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 Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 9:56 pm
Briella listened as Zuri spoke, also wondering about this council she spoke of. The Alkidike were pretty much all warriors, well apart for the very few that were mystic but that wasn't something that one chose, it was just what some were and others weren't. She guessed that the Elders were something like this council that Zuri spoke of, though the Elders were all Alkidikes.
Briella was starting to get the hang of this game and so with her next move it seemed she was even closer to victory. She was about to smile triumphantly when Biroki spoke to Dyakida. Had he no brain in that head of his? He knew that Dya was blind, and if she hadn't answered the question there was a reason for it.
"It's a secret. She is special among our people, and if we were to tell you then we would have to kill everyone here." she said in her more serious face. Hopefully that would make him shut up. She wanted to beat him at the game more then before to make him pay for his stupidity.
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 9:27 pm
Dyakida was quiet, frowning slightly. Quiet for perhaps too long. She didn't want to talk about it, not to these earthlings. It was the first time she had really thought of them as outsiders... But they were not alkidikes, and this was an Alkidike issue, for her and her many sisters.
Not something for them. She wanted to tell Biroki, very politely, where to put his question. She also wanted to completely change the subject.
It was hard to put what she was thinking into words for the moment.
As usual, Briella offered her a way out. What a wonderful sister she was! She gave her sister a discrete, gentle, squeeze on the arm.
"Yes. Its a secret, and I would hate to lose all of you, not so soon after we've met." She forced a quiet smile. Forcing a smile was so easy, as easy as lying.
"This council seems very organized. I am not one for politics, but these are two different tribes... how do they keep such a system working?" she asked, changing the subject back to something that didn't sting like an insect's bite.
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 9:46 pm
Biroki could be a bit thick at times, but he at least knew when he screwed up. He flinched back from the... the look that Briella gave him, his eyes widening. He glanced at Zuri with a look that said 'oh s**t' and 'help' with a bit of 'what have I gotten myself into?'
He took a hasty drink of tea and started coughing.
But it did it's work. He didn't jump up and bolt, nor did he start sparking like a glowbug.
But he certainly felt it.
"W-w-well... I... Uh... I don't want to d-die, so uh..." he hastily made his move, realizing that he would probably lose this game if she caught his mistakes... and there were so many... He fidgeted nervously with a few of the pebbles on his side.
"Uh..."
Secrets, and secrets and... he needed to not ask the questions he had. He had learned his lesson, hadn't he?
Hadn't he?
But now he wanted to press further! No he didn't! He didn't want to die, and Briella had said that he would have to die if he knew...
"So..." he took his next turn. The game would be over soon... sooner if she found the massive opening he had unfortuantely set himself up for.
"The... uh..." he panned around for something to change the subject and, maybe, draw away Briella's glare...
"S-so. Y- Aminah... You f-found out you had magic? Wh-what happened?" he asked, turning to the mage.
He at least could talk about magic. Magic was something he knew.
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 10:59 pm
Aminah gulped more tea and realized that she was out. It really was delicious now that it was cool. She looked down at her cup and quickly over to Biroki. There was no way she was interupting him now. He was being threatened by Briella and boy was she scary looking right now. It doesn't take long to forget how big Alkidike are, or to remember.
She glanced at Dyakida, feeling like there was more to the story than that, but knew her place. Everyone had things they didn't want to talk about. Biroki's question was a welcome subject changer and something that she could talk about, though she had never had to retell the story.
"Well, yes... When I was a youngling, I had no idea what it was that I wanted to be. It was hard enough for me to begin with, living in my village as a half breed." She looked down at her empty cup. She didn't want to sound pitiful... but all this started with her not having friends. "I was trying really hard to fit in... and all the others my age had done this dare where you have to snag a kinfa feather. So... I wanted to do it. I had to climb the Tale trees though, and they're rather high and I was attacked by a mother kinfa. I lost my balance and started to fall." She laughed a little trying to not make the story sound so serious. "I thought for sure I was going to die. Or at least be in horrible pain. But at the last second I felt a warm burst of air coax me down and save me. It was incredible, but I couldn't control it. If it hadn't of kicked in, I wouldn't be here now I don't think." She had finished her story and rubbed her head.
"Um, Biroki... Could I have some more tea? If there is anymore that is."
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Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:15 am
Zuri took Dyakida's silence in, half wanting her to answer the question and half not wanting to know since it seemed to make her so uncomfortable. It had something to do with her eyes, of that she was sure. When the two alkidike seem to agree that to tell them would be to kill them she realized that the issue was dead, and hoped that Biroki would notice this as well and not trying to bring it back up.
Now that the situation had been avoided she rubbed Biroki's hand for a second to try and calm him down. She knew that he didn't mean to make the alkidikes or anyone uncomfortable by his question, he merely wanted to know. Her poor silly boy.
When Dyakida continued to ask her about the council she smiled, more then happy to switch to an easier subject. "Well to be honest from what I have seen the Ice Tribe holds more weight in the council. The Wind tribe seems to be happy with things the way that they are. When I was traveling with them they all told me that they had no complaints to how the system was run. It's been like that for as long as we can remember." she said shrugging.
Aminah's story about how she found her magic was interesting, Zuri wondered what the experience must have been like. She couldn't even imagine falling. "Well it's good that you found your magic when you did, this little party wouldn't be the same without you." she said with a chuckle.
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Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:19 am
Briella was happy that Dyakida had agreed with her, since these Earthlings had no business sticking their nose where it didn't belong. She liked them all well enough, but Biroki had gone too far. The squeeze from Dyakida resulted one back from her. She would do whatever it took to keep Dyakida safe, and she didn't meant just physically but mentally as well. She knew that letting these Earlthings know all about her condition as well as her skills was something that would make Dyakida feel uncomfortable at the very least.
She said no more words, barely listening to the words the others were playing as she made the final and winning move in the game she was playing with Biroki. "I win." she said with a smile. That was her final blow, his last punishment for the question he should have never asked. Briella was back in her normally cheerful mood. "I'm glad you had the game on you. It was fun beating you." she said with a sly smile.
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Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 12:33 pm
"Kinfa are... those birds, right?" thank the stars... the subject had been changed. He didn't want to comment on her halfbreed...ness. He wasn't one himself. But he could see how hard it would be to fit in. He had a firsthand example, in Zuri. He gave Zuri a brief smile. She acted like a shifter, she helped out around the settlement, she was pretty (oh stars was she pretty) and nice... and she still had trouble fitting in. Still, people called her 'that blue halfblood'.
He felt a little guilty for being a full-blooded shifter among them.
"Th... thats amazing! It came when most needed it, and when you least expected... it..." he tapered off as he realized Aminah had asked him a question.
"M...more... Tea? Oh! I'll.. I'll check!" he checked the teapot.
"Oh, uh..." there was enough for perhaps a half cup more.
He poured that small amount into Aminah's cup before Breilla made her final move, beating him.
He turned to her with a bit of trepidation- he had obviously made her upset with his question. Biroki shrunk back a little at Briella's smile, offering a small, timid smile of his own. Please don't kill me... he pleaded silently.
But she seemed willing to spare him.
"g...glad I had it on m...me too..." He stood up quickly, taking the empty pot in his hands - it was hot, but not too hot for him to handle.
"I'll... just get more water. To make more tea..." he scurried off to the river before she could glare at him more, and before anybody could stop him. It wasn't that far a walk from his campsite, but it was enough to help soothe his nerves, if not clear his head.
He had screwed up back there. He was lucky he wasn't dead.
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Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 1:26 pm
Dyakida was grateful for the sucessful subject change. She didn't want to talk about it, and she didn't like the tension she felt in the air. A subject change was exactly what was needed to keep this pleasant 'tea party'... pleasant.
Aminah's story struck home. Dyakida, of course, could also understand what it was like to be an outcast. Yet, Dyakida hadn't tried to fit in. She knew she couldn't.
"And now they respect you? For your strengths?" that would be... nice, wouldn't it? "I too, am glad you are here now." she said, quietly, agreeing with Zuri, "I doubt the discussion would be quite as... fascinating without you."
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Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 10:10 am
Aminah listened to Zuri's explanation of the ice and wind council. This was something that she was learning for the first time also. It was interesting that the ice members seemed to be more in charge than the wind earthlings. Aminah could only guess that it had something to do with the ice earthlings actually having a permanent place to live and not wandering around.
She smiled to the others after her story, feeling happy that the others were so willing to say that Aminah was not only contributing to the group but would be missed otherwise. "Yes, kinfa are pretty big. They're what we typically use in Tale as mounts. Though to use them, we have to have them as chicks or else they won't be tamable." It was a pretty rare occasion to even see an adult kinfa around if it hadn't been there since it was small. She held out her cup to Biroki so he could pour the rest, though she felt bad that she had drained the last of the tea. "Thank you, Biroki." She took a small sip of the too-warm-for-her-liking tea to test its heat and watched as Biroki shot up to get more water. "Do you want someone to go with you...?" Her question trailed off; he was already into the forest heading for the river.
She turned to Dyakida's question with a little bit of a hesitant smile. "Well, you could say that. They include me as part of the tribe now." She was still seen as a little weird, but they didn't push her out anymore.
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Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 1:33 pm
As Biroki pretty much ran into the forest she almost stood up to follow him, but he was gone before she could even stand up. He was embarrassed, she understood that, though she would have felt better if he waited for her to go with him. She was kind of off put when Aminah asked if he wanted company, if anyone was going with him it would have been here. Oh jealously was an ugly trait.
When he left she turned her attention back to Aminah. When she said they included her in the tribe she gave the girl a little smile. She understood, being from two different races wasn't easy. She was lucky her father was who he was, or else she would have had a lot of issues with the ice tribe, she even had a few issues with some of the kids. Being with the shifters was kind of hard for her, and although she didn't have her father to hide behind down here she was doing pretty good on her own.
Aminah talking about the Kinfa as mounts she started to wonder if she would want a bird as her mount... Hum there would be some advantages, that was something she hadn't thought about yet. This whole discussion was giving her more and more to think about. With Biroki gone she didn't know exactly what to say so she sat there, wondering what had brought this unlikely group together. Looking into her cup she was happy that Biroki had gone to get some more water, she was almost done with her tea.
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Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 1:56 pm
She was making Biroki uncomfortable, which although she was happy with him now and no longer mad since he didn't push the issue she still wanted to make him feel a little uncomfortable. When he scampered away she nodded with a small smile before she masked it with her regular face of not caring.
Huge birds? She hadn't seen any kinfa before, but they seemed interesting. Maybe her and Dyakinda should take an adventure. Although Dya couldn't see the birds she could describe them for her sister better then anyone else could. Plus she knew if it was her telling Dya about the bird she would feel much better then if someone else was doing it.
Yes the conversation has been fascinating, and although besides Dya she never really imagined talking to the other members in the group it wasn't something she had regretted. "What is the are the other animals you guys use as mounts in Tale?." she asked inquisitively.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 9:43 pm
Oh? Were they out of tea?
It was good. Dyakida had actually forgotten about the warm cup nearby, what with the talk of weapons and magic. She took a testing sip- her cup was still mostly full, and at the perfect temperature, too.
She followed the noise of Biroki's exit with her head queryingly.
"Did he... Just leave?" She frowned. Honestly, if he had left in a huff because of his little blunder towards what she considered to be her private issues, between her and her extended sisterhood, then she honestly had no sympathy. Didn't feel bad at all.
She turned her attention back to the group.
"Sometimes, being included is enough... They at least acknowledge that you are of them. Thats good." her comment trailed off into a thoughtful smile before she turned to Zuri's direction. The talk of the council had had time to ruminate in her mind.
"They may not have a problem... but is it fair? Are there more Ice tribe members than Wind tribe members?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 10:09 pm
Biroki took his time refilling his kettle. The stream was near, but it had still been a bit of a walk, and with every step he took away from the group, the less he wanted to go back.
He had screwed up back there. He really had. He didn't know why or what it was about, but he was awkward, not unobservant (usually). He could tell when he had hit a sensitive spot.
Some people would keep pressing... but those people were far braver than he. He couldn't do it. He wasn't sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing, his lack of bravery...
He didn't want to think about his stupidity in conversation, so he turned his thoughts to the fragrant wind blowing against his face, to the heavy air of the jungle, to the soft sound of insect wings...
To the set of glowing eyes watching him from the brush not ten feet away.
He let out a strangled sound somewhere between a squeak and a yelp, and started to back away, kettle full.
He may have been reluctant before, but the appearance of gleaming eyes made the stream far less of a refuge. He would rather be near the four stronger women, even if two or more of them were pissed off at him, than... whatever... was behind those eyes.
He couldn't tell if they were insect or Radaku eyes... just that they were glowing, fixed on him, and pretty as any jewel or flower he had found.
Jahuar- a land of humidity and deadly beauty. He hoped that was not what he was coming across today... Nice, safe beauty would be much nicer.
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:52 pm
Aminah turned her attention back to Briella's question, shaking her head slightly. "Well, kinfa are the only native mounts to Tale. The poscutta are much too small and the aldabuks are too thin to hold an earthling's weight. If anyone wanted a different mount, they would have to import it from another area. Since Jauhar is so close, a lot of people choose radaku."
Dyakida questioned the equality of the wind and ice earthlings' arangement of council, and Aminah had to wonder also. She had never thought about that before. It couldn't be that bad, could it? She couldn't imagine a system that wasn't working as it should be. Things in Tale were pretty quiet as far as any leadership was concerned. Maybe this was something that happened when more than one kind of people got together?
Aminah's thoughts stopped short. She thought she heard a yelp just then. Maybe... she didn't? The sound hadn't happened a second time yet, but now she was worried about Biroki. He sure was taking an aweful long time. She turned to Zuri, who was obbviously closest to him. "Hey, Zuri, did you hear that just now? Do you think we should go check on Biroki?" Her last questioned aimed at the others as well.
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:26 pm
"He went to go get more tea." Zuri reminded Dyakida when she inquired to if Biroki had left them. She could see the frown on Dyakida's face and didn't understand. If he had been making her and Briella uncomfortable then wouldn't it be best for her if he left? People were confusing.
When she asked if it was fair Zuri was unsure of what to say. "The Wind Tribe are more then happy for there to be more Ice Tribe members. You see most of them don't like staying in one place and since being on the council you need to be in one place most of the time very few of them like to take the job. Most of them are older also." Zuri nodded hoping that she had answered the job to the best of her abilities.
When Aminah asked her if she heard something she tilted her head and strained to listen. She had not heard something but maybe she had been lost in thought. It had been longer then she thought Biroki should have taken. "Yes, maybe he got lost." she suggested standing up. She wasn't sure if the alkidike sisters would come but she would be happy to have Aminah with her.
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