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 Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 12:46 pm
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 12:48 pm
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 12:49 pm
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Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 1:30 pm
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Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 1:31 pm
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 11:27 am
Jealousy
Tahigwa's legs couldn't carry her as fast as she would have liked them to due to the tears streaming down her face. Obstacles that were usually easy to avoid were suddenly difficult to see and navigate, her eyes were starting to burn, and soon, she would need to find a space to calm down. She never liked to cry, her emotions were things she kept locked up inside until she felt comfortable, they were almost, in a way, taboo to even think about. But, today, Yaholo had struck a good, strong nerve within her, and she had no time to fuss over where she would cry. It had to be done somewhere, and it had to be done quickly.
She found a small alcove underneath a tree and let out a frustrated shriek. How dare he call her irresponsible! How dare he say she was immature! She was so much more than him! She was an Alkidike, a pure one, and she was better than him! ...Oh, who was she kidding? He was her brother, an Alkidike just like she was, she couldn't let her anger get in the way of that! How could she think he was any less than her? He loved her, he protected her, why would she want to curse him for speaking the truth?
She knew she wasn't the most responsible girl in Andile, she couldn't care much for anything about her home village, much less her entire tribe. Her head leaned up against the trunk of the tree as her thoughts rolled on, her arms clutching her legs firmly against her chest. Yeah, she knew she lacked the spirit, the drive, the energy. She couldn't be bothered, she didn't care, it wasn't within her. But, it was within him, wasn't it? This spirit... She couldn't quite wrap her head around it yet, even after all this time. Why did he want to waste his time in Andile? No one appreciated him, except for his family, what was there to gain in all this?
Again she found herself in the spiral, the ever revolving tunnel of ideas and thoughts that caught her whenever she was at her weakest point. Black eyes gazed downwards while her hands drifted towards a fallen leaf, it's deep red color catching her attention for a brief moment. It reminded her of her brother's skin, how dark it was, and how it made him stick out like a sore thumb. Her mouth curved into a soft smile, before the leaf was tucked away for safe keeping, and her mind drifted back to her laments. She loved her brother, no, she adored her brother. She idolized her brother, she wanted to be just like her brother. Strong, resilient, humored, friendly, capable... But just how, just how... How was she going to accomplish this?
With a grunt, she stood once more, and kicked the brush under her feet. Her green-blue skin, her markings... They were such an eyesore to her. She wished she could paint herself another color, preferably Yaholo's color, and be just like him. Again, she sat, and curled her knees to her chest. All of this... Why? Why did it have to happen so suddenly? She was growing up so suddenly, when had all of this started? When she turned fourteen? When she met Yaholo? How could her views get so twisted so quickly? Was she truly that impressionable?
Her eyes drifted away once more and hovered towards where she had come from, before lingering back to her knees. It was a shame that part of her hated who she was as much as she did. Her jealousy was always there, even when she was smiling, reminding her of what she could not accomplish no matter what she tried. No amount of running away, beating up, or screaming could ever make this futile dream come true. She wanted to wield a weapon that was from her brother's tribe, an Earthling weapon. It was forbidden to her, as she wasn't a hybrid, like her brother, but still, the idea lingered on. It was murder to watch him, every day with that weapon, his pride, his accomplishments, they were just too much for her. Sure, she was proud of him, sure, she wanted him to succeed and feel proud that he had succeeded, but now she wanted what he had... She wanted...
The tears started up again while her mind raged relentlessly onward, beating her heart and soul into submission. Oh, how she wished she had been born his twin, so maybe she could choose a different path, and end up more like him and his sister in the end. Her feelings were perplexing and contusing. Why hadn't she been born on the other side of the trees, with her desert sister and her dear brother? Why couldn't she have been a child of Cusick, too? Curse that animal who ripped her mother's leg off! Curse whoever stole her brother from Aisha and sent him away! Curse the illness that plagued her mother and sent fear through everyone's spines! Curses, curses, curses to all!
Maybe she wasn't completely right in the head, after all, there was talk of war, and war... War could numb even the bravest of souls. Surely she was only shifting within the grasp of the current of energy that flowed around her and her thoughts were merely just pops and squeaks that hinted at nothing more than fear of the unknown. But what if... What if... It was all she could think. What if she had the choice to choose an Earthling weapon? What if she could be just like her brother and stand with him like she wished she could? A dull breeze would often tell her the opposite, to be herself and choose one of the three weapons that her Sisters were told to use. But what if... What if she wasn't that firm in her Sisterhood? Was she truly herself if she chose a weapon that she felt would not suit her?
She wanted to be more like her brother, who seemed to only want to be more like her, a terrible sort of puzzle that sent Tahigwa into near nausea. If she became more like him, would he become too much like the old her, which would then make her the exact opposite of him again? If so, then no matter what she tried, she would always end up on the opposite side of the spectrum. She could never be like him, from her head to her feet, all the way down to the paths they were allowed to choose. With an agonized sigh, she was, at last, defeated. Her confidence had taken a blow, her heart broken as well, but none of this done by her brother himself. It was his strength in his differences that shattered her soul, removed her confidence, and kept her from reaching too high.
The walk back home to Andile was, unfortunately, easily accomplished, and it was no easier to look into the eyes of her older brother as she wandered back into the house. She was emotionally drained and didn't want to spend time with her family for the rest of the night. It was best that neither Pahana nor Yaholo saw her reddened eyes or tear strained cheeks. She didn't want them thinking anything less of her, or that she may have been upset in the first place. Besides, she would be fine in the morning, and everything would return to normal. Yaholo would go back to being all buddy-buddy and he wouldn't get angry at her ever again.
She knew that was a lie, a gentle, comforting, and well conditioned lie, but it was a lie she would not so soon let go of. Not without a fight.
(Word count: 1303)
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 11:29 am
One In The Same
It all began with a routine run through the forests. Tahigwa was letting go of her excess stress and steam by darting through the forest at a speed that would force her to dodge obstacles with expert precision. It may seem stressful for others to do such a thing, but it was her way of waking herself up from her mental stupors. A little adrenaline was good for the mind, body, and soul, that's what her mother and aunt had always told her.
While barreling over the stumps and rocks in her path, she couldn't help but feel a pair of eyes upon her back. She paused just a moment, her eyes scanning her surroundings, before taking a leap forward. Perhaps it was just her imagination, or her own paranoia, she reasoned. No one was there, just keep running.
"Maybe this time you can get all the way to the edge of Jauhar without Yaholo or Arjeta dragging you home..." She pondered, the world flashing by as she ran. How she longed to travel to Tale and meet with Yaholo's family... How she longed to know what everything was like out there... The tournament had opened her eyes to so much and she wanted more! More sights, more sounds, more new experiences! All she needed to do was make it to the edge of Jauhar and sprint through the desert, just sprint until she could sprint no more!
Around the bend she went, her hair flying behind her. The eyes upon the back of her head still lingered, but no longer felt menacing. They followed her for miles and miles, until Tahigwa could no longer breathe. There, she knelt, her hand cupping the bits of sand that had blown in from Tale, and took a deep breath in. She was close, very close, she could feel it in her bones.
"I'loush dei Tule... Sua'ka?"
Tahigwa's head whipped back around and came face to face with, what at first, appeared to be another Alkidike sister. She prepared her usual grimace, until the woman's lack of antennae struck her as odd. Her eyes were also brown, and her hair... It wasn't dreaded. However, she was sporting paint that gave her the appearance of an Alkidike warrior, and the paint job was very well done. Maybe she was a spy from another tribe? ... Cool!
"I'm sorry, I don't understand you, Sister..." She replied. "Are you feeling alright?"
The "impostor" smiled as she was addressed and bent down next to Tahigwa, before taking a seat in front of her. It was clear by her relaxed posture that she was comfortable, and not at all intimidated by Tahigwa.
"I apologize, Sister, I often forget our common tongue." She said. "I was asking whether or not you were traveling to Tale. You were running awfully fast and I couldn't help but ponder why you would stop just to analyze the sand."
Tahigwa peered curiously at the woman as she spoke. Their common tongue? Did she mean to say that what they were speaking right now was the language that only true Daughters of Aisha spoke? She wanted to laugh at how silly this woman was, painted like an Alkidike! Was she crazy?
"Well, yes, I am going to Tale." She replied, smirking. "But, I know for a fact, now, that you are an Earthling. Why are you posing as one of my Sisters when you are not?"
The woman rolled her eyes and blew her bangs out of her eyes, revealing pale skin underneath the paint she was wearing. She gave Tahigwa an amused look and held out her hands.
"Look at my hands," She began. "Without the paint, they are pale like the Wind tribe, which is where people say I belong. But, they fail to realize that if we each held out our hands and compared them, we would find that we are all the same. My hands are shaped like yours and can accomplish the same things as you, but yet we are separated by racism and old traditions that dictate who we are."
Then, she placed her hands back at her sides and sighed.
"N'yo et m'ya, Ey et n'yo." She said. "You are me, I am you. It's that simple, really."
Tahigwa leaned back as the woman's words sank in. The more and more she repeated the sentences, the more and more they made sense. This woman was right, they were more alike than they were different! Just like she and Yaholo and Pahana, they were all the same, despite looking different. Each race can accomplish the same things as the others around them, they could all live in harmony... But they refuse because of lingering customs that forbid them from mingling.
This woman was preaching everything that Tahigwa had always believed in, but never had enough courage to say.
"Exactly! I'm with you!" She cried, squealing. "My older brother and his sister are examples of what you just said! They are wonderful people and they can accomplish just as much as I can! When will everyone else realize this!?"
"You're not alone, Sister!" The woman squealed, emulating Tahigwa perfectly. "It will likely take a long time for the others to catch up with us, as we are ahead of our time, so to speak. But there are more of us out there!"
She paused, taking Tahigwa's hands, and took a breath.
"Allow me to escort you into Tale where you can meet the others, and we can train together!" She said. "I promise you that I mean you no harm and we will be safe and sound whist we travel around the world. It will be an adventure! Will you come with me, Sister?"
"Tahigwa, please call me Tahigwa!" Tahigwa exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. Adventure, travel, training without the eyes of her sisters following her around! Maybe this woman could teach her how to use and Earthling weapon! The thought of that sent chills up Tahigwa's spine!
"I will go with you to Tale!" She finally said. "As long as we can stop in Yera for just a little while. My brother's family lives there and I would like to meet them."
The woman seemed equally as excited when Tahigwa agreed to travel with her and quickly dragged the other girl to her feet, before racing off with her.
"Then we'd better hurry! I left my partner waiting right outside of Yera!" She exclaimed. "Let's go, Tahigwa! Before it gets dark!"
"Alright!" Tahigwa cried, racing after the woman. "I can't wait to meet everyone, Sister!"
"Kreeya! The name's Kreeya!" The woman replied, just as they reached the sands of Tale.
(Word count: 1113)
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 11:30 am
Roots
So, she had finally done it, she had run away from home! Tahigwa was on an adventure and didn't have anyone to answer to, espescially her Sisters back home in Andile. While she wasn't completely alone, she did have the company of Kreeya, her partner Armaroq, and a half-breed called Ogbonna, it was liberating. No more annoying Sisters! No more group meetings! No more lectures about proper Alkidike behavior! She was free! Free!
The sands of Tale became her pillow for the night, but there was no sleep to be had. Armaroq weaved tales by the fire while Kreeya laughed and played games with Ogbonna. Tahigwa admired how motherly Kreeya was, but still easily humored by the smallest of jokes. Armaroq, while smaller than Yaholo, reminded her of how gentle her brother could be. And Ogbonna, well, he was both wise and oblivious, if that sort of idea could exist. Such wonderful people coexisting... Why couldn't everyone else see the beauty in this sort of relationship?
Tea was presented in the morning before breakfast was discussed. Armaroq was apparently a master cook and an excellent hunter, even if little food was available, as he proclaimed the hour he slipped and fell while trying to snare a wild Scorra. Laughter ensued, naturally, even after Kreeya used her sword to slay the beast herself. Tahigwa found herself wishing she could wield a sword of that power, a sword of strength and honor. Kreeya seemed to hold that sword with pride and duty, even while striking down an irate, feathered, breakfast. It was a lovely piece of work as well, intricately carved and colored, with tassels, beads, and ribbons dangling from it's handle. And, if you squinted your eyes just enough, the carvings seemed to spell out a message, though in a language Tahigwa couldn't understand.
"Ne'vra u'n'rema n'yo ra'as'ats"
It wasn't until later on in the afternoon that Tahigwa had the chance to ask Kreeya what the carvings upon her sword meant. The elder girl's face softened and peered at her sword in a sorrowful manner, before she moved to sit down upon the ground.
"Never forget your roots." Kreeya explained. "It's a message to me from my father, who I haven't seen in a very long time. This sword is my most prized possession because it's all I have left of the man who raised me and my siblings singlehandedly while my mother abandoned us. While I may not speak to most of my siblings anymore, I still value my father and I keep this sword because of all that he has taught me."
Then, she paused, and ran her fingers across the carvings.
"N'yo et m'ay p're'cois ea'nfeant, la'an la'an la'an la'an..." She whispered. "You are my precious baby, la la la la... Words that I wish I could hear again..."
The area between them grew quiet, before Kreeya sheathed her sword and took Tahigwa by the hand. They were traveling to Sauti next, where Kreeya was born, and Tahigwa had no further questions. However, what Kreeya had told her had unsettled her, even if it were only slight. Then a strange, unfamiliar feeling waved over her as they crossed the boarder...
Guilt.
(Word count: 534)
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 9:49 pm
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Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 5:48 pm
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Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 6:56 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 6:01 pm
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Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 12:46 pm
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Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 6:59 pm
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Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 4:10 pm
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