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If Maya were truthful, though this was not the time to be with her sisters so uneasy in her connections with the shifters. She would have admitted that being asked to explore the waters shore, to gain an understanding for the water and its destiny. was an excitement she didn't with sot miss. One she would have preferred to share with no qualifications. She could understand and appreciate her elder sisters fear of the great flowing water. The young woman was adventurous enough and sufficiently self-confident, perhaps enough to undertake more than she was truly able to. Maya had planned to tell Elder all that she had observed on her last journey through the forest. How she had met a strange and timid Shifter, how she had seen his skin change from light to dark. Though she had not seen him since that morning even though she had gone back to check every morning and evening to be sure. She had even discovered strange Fungi she hadn't seen before and how they were distinguishable from the others by their vines or ripples under neath or the strange color on the tips yet solid color at their core.

Maya was also highly delighted that she had finally chosen a course of battle and learning that seemed to differ highly from her sisters. At least for the current time being. She would probably never be given the chance to change her mind and for now was supposed to carry a prototype with her when she left the tree. Though in her opinion it looked well suited for her. A quiver of arrows was strapped to her hip along with a large satchel containing her book and a few medical ingredients. Four Vials attacked to the outer end of her belt on the opposite side than her quiver. The string of her bow lay across her chest. How well her sister had assessed her circumstances, had seen her chafing from the quiver on her back and adjusted her outfit to match perfectly. Even though Maya had repeatedly told her the way wasn't proper for a beginner to start out wearing their weapons in such a strange fashion.

Maya had often come to the river long before she was told by Elder to make notes of it, despite the other explorations going on around Jauhar. One of her sisters had found the Shifter's tribe and made note of how far away it was from their own tree. Feeling safe it was in the opposite direction Maya had come here almost every morning after checking her spot for the shifter to come for a brief swim to keep her wits sharp.

Dropping out of the tree she had just leapt into on her way to the river, Maya's feet hit the ground in carefully planned places. Crystals of all colors lined the forest floor here and one wrong step and she would pierce her feet. Smiling playfully as she dashed down the large rocks to the water, at the same time she quickly pulled at her belt carefully placing her quiver and items on a higher rock then where she had placed her bow. Tying her dread locks back on her head Maya dove into the water with a rather loud splash. She loved the water, loved swimming, loved the cool freshness as it washed over her skin. Nothing felt sweeter than that very moment every day. Save for the fruit she would eat up in the trees.

Letting the air escape her lungs as she kicked her feet, moving her arms to pull herself through the water. Her bright bug like eyes scanned the bottom before she had to emerge for some air after having emptied her reserve. Breaking the surface was a sweet release, gasping in feeling the cold moist air fill her. Maya's mind floated down momentarily towards the strange wound on her leg. It had healed quite well considering Alkidikes weren't gifted with healing skills, though thanks to the fungi some had worked wonders. Others on the offhand had made her rather sick.

Yawning and stretching Maya could feel the muscled on her shoulders pull, rolling them slightly to alleviate the tension. Pausing half way into bringing her arms back down towards the waters surface. The forest was unusually quiet for this time of day. Not that it wasn't quiet when there were shifters nearby but this was a different kind of silence. The kind where either two things were happening, birth or death. Maya hopped to the great Aisha tree it was birth, what kind of birth however she wanted to know. There were so many creatures out there Maya had no idea what they were yet.

A loud piercing, hissing, scream reached out darkly over the forest sending the young Alkidikes head down towards the water up to her chin. Kipepwa seemed to flutter in flocks away from the tree's to her direct left. Flipped her head up she watched as the miasma of colors above her shifted and turned just before melding into the colorful leaves above them. Something was happening and Maya's curiosity wouldn't let her stand still in the water for long. Swimming to the edge of the water and climbing slowly up onto the rocks the screaming returned, this time shifting into something like a dazed howl.

Trying to keep her breathing even and lower her heart racing as it threatened to pound through her chest, the feeling of adrenalin coursed through Maya giving her a new found sense of the forest. Closing her eyes she focused on feeling ever vibration of the forest around her. However through her panic she seemed unable to clearly focus on the life and vibrations around her. Taking a deep breath, Maya dove back under the water swimming with as much of her strength as she could to reach the shore where your equipment was currently being stored. Hoping that it had not yet been taken by either a stranger or by a beast.

Upon reaching the shore Maya mentally cheer in relief, her items had remained strait where she had left them. Gracefully pulling herself out of the deep rivers water, and onto the stones lining the shore. Maya worked to wring out the heavy water still held fast into her locks, and her clothing before tying her belt of quivers onto her hip. Grabbing up her bow before taking off into the forest towards the strange scream. Her feet swiftly moving over the dark colored dirt below her feet up into the nearest tree before she started leaping through the branches and leaves as quickly as she could.

Pausing her movements when the scream seemed to fade away, her long ears twitched momentarily as she struggled to find the source. Her head shifting from side to side, slipping her bow over her shoulders straining to hear something, anything in the silence.

There it was, a small cry much softer and yet much more fervent than the one that had been there before. It was also only a few paces ahead of her. Jumping forward a few more tree's Maya dropped down a few branches her eyes scanned about tentatively. There wasn't anything she could see in her immediate vision until she dropped down one more branch. There she could see the start of a menzuri web yet it had movement and very weak calls stretched out from it, curious to what had been caught in it Maya froze.

There trapped within the sticky and toxin filled web of the insect struggled a rather large reptilian beast. It's tail had been tangled in the webs proof that it had struggled hard using her tail, though her muzzle seemed to be just as trapped. Its two front paws were stuck up against its muzzle but that wasn't the Menzuri that had caused the Alkidike to quickly turn her gaze from the struggling creature. It was a pool of liquid that seemed to lead to a trail, though it was thicker much further away leading off to what Maya heard were two more small cries. With her curiosity taking the better of her judgment, Maya did her best to slink away from the branch without upsetting its balance and ultimately calling forth the Menzuri. She would have to remember the web for a later time. Now was not that time.

Once free of the natural course of life between a Radaku and the Menzuri, Maya slipped from the branch hanging on with just her hands before dropping down to the ground with a crouch. She had heard strange rumors about the rare creatures from her Elder but she had never expected to come across the sight that now flooded through her bug like eyes. A small litter of three babies lay crying weakly around the roots of a young tree. Maya had never come across the rare sight before and they didn't look to be all that old either. They had to have been newborn from what she could tell.

Looking around, her eyes suddenly snapped back towards the Menzuri web. That Radaku back there must have been the babies mother. It was a crashing feeling of pain that coursed through the young warrior woman as she crouched low to the ground her eyes shifting about as they fell on a dead baby not far off. There was no way these rare creatures would be able to survive without help of some sort. That and because they were so rare she couldn't help but wonder if they would make a good meal if they were fattened up and older.

Shifting her body to sit down and pulling her knees to the ground on either side of her body Maya leaned forward her fingers carefully gliding over the small beasts hides. "There, there." She crooned lifting the first and weakest one up into her hands. "I wont -" She stopped when the small creature bit into her finger, she could feel the blood drip from the small cut and was curious when the creature licked it before settling back down. A strange rush of protective emotions seemed to send a shiver down the Alkidikes spine as she placed the creature between her legs. Reaching out for another one to pull close, this one didn't bit her though seemed to almost give a soft Mewl. Placing that one down beside its sibling Maya reached out pulling up the other two with her.

They felt colder than the first two had though one was obviously dead and the second seemed to beam with life. Shaking her head she nestled them all together near her body swinging her right leg around to create a protective nest for the babies to rest in. Hopefully to help them gather some heat as she started searching through her satchel for her cloth and rope. Picking up the one that had bit her first Maya promptly placed that one in the bag as it seemed to be the weakest and less likely to make it. Picking up the other two live Radaku Maya rose to her feet with one in each arm.

Huffing as she glanced up at the trees then back down to the small bundles in her arms. "Now how am I going to get you three back to the tree? Back home?" Smiling when the liveliest one pipped up with a soft growl.

Shifting through her head as she started walking back home Maya paused, shifting the quieter one to her other arm before placing them both on the ground and fetching the rope she held in her satchel. tying loops around the two babies necks and then under their legs around their chest and once more under their tails Maya had made a harness for the two not in her bag. Once that was done she quickly placed the rope over her shoulder opposite the bow before checking the one in her bag. At least now it seemed to be warming up slightly and that seemed to give Maya some hope. The two hanging by the rope seemed to be less happy with the way they were being transported by soon calmed down when Maya began walking again.

"Don't worry, I'll get you three home and everything will be ok." Reaching up the young woman pulled herself up into the tree, shifting the way she moved as to take special care of the bundles she was carrying before taking the leaps through the trees. Her balance wasn't as perfect as she would have liked and there were times when she was sure she would loose it and fall to the ground. Surprisingly though the need to protect and keep the one in her bag alive seemed to be more pressing matter, and she had reached her home tree before she had realized it.

Pausing once again she called out to her sisters as they lay up in the branches. Though only Elder Kishku responded when she emerged from the roots of the trees.

"Elder, I found something strange in the forest today. They look like Radaku pup's. Is that what these are?"

Kishku pulled the rope from the Prentice Alkidikes shoulders a hand rubbing her chin as she laid the two on the ground. "You can't very well have killed these yourself. If you had the mother would have killed you. If the mother would have attacked you would have brought her instead of these meager things."

The words stung as they etched into Maya, what did she mean by dead. No, when she had first got them they were still very much alive! "Elder." Maya pleaded softly immediately going to her bag in hopes the final of the three where still alive though Kishku grabbed her bitten hand before she could check the last pup.

"You were bitten by one!" Her eyes reaching up as she searched the wound then Maya's eyes. "You silly girl! where is the one that did this to you. I can't believe its one of these two. You would have taken better care of your bonded one."

Maya scrunched both her eyebrows and her eyes as she tried to understand what her Elder was saying before producing the third for Elder Kishku to see. "How did you know Elder, that I would have a third."

"Because." The old Alkidike started, "Because once I had met an Alkidike who had found one of these loyal beasts, it had bitten her as well and bonded to her. Such strange sights these." Grabbing up the two dead Radaku and dropping into the roots of the tree's beckoning for Maya to follow she lead the girl up into their sanctuary. Where they kept most of their fruit nuts and meat.

"Thankfully these ones eat a strict diet of fungi and meat." Picking through the storage, Kishku produced a dull colored fungus holding it out for the strange baby creature. Before stuffing it into Maya's hands and motioning for her to offer it to her. "Name her too, helps you feel closer."

It seemed odd to Maya that Elder Kishku was supporting her having a small charge to care for. Something about how it would help her growth in the future though at the time Maya had no clue what she meant. Offering the morsel of food to the Radaku Maya blinked. "Pacju." She muttered when the baby seemed to scarf down the food offered. Looking up to see Kishku's back as she headed up the stairs towards her room.

The strange horns on the beasts head seemed to pick up a strange glow after the creature had found its fill of food. Awestruck and yet not wanting to share her new companion with her sisters, Maya seemed to fly up the stairs towards her room. Opening the door quickly stepping inside and closing it once again behind her. Placing her small bundle on the ground and opening the cloth to allow the small creature room to move Maya was ecstatic when Pacju came to nuzzle up against her leg lovingly. It would end up being a new charge and a new responsibility but Maya was sure she would be able to handle it well.

Maya's head throbbed when she woke to the faint sound of noise traveling up the trunk from below her. She knew time was drawing near to make the annual return to their mother, their deity, their everything. She had felt the time drawing closer not by the change of the seasons or by the number of times the fungus around the forest grew brighter signalling the pass of the sun and the birth of the moon. It was more instinctual and primitive that seemed to drive her at least, raising her hand to her head and licking her dry lips Maya grunted as she pulled herself out of the bed.

Pacju who had been soundlessly watching Maya with curiosity mixed with concern whined but didn't rise. She knew how independent Maya was, and supporting her in the tree was seen as a weakness so she had learned to patiently wait for the right moment. To wait until Maya would give the command to follow. Which never took her to long to do and the Radaku always rose with quickened speed after her companion.

Stumbling towards the door with a quick glance towards the carefully nested egg Maya gathered up her satchel before making her way down the inside of the trunk she and her family called home. Licking her dry lips again as she emerged into what had commonly become the meeting place, she was more surprised to find Elder Kishku standing among her three sisters with instructions.

Maya wasn't surprised to find the eldest paid her little attention but smiled at the others, at least everyone seemed to be themselves. Perhaps she was the only one feeling the urge. This had been their first full year away from home, and Maya had never experienced the great calling before since she had always rested safely in her mothers boughs. Clearing her throat to gain attention Kishku turned abruptly to Maya a large grin on her elderly face.

"There you are! We were starting to worry if you would wake." Pressing a sack into Dyakida's hands the Elder Alkidike blinked quickly, eager to be heading outside the tree.

"Speak for yourself, we would have just left you behind anyway."

Maya placed on a stoic face as she brushed off Niebet's words. Her headache was painful enough not to respond to her sometimes caustic sister. If the other sisters had spoken up then Maya didn't seem to pay much attention shuffling over to a barrel to pick out a ripe fruit and promptly devoured before searching out a skin of water. Once that had been recovered and downed Maya seemed to brighten almost instantly.

"Are we heading home?"

"Depends on you're term home. You are standing in your home." The snark comment was once again received with stoic emotion from Maya. This just wasn't the morning for it!

Thankfully before Maya was able to grit her teeth Kishku replied with even more energy than the aged woman produced on a regular basis. She was more exited to return home than any of them. After a few moments of checking Dyakida Maya beamed outwardly. Feeling guilty for her sister's blind condition caused by Maya's determination their previous home between now and Aisha had cost her so much. She hoped whatever lay ahead that she at least was strong enough to face the rest of her sisters.

Maya wasn't the first out of the tree, with Kishku's seemingly frail body darting about as if she were no more than a child emerging from the lotus for the first time. The strong blade couldn't resist catching onto the strong energy the elder produced, Maya joined in the fast climb up into the tree's. The group seemed to travel faster in the tree's than they did on the ground, it wouldn't be hard for them to find food on their journey towards Aisha and Maya felt confident good things would come about.

Several days seemed to pass within moments in Maya's eyes, despite strange events and the passing of other slightly more hostile Alkidikes. Who Maya had deemed where only in such a mood because they too felt the pull from Aisha too and weren't as happy to return. Though Maya herself couldn't understand why. Chibar Island was in view and so were the spacious and glimmering leaves that would soon be filled with lotus flowers. Most of the flowers were the same color, the very same she had emerged from herself. Once in a while, there was an odd colored lotus that would emerge and the rest of the tribe would shun it.

Maya felt pity for those flowers, born into a world shunned. She had shunned as an early child herself, imitating the actions of the older Alkidikes. She was starting to regret her early childhood actions, especially considering the recent tribes she had met and friends she had made within those tribes. She was grateful for having met them. Smaller than she was yes but she was grateful, they proved excellent healers, trackers, fighters. Obviously not as powerful in physical strength than Alkidikes but that didn't mean they couldn't measure up. She had even saved an earthling baby for the tree's sake.

Had the same thing happened here, Maya was sure she would fall under the pressure from her sisters and allow the pure earthling child to fall to whatever fate the creature's had intended for it. Feeling guilty for not doing anything the rest of her turns breathing. Maya shook her head absently, feeling her dark dreads and the tips of her antenna tap the sides of her face. She had to stop thinking about the earthling child.

The arrival to Chibar had somehow separated her from her sisters and Maya could feel the hour drawing closer. The ritual would begin soon, all she could do now was hope Kishku and or Briella were watching over Dyakida. She knew without a doubt Niebet would have turned on her the moment they returned and were within range of the Island itself.

Taking quick almost leaping strides towards Aisha's great trunk Maya placed her hand on her trunk. Closing her eyes as she felt the welcome form in her mind. Maya was tearful, not because she was in pain or saddened by past events. It was because she was pleased beyond measure to be home again, she wanted so much to tell Aisha everything that had happened. To confide in her all the secrets she held close as she had done so much when she was a child.

As the ritualistic ceremony came and went Maya felt as if her energy had not yet been completely drained by the time the sun had fallen. She had a driving need to make sure her close sisters were ok. A strange instinct that would quickly be frowned upon by her other sisters, but they were also her best friends. She couldn't leave them to fend for herself.

Wandering around Aisha endlessly in search of something, anything that would lead her back to Dyakida and Briella Maya sighed helplessly. No one seemed to remember seeing them. perhaps it was because Maya had not been specific enough about them? A soft calling voice seemed to reach out to the Alkidike Blade as she passed near the trunk for the umpteenth time that night. The voice was impossible to forget and even harder to ignore, placing her hand lovingly on Aisha to signal she was listening she could not have been prepared for what followed.

The lotus flowers had begun to bloom in the great tree's branches and among the leaves. Following the instructions Maya found herself standing in front of a very unique lotus. It didn't contain the usual soft pink hue the rest of them did. It was so different, so vastly different, as if, it were the flower of a half breed. Maya turned immediately back to her mother, confusion, and desperation filled her heart. She had not approached her for the lotus, she had not brought a mate to plead with her, Aisha must have been confused.

The gentle guidance was meant to reassure the flighty Alkidike as Maya tried to explain over and over that a mistake had been made. She wasn't the lotus' mother. She could feel the mirthful laughter from Aisha fill her, as if telling her the exact actions she were taking were that of pleading. When those emotions filled her Maya found her pleading futile. Turning towards the flower she carefully stroked the delicate surface.

This was now her lotus, and as such her child. She wanted to ask more of Aisha, to know why she had been chosen to care for the lotus when there had to be mother's here on Chibal island waiting for it to bloom. All she felt inside was a pressure not to ask any more questions, that information was no longer relevant the lotus was her's to take care of.

Maya's Antennea twitched, her body jerking with the resonating movement within the lotus. It had been happening frequently over the course of the last day. Maya knew it was a signal announcing the lotus blossom was almost ready to case aside it's petals. To reveal the youngling inside. She listened carefully. Her attention was riveted on the fragile youngling to be. Her head snapped around protective. SHe wanted to know if any of her sisters were around. If there was anything around that could hurt her little one. The silence was welcomeing. Without another stir of life, Maya let her mind return to wandering. It had been doing that alot lately. Closing her eyes her mind returned to the brief events back home.

After having successfully escaped her awkward moment with Neibet, Maya had returned promptly to her room. Her heart racing with what felt like a million jumps a minut. Sucking in a deep breath through her nose. Holding her breath for a count of three. Everything held in her arms, crumbled to the floor with her emotions rising. Slowly letting out the air in her lungs, letting it fly past her lips. Walking over to Pacju, Maya wrapped her hands around the Radaku's neck. Falling to her knees she pressed her face into Pacju's neck. "What have i gotten myself into?" She asked tyring to stuff back tears that threatened to spill out. Her companion remained still. After some time had passed maya was finally able to pull herself back together. Returning the materials to her arms Maya started working on the carving into the wood. All her fusterations spilled into her work.

A soft noise, followed by Pacju's growl alerted Maya to someone's pressence in her room. Startled Maya emerged from the small hole she had carved so far. Squaring her shoulders Maya found herself looking at Neibet. "What is it now Neibet?" Maya questioned, rubbing her hands together. Hoping to dislodge the buildup of saw dust, her black bug like eyes flashed dangerously. A warning for Neibet not to press her luck.

Neibet grimmanced. "I wanted to know what you were up to? You're making so much noise and Kishku doesn't want you signalling the Shifter's to our home." Neibet bent to the side attempting to peer past Maya into the small hole she had carved out so far. "Are you trying to make a large place for your beast?"

"That's for me to know, and you to..." Maya shrugged. There really was no need to explain herself. She had already told Neibet about the lotsu. Neibet had started acting strange then and she wasn't about to let it start up again. Turning back to her work Maya was stopped by Neibets hand on her shoulder. Her muscled tensed in responce. Spinning around as Pacju's growl intensified. "Let go of me before you get hurt."

Neibet froze her eyes on the radaku. Removing her hand slowly, careful not to antagonize Maya's Radaku companion further. "I have a gift for you." Maya softened but remained defensive.

"Did you bring the antidote that goes with it?" Silence once again held in the air. It was starting to become a frequent havit for their exchanges. A hurt look flashed across her face.

"Fine! You don't want it I don't care." With that, Maya's strange Alkidike sister stormed out of the room. Pacju's growl stopped. Thankful her hides had remained in tact over the door after Neibet's departure. Maya crawled back to work. Time passed. the young Alkidiek paused. The calm energy back in her room seemed to change. Kishku now stood there. She was carefully examining the Kinfa egg. Maya had carefully rested on the shelf. A few barretts lay next to the small nest. A cloak hung on a peg beside the door. Maya's hammock located beside the opening she had been working on. In the center of the room a woven nest of leaves, Tigs, and roots. A few bones from fish and other strange critters were on the edge closest to the door. That was hwere Pacju slept every night. Fungus filled shelves that had been carved into the wood. Other more mysterious plants hung drying from the smooth roof overhead. In Kishkus hand was one of her arrows.

Something winced inside Maya. She loved the strange Elder, she did. Sometimes he could be just a bit on the irritating side. "Maya, Love isn't given only when someone is lovable. It should always be give, Have you forgotten such importance core values!? Aisha taut us these things many times before we left. Neibet loves you, far more than as just a friend, she loves you with her whole being. Her entire self. No Greater thing could she give you, all of you. Yet you all respond negatively, very negatively towards her." Pausing and turning to look at Maya, Elder Kishku continued to spin the arrow around between her fingers. Pausing to look strait at Maya before continuing on. "I want to speak to you first, because you are the second oldest Alkidike here aside from Neibet and myself. Though I don't count, as I'm far to old. You need to be a better role modle for your two sisters. They follow you lovingly, Do they not?" Kishku's eyes bore into Maya, her dark eyes full of questions.

Maya shook her head, "I'm not sure Elder Kishku. They act like they know what others are thinking, feeling, or buried deep inside. But they are almost always wrong! I've learned not to guess or perceive them."

She watched as her Elder lapsed into thought, the arrow still spinning in between her worn fingers. Stepping from foot to food eager to return to work Maya paused. Kishku had made a move to speak gain her voice trembled with confusion. "Neibet tells me, you have a lotus waiting for you back within Aisha's bows?" Maya nodded her face flushed. "You are a very lucky Alkidike Maya." There are many Alkidiek sisters who would plead with our great Mother to grand them such a gift. I even tried once to ask Aisha for a daughter. I was declined. Did you know Neibet tried the same thing? She too was denied. As happy as Neibet is... She hurts at the reminder of not having been successful in proving to Aisha she could raise a child. Something so precious. It makes her angry."

Maya continued to shift uneasily from one foot to the next. "Elder Kishku, the lotus wasn't my choice. Aisha told me that I need to protect it. So I will go and do what she asked. Once the room is done I will leave right away. Head back to Aisha. I wont be coming back until after the youngling is given to me."

"I bet she will be as beautiful as you are, right now." Maya paused at Elder Kishku's words. Nodding to hank her and watched as the Elder Alkidike replaced the arrow into it's intended quiver. She hadn't thought about it before but she had no idea if the unborn youngling was even a full Alkidike. and if not. Was the small one even a girl? Was it possible the youngling was a boy? With a strange physic like some of the half breeds around Aisha? She would need to thin of a name for the child soon. Watching Elder Kishky, Maya returned to a nearly complete room. She only knew female Alkidike names. Desperatly hoping the youngling to be would turn out female. Looking aorund the room with awe. Her work looked splendid! All she had to do now was find ohides to build the bed and door coverings. Turning to Pacju who had settled in her nest during the Alkidikes interaction. Maya beamed, it was time to go out hunting. With her needs she could also cut down her sister's work load, and save them the hunting trip into the forest. If she wasn't to so pressed for time, there was every possibility, that she would even smoke and salt the meat for them too.

Gathering up her materials Maya shot out of her room as quickly as she could. Pacju bolted after her sticking close to the Alkidikes heals. Both Alkidike and Radaku felt most alive when they were able to hunt. Once outside in the forest air Maya pulled herself up onto the large beasts back. Pulling out her weapons, and sucking in a deep breath. Maya leaned forward patting Pacju's soft neck to signal she was ready. The pair took off, lunging through the forest with incredible speed.

Spring Showers (Maya/Teiluj) FIN

[Jauhar] A teacher for her (Maya//Takoda) FIN

Fight in the marketplace [Maya and Rishima] FIN

[PRP, Tale] Same old, same old [San/Maya]