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 Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:57 am
Oqaia searched for Heather for several hours, before she found her in one of the three rooms in the inn that they'd rented for the night. The girl was glad to see that Amkia was with her.
"Oh... Heather... I'm glad I found you." She jerked her thumb over her shoulder, indicating the door. "I had no idea how big this town was. I think I got lost four or five times." She smiled. "Are you busy?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:00 am
Heather looked up suddenly, she had been looking at the vial she was given and instanly hid it away quick. She wouldn't keep it hidden for long and didn't really want to hide it, really just, she wanted to look at it more. She looked at Amkia and smiled before turning back to the Oqaia, "I am not busy, do you want to come in? You look worn out!" She chuckled a little and moved over so she could sit on the bed next to her.
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:10 am
"Thanks," Oqaia said, sitting on the cleared spot on the bed, "I am worn out. But in a good way. ...It's just been too long since I've been in 'civilization'. I think a part of me will always be a town girl at heart." She gave a soft smile to the woman sitting next to her on the bed, then shook her head. "But enough about me. ...I've been working on my arcane tarot readings. Valelldia has been helping me understand them more. So I've been practicing quite a bit..."
As she spoke, she pulled from a deep pocket in her skirt three cards. "While I was fiddling with a cross spread, I realized that the meij was taking the reading quite seriously." She put the three cards in Heather's lap, and pointed to them. "These have to do with Amkia."
"The Angel... fear, and altruism. ...It makes perfect sense for Amkia. A creature of light and flight... who wants to change, and yet... is afraid, because of an altruistic past. He's a canary, isn't he? And these are the Highland Gelms. Canaries are often used in mines- sacrificing their lives for others. ...And he was a lantern before that. So I don't wonder that, in this place, he'd be afraid to grow. ...So I think I understand what you need to do. As a token that you'll protect him, and that he won't ever have to sacrifice himself... you need to go into a mine and find a small chunk... of gold. ...Do you understand?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:22 am
Heather looked at the woman slightly confused. "Where am I suppose to find a Mine around here? Its a big town!" She looked at Amkia and stroked him, making a little sound to him that she did every now and then to show affection. "I will do it, just where?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:25 am
"The mines are a little further down the mountain. A five, ten minute climb- less if you take a horse. If you want, someone can go with you."
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:29 am
She shook her head, "I don't want to take anyone with me, it would trouble them. I will take one of my horses, I am sure it will be nice for them to carry me and not pull my home!" She looked at Amkia and kissed the top of his head. "Stay here ok, I will be back soon, just, please, don't go anywhere." She smiled and looked up, "Please can you watch him?" She ran to around her room picking up her cloak and flute, something that controlled her horses. She picked up her dimaond vial and put it in a bag before looking back at the girl. She was ready to leave.
"Is this any type of gold? Do you know?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:43 am
"Of course I'll watch him! ...And I suggest, look for a small, round piece. That way, if you need to, you can turn it into a necklace for him later. Wearing transformation objects often protect Fortunette children."
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:58 am
She nodded and smiled letting out a small thanks she turned to leave rushing to her caravan she left the vial in her secret place, while doing this the bird Amkia had insisted on made far too much noise. "Oh shush! Please, you make far too much noise!" She chuckled and spread some food in its cage before going out to untie one of her horses.
She clicked at her horse and he came willingly, she chose the most docile of her horses to take and as she scrambled up on top of him she petted the other two. "Its ok, we won't be long, I hope." She then turned, digging her heels into the horses sides slightly she edged it on as they looked for a trail down to the mines.
She led the horse down a narrow path that led straight down to the mines, her heart was thudding in her chest, she hated mines. She had stories of them exploding unexpectidly but then, maybe those things happened to Amkias kind. She shuddered and urged to horse on, she had to do this, for Amkia. No one else.
As they reached the entrance to the mine, Heather slipped off her horses back, holding his head she kissed him before letting him go off to chew on some grass near by. She wasn't sure how to do this, she had refused to bring a candle because of stories of gases so she would look in the dark. Taking a large breath she entered the mine.
The mine was dark and damp, it smelt horrible but seemed to go straight for a while, something she was grateful for as the sun lit the cave for her. She saw a pile of rocks, something that she thought might come in useful, it might not, but it would be a good place to look for!
She hurried over and moved the rocks slowly, they were heavy and she wasn't too strong. Stopping she pulled her flute out and started playing, it called her horse and he came willing. "Thank you boy." She whispered. Taking the rope he always had in his pack she tied it around him and then the rocks, this moved them quicker. Once they were all moved something glittered. "The gold!" She smiled and started digging with her hands carefully, hoping not to move anything too dangerous.
She took a while, making sure nothing fell and that her horse didn't get spooked, losing him wouldn't be too useful. She used one of the rocks to chip at the gold, it was a piece that was stuck in the rocks. She spent a good few minutes, maybe it was hours chipping untill a small piece came off.
She held it in her hand and looked at it. "I do hope that this will be enough." A rock tumbled down not far from her, "It better be, come on!" She led her horse out and ntied to rope from him and put it back in his pack. Holding onto the gold in her hand she climbed onto his back and kicked his sides, and off they went.
She led him to the town and not the caravans, she wouldn't waste anymore time, she hated leaving Amkia on his own, it was something she would never get use to. He was her son!
Reaching the village she used the rope to tie her horse up, she didn't trust town folk, they were different then gypsys and she didn't see them as trustworthy. She kissed the horses forelock and ran back into the inn and upto her room where she burst in, slightly out of breath and looking rather black.
She went straight to Amkia and kissed the small bird before handing the small piece of gold to Oq, "I hope that is enough..."
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:14 am
Oqaia didn't have a chance to answer. Amkia, who had been sitting on the pink-haired woman's hand, flew into the air, and took the piece of gold from his mother's hand before it made its way to Oqaia. It was too big for his small beak, and he'd only just touched it- recognizing his mother's sacrifice and message that she would brave a dangerous path, rather than sending him in... that the room burst in countless shades of gold and white. ...It had been too big a piece for the canary's beak. But not... for the palm of an infant.  He was... the visage of an angel child- a fortunette, infant of the light, young and fresh, for his innocence had not propelled him to grow any further than this cherubic state.
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:20 am
Heather just stared and caught the baby as it seemed to suddenly drop from the air. She just held him, staring at the angel in front of her. "Amkia... you are...Amkia..." She hugged him close and left a kiss on his forehead. She turned to the other and smiled. "Oh my, thank you! I would go down that mine over and over for him." She couldn't believe her eyes, he was the most amazing baby she had ever seen, and he was her son!
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Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 5:32 am
Maybe it was just how he looked or maybe it was how he came to her but the bond between mother and child was strong. Amkia wouldn't go anywhere without Heather and she wouldn't go anywhere without him. The youngster would flap his angelic wings, sending sparks of light with them. Heather had to be careful soemtimes, especially when he was very happy for it was time like those that he would be the brightest. If he was sad, he wouldn't glow so much.
He hadn't been around for that long and he hadn't met many others as Heather hadn't moved from her room in the inn since he came to her. Her horse was still tied up outside the inn and she just hoped he was ok, her horses weren't usually tied up so this was rather different.
She decided though, today would be the day she took Amkia to the caravan. She had been gone wuite a while and she knew that annoying Banya bird would be making a lot of noise, but in a way it made her more certain that she had to take him there today. The bird was his after all.
She got her things together, emptied her room. She would stay in her caravan from now on as she felt it was essential for Amkia to know it well as it would be his home from now on, oh how lucky she was to have her own little angel!
Once she got all her things together and in the bag she slung over her shoulder she went over to Amkia who was sucking on his thumb, oh how adorable he is! She smiled and picked him up, his arms flying out to meet her and his glow growing brighter. "Come on Amkia, its your day to go home!" She smiled and kissed the youngsters forehead. She would ride her horse back to the caravan and there she would let Amkia crawl around the caravan while she tended to the horses and the dogs.
Getting out the inn with a baby that looked like an angel was troublesom especially one who glowed greatly as she didn't really want much attention. She had put a great black cloth around him, just till they got to the caravans, after all she didnt want to do anything silly now. Lots of attention wouldn't be good for her son at this stage of life.
They reached her only stallion and she kissed his neck. "Its ok boy, steady now, we are going back." He was obviously not happy, he kicked out behind him and snorted, he didn't like being tied up but did indeed calm down as she untied him and crawled up onto his back with Amkia in her arms.
They rode down to the caravans without much difficulty and there She let all her horses go and do what they wished. They weren't the type to be tied up and she had a feeling she would need to sell the foal as it grew older, but then again the oldest femme was slowly dieing, she couldn't even pull the cart anymore. Heather didn't have the heart to let her die.
Once the horses were happy Heather opened the door to her home and got greated quite happily by her dogs, "Fresca, no, down, hello Duke, right down now!" She chuckled as they obviously seemed happy to see her but they soon jumped out the caravan and did the normal dog like thing.
She took Amkia to the bed where she put him down as she unpacked her things. She hung the Banya birds cage outside and gave it some more food. She then went and fed the dogs, then feeding the horses some oats went inside to try and freshen the caravan, smelt rotten after the dogs being in their for so long, but they had been able to get out, obviously chose not to.
She left Amkia on his own for a little while as she went and rested outside. He was fast asleep now anyway, curled up sucking his thumb, his wings over him keeping him warm, he was a lovely boy.
Heather rested against a tree and looked around, nothing majorly different or strange, all looked good to her and she was happy too. She had all she ever wanted here, freedom to roam about, her own son who was beautiful beyond belief! She was happy. Perfectly happy.
Amkia found the whole ordeal rather interesting, fun and scary. He didn't like being wrapped up in the black material but his mother had spoken softly to him though he didn't understand what she said, he knew it wouldnt be for long.
The ride on the horse had sent him to sleep, the rythm and sound of the hooves on the ground was enough to send the youngster to sleep, he was happy.
The caravan and dogs were something strange to him. It was as if he had forgotten being a bird but he soon remembered the Banya bird and chuckled as he saw it. He was only young and rather small so as his mother put him on the bed, to explore, instead he laid down, curled up and went to sleep under his wings as he had done when he was a canary, some things never seemed to change!
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Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:04 am
Remove Heather had returned to her caravan to let Amkia get use to his home, she was worried otherwise it would be too much for him to suddenly be back in the caravan after being in the warm inn for so long.
The young teenager was resting back against a tree, it was nice to relax and do the equivlant of nothing. Amkia was sleeping and the horses were snacking on the grass and she was close to sleeping. Her own home was third from the end of the line of wagons but she noticed nothing unusual. Edit Altaira had gone back for Wind Wheels after having Dan reshod. It seemed best to pull her cart up on the opposite side of the grassy area rather than close to the real gypsy caravans. She almost felt like crawling away at it's painted patterns - despite her vague hertiage, she was afraid it would seem it was a sham or a mockery. Turning her mule out to graze with the various other beasts, she sat down under another tree. She noticed the other girl nearby and so, kept her head low, so 'Taira could hide behind her long curls. She fiddled with the end of one long white sleeve shyly. Remove One of the Heathers dogs barked at the stranger sending Heather to her feet in seconds. "Fresca, here now, Duke!" She rushed over to them who were running towards the strange cart and girl. Dogs really did have an ear for things!
Heather looked at the stranger and smiled, "Hey there!, Fresca, Duke, here now!" The two dogs rushed back to Heather and she kissed both of them, "Now go check on Amkia for me ok you two? Good now go!" She smiled as they ran off, she waited for a crying baby as she was sure that Amkia would have heard the barking and woken up! Edit She'd got to her feet sharply when she saw the two canines heading her way, eyes widening. A timid smile was offered, when Heather came over, despite the way her heart was pounding. It had been so quiet and peaceful for a few minutes, they'd actually startled her. "...Hello." Remove Heather smiled at the girl before the crying she was expecting started. "Would you like to come see my caravan? Would be nice to meet another and I need to go and check on my son." Se turned and started to walk back, "Your welcome to come if you wish, I wont make you though! I think I am the only one around, everyone else is in the village!" She chuckled and bowed her head slightly at the other. "I am Heather by the way!" She then turned to go and check on Amkia, hoping the girl would follow. Edit "I'd like that, my family hasn't had a real wagon for three generations" Altaira bobbed a quick, graceful curtsey before hurrying after the gypsy girl. Curiosity caused her to follow - and astonishment at Heather's easy ways. It made her smile widen, just a little. "Erm...I - I'm called Altaira." Relax girl, relaaaax. She seemed nice. And she'd called the dogs off, and asked her somewhere rather than telling her to go graze Dan someplace else. Remove Heather turned rushing a little to her son, "Its nice to meet you, its a pretty name!" She suddenly vanished into a caravan with a strange swarking bird out the front, the bird seemed slightly displeased at its home but the silly Banya bird, it annoyed her so much!
The caravan was rather messy, and bits of it seemed to be here and there, none of it in one place. Heather went straight to her bed though and picked up her child, his golden wings hiding his face and his glow seemed tp brighten as she picked him up showing his happiness at being held by his mother. Edit "Thanks. Heather's nice - plant name, isn't it?" She'd paused to look at the Banya bird, unsure if she should just follow right on into the others home. Heather had said she could, though. And dallying in the doorway was not polite. She stepped up and in hesitantly after a few short moments, noticing the golden light - what was that glow...? Upon seeing what looked like a winged babe, she stopped and tried not to stare at the mother and child. After a few years of travelling she'd seen a few things not of the norm, but, well. Amkia was the most exotic thing Altaira had ever seen. "Oh. ...Your son?" She blinked. Oh indeed. Remove Heather smiled, "Yes this is Amkia my son, he is a fortunette." The youngster seemed to cling to his mother and make several gurgling noises he was rather sweet looking and very much like a normal toddler, he was making the same noises, clung the same, he just had bright golden eyes and golden wings.
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Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 2:14 pm
 Being given this by a trader confused Heather. She got back to her caravan and put it in a draw as she tried ever so hard to calm her Amkia down. "Come on baby.. shhhhh" She stroked his hair and kissed his head softly like she always did. She was so confused though, why was her son suddenly dark, it was as if he couldn't light up and she could feel his fear...
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 8:17 am
The whole night Amkia had cried or shivered or done something that confused Heather, he wasn't right. There was something wrong and how ever long she held him he just wouldn't calm down, he wasn't even shining anymore, he looked like a dead angel.
"Oh Amkia... is it that necklace? Oh my dear son, I will take it to Val, see if she can sort it out, oh my darling..." She kissed his head and stroked his hair but he wouldn't calm down. He continued to cry and wail and oh how it gave her a headache but she beared it. She had to.
Eventually the young angel fell asleep and she put him on her bed. While the caravans were not moving she had to find Val, it was important that she did.
Opening the draw quietly and carefully she picked up the necklace and looked it over before sighing somewhat. She then sneaked out the caravan. It was time to find Val.
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 9:15 am
Valelldia was not hard to find, this night. She was sitting in the circle caused by the ring of wagons moored for the night. The fire was nearly dead- but, as if the company of the woman's own fire element sustained it, it burned its last ember brightly.
"Heather? Is that you I hear?" She could see a figure, shadowed among the wagons. "Would you like to come sit with me?"
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