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 Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2023 5:21 pm
Doesina 8 The sudden yelling made Doesina jump, dropping the hem of her skirt back into the water where it floated around her legs. All the joy at seeing her cousin after so long had evaporated, leaving behind a quietness that was very out of place for her. She'd always wanted more family. Her mother had never wanted to ask for more blooms, nor had her grandmother after the first two. No one else from her Alkidike family had followed her great-grandmother to Yael, so there had been no other chances to experience what it was like to have family your own age to grow up with. She'd been so excited when she had discovered she had a cousin from another Tree. But that cousin had not turned out to be anything like Doesina had expected.
Of course, she had family up north, too. Probably lots of other cousins from her great-grandmother's sisters. Who they were exactly, she had no idea and thus had not travelled with Heike to the see the Alkidike. It had been so long ago, no one would have remembered the name of her great-grandmother, anyway. She'd never find her Alkidike family.
Now she was wishing she'd at least tried. Maybe she could have finally found someone excited to have her for a member of their family. Heike never seemed excited to have anyone in her life at all. And, at first, Doesina had understood this and tried her best to not be too overwhelming. Give the Elidae some space. Now she was wondering if this was just Heike's personality. Didn't seem like she even liked having Doesina around. The only thing that had made this trip worthwhile in the end had been the friends she had made while waiting.
"I'm sorry," Doesina finally said after a long silence, once more grabbing the edge of her skirt with the stain in her hands and resuming her cleaning. At least it had had plenty of time to soak in the water.
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Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2023 8:24 am
Heike 9 Ah, of course. Why should she have expected such an impossible thing to happen. It was amazing that Doesina could keep her mouth closed during hunts. She certainly couldn't any other time. Not that she said any of this out loud. Heike never did. Perhaps some part of her, some subconsciousness she wasn't aware had always been there, had control over what spilled over from her own mouth. It wasn't that she, in fact, cared about Doesina's feelings. As cruel as it was, Doesina was the only familiar thing in this unfamiliar place full of Earthlings. If she chased her cousin off, Having the Elaria around was very useful. Not only was she a guide to Yael, she also did all the interactions with Earthlings such as trade or buying supplies. She was always eager to go into town, and Heike was always just as eager to let her go. That meant a few hours of peace for the introvert.
It was the only time Heike was glad for Doesina's obsession with Earthlings.
Ignoring the apology, the Elidae reached down to her bag for a whetstone. "I guess we'll be leaving for Yael soon."
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Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2023 8:48 am
Doesina 9 Doesina focused all her attention on the task at hand and before long, the rhythm of the scrubbing distracted her from the unfamiliar intrusive thoughts that had been creeping in. Feeling bitter towards someone else wasn't something she had experienced very often. Back home there hadn't been as many causes for it with all of her friends looking just like her. If she faced a prejudice from someone, than it concerned them all. Even if she had been alone when it happened, as she had been earlier with the traveling group and their seemingly endless supply of fruit, well, she at least had a bunch of Elaria friends she could vent to about it, who would understand how she felt. Heike, though...How could she? She bet the Elidae lived peacefully beside the Kahi. All the problematic Elaria would have been left behind in Yael, to ensure the new blooms were raised without the extreme believes her own were.
Except for her aunt, of course. The thought of Kioko put a stop to any bitterness that was still lingering. Heike hadn't grown up like an Elidae should have. She had more like an Elaria would have. That must have made her feel so cut-off and different from the rest of her Elidae sisters.
And, just like that, all the negative emotions Doesina had been feeling evaporated, replaced by the ever more constant feeling of empathy towards how her cousin must be feeling. Especially now that she was on the road to visit the Elaria. Would she decide she fit in better there and remain?
"I guess," she repeated, giving the hem of her dress one last strong scrub to finally rid it of that nasty stain. Dropping it with a sigh, she rolled her shoulders and leaned back, enjoying the cool water rushing over her body. "I'll book us a spot on the next ship if you're finished with your business in Jauhar."
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Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2023 9:54 am
Heike 10 The sound of the whetstone over the blade of her spear calmed Heike down. Just like Doesina before her with her cleaning, the rhythm of it distracted her mind. Earthlings were the reason she no longer had her mother in her life anymore. That more than the things Kioko had tried to teach her growing up affected her feelings towards them. Fights breaking out between the her mother and travelers was not an uncommon sight to see when she was young. Though now she was sure it had been the woman's fault for all those skirmishes, the loyal part of Heike wouldn't let the rest of her think like that about her mother. As if finally accepting Kioko's faults would make her fade from the daughter's memory forever.
The Elidae touched the small string of beads woven against one dreadlock, than resumed the scrapping of the stone against the blade. She didn't ever want to forget the woman who had raised her. No matter how wrong she had been.
"Sounds good." The faster she could move on, the better. A few more runs with the whetstone before testing the blade with a finger. Satisfied with the sharpness, she placed it back against the stump and stood up, grabbing her bow. "Do you have enough for two? I can do some hunting if not."
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Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2023 10:14 am
Doesina 10 Doesina closed her eyes, leaning back a bit further in the water. She could feel the loose fabric of her skirt softly caressing her legs, sending tickles up her spine in a most pleasing feeling. Like when someone plays with your hair. Oh, she couldn't wait to return home and feel her mother's fingers in her hair once more. She always made the prettiest hairstyles.
But than a thought made her sit up straight, pale eyes opening wide. She'd made a few friends while here in Jauhar. She would have to say goodbye to them, maybe get some addresses to write to them. It had never occurred to her until now she would have to leave them one day. Jauhar had almost started feeling like a second home to her. She'd have to make arrangements to visit in the future.
Frowning, the Elaria leaned back more in the water, raising one hand to splash lightly in the water.
"I doubt. I wasn't expecting company." The comment was followed swiftly by the sounds of a quiver rattling and footsteps receding into the distance, until it was just Doesina left behind, sitting in the cold water thinking about the friends she would miss when she left.
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