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 Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 5:35 pm
Jordan let the comments slide, mostly because he had no clue what she meant and he didn’t want to start any problems with a misunderstanding in communication.
“The lake’s a good place, but the river is nice too. Oh right! I forgot to mention the river. It’s a shady place to enjoy a cool swim.” He paused to think of anything else he’d missed telling her while she mentioned she didn’t have clothing to worry about. “I think that’s about it, then.”
He was about to start off when he nodded softly to the admission of not being able to read. “It’s okay. I’ll help you and I’m sure you’ll meet some other friendly people as well who’ll be more than happy to help out if I’m not around.” Jordan rubbed his paws together “Alright, then. You’ve already been to the lake. Are you up for a nature hike?” he smiled toothily at her, loving to go walking just to listen to the various sounds and detect the scents around the village and beyond.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:16 pm
Thina nodded, "I like river. We go." She followed him out the door. They walked a little bit, she rubbed at her scars a little nervously.
"Family, and balamii said I had know reading. Never taught. Old to learn," she shrugged. Inwardly, Thina flinched a little. Her words were broken, she knew, but was unsure what was wrong with her fragmented sentences or how to fix them. "English first..."
"Let us... 'nature hike?'" Thina ran in and grabbed a cookie as they passed the cafeteria for the last time.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:46 pm
He was pleased to hear they were going to the river. It was a calm, quiet spot where he could relax more comfortably than he could on the beach. The water was cooler and the shade kept him from becoming too overheated too quickly. He observed Thina as she touched her scars, curious as to what happened in her lifetime to leave her with a facial disfigurement. It wasn’t something he could simply ask out of the blue.
Jordan pieced together her broken English to the best of his ability, repeating twice the words silently in his head making out ‘family had wanted her to learn to read but she was never taught and she’s too old to learn now.’ Jordan found her charming company to have in tow in any event.
“Let’s be off to the river then.” Something else that had piqued his curiousities was her country of origin. That would be a good ice breaker on their hike, at least a lot easier to ask for sure. Jordan chuckled as he’d ran to the cafeteria for a cookie, pausing for her. “Thina, if you don’t mind me asking, where are you from? What brings you to the island?”
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:07 pm
Thina followed, the just-beginning to set sun was putting her in a better mood. Especially with how the colors blended, the small breeze went through the trees and whispered. It reminded her of the stories about the nymphs in the woods... well, hopefully them and not the maenads. She would not like to run into one of those violent women.
She hummed a tune as they went to the river. Jordan's question stopped her music. "Not offended," Thina nodded. "I am from Ianonnia in Epirus, North-east Greece." The next question threw her off. "What bring?" The woman frowned, her fingers lingering over her scars once more. "A ship... something else?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:21 pm
Pre-dusk was always an amazing sight, with the tapestry of pastels interwoven. He had no clue what she could possibly be thinking. There was easily two or three generations’ difference between them. He wondered all the things she could have seen in her lifetime, all of the scientific and technological advancements. And it made his head hurt. There was just so much in that broad spectrum that it was unfathomable to the young man. “You must have lived quite an interesting life. You must have seen and experienced so many great events in your lifetime.” He smiled, respecting the wisdom and insight she must possess. Thina struck him as a kindly grandmother figure with many fascinating stories just waiting to be told.
It was Jordan’s turn to not know where on the map that was, until she gave reference to Greece and even then it was more of a vague understanding in relation to Europe and the Middle East. He stifled back a chuckle at her second response as he pondered a better way to word it. “I apologize for being confusing. What I meant to say is what was your reason for leaving Greece?”
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:38 pm
Thina snorted, "'Interesting Life'... some fun tourists. Never left Epirus. Not like Mikhail and Demetrius. They play at many village." She took a bite of her cookie, give her scar a rest. Maybe it was good that Jordan didn't know... her experiences were limited and she was perhaps the least-technologically advanced person he'd ever met. Even hermits in the United States knew more than her. Of course, she didn't know what Jordan was thinking.
"Reason... leave..." the woman took one large, long, saddened sigh. She hadn't wanted to leave. It was the last thing she wanted. Thina loved Epirus, and if it was her choice, she never would have left. It was shock enough just to leave the province, never mind leaving the country, and even continent. "I was..." Thina thought, what was the word for 'expendable, "Family did not need me. Sent me with Yanni and Chloe on ship, to sing and dance. Balamii pay family."
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:05 pm
It was a struggle for Jordan not to take off into a run right then and there, the lure of running himself till he’d just tire out and curl was seemed so appealing, but it was fortunate he was in company at the moment. Running was one thing, but to be seen enjoying the dashing and weaving through the trees like a care-free dog. In Jordan’s efforts to find himself and to let go of the stiff work-a-day demeanor, he was letting go of more than he was initially aware of. He was losing his grip on those aspects of his human self that kept him in check. In short, Jordan was becoming a hedonistic dog and he was ignorant to the exact nature of the ‘justified’ reasons.
“Are Mikhail and Demetrius musicians? Do they travel and play beautiful music?” Jordan smiled though he probably shouldn’t have. He was finding her an interesting person, even if she thought herself rather bland. Thina was exotic to the American-born Jordan. He did a double-take at what she said. She’d been sold by her own family?! The incredulous look of disbelief was astounding that such practices took place in the world. “That’s not right!” Jordan was outraged, throwing out his arms directly infront of himself. “How could they just do that to you?!” he shot her a look that wasn’t meant to depict anger towards her, but towards her family. His wet, black nose flared with angry breaths, growling in outrage, his canines beared. “People are not property!” Oh, the irony in that statement was priceless and lost on the naïve dogman.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:41 pm
Thina followed docilely, finishing up her cookie. "We all musicians," she chuckled a little. Poor balame, didn't seem to know about her family's profession. "Some travel, Greece. Was first time anyone left Greece for music." Before she was born, some had moved to America, but they had changed..... and had become disassociated from the rest of the family. They didn't talk about them.
The woman was shocked by the dog's outrage. Thina took a step back, her fears of attack and Newton surfaced. He wasn't going to attack her, was he? Usually, she stood her ground, but these humans-turned-to-animals were so incredibly unpredictable. Even though Thina saw that his rage was for her, just the fact that it was there unsettled her. "Not slave... work... job.... paid for music, always." She wasn't quite sure how to correct Jordan's thinking.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:06 pm
The big white paw smacked his big white face in stupidity. He’d gone off on a tangent about how it was immoral to use people as property and it wasn’t what she’d meant. He’d scared her with his outburst and it took a moment for it to register with Jordan, once he realized she’d fallen back.
Carefully, he turned around, flattening his ears to the side of his head and looked like he’d just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. The pathetic look of apology was an odd mixture of human and canine features. He hunched down and backed away from her, afraid that he’d frightened her more than initially estimated and somehow managed to cause her to fear him. Jordan looked like he was about to bolt for it into the thicket of trees where he could hide till this blew over. “I-I’m sorry…” he whispered, inching away from her. Doctor Moreau would punish him for frightening a human, no doubt about it! “I didn’t mean to scare you.. I thought you meant something else.. I’m so sorry..” Jordan resorted to becoming a spineless coward with the fear of punishment looming in his mind. He was shaking a bit as he looked back over his shoulder. He really looked like he was going to bolt any moment, his left footpaw shifting direction for the move.
"Please don't be scared of me.. I'm not a bad guy.. I just.." he sniffled and turned to run and hide like a scared dog.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:27 pm
Thina wasn't sure what to do. She looked at Jordan like she was a mouse watching a cat. Even if the cat appeared like it was going to run away, the mouse would not want to take the risk. Not to mention, that cats were crafty, evil creatures.... devious in that they'll let you bring your guard down and then.... attack!
She watched his ever so carefully and unmoving. Maybe he she made no sudden movements, said nothing, he would calm down.....
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:40 pm
Jordan was overreacting to a simple situation, again, as he seemed to do since his stay on the island had begun. He pursued to follow through with his side movement, twisting his legs around faster than the rest of his body could move. He looked towards the trees that he'd bolt towards and felt it. At that moment, Jordan knew he wouldn't be going anywhere. His eyes bulged and his mouth opened wide in a startled gasp as his left footpaw caught on his right as it was lifting off the ground and in an ungraceful display of cowardice, Jordan crashed to the ground- hard on his face.
Jordan merely grumped at his stupidity and carelessness. Sure, the advanced changes brought on by his unique serum had caused him to act more doglike with the subsequent changes, but that did nothing for his control over said canine body. He had a lot of hard work ahead before he could control both in harmony.
He realized how foolish he'd just behaved. And that's why he remained nose-first in the dirt, just letting the embarrassment wear off before moving. "That could have gone better..." he huffed a deep breath.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:56 pm
Thina could only watch. It wasn't until Jordan literally crashed to the group that her caution fell apart. The woman rushed to his side and knelt down, her hand on his shoulder in concern. "You alright? Hurt yourself?"
She was there, to help him get up if he needed her. Thina didn't laugh, she didn't know Jordan well enough to be completely comfortable. The childish-aura she had at first was long gone after the intial surprise of meeting the dog.
"That could better," Thina nodded. Hey, there was no point in denying it.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:07 pm
Jordan just rest there until she came to his side and he shook his head. "The only thing that has been hurt here is my ego.. I'm sorry for acting so stupid. I'm not sure what came over me.." he pushed himself up to his knees, easilly brushing the dirt off his fur. Possibly the only good thing about having this breed's fur on a tropical island was that it repelled water, dirt, and most things that would otherwise stain the pristine white coat. "I won't do that again.." he hung his head low as he looked down, rising onto his paws. "I didn't mean to scare you and I'm very sorry.." he spoke softly. His tail wagged gently in hopes that she'd forgive him for being a complete idiot just then.
"I'll be good." his tail wagged a little faster. "You'll like the river." he cracked a soft smile, trying to change the focus back to their nature hike. "It's pretty."
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:14 pm
Thina helped him up, and then helped dust him off. Mostly, she did it to 'say' that she forgave him and wouldn't hold the outburst against him. Done, she stepped back, to make sure they got it all. The fear and caution was gone from her eyes and stance.
The woman sighed, "Okay... I am..." Thina chewed her lip to find the word, "more cautious... Don't want attacked."
"Lead," she nodded, also excited to be going to the river.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:26 pm
Her words hit him like a truck. "Oh no no, I won't hurt you. I promise. I'm really sorry for bad behavior a few seconds ago. It's just.. I haven't seen a human in a long time who wasn't Doctor Moreau, so that makes me nervous about doing anything bad." he tried to reassure her. "I'm a good boy, Thina." he hammed it up and stuck out his tongue playfully and pulled his paws up to his chest in a begging position, smiling and giggling as he wanted her to know he was a gentle dogman, even if he was stupid from time to time.
Jordan was more careful when turning around this time and lead onward, his tail wagging happilly as he sniffed this way and that. He was smelling around for the path that he'd taken to the river the last time he'd bene there. That was when he met Chana. Jordan led her on a safe path, with plenty of space and making sure that there wasn't anything that might give her a scare, shooing anything that looked at him wrong and if there was a branch or brush in the way, he made sure that he cleared the way for her, by holding back the branch for her ot pass or stepping through the brush and offering his paw to help her through once it was clear to pass, but soon they could hear the rolling water as they neared.
"We're almost there." he announced happilly.
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