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 Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2013 9:26 pm
This Quest is for Rishima who wishes to be a Warrior.
Eshe huddled over a recently bloomed lotus, holding something very tightly in her arms. Her worried expression radiated through her whole body. She wasn't yet prepared for this little one.
She looked at the young Alkidike woman beside her. "Please, take this note to the one they call Rishima, this sister may be able to help us."
The young prentice clutched the note in her hands and ran for the tree Rishima was staying in while visiting the Mother Tree. This note would be delivered as quickly as she could muster.
She handed the note to the strange Rishima:
"Please Rishima, be as quick as you can. We'll be waiting with the Great Mother for you." And with that she disappeared as quickly as she had come, returning to her place beside Eshe.
[The fire bird can be found in the northern reaches of Sauti, among some of the most dangerous cliffs in the Sauti Cragg. Respond to the prompt in solo form however you see fit.]
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Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 10:53 pm
PART ONE: LEAVING HOME
Rishima and Jerarda had barely arrived on the island where Aisha, the Mother Tree, resided, and he was eager to get a chance to commune with her... but thus far he hadn't had a chance. With what had happened with the strange Shifter that needed on the island things ended up a little on the cautious side. He was patient though, he'd waited this long after all to come to such an amazing place as this and he felt that he could wait a time more. While he was yet unable to do what he really wanted to do, that being going to sit at her roots and just rest there for a time. A peaceful moment that was set apart from all of the fighting, all the tension, a moment where he didn't have to feel different from his sisters, a moment where he could feel as though he were truly a part of the Alkidike. As one of his sisters approached him, handing a note over to him, he set to reading it over, and as he finished he realized that it wasn't quite time for him to be be slowing down or relaxing, it seemed that there was instead a rather important task that was being given to him and him alone.
Starring at the note he tightened his grasp on it, looking around for a moment in the crowd, able to spot Jerarda easily enough. She was a tall, proud, and powerful woman, one that stood out even amongst her peers, one that seemed to draw people to her in a way he envied. The note said that he alone was needed, meaning that Jerarda wasn't allowed along. It was something that caused him to give a soft sigh, a little worried about it all. He was to go alone, meaning that something important rode on his shoulders. That he was being trusted with such a task, a rather intimidating one at that, had him shaking just a little bit... that was until Itzal came over to bump his head against Rishima's side, seeming to be reminding him that he wasn't going to be completely alone in this. Even if he were to tell the Radaku to stay behind it wouldn't happen, the dark colored beast followed him to Zena and back after all.
"Alright, it seems that we are going to go East, Itzal. I think that it's best that we get going now." He said, glancing toward where the Mother Tree stood, so close to him and still so far away. Once he got back though he told himself, once he got back he would have his visit. Until then other things were calling for him. After that last glance her way he was off to get his packs filled once more with supplies. What he'd packed for himself and Jerarda to share on the journey to where the Mother Tree resided, as well as to eat while they were here, was all but gone. He would need more, especially if he was going to be going somewhere far from here. He had no idea how far to the East he would be going but he would have to question those he came across when it came to the 'sacred fire bird' and hope that the beast wasn't as important to another tribe as the Mother Tree was to the Alkidike was to them or they might end up in a bit of trouble just as the Shifter had when he came for what he needed.
Once the pair had what they needed, and he had his packs and spear tied to Itzal's back, he moved to the shores of the islands where the boats resided, asking one of his sisters for a ride across. A part of him wanted to go to Jerarda, to tell her what was going on, about the note, that he was being sent on a journey but he at the same time maybe this was for the best? He didn't know how she would feel about him being sent away to a foreign country without her after all and who knew if she would try to follow after him. Best that she stay here amongst their sisters and with Aisha while he tried to find the fire bird. While she might be a lot more skilled in all ways compared to Rishima he would he would much prefer to know that his more important sister was safe here. A thought he would never voice out loud since she was sure to kick him in the backside for it. He gave a bit of a smile as he and Itzal climbed into the boat, tucking the note he carried with him away into his pack to keep it safe, and refused to look back as they made their way across the waters to the mainland of Jauhar. He didn't want to look back, only forward, and prepare himself for what was going to be a long, lonely trip, and the furthest that he'd ever go without Jerarda there at his side. To this point any time he went on a long journey she was there at his side and while he didn't want to admit it he was a little scared to leave without her. It was why it was another reason that not telling her was a good idea, he might not want to go then knowing that it could be some time before he saw her again.
As he and Itzal got out of the boat on the other side he nodded his thanks to the sister that had brought him this far, turned to give Itzal a smile, and said, "Shall we get going then?" He said, giving him a smile before the two of them started on their way toward the East, wanting to get well out of Jauhar before they started to ask about the sacred Fire Bird. Not as if any of the Shifters, save for maybe Chalcedony, would talk with him anyway or give him any answers given his looks after all. He'd start asking amongst the members of the Leaf Tribe and go from there.
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Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 4:56 am
PART TWO: INTO TALE
It had been a rather long and very lonely trip just to get himself out of the thick forests of Jauhar and to Tale, an area that was no only hot but without all of the trees that Jauhar had to allow him to a bit of cover from the sun. Sure he had Itzal with him to keep him from being completely alone but this was the first time that he had gone such a distance without Jerarda, his wonderful sister, and being alone again like this wasn't something that he cared for. If anything he wished that she could have slipped out after him, caught up, and made the trip with him... but he woudl never impress his other sisters thinking in such a manner, would he? He had to prove himself in this mission, had to get to Sauti alone, and he had to find the Sacred Firebird that the note had spoke of. He just hoped that it wasn't important to those of Sauti in the same way that Aisha was to the Alkidike or else he might have problems. The last thing he wanted was to insult the Wind Tribe when they had been nothing but kind to the group that he had traveled their lands with.
"Eesh it's hot." He murmured to himself, thinking that at least he'd thought to pack other things to wear in his pack. He was quick to fish out a shirt, one that he used to make a makeshift headpiece for himself, to keep the sun off his head, off his antennae, and helped to make him look pretty much like a Shifter from a distance. While he loved his tribe and his sisters he knew that they could be seen as threatening by others. If he was going to sneak through Tale undetected it would be best to do so while looking like a Shifter or else he might be suspected of being a spy, "We do need to be careful so that we can get to Sauti in one piece." He said to Itzal before reaching out to pat him on the head, "You know this would be a lot faster going if I had ever thought to train you to carry me." It really was a shame that it was a trick that Itzal didn't know. He might have made far better time if he were riding on his Radaku. An idea for next time he thought to himself as he continued along at a quickened pace.
The sun in this area was hot, so hot, and he never liked to keep his antennae covered since it put him at a distinct disadvantage, unable to pick up on vibration around himself. No matter, better to cover them and be left to his own devices then be bothered by someone who wasn't a fan of his people he thought to himself as the walk continued. The two of them stopped only once during the day, that being when they found a little outcropping of trees, where they settled in to have their lunch of smoked fish. Once that was done and they'd each gotten a bit of time off their feet they were on their way again. He wasn't quite sure why they were being sent for Firebird down feathers, the not said nothing about it, but he figured that it was best that they do so quickly. It must be something important... though truth be told being assigned an important task, one that he had to do all on his own, was a little intimidating. Before now the only things he'd really done on his own was fishing and that one time that he'd helped that little Wind Tribe girl. Giving a little smile he continued on his way, wondering what had ever become of her. He hoped that she was doing well and that she was safely with her mother still.
"Once we get to Sauti I think we will start to ask around about the area that the Firebird is supposed to live." He told Itzal, chatting with him to fill the silence though it ddn't make up for the lack of Jerarda bravado and can do attitude. When he was with her he felt as though he could take on the world! This would be good for him though, he would do his best to complete this task, and perhaps he would impress Jerarda in doing so? Though he had a feeling she might end up wringing his neck for disappearing without any warning before hand. He just knew that he if saw her before he had to leave on this journey that he wouldn't have wanted to go. He couldn't allowed that to hold him back, he had to be strong, had to serve the tribe, and he could spend more time with her when he returned home. It was a simple as that! Even with that thought in mind he continued onwards, doing his best not to look back over his shoulder toward home even if he really wanted to.
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Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 8:56 am
PART THREE: AROUND THE CAMP FIRE
It was near to the border between Tale and Sauti when Rishima found himself bedding down with a couple of Leaf Tribe hunters and a mage of the Wind Tribe. It seemed that they were working together to find prey for their respective villages and Rishima saw it as the perfect opportunity to ask about what it was that he was looking for. The stories, fantastic ones at that, didn't really put him at ease with what he was being sent to do. The Firebird it turned out was a massive creature, one that was made of fire, it was too hot to touch, to hot to even approach, it could even breath fire! Though as the Wind Tribe woman spoke of such tales, even going so far as to give an account of how the bird had claws made of some sort of metal that she'd never seen before and that it's feathers, when molted, looked like rare jewels the others called her on it, neither of them really believing such a story.
"If there was a bird flapping about that was breathing fire, with metal claws and bejeweled feathers I am sure that more treasure hunters would be looking for it and more people would have heard of the thing." One of the two hunters said, giving a wave of his hand and a bit of a chuckle, "As it is most people think it's just a myth of the Wind Tribe people."
The other one couldn't help but to add, "If there was a bird that was off molting jeweled feathers I would be looking for it myself instead of hunting Witu and Aldabuk. Feathers like that would be quite useful when it comes to trading, just imagine what we could get for even one of them." The second man laughed as well, doubting very highly that the bird was anything like what the member of the Wind Tribe was explaining it as, "I am sure it's just bright orange or something, maybe someone saw it at sun rise and that made it look like it was on fire." He said, putting forth a more logical explanation for what it was that was out there. Rishima hoped that he was right, a brightly colored, orange bird would be far easier to deal with them one with metal claws and fire breath.
What mattered most was finding the bird and, if he were lucky, find its nest so that he could get some of the down. The creature itself wasn't something that Rishima wanted to tussle with no matter what it might look like and no matter what powers it might be capable of. what he wanted was the down, something that he could find in the nest, and his plan was to just that. To search the nest and hope for the best, hope that he got there when the bird was away. He gave a smile then turned back to listening to the others as they continued their discussion about various rumors about how the bird looked. There was a lot of things that he doubted were true about what they were saying but just the fact that there were rumors about the bird must mean that they existed.
"So the Firebird... any rumors on where they are?" He asked of the trio. It was a question that was met with much laughter, as though they were amused by the idea that their temporary companion was actually going to look for the bird. Likely they were thinking that he was after the bejeweled feathers but really he could care less about that. Sure, one might be nice to give to Jerarda, but he was more concerned about the down.
The Wind Tribeswoman gave a little chuckle then said, "Well, I don't know if it's true, but I hear that the only place that the Firebird nests is the Northern most crags of Sauti. I am sure that is about as true as the other stories I've heard though and it's not a place you want to go treasure hunting. Best that you just find some other wild tale to chase, friend." She cautioned Rishima.
The halfbreed gave a nod of his head, not letting on that he meant to go right where he was being told not to go. He had to after all, he had to find the Firebird down to bring back home with him. He would start out come morning he thought to himself as he leaned back on the Radaku who was sleeping behind him, using him as a pillow, and listened in as the other continued to chat about were they to actually find the jeweled feathers of Sauti's Firebird, if such a thing existed. It was their various ideas of what to do with such things that helped lull him into sleep. Morning would come soon enough, for now Rishima needed whatever rest he could get. If the crags were as dangerous as they sounded then it was likely best that he was well rested before starting toward them.
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 11:34 am
PART FOUR: TO THE CRAGS
The time spent with the two hunters and the mage had been a nice bit of down time but the moment that the sun rose again Rishima was once again on his way, heading ever North toward where the crags were supposed to be located. He had a lot of information now on the Firebird, some of which that might be true, some of which was probably a huge myth, and then some of which he hoped was true. The location being amongst what he was hoping would be true because without knowing exactly where the nest might be he was likely to be left searching for a needle in a haystack, not something that he really looked forward to all that much.
"We will check the Crags first, if the Firebird isn't there then I guess we will see about finding some more members of the Wind Trirbe to ask them about it." He told Itzal who gave a rumbling growl in response. The halfbreed gave a bit of a smile before he looked from side to side, "It's been a while since we've been to Sauti, huh? To think that we would actually end up back here." It was a bit of a surprise to him. He was almost certain for a while there that he was going to end up staying in Jauhar once he got home, thinking that perhaps his mother would try to make him stay despite the fact that he was now a Blade. Giving pause he seemed to realize that he had told his mother that he was going to visit the Mother Tree but had completely forgotten to tell her about the task that was sending him to Sauti. Oops... though it was probably a good thing. The last thing that he wanted was for her to try to stop him from doing a task that was assigned to him by some of their sisters. No, this task was his alone and he would see about facing his mother and Jerarda once he got back from it. Of course he needed to find the bird before he was able to even start toward home, huh?
Giving a bit of a sigh he lifted a hand to push back some of his dreds away from his face and looked up toward the sky, "I hope that it's in the Crags." He murmured, though he figured what he should really be hoping for was that the bird would actually show itself. Though the less time it spent showing itself the better, just long enough to point Rishima toward the nest he thought to himself though somehow he was guessing it wouldn't be as easy as all of that. It was a sacred bird after all, which meant that dealing with it wasn't going to be as easy as dealing with a normal creature. It might very well be magical in nature, which worried him. What if some of the rumors that he'd heard about the bird were actually based in some sort of truth? The last thing he would want to do was upset a bird capable of breathing fire after all. He would need to be quite careful in the way that he approached the creature, that much was certain.
The terrain seemed to be starting to slope slowly upward, getting steeper, and more difficult to climb. The further North they went the worse it was getting, causing the halfbreed to need to take more breaks then he would like for water and a bit of rest, "This place is a lot more difficult then the other path that we took." He murmured, digging into the packs that hung on Itzal's back, pulling out the sleeve of a shirt to wipe his brow with before tucking it back in, "I wonder if we should camp here or keep going." He murmured, it was a hard climb and if it got too dark while they were climbing they could very well slip. He had no idea how far into the mountains the bird was going to be so he really should be cautious... at the same time he didn't want to spend too many days at this. Surely there was a reason why the down from a sacred bird was needed, right? Being sent off like this, it wasn't a normal errand, which meant he couldn't afford to be overly cautious.
"Hmm... no, we will continue a while longer." He said, taking another sip from his water skin before continuing onward up the progressively worsening path. It was at he got to the top of this particular bluff that he heard something caused his body to go utterly still and made his eyes get as wide as the rising moon, a loud shriek of a bird. He jerked his head to the side, watching as a massive creature went racing by at a pace he'd never seen a bird move before, heading deeper into the mountains, "Ah! I-Itzal! Did you see that?!" He gasped out, looking at the Radaku then back in the direction that the bird had gone in. It was just... amazing! And this meant that they were going the right way! It was something that had him smiling, feeling as though he'd been completely energized, as he started forward along the path that headed in the direction the bird was going. He would follow this path as long as it took if it meant that he might catch up with that bird he thought to himself, antennae twitching like crazy in his eagerness to find the bird again.
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 11:52 am
The fire bird had taken off into the mountainous crags of Sauti and it was up to Rishima to catch up to it.
Luckily for Rishima, the bird wasn't travelling very far. It wound it's way through the mountains and up to a lofty perch. With a rush of wind, the great fire bird cushioned the air for it's landing onto a very noisy nest. There were very few fire birds in Sauti, and this one had just hatched offspring of its own. Down feathers would be plentiful, but the bird would protect her nest with a ferocity not even an untamed kinfa could match.
The firebird's feathers shone in the sunlight and glowed vibrant hues of red and orange. Though the travelers in Rishima's journeys weren't completely correct on what the firebird was, as it landed on it's perch it bellowed white mist from it's nostrils, exhaling deeply.
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Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 12:05 pm
As he got closer to where the firebird had touched down Rishima couldn't help but wince, "Babies...?" So she had young with her? That was going to complicate things, wasn't it? He supposed that he could try to wait it out, hope that she went out to get food for the little ones, and then hurry to snag some of the down feathers. The problem being that messing with the nest might cause her to abandon it. The last thing he wanted was to be the cause of the deaths of a bunch of baby birds. He also didn't know what he thought about the idea of being forced to take those birds in and feed them himself, he didn't quite think that he was mommy material. Sure he'd done well thus far with Itzal but he was a special case in all ways.
"Hmm... Itzal, you wait here. I am gonna slip over and see if there is a chance I can find some feathers that have fallen from the nest." Though finding ones that had fallen from the nest but hadn't fallen deep into the crags, that was the trick. After patting Itzal on the head he started to slip forward, trying to get slowly closer and closer to the nest. That was until he saw the bird, something that made his eyes going quite wide, "Wow... she's beautiful." He murmured to himself, quite mesmerized by the way that she seemed to be glowing in the sun's light. Maybe it was the way that she looked as though she was glowing that made people think she was made of jewels? He was kind of disappointed to see that she wasn't but at least that meant less people would be hunting her. The way that she seemed to exhale mist seemed to give him pause, making him wonder if she actually had fiery breath. He really needed to be careful with her for many, many reasons now, huh?
"Better be careful." He murmured to himself as he started to sneak along once more, his mismatched eyes flicking from side to side as he tried to spot any fallen feathers. As he did so he realized he really had no idea how many he had. He'd traveled so far and it would be a shame if he didn't get enough of them. He'd need to see about getting all that he could without bothering the mother or her little babies.
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Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2013 8:59 am
The mother's back was turned to Rishima. She was busy feeding her young. If he was to gather any feathers, now would be the time. The nest was large, and while Rishima was right to not disturb it, a large nest meant less could fall out of it.
The ground was jagged and steep and there were drops and falls in clusters along the ground. It would be dangerous to get close enough to gather any at all.
But there, resting against the outside of the nest, fallen down feathers could be seen in small clusters where the chicks hungrily awaited their mother each day.
This could be Rishima's chance. Feeding wouldn't take much longer now and if he wanted to gather the feathers he would have to be quick... and quiet.
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Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2013 12:09 pm
Please don't notice me he found himself thinking as he slipped forward, trying to keep himself quiet, trying to keep the busy mother bird from her task, so that he could see about getting himself some of the feathers. He would need to be quick about it, which her attention was on her young, and hope that the amount of feathers that he was able to gather would be enough. He wasn't really sure what Firebird down was good for, save for lining a Firebird nest, but surely someone back home had use for it? He gave a mental shrug before he reached out to gather the first bit of the down, pushing it into his pack, glanced at the mother, then tried to get some more.
He would get all that he could reach from this side of the nest he decided, glancing toward the mother, the little ones, back to the clumps of feathers, and picked up more. It was a rather quick and extremely cautious process. The last thing he wanted was for any of them to notice him, certain that the mother would attack him for getting so close if she saw him and that the babies would tattle on him if they saw him. Either way he needed to be as careful as possible not to be noticed that much he was certain of. When he got what he hoped would be enough he'd sneak away, hopefully with Momma bird none the wiser.
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Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 6:48 am
The mother was still occupied feeding her babies as Rishima gathered the feathers and hurried to scurry away. It seemed that he would be able to gather what he needed and go without harm today.
Another spray of mist covered the floor as the mother exhaled deeply. It seemed lady luck was on Rishima's side and the mother was giving him the cover he needed to get out in one piece.
With the mist covering the ground, the mother bird settled into her nest with her young; their feeding over for now. She closed her eyes and seemed to hum a tune with no melody with the satisfaction of her babies.
Now all that was left to do was to return to the island.
[Rishima may now return to Chibale and visit the Great Tree Aisha to meet with Eshe. The solo may be as long or as short as you wish.]
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Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 11:31 am
It was as though the world was completely on edge, everything coming to a halt, breath held, each time that Rishima reached forward to grab hold of some of the firebird fluff. It were as though he knew that at any moment the mother's mood might turn and that he would get attacked... but that attack never came. Giving a glance he could guess why, she had a lot of young to take care of, it was likely that she was too busy keeping them all happy to come after him. It must be a tough job he found himself thinking before he ducked down into the new wave of mist, shuffling away under it and away from the firebird's nest. Hopefully what he was able to get hold of would be enough he thought to himself. Once he was a safe distance away he'd take a look at what he had, for now he needed to go.
The moment that he got back to where Itzal was waiting sigh in relief, glancing over at Itzal, then winced. The Radaku was looking more then a little displeased at having to wait here while Rishima did such a dangerous thing, wasn't he? Lifting a hand he scratched him under the chin, "Shhh, it's alright now. I got what I came for and now we need to be going, alright?" He murmured to him before he started back down the treacherous path that had brought them this far, "Once we reach the bottom we will set up camp." It had been a long day after all and now that he had what he came for the return home was going to have to be a swift one. He didn't want to keep everyone waiting after all.
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Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 11:59 am
Once the two of them had made camp, which mostly consisted of finding a rocky structure that was out of the wind and building a little fire, Rishima settled down to go through his pack, taking out an extra shirt that he'd packed first, laying it out, before he set to gather all of the firebird down, every last little bit of it, and laid it all in a large, neat pile on top of the shirt. He starred at it for a long while before saying, "I hope that this is enough." He murmured, taking out the note that he'd received, looking it over once more, both sides, but didn't exactly see anything that indicated how much. It just said to gather it, "I wish it was a less cryptic note." He said to Itzal before he set to wrapping it up, using his shirt as a way to keep all the feathers together and safe. Once that was done he tucked it away into his pack, got out some of the dried food that he had, and tossed a piece of it to Itzal.
"We are going to start out first thing in the morning and cover as much ground as we can, alright? We need to get this down back home to those who had asked for it." What firebird feathers were good for, that he didn't know. He wasn't someone privy to such knowledge, and he hadn't asked, he just went out to do as he was told, wishing to help out his people in any way that he could. If he had to trek across three of the four known lands then he would do just that, anything they asked. He wanted to be useful to them after all.
Itzal moved to lay behind Rishima, allowing the half Alkidike to lay back on him, his mismatched eyes sinking closed, "I'm so tired... it's been such a long day." He murmured to Itzal, one hand lifting up to pet his neck, "Just think, in a little while we will be back where we started, looking for a chance to commune with the Mother Tree." He murmured, hoping to get some indication that he was doing all of the right things. He found it difficult at times to really be sure that each step that he took was the right one. He didn't want to fight and kill, but he wanted to protect his tribe, he wanted to be able to make friends amongst the other tribes but he didn't want to appear as though he was betraying his own, and most of all he wanted to keep Jerarda safe even though he was sure she didn't need him for that. So long as he could get some sort of insight that he was doing well he would be happy.
"I wonder what we will do after we commune with Aisha... guess we will find Jerarda and see what she thinks." He murmured, eager for their next adventure to start. The first one had been to Zena, the next one to the islands where Aisha resided, and there was still so much that they could do! He was quite excited to figure out what the next step was. For now though, he needed sleep. He gave a great yawn, shifted in place, and was soon dozing off using Itzal as a pillow. The Radaku starred down at him for a long while before laying his head down on the ground, allowing himself to rest as well, though sleeping far more lightly. Rishima was over tired and might miss any indication of danger, Itzal would not, he would keep his companion safe so that they could return home.
The rest of the night was a quiet one, the fire burning down to coals. When morning came, something that felt as though it happened far too soon, Rishima was back on his feet, burying the fire pit, picked up his weapon and pack, and he was on his way with Itzal at his side. It was going to be a quicker journey he hoped, knowing that it would involve a lot less asking around when it came to the firebird. Now that he knew of her location if more down was ever needed he could help to find it. He did find it a little bit of a shame though that there were no bejeweled feathers, he'd of liked to have brought one of them home to Jerarda as a souvenir. Maybe next time he was out he could find his sister a nice present he thought to himself, eating while watching, Itzal doing the same, "We will do our best to get back quickly, we don't want to keep our sisters waiting after all." He told Itzal, quickening the pace after they had both finished their meal and had something to drink.
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Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 1:27 pm
The trip home from Sauti, across the three countries of Sauti, Tale, and Jauhar was a bit of a blur. Rishima didn't want to waste a lot of time so most of it was spent on the move, either walking or running during the time that he was awake, and taking only short breaks to rest up. The trip to Sauti's Crags to get the feathers had been a long trip, one in which he head to chat with a lot of people to help figure out where he was to go to find the firebird. Now that the had the down, all of it wrapped safely in one of his shirts, he was able to return home at a much quicker speed. Itzal was being a trooper through all of it, staying at Rishima's side, never once falling behind, he was a really strong, really loyal creature... though Rishima was almost positive that the moment they got back that Itzal was likely to sleep for a week straight to recover. It was something that Rishima wanted to do as well. He was so exhausted but he wasn't going to slow down the grueling pace that he'd set for himself. This trip wasn't meant to be a leisurely one after all, he wasn't out seeing the sights, he was on a mission, and he meant to finish it.
When they got to the edge of the water, looking out over it to Chibale Isles in the distance, he gave a sighing sound, "Alright, I am going to rinse off real quick, Itzal, you guard out stuff" He told the Radaku, stripping down so that he could head into the water, scrubbing himself clean of everything that clung to him after such a long journey. He couldn't' really return home smelling terrible, that was no way to present himself to his sisters he thought to himself. Once he was able to was away all the grit, grime, and sweat that he'd picked up from the road he left the water, shaking off before he set to dressing once more. It was a quick process but one that made him feel a hundred times better. He was ready to meet with his sisters now he thought to himself, antennae giving a twitch before he walked over to Itzal, picking up his pack and his weapon, "Alright, let's get going then." They would need to take one of the boats, paddle across, and then see about meeting with their sister he thought to himself. It was going to be a bit slower going this time around, he didn't have Jerarda's help, but surely he could get them across. How sad would it be if he failed this close to home after all?
Picking out one of the small boats Rishima pointed to it, "That one, Itzal, hop in." He said, watching the Radaku do so before he pushed the boat into the water, hopping in himself, "Phew... sitting is kind of nice, isn't it?" He said, antennae coming to lay lazily against his head and he merely sat there in the boat for a moment, enjoying just sitting, before he set his pack and his spear down in the bottom of the boat, instead retrieving the boat oars, "Alright, best get to paddling or we are never gonna get to where we want to be." While he was able to feel a slight current it was going side to side, not forward, so that meant that it wouldn't be a cheat on getting them to their destination. Instead he had to paddle and paddle he did. It was a lot more difficult then the last time he'd done this, more exhausting as well, threatening to drain the last bit of his energy. It was something that Rishima couldn't allow though, not when he was so close to his goal. The very last thing he wanted was to doze off in the boat and end up in some foreign country that even he didn't know. No, he would stay awake, stay the course, and he would get home to Chibale Isles he told himself as he paddled.
The moment that the boat touched land there were a couple rather large guards that were approaching, making him feel a little ill at ease... until one of them gave him a smile, offering him a hand with getting all of his things and himself out of the boat, "Welcome back, sister. Eshe is expecting you at the Mother Tree." She said in a tone more friendly then he had been expecting, it was enough to cause him to give a happy sigh as the woman handed him his pack and his spear.
"Thank you sisters, I will go to her straight away." He said, then glanced at Itzal who had laid down the moment he hopped out of the boat, "If I could ask a favor, the journey was a long one and he is exhausted. If you could bring him something to munch on?" He hated asking such a thing but much to his surprise one of the two nodded, turning to send some younglings off to get food and drink for the tired Radaku. It was yet another happy surprise and after thanking his sisters profusely he turned on his heel and hurried in the direction of the Mother Tree. It would seem not only would be finally get to go to the Mother Tree to commune with her but he would be meeting with someone named Eshe as well. Given the way that the one Alkidike said the name, the reverence in her tone, it seemed as though this person must be an important one. To say that he was a little nervous would be an understatement but even just approaching the tree filled his stomach with a swarm of tiny nondwa.
As he got closer he saw the Alkidike woman at the base of the tree and he swallowed hard before speaking, "Sister Eshe? I brought the firebird down that was requested of me." He said as he dug into his pack, getting out the wrapped mass of firebird down, holding it out to her, "I hope that I got enough." He'd grabbed all that he could and he could only hope it was enough and if not... well, he'd go and he would get more if it was needed he thought to himself. For now though he could hope and pray to Aisha that he'd gotten enough firebird down for... well, whatever it was that Eshe needed it for.
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Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 12:07 pm
As Rishima approached, Eshe straightened herself from leaning over a growing lotus bud. The little one within would soon see the world with her own eyes, but the lotus buds around the tree required constant attention to be sure of their growth. Eshe had to be their eyes for them.
Rishima's return was not a moment too soon. She looked Rishima in the eyes, her normally dazed face replaced by one that was all too serious.
"Thank you Sister for bringing what I sent you for." She looked down at the pile of feathers in his hands and nodded. "It will be enough. Follow me." She turned and began to walk with a brisk pace, her feathered skirt swishing in a hurried rhythm. Eshe led Rishima around the base of the Mother Tree and into her home not too far off. She pushed the veil aside for Rishima to enter. The place smelt of flowers and incense, all burned recently while she tried to wait out Rishima's return. Near a window in the hut, with sun streaming through, was a basket full of bundles of cloth. Eshe hurried to the bundle, checking the contents briefly before turning to Rishima.
"Sister, this child has bloomed far too early. I've been doing what I can while you gathered the fire bird's feathers to keep her healthy, but she needed ingredients that I could not gather." The contents of the basket was an Alkidike child that was impossibly small. It was a wonder that she was alive at all. Her eyes were pinched shut and her breathing was shallow.
"Those fire bird feathers should help her mature." She held out her hands to Rishima, waiting for him to pass over the feathers. "I am glad that you could bring them to me."
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Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 12:35 pm
"I am glad that I was able to get enough on the first trip." He said, quite happy with that. While he had been willing to make another trip no matter how exhausting that may have been, he was relieved that he didn't have to do so. Instantly Rishima was falling into step behind the other Alkidike, wondering where it was that they were going, and as they stepped inside he couldn't help but to be fascinated. It was nice in here, warm, and it smell of all manner of interesting scents. He looked around a moment before he noticed the small basket that seemed to hold Eshe's interest, finding himself moving toward it to make a peek at what was bundle up within it. Upon spotting what was in the basket his mismatched eyes went impossibly wide, "Oh... my..." He breathed, what a tiny little thing.
When Eshe spoke of how she'd bloomed too early and that Eshe had been doing all she could to keep the little one healthy while Rishima was away he nodded his head, "I... I hope I was fast enough." He said, he'd hurried along as quickly as he could but knowing now what was at stake he wished that he'd have pushed himself even faster. When Eshe said that the feathers should help the girl to mature he gave a smile, "I am glad." He said, quickly unwrapping the pile of them from the shirt he'd transported them in, handing the feathers over to her and stuffed the shirt back into his pack. When she said that she was glad that he could bring them he gave a smile, "I am glad that I could bring them to you as well." He said, then gave the little one a smile. So tiny he thought to himself but hopefully, with the help of the firebird feathers, she would grow to be as strong as Jerarda one day. She'd be a strong one he thought to himself, he could tell, because she was born fighting. Due to that fact alone he knew that she would keep fighting and become a sister to contend with one day.
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