|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 5:48 pm
~Table of Contents~
Page Three
I. Table of Contents
II. ~Reflections of the Past~ ~Frolicking in the Wilds~ ~An RP Journal Reflection~
III. ~Reflections of the Past~ ~MOO~ ~An RP Journal Reflection~
IV. ~Reflections of the Past~ ~Watch the Skys~ ~An RP Journal Reflection~
V. ~Growth! Welcome Adept Avani!~
VI. ~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~ ~"Working With Hastars"~ ~A Profession Master Teaching Requirement~
VII. ~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~ ~"Planting Pumkins"~ ~A Profession Learning Requirement~
VIII. ~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~ ~"It's Not Easy"~ ~A Profession Learning Requirement~
IX. ~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~ ~"If At First You Don't Succeed..."~ ~A Profession Learning Requirement~
X. ~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~ ~"Shepherd of the Flock"~ ~A Profession Learning Requirement~
XI. ~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~ ~"Harnessing Hastars"~ ~A Profession Learning Requirement~
XII. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Treasure Trove"~ ~A Solo RP~
XIII. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Helping Hands: Part 1"~ ~A Solo RP~
XIV. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Seeds of Memory: Fin"~ ~A Solo RP~
XV. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Eggu"~ ~A Solo RP~
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 5:52 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 5:54 pm
~Reflections of the Past~~MOO~~An RP Journal Reflection~~Ongoing~
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 5:54 pm
~Reflections of the Past~~Watch the Skies~~An RP Journal Reflection~ I am at the Starfall festival on Ayr with Oblivion! Had to tell a little fib to come, but Oblvion sure has a way of keeping me close to him! His tail seems to like me a lot! There sure are a lot of people here, and a lot of yummy smells! I wonder what to do first?! Should we go visit the stalls or find a place to camp out for the night? Oh a lot of things to do and so little time!
The starfall itself was pretty! But that last big one scared me a bit! What could this mean for Magesc if the legends are true?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:25 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:25 pm
~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~
~"Working With Hastars"~
~A Solo Master Teaching Requirement~ Avani bolted up in bed as she heard the uruustuur crow. She yawned and wondered what was special about today… Something… Something was going to happen… She then clapped her hands together as she remembered why this was such a special day!
Today, Papa would start teaching her how to use the Hastars!
She quickly dressed and brushed out her long hair, tying it back with her peach colored kerchief. She rousted Nix from her sleep, the silly little fea, and both went downstairs and out the back, saying hello to her mother as she was cooking breakfast.
Avani hurried with the milking of the Sheron and her other morning chores before going back into the house for breakfast. It was moments later when her father joined them, all dressed and ready for day in the fields.
“We’ll be working in the southeast field Maiika.” Avani’s father said to her mother as he sat down. He winked at Avani, and she smiled brightly. “Avani will be going with me today with the old hastars.”
Avani herd her mother make a noise, one that usually meant she disagreed with her husband, but wouldn't interfere. Avani giggled silently to herself. Mama would rather she focused on her cooking lessons. The lessons have been improving. Mama could not deny that when Avani asked to work with the hastars.
“It’ll be all right Maiika girl.” Avani heard her father say as her mother placed breakfast on the table, “The girl shows skill.”
Avani’s mother said nothing, just sitting at her place at the table waiting for grace. Avani lowered her head to hide the wide grin on her face from seeing the glaring look her mother had sent her father.
“Alright Avani girl.” Her father said as he un hitched one of the two hastars from the wagon, “First thing is to learn how to hitch up the hastars to the plows.”
Avani, decked out in boots and gloves, watched as her father lead two hastars to a large two bladed plow. She moved to the front of the plow and watched as her father explained how to tie them to the instrument.
“These are docile ones.” He explained. He let go of the bridals of one of the beasts, and focused on strapping up the other, “You don’t have ta worry about the other, he’ll go off some, but he won’t run off.”
Avani looked to the free hastar and found it digging around in the fallow dirt for something. Avani turned back to the hastar her father was working with and saw all sorts of buckles and straps. She breathed deeply and knew she had to memorize what went where. It seemed so complicated!
Soon her father was finished, and had gone to get the other hastar that had indeed wandered a bit away. She then checked the straps on the other hastar, trying to remember how to hitch it up.
“All right Avani girl.” Her father said from the other side of the hastar she was checking. She looked up and he looked at her holding out the reigns of the hastar he had lead back to the plow. “You try.”
Avani straightened up and breathed deeply. She had never really been allowed near the other wilder hastars the farm used; just these two mama would let her on and work near. She smiled at the beast and murmured sweet nothings to him as she led him from her father to the plow.
While she didn't get it straight the first time trying to strap him in, she was glad her father was there to correct her. As she was buckling him in, her father would stop her and tell her the correct way to do so.
“Not bad Avani girl,” Her papa said as he checked both hastar’s harnesses. “You could do better in the future though.”
Avani smiled and chuckled, “I just need to practice more.” She wiped her face with a rag kerchief she carried for such situations, “Just like cooking and tinkering.”
Avani’s father stood and smiled at her, “Everyone needs practice.” He patted one of the hastar’s rumps and then said, “I’ll have to make you a wooden hastar to practice on.” He then got into the harness for the farmer to stand behind. He then said, “Stand next me Avani, and see how I handle them and the plow.”
The rest of the day, Avani was with her father learning the commands and ways of handling the plow. Near the end of the day, he even allowed her to harness up and plow a little.
Though, Avani admitted later as she sat in the tub nursing a sore back, she never got far in “plowing” the field. The hastar were probably used to an expert hand at the plow, and she had to maneuver the plow back to her laughing father. The ground had not been broken, and she had to go back to where he was standing so he could show her once again how to handle the hastars.
“It’s all right Avani girl.” Her father had said later as she and her parents, (with Nix cuddling next to Avani in a big chair) sat before a rare spring fire to keep away a slight chill, “I was just about as good as you were when I started with the hastars.”
“If she is about as good as you were with hastars,” her mother said watching her mending as she sewed, “Then I won’t allow her near them again.”
Avani’s father just smiled sweetly at her mother and said, “She’s just as good as I was madam.” He then smiled at Avani and said, “Though the hastars I was working with weren't as docile as the ones we are working with.”
Avani smiled as she head her mother make a noise of disbelief. She scratched Nix’s head, saw her yawn, and then excused the both of them for the night.
She sat by her window later, listening to the night noises. Despite a slight chill, she watched the stars above and wondered if she could deal with how hard the work would be for her when she grew up. She had no qualms about her decision: she loved to grow things, and was happy doing it. It just seemed there was a lot more to being a farmer than planting crops.
She joined Nix in bed and went to sleep with thoughts about what the future would hold.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: May 9th, 2014
Words: 1,083
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:26 pm
~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~
~"Planting Pumpkins"~
~A Profession Learning Requirement~ Avani stood at the foot of the stairs that led to the back door of her house. She smiled as she looked out upon the perfect place for her pumpkin patch.
She had asked her father if she could have the large patch of land back there for her pumpkins, and was glad her father agreed to let her have it… Well, as long as she didn’t fuss with her mother’s kitchen garden.
Nix stood next to her, staring at her mistress’ face. She was thinking about something…. Nix hoped it was something that allowed her to get dirty.
“We need to build a fence too, so it’s going to be a smallish patch.” Avani said looking down at the little fea, “Papa said he’d let me have the materials for that, as well as help me out."
But she would first have to till the ground, get some manure, and plant the seeds… This whole business of pumpkin planting was getting to be more of a chore than she thought! Her father would know of some tricks, Avani hoped. After all it was his mother who planted a rather large pumpkin patch of her own!
So the next morning after her chores, Avani set to work on building the borders of her pumpkin patch. Nix helped by holding the string while Avani tied it to stakes in the ground so she would know where her borders were.
Next, Avani took the family shovel and hoe to work and started breaking ground. Nix helped by rolling away stones to the outside boundary of the string. This process took Avani a little less than a week to get done. With her chores, farm duties, and lessons from Shenra, free time was hard to come by, and she was tuckered out each night when she came in for dinner. She worked from whenever she could to the time the sun went down, and while the days were getting longer, Avani was still not happy with the short time she had to her own to devote to the patch.
Once the planing and tilling was done, Avani took the compost from next to the barn and mixed it with the dirt. Then she spread a healthy layer on top of the mixture. She smiled proudly at her work, though she would smell for a while. And even though that meant a bath every night till she stopped smelling, she didn't complain.
Then she started the fence. Her father let her help cut the wood and then hammer them together to make frames. He wrapped Uruu wire around the frames, so that it still let in the sun and bees, but kept the larger pests out. He showed Avani how to hammer the small penny nails around the holes in the wire so that it was snug and tight around each frame. Then they hammered each frame together so that it was a nice fence. He even made a gate for Avani so she could go in and out when she please without having to saddle the fence to get in. Avani was rather surprised and happy, for she would feel embarrassed having to lift up her dress each time to do that!
Now Avani went to work making the rows of mounds she would need to plant the seeds in. This required more compost and manure, much to her displeasure. Though Nix seemed to like the chance to get dirty. All Avani could do was smile at the little fea and promise a bath in the lake. Not only did that get her clean without bothering Mama, but she and Nix could cool down after a hard day of work.
Then came the day Avani planted her first seeds. She took her stick she used to make the holes, and slung her seed sack around her shoulders. She placed 4 seeds to each mound where the pumpkin would sit and grow. She smiled while doing this. It excited her that she would finally get to love and nurture them to full growth.
This took a whole day. Avani was excused from her regular chores so she could use it to the fullest. Afterwards Avani stat on the back steps of her house with a large glass of water, admiring her hard work. Nix was lying down next to her, relaxing after a hard day of patting down the earth for her mistress. Avani poured some water on the tired fea, and Nix responded with a happy chirp while standing and shaking off the excess.
“We’ll go for a swim eh?” Avani said placing the glass on the porch rail. “We earned it didn’t we?”
Avani heard the affirmative chirp and chime from her little fea. She sighed a good sigh and took one last look at her hard work. Most of the hard parts were over with, and all she had to do now was feed the greedy plants each day. She gave a little chuckle and mentally cheered herself on with the thought that that would only be a chore that she would do once a day, and that wasn’t too hard.
“Let’s go Nix!” Avani said grabbing the bag of soap and wash cloths, “The lake awaits us!”
And together they went running off.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: July 11, 2014
Words: 883
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:26 pm
~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~
~"It's Not Easy"~
~A Profession Learning Requirement~ Avani stood, hands on hips, scowling down at her pumpkin patch.
There were shoots starting to grow, and Avani was pleased with that, the problem was the book said the patch needed about an inch of water a week to have adequate effect on it.
Nix cooed and rubbed her head against her mistress’ leg.
“It’s so hard!” Avani said throwing up her arms and falling to the ground, “I can’t water that much land by pulling it all out of the well!” She laid back and looked up to the sky, “I mean, I can carry buckets, but an inch of water?” she closed her eyes, “I wish it was easier.”
Nix chirped and laid her head on Avani’s stomach. Her mistress was upset about something….
Avani sighed and opened her eyes again, “Maybe, if there was some sort of system...”
Her mind whirled with all the possible ways she could get water to her plants… but they were all a way Papa would not approve of.
“Oh well,” Avani said scratching Nix’s head, “I guess it’s something to think about…”
“What about a waterwheel?” Shenra said.
Avani looked at her curiously. A waterwheel? But the only running water was from the stream where Papa got his water from. Besides, weren't waterwheels used to grind things or for energy?
“What do you mean?” Avani said as she pulled a large piece of scrap metal towards the bench in Shenra’s barn workshop.
“I mean an aqueduct to your plants!” Shenra said as she came to help Avani, “You can build a channel from a waterwheel to your plants!"
“But don’t waterwheels push things? I mean, aren’t they for mills?” Avani said hefting her end of the sheet of metal onto the workbench.
Shenra chuckled as she lifted her end onto the bench as well, “Not all waterwheels are like that. You can make one that scoops up water.” Avani was still confused. Shenra apparently could see that as she laughed and said, “Look here.” Shenra took down some blueprints that were on the wall and turned it so the blank back was face up over the sheet metal. She took a pen and started drawing. “You are thinking of energy by water, and that’s ok, but this is just for irrigation.”
Shenra drew two circles, one larger than the other, the smaller inside the bigger and then made some slanted lines between them. They formed ‘cups’. Then she drew a ‘water line' above the cups bottom of the wheel and an arrow pointing to the left.
“See how the water flows?” she said as she pointed to the water, “It pushes up the cups and over to the aqueduct.” She made a motion of the wheel going to the right, “There are holes in the parts that act as cups, and they can deposit the water into the aqueduct, and it would flow to your garden.” She looked down at the wheel and said, “We can possibly convince your father that it will help his plants as well when he irrigates.”
Avani was skeptical. The amount of material used for this would be a lot.
“We can find some scrap metal for you to use to make it.” Shenra said looking at Avani and smiling, “That way it won’t cost much.”
Avani looked back down at the drawing. Well, you had to start somewhere…
Avani approached her father about the waterwheel the next night. He seemed as skeptical as she was, but was willing to give it a try.
“You gotta build it yourself, Avani girl.” He said looking at her with a brow raised. “If you like it enough for your plants, then we could go in later for a larger one for our fields.”
Avani smiled and said, “Don’t worry Papa!”
Shenra helped Avani draw up the plans for the wheel. She had a large pile of scrap she was willing to part with, so that took care of some of the wheel parts. It was the cup parts of it Avani was worried about.
“Don’t worry.” Shenra said smiling, “You’ll do a good job at welding them.”
Avani smiled a little, but frowned. She was getting better at welding, but with her time in the fields and her own garden, free time to do this would still be hard to come by. Was this what true farm life was about? When did one have time for a family?
Avani shook her head and ran a hand over the blue prints. She would see this project through no matter what.
It took a long hard month to get at least half the wheel together. Avani was proud that she could do it. It had the slits welded onto it that would be the cup part. Since the stream ran in a deep bed, the height of the wheel was necessary. It would bring up the water to a trough that would run from the creek to the garden. They would have to cover the trough though, and that meant onsite welding. Shenra would do that, she had said, mostly because Avani wasn't used to that kind of welding. But Avani would have to pay attention and help if she wanted to learn how to do it.
Once Avani completed the other side of the wheel, which was just the wheel part and no extra pieces for cups, she welded that part and the cup slits together. It was a rather hard job, but Shenra was there to help her by keeping an eye on the pressure of the welder. Once that was done, she welded the inner part of the waterwheel together with the piece that would be the axis. Shenra guided her along that part, while a ranch hand Avani had bought kept watch on the pressure.
Avani wiped her forehead after she had finished the big wheel. She was very proud of her work.
“Very fine.” Shenra said. She patted the metal, “Very fine indeed.” She turned to Avani and said, “Now for the trough!”
That meant going to the waterwheel site and mapping out where the trough would go. Avani planed it out with string marking the edge of where she had to dig. She had to be careful because of where the house well was. She didn't want to dig into that!
She started the digging, listening to Shenra, who had told her how deep to dig it. The metal, which would be welded into a three sided box at first, a bottom and two sides, would be placed in there once it was cooled down enough. When the digging was done, she watched as Shenra welded it, and then placed it into the earth. When she was done with a section, she would weld the top onto it as well, completing the trough.
It took another month for that.
During the time it took Avani to make this system, she still carried water to her plants each day, and each day she keep thinking about how soon she would have an irrigation system. Her plants still grew, but soon, so soon, she would be able to just lift the stopper in her aqueduct and water her plants at her leisure.
Shenra then made the parts that would make the wheel turn, and planted it firmly into the side of the creek wall with concrete. “That way it won’t break off and flow merily down the stream.” She told Avani with a big smile.
A test of the wheel showed the water would go right into the trough. Avani was giddy and excited. She couldn't wait for the project to be finished!
Then the day came when Shenra put the stopper in. It was what Shenra called a gate valve. She could just screw it up or down and the water would flow. It was placed just before her garden, and into the metal trough that was above ground and had holes in it to let it flow evenly into the pumpkin patch. Avani was giddy: This was the last part!
“To test the trough and valve Avani,” Shenra said with a grin, “We must release the waterwheel.”
Avani smiled with as bright a grin as Shenra had and said, “Let’s all do it together!”
Shenra agreed, and so they told Avani’s parents that they would start tomorrow with the waterwheel.
The next morning Avani (Who had Nix perched on her shoulder), her parents, and Shenra gathered at the waterwheel. Shenra held out the string of the metal stick that held the wheel motionless to Avani.
“This was mostly your project.” She said smiling, “You do the honors.”
Avani smiled and gave it a good yank, the stick pulling out of the wheel, setting the structure into motion.
It squeaked a bit, but as it got going, the wheel dipped into the water, and water began to sploosh into the trough that caught the water. Avani clapped her hands and then ran off (Nix chasing after her) towards the valve near her garden. She unscrewed the stopper, and went to her garden.
At first, nothing happened. Avani was sure this would work… Perhaps there was a leak?
But then she heard a gurgling sound, and soon she saw water sputter out of the holes and into the rows of pumpkins into her gardens. Soon it was flowing steadily.
She jumped up and down, whooping in joy, and twirled around in excitement.
It worked!!!
“You’ll have to wait to use it each spring.” Shenra said as she and Avani’s parents caught up to Avani and had walked up to her beside the garden, “The water needs to drain each fall so it doesn't expand the trough in the winter.”
“I will!” Avani said hugging Shenra, “Thank you for all the help!”
Shenra chuckled and placed a hand on Avani’s head. She reminded Shenra of herself at times when she was that small.
“Well Avani,” her father said, “Perhaps we can get some of this for our fields. Then we don’t have to worry about the animals and plants getting thirsty…” he looked to Shenra, “Do ya mind doing it for us? We will pay you of course.”
Shenra smiled and said, “If I have Avani’s help, I can get it done fast, and she can pocket some of the payment.”
“Really?” Avani said looking up at her, “I can help?”
Shenra smiled and said, “After the last thaw next spring, we can start planing.”
“Yay!” Avani shouted and parted from her hug with Shenra. She then went then went dancing around the yard in celebration of finally realizing her dream: Bringing tinkering and farming together in her life was starting off well.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: July 19, 2014
Words: 1,787
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:27 pm
~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~
~"If At First You Don't Succeed..."~
~A Profession Learning Requirement~ Avani looked on as the family hastars mulled around the paddock. She leaned against the fence laying her head on her arms. The hastars had just been put up for the night, and soon mama would be calling her in for dinner. Avani sighed and wished she had time for more practice that day on the mock hastar papa had made for her.
Learning to harness the hastars was not easy, but she knew she could do it. It wasn't harnessing them that was the problem. The problem was getting the harness on the hastar.
Avani swept her gaze across the paddock once more before she left. She knew she could not harness some of them till she was more experienced anyway due to their hostile nature. Atani and her mate only tolerated her because they had known Avani since her birth, and thus respected her more when she gave commands.
But Papa was admit that the hastars she would use to harness were the younger, newer ones who did not know Avani well. Avani made a face with her mouth about that. Papa had said it was because Atani and her mate would not be around forever and that she should get used to ones who did not know her if she wished to be a farmer. Avani didn't know what that was about, but trusted her father’s judgment.
She sighed one last time and then went into the house for dinner. Tomorrow, after all, was another day.
Avani rose with the purpose of getting some practice in before she tried another attempt at harnessing a live hastar. Papa promised to do it that evening when the ranch hands would not be around to watch.
Avani took the tack that her father had provided for her to practice with, and went to the adult sized wooden hastar that she used to practice with. She began her ritual of the way she harnessed the hastars. She placed the saddle on, then the bridal, then the breastplate, and then tied it all off with the reins and bit. Her father had carved a little mouth for this last part. She giggled at that every time she saw it.
Avani practiced some more putting on and taking off the gear, then went on her way to finish her other daily chores.
“Ya ready Avani girl?” her papa asked when he came into the barn after a day in the fields, “I got one of the more spirited ones for you to try on tonight.”
Avani felt a wave of nervousness pass though her at that news. Papa wouldn't use his meanest hastar, so he must be talking about one of the newer ones he just bought. It was young and fresh to the jobs of a ranch worker.
“Ok Papa.” Avani said smiling a little.
She felt a little nervous: she hoped everything went well.
Avani took the harness gear her father held in his hand and went out to the paddock. It was free of all the other hastars save the one Avani had thought her father had been talking about. It saw her and snorted a bit, then bent down to sniff around the dirt. Avani felt another wave of nervousness pass again, but she shook her head and furrowed her brow. She would harness this hastar tonight!
She went up the hastar and petted it’s neck. She was glad to get to this point, and thought it boded well.
“Good boy Ijone.” She whispered into his ear, “Stand real still and I’ll be done in a moment.”
Avani picked up the saddle her father had left next to the fence, and walked towards the hastar.
The hastar picked up his head and snorted. He stomped his hoof and threw up his head. Avani set the saddle down and watched the hastar as he snorted and stomped a bit more, then calmed down.
Avani then picked up the saddle and placed it gently onto the hastar. As she went to buckle it, the hastar moved to the side, the saddle fell off and onto Avani.
“Avani!” she heard her father shout.
Avani had been knocked down, and the saddle had landed on her, but the only thing that had been hurt was her pride. She sat up and pushed the heavy interment off her with a grunt. This would leave bruises she thought angrily as she looked at the offending piece of gear.
She heard her father rapidly approaching her and she turned her head as he knelt down.
“Ya all right Avani?” he said sounding worried.
Avani smiled weakly, “Yes Papa.” She moved the stray hair out of her face, “Only my pride suffered.”
“Thank Seren.” Her father said. He stood up and extended to her his hand, “Thought he would allow you to saddle him… I’m sorry my girl.”
“It’s not your fault Papa; something must have spooked him a bit is all.”
As Avani took her father’s hand, she winced a little as she felt pain in her hip. It seemed that the saddle had hit her hardest there.
As she stood in front of her mirror before bed, she thought of the bruise on her hip she had seen developing as she took a bath that night. There was no doubt it would be purple and blue in the morning. She sighed at her image, turned, and went to bed. Nix chirped from the egg nest where she was getting settled for the night. Avani smiled at her as she climbed in her bed under the covers.
“Well,” she said to the fea, “I think I know what to do now.” Nix cocked her head in question and Avani smiled saying, “I just got to be around the hastars more… Then they might be compelled to stand still near me.”
Nix chirped in agreement, and snuggled the khehora egg more. Avani smiled and blew out the lamp for the night.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: July 30, 2014
Words: 994
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:27 pm
~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~
~"Shepherd of the Flock"~
~A Profession Learning Requirement~ Avani awoke to a sky that just hinted at dawn. She could hear from her window the birds beginning to sing. There weren't many singing this time in the morning, but she could hear them. She then smiled and wiggled a little under her covers. Today she was allowed to go with the other shepherds out with the flock for two weeks!
She watched as Nix yawned, and snuggled the khehora egg tighter. Avani smiled as she pulled her dress over her shift, and pulled on her sturdy shoes.
She was up at the same time as Papa and Mama that day, before the Uruuster crowed, and smiled as she walked into the kitchen as her mother stoked the fire in the oven.
“I’ll go do my chores now, then will be back to help with breakfast!” Avani said quietly.
She kissed her mother and ran out to the barn where she could hear the ranch hands stirring with their morning chores. She milked the sheron and fed her, and then she fed and brushed the hastars that had spent the night in the shed. She gave them each a lump of sugar as it was her custom in the morning. She was going to win their trust before she tried harnessing them again!
When she got done with that, she collected the eggs in the Uruu hutch and brought them in for mama who was making the bread.
“Here you are Mama!” Avani said cheerfully. She went to the buckets by the door, “I’ll get some water and be right in to help!”
Avani went out to the well and gathered up two pails of water. She also had a little bucket that was kept on the back porch. She used the bucket to get little more water to wash her hands when she got to the kitchen. Ash she entered the back door, set the two pails down, she went over with the smaller well pail to gather a soap bar and washed her hands on the back steps. After sloshing the water over the side of the stair rail, she placed the well pail back on the hook for her father to use later.
She went back into the house and smiled, “What do you need done Mama?”
Her mother turned to her and smiled, “Cook the eggs and meat, my love.”
Avani beamed more and reached up for her apron. It was nice that Mama now trusted her to cook breakfast for them all. It was also a help to her mother as well since she could focus on the baking.
“Smells good Avani girl.”
Avani turned and smiled as her father came in and took the soap from its spot on the shelf by the door. He disappeared again out the back door to reappear soon after, placing the soap in its spot on the shelf. He came and stood behind the two of them and said, “Couldn't tell it wasn't your mother cookin’...”
“She’s gotten a lot better.” Mama said pulling out a pan of biscuits. She smiled and said, “I’m glad for the help.”
That made Avani secretly smile. She felt so much happiness at the thought that she could that she could help her Mama like that. Being a wife and mother seemed as hard as being a farmer.
Her father kissed both of them on the head, then got a cup of coffee as Avani placed the last of the food she had been cooking onto a plate. Soon all of them were at the table, and with grace said, all of them started eating their breakfast. Nix had come down when she had smelt the food cooking and was now eating off a small plate of eggs and little chunks of cooked sheron rolls.
Avani finished her juice and excused herself, placing her plate and Nix’s, both cleaned of food, on the counter so that her mother could wash them later.
“I’m gonna go get my things and place them by the door!” Avani said scampering out of the kitchen and going up to her room.
Nix followed her and when they were safely in her room she shut the door and knelt near the Khehora egg and gently cupped her hand around it.
“Be a good egg for Nix.” Avani said to the egg. She smiled and then turned to Nix and lifted a pointed finger to her and said, “You got to watch the egg for me while I’m gone.”
Nix curled against Avani’s knees and purred. She had a feeling of what her mistress was saying… She was to stay here and watch the big egg. Nix chirped and climbed into the box and curled around the egg.
Avani laughed and petted the fea, “Good girl Nix.”
She placed extra clothes in a bag, along with a jacket and wing covers. It would get cold at night even if it was hot during the day. She then doubled checked everything she would need. Everything was packed and the egg was snug in its bed. Nix chirped and she followed her mistress out the door. Avani left it open enough that Nix could get in and out, yet the egg stayed out of view. Mama didn’t need to go in there anyway.
She skipped down the stairs and placed her clothes bag near the door, and then took her knapsack to the kitchen where Avani’s mother said she had some goodies and snacks for her to take.
“I packed some dried sheron strips.” She said, “Also some sweet cakes, three sheron sandwiches, and a jug of milk.”
Avani kissed her mother's cheek, said thank you, and then went to put her knapsack by her clothes bag. She then went out to the stalls where the hastars were and found her father harnessing Atani.
“She’ll be your mount to the sheds and on the trail.” Her father tightened a strap and patted Atani, “She’s still good for these kinds of rides.”
Avani fed the hastar a sugar cube and smiled at her father, “No worries Papa. I can still ride a hastar.”
Avani’s father patted her head and said, “Won’t be long till you can harness them as well.”
All Avani could do was smile and continue to pet Atani.
Soon the shepherds that Avani was going to go with were arriving at the house. Avani smiled brightly when she saw they all were women. They were hard to miss, some riding on hastars, some walking along side talking with the ones astride. Avani loved all the colored ribbons on their staffs and hastar bridals. Some even had woven cloth flowers into the animal’s hair.
One particular woman stood out. She had pale green hair, and violet eyes. She wore a sunhat with ribbons and cloth flowers, and was astride a hastar that had ribbons that matched the rider’s hair and eyes.
The group stopped in front of the house and the woman with violet eyes rode up to the steps and jumped off the hastar. She came up to the porch where Avani and her parents were standing and extended her hand in greeting. Avani’s father shook it with a gentle hand and smiled at the young woman.
“Hello Miss Silverwood.” Her father said releasing her hand, “Glad to see you again.”
“Hi there Mr. Autumntree!” The woman said. Avani thought she could be about 5 years older than she was, and was impressed with how happy she looked to be going to work. She came up to the porch where her parents were standing and said, “We’re ready to go Sir!” She spied Avani and said, “Is this your daughter?” She smiled brightly and held out a hand and said, “I’m Rhees!”
Avani smiled back and shook the offered hand, “I’m Avani, it’s nice to meet you.”
“We’ll take good care of her, won’t we?” she said turning to the other girls. The other’s shouted their approval and Rhees laughed. “No worries here Mr. Autumntree!”
Avani’s father smiled and said, “I don’t have any when I know you are watching over her. Teach her all you know.”
Rhees laughed and turned to Avani, “Ready to go my dear?”
Avani nodded and then hugged her parents goodbye. She placed her own sunhat on and mounted Atani. She smiled and waved to her parents and rode next to Rhees out towards the leklon pasture.
“We’ll be going to the shearing shed first since the leklon are there.” Rhees said when they were well on their way into the leklon field. “They had their summer shearing just recently and we will be going up to the high country to graze them for a while.” Rhees said smiling, “We keep them safe from the khehora and dragons that are there. We leave them alone for the most part, unless they attack first.”
“How do you fight them off?” Avani said adjusting herself in the saddle.
Rhees laughed and reached for a staff that had been tucked into a pouch at the side of her hastar. She let go of the reigns (which surprised Avani, and as it turned out Rhees could control her hastar with just pressure from her legs) and pulled on the bottom of the staff. The wood came off and reviled a blade inside the staff.
“Ooooooo!” Avani said impressed, “It’s hidden!”
Rhees smiled and placed the blade back into the staff. “We have to keep not just the leklon safe. Sometimes it’s ourselves we have to protect.”
Avani took in the advice as Rhees replaced her staff, and turned to another girl on her other side.
There was a lot to this profession than just watching over leklon… You had to protect yourself and others, not just the animals. The leklon could be restocked, just as they were when Papa sold the ones that went to market. But the lives of yourself and your friends? Avani swallowed hard, resolved to learn and pay attention. Rhees seemed to know what she was doing, so Avani would seek her for advice if she needed any.
They had reached the shearing barn, and Avani watched the last of the leklon being sheared. Rhees explained the process; it looked like it was painless for the leklon. Her papa seemed to hire shearers that were good at what they did.
They camped out at the shed, and awoke before daybreak, and the girls gathered the large flock together.
“Over there Yasla!” Rhees shouted as she led her sheron to the side, “One is starting to pull away!”
Avani watched as one of the girls who were walking ran over to a leklon and shake her cane at it. The leklon protested and then turned back to the flock.
“A few are pulling away Galina!” Rhes shouted turning to the other side.
Avani turned her head and saw another woman with two others contained a few sheep that were creating a bubble of leklon that seemed like it would float away from the heard, but they tapped the animals with their staffs and they went back to main flock. Rhees gave other commands and Avani was awed at how Rhees knew what the flock was doing at any given moment.
They moved out soon after, and started the long trip across Avani’s property to the hills out beyond them.
As they went out into the hill country, large rocks littered the land and there were trees that looked as if they were wilting, but Avani soon found that they just looked like that, but were healthy as could be.
The leklon seemed to like the terrain. They hopped over the rocks, and scratched themselves on the bark of the tree. Avani watched as the shepherdesses who were walking gathered the strays and the rider’s rode around keeping the flock keeping them moving.
As they made camp for the night, Avani took her blanket roll and laid it down next to an outcrop of a large black and white flecked rock. She had Atani tied with the other hastar, all ready for the night. She knew now why the hastar were decorated with ribbons; they matched the hair and eye colors of their owners, the same with the staffs. Apparently it was a tradition with this group to do such things, sure made identifying one’s things easier.
Rhees came over and handed Avani a plate of stew that had been cooking for a while over the camp fire.
“How was your first day?” she asked smiling.
“Hard.” Avani said rubbing her bum, Rhees laughed and Avani continued, “But I can see why. The leklon don’t like to do the things you tell them too.”
“Part of the job.” Rhees said smiling, she took a bite of food and said, “It’s like being a parent: Your kids won’t do what you tell them to do sometimes, and you got to get them back in line.” She then paused, then smiled, “Well, not with a stick or hastar.”
Avani and Rhees laughed. After a while later, Rhees got up to take the first watch with some others, and Avani went to bed.
The next day began like the last, counting the leklon, and getting ready to go farther. They were going to a lake in the hills where there was grass and water enough for the leklon. Once there the girls would watch over the flock in shifts. From the shearing shed it took about three to four days to get to the lake.
Once there, Avani was taken by Rhees into her group and watched the flock from morning to around noon. The girls took four lookout rotations, Avani's group being the first. Rhees told her that Avani's father employed her and the other girls to watch the flock, so she knew what this flock had the tendency to do from being around it for a long time. Since Rhees was the overseer of this group of shepherdesses, it was her job to report to Avani's father how the sheep were doing. She explained that she staid two weeks each with the flock, then went back with a report, and came back for another two weeks.
“The other girls stay here and look after them for about two months, then bring them back to get looked over and cleaned. Then they go back for another two months, and the whole cycle repeats till the first snow.” Rhees looked out over the area and said, “In winter your father has a barn for the leklon, and they eat the grass that pokes through the snow in your field, but mostly eat grain.”
Avani took in the information and processed it. Raising animals was a part of farming that she didn’t think of when she decied to become a farmer. Avani looked out across the area and found it was a nice day. There were no clouds, and the lake was so large she saw other shepherds and flocks gathering around it, letting their leklon graze too.
At noon she went back to camp and ate the lunch that was made by the group that just went on lookout duty. She ate her sandwich and drank some water from a stream near the camp. After lunch Avani went to making dinner. This was part of her group’s responsibility, just as the group returning just before dawn would cook breakfast. She then took the laundry to the stream where she and the other’s took care of the laundry for the day. She then had time to take a bath if she wanted to, but she felt no need.
When she was out with Rhees taking care of the sheep, Avani learned how to go after stray sheep, keep the flock together, and they even had a skirmish with a few Dunkels.
Life out with the leklon seemed peaceful.
Two weeks after Avani set out with the group; she and Rhees left the group and made their way back to Avani’s family ranch.
Avani’s father greeted them in the rice fields that were just south of the ones used for the leklon when they were there.
“Avani girl!” her father said waving to her. He got off of his hastar and hoisted Avani off her seat as if she were as light as a bird’s feather. Avani laughed with happiness to be back home with the people she loved. Her father hugged her tight and smiled brightly down at her, “Did you have fun?”
Avani hugged her father happily and smiled back at him, “I learned a lot from Rhees Papa, and I was wondering if I could go back from time to time to learn a bit how to manage the flocks.”
“I have no problem with that Mr. Autumntree.” Rhees said smiling from her hastar. “Avani helped a lot and was a good student.”
Avani’s father smiled and looked at his daughter saying, “As long as it doesn't interfere with your chores here.”
Avani hugged her father again and was glad that she could go once again. She wanted to learn more about raising animals, mostly because if she was to continue her work on this farm, surely she would have to learn how to raise large numbers of them.
“Thank you Papa!” she said smiling.
She once again hugged her father and then got back up on her hastar to go back to the house. She still needed to check on her egg, and then she and Nix could go to the lake and have a nice bath there.
Avani breathed deeply and smiled. Things surely could not be going better for her future as a farmer.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: August 4, 2014
Words: 2,951
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:27 pm
~Water, Soil, Sun, & Love~
~"Harnessing Hastars"~
~A Profession Learning Requirement~ Avani waved from the porch as her parents drove off.
The two of them were going to attend a town meeting about the recent attack of the Mara. Her parents were relieved that their daughter had been safe at Shenra’s house with her father. However, they didn’t like the fact that she had taken on a Mara herself, her father in particular.
But today was different from the last town meeting about the Mara. There was a breeze in the air and no clouds in the sky. Avani was going to do some light chores and then just sit out on the porch and relax for the day with some lemonade.
Today would be a good day!
As Avani set the lemonade pitcher and a glass out on the porch table, she looked out towards the fields. The sky had turned hazy and as she breathed, she smelt smoke. It was so bad she started coughing.
When she stopped, she saw that most of the smoke was coming from the direction of the northwest fields. Avani frowned. The fields out there were not only the sheron grazing fields, but right next to the wheat fields that were dry and almost ready to harvest.
Fear griped her for a moment, and as she got control of the feeling, she went inside the house and grabbed some large, empty flour sacks. She also told Nix and Honoka, who were scrambling at her heals, to stay inside the house. She was going to the fields to see what the matter was, and she didn’t need her charges to bother her at the moment.
Despite Honoka’s cries as she locked the door and shutting them inside, she placed her hand on the door trying to send calming thoughts to the little baby. She didn’t want to leave her baby, but she was the only one at the house, the only one who could make the decisions Papa could. All the adults were at the town meeting, and she had to take charge.
“Nix, take care of Honoka. And I am sorry Honoka, I will come back, hopefully soon.”
She went to the barn, her kerchief over her nose and mouth, hefting the sacks on her shoulder. When she got to the barn, she saw that one hastar was left. It was the rather new one to the family, but at the moment Avani didn’t realize this, and just went to get the tack from the gear shed.
She placed the sack down, got the gear, and blindly saddled the hastar and placed the other gear on it. The only thing she was thinking about was the fire and how close to the crops it could be. She tied the sacks onto the hastar’s back and mounted easily.
She then exited the barn and made the animal run to towards the fire. It balked at first, but Avani had a tight grip on it and urged it on.
“Miss. Autumntree!”
Avani watched as a ranch hand came towards her. She dismounted as swiftly as she had mounted and tied the hastar up with the others near the fence that bordered the grazing feilds. She made sure the tack was tied tight as she didn’t know whether or not the animal would run because of the fire.
“Are the crops safe?” Avani said as she went to untie the sacks, “What of the sheron?”
“We stopped the advance on our land.” The ranch hand said as he took the sacks from her, “But a spark could get the crops easily. The main fire is just beyond the forest line…” He stopped short and then said angrily, “What are you doing here Miss?”
Avani took one of the sacks, held her head high and said, “Mama and Papa are gone and I was the only one at the house.” She moved passed him saying, “If you have a problem with that you can send a man to town to get him.” She looked back at him and said, “And I doubt you can spare one at the moment.”
With that Avani marched right up to the foreman who was ordering people about. He saw Avani, and if he had any qualms about her being there, he was silent and just gave her a report.
“Get water from the irrigation ditch.” Avani said and she dropped the sack into the water, “If there are any buckets around, pots, cups, use them all.”
She wrung out the sack and then marched to the forest to where others were using shovels and hoes to try and make a fire break or put out small flames. Avani joined in with beating back the flames with her wet sack, looking around for the next place to strike. If it got any bigger, they would need a miracle.
Avani lost track of the time, but she took small breaks, going back to the area the hastars were. Neighbors had come and started to help by flying over with buckets allowing some of the men who worked for Avani’s father to go get buckets themselves to help even more.
With some luck, they had seen the fire into the night with about ninety percent containment. Avani, who had been resting, was sitting against a rock, sipping some water when a large hand came down on her shoulder. She looked up alarmed, but only saw the familiar face of her father as he knelt next to her.
“Ah, Avani Girl.” He said with a look of relief and kindness on his face, “You should have come to get me.”
Avani smiled, closed her eyes, and shook her head saying, “It would have taken too long.” She opened her eyes and looked towards what was left of the fire, “I know about as much as this ranch as you. I let your foreman lead, but he didn’t question why I was here.” She looked at her father, “I would have done the same as you. I tried to save the crop and sheron, and if it couldn’t be saved, let it burn and save the lives of the men.”
Avani leaned back against the rock and closed her eyes. Her father was here now and would take over so she would rest before she went back home. No doubt she reeked of smoke and was covered with soot, but she hoped she had made the difference today.
Avani felt her father squeeze her shoulder and leave her side. Avani smiled. She could feel her father’s love and pride, there were no need for words.
After what seemed like hours, Avani rose from where she sat and went to find her father. She let him know that she was leaving and gave him a hug. She said goodbye to the foremen who was talking with her father and went to find the hastar she had ridden here.
That thought made her stop short and gaze ahead in wonder. She then broke out into laughter.
“Avani?” she heard her father say. She heard him walk towards her, “What’s so funny my girl?”
Avani could stop laughing, but turned around smiling at her father brightly.
“I just realized that not only had I to harness a hastar to get here,” She laughed again, “Not only that, but it was the mean one who gave me a bruise last the last time I time I tried!”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: September 27,2014
Words: 1,236
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:28 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~Treasure Trove~
~A Solo RP~ Avani was going to Shenra’s orchard that day to do promised work there. It was no trouble for the Orderite girl now that she was bigger and wiser. She walked along with her weed bucket and hoe, Nix happily beside her. It was a spring check in on the orchard; time to get out the critters that moved in during the winter, and to battle those pesky weeds!
Avani went into the new shed that Shenra had built next to the barn just for her and her tools, and took everything she needed for the day. She checked in with Shenra, who, as usual, was absorbed in some sort of work, and then went out to the blooming orchards.
Avani started work where she had left off a few days ago, somewhere in the middle of the orchard, and started by digging out weeds from some of the old ones gnarled bases
Even with her maintaining the orchard over the past 5 years, she found that woodland creatures seemed to like to hide out in the trees that offered shelter during winter storms. Papa had said that would happen, that it was normal, and that farmers who had orchards had to keep it free of pests year round if they wanted crops to yield the best fruits.
So far the orchard had offered better crops each year that Avani had taken care of it, and Shenra gladly shared the profits of the harvests with her. This inspired to train Nix to round up the varmints that were in the places Avani could not reach. This also saved her from numerous scrapes with wild animals. Nix seemed to know what Avani wanted, and she hardly got dirty when taking care of the business.
Over the years, less and less pests had been in the orchard, and Avani was glad for it. It was a lot less for her to take care of, and more time spent making the place grow.
Time passed that day, and around midday, Nix came running up to Avani chattering madly… Well, as madly as a fea dragon could….
“What is it Nix?” Avani asked leaning on her hoe and wiping her brow. They had just had lunch, so she couldn't be hungry or thirsty… Could she?
Nix grumbled and flew behind Avani and began nudging her with her head into the direction she had just come from. Avani faltered a bit at first, falling from her perch on the hoe, and then in a tangle of fea wings and tails, mixing with her own legs. But soon she was following an excited fea dragon to a particularly gnarled tree, one of the older ones her father identified, and went straight into a hole at it’s base.
“Nix?” Avani said squatting down before the hole. She heard Nix chattering inside, not hearing any fights that the little fea could have started. What was the fea doing? Nix then popped her head out, looked over at Avani and chattered more before going back inside. “Nix, I can’t follow you…” Avani heard a disgruntled sound from inside, and then silence. “Nix? Nix?” Avani called. Where was that little fea, and what was she doing?!
Suddenly, something bright and shiny appeared in the hole’s entrance. Avani moved back as it popped out of the hole and roll a few inches away from where the entrance was, Nix’s chattering and head following it. Avani moved over to the object and began to observe it. It was bright and green. She looked over at Nix, who then popped back down into the hole, and a few seconds later, a blue shiny object, just like the previous one, popped out and tumbled down to where Avani was crouching.
Avani then went back to the hole and said, “Is this what you are chattering about?” She heard Nix’s chiming laugh and purr from inside the hole, Avani knowing Nix meant yes to that question. “Are there more?” Avani asked poking her head over the entrance. Again the chiming and purring started again. Avani smiled and said, “I’ll reach in and see if I can’t get them!”
About an hour later, Avani, having used the hoe to open and deepen the hole’s entrance without disturbing the tree, had found a treasure stash worthy of a Slix! There were ten each of four colored gems. She wondered where they had come from, but they seemed dirty, so someone must have forgotten about them.
Later that night, Avani stored the gems in four separate bags in her room behind her bookshelf. Shenra had no use for them, and let her keep them all. Papa later said that Avani should take them into town to see if she could find out what they were. Avani smiled down at Nix as she slid her bookshelf back into place. Whatever they were, perhaps they could be useful in the future somehow…~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: March 31st, 2014
Words: 821
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:31 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~Helping Hands~
~Part 1~
~A Solo RP~ “Avani!”
Avani popped her head up from behind the fence where she had been about to begin her chore of shoveling the hastar and sheron dung into the compost pile. She hadn't been looking forward to those chores today, but someone had to do them.
“Avani!”
She dropped the shovel she was holding at her mother’s second call. To ignore her summons would not be wise. She made her way back to the house, stepped onto a box and poked her head into the kitchen window.
“Here I am Mama!” she said smiling. She had been in the dung pile so there was no need to tramp it around the house, “Do you need something before I start my work?”
“Oh good, you haven’t started…” her mother said coming to the open window. “Get dressed to go into town to get some things for me. I’ll get one of the hands to do your work while you are gone.”
Avani smiled happily and pranced to the shed to change shoes and clothes. She loved driving into town with the hastars. She had gotten better at it and Papa had finally let her go into town to get things for Mama by herself as a result. She went up to her room first and brought down with her some coins that she had been saving for such a trip!
Nix, who had been avoiding the dung pile work, uncurled from the Khehora egg that Avani had hid in her room, sensing that a trip was about to be taken by her master, and didn't want to be left out. She scampered down the stairs at her mistress’ feet and skid to a stop in the kitchen while her mistress talked to the one whom Nix supposed was her mother.
“Here is a list for the goods store, and take the Urru eggs there to pay the account while you are there. They are double yoked so get twice the price for them.” Avani’s mother said handing her the list and a basket of eggs, “Your father has hitched the hastar to the small cart-wagon, no need for anything else.”
“OK!” Avani smiled. She looked at Nix and patted her hip as she walked to the front door, “Let’s go Nix!”
Nix scrambled after her mistress and out the door as Avani opened it. The cart was out there with the hastar that Avani used, and Nix jumped from the porch and glided to the cart and settled herself onto the seat next to where Avani would sit. Avani tucked the basket of eggs at her feet and took up the reins. She waved to the house and slapped the back of the hastar, and the wagon took off briskly down the drive from the house.
They were off!!!
As Avani drove a few minutes from the house, her ears twitched as she heard the thundering of hooves coming from behind her. She moved quickly to side and watched as a cart no bigger than her’s come thundering past.
She perked up as her ears caught the sound of crying coming from the cart, and her instincts reacted quickly.
She placed the basket of eggs on the side of the road far into the brush it wouldn't be trampled, and placed Nix next to them saying, “Stay here and guard Mama’s eggs!” and slapped the reigns to make the hastar go flying after the cart that had just passed her.
It took no time at all for the experienced Hastar to come close enough to the runaway cart that Avani could see inside it. Avani needed to get closer to jump into the driver's seat so she could grab the runaway hastar's reins. However, she knew there would be a fork in the road up ahead, and as one went to town, the other went to a dead in into the forest where some large trees would smash the cart to pieces if it hit them. Avani narrowed her brow, resolved to catch that cart! She could hear the old hastar that was pulling her cart breathing hard, and she knew there was little energy left to the old girl.
“Come on Atani!” she yelled, “You can do it girl!” Avani slapped the back of the hastar again, “I’ll be glad to let you rest, but we got to catch that cart first!”
Avani saw the road widen and knew the cross roads was close. She felt her cart catching up to the one that was unleashed. She forced her will into a channel to Atani and prayed to Seren that she could catch the cart in time.
As Avani predicted, the crossroads came and she was halfway to where she needed to be to jump to the other wagon and catch the reigns of both her’s and the other cart.
She knew the runaway hastar would choose the path to the dead end, because the road that turned off of the one they were on was the way to town. She slapped the reins again and Atani snorted and gave a burst of speed, just enough for Avani to jump!
Avani stuck her tongue out and jumped from her wagon, reigns in hand, and tumbled into the seat of the other wagon. She found the whipping reins of the unattended cart and pulled hard on both her’s and the runaway carts hard to stop both hastars.
As the dust settled, Avani opened her eyes and saw they had about 5 feet till they would have hit the trees. She sat down in the seat of the unknown cart, sighing in relief.
She then turned to the howling little bundle in the back of the cart, snuggled in a basket of blankets among some furniture and boxes.
“Well,” Avani said taking stock of the situation, “I’m glad to see someone doesn't care we were almost smashed.”
She climbed down from the cart and then turned both around. She would have to lead both hastar back up the road… perhaps beyond her house…
Oh well…. Problems were the spice in life.
Nix stood next to the egg basket knowing her mistress would want her to keep them safe from other’s who would want them. Her mistress had been gone a long time, and Nix was feeling sleepy. Soon after Nix had laid down next to the egg basket, she heard crying coming from up the road from where she and her mistress had come. A woman with purple hair came running down the road wailing. Nix cocked her head in thought, and wondered what this woman was crying about. But as soon as the woman had passed by Nix, she screamed hysterically and fell to the ground.
“My baby!” she screamed. Nix popped her head out of the underbrush and saw her mistress coming from down the road she had taken off with her cart. Nix chirped and chimed, and bounded up to Avani who was leading two carts towards the woman.
Avani smiled at Nix as she tried not to step on the little fea. She then saw the source of the screaming, a purple haired woman who was knelling on the ground crying. Avani stopped where the woman was and looked for her basket of eggs just behind her in the underbrush.
“This is your cart Ma’am?” Avani said looking back to the woman smiling, “The little one is fast asleep after all the rocking it had from our walk.”
The woman was so amazed at this young Orderite and her nonchalance at how serious situation was. Well as serious and the woman thought it was. She watched as the young one tied both hastars to a branch of a tree and they began to graze.
Avani smiled and went to the older woman and said, “Come on now Ma’am I know a stream nearby where we can all rest.”
Avani helped the mother up into her cart, and then untied the hastar. She scooped up Nix and placed her next to the woman, then retrieved her basket of eggs from the ground and placed it her cart. She then led the hastars into the forest, and for about 5 minutes listened for monsters. But all she heard was the woman’s dwindling sobs and Nix's consoling chirps and chiming. No doubt the little fea was trying to help the woman calm down.
Soon they were at the stream and Avani tied up the hastars pretty good near the edge so they could drink and eat after a long run and cool down.
She set a blanket she found in the back of the woman’s cart down on the grass, and set not only nix, but the baby in its basket down there. She helped the woman down and then found a pot in the back of the cart, and used it to get water for the woman.
As Avani sat down with the water, the woman thanked her for the drink and took a long sip from the pot. Avani smiled and saw Nix curling up next to the young baby who was still asleep.
“Now,” Avani said as she took the pot from the woman, “Why don’t you tell me what happened while we rest. It shouldn't be too long till the hastar’s are rested.”
The young woman nodded and it wasn't till now Avani saw the worn travel garments on the lady. She definitely was traveling alone, that was for sure.
“I was on the road to this next village, and some warriors were behind me, coming up on me.” She glanced nervously to the basket with the infant in it, then back down, “They ignored me, thank the Goddess, but they were arguing and one of them hit my hastar.” She started to sniff, but caught herself and she then said, “They didn't seem to care that my hastar began to run away with my cart let alone my baby. They just kept arguing amongst themselves.”
The woman looked up to Avani, “There was no one around, and I just took off after it.” The woman caught herself from crying again, but instead looked to the sleeping fea and baby. “I just couldn't keep up.” She looked to Avani, “Thank you so much for my baby’s life.”
Avani smiled despite wanting to hit those warriors upside the head. “Nothing to it Ma’am, just happened to be at the right place at the right time.” Avani wouldn't tell the mother how close to harm carts, hastars, and all were from at least certain injury, “Glad I could help.”
“My name is Fivi.” The woman said smiling, “And if there is anything I can do for you, I will try.”
“I’m Avani, I live near here.” Avani smiled and put up a hand, “No Ma’am, just glad I could help.” She then said, “Where were you going to anyway?”
The woman smiled and said, “The village close to here. I am looking for work.” Fivi blushed, “My husband died from a Borgnah attack on our small farm, and most of our livestock were killed too.” Avani saw sadness wash over her face, but then she looked up with a sad smile, “Luckily the Borgnah was killed, but I since I lost my husband; I lost the will to work the farm alone.”
Avani could never imagine losing a husband, but in that way? Avani took Fivi’s hand and patted it, “Some people aren't up to running a farm let alone a small one. It’s alright now. Your baby’s fine and so is whatever is in that wagon.” Avani looked to the rested hastars, now snoozing upright. “Seems the hastar’s are ready to go now, I’ll escort you to town since I’m going there too.”
Avani stood and helped Fivi stand too. Avani picked Nix up from the basket, as she stretched and yawned, and allowed Avani to carry her to the cart where she was placed in the back.
Avani watched as Fivi picking up her baby’s basket and the blanket on the ground. Fivi went back to the cart and then rummaged around in a box for a moment after placing the baby back in its place amongst her belongings. Avani got into her wagon and then watched as Fivi placed something next to her on her seat before she too took up the hastar’s reigns.
With that, both then set off down the road to the village
As she and Fivi entered were just outside the village, Avani told her the direction to the seamstresses shop. It seemed Fivi could sew as well as her mother, and Avani knew the dressmaker was looking for a new assistant since the village was becoming a large stop for the warriors on their way to Eowyn.
“Have this Ms. Avani,” she held out a green book. Avani saw a green jewel shine on the top, “It was my husband’s, but I don’t need it, and was going to sell it.” She smiled at Avani and said, “It’s worthless to me, but all I can give you for my baby’s life.”
“Ma’am, I can’t take that-“
“Please, it would mean a lot to me if you could use it somehow. My husband would want you to have it as well.” Fivi smiled, “Please Ms. Avani.”
Avani sighed and took the book. “I thank you Ma’am.” Avani smiled as she tucked the book near her feet out of harm’s way, “I’ll treasure it always.” She then narrowed her eyes and said, “But you must take some of our produce this fall when we come to town to sell it.”
Fivi smiled and laughed, “I will!”
And with that Fivi and her baby departed through the gate of the village, leaving Avani smiling with the book.
“What do ya think Nix?” Avani said letting the fea sniff it.
Nix felt the power coming from the book and then licked her mistresses hand to let her know it was ok. It seemed to match her mistress’ presence in someway…. The power seemed to radiate life and vitality that her mistress seemed to herself.
Avani giggled unaware of her fea’s thoughts and placed the book safely in her mother’s egg basket. It seemed to be something worth keeping if Nix liked it.
She slapped the reins and Atani trotted into the gates of the village. Avani mused over the good feeling she had of saving that baby. That, in and of itself, was the best reward she could ever have.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: July 2, 2014
Words: 2,424
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:45 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~Seeds of Memory~
~Fin~
~A Solo RP~ Avani pulled up to the mercantile store and hitched Atani to the rail that was outside. Nix jumped down from the wagon as Avani reached in and took the basket of Uruu eggs from the foot of the seat. She smiled as she felt the coin bag in her other hand swing back and forth. Today she would get something nice for herself, perhaps a treat for Nix as well for watching the eggs as she ran down that wagon.
“Good Morning!” Avani said as she opened the door to the store. “How are you today Mr. Hodol?”
Mr. Hodol looked up from the account book on the counter and smiled as he saw Avani.
“Hello Avani. How are you today?”
“Tuckered out…” Avani said walking between the short shelves to the counter. She smiled as she lifted the basket up and said, “Mama said to say they were all double yokes, and to use them as payment on our account.”
Mr. Hodol smiled and an egg up and placed it against the light of the nearest window.
“Sure as rain, there's the two yokes.” He smiled as he placed it back into the basket. He then looked at Avani, “Anything else Miss?”
Avani handed her mother’s list to the man and said, “Mama will need the things on the list.”
Mr. Hodol took the list and looked at it, “I got this stuff, I’ll go get it.”
Avani smiled and said, “I’m going to go walk around town for a while, so no need to rush!”
Mr. Hodol smiled and said, “That’s fine, just be safe Avani.”
“I will!” Avani said smiling.
She reached into the peppermint stick jar and paid for three sticks, as Nix had somehow gotten ahold of one while Avani was talking with Mr. Hodol. She skipped out of the store, Nix following with her stick in her mouth. Avani stopped at Atani and gave her a stick as well. The hastar gladly accepted it, and munched away at the treat.
Avani walked to the bulletin board that was next to the council meeting hall and read the flyers that were on it while sucking on her candy. One was an out of date advertisement about the spring festival and another poster was advertising some furniture for sale. The one that she knew about from her parents was the proclamation from Aevah Avi about the “Mara”, whatever they were….
Avani shrugged and knew she had to support the land of Serenia. She was not going to dip into the politics of the Great Engagement when this was something that had to be fought by all, even the Khehora if they wanted to stop the slaughter of all beings. But Serenia was her home, and she loved the land, and would do what she could to help protect it and all who dwelt here, Ordertie, Oblivionite, Khehora, and dragons all.
Even the Boargnah she guessed…
Avani shuddered and moved on from the bulletin board and to the large fountain in the middle of the square. Nix jumped onto the edge of the bottom bowl as Avani sat next to her and smiled.
She finished off the last of the peppermint stick, watching Nix do the same, and looked around sighing. Because of the events on Eowyn the town had seen more warriors of all rank passing though. Though violence from the travelers had been far less than expected, it was still wise to shop during the day and be at home during the night.
Avani sighed and watched the many different people wander the town. She then spied the seed and supply store and smiled brightly. She got up and headed that way, Nix jumping down and scampering off with her mistress to the all familiar shop.
"Hello Mr. Iseld!” Avani said as she opened the door.
Nix bounded in at Avani’s feet and up to the stool at the counter where the shopkeeper was working on his books. He looked up and smiled at Avani, and scratched Nix on the head, who chirped and chimed happily.
“Hello Miss. Avani!” he said happily, “In town for supplies?”
“No, just a bit of shopping for Mama.” She then blushed a bit and said, “I saw the store and came to see if anything new had come in.”
Avani really liked the seed and supply store. She loved seeing the new seeds that came in each season. Mr. Iseld was rather cute too, he had bright red hair and red eyes. She looked away shyly and at the nearest thing which was spades in a bucket.
“We got some new ones in last week.” He motioned to the bins on the other side of the store, oblivious to Avani's thoughts, “Feel free to look around!”
Avani went to the seed bins and looked down into each one. Some were really small, and some were rather big, but only one bin caught her eye.
It was a bin full of pumpkin seeds.
She hadn't see so many in a long while, not since she had first moved here. Oh sure, they had pumpkin seeds for sale every year, but not this much.
Avani remembered her grandmother and her love of the vegetable. Avani placed her hand on top of the seeds and smiled as she remembered her grandmother’s pumpkin patch. It had been a great place to hide from her cousin, and was the sanctuary she needed while staying close to the house.
“How much are the Pumpkin seeds?” Avani asked Mr. Iseld. The shopkeeper named a fair price and Avani smiled, “I’ll take two pounds.”
With her coin bag lighter, and a seed bag full of new beginnings, Avani left the seed store and went back to the mercantile. She collected the things her mother had ordered, and placed everything she had bought next the green book that Fivi had given her. Along with the seeds Avani had purchased a book on growing pumpkins. Though she would only use the book as a guide, she knew that in order to grow great pumpkins in the future she would have to rely on her experience with cultivating the plant over the years ahead. She chuckled at nix who was begging for Avani’s attention, and bent down to pick her up and put her in the cart. The little fea would help her, even if she was well known to shirk her duty at times.
After placing Nix on the seat of the wagon, Avani untied Atani and hopped up next to Nix. As she slapped the reigns, she smiled at what a good day it had been, and couldn't wait to get home to start her planning of her very own pumpkin patch.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: July 7th, 2014
Words: 1,124
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:46 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~Eggu~
~A Solo RP~ Avani sat on her bed and looked over the egg that Oblivion had given her. It looked nothing like the black khehora that had given it to her.
“Perhaps it’s the color of his mate?” Avani said as she placed it by her pillow. She laid down on her tummy and peered at it still. Nix, who was on the pillow, wiggled so she could nuzzle the warm egg. Avani petted Nix’s head and said, “Perhaps not since he said his mate was a ‘he’. But,” Avani said as she placed a loving hand around the oblong object, “Perhaps they adopted an egg that was like him?”
Nix chirped, and Avani could tell by the tone of the chirp that it was just as questioning. “It’s our responsibility now…”
That being said, Avani thought, how did she care for it? She could look in those Khehora books again, but they just talked about how they came to be and where they lived.
“It needs a safe place.” Avani said out loud tracing the patterns on it’s shell. “It needs a nest… Like uruus…”
She then had an idea. Perhaps she could make a nest for the egg. But until she got the materials, where would the egg live?
Avani then got up and went to the trunk in the back of her closet. There she found her old wing covers that she wore as a child. Made with leklan wool inside of material, it had been her warmest wing covers. Abronaxus only knew why she had kept them since she had grown out of them, but they were the only thing she thought could keep the egg safe and warm at the moment.
Avani went over to the egg and placed it gently into the crook of one of the wing covers and then placed the other over it.
“What do you think?” Avani said showing it to Nix. Nix mad a rude noise, and Avani laughed. “It’s not permanent!“ She turned the covered egg around as she looked at it and said, “Well I’m going to make it a box nest sort of.”
Avani went over to her dresser and opened the top drawer. As she set the egg into the nest of clothes, she quickly blushed and lifted it out. If it turned out to be a boy, she really did not want to tell it she had placed it in her undergarment drawer.
So she quickly closed the drawer, and opened the next one. Though it was her dress drawer, it was a lot better than the first one!
As Avani looked over the egg once more before bed, she had an idea of what she was going to use to make her box. She just had to sneak around and gather what she needed.
The next day she went on the hunt for the materials.
Growing up on a farm her whole life, weather it had been her grandmother’s or her father’s, they had always had uruus on the grounds. They supplied not only food to eat, but they produced goods for trade; such as eggs, feathers, chicks… And it was the fact that Avani had to learn how to collect the eggs by her mother’s side since she could toddle that she had gotten the idea of how to nest her Khehora egg.
The coop was made so that a uruu had an individual box to use for a nest. All Avani had to do was open the door on the side of the coop and step up into it to collect the eggs the uruu produced. There was straw in there for them to nest on that got cleaned out once a week, and always a pail of water for them to drink from. They had their own door out to the chicken yard that was surrounded by uruu wire. Sometimes Avani had to use the other door in the coop, the one that had a chicken door in it, to get into the yard to collect stray eggs. But all in all, the uruu eggs were all in the nests.
Avani studied the boxes, and decided that since she couldn’t very well sit on the egg herself, she would have a flat box that she could peer into and have the sun surround it as it sat in her room all day. She would check on it of course, but she had little time to watch the egg all day.
So then Avani went to collect some scrap pieces of wood, nothing great, and sanded them down so it wouldn’t scratch anything. She nailed them together as her papa had shown her to do with the fence for her pumpkin patch.
She was proud of her little box, though she had no idea what to do with it after the egg hatched. Avani then pilfered some hay for the bottom of the box, and it seemed the perfect thing for her egg.
“What do you think Nix?” she asked as she took the box too her room about a week after she had started it, “It seems like it’s the right size…”
Truth be told, Avani said to herself as she gently laid the egg into the center, it was too big! Avani giggled, and then set her mind to the next problem: How to keep it warm during the day and night.
Oblivion was fluffy enough to keep it warm… He wondered if his mate was just as fluffy… But some Khehora were leathery and scaly…
Avani then went back to the old trunk and rummaged around a bit till she found her solution to that: An old leklon scarf that she had particularly liked during her youth.
Avani lovingly put the egg into the nest while it sat in the wing cover. She wrapped the scarf around it while it sat in the cover, and then placed the other wing cover over it.
“How’s that?” She asked Nix. Nix sniffed the bundled egg and wondered why her mistress had covered up the thing. Avani smiled and said, “We need to keep it warm all day while we are out. But will this work at night?”
Nix looked at her, and Avani stared at the egg all wrapped up. She couldn’t have it in bed with her, it was too big. Oh well. That problem would have to be solved when she went to bed that night. Right now she had chores to do, so she left the egg in the middle of her room where the sun was coming in though her window. She quietly shut the door and let the little egg get warm.
As Avani finished getting ready for bed, she went over and took the cover off the egg. It was nice and warm. Avani smiled, but it soon fell into a frown. How would she consistently maintain the temperature at night? The old house had drafts, and even the warmest room during the day would get cool at night.
Nix tumbled into the box that held the egg, and crawled through the hay to the egg. She sniffed the egg and licked it lovingly. She curled around the egg and nuzzled it gently.
Avani smiled as the solution came to her.
“Will you watch over it at night?” she said petting the fea.
Nix chirped and tightened her curl around the egg and put a wing around it. Avani smiled lovingly at the fea and knew the feeling the little one had. If she could, Avani would put it in her bed and sleep with it as well. It was as if she and the little fea could understand each other. She petted Nix one last time, and also the egg. Avani would leave a low lit lamp beside the box so Nix could see if she had to get up at night.
With that Avani said goodnight to both and climbed into bed, all three floating into dreamland.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: July 13, 2014
Words: 1, 332
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
