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It had been a rather interesting time that he'd had since returning home to Jauhar at long last. He had been worried about it for some time, worried that his mother would be quite displeased with the changes in him. His travels with Jerarda and his other sisters had changed him both mentally and physically, enough so that he knew that there was no way that could go back to how things had been. Due to this there had been a part of him that had wanted nothing more then to just avoid going home for a while longer. Luckily Jerarda had been there to help him in keeping himself together during the journey home. She had also been kind enough to spar with him, aiding him to get stronger and to feel ready for that fateful day that he was to meet with his mother. Of course instead of the walk home culminating in him finally facing his mother and talking to her about all manner of things it turned that that things were meant to get far more complicated then that...

It was something that Rishima didn't want to think about at the moment. He had met with his mother and it had been mentally and physically exhausting. If nothing else though she wasn't going to forbid him from taking his pilgrimage to Aisha. He and Jerarda had already made plans to go to that sacred place, for him to see the place of his birth as well as the births of all of the Alkidike. It was an important endevor for him as well as Jerarda, he felt his mother must know that. Today, to ready for that journey which felt as though it would be even more then the journey to Zena, he was out doing his best to collect supplies, "I think that the best thing to do is the catch fish and smoke it ahead of time." He was telling Itzal, the darkly colored Radaku that was walking alongside him. He wanted to tend to that chore since it was one that he had proved on a couple of occasions to be better at then Jerarda, seeming to have a bit more in the way of patience then his sister. The journey to and from Zena had seemed to temper her emotions in a way, making her able to deal with a lot more before she felt like punching something but he still felt that he should do this just to aid that personal growth of hers.

"I say we catch as many as we can and then we can see about setting up a fire so that we can smoke them." It had taken him some time but he was pleased to say that he could actually start a fire on his own. It was among the various skills that he had learned on the journey to and from Zena that were aiding him in his constant attempts to play catch up. He always felt that he was a bit behind when it came to the various skills he felt all Blades should know due to being a sheltered child but he was going to get stronger! He would prove himself to his people yet, even if he was a bit shorter then they were, maybe even a little weaker, and he most certainly looked different. All of those things just said that he had to try harder was all! He would catch up one day! Giving a smile he motioned to Itzal, "I can hear the water, shall we hurry on?" He asked, picking up the pace a bit, his antennae twitching in delight as they approached the calm section of the river.

A squeak of surprise escaped from Rishima as Itzal suddenly jerked his head up, sniffing at the air, before he went rushing forward quickly enough that he caused the halfbreed to spin in a full circle before he was able to regain his balance, "Ah... Itzal? Where are you going?" He called out after the darkly colored Radaku that seemed to be far too excited over something that was just ahead of them. Rishi stood there for one confused moment before sighing and hurried after his Radaku companion. He had no idea what it was that he was up to or what he was after but he figured that it might be something that ended with him getting into trouble. As such it was best that he tried to keep up with him best that he could to keep him from misbehaving as was his want to do.

As he came forth from the forest just a few steps behind Itzal, he had to blink his mismatched eyes to get used to the brightly colored sun that was pouring down on them. "Ahh, Itzal? What are you..." He trailed off when he realized what it was that had drawn the Radaku here in such a rush and saw no reason to continue with questioning him. It was another of his kind, one that they had seen before. It wasn't just the brightly colored Radaku though, there was another here as well, the Alkidike woman that he had seen in the group that had gone as far as Zena but if he recalled right she had gone home early, hadn't she? He hadn't actually had a chance to sit down and talk with her, still having been a bit uncertain of himself, still trying to find his footing at his point. Perhaps this was his lucky day? He had another chance to speak with another of his sisters other then Jerarda he thought to himself, his antennae twitching in an excited manner. He remembered himself though, not wanting to get too excited or seem overwhelming in his desire to speak with her. 'Try to calm yourself, Rishima.' He told himself mentally before he put a smile on his face.

"Itzal." He said, walking over to where the dark blue Radaku stood, reaching a hand out to catch hold of his companion's thick mane, tugging it lightly to get him to take a step back when it looked as though he were going to pounce on the white Radaku at any moment, "Now, now you be nice." He said, having no idea that Pacju being a girl was what caused Itzal to want to pounce on her. Despite the fact that the Radaku was still wagging his tail wildly he was at least staying at Rishima's side for the moment, "Sorry about him, he seems to be quite excited to see your friend there." He explained, not wanting to bother the Alkidike woman since she looked to be a bit on the tired side if you asked him. Was she camping here? He hoped that the two of them didn't end up bothering her or her companion too much, "We were just coming to do a bit of fishing." He said, so that she would know what it was that they were up to. He knew, due to what he looked like, there was a chance she might not trust him right away. Best that he let her know that he was only here for the fish, not to pick a fight or anything of the sort.

For a moment, seeing the Alkidike's hands on her weapon, he worried that she was one of those that looked at him as the enemy despite who he was and what he was striving to be. He watched her closely, wondering if he should take up arms, but decided against it in the end. There was no reason to start a fight right now, not when his reason for being where he was was due to him wanting to find something to eat for the journey to Aisha, "I understand that very well, there are many that aren't a fan of me for... obvious reasons." Both his look and his gender tended to cause a bit of a stir. He might be Alkidike at heart but physically he had many features from his father's side, something he knew tended to annoy some of his other sisters.

When the woman said that he was welcome to join her, that she didn't like to chase off fellow Alkidike he couldn't help but to smile, his antennae twitching in delight, "I thank you sister, it means a lot to hear that. My name is Rishima." He said, giving her a happy smile before he turned to look at Itzal, "You can go and play if you like, just try to behave yourself." He told the dark blue Radaku though only after he'd taken his spear and pack from his back. The Radaku was well trained, often carrying for him, but if he was going to be off playing with the more brightly colored member of his species he would rather that he didn't do so with weighed down with the various things he carried. The spear was laid on the ground, his pack next to it, before he turned his attention to Maya, "I agree about the fish, they are quite good and a useful think to smoke and take on a journey." He said, kneeling down to dig through his pack to get out a few things he would need for the process that was prepare the fish.

The first thing that he would need to do would be to gather both rocks and sticks so that he could start a fire, from there he would set to work catching the fish by hand, then he could skewer them and set to work smoking them. He would do his best this time around to avoid getting those that were too big for him to handle since Jerarda wasn't around to knock the things senseless with a rock as she did last time he got in over his head, "Do you mind me setting up a fire? I was going to smoke the fish so that they would last longer."

Rishima couldn't help but to look a little surprised at the sister's words, she thought that they should be working together with the Shifters? It was more then a surprise to hear from one of her pure blooded sisters as they tended to be a little more zealous in their beliefs about the other tribes, "I have met a rather nice member of the Shifter Tribe in the passed." He murmured quietly, seeming to be wanting to keep his words between the two of them, "I would like to be able to speak with him again one day." Though with the way that things stood now it wasn't exactly the safest thing to do for either of them. Rishima didn't want to appear as though he were a traitor and he didn't want his sisters to figure out who he'd met with and hunt Chalcedony down. Best that he leave the kindly Shifter alone so that he didn't get in trouble because of Rishima.

A squeak escaped from his lips when the white Radaku came hurrying over to pounce on Itzal, a little surprised, but when Itzal didn't seem to be bothered at all, instead seeming to be only to eager to play he didn't try to stop them, "Ahh... they should be alright." He murmured, if Maya said her Radaku didn't often act in such a manner he didn't see a reason to hold them back and ruin their games, "I am sure that Itzal will enjoy playing with one of his own kind. I don't think I have ever seen him do so before." Itzal was loyal to him, always seeming to be right there at his side, and it was nice to see him playing. At times he felt that Itzal acted far too serious... though that could just be part of being a male Radaku he thought to himself before his attention turned back to Maya, giving her a smile. This only made him that much happier that they had cross paths. It gave him a kind sister to spend some time with while he prepared the fish as well as allowing Itzal to let loose a bit as well.

As he set about gathering up some sticks and stones for the fire the halfbreed gave pause when a brightly colored bird came flying toward Maya, landing on her midsection, "Ah?" Well now, the birds in this area seemed friendly, didn't they he found himself thinking before the woman called the bird by name. Ohhhh, that made more sense he thought to himself, it was her Kinfa then? It was a pretty thing, then again most things in Jauhar were pretty, if often dangerous. When Maya spoke again she seemed much more serious, something that made him look curiously in the direction that she was looking in, "Eh? Oh... no, no... I wouldn't hurt a Youngling." He said in a rush, worried that maybe he was being warned because of what he was. He had no real reason to mess with any Younglings, though at the mention of one he couldn't help but to think about what his mother had said to him recently. Just the thought of that had his cheeks coloring a bit before he toddled off closer to the water's edge and set to using one of the sticks to dig himself a fire put. He would focus on this, not his mother's words, and get these fish underway! Even as he worked though he couldn't help but to peek up curiously, wondering who the Youngling was that was on her way here.

Momma? Rishima's eyes got rather wide before he looked over at his young sister, quite surprised when the little Youngling called Maya by that term. That was her daughter? Someone this young? He couldn't help but to wonder about that, what brought her to getting a lotus as her young age, as well as wondering if she had a partner or not. Upon actually seeing the girl he couldn't help but to wonder who that partner was, where he or she might be from, the little one sure wasn't a full blooded Alkidike that was for sure. Was this why she seemed to be so willing to make friends with the Shifters, because she had a child of was of mixed blood? He supposed that it was possible he thought to himself, shaking his head before he went back to what he was doing, encircling his fire pit with the stones that he'd collected, doing so for safety, to keep the fire from being able to wander off.

When he heard Maya speaking to him, instead of just to her daughter, he lifted his gaze, glancing at the little one, and gave the Youngling a smile, "Hello, Teiluj, my name is Rishima, it's nice to meet you." He said, his antennae giving a little twitch. Someone like him, what a nice thought, to think that there was someone else in Jauhar like him, it made him feel a little less like an anomaly in their world. He snapped a few sticks in half, tossing them into the fire pit. He didn't start the fire quite yet though, not wanting to leave it unattended when there was a Youngling and a tiny, almost flightless bird both playing around the area. He didn't want either of them getting hurt, even without Maya's warning, so he would build the fire after the fish had all been gathered. Once he had his fire pit was all ready, save for the flames, Rishima rose to his feet, brushing himself off, and then he set to rolling up the legs of the pants that he was wearing, looking over toward the water.

"Do either of you want some of the fire I am going to prepare? Smoked fish is quite good." He offered Maya and Teiluj, seeing no reason why he shouldn't share if he were going to be catching a bunch of fish anyway. If the two of them wanted some he didn't mind cooking them up for them. It had him wondering if the Radaku were going to dive in as well... last time he'd gone fishing Itzal went splashing around through the water, making quite a ruckus, before leaving the water with a fish in his jaws. He hoped that his companion remained distracted playing with Pacju instead, for the moment it seemed that he was fine with it, the way that he was so happily chasing her around. It really was cute to see.

Rishima's antennae gave a twitch as he glanced toward Maya, then back to her daughter. Had Maya introduced him already? Oops. His cheeks colored a bit, embarrassed, over having missed it. When Maya said that the fire would be nice he gave a nod of his head, "Alright, I will set the fire up once I am through with fishing." He said, that way the pit wouldn't be a hazard to the girl or her nearly flightless bird friend, he didn't want either of them to get hurt because he wasn't there to keep them at a safe distance from the fire after all.

Walking over toward the water he looked down into it with his mismatched eyes, remaining quiet as he studied it and then stepped into the water, moving at a very slow pace, not wanting to scare the various fish off since that would make the entire point of what it was that he'd come here to do moot. Coming to a halt the currently silver skinned male bent over slightly at the waist to cast shadow on the water, slid his hands into it, and just seemed to be waiting. This task was one that seemed to require, above all, patience. It was what made it so much more amusing to go fishing with Jerarda since, at the time, patience was far from what his sister was good at. She seemed to be tempering herself of late though, at least enough that someone close to her might notice it. The male's antennae gave momentary twitches here and there, seeming as though they were reacting to the movements under the water, and Rishi's eyes got wide when he saw what he was looking for swimming over toward him.

The fish were predictable in a way, they tended to like to find shady spots to hide in, as though Rishima were a tree that was blocking the sun and the line of sight of predators. Once the fish was close enough he snapped his hands forward, catching hold of its slick, slimy body, and then gave it a toss onto the bank, "And, that's one." He murmured, needing quite a few more, especially if he were going to share some with Maya and her daughter. As such his attention was soon on the water once more, waiting for the next fish to arrive. If nothing else they weren't terribly bright so no matter how many he caught more would show up. It made him like the fish that much more since they were an easy to catch and delicious source of meat.

When Maya offered to build up the fire in his stead he gave a little smile, "That would be great, thank you." He told his sister in a quiet voice, so as not to risk chasing off the fish that were nearby to him. That she would take over the chore for him was heartening, it meant that his sister wasn't against helping him despite what he was. Then again, given her daughter's look, she didn't seem the sort that would be racist toward those with mixed blood. Instead she seemed a more accepting sort, much like Jerarda was. It made the time that she spent with Maya and her daughter that much more comfortable and that much more special to Rishima. Any time that he was able to get acceptance without having to flash his weapon, which marked him as a Blade, was a great time in his mind.

Rishima turned to look over toward the bank when he heard the squealing sound, watching as the little youngling set to work trying to catch the fish, to keep it from escaping back to the water. He couldn't help but to give a bit of a smile at that, "Good job." He told her, glad for the help. If he went rushing over to the bank to try to catch the fish he might scare off the other ones that were slowly starting to circle over toward the shadow that was casting over the water, "Thank you for the help, Teiluj." He was more then happy for the help, that was for sure, it made things a lot easier as far as fishing went. He was after a lot of fish, or a few good sized ones, to make sure that there was enough food to go around for this little cook out as well as the journey that Jerarda and himself were going on fairly soon. He really couldn't wait he thought to himself, antennae twitching as he starred into the water that was under him. The twitching of his antennae seemed to quicken a moment before he caught hold of another fish, this one a little bigger then the last one.

"Incoming!" He called to Teiluj, tossing the second fish onto the bank, careful to keep it from landing too close to her as he didn't want the thing to risk bouncing into her and knocking her down. He would feel quite guilty if that were to happen after all and didn't want to risk the little Youngling coming to any harm, even if it were something as simple as her getting bumped by a fish.

Rishima glanced toward Maya, noticing how she had taken charge as far as cleaning the fish went, and he couldn't help but to be both happy and pleased. It was nice to have a bit of help in this instance, having been a little intimidated about doing everything on his own. Last time he'd gone fishing he'd had Jerarda there to deal with the fish, recalling how she had to save him from a bigger fish that he'd caught that was a little out of his league. Smiling the halfbreed turned back to the water once more, antennae twitching at a slower pace this time around since there weren't any fish too close to him.

When next his attention was drawn away from the water it was when Teiluj started to squeal again and he saw her trying to wrestle with the larger fish that he'd tossed up onto the bank a moment ago, "Careful with that one, he's a big guy." He cautioned her as she tightened her hold on and he couldn't help to find her determination rather cute. When she chirped about how big it was he couldn't help but to feel proud of the catch. A shame that Jerarda wasn't here to see it before it got gutted and smoked, a process that would leave it looking a lot smaller then what it started out as. It wasn't as big as that one that had tried to drown him last time so he supposed that it wasn't exactly something he should brag about he told himself. Next time he went after fish that big he should probably think of a new way to do it. Maybe spear fishing? He glanced toward where he'd left his spear but decided against it for now, not wanting to give Teiluj any ideas.

His attention settled on the water once more and he gave a humming sound, "Looks like a couple of smaller ones are coming over." He told the little girl that was acting as his audience at the moment, keeping her in the loop about what was going on in the water that he was standing so still in.