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 Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 11:42 am
Maya shifted uncomfortably in her bed, the excitement of rising and the chance to explore new territory was thrilling. Dark bug like eyes blinked themselves open as the young Alkidike pulled the leaves off her body towards the foot of the bed. Pulling her arms in a stretch above her head Maya glanced over at the blooming fungi in the corner that gave off a very faint magenta glow. Her room was empty besides those two items and a small bag she kept at her waist. The bag was often filled with a couple filled vials and a couple empty ones. Along with a few first aid items should it come down to a fight with something. Pulling her feet over the edge of her bed the young woman stifled a yawn. Scooping up her bag and tying it to her waist she burst out of the door a simple word to her sisters in greeting. Working her path down the cylindrical home towards the dirt and roots before climbing through a twisted path out of the tree towards the surface.
The air smelt dryer than usual and the air was a little thicker, which meant it was probably going to be a very hot day today. Blinking away the change in hue's from her home to the outside world Maya pushed her rather dark hair over her shoulders. The ground would be much cooler today that the heat of the sun if it had risen yet above the tree's. Curious to see if that was the case the young Alkidike skittered up the outside of her home towards the top of the tree. The slow adjustment to gradual bright white light had become a morning ritual for Maya, though today the sun had only just started its climb into the sky. Today Maya had gotten up rather early compared to normal and was determined to go where her sisters had not yet gone.
Leaping from branch to branch as she made her way back down to the ground and yet further south than her home, Maya paused her dark eyes scanning the branches around her. Several unharvested fruit hung tenderly waiting to be picked. Searching out the ripest of the bunch Maya wasted no time in plucking it free before continuing onward, she did have a favorite sitting place not far off and was determined to wait there before continuing on.
The forest seemed to still be asleep so early in the morning and swallowing a mouthful of the ripe fruit, Maya's eyes caught onto some movement in the distance. Faint fluttering movements, a pleasurable smile spread across her lips as she slipped carefully to a couple branches below her. Bug like eyes watching the green wings of a Nondwa, slipping a hand silently into her bag in search of an empty vial Maya was determined to catch some of the dust the strange creature would leave behind from time to time when it landed. She had heard an elder say the dust was useful for something, but she couldn't for the life of her remember what for.
Shifting lower until her feet landed clean and free on the forest floor Maya stalked slowly forward toward the unknowing creature. Her eyes pausing when they fell silently upon a male Shifter. Weren't they supposed to be rare to see out here? She thought biting her lower lip as she scanned him from behind. What was he doing so close to Alkidike homes? Her eyes narrowed into daggers as she crept closer.
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Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 9:34 am
In another tree, shrinking back in intense fear was Takoda, the nondwa seemed intent on giving him a heart attack, and despite his attempts to try and wave it away the intense bug seemed quit intent on investigating him.
And the morning had been going so well too.
He had woken up in his home, prepared himself a meager meal of dried fruits and a strip of meat before heading off to collect plants. He was hoping the elder would show him some basic spells to do with healing if he could find some rarer herbs to help speed up the process of broken bones.
Though as soon as he had stepped out the door of his tree home, something in the air caused him to shiver. It wasn't cool out, there wasn't any cool breeze and yet he couldn't help but have this feeling of impending doom linger on his mind.
Shrugging it off, he checked the area carefully for bugs before he stepped forward and then was off. Takoda hadn't gotten far when the flap of wings drew his attention. These weren't the flap of wings coming from any bird he knew of, it was a slow almost lazy flap he had come to recognize that belonged to the enormous bug the Nondwa.
Shuddering he was quick to make sure it didn't see him, or at least he hoped it hadn't seen him and quickly he moved on his way. Moving into the tighter branches higher up as..it would be harder to navigate for the creatures with their gigantic delicate wings.
It was soon apparent the nondwa was hunting him. Okay so hunting was a pretty strong word to describe what it was doing. But in Takoda's mind it was seeking him out..or at least following him and that had him running in terror away.
It took all his skill to make sure he didn't trip and mess up his foot holds but soon he figured he was safe, that melodic wing beat was out of hearing range. Slumping against the base of the tree he took out his water skin and took a sip finding himself awfully parched.
It was now we return to the present, the nondwa had managed to some how change it flight to mimic another creature and now it it was facing off with the poor terrified shifter.
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Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:27 am
Maya stopped dead in her tracks, her dark bug like eyes shifting from the Shifter to the Nondwa bug circling it. Clearly visible in the middle of the open field Maya only raised one of her thick eyebrows in confusion. Was this shifter completely unaware of his surroundings? Or was he busy trying to collect the dust from the creature as well? Thought's circled around her head as she tried to make sense of what exactly was happening. Bringing her right hand up to push a thick bundle of hair behind her large ears and then pulling her arms together across her chest she walked to the side to see the shifter attempting to wave off the Nondwa.
"That's not how you harvest the dust, you know."
Maya twitched as she tried to hold back the rather strong urge to laugh at the male shifter before her. Everyone knew Nondwa were harmless creatures if not big and their colors were pretty in Maya's opinion. So if he was this afraid of a little bug it would probably be unlikely he would turn a weapon on her. Especially when she held nectar from some fruit in a vial she could use to attempt to lure the Nondwa to her. Her eyes suddenly grew bright at the sudden remembrance of the nectar, a simple smile played at her lips as she shifted in her bag in search of the item. Finally locating it Maya smiled brightly pulling the cap off the top and pouring a small portion onto the forest floor.
"You have to lure them in like this." Maya continued to stand there, a little more statue like than she had moments before and watched the Nondwa with great interest. These creatures where highly uncommon and one of her favorites, it was just to bad that one was a male. She would probably have captured it and waited until it had laid eggs before keeping one for herself. A strange noise seemed to bring her thoughts back to the current situation as she snapped her head in the direction.
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Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:05 am
Another fruitless wave of his hand and he was positive that the bug had touched him, recoiling as if burned he whimpered his eyes huge as he couldn't rip them away from the nondwa, sure some people may think they are pretty but to him it was just another nightmare trying to get him.
Though startled by a new voice, one had had never heard before it hardly registered in his brain to see who it was, in fact all he could see was the large insect.
"I don't want to lure it!" He shouted, or rather...squeaked as he could barely get the words out of his throat. Takoda had yet to notice his company was Alkidike, and he was just...so scared of the nondwa he wasn't thinking properly. The nondwa however had momentarily lost interest in Takoda as it smelt the nectar and gently flapped its way over to Maya. Landing lightly on her before it began to lap up the lovely juice.
Having the bug finally move away, Takoda clutched his chest as if he was trying to stop his heart from exploding. After a few deep breaths, his nerves were still raw after all the bug hadn't really left....he could still see it but now he could actually acknowledge the woman who was there.
Swallowing his body began to tremble anew. Alkidike. Bug like warrior women. Great, he had never expected to see a pure blood here, then again where was here exactly? He had just been running blindly and he wasn't exactly sure just how far his adrenaline had gotten him.
They reminded him of bugs so greatly, with those antenna...big black eyes...., yellow like skin. Drawing his legs up to his chest he wondered if he had the energy to run away again, but given how hard he was shaking it was hard to picture him standing never mind running.
Just...what was he going to do? Closing his eyes, he thought on his options. He had no weapons on him, only the empty satchel bag. He didn't have anything of value to trade for his life...besides knowledge and some how he doubted it would be like the experience with the leaf tribe member. Surrender seemed his only option, perhaps he will be done with quickly.
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Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:39 am
Unable to contain the soft giggle that escaped her, Maya pulled her fingers up to her lips and coughed lightly. Why would he not want to lure in the Nandwa? it was clearly following him. Though from his squeaky tone Maya was starting to wonder if the boy was sick, possibly with a fever and thus hallucinating and that would be cause to fear such a harmless insect.
"Are you sick or something?" The question hung in the air as Maya took a step forward only to find the Nondwa was coming towards her. Pleased and exited, Maya held out her hands for the creature to land though it seemed to have chosen her shoulder instead. Letting out the contained giggles as the soft feathery wings brushed against her face. She had never been this close to them before and the rush of pleasurable emotions that crashed through her brought and even lighter mood to the Alkidike.
Bringing her hand up to stroke the soft feathery body of the moth like insect, Maya was shocked to find the dust she had gathered onto her hand from the creature seemed to glow in a bright hue much like the moth itself. Quickly the young woman shifted to dive into her bag slightly upsetting the Nondwa before she managed to pull out the intended vial and filled it as quickly a she could with the insects dust. Her mood could not really improve much at this point, since the very thing she had been looking for was now in her hands. Holding up the vial so the Nondwa could finish with the nectar in thanks for it allowing her to collect the glowing dust.
Her eyes glanced back towards the Shifter boy in hopes he had managed to regain some control but her smile seemed to fade when he remained in the same spot only his trembles seemed to have gotten worse. Strange Shifters generally jumped at the chance to dig their weapons into her. This one seemed to be frozen in place so was it possible he had more than a fever? A small hint of concern etched across her face briefly before she walked towards Takoda, her left antenna twitching lightly in an attempt to sense the vibrations of the world around her just in case this was a trap meant to prey on the weak and caring.
Finding none she bent over the small Earthlings form, her nose catching the sent of nectar she had just finished feeding the Nondwa with. "Well no wonder it was following you. You smell like Nectar, now are you sure you weren't trying to lure it to you."
Maya wasn't sure at this point of the insect had left her shoulder as the creatures were so light as it was. Looking towards Takoda she bent further over him her hand stretching out to feel his forehead in case of sickness. "You look sick though."
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Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 9:23 pm
Takoda swallowed as watched the woman before him, she towered over him and it made him nervous. It wasn't like he was super short, he was average for a shifter. Still he felt a hand go to his hair, fingers running through it out of a nervous habit he couldn't meet the woman's gaze, as if afraid it would mean he was challenging her.
"N..no..I am no..ot sick." He murmured his gaze flickering to her shoulder where the nondwa had been but had since fluttered off and away. A large part of him had relaxed as most of his anxiety had stemmed from that bug being around. Still he refused to meet the woman's gaze.
His body physically relaxing somewhat showed that some of his tension had eased and though he didn't reach for his satchel he really wanted to. Not that he had anything in the way of weapons, he just wanted something to fiddle with.
"Wh..at are you..you going to do with me?" Takoda asked the dreaded question, his eyes widening as she mentioned the smell of nectar on him. Nectar? Oh..the fruit. About to turn he found fingers lightly brushing his forhead, he stiffened his eyes wide as he finally met her gaze, he looked like a terrified animal too scared to move.
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Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 10:08 pm
'Not sick' The words echoed in her mind as she blinked staring down into the Shifters terrified eyes. Testing the temperature of her own head as she would any other member of her tribe, though he seemed colder than her. Looking from one eye to the other, her eyes squinted for a moment before pulling back. "My apologies, I thought you were either sick or crazy. Why else would a shifter enter this area of my forest." Tilting her head to the side Maya took a step back glancing at the upper branches of the tree's in search of the Nondwa which seemed to have disappeared from sight.
Maya's left antenna twitched at the vibrations of movement but they didn't seem to be from the insect she was looking for so she ended up just ignoring it. "Do with you?" She giggled slightly remembering a few Shifters she had met a while ago having a common thought that she ate Shifters for a delightful dinner. "Nothing, just making sure you aren't hunting my kind." Hand resting on her hips she extended one hand out to the male shifter. "And I don't eat Shifters, incase you thought I was going to eat you."
She may be new to the forest from her great mother tree, but she didn't quite understand why Shifters seemed to mistrust her kind. They owned the land shouldn't shifters be happy they were allowed to live on it? "I'm Maya, the youngest Alkidike around these parts."
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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 3:55 pm
Takoda watched her, felt her fingers on her forhead, his trembling seemed to cease as the longer she was there and being non-threatening the calmer he was becoming. Her appearance still was bothersome, but he figured if he adverted his eyes then it shouldn't be a problem. Antenna still was too bug like for him.
A small smile spread across his face as she joked about not eating shifters, but even then it was just a small smile. Brushing back part of his hair that had draped into his face he swallowed before he took note of the hand being offered to him. Slowly he took ahold of it, trusting she would be able to handle his weight before helping himself up.
After a quick examination of himself, he realized he was a mess. Covered in scratches and nicks from his terrified flight to this region of the forest, not to mention leaves and moss. After releasing his hold on Maya's hand he offered her a small smile of thanks before dusting himself off.
"Ah..I am Takoda." He replied realizing it was rude of him to not offer his name in return. In his life time he only recalled meeting a full blooded alkidike amazon woman once...and he had run from her too. Feeling foolish he shifted his satchel on his shoulder and quickly glanced around for the nondwa that had been stalking him earlier.
"You say the nondwa was attracted to the fruit I had on me?" He murmured wondering if he should just ditch the fruit now so he could have an un-bothersome trip home. Or perhaps he should just eat it now, he would hate to waste fruit.
Reaching into his satchel slowly he retrieved the fruit from the bag and then offered one hesitantly to Maya. "Care for one?" He inquired in a friendly manner.
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Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 12:36 pm
Maya watched the strange male in front of her. Shifters in her mind where such strange creatures, though much like her sisters they did range in personality so they couldn't be any less human that she, right? Even if they had killed so many of her sisters. Shifting her own weight as she helped the strange Shifter to his feet she made another glance up and down him. Strange. Was all she had determined. "Takoda." She muttered under her breath as if trying to form a way or distinguishing the Shifter male from all the other shifters she had met or would meet.
She had to admit it was rather hard. Shifters all looked the same to her even if they changed their skin color on her somehow. Feeling a little nervous when he started glancing around, Maya internally went on guard. She wasn't sure if he was sending some sort of signal to the trees around them or if he was just looking around for that wonderful moth that had been following him earlier. Her focus dimmed as she put all her efforts into focusing on the vibrations around her. As far as she could tell there were no hidden enemies she should be aware of... yet.
"Nondwa are attracted to sweet things, at least to my knowledge. It's how I lure them in anyways." She shrugged as her eyes started to focus on Takoda instead of the trees around her. Still very much on guard when his hands dipped into the bag, taking a step back just to be safe.
It was a slow process for the Alkidike to relax when she realized that all he had brought out was fruit but still feeling wary of Takoda she felt it best to refuse the fruit. Putting her hand up and shaking her head Maya turned the offered item down. Looking carefully around her. "You do know your way out of here?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 9:51 pm
Takoda looked a bit saddened at the decline of his offer, but it wasn't the end of the world, after all there were worst things she could do. Throwing a bug at him was one of them. Luckily she didn't seem to type to be cruel intentionally. Licking his lips he went to put the fruit back in his bag, as much as he didn't want to draw the nondwa back to him he couldn't bring himself to abandon the food.
He was learning all sorts of things today, about..insects but hey it helped him avoid them as well. "I am sorry...I am making you uncomfortable." Takoda murmured looking to the ground, of course she was making him just as uncomfortable but that was due to her bug like features.
When asked if he knew his way back he was sure he could figure it out, though it could take him twice as long back even though it had been so quick to get here the first time.
"Not...exactly." He replied to her question about getting back, he looked around as if wondering if more of her people were gathering and if he was truly that unwelcome.
"I guess...I should be going though?" Takoda asked slowly, now that his fear had somewhat abided he would of liked to explore the area, see if there were any new plants to discover.
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 5:39 pm
Maya didn't take it personal that the shifter was uncomfortable in her presence it was almost expected from the different tribes when they met each other at least she was sure he wasn't going to kill her at any rate. "I guess I could point you in the right direction but would probably take you ages to get home since I don't want you so close to these parts again."
The strange noise Maya had discarded away as nothing to worry about had returned this time though she seemed to be a little more cautious this time as her body quickly spun about. Her eyes desperately searching the tree line. Her hand held out close to the Shifters face with her fingers spread apart as if to silence the timid tribesman before he could figure out what was happening.
"You can climb right?" Maya didn't even waist a moment checking to see if he was nodding to her question. "Get up and move slowly, but be prepared to run when I tell you." Her antennae quivered sporadically. Something out there was hungry for blood and somehow had followed them and it wasn't just one. She could sense at least three different creatures in the dense dark beyond where the two strangers stood.
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:12 pm
Takoda had to ponder on her choice of words, 'these parts'. After all wasn't the forest where all sorts of creatures lived and shared their lives with? He thought it was sad that there were wars, but perhaps it was due to the fact everyone judged and feared differences. About to speak up on the subject of ownership of the forest he tilted his head and noticed that her antenna were twitching. Looking away quickly his ears were cocked to the sounds of the forest noted how ..quiet the forest had suddenly gotten. Like a hush had spread around but the two humanoids had been left out of the circle.
Takoda scanned the forest trying to figure out what it was could cause such a eerie silence, he had been looking up and at the canopy when she asked if he could climb and he gave her a surprised look, didn't she know shifters lived in trees? Perhaps not. But then again he didn't know much about alidike's either so he supposed they were even in that regard. Rather than replying he curtly nodded his head, looking over to where the closest tree in range was and figuring the best method of scaling it in a matter of seconds.
Getting up he did as he was told, moving slowly to his targeted tree and though he could of scaled it in a very quick manner he went slow. After all whatever it was she sensed he would hate to be the reason why the sudden danger fell down upon them. It felt agonizing to move like this, his mind a swarm of thoughts on what it was that she sensed. Was it a menzuri? Or something else just as horrible? He hadn't seen any webs but that didn't mean one couldn't be around.
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:41 pm
Maya's breathing came at a steady deep pace as she listened to the area around her, pulling her left foot slowly back behind her in order to leap into the nearest tree at a moments notice. As an Alkidike Maya had learned to constantly be knowledgeable about where the closest tree was when traveling the ground. At home it was far to easy for them to fall prey to the creatures if they weren't any where near Aisha and so it had become second nature to her. The hand she had held out towards Takoda as a silencer was now shifting into a fist light grip as she slowly moved towards the tree.
There were worm like creatures under the ground only a few paces ahead of them. Fearsome bug like monsters even Maya didn't want to tangle with when it came to the ground type monsters. They were massive insects usually incredibly dark in color, nearly black to match the region’s soil. Occasionally, they would possess dark purple, green, or blue markings. Their bodies are round and yet very flat, covered in a hard armor that Maya had learned was incredibly difficult to break. From their faces, two large, sharp pincers protrude, perfect for digging into the hard ground. Not to mention there were three of them coming towards them. Maya had not known them to climb tree's before but there was always a first.
Her movements weren't slow enough and yet at the same time not fast enough, the dreaded creatures were under her feet in moments. Her head turning as fast as she could as she yelled out for Takoda to get up the tree as fast as she could. Leaping into the nearest one herself and scrambling up into what she thought was safety. The moment her foot left the ground the first of the insects burst through the ground, right at the exact spot she had been standing before she had taken the quickened leap.
"Higher Takoda" Maya yelled.
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 9:42 pm
Fear quickly tried to override his brain, oh...no... what was attacking them was giant...burrowing insects and the alidike didn't have to tell him to move faster for he was already moving quite quickly up that tree he was currently in. Driven by fear, he dared no look down for it he did he was sure that panic and fear would over take him, and drown him. One slip and he could find himself on the floor a tasty snack for them. As it was now he could barely ignore the fact there were carnivorous insects snapping at the base of a tree he was climbing.
Takoda kept his face turned upwards, looking ahead for the next branch to grab hold of and dodge limbs and leaves as he moved and when he could gain no higher ground without risking the branches being unable to hold his weight, he clung to the thickest branch possible and closed his eyes tightly as he held onto it. Hugging it as if by doing so he could ask the tree to get rid of the insects.
Takoda's body was trembling as like a leaf in a rough wind, he wished he could just block out the sounds of them, the chattering of their mandibles, the movement of all there...legs as they tried to figure out how to get to their now inaccessible prey. The fact he caught sight of them briefly didn't help matter for now his mind was conjuring up worse imaginings of them. His imagination wildly coming up them plotting ways to bring the tree down even though there was little chance these creatures were smart enough to do something so complicated.
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:56 pm
tch
The sound came from Maya as her face twisted into a snarl, climbing up the tree towards Takoda. Freezing right now was not a good idea, these creatures seemed to have a sense of climbing on one another to get higher up the trees. He wasn't safe yet were he was, and hadn't she just told him to climb higher? Frustrated Maya hissed in the direction of the strange insect like creatures. They were already performing their climb. Damned beasts, Maya mentally cursed turning back to her strangely timid companion. This time she figured in order to reach him she would have to raise her voice. Or drag him up the tree herself. She really hopped she wouldn't have to do that latter.
"Takoda Higher! Now!" Maya repeated as she swung onto the same branch the Shifter was currently grasping for dear life. "If you don't move higher you will be eaten c'mon lets go!"
Nudging him hoping that would wake the the boy out of the strange trance he seemed to be in she watched as the second of the three seemed to draw closer. Pulling herself up onto another limb and then another, Maya glanced back to make sure Takoda was following.
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