Aminah tapped her fingers against the staff strapped to her belt. The crystal orb felt good against her tapping nails and calmed her a bit. She didn't really know what to expect out of this, but the time had come for war and she had to be ready for the unexpected.
The people around her seemed to be somewhere between the two extremes of catching up with old friends and laughing with each other like nothing was wrong, and cowering in place not knowing how to cope with the upcoming battle. It was weird, because while Aminah was nervous, and she could feel her stomach was clenched and a chill in the center of her core, she couldn't seem to sit still. She kept her fingers busy tapping away at her belt and paced the campground back and forth, waiting for the start. She guessed that it was the waiting that killed her the most, and she was glad that she had been able to talk Sathe into staying in the sidelines and with the other noncombatants. The last thing she needed was more worry when her best friend and most of the others she knew in the battle as well.
At the moment, her little sister was sitting on a wooden crate, probably wondering if Aminah was going crazy or not.
DraconicFeline
Kaa can find Aminah if she'd like :]
Sathe (Post 1)
Sathe sat on a crate, her head in her hands, watching her sister go back and forth between the bulk of the site. All of the tents were pitched and Sathe had spent most of the time so far preparing the healing herbs, salves, and wraps that she would assume the others would need. Now that she was about as prepared as she was going to get, her little hands had nothing left to do.
Her eyes followed her sister back and forth, wondering what it was that could be going through her head. She needed to relax, that was for sure.
Sathe got up from her box and stretched, bringing her feet up behind her and letting out a sign of relief. She did a couple of toe touches and side bends before deciding she was limber enough for now and rolled her shoulders back. Aminah would be hard to stop, but her pacing was driving Sathe nuts. She grabbed a hold of her sister's shoulders, and even though she was shorter and smaller, tried to pull her to a stop. "Alright Big Sister, that's enough for now." Pacing wasn't going to do anyone any good except to make Sathe more nervous.
Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 1:26 pm
Briella Amadi was so excited, and he was feeling mischievous. Briella had always discouraged his tricks, most people didn't like them she always said, but what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her right? He gestured towards people that were far enough from their people that hopefully Briella and Kadriye wouldn't be able to see. He wanted to have fun!
When Kadriye frowned Briella did the same. Great, she had made her mad. "That is not what I meant Kadriye, I know you are capable, more so than most here." she looked around at some of the Earthlings. Some of them looked like they were having trouble holding their weapons up. "I just worry, and I wish I didn't have to worry about both you and Ilyra out there. One of you is bad enough." she said with a nervous laugh. It was her way of making herself think this was just a joke, that there was no way that either Ilyra or Kadriye was going to get hurt. They both were so important to her... She didn't know what she would do without them.
Ilyra It always pleased Ilyra when Dyakida, or anyone for that matter, confused her voice for Briella's. She wasn't made in Briella's likeness like most children were, but that didn't mean that she wasn't Briella's daughter. "Yes it's me." she said happily. When Dyakida asked her to work on some arrows she nodded. She sat down and started putting some of them together, she had been doing this for some time so it was no problem. "Thank you, can't have too many arrows." she said with a smile.
When Dyakida asked her if this was her first major encounter she frowned, could Dyakida sense her worry? Did she just know that she was totally freaking out. She was about answer when all of sudden Tahigwa came into view. Her eyes narrowed at once, and although Tahigwa was excited about seeing her Ilyra was just made at Tahigwa. Very mad. "How dare you! You leave me and than you just come back talking about fighting together like we always wanted to! You left me, YOU LEFT ME!" and than she realized that Dyakida was still there. Her shouting must have hurt Dyakida's ears. "I'm sorry Dyakida." she said looking at Dyakida and than Tahigwa again. Oh how she wanted to pound her best friend into the ground, but they were going into battle so there was no use hurting her when they would both most likely be hurt pretty soon.
Tahigwa leaned backwards as Ilyra shouted at her, and took a step back. Her hand reached to grasp her wrist and her neck shrunk into her shoulders, ooooh, she was in trouble... The jewel clad girl peered sheepishly up at her best friend and to the side, before she turned.
"Maybe I should come back later..." She said, sighing. "Unless you want to talk to me in private before we go kick some behind...?"
Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 1:50 pm
grasshopper pie
Ime post 2
Ime gladly shuffled over and sat beside the man, crossing her legs and grabbing her ankles.
"Ohhh... she won't be happy..." the child warned. Her Mama was never happy if she did things first and told her later. "At least you're writing her. That's nice. I still live with my Mama, but sometimes I write her notes too."
She tilted her head at the man then and smiled. It was clear that she did not understand the depth of what was to occur.
"The whole Kesris is here. Mama said 'stay away from the healing place.' I'm supposed to stay with my aunties and uncles, but you're not one of them. That's okay, though. They're all working, and you seem nice. You don't have to stop writing 'cause of me, though. Your Mama will wanna know. I think I should help sometime, because I get boo-boos all the time and Mama knows how to make them better, so I probably know how to make things better too, right?"
Gaddok:
Gaddok's smile widened, this girls naive nature eased his nerves and reminded him of his reasons for joining the resistance. "The important stuff is there, I was just trying to sugar coat it for her so she doesn't worry too much." Gaddok was terrible with words and preferred to just say what he wanted to, but his mother was fragile; He's learned to choose his words carefully before delivering "bad news".
"Healing is a delicate art, little miss." Gaddok began, "I'm not well versed in it, but I do know that to be good at it it can take years of practice." Not wanting to discourage the little tyke, he continued, "But some things are easy to make better..." he bit the corner of his lip trying to think of what someone of her age could assist with, "We.... Could try to find a supply tent. Healers need to have supplies to heal boo-boos." He chuckled to himself for using her terminology.
Getting to his feet, Gaddok slipped his journal back into is knapsack, grabbed his sword in his less dominant hand, offering his other to the little girl, "I'm Gaddok, by the way."
| Not Counting | Uquin, Healing Tents, by Biroki, Betoto, Mella, Alek, and Zuri |
Uquin hadn't expected so many people to appear, and while it made him feel somewhat nervous to suddenly be involved in a group like this, it also lessened the burden enough that he didn't mind it. At the very least they could get quite a bit of work done, hopefully. For the most part the other prentices seemed to not notice him though, and while the practical side of him was glad for the chance to focus on learning new things, another part wondered if he was sending off 'Don't Talk to Me' signals without realizing it.
He was suddenly thankful that the few people he'd met after moving to Yera had been so outgoing, because the prospect of starting interaction with anyone else made him feel foolish. 'Mella' he noted as the other prentice introduced herself, storing it away and trying to match her face to the name. If they'd be working together, he might as well get to know everyone - even if she wasn't introducing herself to him, personally.
Comparatively, as another man slunk up to the group Uquin briefly turned to look at him, returning the man's polite, but unenthusiastic smile with a polite nod and welcoming gesture of his own, trying to force a smile as well. This brief interaction ended though when a woman seemed to recognize the other man, so Uquin sighed and turned his eyes back to the this sage - nodding at his instructions. He seemed nervous, but rather than dishearten Uquin it made him feel relieved! He'd been feeling guilty about his nervousness up to this point, so if a sage could show it then surely a prentice could as well, right?
Uquin followed him inside, and looked around at the supplies that had been left. While many of the fighters were holding on to their own small stashes of healing herbs and berries, more of the potent healing supplies had been donated to these tents. He recognized a few of them, but for the most part the herbs seemed new to him - a disappointment, since he'd been trying to study them for just such an occasion. "How can I help, sir?" Uquin asked uncertainly, finally turning away from the supply sacks to face the sage, Biroki.
Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 3:19 pm
At first he didn't know what had caused him to stand straighter or what had lifted his lips in the faintest of smiles. Her voice drifted through his subconscious, leaving a nostalgic, homey feeling in its wake, a feeling that bloomed into genuine warmth when he heard her call his name.
"Zuri?" A wide smile subtracted years from Alek's face as he turned to wrap his sister in a hug. "It's been... too long." He took a brief moment to make sure she was okay, at least physically, then peeked over her shoulder, his eyes going slightly wider at the sight of the children whose hands she'd been holding before she hugged him.
"Are those..." He couldn't recall their names. For a moment he hadn't recalled there were children at all, but saying so would likely hurt or offend, so he kept the thought to himself. When he spoke again, his voice was soft and far away. "I really have been hiding for quite some time."
Alek came back to himself with a shake of his head and a smile, his hair brushing his cheeks. "No, I'm not fighting at all. Kayin would murder me, I think." He conveniently left out the part about her not knowing he was here, hoping that the subject would never come up. "But you are? Fighting, I mean." He knew she could take care of herself, but he couldn't help feeling concerned.
a pet dino
i can easily take out him knowing about the girls if zuri wouldn't have sent word let me know wheeeee <3
Smerdle
Scamp
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bobaTJ
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Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 5:07 pm
Ime [ not counting ]
Ime nodded aggressively. Yes, his mother would do better if she didn't think he was going to get boo-boos. Bad boo-boos, Mama had said. Really bad. Ime had seen a boy break his arm once, so she imagined it was something like that. She did not seem at all put-off by the man's insistence that healing was difficult. She could do it... or she could learn!
"Okay!" she chirped then, taking the big man's hand without hesitation. Ah, yes, children like her were the casualties of war. "I'm Ime. I'm an ice-wind. What are you?"
akuma_kessaku
Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 6:50 pm
grasshopper pie
Ime [ not counting ]
Ime nodded aggressively. Yes, his mother would do better if she didn't think he was going to get boo-boos. Bad boo-boos, Mama had said. Really bad. Ime had seen a boy break his arm once, so she imagined it was something like that. She did not seem at all put-off by the man's insistence that healing was difficult. She could do it... or she could learn!
"Okay!" she chirped then, taking the big man's hand without hesitation. Ah, yes, children like her were the casualties of war. "I'm Ime. I'm an ice-wind. What are you?"
"Leaf-Wind," Gaddok replied while keeping an eye out for a supply tent."My mother's a Leaf earthling, Father's a Wind, but he would shun me for admitting it. He prefers to think my mother has adopted the societies of wind and abandoned those of her people." He kept his pace shorter so Ime could keep up."I'm babbling again. My father, Remus, is a merchant who's recently taken on the chore of becoming a counselor, which causes him to travel more than usual. My mother, Aerilyn, stays home and keeps the house beautiful. You come from a family of healers, I presume?"
There were rows upon rows of tents, most housing soldiers steeling their mind for battle, honing their weapons, and then there were the occasional tents of those who had already danced on the battlefield. If they were lucky they were brought back here to be patched up. Some were sent back if their injuries weren't bad, others would spend a good portion of their life trying to adjust to their injuries.
Gaddok couldn't keep the feelings for creeping up on him; slowly clawing up his spine and gripping at the back of his mind. He knew he could very well end up like that, and it scared him, but being scared wasn't going to help him on the battlefield. He had to keep a clear mind, had to have control over his emotions; he also had to find something for little Ime to do and this camp was full of pointed objects meant for causing pain, and plenty of lads and ladies that had been victims of those objects.
"Hmmm..." He paused on his way up one of the rows and looked around. Gaddok had completely lost track of what he had been up and where he had been down, everything started to blend together, "Ummm... Let's go left here." He muttered while holding a little tighter to Ime's hand to be sure not to loose her when weaving through the crowd.
A familiar face caught his eye... A few really, "Kiyelt?" He muttered to himself as he peered past a couple passing by hefting supplies in large wooden crates. Those Sailscales of his were pretty indistinguishable.
"I think we may have found something to help with," Gaddok announced as he closed the gap, "Ime, have you ever seen a sailscale. They're fascinating creatures, and I happen to know someone that owns a pair." Catching up to Kiyelt, Gaddok smirked, "What brings you here? Iniu going to chew on some Oba troops?"
Ime gasped and grinned. Gaddok was using a lot of very big words that Ime didn't really get. She knew what a "merchant" was, and she knew of the Leaf people and of course of the Wind people.
"We-- oh! I, um. I live with my Mama. She's a healer. She, um. We make deliveries sometimes! Weapons and stuff. It's just us two so we're easy to go. My Papa... Mama says he wasn't made for the warm and he went back up the mountain. I don't know my Papa." Sometimes she had dreams about him coming down from the big mountain and meeting her, but it hadn't happened. Not yet.
She gladly followed Gaddok, more or less placing her life in his hands for the time being. She perked when he mentioned that they might have found someone, though, and flexed her free hand in and out in what would have been a clap were she not otherwise occupied.
"No, I've never-- what's that?" she asked Gaddok, and then turned to the man he was speaking to. "Is that you? Do you have sai-- sais-kk-cail-k...s?" She recognized the word 'Oba'. Mama had said they were the enemy. Someone apparently was going to chew on them. How weird! She'd have to-- wait.
Wait a second.
Ime peered down at herself, and then back up at the other man.
"You look like me!"
akuma_kessaku
Duke Edward Drake
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 8:24 am
akuma_kessaku
grasshopper pie
Kiyelt turned and grinned at his friend, "only if they get really close to me. Norcrest however will be more long range dive bombing. Oh, hi you!" He said to Gaddock and the little girl. "Is she yours?" He giggled. "You are adorable."
Iniu being a better ambassador then her mount, sidled down his arm to peep a hello at the little girl. Norcrest lashed his tail at Gaddock and hissed, evidently remembering his cage. "Don't mind him, hes a grouch." Kiyelt said, "you did help me save him, he just doesn't see it that way."
"Am I what?" He asked Ime, "and yes two, I want to be a beast tamer but Iniu has tamed me really." He smiled. "This pink one is Iniu and the grumpy dark one is Norcrest."
"Ah yes, well I am of the ice tribe, isn't it hot out here?" He smiled. For one of the ice tribe he was not smothered in clothes and in Jahaur that was fortunate for him as he was most definitely not made for heat.
"So thinking of joining the front Gaddock? What weapon were you thinking of again? Sword right? A whip is going to help me disarm, but its not exactly all that effective in battle."
(Kiyelt post 2)
Aukai Oceansoul
Springtime Shapeshifter
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Suhuba Captain
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Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 1:48 pm
While the multitude of people moved back and forth, working on setting up and preparing for the battle ahead, there was more preparation going on inside of the tactical tent where the leaders of the various groups had gone into to finalize their strategy what seemed like ages ago now. Voices could be heard constantly from inside the tent, it seemed as though there were many things to be discussed and with so many different sets of eyes and minds on the strategizing it was taking longer than usual.
Eventually, once the set up had been completed, a rustling came from the tactical tent.
Three of the leaders of Tendaji emerged, seeming not only serious, but their eyes were set with the look of determination and leadership. Freya, Besian, and Yansa looked to each other, continuing to talk in hushed tones before they seemed to agree with a nod of their heads and made their way for the center of the camp. The tall Alkidike seemed to take a back seat, looming over the other two earthlings with her, but crossing her arms. She was meant to be a beacon for the Alkidike participating today, a reason for them to listen up and listen well. Besian held out a hand to his wife, helping to lift her small form onto a set of crates to give her the added height she needed. Her small stature would get nowhere in this crowd.
Slowly the group seemed to stop what they were doing, the stillness radiating out from the center until the entire camp seemed to settle into a hush.
Freya's voice boomed out among the crowd, louder than most had heard her speak before, and her voice had no problem echoing out to the edges of the circle of people. "The time is here. The set up is complete, stock has been taken of the reserves of supplies, we are prepared."
The other four earthling leaders emerged from the tent, joining into the crowd to hear the speech and to stand as a symbol for their individual peoples. "We do not know how many our enemy will have. We do not know what kind of weaponry they will bring, but we do know what we have. And we will fight back. We have thousands of willing men and women who will stand against the threat we've been hearing of for months." Freya seemed to be done with her speech for now, relieving herself from her position on top of the crates. It was a short speech, Freya had never been one for long winded anythings, but the other leaders didn't seem to mind.
Though the leaders of the tribe didn't disburse from the crowd as many would have thought. It would seem that they were waiting outside of their tent, open to questions, last minute preparations, and guiding supplies to their proper locations.
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 3:40 pm
a pet dino
Kadriye p3
Kadriye listened carefully and nodded with understanding as she realized and accepted the reasoning behind Briella's words. She might not fully agree but she could see where the other Alkidike was coming from. "I worry as well, but I will fight stronger for it." The words were offered with a reassuring smile. The more enemies Kadriye disabled or kept occupied the less there would be to strike some crippling or fatal blow against those she held closest to her heart. Aisha had made the Alkidike a hale and hearty people who were not afraid to fight for what was theirs.
As Yansa re-appeared Kadriye turned her head slightly so that she could both keep Briella in view and pay attention to those from whom she would take direction. She listened as the ice tribe woman spoke, Freya's words were not particularly comforting nor informative. Still, she had lead and kept safe her own tribe for years and she had Yansa's support. Kadriye would follow whatever orders she was given and do her best to carry them out regardless of her uncertainty.
"Sailscale," Gaddok said for Ime while pointing to the creatures hanging off Kiyelt.
"She's not mine, no, but she was looking for a friend and happened to find me propping up a tree," he chuckled at the notion, "And we became acquainted."
Nearly getting slapped by a flailing Norcrest tail, Gaddok turned to scold the lizard, but was silenced by a woman's echoing voice. Taking Ime's hand, he waved for Kiyelt to follow as they joined the crowd to hear what was going on.
The speech was short and sweet; got right to the point like Gaddok liked. Turning to face Kiyelt he took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, "Well, That's our call. Be seeing you out on the battlefield, I guess."
"Well, Ime, I've gotta get ready to leave this camp, so I'm going to have to bring you to your moma, auntie, or uncle..." Gaddok patted the top of her head and smiled faintly. His nerves were returning and he tried not to tremble, holding her hand tighter almost trying to cling to this slight calm before he was flung into a world he had never experienced before.
This was something he needed to do; not just for himself, but for all of Tendaji, for this little girl and every other child like her. He knew that he alone wasn't enough to change the tides of battle, but if young, able bodied individuals like himself merely relied on someone else to volunteer, our army wouldn't be nearly as immense as it is; which could be enough to change the tides of battle.
Grasshopper Pie
Duke Edward Drake
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 7:16 pm
Niadra "Yes, I figured it would be best to come and help. I wouldn't want to be sitting at home not knowing what was going on. But enough about that, where have you been? We looked everywhere for you, some of us are still up there looking." she said with a frown. They had left about five of the troupe members back where they last saw Senja. "I was really worried." she said hugging Senja again.
All of a sudden there was a trunk touching Niadra and she laughed. "I assume this is your new friend?" she said with a smile and a laugh as she reached out towards the trunk. As the elders started talking Niadra looked towards them, turning back towards Senja when they stopped talking. "That was... Reassuring. I'm glad I'm not out there, the practice battle we did at the tournament was horrible." she said with a roll of her eyes. She had lost bad, that was just a game but this was real life. If she lost, well she would be dead.
