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 Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 3:33 pm
Tsisia 4"Oh! What if we held our food up? Do you think we could lure it over?!" She'd seen enough Hanaluke from a distance to think of them as the sweetest, most adorable little fuzzballs and the stories about their theft just made her want one more. So long as it didn't steal from her that is. The little hybrid made sure to walk in the path her mother was making, but her eyes kept drifting to the branches above, straight to the point that she actually walked into Quiana. "Omph! ....Sorry Mama."
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 3:48 pm
"They're pretty good at making noises and being greedy." Mused Quiana in return, her lips pressed together as she pondered their options. "Perhaps a trade would work. I heard a Sister once had to barter for hours to get back a trinket from one, so if you have any fruits tucked away it may work out. If anything tossing one may be a good enough distraction so that you can get away while...." The sudden impact had her stumbling forward, Quiana reaching out to touch a tree for balance before looking down at her daughter. "Well, if you're wanting to lure one over then make certain that you're fully aware of your surroundings. What if it came in pairs so one gets the fruit while the other nabs your bag?"
But then just as suddenly she was holding out her hand for her daughter, a playful gleam in her eye. "Or we can outrun them now before they get a chance to snatch anything and set a trap up for them later." Quiana grinned towards Tsisia, hoping she would take to the idea. Not that she wanted to keep one for a pet since they were such a hassle, but it could be a fun learning experience for the younglings if they did decide to learn some about trapping or the like. "Gather plenty of fruits on the way back and we'll see about making a little cage or something next time." It would also be a good outlet for her daughter's energy, maybe saving them from pranks for at last one afternoon.
"But for now we run!" Quiana reached for Tsisia with a laugh as she heard the rustling of multiple hanaluke in the trees about them, the Elidae hoping her family would follow suit as she pushed forward from the jungle and emerged in an open area where a stream cut through and cascaded in a waterfall down cliffs that overlooked the ocean. The grotto would be further down, a bit of a hike, but for now they were out in the open again and hopefully the hanaluke would stay in the trees where they watched with their eyes gleaming from the shadows.
[Quiana 5]
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 3:53 pm
Quetzal only drifted closer and closer to Siel as his mother and sister started talking about ideas with the hanaluke. Maybe if they had been sneakier then the hanaluke would have never noticed them, but Quetzal gave up on that idea with how much energy his family had. So he settled for peeking up at the trees at random, keeping one hand on his necklace while his other hand stayed on the top of his bag to avoid any thieves.
"Wait...outrun them?" He managed after a second, his gaze widening as he caught his mother's intentions and just like that she was off! Oh they definitely should catch up! Quetzal looked towards Siel, nodding towards him as if asking for permission before darting forward and running until sunlight hit him in the face and he saw the cliffs before them. "Wow." He breathed, squinting as his eyes adjusted and the shimmering waters of the stream and the nearby ocean caught his attention.
[Quetzal 5]
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 4:12 pm
Tsisia 5
Just as she was reaching up to take her mother's hand, a scowl firmly planted on her face, the tide was changing. She mimicked the older Elidae's mischievous spark, and gladly took Quiana's hand. "We could use some of the moss I have in my bag to hide our scents when we set the trap! That way they'll never know we were there." Tsisia may not have liked getting dirty, but when it came to making animals think it was safe, thus making her brother think it was safe, she would do it every time!
With a squeal, the hybrid took off after her. Her legs burned with the effort of keeping up, though it definitely didn't stop her from trying! There was a moment where Tsisia nearly lost her footing, but by the time they made it to the clearing she burst out of the jungle with a loud cheer and a laugh.
"Look, Quetzal! We're on top of the world!"
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 4:17 pm
Siel 5
Running? No no no, please, surely Quiana wouldn't do that to hi- For a moment all Siel could do was to watch in horror as the two bolted into the wilds, leaving he and his son along with their hanaluke stalkers.
When Quetzal looked back at him Siel smiled tensely, "It's alright, we don't have to-" He'd nearly said 'run after them' but the boy was already gone. A noise behind him caused Siel to make a sharp half turn and a noise to his left prompted the hybrid into a run of his own. The bard was far from athletic enough to keep up, even if he could see them in the distance, but he was just focusing on survival.
By the time he'd made it to the cliffside Siel was wheezing and covered in whatever branches had managed to smack him along the way. "You...." He pointed a shaky finger at Quiana, "...suck."
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 4:29 pm
Okay, so there was the potential that part of that mischievousness did come from Quiana after all. The Elidae had grinned and nodded at the idea of the moss before bolting forward, the urge to run more playful than necessary since she knew that hanaluke truly wouldn't have attacked them had they lingered. It was more fun though to avoid the potential little thieves and get to their destination a bit quicker. "Just be careful of the cliffs and don't try to swim here, we'll go further up the stream to see if we can find some of those shells. The further up we got the more chances of finding things, potentially even some laau and their dams." She instructed Tsisia and Quetzal urging them to explore around the shore, eyeing her children before approaching Siel with a slight sashay. Her own cheeks were flushed from the run, exhilaration in letting loose always bringing a glow to her appearance along with an amused expression at the insult tossed her way.
Oh, Siel! He most definitely had not enjoyed the run like she had! "I'm sorry, Siel." Quiana managed after a moment, trying to suppress her laughter even as she slowly plucked some stray branches and leaves from his hair and attire. "I'll make it up to you later, promise." She nodded, her innocent expression and wide green eyes trying their best to portray the exact opposite of the mischievous woman from before. "The view here is nice too, right? Forgive me?"
[Quiana 6]
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 4:34 pm
"We really are." Quetzal agreed, his voice more subdued as he took in the scenery. So this was what the top of the cliffs looked like. He had seen them in the distance from the other side, when they went to the little cove closer to home, but he never imagined actually coming out here like this. It was nice, if not a bit dangerous....the boy's gaze skimming towards the rushing waters as they cascaded down the cliffs. No wonder his mother said to never take this path alone.
Laau dams? Quetzal had moved closer to Tsisia, the youngling more focused on the stream and less on their parents as he reflected on their mother's words. "Do you really think we can find some shells and all of those things further up?" He mused, partly to himself and also towards his sister if she cared enough to listen to him. "I guess it doesn't hurt to look." He took a few more steps forward, avoiding the edge of the water but approaching the scattered reeds that were growing along the way. If anything he would believe something could be hiding within the taller grass, they just had to be a bit cautious about it.
[Quetzal 6]
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 4:57 pm
Siel 6
Hunched over, hands on his thighs, Siel did his best to level out his breathing. He may have been spry and nimble in some areas, but this...Was she trying to kill him? That's what it was...Use him to have some cute kids then push him off a cliff...The bard certainly wasn't glowing when his partner came close and if anything he looked more bedraggled than a week of no sleep when the twins were newborns.
"You know what you did," He pouted, but took the preening anyway. Siel didn't trust those eyes for a second. "Mmm. Reminds me of home." After a moment of reflection he leaned over and wrapped an arm around her waist, tugging Quiana closer so they could watch over the view together.
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 5:01 pm
Tsisia 6
Unlike her brother, Tsisia was more intent on getting as close as she could to the edge without getting in trouble. She got down on her hands and knees for a moment, just to try peeking over and the view she got was amazing if not a little scary. It was enough to make Tsisia get back to safety, but not before cooing over the amazing sight.
"There's four of us so I think we can." Following after him, Tsisia paused a moment to look over to her parents and nudged Quetzal. "I mean the two of us."
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 5:10 pm
Quiana simply smiled, the Elidae continuing to brush out the leaves and run her fingers through Siel's hair to pamper him. She leaned into the embrace, her own arm wrapping around Siel as she studied the scene. "Does it? Maybe we should come up here more often, with less running next time." She mused quietly, her expression thoughtful as she looked over the cliffs. It was strange being back in her home like this but for the moment she truly enjoyed it despite the bittersweet memories of an older Alkidike and a younger version of herself walking around the same area, a moment from what felt like forever ago now.
"Thank you again, Siel." Quiana murmured, a soft sigh of happiness escaping her lips. "I never thought I would see a day like this, but here we are." And hopefully a day without a splash or something as one of their children drowned the other in the distance, Quiana quietly worried as her green gaze continued to slowly peer in that direction...just in case.
[Quiana 7]
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 5:13 pm
Quetzal did move a bit closer to the edge, shadowing his sister just in case. Even if he didn't openly admit it there was a bit of a protective stance as he watched over her, keeping an eye on the stream and how close Tsisia got to the cliffs. "Just the two...hmm?" He blinked, taking a step back to look at their parents before letting out a soft sight. That made sense, honestly. At least they had made it to the destination first.
"They'll catch up eventually. We should go ahead and see what we can find." Quetzal figured a few moments would be fine, it wasn't as if he was eager to dive into the water and test out how high the cliffs truly were himself. He just had to hope that Tsisia would be more interested in looking for those shells and plants and less in testing their limits here. And for once Quetzal found himself looking forward to seeing what they could find, it was a nice day to explore around the isle and give them some peace from the everyday motions of training and chores.
[Quetzal 7]
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 5:25 pm
Siel 7
He leaned against her and gave a little hmm. Even though his fathers had always traveled the majority of his youth was spent in Matori and that's where Siel always came back to. He imagined the same was true for Quiana, and now for Tsisia and Quetzal. So much had changed in recent years with a major loss and new lives, but the sea remained. The rivers were as clear here as they were in Tendaji and though the animals were different there was no less life here than there was back in Matori.
"It's been wild, but I don't think we could handle tame." He murmured with the hint of a grin. That was just who their family was; wild, unruly heathens. Hedonism ran as thick in their veins as blood and Siel wouldn't change it for the world.
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Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2023 5:32 pm
Tsisia 7
Even when her parents were angry with one another they never strayed far. If they had bad spats then Tsisia had never seen one and what jabs she did see were usually worked through within the day. When one of friends had tried to tell her that her parents weren't in love because they hadn't had a bonding ceremony then Tsisia grew cross. They were so in love! That was it, right there! It was gross, but it was true and that's what mattered.
With a nod, she turned away from them and moved upstream to look for shells. Maybe if she found one she could give it to Chantara and have her make the eye powder since no one else seemed that enthused by it. Well, except Quetzal, and she might share with him if he kept quiet about it.
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