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 Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 5:22 pm
“Sure.” Danika smiled as she picked up the prickly plant. “It’s this way.” Waiting for Tyiva to pick up the other two plants, the mystic quietly led the way through the clearing and towards the more secret spot. A large hollowed out tree that cast its shade across the deep waters of the great ocean. It’s trunk was twisted from age and nature had carved out its insides, the hollow allowing two entries. It was the one facing the forest through which they entered but the other sat facing the ocean to allow the morning sun inside. It was there by that entrance where Danika set down the first of the plants.
[Danika 8]
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 5:22 pm
“Your collection has grown since I last visited.” Commented Tyiva as she ducked inside and stood in the huge space. It was certainly ancient and amazingly still sturdy despite how time had hollowed it out. She wondered if it had a bit of help from previous mystics, especially when one noticed the shelving lining the natural walls. It had been carved into and held tomes, scrolls, plants and dried herbs hung by Danika over the years. A shelter for study and relaxation whenever she wasn’t taking care of others in Chibale. The whistling of the wind shifted a hammock that was tied on the lower branches outside of the tree, the bluish green material almost shining in the sunlight as it lazily swung back and forth. It was perfect for a nap where one could listen to the sounds of the waves crashing against the pearly white shore that was directly below the cliff.
[Tyiva 9]
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 5:22 pm
“Just a little bit.” Replied Danika with a slight flush as she helped her friend to arrange the new plants along a wooden shelf that got a lot of sunlight in the mornings. “I moved most plants that could flourish here outside while those that are more sensitive are here in this room.” She glanced towards where a section of the hollowed out trunk had a rope ladder which disappeared into an upper area of the tree. “I finally took the time to set up a small sleeping area upstairs as well. This is mostly my home whenever I’m not at Aisha or with the Elders now.”
[Danika 9]
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 5:22 pm
“Ah, that would explain the firepit I saw outside. Have you brought anyone else here, yet?” Tyiva questioned as she stood and studied the room some more. There were even spices along a small table and she was curious about how the upper landing looked. Someone else surely lived here considering how the tree’s “ceiling” was smoothed as if other planks of wood had been anchored in to make the upper floor. “May I look around?” She finally asked with a peek back towards Danika. Perhaps it was a motherly instinct but she did want to make certain her friend was comfortable.
[Tyiva 10]
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 5:23 pm
Danika let out a chuckle. “I suppose you may.” Not like she could stop Tyiva whenever she got struck with concern. Danika recognized that expression all too well. Tyiva would probably be up and cooking her a meal soon if she could. The best big sister a girl could have. She teased lightly to herself as she started up the rungs of the ladder. After all Tyvia was a moon or so older than she was. If not for the heaviness of Danika’s duties as a mystic then surely she would have been just a blade learning the ways of the warrior behind Tyiva. “Come on up.” She called out as she emerged on the upper floor of her tree home. The planks were a warm brown, almost like the tree that made up the house, and they were smoothed down by an artisan who had also added carvings into the natural bark of the tree. Lotus blossoms, symbols of Aisha, Sisters hunting and celebrating...it was a whole story wrapping around the walls of the sleeping area. Large arched ‘windows’ overlooked the outside world, the breeze sweeping in from outside and cooling down the large chamber. One could even emerge from an especially large archway and walk around a small walkway that Danika had placed along the outside of the upper room. It wrapped along the tree, intermingling with the limbs that jutted out on all sides and had crossing ropes as a guard for anyone walking around. Natural vines with pale pink and blue blossoms wrapped around the arches and small crystals of various colors seemingly glowed in the sunlight as they peeked from along the walls.
[Danika 10]
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 5:23 pm
“Wow.” Tyiva let out a small gasp of amazement as she pulled herself up into the upper room. “It’s definitely changed from when we first came here.” They had been barely teens at that point and the tree had been an amazing find. An old musty place with some tomes and other such artifacts below that resembled something of a small study while the upstairs had simply been a dusty, barren loft. Danika had truly made it her own home with the addition of the walkway and the replaced flooring and carved walls. “Did my tales of beds from Oba and Belrea inspire you?” Tyiva teased lightly as she walked towards the center and spotted a large canopy bed. “A stuffed feather mattress, some of the Oban silks I brought you last time, blankets and pillows for days. Definitely a life of luxury up here.” She grinned towards Danika playfully before flopping onto the bed.
“Mmm. So comfy.” Tyiva rolled around a bit with a chuckle. She couldn’t chastise Danika that much considering how delightful her own bed was back in Oba. The sheer curtains were smart as well in case of heavier rains and even more so as protection against bugs. “It’s a nice room, Dani.” She mused as she stopped rolling about and looked around the room. Some shelves were built into the walls and held trinkets from different countries, some scrolls for reading and weapons with a couple of chests pushed against the wall. Good storage capabilities. Even a corner had some branches placed so that clothing could hang there and she spotted several ceremonial outfits carefully tucked away.
[Tyiva 11]
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 5:23 pm
“Thank you. I worked hard to make it my own.” Danika simply shook her head at her friend’s antics before moving to pick up a trinket from the shelf. “This was something you brought me from Belrea.” She fiddled with the bronze ornament. It had little gears inside that once you twisted a key would allow the figures to move, a rare piece Tyiva had boosted from a skilled artisan in the capital city. They were dancing and dressed in the attire of Belrea. It was definitely interesting but something that she kept safely hidden away in her home away from the eyes of others.
[Danika 11]
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 5:23 pm
“I’m glad you kept it.” Tyiva reached out and grabbed the little ornament with a smile. “They had so many interesting things across the great ocean. I still am amazed that their ships actually fly.” She shook her head, her dreads bouncing with the movement. “Now that was an experience.” She had been so sick the first couple of days but after adjusting had enjoyed the trip in the skies. It made her wonder though about those who had crossed to Belrea now. “Do you think the new island will bring us success?”
[Tyiva 12]
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 5:23 pm
Sitting down on the bed next to Tyiva, Danika pursed her lips thoughtfully at the question. “I would hope so. It took so much convincing to get the Elders to approve such a move after all. I do not think Aisha would lead us astray after giving us a new seed to plant there.” Surely they could have a tree which would bloom a new generation of Sisters or rather new Cousins if it was anything like in Yael. She just prayed that they would not be as vicious as the Elaria and the Extremists who had raised them.
[Danika 12]
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 5:23 pm
“Fair enough.” Tyiva replied quietly. “Honestly after seeing the miraculous things in Belrea, I would think that the island they found will be fertile and provide a good home for our Sisters who moved there.” She nodded as she sat up and fiddled with the toy. “I just hope the Belreans and our Sisters can get along peacefully.” A small chuckle left her lips. “To think decades ago we could not even stand sharing forests with shifters and now here we are planting new trees in earthling lands.”
[Tyiva 13]
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 5:23 pm
“That’s the great thing about time.” Mused Danika with a tender smile. “Things can always change with the passage of time and I’m thankful that they’re changing towards peace. That’s one thing we can thank the Dretch for.” Bonding together over fighting against the cruelty of those evil mages had done wonders for their world. She just wished their exiled Sisters could understand that and stop with their foolish decision to remain apart. Pride truly is a vile thing when taken too far.
[Danika 13]
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 5:23 pm
“Blech.” Tyiva made a noise of disgust. “Do not remind me of those vile creatures, Danika.” She stood and sat the toy back in its proper place. “To think that Sisters held wars over territory instead of working to fight those things in the first place makes me ashamed.” Her own Aunts had been either killed or exiled for that very reason. Greedy for land, wanting to wipe out the lesser races….it was all so silly in Tyiva’s opinion. Then again she had found love with one of those ‘lesser races’ so apparently she would have been an enemy of her Aunts had she been old enough to fight in those wars. A lot truly can change in a single decade or so indeed. She was just thankful that her own mothers had opted to stay neutral despite their purist beliefs.
[Tyiva 14]
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 5:23 pm
“My apologies.” Danika flashed a sheepish smile towards Tyiva even though she knew the other Alkidike was mostly teasing it was true that the Dretch brought bad memories to most. Those that had survived the battle still saw visions of those horrible monsters in the shadows while others still mourned those lost that day. It all felt like a lifetime ago yet it had only been three years...Danika shook her head sadly with a small sigh. “Mistakes happen but it takes a true soul to learn and grow from them. Many Sisters have seen the light since then and I am proud of our advancements.” It was far better to coexist than engage in meaningless bloodshed.
[Danika 14]
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 5:24 pm
“Agreed.” Yet she could not resist letting out a sigh at the thought of others who were still against earthlings despite their agreement to keep peace. “Perhaps one day more will see things differently as well...for than just peace.” A slight flush decorated her cheeks as she thought of her own earthling lover. Her own family could not accept her decision and so she had been ostracized from them, something which still caused her heart great pain. While she hid such pain from her lover, in front of Danika it easily showed in the tightening of her lips, the downward cast of her previous smile and the shimmer of tears in her eyes.
[Tyiva 15]
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 5:24 pm
Reaching over so that she could take Tyiva’s hand in her own, Danika offered an encouraging smile. “Who knows? Perhaps in the next ten years even more things will change for our worlds.” She gave a slight shrug of her shoulders. “I will not lie that many can get stuck in the past but my hope is that we can do our best to just press forward towards a better future. If they cannot love you because you found love with someone outside of their liking then they do not deserve your time.” The Alkidike made a face. “Not that I can say that too loudly but still. You are perfect as you are, Tyiva. No one should judge you for allowing your heart to love freely.”
[Danika 15]
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