[CLASS QUEST] Maya

[Suhuba]

This Quest is for Maya who wishes to become a Warrior.

OOC
||. You may not control any NPCs or other characters; Maya must face her trials alone.
||. Respond to the prompts given as you would any other RP.
||. Your responses may be as long or short as you feel necessary.

IC
It was still dark within Jauhar, especially beneath the thick canopy, which rarely ever saw light as it was. The multi-colored fungi, glowed brilliantly, lighting the path of any late night wanderers, reflecting in its stunning array of hues, the lovely flakes of snow as they drifted towards the...

...snow?

Surely it couldn't be, the rainforest never saw snow. But here it was, soft, white puffs, as brilliant and beautiful as they were in Zena... and yet, these foreign drops were not cold to the touch. In fact, they were quite silky, rippable, not melting in the least when they came into contact with warm flesh.

...Was this a dream?

Upon closer inspection, it would seem that the snowflakes were actually petals, the tiniest, white petals, like super-miniature versions of Aisha's beautiful lotus petals. Their source was undetectable, but they had already begun to lay a beautiful, downy blanket along the forest floor, concentrating primarily around Maya's home. It coated the interior, filling the small nook which the Alkidike had carved out for her child, Teiluj.


Jauhar was silent. It seemed to be completely devoid of people. Pacju, Dyakida, Neibet... Teiluj... there was nobody.
 

[Silver_tigress18]

Maya rolled over in the hammock she currently slept in. Her hand drifting down to where Pacju normal lay in a light slumber. Her hand only meeting the fine thing air around her. Opening her hands and letting it swing back and forth, Maya's eyes popped open. Pushing herself upright on her other arm, her bug like eyes scanned the room. Pacju was no where to be seen.

Alarm screamed through her entire being, leaping to the floor in a single fluid movement. Maya tried to sense the world around her through her antenna. Trying to find any source of movement, any signal something was wrong. The eerie stillness around her sent every nerve of her body on fire. Her bug like eyes shifted around towards the hidden doorway into her daughters room. Teiluj, her mind had screamed. Her heart skipping a beat fearfully, Maya moved with surprising speed towards the opening. Pushing away the linings on the wall protecting her child.

Once inside the room, Maya felt a need to clutch at her heart. She was gone! Her daughter wasn't in her room!! Her heart had stopped. Inside the room had been coated with a strange substance. It was a perfect blanket on the floor and completely undisturbed. Whatever had happened, the unknown terror ripped through Maya. Unconcerned with the substance on the floor Maya spun from Teiluj's room and out into the hallway. Grabbing up her bow and quiver on the way out.

"Teiluj!" She screamed. "Teiluj, where are you? Answer me!" If she had to wake the whole of Home tree up to find her daughter. Maya cursed tying her quiver on and stringing her bow over her shoulder. Tendaji be sharded if she didn't find her! Running up towards Neibets room in a furry, checking to see if her sister had taken her Maya found the same result. Empty.

Dyakida, Briella!? Maya gasped spinning on her heals to search their rooms as well. Nothing.

Huffing as the pain tore at her heart Maya moved down the long stair like path out into the strange world around Home Tree. This was the same substance as the place inside Teiluj's room. It didn't matter, she needed to find her daughter. Praying to Aisha she was safe Maya pulled herself up into the grand tree's branches. "Teiluj!" She screamed again.  

[Suhuba]

It seemed as if the world were moving in slow motion. The way the petals fell, the way the tree branches swayed. Even the glow of the fungi, undulating ever-so-slightly, seemed slower than normal.

The world was strange... there was no doubt, and unbelievably silent. There still seemed to be no one. No sounds. No tracks marking the strange petal dusting.

Suddenly, a sound akin to the brushing of wings darted behind Maya. Moments later, it was at her side. A bird, perhaps? Whatever it was, the noise seemed to be circling the Alkidike, before it began to fade, leading away, towards Chibale Island.

The fungi seemed to be glowing in a path, the path leading towards the sea, towards Chibale Island. The closer to the shore one got, the more it began to sound as if... whispering, perhaps? Some odd, gentle tone reverberated through the woods.

What a strange thing...  

[Silver_tigress18]

Maya's shoulders squared at the strange sound behind her. Growling as she spun around in it direction. She had hoped it was Starline, her daughters Kinfa. It was gone when she had turned in the proper direction. Reappearing beside her ear a moment later.

A flicker of light caught Maya's attention. This wasn't something Jahaur let alone Chibale had ever shown her before. She was starting to wonder if she had fallen into some kind of mind game. Or if this was a strange dream produced by some weird food she had eaten.

Part of her wanted to sit back and let the dream take it's course. Ignoring the pull to follow the path. After a while of sitting and staring, Maya became agitated. "Fine." She growled to no one. "You win." Pulling herself to her feet Maya hurried along the fungal path.

The shore under her feet felt odd, Chibale island was in this direction. Muttering sounds only fueled Maya' further. "Who's there!?" She demanded. "Show yourselves, I can hear you!"  

[Suhuba]

At her request, the bird reappeared, settling itself on a branch just overhead. It was large with dark feathers, all black - unusual for an animal on Tendaji. Its eyes were a soft pink, nearly white, matching the petals that continued to float to the ground. The creature cawed at Maya before taking off once more, the air seeming to trail behind it, like paintbrush strokes.

The bird continued to fly in the direction of Chibale Island, stopping and cawing occasionally as it went. The closer they came to the shore, the more distinct another sound become - it was like giggling, like children's laughter.

At the edge of Jauhar, where the water met the earth, the petals stopped falling. They were built up along the shore, as if wishing to cross. The large bird was settled on the prow of one of the several, wooden boats hidden along the shore - used for the short journey across the ocean to the sacred island.  

[Silver_tigress18]

Maya narrowed her eyes dangerously at the bird. She was in no mood to be playing games of any sort. Especially when her daughter wasn't within the immediate vicinity, nor were any of the animals in her life. Watching the creature move Maya grew increasingly agitated. It was as if the entire world were trying to pull her home to Aisha. Was this was the call felt like? She had never really been away from home for longer than a year before.

Following the bird rather grudgingly Maya paused as the voices of laughter reached her ears. Teiluj? She didn't hesitate before bursting towards the sound. Irritation flowed like blood through her veins. She couldn't help but feel a trap at the back of her mind. Pursing her lips together in a fine line, Maya moved towards the bird. "What is going on! What are you doing? AND WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER!?" Maya demanded, her voice rising with each syllable. Lunging at the bird with a growl.  

[Suhuba]

The bird flew up and out of the woman's reach, there was a sense that even if she had managed to catch it it may just of vanished in a wisp of smoke. Flying above her head it tried to stay close enough that she couldn't lose sight of it, but not close enough that she could possible catch hold of it if she lunged a second time. Gliding along it lead the woman down the shoreline but it wasn't long before it came to alight upon the prow of a canoe.

It waited until she was closer before it lightly stepped along the edge of the boat, flapping a moment before landing once more on the oar. It cocked its head to stare at Maya before flapping again to then fly towards Chibale Isles. It seemed intent on bringing Maya back to her birth place, even the voices seemed to go with the bird chasing it like so many invisible children following the bird as if it was a game. The laughter began to fade along with the bird as it got smaller and further away.  

[Silver_tigress18]

(( Soooo rusty with maya. bear with me please while I re-figure her out.))
Growling was one of the many sounds Maya produced often. And had the biggest range in her vocabulary. This bird was about to earn itself a very colorful set if it didn't make what it wanted clear enough for her to understand. Crossing her arms irritably over her chest, another her growl deepened. If it wasn't for the fact her daughter was missing she would have turned around long ago and headed for home. This wasn't something she wanted any part of.

Macking a 'tch' noise with her tongue Maya moved grudgingly after the flighty bird. She had no interest in lunging for it. Whatever god or goddess what trying to guide her better have a good reason for pulling her farther and farther away from her home.

Watching the bird as it landed on a boat Maya rolled her eyes and climbed inside. Chibale islands? Why in the precious world would she be dragged there now? Did Aisha need her for something? Summoning her in a strange and irritating trance? This couldn't be the gathering for the ritual could it? The sensations were far too different for her to recognize.

Grumbling about stupid dreams and creatures stealing her daughter and clearly not being given the time to properly search. Maya heaved the boat into the water and followed miserably after the bird. It was LAUGHING at HER taunting HER! If she had her weapons, she would shoot the miserable thing from the air.  

[Suhuba]

The bird was already far in the distance, a dot on the dark sky lit only by the moon. It would wait for Maya to reach the islands, ready to lead it to its next destination. Occasionally voices would be carried on the wind, whispering and giggling, the sound of children, floating closer to Maya as the boat coasted through the water.

[Maya is being lead to Chibale by the strange bird and disembodied whispers. Guide Maya back to the islands and onto the shore. The solo can be as long or as short as thought necessary.]  

[Silver_tigress18]

Cursing about stupid birds and stupid taunting and how she would deftly kill the bird if she ever got her hands on it Maya pushed out into the water. Her eyes scanned the dead and glassy surface. What in all of Tendaji was calling her back? Was Aisha mad because she had lost her daughter? Had someone else stepped forward to claim charge of Teiluj? Anger burned inside her as she pressed forward towards Chibale.

Aisha's lotus' be damned if she was cruel enough to take away something she had wanted all her life. Especially after she had granted that very gift to her, she had worked to prove to Aisha she was worthy of her daughter. Clenching her fists harder she had to resist the need to punch a whole her her current boat. Destroying it now would only mean a longer swim, one she knew she couldn't make without the saving grace of the wood between her and the water.

Her grumbling continued as she pressed onto the shores of Chibale. The sounds of childlike laughter seemed louder here. Cupping her hands around her mouth to intensify her voice Maya called out "Teiluj? Where are you? Come out. You shouldn't wander off without telling me! What if something had happened to you. Pacju are you here."

The lack of response only fueled her anger further. If it wasn't for the fact Aisha herself resided on Chibale she would be tearing through here just to hunt down the horribly taunting bird. "I swear bird. When I get my hands on you. I will pluck you dry." Her voice came out in a snarl  

[Suhuba]

Maya touched shore and the whispering and giggling increased ten fold. The voices seemed to be coming from deeper into the island, radiating from under Aisha's large canopy. It would take some time to reach Aisha yet, but the bird seemed to be waiting for Maya to follow, landing at the edge of the forest with a fluttering of its wings.

Maya's taunts had the bird cawing out in response, as if it knew that Maya was displeased. It blinked, hopping twice on a branch overhead before receding into the dense island forest. It's wings could be heard further in than Maya's vision could see.

The whispering became suddenly overwhelming, rushed and excited. It only stopped abruptly when a single solid sounding voice, clearly from a child whispered "Over here." And the island shuddered into a dead silence. The only thing that could be heard was the crashing of the waves on the beach and the whistling of the wind through the trees. The voice seemed to be begging Maya to approach Aisha, her large form loomed overhead even from the distance that Maya was standing.
 

[Silver_tigress18]

Maya's anxiety and irritation grew with the voices. She felt like they were fighting their way inside her skin. Engulfing her very mind. She hated it, wanted to drive them out, drive them away, to put up a shield of protection. She wasn't going to be consumed by lucid dreams making her feel like she had lost her very mind. She wasn't insane! She was a strong and powerful fighter and NOTHING was going to change that. Grinding her teeth as her eyes set on the bird she grew increasingly annoyed when it cawed at her and disappeared into the forest.

"By Aisha's branches." Maya couldn't find it in herself to say anything more. The voices were too much now. Threatening to dive her away from Chibale. Creating a painful world around her. Wrapping her arms around her body shaking her head Maya took a step back towards the boat. No, it was all too much. Felt all to strong, wrong, dangerous. Her breath grew short, her eyes wide with the intense need to flee away from whatever was attempting to pull her forward as she stubbornly refused to continue. It had been like pulling teeth to get her this far, if things didn't change soon she felt she was going to loose herself to the insanity.

"Over here."

A voice calming all the invading laughter and whispers. Calling out to her. Jerking her head up suddenly to find the source of the voice Maya blinked. "Aisha? But... why now?" Resigned to the world around her Maya took a step forward, relived to find a break in the constant noise. She loved the silence and clung to it with every fiber of her being. The only sounds around her were the natural ones left behind by nature itself.

Tilting her head back to get a better look at Aisha, Maya sighed. She could never resist the call to Aisha. Keeping her arms tight around her body, as if she were the meekest of younglings Maya started her trek towards the great tree.  

[Suhuba]

The silence hung in the air, seeming to become heavier with each footstep Maya took. There was an oppression to the wind blowing her further into the forest and toward Aisha.

The forest was large, and usually teeming with noises from critters everywhere, but the only sound now was that of the wind. Even the cacophony of the crashing waves couldn't be heard this far into the forest.

As Maya's steps brought her closer, the black bird came back into view, waiting on a branch at the edge of the clearing to Aisha's large form. It seemed to twist its head, turning and looking down at Maya, opening its mouth, then closing it again, without making a sound. It seemed that it had done its part to get Maya here, and now it was being hushed by someone, or something. A force maybe, but the bird knew where its place was, and seemd to keep to it.

The clearing to Aisha was lit by only the moon, the torches that hung on the edges extinguished. But there was black on the ground. Seemingly black everywhere on the floor, but there was something strange about it. The black was moving. It was undulating, coming closer and rushing over each other toward something under Aisha. The blackness encroaching were bugs. And as soon as it was realized that they were indeed bugs, the whispering seemed to come back, coming from the insects themselves. It was garbled at first, but it was obvious to tell that the whispering wasn't passive anymore. It seemed to be negative, mean, maybe even dark sounding.
 

[Silver_tigress18]

Maya twitched at the silence. Shook her head a time or two as she walked, almost like she wanted to dislodge some blockage in her ears that prevented her from hearing. Like she had been submerged in water but could still breath. It was unsettling, everything about this was unsettling. The silence and lack of movement was starting to drive her crazy. The only time she encountered anything like this was when either death was heavy on the air, or something was more dangerous than the creatures around it.

She shuddered at the deafening sound. She relied heavily on her hearing to give her directions, and aid in her survival. Having it stripped from her, here, was debilitating and aggravating. As if it was trying to boil the very anger she was trying to suppress.

As she drew closer to the tree Maya's eye's fell on the black bird again. Her eyebrows twitched together as her antenna picked up on strange movement from the ground. The lack of control over the situation was making her more irritable by the minute. Narrowing her view on the bird Maya gritted her teeth and moved forward swiftly. Her idea on catching the bird and... she paused. Upon entering the clearing Maya knew something wasn't right. The very essence of the place felt wrong, tainted. Looking around Maya paused at the strange blackness around her feet. Like a slap in the face the noise returned.

She watched the strange black cloud as it moved. Angry at the way it tried to encroach on her senses again. Whatever it wanted it clearly wasn't a friendly entity. Not kind or mothering like Aisha, no this felt dark hostile, whatever it wanted it was now going for it. "Get away." Maya yelled, darting forward in an attempt to be the first to reach whatever it was the black cloud of bugs were aiming for.  

[Suhuba]

Congrats Maya!

Maya has passed her quest and is now a Warrior!