Honoka -- Apple Blossom19 | Page 2 | Lives of the Past ❄ Old Character Archives | Guild Forums

Apple Blossom19

Eloquent Exhibitionist

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Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 4:04 pm

~Table of Contents~

Page Two
I. Table of Contents
II. ~Crossed Paths~ ~"Eggu"~ ~A Crossover RP~
III. ~Crossed Paths~ ~"Hatched!!! Part 1~"~ ~A Crossover RP~
IV. ~Crossed Paths~ ~"Trouble Unleashed! Part 2"~ ~A Crossover RP~
V. ~Crossed Paths~ ~"Is This What Parenthood Is Like?! Fin~"~ ~A Crossover RP~
VI. ~Crossed Paths~ ~"Young Heart Part 4~"~ ~A Crossover RP~
VII. ~Crossed Paths~ ~"Harvest"~ ~A Crossover RP~
VIII. ~Growth! Welcome Orakoir Honoka!~
IX. ~School Days ~ ~"Befriending the Earth"~ ~A Learning Solo~
X. ~School Days ~ ~"Spreading Your Wings"~ ~A Learning Solo~
XI. ~A Rare Gem~ ~"From Whom All Blessings Flow"~ ~A Solo RP~
XI. ~A Rare Gem~ ~"Who Am I?"~ ~A Solo RP~
XIII. ~Crossed Paths~ ~"Who Your Friends Are"~ ~A Crossover RP~
XIV. ~Crossed Paths ~"Light on the Darkest Day~"~ ~A Crossover RP~
XV. ~Written in Stone~ ~"A Shadow Walking in the Sun"~ ~An RP Journal Reflection~

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 4:04 pm

~Crossed Paths~
~A Crossover RP~

~An Avani Adventure!~
~Eggu~
~A Solo RP~

Avani sat on her bed and looked over the egg that Oblivion had given her. It looked nothing like the black khehora that had given it to her.

“Perhaps it’s the color of his mate?” Avani said as she placed it by her pillow. She laid down on her tummy and peered at it still. Nix, who was on the pillow, wiggled so she could nuzzle the warm egg. Avani petted Nix’s head and said, “Perhaps not since he said his mate was a ‘he’. But,” Avani said as she placed a loving hand around the oblong object, “Perhaps they adopted an egg that was like him?”

Nix chirped, and Avani could tell by the tone of the chirp that it was just as questioning. “It’s our responsibility now…”

That being said, Avani thought, how did she care for it? She could look in those Khehora books again, but they just talked about how they came to be and where they lived.

“It needs a safe place.” Avani said out loud tracing the patterns on it’s shell. “It needs a nest… Like uruus…”

She then had an idea. Perhaps she could make a nest for the egg. But until she got the materials, where would the egg live?

Avani then got up and went to the trunk in the back of her closet. There she found her old wing covers that she wore as a child. Made with leklan wool inside of material, it had been her warmest wing covers. Abronaxus only knew why she had kept them since she had grown out of them, but they were the only thing she thought could keep the egg safe and warm at the moment.

Avani went over to the egg and placed it gently into the crook of one of the wing covers and then placed the other over it.

“What do you think?” Avani said showing it to Nix. Nix mad a rude noise, and Avani laughed. “It’s not permanent!“ She turned the covered egg around as she looked at it and said, “Well I’m going to make it a box nest sort of.”

Avani went over to her dresser and opened the top drawer. As she set the egg into the nest of clothes, she quickly blushed and lifted it out. If it turned out to be a boy, she really did not want to tell it she had placed it in her undergarment drawer.

So she quickly closed the drawer, and opened the next one. Though it was her dress drawer, it was a lot better than the first one!

As Avani looked over the egg once more before bed, she had an idea of what she was going to use to make her box. She just had to sneak around and gather what she needed.

The next day she went on the hunt for the materials.

Growing up on a farm her whole life, weather it had been her grandmother’s or her father’s, they had always had uruus on the grounds. They supplied not only food to eat, but they produced goods for trade; such as eggs, feathers, chicks… And it was the fact that Avani had to learn how to collect the eggs by her mother’s side since she could toddle that she had gotten the idea of how to nest her Khehora egg.

The coop was made so that a uruu had an individual box to use for a nest. All Avani had to do was open the door on the side of the coop and step up into it to collect the eggs the uruu produced. There was straw in there for them to nest on that got cleaned out once a week, and always a pail of water for them to drink from. They had their own door out to the chicken yard that was surrounded by uruu wire. Sometimes Avani had to use the other door in the coop, the one that had a chicken door in it, to get into the yard to collect stray eggs. But all in all, the uruu eggs were all in the nests.

Avani studied the boxes, and decided that since she couldn’t very well sit on the egg herself, she would have a flat box that she could peer into and have the sun surround it as it sat in her room all day. She would check on it of course, but she had little time to watch the egg all day.

So then Avani went to collect some scrap pieces of wood, nothing great, and sanded them down so it wouldn’t scratch anything. She nailed them together as her papa had shown her to do with the fence for her pumpkin patch.

She was proud of her little box, though she had no idea what to do with it after the egg hatched. Avani then pilfered some hay for the bottom of the box, and it seemed the perfect thing for her egg.

“What do you think Nix?” she asked as she took the box too her room about a week after she had started it, “It seems like it’s the right size…”

Truth be told, Avani said to herself as she gently laid the egg into the center, it was too big! Avani giggled, and then set her mind to the next problem: How to keep it warm during the day and night.

Oblivion was fluffy enough to keep it warm… He wondered if his mate was just as fluffy… But some Khehora were leathery and scaly…

Avani then went back to the old trunk and rummaged around a bit till she found her solution to that: An old leklon scarf that she had particularly liked during her youth.

Avani lovingly put the egg into the nest while it sat in the wing cover. She wrapped the scarf around it while it sat in the cover, and then placed the other wing cover over it.

“How’s that?” She asked Nix. Nix sniffed the bundled egg and wondered why her mistress had covered up the thing. Avani smiled and said, “We need to keep it warm all day while we are out. But will this work at night?”

Nix looked at her, and Avani stared at the egg all wrapped up. She couldn’t have it in bed with her, it was too big. Oh well. That problem would have to be solved when she went to bed that night. Right now she had chores to do, so she left the egg in the middle of her room where the sun was coming in though her window. She quietly shut the door and let the little egg get warm.

As Avani finished getting ready for bed, she went over and took the cover off the egg. It was nice and warm. Avani smiled, but it soon fell into a frown. How would she consistently maintain the temperature at night? The old house had drafts, and even the warmest room during the day would get cool at night.

Nix tumbled into the box that held the egg, and crawled through the hay to the egg. She sniffed the egg and licked it lovingly. She curled around the egg and nuzzled it gently.

Avani smiled as the solution came to her.

“Will you watch over it at night?” she said petting the fea.

Nix chirped and tightened her curl around the egg and put a wing around it. Avani smiled lovingly at the fea and knew the feeling the little one had. If she could, Avani would put it in her bed and sleep with it as well. It was as if she and the little fea could understand each other. She petted Nix one last time, and also the egg. Avani would leave a low lit lamp beside the box so Nix could see if she had to get up at night.

With that Avani said goodnight to both and climbed into bed, all three floating into dreamland.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date Posted: July 13, 2014
Words: 1, 332

Apple Blossom19

Eloquent Exhibitionist

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Apple Blossom19

Eloquent Exhibitionist

Offline

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 4:04 pm

~Crossed Paths~
~A Crossover RP~

~An Avani Adventure!~
~Hatched!!!~
~Part 1~
~A Solo RP~

It was so uncomfortable! They wanted out now! They moved around a bit in the cramped space and opened what they knew was their mouth, making a strange sound. Was that them? Or was it the one with the soft voice? No, it had to be them, the soft voice wasn’t there.

“Oh it’s moving! And it made a noise!”

Oh. There was the soft voice. They loved the soft voice. The soft voice spoke often and they liked it. They also liked the other noise too, but this one was the best.

“I wonder if it’s going to hatch soon? Better look in the book!”

They wriggled again. Why was it so cramped? I want out!

Avani sat on her bed, surrounded by the khehora books her father had in the house. She found little on baby khehora’s though, except in a rather old book. They had two chapters on the subject, both starting with the strict warning of keeping a Khehora as a pet. Avani didn't mean to keep it as a pet, she was going to keep it as a member of her family!

Setting the warnings aside, Avani read on. It seemed that they were like any other bird that would hatch. Leave the hatchling alone when it does hatch, unless there are problems getting the shell off. There needed to be some ground up dry sheron meat nearby made into a paste for its first meal if they had no way of obtaining any food right off.

It ended the book with how to tell the gender of a newly hatched khehora and wished the reader luck with raising and releasing the wild khehora.

This didn't deter Avani. She wrote out all the information needed to get started with the new baby in the family, and went to put her father’s books away. She couldn’t wait till her baby hatched!

That’s it. Now’s the time. I’m getting out of this cramped area!

Avani got up early the next day, lit a lamp, and moved it so the light shined on the egg in it’s little box nest. Nix had gotten her up from sleep and pulled her sleeve over to the nest. Avani woke completely up as she saw the little hole at the top of the egg.

“Oooooooo!” was all Avani could say or think.

She calmed down knowing the full event wouldn’t take place for hours yet, but she wanted to be there for the whole thing. She dressed and then watched the egg till she heard her mother and father moving downstairs.

She told Nix to watch the egg and get her if she needed too, then went downstairs to talk to her parents.

“I’ll do the morning chores if I can be excused for the rest of the day, I just want to be there for the baby!”

Her mother smiled and looked to her husband who was grinning from ear to ear.

“I see no problem with that Talmei.” Her mother said smiling up at him.

“Neither do I.” He said smiling down at her. He turned to Avani and said, “You don’t touch that animal until it’s hatched you know. And I want to see this new member of the family at some point.”

“Thank you Papa, Mama! And as soon as I clean the little one up, you can come and see it.” Avani said smiling. She rushed out the back door and tended to her chores.

As Avani came back inside from the barn she washed her hands, took up the little mortar and pestle she had bought in town for the birth of her khehora baby. She also took up some dried sheron meat and sheron milk so she could make the paste she would feed it soon after the birth. Her father had made a small spoon out of wood for her to use to feed the baby once she got it cleaned.

She stopped short on the stairs. She didn't know how she was going to clean the khehora.

“Mama!” she called as she went back to the kitchen, “How do I bathe it?!”

I smell things. It’s cleaner than the cramped place, and it smells…. Well it smells like the nice voice sounds… Good.

“Oh I see it’s nose! You can do it baby khehora!”

There is the nice voice, I wanna see what the voice looks like. Does it look like it smells and sounds? Well, first thing is first! I have to get out of this place!

Avani watched as the egg wiggled and the baby within peeped and chirped it’s heart out. Nix watched from the bed keeping the two Gaili orbs safe while the egg moved in the nest.

Avani had all the things she needed to take care of this baby: A big bowl to wash the baby in, water in a bucket, and two towels to dry it off. She had the food and preparation done, the little wooden spoon in the mortar with the sheron meat mush already. She also had an empty bucket to place the old hay in, and a bucket of fresh hay to line the box with.

Now all she needed was the baby.

Avani watched the egg for a long time, scratching noises and peeping getting stronger. Suddenly, as the sun was about to set, a little leg popped out of the egg. Avani and Nix startled at this, but then began to cheer on the hatching baby.

One part of me is free. I can move it! Oh! Another part is free, I can move it too!! What if I do this with the other things, like this… OH! It worked! Just one more… Yes! I can move these things… What are they? OH! Now my head is free! But I can’t see anything!

Avani watched as two legs and two arms popped out of the shell. Then it’s head popped out near where the first hole was. Poor thing had a shell hat on it’s head… Perhaps Avani could just take it off…

Suddenly the egg moved sideways and it was moving around the box on four limbs. Avani giggled, but got suddenly serious as it tumbled out of the box and rolled so that the little baby, shell enclosed body and with it’s little shell hat, ran scampering right into the bedroom door and crashed.

Avani gasped and went to her little one, silently praying it was ok. The shell rolled the baby so that it was once again upright on four limbs. Avani picked up the baby and placed it back in it’s bed.

“You’re going to be a handful." Avani said making sure the limbs still moved. "I can tell.”

They did indeed still move, the baby trying to once again get out of the box. Avani noticed a large crack in the top of the shell and decided it was time to help the baby. It seemed to want to explore now rather than later…

What was that?! It stopped me! Then I was in the air! Can I fly?! Wait, what’s happening? That light! It’s so bright! *blink**blink* Oh! Who is that?! Is that a face?

“Hello little Khehora…. I’m your Mama! My name is Avani!.” Said the face smiling.

They blinked again surprised that this face is connected to the nice voice and good smell.

“I’ll help you out of that little one.” The voice said. “No worries! You passed the hatching stage… The world is your's now!”

Avani smiled at the baby khehora and began to pull the crack that had appeared in the shell apart. It was kind of gross, but she would clean the shell and put it somewhere to show the baby when they grew what their egg looked like. She had color sketches of it, but she thought the shell would be nice to save too.

She took the baby and placed it into the bowl and washed off the innards of the egg off, then dried it off with the fluffy towel. As the baby was on the bed, protected wit utmost seriousness by Nix, Avani cleaned the nest box and egg shells, placing the old hay into the empty bucket she would take care of later, and placing the egg shell on her desk to put someplace safe later. She then placed ample new hay into the nest box, then placed the dry, blinking baby into the hay.

Avani smiled. The baby had large ruby eyes, the only thing she could tell looked like Oblivion. She shook her head and then started feeding the baby.

What’s this? Smells ok… Oh! It’s food! It tastes good! I want more!

Avani fed the baby all it wanted, then watched as it yawned and closed it’s little eyes. Avani placed a lantern near the nest box, and tucked the baby in with the other towel she had brought up.

Snuggled and dry, Avani gently placed her hand on the baby’s head, then went to take care of the things she had used as Nix watched protectivly.

“I’ll be.” Avani’s father whispered as he peered on the little khehora “Small thing it is…”

“All things start small Papa.” Avani whispered as she sat on her bed and watched her parents look at the little khehora.

“Is it a boy or girl?” her mother whispered.

“I haven’t looked yet. I can tomorrow, I don’t want to wake it now.” Avani whispered as she chuckled.

“Well, no.” Her mother whispered blushing, “Just wondering what you will name it.”

“I have already decided: Makoto if a boy, and Honoka if a girl.” Avani whispered smiling, “I got them from Grandmamma’s journal. They were two friends of her’s on a neighboring farm.”

Her father chuckled and then petted the little khehora gently. Her mother rolled her eyes with a smile on her face, both her and Avani knowing her father would spoil the baby rotten, even though it was a khehora.

When in bed and ready for sleep, Avani watched the baby sleep some more, knowing she would have to feed it sometime in the night. Nix was curled on the end of her bed watching it too. Avani kept a lamp burning and a bowl of mush ready for it.

“No sleep for a while.” Avani whispered to the fea scratching her on the head, “Might as well get to bed now before it starts demanding again.”

Nix nodded and then yawned. Avani smiled and laid back on her side.

Well, she was always looking for an adventure. The biggest so far had just begun.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date Posted: August 28, 2014
Words: 1,775

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 4:06 pm

~Crossed Paths~
~A Crossover RP~

~An Avani Adventure!~
~Trouble Unleashed!~
~Part 2~
~A Solo RP~

Avani looked at the little Khehora she had named Honoka and smiled.

The little imp was chasing a leather ball Avani’s father had made for her across the room as Papa and Avani rolled it to each other.

Honoka was only a month old, and she was already strong and learning. She knew when Avani wished her to come to her side, and also when to stop doing something she shouldn’t be. Whoever called the Khehora stupid probably never had to be around one for a long period of time.

Avani caught the ball that her father just rolled to her, and she watched as Honoka bounded towards her, tumbling over her feet in the process, rolling a bit, then landing on her feet and continuing on.

Avani shook her head, smiled, and let the khehora have the ball. Her baby was a klutz, but she loved her anyway.

“I think it’s time to take her outside.” Avani said taking ahold of Honoka as she chewed the sheron hide ball. “It’s been a month and she can’t be raised inside the house forever.”

“Makes sense.” Her father said watching his daughter try to restrain the little one. “She’s too much for your mother’s nerves. Poor woman has to hide all her figurines…”

Avani laughed and released the struggling khehora. She’d take the little one out tomorrow. Perhaps she’d take her to Shenra’s. That seemed a safe place. Avani frowned as she thought about it. The ranch hands would not be pleased when they found out that their boss’ daughter was raising a Khehora… a wild one at that.

She and her parents had discussed this many times, and Avani came to the conclusion that to just let them think that Honoka was a bonded would garner at least a little acceptance. Avani was determined to raise Honoka to respect the other races and the farmers around here, not to eat them or their livestock. She didn’t know what Oblivion wanted her to teach the little one, but it is what she would do with Honoka regardless.

“I’ll take her to see Shenra tomorrow.” Avani said smiling down at her little bundle of energy.

Honoka didn’t understand what was going on. Mama was putting something around her neck, and she didn't like it. So she started to chew through it, but her mother would have none of it and scolded her.

Honoka shook herself instead to rid herself of it, but it still didn’t work.

But then her Mama then opened what she had called a door. Hoknoka knew what that meant: Someone was going outside. She wasn't allowed to go outside though, but then her Mama said it was ok. Honoka took a few tentative steps out the door.

Her little eyes widened and she drew a deep breath.

Oh the smells and sights!

She started to run, but whatever was on her neck stopped her from going far. She heard her mother laugh, and then felt her pick her up. Honoka squirmed, but her mother held her tight. She spoke some soft words, and Honoka settled down. Honoka took the time to look around. Things were so new!

“Honoka, you can’t go running off.” Avani said picking up her precious little khehora, “You are too curious for your own good, so you need to stay with me.”

Avani watched as her baby stilled in her arms and looked around. She smiled at how possibly the little khehora was trying to absorb all at once. Avani set Honoka back on the ground and watched how she sniffed at everything, and they hadn’t even left the front porch yet. She giggled a bit and then took off down the stairs. Honoka reluctantly followed, Avani having to tug a bit at the leash she had put around Honoka’s neck to get her to follow her. She wasn’t tugging too hard, that would hurt the little one.

So they all set out, Avani, Honoka and Nix, into the orchard and to Shenra’s house.

Honoka studied the big thing her mother called a “tree”. It was so huge! They had little flappy things on them her mother called "leaves". The little dragon her mama called Nix was chattering away too. Honoka licked Nix’s face, and that cause the little dragon to chatter and make noises. Nix then licked Honoka back, and she couldn’t help but smile and want to play with her.

But there was a whole new world to explore, and Honoka looked up to her mama and snuggled against her leg.

Her mama petted both her and Nix, then proceeded to move through the trees. Honoka looked ahead and saw lots of trees, and wondered if there was no end to them! Well, her mama seemed fine with where they were going, and she trusted her. So Honoka followed, stopping once or twice to sniff something her mama called a “flower”.

“Shenra!” Avani called from the back porch. “Shenra! I have something to show you!”

Avani waited impatiently for Shenra to answer the back door. She didn't know what the tinker was doing, as she was not in the barn. She could be out to the Ashen City for all Avani knew. Shenra's new wings made travel to and from there easier apparently, and so visits home for her were now more frequent.

But then the back door opened and Avani saw Shenra’s face aglow with a smile.

“Come on in Avani.” Shenra said wiping her hands on an apron, “Just made some cookies. We can have them outside in the shade if you want.”

“That would be great!” Avani said. She then lifted up the homemade leash, “I got something to show you!"

She watched as Shenra looked down and her eyes widen.

“Oh sweet Goddess.” She said, “What is this?”

“This is Honoka!” Avani said picking up the baby Khehora and hugging her, “She’s my new baby.”

Honoka stared at Shenra, then leaned in and licked Shenra’s face.

Shenra looked at Honoka and laughed.

“Well, guess you’re a keeper.” Shenra said as she petted Honoka’s head.

Honoka was free.

She had felt her mama take off the thing from around her neck, and knew she was free. But as she got off the cloth thing that had been placed under a tree, her mama said something in that voice that sounded serious. So Honoka went into the green place just off the cloth and sniffed just around that area.

Oh this green stuff felt springy and cool. Honoka went to take a bite of a long piece of green stuff, but it tasted horrible. So Honoka didn't try to eat any more of it.

Honoka heard her mama call her, and then saw her mother holding the round thing that was fun to play with. So Honoka ran over to her mother, tripping on her feet in the process, then getting up and running the rest of the way with no problem.

She took the ball from her mama and proceeded to play with it. It was so wonderful! She could sink her teeth into it and chew on it, and her claws could sink in as well. Oh it was so wonderful to play with this round thing!

“She’s a bit of a handful.” Avani said watching Honoka play with the leather ball. “But at the end of the day she’s a good baby.”

“She’ll grow.” Shenra said eyeing the little bundle of energy, “You know that don’t you?”

“Yes,” Avani said smiling at Shenra, “I need to find her a Khehora to learn from. I want her to reach her full potential.”

“She’s not bonded?” Shenra said startled so much she dropped a cookie.

“No.” Avani shook her head. She placed her hand on Honoka’s head and said, “For some reason the bond never formed.” She looked at Shenra seriously, “Oh I took great care of her when she was an egg, but I think I just didn’t want her to be bonded.”

Shenra didn’t say anything, just munched on the cookie she had picked up. After a while Shenra spoke again.

“She shouldn’t be a pet.”

Avani shook her head and looked down at Honoka who was now sniffing a cookie Avani had held out to her.

“She’s more like a daughter to me.” Avani said thoughtfully.

Shenra narrowed her eyes, but said nothing.

Soon after their snack of cookies, and after both her and Shenra played with Honoka, Avani said goodbye to her friend and headed home.

Honoka, all tuckered out, was carried home by Avani. Avani smiled at her baby khehora and held her tight as Nix followed her mistress home.

Once home, Avani placed the little one into her nest box, and let her take a well needed nap. Though she would be up and about soon for dinner, Avani knew that the little one’s first adventure into the wide world had been a great success. Hopefully she would grow strong enough to live on her own one day and become a strong khehora like Oblivion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date Posted: September 6, 2014
Words: 1,512
Avani's words: 1,004
Honoka's words: 508

Apple Blossom19

Eloquent Exhibitionist

Offline

Apple Blossom19

Eloquent Exhibitionist

Offline

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 4:07 pm

~Crossed Paths~
~A Crossover RP~

~An Avani Adventure!~
~Is This What Parenthood Is Like?!~
~Fin~
~A Solo RP~

Honoka placed her tongue between her teeth and lips as she concentrated on her pray. She was sure that the pray didn’t know she was there, it didn’t move or acknowledge her, so she was doing something right she was sure.

Honoka bent down on her front legs and stuck her bottom in the air, getting ready to pounce. Her tail, unfortunately, had a mind of her own and kept wiggling around in the air. Hopefully her pray would not see.

She had to time it just right. At least that’s what she thought. She felt for the moment to make her move and took it when she felt it was the right time!

Sploosh!

The little white fluttery thing flew off, and Honoka was in the mud without her pray. She stood and shook some of the mud off, wondering why she had missed.

Unknown to her, she had missed her target by a few inches, and had landed in the bank of a small stream rather than the dry land next to it where the small butterfly had been.

Mama wouldn’t be pleased with this.

Honoka tried to shake off some of the mud again, and then went in search of something else to pounce at.

Her mama had let her off her neck thing as she went picking those flower things. Honoka had learned that as long as she stayed close to her mother she was allowed off the strap that stopped her from going places.

“Honoka!”

Honoka perked up as she heard her mama’s voice, and ran towards where the voice came from.

Hopefully Mama wouldn’t mind her being muddy.

“Oh dear.” Avani said holding her bunch of flowers in her arm. She saw the little khehora bounding towards her, tumbling a few times, all covered in mud. As Honoka tumbled to a stop right in front of her, Avani smiled and said, “Looks like a bath is in order before you step into Mama’s kitchen.”

Honoka chirped and wagged her tail. Avani smiled started off towards home. She patted the side of her leg with her free hand.

“Come on Honoka! Let’s go home!”

Honoka was still as her mother lowered her into the warm water, her eyes tightly shut. She sat still for a moment, opening one eye slowly and then the other as she adapted to the feeling of water. She then smiled, chirped and then began to splash around.

She felt the caked mud begin to fall off as her mother took a cloth with the smelling, foaming stuff on it, and start to rub her body.

Honoka started to purr. She loved it when her mama did that. Especially when she rubbed gently on her wings. It felt so good!

Honoka then shut her eyes tight as her mama put more water over her. She didn’t understand why her mama was doing this. Honoka thought she seemed clean enough.

Her mama then took her out of the water and looked her over. Honoka licked her mama’s hands and wiggled in happiness.

“It’s almost over Honoka. I know you don’t like the water yet.”

Her mama then placed her in a dry cloth and Honoka purred again as her mama rubbed all over and she began to feel dry. Her mama then placed her on a chair and told her to sit still till she came back.

Honoka peeked from under the cloth her mama left her wrapped in. Her mama had taken the large round thing she had been placed in with the water, and take it out the door. Honoka sat still. She didn’t like it when her mama went out the door without her. She wined a bit, but did as her mama said and sat still. Well, as still as she could.

Then mama came back after a while, and Honoka couldn’t help but shake off the cloth, and chirp happily.

“I’m back Honoka. It’s all right.”

Her mama didn’t have the large round thing. So apparently whatever had been done with the water was now over with. Honoka was rather happy about that.

Her mama then came back over, smiling and picked Honoka up. She sat down and started rubbing Honoka all over again. Honoka loved it and settled down enough that she was about to fall asleep.

Then Honoka felt her mama get up and take her somewhere. Honoka saw her grandpapa and grandmamma stiting. She wagged her tail, as much as she could while sleepy, at the sight of two more people she loved. Grandpapa held out his arms and suddenly she was in her grandpapa’s lap.

She watched as her mama smiled at her, then went off back towards the room where there was food. Honoka was worried for a moment, but then her mama had come back.

Honoka smiled and tried to wiggle, but her grandpapa had a firm hold on her, and while she didn’t like that, Honoka was still glad it was food time.

“Here you go Honoka.” Her mama said smiling, “Dinner time!”

Honoka gratefully accepted the food. It was some mush that tasted good, but this time there was chunks of something in there. The chunks tasted like the mush, but she could chew it! Oh it tasted good!

After drinking some water her mother got for her, Honoka yawned and curled up. It wasn’t her mama’s lap, but it felt good anyway. She yawned again and closed her eyes. She heard her mama’s voice one last time, and soon was falling asleep with her grandpapa gently petting her head.

“Fussy thing about baths that baby is.” Avani said to her parents after she returned from putting away Honoka’s dishes in the kitchen, “Wonder if it’s because she doesn’t like water.”

“You were just the same Avani.” Her mother said. She smiled at Avani over her needlepoint, “I had to change my clothes after I gave you baths many times.”

“Really?” Avani said sitting on a footstool that was front of her father. She looked over at her mother skeptically.

“Yes you were.” Her mother said smiling, “Got as muddy as Honoka as well.”

“That I can believe.” Avani said smiling, “I loved having my adventures.”

“You still do.” Her father said lifting the sleeping Honoka.

“I can’t help it.” Avani said laughing. “Life is just one big adventure.”

“That it is.” Her father said placing the sleeping baby on his lap again.

Avani watched her baby sleep, starting to absentmindedly pet Nix. Avani smiled at the fea who was curled up next to her. Things had been the same when the little fea had arrived. She had to take care of Nix just like she was taking care of Honoka. Well, almost the same.

Nix had arrived already knowing how to eat and speak, well fea speak, but even Honoka didn’t know Draconic.

Avani sighed and thought some more. She would have to find a khehora who was willing to teach Honoka the things little khehora needed to know. This suddenly started to trouble Avani.

How was she to provide for her child?

“It’s hard being a parent.” Avani heard her mother say, “Sometimes you have to make very hard decisions, and then wonder if it was the right one.” Avani looked at her mother and saw her smile, “Sometimes, even if you think it was the wrong one, it was really right.”

“Ya just got to do what is in your heart.” Avani’s father said, “It knows how to provide you with the answers.”

Avani looked to Honoka. Was she ready to be a parent? And what would she do with children of her own? Someday she planned to have some, that was for sure, but would she be a good parent? And who would want to marry her?

“Don’t worry about it now Avani.” Her mother said. Avani looked to her and saw her smiling, “You are only fifteen, almost sixteen. You have plenty of time to make those choices.” Her mother then looked over to Avani’s father, “It took me a long time to know your father was right for me.”

Avani looked at her father and saw him smiling as he petted Honoka.

Avani looked at her khehora baby. One thing for sure was that Avani had to question herself about what to do with Honoka. And finding another khehora to teach her what she needed to know was the right thing to do.

“I have a baby that needs me now.” Avani said as she got up and took Honoka from her father’s lap.

Avani then took the little one up stairs, with Nix following, and into her room. There she placed Honoka into her nest box to sleep

Avani watched as Nix settled in next to Honoka and smiled.

Whatever the future may hold she knew she had help and support from her family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date Posted: September 7, 2014
Words: 1,482
Avani's words: 636
Honoka's words: 846

Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 6:15 pm

~Crossed Paths~
~A Crossover RP~

~An Avani Adventure!~
~Young Heart~
~Part 4~
~A Solo RP~

Avani smiled as she watched Honoka and Nix play in the field of late summer wildflowers. She had taken a picnic lunch out to the wide open place for them and they had just finished eating. Avani sat propped up by a rock watching her two charges play, and the sheron in the distance grazing blissfully.

She looked up to the blue sky with puffy clouds moving slowly by, a small breeze blowing the drying grass and last flowers of the summer. She sighed, placed her hands in her lap, and allowed herself become sleepy by the puffy clouds.

Her thoughts turned to the subject that had been on her mind for the past couple of weeks, the subject of love, marriage, and of children.

She opened her eyes a bit and watched Honoka trying to jump onto the slippery little fea who was just fast enough to move out of the way.

Avani smiled. There was time enough to find someone to love. She did want a husband and a family, but she didn’t want them just yet. Something inside her was content with the small hodgepodge of a family she had right here.

Honoka would grow, then so would Avani. She would work hard with what skills she had now to save to buy some land, perhaps the land her lake sat on. Then she would build a big house so Honoka could live with her. A house with plenty of room for a full grown khehora to move around in, where Honoka could build a nest and walk in and out of freely. Avani would be away from her mother and father, but not too far.

Avani chuckled as day dreams began to form in her head.

As the dreams of the house she would build faded, the nagging subject of who would want to marry her entered her head again. Avani sighed. Would it go away, this thought of who would love her? Avani shook her head trying to clear it, but that didn’t work. So she sighed again and let her mind have free reign with the subject.

He would understand her love of farming, and let her do the things she wished to do with the farm. If he wished, he could run the farm with her, much like her father’s parents did. Even though she could do most things around the farm, some of the heavy labor she knew she would never be able to handle by herself.

She would take care of the house too. She loved cooking, but not enough to make it a career or hobby. She would cook for the people she loved, and that was for her family and friends. And if they had children, she would take them with her out to the fields. That would help them learn to at least appreciate the land and not just think of it as some place to live

Avani wondered the most what her mate would look like. The person was a foggy image to her, all except the eyes. She would never skimp on the color of the eyes. That to her was probably the most important part of the day dream. Oh she would fall in love with a person no matter what the color, but her day dream had those bright shining eyes that were as deep as their owner’s soul.

Where did that come from? Avani was startled by that new element in the equation. Well, only her heart knew what her day dream was, and it was being as mysterious as always with this new revelation.

But this could all wait. Her daydreaming was ended by a cry from Honoka. Though it was a cry of happiness, at least to Avani’s ears, her maternal mind had snapped her back to reality to see what the matter was. Avani looked around and saw Honoka crashing into Nix as she stopped short. Avani laughed as Honoka shook herself off and sat up. Honoka looked to Avani and then made a chirping sound as she ran to Avani, taking a little tumble this time.

Avani hugged her, and then hugged Nix as she came up after Honoka.

These two babies were enough for now, Avani thought, feeling the love she had for them fill her heart. She would focus on raising Honoka for now. Her imaginary family of the future could wait.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date Posted: September 24th, 2014
Words: 735

Apple Blossom19

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Apple Blossom19

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Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 6:15 pm

~Crossed Paths~
~A Crossover RP~

~An Avani Adventure!~
~Harvest~
~A Solo RP~

Avani stood with her ledger watching the ranch hands cut down the stalks of wheat and rice from where the wagons were that would be loaded with sheaves to take to the threshing floors. There the grain would be separated from the chaff and packaged, then taken to the local mill to be ground into flour.

Avani’s job was to make note of all the sheaves and label them by number. While it wouldn’t matter in the end, it did help keep a record of the approximant yield they would bring.

Avani reflected, when she had time, on the past summer. It sure had been busy.

She had learned not only how to harness hastars, but had learned how to gain their trust and to take care of them. And she not only learned about hastars, she had learned about leklon as well. They needed more care than sheron, but that was because they needed more room than just a field to graze in. Rhees and the other shepherds went into danger out in the open, not only from dragons or wild khehora, but from other people who would do harm to her.

Avani smiled as she noted down another sheave in her ledger. Perhaps she needed to learn more about the shepherds. It seemed like fun to go with them from time to time. Oh sure she would have her chores on the farm, but that would be managed.

She thought about also her tinkering. She was coming along in that as well. Shenra was entrusting to her the use of her one tool that made a tinker a tinker. She would be able to work on things by herself and finally get to work on projects to help her father out on the farm. Perhaps she would work on things that would help all farmers.

Avani’s thoughts turned to her heartache at the hands of her cousin. While she was sad it had happened, she knew that pumpkins would regrow next year when she planted them, and that her one invention, the waterwheel, had been left intact. She could forgive her cousin, he was mad at himself and mad at the world, not her. He had to find his own way as did she.

The thought that he had at least not gotten to her khehora egg made her smile and remember Honoka being born. Though she didn’t come into the world any way an orderite would, she was still Avani’s precious baby. While Honoka still needed to grow up, Avani would be there for her no matter what. She was the only thing she could think of a parent while Oblivion and his mate were not here to care for her.

Avani took a sip of water from a cup that a young ranch hand had given her. She smiled, feeling slightly warm in her cheeks. He was rather cute, and was just a few years older than her. That too had changed for her. While she found boys cute now, and worth giving a second look to at times, she knew she had her charges of Nix and Honoka to look after. She smiled shyly as she gave the cup back and declined another as some field workers had brought another sheave to the wagon.

Avani logged it in her ledger, and continued her work till her replacement came to relieve her so she could go home.

She took one last look out over the fields. The harvesters that had worked during the day were switching with another group so the harvest could continue during the night. The work would continue like this till the last grain was threshed and was delivered to the mill.

She would build a house for herself and Honoka she had decided, somewhere in the forest close to her secret lake. It wasn’t too far from her home so she could come and go there as she pleased, yet she could still have the privacy she needed to continue to raise Honoka. But first thing was first, she thought as she was helped down from the wagon, she needed to still grow up a little, and raise the funds. That was part of why she wanted to help with the harvest this year.

As she rode home on the docile hastar that her father let her ride, Avani smiled and thought of just how glad she was to have a family like hers. She chuckled, amused because she wondered just how happy she would feel once she had a family of her own.

With that, Avani started humming a harvest song her grandmother had taught her and rode home to a hot meal, hot bath, and a family she loved more than anything else.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date Posted: September 27, 2014
Words: 793

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 10:55 pm

~Growth!~
~Orakoir Honoka!~

Apple Blossom19

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Apple Blossom19

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Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 10:56 pm

~Crossed Paths~
~A Crossover RP~

~School Days ~
~Befriending the Earth~
~A Learning Solo~

Criani fluttered down into the small clearing that was where Avani’s house was. She loved the fact that her friend was within flying distance of her own cave. She landed as gracefully as she could in the small space, looking over the rather large house for a two-legger. She saw smoke coming out of the small pipe thing where she knew Avani cooked her food, and smiled in delight. Perhaps she had some sweet rolls she would care to part with.

She made her way to the large and strange back door and gently tapped the top of the entryway. Seconds later the top half of the door opened into a window into the back door. This amused her greatly every time she saw it, and so it was with a great smile she greeted the orange haired two-legger.

“Good Morning!” Avani said, “Just the khehora I was hoping to meet today.”

Avani shut the top of the door and seconds later she opened the whole door wide so the tall khehora could walk right in. Criani breathed in the smells of breakfast. Sometimes one had to appreciate the two-leggers for finding ways make raw meat very tasty.

“Would you like some breakfast?” Avani said going over to the oven, “I have extra sheron strips and some sweet rolls.”

Criani thanked whatever god created her good fortune for the day and said, “Sure! I’ll have some those!”

Avani placed some on a plate and placed it on the large round table in the middle of the rather large room. She then went over to the doorway that connected it to the living space and yelled out for Honoka and Nix. Criani popped some sweet rolls into her mouth and marveled at how grown up the little two-legger now was. And as she heard Honoka scamper down the stairs and appear into the room, she marveled at how big and grown up the once Orakoi had gotten.

“She’s gotten bigger.” Criani said as she saw the youngling scamper up to the same table Criani sat a, “Hello Honoka!”

Honoka smiled and waved a hand, her tail swishing on the floor behind her.

“Hi Cri!” said the little one. Criani smiled. The little one still had yet to grasp how to say her name.

“Yes. She has.” Avani said. Criani looked over at her friend as she heard something in her voice. It seemed like worry to her, but what would her friend worry about? She placed two plates on the table and “Here you go Honoka, Nix!”

Avani placed a small plate in front of the little fea and a normal plate in front of Honoka. Apparently Avani had given the khehora what the two-legger called “manner lessons”, for the little one didn’t gobble up her food as she used to do. She picked them up with a clawed hand and munched on sheron strips and what Criani guessed was what Avani called “scrambled eggs”. For that the little khehora used her long tongue and a piece of toasted bread. Criani chuckled at the way the little khehora had become used to the two-legger way of life.

“Eat up all you want Honoka.” Avani said smiling. She then turned to Criani, “Can I talk to you when you’re done.”

“Sure!” Criani said putting the last of her food in her mouth. She picked up a bowl of water Avani had gotten for her and used it to wash down the food. She then licked her lips, thanked the gods for the good food, and smiled, “All done now if it suits you.”

Avani laughed and said, “You didn’t have to do that!”

“It’s ok!” Criani reassured her.

She maneuvered around her spot to go back outside, and had to marvel at Avani’s foresight when she built this house to suit khehora’s as well as two leggers. Criani moved outside and turned back to Avani as she closed the backdoor.

Avani smiled at her, Criani noting something that looked something like sadness in her face for a moment. But Avani looked away and rubbed her arms.

“It’s a little hard to ask this Criani,” she said sounding sad. The orderite looked up at Criani and continued, “Mostly because Honoka is my baby and I wish I could teach her the things she needs to know.” She looked down at the ground for a moment and then looked back up, “Would you mind giving her lessons in magic? I mean, I don’t understand how to summon magic except for what my books tell me about orderite magic, but khehora magic is different.” She made a look on her face that looked like she was in pain, “I also don’t know that much about your culture and I want her to know, mostly because I think her father would want her to.” Avani sort of smiled then, “You don’t have to teach her, but I trust you, and I know you would do well by Honoka, just like you would your own hatchlings…”

Criani was speechless.

She moved towards her orderite friend and embraced her in a hug. Well, as much as a khehora could give to a two-legger.

Since the destruction of her clan and family, Criani had been roaming around the continent looking for some place to call home. It seemed that this two-legger accepted her as a part of her small family.

“I’d be honored to.” Criani said pulling away from Avani, “I’d treat her like I would a clan member or even a little sister.”

She watched Avani smile brightly, the smile she had come to associate with the orange haired girl, “Thank you Criani.”

She watched the young woman sigh and look a sight better than she had before this talk. Apparently this had been weighing on her mind for a time.

“When would you like to start her lessons?” Criani asked. Her days were usually spent hunting and flying around looking for more trinkets, so she was free any day.

“How about tomorrow?” Avani said sounding hopeful, “It would give Honoka some time to adjust to going to lessons and being away from me.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning then!” Criani said nodding.

Avani smiled and gave Criani a hug, and the big khehora beamed. As Avani let go Criani stepped back and flapped her wings taking off into the air and out of the little patch of forest.

She then went in search of a good place to start her lessons with Honoka.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Honoka was scared.

Her mama had told her that during the day, instead of going with her to her work, she was to go with Cri to learn how to use magic and other things.

Ever since she could remember, Honoka had always with her mother, or that her mother was always nearby if she needed her. Even though she felt safe with Cri, Honoka still wanted to be with her mother and Nix.

“Are you ok Honoka?” said Cri. Honoka looked back to the blue khehora and felt a little intimidated.

Honoka tried her best to sink a little lower into the ground. Perhaps if she tried hard enough she would sink right into it.

She heard Cri chuckle and then saw her lower her face right down to her’s. Their noses nearly touched and Honoka almost went cross-eyed.

Then Cri licked her nose.

Honoka couldn’t help but laugh. She backed up and smiled a bit at her friend.

“Why here?” Honoka asked sitting up and curious as to why she was here.

Cri sat up too and smiled back, “Your mother wanted me to teach you how to be a khehora, how to use your magic and teach you draconic. That’s the language we share with our dragon kin."

“Kin? Family?” Honoka said as she tilted her head.

Cri chuckled.

“Perhaps we should begin with the story of how khehora’s came to be.” She said smiling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Honoka sat at the lake edge later in the day when Cri left to get some lunch for the both of them. She sat on her thinking rock, a nice rounded rock that she could lay on and warm herself after swimming. But it was rather too cold for swimming today. Besides, she had a lot to think about.

She sat looking into the water thinking about the story of how khehoras came to be and wondered, if Mama wasn’t a khehora, which she wasn’t of course, where did she come from? Was she made from magic too?

She couldn’t understand it. And what about her papa? Mama said he was as black as night, with a red hue, and eyes the same as Honoka. But he had the softest feathers she’d ever felt, where Honoka didn’t have any. Mama said she always thought Honoka probably took after her papa’s mate.

Honoka sighed. She didn’t know about this magic stuff either. Cri said they would get to that after lunch.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“All people in this world are bound to magic.” Cri said.

Honoka watched as Cri closed her eyes and water from the lake came out of it and to her opened hand. Cri opened her eyes as the water formed a sphere levitating her hand, bulging a bit as it moved around. Honoka looked in wonder at it.

“We can call upon it to aid us in many ways.” Cri made the ball of water move from one hand to the other. “Though different magic can do different things. My magic, for example, is water magic, and can heal people as well as harm them.”

Cri then moved the ball of water over the lake and let it fall in with a sploosh. Honoka watched, awed by her manipulation of the element.

“I can magic?" Honoka said looking back at Cri. She was frustrated because she couldn’t ask what she wanted because she didn’t know the words, “I am water?”

Criani chuckled and said, “I do not know what element you are, but that is up to you to find out.”

“How?!”

“You must listen to the magic inside of you and see what it feels like.” Cri leaned down her head and nuzzled her, “You just have to see what it is that feels right to you.”

Honoka nuzzled her friend back, determined now to see what magic she could do!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

During her free time during lunch over the next few days, Honoka sat on her thinking rock in deep thought. It was not the thought of words, but the examination of her surroundings. Cri had said that her surroundings would lead her to what magic she could do, so here she was trying to feel them.

Mama had a day off and so did Honoka, so she took off into the woods by herself as she usually did. She wasn’t allowed past the lake, and had no desire to go farther than that, as long as she could be on her thinking rock. She was trying to do as Cri said and not think about anything but the feelings around her. She tried hard, yet there seemed to be a muddle of feelings there, not one thing that felt right.

Honoka spread out on her belly, feeling the warmth of the sun that had infused the rock. She gripped the sides of the rock smiling as she felt the familiar feeling of rightness.

She tilted her head quickly at that thought. The rock felt right. Perhaps that was what she was looking for?

She probed that feeling seeking out something, she wasn’t sure…

And there it was, something familiar, something right, something that she could understand without words. She prodded the feeling mentally a bit, and it seemed to be speaking to her through her feelings… It was saying nice things and wanting to be a friend.

Honoka held out a mental feeling of wanting to be a friend too, and through their emotions she was told what to do to make things work, to bend the Earth to her will.

Honoka opened her eyes and smiled at what was before her. A small clump of forest floor that had not been there before was poking above the fallen leaves.

“Mama! Mama!” Honoka said scrambling from her rock, “Magic! Magic! I did!”

Honoka couldn’t wait to show her Mama what she had done! She also couldn’t wait to learn more about using the magic she had discovered!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date Posted: November 26, 2014
Words: 2, 073
Criani's words: 1,086
Honoka's words: 987

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 10:58 pm

~School Days ~
~Spreading Your Wings~
~A Learning Solo~

Honoka followed Cri up the path. She looked around at the unfamiliar area noting the trees and smells. She wished she could go wander a bit, but she knew her teacher wouldn’t want to waste time.

They had been gone from home for a few days. This was the first time Honoka had slept away from mama and Nix, and she didn’t like it. Though she had Cri near, and on occasion snuggled next to her for comfort, it wasn’t the same as being at home.

“All right Honoka. We’re here.”

Honoka, not looking where she was going, ran into Cri’s hind leg as she didn’t know the adult had stopped. After shaking her head and picking herself up she looked around. They were on the top of a cliff, not too high up, but still rather high, and when Honoka looked below, there was a bank of fresh snow!

“I jump?” Honoka said her tail swishing in excitement.

“We are here so you can learn how to fly.” Cri said smiling, “The goal is not to fall.”

“Oooooh.” Honkoa said softly. Her tail stopped swishing, nervousness replacing excitement.

“First we will begin with the basics of flying.” Cri said spreading out her wings, “How to get one’s self off the ground. Watch me a few times then try yourself.”

Honoka watched as Cri flapped her wings and slowly, but surely, she levitated off the ground and then into the trees. Cri landed in front of Honoka and then raised her eye brows.

“You don’t have to get it on your first try.” She said nuzzling Honoka affectionately. “It takes a while to get it.”

Cri stepped back and began to flap her wings again, and this time Honoka joined her. She flapped them in long strokes just like Cri did, but as Cri rose off the ground, Honoka couldn’t do it! She tried flapping harder, but that just tuckered out her wings.

Honoka fell down in the snow, cold penetrating her. But her wings hurt from all that flapping.

“It will take time.” Cri said as she lowered herself back to the ground. She sat down and nuzzled Honoka, “I’ll go get dinner and we’ll try again tomorrow.”

Cri then took off through silently through the trees. Honoka made her way to one of the large evergreen trees that had branches creating a shelter. She climbed under the branches and cleared away whatever snow was near the base, shoving it outside. The floor was cold, but it was snow free.

She laid down and thought about trying to fly. Placing her head on her front legs, Honoka sighed. It would take a long time before she could do what Criani could. But she could at least start practicing!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Over the next few days, Cri showed Honoka how to glide using her wings, how to land, and exercises to help the wings strengthen up. When Cri went hunting for their meals, Honoka would practice taking off. She couldn’t do it, but she knew she had to keep trying.

After about two weeks at the snowy cliff, and a few snowfalls later, Honoka woke early to begin her exercises. She felt a little more confident about her ability to fly as she had gotten the hang of not falling while gliding off the cliff and actually landing. Well, as best she could. She got tangled in her feet most the time, but Cri said she was good enough and she would improve in time. But the takeoff from standing still and not jumping off a high ledge was still a challenge.

Honoka closed her eyes as she finished her warm ups, stretched her wings, and breathed in deeply the crisp winter air. It felt so good!

Cri was off hunting for breakfast, so she would practice her flapping now.

She closed her eyes, placed her wing out and ready, and started to flap in a steady rhythm like Cri had showed her. Honoka felt the same urge to lift her chest as she flapped, as she had so many other times, so why not do it now?

Honoka lifted her chest and pushed off the ground with her hind legs, her wings hurting, but still flapping. She closed her eyes tightly, hoping she could finally do it!

“Honoka!”

Honoka opened her eyes and saw Cri. She stopped flapping, but the oddest thing… She fell!

Honoka shook her head and sat stunned. How could she fall?

“Honoka!” Cri called again. This time the older khehora was by her side in an instant, “You were flying!”

“I-I did?” Honoka said tilting her head in confusion.

“Yes you did little one!” Cri said nuzzling her. “But you shouldn’t fly with your eyes closed! Let me check you over, that was a pretty long fall.”

Honoka smiled and let Cri check her wings and limbs for breaks. Nothing hurt but her bottom though.

“Now, you still have to practice taking off.” Cri said when she handed Honoka her meal. Cri scrunched her face at it, and wished she could heat up the raw meat. But it was what was available. “Just because you flew once doesn’t mean you know absolutely how.”

“I know.” Honoka said tearing into the raw meat. It wasn’t bad, but she liked the meat mama cooked best.

She heard Cri chuckle and felt her nuzzle her again. Honoka looked up questioningly at her friend.

“I’m so proud.” Cri said with a grin, “Your mama will be too!”

Honoka hadn’t thought about that. Now she was more determined to practice and learn more before going home!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date Posted: January 15, 2015
Words: 935

Apple Blossom19

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Apple Blossom19

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Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 10:58 pm

~A Rare Gem~
~"From Whom All Blessings Flow"~
~A Solo RP~

“When we hunt, Honoka, we try to use all the aspects of the animal that remains.” Cri said as she stripped the fur off the animal she had just killed. “We waste nothing, we burry the bones and innards out of respect.”

Honoka watched with wide eyes. Khehora’s did this? She tilted her head and wondered still, what did one do with the fur?

“Fur used for what?” Honoka said pointing at the freshly skinned hide.

“We tan the skins after washing the fur and use them in our dens and nests for warmth during the cold months.” Cri set aside the skin and started cutting up the meat with a sharp claw, “They are also good for trade with the two-legers to get some coin or something we need.”

“Mama only like khehora here.” Honoka said scrunching up her nose, “Maybe others who work with her.”

“Your mother is an exception.” Criani chuckled as she placed the cut up meat into a leather bag she had brought, “But there are others in the coastal villages that would trade.”

Cri then called for her attention as she dug a deep hole where she deposited the bones, innards, and other things she hadn’t taken from the carcass. After she covered them, she prayed to Abronaxus for the soul of the deceased animal.

“Why pray? Why Abro..Abronatus?”

“Ab-ro-nax-us.” Cri corrected. “I pray to him because he is the god who gave life to the world, and it is his will to take it as he pleases.” She pulled tight on the string of the leather bag that held the food and skin and said, “Though I pray mostly to Seren because she is the god I was born under.”

“Born under?” Cri said tilting her head again.

Cri chuckled and placed a hand on Honoka’s head, “My aren’t we curious today?” She withdrew her hand and slung the meat bag over her shoulder and said, “I was born here in Serenia in a valley near one of her great lakes. I worship her most because Serenia is my home and I love it.”

With that, she started off towards Honoka’s home. It was the end of a hunting lesson, one that made Honoka think once again on how different she and her mama were.

Did all khehora worship the different gods like Cri did? Her mama said Seren was the one god that should be revered above all, though she heard her mother’s prayers to both her and Abronaxus at times.

What was the right thing to do? She was a Khehora, but she only knew what her mama and Cri were teaching her.

Honoka wasn’t feeling hungry and just pawed at her food at dinner that night. Her mother must have seen her, for when she approached her as she was laying in front of the fire, she seemed worried.

“Are you all right my love?” she said as she sat down next to Honoka.

Honoka shook her head and moved so she could place her head in her mother’s lap.

“What god do I pray?” she asked her mother, “Cri pray to Abro…Abro… Abronaxus and Seren… But you pray to Seren. Who I pray to?”

“Ah.” Her mama said. Honoka felt her mother pet her head and rub her horns in the affectionate way she always did. Honoka felt more at ease just from this, “You pray to any god you wish my love.” Her mother lifted Honoka’s face so they faced eye to eye, “It matters not but what you think is right.” Her mama smiled and said, “I pray to Seren because she is the light of the world, and I would follow no one else’s orders. I occasionally pray to Abnoraxus because he is the father of life, and sometimes… Well, sometimes I think only he could help me bear a particular problem.” Her mama kissed her nose and said, “But you must do what your heart thinks is right.”

Honoka nodded and then laid her head back on her mother’s lap, her mother resuming her petting and rubbing. Her thoughts drifted between the different gods, and thought about who she would pray too.

But soon, she came to a conclusion that the problem required more than just a few hours thought, and gave in to cuddling with her mother in front of the fire. Sometimes things were just fine the way they were in the moment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date Posted: March 30, 2015
Words: 740

Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:53 pm

~A Rare Gem~
~Who Am I?~
~A Solo RP~

“Are you paying attention Honoka?”

Honoka looked up at Cri and ducked her head at the raised eyebrow she was giving her. Honoka had been woolgathering again, her mind wondering over something that had recently been on her mind.

“No. Sorry Cri.” She said smiling sheepishly.

“What’s wrong?” Cri asked lowering her head to Honoka’s eyelevel, “You seemed to be lost in thought.”

Honoka was silent for a moment. This particular thought she hadn’t even asked mama about. But, Honoka thought as she looked into Cri’s eyes, perhaps Cri would be able to answer it better than mama.

“What does it mean to be a khehora?”

Honoka watched as Cri blinked, pulled her head back, and blink again. Honoka turned her head to the side, wondering what Cri was doing.

“Um, well…” Honoka watched Cri place a hand on the back of her head and scratch. She waited patiently, though she didn’t like that one bit. But the question had been on her mind for a while now. Cri looked at her, and Honoka looked back. “Well… There are wild khehora, and bonded, and that makes us stand out among the races, but each race has their own talents that not even khehora have.”

“No.” Honoka said shaking her head. That wasn’t what was bothering her, “What makes me khehora?” she furrowed her brow and said, “Why am different from mama?”

“It depends on what you mean.” Cri said. She lowered her hear down near Honoka again and said, “There are the differences you can see, and those that you can’t” Honoka thought about that for a moment. She then felt Cri lick her cheek and she smiled up at her teacher. “It only matters what is in your heart.”

“My heart?”

“Yes.” Cri smiled down at her and said, “We are different in race and customs, and that makes us khehora in the sense of a race. But, I am sure, you can be as wild as you can be, and it wouldn’t matter to those you love who or what you are.”

“I am Khehora, but I can be like mama? No matter I look like khehora?”

“You don’t have to be like the other khehora of the world. You should be who you are Honoka.” Cri said leaning down to nuzzle her, “I am a khehora, and though you lack some skills one raised in the wild would know by now, you look and act just fine for me.”

“Would mama be mad if I live outside?”

“I think she wouldn’t want you away from her at your age.” Cri said chuckling, “But I am sure she would understand if you wanted to when you were older.”

Honoka thought about that. Her mother was different, and yet Honoka knew she loved her very much. She tucked her in at night, and gave her good food, and even sang sometimes during storms. Even Nix loved her, sleeping in her room during the storms, snuggling close, and couldn’t even talk!

Perhaps Cri was right. Perhaps being born a khehora didn’t mean she couldn’t love her family just because they had two legs, or were small enough to let them ride on her head. Perhaps it meant that she could love them more.

Whatever the reason, Criani had called her attention back to the lesson at hand. One thing Honoka did know was that, whether two-legger or four-legger, one had to sit through lessons one didn’t really want to listen to.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date Posted: March 30. 2015
Words: 581

Apple Blossom19

Eloquent Exhibitionist

Offline

Apple Blossom19

Eloquent Exhibitionist

Offline

Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:56 pm

~Crossed Paths~
~A Crossover RP~

~A Rare Gem~
~Who Your Friends Are~
~A Solo RP~

Trigger Warning: Alludes to violence and upsetting content. Read at your own discretion.

Avani plopped down into the chair in the foreman’s office, exasperated with some of the ranch hands on her father’s ranch

“I can’t understand why they still won’t listen to me.” Avani said to her boss, Mr. Danack, “I’ve been working here the past five years and proved I work just as hard as them.”

“Some people just think a woman’s place is still in the kitchen.” Mr. Danack said sitting into his chair behind the desk, “Not that I think that way, but it’s the mentality of some of these roaming ranch hands.” He lifted an eyebrow at Avani, “You are talking about those new hands aren’t you?”

“Yes.” Avani said scrunching up her face and folding her arms. She glared at them and said, “I guess there‘s a problem with some people.”

Avani didn’t see it, but Mr. Danack smiled softly at the young woman he had watched grow up from a young girl. There was much in this world that she didn’t know about and most if it was the prejudice that was breed into it. He hoped she would never see the worst of it for herself.

Avani walked out of the mercantile her arms caring all the packages she and her parents had needed from town. There were some things a farm could not produce for free, so this once a month trip to town was needed to keep things in stock.

Avani placed the crate into the back of the small wagon and then looked around the square. After purloining their peppermint sticks from the store, Honoka and Nix ran back outside to do Seren knew what. Luckily she found her charges where they normally were, sitting at the fountain in the middle of the village. She went over to them smiling and sat with them a while. Nix ran about in the fountain, as Honoka raced along the edge after her. While Avani didn’t mind her child getting wet, she did appreciate that she didn’t have to dry Honoka off before leaving. Nix would be a challenge herself!

Honoka scrambled over to Avani as she sat down on the rim of the fountain. She cuddled up next to her as Avani rubbed her horns. Nix then came next to Avani on her other side and shook off the water from the fountain. Avani laughed as she tried to block the flying water and then petted the damp fea.

“Ok, time to go! But I have to dry you first Nix or you’ll catch cold.”

Avani picked up the small fea and took her over to the wagon, Honoka following at her heals.

Denir watched the young woman with orange hair as she walked towards the fountain. Hidden in the shadows between the livery stable and the tavern, he took great care when he first spotted her so that he could observe the girl and not be seen.

Emotions flowed through him as he watched the girl in the square. Why was she wearing boy’s breaches? Why did she have a Khehora youngling with her? Why was she not at home? These questions made him angry as he asked them in his mind. He shuddered as he watched the woman rub the horns of the youngling. Perhaps she was bonded? All the more horrific in his mind. He shuddered again at the thoughts that flowed through his mind.

“Patience,” he said as he watched the young woman dry off the little blue and white animal. He watched the young woman more closely, “Patience.”

Denir bided his time waiting in the village. However his orange blossom did not show. It was now time to change tactics. So he haunted the tavern, keeping an ear turned to conversation about village life. It was about two weeks since he last saw the young woman, when a bunch of ranch hands came into the tavern to drink. With as loud and boisterous these men were it wasn’t hard to overhear the conversations.

“Just wish the little b***h would leave us be.”

Denir found that comment interesting. Sitting at the bar, he raised his drink and listened in on the conversation the man next to him was having with his companion.

“Only reason she gets to boss us around is she’s the boss’ daughter.” Said the man. “Shame such a fine man would let his daughter be running around with men all day.”

“I feel sorry for the poor man, must have a harpy of a wife if his daughter is that way.” A second man said.

There was laughter at the joke. Denir was about to dismiss the conversation when he heard what was next.

“Taming that shrew will be difficult if she did marry.” Said the first man. “Though she is nice to look at, seems to be her only redeeming quality.” He sighed and said, “Beautiful creature that orange haired green eyed vixen.” Denir watched the man take a drink through the mirror behind the bar, then wipe his mouth with his sleeve, “Wearing breaches like that, wouldn’t let any female of mine wear those.”

Denir smiled as he took a sip of his ale. This was the information he needed. Perhaps she wasn’t the one, but it was a good lead. He had time to kill after all.

But where did this vixen live?

“Better not drink too much Henli.” Said the second man, “You know how Mr. Autumntree dislikes bar fights.”

“Pfffht.” The first man said, “Another thing I dislike about this job. If I didn’t need it, I would leave now.”

The two laughed and then had another drink. Denir smiled and sipped at his drink leisurely. No need to rush. He would get the location of the farm from the ranch hands as soon as they were good and sotted. Then he would arrive at the ranch in the next few days to apply for a job. There he could watch for his little flower and wait for the right time.

Avani wiped her brow as she stood from planting the grass seeds in the sheron and leklon fields. This needed to be done every year to ensure the best grass feed for the next three seasons. She joined the men she was in charge of to prove that she expects just as much work from them as she does from herself. If they chose to slack off, then she would report them and let her boss handle it. Many of the ones she reported disliked her greatly for that and said nasty things about her because of it. Avani just chalked it up to them being lazy and wanting to get paid for that.

Sighing and hefting up the seed bag that was strapped across her chest, she went back to work spreading the grass seed along the path she took. It didn’t really matter as they had just hired more men to replace the ones her father had told to get off the land because of their laziness. They were paid, but still, they seemed to be the only kind of men her father fired.

Avani hadn’t met some of the men, but most seemed ok with a woman working with them. A few men had been placed under different Jr. foremen, while a couple had been placed under her and were working with her today. She just hoped that they didn’t slack off.

Denir had waited a few days after learning where his little orange blossom worked to go and ask for work. He was fortunate to get a position on the ranch where he could watch the comings and goings of all on the farm. He had learned that not only did his blossom work on the farm, she was a low level foreman. She gave the orders. This information just served to anger him more, and fuel the desire for him to teach her a lesson she wouldn’t forget anytime soon.

He still had to find out where she lived on the vast ranch. She didn’t live in the barracks with the ranch hands, nor did she seem to live in the house. He had gone around the house at night peeking into windows and hadn’t seen her anywhere her parents were.

One day, as Denir was assigned to rake hay out of the loft for the animals below. He stopped raking when he heard a woman’s voice in the barn below.

“Ah, it’s time to go home now.” Said the voice, “It’s almost the end of one more day, and I need to start dinner.”

Denir peeked over the side of the loft, and his emotions leaped up like a stoked flame. It was his little orange blossom talking to a hastar. She was untying the reigns of the beast, and placing a foot in the foot hold to mount the animal. He felt desire for her rise as he watched her swing a leg over.

“Patience.” He said watching her leave the barn.

He now knew that she left each day to go home. It had to be near. He would follow her, not tonight though, to find her house.

Yes, things were falling into place…

Denir had watched the barn each evening. Around the same time, his orange blossom would go to the barn, return with her hastar, and head off into the woods. All he had to do was wait till he had a day off, then he would follow her to her house.

Many forays into the woods in the direction she took had ultimately led to him getting lost. It frustrated him that this wasn’t as easy as he first thought. But then, the only thing that kept him going was the impertinence she showed by coming back to the farm to boss people around. And sometime in breaches. That ranked him even more.

But the day came and Denir waited patiently for his orange blossom to come to the barn for the night. He would follow as close as he could so he could find her house. Once he found it, then he could make definite plans.

She came in her usual way, talking to the stupid animal that would carry her back to her home. He hid in the loft of the barn, waiting for his chance to follow. As she exited the barn with her hastar, he waited a while after she had shut it to follow on foot out the main door. He saw her ride into the woods and then followed soon after, keeping a distance behind and to the side in the deep brush of the forest off the path. He had known how to keep his distance, the one thing he had learned over the years.

After following her for some time, Denir, who was marking the way with cloth scraps, saw just how deep into the forest her home was. So perfect it was for him. No one would hear her screams. He was just getting annoyed at the fact that it seemed forever to get to her house, when she entered a copse of woods, nearly disappearing. Denir grumbled and followed her through, not expecting the large monstrosity of a house she had here in the woods.

Hiding in the copse, Denir watched as she placed the hastar she was riding into the barn, and return to unlock the door to the house. As she went in Denir didn’t stay to watch her anymore. He knew where she lived now, it was time to make plans.

Waiting till pay day, Denir went to get his pay first. Nothing wrong with fleecing her father a bit he reasoned. Anyway, his reason for being first was to wait for a couple of men he knew would love an opportunity to teach the b***h a lesson.

He didn’t have to wait long to see the two who had been at the bar complaining about her. He smiled and followed them into town and into the bar. Happy men made good marks.

“What do ya mean 'get even'?" Said one man.

“I mean what I said.” Denir said spreading his hands out and open, “Teach her a lesson about being a woman.”

The two men eyed each other. Denir lifted his eyebrow.

“What ya have planned?”

Denir smiled. These were his kind of men.

It was another quiet, yet cold night. The snows would come soon, though the autumn rains would start before that. She smiled and then went back inside from coming out of the barn. The hastar, sheron, and leklan she kept in there were snug and fed for the night, and it was almost time for a little khehora to go to bed as well.

Avani smiled as she looked in from the side door that led to the barn through a small walk way. Honoka and Nix were playing by the fire.

“Almost time for bed Honoka.” She said taking off her boots and coat by the front door.

“Awww… five more minutes Mama?” Honoka said looking up from Nix who was nudging a small leather ball along waiting for Honoka’s attention.

“Five more, no less.” Avani said smiling.

Honoka smiled and thumped her tail, then went back to Nix.

As Avani turned from the door, something caught her eye through the window. It was something that flashed in the darkness, something that shouldn’t be there. She looked out the window and saw the flash again after a few moments. Avani shut the drapes on all the windows after that.

It was the flash of eyeshine in a hastar.

She knew what it was because she had seen it before. The thing that scared her was that no wild hastars came around her house at night anymore.

“Honoka.” She said as she shut the curtains on her front windows, “Do you remember when we talked about a plan to escape the house in case someone didn’t like us?”

“Yes Mama.” She said as Avani looked over to her two charges. “Me and Nix go to the barn and run to Grandmama and Grandpapa’s house and never stop.”

“Good girl.” Avani said smiling. She heard hastar hooves and shouting, “Go now.”

Honoka stared at her then grabbed Nix up. She went to the door that Avani just came through, and watched them leave. She then turned as someone pounded on the door. Avani set her jaw and went to hold it shut as long as she could while her children escaped.

Honoka and Nix went out to the barn and in through the small door that Avani had made just for them. Honoka shut it and then put Nix down.

“Mama needs help.” Honoka said to the little fea in draconic. Honoka had discovered that Nix knew some draconic words so she spoke out her plan to her in that language. “Go get Cri.”

Along with teaching the fea some words, she taught her who was named what and was surprised the fea knew her name, but never knew mama’s. But the fea knew Cri, so Honoka wasn’t worried about Nix not knowing what she meant.

Nix chirped and chimed disgruntledly.

“No. Go get Cri, she can help Mama, I’ll go help mama more till you get her ok?”

The fea sighed and voiced her compliance.

They went out the special door in the back of the barn and parted ways.

Nix into the forest, and Honoka to the front of the house.

“Well now,” said the man who seemed to be the leader of the three men who had broken into Avani’s house, “you seem to have rather large house here. Is it so you can raise your pigeon all up and into a killer?"

Avani prudently said nothing. The leader smirked.

“Not a talker I see Ms. Autumntree,” Said the leader, “I’d rather hear you scream anyway.”

He nodded to the other men who were holding Avani’s arms, rather tightly in her honest opinion. At the sudden movement of the two men throwing her the ground on her face, she grunted and tried to look up at the leader. He seemed to be smiling as he moved closer, so close Avani could see the caked mud on his boots. He bent down and pulled her head up by the long braid she had. She was forced to look at his face as he smiled and placed his fingers on the side of her check in a caress. Avani gritted her teeth silently daring him to put his fingers closer so she could bite them.

“My sweet little orange blossom,” he said, “You are sorely in need of a lesson in how to be a proper orderite woman.”

He let go of her braid and let her head hit the floor. Avani grunted but didn’t miss his next order.

“Turn her over.”

But she saw movement in the doorway that the men had crashed through. Avani hoped it was her father or one of the farm hands.

Honoka peeked into the house from the broken door. She sniffed the air and smelt bad air.

“Bad smell.” She thought.

She saw two men holding down mama’s arms and one standing above her head. They were not paying attention to the doorway. Honoka smiled bearing her teeth. She pulled on every lesson that Criani had taught her about being sneaky and crawled along the floor up to the worst bad smelling man there was.

Honoka had a plan too.

Nix flew through the woods smelling her way to Criani. The khehora’s scent was alive and fresh since she had just left her mistress’ house.

It wasn’t long till she had caught up the the blue adult and started chirping and chiming in happiness she wasn’t going to have to search for long. The khehora seemed to hear her, for she turned around in question to Nix’s happy chatter.

“Nix?” Criani said sniffing the air, “What’s wrong?”

Nix chattered quickly, having to repeat herself sometimes because she was too excited to slow down.

Criani gave a loud roar in what seemed like anger and took off towards home. Nix smiled and happily followed Criani.

One day, Honoka had been playing in the hay loft of Grandpapa’s barn. She had stopped playing as she heard voices and leaned over to watch two men laughing over another’s misfortune. He had been holding the space between his legs and swerving around trying not to fall. Apparently the man had just been kicked there by a nasty hastar he had been training. That night at dinner she asked at the table what had happened to cause the man such pain.

Her mother had just stared at her in what seemed like shock, while her grandparents had chuckled at the question. It was her grandfather who answered that area was very, very tender for a man and that getting kicked there was rather painful.

While Honoka then dismissed the whole incident, she had never forgotten about it.

So when he saw the very bad smelling mad standing over her mama, Honoka’s smile got bigger as an idea formed.

“Ah, my little orange blossom, you don’t know how long I have dreamed of this moment over the past month.” The man said standing over Avani. Avani just glared into his face. He smiled, “Ah you are angry. Don’t worry, you’ll soon feel different.”

Avani noticed movement in her peripheral vision. She felt fear at who she saw had come to the house.

It happened all at once.

Honoka bit into the man’s privets, the man screamed as if he was being gelded, the two men who had been holding Avani’s arms down jumped to help their leader, but stopped as a roar shook the house, and Criani came flying through the door, breaking windows and the front of her house.

Bedlam broke loose in Avani’s house.

However it was the distraction Avani needed.

“Get out Honoka!” Avani screamed as she tried to get up.

After another large scream from the leader, apparently one last bite from Honoka, the little khehora bolted out of the broken front of the house, followed a chattering Nix.

Criani lashed her tail across the room and hit one of the other men in the stomach, surprising him as he tried to take a blade to the large animal. He went flying across the room and landed with his arm in the fireplace. He screamed, probably as loud as his leader when he was bit, as he pulled out his arm running for the hole in the house. Criani, who had taken the other lackey by one hand and threw him across the back wall, partially breaking it. He didn’t move after that.

In Criani’s other hand, she held the man who Honoka had bit. After regaining her other hand, she lifted him up by his shirt with both hands. The man, who was holding himself and whimpering, blanched as Criani roared rather loudly in his face. Avani saw the fear there. Not a lot, but fear none the less.

Criani then threw him out of the house through the large hole and allowed him to hit the ground like he was a rag doll.

But he quickly recovered and took off running into the forest. Criani was distracted by the decision of going after that man or the one who was burned.

She must have come back to reality for a moment, for she went back inside to Avani who was trying to put out a fire started by one of the lamps that had been knocked over in the fighting and was starting to burn up the curtains of the side windows.

Avani watched as she quickly summoned water, perhaps from the well outside the kitchen door, into the house placing it over all fire she could find, even the one in the fireplace. After replacing the water back outside, Avani watched as she plucked the water off of the wet spots of her house.

“You, are coming with me to your parents.” She stated going to the back wall to gather the knocked out man there. “I do hope Honoka is there.”

Avani smiled and gladly followed Criani out of the damaged house.

Avani met her father, as well as a whole host of ranch hands following him, on her way out of the forest. Criani, foregoing her shyness around two-leggers tossed the lackey into a tree and said that she would now go after the other two since Avani was safe. She suggested that some of the men go to guard Avani’s house overnight since there was a rather large hole in the front. She also said the others were welcomed to follow her, but reminded them she followed no two-legger laws about taking prisoners.

After Criani took her leave with the ranch hands, Avani’s father hoisted her onto his hastar, and she leaned into his back as they took off for home.

The trial of and the two men who had broken into Avani’s house was the sensation of the year in the little village near her home.

It got juicier as the guardians showed up looking for the man. He was wanted for two murders, one, not only a guardian herself, but the daughter of one Aevah Avi’s personal guards. Word was among them that the leader was out for blood on this case. After being found guilty in Avani’s village, he was carted off to the Ashen City for justice there.

A personal letter to Avani, she received a few months later from Aevah Avi herself, assured her that Denir Wildfield, found guilty and on a plea from the father of the dead girl, was now a permanent resident of the heaviest guarded cells in the Citadel.

Avani just threw the letter into the flames of the fire in her parent’s house, having put the whole thing behind her.

In fact, Avani had moved on from the very next day after the whole episode.

She had found it strange that day when she woke up and put on some of her mother’s clothes, that the ranch seemed oddly quiet. Only the noises of animals drifted to the front porch. Even her mother wasn’t around, having left breakfast for her in the oven.

Honoka, who had ran like the wind to her parent’s house after biting the “bad smelling man” and alerting the ranch to the problem, had been spoiled beyond rotten by both grandmother and grandfather. Nix also got spoiled as much as well for her part in getting Criani. She stood by Avani looking up at her, Nix riding on the youngling’s head.

“Well, let’s go see the damage.” She said smiling down at Honoka.

As they walked through the forest to their house, she heard voices coming from there, lots of voices. Avani was curious, but cautious after her recent encounter.

As she walked into the clearing, she saw all of her father’s ranch hands, her mother and father, and Criani milling about the yard. Her mother was serving food to the men, currently handing Criani a plate of food laden much like Avnai’s breakfast had been. The khehora, who was lying down near her mother, took it with a smile and happy crow of delight, picking off the plate with as pretty manners as a noble orderite. All of this support shown to her in front of her damaged house, a canvas covering the gaping hole in front where the door and windows had been.

It seemed her mother enjoyed the fact a full grown khehora would like her cooking as much as Honoka. But before she could stop her, Honoka rushed up to her grandmother to beg some treats, thus announcing Avani’s presence.

The conversations of the ranch hands who were gathered together near a workbench. They turned and stood silent as they saw Avani walk forward. All of them nodded to her, some pulling on their caps or forelocks. They had been the ones from the city she knew of course, she knew all the men except the newer ones. However, she did know city customs, and that custom she knew was a show of respect, though was spared for no one but their betters or important women. No one before had ever done that for her.

She saw a figure bending over the bench and looking at papers there. Avani smiled as she recognized Shenra’s person, also the habit she had of being so absorbed in something she didn’t notice her surroundings and the goings on of others. Avani could only guess that those were the plans of her house… her now damaged house.

Nodding with a smile to the ranch hands, Avani made her way to where her family stood, Honoka trying to sneak another sweet roll.

“Hello dear!” her mother said swatting Honoka’s hand away, however Honoka ran off with a sweet roll anyway, “Would you like more breakfast?”

“Ish good!” Criani said with her full mouth and an empty plate in her hand, which she presented to Avani’s mother for more.

Avani smiled at her friend and then looked back to her mother who was joined by her father. They both smiled at her, and Avani approached them with building emotions.

“Ah Avani girl.” Her father said placing a hand on her head, “We all care ya know. I told the ones who wished to go because of any dislike they felt towards you to go, and only a few left.” He smiled down at her and said, “No worry about chores now, we are planning how to rebuild. Shenra has looked over the place and said it can be managed. We might have to pull out some of the upper floor, but it can be saved.”

“The wood will be free!” spoke up someone from near Shenra. Avani looked and saw the owner of the lumber mill, a rotund man with a balding head and a mustache move forward and speak up. “The windows will be discounted, I talked to Mr. Mr. Hodol said that while it’s too expensive to give for free, he will reduce the price by more than half.” The mill owner stroked the ends of his mustache smiling, “Can’t help being in trouble dearie.” He frowned a bit then smiled saying, “Though it’s a trouble to get the goods here, I’ll do it free of charge as well.”

“I con help weth hat.” Said Criani’s voice. She had just finished her second plate. She swallowed and said, “Just drop it off at the farm and I’ll fly it all here.”

The mill owner looked a litter nervous, but nodded. Avani smiled, it seems Criani had allowed these people to see that at least she was a khehora to be trusted.

She turned back to her father and hugged him burring herself into his fresh smelling shirt. She cried a bit at all the love from friends she never even knew she had. She felt her father stroke her hair and comfort her, and felt her mother touch her shoulder.

“Oh!” Avani heard Shenra’s voice say, “You’re here! Good! Here are the plans Avani let’s go over a few things I’ve added.”

Avani laughed. Her friend was so oblivious at times. Shenra’s announcement helped her to stop crying, and all negative emotion flee from her heart, and she wiped her face on her father’s offered sleeve smiling.

“Let’s get to work!” Avani said smiling at her friends.

A cheer went up from those gathered, a roar from Criani and Honoka, and chattering from Nix as she flapped up to Avani’s shoulder. Avani smiled. At least she never, ever, had to doubt who her true friends were.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date Posted: March 30, 2015
Words: 4,959

Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 9:32 pm

~Crossed Paths~
~A Crossover RP~

~A Rare Gem~
~Light on the Darkest Day~
~A Solo RP~

Avani looked at all the Solstice candles in the store windows. She wished she could afford one of the prettier ones for her home this year as it was the first solstice she would be spending there. However, with her newfound freedom and independence from her parents, the responsibilities of being an adult and mother kept her from her wishes.

Avani sighed and opened the door to the mercantile knowing she could only afford the most basic candle this year due to her payments she still had to make on her land and the cost of building her house. She thanked the gods that both the owners of the land office and construction company knew her and her family and gave her leeway on her payments. Even the bonus her father gave all his employees every year would go straight to the payments. She had just enough of her regular salary for bare necessities she needed from the mercantile. Until her urruu’s started laying eggs enough to help with credit at the shop it would be cash on the barrel.

But one always made time for children, and it was her first solstice away from home.

She, Honoka, and Nix could have a solstice with at least the big candle for Solstice Night couldn’t they?

It was coins well spent for a little cheer.

“I’m home Honoka!”
Avani opened the front door and was greeted by Nix and Honoka both excited to see her. Avani laughed as she made her way to the kitchen as both nudged forward to sniff and welcome her home.

As she placed her packages on the counters and put away her purchases, Honoka chatted about the lesson that Criani had given her that day. Even in her broken sentences, Avani could tell she was getting better at speaking Magescican, and wondered how her Draconian was coming along.

“Cri said she would come this week.” Honoka said, “She said that she wanted to tell you how I am in lessons.” Honoka frowned a little and then looked around. Avani knew she was going to ask something she didn’t really know how Avani would answer. Avani smiled and waited till the little one was ready. “Mama… Can Cri come for the candle?”

Avani smiled at her daughter and nodded.

“If she wishes to come, she can. She’s a part of this family.”

“Yay!” Honoka said happily running around the kitchen, and knocking over a few chairs in the process.

Avani laughed and said, “But good little khehoras need to take baths tonight!”

With an abrupt stop, (that caused Nix to run into Honoka since she was chasing her), and a few grumblings, Honoka went upstairs to get ready for her bath as Avani put away the things she bought in town. Avani laughed happily at seeing the simple things that brought happiness to her child.

“Cri?”

“Yes?” Criani said looking at her young charge.

Honoka had been shy again during fighting training. Perhaps it was another question she was shy about. She watched Honoka for a few moments as she looked around, but then the little one looked right at her, determination on her face.

“You come for Solstice Night?” Honoka asked.

Criani tilted her head in confusion. Solstice Night? The term seemed familiar… Oh yes, the Orderite two-legger custom in winter! She remembered a few times in her youth the mayor of the town her clan protected had brought treats to the clan, in particular the young ones, at this time of year. Her parents seemed to encourage the exchange as part of her lessons on two-legger culture.

“You want me to come Honoka? I don’t know….” Criani was hesitant to intrude on an important two-legger custom.

“Mama said you family, so you come!” the little one blurted out.

Criani smiled at Honoka. She was happy that the two-legger thought of her as family, and that she could come to the solstice event. But she would have to talk to her friend to see if it really was alright.

“I’ll come and talk to your mother tomorrow morning about it.” Criani said smiling, “But now back to practice!”

“OK!” Honoka said.

“Of course you can come!”

Criani felt shy all of the sudden.

“I don’t know what to say…” Criani said. She had never had much interaction with the two-leggers till she had moved here and met Avani, “I-I hope I don’t bother your family too much…”

“It’s just going to be us this year.” Avani said. “I think my parents will come a few days after, so you don’t have to worry about being around them if you don’t want to be.”

Criani breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn’t too sure how to act around farmers who would probably hate her.

“Thank you.” Criani said as she nuzzled her friends face, “I’ve felt so lost these past years… I’m glad I met you….”

Avani patted Criani’s head and as they pulled apart she said, “Bring something that you treasure the most.” Criani felt confused and watched as Avani laughed and then said, “It’s a part of our custom, don’t worry you can have it back!”

Criani nodded. After a bit more talk about Honoka’s lessons and how she was doing, Criani went off in the quickening darkening of the day to find a meal and then head home for the hunt of something that she treasured the most.

Criani went into the back of the cave where she kept her treasures. She moved a few boxes around and made it to the secret crevice that was just big enough for her to get though. This led to the actual back, and end of this particular tunnel. She hadn’t noticed the crevice at first since the opening had blended in with the wall, but when she did, she knew she would keep her most precious treasures back here.

She ignored most of the trinkets though. She had thought long and hard about what she would take to Avani’s house a few days from now. It wasn’t as hard as she thought it would have been.

She went to the back wall and took up a small box. She smiled at it thinking about the contents of it. She opened it and smiled down at the small, dry, and pressed flowers that were there.

She gently moved a claw against them, barely touching them. She remembered the day her mother gently coaxed the plant to bloom with her Ysali magic.

That moment had spurred her to find her gift of magic. Though she turned out to be Peisio, her mother and father had been extremely happy for her, and began to teach her how to be a healer as well as a battler.

Criani shut the box and hugged it tight. The flowers reminded her of her parents and their desire for peace between khehoras and two-leggers, teaching her to heal as well as fight.

Criani took the box out of her treasure tunnel and placed it in the tunnel she used for her bed. She would take this to Avani’s for solstice night.

Honoka sat on her thinking rock. She was not happy. She didn’t know what she would use as her most treasured item this year. She had been using the khehora shaped doll her grandmamma had made her, but this year, things had changed so much. She was learning how to be a khehora, how to fly, how to use magic.

Honoka sighed, life seemed to change constantly. She didn’t like it, but she guessed that it was the way of things. Honoka reached out with her magic and made mounds of black earth explode up through the deep snow. She had noticed that during winter here the earth was sluggish to respond the colder it was. Perhaps it was sleeping? Honoka would have to figure that out herself since people who used Gaili magic around here were very rare.

Honoka reached out with her magic to her thinking rock. It seemed to like her sitting there pondering since it always seemed to reach back to her with a warm loving vibe. Honoka let her magic flow over the area as far as it could. She could sense the rocks and soil and also the plants sleeping under the snow. Though she couldn’t “speak” with them as she could with the soil and rocks, she could sense them there still as a part of the soil, as if the soil needed to be bonded to the roots of the plants.

She loved her magic and was glad she could connect with the earth.

Suddenly, Honoka felt with her magic a rock that felt rather warm and friendly. She turned her head in confusion and wondered what it was about this rock. She poked and prodded it with her magic. It was too deep to dig out, mama would make her take a bath if she did that, so she used her magic to. Honoka surrounded it with her magic and began the process of digging it out that way.

She shifted dirt around and pushed it up slowly. It was a rather good sized rock, or whatever it was. It didn’t feel the same way a rock did, a rock felt solid and secure and sure of itself. This was a different kind. Honoka felt her limited magic begin to lessen in power, but she began to push herself more. She wanted this rock thing out so she could find out what it was!

Finally Honoka could feel the rock thing reach the surface. She pushed it slightly out of the ground and above the snow, so a tiny bit of the top was showing. Honoka fell against her thinking rock, letting go of her magic, thanking it for getting the strange rock that far. She breathed deeply, regaining her strength, letting the cold seep into her cooling body. Using magic was exhausting!

After resting a bit, Honoka tumbled off her rock, landing in a pile of snow. Honoka shook off the snow, and hopped over to the spot her rock had appeared. She called on a little magic to slowly push it up and out of the earth, and dug the snow away from it.

It was a strange rock. It didn’t look like a normal rock. Honoka turned it around in her hands and then rolled it on the ground a bit. She then licked it. It tasted different too.

She sent out a small amount of magic and probed it. It was hollow inside, but there was something else in there as well… She would open it and see!

Though drained, she carefully began to pry the rock apart the last bit of magic she had. It was rather easy in her opinion, and it fell in two pieces on the ground. Honoka carefully looked at the pieces and was amazed at what she saw.

Inside were tiny crystals in the hollowed out parts! It was very pretty… Like snow formed inside the rock. Honoka was rather happy about her amazing find. She carefully picked up the rock pieces, and walked home. Though she would have liked to run, she didn’t want to hurt the crystals. Plus, she had to oddly walk on her wrists! But nothing could dampen the happiness in her find. Wait till she showed mama!

Avani looked up from the cookies she was decorating at the knock on the back door. She placed the knife on the table, wiped her hands on her apron, and opened the door a crack to see who it was. Avani smiled brightly as she saw Criani at the back door.

“Welcome!” Avani said. She opened the door wide and saw that Criani had a small box with her in her hands. She was instantly curious, but didn’t pry. If Criani wanted to share what it was she would.

“I brought my treasure.” Criani said softly. Avani smiled as she could tell her normally bold friend was shy about it, “What do I do with it?”

“Go into the living room and place it on the table with the large candle.” Avani said, “We’ll start the lighting at sundown.”

Avani shut the door as her friend nodded and proceeded into the living room. Honoka was there, more giddy than usual, but that was understandable given the excitement of the day. Avani smiled and went back to decorating her cookies. She was glad she could afford the candle, it was right to do it this year even if it cost a little more than she could afford.

“All right Honoka! It’s time! Go get your treasure!”

Criani watched the little one bounce up the stairs with Nix on her head. Apparently, according to Avani, the youngling had been very secretive about her treasure this year. Criani turned back and saw Avani head over to a desk and take out something from a drawer.

Criani had been nervous and shy when she had arrived at Avani’s house. She didn’t know what to do for this holiday, but Honoka, speaking in both Draconic and Magescican, told her about what was to happen. Well, the child’s version anyway.

“You all set too Criani?” Avani asked her.

“Yes.” Criani pointed to the table by the large front window that held a tall and fat candle, “My box is over there.”

“Good!” Avani said.

Criani saw she had some papers in her hand as she walked over to the table. She placed them on the table next to Criani’s box. What was so special about paper? She watched as her friend looked at the paper with love in her eyes and placed a hand on it. It was the actions and look she often saw her give Honoka before sending her off to lessons. She then realized it was the same thing she did when looking at her mother’s flowers.

“May I ask, what are those papers?” Criani said moving over to the table.

Her friend looked at her with surprise in her eyes, but it changed back to the love she had seen earlier.

“They are the deeds to the land that I bought.” Avani looked at the papers, “They are the papers that says I own the lake and farm I bought.” She heard Avani give a small chuckle and say, “I love this land, I grew up here with Nix, raised Honoka around here, and when I finally could afford it, I bought it. It may take me a while to pay back some loans, but I will one day own it full and clear.” She looked to Criani and smiled, “Two-legger laws may not be clear to you, but to me, it says this land is mine, and I won’t give it to anyone.”

“I can understand your laws when you put it that way.” She cocked her head to the side, “It’s like having territory, but not having to chase people away for it.”

“Sometimes we do, and that paper gives me the right to do so in our society.”

Criani nodded, “Should I leave your territory?”

Avani laughed and went over to her friend and rubbed her muzzle with her hand. Criani purred and nuzzled her hand as she spoke.

“You are welcome to any part of my land Criani. You are just as good as family.”

Criani purred louder at that and nuzzled her hand more.

“Thank you.” She said as she pulled away, “It means much to me.”

Cri moved over to the table and picked her box up. She went back to Avani and opened it, showing her the flowers.

“My mother helped these bloom one year.” Criani said as she saw Avani lower her head to look at it, “My mother was a Ysali and could help heal not only others, but plants as well. She taught me much, as did my father, and that’s what these represent to me.” Criani smiled as Avani looked up at her, “They were killed by Orderites when I was about a little older than Honoka, but I don’t blame them all… just the ones who killed.”

Avani took the box from Criani, shut the lid, then placed it on the table, and hurried back to her friend and gave her a hug.

“I’m sorry.” She said. Criani noticed Avani’s wings appear and watched as they came around her to hug Criani as well. Criani hugged her friend back and knew Avani meant her apology, even if it wasn’t her fault. “It’s a wonderful treasure to bring.”

Criani smiled and let go of her friend, “It is?”

Avani smiled brightly at her friend, it changed to the smile that Criani knew meant that she had a surprise.

“Yes! I’ll tell you more when Honoka gets down here with her treasure!”

Criani laughed and sat back, “Then I hope she hurries!”

“Alright Honoka, are you ready?”

“Yes mama!”

Avani saw she was caring what looked like two halves of a rock. She raised her eyebrows at it and Honoka smiled brightly.

“I find with magic!” Honoka held out the pieces, “See? Sparkles!”

“Oh my.” Avani said. She took one of the pieces and smiled, “It’s a geode!”

“Gee-ode?” Honka said

“Yes, it’s a special rock that is very fragile. You found this with your magic?”

“Yes!” said her daughter. Avani watched as her tail began to swish towards a chair. Her thoughts went to how to Honoka proof her house from now on as it actually hit the chair on one of the passes of the growing tail. “I open too!”

“Perhaps Grandpapa can help you polish it to make it look prettier.”

“Really?!”

Avani watched as her daughter’s tail began to swish even harder against the chair. The poor chair was about to fall over if Avani didn’t do something soon.

“Yes. Now let’s light the candle now.” Avani said handing back the piece of rock to Honoka.

Honoka moved to the table with the rocks carefully. Avani watched as her daughter tried to walk with her wrists as she held the geode pieces. She gave a chuckle and walked over to the table with Criani at her side. Avani took Honoka’s treasures and placed them next to her land deed, and Criani’s box that was open. Even Nix had brought down some fading ribbons. They were the same ones she used every year. They were the first ones Avani had ever given her.

She smiled and turned to her family and started the ceremony of lighting Seren’s solstice candle.

“We gather here on the shortest day of the year, the longest night, to celebrate a year of Seren’s blessings, and to ask her to shine her light on us for the next year.” Avani lit a match and placed the flame on the large, plain, white candle’s wick. She watched as the light from the candle spread over the four treasures gathered there. Nix’s ribbons on the table next to Honoka’s geodes. Avani could see the words on the deed to her land, and Criani’s flowers seemed to be bright and alive. She smiled and continued, “Without darkness, light cannot exist, nor can darkness exist without light. Seren, let your everlasting light shine through the darkness on those who gather here. May they have good fortune and good health in the next year to come.”

Avani and Honoka said a short prayer of thanks to Seren, then passed around the traditional white bread buns filled with sweat honx meat and a glass of white sweet wine. Honoka and Nix got sheron milk though since they were too little yet for the wine.

“Happy Solstice my loves!” Avani said holding up her glass of sweet wine, “May your next year be filled with light!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date Posted: March 30, 2015
Words: 3,303

Apple Blossom19

Eloquent Exhibitionist

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Apple Blossom19

Eloquent Exhibitionist

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Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 9:32 pm

~Written in Stone~
~A Shadow Walking in the Sun~
~An RP/Battle/Hunt/Taming Adventure Journal Reflection~

We met an Oblvionite in the village! His name is Rae, and seems so nice, he sure knows how to pet me. I do hope I get to see him again!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Words: 543

Welcome to Gaia! ::

Gaia Guilds

The Chronicles of Magesc

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