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 Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 9:36 am
Pueblo watched Acia wobble over to them before looking back at the hand prints as the adult spoke. She stared a them thoughfully for a moment or two before her growling stomach overruled. "C'mon, Handa, lets go eat now. Arn't you hungry?" She took her friend's hand, not wanting to walk alone.
As they sat around the fire and waited for their food to finish cooking, Pueblo held onto her growling stomach. "I think there's a monster in my stomach!" she exclaimed, her ears standing up and looking right down at her multicolored belly. Smiling to herself, she occupied her attention at Osero adding foilage to the growing fire. Sniffing the air, she licked her lips. "Mmm.. that smells really good, Acia! What's in those?" She watched the skewers puzzlingly as her tail wagged side to side every once in awhile.
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 7:16 pm
Nehanda beamed as Acia confirmed her guess about the handprints. That was so neat! And soon, she and Pueblo would be able to put their own prints there.
However, her attention was quickly diverted by the mention of food. "Yeah, I'm pretty hungry," she answered her firend with a grin. "I was too excited to eat much this morning. It felt like I had butterflies in my tummy!"
She nibbled her lip as she looked at the skewers. she didn't really like meat; it made her feel kinda sick to her stomach. But the veggies looked really good! Leaning forward, she held her hands over the fire and sniffed at everything as it cooked. it was difficult to smell much over the fire itself, but she could catch a few wonderful wiffs. "This is a great fire, Osero! It's getting really big!"
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Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 2:09 pm
Osero nodded his head a little, adding another broken branch to the fire, careful not to disturb the food parcels cooking there. The fire seemed to shrink a little for a few moments before slowly starting to lick its way up the dry, dead wood. "Not too big though. This is a special place, and we don't want to disrupt more than we have to." The hunter glanced down at the skewers of food cooking in the heat, and smiled at the two girls before answering Pueblo's question. "There's a few different things in them. Beef, fish, potatoes and some vegetables."
"Don't worry - there won't be long before you can eat. I think they're nearly ready." Reaching out, he turned one of the skewers over. Osero wasn't much of a cook either, but he knew the basics of preparing food.
He looked back up at the others enquiringly. "What would you like? The meat, the fish or the vegetables? Or, some of each?"
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Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 3:56 pm
Pueblo crossed her legs, finding this sitting position more comfortable on the ground. Eyeing each plump parcel, her head quickly snapped up and asked for one. "Beef, please! I don't like vegitables.. but I want to try whatever there is!" She was eager to try anything new and as soon as she recieved a few skewers, she ripped right into them.
Her stomach lurched and her saliva glands tripped as a chunk of beef entered her mouth. Chewing on it happily, she broke into the next ones and plucked a few items from each.
Pueblo was full and happy now, but somewhat tired after a good meal. Stretching her wings and arms in suit, she gave a giant yawn and shook herself awake. She still didn't know why they had to go away from the human islands, but she gussed they were going to find out soon.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 8:03 am
"Ooo! I'd like some veggies, and a little fish, please." Nehanda carefully accepted the hot food as it was passed to her, and began to nibble around the edges as soon as it was barely cool enough to eat without burning her mouth.
The crisp vegetables tasted wonderful, and she even enjoyed the fish, which she liked a lot better then red meat, but not nearly as much as fruits and veggies. Nehanda tried not to giggle as Pueblo tore into her own meal. "Boy, you really are hungry!"
Quickly satisfied, she leaned back on her hands and looked up at the tree branches and sky overhead. The sun was high overhead by now, and the day was comfortably warm. She cocked her head, content to look around and listen to the soft calls of birds. This was a very peaceful place, and she was happy to be here. Still, she was also a little impatient for them to do . . . well, whatever it was they had come here to do!
She yawned. But . . . a little nap couldn't hurt before . . . *yawn* . . . they got started.
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Posted: Thu May 25, 2006 3:37 pm
((Fae, Foe - Neha and Pueblo's dreams will be sent to you via PM shortly ^^.. You know I'm gonna have screwed something about this post up.... there's so much of it... Let me know if I have Oo wink ) The day had passed quickly, the dark now drew in and the forest around them began to flicker alive with night time creatures. Acia had instructed the girls to sleep and had settled both of them at the bottom of the tree. She herself had settled into a position near one of it's roots, hoping dearly she'd receive some of the answers she was seeking.
Acia had given the girls a herbal tea infused with some fallen leave from the trees which had sent them to sleep more quickly than they might have after a relatively restless day. She could see they had been excited and hoped that their dreams would be good.
She herself settled down onto the soft grass pillowed her head on her arm, looking up into the sky. She was thinking of the last time she was here, the hurt it had caused her to see the images f the past - the humans who had slain so many of her kind. She had seen it as thought real and could barely look at a human now without remembering the stink of blood which had come from them as, in her dream, she had seen them come towards her.
She willed the dreams to come to her again - to perhaps explain more. So much of the Aerandir history was lost, so much was buried away as dust and bones. She wondered if they'd ever truly decode what had happened. Her gift, from Aera, had been knowledge of how to find the items needed for the gryphons.
They slept. As they did, the two trees, twisted and gnarled, began to softly luminesce. Their branches swayed slightly despite their being no breeze and the images of two figures began to coalesce above the sleepers. Blindingly light, they both hovered above the sleepers.
One was a pale, brilliant white with wings instead of arms. She had soft green hair and feathers and was bedecked with beaded necklaces and hair ornaments. She was Aera of the Sky.
The other was a soft sandy colour with paw-like hands and a long, leonine tail. She was more sparsely ornamented though her long black hair tumbled down over her shoulders as if it was an ornament in itself. She was Nada, of the Earth.
It almost seemed as though wispy tendrils reached down to touch all of them - two from Aera going to Nehanda and Acia, one from Nada looping around and touching Pueblo.
They began to dream.
Acia's hands grasped thick trees which she was buried within. They trapped her all around and she struggled to push them away from her. Gnarled, twisted grasping and bloody branches seemed to enclose her. Her body wracked with fear she curled up in a small ball. The branches enclosed her in a tight ball. She could feel herself moving.
Her fear vanished.
Suddenly the branches opened and about her were the Islands, laid out as though they were her domain, her place. The blood on the branches was dry now as they supported her. They had created a perch, an eyrie from which she could safely go into her domain.
Her fear remained.
The branches crushed her tightly, swallowing her fragile frame and twisting it into contorted shapes similar to the branches. The wet blood dripped onto her and she was trapped, held close, all around her was black forever.
Acia's body twitched in her sleep as the effects of the dream wore on. Her dream over, she relaxed and eventually another dream began. In front of her was herself as a wisp. She remembered the feeling - unattached, bodiless and frightened. Aera's ace, above Acia, contorted slightly as if in pain. Acia could feel the wrongness, the danger. The spirit was free, without a shell. Should be unenclosed only briefly. She saw a 'true birth'. An Aerandir gryphon becoming a child amongst many, many items and then being given her special item, then changing and taking from around her what she needed. Rahujo had been true, Osero and herself and each Aerandir since had been in danger.
The message given, Aera's face returned to a passive smile. Acia's face now took on a pained look as she grasped, even in her sleep, for more meaning, more understanding! But it was over now.
Acia and Osero slept silently on as the two children were awoken gently from their sleep.
The tendrils still moved over the two children. It seemed as though they were cut off, removed from the two beings who floated above. The soft, white tendrils settled into the small bodies and began their work, speeding the growth of the children, making them strong - a gift from the goddesses to protect them from the children of Era. This knowledge, the reason for their contact and a promise that they could come again, speak again to their chosen goddess, bring another young one by themselves was given to them instantly. It was suddenly in their minds as if the knowledge had always been there.
Also came the warnings: The children of Era are dangerous, the children of our own should be protected from secrets until they are old enough, your dreams should be protected and gifts used.
Pueblo and Nehanda could see each other now as the dawn began to rise.
((photos here:
Nehanda
Pueblo))
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 11:32 am
Nehanda awoke slowly, reaching out an arm and stretching. The sun had disappeared, she realized, as she could no longer feel its lazy warmth across her body. She shivered briefly, and her wings fluttered around her.
Finally opening her eyes, Nehanda sat up. She had dreamed, she remembered. Those glowing plants . . . and the nuts-but-not-nuts that she had been shown. What was that all about? Looking around for Pueblo and the two older Aerandir, she began to stand . . . and stopped.
Something was VERY different.
With a confused frown, she looked down at herself. What had happened?
"Acia? Osero?" She called for them, wanting comfort and an explanation. Even her voice was different! It was deeper, almost throaty. "What happened to me?"
Even as she asked, the knowledge was there. Her goddess had come to her, had changed her, had given her power and knowledge. Her fears were gone, replaced by purpose, and she turned to look around for Pueblo.
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 12:06 pm
Pueblo twitched on the ground and everything in her body suddenly clenched. Her eyes opened and she shot up. Her chest heaved for a moment, catching her breath as if she just ran a long distance. But the rush didn't last long and she was now looking around in partial darkness. Her eyes, as green as the vegitation around them, stared avidly at the gnarled tree, expecting to see cave paintings moving around the bark. Pueblo touched her hand to her forehead and... she realized that her dream was much more than just an ordinary dream. Snapping her hand back, she stretched out her arms and legs to examine them in awe. She touched her chest and made to stand, but was weighted down by her new gigantic wings. She stretched her wings, and in a giant motion they unfolded with a loud fwoomp! Pueblo grinned and heard Nehanda's voice fading in for the first time.
Pueblo made to stand but struggled at first. Her wings flared, steadying herself. The world wasnt as big now.. "Nehanda?" She called to her friend with her new voice. Pueblo stepped through the shadows of the morning sun and looked shyly to her best friend. "Did you have a weird dream too?" Nehanda's first question was a desired answer she was looking for as well. "Acia, Osero? Are you awake?" Pueblo beckoned Nehanda to follow and kneeled next to the two older Aerandir. She watched them intently, waiting patiently for them to rise.
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Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 1:36 pm
Acia woke suddenly too, finding both girls hovering over her with concern. Relief flushed her face as she saw that both appeared to be fine and, though confused, did not appear to be in any pain. In fact they seemed to be goddess-touched still.
The sun was now on the horizon casting a soft golden light on all three. She let out a sigh of relief, tugging at their hands and pulling them away from where Osero slept soundly.
"There's one last thing" she smiled, talking quietly so as not to disturb the mornings calm. "before I go.." she found the small pouch she had been looking for and took out two small blocks of chalky, crushed stone. One had a purplish hue, the other was charcoal grey. Carefully she collected some water and mixed a small bit of each powder and some water with her fingers on top of a large, dull, flat rock.
"Nehanda, the grey is yours, Pueblo the purple is yours... it's your turn to mark the three... to show you've been here and had your dreams." she did not ask what theirs had been any more than she'd have told them what hers was. The last part had been exciting and somewhat worrying and she knew she had to share this information as soon as she could.
Directing the girls to the tree she told them to place their hands where they wished.
((Sorry I'm kinda rushing~ ^^ wink )
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Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 6:06 am
Pueblo's mind jived as they were suddenly tugged toward the other side of the tree. "You're leaving us?" Pueblo asked sadly. She had so many questions and probably most of them were the same as Nehanda's. But now she looked toward the crushed stone with curiosity. She remembered doing this as a child, as if being a child was so long ago. She dipped her left palm into the thick mixture and looked at her purple hand. Glancing at Nehanda, she decided to ask something: "Nehanda, want to put our prints next to each others? Then everyone will know that we were here together," she smiled, liking the idea of printing their friendship. Pueblo stood next to the tree and knelt, placing her hand on the tree opposite of Acia's hand print. After she was done, she examined her purple print reaching out to Acia's with satisfaction.
Getting out of the way, she stood next to Acia and felt somewhat indifferent being close to her height. She glanced at her through her highlighted bangs before moving them out of the way. Her heart drummed, but she kept her lips sealed for now.
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Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 12:34 pm
Nehanda's face fell when Acia mentioned leaving. Looking over at Pueblo, she could tell that her friend felt the same way. this was all so very new to them . . .
Nevertheless, she had to smile when presented with the gray paint. "I like that idea, Pueblo." After the wolf-girl had placed her print, Nehanda pressed her right hand into the cool, gloppy stuff. She then placed her print up against Pueblo's, with the base of her hand up against the base of Pueblo's, and fingers spread away. When she lifted her hand, the gray and purple prints formed an odd sort of butterfly shape.
She stood up, and crossed over to look down at Osero, who still lay sleeping. "Are we going back by boat with Osero?" a thought struck her, and she looked over at Acia. "Or . . . could we try flying?" She wasn't quite ready to leave this island yet, as there was something she watned to see before they left. But being able to fly . . .
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 9:40 am
Osero awoke as the girls were placing their handprints on the tree, languidly stretching first his furred limbs and then his wings. Rising to his feet, he quickly spotted the three girls. He smiled, seeing how both Pueblo and Nehanda had changed. He had known that they would, but exactly how, he had not.
Once they were done, he spoke quietly.
"There is one last thing that you need to do. Acia and I will be leaving shortly. You should both be strong enough to make your own way back to Cetalu now without the boat. I will be about if you have any problems, but this is something you must try to do without our help."
Before he left, the tall hunter would need to clear up any remains that the four of them had left on the clearing. This was a special place, and it was important that it remained that way. He intended to scatter the ashes and break up the stones of the camp fire shortly.
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 1:08 pm
Acia nodded in agreement with Osero. "It's as he says and..." she thought of her dream, the urgency of it "I need to go quickly somewhere.." she had only half a mind with them as she instructed the girls in a few last things.
"Be careful, both of you, don't try to overstretch yourselves. You can stay on the Island for another day or so if you wish... Think carefully on what has been given to you and try to discern anything of importance which has been told to you...." she smiled, reaching forward to clasp one each of the girls hands "don't worry and have fun... relax here and get used to your new forms, hmm?"
Letting go she spread her black wings wide and with a strong downwards stroke rose into the air.
((You guys can use this thread as long as y'want. You don't have to go right back home >D ))
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Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 3:48 pm
"Hm?" Pueblo glanced to the side to see Osero getting up. Her heart beated a little faster and felt inclined to stand up straight. However, her puzzling mind reminded her of all her questions and she continued to exchange dissapointed faces with Nehanda.
Pueblo raised her shoulders and looked between each surrounding wing. Could they really fly again? She dropped her shoulders and looked back to Acia. Smiling when she took her hand, it was released with a gust of wind. Watching Acia fly off sadly, the older Aerandir's words were warm and filled Pueblo up with hope. Somehow she knew they'd see each other again soon.
However, something inside Pueblo brought her focus back to her dream. Something changed her last night, beyond physical appearances. She felt more strong and focused, and this feeling like she was never alone. "Here, let me help," she spoke softly to Osero who was cleaning up. Pueblo bent down and picked up everyone's left over skewers, then scattered the sticks amongst smaller trees and brush.
Once the clearing looked the way it was, she walked over to Nehanda and looked at the tree. "I wan't to stay here for a little while...what do you think?" She didn't want her friend to leave her too, but if she was really inclined in leaving, then she guessed she would be on her own. "That tree we slept under was in my dream..." Pueblo trailed off, wondering. She trusted Nehanda with her life, but her dream was her biggest secret. She waited first, hoping that Nehanda would be just as eager to share her dream.
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Posted: Tue May 30, 2006 6:05 am
Nehanda squeezed Acia's hand before the pretty Aerandir flew away. "Thank you," she whispered. Without a word, she turned and began to help Osero and Pueblo with clean up. This new body still felt a little . . . odd. The world didn't look smaller, but it was simply easier to see more of it now. She felt stretched, as though her mind and spirit were slowly growing used to living in a larger shell. Well, at least she wasn't stumbling over herself! She could remember how hard it had been for Kylara to learn how to walk . . .
She looked over Osero, and helped him as he scattered the last remains of the campfire. "Thanks for bringing us here."
When Pueblo spoke, she smiled at her friend and nodded twice. "That's exactly what I was thinking." As the words flowed out, she frowned a bit. It was so weird; she no longer stumbled over words. It was as though everything was finally coming together inside of her.
But that was for later. "It was in mine too . . . I don't understand all of what I dreamed, but I think there's something up in the tree that's supposed to help gryphons change." Her face scrunched up as she shook her head. "But there was so much! I remember everything, but it's like my mind can't quite absorb it. There's all this information sort of floating around in there. It's frustrating!" She threw up her hands, and her wings flew out and up, scattering ivory feathers everywhere. The beaded ribbons wrapped around her arms clattered together.
"Well," she looked back at her best friend. "What was yours like?"
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![~o[Acia]o~'s avatar](https://a1cdn.gaiaonline.com/dress-up/avatar/ava/fa/cd/2dd8036b16cdfa_flip.png?t=1248294767_6.00_00)
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