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 Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 10:31 am
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Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:03 am
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Family Farm
And it's suspicious visitors
Bright, muggy, sweltering: any way you look at it, it was too damn hot for a day in mid November. But Mentari didn’t mind the heat a bit, relishing in the sun's warmth. The crops did though, most certainly. It was for that reason that the week’s schedule had been pushed forward, the uprooting of their small farmland being rushed. No one on this side of the Grapevine had expected it to stay warm for this long into the fall, and instead of anticipating poor selling food the young woman had suggested the greens be harvested prematurely. After points were made, all the machines were rolled out, storeroom s cleared, and trucks rented for the task at hand.
Usually when it came to heavy machinery, the head of the Rodan household wouldn’t let his daughter so much as go near anything with gears in it- even if she was the one who had came up with the current plan. But with him being short on hands, the five foot eight, burly man couldn’t be picky with extra help.
Martin Rodan was the epitome of testosterone: Big, husky, a hard face with a gruff voice and a loud laugh. Joshua Rodan was the first born; next in line for the throne of Rodan Farmlands, and a replica in every way of the man who raised him. And then there was Mentari. Martin’s beloved daughter and quiet, delicate flower: a flower tanned from working outside who could lift one hundred pounds in potatoes and cabbage sun up to sun down, and enjoyed every moment where muscle and effort was required. Even though she’d been borne into a farming family, her father still had a very traditional state of mind. He never told her to cross-stitch or go to the kitchen and make him sandwich (thank god), but his opinion was widely known. Women were fragile beings, mean to be coddled with jobs that never required them to ruin their precious appearances. Men were the breadwinners and backbone of the household, providing the answer to stubborn pickle jars and moving furniture. It made Mentari want to blow her brains out.
She would never put up a fight, or at least not for very long, when it came to soft arguments with her father over these kinds of things. Mentari loved the family business, and she loved working with the crop much more than standing at a booth in the city arguing over their prices. For once it was a talk she’d won over, but the brunette was given a task that would stick to the fields closer to home so her father could check up on her every hour. She sighed and re-tied her ponytail, then closed the lid to a plastic container and moving towards a transport. Mentari disliked arguments, confrontation in general. It always went in circles and nine times out of ten she wound up saying ‘sure’ to whomever and going about her business. But she was here, outside being useful and for that she would be grateful.
The Rodan estate wasn’t the largest in The Grapevine, but it was by no means the smallest. Full lips pulled into a smile. She saw it as a margin of freedom. Mentari was reveling in the small victory when a smooth voice broke in. “Moving the crop rather than risking its end. I see you have quite a green thumb.”
Mentari stiffened for a fraction of a second in surprise. She relaxed quickly, continuing her task of loading the plastic crate into the truck without turning. “I have clumsy thumbs. And enough patience. But it's the owner that has the real talent.” She secured the last of the cargo with a series of buckles and black straps, talking all the while in a flat tone. “Most of chicories in this area are already dug out and waiting in the Harvester. You can take it to storage to the smaller warehouse on the far west of here.” She truly didn’t want to deal with whatever beefed up, manual laborer her father had employed for the task at hand. From the way he’d addressed her, whoever it was was new; which was curious in itself with how particular her father could be with the people that helped her on the fields. “I didn’t get your name-“ Mentari drifted off as she finally got a look at the person she was speaking to.
He wasn’t a worker. That much was for sure.
His was much to pale to have ever done any kind of labor in his life. She took in his hair, his attire. She didn’t know whether to continue staring in silence or inform him he was lost before catching sight of the thin, tapered ears.
“Voren,” He informed her. She didn’t notice that he hadn’t asked for a name back, as she was too busy trying to come up with a reasonable explanation as to why there was a strange looking man on her father’s farm. “Chicories." The stranger’s low voice sounded more like a question than a statement, breaking Mentari’s train of thought.
“…’s a plant.” She blinked, not sure if she should comment on the other’s apparel. “If you’re here to pick up a shipment-“
“I don’t need one.”
Mentari’s mouth twisted at being cut off. She wish she was wearing a long sleeve to tug at; anything to keep herself from looking annoyed and giving him, Voren, the satisfaction of knowing it. “Then what are you doing here,” she bit out.
“Just wanting to make conversation; and gift you with something.”
“Sorry to come off as rude, but I don’t accept gifts from strange men. If you have any further business you should consult the owner of the property at the main house.”
Voren faced tilted up to look down at her. His lips curled in as if amused, but his tone was inquisitive. “Is this not your property as well?”
As much as the woman wanted to object otherwise, technically the land wasn’t hers. It was her familys'- her father’s. She wasn’t even considered an heir to the ownership. She told herself to focus less on being bitter, and more on the potentially dangerous situation at hand. “…no. It’s not.”
“I seem to recall you giving the orders concerning this land earlier.” He moved in to shorten the gap between himself and the potential patron. Mentari backed into the end of the truck in a rush to get away. She bit her lip to keep up her poker face as the tubs of vegetables rattled.
“Considering how I was alone with my father when I mentioned anything concerning the farm, I would ask how you even know that.”
The intruder suddenly looked bored with their topic and looked to his left. Blue eyes scanned the plowed dirt and scattering of budding apple trees, the dots of men working in the distance and a warm breeze. A small smile flitted across his face. “Your nature to tend to the sick is admirable. You should trust yourself more, Mentari. You’re stronger than you think." A thin hand waved towards the land, "Proof. None of these wither because you chose to have a voice.”
Green eyes widened. He continued to watch her while she gaped at him, the barest hint of red on her cheeks. Her mouth opened and closed, Mentari at a loss of words. For one, this man spoke as if he knew much more than he was letting on. And for two, she would not feel proud because of the compliments of some…some…stranger! “Excuse m-”
The smaller woman didn’t have a chance to think as he snatched her wrist, reflexes faster than her jittered nerves. “A reward for your ambitions,” Voren said with a wry smile. He placed something in her open palm, and Mentari yanked back her hand without dropping it while swiping at him with the other. Voren dodged easily enough, out of reach without seeming affected. She watched him carefully, trying not to goggle at the fact that he had to be fast move away from her like that. Before she could threaten him a cape flapped in her face when he turned his back on her. He took a leisurely pace away from her in direction of the orchards in the distance. “Remember to speak up now and then.”
She stared with indignation at the man walking away. Of all the backwards things! First a creep, then a potential stalker- did he really expect to walk away smoothly? She glared down at whatever was in her right hand, ready to throw it at the offender. Mentari began to raise her hand only to pause at the sight: intermingling colors of red, orange and purple, a delicate vine spreading from its center. What in the world kind of plant was this? She looked up to call out to ‘Voren’, only to have her voice catch in her throat when she realized he was no longer around.
Her head whipped left and right, the curls of her ponytail sticking to the sweat on her neck. It wasn’t even possible for him to disappear anywhere. She looked to the line of young trees he’d headed towards and saw nothing. Mentari frowned, looking back to the multi-colored seed in her hand. She thumbed its little leaf, finding it was just as odd as the cryptic stranger that had given it to her. She snorted in annoyance.
Am I supposed to think a seed for a farmer is cute? |
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:39 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:41 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:44 pm
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Two Steps Forward
In a trembling fashion
You can do this.
Unlike the first time she appeared in front of this tree, the sky was overcast and foreboding. Not having any responsibilities after everything had been harvested, Mentari was allowed to stay holed up in her room. Everyone in the household questioned her, of course. After she’d come running from the fields in the middle of the night- when no one had even known she was missing- she was hounded for answers for her rough and shaken appearance. She said nothing, as she would continue to whenever that night was brought up.
Except once. Almost, almost. She’d come so close to telling the one person who might believe her about what had happened that night in Sanctum. Her mother had gotten up when her father wasn’t looking, and reached out to her; something that was almost unheard of after Lily Rodan was put on ‘room arrest’ because of her sickness. Touched and desperate, Mentari wanted to tell her. She needed to have an outlet, truly. But nothing good would come of it; no doubt a confession would result in therapy, harsh words, and the coddling of both parents. So instead she guided her mother back to her room, and sat with her in silence for some semblance of comfort. It would be just be one of the many moments which would stay hidden within her. No one could help in this.
The sounds, the lights. Scenery more lush than their own countryside. Floating flames and plants with faces that attacked others with a fearsome strength. The darkness that pounded against her head, trying to swallow Mentari whole from inside out. Words from a man that would make the earth quake. An enemy. Enemies.
A war.
A glimmer of light peaked out from a crack in the clouds, shining just enough to illuminate the thin, wavering runes in front of her. The grass almost seemed greener in its surrounding patch. It was a wonder she hadn’t noticed it before. Now it almost seemed to beckon her; an aged, fruit bearing tree framed by the young apples like it planted not even a month ago. It was like a projection of the life that existed beyond the veil, all full of foreign beauty. Except she didn’t believe it, not for one second. Mentari knew what was really there. Behind all of it was a hidden kind of danger. Nothing she’d asked for, but was given with the gift that she held in the grip of her left hand.
You can do this.
Strength, he told her. Voren, who tricked her with his flattery, had encouraged her with the same words. It’s what spurned her to discover a link to another world, as well as to join a meeting of rebels. Even now, she was standing her because of what little ‘strength’ he claimed she had. The first time she stood in front of this patch, it was out of curiosity; the second, out of request. Now…perhaps it was some misplaced sense of duty. Or hope. She honestly didn’t know what it was.
But no one ever entrusted her with anything. And one didn’t see something- experience something- like she did, and go about their own life the same way.
Like the noon sky, everything here was now muddled, patches of gray. She stared hard at the portal.
You can do this.
She moved closer, a hand placed upon the tree's bark that sunk inwards as if it was just a mere illusion. Just before she pushed through, a tingling warmth spread up her arm from the seed she carried.
It was daytime as well on the other side, except here it was clear and crisp as opposed to the drab weather at home. Mentari’s body emerged from a tall, unknown strain of tree in the same spot as before. She was on the edge of a place where forest met rock, and there was a clearing where the road into a nearby town was obvious. Before she had gravitated away from the populated area; moving in the direction a passing man had sent her towards to reach Sanctum. But this time, after taking a long moment to look at the trees behind her, she made slow steps on to road towards ‘the locals’.
-
Everything was bustling. As plain as it seemed from afar, the buildings and people were vibrant- and in no way primitive or had anyone inhuman looking like the little floating sprite she once encountered. After passing the stone archway, she’d stopped to take it all in. It wasn’t completely subtle, and of course she would only be so lucky to draw attention the boldest character in the vicinity.
“You! You are from Gaia, aren’t you?” Her eyes roamed to her right. From against a wall, a middle aged man with dark hair ventured towards her. She stayed completely still, hoping for him to look for some character right behind her. Much to her dismay, he stopped arm’s length away. Dark eyes scanned her up and down, a smirk on his face “Are you lost then? Little weak ones shouldn’t be roaming around these parts.”
Her reached towards her and on a reflex, she brushed his hand off her with more force than she meant to use. “I’m not lost.” She as soon as the words came out: even her tone sounded harsh, and her words childish. But instead of creating a bad atmosphere, the man seemed to immediately drop his condescending tone.
“A foreigner who isn’t lost? Make many trips, do you then.” Now he sounded more amused, folding his arms while somehow retaining the arrogance that reminded her of her older brother. The man seemed perceptive, as she’d no idea how he would even know that she wasn’t from the area. Aside from her clothes, nothing should have been obvious.
"I..." She ran dialogue through her head, made up explanations of her relevance here, but came up with nothing that sounded remotely believable. They continued to look at each other, with the large man starting to become unnerved by her silent glaring.
“Look-“
“Do you have a garden here?”
He blinked down at her, and then scoffed. “Excuse me?”
“A garden.” Her fist was pushed out and opened up to display the color she held within. “I have something I want to grow. But I can only do it around here.” Her face was serious. She had no idea if this was true; she hadn’t tried to do so at home. With nothing else to say though, the warmth in her hand had made itself known again and it seemed like the right thing to go with. It certainly seemed to be, as the tension was dispelled with the stranger’s boisterous laughter that drew attention of others.
“You want a puny box garden, then make one yourself. Or chance your pretty little plant amongst the rocks if you’d be so willing.” Having enough fun with the Gaian-born, pushed her hand away from him and patted her shoulder. “Our earth is not made for likes of feminine flowers. I would travel further east, little one, away from our homeland. And save both of you the trouble.” The man strode away, full of good intention and warning that Mentari didn’t have an inkling of. The brunette watched him retreat further into the population, and she ground her teeth in frustration. It was the same attitude here. Why was weakness the first thing everyone associated her with? Was it because he knew she wasn’t from there? Or the seemingly re-occurring issue of her being small? Or a woman?
And that man was just so…so…rude about it all! In front of everyone!
Mentari didn’t dare look around her, biting her lip and staring ahead. Instead she forced herself forward, walking aimlessly with her hand still to her chest; anything to get her away from that area and conversation. Before she knew it her anger had taken her beyond what had been the center of the town. She slowed her speed to actually take in her surroundings, exploratory of the world she before didn’t get a chance to see in depth.
An hour later, Mentari had stilled her feet. The hill she’d climbed on the other edge of city had been high, and as she rested against the sturdy trunk of one of few trees in the area Mentari was graced with a beautiful view. From here she could spy the tops of trees beyond the rock wall she originally entered, and to her left shone an image of shadowy plains- regardless of the sun’s brightness. She leaned her head back against the wood. Nothing certainly appears as if a war is going on, her thoughts eventually drifted to after a moment of peace. Her brows drew down. It’s like it never really happened. With all the talk Enfaya gave, she anticipated something more drastic- more life threatening. Aside from exceptional rudeness, nothing seemed out of place with these people.
There was a sudden shuffling. Her head whipped to behind her and immediately she stood, paranoid. But instead of an attacker, from a bush stumbled a familiar, bright red creature. “…Dontae?”
At its name, the plant perked up from its shy posture and stumbled over to her. At the last few steps it jumped to cling to her legs, and Mentari regarded it in disbelief. It was a moment before she realized the thing was trembling, and she bent over to touch its spiky head. “I didn’t actually expect to see you again.” Thinking only a spur of the moment guardian, Mentari hadn’t given the plant a second thought in terms of it returning to her. Having left it in Sanctum, her mind boggled at how it’d gotten to her in the first place. She de-tangled herself and sagged against the tree once more. The treeling was quick to scramble in her lap, all too comfortable looking in a position that indicated a nap in its future.
Should she thank the thing? The similar image against her brought to mind the beaten look he had when they were escaping from the Queen’s Followers. He had protected her like Enfaya promised. If he could understand his name and her commands, perhaps a little gratitude was in order. “Before. I’m sorry for you leaving you. Thank you for-”
She was cut off by the patting of her left hand, and she unclenched it to bring up the seed. “I carried this all the way here.” Without dropping it, she’d wandered all over until now. Dontae poked at the seed with his singular hand, leaning against her arm. He moved his beady eyes from it to her expectantly, but whatever message he was trying to convey wasn’t clear. When she didn’t make any motions to indicate her confusion, it pushed away to wander a bit closer to the edge of the cliff before kneeling. On the ground he dug a little divot, and then assumed his previous gazing from her plant to her, with looking at the dirt being a new addition. Her eyes lit up in understanding.
“Right. I guess I did say something like that to the jerk earlier.” Dontae had demonstrated the planting of the seed. How he knew she had it was a mystery; but if she had to make an assumption, she would chalk it up to plants being able to talk to each other in some unknown, telepathic language. Strange as it sounded in an equally strange world.
She joined Dontae at his place on the hillside’s edge. It grew more excited in its digging, and with her help they created a hole deep enough to drop the colored seed in. She was unaided when it came to returning the dirt over it, and patted the little mound of earth when done. “Hopefully it rains enough around here,” she spoke softly to Dontae. “If not, I’ll have to come and water it to get started myself…” she drifted off. Without realizing it, she had talked freely to the weapon- and even more disturbing, had the thought of returning to this place.
A troubled look overcame her face, plump lips in a pout. Would she return here? If she did, Mentari would not have liked to come back to this exact area. But if she thought about it logically: the portal only seemed to go to one place. And that just happened to be next to this town. And on another small note, she’d just planted something here. There seemed to be a commitment to this place that she wouldn’t quite be able to get out of. Mentari rolled to the heels of her feet, resting her chin against her knees. Donate layed down in front of her, next to the planted seedling.
You can do this.
There were many things to consider if she was going to keep coming here. Finding Voren was one, and finding Enfaya was another. Adapting herself to better fit in was something she’d also have to focus on. It all already sounded just exhausting. But...she was strong. She was. Mentari sighed, the rolling breeze feeling need to emphasize the action. “At least the view is nice.” |
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