Welcome to Gaia! ::

Letter here

It had been two years since he’d picked up a shield and Sakhile was finally comfortable with it. Alos and Brenshin would use him for practice; attacking him while he defended. Alos’s uncle had been quite thrilled to see them and taken them under his wing. Three new pupils, all of different races, to train and show off; what wasn’t to like?
It was actually only two pupils as Brenshin was actually a mage; mostly healing but he used his staff as a weapon as well as a channel for his powers. He however would still join in for practice; claiming that he wanted to keep his physic and know how to fight since magic was easily disrupted. Alos picked up a single long sword; going for fast but strong attacks. And then there was Sakhile… who preferred to talk but was ready and willing to use his shield to defend. He also learned how to use it to attack but he didn’t like those as much.

For two years they had trained... they’d only meant to stay for a few months but weeks had gone by and they’d found themselves eager to learn more rather than explore the world. They’d grown from scrawny teenagers to young adults; Sakhile still smaller than either of them but at least he stood 5 feet tall… which neither of his parents could claim! He made up for that with a thick chest; his shoulders broadening as he aged and used his shield. He was still slim but not the scrawny waif who looked more like a dancer than anything! It was here that a letter came; the first one he’d received since leaving home. As he read it.. he wished his mother had sent more!

It was a lot to take in all at once… Father was… not married to mother anymore? And Zimbasi, who’d he and his friends had chuckled about with his obvious crush on Senja, was to be his new father? He was… in shock over that. Sure he knew Rastian hadn’t seen eye to eye with Senja on everything! But to separate? What had he missed growing up? What had he missed by leaving so suddenly after the fight with his father?

He was glad that his mother was happy at least… The tone of her letter was quite clear she was enjoying herself! And a sibling! He was going to be an older brother? It was... a lot to take in.

Alos and Brenshin found him sitting and staring at it and poked him in the side.
“What’s up? You look a lil odd there Saki!” Alos said with a chuckle. Sakhile simply handed the letter to them and watched them read it.

“Woah…. That’s… rather a lot!” Alos said with a laugh. “Zimbasi is probably the happiest man about right now!”

“And… Rastian not so much.” Brenshin said. He looked at Sakhile; “What are you thinking?”

“That I left in anger and… I don’t know. I missed a lot growing up didn’t I? One fight isn’t enough to make mother leave someone!”

“Must have been more or something else happened?”

“She said it was the final straw... I think there was other things happening.” He sighed.

“What did happen? You only ever said you argued?” Alos asked hesitantly. He always asked the hard questions…

“My father actually pulled a weapon on me. Told me I could not go and he was going to freeze me in place after I said I was going no matter what and tried walking out.” Sakhile sighed and shook his head. “But I never told mother that… so how would she know anything other than we argued? Was just a kid so.. Guess I didn’t notice things going on?”

Brenshin and Alos looked at each other. “He pulled his staff on you?”

“Hatald…” Brenshin whispered the god of marriage's sacred name. “If he did that I bet he snapped in other ways! That ain’t a healthy thing to do. And I bet he felt left out…”

“You never did bring your father to the dances or feasts.” Alos mused out loud.

“He hated Obans! I couldn’t bring him there! Its why mother and I never really mentioned them except for... that argument where I brought it up…” Sakhile trailed off. “He probably felt a lil betrayed..”

“Probably. Pretty wife dancing with other men? Men of a race he hated?” Alos shook his head.

“Might have been him leaving and not her kicking him out.” Brenshin commented.

“Or it could have been both.” Sakhile ended it. “Mother’s a head strong woman, she wasn’t taking it well when he got over protective when I was younger... and she got less happy about it the older I got.”

“What do you think of Zimbasi?” Alos asked. “We hung out at his smithy a lot as kids..”

“I.. I did like him. I liked how he was willing to teach me and always had a reason other than ‘no you can’t do that’ It was always a ‘not until you are old enough to swing the hammer properly and are tall enough to not have your face in the forge fire.’” Sakhile smiled at that memory. “He was respectful of my mother and didn’t make a move on her once he found out she was married. I mean.. I could tell he liked her, but he kept it under wraps when she was about. Kept it as friends.”

“Probably moved right in after the divroce.” Brenshin grinned but Sakhile and Alos shook their heads.

“I doubt that. He would give her time to recover.” Alos said. “He’s not the vulture type.”

“He’d wait until mother gave him the go ahead.” Sakhile said. “And…” He smiled a little sadly. “I do know she was attracted to him. She just kept it as friends since she loved father.” He took the letter back. “I wonder if its going to be a boy or girl.”

“What?” Alos and Brenshin asked simultaneously. Sakhile grinned.

“Mother’s pregnant she said! And apparently on her way here. You two didn’t finish the letter did you?”

They laughed and shook their heads. Sakhile told them the rest as they went to get their equipment for another sparring lesson. He would think later on the implications.. and ask his mother what had happened. Her letters tone made it clear she wanted nothing to do with Rastian anymore.. and there was anger in there.

Sakhile and his friends had said goodbye to Alos’s home town and were headed to Sulburi finally. It’d taken them two years of training and now they’d learned enough to actually survive in the world without relying on luck… at least they hoped so! Before heading into Matori to see if they could contact Brenshin’s family, Sakhile had asked to stop by Sulburi. He had a letter to deliver to his mother and he knew that Zimbasi had family there. And of course to sight see! It was the capital of Oba and Sakhile and his friends were looking forward to see one of the largest cities in Tendaji.

Open reaching it Sakhile realized it was a different sort of jungle than he was used to. Buried within the desert near the largest oasis lay a sprawling city…. With trees of buildings and all the people crammed together. He was wary upon entering it with his friends. All three of them were wary in fact; so many people lived here and, unlike in Neued, you could see all the housing… whereas their home city had been hidden have in the trees.

“First thing we do is get a place to stay.” Alos said. “Some place cheap.”

“And safe.” Brenshin added. “Good thing we don’t have much to steal.”

Sakhile merely nodded and looked around, absorbing the sights and sounds. He noticed that small groups of people their age or younger hanging about. Some seemed to be people watching and talking, others played games down the smaller side streets. Surely it wouldn’t be too dangerous right? People were everywhere; how would one steal from them or attack when there were so many witnesses? But he kept quiet and let them choose a location.

A few days later Sakhile was wandering about Sulburi, trying to find something to do. After spending most of the past 2 years practicing he was at a loss on what to spend his free time. He did want to find some storytellers and see what fun things they had to tell…. But other than that he felt no pull to do anything.

Very much like most of my life; he thought wryly as he wandered about. Never really anything to do other than drift about.

“Ohh purple!” A saucy voice from nearby pulled him from his thoughts and he looked over to see a young woman a little bit older than him lounging at a table in front of a small bistro. “That your natural color or you dye it for that lovely shade?” Her eyes looked him up and down with a smirk.

“Natural. Though I know my father died his to a shade like mine.”

“What’s your tribe then? Shifter and ?”

“A quarter leaf and ice. Guess the mixture of blue, brown, and grey hairs of the tribes lead to mine. Or father’s messing about with magic and dye did it.” He said as he walked over with an open smile on his face. “I’m Sakhile. And you would be?”

“Lekisa. Sure you don’t have Yealian in you? They have purple hair!”

He laughed. “As exotic and fun as that would be; No.”

“Aww,” she pouted a bit. “I wanted to meet one!”

“You and half the world.” Sakhile said wryly as he took the seat she offered. The afternoon passed as he sat and talked with her. Ashe left he was smiling; it wasn’t every day you made a new friend! Especially one as pretty as her.

Time passed and Sakhile spent his days wandering about with Lekisa and her group of friends more and more. It wasn’t that he was leaving his other friends Alos and Brenshin; it was that they were just busy getting supplies, lessons from various teachers and Sakhile had wandered off and found something new and fun to do. Like always a new path of fun always trumped training; the desire to learn how to use his shield effectively fading slightly in the face of lack of teachers and new interesting things to do.

And maybe it had something to do with the pretty face that flirted back….. Can’t really blame me can you? Sakhile thought as he slipped out to go to yet another party with Lekisa and her friends late at night. Bren and Alos are always so tired after their day full of lessons… I try to practice but.. Well.. If a lovely lady asks who am I to say no?


Except this time the party wasn’t there. This time the building was quiet and Lekisa was waiting outside, eyes angry as he approached. Sakhile faltered for a bit; she was different than the bubbly happy girl he’d come to know. This Lekisa looked more dangerous. Doubt flickered through his mind and he wondered if something was up.

She looked at him and smiled, a mask slipping into place.
“Nee~ Saki! Can I ask a favor of you?” She looked at him with puppy dog eyes and Sakhile couldn’t help but wonder if it was fake. After that anger and hard expression upon her face, he wondered if she was just acting. You’d think a kid who grew up in a theater would be able to tell, right He thought to himself.

“Depends on the favor.” He responded with a slight smile, stopping a few feet away from her.

She pouted; “This whore stole a bauble of mine! I went to see a dance at the Red Amaryllis and she stole it from me there!”

The anger flitted back and Sakhile had to wonder if it was true. It sounded.. False. A made up story. Why does she want this bauble?

“Did you ask her for it back? Or report it to her boss?” He asked; if it was true than surely the boss would require the girl to return it. No owner of a dance hall would want to be known for thefts!

“Of course!” She said too quickly; “but that stupid wanna be dancer lied and they tossed me out!”
Somehow I don’t think that’s true; he thought to himself, his stomach sinking as she pleaded for him to go get her special necklace. The description of it set off warning bells in his head.

“If that is true..” He said quietly. “Why’d you lose it? A necklace like that would have been heavy. And noticeable the instant it came off. I know you aren’t the type to let someone steal from you.” He vividly recalled the speed at which she’d caught a small child’s hand in her pouch. “What’s the real reason Lekisa?”
She glared at him and the mask came off. “Lil purple boy thinks he’s smart?” She growled at him and Sakhile sighed. Just his luck; a girl who was two faced. Why did all the hot ones he liked turn out to be completely different once you really got to know them?

“Lil purple boy doesn’t steal. Not even for a friend.” He responded. “Lil purple boy doesn’t like being a tool.” His voice was flat and his muscles tensed as saw movement out of the side of his eye.

Her eyes narrowed and she straightened up. “I want that necklace. And you will get it for me.”

He looked back at her in surprise. “I just said no. I distinctly recall saying no.” He remarked as he unslung his shield and backed off a few steps, keeping the people moving towards him in his view.

“And here I thought you cared. I thought Saki liked me. Why else would keep coming back?” She said with a sad sigh but Sakhile merely frowned and glared at her.

“I do not steal from others. Doesn’t matter who you are or my feelings for you. I have no need to steal and take from others. For all I know that necklace is a gift from her lover or husband. Why would I take such a precious item away from her?”

“Its supposed to be mine!” Came the response and her hand landed on her knife hilt. “Orlan loves me not her! I’m his favorite so why does she get it? Take it back for me Saki.. and I’ll let you join the gang.”

Gang? Ahh… Serin curse my slow mind. He sighed. A gang.. A group of thieves and thugs who take and hurt others… why didn’t I see it? Oh wait.. I was just paying attention to hot girl and ignored the rest.

“Otherwise… Well you know what happens to snitches and traitors.” SHe flipped her knife out and Sakhile shook his head at her.

“I cannot betray what I do not owe loyalty for.. And why would I snitch? What you and your um… Orlan do has nothing to do with me. I’m not even part of your gang nor do I want to be!” I really messed up this time didn’t I? He thought as he took a few more steps back and started paying more attention to the people starting to flank as wella s listening for someone coming from behind. “As for what happens to those people.. No I do know what happens. Not from here remmeber?” He rolled his eyes. If he wasn going to have to fight he might as well get some jabs in… or maybe he could talk them out of it.

He looked over at one of the flankers that he knew.

“Jeeze Kashi, you really going to do this?”

The oban shrugged. “Boss’s orders.. Sorry Saki.”

“Right.” Sakhile sighed and looked at the girl; “Crazy girls really aren’t popular. I think your Orlan likes sweeter people.. You know ones that won’t stab you in the back?” He said before he turned and ran. No way was he fighting here! He who runs away lives to play another day after all!

---------
Unfortunately for him, they knew this town better than he did and Sakhile found himself cornered in a small side street halfway to a guard house. He had thought to go home but didn’t want Alos or Bren to get dragged into this.

Cornered in there he did his best to fend off the attacks. His back up against a wall he ducked and dodged and used his small shield to take the blows from the one hammer wielder in the group. Pushing off the wall he shield rushed a smaller foe and pushed them out of the way to try and break through. The hammer came in and smashed into his side, eliciting a growl of pain from him. He grabbed the one he’d just rushed and pushed him into a friend as he rolled out of the way.

“Guards!” He heard a familiar voice call out. “Guards!”

The group paused to see an oban with a sword pulled out as he called out to someone beyond the street. “Thieves!”

At that they backed off and Sakhile breathed a sigh of relief as he slumped to the ground. He knew the oban; it was Alos!

As the attackers fled, Alos put his sword up and quickly went to kneel by Sakhile.

“Are you okay?” His voice was thick with worry. Sakhile waved off his nervous hands and sat up by himself.

“Mostly.” He said and winced as a rib told him otherwise. “It’s mostly just bruises.” And some gashes where he hadn’t had time to block all the daggers. The hammer had been what he’d focused on more, knowing it would hurt more.

“Mostly my a**.” Alos said as he wet a handkerchief and started to clean up the blood, cleaning and seeing just how bad they were.

“Careful.” Sakhile hissed as Alos ran it across the broken rib.

“And you said it was mostly bruises.” His voice was harsh with anger. “Next time you vanish like this…” Alos paused and looked away before pulling Sakhile into a surprisingly gentle hug. “Tell me next time... Don’t just vanish.” He whispered before wrapping an arm about Sakhile’s smaller frame and standing up, bringing Saki up with him. “If I hadn’t tracked you down and came when I did you’d be a lot worse off. Those street trash were too serious for a simple mugging.”

“I know… I know.” Saki said, a bit surprised at the amount of worry and anger mixed together in Alos’s voice and actions.

“What was that all about anyways? Why just.. Just leave without a word? And end up in an alleyway being beaten?”

“Didn’t expect to be away for so long.” Sakhile said guiltily as he hobbled, most of his weight being held up by his oban friend. “Was supposed to be a dance with some friends but….” He looked away. It hadn’t been a dance… and it turns out the group he’d called friends hadn’t been.

“But what?”

“Things happened.”

ALos stopped and took a deep breath. “Things.. Happened. Things you don’t care to share? Anything at all to do with that…. Girl?” The pause and tone told Sakhile that Alos had replaced a much harsher word.

“Wasn’t that.”

“No? Then why not tell? Aren’t I your friend too? Don’t you trust me at all? Or.. or am I just here to entertain you? Someone to use as a guard while you wander about following no particular path and just drift about your life?” Alos hissed out, his pale red eyes flashing.

“No! No!” Sakhile said, eyes wide. “I do trust you! You and Brenshin are the closest to me! It’s just.. It’s just that I’m still dealing with what happened all right? I thought that I had friends and they turned out to just… see me as a tool.” He ran a hand across his face. Used him and turned on him when he refused to follow their path.

Alos stayed silent but didn’t move and Sakhile knew he would have to tell more. Even if it hurt.

“Yes there was a girl. Yes I care for her. Might have been love or.. Something.” He felt Alos’ hold tighten briefly and wondered about that. “But that was just me being blind. She and her friends needed a new face to steal something. I was the tool for that.”

“.... Did you..?”

Sakhile shook his head. “No. Of course not! Theft is wrong. And… I couldn’t do it for her. I chose my morals over her.”

“It was the right decision.” Alos said softly and began to move back towards their inn. “But how did you end up being beaten?”

“I told her I wouldn’t do it to her face. She didn’t like that. Turns out she was part of a gang that roams these streets. And the item was a showy piece of jewelry her crush or lover or whatever gave another girl and she wanted it.”

“Was it really that nice?”

Sakhile grimaced. “Sounded tacky actually. I think she just wanted it cause ‘her’ Orlan had gifted it to someone else and she was jealous.”

“And… you got caught in the middle?”

“More like she was upset and since I wasn’t going to be a willing tool might as well teach me a lesson.”

“Why were you with a woman who had someone already?” Alos asked.

“I wasn’t ‘with her!” He protested. “Besides, didn’t find that out till just recently. She threw it in my face after I told her I wasn’t going to steal for her.”

Alos made a noncommittal noise and Sakhile felt offended.

“I wouldn’t--”

“I know.” Alos cut Sakhile off. “You don’t like to take from others. You usually pick last so that everyone gets their favorite choice first. At least you didn’t betray that part of yourself.” He said. “I just wish you’d … learn that not everyone is a nice person.”

“I know that!”

“Do you?” Alos looked at him, eyes unreadable. “You take things at face value Saki. When someone is kind or friendly you trust them. You never try to see if its fake or if they have a mask on.”

Sakhile was quiet for a while. All the way until they reached their inn infact. He had a lot on his mind.
He did trust people; he wanted to believe they were all nice! Of course he knew in his mind that there were con artists and evil people out there. But in his heart he wanted to believe that there was good in everyone and that you just had to give them a chance.

But apparently he was wrong. Ever since he’d come to Oba that had been thrown into his face. Or maybe he was just starting to get old enough to recognize the lies behind the smiles… except he hadn’t had he? He had wanted to believe the smile and not the fact that her eyes had never smiled. That the welcome he’d received had been false, that he hadn’t had any friends in that group. I really need to stop being so naive, he thought. And trusting but…

“How do you know when to trust or not trust?” He asked softly.
“Well, first off you don’t just trust the instant you meet someone.” Alos rolled his eyes. “You wait a bit before trusting and don’t trust completely until you actually know someone.”

“That sounds… really cynical.” He sighed. “But how do they prove it? I mean.. Everyone can be nice! Or could be at least.. What if you hurt someone with the lack of trust?”

“That you have to learn for yourself Saki. And I know you want everything to be bright and happy… but things aren’t always. You need to wake up and realize that. And a week isn’t long enough to really get to know someone.” He remarked as Sakhile sighed again.

Why couldn’t people be nice and trustworthy?

“I guess I let my love of fun things overrule my judgement.” He said and resolved to do better in the future. He couldn’t expect to be saved every time! First Pheadra, then Nadiya and now Alos. People kept saving him! Hadn’t I promised myself to be the one protecting people? He thought sadly.