[ The weight of all our memories. ]
// Timeline; Before the Oban war. //
xxxThe bright morning sunlight shown through the breaks in the trees, welcoming those asleep to join the day with warm rays that cut through the cold morning chill. Yet for one, the prior day never ended. Having sat high in the tree-tops for most of the night, a young Akidike rested her back against the thick trunk, her legs dangling on either side of the branch beneath her while here eyes rested shut momentarily. This was the third night this week that worry caused her to lay awake, lost in a endless loop of what if-'s. Letting out a heavy sigh, her antennae twitched anxiously atop her head before she forced herself to lean forward off the tree and open her dark eyes. It had been a little over a month since her mother had mysteriously disappeared, a month she waited around the Emeka settlement for her return, a month of her sneaking off into the wilds in hopeful search of her. Hand rubbing at her eyes sleepily she felt another sigh leave her. She couldn't have left her here alone, maybe she was out searching for their next home and would return when she found one. Frowning as the hopeful thought tried to sugar-coat the truth, Vyn tipped her head back until it gently rested against the trunk and scanned the assortment of branches and leaves above. Oh great Aisha, she felt so lost in this world. Frown tipping her lips, she heaved a heavy sigh as her memory flashed back to the Chibale Isles. She missed the feeling of family that embraced her back home. The sense of love she felt with her aunts and the nights she'd lay in her mother's arms and listen to her soft voice weave her elaborate tales.
The sweet memories of her mother's bright smile, proud eyes, and joyful spirit that was so filled with life, Vyn loved and hated those memories. Gaze searching for the bits of dark sky that peaked through the canopy, she felt the sudden urge to be up there, high in the tree tops and see the sky. Jolting up, she carefully -yet quickly- hopped to her feet and a bright smile crossed her lips. She had never climbed so high before, but the feeling of wanting to be beneath the open sky urged her to reach up and grab the branches above her. "You can do it." The young Alkidite spoke to no one as she jumped from her spot and heaved herself up onto the next, and continued up until the smaller branches. The going was slow, and by the time she was nearing the top her arms burned and ball of her feet ached from the repetitive motions. Yet even so a youthful laugh rang into the night, as her heart pounded in her chest. She felt so alive in this moment. Her worries forgotten as her hands pulled her up one final time, up through the canopy top and into the wide-open night sky. Blackened eyes widened and her antennae perked up as a million stars smiled down at her, causing hers to spread as much as it could to echo back. "HELLO!" Her voice broke the sound of the night, as she scanned the sky. Hours had passed since she'd been laying below, and here above she could see sun beginning to peek above the rise and fall of the tops of the jungle trees. "Wooow." She'd never seen anything like this before, and as she leaned forward she felt the wind pick up, blowing her dreads lightly around her head and the gentle sound of the feather in her hair to buzz. It looked like one big, green ocean up here when the wind blew. Each leaf rising in it's force to mimic the rocking of the ocean.
It was strange, here in the embrace of the trees she could easily forget everything, the bustling of the village sprawled out through the trees, her mentor's calling voice, her mother's face. Hands gripping the rocking branch that swayed easily in the breath of the world, Vyn felt a keen laugh fun out from her. She felt so very alive for the first time! Antennae twitching in her excitement, she shifted her grip on the tree to hold it tighter before kicking her feet back over her head to swing down below with a shout, and releasing her hold as she reached out for the next branch. Dangerous, yes, but it'd been so long since she felt her heart properly pounding in her ears. So long since she'd felt the tingle of excitement thrum in her fingers and arms. Letting out a grunt as her hands grasping a hanging branch and jolting her body to stop, Vyn'dali let out a hiss of pain as the bark dug into the soft flesh of her palms, but it didn't stop her. Quickly releasing, she headed down much faster then she'd climbed. Each time swinging lower, and each time delaying her stop just a bit to keep her excitement. She felt awake, like the world before had been a muddled sense of grey and black. Dulled in her sadness, yet she had to accept it. She was alone. Alone, and she would make it the best thing that happened to her. The world was her play-toy, and her mentor. She'd let the wild nurture her, she'd listen to the whisper of the trees and shout of the thunder. The hums of the wild-life would shape her future. Not some silly warrior who was keen to shelter her from it's wonders. She wasn't a fragile girl who needed help and pity now that she was abandoned. She was a woman who could easily care for herself. Releasing the final branch, she braced herself for the solid feeling of the ground beneath her feet and landed in a half crouch, her left hand touching the grass and the balls of her feet easily stopping her decent. Standing a moment later, her shoulders heaving with the heavy breaths that resulted from her workout, as she reached up to run her fingers through her weaved mane, lifting it up to let the cool air kiss at her neck and cool her down before letting it fall onto her back in a steady wave. "Mmm. Things are going to be better." She smiled to herself, her voice filled with the conviction that, yes, life would be better. Heart pounding in her chest, she felt another laugh leave her before she glanced in the forest around her, keen to start her lessons.
Controlling her breathing, (Albeit, the exertion of the decent making it a bit of a struggle) she began to practice her stealthiness. This time letting the woodland and the great Aisha correct her with each step. If the leaves and grass around her could pick up on her movements, she was after all, doing something wrong. The activity went on for over an hour before she found herself too tired to go on, and curled up in the glowing moss at the base of a tree she passed out with a heavy sigh. Her legs tucked close to her body, and bruised palms clutched close to her chest. Yet a smile resided on her lips, even in the dead of sleep.
The sweet memories of her mother's bright smile, proud eyes, and joyful spirit that was so filled with life, Vyn loved and hated those memories. Gaze searching for the bits of dark sky that peaked through the canopy, she felt the sudden urge to be up there, high in the tree tops and see the sky. Jolting up, she carefully -yet quickly- hopped to her feet and a bright smile crossed her lips. She had never climbed so high before, but the feeling of wanting to be beneath the open sky urged her to reach up and grab the branches above her. "You can do it." The young Alkidite spoke to no one as she jumped from her spot and heaved herself up onto the next, and continued up until the smaller branches. The going was slow, and by the time she was nearing the top her arms burned and ball of her feet ached from the repetitive motions. Yet even so a youthful laugh rang into the night, as her heart pounded in her chest. She felt so alive in this moment. Her worries forgotten as her hands pulled her up one final time, up through the canopy top and into the wide-open night sky. Blackened eyes widened and her antennae perked up as a million stars smiled down at her, causing hers to spread as much as it could to echo back. "HELLO!" Her voice broke the sound of the night, as she scanned the sky. Hours had passed since she'd been laying below, and here above she could see sun beginning to peek above the rise and fall of the tops of the jungle trees. "Wooow." She'd never seen anything like this before, and as she leaned forward she felt the wind pick up, blowing her dreads lightly around her head and the gentle sound of the feather in her hair to buzz. It looked like one big, green ocean up here when the wind blew. Each leaf rising in it's force to mimic the rocking of the ocean.
It was strange, here in the embrace of the trees she could easily forget everything, the bustling of the village sprawled out through the trees, her mentor's calling voice, her mother's face. Hands gripping the rocking branch that swayed easily in the breath of the world, Vyn felt a keen laugh fun out from her. She felt so very alive for the first time! Antennae twitching in her excitement, she shifted her grip on the tree to hold it tighter before kicking her feet back over her head to swing down below with a shout, and releasing her hold as she reached out for the next branch. Dangerous, yes, but it'd been so long since she felt her heart properly pounding in her ears. So long since she'd felt the tingle of excitement thrum in her fingers and arms. Letting out a grunt as her hands grasping a hanging branch and jolting her body to stop, Vyn'dali let out a hiss of pain as the bark dug into the soft flesh of her palms, but it didn't stop her. Quickly releasing, she headed down much faster then she'd climbed. Each time swinging lower, and each time delaying her stop just a bit to keep her excitement. She felt awake, like the world before had been a muddled sense of grey and black. Dulled in her sadness, yet she had to accept it. She was alone. Alone, and she would make it the best thing that happened to her. The world was her play-toy, and her mentor. She'd let the wild nurture her, she'd listen to the whisper of the trees and shout of the thunder. The hums of the wild-life would shape her future. Not some silly warrior who was keen to shelter her from it's wonders. She wasn't a fragile girl who needed help and pity now that she was abandoned. She was a woman who could easily care for herself. Releasing the final branch, she braced herself for the solid feeling of the ground beneath her feet and landed in a half crouch, her left hand touching the grass and the balls of her feet easily stopping her decent. Standing a moment later, her shoulders heaving with the heavy breaths that resulted from her workout, as she reached up to run her fingers through her weaved mane, lifting it up to let the cool air kiss at her neck and cool her down before letting it fall onto her back in a steady wave. "Mmm. Things are going to be better." She smiled to herself, her voice filled with the conviction that, yes, life would be better. Heart pounding in her chest, she felt another laugh leave her before she glanced in the forest around her, keen to start her lessons.
Controlling her breathing, (Albeit, the exertion of the decent making it a bit of a struggle) she began to practice her stealthiness. This time letting the woodland and the great Aisha correct her with each step. If the leaves and grass around her could pick up on her movements, she was after all, doing something wrong. The activity went on for over an hour before she found herself too tired to go on, and curled up in the glowing moss at the base of a tree she passed out with a heavy sigh. Her legs tucked close to her body, and bruised palms clutched close to her chest. Yet a smile resided on her lips, even in the dead of sleep.
[ Prentice Entry 1 : 1221 Words ]
