|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 6:32 pm
A mismatched pair of youths made their way down a rather serpentine dirt trail, a path that they had been traveling for a little over half the day. The sun had recently passed being directly overhead, and was now slowly making its way in the direction the two of them were walking. If they weren't careful, the sun would eventually be blinding them in the process of leading their way.
Raiquen paused a moment, glancing toward the treetops as he pondered their predicament. They were going to have to find a place to stop for a while. Not only were his feet aching and caked with dirt, but afternoon could quickly turn into evening, day to night. They hadn't passed a town in a while, so it should only be a matter of time. After all, how far could a well-traversed trail lead before making its way into some sort of civilization?
"Rai? Heeeey, Raiquen, are you listening to me?" Jagmi rolled around on the katorai's shoulder and poked him in the ear with an orange paw to get his chauffeur's attention.
"Hmn?" the kid blinked, realizing that he had been blocking out Jagmi's incessant talking again. "Sorry, could you repeat that? I was thinking something over."
Jagmi huffed, but it was obvious that he wasn't too upset that he was asked to talk some more. "I was just asking why you had stopped. I didn't even reach the punchline yet!" he explained, slipping a little on the dark-furred katorai's shoulder a little before regaining his balance.
Raiquen poined to the sky, which Jagmi followed, eyes landing right on the sun. Before the xio pup could start complaining about the sun being in his eyes, fidgeting, Rai answered, "It's getting a little late, and I'm getting tired. We should find a place to rest for a while, or spend the night."
Jagmi rubbed at his eyes, whining a little before asking, "Like over there?"
"Over--" Raiquen frowned, "Over there?"
"Yeah! Over there! There are people in that really big tree over there! Theeeere!" he replied again, pointing a paw forward, managing to slide down into a sprawl and almost careening forward.
Raiquen walked a few paces further, trying to see where Jagmi had been referring to. A very large, ancient tree was just ahead, and on closer inspection, he realized that the xio pup wasn't seeing things. How very interesting, though not unheard of! "Good eye," he whistled, making his way closer to the base of the tree.
Seemed the place was bustling with more than a few people! Raiquen moved slower as he got closer, studying what all was going on. Even Jagmi kept his mouth shut, but that was only because he was overwhelmed by curiosity -- he loved it when they entered someplace new!
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 11:11 pm
As usual, the upper treetop echoed with the bickering of Corveed and Linné. It all started with a gourdful of wine in Jay's hand and ended with the sound of something shattering. No one below ever found out what had broken... nothing came raining down from above.
Haüyne was being reclusive on a branch he had claimed as his own. A young female xio only half the residents knew the name of sat beside him and Sibylle was stroking her strangely-colored fur, which though silky to the touch brought to mind vague images of blood, rainbows, and bold stripes... Though her brother seemed to be sulky and secretive lately, no one could say no to the little Lady Bug and she grinned up at him cheerfully. He tried to look gruff and grouchy but failed.
On the ground, Uyu had offered to help Thorn haul some barrels from one place to the other. He was now larger and stronger than his elder, something that puzzled him but that no one ever mentioned. Since both he and Haüyne had surpassed their babysitter in this way, Thorn had seemed rather snippy about it.
The lowest branch was where the ringleader lounged about, or at first glance that seemed to be what he was doing. In truth he was going over a thick tome, a record of all of his past vintages as well as his latest batch. The barrels the other two had been carrying off were being sent to ferment. As soon as Marselan was done with this most precious log, he would help out.
Or that had been the plan when a pair of travelers appeared from around the bend. Overhead Xenoie growled her puppy-voiced warning and Sibylle squeaked in surprise, releasing the xio from her chubby little fingers. Haüyne frowned and leaned over to get a better look, while the pair above their heads did not seem to notice. No sound came from up there. Since Thorn and Uyu had disappeared into the bushes, probably just now strapping the barrels down in the cellars among the tree's roots, it would be up to Sela to greet the weary travelers.
Finishing up what he had been writing, he blew on the page. It only took a moment, but the ink was dry he closed it up and hopped nimbly down to the ground and set off to meet Raiquen and Jagmi. "Ho, travelers!" He called out and waved. All eyes were on the young katorai and xio.
((I'm not sure where to use color, since I've pretty much mentioned everybody. XD <3 ))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 12:29 am
(( XDD No worries, that's why I've just been coloring the spoken text. ))
Jagmi found himself preoccupied with trying to see everything of this new place in a single glance. He was slipping and sliding all around as his head turned this way and that, but Raiquen seemed unconcerned about the pup falling off his shoulder -- the little guy had a rather good sense of balance for one so fidgety. Jagmi tried to see up, up the tree to see everyone but, alas, he was too short. Much, much too short. It didn't stop him from trying, however, as his head tilted further and further back, mouth gaping open without his attention on it.
Raiquen walked further into view, trying to see further up himself but snapping his attention to the first person to greet them. With one hand hovering over his eyes to keep the filtered light from hitting them directly, he glanced up briefly once more before smiling a greeting. "Hello! We're, umm... we were passing through this forest and noticed how alive it felt over here." Hmm, he didn't seem to be used to introducing himself so quickly once they got to town.
"That's a lot of eyes," Jagmi murmured in awe, still straining to see further up.
"Uh, yeah," Rai snickered, realizing the xio pup wasn't about to help. Or pay attention, for that matter. He walked over to where Marselan had leaped down, holding out his hand, "Anyways, I'm Raiquen, and this is Jagmi." He twitched his head slightly to indicate the preoccupied pup taking up residence on his shoulder. "It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"His feet hurt, and it's getting late," Jagmi stated bluntly, suddenly at alert to what was happening in his immediate vicinity. Raiquen's ears leaned further backwards in slight embarrassment before the orange-spattered pup added, "Oh, and I'm Jagmi!" Obviously, he really hadn't been paying attention.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 1:00 am
(( I think I'll do that. xD ))
"Oh that? Yeah, this old tree has been blessed with something of a fountain of mana. You're welcome to stay a while. There's always some fruit growing on the branches so take your pick out of your favorites." Marselan was turning back to look up at the trees branches with great reverence while he spoke. He stopped suddenly and glanced back at the newcomers with a sheepish grin. "Ah, made a pun... unintentionally of course. I'm Marselan, by the way. It's a pleasure to meet you both."
"Just who are you talking to Sela? And why weren't you down there helping us? Ah..." A youthful voice that sounded as if it was used to bossing others around when it wasn't complaining seemed to come from... well, the ground. A moment later, a myriad of pinks appeared from behind some tree roots. A half-grown katorai approached and his brows unknitted as he clapped dust off his hands. "I see we have some guests. I'm Thorn Roswell... and I'm sure he's already introduced himself."
"Indeed I have. I was just telling these weary travelers that they were welcome to relax here for a while."
"Hmph. Don't let him get you do any 'wine tasting.'" The phrase had a peculiar inflection to it. "If you do, you won't be walking away from here except on your lips!"
"Ah... don't scare them, Thorn. It's good wine, I promise!" He turned back to Raiquen and Jagmi. "Wine is our specialty," he explained. "But that's not all we're good at here. Pick any three fruit and give them to Thorn then prepare yourself for the best fruit salad you've ever tasted."
The younger katorai somehow managed to look a little pinker in the face than before. But he didn't deny it either.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
