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 Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 3:11 pm
 Keelthy was cooking at the camp fire in front of their shanty, his brother was off at a late night fight club type thing, something about endurance being vital to a good warrior. Keel rolled his eyes, warriors, they were unreasonable. Xarthin snuffled his big nose closer to the cook pit, "You don't want to do that, you'll burn your nose and you will not like the salve at at, trust me." He snickered at the Janarim, for being dark of pelt he was rather full of light and perked up his family and himself. Kind of like a pet but x10 size. "You don't even like cooked meat." Keel glanced around the mini town type thing that the Obans had set up in Jauhar. They were rather close to their neighbors and he was quite sure that they could hear him. The settlement was coming along but his area at least was still not very permanant looking but a shanty was a little sturdier then a tent. "How long do you think until Reill is ready to travel?" he asked the Janarim. He wasn't sure what he was more afraid of traveling, or staying here too long.
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 9:37 am
 “Shen? Hey, Shenandoah?”
Where had the little radaku gone of to?
They had stumbled onto some sort of Oban encampment. Well, he had taken it for an encampment at first, but after creeping up for a curious look he noticed that it was really more of a... ramshackle village, with actual huts replacing some of the tents (and some of the structures being sort of half-tent-half-huts, caught in the process of their transformation). He had been hiding in the shadows of a large tree-trunk when he noticed that his companion had disappeared.
Shenandoah rarely dared to stray far from Ouen’s side, but now he was nowhere to be seen. Ouen hissed his name out of the shadows, but the fact that he did not come running was not much of a surprise -- the prentice was no beast tamer, and although him and the radaku were becoming fast friends, Shen was hardly a trained animal. Oh, bother. Ouen really hoped he wasn’t in trouble.
***
The radaku pup poked his long nose in the air, sniffing for something warm and delicious. Where was it? There, there, just around a corner. He skirted the edge of a shanty and came into view of a bright and happy fire. He was not alone here; there was a dark-skinned boy and a big, dark creature.
He had been scared of strange people, once. But after spending some time with Ouen (who seemed to fear nothing and nobody) he had decided that people were more often than not rather good company. They had snacks! And pets! And warm places to sleep!
Already fast on his lengthening legs, Shenandoah trotted up to the fire and let out a curious-sounding whirr. Snacks? Snacks?
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 10:37 pm
Keelthy watched incredulously as a little radaku walked right up to the fire, in front of his janarim, and whirred. He reached over with one hand and pinched his arm, then looked dubiously into his tea..nope he was awake and had not poisoned himself with something. This was happening, he looked around half expecting an angry mob of fangsome creatures to follow, the creatures being the pups parents but none so far. Keelthy scratched his head looked at Xarthin who half heartedly growled at the radaku then tucked his head in for sleep. "Very helpful." He said. Well they now had a visitor, he might as well be polite. He took some scraps from his meal that Xarthin had not managed to weasel out of him and went over to kneel in front of the radaku pup. "Here you go, you know if you want to stick around for a while I'm sure we could find a place for you here." Not that radaku was too far a step from fierce janarim, neither were fuzzy, cuddly pets, but at least this one was still a baby and adorable. Whereas Xar was well guargantuan, he may or may not be young, one couldn't tell but Keel suspected it from his attitude. But he was indeed full grown or close to it.
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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 8:05 am
From the shadows of a nearby shanty-house, Ouen watched nervously as Shenandoah approached the Oban boy, looking happy as punch to nibble at the food scraps he was holding out.
He was glad, at least, that the stupid radaku had picked a boy and not a full-grown warrior -- but the boy was accompanied by some massive beast, the likes of which Ouen had never seen before. It looked like it could eat Shenandoah in one gulp, if it felt compelled to! But after a few moments of observation, it became quite clear that the beast felt compelled to do no such thing. Perhaps because it had already eaten?
Although the situation did not appear outwardly hostile, Ouen knew he was going to have to get Shenandoah back. The little radaku was his responsibility… even if the shifter was hardly qualified for it.
Glancing around to avoid any bigger, better-equipped Obans, he crept around the edge of the shanty and tentatively stepped up to the fire, one hand resting on his bright red sash he wore knotted around his waist. It was colored like the fabric the Obans often wore, and tucked inside it was a small bone knife.
“The radaku is my companion.” He spoke, his voice low -- not threatening, just nervous. This was an Oban camp, and the Oban were enemies.
Shenandoah chirped happily, on all accounts pleased to see his friend join the circle.
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Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 6:55 pm
Keelthy quirked an eye at his new visitor, apparently the boys pet was a better judge of character. Xarthing curled a lip at the visitor and raised his head. "Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you, and he seemed to be sensing your mood. Deep breathes." Keelthy made a placating gesture. The lad looked like a spitorog who had just been surrounded by witu. Keelthy knew that face because he had seen it happen. "If you calm down, he will calm down, I'm not in myself that threatening but Xarthin is..sometimes sensitive about anxious visitors, or neighbors...or people walking by."
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 9:40 am
The big, scaly beast was looking right at him, and for the moment Ouen tensed, hunched low, quite ready to grab Shenandoah and run back to the jungle. But would he make it? How fast did these things run? To make his escape, he would need to circle the fire, somehow pull away an entirely-unconcerned radaku from his heap of food, and then run past several Oban tents before he hit even the first circle of trees.
No. No, that didn’t seem likely. So Ouen was forced to listen to the Oban boy, who was promising not to hurt him, and giving him directions to calm down. Well… that didn’t seem so bad. Maybe he wasn’t about to become Oban beast-meat.
“I’m not anxious.” He said, finally, crossing his arms over his chest and straightening with some hint of hurt pride. “I just dunno what it is you’re doin’ here, that’s all. It’s not your land, and you're the strangers here. If anyone's got any right to bein' sensitive, it's me.”
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 6:51 pm
"Not all of us are here for selfish reasons, I know nothing of your background and you know nothing of mine, I carry no weapons, offer you no hostility, nor your little radaku. But do not take me for a fool, if you wish a hostile encounter go find a different Oban, I am sure they will be more obliging." Brave little scamp doing this so close to the camp. Keelthy would not be addressed with such little show of respect. He had not fought in the war, he had not invaded, he had fled a bad family situation under unwarrented shame and emotional pain and if this scamp tried to knock him back down to that state he would push back. He was not a violent person and did not intend to start now. Xarthin picked up on his no nonsense attitude and stood and growled at the intruder in reaction. Keelthy had never heard that particular growl out of him before and was just glad that it was not aimed at him. He watched the boy curiously, wondering what his reaction would be, hoping that he would simply flee and leave well enough alone. He was too tired for a fight and Reil was not around to protect him. Perhaps he could hop on Xarthin and leave that way.
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 9:29 am
He supposed the boy had a point -- so far no alarm had been raised and no warriors had come spilling from their tents. And the war was, after all, over. Any attack on him now would b out of pure malice, and he had to admit… the other prentice didn’t look malicious at all. And although the big creature beside him was growling now, obviously on the alert, it was still sitting and waiting for him to make his next move.
Feeling slightly awkward now, the shifter looked down at his bare feet and kicked idly at the ground. What exactly was expected of him here?
“Well, alright, I guess.” He finally shrugged. “I didn’t mean nothin’ by it, just that… I dunno, I met Obans meaner ‘en you. One of ‘em tried to kill me, y’know, during the war, an’ Shen there I rescued from another band that wasn’t treatin’ him too kindly. And now there’s all these strangers comin’ in for all sorts of reasons, and nobody’s really sure what you all want, y’know?”
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 9:58 am
Keelthy looked him over, his eyes softening and very grateful he didn't have to flee his little tent, odd that the little radaku had stumbled in here when the others were rather close by but well it was rather cute and he could see the boys point too. Prickly little thing but thankfully easy enough to diffuse, Keelthy preferred to make friends and if he could make friends with an alkidike surely he could make friends with a shifter? Keelthy motioned to Xarthin and changed his own body language, relaxing the huge beast that had been his brothers but seemed now to be a constant companion...so much for his kinfa plot. One giant critter was enough for now. "Well if your thirsty may I offer you some tea, perhaps we can talk through this problem. I myself don't plan to stay forever, I was escaping family issues in that they don't believe a member of the family should be anything but lance hammer or sword and I chose to be a dancer. Thus I am here until my brother and I have grown strong enough to face my mean old uncles." "What about you why are you here?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2015 10:15 am
When both the Oban and his creature had relaxed, Ouen seemed to unwind as well - his tense shoulders loosened into a more casual slouch, and his gaze became more curious than guarded. Still -- he was in the middle of an oban encampment, and the stranger had suggested that there were more aggressive Obans about.
After giving it a few seconds’ thought, he slipped closer to the fire, crouching a few feet away from the prentice (and close by Shenandoah’s side). With his gray skin and silver hair he was hardly about to be mistaken for an Oban (even an especially ashy one), but at least he wasn’t in full view of anyone who happened to walk this way. Standing out on the open wasn’t exactly something he was fond of, having grown up in the thick of the jungle.
“What’s tea?” He quirked an eyebrow then the boy offered it, then shrugged his acceptance. “I could try some, I guess.”
He hadn’t really been expecting the Oban to answer his question -- but he did, and Ouen listened. He listened because… well, he’d never even thought about the Obans that way, as actual people with lives and problems and families who disagreed with them. But now that he thought about it, of course they had to be!
“Ha -- my ma would be happier if I wanted to be a dancer, prolly. But what’s it to them, what you chose to be? People got no right to be pokin’ around in others’ business like that, family or not.”
He thought about the other’s question a bit before answering… because to be honest, people didn’t often ask him anything like that. “Dunno. I’m just wanderin’, I guess. Not sure what I wanna do yet. Not like you are.”
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 8:05 pm
Idly Keelthy wondered if the poor lad had been living under a rock, poor lad didn't know about tea and how wonderful it was. Keel sat up a little straighter and endeavored to explain. "Tea is the dried leaves of a few special plants these leaves are shredded to increase their surface area. Boiled water is poured over them and the flavour of the leaves leaches into the water creating a rich flavour that I cannot really explain. You may put sweetener in if you like but try the plain stuff first." "I am inclined to agree with you on that point, I've decided to dance with blades and persuade them in that fashion. My family is old and honored and well pigheaded." There he had said it, it was nothing but the truth sadly. Keelthy scowled at his feet, but then looked up and smiled, "Here," he said pouring some tea into a cup, "Try it, it should be about perfect now."
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Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 7:13 am
“Sounds complicated.” Ouen wrinkled his nose. Surface area? Leeching? Sweetener? Most of his diet was comprised of jungle-fruit and river-water, so this seemed like a considerable amount of effort to go through for something to drink. Still, he was sort of curious about it. A hot drink? That would have been nice a few weeks ago, when the jungle was frozen over. “I’ll try it.”
He laughed as the boy called his family pigheaded, pleased anyhow that this stranger had decided to break away from their controlling grasp. “No use listening to folks who don’t listen back to ya, y’know. Ain’t nobody good enough to tell folks what they should be doin’, without gettin’ told one or two things themselves from time to time. Even the elders here say that, y’know. That half of bein’ wise is just to listen. That’s why they’re elders, ‘cause they know all this stuff.”
When the tea was offered held out his hands to take the cup -- wincing a little as the heat reached his palms, and adjusting his grip to hold on to the cooler part.
“‘s hot.” He bowed his head to sniff at the liquid. It was amber-brown, kinda like the skin of some of the Obans, and smelled… grassy. "I just drink it like this?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 8:42 pm
"Yes indeed, just be careful not to burn your mouth its probably pretty hot. I've burnt my own tongue too many times from being impatient. But there is nothing like hot tea on a cool desert night, or everyday in winter here." He grinned and sipped his own tea which had cooled nicely. Xarthin came over to inspect the cup and after a snort decided it wasn't edible at all. "Evidently Janarim are not fond of tea." He chuckled and patted the huge beast beside him. "So are radaku pretty trainable? They look a bit wild to me, present company not included, do you know how old your familiar is here?" Keelthy was curious, they would soon be heading back to Oba and he didn't know if he would be coming back here in the near future or indeed ever. If he got his way his family would reinstate him properly which would open up his options in Oba.
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 9:54 am
“Burn your tongue? That sounds awful.” Ouen quirked an eyebrow, lowering his lips to the rim of the cup but pulling away with the suspicion that the liquid was still too hot. Maybe he’d give it a little while longer, until it wasn’t steaming so much.
“It’s not usually that cold here in the winter. Something sure was funny about this year. Shen and I near froze our toes off some nights!” The radaku in question was edging closer to his tea-cup, but like the bigger creature he did not seem particularly interested in the unfamiliar scent. The pup flicked his tail and returned to lick at the remainder of his food scraps, fairly oblivious to the conversation that had started about him.
“I dunno, personally. Most don’t let you get close. But you can ride ‘em! I figure I’ll try my hand at that, when Shen’s big enough. It’s fun -- you should see how fast you can go!I It’s like flyin right between the trees. They get so big an’ long, but they cut through the jungle like it ain’t even there.” He had been dreaming about riding since the first time that warrior had taken him along. They had crossed half the jungle in what to him felt like minutes; it was almost a shame that the war was over, since now it seemed less likely that anything like that would happen again.
“He’s pretty young. I rescued him when he was even smaller -- grown up a bit since.” Shrugging, he noticed that his tea seemed to have cooled now, and raised the cup again to take a tentative sip.
It tasted… well… he wasn’t really sure.
“It’s like… grass?”
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Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 9:29 am
"What you describe sounds like fun, Janarim do better bulldozing through the bush then running through it and they can't do it with the large trees. It would be an awesome rush to race between the trees instead of through them." Keelthy laughed like he hadn't in a long time and patted Xarthin which had dropped his overlarge head in his lap. "Oof. You know your not light." "Some like this one are a bit grassy, others taste like other things, they can be quite pleasant and there are a few that I won't touch, the tea mongers like to say that there is a tea for everyone but I think there are a few that just dont like it. Here try some sweetener." Keelthy offered him some syrup, "I think this comes from a Jauhar tree and its good in the tea." He poured a little in his own as an example and sipped rolling his eyes back in pleasure.
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