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 Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 9:57 am
Dyakida had heard of a certain flower that grew in the moonlight. It had been described as large, beautiful, with shimmering silver petals, but of course that didn't help her at all. Fortunately, it had a scent, described as like sun-touched concentrated rainwater, and it was found at a specific layer of the ground on certain kinds of trees, which was information she could use.
She had heard that, as a breed of moonflower, it was considered sacred by some shifters, aided by the fact that it had some slight medicinal and antibacterial properties. That wasn't why she wanted it, however.
When ground up, it became an oily paste that could be applied to materials. When applied to leather, it became more resilient to bending and wear. When applied to crystal weapons, they held an edge better and for longer. Apparently, the oil also gave these materials a lovely silver shine, but Dyakida had no idea if that was true.
She did know that it was useful, and also that an elder she knew wanted her to make some for her. In return, the older sister had promised to teach her how to craft a whip and a broadsword, the only earthling weapons that the woman knew how to make. Dyakida was happy to get any earthling weapon training, so of course when the deal was offered, she accepted.
Unfortunately, the search was not going well. Usually, she bought the flowers, fresh or already ground, from the Andile market, but the market was not running because of the war. Her sisters were busy preparing for the next fight, so it was her and Peyla alone. They were safe - this part of Jahuar was not dangerous, especially since they were allied with the shifters at the moment, but that was not the issue. Peyla was just not being very helpful at the moment, retrieving objects that were, very obviously, not the flower she sought. Some were useful objects that she could use in crafting. Others... well...
"Peyla, this is a dried flower." she rolled the flower around her palm, feeling the coating that protected the flower from degrading in the heat and the attachment that held it as an accessory. "This belongs to someone. It's not yours." the sprite still didn't understand ownership, and hadn't for years. It was a source of great frustertion to the alkidike. "Put it back where you found it." she said, holding it out.
Peyla chimed angrily, crossing her two pairs of arms in refusal. No! She woudl not bring it back. Her Alkidike wanted her to find a flower so she found a flower and now she didn't WANT the flower?! Peyla had been a good sprite. No. She was not putting it back. It had been a lot of work to work it out of the shifter's hair without him noticing! No. She harummphed musically and muttered unhappily. Her alkidike was never pleased!
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 12:43 pm
"Why not?" Lerin purred, giving the older Shifter woman his most charming smile. He sat perched on one of the highest tree branches, one leg tucked beneath him and the other swinging out into the open expanse below. Only a few thick branches, deep green leaves and yards upon yards of air stood between him and the ground. But neither of the Shifters seemed to care. He watched with amusement as his current companion, Sepherene bound her hair back and picked up her newly acquired bow. From what he understood of her mission, she was headed out with a few friends to track a small family of radaku. Lerin was willing to give anything to see a whole family of the creatures together. Were their families like Earthlings? Were they sad when one died or went missing? Did the siblings stick up for each other? Lerin wanted to know, but...
"You're still too young, Lerin! You'll just get in the way!" Sepherene informed him tartly, leaping down to a lower branch. She was hardly more than a moon or four older than Lerin was, but she was much more eager to join the growing conflict with Oba, so had already picked up a weapon of her own. Unlike the effeminate Shifter boy whose only interest was the amusing creatures that dwelled lower in the trees. "Once you get some proper training, you can join us! Until then, just go play with your friends!"
Lerin groaned in annoyance as she disappeared beneath the leaves and branches. He wasn't entirely sure if she just didn't want him along, or if she really did think he would be little more than a nuisance... Either way, Lerin wasn't in much of a place to argue. he sighed and flopped back against the branch. Hm... A lot of the Shifters around his age had already chosen to fight and were off with older warriors to practice for the battles that lie ahead... So the treetop encampment that the entirety of Lerin's family shared seemed... smaller, lately. His fingers wandered up to stroke the firm orange petals of his hairp-
He gasped and sat up, smoothing his hands through his hair to see if his most treasured accessory had maybe slipped out of its usual placement, but... He felt nothing. Where was it? He stood abruptly, looking along the branch and then down into the thick greenery below to see if he could spot a speck of orange, but there was nothing. He felt his heart quicken. It was the last remnant he had of his childhood friend, and he couldn't lose it. Swallowing nervously, he jumped to a lower branch, scoured the area, found nothing, moved along.
When had he last had it? It could have fallen all the way down. The forest was so big, he'd never find it. Eritha...
Each step only made him more anxious. After retracing his steps through the canopy, and finding nothing, Lerin eventually found himself hesitantly on the forest floor. Despite the sun being up and shining in the canopy above, there was only darkness on the ground. How was he ever going to find his tiny little treasure in all of this...?
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 4:11 pm
"Peyla." Dyakida pushed her hair back, straightening up, looking somewhat imposing. She hoped.No. Peyla wasn't bringing it back! It was Peyla's now! It could have been her Alkidike's, but no. She didn't want it. So it was Peylas."Peyla, you bring it back to where you found it right now."Peyla chimed angrily and dived for the flower. If her alkidike didn't want it, it was hers. She was keeping the pretty flower.Dyakida snatched it out of Peyla's reach, closing her hand around the petals. "No." she knew Peyla was in a mood, and didn't trust her to do the right thing. She moved the flower to her bag, slipping it in before offering her now empty hand to the sprite. "Lead me to where you found the flower, Peyla." No. No no. Peyla was not leading her alkidike to where she'd found it, because it wasn't her alkidike's anymore. It was hers. HER's. and Peyla wasn't giving it back. She chimed angrily at her alkidike, trying to dive at the pouch. She wanted HER flower back."NO." commanded Dyakida. She knew her sprite very well, and besides her chiming betrayed her actions. "You cannot have it." she said, holding the pouch shut, "Its not yours." Her face creased with annoyance - she was reaching the edge of her tolerance for the sprite. If Peyla persisted... she would have to start threatening. "Now Peyal. Lead me to where you found the flower. Do it. Do it NOW, Peyla."NO.
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Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 9:39 am
It was the sound of a voice coming from nearby that reminded Lerin of how he needed to take extra care when walking so boldly across the forest floor. The Shifters may be at a standstill of sorts with the Alkidikes while the war still threatened, but that by no means made any of them friendly. He really didn't want to risk running into one of the more volatile females... But Eritha and her gift were important to him. If he didn't risk a little for her, what could he risk it for? He thought maybe he could skirt around the unfamiliar voice, and check other areas while he waited for her to move along, but he caught wind of the word 'flower,' and distinctly heard 'it's not yours.'
He was probably the only person ever that was so possessive over just one simple flower, but how would she know that? Lerin found himself curiously peeking through the greenery at her, only to find an Alkidike, just as he feared. But she seemed to be talking to... some kind of creature, rather than another warrior woman. He could've left them to their antics and thought nothing more of it. But the flower. He had to know if, maybe...
He swallowed and dusted some grass from his pants before strolling into the Alkidike's view as casually as he could manage. He tried to look startled as her and her companion came into view, and he blinked a few times in confusion. "Oh? What's a beautiful woman like you doing so deep in this dark forest?" He questioned amiably, giving her his most brilliant white-toothed smile.
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 8:23 pm
"Peyla..." she began, when an unfamiliar Male voice jolted her from her conversation. Male... which meant earthling, likely. She'd been wrong before, with Hybrid males, but it was so much more likely to be an earthling that she thought it was a reasonable assumption.
But a friendly earthling... She had no way of telling. His accent was Jahuaran, but... Was he? This was Shifter land, but who wasn't to say that an Oban had snuck their way in?
She didn't know. She felt a thrill of fear rush through her, and she reacted violently to his voice, stepping back and reaching for the knife sheathed at her hip, loosening it.
"Who goes there?!" she demanded, bringing out as much force and pride as she could, trying to sound like the ferocious Alkidike that she could have been. Inside she was shaking and the hand that gripped her staff was pale knuckled as she gripped it tightly, trying to still her fear.
She had no idea where he was, other than where his voice had come from, or whether he was an Oban or not. She tried to breathe normally as she twitched her antennae, trying to find his vibrations. None. He must not be moving.
It was then that she registered what he had said. A greeting? A flirtation? Or a taunt, leading to worse things she only knew from whispers? She didn't know. It was best to be cautious.
"I am collecting materials. Who are you. Identify yourself!" she tried to put as much bravado as possible into the statement as possible, in the hopes that she could intimidate her way to safety if he was the enemy. It was a vague hope.Peyla chimed in annoyance at the shifter man. Couldn't he see that this was a private conversation?! She wanted her flower.
She crossed her arms at him and huffed melodiously. Go away and come back later mister...
And then she noticed his hair. The sprite rang in surprise, a single clear, bell-like 'oooo?' before zipping over to inspect the curiously black hair of the shifter with no regard to her safety or his personal space.
Shifters had white hair. Ice tribe had blue hair. Leaf tribe had brown. Alkidike had brown. Oban had brown and pretty orange crystals that she adored. How did he have black? She chimed a question at him, demanding an answer. How did he have black?
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Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 11:45 am
The hostility with which she'd greeted him instantly set Lerin on edge. And here he believed everyone liked a compliment. Apparently not this girl... Maybe it was an Alkidike thing. They didn't have any men in their tribes, if he knew correctly, so... Maybe amicable flirting wasn't the way to go...? maybe it would be better if he commented on scary and threatening she looked... he watched her reach for a weapon, and she already had a staff in hand. Lerin had nothing to defend himself, and he'd be lucky if his shorter legs could outrun the tall woman... No, he couldn't risk getting into a fight.
"My apologies if I startled you..." He murmured softly, raising his hands to show that he had nothing dangerous concealed. "My name is Lerin. I'm just... looking for something I lost. It's important to me."
The woman may have been wary and defensive, but the tiny sprite with her held no such reservations. The Shifter couldn't help but grin and little and hum out a chuckle as the little creature darted over to him and chimed in his ear. She seemed much more friendly than the Alkidike. Maybe she had appreciated his compliment. "Hello..." he greeted softly, tucking a dark strand of hair behind his ear as he got a better look at her. A sprite, hm? He'd never seen one before...
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2014 2:45 pm
"Are you a shifter or...?" she asked, open endedly, relaxing slightly, but not completely. His apology boded well, but she was keeping track of his movements as best she could with her antennae and ears, hoping - praying - that this wasn't a well orchestrated ambush, with him distracting her and someone else sneaking up behind.
Peyla helped, obviously interested in the male. But Peyla was not a good judge of character, and interest could mean one of two things, that Dyakida knew of. The male could be a hybrid - Peyla found them facinating, with their color combinations. Or, he could be an Oban - Peyla liked their crystals.
Obviously, one of those options was less terrifying than the other. Every hybrid thus far that Dyakida had met had been fairly friendly and decent sorts of people. Wheras Dyakida had met no Obans, and was only familiar with aspects of their grim and terrible handiwork.
But... This man said that he had lost something. "What did you lose, Lerin." she asked, still defensively. But she was thinking about that flower. Had Peyla stolen again? Peyla chimed back. Hi to him too! She liked it when people said hi to her. She liked it when people called her pretty. She just liked attention.
She touched his hair - it was real, and not white underneath like it should be. She chimed again, insistent. Answer her question! Why black?!
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Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 12:58 pm
She... was asking if he was a Shifter? Lerin's silvery gaze flicked from the sprite to the woman, then back again. Alkidike should have even better eyesight than him in the darkness of the forest floor, and with his blackened skin and stunningly vibrant blue crystals, surely she could tell. "Yes, I'm a Shifter..." He murmured softly. He glanced speculatively back at her, and couldn't help but notice, on further inspection, how her gaze wasn't directed completely at him. She was angled, listening with her ears, rather than looking with her eyes, and when he did catch sight of her, he couldn't help but notice that her orbs were white, where Alkidike usually had solid black...
Then she was blind...?
His heart stuttered at the thought. To live in this glorious world without sight? How would anyone do anything without vision? How would anyone continue living with nothing to inspire them? Her aggression and tension were more than understandable now. Anyone could be out to attack her, and she'd have no way of knowing. Lerin swallowed down the urge to comment on it and instead murmured, "I have a pin for my hair. It's oran-" He cut off as he reminded himself that she wouldn't know its color. "It's a dried flower. I must've dropped it somewhere."
He could feel the question 'Have you seen it?' on the tip of his tongue, but instead stamped it out to return his attention to the sprite touching his hair. "Do you like it?" He whispered to her. "In my family, we dye our hair to be closer to the moon. I think it looks nicer than the white hair of most Shifters."
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Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 5:55 pm
Allright. A shifter. Shifters were fine. Usually, anyway.. They had good reason to hate her kind, but they were, at least, allies for the time being. She relaxed accordingly.
"A.. hairpin made from a dried flower?" she said, reaching into her carrypack, "Thats an interesting hair ornament..." not one she'd had experience with. She wondered how it had been made... perhaps she could make a weapon ornament out of a flower... that would certainly be lovely, and very fitting for an Alkidike weapon. One day, she was sure, someone would commission that from her. "It must be difficult to maintain..." she said, feeling around for Peyla's stolen good.
Ah!
There it was.
She held it out towards his voice - which was actually a very nice voice, now that she wasn't overly threatened by him. "Is this it?"Yes Peyla liked it! She began to braid it with her tiny hands, carefully weaving it and playing with it.
Yes yes, very nice. His reason was silly though. The sky was too far away to get close to. Peyla had tried to fly to it... She'd gotten tired long before.
She saw Dyakida take out HER flower and, dropping the hair, chimed indignantly. It was her flower! Hers! Hers! She'd found it! No no no, her Alkidike was going to give it back! now!
She flitted forward to snatch it out of her alkidike's hands... Dyakida knew her sprite too well. She covered it with her other hand, leaning on her staff with her upper arm. "Is this it?" she asked again, ignoring the irate, shrieking sprite.
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Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 8:49 am
Lerin chuckled at the tiny sprite's fingers playing in his hair. A lot of people he met were curious about his black hair. Most people accepted his reasoning with wonder and mild awe. But sometimes he had to adamantly assure them that he wasn't a hybrid or some strange type of reverse albino. Although very few were brave enough to actual reach out and tangle their fingers in it. The Shifter had to admit that he kind of appreciated the sprite's boldness.
He glanced back to the Alkidike woman. She sounded like she wanted to help. Like she may even know something. There weren't a whole lot of people that Lerin felt pitiful awkward around, but this blind woman was quickly becoming one of them. he had no idea how to converse with her or what all she knew of him. Was she really completely blind and wandering out here alone (save for the sprite)? That seemed dangerous. She must be very brave... "It was given to me by a very close friend, so I try and do everything to keep it's condition- Yes! That's it!" he closed the space between them without thinking much of it.
How? How had this blind woman known exactly what he was after? Was it the sprite's chiming that gave it away, or had this Alkikdike really adapted so well to being unable to see? It was utterly mind-boggling. Whatever the case, she really was holding his lost treasure in her hand. His first inclination was to reach out and take it from her, but... even that felt strange. Instead, he reached out slowly, until the very tips of his fingers just barely brushed the back of her hand. "May I?" He asked softly.
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 6:26 am
Wonderful Dyakida thought, Peyla has been stealing again. it was true, and it was confirmed, and she had no idea how to stop the sprite.
"It is yours." she said, the hostility in her tone lowered to something more calm. She appreciated his politeness in touching her hand - more than she'd realized she would. "It should be returned to its rightful owner... how, by the way?" she began, "How do you keep it in its condition? It felt mostly intact, as a flower."Peyla fussed as HER flower was given away. No! No no! that was Peyla's flower, not her Alkidikes's flower or the black haired shifter's flower. Her Alkidike hadn't wanted it, so it was Peylas. That was how it worked!
She chimed angrily, swooping in between the two to chitter at them both, pointing her tiny fingers from one to the other. Her flower! Her flower!
She wanted it back!
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Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 6:45 am
"Thank you," Lerin murmured, gingerly sliding his palm beneath the flower and scooping it from her grasp. With practiced ease, he slipped the clip into the back of his hair, nesting it into the loose tie that kept his braids together. His gaze flickered to the sprite briefly. She seemed quite upset about something... Much different than the cheery, animated chimes from just a few moments before. Of course, he didn't speak sprite, but it had only happened once the Alkidike (what had she said her name was) pulled his flower from her pouch.
So... the sprite wanted a flower too?
The Shifter smiled softly. "It isn't too hard," he told the woman. "Just... requires a little patience. Some of the trees around here create a resin that hardens and can protect something like a weak little flower. I found it while I was searching for painting supplies." He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I can take you to one and show- Er, well, I can help you figure it out... I mean, it seems like your sprite wants one of her own."
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Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 6:05 am
Fluffesu A reminder to myself: i will address his drawing in hr next post
”What sort of resin did you use?” Dyakida asked, rubbing her fingers together. She could feel no residue, and such a resin would be interesting to investigate. She used resins as frequently as crystal, and something that could preserve such a delicate object might be useful.
The flower, too, might be useful as well, but she didn't trust the shifter – if shifter he truly was – to not lead her into harm, and Peyla did not always recognize harm when she saw it. Peyla had no such qualms or suspicions. She wanted that flower and the black haired shifter was offering to show them a whole plant of flowers?! Yes!
She fluttered back to him and grabbed his hand with all four of hers, chiming insistently. Yes! Yes! Take her to pretty flowers!Well, that did settle things. ”Very well.” she said, trying to maintain some degree of dignity despite her sprite. ”But if you lead me into a trap, you will regret it.”
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Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 2:32 pm
Lerin laughed softly, his eyes alight with mirth as the tiny creature tugged insistently at his hand, encouraging him to quickly reveal the location of his plants. Despite the sprite's eager attitude, her owner did not seem quite as enthused, and frankly, Lerin couldn't begrudge Dyakida that, especially not in these times. His lips quirked down in thought. She he... try and help her? Make sure she knew which way they were headed? Perhaps if he just spoke the entire way...
With a nervous swallow, he touched her lightly on the shoulder, coaxing her to follow him. "I've no reason to wish any ill-will upon you at all. So, if something should go awry, it is completely my responsibility. I understand," he acquiesced softly. "Anyway, the resin. The trees produce a sap in their inner core that hardens to a glossy- if not a bit murky finish. It's too thick to paint on straight from the tree, so I add a bit of water to it. Of course, it does lengthen the time it takes to harden, but it also removes some of the dark coloration of the sap, leaving it clear and beautiful. At least, as far as my eyes can see." Not that... it would matter to her at all, he realized with a tiny frown.
As he walked along the forest floor, carefully looking over his shoulder with each step to make sure she was near, he couldn't help but wonder how anyone, let alone an Alkidike - proud warriors that they were - could get along without sight. He wanted to ask, probably would've asked if it was any other type of ailment, but he couldn't. It seemed... terrifying. Instead, he swallowed nervously and muttered, "We're getting close now..."
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Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 6:30 am
Yes yes, talking things, Peyla didn't care. Pretty flowers!
She played with his hair, alternating sides and looking enviously at his flower – she had wanted it, and she still did, but she resisted plucking it from his hair again: after all, he was going to show her a whole bush of them!
She chimed cheerily, deciding – in her impulsive spritely way – that she liked him. But she had always liked males...He was nervous, and that made her nervous, despite having tried to frighten him. Still, what he told her was useful: a hard, clear resin – or even a not-so-clear resin – would help her craft, for aesthetics and for strength.
She followed him, wishing that Peyla did not like him so much. It was confusing, indeed, to be wary and yet – by the actions of her sprite – not wary.
But Peyla liked a lot of people. The sprite wasn't choosy. ”Will you show me the resin trees as well?” she asked imperiously, tapping the ground in front of her with her staff.
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