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 Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 9:09 pm
"Ok Mneme...no, Vedia. You know you'll figure it out sometime..."
She has seen the burnt out remains of her home. For a moment she thought she had seen burned out bodies, but she didn't stick around to check. Vedia had bolted from the lands as soon as she realized that no one was there, and there were no hints left as to where they went. She knew that not everyone had died; there would have been many more bodies, and an unbearable toxicity to the swamps. No, instead they had left, but no one had come back to help those who had been on their pilgrimages.
So instead, she ghosted around the swamps, waiting to see if anyone else came by. It was hard, as she didn't want to look desperate or stuck in the same spot, but Vedia had no idea where she was to go to find her home. her new home, anyway.
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Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 9:18 pm
The first time Tazama returned to the abandoned swamp lands, her heart ached- not just for seeing her own homeland in such a state, knowing that there were families that had resided her for many generations made it that much worse. It took her a few short visits before she was able to stay calm and wander through diligently enough to be any use.
So far, she hadn't managed to connect with a single lost pilgrim- but she hadn't been found by any non-pilgrims who checked in, either. She wasn't sure she was supposed to be here during her pilgrimage. But she desperately wanted to help.
Something was different today, she couldn't say why but it motivated her to wander more thoroughly, more quietly- and then she heard it, someone talking. She stopped walking and listened, but she didn't hear enough to know where it came from. With a sigh, she went to step forward-- but ended up tripping over her own feet, landing on the ground with a thud.
"Ah!"
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Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 9:25 pm
Vedia jumped, startled that she heard someone. Something. Whatever it was, it scared her. Her eyes widened as she looked around, but she didn't see anything. Still, it was impossible to avoid the fact that there was something here. Vedia wasn't going to ignore it, just in case it was someone else who had been stubborn enough to stay here after their pilgrimage, hoping that someone would come to take them to the rest of the pride.
"Hello?" she carefully asked the air. Part of her wondered if the Swamp Goddess was still here....but if so, why would she let so much of the swamp burn? It was a hard idea to swallow, especially because her true name turned out to be related to the forest. Forest in the swamp that was no longer here...
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Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 9:29 pm
Mentally cursing at herself, Tazama started when she heard someone call out- presumably to her, now that her presence was undeniable. She scrambled to her feet noisily.
"I'm here!" she called back, taking a few slow steps toward the voice to make sure she wasn't going to fall again before hurrying around, "Who's here with me?"
Had she finally found someone?
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Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 9:33 pm
It was definitely a female voice. She heard it getting someone louder, which meant that she was getting closer to where Vedia was standing. That worked, as Vedia was tired of aimlessly wandering around looking for someone.
"Vedia," she answered. "Formally known as Mneme, daughter to Gebali'moto and Baridi'ini."
Hopefully that would help? If this was a stranger....well she just explained herself to whoever that stranger was.
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Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 9:38 pm
When Tazama finally made it to where she had a clear view of the voice, she stumbled to a stop- there was no denying that this was one of the Jini-msemi. Tazama didn't know very many of the pride members but she knew the queen and her consort- this lioness was clearly related to him.
"Oh my!" she said, positively beaming, "Vedia, it's nice to meet you!"
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Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 9:44 pm
On the contrary, this lioness didn't show any outward signs of being part of the Jini-msemi. Still, it would be odd for such a lioness to be lingering outside of the burned out part of the swamp, and so Vedia gave her the benefit of the doubt.
"Yes....are you part of the Jini?" she asked, getting straight to the point. "Otherwise....I'm not sure why you'd be here, its impossible to live in the charred remains of this ex-swamp."
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Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 9:56 pm
She wasn't at all put off by the question, her family was newer to the pride than many of the families and individuals that were there. Besides, Tazama might not have recognized Vedia as a probable pilgrim if her brother hadn't been the queen's consort.
"I am!" she said, smiling despite the sad remark about their former home, "I am a pilgrim sent from our new home just after we settled again. I really wanted to be able to help direct lost pilgrims home again, though I don't think I'm alone in visiting here with that purpose."
The pilgrims sent from their new home had been asked to spread word of their relocation, of course, but Tazama was not satisfied with such a passive part in what she thought was a very important task.
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Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 10:03 pm
Vedia's ears perked at that. "So everyone did move? They're safe? Is it very far? I hope everyone is ok, I'm so worried. It was crushing to return home only to find out that it is empty...and charred...and no one can live here again..."
Vedia grew silent for a moment, sending a sorrowful and hopeful though to the land that was lost, and what lives may have been lost as well. She couldn't imagine getting stuck in the middle of a raging fire, regardless of where it was.
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Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 10:13 pm
"Yes, everybody is fine," she said, her smile fading as Vedia grew silent and the conversation became more serious. Tazama couldn't imagine the shock and sorrow of coming home with a new name and finding this. The only consolation was that it was apparent little life was lost.
"We live in the mountains now, not far from a pride called the Ela'wadiyi," she said carefully, "I can help direct you that way if you're ready to go there."
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Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 10:15 pm
"Oh." Vedia was curious about the fact that they lived within the mountains now, but... "The spirits are still with the pride, right?" She didn't want to return home if somehow they had burned up within the fire as well.
"I would appreciate a pointing, but I'm sure that if you offer good directions I can get there. Thankfully I don't get too lost myself," she said, finally cracking a smile. Everything would be alright, and she would still be able to return home.
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Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 10:36 pm
Vedia's question about the spirits somehow felt much more sad than the question of the pride's well-being, perhaps because the scene here would be more horrific if the pride was lost.
"They are certainly not here any longer, not the same way they were before, at least" she said quietly, looking around them, having decided sometime during her recent visits it was just too quiet and sad here to believe the spirits remained despite the destruction.
"But we haven't lost them," she added, smiling, "Or- they haven't lost us."
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Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 10:40 pm
Vedia's reaction to that news was obvious, as her entire body relaxed. "That is great news to hear. So reassuring too. Thank you....oh! What is your name? I don't think I know it, I'm sorry. I've never been that amazing with names, but I've been out on my pilgrimage for far too long....I'm afraid I just don't have a clue."
Vedia was starting to feel a sense of excitement again. It may take a few days to get back to her family, but at least she knew that they were ok. Everything would be ok in the end.
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Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 10:52 pm
"Oh! I'm Tazama, for now," she said brightly, glad the conversation had taken a happy turn now that everything seemed settled except the directions. She'd been trying to prepare for this part but it was difficult to keep your bearing in mind when everything felt so different.
"Let's walk a bit and I'll get the directions figured out from where we are," she said, not realizing how bad that sounded before she said it- but she kept quiet and smiled sheepishly rather than trying to stumble through a clarification.
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Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 6:04 pm
"Thank you, Tazama," Vedia said, brightening considerably. "You've given me more hope than I thought I could find after returning here. I didn't know what to do, so I've just....stuck around for a while."
She bobbed her head as she glanced around at their surroundings. "That sounds like a good idea. I don't even really know exactly where we are. Lead the way, and we can figure it out together."
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