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 Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 8:24 pm
~Table of Contents~
Page Two
I. Table of Contents
II. ~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~ ~"Visions of What Could Be"~ ~Reasons for Choosing the Civilian Path~
III. ~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~ ~"Even Weeds Need Love I Guess"~ ~A Profession Learning Requirement~
IV. ~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~ ~"Sowing Seeds"~ ~A Profession Master Teaching Requirement~
V. ~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~ ~"I Guess That's Part of Growing Up"~ ~A Profession Learning Requirement~
VI. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"A New Friend"~ ~A Solo RP~
VII. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Grownup Words"~ ~A Solo RP~
VIII. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Girls Can Tinker Too!"~ ~A Solo RP~
IX. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Growing Up: Part 1"~ ~A Solo RP~
X. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Growing Up: Part 2"~ ~A Solo RP~
XI. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Growing Up: Fin"~ ~A Solo RP~
XII. ~Reflections of the Past~ ~Farmers Unite!~ ~An RP Journal Reflection~
XIII. ~Reflections of the Past~ ~Knowledge is Power!~ ~An RP Journal Reflection~
XIV. ~Reflections of the Past~ ~Razing Farms~ ~An RP Journal Reflection~
XV. ~Reflections of the Past~ ~Giant Spiders~ ~An RP Journal Reflection~
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Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 8:17 pm
~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~
~"Visions of What Could Be"~
~Reasons for Choosing the Civilian Path~ Avani sat on the wagon seat with her papa next to her on one side, her mama on the other. They were going out to examine the fields before the first forst set in. The fields had been laid to fallow many years ago when the farm was left by the previous owners. The house, their new farmhouse, was in decent condition. Papa said that it would take time to fix it, but it would do.
At least it didn’t leak when it rained.
Avani’s Papa stopped the wagon and looked out on the fields.
“That’s our land Maiika girl.” He said reverently.
Avani watched her mother smile warmly at her father. She also watched as her mother took her father’s hand as she reached across Avani.
Avani looked back and forth between her parents, then out at the fields. She saw it in her mind what it would look like this spring, freshly plowed and all three of them in the field sowing the first seeds. She then saw the green sprouts shooting from the ground after hard work and love poured into the soil. She saw the summer and it’s plants growing taller, and then she saw the fall harvest and dealings with buys for their food.
It made her happy to see these things in her mind and heart, warm and comforted. She wanted grow things… Much like in the stories that Granny Gailia had told around the family fire.
But farming was hard, and many times she had seen her father, sometimes her mother too, come in from the fields tired and sore. Granny Gailia, though fighting to go out and help even when she was confined to bed, would tell Avani that the hard work was worth it. That growing something was giving life to the world. That anyone, Orderiret, Oblivionite, Dovaa, and even Drakin must give back somehow to the land that nurtured them.
Her granny was right. The land allowed many things to grow and be nurtured. Weather that was for food, wool and other things for clothes, or wood and metal for houses to live in. Even other things used things from nature to survive.
Avani knew what she wanted to do. There was no doubt as to why she would forgo the way of the warrior. She wanted to help give life to the world instead of death. If giving life meant that she had to work just as hard on a farm as on a battlefield then so be it.
She was now more resolved to help her parents here on their farm. To make it grow and survive the harsh weather and terrain. But to make it easier for her parents and for her children she would love to help make something, some kind of machine to help her family gain more product with ease.
She looked at her parents once more and then back out to the fields again. She then understood the looks on her parent’s faces and the meaning of her father’s words. Yes, she would do all she could to be a good farmer, and also to help her parents. If they could put their faith in the land, then she would too.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words: 538
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Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 8:34 pm
~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~
~"Even Weeds Need Love I Guess"~
~A Profession Learning Requirement~ Plop!
Avani cringed as she fell backwards onto the ground.
She looked at the weed that she had been pulling, the stupid thing. It had been harder to pull out than any of the others. She placed it with care into the basket she had brought along to the south field. Granny said to be gentle with weeds because if just thrown about, their seeds would scatter, and that would just cause more work later.
Avani sat up and looked around her. She, her parents, and the field hands they had gotten for the time being were readying the field for the spring planting. Granny had always said the more hands you had working, the faster you would get done. Avani looked over the field and saw that they were far from done.
She sighed, whipped her brow and was glad that she had gloves on. She wouldn’t have to worry about rubbing that awful smelling salve on them tonight at least. She got up from the ground and decided to take a break; her basket was full of weeds anyway.
Avani struggled with the full basket, heading over to the burn pile. She had it plucked from her by one of the work hands. He smiled down at her, and she smiled back and said her thanks, then headed over to the shade tent to rest a bit. It was hard work setting up a ranch!
After her break, she went back to work, picking up an empty basket and going over the cleared sections. She gathered the weeds that had dropped from other’s baskets, trying to get all the plants so they could not sprout seeds. There would be weeds of course, so was the nature of any plant life, but she could do her best too stop more than the usual amount.
Soon the planting would start, and the real work would begin. Avani looked about for more stray weeds, and upon seeing none, she went and started on pulling up the ones she had left before her break.
Despite being cold, Avani was working up a sweat again. She remembered the stories Granny had told about when she had to start work on the old farm. It was just as hard Avani thought it would be from Granny’s description. She sighed again. She would rather be running around looking for something fun to do, but she wanted to help Papa get this field ready. He already had promised to give her a little patch of ground near the house for a small garden of her own like Mama would have.
The thought of her own patch of land spurred her to getting this land ready for Papa’s own crop.
“A little soil, sun, water, and love Avani.” Her granny would say, “That’s all a living plant needs.”
Avani smiled, and felt warmer. Her granny was right. All living things needed to be loved to grow up strong.
She then eyed the weeds that had given her so much trouble.
“They must have been loved a whole lot then...” She muttered.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words: 514
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Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 8:43 pm
~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~
~"Sowing Seeds"~
~A Profession Master Teaching Requirement~ “This is how ya do it Avani girl.”
Avani watched as her father placed the wooden rod into the ground and wiggled it into the plowed soil till it reached a certain depth. As he took the rod out of the soil, he then took a few seeds and placed it into the hole he had made. Then he covered it lovingly, and patted the soil on top.
It was the spring planting. The fields had been weeded from it’s fallow state, one that it had been in since well before they had moved here. The soil had been tilled (Avani was forbidden by her mother and father both to go near them since she was small and the Hastars could be hard to handle, and the plow was hard to handle as well), and now the hands were planting the wheat that would be in this field.
While her family was trying both rice and wheat this year to see what would sell better, Avani didn’t mind as long as she was allowed to help out. Though she still wanted to take cooking lessons with Mama, she would make time later after her time in the fields for the day was done.
Avani was dressed in one of her old dresses, with her own bag of seeds and rod of seeds. She was with her father in a far off corner of the field so they wouldn’t bother the other hands as they worked.
“You try now.” Avani’s father said standing back allowing her to stand beside the row they were working. She marked off the space between holes, and dug her rod into the ground. She wiggled it this way and that, and tried to make it like her father’s. Her tongue came between her teeth as she concentrated on how deep it needed to go.
“There ya go.” Papa said, “That’s deep enough.” He took the stick from out of the ground and her hand and said pointing to the dirt marking. “If ya go too deep, it won’t be able to get out of the soil, but if you don’t make it deep enough, the roots won’t take.” He then took a piece of chalk and marked her stick where the soil had reached and said, “This is the right depth Avani girl. If you practice in your own garden, soon you won’t need the mark.” He handed back the stick and smiled brightly at her saying, “You can feel the depth though the stick, and will be able to move as quick as the other hands here on the farm.”
Avani looked out over the field and saw how quickly the hands were working. This was the first season she was allowed to be in the field at the same time, and was rather excited. She had been given some seeds to grow vegetables and vine fruit in her garden. She couldn't wait!
She placed some seeds in the hole her father had help make, and placed the soil over the seeds reverently, hoping it would grow big.
The next morning, Avain got up and did her chores quickly, and then got out her stick and some of the seeds for her own garden. She went out to the small patch of land out by the big tree in front of the house. Avani was particularly proud of this since people could see her garden from the road. She herself had dug the ground up and mixed some of her father’s compost and soil together to get the same mix that Mama had in her garden out back, and the flowerbeds in front of the house. The bed was rather large, but Avani was certain she could fill it with lots of good things she could proudly present Mama with to cook up.
She slung the bag that held her various seed pouches over her head and began practicing what her father had told her about yesterday. She did mess up a bunch, and knew she had a long way to go to be as good as her Papa, but she pushed on, wanting to do the best she could before lunch.
With a little love these plants would be the best in the whole area…. Well, besides Mama and Papa’s of course.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words: 718
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Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 8:45 pm
~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~
~"I Guess That's Part of Growing Up"~
~A Profession Learning Requirement~ It had been a few weeks since Avani had met Shenra the tinker. Even though it had been a strange beginning, the two had become fast friends.
Today Avani was beginning the process of clearing out Shenra’s orchard, though it looked daunting, and she was alone in doing it, Avani was sure she could do it!
Avani’s father, after Shenra had visited Avani’s home, and stayed for dinner one night, took Avani into his study and they talked about the project for a while. They had gone out to the orchard the next day and mapped it out. Her father had given her advice about how to clean it up: Do it in sections. It may take a long while, but she would do best if she did it in sections and took her time about it. He also said that some trees might have to be cut down and replanted, but that was something that could wait till the bramble and brush was cleared. He also said it would have to be Avani who did most of the work as he had no hands to spare during the planting season, and later the harvest.
Avani had agreed wholeheartedly about the lack of work hands, but she didn’t mind, she herself would have been spending most of her free time there anyway. Shenra provided most of the tools, and her father had gifted her with a pair of old hastar hide gloves that still worked. She had also brought an old saw and hacking axe that papa used when he had cleared the thicker bramble from one of the fields.
She had brought Nix along this first day, and she was rounding up the animal families that had made their home in the area. Avani stood at the edge of the first section of the orchard, and stared at it. She would not go home till dinner time today; perhaps not for a while she would be home till time for the evening chores.
“Well,” she thought, “It’s part of growing up I guess.”
She tied back her hair, placed a kerchief on her head, and looked around on where to start. It was fairly simple on where to start; she was working near the road that connected her house and Shenra’s. In fact she was near Shenra’s drive, and could see up and down the road.
As Avani worked, she waved hello to those she knew, and even to those she did not. Nothing said she didn't have to stop being a good neighbor while she worked near the road. She wheeled the brush to the yard of the house when she had a full barrow of dead branches and limbs. She had talked with Shenra on where she had wanted them, and she said she would find some use for them, and to put them near the back door of the house. Avani wondered why the back of the house, and what purpose these things could have, but shrugged it off, and dumped her load off in the prearranged spot, and trotted back to the area she was cleaning.
Besides the branches and rotting fruit, Avani found pieces of junk, probably left by people who were on the property after the previous owners had left. She found bits of earthen jars smashed on the ground, pieces of wood that were probably from a broken wagon, and small treasures like a Hastar’s scale, a few Vlidean’s feathers that were still straight enough to admire. She told Nix to guard these treasures and that she would give them to Shenra later before she went home.
At midday, Avani stopped and unwrapped the lunch she had packed. She ate heartily, throwing bits to Nix, and allowing her to drink the rest of the water Avani had been using. She didn't have to worry about finding water; apparently Nix was great at finding the best streams and lakes around. Avani rested long enough to cool down, and then got back to work for the rest of the day.
Though the rest of the day went much like the first part, Avani surveyed the work that she had done when she had decided to call it quits for the day. She took off her kerchief and wiped her face of the sweat and some of the grime. Mama would no doubt demand a bath when she got home, and Avani would not fight this time since she felt as grubby as her kerchief had gotten after wiping her face.
The land was sort of cleared of the major bramble and brush were gone, just a few things to tidy up. She called out to Nix who fluttered over to her and perched herself on Avani’s shoulder. Avani petted the tired fea dragon’s head, and went with the wheelbarrow full of tools back to Shenra’s tool shed for the night. She would keep her things there during the night to have them on hand when she started again tomorrow.
Avani walked back home after bidding Shenra goodnight (who was absorbed in her project so much it took a few minutes to tell her that she was leaving), and was greeted when she got home by a steaming bath by the kitchen stove.
“Thought you would like a warm bath Love.” Avani’s mama said. She smiled and gave Avani the soap Papa used when he washed after a grubby day, “I’ll draw you up a warm bath every night.” Avani’s mother said giving Avani a kiss on the cheek. Avani smiled and knew her mother must love her more than she said if she would kiss as grubby a girl as her. Avani helped Nix into the tub and both enjoyed the warm water.
As Avani went to bed that night, she placed a sleeping Nix in her basket beside Avani’s bed. Avani felt proud despite being tired and wanting to go to bed as soon as her head hit the pillow. Mama had made a large dinner that Avani had enjoyed after her bath, and sat drying her hair by the fire while Papa read books on sherons and leklans, and Mama mended clothes. It was a surprise for Avani that she excused herself early and went to bed. She wasn't used to this kind of hard work, but she had made her choice and wanted to be a farmer more than ever since she was getting tinkering lessons as well.
As she lay in bed, she watched out the window at the night sky. Was this what it felt like to run your own farm? To feel proud of work that made you grubby and tired? She wondered if she could do as well as Papa in farming. Only time would tell; and she had a long life ahead to wait for that.
She then closed her eyes, and dreamed of golden fields of wheat and perfume from the orchards.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words: 1, 157
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Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 8:46 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~"A New Friend"~
~A Solo RP~ Avani was walking towards the secret lake she had found near her house. It wasn’t a real big lake, but it she loved to go to it to do many things. Today she wanted to just wade in the water a bit and poke at the fish there.
The lake was some distance into the forest that was beyond the field behind the house. It had trees all around it, and a small stream going into it, and out of it. The noise from the small stream that entered and exited her secret lake soothed her, and she often found herself sleeping away most of the day there. Mama would be angry if she didn’t come home now though as she was going right after lunch and sleeping meant not coming home till after dark.
As she neared the lake, she smiled and breathed in the smells that made this place so comfortable. She smelled the vegetation and the fresh water, the fresh dirt and the crisp air. She heard the flop of fish as they jumped out of the water, and the babbling of the brook
Avani found a good stick to prod things with, took off her boots and socks, and placed them near the edge of the lake. She waded in and felt the cool water hit her feet, she wiggled her toes and giggled, then began the task of trying to find something interesting. She wandered no further into the lake than ankle deep, the hem of her dress would get wet, but she could deal with the small scold Mama would give. She climbed over rocks and examined the crevices of them, finding nothing but the usual, she moved along the rim of the lake, only exiting once to find a shallow place to cross the stream feeding the lake’s water
It was here she looked over at the other end of the lake where the exiting water left the lake in it’s own stream, when she saw something fluttering around over there. She scurried over (for some rocks were in the way) and saw a small dragon like creature fluttering above the stream’s mouth. She hid in the bushes and watched silently as the creature raised it’s head up to the sun and let out a small noise that Avani assumed was a sound of content, for what it did next was flutter so it was flying on it’s back.
Avani couldn’t help but giggle, she gasped and put her hands over her mouth, but it was too late the creature was alerted. It made some sound, and fluttered slowly towards Avani. Avani, not knowing what it was, and being her curious self, went towards it, peeping from behind the bushes she was hiding behind. It was right in front of her!
She gasped and fell back, she heard some chiming, chirping, noises and a small thump from the other side of the bush. She scrambled from her hiding place and she saw the creature looking at her from on the ground. It turned it’s head this way and that and chimed/chirped a bit.
Avani, being her fearless self, stuck her hand out and said, “Hello little cutie.”
The creature made some more of it's melodic sounds, and moved a bit towards Avani. It moved toward her hand and sniffed her hand, then licked it.
Avani giggled. She then reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out some dried berries she had filched from the cellar, and offered some to the small blue-greenish creature. It chimed/chirped a bit more, sniffed at her hand, and then ate the berries from her hand.
Avani chuckled and then petted it on it’s head and said, “I don’t know what you are, but I like you.” The small creature made it's melodic chirping noise, and pressed it’s head into Avani’s hand. Avani smiled and said, “I don’t know where you live, but I live over there.” She pointed towards her home. “I won’t come here every day… Too many chores at home.”
Avani stayed at the lake and played with her new friend until she had to go home. She waved bye towards the small creature, as it sat and turned it’s head making the melodic sounds to itself. Avani was sad to leave it, but it couldn't be helped.
Avani reached home just as her Mama was coming out the door to look for her. She was told to wash up, and get ready for dinner. As her Papa came home soon after, she heard a familiar Melodic sound from earlier in the day from inside the house, and as she rounded the corner, she was tackled by a small winged animal.
“WHAT IS THAT CREATURE, AND WHAT IS IT DOING IN MY HOUSE?” her mother shrieked.
Avani giggled and cuddled her new friend. “I found it today Mama, but I left it where we met…” She looked at the small creature snuggling into her arms. “I don’t know how you got here, but it looks like you wanna stay.”
She looked up at her parents, her Papa smiling the smile he did when something made him laugh, and her Mama was glaring between her and the creature, and her Papa.
“All right!” Avani’s Mama said throwing up her arms, she then pointed to Avani, “But you have to take care of it my girl!” and with that she went into the kitchen and then said, “And wash up again young lady! It hasn't had a bath yet.”
Avani giggled and put the creature down and said, “We will have to name you…. But after dinner!”
And with that, Avani went back upstairs, the small little dragon creature following, and got ready for dinner.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words: 959
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Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 8:46 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~"Grownup Words"~
~A Solo RP~ Avani tiptoed downstairs with her stuffed pumpkin Kin. She was also in her pajamas, and should have been in bed.
She hadn't been able to sleep, she didn't know why. But she knew that the reason Papa couldn't sleep was one of the sheron was going to have a calf. Perhaps that is why Mama had gone to bed a while ago, and Papa hadn't.
She got to the doorway of Papa’s study and, as she peeped into the room, saw him deep into a book. She wondered why Papa was reading at this time of night.
She must have made a noise for Papa lowered the book and looked questioningly at her. She smiled and beamed up at him.
“You should be in bed Avani girl…” He said placing his finger in the book to mark his page, closing the book on it, and placing it in his lap, “What keeps you up till this time of night?”
Avani hugged Kin, whom she had brought along, and moved forward looking away for a moment. The windows were shut tight against the last cold of the year, and a fire was dying in the fireplace. There was however, enough oil in the lamp to last a good while yet.
She moved up to her papa, looked up to him and said, “I couldn't sleep. Why couldn't you?”
Her Papa smiled warmly, patted his lap, and tried to help Avani up with one hand. Once she was settled, he opened the book and said, “I need to read on how to birth a sheron.”
Avani was confused; didn't the sheron’s on the old farm have babies all the time?
“I thought you knew how to do that already.” She said looking up at her father, “Didn't you have baby cows on the old farm growing up?”
Her father smiled and said, “I may have helped a few times, but not a lot. I had my hands full with the crops most years.”
Avani looked at the book and saw drawings of a man Orderite holding buckets of water carrying them towards a sheron in a pen with lots of hay. Did sherons need to eat a lot when giving birth? Avani tried to read the book, but it seemed full of words she didn't know.
She scrunched her nose and said, “Do they need a lot of help?”
What was she thinking? It’s a sheron, they needed all the help they could get…
Avani’s father chuckled and said, “All animals we raise here are like our crops Avani girl. They need us to protect them and love them so they can grow up and nurture us with their sustenance. It is their circle of life, just as we have ours.” He shut the book and placed it on the table next to his chair that he was sitting in. He hugged Avani and said, “We must honor and respect them and be there for them as they are weaker than us and cannot do for themselves what we can do for ourselves.”
He sighed and said, “When you get older Avani girl, you will understand more about what I said.”
Avani scrunched her nose up and made another face, though she was getting sleepy. “I always have to get bigger to understand things….”
Avani’s papa smiled secretly to himself as his daughter fell asleep in his arms. He kissed her forehead and carried her upstairs to bed, (Along with Avani holding Kin), shutting off the lamp as he went.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words: 588
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Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 7:44 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~"Girls Can Tinker Too!"~
~A Solo RP~ Avani walked through the thick bramble and bush of the abandoned orchard that was on the other side of the fence that bordered her father’s land. According to Sue and her other friends, the land had been abandoned long before the land Avani’s father had acquired.
Her friends said it was haunted.
Avani didn't believe them.
But she was up for an adventure into the thick brush that was the old orchard of the plot of land. And then into the house that was “haunted”.
She had worn her old clothes today, mostly because she had spied the untidy property from her side of the fence and judged that it might tear nicer clothes. While her parents didn't encourage her to approach houses from the joining land, she wanted to see the orchard and what it was like before she saw the house. Her parent’s, of course, encouraged her to visit from the front of the house, and go down driveways. But where was the fun in that?
What parts of the tree that were living still, blossom buds were starting to show. Some had even opened. Spring was coming. Avani smiled as she saw them; she loved spring and the colors it brought. While the land still looked bare and wintery, she knew it would soon turn green and become full of life.
Of course, the past of the orchard was still evident. Avani saw rotten fruit shells on the ground, the rot almost finished with them. Spring would cover it and continue the process of turning it into soil.
Despite the view the orchard provided, she continued through it. From the directions the others had given her, all she had to do was go straight through the orchard and she would find the old barn that was near the house. They had told her they had heard strange noises coming from there and that lights were on at all hours of the night. One boy said he saw some creature with huge eyes come out of it! Avani scrunched her face up at that thought. She had read books on this part of Serenia, and there were no such creatures here….. Save Bognotti… But they were only the size of dinner plates or your head, not the size of a human…Could it be a Borgnah?
Avani stopped in her tracks and shuddered. Naw, they said the monster only had two eyes…
Avani mentally shook her head clear of those thoughts, and continued on. Surely the barn wasn't too far into the property?
A few moments later, Avani tumbled through the last of the orchard (after finding several small animals near her that had made their homes in the brush), and saw a clearing that had two large buildings.
She saw a large old house that loomed over a smaller barn that sat as far from it as the barn at home. The barn itself looked as the house did: About to fall over with the slightest breeze.
But what was most amazing about this place was that it actually looked lived in.
There was an Uruu hutch close to the back of the house, and she could hear them fussing around in there. The land was cleared around the barn and house, and she heard a sheron mooing from the barn.
Along with strange noises.
She moved toward the barn, wondering what on earth could make that noise, but as she reached the barn, the windows were too high for her to see through, and even if she could reach the windows, they had grime all over it, and she wouldn't be able to see a thing.
Scrunching up her face again, Avani circled around the barn, and found a hole big enough for her to crawl through near the back. She smiled slyly and got down on her hands and knees and made her way through the hole.
It was just big enough for her to get through without ripping her clothes. She smiled to herself, proud to have been able to get through the hole, although she did come face to face with a sheron… The one she heard from outside? Well, she patted it’s nose in apology for interrupting it’s meal of hay, and scrambled around it and behind a stall wall. She slowly peeked over it, and her eyes widened at what she saw.
There was a big thing with a metal mask, two bulging, dark, soulless eyes (much like an Oblivionite!), a leather hide, and scaly hands. And there was fire coming out of it’s hand like a Dovva magic wielder! And the noise! It was hissing something fierce! How could the sheron not be running away?! (Then again, she thought, they didn't run from Khehora…. Stupid sherons….)
She could not look away from the strange being… It was mesmerizing…
Suddenly the fire left the hand, and the hissing stopped, a bout of steam engulfed the barn. The Sheron mooed again, but Avani ignored as she felt the steam engulf her, and her vision adjusted.
The being had placed something down, and it made a long grunting sound…
Avani then watched as it took off it’s face.
Then Avani was truly shocked, when a face appeared, an Orderite face.
She watched as the being then took off a leather cap, and a waterfall of bright blue hair fell from it’s head.
Avani’s jaw dropped.
It was a very pretty Orderite woman!
Avani watched as the woman took off gloves from her hands, and placed them on a table nearby. The steam was thinner now, and Avani saw that she was wearing a thick apron that wrapped around her body, and as she took it off and hung it on a peg near the table, Avani saw she was in overalls and a large man’s work shirt.
Then the woman looked right at her with brilliant golden yellow eyes. Avani ducked, and then tried to get out if the barn, but the hole was being blocked by the stupid sheron.
“Well!” said a pretty voice from the other side of the stall, “What have we here?!”
Avani tried to move the sheron (futile, she knew, but she didn’t wanna get into trouble) so she tried to crawl underneath it. Apparently the Sheron took offence to that, and almost stepped on Avani as it walked away. Avani ducked and placed her hands on her head, and prayed for the sheron to miss her. She then heard a melodic laugh from her right and opened one eye to peek out and see what was going on. The pretty lady was standing at the entrance to the stall leaning over it, her hair falling to the sides of her face. She was smiling brightly, as bright as her sun golden eyes.
“Did my sheron just give birth to a little Orderite? Well, that’s a new trick for her!” The woman laughed again. Avani opened her other eye, and turned to face her, not really knowing what to do. Was she in trouble? The woman grinned and said “It’s all right my small friend, I won’t bite, though I’ve heard that the other children say I do!” She laughed again and reached out a hand from the stall door and said, “You might like it better if you get out of the stall muck though. Come in and I will see about getting you cleaned off before I send you home.”
Avani stared at her a moment more, and then stood, then reached out for the woman’s hand, taking it.
“My name,” she said taking Avani’s hand, “Is Shenra.”
An hour later, she was sitting in the pristine kitchen of the big, old farm house, draped in a man’s large nightshirt as her clothes dried in the afternoon sun, after being washed by Shenra. Avani was sipping a glass of fresh sheron milk, with a plate of pastries in front of her. Shenra was sitting across from her in a fresh white sundress that had little yellow flowers dotting it. As Avani had bathed in the big copper tub in the upstairs bathroom, (which was something of a novelty to Avani since her bath was always in front of the kitchen fire and rather cold), Shenra had washed their clothes in the washroom that had indoor plumbing too!. She was also surprised there was an outhouse in the same room as the bath!
“So kid,” Shenra said as she propped her head up with her hand on the kitchen table, “You live beyond the old orchard?” When Avani nodded, Shenra smiled and said, “I’ve been meaning to go out and meet the neighbors, but my new project has had a few hiccups with the gears inside it. Do you think you will introduce me to your parents?”
Avani nodded again, rather shyly. She placed the glass down and said, “You tinker?”
Shenra smiled, “Yes I do! I moved out here to get away for a while from the bustle in Ashen City.” She sighed, “Sometimes you just can’t find the peace to create there….” She then smiled again at Avani, “That’s why I bought this place: To get away from it all.”
Avani reached for a pastry. As she bit into it, she was surprised to find it as good as her mama’s.
“Did you make these?” Avani asked pointing to the remainder of the pastry. Shenra smiled and nodded. Avani took another bite of the pastry and wondered about a few things.
A few moments of silence went by and then Avani placed the pastry down on the plate that it had been served on. She placed her hands in her lap and she looked down at them.
“My cousin said girls can’t tinker… He said that they were too stupid to do anything but stay at home and cook for their husbands.” Avani felt the old hurt come into her heart and fought tears, “He said I shouldn't farm either cause I was a girl and too week to handle any of the equipment or animals…” She looked up at Shenra tears blurring her vision, “But I can't cook well! I always end up burning things! How come you can tinker and cook?”
She tried to wipe the tears from her eyes, the memories of her cousin Srenlei pushing her into the mulch heap, laughing, and telling her that she should take a bath, but it was hard for her to do so since she probably didn't know how from not taking many. Her other cousin Rainei would pick her up and brush her off, and help her through it, but he wasn't here now when she was with a real life girl tinker and the memories coming back.
Avani felt some arms come around her, and she sobbed once as she wrapped her arms back around the kind warmth she felt coming from this person she really didn't know.
“It’s hard to be a girl sometimes.” Said a soft melodic voice in her ear, “But sometimes it brings the greatest joys in the world.” Avani felt her let go of the hug, but she remained at arm’s length of Shenra. Shenra wiped Avani’s face of her tears and said, “Though you are small now, there will be plenty of time to experience it.” She then smiled, “Your cousin is wrong dearest Avani. Girls can tinker, and cook as well. We are just as capable as men to do things, though yes we can’t do some of the things they can; such as lift as much as them at times. It doesn't mean we should sit by and do nothing; we should try and do something and do our best, and if we can't do it or need help, so be it!”
Shenra smiled and chuckled, “I’m not good at explaining this, but I do know how you are feeling little one.” She pulled Avani’s hair from her face and placed it behind her ears, “But in time you will understand.” Shenra stood and said, “Your cousin is not right, and you shouldn't listen to him.” She placed her hands on her hips and said, “Do what your heart wants Avani, it is the only thing in the world that can tell you about your true self.”
Avani nodded and sniffed a little, and wiped her eyes one last time.
“I wanna be a tinker too!” she stated.
“Good!” Shenra said smiling brightly, “Because I will make a deal with you: If you can help clear that orchard, and try to make it grow, then I will give you tinker lessons.” She then held out her hand again and said, “Deal?”
Avani smiled and took Shenra’s hand, “Deal!”
Avani made a promise to herself as well: Not only would she become a farmer and a tinker, but she would try to learn how to cook as well as mama and Shenra.
Because girls could do anything!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words: 2,160
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Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 12:02 am
~An Avani Adventure!~
~"Growing Up~
~Part 1"~
~A Solo RP~ Avani set the bucket that she used to water her plants with next to her. She smiled with happiness and pride as she looked out over the garden bed.
Little green shoots were starting to show themselves, and she was rather proud she could do it.
Her father still gave her advice from time to time and she gladly took it. She wrote what he said to do in a journal every time he gave it. She also drew sketches of the weeds and plants around here so she would know what they looked like if she found any.
Nix, her little fea dragon, as she had come to call her, was sitting by her side chewing on a branch that had some buds on it. Avani assumed she had gone running around Shenra’s orchard again. Silly fea liked to go there and the secret lake a lot.
“They won’t grow any faster with ya lookin at them Avani girl.”
Avani turned and smiled brightly at her father as he came out of the house with a tray of lemonade and a blanket. Her mother was not far behind with a tray of sweetcakes and sandwiches.
“I can’t help it!” Avani said going over to her father and taking the blanket from him, “It’s the first thing I’ve grown on my own, and it’s so wonderful!”
Avani’s father chuckled as they continued to walk over to the shade of the tree that was near her small plot of land. Avani spread out the blanket and sat down as her father laid out the tray of glasses and pitcher on a large, round stump he had placed under the tree for a table. As he sat down, Avani’s mother came up with the tray of sweatcakes and sandwiches and placed them next to the lemonade. Avani sat near both of them in the deepest part of the shade.
It was a rare day off for them all, and so they decided to have lunch together before they went to all find something to do together for the afternoon.
No one saw the abandoned stick with blossoms on it.
Avani reached for the first sandwich, thanked her mother for making it, thanked the gods for the food, and then took a huge bite out of it.
“I wish they could grow faster.” Avani said, “I can’t wait to see if I can make something out of the vegetables”
“It takes time to make things Love.” Her mama said she smiled at Avani, “Some of the greatest things in the world take time to create.”
Avani took a drink of the cool lemonade and thought about it for a moment, then she said, “But plants aren't that great.”
“No,” Papa said taking a glass of lemonade himself, “But you do care if they grow right and they grow strong to give you a large yield.” He took a drink of lemonade and then said, “Everything in the world works that way Avani girl. You can’t rush things.”
Avani just chewed on a bite of sandwich and gave her father a skeptical look. Her father laughed and said, “You my dear are a good example of what your mother and I hope will grow big and strong, and then have a family of your own.”
“‘A family of my own?’” Avani said. She thought about that for a moment and said, “Well, I don’t think that’s gonna happen anytime soon...”
“I don’t mean tomorrow Avani… Families take time… You have to find the right mate first.”
Avani huffed and rolled her eyes. Her father could get so gooy at times. But she did love him, so she bore it out and said scrunching her face, “Boys are mean.”
Avani’s father laughed loudly, and she heard her mother chuckle.
“I felt the same way Avani,” her mother said brushing out some hair from Avani’s face, “But trust me, when you find the right person, it will be the best thing in the world, and worth the wait.”
Avani snorted and stuck her nose up at the idea. No, she would never like a boy like that… Would she? She scrunched her face up at the idea. Boys were just mean. Weren't they?
“OH!” she heard her mother shriek. Avani looked down at the blanketed area as she heard plates rattle, and she saw a flash of a blue-ish color. “That little brat!” her mother said picking up the plate that had the sweet cakes on them, “Avani! Get Nix away from here!”
Avani giggled and got up and started chasing the little sweet cake bandit around the yard, all thoughts of boys fleeing from her mind.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: March 3, 2014
Words: 781
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Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 12:03 am
~An Avani Adventure!~
~"Growing Up~
~Part 2"~
~A Solo RP~ Avani sat in Shenra’s barn watching her work. It was amazing to see how she could take different things and put them together to make something. She wondered if this was something like being a farmer. You take something small and work it into something big and usable. Though she had no clue what this latest project was. She knew better than to speak to Shenra though, besides she couldn't hear her over the flames of what she called her “welder”.
Shenra however took that moment to move back from her work and turn off her welder. Steam poured into the barn, and Avani waved the heat away, and towards the open windows in the loft.
“Almost done!” Shenra announced as she took off her mask and gloves. She smiled down at the hunk of metal. She placed a hand on the cool top of the project, “I can’t wait to see it finished.”
Avani looked at… well, whatever it was, and wondered if that was what Shenra wanted to grow and see flourish.
Avani looked back to Shenra and said, “What do you think about boys?”
Shenra just looked at Avani for a moment, and then shook her head a little.
“And where did that come from?” she said smiling.
Avani shrugged and said, “Mama said I would find a boy to really like, but aren't they all mean?”
Shenra smiled softly at her and sat down next to her and kicked out her feet and looked at them for a moment. Avani watched as the silence stretched.
“Not all of them are mean.” Shenra said softly, “Some can be really nice and caring.” She looked her and said, “And even mean boys can seem nice at first.” Shenra smiled a little, “If you do find a boy you like a lot, I think you need to get to know all about them before you give them your love.”
Avani was a little confused, “So like the way Papa and Mama like each other?”
Shenra smiled brightly again, “Yes. Your mother and father share a bond that you can’t see, a magic that can’t easily be used or created here in Magesc. It takes a long time to love someone that much.”
Avani looked away and pondered this for a while. She knew about love, but she hadn't really seen anyone she loved as much as Papa and Mama loved each other. Though there was one boy she did like a lot… Well differently than she did any other person or boy. But was it love?
She mentally shook herself and said, “Will I know I like him like that when I see him?”
Shenra chuckled a bit and said, “Sometimes it takes years of knowing someone. Sometimes, you will meet someone, and sense something different and not know you love them till later in life.” She grabbed Avani and hugged her, “But you are too young to be thinking of things like a partner for life!”
Avani laughed and hugged Shenra back. She was right; things could wait till she got older and understood these things more.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: March 14, 2014
Words: 519
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Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 12:19 am
~An Avani Adventure!~
~"Growing Up~
~Fin"~
~A Solo RP~ Avani was out with Nix, a rare day she had no work with Papa or with Shenra. She walked happily to the lake where she and Nix had first met. Both loved the place, and so spent most of their free time there.
Today though, Avani just felt like lying in the sun and probably take a nap. Nix would probably do the same thing.
As they got to the lake, she found the spot near the bordering forest that had a lovely patch of grass. She would keep it watered in the summer, she thought as she took off her shoes and socks, and walked in the soft grass. She came to the sunny spot, and laid down stretching her limbs, and feeling relaxed. Nix ran around for a few moments in the grass, and then cuddled next to Avani and soon was asleep.
Avani giggled at her friend and petted her as she slept. She watched the sky and thought about her life here so far.
It had be hard starting the farm from scratch, but Papa had done it. He would say that they all had done it, but Avani knew it was her father’s love of the land that got them through the troubled times. They were small things really, but still, it could have been worse.
She sighed and closed her eyes, still thinking on the past few months. She had made some very good friends, and had learned a lot from not only her father, but Shenra as well. She wondered what the next few years would hold. Would they be able to increase their livestock? Would the crops yield a bounty? Would all of her work pay off? What troubles lay ahead? She then felt silly thinking how she would like to meet some cute boys, but pondered what she would do if she had met any such boys.
She turned and Nix, deep in sleep, cuddled closer to her belly. Avani smiled at the little fea dragon and wondered what would happen to Nix as well. Would Nix meet someone to love like mama and papa? Did Nix even care? Avani chuckled and then turned over onto her stomach (carefully nudging Nix away from her) and looked at the blades of grass, and small clovers.
She wondered still if she herself would ever have a family. She giggled. She had plenty of time to figure all that out.
She began to feel sleepy and her thoughts drifted to what she would do on the farm when she grew up. She wondered if Papa would allow her to assist in birthings of the sheron and leklon, or actually being able to use the Hastars.
She closed her eyes and adjusted her head on her arms as a pillow. Perhaps she could use the scythes to help with the harvest? Or she could help with the thrashing.
The sun was warm on her back, and it acted as a blanket as she fell into a deep sleep, full of dreams of what could be.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: March 14, 2014
Words: 510
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Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 12:20 am
~Reflections of the Past~~Farmers Unite!~~An RP Journal Reflection~ Papa, Mama, and me have moved into an old farmhouse and some of our new neighbors came to help us unpack! They have a little girl named Sueno and she likes to farm as much as I do! She helped me find Kin as we unpacked. I was so worried he was lost forever! Perhaps we can have many adventures together?!
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Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 12:54 am
~Reflections of the Past~~Knowledge is Power!~~An RP Journal Reflection~ After we unpacked, Papa took me into town to get some books on raising Sherons and Leklans. Papa said I could have a book too, and I met another girl who likes to read as much as I do. She says she's gonna write a book one day, and will give me a copy with her signature on it! I am happy to have made at least two good friends!
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Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 7:19 pm
~Reflections of the Past~~Razing Farms~~An RP Journal Reflection~ I meet a giant bird thing! Turns out he's really a Khehora named Oblivion. He has the most amazing black feathers and red eyes. He are one of Papa's sheron and then tried to eat Kin! But I showed him! Turns out he's rather nice since he offered to take me to Ayr for the starfall... Don't tell Mama... She'd have a fit....
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Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 7:19 pm
~Reflections of the Past~~Giant Spiders!~~An RP Journal Reflection~ Something, other than Oblivion had been terrorizing the sheron. Kadryn, a pretty Orderite lady, with pretty black wings, said she recognized the characteristics of a Borgnah.... Kadryn and I went to hunt the beast down, and she killed it with her mace. Hopefully there are no more in the area and it didn't have a nest. Why did it have to be giant spiders?
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