying as she could be at her stage of growth." Purie turned to give her hand to Teiluj. "You look like you come from the Alkidike tribes in Jauhar... did you happen to hatch the Kinfa?"

Teiluj nodded with a blush. She was both embarrassed that she was so easily detected and that she hadn't been taking as much care of Starline as she had first thought. "Starline is the only Kinfa I've seen. I got her as an egg. But I don't know much about these guys. Traders don't want to give me information and my mother said it's up to me to raise her properly. That's why I came here to tale! I want to know how to raise and train her properly."

Purie seemed to digest the information rubbing the side of her nose in thought. "Well for an alkidike mix like you, and never having seen a Kinfa before. You did pretty good for a novice." Purie complimented trying to offset the despair that had crept into Teiluj's voice after she had been told about how she had failed. "If you want you can stay with me a few days, I'll need help hiding this mans body before his friends figure it out that hes vanished and come looking for me."

Teiluj gave a puzzled look before Purie continued. "I'm sure you know what it's like. Deaths are always blamed on the 'unpure' and murder is forbidden. Even for a creeper like him." Teiluj watched as Purie spit distastefully at the pureblooded earthling.

The two stood in silence for what felt like hours to Teiluj before Purie seemed to perk up. Moving towards Teiluj she grabbed her hands and held on. "Oh I know, why don't you stay for a little bit! You're Kinfa could do with some time with it's own. It might help it learn better and give it time to build up on that beak of hers. And maybe you could help me. I've got a few eggs that are fertile I don't know what to do with them. Usually I use their eggs as food. It's been a bit harder to do that since the male joined the flock though."

Purie giggled at Teiluj's blushing. "You're really cute you know. So what do you say?"

Teiluj nodded.

"Great! Spend some time here and once you're Kinfa's able to fly a little better and I've taught you about their care I'll send you off with a few Kinfa eggs to go back home with."


((OMG I'm finally done this beast of a solo. Word count: 2796))

rp

[Jauhar] Falling for it all (Nkole//Teiluj)

Teiluj pulled the book off the shelf and scowled in concentration as she leafed through it. On the one hand, she wondered if she weren't being a little short-sighted in thinking that finding some kind of answer as to why Nkole couldn't regain his memory might help. On the other hand, it might exacerbate the situation, too, given that there wouldn't be any way of reversing whatever caused it. Still maybe it would be Aisha's way of telling her she should take up the scholars path.

Wandering away from the shelf with the book as she continued to leaf through the pages Teiluj yawned. She had been up and down with sleepless nights full of worry. All because the healers in the area had refused to help her when she needed them. What if they refused others who also needed help? It didn't feel right.

Today was the day Maya had insisted that Teiluj make her choice. The choice that would set her path for the rest of her life. The job she was going to be. There was no avoiding it, no getting around it, she couldn't even pretend she was sick. Her mother would have seen through the guise in an instant. A deep breath of air filled her lungs as she tried to concentrate. Pulling a chair away from the table the Prentice glanced up to the weapons splayed out over the smooth surface. Twin swords, a spear, a hammer, and various other physical materials meant for fighting. Teiluj cringed at the thought of picking any of them up and using them against people. It may be the way of the Alkidikes, the way of her mother. But it wasn't her way, she couldn't fathom the thought of intentionally hurting anyone. Certainly not killing them.

Sitting down Teiluj placed the open book on the table. She had picked it up in the market a few days ago. Along with the prospect of finding a teacher to instruct her along the way. It had been the same healer who had come to help before, but had refused to actually help. Guilt must have been plaguing the individual because as soon as she had seen Teiluj she had apologized for taking such a huge payment and doing nothing. So she had offered to help train Teiluj in how to become a healer, after seeing the mixed bloods determination. She had even wanted to return the egg she had been paid, but couldn't as the egg had already been passed onto another Alkidike. One with strange markings that didn't match the rest.

The rune marking the cover of the book shimmered in the light. Pulling Teiluj's attention, running her finger along the rune Teiluj noticed it didn't quite feel like the rest of the cover. Opening the first page there was a name scrawled in dark ink. She squinted trying to read the name, unsure if the smaller letters under it were directions on how to find this person or just nonsense made to confuse her. Teiluj pulled a face before closing the book with a snap and turning back to the other weapons. Inspecting them over and over, her mind constantly returning to the book. Running her fingers along the edge of the twin swords. There again the same writing was marked on the hilt of the blades.

Inspecting it closer Teiluj saw her mothers name. Odd. It was the same with several other weapons before her. Searching the hammer Teiluj found a different name. Sitting back as her eyes once again turned to the book Teiluj opened the cover again. Running her finger over the fine print. What if the name and directions were not only to this person. What if this person was someone who could teach her in the class she chose.

It was so like her mother to be crafty and underhanded like this. But it would break her mothers heart if she actually found out Teiluj had put the pieces together. So she would have to play the part, either way finding a teacher would be nice. Perhaps she would be able to find a better way to restore Nkoles memory. She owed him that at least.

Teiluj squinted at the directions. East into the forest, follow a path of blue mushrooms until you reach the place. "That infamous 'place' that's not vague at all," Teiluj muttered, standing up to move away from the room she was currently occupying. The house was silent as usual, everyone else must likely be asleep were the first thoughts in her mind. Then again her mother was likely to be out somewhere, shopping or hunting most likely. Glancing back at the weapons made her pause. No, she was probably in the location recorded on the item. But that wasn't where she was going, that wasn't her path to take. Even if she had Alkidike blood coursing through her there was still earthling blood too.

Walking down the steps of the home towards the forest Teiluj paused. She had to find a trail of blue mushrooms. What kind of mushrooms? There were so many blue ones in jauhar. At first Teiluj had wondered if it was the small blue and yellow spotted ones, but after following them for an hour she came to conclusion that was not the correct answer as the trail seemed to morph into yellow and orange mushrooms. Determined to find her answer Teiluj backtracked to the beginning. This time searching for a larger mushroom, settling on the ones that clung to the sides of the trees instead.

Once again Teiluj followed that for a time before the forest grew darker and strange flecks of light danced in the distance like water. Her heart thundered with the warning. She knew the silence of the forest and the sparkle of light to mean one thing. Menzuri. She wasn't going to travel any further down that path. Though there was a strange shift of a figure in the distance she wasn't brave enough to dare moving forward to investigate. No way. Teiluj turned on her heals and broke into a sprint. The sun was already mid way through the sky when she returned to the start.

Was this some horrible test? To see how badly she wanted to be a healer? To see if her resolve would break and she would take the easier path towards being a warrior? Teiluj gritted her teeth, she wasn't going to break that easy. Her eyes landing on a set of tiny mushrooms no bitter than her baby toe and the young woman knew these had to be them. How had she missed them before? Normally she could tell when something was out of place but not this time.

Something didn't feel right. What if the teacher who was waiting for her was only there for a small window of opportunity? Starting out at a brisk run as she followed the mushroom's Teiluj soon found herself spurred on by an urgency that stemmed from a nameless fear. And unspoken dread that clouded her heart. Was there only a limited time that Teiluj would have to show her desire to become a healer? Doubling over as Teiluj reached a large lake she tried to control her breathing but it was hard. There was a stitch in her side and a horrible ache in her lungs. Staring up at the large branch that overhung the lake Teiluj called out.

"I'm here! Please, teach me how to become a healer!"

((1200 words))

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