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"I want to prove that to them as well. Some are open to the idea, those like Jerarda, Yansa, and Eshe, others are a bit more hardheaded them them, those that want to cling to the old ways. With all I have seen thus far I would much rather we open our arms and our hearts to the other tribes, surely that must be better then warring with them." He murmured, then flushed a little, his antennae laying against his head for a moment, looking as though the words he'd said were a little embarrassing. It was embarrassment that was only heightened as Gerraden spoke of how he couldn't abandon his family despite seemingly wanting to do anything that Rishima asked of him, seeming willing to follow him to the ends of the world, which was confusing.

Giving his shoulder a squeeze he said, "You shouldn't abandoned your family, especially not follow the word of someone that you just met." He told him, then flushed, looking away, and said, "Even if I kinda did something about the same as that when I was younger..." Turning his mismatched silver eyes back to Gerr he gave him a smile.

"How I made my decision? It was... hard and heart breaking in a way, I had hoped maybe one day I might be able to go out in search of my father, someone who went missing when I was still a little lotus. No luck though in that department... but I stand by my choice to stay with the tribe. Yansa seemed to understand my heart being torn by my desire to become Alkidike but not turn against the other half of my bloodline." He explained, it was likely the hardest thing he'd ever done, "I was pretty certain that she was going to tell me to pack my bags and be on my way, instead she did quite the opposite." It had been a rather strange day.

Giving him a smile he said, "But everyone is different, as are the choices they have to make and the challenges they must overcome. I am sure you will have hurdles of your own to get over but I can assure you that you can do it." He told him before giving a laugh, "Listen to me, sounding like such an old man all of a sudden. Given that you are still a prentice you should rush your decision. I am sure if you sit down and give it thought that what you want to do will come to you."

A squeak of surprise escaped from Rishima's lips as he found himself suddenly wrapped up in a hug from Gerraden, starring at him for a long moment, his antennae giving a twitch. He seemed to be a rather friendly guy, didn't he? He supposed that wasn't such a bad thing, being affectionate would help him in making friends... though he would need to be careful as he could see him getting decked were he to try to hug Jerarda. Giving a bit of a laugh he said, "I should warn you when it comes to giving out hugs amongst our sisters, I would hate for one of them to take it the wrong way and relatliate." He said, lifting his free arm up to wrap it around Gerraden, returning the hug, then patted the prentice on his back. He really was a friendly thing, wasn't he?

When Gerraden started to speak, telling him that he agreed with what Rishima had said, that he would do anything in his power to show that he was strong, he'd train and fight, and one day talk to the great tree. He gave a nod, "Communing with the Mother Tree, it really is something. I hope you are able to visit her one day." He said, glad to see that Gerraden was taking everything seriously now and very glad to hear that he was willing to prepare himself first before he went charging forth to where Aisha was growing.

Overjoyed to have run into him? That was a very different reaction from some he'd gotten in the past he thought to himself before giving a smile, "Well, I am glad that we were able to meet as well." It was the first time that he'd met with another with Alkidike blood in their veins who was also male, it was quite the interesting meeting and it gave him great relief to know that he wasn't the only one like himself in the world. The problem being that Gerraden was likely to go back to the Shifters so he might not be able to meet with him as easily as he did Jerarda. Sure, the guy made it seem like he was going to follow him forever but who knew if that were going to actually be so.

"Fate, huh? That sounds nice." A fated friend? That sounded really nice, though he knew that if that were so then Jerarda had been a fated friend as well. He really did need to find her he thought to himself... a moment before he was being invited back to Gerraden's home. He blinked his mismatched eyes a couple times then seemed to be thinking on it, "Ahhh... hm... well, no reason not to at least walk back with you." He said after a time, it meant that he would be able to see where Gerraden lived, see what his parents were like, as well as keep Gerraden going in the right direction, which was away from the Chibale Isles until the prentice was enter prepared for it, "Alright, we will walk you back home, then I will need to return to searching for my sister."

Rishi starred down at the hand that was offered to him, a confused sort of look appearing on his features, "Ummm..." He really didn't need to hold his hand, he didn't mean to get lost he thought to himself before reaching out to take it hesitantly. Seemed odd, having to hold the other man's hand, but maybe he meant to rush home? As they started though it seemed to be a leisurely enough pace which confused him all that much more as to why exactly Gerraden wanted to hold hands with him. Maybe it was a Shifter thing? Or something that Gerraden's family did? Whatever the reason it was lost on Rishima though he allowed it for the moment.

"Talk about Jerarda? Sure." He said, antennae giving a happy twitch when it seemed as though Gerraden was wanting to talk about Jerarda, "She is my most special and amazing sister, you see, and I can see her as becoming a very important Alkidike one day! She is strong enough after all." He told Gerraden in a happy manner, as though he were proud of the fact that he knew Jerarda and that she would becoming someone amazing, "She was the one that helped me to step into the world you see, my mother was... well, is, a bit over protective of me. She'd of rather I stayed home then ever left our home to explore the world on my own. I didn't want that though, I wanted more, to stretch my legs, and Jerarda helped me to do that." It was something that he was grateful for, were it not for her intervention who knew where he might be today.

Turning to look over at Gerraden he gave him a bright smile, "I hope that you two can meet one day soon." He hoped that they got along too, that would be nice. To have his 'fated friends' meet, it would be wonderful if you asked him!

When Gerraden said that he hoped he would be able to meet with Jerarda it made Rishima quite happy, his antennae twitching like crazy. There was nothing that could have made him happier then that answer. Gerraden seemed to be a rather nice, friendly guy, wasn't he? Pretty clingy too, but that could be due to the fact that he seemed loathe to let Rishima go at the moment. While he should probably be looking for Jerarda at the moment instead of following Gerraden to his village it was hard to refuse him, he was just... far too upbeat. He didn't want to say something that might cause that happy look he had on his face to crumble. No reason not to walk him home if meant preserving that happiness, it was something unlike what he was used to, a lot of people he was used to dealing with being a bit more gruff when it came to Rishima. While he felt there were those that he was starting to turn to his side he also knew there were some that were more difficult to deal with even now because of his mix blood. Still, he'd do his best.

As they reached the village he gave it a once over, then looked over at Gerraden as he spoke, realizing that his family seemed to have it a bit rough. He wondered if it would have been the same for his own family if his father hadn't disappeared. Perhaps... though at the same time his mother was a powerful, well loved warrior. Maybe she would have been able to make them see the light about things? It was debatable since he was looked down upon despite being her son, seen as her 'youthful indiscretion' but that was neither here nor there was it? What was the most curious about the current situation was that despite everything, all of the problems his family seemed to have, Gerraden was still so... happy. He really was an interesting one Rishima thought to himself.

"Well, I look forward to meeting them." He wasn't sure what they might think of him, coming here dressed and armed as he was, but hopefully they wouldn't see him as a threat. The last thing he wanted was to appear as though he was here for a reason that involved violence when he was only bringing Gerraden home, "Perhaps we shouldn't hold hands walking into your house though, they might get the wrong idea." He suggested, oblivious to the fact that it was likely the exact idea that Gerraden wanted to get across.

Rishima flexed his hand when Gerraden released it, finding the way that the other was clinging to him to be cute enough but he didn't want to cause him any trouble. Given how he looked, how he dressed, the weapon he carried, he doubted he would be all that welcome in this place. As such it was best that he got the young man home safely then he would be on his way. As for meeting his parents... well, that was debatable how it might go. To say that he was nervous was an understatement. Not to mention that it felt odd... why was he so nervous? He was going to meet the parents of a friend, that was all. Maybe it was due to how hands on and friendly the guy was, it had just gotten him all mixed up.

When Gerr went on about how Rishima would love his parents he gave a nod of his head, though he wouldn't know for sure until he met them. The idea of his mother being seen as being intimidating made sense, his own mother was the same way, all Alkidike women could be from what he'd seen. He gave Gerr a smile and said, "I will do my best to answer her questions." He said, giving a squeak when he found himself once more captured by Gerr and pulled along. He opened his mouth to protest... then just sighed and gave up. Somehow he would wager that no matter how many times he asked to be freed that Gerr was going to just recapture his hand once more in the end.

Rishima spotted the house that they were going to, took in how it was set apart from the others, and he found himself growing that much more nervous. This was so odd... why did he feel as though he were being dragged toward certain death instead of just an introduction? Where was Jera when he needed her most? He had nothing against Gerraden, he was just nervous over this meeting he supposed. It was the first time he'd be meeting a family that was somehow like his own... minus of course a Shifter Father, his having gone missing.

Rishima found himself unable to protest as Gerraden clung to his hand and dragged him along toward his house, bursting into the house, seeming to disrupt everything that was going on. He looked between the two older people in the house before he flushed a little, wanting to do or say something, but wasn't quite sure what was appropriate at the moment. He found that he really didn't have to say much though as his mother spoke up, talking about how it was a pleasant surprise that he'd brought company. That he wasn't being sent away, that was a good sign that it was alright that he was visiting.

He found Gerraden introducing him to them saying that Rishima was going to be... something. He wasn't quite sure what it was that Gerr wanted him to be, because his father was suddenly declaring rather loudly that he was going to be staying for dinner. His antennae set to twitching for a moment before he looked between the three family members and said, "Ahh, thank you for the invitation." He didn't think it would be too bad to take a short break for dinner, right? He could have dinner here, then he would return to looking for his sister he thought to himself, giving a smile and relaxing now that he had a plan in mind.

Turning to look away from Gerraden's father to look at his mother who was speaking to him now he gave a happy smile, antennae twitching that much more, "It is nice to meet you as well, Sister. I would be glad to speak with you at length since your family is being kind enough to invite me over for a meal." He said to her, smiling happily. This was going a lot better then he'd expecting, something that had him perked up greatly.