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 Posted: Sat May 17, 2014 12:44 pm
~Table of Contents~
Page Four
I. Table of Contents
II. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Avani, Avani, Quite Contrary... Part 1"~ ~A Solo RP~
III. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"How Does Your Garden Grow? Fin"~ ~A Solo RP~
IV. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Summer Fair"~ ~A Solo RP~
V. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Shopping Adventure!"~ ~A Solo RP~
VI. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Farming Sprit"~ ~A Solo RP~
VII. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"My Best Friend"~ ~A Solo RP~
VIII. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Shenra's Wings"~ ~A Solo RP~
IX. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Sometimes....Things Go Wrong"~ ~A Solo RP~
X. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Till Next Time, Goodbye"~ ~A Solo RP~
XI. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Healing the Heart: Part 1"~ ~A Solo RP~
XII. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Healing the Heart: Fin"~ ~A Solo RP~
XIII. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Hatched!!! Part 1"~ ~A Solo RP~
XIV. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Trouble Unleashed! Part 2"~ ~A Solo RP~
XV. ~An Avani Adventure!~ ~"Is This What Parenthood Is Like?! Fin"~ ~A Solo RP~
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Posted: Sat May 17, 2014 12:44 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~Avani, Avani, Quite Contrary...~
~Part 1~
~A Solo RP~ Avani looked at her bookshelf and wondered what book to read next. She had finished the Khenroa books that she had borrowed from Ismene’s shop and had returned them, and she had read all the other books her father owned on the subject.
She then saw the green jeweled book that woman had given her in payment for saving her child.
Well, she thought as she reached for it, it sure looked interesting.
“Prelii Shelarthan: Plant Growth”.
Hummm. Perhaps this could help her pumpkins along…
Avani went to her bed, patting the khehora egg on her way, and settled onto it next to the open window. Nix joined her and curled up into her lap.
Avani cracked open the book and began to read: “Chapter 1: Basic Control and Tips”.
Avani placed down the book a few hours later and rubbed her eyes. She looked out at the sun and saw it was time for the evening chores. She lifted a sleeping Nix off her lap, placed her in the egg nest, and went out to the barn to feed the sheron and hastar. As she doled out hay to the animals, she thought of the book.
The first chapter seemed easy: she just had to learn to clear and calm her mind. This, in reality, was really hard to do when one had ideas all the time! Avani grumbled, and stuck the pitchfork into the hay rather forcefully. Thinking about such a task seemed easier said than done!
She went to her pumpkin patch and opened the gate and went carefully into the garden. She checked the plants and vines that were starting to form. Insects and pests were common and so she liked to check every day for damage not only to the plants but the uruu wire that kept them out. Well, the bigger pests anyway.
Just as she got to the last plants, she saw some damage done to a large leaf that had the beginnings of a bud. Avani was suddenly worried about this. The potential of a lost flower made her extremely sad.
Suddenly, Avani knew she would have to be calm about this. She had remembered the first chapter of the tome she had just read, and knew she could heal this damaged part of the plant if she could focus.
Avani went and sat down on the moist earth near the damaged plant. She closed her eyes as she took a deep breath and let it go. She did as the book instructed and envisioned the damaged plant, and focused on that. She felt something inside her begin to flow through her.
“Prelii Shelarthan” Avani said aloud.
She felt the power move from within her and towards the ground. Avani placed her hands on either side of her and felt her power flow more freely. She focused on the damaged plant in her mind, her breathing deep and calming. As she continued to focus on the damaged area, she felt the energy of the plant and the magic helping the plant to heal.
Avani felt the hurting plant relax and she opened her eyes. As she looked at the damaged area of her plant, all looked normal. However, the bud that had been on the plant seemed to be a bit bigger in size. Avani smiled and sighed, leaning back against the fence of her garden feeling rather sleepy
Even using that little bit of magic tuckered her out. But it had been her first time using it, and the book had warned that beginners would feel fatigued at casting their first spell. She closed her eyes feeling the urge to nap.
“Avani? Avani Girl?”
Avani woke as she heard her papa’s voice. He was standing over her on the other side of the fence that she had leaned upon for her nap, smiling.
“What are you doing my girl?”
Avani smiled and said, “I used some magic today.”
Her papa looked surprised at that. But then he smiled softly and said, “Well my girl, you sure are on the track to be just like your granny.”
Avani smiled up at him. There was no need for words. Avani could tell just by that statement that he was never more proud of her than at that moment.
“Thanks Papa.” She said quietly and smiled up at him.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: July 22,2014
Words:725
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Posted: Sat May 17, 2014 12:45 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~How Does Your Garden Grow?~
~Fin~
~A Solo RP~ Avani stared at her pumpkin patch and smiled. It had been two weeks since she had used magic to heal the plant, and she had used the spell once more, this time with less fatigue afterwards.
This time though, she was going to go work on her mother’s vegetable garden.
The reason for this was because her pumpkins were blooming. Avani smiled at that thought. She had used magic to open the buds of the flowers on the vines. Bees buzzed around them pollinating the flowers. Avani was very, very glad! At this rate they would be able to be harvested before papa’s rice and wheat.
Avani had brought the Prelii Shelarthan book with her, just to read the second chapter once more before actually trying the spell. If anything, Mama’s vegitables would be almost, almost ready to pick. Mama would like that!
Avani sat in the shade of the tree that was on the far side of her mother’s kitchen garden. She picked up the book and started reading. It talked about focusing more on making nutrients flow, and how to control the magic so specific plants could be targeted.
After finishing the chapter, she put the book down and went to the edge of her mother’s garden. It looked as if some of the plants were about to produce the actual vegetables. Small green spheres, as small as a pea, were taking shape on the tomato vines. If Avani could focus her magic on them, they would be full and ripe by the time she was done with them!
She sat on the edge of the plot and breathed in deeply as she closed her eyes. She thought of the tomato plants she just saw and focused on them.
Avani felt the magic again, how it began within her, and flow through her. She breathed deeply once more, and placed her hands on the ground. She felt the magic flow freer and move through the ground.
She slightly increased her power and said the words to invoke the spell, “Prelii Shelarthan”.
She felt the magic beginning to gather nutrients from the ground and take them to the tomato plant. She also felt the plant receiving what was gathered form the ground.
She than began the advanced focus the book talked about. This focus was not to call forth magic, but measure it out to the plant. If she didn’t control it, the plant could receive too much magic and die. She didn’t want that, for her mother would be rather upset.
Avani opened her eyes and watched the tomatos grow and ripen. She lowered the flow of magic till they looked just about ripe. The tomatoes were sort of yellow-green and red making patches of orange.
Avani carefuly cut the flow of magic as the book had told her to do. When she did, she fell back into the shade of the tree and breathed deeply. Avani smiled. She felt very tired and she closed her eyes when sleep came over her.
She had succeeded in making the tomatoes grow to the ripeness that she had wanted, and cound not wait to show her mother.
Maiika went out the back door to check to see if Avani was in her pumpkin patch. It was almost dinner time, so she would be there. Maiika couldn’t find her daughter, so she went to check on her garden.
When she saw her daughter laying at the edge of the plot, alarm sped thought her, yet she pushed it back and went to Avani quickly. It was evident she was still breathing, but she was asleep.
Maiika knelt down to her daughter and raised her so that she was in a sitting position with Maiika’s arms as a brace.
Avani’s eyes fluttered open and she smiled as she saw her mother.
“I made your tomatoes grow Mama…”
Avani snuggled into her mother’s arms and Maiika smiled. Avani would always be her baby, no matter how old she got.
She laid her daughter back onto the ground, knowing the magic she had used must have been great if she was that tired.
She went over to her tomatoes and smiled even greater. She placed her hand under a larger one and felt how smooth it was.
Yes, her daughter was well onto the way of following in her family’s footsteps.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: July 25, 2014
Words: 727
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Posted: Sat May 17, 2014 12:45 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~Summer Fair~
~A Solo RP~ It was that time of summer once more.
Avani peered over the large pumpkin in her garden. It was nice and round and orange… She placed her arms around it and gave it a little hug.
While the other pumpkins weren't ready to be picked yet, this one was right on time.
The village’s summer fair was this weekend, and Avani was old enough now to try her hand at the baking contests. The first prize in every category was a dragon orb, and the prize for best overall bake good was two Gaili dragon orbs. Mr. Hodol was fronting the prizes because of the influx of warriors going to Eowyn to fight were paying in dragon orbs and not gold. He didn't quite know what to do with them as no one in the region didn't have the money to buy such treasures. So he decided to share his wealth and give away some of the orbs as prizes at the fair.
This particularly interested Avani because she was sure that the khehora in the egg that Oblivion gave her was a Gaili. She was bound and determined to win those orbs for her little khehora!
“You are going to be a good pumpkin for the fair.” Avani said as she took her long knife out and gently cut the pumpkin off its stem. She had read to leave part of the stem on the pumpkin because it helps the pumpkin when curing. However, this pumpkin was going straight to the stove to be steamed! Avani wobbled a bit as she carried the rather large pumpkin and smiled saying, “You’re going to win me those orbs!”
Avani had found an old recipe and decided to use that one for her fair entry, and not the one Mama used. She didn't know who wrote it, but it was certainly different! Avani had made sure she had all the ingredients the recipe had called for, and she had made three pie crusts just in case. Avani’s parents were off visiting with some friends on a nearby ranch, so they wouldn't be home till the next day.
Before she got the pumpkin inside the house, she used two buckets of water to rinse off the outside of the pumpkin, at the same time she would make sure it wasn't bruised. Once she got it inside the house, she used the same knife she had used to cut the pumpkin off the vine to cut it open. She scooped out the pumpkin innards and placed them to the side. While the pumpkin was cooking she would separate the stringy pumpkin gook from the seeds, saving them for next year’s planting.
Avani then cut the pumpkin, skin and all, into smaller pieces and placed them in a large pot on the fired up stove. She would steam the skin off of the shell and use the fruit part of the pumpkin in the pie.
As the pumpkin pieces steamed, she cleaned off the seeds and let them dry on the counter. Luckily Nix was with the khehora egg keeping an eye on it, or Avani would have had her hands full keeping the seeds away from Nix.
When the pumpkin slices were done, they were so soft that the skin fell off in Avani’s hand! Apparently, according to the recipe, that was how it was supposed to be. Avani smiled and collected the pieces of skin, now faced with the daunting task of stirring the pulp to a ‘fine texture’.
It took Avani three hours to get the texture she wanted for the pumpkin pulp. She was amazed at how much pulp that one pumpkin had made! She took the time to make one more pie crust just in case three weren't enough. Then she measured out the pulp, and it made just enough for 4 pies! The hard part was over!
She then measured out and stirred in the other ingredients. Mama had just enough cinnamon left for her baking, so Avani wasn't worried when she went to cook her apple cinnamon cake at Shenra’s house the next day. She poured the pumpkin pie mixture into two pie tins that was fitted with the pie crust, and placed them into the oven. It would take about 2 and a half hours for the first batch to come out, then another two and a half for the second.
Now Avani cleaned up the kitchen, and waited!
As Avani pulled the last of the pies out of the oven, she breathed in the aroma and couldn't wait till it cooled to taste it! She would take one pie to Shenra as a thank you for helping her with her other entry into the fair, the apple cake that she was going to show Avani how to make.
Another pie would be tested out on her parents when they got home.
She placed them both on the back window sill where the first two pies were already cooling and then went to cool the oven fire. After checking to make sure the fire was going down. She sat at the table and drank a cool glass of water. Nix had come down and joined her with a saucer of milk on the table.
“We’ll see how good it is when Mama and Papa come home tomorrow night.” She said scratching Nix on the head. Nix chirped and rubbed her head against Avani’s hand. Avani smiled and sat back and relaxed.
The next day, after doing her morning chores, and locking up the house with the pies placed in the kitchen, Avani took Nix over to Shenra’s house. Once there she would help Avani cook up an apple cake that was an invention of Shenra’s father. Avani didn't know how well Shenra’s father cooked, but from the way Shenra talked about him, he seemed to be a good cook.
Shenra said she had all the ingredients at the house, including some of the apples that Avani had picked from the orchard. Avani was so excited!
Once she got to Shenra’s, the older Orderite welcomed her into the kitchen. After washing the apples and gathering all the other ingredients needed, Avani cut the skin off the apples and then sliced them up, cutting out the cores and seeds.
“Now we make the batter.” Shenra said with a smile.
The two of them stirred eggs, butter, flower, cinnamon, and other ingredients into a bowl and then they added the apples last. “We can make 3 cakes with this.” Shenra said, “You can have one for your parents.” She then smiled slyly, “After we have a piece of course!”
Avani and Shenra laughed and cleaned up the kitchen as they waited for the cake to bake. It took almost three hours for each cake.
As Shenra cut two slices out of one cake, Avani couldn't wait to taste how it came out.
“Oh!” Avani squealed as she tasted the cake, “This is good!”
Shenra smiled as she placed her fork into the moist cake, “You are as good a cook as you are a farmer Avani.” Shenra took a bite of cake and closed her eyes with a smile, “It tastes just as good as Papa’s cooking.” She opened her eyes and said to Avani, “You are sure to win first prize!”
All Avani could do was blush and then smile shyly. All she wanted to do was have a happy Khehora baby when it hatched, and hoped that a few dragon orbs could remind it of the one father it would never know.
That weekend, Avani placed two pumpkin pies and two apple cakes into the family wagon. Her parents, who had arrived home in time for dinner the previous night, loved her pie and cake. Avani couldn't wait to get to the fair!
It seemed the whole fair was in full swing when Avani and her parents arrived. Avani asked Nix to stay at home with her egg so she wouldn't be in the way at the fair. Avani promised herself she would buy Nix a ribbon or trinket as a treat for staying with the egg so much.
Avani took her pies to the cook off tent and presented them to the judges to be registered. Avani looked around as she saw so many different foods, many of them pies. She got nervous, but allowed the judges to take her entries to their respective tables. The pies would go with the others to be judged there, and her cake went with the other cakes to be judged as well.
The judge who had taken her entries said that the winners would be announced just before dinner, so she and her family had time to go and enjoy themselves before the results.
Avani took one last look at her pies and cakes, and then went off with her parents. She hoped she did as good a job as Shenra said she had done. Her parents seemed to love her pie and cake as much as Shenra had, so that seemed like a good omen right?
She sighed as she watched a puppet show and tried to pay attention… But her mind kept returning to her worry over the contest.
“We have the winners of the baking contests!” The lead judge announced just before the fair feast. Avani perked up at this. She felt slightly nauseous as the judge continued speaking. “Those who had first place in their categories went right to the best overall! We have those results as well, and will be announcing them over dinner! Remember; runners up in the overall judging win a prize of one dragon orb and the winner will receive two Gaili orbs! All the orbs have been donated by Mr. Hodol’s Mercantile, so a round of applause for his great generosity!”
People clapped after the judge finished announcing second and third place prizes, many of them migrating towards the judging tents to see who had won. The lists had been posted on the outside, and a crowd had gathered near them.
“I’ll go look for ya Avani girl.” Avani’s father said smiling, “You’d get crushed in that crowd!”
Avani laughed at that, and then allowed her father to move through the crowd to get to the list. Her mother placed an arm around her and pulled her close.
“You did well regardless of what those results are Avani.” Her mother said kissing her head.
Avani smiled nervously and nestled her head into the crook of her mother’s shoulder. It wasn't long after that her father came back beaming.
“Ya made the overall judging my girl!” he said hugging her tightly, “Both your cake and pie!”
Avani laughed and hugged her papa back, then hugged her mama. She was glad that her entries had made it to the final judging. It would be pure luck if she got picked for overall winner.
“Let’s go to dinner now.” Her father said placing an arm around his wife. “All this waiting has made me hungry.”
Avani and her mother laughed some more and all made their way to the tables set out under paper lanterns that hung from string between the trees.
“Your attention please!” said the head judge after dinner. He and the other officials of the town were on a raised stage eating, so it wasn't hard to see or hear the man. “It is time to announce the winner of this summer’s bake off!”
A hush filled the long table of villagers. Avani felt her mother take her hand under the table and squeeze it in support. Avani held her breath as the judge began to speak.
“Before we announce who won, I would like to say that as always, the submissions for the bake off this summer were very, very well made, and I can tell that a lot of time and effort went into them.” The whole assembly clapped again, and as the judge waved his hands for quiet, he started speaking again, “Here is the winner of this year’s summer baking contest!” He took an envelope and opened it drawing out a little card. Avani squeezed her mother’s hand and shut her eyes.
“Avani Autumntree’s pumpkin pie!”
Avani opened one eye slowly as she heard cheers and applause. She felt her mother grab her and hug her tightly, and her father messing up her hair with a large hand, sending stray strands out of her neatly brushed hair.
Avani felt relief flood through her, then happiness. She opened her eyes all the way and smiled. She was so happy she could win those orbs for her khehora baby.
“That was your grandmother’s recipe Avani.” Her mother said, “I don’t know how it ended up in our house, but that’s it.” Avani watched as her mother put down the card that had the pumpkin pie recipe on it. She was surprised to learn her mother’s mother baked such good pie.
Avani and her mother were downstairs in the kitchen before bed talking about her big win before heading off for bed.
“My mother was a farmer too.” She said smiling at Avani, “I never really told anyone since she told everyone else that it was my father who did most of the work.” She took Avani’s hand and squeezed it, “But they both shared the burden of the job, much like your father and I do now.”
Avani stood and went over to hug her mother, “I hope I can have a husband like that.”
Her mother laughed and hugged her daughter back, “I only hope you have a husband who loves you, and understands you.”
Avani hugged her mother one last time and said goodnight. Once she got into her room, she placed the two Gaili orbs next to the egg and a sleeping Nix.
“I also hope you grow up strong.” She said patting the egg gently.
With that, Avani got ready for bed and fell right to sleep.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: August 8th, 2014
Words: 2.332
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Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 8:12 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~Shopping Adventure!~
~A Solo RP~ Avani arrived in the village excited.
No adventures of babies in danger or being able to harness the hastars herself. No, she was excited because she was going shopping for her mother.
Normally this wouldn't be as exciting as it was today, but today she was getting supplies for her mother to bake cakes and sweet things to serve when her aunt and uncle would arrive for a family visit!
Avani came to a sudden stop just before she entered the mercantile. She was glad her cousin Rainei was able to come, however, she wasn't too keen on the idea of her other cousin, Srenlei was also coming.
Well, perhaps he had changed.
Avani shrugged and opened the door, Nix scrambling inside before her and taking up her place near the peppermint stick jar. Avani gave her a stern look to convey not to get into the jar, yet all she got in response from the fea was purring and snuggling of the ankles.
“Maybe Nix.” Was all Avani could say.
“Hello Avani!” Mr. Hodol said wiping his hands on his aprons, “May I congratulate you on winning those orbs at the fair?”
"It was nothing Mr. Hodol.” She blushed then smiled and said, “Thank you for donating the prizes.”
“Glad to be rid of them, if you ask me.” He said with a wink. “What can I do for you today?"
Avani handed him the long list of things mama had given her, “We have visitors coming!”
“I’ll say!” Mr. Hodol said chuckling as he studied the list, “It’ll be a while to get these things.”
“No need to rush!” Avani said, using her foot to guard the peppermint stick jar. Nix made a noise and Avani felt the little fea try to move her leg, “We’ll go take a walk”
Avani and Nix exited the shop, went to the fountain, and sat down.
“Where to explore Nix?” Avani said.
Nix, who was rather upset about not getting a peppermint stick, laid her head down and looked about. She had been in many of the stores, but there was one that she had never been in.
She got up and bounded off towards the one with a pestle and mortar on ithe sign above the door.
“Nix! Not there!” Avani called after the fea.
But the fea kept going and she had to catch up with the little creature. Nix didn't have to wait long to get inside, for a customer had opened the door, and Nix slipped in. Avani groaned. She didn't like the apothecary, mostly because that’s where all the yucky medicine came from.
Avani creaked open the door to the apothecary and breathed deep the aroma of old parchment and herbs. She wrinkled her nose, and started searching for the little fea.
“Nix!” she hissed in a whisper, “Where are you?”
“Up hear my dear.” A male voice said from the counter.
Avani froze for a moment, but then realized it wasn't Nix talking, but the proprietor Mr. Rylah. He was an older man with glasses and graying darkish blue hair. Avani didn't mind him, but she still didn't like the apothecary.
“Is this fea yours my dear?” he said smiling at her when she made her way up to the counter. Avani nodded guardedly. She didn't know the man well, so she didn't come right out to say anything to him. Mr. Rylah smiled and scratched the fea on the head, “It is a very cute fea, very pleasant.”
Avani watched as Nix, who loved anyone really, rubbed her hand against his hand. Avani came closer to the counter, still not sure about the man.
“Sorry she’s bothering you. She got away from me.” Avani shot a look to nix, who upon seeing her mistress’ look, jumped off the counter and curled herself around Avani’s leg. Avani couldn't help smiling at her though, “You still aren't getting any peppermint.”
“Hohohoho.” Mr. Rylah said chuckling, “You have a way with animals.” He got up from the seat he had behind the counter and made his way to a shelf near the far wall, "Take this young lady, I have no need for it anymore.” He took a small book off the shelf and came back to Avani and said, “Just be sure to buy the ingredients here, for I can tell you the recipes from this shop are all magic.”
“Magic?” Avani said as he handed her the book. Its title read “Magical Taming Recipes”. Avani looked up at Mr. Rylah and said, “How much do you want for it?”
Mr Rylah smiled, “It is free my dear, just come by and show me the animals you tame.”
Avani smiled nervously and said, “Thank you, I sure will Mr. Rylah.”
Avani then called to Nix and left the store. She looked over her book as she made her way back to the mercantile. Mr. Hodol was standing near her cart and hastar.
“You’re all set to go Avani!”
Avani set the book on the floorboard of the cart and lifted Nix up.
“Thanks Mr. Hodol!” She smiled and said, “We’ll get the account settled up soon.”
“Tell your parents no need to rush on that.” He winked, “That pie and cake are worth a little more than just two Gaili orbs.”
Avani laughed as she got up into the cart. “Ok Mr. Hodol! Goodbye!”
Avani waved as she started off, as did Mr. Hodol. She looked down at the recipe book and made a wary face at it.
Well, at least this trip wasn't wasted!
With her taming gems, whatever was in this book would help her get many pets to help around the ranch!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: August 8th, 2014
Words: 949
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Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 8:17 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~Farming Spirit~
~Part 1~
~A Solo RP~ Avani was more excited today than any other day this summer.
She woke bright and early, bound and determined to get her chores done early to help mama get ready for her family’s visit. Avani wiggled happily under the covers for a moment, excited that not only her aunt and uncle were coming, but their son Rainei was too.
She jumped out of bed, dressed quickly, and greeted Nix and the egg. Though Nix was asleep and wouldn’t wake for a while yet. Avani smiled at them, then bounded downstairs and out the back door.
She hurried through her chores, though double checked to make sure everything was done. She then went back to the kitchen to wash up before she helped with breakfast.
After breakfast, Avani washed the dishes, and put them away. She knew mama was going to bake a lot today, so she tried to make more room by putting things away.
“Thank you Avani.” Her mother said smiling, “Are you going to help bake today too?”
“Yes!” Avani said smiling, “I’m making the apple cake for dessert tonight!”
“Good idea!” her mother said laughing, “We can surprise them all!”
Avani smiled and then said, “What will we make first?”
“Sweet cakes.” Her mother said, “You can make the frosting.”
And so went the rest of the morning. Around noon, Avani and her mother sat down to a lunch of sandwiches, and Avani’s father went to take a bath in the stream so he would be presentable when his brother and his family arrived. As soon as he returned he ate lunch and helped around the house picking things up and generally tidying things up.
Avani and her mother had just finished setting out the last of the sweets they had cooked to cool when she heard a wagon coming up to the house. Avani’s father went out the door first followed by her mother, and she came shyly behind them.
It had been eight years since she had last seen them.
“Akali! Lalika!” her father boomed as the wagon rolled to a stop. Avani peeped from behind her father to see two men on hastars riding next to the vehicle. Both looked alike, one smiling with open blue eyes, the other smiling with squinted eyes. Avani’s father smiled and yelled again, “Hello Rainei! Hello Srenlei!”
Avani was still a little shy; she hadn't seen them in a long time, but she stepped out and smiled at her cousins. She would be a gracious host to them, even if Srenlei hadn’t changed.
“Hello!” she said waving.
“Avani!” she heard one of her cousins shout. She watched as one came up closer, abandoning his hastar and saying, “Do ya remember me? Rainei?”
Avani smiled and stepped up to the top of the porch, “Of course, why wouldn’t I remember you?”
Rainei whooped, grabbed Avani off the porch, and twirled her around. Avani laughed free of the shyness that she had. The memories of Reinei doing this with her when she was little flooded back, and she felt the shyness receding. She smiled and knew this was his way of making her less shy. Reinei hadn't changed a bit since she last saw him; his cheerful smile and kind soul could put at ease any of Avani's melancholy feelings
As he let her down she smiled brightly at him and said, “It’s good to see you again.”
“Is that little Avani?” another male voice said.
Avani peered behind her cousin and saw her uncle smiling at her as he helped her aunt from the wagon.
Avani smiled and said, “Uncle Akali! Aunt Lalika!”
She ran up to them and gave her uncle a big hug. He had the same orange hair and bright blue eyes as his sons, and as well as his identical twin brother, Avani’s father.
“Ah… Still so much like the little girl I knew.” Her uncle rumbled. He pulled Avani back and looked at her, “However you have grown up beautiful much like your mother.”
Avani watched as his wife hit him playfully on the arm. He laughed and Avani went to hug her aunt.
“You have grown a lot Avani.” Her aunt said. She pulled back and looked at her, “It’s been a very long time.” She then bent to Avani’s ear and whispered (rather loudly), “So any boy caught your eye?”
Avani laughed and shook her head. “No Auntie, not yet.”
At that moment, Avani’s mother came over to welcome Avani’s aunt.
“Hello Avani.” Said a snarky sounding voice.
Avani frowned a little, but smiled brightly and said, “Hello Srenlei! How are you?”
“I’ve been better.” He said sounding bored, “The trip was rather boring.” He tugged a bit on his hastar’s lead and crossed his arms across his chest. He then looked Avani up and down and smirked, “You look as skinny as a beanpole still. At least you’re not fat.”
Avani’s smile fell a bit and shrugged it off. She didn’t know what to say to that, and was glad when her father asked her to take care of the hastars. Though Srenlei rather shoved the lead into her hand, Avani was glad not to have to make conversation with him any longer.
Later that night, after dinner, Avani sat under the tree outside the back door and near her pumpkin patch. Dinner was great, and so was dessert, even if Srenlei was rather rude about her cake after mama had told them Avani had made it. She smiled as she watched the sun set behind the barn, finding solace in the calmness of the summer evening.
“Avani?”
Avani looked over towards the back door of the house and smiled as she saw Rainei standing at the bottom of the steps. He seemed to be carrying something in his hands.
“May I join you?” he asked.
“Of course!” Avani said smiling. She patted a patch of grass near her and turned towards him as he walked forward. “Is everything ok?”
Rainei smiled and set down what was in his hands in front of Avani as he sat down himself. Avani looked at the object and saw a rather large, carved box with a lock on it.
“I have some things for you.” Her cousin said. He smiled and took an old looking gold key from his shirt pocket. He placed it in the lock of the wooden box and opened it up. “I found these one day when I was in the attic looking for something Mama had asked for.” He turned the opening of the box towards Avani and smiled, “These were Granny’s, and I would think she would want you to have them.”
Avani’s eyes widened, and she saw her cousin nod his head in encouragement to open the box. Avani reverently opened it and she gasped at what she saw inside.
She found two books in there, one with a green jewel on it’s cover, much like her other magic book. The other was leather bound and had a large “G” imprinted on the cover.
“The top one is a magic book.” Rainei smiled shyly and said, “I have a copy of it already though, but I thought you would like this one cause it was Granny’s. That other one was her journal when she was about your age and I thought you would find joy in it.”
“Thank you!” Avani said smiling.
She grabbed her cousin from across the box and hugged him tight.
“All right now!” Rainei said laughing and patting his cousin’s back, “Just do your best!”
Avani let go and closed the box lovingly. She smiled brightly and held the box close to her chest in a hug
“Thank you so much.” She closed her eyes and felt the love of her grandmother come into her heart, “I’ll keep it as safe as I can.”
“Do that my girl.” Rainei said tugging at her braid gently.
Avani opened her eyes and saw the key he was holding out for her. Avani took it and locked the box with a little click.
She would treasure this gift for the rest of her life, and use it well.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: August 14, 2014
Words: 1,362
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Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 8:20 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~My Best Friend~
~Part 2~
~A Solo RP~ Avani yawned as she heard the Urruster crow. She looked up sleepily at her celling and smiled at the prospect at showing her cousin around bit.
As she got up and dressed, she exited the room with a yawning Nix. Avani remembered to close and lock her bedroom door. She didn’t want Srenlei getting into her room. She told nix as they went downstairs she was to guard the door making sure her cousin didn’t poke around there.
“He hasn’t changed.” She told Nix as they stepped onto the ground floor. “At least his brother has matured…”
Nix scratched her ear, and looked up at her mistress. She had no clue what the worried tone was for, but she understood that she was to guard the door to the room where the egg was. All Nix did was chirp with her bell like voice and wrap around her mistress’ ankles in response.
Avani scratched the fea’s head and then suggested getting ready to go out to do their morning chores. Both moved into the kitchen where her mother and aunt were preparing breakfast and her father, uncle and Rainei.
“What are ya all doing up?” Avani exclaimed.
“Can’t break old habits my girl.” Her uncle said smiling.
“But you’re guests!” Avani said looking from her uncle to her aunt, and then to her cousin, “We can’t let you do chores!”
“No worries dear.” Her aunt said smiling as she shaped some dough onto a pan for biscuits. “I wouldn't know what to do if I at least didn't help make breakfast.”
“Don’t worry Avani.” Rainei said smiling and sipping from his coffee cup, “Pa and Uncle Talmei are going out to look at the herds and I’m going with them for the morning.” He winked at Avani and said, “We can have the rest of the day to go on adventures.”
Avani scrunched up her face and crossed her arms, “Still doesn’t mean you should do chores.”
“Speaking of that,” Avani’s father said placing his empty cup down on the table “Isn’t there some chores you should be doing?”
Avani scrunched up her face, turned sharply and marched out the front door rather than the back. Of course she had chores, but they could wait a bit! Well, Avani thought as she got half way across the lawn, it was a good idea to get them done sooner than later… less time on chores meant more time with her cousin!
“Ya built this by yourself?” Rainei said in an awed tone.
“She probably means that she pestered the guy who really made it.” Srenlei said sarcastically.
Avani furrowed her brows at her cousin’s remark. She had gotten her chores done, and then went to work the rest of the morning after breakfast in the barn with the hastars. Just because her family was visiting didn’t mean work was not done. Her cousin Srenlei had found her there and had pestered her about the fact she still could not harness the hastars, so Avani had given up the barn, angry that she didn't get to finish what she had wanted too. But Srenlei, even at the age of twenty, followed her around finding things to comment on to try to make her upset. At the moment her cousin was happily tearing into her waterwheel, and while Avani was past the age of crying at these remarks, they did try her patience.
“No, I built it. I had help from Shenra with the math and design, but I welded it all!” Avani checked herself and then said, “Well not the trough line, she said that was too tough for me yet.”
“’She?’” Srenlei said. He smirked and said slyly, “You must mean the tinker’s wife was there helping the real tinker as you pestered her then.”
“Shenra is not married, and she is a tinker!” Avani said somewhat exasperated.
“I bet she is.” Shenra said sneering.
“I’ll take you to her house tomorrow!” Avani said placing her hands on her hips, “And for once I will enjoy shoving your snide remarks in your face!”
She could her Rainei chuckle a bit. She looked over and saw him trying to hide the noise behind a cough. She turned back to her other cousin who merely made a noise of dismissal and watched as he turned and sauntered away.
“Boy you sure got grit from growing up here cousin.” Rainei said smiling, “Last I remembered you would go running away to cry in Granny’s pumpkin patch.”
Avani blushed and looked up at the trees. The sound of the creek calmed her and her thoughts as she thought about Rainei’s words.
“All things grow up. Some take more times than others.” Avani said looking back down the way Srenlei had gone.
“Not only grittier but wiser I see.” Rainei said. He went over and tugged at Avani’s braided pigtails, “Who is this girl? Certainly not the Avani Autumntree I used to know!”
Avani swatted playfully at him and laughed. She smiled and said, “And why would I not be the same? You're different yourself!”
“I am?” Rainei said as he let go of her pigtails. He then looked at her questionably “How am I different?”
Avani smiled brightly and giggled a bit. She looked back up to the sky and said, “Well, you seem more responsible… You went out with Papa and Uncle Akali to see the herds, something you never would have cared about much when I last saw you.”
“Well, that’s the same with you my dear.” Rainei said smiling, “You care more about the chores and animals than you used to. Why I remember all you did was carry your pumpkin doll around looking for the next adventure, you couldn't wait to find a way outta your chores.”
Avani laughed and poked him on the chest with her finger and said, “Except for giving up the doll, I still am looking for adventures and ways to get out of chores…”
Rainei grabbed at her finger, but Avani pulled it away and began walking into the forest towards the site of the next waterwheel.
Rainei followed her at her side and said, “You stayed in the barn longer than you needed to this morning. I saw you and Srenlei come out of there.”
“He was bothering me, but I wanted to stay longer with the hastars…” Avani said blushing.
“Still Avani, it shows that you care about what you do, and about how you take your responsibilities.” Rainei looked at her seriously and said, “Uncle told me about your trouble with the hastars and harnessing them.”
Avani really blushed at that and said, “I just want to get it right…”
“And that is part of growing up.” Rainei said smiling, “Even if getting it right means it’s not perfect.”
That was true, Avani thought. She smiled at that thought, and for a moment there was silence as they walked.
“Do you have anyone special?” Rainei said breaking the silence.
“Huh?” Avani said coming out of her thoughts, “Like boys?” Avani blushed a bit, “No.”
Avani thought about this for a moment. There was no particular boy she liked above the rest. Just small crushes, feelings she knew that would never grow into something like love.
“What about you?” Avani said after another length of silence.
“Yes.” Raine said softly.
Avani stopped walking and looked at him with a big smile.
“Do I know the girl?” Avani said suddenly giddy.
“No, she moved to town after you and your family left.” Rainei smiled at his cousin, “But she’s about eighteen, and has long green hair and water blue eyes…”
Rainei abruptly stopped and blushed. Avani laughed and said, “She sounds pretty.”
“She is, but she is really shy and absolutely hates when Srenlei is around.”
“Well I hate when he’s around too.” Avani said.
Rainei laughed and said, “You’d like her Avani.”
Avani smiled and said, “I’m sure I will!”
They continued walking in silence till they reached the area where Avani and Shenra were going to build the bigger waterwheel. There she explained why they were going to build it and how.
Avani had a good afternoon with her cousin. She was glad that they were still the close friends they were when her family had left and could talk about things they wouldn’t normally talk to others about.
Back at the house, Srenlei was sulking about. It had been so easy before to make Avani cry, why wouldn't she do it now? She seemed not to care about his presence anymore and wouldn't run away. He had seen the small fea at the foot of Avani’s room and decided that the little bugger would have bitten him if he tried to pick the lock on the door. Avani wasn't as stupid as she used to be as well.
All of these thoughts made Srenlei sulk in his room and think how he could get her into trouble for the way she had treated him all day.
He then remembered that there had been a tree on the side of the house where Avani’s room was. Perhaps she left her window unlocked instead of her door…
Srenlei walked around to the side of the house and saw the sturdy tree growing near the house. It’s limbs reached out to Avani’s window just enough for him to try to look in. He smiled and looked around to see if there was a ladder about. Unfortunately there wasn’t, but he was just mad enough at his cousin to go look in the barn.
Srenlei‘s luck returned when he saw just the ladder to use. He looked around, and not hearing anyone about, he took the ladder and placed it next to the tree. It barely reached the bottom limb, and that was about halfway to the window itself, but he was a rather tall boy and had been climbing trees since he could remember. So it wasn’t a problem for him to hoist himself into the tree and climb up till he was level with his cousin’s room.
Srenlei made his way carefully across the limb that reached across to her window. It wobbled a bit, and he froze. But it didn’t break, and he didn’t fall, so he moved further till he could press his hands against the windowpane.
Srenlei tried to lift it, but it wouldn’t budge. Unknown to him, Avani had placed a stick in the frame so that if one tried to lift it, it wouldn’t open. She had remembered what he had done when she was little: climbing into her room by the window and placing things in her bed.
Srenlei grumbled and sat back. He looked into his cousin’s room, angrier than he was before he had decided to take on this task.
It was then that he saw it. Something sitting in hay near the middle of Avani’s room. The shape of the object told him that it was an egg, but nothing he knew of laid eggs that big lived on a farm.
He then smiled as he remembered something he had seen back home: A warrior carrying around a khehora egg. The warrior had told Srenlei, when the young man had shown interest in the egg, that if he kept the egg well cared for then he would have a companion in his battles.
It had been the only time he had seen a khehora egg, and until now it had been the only one. But he was sure that his little cousin was keeping the egg a secret from not only her extended family, but her parents as well.
Srenlei smiled slyly and enjoyed his good luck. This information would certainly come in handy…~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: August 16, 2014
Words: 1,959
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Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 8:21 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~Shenra's Wings~
~Part 3~
~A Solo RP~ “This is the easy way to get to the…tinker’s house?” Srenlei said.
Avani rolled her eyes and closed them praying to any god to give her patience. She felt a hand on her shoulder and saw Rainei giving her a knowing smile. Avani smiled back and turned smiling at Srenlei.
“Yes, I like to check up on the apple trees when I go over to Shenra’s.” Avani looked at Rainei, “Shenra lets me care for the orchard and take some of the profits from the sales of the apples.” She blushed a little as she touched the trunk of one of the trees, “The apples you had in my cake were from here.”
“Well, at least we know the apples here aren't poisonous.” Srenlei said looking up at some of the ripening apples, “I mean none of us have died from your cake…yet.”
Avani once again asked any of the gods for tolerance with Srenlei while they made the trek to Shenra’s house. They were walking through the apple orchard that was between Avani’s farm and Shenra’s house; Avani wanted to show Rainei the apples she cared for as well as her own garden back at the ranch.
“They look well Avani.” Rainei said cupping a fruit in his hand as it hung from the branch and looking at it, “How much do you bring in?”
“I do two harvests, one in middle summer, and one in the fall.” Avani said picking the fruit from the tree that her cousin was looking at. She smiled, wiped it on her dress to get the dirt off, and gave it to him with the hope he took a bite, “They bring in enough to hire a few people at the ranch for the whole year.” Avani smiled as Rainei took the fruit and said, “But I use the coin to buy things I want and need at the mercantile and dress shop, but the rest I am saving to buy some land of my own.”
“The only thing they’d sell you is bottomland.” Srenlei said stepping on and smashing a fruit that had fallen. He smirked at Avani and dug his heal in deeper, making more of a mess with the mush.
Avani pursed her lips and turned back to Rainei who shrugged and took a bite of the apple he had been holding.
“This is good Avani.” He tugged on her braid with his free hand playfully, “I can see good coin coming from any crop here.”
Avani smiled at her older cousin’s praise, and took it as a great compliment. He had the makings of a good farmer when she was little, she knew, so she sort of looked up to him as a mentor of sort now.
“Are we going to stand here all day?” she heard Srenlei say sounding bored.
Avani and Rainei giggled quietly, and then resumed their trek across the orchard to Shenra’s house.
As they reached Shenra’s house, Avani warned them that she might be busy and distracted.
Of course Srenlei scoffed and ignored Avani, pushing her away as he went towards the barn. Avani growled a little, but let it pass. Rainei shrugged and followed Avani into the barn.
Shenra was busy, but not with the welder. She was busy looking over some designs on a paper. Avani knew it was a commission for a water fountain for someone in Ashen City. Her mother had asked for Shenra’s help with it, the project being a bit too much for her alone.
“Hello Shenra!” Avani said smiling. She knew the woman would probably need a break from her thoughts anyway, knowing Shenra’s behavior would make her lose track of time.
Shenra looked up, blinked, looked at Avani and her cousins, blinked again and said, “Must be really late if I’m seeing double…”
Avani and Rainei laughed, Sernlei crossed his arms and frowned.
“These are my cousins Rainei,” Avani said extending her right arm to Rainei, “And Sernlei.” She said extending her other arm to Sernlei.
“Ah yes.” Shenra said smiling. She remembered what Avani had said about Sernlei when she first met her, so she would proceed with caution. “Avani said her cousins were coming for a visit. “I’m rather busy at the moment, or I would come to dinner while you are visiting.”
“Pleasure to meet you.” Rainei said smiling, “Avani showed us her waterwheel yesterday. I must say it’s hard to believe she built that thing by herself.”
Avani blushed. Sernlei smirked.
“Tell us the truth; it was your husband that made it for her.” Sernlei said slyly. “A girl, let alone my cousin, wouldn't be able to make something like that and have it work.”
“I am not married, but I did help a little bit.” Shenra said gritting her teeth. Well, Avani did warn her…
“You helped a lot!” Avani said ignoring her cousin. “I couldn’t have done all that planning without you!”
“Thank you Ms. Shenra.” Rainei said smiling. He tugged at Avani’s braid playfully, “My little cousin needs all the help she can get- Ow!”
Avani coughed as her cousin let go of her pig tail and recovered from the punch in the arm she had given him.
Shenra smiled and said, “She’s a good student.”
“Student?” Sernlei said looking up from his study of Shenra’s current personal project, “How can a girl teach another girl to tinker?” He went over to Avani and said, “Women do not tinker, they are supposed to cook and clean, and make sure their husbands have dinner on time.” He poked Avani in the chest with his finger and said, “I don’t see you trying to find someone who can keep you in line. Tinkering indeed! Why hasn’t Uncle Talmei been able to control your wild side I do not know, but if you were my daughter I would teach you your place and find a husband for you!”
Avani didn’t know what to do. Her cousin had never gone off like that before. She felt hurt and sad that he said such things to her. She looked to Rainei who looked like Soudana herself possessed him.
But it wasn’t his brother who spoke, but Shenra.
“What do you know of the world young man?” she said stepping forward, “You who have probably not taken even one step away from home and into the real world.”
She moved from behind the table, and Avani turned as she saw her cousin take a step back, wide eyed and paling skin. Avani turned back to Shenra as she spoke again.
“I have seen things, in even my short life, which would make you turn and become violently ill. Yet what you have just said makes me sicker than that!” She lifted her head and said, “How dare you say you know what is right for your cousin when even you have yet to grow your second pair of wings! How dare you tell me that I cannot teach someone as gifted as your cousin is? She probably knows more about life than you do, and she is younger than most I knew who left to fight in the Great War!”
At this point, Shenra’s wings burst forth from her back and she inhaled sharply closing her eyes. Avani was awed at the color of her wings, both showing bright blue and yellow hues. But it was the markings that weaved through them that caught her eye. The pattern danced around like a ribbon and made her wings seem to be caught in the wind.
Shenra opened her eyes, breathing deeply, a disgusted look coming over her face.
“Get out of my barn and off my land.” She said slowly pointing towards the door, “I do not wish to see you ever again.”
Avani turned to Sernlei and watched as he backed out of the barn. She turned back to Shenra who was still pointing, but Avani could tell something was wrong. She looked tired and ready to fall.
When Sernlei had left, Shenra fell to the ground, Avani and Rainei rushed to her.
“My wings grew.” She said smiling. She turned trying to look at them, “I wonder if they have ribbon patterns like Mama’s do.”
“Yes.” Avani said smiling. “Will you be ok?”
“Yes, I’ll be fine.” Shenra said smiling. She hugged Avani and said, “I’m sorry if he made you cry, but he was being an idiot.”
Avani laughed and said, “He didn't make me cry. Don’t worry, I can handle him.”
Shenra nodded and stood up, and accepted Avani and Rainei’s help back to the house. Avani and her cousin left reassured that Shenra would be ok.
As they left the house, Avani and her cousin went into the orchard and on their way back to the Autumntree farm. As they were almost home, Sernlei popped from behind a tree, making Avani jump back into Rainei.
“Sernlei.” Rainei said catching Avani as she wobbled a bit from the quick jump back. He furrowed his brow at his twin and said, “Why did you have to go and say what you did?”
“It’s the truth.” Sernlei smiled slyly. He moved forward towards Avani, “She should be getting ready to be a wife and mother…” He narrowed his eyes and said, “She shouldn't be playing farmer or tinker, she could never amount to what a man could do; On the farm or as a tinker!”
“Sernlei…” Rainei said with a warning note in his voice.
“Avani should be treated like what she is: A girl, a woman.” Sernlei grabbed her by her pig tails and dragged her a few feet forward. “She should learn her place!”
“Sernlei!” Avani heard Rainei shout.
Avani was angry at this point. Her cousin had never touched her before when he went on his rants, and she wasn’t about to let him. So she did the one thing Shenra taught her to do if a boy was bothering her and wouldn’t let her go.
She shot up straight, pulled her arm back, and planted her fist into his left eye.
“Avani!” Rainei shouted.
Avani watched as Sernlei fell backwards and clutched his face howling. Avani stuck her nose in the air and walked past him saying nothing. She would let the hurt and pain of the punch she had inflicted on him speak for itself.
Rainei was torn between staying with his brother, or leaving with his cousin. Looking between he two, he shrugged and followed Avani back home. He chuckled to himself. He never thought his little cousin Avani could summon up the courage to do that to Sernlei before.
She sure was growing up.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: August 20th, 2014
Words: 1,777
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Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 8:24 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~Sometimes....Things Go Wrong~
~Part 4~
~A Solo RP~ “You did what?” Avani’s mother said
Avani ducked her head down guiltily as she rested her hand in the bowl of ice that Rainei had given her to put her hand in. It had been a while since they had gotten home and told her parents, aunt and uncle what had happen with Sernlei in the apple orchard.
“He really did deserve it Aunt Maiika…” Rainei said sounding serious. Avani felt the bench she was sitting on at the kitchen table creek as he sat down next to her. “If it hadn’t have been Avani, I would have punched him myself.”
“The point is that Avani is to behave like a lady-“
“Aunt Maiika.” Rainei said interrupting, “That’s what the whole thing was about: Sernlei had started spouting nonsense about Avani not being able to behave like a lady and should try to find a husband.” Rainei furrowed his brows, “She’s only fifteen for Abronaxus’ sake. And also, she should be able to choose whom she wants to marry… When the time is right for her that is.”
There was silence for a moment and then Avani spoke up.
“He grabbed me by my hair and dragged me a bit.”
“He did what?” This time it was Avani’s father who had shouted. Avani looked up from the ice in the bowl, saw her father stand and look over to his brother. He pointed at him and said, “I don’t know what you’ll do to him Akali, but I’m going to punch his head right off!”
“Talmei.” Avani’s mother said in a warning tone, giving her father a narrow eyed look. Avani’s father sat down, but his furry never left his face.
“I am sorry Avani.” Her uncle said. Avani looked at him and saw a frown and weariness on his face.
“It’s all right. You didn’t do anything wrong.” Avani said with a sad smile.
“Oh but you are wrong there Avani girl.” Her uncle said smiling a weary smile, “I’ve tried everything to keep that boy outta trouble… Seems he just doesn’t want to be told what to do.” He sighed, “If it wasn’t for me bringing him here… Well, I just wish my son was more like his brother at times.”
There was silence after that, and Avani’s hand was still throbbing like mad. It was then that Sernlei came in through the kitchen door, banging it open and causing it to vibrate.
“Sernlei!” his mother shouted, “There is no reason to behave like that!” She then narrowed her eyes and said, “Your father and I are going to have a word with you- Are you listening Sernlei?”
Sernlei seemed to ignore his mother and went over to the icebox. He took a slab of sheron meat from the chest, and placed it on his left eye.
“Damned girl…” he muttered.
“Sernlei!” his mother said again. Worry seemed to lace her voice.
“Well that’s what she is!” Sernlei said glaring over at Avani. “She even left me there hurt!”
Avani hear Rainei snort out a stifled laugh. Avani wasn’t as brave as he was and just inched nearer her father that was on Avani’s other side at the head of the table.
“Boy, you better have a good reason for yainking at her hair and dragging her around…” Avani’s uncle said with anger in his voice, “So far you haven’t done much violence, but you are setting yourself up for some real pain.”
“I’m not ten anymore.” Sernlei said sneering, “You can’t stop me from doing what I want and saying what I want to say.”
“Boy…” Avani’s uncle said with a warning tone in his voice.
“If anyone here should be punished it should be Avani.” Sernlei said still with one hand placed on the sheron meat that was on his eye. He moved so he was looking at Avani’s father and said, “You should know more about your daughter’s activities, such as that large Khehora egg in her room.”
Avani froze. She felt a wave of panic and fear flow through her like none she had ever felt before.
“I know all about that Sernlei.” Avani’s mother said.
Avani turned to her mother and felt her fear and panic fade, then felt it replaced with surprise and shock. She felt her mouth part wide open, she tried to find words to ask her mother how she knew about the egg. She saw out of the corner of her eye that Sernlei was just as shocked, his mouth hanging wide open.
“Oh yes I know.” Her mother said smiling smugly at her cousin. She then turned to Avani and smiled sweetly, “I went into your room to place some laundry in there, and there was the egg just sitting in that cute little hay bed soaking up the sun… I knew what it was, I just wondered how you got it.”
Avani was speechless. Why hadn’t her mother called her out earlier? Well, whatever the reason, Avani owed it to her mother to tell the truth.
“A khehora gave it to me to raise.” She said looking down at the bowl where her hand sat in ice, “He said he and his mate couldn't raise it, and since he knew me and that I lived here on Serenia, well, he trusted that I could take just as good care of it as he and his mate could.”
There was silence for a moment and she dared not look up at the people in the room. Avani felt a hand on her arm, and she looked up to see her father smiling at her.
“Why you couldn’t tell us, I don’t know, but as long as you were safe with this khehora-“
“I was Papa.” Avani said smiling, “I’ve known him since I was little, and I know there is at least a bit of kindness in him.”
Avani heard Sernlei make rude noise and stomp out of the room. There was nothing he could do now, her biggest secret was out in the open, thankfully her father and mother understood why she had that egg.
“Well, blow me over.” She heard Rainei say, “A Khehora egg.” He poked Avani’s left arm and said, “Do ya think I can see it?”
Avani laughed and said, “Of course! We can go up right now if you want.”
“I kinda wanna see it too.” She heard her uncle say. He coughed and said, “Not every day you get to see a khehora egg up close.”
Avani laughed and gingerly lifted her hand out of the bowl of ice. Her mother got a towl and patted gently to dry it. She then wrapped it up and told Avani not to use that hand for a few days. Avani agreed and led the way to her room with her cousin, uncle, aunt, and father. Apparently they all wanted to see the newest member of the family.
As Avani got ready for bed that night, she watched happily as Nix cuddled the egg as the little fea got ready for bed.
Soon it would hatch, she was sure. But she still feared Sernlei coming after the egg and beating it to a pulp. She would take extra care of the egg, checking on it more often than she normally would. She had told Nix the plan, and even if the fea didn’t understand her, Avani felt the little fea understood the tone she used.
Avani patted the egg once more and then climbed into bed herself and blew out the lantern.
She would not get away with it. He would make sure she paid for her insolence.
He waited till he knew all were asleep and crept downstairs. Oh he knew how to make her pay. It was a rather ingenious idea on his part he thought.
He went out the back door and across to the barn. He slowly opened the door, hoping the ranch hands that bunked in there were sound sleepers.
But he knew what he was looking for and where to find it.
He had gone into the barn earlier and placed aside the things he would need. An axe, a sledgehammer, and for the final touch, burning oil and a lantern
He lit the lantern, and carried out the objets to the back porch. There he smiled at the round orange green spheres that were just beyond the wood and wire fence.
He went in with the large axe, smiling as he thought about how sweet it would be to see her tears the next morning.
Avani woke up to the uruuster and streaks of sun in the sky. Avani dressed, said good morning to her egg, and walked out of her room, turning the key into the lock as Nix made her way down to breakfast.
She heard voices outside, she knew they had to be her papa and uncle, and perhaps Rainei. But she went into the kitchen to see her aunt and mother whispering hurriedly.
“Hello!” Avani said happily to the both of them.
She made her way to the back door as always; ready to check on the sheron and hastars. She got to the back door when she heard her mother call her back, but she already had the it open. She was turning back when she heard her father speak in the voice she did not like, mostly because when she had heard it, ether she or someone else was in big trouble.
“Damn you boy…” her father growled.
Avani turned and looked out. But as she looked past her father striding towards Sernlei in what could only be sure anger, Avani caught the smell of smoke in her nose, and saw a corner of charred earth beyond the group of men.
“What…?” Avani felt fear in her body.
She stepped down off the back steps and looked further through the fog of smoke to see the patch of earth that had been burned. It hadn’t been the yard that had caught fire… It had been her pumpkin patch.
She hurried past the men and fell to the ground, touching the blackened dirt that had once been her pumpkin patch. There were pumpkin guts and shells thrown all over: Hanging from the tree, hanging from Mama’s plants in her garden, shells on the ground by the back the house, and guts plastered on the back wall.
But what got her attention the most was in the middle of what had been the patch: Smoldering remains of wire from her fence that had apparently been ripped out of the ground. The metal that had been the water trough to feed her plants was spewing water into the black mess, making the charred wood hiss as the water hit still burning embers. There even were blackened and singed vines and levees from the once healthy plants.
Avani just stared.
She looked down as she felt Nix curl around her knees. The little fea knew something was wrong with her mistress… The big green leaves she loved to hide in were gone too… The stink of smoke hit her nose like a brick… Something must have happened to make her mistress upset.
Avani couldn't even scratch Nix’s head in comfort. All she could do was look at the black patch of earth that had once been her pumpkin patch.
“Ah, Avani girl.” She heard her father say.
She felt his hand rest on her shoulder, and she looked up at him. He knelt next to her and all she could do was look back in shock at the charred remains.
“I’m sorry Avani.” She heard Rainei say on her other side, “I didn’t know he would do this.”
Of course… Avani thought looking up at her cousin. It had been Sernlei.
She stood up then and walked over to her snearing cousin who was being held at his shirt cuff by his father. His eye was blackening, and Avani felt her anger rise as she saw it. But she just walked up to him and stood there for a moment.
A resounding crack filled the air as Avani slapped his cheek. She turned and rushed into the house, and fumbled as she opened her bedroom door. She flung herself across her bed and sobbed into her pillow.
“At least I won’t have another black eye…” Sernlei said smirking and rubbing his cheek. “Damned girl- OW!”
Nix had sunk her teeth into his right hand that had been dangling at his side. Nix felt that if her mistress could hit him, she had every right to bite him.
She ran up to her mistress’s room where she nudged the door shut, and went up into Avani’s bed with her.
She would be with her mistress as long as she needed her.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: August 22, 2014
Words: 2,135
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 6:10 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~Till Next Time, Goodbye~
~Fin~
~A Solo RP~ Avani lay on her bed and watched the light from the sun get darker as it began to set.
It had been two days since her pumpkin patch had been destroyed, and the only time she had left her room was to use the outhouse.
Oh, her parents and aunt and uncle tried to talk to her when she was downstairs, but she just walked away and continued to go where she was headed.
They brought her food on a tray, tried to say a few words, but she didn't listen. She ate little, sharing with Nix, but it was all tasteless.
Avani sighed and closed her eyes, then opened them slowly.
Crops would come and go... Plague, weather, pest, even other people who could and would set fire to it, but her pumpkins were special, and the person who set it on fire her kin.
“I need somewhere to go for a while.” Avani said to Nix as she snuggled next to her mistress. “Perhaps Shenra could let me stay at her house.”
Nix chirped a bit and then snuggled closer to Avani.
Avani watched as the light faded more bringing the land into night, and fell into a doze. She would tell her mother tomorrow she was going to Shenra’s for a while to forget.
“Do ya really think this is a good idea Avani?” Rainei asked as he sat in the chair at Avani’s desk watching her place things into a back sack.
“I need to get away from here.” Avani said stuffing her brush into the big part. She tightened the string, shutting the bag and looked at him, “I need to sort things out.” Avani’s cousin said nothing and just looked at the bag. Avani gave a short laugh and said, “I’ll be back when you leave.”
Rainei smiled a little then frowned again and said, “What about your pumpkin patch?”
“That’s what I’m going to try to sort out.” Avani said as she turned and took out a clean blanket and tided it around her creating a sling.
Avani reached down into the little nest she had created for her egg and lifted the object out gently and placed it in her blanket sling. She gently tried it out, and the knot held the weight of the egg perfectly.
“All right!” she said picking up her knapsack and slinging it gently over the other shoulder from the egg sling, “I’m ready to go!”
Rainei chuckled a bit at the sight of her, but said nothing as he took the room’s key from her and ushered her out with Nix. He would drive the two of them to Shenra’s and leave them there till Avani wanted to come home. He still thought it wasn’t the right thing to do, but once his cousin had gotten something into her head, it was rather hard to get it out.
It wasn’t exactly a nest box, but it would have to do.
Avani stood back and looked at her efforts. In the guest room that got the most sun during the day, Avani had put her things and the egg. Shenra had offered extra blankets and pillows for the egg, so now it was sitting on blankets and surrounded by pillows.
“Well…” Avani said touching the egg gently, “It’ll have to do.”
Avani then put away the extra dress she had brought, her nightgown, and then her brush. She had brought little as she didn’t plan on staying long.
She sat on the bed and stared at the ceiling. It was nice to have a different view.
Shenra was down in her workshop still pouring over the fountain designs her mother had sent for her to look over, so Avani could make herself lunch, and ask if she could make dinner later. It was a slow start to a long day, but Avani thought she would go out for a walk after lunch, and get lost exploring.
Perhaps the outdoors would cheer her up.
Avani woke the next day, her legs a little sore from being out for a long time. She had thought over the pumpkin patch at one point, and felt the old pain come back. But it was less this time, it didn’t hurt as much as it did, not to the point of crying.
She greeted her egg with a smile and 'good morning', dressed, and went down to the kitchen. Shenra was there drinking some coffee, eating some eggs and cooked sheron strips.
“Food’s on the stove if you want some, but you’ll have to go out and milk the sheron though if you want something to drink.”
“I’ll do that after breakfast.” Avani said going to the stove and filling her plate, “How are your plans coming?”
“Ah yes.” Shenra said smiling guiltily, “I forgot to tell you that I’m going into town to collect some metal to start the project.”
“Ok.” Avani said smiling.
She looked down at her food, suddenly hungry. She then watched Nix eating her food on a small plate. Seemed the walk did both of them some good… Perhaps after she milked the sheron she would go for another walk. It seemed that the nature around here was doing wonders for her spirit even if it was just a little bit at a time.
Two weeks passed, and it was time to go back to her house to say goodbye to her relatives. Avani had done a lot of thinking while as Shenra’s, and felt better about the situation. Though she didn’t know if she could forgive Srenlei just yet.
“Glad you came back.” Rainei said, “Sernlei was poor company the whole time you were gone.” Her cousin paused for a moment, smiled and then said, “But he’s generally not good company, so I’m not worse for it.”
Avani smile then looked out to her waterwheel. Avani had choices to make, and Reinei made it easier.
“I’m gonna replant next spring.” She said placing her hand on the top of the motionless wheel. Since it was not needed, Avani had placed a rod in the spokes that would stop the movement of the wheel. She smiled at the waterwheel, a source of pride in her recent sadness. “I think it’s what needs to be done for everyone involved.”
Rainei smiled and pulled her long braid playfully and said, “I didn’t doubt that you wouldn't replant for a moment Avani girl.”
Avani smiled at him and looked down at the flowing stream. It had dropped a bit since she had built the wheel, but that was to be expected. Summer was coming to the beginning of the end, and fall was soon to approach after that.
“Spring is renewal, and hopefully that means that I can start again.” Avani smiled at her cousin, “It is nature’s way of giving us a new beginning, a clean slate, so I’ll be better than I was before I planted the last patch.” She lifted her hands in front of her and looked at the palms, “I have my magic this time and I have knowledge on how to make it better.” She then looked up to her cousin and smiled, “No matter how many times I have to start over I know I can always begin again and do better.”
Rainei gave his cousin a one armed hug, neither having to say how much they loved and respected each other.
“Well!” her mother said after the wagon containing her relatives had turned the corner at the end of the drive, “I hope they plan to visit years from now and not a moment sooner!"
She leaned back on the sitting room settee and rested one leg upon it as she let the other dangle. She pressed a wet cloth on her head and sighed.
Avani giggled and let her mother rest. She had earned it as she had spared no moment to keep them rested and comfortable. Avani left her mother in the sitting room to recover and went out back to where her pumpkin patch had once been.
The wire and burnt wood had been removed, later to be taken to Shenra so she could melt it down and reuse the metal for scrap. All that was left of the patch was the ashes of plants and wood that had burned.
Avani looked around and saw that all the pumpkin guts and shells had been cleaned up, probably by Sernlei, but Avani was sure that it all went into the compost pile, ready to be mixed and let set for next year’s garden.
Avani looked at the patch knowing what had to be done. She went to the barn to begin the cleanup of her pumpkin patch.
Avani took the shovel, dug into the burnt earth, lifted what she had gathered into the wooden riddle sieve, and shook out all the fine soil from the rocks and remains from the burnt ground. The soil would be piled near the garden bed so she could replace it after she was done taking the larger parts to the compost pile. Rocks and clay clumps would go into one pile, dead plants another. She would make a new fence after she got done with the sieving, it would be easier to place it back into the earth like it had been. Avani knew her cleaning up of the pumpkin patch would allow the land to rest during the fall and winter and be ready for spring.
It took Avani about a week and a half to go through all the dirt, and when she had put up her new fence and replaces the dirt, it looked like it had when she first planted her pumpkins.
“Good work Avani girl.” Her father said handing her a glass of water as they both stood and admired the work, “And you did it by yourself.”
Avani smiled at him, and took a drink of water, feeling the hurt of what had happened creep into her heart. But she wouldn’t let that get to her. No, it was like she told Rainei: It was a new beginning, only the start of the healing of the land and of her heart.
Avani felt the pain recede, and breathed deeply.
"It felt good to clean it up.” She smiled sadly, “The hurt is gone somewhat.”
Her father embraced her in a one armed hug, Avani smiling, hugged her papa back. The betrayal of her cousin would one day fade and forgiveness would begin, just like healing the pumpkin patch, it would be hard work to heal her heart.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: August 23, 2014
Words: 1,769
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 6:12 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~Healing the Heart~
~Part 1~
~A Solo RP~ Avani was lying in the grass near the tree in her front yard, reading her grandmother’s journal that Rainei had given to her when he first arrived for his family’s visit.
It seemed her grandmother had recorded her own trials learning to farm as she grew up. Avani was awed. She had the same problems Avani had, and yet they were also different. And how she overcame them, she seemed to think things out like Avani did!
Avani closed the book for a moment and leaned her head on her arms. Avani had kept journals ever since her family had moved here, she had so many! She wondered if her grandmother had more than this one journal. She would have to write to Rainei and ask him to look for more things her grandmother might have left behind.
Nix, who moved from her seat on the tree swing that was now in the sun, came over to Avani’s side and curled up beside her making content noises. Avani scratched the fea’s head and went back to the journal.
“There was a bad fire today in the south field. Papa’s wheat crop and part of his rice went up in flames. It hurts to see all your work, effort and love for the plants go up in flames. The money from the sheron and leklan goods will help offset the loss of the crop, as well as the animal sales. However, there will be a tight budget for the next year to stretch the money for necessities and not frivolities. "
Avani was surprised. Her great-grandfather had lost a crop to fire? There was no mention on how it had happened, but Avani could see it hurt her grandmother to see all their hard work gone.
"The field where the fire was last month is not doing well. Papa says he’ll have to leave that land fallow if we can’t find a way to get nutrients back into it. I might have an idea how to do that. I purchased a book from a family who was selling some things from their father’s farm. They did not need the book, and didn't understand it’s real value (as I didn't myself, I just knew it was a magic tome…). The book heals the land apparently. Well anything is worth a try to help Papa!"
Avani closed the book and thought about the last entry she had read. Would the land where her pumpkin patch had been be alright? She had left the ash from the fire in the soil so it wouldn't be too damaged, but was it alright?
Well, there was only one thing to do then!
Avani had returned to her room with her grandmother’s journal, sitting down at her desk to put it away in the special box Rainei had given to her.
She took the key from her desk drawer and opened the box with a little click. Avani saw the old tome in there and gently took it out. She replaced the journal into the box, then clicked the lock shut on the other precious book she owned. After putting the key back into the desk drawer, she looked back at the book.
She looked at the tome and nodded at it. Perhaps if her plot where the patch had been was really in need of those nutrients then she could learn from the book how to get at least a little back.
Avani opened the book and read chapter one: It talked about how to ready your body and magic for the large task of healing and cleansing the land. It seemed close to the plant growth spell, but instead of dealing with plants you were dealing with the land itself.
She then took the book out to the lot of land that had been her pumpkin patch. It still hurt a little as she saw the patch of barren land. But she pushed that aside and went through the little gate and sat next to the new fence.
Nix, who had followed her mistress from the front yard, to the room with the egg, and then out the back door, watched from the shade on the top steps that led to the room with food. Her mistress seemed to want to be alone for a bit, so she made herself comfortable and watched her mistress work.
Meanwhile, Avani closed her eyes and placed her hands on the ground as the book suggested. She breathed deeply as she normally did when channeling her magic. Avani pictured the little plot in her head, the fence boundaries, the brown soil mixed with ash…
She felt the earth beneath her hands, and whispered the incantation.
“Muoroula Realira”
Avani felt the magic start to move within, through her arms and to the land. She felt the power gather in the land, gathering nutrients and distributing them to the places they needed them.
Nix, who was watching her mistress, soon perked up as she saw something start to form over the plot. Something green shimmered over it, and soon, little green shoots growing out of the ground of the plot of land. They then grew so they looked like little flowers! Nix looked to her mistress and wondered what was going on! Then the little flowers started shaking a bit and green flakes shook off them!
Nix looked to her mistress, and saw no distress, so she sat back. She still watched her mistress, ready to help when she needed it! Soon the little flowers stopped shaking, and disappeared, breaking apart into little sparkles and fading away. Nix perked her ears up, ready to go to her mistress if she called.
Avani felt the magic finish with its job. She lessened the flow gently until it stopped. She slowly opened her eyes and breathed deeply. She had felt the earth in the last seconds of her connections with the magic, and it felt relaxed now, healthy and alive.
She leaned back against the fence and looked over to the back door. There she saw her little fea and smiled at her.
“Come on Nix.” She said beckoning her hand slowly. She was still feeling fatigued from the spell, but not as bad as she had felt when she cast her first one.
Nix jumped off the porch, glided over the fence to her mistress, and snuggled her as she laid in her lap. Avani petted the fea and felt happier now. She could help the land heal, along with her heart. She felt glad she could do something for the hurting land that was hurt by her cousin.
She felt a tear roll down her face and wiped it away. It wasn’t a sad tear she reflected with a smile. It was a tear of happiness, the feeling filled her with the knowledge that her land was ok now, and that she could always protect it.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: August 26, 2014
Words: 1,155
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 6:13 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~Healing the Heart~
~Fin~
~A Solo RP~ “That’s the last of them Ms. Avani!”
Avani turned and looked as the last of the apple pickers descended from the ladders and trees. They then brought the last basket to her for recording and tagging. Avani always recorded the date that they were picked on the basket so she would know what to look for when she processed them in the barn. That included cleaning and checking for quality. If they didn’t pass her inspection, they went into the compost pile.
“The seem a lot smaller this year…” she said tying the tag onto the last basket.
“Don’t know what the trouble could be… Didn’t see any damage in the trees this year.” The foreman said wiping his face. He lowered his kerchief and said, “Might be that the orchard land might be lacking nutrients.”
“Do you think so?” Avani said placing the end of her pencil in her mouth. She looked over at the trees bare of apples and wondered, “I’ll check with my father tomorrow.”
“That’ll be a good idea.” The foreman said smiling and placing the last basket in the back of the wagon that was taking all the harvest to the barn, “I don’t know much about trees, but your Pa sure will.”
“Papa knows a lot, I’m sure he’d know about this!” Avani said looking up smiling.
The next day, Avani and her father took some time out at lunch to go check the orchard. He walked within the orchard with Avani watching from the border fence. Avani smiled proudly at her trees. She really had turned the orchard around.
“Avani.” Her father called. Avani looked at her father and saw him beckoning her to a spot. Avani jumped from the fence and went to her father. He pointed down to the ground and said, “See here.” He dug a bit into the ground with his hand, “It’s not good growing soil.” He stood up and looked sadly to his daughter, “Might just have to pull up all the trees and give the land a rest.”
Avani looked to the ground disappointed. But then she smiled, “There might be something I could do.”
Her father looked at her curiously, “Oh? And just what is it that you can do?”
Avani smiled and said, “I can read a book.”
Avani closed the magic book that had once been her grandmother’s. She leaned back in her bed and looked out the window towards the orchard. The second chapter seemed to have more to say on how to heal a larger lot of land. Avani had thought about it, and the plot of land the whole orchard was on seemed about as big as the area explained in the book. Avani looked at the book and made her resolve. It had to be done if she was to save her orchard.
The next day, Avani was alone by the border fence of Shenra’s property and her family’s farm. She had taken a seat on the ground by the fence, her favorite spot when she was out working in that area. But today, it was the place she would be conducting her spell.
“Here it goes.” Avani said closing her eyes. She then whispered “Muoroula Realira”
She placed her hands on the ground and breathed deeply as she focused her magic on the task at hand. She imagined the land in her mind, and felt the magic gather about her. She did as the book instructed and felt for the air around her, trying to direct her magic to gather power from there.
Avani then concentrated on the land itself as she left the magic gathering power be for the moment. She let loose the restorative power that she had been gathering and controlled the flow across the land. She felt a magical wave spread across the orchard. Then, as she controlled the power that was unleashed, she reached for more power that was still being gathered. She threaded the gathered power into a connection with the healing power, and smiled as the magical wave grew in vastness, reaching to the border of the orchards.
She had succeeded with the first part, now to wait till the land had its fill of nutrients.
Avani felt the land drink up her magic and the new nutrients that were being supplied. She began easing off her magic at last when she could tell the land was finished healing. It felt like water on saturated ground: Magic on top of a pool of her magic, spilling over. She finally cut the magic that was pulling power from the air and felt the wave of magic pull back from the corners of the orchard. Then the magic finally dwindled as it stopped flowing, and return to Avani.
Avani stopped the flow completely and fell on her side to the ground. She was so tired! So much was needed to control the magic, that it drained her physically so much she didn’t want to get up.
Avani curled up, hugging her arms, and without knowing it, fell into a deep sleep.
“Avani? Time to get up Avani girl.”
Avani didn’t want to get up, she was too sleepy.
“Avani.” Said her father’s voice once again, “You really need to get up or you will miss dinner.”
Avani stirred and opened her eyes a bit, and looked right into her father’s face. He was kneeling right next to her and was brushing back a few strands of stray hair.
“Well. I can see why you are tuckered out young lady…” he said lifting his brows, “You never told me you could do healing magic on this scale.”
Avani smiled and closed her eyes snuggling into her father’s knee, “First time was today… Is it alright?”
She heard her father chuckle and say, “Yes it is Avani girl.”
He waited one more moment, then picked her up and placed her on her legs on the other side of the boundary fence, holding her upright as he himself made his way over the fence. She’d be all right, he consoled himself as he helped her walk back to the house. He chuckled again thinking just how fine a farmer his daughter was aiming to be.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: August 27, 2014
Words: 1,039
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 6:15 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~Hatched!!!~
~Part 1~
~A Solo RP~ It was so uncomfortable! They wanted out now! They moved around a bit in the cramped space and opened what they knew was their mouth, making a strange sound. Was that them? Or was it the one with the soft voice? No, it had to be them, the soft voice wasn’t there.
“Oh it’s moving! And it made a noise!”
Oh. There was the soft voice. They loved the soft voice. The soft voice spoke often and they liked it. They also liked the other noise too, but this one was the best.
“I wonder if it’s going to hatch soon? Better look in the book!”
They wriggled again. Why was it so cramped? I want out!
Avani sat on her bed, surrounded by the khehora books her father had in the house. She found little on baby khehora’s though, except in a rather old book. They had two chapters on the subject, both starting with the strict warning of keeping a Khehora as a pet. Avani didn't mean to keep it as a pet, she was going to keep it as a member of her family!
Setting the warnings aside, Avani read on. It seemed that they were like any other bird that would hatch. Leave the hatchling alone when it does hatch, unless there are problems getting the shell off. There needed to be some ground up dry sheron meat nearby made into a paste for its first meal if they had no way of obtaining any food right off.
It ended the book with how to tell the gender of a newly hatched khehora and wished the reader luck with raising and releasing the wild khehora.
This didn't deter Avani. She wrote out all the information needed to get started with the new baby in the family, and went to put her father’s books away. She couldn’t wait till her baby hatched!
That’s it. Now’s the time. I’m getting out of this cramped area!
Avani got up early the next day, lit a lamp, and moved it so the light shined on the egg in it’s little box nest. Nix had gotten her up from sleep and pulled her sleeve over to the nest. Avani woke completely up as she saw the little hole at the top of the egg.
“Oooooooo!” was all Avani could say or think.
She calmed down knowing the full event wouldn’t take place for hours yet, but she wanted to be there for the whole thing. She dressed and then watched the egg till she heard her mother and father moving downstairs.
She told Nix to watch the egg and get her if she needed too, then went downstairs to talk to her parents.
“I’ll do the morning chores if I can be excused for the rest of the day, I just want to be there for the baby!”
Her mother smiled and looked to her husband who was grinning from ear to ear.
“I see no problem with that Talmei.” Her mother said smiling up at him.
“Neither do I.” He said smiling down at her. He turned to Avani and said, “You don’t touch that animal until it’s hatched you know. And I want to see this new member of the family at some point.”
“Thank you Papa, Mama! And as soon as I clean the little one up, you can come and see it.” Avani said smiling. She rushed out the back door and tended to her chores.
As Avani came back inside from the barn she washed her hands, took up the little mortar and pestle she had bought in town for the birth of her khehora baby. She also took up some dried sheron meat and sheron milk so she could make the paste she would feed it soon after the birth. Her father had made a small spoon out of wood for her to use to feed the baby once she got it cleaned.
She stopped short on the stairs. She didn't know how she was going to clean the khehora.
“Mama!” she called as she went back to the kitchen, “How do I bathe it?!”
I smell things. It’s cleaner than the cramped place, and it smells…. Well it smells like the nice voice sounds… Good.
“Oh I see it’s nose! You can do it baby khehora!”
There is the nice voice, I wanna see what the voice looks like. Does it look like it smells and sounds? Well, first thing is first! I have to get out of this place!
Avani watched as the egg wiggled and the baby within peeped and chirped it’s heart out. Nix watched from the bed keeping the two Gaili orbs safe while the egg moved in the nest.
Avani had all the things she needed to take care of this baby: A big bowl to wash the baby in, water in a bucket, and two towels to dry it off. She had the food and preparation done, the little wooden spoon in the mortar with the sheron meat mush already. She also had an empty bucket to place the old hay in, and a bucket of fresh hay to line the box with.
Now all she needed was the baby.
Avani watched the egg for a long time, scratching noises and peeping getting stronger. Suddenly, as the sun was about to set, a little leg popped out of the egg. Avani and Nix startled at this, but then began to cheer on the hatching baby.
One part of me is free. I can move it! Oh! Another part is free, I can move it too!! What if I do this with the other things, like this… OH! It worked! Just one more… Yes! I can move these things… What are they? OH! Now my head is free! But I can’t see anything!
Avani watched as two legs and two arms popped out of the shell. Then it’s head popped out near where the first hole was. Poor thing had a shell hat on it’s head… Perhaps Avani could just take it off…
Suddenly the egg moved sideways and it was moving around the box on four limbs. Avani giggled, but got suddenly serious as it tumbled out of the box and rolled so that the little baby, shell enclosed body and with it’s little shell hat, ran scampering right into the bedroom door and crashed.
Avani gasped and went to her little one, silently praying it was ok. The shell rolled the baby so that it was once again upright on four limbs. Avani picked up the baby and placed it back in it’s bed.
“You’re going to be a handful." Avani said making sure the limbs still moved. "I can tell.”
They did indeed still move, the baby trying to once again get out of the box. Avani noticed a large crack in the top of the shell and decided it was time to help the baby. It seemed to want to explore now rather than later…
What was that?! It stopped me! Then I was in the air! Can I fly?! Wait, what’s happening? That light! It’s so bright! *blink**blink* Oh! Who is that?! Is that a face?
“Hello little Khehora…. I’m your Mama! My name is Avani!.” Said the face smiling.
They blinked again surprised that this face is connected to the nice voice and good smell.
“I’ll help you out of that little one.” The voice said. “No worries! You passed the hatching stage… The world is your's now!”
Avani smiled at the baby khehora and began to pull the crack that had appeared in the shell apart. It was kind of gross, but she would clean the shell and put it somewhere to show the baby when they grew what their egg looked like. She had color sketches of it, but she thought the shell would be nice to save too.
She took the baby and placed it into the bowl and washed off the innards of the egg off, then dried it off with the fluffy towel. As the baby was on the bed, protected wit utmost seriousness by Nix, Avani cleaned the nest box and egg shells, placing the old hay into the empty bucket she would take care of later, and placing the egg shell on her desk to put someplace safe later. She then placed ample new hay into the nest box, then placed the dry, blinking baby into the hay.
Avani smiled. The baby had large ruby eyes, the only thing she could tell looked like Oblivion. She shook her head and then started feeding the baby.
What’s this? Smells ok… Oh! It’s food! It tastes good! I want more!
Avani fed the baby all it wanted, then watched as it yawned and closed it’s little eyes. Avani placed a lantern near the nest box, and tucked the baby in with the other towel she had brought up.
Snuggled and dry, Avani gently placed her hand on the baby’s head, then went to take care of the things she had used as Nix watched protectivly.
“I’ll be.” Avani’s father whispered as he peered on the little khehora “Small thing it is…”
“All things start small Papa.” Avani whispered as she sat on her bed and watched her parents look at the little khehora.
“Is it a boy or girl?” her mother whispered.
“I haven’t looked yet. I can tomorrow, I don’t want to wake it now.” Avani whispered as she chuckled.
“Well, no.” Her mother whispered blushing, “Just wondering what you will name it.”
“I have already decided: Makoto if a boy, and Honoka if a girl.” Avani whispered smiling, “I got them from Grandmamma’s journal. They were two friends of her’s on a neighboring farm.”
Her father chuckled and then petted the little khehora gently. Her mother rolled her eyes with a smile on her face, both her and Avani knowing her father would spoil the baby rotten, even though it was a khehora.
When in bed and ready for sleep, Avani watched the baby sleep some more, knowing she would have to feed it sometime in the night. Nix was curled on the end of her bed watching it too. Avani kept a lamp burning and a bowl of mush ready for it.
“No sleep for a while.” Avani whispered to the fea scratching her on the head, “Might as well get to bed now before it starts demanding again.”
Nix nodded and then yawned. Avani smiled and laid back on her side.
Well, she was always looking for an adventure. The biggest so far had just begun.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: August 28, 2014
Words: 1,775
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 6:16 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~Trouble Unleashed!~
~Part 2~
~A Solo RP~ Avani looked at the little Khehora she had named Honoka and smiled.
The little imp was chasing a leather ball Avani’s father had made for her across the room as Papa and Avani rolled it to each other.
Honoka was only a month old, and she was already strong and learning. She knew when Avani wished her to come to her side, and also when to stop doing something she shouldn’t be. Whoever called the Khehora stupid probably never had to be around one for a long period of time.
Avani caught the ball that her father just rolled to her, and she watched as Honoka bounded towards her, tumbling over her feet in the process, rolling a bit, then landing on her feet and continuing on.
Avani shook her head, smiled, and let the khehora have the ball. Her baby was a klutz, but she loved her anyway.
“I think it’s time to take her outside.” Avani said taking ahold of Honoka as she chewed the sheron hide ball. “It’s been a month and she can’t be raised inside the house forever.”
“Makes sense.” Her father said watching his daughter try to restrain the little one. “She’s too much for your mother’s nerves. Poor woman has to hide all her figurines…”
Avani laughed and released the struggling khehora. She’d take the little one out tomorrow. Perhaps she’d take her to Shenra’s. That seemed a safe place. Avani frowned as she thought about it. The ranch hands would not be pleased when they found out that their boss’ daughter was raising a Khehora… a wild one at that.
She and her parents had discussed this many times, and Avani came to the conclusion that to just let them think that Honoka was a bonded would garner at least a little acceptance. Avani was determined to raise Honoka to respect the other races and the farmers around here, not to eat them or their livestock. She didn’t know what Oblivion wanted her to teach the little one, but it is what she would do with Honoka regardless.
“I’ll take her to see Shenra tomorrow.” Avani said smiling down at her little bundle of energy.
Honoka didn’t understand what was going on. Mama was putting something around her neck, and she didn't like it. So she started to chew through it, but her mother would have none of it and scolded her.
Honoka shook herself instead to rid herself of it, but it still didn’t work.
But then her Mama then opened what she had called a door. Hoknoka knew what that meant: Someone was going outside. She wasn't allowed to go outside though, but then her Mama said it was ok. Honoka took a few tentative steps out the door.
Her little eyes widened and she drew a deep breath.
Oh the smells and sights!
She started to run, but whatever was on her neck stopped her from going far. She heard her mother laugh, and then felt her pick her up. Honoka squirmed, but her mother held her tight. She spoke some soft words, and Honoka settled down. Honoka took the time to look around. Things were so new!
“Honoka, you can’t go running off.” Avani said picking up her precious little khehora, “You are too curious for your own good, so you need to stay with me.”
Avani watched as her baby stilled in her arms and looked around. She smiled at how possibly the little khehora was trying to absorb all at once. Avani set Honoka back on the ground and watched how she sniffed at everything, and they hadn’t even left the front porch yet. She giggled a bit and then took off down the stairs. Honoka reluctantly followed, Avani having to tug a bit at the leash she had put around Honoka’s neck to get her to follow her. She wasn’t tugging too hard, that would hurt the little one.
So they all set out, Avani, Honoka and Nix, into the orchard and to Shenra’s house.
Honoka studied the big thing her mother called a “tree”. It was so huge! They had little flappy things on them her mother called "leaves". The little dragon her mama called Nix was chattering away too. Honoka licked Nix’s face, and that cause the little dragon to chatter and make noises. Nix then licked Honoka back, and she couldn’t help but smile and want to play with her.
But there was a whole new world to explore, and Honoka looked up to her mama and snuggled against her leg.
Her mama petted both her and Nix, then proceeded to move through the trees. Honoka looked ahead and saw lots of trees, and wondered if there was no end to them! Well, her mama seemed fine with where they were going, and she trusted her. So Honoka followed, stopping once or twice to sniff something her mama called a “flower”.
“Shenra!” Avani called from the back porch. “Shenra! I have something to show you!”
Avani waited impatiently for Shenra to answer the back door. She didn't know what the tinker was doing, as she was not in the barn. She could be out to the Ashen City for all Avani knew. Shenra's new wings made travel to and from there easier apparently, and so visits home for her were now more frequent.
But then the back door opened and Avani saw Shenra’s face aglow with a smile.
“Come on in Avani.” Shenra said wiping her hands on an apron, “Just made some cookies. We can have them outside in the shade if you want.”
“That would be great!” Avani said. She then lifted up the homemade leash, “I got something to show you!"
She watched as Shenra looked down and her eyes widen.
“Oh sweet Goddess.” She said, “What is this?”
“This is Honoka!” Avani said picking up the baby Khehora and hugging her, “She’s my new baby.”
Honoka stared at Shenra, then leaned in and licked Shenra’s face.
Shenra looked at Honoka and laughed.
“Well, guess you’re a keeper.” Shenra said as she petted Honoka’s head.
Honoka was free.
She had felt her mama take off the thing from around her neck, and knew she was free. But as she got off the cloth thing that had been placed under a tree, her mama said something in that voice that sounded serious. So Honoka went into the green place just off the cloth and sniffed just around that area.
Oh this green stuff felt springy and cool. Honoka went to take a bite of a long piece of green stuff, but it tasted horrible. So Honoka didn't try to eat any more of it.
Honoka heard her mama call her, and then saw her mother holding the round thing that was fun to play with. So Honoka ran over to her mother, tripping on her feet in the process, then getting up and running the rest of the way with no problem.
She took the ball from her mama and proceeded to play with it. It was so wonderful! She could sink her teeth into it and chew on it, and her claws could sink in as well. Oh it was so wonderful to play with this round thing!
“She’s a bit of a handful.” Avani said watching Honoka play with the leather ball. “But at the end of the day she’s a good baby.”
“She’ll grow.” Shenra said eyeing the little bundle of energy, “You know that don’t you?”
“Yes,” Avani said smiling at Shenra, “I need to find her a Khehora to learn from. I want her to reach her full potential.”
“She’s not bonded?” Shenra said startled so much she dropped a cookie.
“No.” Avani shook her head. She placed her hand on Honoka’s head and said, “For some reason the bond never formed.” She looked at Shenra seriously, “Oh I took great care of her when she was an egg, but I think I just didn’t want her to be bonded.”
Shenra didn’t say anything, just munched on the cookie she had picked up. After a while Shenra spoke again.
“She shouldn’t be a pet.”
Avani shook her head and looked down at Honoka who was now sniffing a cookie Avani had held out to her.
“She’s more like a daughter to me.” Avani said thoughtfully.
Shenra narrowed her eyes, but said nothing.
Soon after their snack of cookies, and after both her and Shenra played with Honoka, Avani said goodbye to her friend and headed home.
Honoka, all tuckered out, was carried home by Avani. Avani smiled at her baby khehora and held her tight as Nix followed her mistress home.
Once home, Avani placed the little one into her nest box, and let her take a well needed nap. Though she would be up and about soon for dinner, Avani knew that the little one’s first adventure into the wide world had been a great success. Hopefully she would grow strong enough to live on her own one day and become a strong khehora like Oblivion.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: September 6, 2014
Words: 1,512
Avani's words: 1,004
Honoka's words: 508
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 6:19 pm
~An Avani Adventure!~
~Is This What Parenthood Is Like?!~
~Fin~
~A Solo RP~ Honoka placed her tongue between her teeth and lips as she concentrated on her pray. She was sure that the pray didn’t know she was there, it didn’t move or acknowledge her, so she was doing something right she was sure.
Honoka bent down on her front legs and stuck her bottom in the air, getting ready to pounce. Her tail, unfortunately, had a mind of her own and kept wiggling around in the air. Hopefully her pray would not see.
She had to time it just right. At least that’s what she thought. She felt for the moment to make her move and took it when she felt it was the right time!
Sploosh!
The little white fluttery thing flew off, and Honoka was in the mud without her pray. She stood and shook some of the mud off, wondering why she had missed.
Unknown to her, she had missed her target by a few inches, and had landed in the bank of a small stream rather than the dry land next to it where the small butterfly had been.
Mama wouldn’t be pleased with this.
Honoka tried to shake off some of the mud again, and then went in search of something else to pounce at.
Her mama had let her off her neck thing as she went picking those flower things. Honoka had learned that as long as she stayed close to her mother she was allowed off the strap that stopped her from going places.
“Honoka!”
Honoka perked up as she heard her mama’s voice, and ran towards where the voice came from.
Hopefully Mama wouldn’t mind her being muddy.
“Oh dear.” Avani said holding her bunch of flowers in her arm. She saw the little khehora bounding towards her, tumbling a few times, all covered in mud. As Honoka tumbled to a stop right in front of her, Avani smiled and said, “Looks like a bath is in order before you step into Mama’s kitchen.”
Honoka chirped and wagged her tail. Avani smiled started off towards home. She patted the side of her leg with her free hand.
“Come on Honoka! Let’s go home!”
Honoka was still as her mother lowered her into the warm water, her eyes tightly shut. She sat still for a moment, opening one eye slowly and then the other as she adapted to the feeling of water. She then smiled, chirped and then began to splash around.
She felt the caked mud begin to fall off as her mother took a cloth with the smelling, foaming stuff on it, and start to rub her body.
Honoka started to purr. She loved it when her mama did that. Especially when she rubbed gently on her wings. It felt so good!
Honoka then shut her eyes tight as her mama put more water over her. She didn’t understand why her mama was doing this. Honoka thought she seemed clean enough.
Her mama then took her out of the water and looked her over. Honoka licked her mama’s hands and wiggled in happiness.
“It’s almost over Honoka. I know you don’t like the water yet.”
Her mama then placed her in a dry cloth and Honoka purred again as her mama rubbed all over and she began to feel dry. Her mama then placed her on a chair and told her to sit still till she came back.
Honoka peeked from under the cloth her mama left her wrapped in. Her mama had taken the large round thing she had been placed in with the water, and take it out the door. Honoka sat still. She didn’t like it when her mama went out the door without her. She wined a bit, but did as her mama said and sat still. Well, as still as she could.
Then mama came back after a while, and Honoka couldn’t help but shake off the cloth, and chirp happily.
“I’m back Honoka. It’s all right.”
Her mama didn’t have the large round thing. So apparently whatever had been done with the water was now over with. Honoka was rather happy about that.
Her mama then came back over, smiling and picked Honoka up. She sat down and started rubbing Honoka all over again. Honoka loved it and settled down enough that she was about to fall asleep.
Then Honoka felt her mama get up and take her somewhere. Honoka saw her grandpapa and grandmamma stiting. She wagged her tail, as much as she could while sleepy, at the sight of two more people she loved. Grandpapa held out his arms and suddenly she was in her grandpapa’s lap.
She watched as her mama smiled at her, then went off back towards the room where there was food. Honoka was worried for a moment, but then her mama had come back.
Honoka smiled and tried to wiggle, but her grandpapa had a firm hold on her, and while she didn’t like that, Honoka was still glad it was food time.
“Here you go Honoka.” Her mama said smiling, “Dinner time!”
Honoka gratefully accepted the food. It was some mush that tasted good, but this time there was chunks of something in there. The chunks tasted like the mush, but she could chew it! Oh it tasted good!
After drinking some water her mother got for her, Honoka yawned and curled up. It wasn’t her mama’s lap, but it felt good anyway. She yawned again and closed her eyes. She heard her mama’s voice one last time, and soon was falling asleep with her grandpapa gently petting her head.
“Fussy thing about baths that baby is.” Avani said to her parents after she returned from putting away Honoka’s dishes in the kitchen, “Wonder if it’s because she doesn’t like water.”
“You were just the same Avani.” Her mother said. She smiled at Avani over her needlepoint, “I had to change my clothes after I gave you baths many times.”
“Really?” Avani said sitting on a footstool that was front of her father. She looked over at her mother skeptically.
“Yes you were.” Her mother said smiling, “Got as muddy as Honoka as well.”
“That I can believe.” Avani said smiling, “I loved having my adventures.”
“You still do.” Her father said lifting the sleeping Honoka.
“I can’t help it.” Avani said laughing. “Life is just one big adventure.”
“That it is.” Her father said placing the sleeping baby on his lap again.
Avani watched her baby sleep, starting to absentmindedly pet Nix. Avani smiled at the fea who was curled up next to her. Things had been the same when the little fea had arrived. She had to take care of Nix just like she was taking care of Honoka. Well, almost the same.
Nix had arrived already knowing how to eat and speak, well fea speak, but even Honoka didn’t know Draconic.
Avani sighed and thought some more. She would have to find a khehora who was willing to teach Honoka the things little khehora needed to know. This suddenly started to trouble Avani.
How was she to provide for her child?
“It’s hard being a parent.” Avani heard her mother say, “Sometimes you have to make very hard decisions, and then wonder if it was the right one.” Avani looked at her mother and saw her smile, “Sometimes, even if you think it was the wrong one, it was really right.”
“Ya just got to do what is in your heart.” Avani’s father said, “It knows how to provide you with the answers.”
Avani looked to Honoka. Was she ready to be a parent? And what would she do with children of her own? Someday she planned to have some, that was for sure, but would she be a good parent? And who would want to marry her?
“Don’t worry about it now Avani.” Her mother said. Avani looked to her and saw her smiling, “You are only fifteen, almost sixteen. You have plenty of time to make those choices.” Her mother then looked over to Avani’s father, “It took me a long time to know your father was right for me.”
Avani looked at her father and saw him smiling as he petted Honoka.
Avani looked at her khehora baby. One thing for sure was that Avani had to question herself about what to do with Honoka. And finding another khehora to teach her what she needed to know was the right thing to do.
“I have a baby that needs me now.” Avani said as she got up and took Honoka from her father’s lap.
Avani then took the little one up stairs, with Nix following, and into her room. There she placed Honoka into her nest box to sleep
Avani watched as Nix settled in next to Honoka and smiled.
Whatever the future may hold she knew she had help and support from her family.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date Posted: September 7, 2014
Words: 1,482
Avani's words: 636
Honoka's words: 846
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