|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:49 am
"What's he sayin', Ro?" asks Caroline.
Rojiza's just so happy they'd found a gift to give the tree, she just hugs Vanna. She nods when the tree asks what they would like in return. Mm, complicated to get across. Frowning, she thinks on either how to tell the adults, or to respond to the tree.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:46 pm
Marissa, who had watched silently until now, raised her voice in a sudden epiphany. "Oh!" she cried, "I think...I understand. Remember the fae, who spoke of the 'custom?' Where gift is exchanged for gift? I think this tree follows the same custom. We have given our end of the bargain; I think it will listen to our plea, now. Is that right, Ro?" She prayed she was correct.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:55 pm
Rojiza nods emphatically. One sharp cookie, that Marissa.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 3:08 pm
[XDD]
Marissa breathed a huge sigh of relief. Heart thumping, she turned to the tree, trying to humble herself as much as possible without sounding too desperate. "Would you please tell us where the fae have taken our children, and how we can get them back?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 6:09 pm
Anezka sat between Leshya'e and Marissa, swaying back and forth, trying to find the beat. She began to move her feet slowly, a bit intimidated both by the dancing of Caroline and by the jewel covered sandals she was wearing. Content to just "dance" in place, she watched the others move and converse, smiling but remaining a bit like a piece of moss on a log.
In a mere second, everything she was observing seemed to disappear. Anezka at first seemed to think she'd somehow gone blind, until her eyes adjusted to the much darker surroundings. Her golden eyes sparkled in the moonlight as she looked around, shivering and hugging to herself, "Wha-...What?...Is this...a...meij trick?...Where...is Mum?"
Standing up, she looked around, but remained at a central location in the event that it was a trick and someone was coming to retrieve her. As she looked around, she began to remember what Valelldia had said about the woods, and about her sandals: They look beautiful. I can't tell you anything about them- but I can tell you this- we're headed into a very fae-oriented area. And fae- can be awfully vain. They prefer bedecked, beautiful people- they go easy with their pranks on those they favor. Leaning to either side, she grabbed the bottom hem of her skirt and brought it up to tuck into the waist of it. Once up, her bejeweled sandals were made quite obvious. "I sure hope this helps me some...Oh Mum...please come get me...please..." She said quietly to herself.
---
Marissa clapped as Caroline danced. She was enjoying herself greatly, and remembered fondly when some of the other children had danced around a fire such as this. She turned to where Anezka had been sitting.
"Ani, why don't you join--" her voice fell flat when she realized Anezka was not where she had been. She leaned over and tapped Leshya'e on the shoulder. "Lesh?" she asked, puzzled, "Where's Ani?"
"Hmm?...She's right ne-...Ani?..." Leshya'e jumped up and looked around. "Have any of you seen her?
~~~
With her child gone and more continuing to disappear, Leshya'e went into a panicked depression, much like she did the last time. "At least last time I had more clues...It made more sense...she didn't just disappear..." After a while of trying to figure things out, she just went silent and kept to herself, shutting everyone out.
---
Veshengo had strayed from the caravan and had come back only to overhear the terrible news of the disappearing Fortunettes. He searched around and found Marissa speaking to a tree, asking how to get them back. Being a fortunette himself, and his affections towards Marissa growing daily, Veshengo stepped up behind her. Putting his hands on her shoulders and squeezing them, he spoke quietly into her ear, "I will do whatever it takes to help you and the others bring the children back safely."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 6:32 pm
Marissa's attention to the tree was interrupted by a familiar voice in her ear. The soft murmur sent chills across her back and shoulders, and she felt slightly intoxicated by it's sound. Only momentarily, however, and she soon returned to the matter at hand. She was grateful for Veshengo's support, and, hesitating for a moment, reached her hand back and laid it on Vesh's, silently thanking him for his promise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:30 am
Veshengo lowered his head, blushing slightly as he slowly slid his hands down her arms and gripped her elbows. After a while, he raised his head and looked at the tree, then lowered his head in humbleness to it. Hoping the tree would be able to understand it internal plea, he spoke inside his mind, Please help us to bring back my small siblings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:09 am
Rojiza, as all the gypsies (and the Fortunettes that are left) gathered wait for the tree's response, sends a silent prayer toward it. Please, Tree, please help us find Kale and the others.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:15 am
Aisrhan watched the proceedings from her shadowy hiding place beaneath the wagon. As the tree refused one gift after another she began to wonder what it could possibly want. "The stones... aren't for you. But take them...."
That's right! They had been laying on the ground near the tree! Aisrhan looked down at her doll, a smug look on her face. HA, I'm the only one who knows what he wants. See if I'm useless now, momma! Just when Aisrhan had decided to show herself, a purple blur ran forward and seized a few small white stones... Aisrhan had missed some. As the tree accepted the stones that Vanna presented, and Vanna ran happily back to her mother, Aisrhan began to seethe with anger. SHE was supposed to be the one who figured it out. Her dream... the prophecy Mherudyn sent her... it was all supposed to be her. Jealousy, vicious anger. Aisrhan dropped her stone-heavy doll in the grass and clenched her fists. She let her animalistic nature take over. My stones... my... it was mine! Aisrhan slithered from under the wagon like green lightning. Before anyone knew what had happened, she had sunk her fangs deep into Vanna's leg, her red eyes gleaming with hatred as she did so.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:21 am
At first, Lorelei didn't know what was going on. All she knew that something with blonde hair and a green tail was latched onto Vanna, and that Vanna was screaming and kicking. After a moment, it began to sink in - she knew that blonde head.
But...
Aisrhan? Why?
"Aisrhan!" Lorelei shouted, trying to get Vanna free without hurting her more. Vanna just squirmed and cried, confused and upset. Why would... why would somebody hurt her?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:23 am
Oi. Rojiza takes a step forward, but then hesitates. She then goes back to her mother, shaking her head. She'd interfered enough today.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:31 am
Silver's eyes widened as she saw her daughter attack Vanna. For a moment she couldn't move, but then she realized she had to DO something. She ran, as fast as she could to where the group was gathered around the tree and grabbed Aisrhan by the waist. "AISRHAN! What the HELL are you doing?!"
Aisrhan froze. She saw the gash on Vanna's fair purple skin, heard her mother's voice. Oh no... what had she done? She instantly slumped into her mother's arms and began to cry. She couldn't help it. She was so angry and yet... her mother was here.
Khevashi was again perched atop Weathered Melody. He lowered his head and refused to look at his sister.
"Oh, Lor... I am so sorry. I don't know what's gotten into her!" Silver was mortified. All she could do was hold her sobbing daughter in her arms and stare, open-mouthed, at Vanna's wound.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:40 am
Foot freed, Vanna cried louder and clung to Lorelei, who gathered her up carefully in her arms, rocking her gently, holding her close.
Lorelei looked at Silver, taking a deep breath and glancing at Ais. "It's... it's okay. I don't think it's anything serious. I..." She looked back at Silver, worry clear in her eyes. "It's just... so unexpected. Aisrhan..."
Lorelei didn't know what to say, so she began heading towards Ivy-Twined. She had to get that wound cleaned and bandaged, she knew that much. "I'm sure we'll figure it out," she murmured, looking back at the group. "Until then... I'll remain with the wagons.
"Do what must be done, for your own children."
And with that, Lorelei disappeared, Vanna in arms, into her wagon and shut the door.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 2:25 pm
Heather watched everyone with the tree, she didn't expect anything to come from it and wasn't really paying attention till she saw Ais attached the Vanna's leg. "Kala isn't the only one to attack others then..." She mumbled quietly to herself before raising her hands to her tear stained face.
Kala... Amkia... were they dead already? Oh what would come of the children at war.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:07 pm
Silver watched as Lorelei took Vanna back to their wagon. When they were out of sight, she grabbed her sobbing daughter by the shoulders and held her away from herself. "Why? Aisrhan, why did you do that? There is absolutely NO reason why you should be attacking your friends - or anyone for that matter! What on earth were you think -"
"They were mine! The meij showed me! It was MY dream!" Aisrhan blurted out.
"What? What are you talking about?" Aisrhan just kept looking at the ground and shook her head, tears falling to the forest floor.
"Wait... why were you even out of the wagon? Did I not tell you to stay put?"
"Yes..." Aisrhan mumbled under her breath.
"Then why are you not there?"
"I just wanted to help!" Ais whined.
"So you attacked Vanna? I fail to see how you could misinterpret that as HELPING!"
"I... I..." Aisrhan pointed a finger beneath the wagon. "My doll, momma. My dream told me to pick up the stones so I did... I put 'em in my doll. I was gonna give them to the tree like I was supposed to, but she did it first." Aisrhan now crossed her arms and pouted angrily.
Silver looked at Aisrhan coldly. "Bring me that doll, young lady."
Ais crawled under the wagon and retrieved her heavy doll, bringing it back to her mother. Silver found the ripped seam in the back of the doll and removed each of the gleaming white stones. She put them in her leather pouch that was tied onto her belt. "I will deal with these." She held onto the doll. "And you won't be getting her back for a very long time." Aisrhan's eyes widened. "Aisrhan, just because you have a dream about something happening to you, it doesn't mean that you have a right to get angry when it doesn't go how you planned. We can never fully predict the outcome of a situation. Prophecies can only provide guidance. For all you know, you were meant to give them to Vanna so she could give them to the tree! Dreams, especially prophetic ones, are subject to interpretation and until you know enough to decide the proper course of action for yourself, you should never presume that it will only affect you. Do you understand me?"
Aisrhan nodded quietly, still looking at the ground.
"Good. Now, you are going to apologize to Vanna, whether you like it or not, and you will mean it! She didn't do anything to you. You had no right, whatsoever to do what you did. Now let's go."
Aisrhan began to protest, but Silver held her ground. "No excuses. None. Move it. NOW."
Silver grabbed her daughter's arm and practically drug her across the campsite to Lorelei's wagon. She knocked on the door softly. She made an attempt to soften her voice, but she was almost certain Lor would be able to tell she was still angry beneath her now otherwise calm appearance. "Lorelei... it's me, Silver. May I come in?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
