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 Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 12:24 pm
 (Art by The Only Black Uke, Color by Lilia)|| Stat Page || Updated: Oct/13/17
Experience || 96
Inventory
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 9:09 pm
Name: Dyakida [Dee-YAH-Key-dah]Species: AlkidikeClass: Master Blacksmith Traits:
Serene:
Dyakida is very calm and centered, almost demure in her politeness. She hates strong emotions (in herself, not in others), feeling that it is a sign of mental weakness or a lack of willpower in herself. When she feels strong emotions, she hides them beneath a veneer of neutral calm. When other sisters would blow their tops and start stabbing, Dyakida remains the voice of reason. Or at least something sane-like and able to advise, calmly, on the best course of action.
Loyal:
Dyakida is loyal to herself, her close family, her sisters, and- of course- her tribe. This does not prevent friendships with earthlings, or helping them when she can, but she always keeps an eye for the greater good... whatever that may mean for her tribe.
Artful:
Dyakida is clever. She likes to manipulate others, but rarely does so for her own gain. Instead, she moves others like chess pieces into the best place for them, getting them in a position to do incredible or interesting things and be the best that they can be. Sometimes, they may not be happy about the things she gets them into, sometimes its something that they wouldn't do otherwise. Usually, they don't realize that it is her pulling the strings behind their life. But it is always, ALWAYS, for their own ultimate good.
Personality:
Dyakida seems like a strong willed young Alkidike woman. She is calm in crisis and resolute in the face of adversity. Her sister's and friends see her as a reliable and competent touchstone, the one person that stays the same when everything is going insane around them. In fact, she has become her close family's sort-of mascot.
But beneath that strange calm she posesses, she is a raging battlefield between self pity, crushing despair, and unabating lonliness, pitted against her own pride and inflated ego.
She often wonders what she had done to earn the stroke of bad luck that blinded her, but in recent years she has started to become confident in her abilities and in Peyla, her sprite's, guidance. She knows she has the potential to become amazing at what she does, proven time and again by happy customer-sisters and the praise of elders. In her good moments, she is, perhaps, too confident. And she knows it.
She cannot give in to bravado, nor can she sink into oblivion. She can't figure out the middle ground and this is a cause of great and secret frustration to her every time the world gives her reason to feel good about herself, and every time the world tears that assurance away.
This frustration, however, she hides well, and she runs very cool, mood wise. She is not emotionless- her emotions are just lower key. Dyakida is a calm person. Her strength has always came from within. Her mothers taught her meditative techniques, and she has been practicing them since she was young. She still practices the mediative weapon routines with her staff, though her actual skills are quite rusty.
When she was younger, still learning how to get around without her sight, she had felt oppressed. She had thought that she stood alone in her belief that a crafter of weapons was a useful as the one who wielded them, but now.. Now, to her surprise, she is actually accepted. Acknowledged. Wanted.
She dearly appreciates her close family and the support they have given her through her struggles. If they ever needed her, she would be at their side in a heartbeat.
Internal Trait: Bitter Depression: Her sense of pride is constantly warring with a fragile sense of self worth.
Internal image concept: Perfect SpearColor: #0A103B, Deepblue[color=#0A103B] [/color]
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 9:11 pm
 The story
Dyakida was born of Aisha alone and given to an older, experienced couple (Kavaud and Rowa) to raise. They taught her many things, especially that the cycle of life was important, and that death was a part of life. It was a philosophy that served her well and softened the grief of Rowa's early passing, the deaths of her sister's to the predator in the tree, and, eventually, the loss of her sight.
She grew up alongside Maya, at first mentoring her (as a slightly older youngling) and then acting as one of her staunchest companions.
When they left for a home tree in Jahuar, Dyakida sided with Maya in both of the major fights that dogged them, although she attempted to mediate between the group rather than join in the conflict, as the fighting itself was incredibly unproductive. She left with Maya and her close sisters for a new tree.
A Jahuar predator attacked them and she helped to fend it off, taking a projectile of venomous spit in her face while protecting a downed sister. It was eventually finished off. she washed off the slightly stinging spit and thought nothing of it until it started to burn her vision. Her vision faded over time, and eventually, the pain did too. By then, though, it was too late. her vision was dark. She was blind.
At first she was hopeful that her sight would return. Then, she was devastated, as it showed no sign of recovery, despite their elder's best efforts.
She spent some time feeling like a worthless waste of life. She has no idea how long this went on. And then she had an epiphany while doing some minor jobs around the household. She could feel. The whole world was still there to touch and hear. One of the hobbies she had been doing, that her sisters had had her do to help her, was carving. She could feel how the knife sunk into the wood, and how it moved. She could feel the art of the carvings and know if they were done right.
Crafting these things gave her such pleasure, a feeling of usefulness.
She grabbed onto that feeling and started to try to make it be of some use. First she relentlessly trained herself to use her senses of touch and hearing to get around, learning the auditory and sensory area around their home tree to a surprisingly intimate degree, forcing herself to hone her sense of direction to an extent where she would not be a burden to her sisters.
She hit upon the crafting of weapons as a way to benefit the tribe, feeling every spear in the tree to understand them, working on them, and learning how to craft them.
The hardship she put herself through was a welcome distraction to the mixture of distrust, pity, and scorn her kin subjected her to, but only those closest to her would truly know her hardship.
She's kept it close to her heart and beneath a mask of complete calm, but her vigilant practicing belied her desperation, and it has since payed off.
Not before, however, she had a few run-ins with Earthlings and mixed breeds, not the least of which was Teiluj. Teiluj, who she saw as annoying and loud. Teiluj, who became the focus of all attention. Feeling neglected and very alone, Dyakida became depressed.
Fortunately, Peyla showed up, and Dyakida became too annoyed to be depressed. Peyla decided, with sprite logic, that since she knew Dyakida was upset and needed help, Peyla decided to claim her as 'hers' and become her guide and guardian.
One day, Dyakida was commissioned to craft a staff by Yansa, a leader of the tribe. In three days, with Peyla's help, she traveled into the Tale, crafted a staff, and brought it to Yansa at Aisha. In return, she was given acceptance as a young adult of her tribe and, to her surprise, the staff itself. Since then, she has returned home with renewed purpose and is even receiving commissions from her sisters. Her pride is growing, her life is repairing itself.
Her renewed pride, however, needed trimming. With Peyla to guide her, she was able to leave the tree without her sister's help, meeting all sorts of fascinating people. The trouble was, this same freedom went to her head.
She was good at what she did. She knew she was good at what she did. She had keen senses and a keener wit. What obstacle could stand in her way? What obstacle could possibly stand in her way? Her, who was destined for greatness?
Her own blindness of course. Pretending it wasn't an issue got her into more scrapes and potential trouble than the despair ever had. She was fortunate that she did not run into anything worse than a warning and a few embarassing situations.
The events at the tournament made it very clear to her that she had a problem. For all her confidence and pride, she could not stop war. Nor could she stop a sniveling thief from helping themselves to her merchandise.
In addition, her guide – who she placed a lot of trust in – was starting to act out in mischevious ways, not fitting for a guide, leading her to have to humbly try to do things on her own. Her confidence suitably deflated, she went to the older alkidikes to learn the finer points of her chosen trade from them. She was a fast learner with a young mind, and soon managed to gain their acceptance as a near equal in the art. Preparations for war caused many sisters to request new weapons or upgrades to existing weapons, and she was soon swamped with work.
Custom weapons were the most difficult. Although flattered to receive the commissions, they often required rare materials in dangerous places. She usually tried to buy the materials when she could, but sometimes she had to go with Peyla and a group of guardians.
One such commission led her to travel to the dangerous Northern Forests to acquire a hard, special wood suitable for weapons. As they were leaving with the materials, she and her group were attacked by monsters that clicked and cast spells. Dyakida escaped as her sisters held off the monsters, and was soon joined by Peyla and a youngling who had managed to tag along with her older siblings.
They returned to the tree safely, as did most of the group, but the little girl's older sisters, prentices, never returned. Dyakida doesn't know what the child saw, but she – Yitzhem – has not spoken a word since and began dogging Dyakidas shadow, assisting her in her work. Dyakida finished the commission, but the sense of frustration she felt - at her customer's short-sightedness and rudeness in not providing the material themselves – lingered. She became acutely aware of a sort of bullishness that existed in her tribe, and, as war loomed on the horizon, and as she waited in the camp in the wake of Tendaji's army, she feared that this same bullish rashness would cost many sister's their lives...
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 9:12 pm
: Postive: Yansa: An Alkidike leader who granted Dyakida her first real commission and accepted her as a craftswoman for the tribe.
My thoughts regarding her are both fond and respectful. I barely know her, or even of her, but I can tell from her voice and touch that she is someone to respect and be in awe of, even if I only know a few rumors of her deeds. I hope that someday we will speak again, perhaps under less rushed circumstances. Tahira: Tahira is a young Wind/Alkidike mix who has a fondness for water. Dyakida met her and they got along well.
She seems fascinating. I will enjoy racing against her again someday, and I hope that I can meet her mother as well. Perhaps I will learn something important about cooking, or at least gain a few new recipes. Briella:Briella is another member of Maya's group. Previously a friend of not much import, ever since losing her sight Dyakida has come to appreciate Briella as not only a friend but as someone who she sees as brimming with potential. There might have been a crush in there somewhere, but she can sense that approaching would be a bad idea, and doesn't feel worthy of that sort of affection anyway. Still, she loves Briella dearly and would likely be jealous of anybody who rivaled her for her Briella's affections.
A great comfort to me. She is a joy to be around, a joy to listen to. So full of energy and vitality! I can't help it. I like spending time with my dear Sister.
She's growing up so well. I'm so proud.
She made her first decision as a leader. I think she can do it.
People see Maya, people see Niebet.
But it is Briella who has the clear sight and the clear mind. Rastian: Rastian is a Hybrid earthling that Dyakida met and traded with. He was reasonable and quite entertaining and a very canny trader.
Although he does not like my hot and humid home, I wish that his route would take him here more often, and that our paths would cross. I enjoyed talking and trading with him – it got my blood up and my mind working, and it is sometimes good to do that once in a while. Yaholo: Yaholo is a Leaf/Alkidike hybrid that Dyakida met and quite liked.
Yaholo is a sister born male. He is polite, gracious, and strong, with powerful convictions. I appreciate kindness where it is given, and wish that our sisters could see that he is an exemplar of an Alkidike Warrior, though he is male and wields a hammer.I heard a rumor that a male Alkidike pleaded with Aisha for children and received two lotuses from our mother... I wonder if it is him they spoke of? Bhima: A bald sister who Dyakida met on a market visit when Peyla... misbehaved.
She was very helpful even when... well... she had every right to leave me in the dust. Peyla is, after all, my creature.Neutral: Winta: ----- Biroki:Biroki is a male shifter who Dyakida met briefly while attempting to explore on her own. He gave her a small trinket that he found in the ashes of an old Home Tree. He seemed not just afraid of her but of everything.
"I have never met a shifter or a male before and I do hope they are not all as annoyingly... well... Inexplicably Nervous. It hurt to have him vibrating anxiously nearby. And he was constantly slipping up and apologizing. I really just wanted him to shut up.
I suppose, however, that he meant well... A nice enough sort of person. under the shaking." Aminah:Aminah is a Leaf/Shifter mix mage who Dyakida met during an impromptu tea party.
She was interesting. Definitely powerful. She seemed assured, but there was a quietness to her that I found interesting. Definitely worth another conversation. Zuri:Zuri is an Ice-shifter mix that Dyakida met during an impromptu tea party.
Also interesting. Very protective of Biroki, which makes sense. Of course someone would be defending him, otherwise he would shake so much that any predator within a few miles would find him and make a quick meal of him.
She spoke of weapons, and perhaps I can squeeze more information out of her? Anavi:Anavi is a neighboring Alkidike who helped Dyakida once when she was lost.
"She helped me out when I was lost, the other day. She's... well... she's different. Shes a lot like Maya, in that she is very serious and a bit... hmm. well, serious describes her. But she's like Briella in some ways. In the short time I spent talking to her, it seemed that, like Briella, she has moments when it is simply... refreshing to be around her. On the other hand, she appears to be very much the traditional warrior. Spear for her, I think.
Ah well. At least we got to know our neighbors." Ilyra: An Albino Alkidike that Briella adopted as her daughter.
She is rebellious, but perhaps that serves her well. Ruelash: An Ice Tribesman that Dyakida met at her stand in the tournament.
A customer.Negative: Kaalnia: Briella's sister, this alkidike hits on anything female.
Loud and obnoxious.Other:Peyla
Peyla is a white-marked sprite who has decided that it is her job to be Dyakida's guide and defender, despite being a tiny sprite about the size of her hand. She has given Dyakida true independence- where she had previously been relying on luck and survival skills, now she has someone to serve as her eyes...
A helpful prankster without whom I would be forever lost...
Komeini
Initially, Komeini was just a strange creature who followed her home while she was visiting Matori. He has since become a comforting pet and companion animal, his textures welcome under Dyakida's hands.
Inquisitive, explorative, and affectionate, he is a very good - if unremarkable -
pet.
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 9:13 pm
Details of the House:The tree is big enough to house the Elder and her sisters, as well as their pets. Dyakida knows the area around it to a greater extend than some of them: there is a family of birds in the northwest (whose calls she has trained herself to differentiate from other birds), a small river gully to the southeast... ...
In the forest, in a clearing not to far from the tree is Dyakida's 'shrine'
Its a pile of junked weapons- weapons she made that did not work out well. Her mistakes and practices and screwups. One stands out, however, a well-made spear standing upright, its head stuck roughly in the middle of the pile.
Its symbolic to her. She slayed her mistakes with her first well-crafted weapon. She tells nobody about its significance, though her sisters are aware of the junk pile's existance. She often goes there and feels the carving of a vast tree carved into the wooden handle, to remind herself that her doubts lay buried there.Dyakida's Room:Dyakida's room is colorful by coinicidence. Most of the purposefully colorful stuff was taken with her on the original journey and consists of her old pack, a light knotted blanket, and a thread construction. Everything else is dedicated to her attempts at working. She has a workbench, a set of hand crafted tools, and a myriad of feathers and materials. Dyakida's Inventory:
Intricately Carved Staff: Dyakida's staff, made at Yansas request. It is a symbol of her deviation from the path of the warrior, and the acceptance of her path by her tribe. It also is a handy tool for determining direction and poking things and was built to be pretty decent in a fight. Just in case
Skills and abilities
Dyakida has trained her senses of touch and hearing to attempt to make up for her lack of sight. It isn't perfect, but she can almost tell individuals apart by voice alone, and can easily tell gender, sometimes age too.
Her antennae are her most sensitive feature and she can often uncannily tell where people are around her. Again, not perfect, but eerie.
Her skill in carving and crafting is not insignificant, but she constantly practices and seeks to be better. She especially wants to learn more about magic and about Earthling weapons, which fascinate her.
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 9:21 pm
** = already counted *= not counted In Progress
AbandonedX - It might as well be blue... (Betoto, Dyakida, And pets)* X - Sharp Eyes (Dyakida and Winta)* X - An Ear to your Courage (Dyakida, Pahana) X - BEAST BATTLE/RP: Feather Treasure (Dyakida, Kaalnia, Briella, and a LOT of Scorra) X - The Peerless hammer (Dyakida, Samoset, Kennet, Yaholo) X - The Terrible Stillness (Dyakida, Ichil, Naevius) X - Chance Encounter? (Dyakida, Yitzah, Ceyede) X - Cold Business (Dyakida, Nimue, Elsheba) X - Vines of Aisha (Dyakida, Lassarra, Lasseyn) X - The Klutz and the Blind Woman (Dyakida and Zoraida) X - Rain and Mud (Dyakida and Rishima) X - Doing a Brisk Business (Dyakida, Masika, V'demhe) Complete
X- Shared Memory- Tag in the Tree (Dyakida and Maya)
X - Dyakida's First Spear (Class Affinity Journal entry/short story) (2036 words)
XX- Tropic Welcome (Dyakida, Maya) (response 149 words)
XX - Thank You (Dyakida, Briella, Maya)(Response is 156 words)
X - Dyakida's Uncanny Experience (Not for Credit short story)(689 words)
X X- The Song of Trees, Grass, and Fire (Biroki, Dyakida) (Response is 897 words)
XX - And then they Had a Tea Party (Biroki, Dyakida, Briella, Maya, Aminah) (Response is 723 words) *
XX - Splish, Splash (Dyakida, Tahira) (Response is 193 words)
X - One Last Memory of Sight (Solo - 1153 words)
XX - Adventure time! (Dyakida, Briella) (Response is 368 words)
X - Sweetened Jealousy (Peyla pt 1) (Solo, 1676 words)
X - Berry Redemption (Peyla pt 2) (Solo, 2023 words)
XX - GET YOUR OWN ALKIDIKE! (Dyakida, Briella, Sprites), Response is 275 words
XX - Class Quest (Response is 338 words)
XX - A bizzare Reunion (Dyakida, Briella, Ilyra, Kaalnia), Response is 280 words
XX - I don't Need to See you (Dyakida and Rastian), response is 518 words
XX - The Sister that Does Not Fight (Bhima and Dyakida (and Peyla)), Response is 882 words
X - Crime and Punishment (Solo, 1181 words)
XX - Hammertime in Hammerspace (Dyakida and Yaholo), response is 311 words
X - Fascination and Magical Calibration (Solo, 1375 words)
XXX - Meta Ch 4: Tournament Stands (14 posts) , Response 1 is 277 words, Response 2 is 573 words
X - Of Pride and Stupidity (Solo, 1079 words)
X - Scorched Swords (Solo 1321 words)
XX- Patrolling Jahuar (Dyakida and Rishima), response is 259 words
XX - The Plotter and the Pup (Ikkio and Dyakida), Response is 229 words
X - Reflection (Solo, 1188 words)
XX - Class Quest, Response is 294 words
X - Meta Ch. 5: Invasion, Camp
X - Meta ch. 5: Invasion, Preparing for the Worst (counts for 2 RP points in total)
XX - Meta Ch. 5 Invasion Responses (223 words, 207 words)
X - Wartime Simplicity (Bhima's Blade Blades Solo, 580 Words)
XX - Silver Flowers (Dyakida and Lerin)
X - Delicate Work (Yaholo's Brute Hammer Solo, 1980 words)
X - The Harsh Light of Envy (Briella's Blades Solo, 1085 words)
X - The Dancer (Kaalnia's Spear Solo, 645 words)
X - Small Flower (Yitzah's Bow Solo, 753 words)
XXX - Invisible Assistant (Dyakida and Yitzah, responses are 158 words and 205 words) (Counts as 2 rps)
X - Aisha's Leaves (Samoset's Blade Bow, Kennet's Blade Spear solo, 1053 words)
X - In the Silent Darkness (Solo, 1212 words)
X - Meta Ch 6: The Final Battle, Oba Camp
XXXX - Crafting Solo Arc: Inferior Tools
X - Meta Ch 6: The Final Battle, Out of battle
XX - Meta Ch 6: The Final Battle Responses (199 words, 154 words)
XX - Tis the Season - Versatile Prompt with Iroia, Votzhem, Ruelash, Sezarra, Sauron, Response is 175 words)
X - A Long Way (Kaalnia's Warrior Spear Solo, 1054 words)
X - Blades for a Young Hero (Votzhem's Blade Blades solo, 1051 words)
XX - Fight in the Marketplace (Versatile RP, Kaalnia and Dyakida, 176 words)
X - Politics (Solo, 766 words)
XX - Razor Sharp (Dyakida, Bhima)
X - Crafting Solo: The Steady Ally (Blades, Success)
XX - Kids These Days (Dyakida, Vollerei, Response is 205 words)
XX - Meta Ch 7: Rising Tide, Responses (300 words) *
XX - Remembering The Past - Versatile Point, 961 words
X Crafting Solo: A Sister's Thirst (Spear, Failure)
XX - Sins and Virtues - CYOA, 222 words
XX - Repairs (Dyakida and Mnyiri)
XX - Creepy Crawlies - World Event, Dyakida and Mnyiri
X Meta Tournament 2: The Stands *
X Crafting Solo: Tiny Droplets of Dew (Spear, Success)
X Crafting Solo: Little Differences (Dagger, Success)
X Crafting Solo: Paths and Results (Bow, Success)
X Crafting Solo: Flame and Warmth (Bow, Success)
X Crafting Solo: Metallic Envy (Blades, Success)
X Crafting Solo: What of a companion (Whip, Success)
X META: Return to Chibale *
X Crafting: A Cold Rumor? (Bow, Success)
X Crafting: Bow Women (Bow, Success)
XX Crafting: Textures and Hopes pt 1 and 2(Beads: Success, Fail)
X Crafting Solo: Ice and Magic (Staff, Success)
X Beast Battle: Sun and Sticky Fingers (Dyakida and Dravi, Alol, Success)
X Crafting Solo: Touching... Once (Spear, Success)
X Crafting Solo: Secret Smiles (Bow, Success)
X Crafting Solo: Thorns (Bow, Success)
X Crafting Solo: Betrayal (Blades, Success)
X Crafting Solo: Confrontation (Blades, Success)
X Crafting Solo: Sharp Pain (Blades, Success)
X Crafting Solo: Healing Heart Wounds (Crossbow, Failure)
X Class Solo: Paths Untravelled
XX - Wine and Dine - Mnyiri and Dyakida
XX Meta Chapter 9: Grave Expectations
X Crafting Solo: The Parents Path - Dagger, Failed to Customize
X Crafting Solo: Mortality is Inevitable - Sculpting, Success
X X Crafting Solo: Preparing for Disaster pt 1 - Blades, Success
X Crafting Solo: Preparing for Disaster pt 2 - Spear, Success
X Crafting Solo: Preparing for Disaster pt 3 - Bow, Failure
---- Growth ProgressStage 4-LegendaryRP Points: 10/80 (5 rp points need to be claimed in the meta thread for 7 meta points) EXP Points: 5/20 Arc Requirements:All Weapons Crafted Successfully: O Dagger/Knives O Sword O Blades O Whip O Bow O Crossbow O Spear O Lance O Trident O Hammer O Gauntlets O Shield O Beads O Book O Runes O Staff Mnyiri Arc: O Relationship <3 O Children Items:
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 9:22 pm
Portrait (by Duke Edward Drake) Official stage 2 (by Kaname423) Official Prentice (by Kaname423)
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Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 9:24 pm
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Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 10:57 am
Skype RP: Dyakida and Maya: Shared Memories. 1909 words
Dyakida closed her eyes and leaned against Aisha's bough. “One... Two... Three...”
She counted, giving her sisters time to get ahead of her before chasing after them.
She was it in their game of tag, and she would play it fairly, not like some who counted too fast and cheated.
“Ready or not!” she shouted, and the chase begun.
She raced up towards her best friend, leaping from bough to bough with the uncaring agility of the young.
“I bet I'll catch you, Maya!” she taunted.
Maya was faster... but Dyakida knew that taunting her would make her go even faster. The thought made her grin as she ran and jumped. Going fast was good for her friend, and a good challenge for her.
Maya sat with her feet dangling over the edge of one of her mothers bigger bows. The morning had come rather swiftly urging her out of her slumber. Humming as her feet swung back and forth on the branches the youngling's dark eyes searched the braches above and below her for her friends. Some of them were just waking up others had been up and about if not rather sluggishly, not that it could be helped the day was partly cloudy and clouds always meant rain. It would inevitably force them all towards their mothers trunk but for now Maya needed a game to play. Shifting the tiny Alkidike dropped down to the branch below her and tapping her close friend on the shoulder with a beaming grin. "Tag." She giggled dashing away through the branches. Laughing as she moved higher, lower, and back to the side Maya was suprised to notice other children had been caught up in the game as well. The one she had 'tagged' earlier didn't seem to be the one who was tagged now.
Her eyes darted quickly about in case whoever it was managed to catch her. At this point she would have to be careful about all the children, who knew which one would be caught up in the game and could just be pretending not to be involved. It wasn't like she could magically change the game from tag to hide and seek after all. It would be breaking the rules! After several moments she set out in search of the other younglings to find out if any of them knew who was it. Apparently the one who had been tagged last had wussed out and gone for a nap. Huffing her dissapointment offered for the game to be restarted in which time all the girls who wanted gathered around the large branches. Some eager for the chase, others the thrill, either way it was Maya's favorite game and she wasn't going to loose.
Waiting until someone had been picked, inevitably it was Dya one of her closer friends. Maya was faster than her, though sometimes Dya had a way of getting in her head and making it bigger than it should be thus somehow beating her. That wouldn't happen today she was going to play this smart! Waiting for the countdown Maya braced her body before launching into the branches, what she didn't expect was for Dya to come strait after her first! Squeeling as she darted down a couple of branches past a few of the older sister's Maya was not about to be caught.
Dyakida was not looking for a win, she was looking for fun. As Maya darted between the older sisters, she didnt even consider that they might be playing. Maya was her target. Her friend had played this game a few days ago and had lost to a faster alkidike, so it was Dya's job to motivate her so that she wouldn't be so sulky again.
And... she saw the perfect oppurtinity.
She slowed a moment, lidded her eyes, and calmed her mind before springing to a higher branch and using it and its fellows as a shortcut to run AHEAD of Maya, cutting her off and running towards her. She didn't need to say anything- the startled look on her friends face was enough.
She hoped it would give Maya even more motivation to use those legs of hers. Either way, she was really proud of her ingenuity.
She winked as she ran closer, hand outstretched.
Glacing back Maya's face turned into puzzlement she couldn't see Dya behind her. Maya knew she wasn't that slow so the only thing she could think of was her friend was plotting a new course to catch her. Not today! Slowing her progress around the tree Maya pulled herself up several branches before running towards the trunk and climbing up a few more. Where was Dya and what exactly was she up to this time, or had she tagged another. Making a mental note to keep a better eye on where the 'it' girl was Maya about to leap into another branch when her eyes fell on the familiar Alkidikes face.
Dya was coming towards her from in front now, confused at how the girl had gotten infront of her didn't linger long as she instantly dropped a couple branches below and darted back the way she had come. Mentally taking note she was going to have to think not only faster, but smarter ways to get away from this one. Her other sisters rarely over powered her in the trees though it happened more often than she liked to admit. Deep inside she didn't like the feeling of people running from her, though she had no problem running from her sisters. Dropping two more branches Maya chanced doubling back again the way she had originally been heading in case she could trip up Dya and escape her tag.
Dyakida would have giggled if her breathing wasn't coming too fast for such a thing. Look at that! Already, Maya was improving! Time to REALLY turn up the pressure. She tagged two of her sisters for good measure, dropping to find... Maya was out of sight.
She frowned a moment and scurried off to find her, pacing along the boughs and glancing at every spot of moving green.
Ah! Was that her?
Dyakida darted after the shape...
No.. it wasn't...
Ah, there?
No, again, another sister.
There!
It was her this time, and Dyakida dashed after her, trying to keep her balance, though she felt herself wobble. She slowed down, heart pounding. She didn't want to fall. She slowed to a stop and took a deep breath before crouching and running with a lot more care. She attempted to sneak up on Maya, though she hadn't bothered to hide herself.
Settling down on a thick branch high up in on Aisha Maya took in several long strides. Someone below her seemed to be acting like they were it, the the only way they could actually be it was if her friend had managed to tag someone. In that case did it mean Dyakida was no longer it? Huffing she started glancing around unaware that she was being crept up upon.
Blinking as her eyes scanned the branches below her thinking Dya was running around them a training lesson blinked into her mind. The tiny Alkidike had been scolded for not properly listening to the vibrations from the world around her. Taking in a deep breath the tiny girl pressed her palm to her flat chest, closing her eyes slowly as she tried to focus on the branches around her. Vibrations confused her, the wind in the leaves the wiggling branches her sisters dancing with each other on a couple branches below and then... footsteps behind her?
spinning around Maya's eyes grew wide, Dya was right there. Curses she had found her easily. That didn't mean she had to be able to catch her right? The day had only just started and Maya was determind not to be caught. Straitening up as Dya came at her Maya started back away slowly, she hadn't noticed where she put her next step and before she knew it the clumsy girl missed her step and tumbled off the branch.
Her fall didn't go very far but it was enough to knock the wind out of her lungs. Grumbling about not having the branch where it was supposed to be and cursing one of her sisters for moving it Maya struggled to breathe.
Normally, since she had tagged others, she would not be it.
But Dya wanted to teach her friend to be flexible about rules. So, she changed them.
It was now a free for all, where everybody tagged would become it and tag others, until the sun touched the newest lotus on the tree. Then all the alkidikes playing and not it would 'win' and they could start a new game.
Yes yes, it was complicated. But it got them to think!
She had delayed a bit to tell her sisters this, and hopefully they would spread the rules without too much trouble.
She wondered what would happen.
She crept up on her sister, grinning slightly wickedly. Almost... almost...
Ah!
Maya turned to face her, surprised. Dya was surprised too: Maya was usually not hard to sneak up on...
Surprised and proud. Look at how the younger alkidike was getting more astute because of her!
Then Maya took a fall. The smile became a frown of concern.
“Maya, Are you..?” she began... before slipping on a patch of warm lichen and falling herself, rolling to catch her fall.
“Ow.”
She looked at her sister.
“Maya, are you okay?”
Maya glanced over to Dya once she had managed to catch her breath with a grin before bursting out in a fit of giggles. "You almost got me this time Dya!" Giggling again as she turned her head to look back up at the sky the tiny Alkidike raised her hand as if she were reaching up into the sky able to catch any falling petals or leaves from their mothers branches.
The lesson had paid off and Maya had learned a new thing, she was going to have to be more astute to her intuitions when it came to the movements of the area around her. It would probably help if she could memerize the movements. she thought to herself. Catching her breath from the bout of giggling Maya stretched her arms out above her head reaching her fingers as far as she could while pointing her toes. The stretch felt good releasing the pain echoed in her muscled after the fall.
She watched as a couple of their sisters dashed about the branches aboce them, glancing briefly over the pair as they lay in the fluffy branches of leaves. Obviously not interested in their still forms, Maya could only guess that they thought the two friends had been that way all along and not involved in the game. It had not occured to her Dya wasn't it even though she had run from her. It didn't matter anyways, if she meant to tag her Maya was sure she would have already.
Dyakida grinned. “Almost! But you managed to get away, didn't you?” She laughed, though her concerned look returned.
“Are you sure you're okay, though? That was quite a fall...” she looked her sister over, then nodded.
“Yeah, you're okay.” she said, lying back, a bit winded herself.
They were like that for a little bit, quietly watching the leaves and petals against the sky.
“Wanna play again?”
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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 7:35 pm
Dyakida's First Spear, Journal Post- Class affinity - 2036 Words
Scrape. Scrape. Scrape.
Dyakida took great care as she carved intricate designs into the long shaft of wood in her hands. It would be a spear someday, possibly soon if the crystals she had found earlier did not break with use.
Elder Kishku- bless her name- had taught her much about weapons. The edge was important, yes. But what many never realized- though they knew it instinctively when they wielded their weapons in battle, was that it was all about the balance. The edge determined how well it cut, the balance determined how well it could be used.
Balance. Her sister Niebet lacked it.
With Maya on her trip, and with Briella and Elder Kishku out hunting, her room and her craft were her only sanctuary from the sheer amount of hostile tension that her sister Niebet exuded. Sometimes, it crystalized into words.
Dyakida sat cross legged, her head tilted slightly upwards, not looking at the wood in her hands. It would do her no good. Her eyes saw only darkness, if indeed they saw at all.
Being around Niebet hurt. They had been so close before. Now... Dyakida could feel her sister's contempt as an acidic crawling sensation on her skin, not unlike her own shame at her blindness. Niebet's words were like knives, stabbing Dyakida in the soul. Her glare, like a spear, driven into her heart. Dyakida did not need to see her sister's face for it to hurt. Just to know how she had failed her.... Had failed to be the warrior that all Alkidike's aspire to be. Had failed to be Niebet's role model, as she had once been. The balance had shifted now. Dyakida was now... nothing.
As she carved, she knew she was changing the spear's own balance, removing wood as the pattern grew. She could feel it, with her honed senses. The carvings would channel the natural energy of the weapon- The remainants of the life it once had, it's soul in a way- giving it a power of its own and making it unique. Although she was not yet skilled enough to make weapons that were truly magic- the sort that a sacred heart would use- she could make the weapon more than a weapon.
Weapons were the soul of a warrior, not merely tools to end life. She knew that her carving would make it a companion of sorts and would fine tune its balance in an aesthetically pleasing way.
She didn't think that Niebet acknowledged that a weapon was more than a simple tool. She wasn't sure about Maya or Briella's views on the matter, either. But she would teach them, she hoped, with her own hands. Elder Kishku understood that a weapon was as much a part of a warrior as the claws of a Radaku or the wings of a Nondwa. She would craft the claws of her sisters, their wings, their horns. They would take what she gave them and soar into the heights of alkidikedom, becoming beautiful and powerful. Perhaps, even, becoming great Amazons like Kishku. Or greater still. It was her hope, and it was an appealing thought, that she- denied that fate- could lift them to those heights.
She stopped in her carving and ran a hand over it, feeling the design. A tree. She hadn't realized she had been carving the spear in the shape of her home. There, the roots. There, the branches. A few leaves, even. She decided to hold off on carving more of the leaves until she could feel how the spear's head changed the balance of it's shaft.
She put it down carefully so as to prevent it from becoming lost.
A tree... Long ago, she had been able to see them. Long ago, she had been a youngling, leaping from branch to branch with her sisters. Playing games. Watching the shadows of their Mother's leaves. It was a memory of color and light that now made her cry. She wiped away a tear before it could drip down her face and ruin her concentration. She had no idea if the tears would warp the wood, or if her salted memories would upset the inner energies of the spear, and she did not want to risk it. It was, after all, her first hand-crafted spear after an endless sucession of repairs and practice.
She felt around to her side for the large crystals she had taken great pains- literally- to collect. She needed a better method than using her bare hands and a chisel for collecting them. She had aquired more cuts on her sensitive palms and fingers than she would have liked since she needed her hands to guide her in her darkened world.
Perhaps... gloves? Gloves might help. More tools, also. She would ask Elder Kishku about that. She tried to do so much herself, but sometimes there was no substitute for asking questions of a wise and kind elder.
She may have been blinded, but Dyakida was still a stubborn alkidike. Whether she was punishing herself for her blindness, she did not know, but she, normally a calm, intelligent, practical sort, had been extremely hard on herself. She had insisted on doing things on her own, often sneaking away to evade her wonderful and helpful sisters. She longed to not be a burden to them, to be able to walk about her home on her own and to find what she needed without their aid. She had gotten many nicks, cuts, and bruises from this. She had found many sharp crystals and roots and potholes.
But she had learned. She could now make her way around familiar territory only a little more slowly than her sighted sisters, and could find her way home from short expeditions into the forest. She felt confidence in this, a feeling denied to her for far too long.
She knew, though, that there were some things still that she needed help with. Like sharp objects. She could only really tell their sharpness when she touched them, and that was unacceptable.
Gloves were acceptable. And perhaps a modified staff for feeling the ground. These were tools, and her pride would allow her to use them.
She carefully felt in the basket by her side, the crystals may not have been properly honed yet but, as she knew from experience, they still could cut an unlucky hand. She drew out one of them, feeling its weight. Heavy. Hmm.
She wrapped it in a cloth and banged it on a piece of crystallized wood, denting the board somewhat.
It didn't break, so it was unlikely to break in battle. Its weight was a problem, so she set it aside with care. She did this for each piece of crystal. One did shatter, but its wrappings prevented the shards from injuring her. It had been fatally flawed, but its fragments could, perhaps, be used. For something, anyway.
Dyakida had never been particularly fond of shiny things. Puzzles, yes. Riddles, yes. Games, yes. Frivolous items like gem fragments had never interested her. But now that she no longer was blinded by their glitter and color, she acknowledged that the shards of crystal had practical use. They added weight, they provided additional edges. And yes, they improved the spear aesthetically.
By the time she had finished, she had three spearheads to choose from.
One was heavy, but with a careful hand it could be slimmed down and honed to a sharp edge. She wasn't sure if she could work with something like that yet. It was sturdy, so it was definitely a dense crystal. She worried that if she tried to carve it, she would either break it or her tools.
The other was very light, more suited to a small knife than to a spear.
The third... was exactly what she needed. It only needed a little honing and chipping to make it the perfect weight for a spear head, and it was of that special kind of density that made it hard enough to endure and soft enough to sculpt.
She set the other two aside and took the ideal crystal in her hands, feeling it anew as she took the many-textured stone tool that served as her crystal shaper and began to work. Though she had laid a cloth over her legs, she again wondered if she should find some gloves as sharp pieces slid away from the original crystal. She only shaped it now. The honing would come after it was secured to it's shaft.
She was grateful that she had a quick mind. If instead, she had been a skilled fighter with a strong body (instead of average in both respects), then she would have died of despair or taken her own life when it had become a certainty that the darkness would never lift from her vision. She doubted she would have evaded the beast even with superior battle skills. She had been unlucky, that was that. No amount of thinking or skill could ever protect against terrible luck, that was a sad fact of life.
She took the shaped crystal and bound it to the shaft with a string of leather, threading beads into the knot to help seal it. She did not know that the crystal and bead were exact opposite colors, and that the bead seemed to glow next to the crystal head. She just knew that it had felt like the right bead to use, and the knot held.
A spear head, improperly attached, flying off in the middle of a heated fight was one of the most tragic things she could think of. One of her sisters had died that way, not too long before they had found the tree that was now their home (and also come upon the beast whose venom had taken her sight). Another sister had struck at a vicious creature that had attacked them, and the knot had come apart. The spearhead had bounced off the creature's carapace and struck her sister, splitting her head open. It had been a terrible sight. One that Dyakida willed out of her mind with memories of playing tag with that same sister. But it lingered, malignant and dark.
She honed the crystal to sharpness, testing the spear's balance every so often. A small shaping of the crystal here, a small carving of a leaf on the shaft. Another test. So it went until she was afraid to change the spear any further. It was as perfect as was possible for a mere mortal of her blossoming skill.
She held the spear, running her fingers over its freshly crafted length, admiring her work. She listened at the entryway to her room for Niebet. She hoped to avoid her sister now.
Taking the spear carefully in hand, she slipped out of the tree, a hand on the wall to guide her. She knew where she was going. When she had first started trying to craft weapons, she had made serious errors in craftsmanship many, many times. In her frustration, she had taken the broken, malformed pieces and had thrown them in a pile in a clearing close to the home tree. She knew how many steps away it was, almost exactly. She felt the hidden pieces of crystal and rock underneath soil that marked the burial ground of her mistakes and failures.
She stood there for a moment, holding her first well- crafted spear.
And then stuck it, point first, into the ground in front of her, like a tombstone. She rested her hand on top of it for a time before returning to the tree to prepare for Elder Kishku and Briella's return. There was an uncharacteristic smile on her face... one of pride. And victory.
The spear would never be used as a weapon by any Alkidike. But it had slain the last doubt in her mind about the path she had chosen, a path never taken, and it now stood testimony to that victory amongst her mistakes and her failures.
She had crafted a well-made spear. She could craft more. This was now her fate, to create weapons for her sisters. She walked away with that certainty.
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Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 5:51 am
Dyakida's Uncanny Experience - Not for Credit - 689 words
Dyakida was definitely hearing things. Footfalls behind her, even when a questing touch and a twitch of her antennae told her that nobody was there.
Voices from where voices should not be. From walls in the tree she lived in with her sisters, from the ground. From around her, even when she was alone.
It had just started happening today, and had gotten worse throughout the day, until she almost thought that crowds of people moved around her.
People. That. Weren't. There.
A chill ran through her, even in the steaming Jahuar heat. Would she be more scared if she could see it for herself? If she didn't have to call 'Hello?' every so often to make sure that the noises she was hearing weren't her sisters?
At first they had just been annoying. Noises she could ignore while trying to craft a set of arrows- a surprise for Maya.
The arrows were made from wood and from cystals she had picked up along the edges of a small ruin near the house. It was easy to go there and back, even without visual landmarks, and it was full of small crystals - perfect for arrowheads. She had to focus to get them right, but it was less complicated than some of the other weapons she had tried.
So she did have to concentrate, and she could ignore noises to an extent.
But when it got to the point where she couldn't tell if she was alone in the house or not... Then it just got frustrating.
"Hello?"
She called again.
No response.
While she wouldn't put it past Elder Kishku to play a prank on occasion, this was unusual even by her standards. Maya was too serious for pranks, and Briella would have stopped by now and they would have had a good laugh and interesting conversation. Niebet... Didn't do pranks.
Plus, it had gone beyond the point where it was amusing.
Dyakida had very good hearing. She could pinpoint sounds well- she had made sure of it.
So when she heard voices coming from the floor, walls, and the general space around her, it was disorienting and frustrating. Where were the speakers? Who was there?
She tested her Antennae again.
Nobody. Nothing. She was alone in the tree. They were all out on patrol. She was fine by herself.
Usually.
She paused in her dogged fletching, listening intently. The voices weren't clear. Muffled, actually, as if through cloth or in a high wind. They sounded more like earthling voices than Alkidike voices. She couldn't make out what they were saying, if anything at all.
She didn't think she had gone crazy. There was certainly no reason for her to have gone crazy.
But she was legitimately hearing voices.
She couldn't take it. She would have to do the arrows another time. She picked up the basket she was keeping them in, and made her way up the stairs, one hand touching the wall, the basket tucked under her other arm.
The voices followed.
She moved faster, but they seemed to catch up to her and talk even louder. Their voices were still muffled, still indistinct...
Still THERE.
She moved faster. They grew louder, swirling around her like one of Jahuar's rainstorms. She was running by the time she reached her room... and still they followed her. She stopped in her room, listening for a moment, her heartbeat fast.
"Hello?" she called again.
No answer. The voices talked around her.
It was too much.
"Go away!" she cried out, curling up on her bedroll and wrapping the thin blankets around her and her head. It didn't help.
Come morning, all was quiet, save for the normal movements of her family. She listened to this quiet.
And wondered if it had been a dream.
Whether it had been or not...
She didn't know it, but it had been the night of echoes, when the dead of the past come close to the present. Perhaps that was what she heard.
She knew something though. It had been vastly uncomfortable, and she forgot about it as soon as she was able.
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Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2012 10:36 pm
Dyakida made her way home, following a barely remembered trail of touched trees as the sounds around her shifted from day to night.
Well, it had been interesting. She had met a shifter, a MALE, and had even experienced the Tale. Perhaps she should take Briella there? It would be good to have someone she actually trusted/ could tolerate nearby to spot things for her. Interesting things, of which she was sure the Tale had in plenty!
She touched a tree, then drew back, a look of consternation on her face. It felt... different.
She felt around the tree. Perhaps it was the angle? No.
She had never felt this tree before. Maybe she was lost? A trill of fear and exhileration went through her, from her antennae to her toes. Not for the first time or the last did she regret going out alone... and coming back alone.
She should have swallowed her pride and gone with Biroki. She should have had him come with her.
But no, she couldn't have him walk near the tree. Her sister's patrolled, and would have killed the poor boy on sight.
And as annoying and odd as he had been, she didn't want him dead... Just to calm down for one moment and let her think!
She stood still, antennae quivering, trying to get her bearings. She felt around the tree again. Moss. That meant... north. Bearings were a start. She had travelled South and then East, she remembered. Of course she had, otherwise she would not have found the Tale.
So, she oriented by the moss and set out west and north, hands outstretched, antennae aquiver, feet careful. She was fortunate that nothing had accosted her thus far, and hoped nothing would.
She kept walking... but she was tiring and worried. Was she too far out? Was she in the wrong area of the jungle?
Was she... Lost?
A tremor. There was something nearby! She drew her dagger for all the good it would do, and turned slowly towards it, breathing fast as adrenaline flowed through her. She wished she had her quarterstaff. It, at least, was useful to her even as she was. It's reach meant that she could hit an enemy by chance AND feel her way around.
She would have to re make hers... it was old and likely to shatter.
"What are you doing out here, alone, Sister?" challenged a voice from the shadows. Dyakida relaxed.
"Wandering and lost, sister...?"
"Anvani." Dyakida heard the voice come closer, "How did you get lost? What tree do you hail from?"
The voice was still challenging, but Dyakida could hear a lightness. It was not one of her family, but it sounded like Briella in some ways. Maya in other ways. A sort of... serious yet light tone underneath the warrior's challenge. Dyakida sheathed her dagger and held out her hands, a gesture of faith and submission.
"Elder Kishku's tree. I am Dyakida, of that tree." she said, trying to pinpoint the voice.
"Kishku's tree?! You're a long way from home! Thats a good walk south of here!" exclaimed the other. Dyakida was sure, now, that it was an alkidike talking. She felt Anvani's movement, and her breath on her face.
"What the?! What on Tendaji is wrong with your eyes?!"
Dyakida crossed her arms and shoved her emotions under a skeine of calm.
"They are useless. I am blind. I was wandering and became lost. Will you help me?" She was desperate enough to ask.
"Are you serious?!" Dyakida could feel the other alkidike's shock and aggravation.
"... Yes." Dyakida resisted the urge to punch at the nearest reasonable spot that Avani could be, "Can you help me find my way home?"
"At night? Hell no." She felt the other Alkidike grab her arm, "You stay at our tree until the morning, and then one of us will take you back."
Dyakida frowned. She supposed that was... okay. She felt shame wash over her for accepting help. for becoming lost. For being too headstrong to properly mark her path. She was smarter than this!
"Very well. I am in your debt."
The other alkidike muttered something along the lines of "You sure do" or "Whatever"
Dyakida stayed the night with the alkidikes of the home tree led by Warrior Wazashi. It was... uncomfortable. She could swear that she felt their stares burning into her like harsh sunbeams and acid, their disapproval like smoke over fragrant flowers. She wasn't sure if it was all in her head or not.
At least they kept their word. In the morning, Avani and another sister led Dyakida away and travelled the half day's fast march back to her home tree and worried siblings.
Although she was grateful for their aid (and ashamed that she would need it) she was very relieved when she was able to leave them, and the discomfort, behind.
She never forgot that she would be treated as a pariah because of her blindness. But... insulated by family and by good sisters like Briella and Maya, and an elder like Kishku...
She hadn't quite realized how it would feel.
She put on a smile for her Sisters, and a laugh, and somehow failed to mention Biroki in the story of her adventure- he was only a small part of it after all.
But inside... she was crying.
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 9:26 pm
One Last Memory of Sight - 1153 words
Dyakida's dreams had been dark as of late, fading into greys as she lost the memories of how to see. Of what she had seen.
Tonight, she began her dream in her room. It was a faded replica, the colors were dull and the details were blurry, the only things that made sense was the texture of the wood and the smells of the jungle, the living tree, and the cloths and rugs.
Her room, as it was now, was cluttered. Nowadays, it was difficult for her to navigate her room, so cluttered it was with materials and practice weapons and personal works of art. It was probably extremely dangerous to have all those sharp object- particularly weapons- lying around. She would have to move to a new, larger room soon... oh, how her sister Niebet would argue about that. 'why should SHE have a larger room? she's Blind!' her sister would shout. Predictable, that one, and unfortunately so.
But the room in the dream was neat and clear of objects. Everything was folded, everything was still packed away from the long journey to the tree less than a year ago. Had it really been that short a time? She remembered, as if in a daze, being helped up the stairs carved into the living wood, and laid in the bed, tripping on even small indentations as her eyes betrayed her and faded, bit by terrifying bit.
In the dream-memory, she was on her bed. She had had to lie there for a long time, as she watched colors and details fade away from the world around her. The Elder, Kishku, had recommended bed rest and herbal treatments, and Dyakida had complied. She was normally so calm, and yet on the day she realized that, despite the treatments, despite the bed rest, despite all of her hopes and dreams her sight was never coming back... She had been inconsolable. She remembered it all too clearly. The despair. The pain. The feeling that darkness was encroaching on her from every angle.
She worried if she had frightened her sisters that day. She got up from the bed, feeling her way around the dream world. She could move, as if she was in a hazy, indistinct version of her room. When she touched the walls, she felt like they gained detail. the same with anything she touched. One hand on the wall, she guided herself down the blurry stairs into the downstairs rooms, even greyer and indistinct than her own room. She had rarely ventured down into these rooms while she was losing her sight. Only when she had stopped feeling as if the world was ending, only when she had come to the conviction that she was going to make herself useful to her kin, blind or no, did she leave her room. the visual memory was indistinct and warped... but she could smell the food below, could feel the wood. As her fingers brushed over the wall, it seemed to gain color and warmth, blossoming into something that made sense to her.
A twitch of her antennae told her that, at least in the dream room, her sisters were not present. She was alone in this dream. With each twitch of her antennae, she felt a pulse. The scene before her shifted and changed, becoming more and more abstract with each pulse.
And suddenly her sisters were there, eating at the dining table. Amorphous memories of how they looked with equally amorphous assumptions of clothes and activities. She had never seen them eat, confined was she to her room.
But she had heard them. Felt them.
She decided to join them now for dream food.
Her bowl was full of indescribable mush, but when she pulled a shimmering spoonful of it to her mouth, it tasted sweet. Fruit, then? a citrus. It had that taste, that texture. But when she looked down at the bowl, she still saw the mush. She heard laughter- Briella's voice- and looked up, curious to see what the joke was.
They weren't there. The blurry, unfocused memory-constructs were no longer sitting at the table, but the conversation continued. Their words were clear, but indecipherable, their meanings always at the edge of her mind but never present. She turned back to the bowl of 'mush'. It was still citrus, but now the bowl and it's contents were merging into the rest of the greyness of the table, which itself was losing its definition. She looked down, further, the spoon in her mouth... and realized she had no body. None that she could see.
Where she was was only dull greyness.
Briella's laugh again.
Dyakida looked up, and this time there was only nothing. A dull grey, darkening softly into a true, deep black.
She looked back down. Her chair, her little piece of the table, was the only grey in the black nothingness. Only her table and her bowl. Soon, it was just the table, a grey, flat, indistinct thing.
Soon it was gone, too, and she floated in the black, nothingness. Finally, details- blobby and unrefined such as they were, returned.
She was back in her old room again. The same furnishings, the same smells, the same dim grey light. She was back on the bed, and as she stood up to walk to the stairway again, with that logic of repitition you find only in cyclical dreams... she tripped. She knew what tripped her by it's feel- the unfinished haft of a spear. She looked around.
There were no spear hafts. Nothing, in fact, was out of place from when she had first moved into this room. When she could still see.
She walked further. She saw nothing out of place, and yet she felt the pain of small, hard pebbles on her feet, the slash of an accidental ill-placed dagger on her floor, the sting of a sharp crystal.
She was hobbled, kneeling on the floor holding her foot as it gushed war, slick, fluid blood, when the colors in the room began to leech away.
She knew what she was supposed to do. She was supposed to cry out. To Scream. To beg the colors to come back. She had done that before though.
She did not, though. All she did, as the room faded into blackness, was sadly watch it leave her.
She awoke as a rainstorm began in the rainforest outside. Only blackness greeted her, the blackness she had had to live with for several months now. She moved- cautiously- to her window and sat by it on one of her overstuffed trunks, listening to the rain on the leaves and ground. It was a soothing sound, one that masked her crying as she broke into tears. She didn't know why she was crying, and by the time she stopped, in the sun-warmed silence after the storm, she didn't even remember her dream.
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Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 10:15 pm
Adventure Time - Briella and Dyakida-368 words-
Dyakida settled into her spot by the breezy window in her room, moving her fletchingwork close to her.
Though it had been a long day, full of adventure and ruins and standoffs and injuries, she was still sort of fired up. It was up to her to turn that energy into something productive- like new arrows for Maya.
She felt almost like whistling, so joyful was she. She was so proud, so unbelieveably proud. Briella was growing up to be strong and brave... and she had a good head on her.
Dyakida was proud. She knew that Briella would do well.
She was also very smug and self-satisfied. Look what she had raised, from the young prentice who followed the group she had sculpted a blooming young blade who would be more than a warrior, more than a mere killer, but a thinker.
Briella would be a leader. She had a deep heart and a keen perception. Kishku had these traits. All the good leaders Dyakida knew had these traits.
Nondwa dust, Maya had these traits.
Well.
Most of them.
Dyakida hadn't realized it herself until she had thrown that important moral question at Briella at the spur of the moment.
Maya had a deep heart. Maya had a keen sense of where she was going. And people followed her.
But Briella saw things more clearly. She saw beyond what she wanted to see... and sometimes she was confused. She didn't assume anything about those ruins. She saw what was there, she acknowledged that she was confused, and was willing to get a second opinion on the matter.
Confusion was good. It meant she was thinking.
Dyakida added another arrow to the growing parcel.
It was that trait that she had to mold and temper.
And, come to think of it, Briella also had a keen sense of how others felt or thought. Maya... sort of did. But there were things she missed. Key things. Things hard to describe but definitely there.
Yes. Briella didn't know it yet, but she would be a leader.
Dyakida would make sure of it.
She smiled, thinking of the future, as she carefully wrapped her gift for Maya into a neat bundle.
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Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 7:20 pm
Tropic Welcome - Dyakida and Maya149 words-
It was good to have Maya back at last.
Briella was a light in dark places, but Maya was the branch she hung on.
That they all counted on. Except Kishku. Kishku was her own light. Her own branch. Her own tree.
It had been tough without Maya around.
Then again, Dyakida had seen her sisters grow in ways she hadn't thought possible. Without Maya to keep them in line, they had to work things out for themselves.
Everyone had changed. Even Dyakida. For the better, she was sure.
But still, Maya would find her family different.
And as she put her things away for the night and prepared herself mentally and physically to walk over to Maya's room and have a serious conversation about her newfound attraction to earthlings... she realized that Maya had changed too.
They would recover. They would adapt. Everything would return to normal.
Eventually.
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