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 Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:53 pm
The Grucian teenager stood impatiently, waiting for the ship to land. Her long sleeved tunic ended in wide sleeves of silver. The main part of the shirt was en emerald green. Beads traced intricate patterns along the neckline and hem line. Her tan pants flared out at the bottoms, partially covering the dark green moccasins that were also heavily decorated. She wore her hair in her usual way, a bun on either side of her head. Her earrings were two blue green feathers.
The teenage senshi bounced on the balls of her feet excitedly, while her Teacher watched with a disapproving eye. "Sit still Svelte." She barked sharply, causing the girl's bouncing to deflate.
Svelte was more than excited. She was ecstatic. After weeks of negotiating and pleading, Acubens was coming to visit her. She couldn't wait to show Acubens all of the sights! They could go to the gardens! Or bird watching! Or maybe to listen to music!
Claw Foot was the first off the ship. She was always so eager tos ee new things, and, mostly, to eat new foods. She hissed as someone came near here, being as distrustful as her master, and bounded over to the girl she had known since she was barely hatched. She greeted Svelte with what would be sounded like a purr.
Acubens was next off the ship, having not bothered to change her apperence to fit in with her surroundings, despite the change of outfit provided for her. No. She was much prouder of her animal skin tunic held on by dried tendons and bare feet. Her hair was a messy and filthy as always, as was the trait of her people. It had, however, grown longer, and required her to tie it back with a leather thong, to keep it out of her eyes.
"Svelte," she gushed, golden eyes closed in her wide smile. Her skin was almost brown from the time she spent outside on her home planet. She reached out her long, muscular arms to embrace her Sister as Claw Foot watched with a smile in her eyes.
The Claw Foot was the first one to reach her. She reached up to pat her head, saying "Well hi! Look how big you've gotten!" Her pat turned to a scratch underneath the chin while the girl smiled. Her smiled widened as a familiar messy haired friend crossing from the ship to where she and the Claw Foot stood. Momentarily leaving the creature to her wide eyed Teacher, she ran to Acubens, reaching her just as she said her name. Beads clicked as they hugged. "Your here!"
She leaned back, staring at her clothes, and laughed. "I see you didn't change. Good!" Acubens wasn't getting too many strange looks. The Claw Foot got more than one stare from passersby however.
Claw Foot would have fallen forward, had the Teacher not caught her fall. At the sight of her mother, however, she cooed and ambled to her side. Acubens only toss a deadlock over her shoulder and grinned broadly.
"I never change, Svelte." Her voice still held a heavy "accent," which manifested in a rather crude way of speaking. Still, she was understood by now, fairly easily. "Oh, it's so goodto be off of that blessed ship," she sighed, turning to pass a rude gesture off to the metal beast before turning her attention back to her friend. "I was afraid Claw Foot would go savage if I didn't get her off soon. She doesn't fly well." Claw Foot chirpped as if on cue and nipped at Acubens' hair.
Svelte giggled, listening to Acubens. Her language skill shad improved so much since the last time they had talked! "I like flying." She said, looking at the ship as Acubens bid it a not so fond farewell. "It's fun to see new places. Like here!" She wanted to dance, and as Teacher came forward, she turned and said "Teacher this is Acubens. Acubens this is Teacher. Is tells me how to use my powers!" Her green eyes glowed with pride.
Teacher cleared her throat, and said "Nice to meet you Acubens. Her stern gray eyes didn't show much emotion, but the small smile gave away her happiness that Acubens was here. "Let's get going shall we?" She showed them to the path to the outer part of town, where Svelte lived and trained. Svelte started down the path, shouting "Follow me!" The path went into the forest, where the trees grew high into the sky, creating a rooftop of green. The shadows became blots of jade. Greenery grew kneehigh along the path and in places flopped over the walk way. Svelte ran laughing, knowing the path by heart.
Acubens had to admit, it was strange walking through the underbrush and not worrying about larger animals trying to eat you. Still, with Claw Foot close to her side, she followed Svelte as she wished, adjusting the fur vambraces arrogantly, smirking at the people who watched her and her steed parade through town. The petulant child Svelte had first met would have raged at thier wondering eyes, but this young adult who had grown so beautifully into her new powered loved the attention. In fact, she'd grown to expect it.
Claw Foot swelled with the same pride, chirping and snapping her razor sharp teeth to exhibit her hunting prowess. Acubens rubbed her steeds chin. "Soon Claw Foot will be big enough to ride," she informed Svelte. "Then I will take you all over Acubens, to the inner island where the bigger animals lie."
The children especially were fascinated with Claw Foot. They walked along side them, foliage up past their hips. Occasionally one brave soul would inch closer, only to bounce away in laughter. There weren't creatures like Claw Foot on Grus. The closest things were Bloom Lizards, creatures who size and color depended on what plant they resided in. Svelte beamed with pride as she led her friend through the town. Above their heads the houses loomed like giant disk shaped shadows, though the farther ones from their location actually looked like houses. All of them wrapped around the trunk of the tree they were built on. Some of them rose multiple stories up, with slanted rooftops and carved open windows. There were various methods of getting up into the tree. Most common among these houses were stairs carved or built into the living trunk. One house they passed by had a lift that rose when a pulley was activated. All the houses also sported a balcony all the way around the house, and rope bridges connecting to other nearby trees. The sky was filled with creaking, talking and laughing.
“I would like to see all of those creatures.” She said, looking back. “I can show you some of our creatures as well. But for now, welcome to the planet Grus.” She gestured to the houses, saying “Those are our houses. We build them all by ourselves. My family’s house has three stories, but my home has only two.” Her house was located a little farther away from the center of town. There were calls of “Hello Miss!” And “Good Morning Junior!” while they passed underneath bridges. There were people with their feet on the ground as well, picking ferns and flowers, clearing and planting. Far away there was a loud series of cries as the farmers brought in the Banded Hoppers.
“It is a little busy here.” She said meekly, hoping that Acubens wouldn’t mind.
Claw Foot would n** gently at the children, only touching their hands with her teeth. She would never hurt an innocent. Still, she loved the attention as much as her mother did, and chirpped for her approval. Acubens gave it with a small nod. The creatures sharp claw, the one she was named for, dug into the earth happily as she laughed with the children.
"It's much better than my planet. The people there are distrustful, even within villages. We are almost always on the verge of war. Peaceful planets are a blessed repreive." She grinned and toughed her friends shoulder, fingernails cracked and dirty. Against the other girl, Acubens' savagery was shocking.
"It's wonderful, Sister. Truly wonderful." And so familar, betweent eh heavy forest and the tree houses, Acubens almost felt at home.
“I like your planet.” Svelte said, edging around a large bush with bright yellow flowers. A dragonfly buzzed up from one of the blooms, hovering for a moment before settling back down among the blossoms. “I think the animals are simply wonderful!” Her words were aimed at Claw Foot, who was still being followed by her group of fans. Emboldened by prolonged contact, a few were getting close enough to touch her sides, though no one dared. Yet. Give her a few days, and Claw Foot might be being begged for rides.
“This is my house.” She said, pointing up at a treehouse above. As previously stated, it was two stories high, the first being large and round while the other was much smaller, and sat above the first story but not connected to it. The roof was a lovely shade of red, and outside wind chimes clinked together in a melodic sort of way. She indicated the door at the base of the tree. Opening it, she indicated the lift. “We should all fit.” She stepped inside, and when Acubens and Claw Foot were both inside, she shut the door, flipping a switch and sending them upwards into the lower story of her home.
Upon exiting the lift, the first thing that was noticed was the color of the room. The lower half of the walls were a natural wood color, the upper part was a red to match the outside roof. Above, beams criss crossed and were adorned with all kinds of trinkets. There was a table and a couple chairs at one side of the room, and the circular wall was carved in three places with large windows shuttered with red wood. Comfy chairs and couches were opposite the table and chairs. The whole room was a clamor of organized clutter. There were mementos and things all over! The balcony outside had a wood railing, and red ribbon was wrapped around it gaily.
If any of the children had reached out to touch Claw Foot, then she would have happily allowed it. She did so love the attention. She woudl have, in fact, stayed with the children had her mother not clicked for her to follow. Still, she was happy to follow, happy with just about everything, as a matter fo fact. She purred and chirpped next to Acubens, as unsure as her mother with the sudden rise.
"Er... we don't have contraptions like these on my planet," she said nervously, clinging to whatever peice of solid wood she could find as the ground fell quickly below her. While Acubens had no fear of heights, for she too lived in a tree, technology frightened her, as it did all of her people. Even simple lifts were strange to her.
So it was no surprise that when the lift stopped at the top level of the building Acubens all but fell from it, almost shaking from the closest thing to fear she felt. Claw foot shrieked angrily at the lift, jettesoning herself from it as fast as her mother.
Svelte watched the twosome leave the lift quickly, and she apologized, saying "I'm sorry. I didn't know that you guys didn't have anything like this." She stepped out easily, kicking off her moccasins as she walked. They bounced against the tree trunk and lay still. Her walking took her to the couch, where she flopped onto the feather filled cushions with a sigh. It was always nice to come home. "So this is my home." She said, indicating the round room. "If you'd like, I can ask someone to bring in a couple mattresses from somewhere else. She really hoped that the lift hadn't ruined Acubens' want to stay with Svelte. "Anything else we want, I can ask for. Being a senshi in training has its perks." Her smiled showed that while on occassion she took advantage of the perk, it wasn't a habit.
Acubens' smile returned to her easily, and with her rise in mood came a happier Claw Foot. The Runner quickly busied herself investigating the many shiney things to be found within the treetop home while Acubens quickly joined her friend's side on the couch.
"Oh no, don't bother with that. On Acubens we sleep on furs. A blanket will to just fine for me. Claw Foot prefers to sleep without anything." The Runner chirpped from her position nipping at some beads which hung from the cieling.
"I wish being a senshi was as easy here as it is at home. Back on Acubens it's almost militant. I had to do so much megotiating to be able to come here." Acubens rubbed her forhead with a grimace.
"Did you know that my name, translated to you language, means 'thriving in weeds'. Some days it seems like tangled in them is more like it." Still, she smiled easily and rubbed Svelte's arm.
"Oh, but I ahve so much to tell you. Of my power, of what it means to me. But first you msut tell me of yours. What as your power manifested as?"
Svelte's smile widened as Acubens decided that she would still stay here. It would be like a slumber party! How exciting! Her trinkets were being investigated, and she gave Claw Foot a look of gentle pleading to not eat her things before turning back to Acubens. Her laughter rang out when she mentioned the translation. How silly! "Oh! my power!" she said, suddenly thinking about it. "I guess I have the powers of feathers." Feathers. That had been quite the shock. At first, Svelte had been dissappointed. Feathers weren't exactly scary and threatening. But when she learned that many a generation of Grus Senshi had used feathers to fight all kinds of evil, she was comforted.
Claw Foot noted the look and monitored her own actions as she continued to prod at the many trinkets. As her mouth acted as her hands, she had no choice but to use that, but she was careful, however, not to break or scratch anything. More careful now that she had been warned.
"Feathers," If Acubens giggled it was because of the vast difference between her power and the power of her friend. "Oh dear, that's perfect for you. My peaceful Sister." She cupped Svelte's cheek with gentle fingers. "You as feathers and I as Velociraptors. We could take over all of the universe, you and I." She laughed easily at the though, throwing one leg over her other.
"Velociraptors? What are those?" They sounded quite frightening. She smiled as Acubens cupped her face, grasping the girl's hand with her own. "I know I am peaceful, but when it comes to protecting Grus I can't be." Her power was frustrating at times. "However, I think that we could take over the universe easily. As long as Claw Foot comes with!" Her legs drew up against her body in a criss cross sitting position, and she said "But enought about my lame power. What is new with you? I am glad they let you come visit!" A large green bird the size of a large guinea pig landed on the open window, blue plumes going up and over, almost covering the creature's eyes. Its wings were a gradient from emerald to a deep blue, and it peeked in with small beady eyes. Svelte paused, watching the bird, wondering how it would react to Claw Foot, and how she would react to it. "Look Acubens! That bird is called a Quetzel. They are probably my favorite kind of bird ever!"
Acubens followed the line of Svelte's arm towards the bird. There was nothing so beautiful on her own planet. Anything colored was venomous or out to eat you. She watched the bird with this in mind, lips in a thin line. Claw Foot was the first to investigate, shoving her violet nose into the birds plumage and watching it with green eyes. Acubens sat still as her pet investigated what could be trouble for her. She lauged, however, when the bird squaked and pecked her forhead before flying away. Claw Foot watched the other two girls with wide eyes and cooed confusedly as she watched the bird leaving. "Forgive us both," Acubens sighed. "Colors, it would seem, mean very different things to the both of us. This will take some getting used to." She leaned back, relaxed again. "Oh, new with me? Where do I begin? Training on Acubens is... horrible. I'm up before the sun rises and not back down until long after it sets. My body has been trained in these few short years to be a mercinary and a fighter, but they have done nothing with my mind. I have no will to kill anyone else. This thinking is punished with more training." She grinned wryly, almost melting back into the couch. "This is the first time I've been able to relax in so long."
As the Quetzel flew away in a huff, Svelte covered her mouth with a hand to hide the fit of giggles she got. Poor Claw Foot. "That's quite alright. There are a couple poisonous animals around here, but they are pretty easy to spot. Actually, I can show them to you if you'd like." The girl rose, walking over to bookshelf that curved with the wall. It took her almost a full minute to find what she was looking for: a book bound in a brown cover with gold writing scrawled across it. On her way back to the couch, she pulled at a string that, if one listened carefully, rang a bell somewhere off in the distance. A subsequent ring from a bell next to the first string, and Svelte picked up an instrument, talking into it. "Would you mind bringing up some food stuff and drinks? And perhaps some Pillow Back meat for Claw Foot?" A quiet response could be heard, and she said "Thanks so much!"
She returned to the couch, flipping through the book while Acubens talked of her training. She made a face at the thought of the long hours, and said "I guess I am far luckier. Mine is mostly learning the history of Sailor Grus, and much reading. I don't get to use my powers much until I replace the current Sailor Grus. Your training sounds like no fun at all! I'm sorry you have to go through it." She paused in her page turning long enough to put a hand on Acubens shoulder. A reassuring smile, and her face was back in the book. Once she had found the right page, she twisted the book around to hold it up. "Claw Foot, come here. You should know what this is." The sketch was of a large spider, with two spines sticking out from it's head. The whole creature was a ruddy brown and red. "This is a Bero's Spider. The spines are super poisonous. They hang out on Rubber Wood Trees."
Claw Foot, with her acute hearing, jerked her head around when she heard the bell off in the distance. She gurgled to herself for a moment as she tried to puzzle out what had just happened.
As she thought, Acubens listened to Grus. "As tough as my training is, I don't think I could sit around reading." Strenuous as her training was, at least she got to do something. She didn't think that she could just sit around reading.
At the idea fo food, both Claw Foot and Acubens perked up. Neither had thought about how hungry they were in the excitment of the new planet. Two sets of stomach gurgled as if on cue, making Acubens hold her tummy and Claw Foot gurgle at her own.
Both ignored thier stomachs, however, when they were called and listened carefully to what Svelte was telling them. Claw Foot hissed at the sight of the spider, as fond of the arachnids as her mother. Which was to say not a lot.
"The Rubber Wood Trees. Where are those?"
"Rubber wood trees are thinner than the ones we live in." She explained. "They have really squishy bark. We use it to make things sometimes. But yeah, if you see one of these, just kinda..leave it alone." She laughed, closing the book of animals. "But I mean, other than that there really aren't any dangerous animals on Grus, unless you get the Banded Hoppers going. Then they won't stop for anything!" The gurgling of stomachs made her laugh. Her own stomach was protesting the lack of food, and as if on cue, the lft opened, showing two girls. Twins, they both sported Black hair tied in a side ponytail, though on opposite sides of the other's head. Their sparkling gray eyes widened in unison at the sight of Claw Foot. THe one holding her food, called Dama, stepped gingerly forward, holding out the meat that had been seared so that the outside was a grilled brown. She set the plate down carefully, backing away without a word.
Grus smiled and said "Dama ,Claw Foot won't hurt you. She's a sweetheart." As if to demonstrate, Svelte reached her hand out to stroke the top of her head. The second girl, who had the people's food, was braver. After setting down the plate, she too reached out to pet Claw Foot's neck, wide smile reaching her face as she realized that she wasn't going to get her hand bitten off. "Acubens, this is Dama and Dayma." She indicated which was which, and they both waved to the newcomer. Then they both retreated to the lift, and Dayma said "By Miss Singer!" before they were lost to sight.
The plates were piled with fruits of many colors and textures. There was also something that looked similar to cheese, though it too had a fruity tang to it. The drinks were chocolate, and rich. Svelte picked up a peach colored fruit and took a bite. "In response to your earlier question, the Rubber Trees are mostly outside of town. We clear them out to keep the spiders away." She said through a mouthful of fruit.
Claw Foot happily reveled in the attention, visibly upset that she had scared one of the girls. It wasn't her fault that she looked so scary. She cooed gently at the more fightened girl, making to go after her, but was then distracted by the food at her feet. She happily went to eating, glad for the food being cooked. After all, Claw Foot was not like those uncivilized Runners. The ones who ate raw flesh of still living animals. She preferred her food seasoned and cooked.
Acubens welcomed the food as well, tired of the meager rations she was limited to with her training. She happily dug into a fruit that she didn't both to learn the name of. The juice hit her tongue in a blossom of tangy sweetness, making her grin at the sensation. Foods here were so flavorful! She quickly reached the pit of the fruit and cleaned the juice of the fruit off on her fur vambrace.
"Does the clearing do an adequate job," she asked after she'd finished, reaching less savagley for another fruit, this one purple and oblong.
Svelte puased in her selection of a second fruit, looking to Acubens. "Yes it does a good job. The Bero's are lazy. Plus if they get off the trees other things try to eat them. Like Blossom Lizards." Her second fruit was green and yellow striped, and upon opening it it revealed bright green seeds shaped like teardrops. She carefully picked out a few, and then bit into the flesh of the fruit. The afternoon was starting to turn, the shadows outside turnign a deeper shade of green. Night time always fell early here, since the trees blocked the sun pretty efficiantly. Already there were a few lanterns being lit outside along the rope bridges, lighting the way for people to get home, or to visit others. The Banded Hoppers were secure, and the farmer were returning to their houses, where dinner would be made. The first few chords of music floated through the window, and Svelte's ears perked up. Someone was playing a mayatobe! She jumped up, still holding her fruit, and went to the window that the Quetzal had landed on. Sure enough, two trees away, an older man sat outside of his home on a pillow, tuning the instrument that looked similar to a guitar with two necks. "Acubens, do you have music on your planet?"
Claw Foot and Acubens both heard the music at the same time. "Back home," she said with a sigh, leaning on the window frame next to Svelte, "We have drums of war. Nothing beautiful. You forget my planets purpose, my dear. We function as mercinaries. We have no beauty, only savagery and blood." Claw Foot picke dup on her mothers discontent with easy, growling from her place with ehr meal. "Oh, but that I could stay here in beauty and in peace." Acubens closed her eyes and breathed deep the moist air of Grus. Listening to the silence which was in no danger of being broken by battle cires of a neighboring village. Her body felt more at ease than it had in months. No, years. Oh hell, it had never been this relaxed. Acubens sat on the sill, leaning out into the hastening twilight. "I fear there will come a time when we can no longer be like this. And not just you and I... sureley you have heard the whispers, Svelte. Of a dark force. Nameless, faceless, and dangerous for thier ambiguity." She turned her golden eyes towards Svelte seriously. "War will come to all of our planets. And I will protect you when that time comes. If I can save no one else... I'll save you."
The tone of the conversation was changing, and the solemnity showed on Acubens' face was mirrored onto Svelte's. "You know, sometimes I think about when Sailor Grus will retire, or die. Then I have to take her place. That thought terrifies me. What if I can't do it? What if I fail?" Her eyes closed for a moment, feeling the mayatobe's notes pierce her very soul. There were children gathering around now, sitting on railings and eachother,listening to the man and his music. She stared at them, as if to find the peace that she was used to, and had a memory of being a child herself, sitting amongst her peers to listen to the then much younger man still play. One time she had even dragged a foreign boy with her, some little trouble maker that had come from far away..where was it? Somewhere that started...ah! Chaonis! That's right! He was one of the first kids from another planet she had ever met. And now here she stood, her own home, and all this responsibility looming.The thought of her world, this world, coming to an end was enough to make her eyes well up.
She forced the sadness away, saying with a slightly choked voice. "Well, our situation may change. We may not be in the peaceful times we are now. But even if this dark force comes at us, we will still be friends." She straightened, tossing the uneaten portion of the fruit in her hand out the window and off the edge of the balcony. "I will do what I can to protect Grus, and you. That's what friends are for!" Her smile squeezed away the last of her sadness, and she moved to embrace the other soldier. Because that's what they would have to be eventually.
Ah, Svelte. Through all of Acubens' dire worries, there she was to make her relax again. Whispers were just whispers, she remembered. And whispers often died out. There was nothing to worry about. Even though Acubens always found a way to drag down a good time. Still, she smiled as Svelte hugged her, easily embracing her back. Claw Foot brightened with the mood of her mother, slurping up the last of the meats juices and joining the other girls. She cooed, resting ehr head of Svelte's shoulder and watching her with her emerald eyes. Don't worry, she seemed to say. Acubens rubbed Claw Foot's neck as she watched the sun set with Svelte. "You're right," she said with another easy grin. "I'm worrying about nothing. I'm sorry." She bit into the purple fruit as Claw Foot sniffed at it, deciding that it wasn't something she wanted, and opted for watching the children dancing.
Svelte leaned back form the hug, turning her attention back outside, where true darkness was starting the fall. She suddenly moved form the window to a dresser, where a half melted candle lay next to a couple matches. She lit the candle, then leaned through the window, lighting the underneath of a large lantern hanging outside. The fire flared up in the lantern, bathing the balcony in a soft orange glow. The children were dancing and singing now, a number designed to teach them the alphabet. The movements were a popular dance that imitates and mocks a more elaborate dance done by adults. One girl seemed to be standing off to the side, watching.
"So what do you want to see while you are here?" Svelte asked, bobbing her head to the music. There were people wandering from house to house, peeking in on their neighbors and friends. Someone walked right by their window on their way to the tree next to Svelte's; probably a student looking for study time with Miss Teacher. There were multitudes of glows off to the right where the main village was. The whole thing was very Neverland esque.
Acubens watched the girl standing off to the side curiously. Why was she out there? Not dancing? Acubens' lips thinned into a small line as she leaned further out the window. Nimbly she stepped form the window and onto the balcony, resting her hands gently on the railing, still looking down. Claw Foot gurgled curiously, the antic of her mother lost to her.
While she watched, Acubens' mind worked. She coudl take the lift... she could. But she was, admittedly, not fond of the thing, and did enjoy a good entrance. Claw Foot chirpped excitedly when Acubens jumped up, hands still on the railing, and threw herself over, out into the evening air. She'd leapt from higher perches. Just tactics were necessary for her training. She landed on the ground in a ball, absorbing the shock of landing with severley bent knees and one hand on the ground below her. She stood, surely a shock to anyone around her. All fur and dirt. Something out of a nightmare. Still, she smiled, moving over to the girl asking, "why do you not dance, my dear?"
"Acubens!"
The shout echoed over the tree houses as Svelte watched her friend leap over the side of her balcony. She ran to the door, Claw Foot right behind her, and leaned over the railing, finding her friend in the gloom. "C'mon Claw Foot!" She said, running to the lift and activating it downward.
The music stopped when Acubens appeared. The kids all turned to stare, some of them fearfully. There were a few among the crowd that had seen their arrival, and hushed tones now sprung through the kids as one explained to the other just who this person was, and the creature she traveled with.
The young girl stared open mouthed at Acubens. Her hair was done up in a high ponytail, and a yellow sun dress adorned with silvery ribbon and silver moccasins completed the look. Her brown eyes were startled, and she said "I...I don't know this dance very well." while fumbling with her own fingers. The older gentleman who was playing rose, and came forward, wrinkles on his face just beginning to show depth. "You must be a friend of Miss Singers...ah! and there she is!" his heralding was accompanied by the arrival of said senshi in training, with a very confused and distressed Claw Foot behind.
Claw Foot followed Svelte hurriedly, chirpping and gurgling with concern on the way down. Just like any Runner of her class, she was fast, but fastest when Acubens' safety was in question. The last thing she saw was her mother launching herself off of a balcony. It wa sa reason she didn't watch Acubens train, she worried too much. She stopped by Acubens' side with a squak, recieving a pat on the head as reassurance. Still, she sniffed and inspected the woman, checking for wounds and scrapes.
Acubens ignored the others as they whispered, smiling at the little girl. "Well, I don't know it either," she said easily, holding out her hand. "Why don't we learn it together?" She grinned at the old man. "Yes, we've known one another since we were both quite young." Another grin to Svelte. "I tihnk I'd like to dance," she announced to her friend with a high laugh.
The man nodded, saying "Well, if that's the case, then I will give you music!" He went back to the pillow, and took up the mayatobe. In the lantern light, the strings seemed to shimmer. He started to play the same tune as before, and the kids slowly lost their fear and started dancing again. The young girl looked at Svelte, who smiled and nodded. A small smile appeared on her face as she took Acubens hand. "You have to do this." she said, kicking her foot out to the right a couple times. "And then this." Opposite foot, same concept. The other kids around were watching, often misstepping themselves.
Svelte watched with equal parts amusement and amazement. The music felt like it was surrounding her, wrapping her in a cocoon of warmth. Her feet started to move of their own accord, stepping along to the children's song. One she learned as a kid herself.
"Yes! Like that!" the girl said, clapping her hands together.
Acubens mimiced the steps, watching the children carefully as she did so. Claw Foot cooed, watching the group with a tilted head. Acubens' body was not as fluid as the others' trained more for fight, but she was lithe, and able to twist in the same way the children did. Soon the motions came easily to her, and while Claw Foot didn't dance as well, she jumped and bounded about. She clicked and squaked happily in time to Acubens' laughter. The woman bounced over to Svelte when she had the steps down, grabbed her arms and pulling her into the dance. "Such a child's dance sound be no problem for Svelte Singer, right?"
With a laugh Svelte allowed herself to be dragged into the dance, her larger body bumping into the smaller children until they learned to give the two teenagers room. With the addition of Claw Foot, they made quite the musical number, and soon there were more than a few onlookers from balconies above. They clapped along while the kids sang and danced, laughing when they accidentally bumped into eachother. The music seemed to go on forever, and Svelte dearly wished that it would. But soon the old man's hands grew tired, and as he played the last few chords of the song, there was much clapping up above from the watchers. The kids jumped up and down, cheering and begging for "just one more song." The man laughed, and said "I want to children, but it is getting late. You have much to do tomorrow." The kids groaned, but calls from mothers and fathers were now echoing through the forest. Soon little children were waving goodbye to Svelte and Acubens, giving Claw Foots pats and cuddles before disappearing into the foliage.
Soon the two teenagers were alone, and she said "It is late now. And we have so much to see tomorrow! I can't wait to show you all the cool sights we have!"
Claw Foot was sad to see the children go. She cooed her goodbyes and watched them leave, turning back to the other two women, nipped at Svelte's hands harmlessly. Acubens sighed, not having broken a sweat yet, but clearly have worked out.
"Yeah, a good long sleep. That sounds nice, doesn't it girl?" Claw Foot chirpped at the idea, not having gotten one since they started thier training. Her bare feet were caked with dirt now, but she didn't care. The idea of sleep had shut down her brain and now all she could focus on was bed. She yawned, stretching her body so that it cracked. "And I can't wait to see them with you, my dear." Claw Foot was the first on the lift, and since Acubens had no way to climb back up, she joined her Runner and awaited the arrival of her friend.
Svelte followed the two into the lift, returning to her house quietly. Tired-ness had consumed them all and when they opened the door and stepped wearily inside, they saw that someone had placed a mattress down with a pile of blankets near the couch. Acubens would have her choice.
Svelte turned and yawned widely, covering her mouth. Then she said "Well, I'm going upstairs to bed. If you need anything pull that string." She indicated the place where she had gotten food for them. "Then talk into the wood piece you see there. They will bring you whatever you like, if it can be found here." Her smile was tired, and she embraced Acubens again, sayin g"I am so glad you are here. I will see you in the morning." She closed the windows, though she left the lantern lit in case anyone walked by on their way home. Then she went to the tree trunk, and pushed a knot inward. Part of the ceiling fell downward, with a ladder hidden aobve it falling down gently. Svelte yawned again and waved at her companions, crawling up the ladder to the second story that was her bedroom.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:08 pm
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:39 pm
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 1:47 pm
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:27 pm
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 11:33 pm
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 9:42 pm
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Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 3:37 pm
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:22 am
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:24 am
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Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 1:58 pm
[X] //B// ORDER VS. CHAOS [x Mass Battle ORP]
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 7:25 pm
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Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:46 pm
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Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:49 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 9:37 pm
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