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 Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 6:00 pm
With her Mata trying to coax her out as well she thought it must be fine so she took a step out but kept a hand on her Oma's leg. Alizeh brought her other hand up to bite on her thumbnail and chew it softly. She was back to staring at Pyrrha and how alike her markings were to her Mata's. It made her pause for a moment and look at her own twin to see if they were that close. She didn't think so. Then all of a sudden there was something running toward the group and Alizeh latched onto Akel's leg again, this time with a squeak! It wasn't until she noticed that Luleta hadn't flinched that she seemed to relax again. With her sister's questions and her Oma's answers she looked at Enya and tilted her head. "That's not nice Lu-Lu. That's a girl not a what." Letting go completely of Akel's leg she moved over to her sister and clung to her. Alizeh took hold of the back side of Lu's skirt and half stood behind her like she usually did in a crowd. Her free hand was used to wave toward Enya slow and shy like. As she heard her Oma say she was hurt she glanced back at her then looked at her sister with a worried look. Was something wrong?
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 4:29 pm
Pyrrha ll 3
Pyrrha felt more disquieted in that moment than she had in years. As much as she wanted to bask in the joy her daughter felt in that moment she also couldn't help standing at the verge of her 'deception as one would a blade. Her heart was beating so loudly within her chest that she could heart the rhythm plain as the ocean itself.
What is that?
It's like us...
Pyrrha couldn't help the way her hand moved to Enya's shoulder or the little tug she gave to bring the girl closer to her side. She'd been told to expect a reaction like this and while it was a child's brutal honesty it still...It was a lot to take in. Her antennae visibly drooped a little, sinking further under Akeldama's scolding.
"It wasn't you that I didn't trust." Her voice was small, and pleading. "There was so much I wanted to tell you both, but can you honestly say that every letter I sent made it to you without being read? I know in my heart that the two of you would protect Esena's blooms as if they were your own, but can you say the same of everyone in Zinris? If Kou ever found out...."
Her daughters would die. One way or another that woman would make it happen.
"It wasn't just my secret to keep. The oldest of the elidae are barely big enough to hunt for themselves so I couldn't risk it. I hope you understand." She stilled a little when she felt Enya's little arms wrap around her leg and when she looked down her daughter had her head pressed against Pyrrha's hip, offering what comfort she could.
"I have two daughters; Enya's sister, Pyanka, is with Kanika right now."
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 4:38 pm
Enya ll 3
What is that, Oma?
Enya furrowed her brows and looked up at her mama, back to the girl, back to her mother and then back to the rude little thing. "If you can't say something nice then you shouldn't say anything at all." Her cheeks puffed up, antennae flaring up defensively. "The spirits won't give you honey in your dreams if you go around calling people it." Hadn't her mamas' taught her that? If you didn't want to be nice to someone you just walked away! Besides, who was she to talk? Some short elaria? Elaria were supposed to be tall!
"What's wrong with the way I look?" She questioned in a lower tone, her voice trailing off as her mother spoke. Was there....was there something wrong with her being there? As much as it was to comfort Pyrrha, Enya was also giving herself courage when she clung closer to her. Maybe she should have stayed with Pyanka...
Still, she did wave back to Alizeh. At least they weren't both rude.
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 6:38 pm
Pruu was mortified at the terms her daughter had chosen to use, but her voice was still caught in her throat from the shocking reveal. The growing tension in the air did little to help matters either. The only relief was that Akeldama was able to speak in her absence, and the others talking gave her a moment to think. Her gaze was locked on the sweet little figure that now huddled nervously against Pyrrha, that initial joy on that pale face gone within moments.
A tremble went down her back as that old name was brought up, feeling her sadness and the hurt morphing into anger. Was this really the family legacy living on through them? Through her? Were they doomed to be unable to have anything go right, or to always be living with such fear and separation? There were just so many layers to unravel that she previously thought she had long ago smoothed out.
"Lu.. you apologize right now," she managed to say in a quiet but stern voice. She understood Pyrrha's reasons, but that didn't make it hurt any less. And a second daughter! Two daughters that had to be hidden away... Oh Elzira, why did it have to come to this? Pruu finally pressed her lips and reached to touch Akeldama's arm encouragingly before she stepped forward. "I cannot claim to know for certain, but between her failing constitution and her renouncement of any relation to either of us, I doubt Kou would be able to bother herself enough to try anything. ...Still, I believe I would have done the same if our situations were reversed."
She walked forward a few more steps, still leaving plenty of space between herself and Pyrrha, and knelt down to be at Enya's level. Surely everyone watching them was on edge as well with Enya's reveal, so even further caution needed to be had now lest one wrong move destroy whatever happiness might remain in the day. "It is Enya, right?" She was supposed to be the calm one, but talking to her niece had her heart thudding in her throat... "I promise, I am so happy to learn you are here for your mother. You and your sister."
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 6:52 pm
That was a cousin?! "A different tree?" That made sense! But why was Oma upset? She looked to Ali and stuck out her tongue a little. Wait, now that other girl was calling her rude? "I wasn't trying to be not nice," she started to insist with a stomp of her foot for emphasis, though she froze when she heard Pruu's growl.
Ooooh...... She could tell she'd done something wrong. Luleta pouted her lips out bashfully, hand rising to twirl the tendrils hanging from one ear. She was going to hear about this later, that much was certain. "I'm sorry for saying that, cousin. I didn't mean to be rude..." Luleta knew she could be troublesome, but her mothers were certainly not raising her to be rude! Properly humbled, she resisted to urge to get closer with Pruu and instead pressed back against Ali gently for support.
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:33 pm
It wasn’t you I didn’t trust..
If Kou ever found out..
Those words bothered her. Akel gritted her teeth a bit. Then to hear that the oldest of the.. Elidae, were barely old enough to hunt and that gave them reason to hide things. Did they think the rest of them stupid? Akel was very much aware that the new seed would create a tree and eventually it would bloom. She’d known that when the seed had been taken. It was an expected outcome. Just as the Alkidike had taken a seed and Elzira had grown. Deep down those in Zinris knew.
“If you had told me that others made you keep it from us so that the other children could be kept safe then I could live with that. Telling me you didn’t want to tell us because of Kou..” Akel hadn’t grown up with the woman but she was aware enough of just how toxic the woman could be. There were a few things about this whole situation that annoyed Akel. “Do you honestly think that Pruu or I would allow--” She was cut off when Pruu touched her arm. Looking at her wife she took a breath in slowly then let it out in a sigh. From there on she allowed her partner to handle the issue but Akel did move over to both of her girls and knelt down beside them. She used her spear as a means to keep her balance more easily. Looking over her daughters to read their expressions, she made sure they weren’t upset by her earlier words, then she looked toward Pyrrha again. Did she not understand that Akel was upset because they had shared the news of their children and had brought them across the ocean to see her, to a place that could likely be equally as hostile as Pyrrha said those in Zinris could be to Enya and Pyanka.
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:54 pm
She rested her chin on her sister's shoulder as she stepped back to get closer. It was her subtle way of offering support. But Alizeh did look at Enya as she waved back. "Hello.." It was all she got out before the adults were talking again. She looked from her aunt to her mothers then back again. "Are you not supposed to have daughters?" She asked innocently. Alizeh didn't understand what was going on because she didn't know the situation. As their Oma came over and knelt down she looked worried. "Oma.. are you mad at aunt Pyrrha?" Holding onto Luleta she looked once again over at Enya. "Are we allowed to go near her? Or does aunt Pyrrha think we'll hurt her?" She'd mentioned those in Zinris and Alizeh was from there.
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 3:31 pm
Pyrrha ll 4
"Spite can make even a dying ember burn through the night." Pyrrha warned in a quiet murmur. As much as she tried to put distance between herself and that awful woman she didn't think she'd ever be able to truly escape her influence. Even with an ocean between them Pyrrha still found herself looking over her shoulder in the dark, as if a demon were lying in wait...
At least Pruu seemed to understand. She may have not have liked it, but she could empathize. Akeldama, though... "I may have been encouraged, but I wasn't coerced. The choices I made were my own, and I'm sorry that I've hurt you." She was sincere, if not upfront with her answers. For perhaps the first time in her life Pyrrha was standing firm in her beliefs and her hand never once left Enya's side. She'd taken chances, make decisions that were perhaps selfish and didn't include the wishes of others, but at the time it had been all she knew to keep her daughters safe.
If given the chance she'd do it all again.
By now the others that had followed Pyrrha had disappeared, presumably going back to the village. Pruu's last visit hadn't given them reason to worry so once Enya was deemed safe they had chosen to leave.
Hearing Alizeh caused Pyrrha to sigh and with a small smile she shook her head. "No no, starshine, I know you would never hurt her. I kept a very big secret from your mothers and now I'm in trouble for it, as I should be."
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 3:44 pm
Enya ll 4
"...You look like her. Like mama." Enya's voice was small and so much quieter than even she was used to. The atmosphere had turned from something she'd been looking forward to into a tense reunion so fast that the child was having a hard time keeping up.
Looking past her Aunt, Enya listened to Luleta and offered an awkward little smile in return. She wanted to get a little closer, just a bit, but there was still too much uncertainty for her to branch away from Pyrrha just yet. "It's okay." Hearing Alizeh made her want to say something akin to 'you can come here, it's fine' but then it died in her throat.
The scary lady moved closer to the girls and whatever gumption Enya had gathered slipped away from her. She was mad and all Enya knew was that it was about her. So, the little one side stepped around her mother to the front, where she hoped Pruu's body would block her from sight. Just to make sure she crouched like a little frog near her mother's feet and looked up at her Aunt.
"If I stay quiet do you think she'll find me?" She whispered.
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 6:12 pm
Pruu closed her eyes to pause a moment and breathe. Even a sea away, Kou had haunted them. The woman had always been an intimidating figure... she had admired that once. Hindsight allowed her to see the damage it had wrought. "Try to feel some ease sister. Kou is forbidden from my girls, and she has left well enough alone these past years." A fact that Pruu was extremely grateful for. She had fully expected Kou to press for a relationship with the girls, but the old crank seemed settled enough in her decision to disassociate with their part of the family.
Brow rising at Enya's question, it took her a moment to realize what was going on and felt her lips twitching with the desire to laugh. Perhaps now was not the time though. Still, she did look back and give Akel an amused smile before focusing on the youngling again. Yes, the secret hurt.. but they could deal with those feelings later. "I know your aunt can be scary, but I promise that you will not feel like hiding once we have all calmed down. Like she said, it is not you that upset us..." Being scary was a valuable trait in the Elarian world, but things were a little different under Esena's branches. "Now, would you like Alizeh and Luleta to come over? I know they are eager to meet you and your mother."
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 6:22 pm
Luleta fiddles with the tendrils further while looking up at Akeldama. So, keeping a secret for Oma was a bad thing... She would have to keep that in mind!
Her head perked up when she heard Pruu mention coming over there, and a bright smile lifted. "Oh, can I?" Her hand darted into the small pack hanging off of her hip and pulled out an even smaller package wrapped in a thin cloth. "I made this for Au-.. I have a present for you, Enya!" Okay, so it had been made for Pyrrha... but now there was a cousin here. Surely Aunt Pyrrha would understand! "Can I come give it to you?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 6:39 pm
The face she wore still said she was none-too thrilled with Pyrrha at the moment. Akeldama looked at her wife again and took a calming breath since she could tell she was upsetting her niece. That had never been her intent and she felt bad for it. So when mention of the girls going over to see their cousin was brought up she looked at Luleta and Alizeh with a soft smile then gave them both an encouraging push. "Go on. Tackle your aunt for me." Since she couldn't get back at Pyrrha then she could ask the girls to do it for her.
Looking at her sister-in-law she smiled again. "Unlike her, I trust in her ability to keep you both safe." Reassuring words for the children but a small blow at Pyrrha for doubting that she couldn't protect her own children from Kou. Akel was being petty with that one.
Standing back up to her full height she decided that staying where she was would be best so she didn't intimidate Enya and ruin the fun the girls might have. Akeldama then focused her attention on their surroundings, taking over the role of guard in the absence of Pyrrha's entourage.
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 6:45 pm
Listening to all the adults was starting to make her a bit dizzy as she looked from one to the next as they spoke. So she focused on her Mata instead since she was in front of her. Alizeh had noticed Enya squat down and tilted her head, curious as to what it was she was doing. "Why's she doing that? Is she being a toad?" Next thing she knew they were getting a small push from their Oma to go over and being told to tackle their aunt. She leaned her head back to look at Akeldama with a little grin, showing off her dimples in the process, then looked back at Pyrrha and Enya. As Lu brought out the present she'd made Alizeh brightened up. She'd seen her sister make it so she knew it would be a good gift. For now she kept her own gift tucked away and stayed clung to her sister's clothes. Ali decided she would only go over if Luleta did.
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Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2021 4:14 pm
Pyrrha ll 5
"I deserve that." Akeldama's jab stung, but no more than she deserved. She would likely hear some cross words from the other woman once the girls were out of earshot, but Pyrrha could worry about that later. The vindictive side of her, no matter how small, delighted in the fact that Kou had been banned from her nieces. It felt vindicating that no matter how hard she tried to support a legacy in the land she'd 'claimed', Kou's story would only carry through one of her three daughters. And that was if Myrcella cared enough to share it.
Her daughter's little stunt was so unlike her that Pyrrha couldn't help frowning. Gently, she wiggled her fingers underneath the girls pits and raised her off the ground, swinging her for just a moment until Enya's legs straightened and she stood on her own.
"Tackle me? You two?" Pyrrha scoffed. "Surely not."
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Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2021 4:22 pm
Enya ll 5
Could be scary? Enya curled her lip. "But she is scary." She meant to whisper, but true to her youth, it was anything but. Neither of her Aunts were like any of the elaria she'd grown up with, but out of the two Akeldama definitely seemed the most intimidating. Pruu resembled her mother too much for Enya to really be cautious of her, and yet, even with all of her apprehension, the child kept sneaking peeks around Pruu's shoulder.
This time, however, she caught sight of the girls.
"A present?" That had her interest. For a moment she turned to look up at her mother, then she was hoisted up onto her feet and it seemed like this was really happening. Taking a few steps forward, Enya reached out to put a little hand on Pruu to reassure herself, but all of her attention was on her cousins. "I wasn't being a toad; I was hiding. Mama says if I'm really still I can become a river." Of course Pyrrha had meant 'blend with the river' but to Enya it was the same thing.
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