❧ ❖ Yaholo | Page 3 | ◈ Archives | Guild Forums

Lavender Hues

Hatted Fatcat

Offline

Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 5:13 pm

Guard Solo #2: "All Grown Up, To My Dismay"

Among the many things that Yaholo had encountered while growing up, was the fact that everything else around him had a way of changing along with him. The trees would grow taller, the wind would blow harder, and all of his friends would find their place, just as he had. Some of things things would bring pride, some of them would bring distaste, and among those that were sour, dwelled the fact he yearned to avoid. He would do anything to keep from thinking about it! Look away, close his eyes, even imagine it away! But no matter what he did, the fact still spun wildly in front of him, or clamored up in the trees above his head.

Yes, his sisters, his little baby sisters, were growing up! Where was the pause button?! He was the one growing up, not them! No! UGH!

The walk to Andile was no longer all about fun and play, Tahigwa was starting to ask about training, and the idea of her wielding blades was more than just a little daunting. She no longer wanted to spend all of her days in the trees and ask silly questions about Yaholo's home in Tale. Where were her questions about his dad? Why wasn't she talking about that time she kicked a Spitorog into a pond? And how did she get past their mother wearing nothing but a bra and underpants?! He wanted to throw a blanket on her, drag her a** back home, and complain about her clothing choices to someone wearing basically the same thing! It was enough to make him livid!

But, despite his anguish over how skimpy Alkidike women seemed to dress, his heart was never without a healthy dose of pride. She wanted to use dual blades and protect Andile along side her fellow sisters. She had interest in traveling all around the world, with or without a guide. His wild Tahigwa, though still so small in his eyes, was ready to wander out into the big wide world, who was he to try and squash those dreams? After all, he had traveled all over Jauhar while young, why couldn't she do the same?

Wandering home to Tale just wasn't as exciting as it was before he became a Guard. It was so predictable, long, and grueling, which was a rather fantastic change from what it had been before. He used to love the sand, the heat and the thought of climbing trees, but now that he was older, it all seemed so childish. Some things had changed along with him, both of his friends had decided to find their respective paths in life, something Yaholo had anticipated. He was proud of Tayyib and Minal for how well they dealt with growing up, it was a sacrifice, a necessary part of life, and they handled it very well. Then, there was his beloved baby sister, Pahana, who was growing up just as Tahigwa had done.

She, too, had begun to taper her childish quirks in favor of a more ladylike charm. He refrained from scolding her, or holding her back, as much as humanly possible, which was incredibly difficult to say the least. She was still his baby sister, she can't leave Yera on her own! But, yet, she had, and will continue to do so with or without his permission. His clumsy, ditsy Pahana, a dancer in training... This was all too soon for him to comprehend.

Though he knew that both girls needed to grow up, as per the circle of life, but with each passing glance and giggle... His heart would sink just a little. Once they became women and got knee deep into their careers, they would no longer need his assistance, or his praise. Would they need him at all? The thought of becoming useless to them was baffling and unsettling. They were his purpose! He was their guardian, their savior, he was supposed to protect them! Without them as his purpose... What was he to do? He wasn't going to go back to being the village lay about! He couldn't!

But did he really have to resign to this? Did he really have to give up his title as their protector just so that they could grow up? Or could he protect them just as well without hindering their growth at all? Perhaps he could watch them from the sidelines and pounce upon anything that might try to hurt them as it wandered by? Maybe, maybe not. Tahigwa could handle far more than Pahana could, being of a warrior class, but Pahana would need extra protection. However, there was the trouble of his own heart... He no longer liked living in Tale, he wanted to be closer to his mother and sisters in Andile! He wouldn't be able to protect Pahana if he was so far away!

The true center to the issue, the issue of growing up, was the balance that he had managed to cultivate. He was the protector of both of his sisters, that was his reason for being. But now, his own desires come in and meddle with his once happy balance beam. Tahigwa no longer required as much protection as he had originally given, but Pahana needed far more but still less than when she was a child. On top of all that, he no longer wanted to live in Tale, which made protecting Pahana impossible. Teeter-totter, totter-teeter, backwards, forwards, upwards, downwards. He could either stay in a place he no longer felt attached to just to maintain a watchful eye on one of his sisters, or follow his heart and join his Alkidike sisters in Andile where he felt he truly belonged. Decisions, decisions, always decisions.

No body told him that growing up would be easy, nor did they tell him that it would be hard, he hadn't expected such gut wrenching questions to appear so suddenly. He wished his hammer could smash through them as if they were weakened tree bark, where the clear cut answer could be found wedged underneath. But no, nothing would ever be that easy, and time would just keep whittling away.

(Word count: 1029)

Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 5:20 pm

Guard Solo #3: "Perfection"

Perhaps he was wrong to pursue the little desires and whims his heart had brought forth that day upon the sand. Dark hair, mystery, a glint of determination, three things he now coveted and wished to firmly grasp for the remainder of his years. But why, why so suddenly? Had he already known how he felt, without the first glance?

Dark, blood stained hands beat the earth with rage, green eyes morphed and deranged. The final battle had been turned over with far too much energy lost, a waste and a shame, but he was still left with far too much to mull over. He had skirted the healer's tents and went around those he recognized, before racing off into the forests as he had always done. There, and only there, could he release his growing tension, the pain he felt within his chest. He paid no mind to the wounds upon his skin, those would heal in due time, but the ringing in his ears and the cursed thumping, that required another means of healing.

"SON OF A b***h!" He screamed, slamming his fists into the ground. How could he have slipped up? He lost! That wasn't part of the plan! He wanted to go there to win, and prove himself to someone! The promises he had made would not die! Again, he slammed his fists into the ground, growling at the recoil. He slumped backwards and grabbed his hammer, before lunging back up to his feet. No, no more rest! He didn't deserve it!

To serve and protect, to love and to hold! To honor and to preserve! He was a GUARD! Guards are supposed to be impenetrable, but yet, he was, and therefore was unworthy of respect! He sprinted forward and slammed his hammer into the side of a tree, snarling like some sort of animal. He was supposed to be PERFECT! Pristine, flawless, PERFECT!

But he wasn't, he was never going to be perfect, and that made him sick. Sick to the core of his soul, so sick he could barely keep himself awake. Green eyes snapped open as another wave of sleep attempted to sneak its way into his mind. No, NOT YET. He punched himself rather harshly in order to wake himself up and stumbled to the side, stunned by his own force. The hammer fell from his grasp with a dull thud. Darkness spread all around him and soon, he too was upon the ground.

---

He awoke to the sound of rain pouring down all around him and sighed. Great, a storm, just what he needed... He allowed himself to "bask" in it for a moment, before suddenly sitting up. Why couldn't he move his antenna?! Frantically, he reached upwards to gently move his hand across his remaining antenna, and shrieked. It could no longer feel! It was paralyzed! Instantly, he began to sob, and rocked himself back and forth. The fight must've wounded it, and his last blow to the head was what did it in!

He continued to stroke it, flick it, and prod at it for the next two hours until, at last, he could no longer bear to touch it any longer. It was dead, gone, useless... It would be best if he found some way to cut it off. No sense in having an antenna if it doesn't work, right? He sighed, shook, and grabbed a small knife from his pocket. He carried this knife around for small things or for extra protection and never really had to use it before this day. But, today midst a storm, it would be used to cut off an otherwise vital part of Yaholo's body. It had lost it's value, it's purpose, and it needed to be cut off.

A shaky hand held the lifeless antenna outwards while the other pressed the knife firmly against it's base. He paused, hoping to find some form of feeling as he dragged the blade against his skin, and let out of scream when, in fact, he could feel absolutely nothing. Why? WHY? WHY DID THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN?! His hand cut through his antenna rather bluntly and threw the knife down to the ground as he bent down, holding the severed appendage in his hand.

The tissue on the inside of it was more than dead, as was the tissue at it's base on his forehead. Whatever was wrong with it must have begun before his tournament battles, as there was no blood flowing from his new wound. Everything was dried up and dead, all that was left was healing, he supposed. He sighed, wiped his eyes free from tears, and went to retrieve his hammer. Perhaps it was meant to be, the absence of feeling on one side was starting to get to him, but now he might be able to sense things more evenly. However, his confidence felt lower than it had ever been before.

But as he bent down to retrieve his hammer from it's position in the mud, a puddle of water caught his attention, and a soft smile rose to his face. He looked so much more... Symmetrical now. He stroked the place where his antenna had been and did the same to the other side, before leaning forward to examine his entire face. Hm, he didn't look half bad! Sure, he looked far more human than he had before, but was that such a bad thing, really? He could still be an Alkidike! His smile widened until he found himself gazing into his eyes. His eyes were green, not black, and he'd always been upset about that. His father loved them the way they were, but... Yaholo wished for a way he could change them.

Then, he grinned. There was a woman selling potions at the tournament! She might have something he could use! The thought of having black eyes made Yaholo almost giddy! Quickly, he grabbed his hammer and hurried back to the tournament, leaving his severed antenna upon the ground behind him. It would go back to the earth and pave the way for a new life to come.

(Word count: 1023)

Lavender Hues

Hatted Fatcat

Offline

Lavender Hues

Hatted Fatcat

Offline

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 7:50 pm

PRP - Jauhar:

Working Hard Or Hardly Working? - Yaholo/Kelina

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 3:46 pm

Guard Solo #4: "Leave Me Alone!"

After all the chaos he faced in the tournament, Yaholo couldn't wait to get back home and relax. He wandered straight into his house as if nothing had happened, eliciting a shriek from both of his parents. They pointed, they gawked, and they worried, all over his now antenna free head. To this, Yaholo would nod repeatedly and wander ahead, hoping that the subject would be dropped. But knowing his family, no subject could ever be dropped without a fight, and he was not in the mood for a fight. He'd just come from a long three rounds of fighting, to which no one paid a ******** to, and his antenna should be enough proof of his struggle.

First, it was his father, who he knew meant well. He offered a headband, which Yaholo refused. He offered him a hat, which Yaholo once again denied. Then, once the subject of covering it up was dropped, the talk of how it happened was brought forth. Yaholo politely refused to discuss it about for hundred times and began to snap around the four hundred and fifteenth. He growled and slammed his hand on the kitchen table.

"Leave me alone!" He screamed. "I'm tired, beaten, and I don't want to discuss this with you right now! Maybe tomorrow, maybe later, but NOT NOW!"

His father left the room with a nod and didn't seem too upset, which made Yaholo feel less guilty about his yelling. Finally, thinking that he could relax, he went to the cupboards and pulled out a basket of berries. After all his fighting and hard work, he was ******** starving! He quickly began shoveling the berries into his mouth, and paused when Walvia wandered into the room. She wanted him to stop eating the berries, which she had been drying to use for dying in the future, and suggested that he keep his gluttony in check until dinner. Yaholo, once again, growled and slammed his hand on the table.

"Leave me alone!" He screamed. "I've spent all my money on weapons and potions for battling and haven't had a thing to eat in over a day! I'll leave you just enough to do what you'd like, but I won't be told that I can't eat when I've fasted for over 24 hours!"

Walvia seemed taken aback by his words but rolled her eyes. He knew she didn't believe him and grunted in response to her eye roll. Well, if she didn't believe him, then he'd just eat all the berries! Quickly he stuffed the remaining berries in his mouth and left the room, despite Walvia's growing protests. He didn't give a ********, not right now, not ever, really. Once in his room he flopped onto his bed and heaved a sigh. This used to be so comfortable and wonderful, but now all he could think about was his room in Andile where his mother let him sleep. He felt so much happier there... He should go back home.

He was just tying up the last of his satchels when Pahana twirled her way into his room. At first his initial response was to pick her up and check her over, but in his current mind set, he let her pick herself up as he walked out of the room. She raced after him and latched onto his arm, screaming that he had just got home and he would have to stay now. She wasn't going to have him going anywhere, no, she wasn't! Yaholo's eyes narrowed and he broke free from her grasp. He took a deep breath and let it out before barking his final words.

"Leave me alone!" He screamed. "I'm going home to Andile! I'll be back for visits whenever I feel I'm able! You're old enough to take care of yourself, you don't need me around here! I'm going to where I feel challenged, but not constantly hounded!"

He burst past his step-mother as she came to berate him for yelling at his sister, and rushed out the front door. He scaled the tree rather abruptly and began to run towards the edge of the village. But as he reached the edge a voice called out to him and he slowly turned to see Kuthun standing beside him. Now far more alert to the old man's ways, he shuffled backwards and kept a good distance from the other's staff. The elder looked a little more than shocked, so he smiled towards him.

"I'm going home, Kuthun." He said, extending his hand out to shake. "I hope you'll all be okay here without me to bother or worry about."

Kuthun took his hand and shook it firmly, a grin forming on his face. He nodded and moved to the side, before pointing towards Jauhar.

"Keep us in mind, boy." He said. "We'll always be with 'ya, don't forget those that raised 'ya either." Then, his expression changed slightly, and he leaned forward. "And please, if you see an elder Alkidike called Susuya out there," He paused, producing a bag from his robe. "Give her this and tell her congratulations and condolences from Yera."

Yaholo nodded and took the bag, before turning to run down the path.
"I will, elder! I will!" He cried, waving. "I'll see you when I see you! Keep my family out of trouble while I'm gone!"

"Will do, Yaholo!" Kuthun replied as Yaholo vanished into the distance.

---

It was dark when Yaholo reached Andile. He gave a nod to the guard who was on duty at the time, Nesrine, who didn't give a damn about much of anything, and wandered through the village. His mother's home was close to the end and was almost always decorated with feathers and jewels. He found it funny that his mother was so creative and eccentric despite her injuries and short comings, he hoped to become more like her as he went along. Eagerly he rapped upon the door and chuckled when his aunt Arjeta opened the door.

"Ah, sorry to wake you if you were asleep." He said. "But I've decided that in order to become more useful in this world, I need to become more like all of you. May I come in?"

Arjeta paused, blinked several times, and eventually nodded.
"Luljeta! Your boy's moving in with us!" She screamed, tugging Yaholo inside. "I told you he'd get sick of living with those numskulls in Tale!"

As Yaholo was tugged inside, he found himself midst several women, including his sister Tahigwa. His mother clung to him as soon as he sat down and instantly, the questions about his antenna started up again. This time, he felt no need to be ashamed, as his mother joked about her missing leg every time he fell quiet. Tahigwa would wiggle her hands around dramatically as their cousin, Mirjeta, commented on and on about how he wasn't green enough. Little Nyah wanted nothing more than to curl up onto his lap and snuggle with him, something he was more than open to doing. And everything was just as he had hoped it would be. It was a peaceful sort of chaos, all of this brightly colored cheerful women, and he only hoped it would continue to stay that way.

That night, he settled into his new bed and fell asleep to the sounds of the rain forest, something he didn't even know that he had missed from all those years ago. Now all he had to do was prove his worth around here and he'd be squared away... Right?
(Word count: 1261)

Lavender Hues

Hatted Fatcat

Offline

Lavender Hues

Hatted Fatcat

Offline

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 3:50 pm

Guard Solo #5: "Mirror"

In the mirror,
What do I see?
A face of pain, a face of pain,
Staring daggers back at me!
Is this me? Is this me?
It is, it is, there's nothing to deny!
This face in the mirror is no one's but mine.
Then how do I change it?

In the mirror,
What do I see?
A bare forehead, a bare forehead,
Giving me nothing but anxiety!
Is this me? Is this me?
It is, it is, there's nothing to deny!
This face in the mirror is no one's but mine.
Then how do I change it?

In the mirror,
What do I see?
Large eyes, colored green,
They're a sour sight to me!
Is this me? Is this me?
It is, it is, there's nothing to deny!
This face in the mirror is no one's but mine.
Then how do I change it?

By battle strong or by weakness at the sword,
I have become what I don't want to see.
Too much is lost, covered and thrown away,
By my anger, all too sad to say.
How do I change it? How do I change it?
The ever persistent questioning!
How do I change it? How do I change it?
This ugly, distraught face I see?

In the mirror,
What do I see?
My mother and my sister,
Poking fun at me!
"Don't be silly, you are perfect!"
"We wouldn't have you any other way!"
Suppose they are right, perhaps they are,
Then maybe I shouldn't change it.

In the mirror,
What do I see?
My father's eyes, full of life,
Bestowed upon a different face!
I am grateful for all that he has done,
Never will I consider abandoning him!
But these eyes, they are not mine!
These I will find a way to change.

In the mirror,
What do I see?
Visions of scars, hair dark as night,
Have I truly gone off the deep end?!
He must think I'm crazy,
He must think I'm some sort of creep!
To proclaim my eternal allegiance, for reasons I have no right!
But even so, this I will not change.

By feeble pleading or by blatant self-disrespect,
I have become what I don't want to see.
Too much is lost, covered and thrown away,
By my impulses, all too sad to say.
How do I change it? How do I change it?
The ever persistent questioning!
How do I change it? How do I change it?
This thoughtless, emotional side of me?

In the mirror,
What do I see?
Fear and love,
Living symbiotically!
How is it that I can't love what I fear,
While I can fear what I love?
The hammer can both make and smash my dreams!
This, I hope to change.

In the mirror,
What do I see?
Something unnoticed, something swept away,
Something I've been too afraid to see!
I am as strong as I allow myself to be!
But am I ready to accept the responsibility?
Soon, very soon, I will need to change!

In the mirror,
What do I see?
A vial of oddly colored liquid,
Splashed upon my eyes!
Please allow me this one request,
And change what birth did not beget!
Eyes of black, like those of which I aim to please!
That is all I ask in exchange!

By birth and by encounters of many types,
I have become what I am today.
Too much is lost, covered and thrown away,
By my under confidence, all too sad to say.
How do I change it? How do I change it?
The ever persistent questioning!
How do I change it? How do I change it?
This self-damaging side of me?

In the mirror,
What do I see?
No longer green, these eyes of mine,
My wish has been granted!
If there is one thing for me to hold onto,
Of my Alkidike ancestry,
It is within these newly blackened eyes!
A change to be proud of!

In the mirror,
What do I see?
A face of pride, a face of pride,
Smiling back at me!
Is this me? Is this me?
It is, it is, there's nothing to deny!
This face in the mirror is no one's but mine.
I no longer want to change it!

In the mirror,
What do I see?
A bare forehead, a bare forehead,
But freed from my anxieties!
Is this me? Is this me?
It is, it is, there's nothing to deny!
This face in the mirror is no one's but mine.
I no longer want to change it!

By one simple potion and faith in myself,
I have overcome my greatest fight!
Too long have I been agonized and bothered,
By my lack of self-respect!
But now that I have it, what I have prayed so hard to get,
Piss to my uncertainties!
How do I change it? How do I change it?
What is there to change, I'm done worrying!

In the mirror,
What do I see?
My mother and my sister,
Poking fun at me!
"You look like us now!"
"If it makes you happy, so are we!"
Their words make me smile, they don't seem to care!
I'm glad I changed it!

In the mirror,
What do I see?
No father's eyes, though still brimming with life,
I wonder what he would think!
I am grateful for all that he has done,
One day I will go back and show him!
These eyes are mine!
And they will never change!

In the mirror,
What do I see?
Visions of scars, hair dark as night,
I will not forget my promise!
If he thinks I'm crazy,
And if he thinks I'm some sort of creep,
I will prove my devotion to him, one way or another!
There is no way in hell that this will change!

By my own hands, I have changed.
I have defeated my inner demons!
And I will no longer be lost, covered or thrown away,
By any shortcoming that might come my way!
I have come this far and I refuse to turn around!
I will become someone worthy of recognition!
Keep the stones coming, Tendaji, I've got my hammer ready!
And I'm never going away!

User Image