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 Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 7:09 pm
Cey rolled her eyes as she started down the path, Achlys bounding ahead only peeking back to be sure she was still being followed. It was time again for her to go into Andile to pick up supplies to make dyes; certain items kept exclusively on the Chibale Islands. She was to meet a contact, N’Dia, who ran the supplies to Jauhar for her mother.
'Why do we have to live so far outside of Andile…' She thought to herself, 'I suppose the Illo wouldn’t take too kindly to being wrangled into a city. I assume all the commotion would interrupt their silk production, or tempt thievery; which would be sickening.' The production of silk is very difficult, and the products mother weaves from them are one of a kind.
Dissatisfied with the dirt beneath her feet, she decided to take a more athletic route. Taking to the trees, Ceyede scurried up the truck, grasped firmly to the branches, and danced from treetop to treetop as she passed up Achlys with ease, “You’re slowin’ up pup~” She called down to the radaku giving a laugh as she watched Lys stare up where she heard the voice, pacing in circles. “Lys… Over here.” Ceyede snickered as she peeked down from the branches and snapped her fingers.
Lured by the noise Achlys trotted along as they made their way to town.draconicfeline Title is in question, but it’s as good as any for now.
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Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 8:02 pm
This time, she got to go along with Dyakida: Yitzah was pleased. She'd been left behind too often when Dyakida went to Andile on her trips, and she hated every second of it.
This time, though, she got to lead Dyakida... it was an important job, and the youngling had a spring in her step and a self-important posture: yes. Very important. And she was honored to have it.
Peyla would just have to deal with it. Not that the sprite didn't also have an important job! Finding things and bringing them back was important too. Yitzah couldn't do it, because Yitzah was guiding.
She heard voices up ahead, and stopped suddenly, taking on a posture of absolute vigilance. Was it friend or foe?! Friend... or foe?! Or monster? She, Yitzah, woudld protect the artisan from either!
The youngling took out her wooden practice sword and brandished it with her free hand - she had her practice bow too, but she needed her other hand to keep guiding Dyakida. Guarding and leading were not two different jobs! She could handle both! She was big and strong!
She stomped forward, trying to see what was ahead... and she saw something. It was... a Radaku?!
A real one.
Maybe this was a bit much for her, she thought, as she lowered her sword uncertainly.
But she'd heard voices, and the radaku was wearing stuff... so there was someone here? Where? Yitah couldn't see them. She glowered at the surrounding jungle.
Come out... she thought, willing it to be, Show yourself.
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Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 8:22 pm
Dyakida had heard, from her sisters, that Yitzah was bothered by her frequent trips. There was a time when she wouldn't have cared, when she would have been specifically avoiding the child, but that time was no more.
She had a better opinion of children nowadays, after Ilyra and generally growing up herself. Besides, Yitzah was quiet and helpful, not at all like she had thought children to be.
Plus, the girl had been through a lot. So, after some urging, Dyakida had opted to take Yitzah along with her. She would have made the girl promise to behave - she still didn't entirely trust children to not become screaming spoiled monsters in an instant - but there wouldn't have been much point - the girl hadn't spoken a word since that incident.
So far, she had proven useful on this trip. Peyla was not present at the moment, likely finding something interesting for Dyakida's use, and Dyakida was surprised that the sprite trusted the little girl with her safety - normally Peyla trusted nobody. But maybe the two had an understanding. Or, more likely, Peyla had been bribed a lot.
Dyakida was used to silence, but she wished that the little sister would at least mumble some semblance of conversation and not leave Dyakida adrift in her own thoughts and the sounds of Jahuar. It was better than having to interpret the sensation of each dip in the ground, or wondering if she was about to step in mud, but... still. Dyakida wanted to be a bit more grounded in reality, even if it was just the reality of conversation. Or, heck, to just know what it looked like around her. Even that there was 'another tree'. That was still something.
She felt Yitzah stop, and felt the girl's posture and movements change. "What is it?" she asked, though she didn't know why she bothered asking the silent little shadow. She listened, but if there was something to be heard she had neglected to pay attention, and her antenna picked up vibrations from all around. "Is someone there, Yitzah?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 7:46 pm
Achyls stopped rotating and faced the approaching pair. Her growl change from shock to a deep predatory snarl, her cheeks peeled back revealing her jagged razor like teeth, claws extended and scraping along the dirt as she made her slow approach.
Ceyede saw the pair, and knew why Achyls was behaving the way she was; the sword. Wooden as it may be, Achyls only recognizes the shape and not the material, she views them as a threat, so she is preparing to attack. Without a moment to waste, Cey dropped from the limb she was perched on, landing on the rump of her beast to force her into a sit, then wrapped one arm around her chest, the other around her muzzle, “Apologies, Sister… And little Sister.” She smirked and patted the top of the Radaku’s head, “Achyls is still young and being trained.”
“Can you behave yourself?” She asked her squirming pet who struggled for freedom. A grumbled urf of understanding was all it took, and Ceyede released her, “Good, These two are no threat to us. Apologize.” The Radaku hung its head and pawed at the air as though to wave giving off a soft whimper of apology, “Good girl.”
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Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 2:15 pm
Dyakida went very still at the snarl, her hand gripping Yitzah tightly. "Yitzah..." she was about to tell the child to get behind her (for all the good that would do) when the sound of falling - a distinct, fleshy whumph reached her ears and the area in front of her rang with vibrations. Along with a young woman's voice.
"Ah..." she said, loosening her grip on the child. "I understand... had Yitzah done something to provoke... whatever this 'Achyls' was? From the sounds it could be a radaku. Or a raptrix. Or any of a number of barking snarling beasts.
She was well-known enough that hiding her blindness was not a viable option among her sisters. "What is Achyls?" she asked, "I assume you are training it to be a warrior?"
Talking helped to ease her nerves. She was a blind woman with a child, there was very little she could do if threatened, though she was by no means helpless. Just helpless enough for the situation of almost being attacked - because she could only assume it was so - to scare her.
"Or, perhaps a guard?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 2:43 pm
Yitzah tugged at Dyakida's hand, trying to get her own hand free. She didn't mind the artisan holding her hand - she liked it - but this was a bit too tight for her liking. The artisan's grip was like a vice, though, and Yitzah soon gave up.
She let her sword fall, staring at the radaku. She wasn't scared of him! She wasn't scared of him at all! He wasn't a nightmare monster. He was real.
She wasn't afraid of real things.
Nevermind how her knees were shaking.
When Dyakida's grip loosened, she extracated her hand and walked nonchalantly over - the better to hide her shaking - and, hands on hips, silently confronted the radaku. See? She wasn't scared! And she was bigger and stronger too!
Sort of. Not really. But she would grow, though, that she knew, and she would grow strong and kill the nightmare monsters. That was her goal. What goal did it have?! Being a radaku, obviously.
...
it was cute.
Yitzah grudgingly or imperiously - took out a piece of dried meat and offered it to the radaku.
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Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 8:04 pm
“Achyls is my Radaku; helps me run patrols around our farm… silk farm, not livestock.” Ceyede chuckled, “Could you imagine trying to raise livestock in this?” Indicating to the forest around her, “We just have to deal with the occasional threat of Menzuri thinking we have corralled an easy meal for them.” Cey smirked as she kept a watchful eye on her young radaku pup.Knowing she was being watched, Lys kept her head low and crept in an awkward chameleon like fashion over to Yitza. Sniffing nonchalantly at the dried meat in the child’s hand she snapped her jaws on a tiny portion of the meat and gently tugged it from her and before gorging herself on the morsel, wagging her tail profusely.“Looks like you’ve made a friend.” Cey mused as she watched her Radaku remorsefully slink back to her side, give her pathetic pouty eyes and gently whop her tail to the earth. Ceyede scratched gently behind Lys’s ear and smirked, “We had best be on our way before I catch an earful when I return home.” Looking to the pair she nodded, “It’s been a pleasure sister’s, but I am afraid I must be on my way to Andile.”
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 6:55 am
Yitzah couldn't help herself. She was ignoring the adult's conversation - it wasn't important. What was important, was PUPPY.
She was a tough kid, or that was what she'd liked to advertize herself as. But it was so cute. Dangerous, had been about to attack them, but cute!
Can I pet her some more? Yitzah almost asked, but again, her voice wouldn't come.
Instead, she followed the Radaku a little ways to its' master's side, hands upturned, clicking softly with her tongue. Clicking was okay. Clicking was not voice.
Come here Radaku she thought, her expression childish and, almost, sweet - though Yitzah was not usually sweet of face or manner. Come here so I can rub you'r face.
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 7:04 am
Ah. All right. A Radaku.
"A farm?!" Dyakida said, surprised, "How fascinating!" and silk! Silk was lovely for weapons - not so much for the actual weapon parts, but for decoration... as long as she had someone to tell her what color silk she had. Even though the memory of what color and patterns looked like - and sight itself - was starting to fade, She could remember how colors and patterns went together, and could imagine them in her mind and try to put them into shape with her nimble hands. Though she could manage on her own through the use of careful organizing and textured tags, Yitzah had been a big help in her efforts of late. Though the girl remained stubbornly silent, she could, at least, hand her the color she wanted.
"I am amazed that you would attempt such a difficult task. The isles would be more suitable..." not that Dyakida knew much about farming. In fact, she knew nothing at all, other than it was a thing that people did where they stayed in one place and made food and other crops grow in that place, instead of where they naturally lived. "We are, incidentally, heading to Andile ourselves!" she said, smiling in Ceyede's direction, "So, if you do not mind, we could travel together. And perhaps, you could tell me more about silk..." Dyakida had, ironically, been intending to buy some illo silk as well as other gathered materials... so the conversation would be particularly interesting and relevant.
And... thought Dyakida with an inwardly warm smile. She'd heard the girl clicking at the beast, and had a sense of what the child wanted. It would give Yitzah the oppurtunity to play with the Radaku.
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 10:15 pm
Her tail whops increased as Lys found the child’s attention fixed on her. The little sister made no noise, but lowered herself and crept ever closer to her. She kept her ears low, eyes shifting between the child and her master’s feet. She knew this is where she should stay, but to play… with a ball of energy… Much like herself.
The Whopping of her tail turned into a butt wiggle as the flicking of her tail turned into a wag. That was when her ears picked up a noise; -Click…. Click- Eyes wide she was fixated on the child’s mouth, it barely moved yet this click was clearly audible. Her ears pointed and turned to the young things direction, and pulsed flat with each click. Achlys’s mouth snapped together, cheeks puffed, and soon she was mimicking the noise of the child.
It was not enough~ Not enough to contain her excitement, fumbling about on her paws she suddenly leapt up and let out one “Yarf” falling to a playbow and flailing her whip like tail about.“I assure you, it is not nearly as fascinating as you may think.” Ceyede smirked, “The crops we grow are to sustain the Illo we keep. I suppose my mother does have a small hobby garden,” She grimaced and scratched the back of her head, “Though she has neglected it so it isn’t doing so well.”
The display Achlys was giving caused her to burst out in laughter, “Pup, You’ve got a lot to learn… But enjoy your youth. Go play…” She chuckled and gently slapped the dogs rump; indicating she was freed from any prior commands.
“I had thought about that myself.” Cey continued while taking a step forward to proceed down the path to Andile, “Having the farm on the island; however, my mother desires to trade our goods with the rest of Tendaji.” She hated the idea of trade with the earthlings, but her mother felt as though they had things to offer that we could not get ourselves. “A noble cause I suppose, but most of the trades she approves makes me feel as though she under appreciates the work put into each item.” Cey hid a laugh with her hand, “But I am young, she says, and don’t see the value in what they have to offer. I’ve chalked it up to it being her call, but maybe someday I will see what she sees.”
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Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 6:14 am
Yitzah squeaked with delight. It was clicking too! She grinned and crouched, moving from side to side playfully. Play! Playfight with me! she thought, bouncing forward a little, and then I'll rub your ears! She clicked again, twitching her antennae. This would be a very fun trip, she could tell.
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Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 6:26 am
Yarf? Really? It was nearly impossible for Dyakida to keep from letting some of her smile shine through. Rarely had she heard Yitzah behave this cutely (though it was clearly the radaku's yip)
"What do you grow for the Illo, if I may ask?" What did Illo eat, anyway? If she remembered correctly, they simply emerged like streams of wiggling light to climb up trees, and eventually become the kipepwa and the nondwa... She had no idea if and what they ate, and apparently was going to find out.
Dyakida remembered her own trades with the earthling Rastian. He seemed respectful and fair, but how much of that was her own cunning? "What does she trade for? Coin or goods?" She knew that many of her sisters preferred to trade in coin with Earthlings when the need arose, not trusting them to fairly assess and compare their goods.
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Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:57 am
Achlys galloped forward and pawed at the young sister, intentionally playfully knocking her to the earth and rolling her about as she circled around and playfully grumbled as she buried her head into the childs stomach and nuzzled her about. Ceyede shrugged, “It’s a giant pale green leafed weed that grows almost as tall as a long sword. Ma calls the plant Halaya Ube. The Illo like to eat the leaves, but the stem is far too tough for them to chew.” When the illo was finished with a plant it almost looked like a naked tree with its tall stalk and then each leaf stem still dangling to the stalk. “The plant produces a flower head at the top. It has thousands of little deep purple, cream variegated pedals with a black prickly center. As the head goes to seed it loses its pedals and the black center spreads out and bursts open into cotton like spores. Within the spores are little seeds bigger than sand, but smaller than pea gravel.” She growled and crossed her arms, “Collecting those seeds are the bane of my existence… But if you’re careful you can collect the cotton. I’ve considered attempting collect enough to weave it like we do the silk to create a thread, but it’s almost impossible to collect enough to amount to anything significant.”
Ceyede snorted, “What good is their coin to us? We have a product they want, and their coin is of little value unless you go to the far north. At least, that’s what Ma has said. She prefers to trade for soft things; feathers, furs, materials that can be made into tools we use, Meat.” The thought of aldabuck rump made her mouth water. Bugs, fruits, and nuts were enough to sustain most of her sisters, but once you’ve had a taste of animal… it’s rare to find anything that compares.
“On occasion she will trade for precious stones, gems, and even rarer; metal. She will commonly only trade for metal if it can be melted down and used as a tool or weapon. Mom finds gold to be an ugly useless medal… She will use it as accent pieces in her work when she trades for it; she says it has a certain shine to it that makes the earthlings go crazy, which works to her benefit.” She laughed at the thought of humans scurrying to her mother for a shiny yellow metal.
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Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 4:06 pm
Yitzah let out a little cry of glee and grabbed at Achlys, trying to wrestle with them. The nose at her stomach tickled and she bit back a laugh, trying to be playfully ferocious instead: She growled back, gabbing their head and skritching behind their horns as she 'fought' them, shaking from side to side.
”Ggrar!” she exclaimed, making a snarling face. This was fun! She was having fun!
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Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 4:20 pm
Dyakida had never seen the plant, and she tried to picture it in her mind. It was difficult – images in her head were blurred and washed out as if seen from beneath the water, and rotted with void from disuse. She almost could, though, imagine the color she was sure was purple, and black, and prickles.
It was easier to imagine it's feel, though – the stiff feel of the stem, the gnawed feel of the nubs of the leaf nodes, the soft petals and prickly head, and – finally – the infinitely fine threads of the cottony spores within.
”If you could get enough...” Dyakida mused, ”I am almost assured that you would find buyers for the cotton.” fine threads were always in demand, by clothing makers, by her own profession, and by healers – or so she had heard.
”I see.” she said, thoughtfully. Coin was indeed of debatable use in Jahuar. Dyakida usually traded fro gems, hunted items, and other resources, but... meat? ”I rarely have meat...” she commented, trying to remember the last time her sisters and her had had proper meat – not bug meat or nearly inedible Radaku, but real meat.
She couldn't remember. She also couldn't remember what gold looked like, but... ”I think our sisters, too, have a fondness for the metal. I receive a few commissions annually for the use of gold in some way, shape or form.” yes. And the sisters doing the commission were rarely considerate enough to provide the gold. ”It does no good in the weapon itself, but as a decoration, I suppose it does well.” she had no way of knowing if the soft metal did anything more than feel cool and smooth. It was, at least, easy to work with to make up for it's difficulty to get.
”Does she trade with the same earthlings?” asked Dyakida, ”Or do they change?” a supplier of earthling materials and meat might be a good contact to have...
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& 
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