❖☾Table of Contents / Rules / Contact Information❖☾
ToC ❖Staff Post Cert, Link to Official Uncert & Inventory ☾Table of Contents & Rules ❖News/Updates ☾Mnyiri Basic physical info, personality, etc. ❖History "Well you see, it all started with a rock, a shooting star and some berry jam..." ☾Relationships Family, Friends, Lover(s), Enemies, etc. ❖Familiar(s) Jioni, Mvua, ---, etc. ☾RP Log ❖ Battle Log ☾Art (Official and Non)
Rules Do not post in this thread unless you are staff, myself, or invited first. By posting this I am agreeing to follow ToS and shop rules, so I would invite the reader to do the same.
Contact Information I am always open for plotting/rps! That being said, some ways you can contact me are listed below;
☾PM ❖AIM/Skype: ScootersMcGee
Painted Moose
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Painted Moose
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 6:04 am
❖☾Updates❖☾
October 28, 2015 - Mnyiri's quest is approved! November 26, 2016 - Prentice art is here! March 18th, 2016 - Mnyiri becomes a Blade!
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 6:10 am
❖☾Mnyiri❖☾
Nicknames: N/A Race: 3/4 Alkidike 1/4 Shifter Gender: Female Description: Mnyiri is a tall glass of water, even for a hybrid, with a very large bust, a straight nose, and thin lips. It's not uncommon for a few bells to be strung along the dreads, giving them an almost mystical feel. Marking wise, she takes after her mother,Amaka, and shares some with her older sister, Ilyra. The markings on her face, however, are a striking feature all her own. They resemble the curves of vines or branches in a tree.
Mnyiri only has two defining traits of her shifter heritage; her longer eyebrows, and white hair. Her hood helps to hide most of it when she's in large crowds, but around her family and close friends she lets it shine. When she was younger she would shave parts of her brows and claim that her hair color was a dye job.
Accessories: There's usually a bobble of some sort draped around her hips; either a decorative belt, a piece of jewelry or some sort of pelt. Mnyiri also has several piercings; dangling earrings, a nose ring, and her belly button. She loves to be seen so it's not unusual for her to be wearing necklaces, bracelets, bangles, scarves, etc. Nor is it unusual for these trinkets to be from other lands...(She pays sisters to bring her back 'specimens' but sometimes it's just goodies, which she likes just as well)
Romantic Status: Single Partner(s): N/A
3 Base Traits: Impatient - Hyperactive - Deceptive Personality: Mnyiri is an explosive ball of never ending excitement and surprises. She's constantly in motion, often performing a variety of tasks simultaneously because it's harder for her to concentrate on a lone task. That's why she's often murmuring lessons under her breath while running errands. Or worse yet, trying to shoot arrows with her feet so her hands are free to do other things.
Mnyiri can become very annoying when she's forced to slow down, or come to a complete stop, just to wait on something. Whether it's going to sleep on time, being forced to sit during lessons, etc. She's restlessly eager for change, and becomes bored quickly with mundane things. There are days where she tries to control her manic behaviors, but it just leaves her irritated and edgy.
Waiting on things simply isn't an option for Mnyiri; if she wants something bad enough, she's going to get it or make it happen. It's during these moments that her "inner" nature shows itself. Mnyiri is deceptively genius, and is a whiz at problem solving. She usually has two or three "projects" going on at once. Her favorite pastime is investigating earthling anatomy. Mnyiri is absolutely fascinated with earthlings to the point that dissection isn't necessarily a bad idea in her book. (Can Shifters still shift when they're dead? Do Matori dry up in the sun? Are their insides the same as an Alkidikes?) She's asked her hybrid mother everything she could about Shifter culture, but the woman knows less about it than most full Alkidike. Her shifter traits are a source of continuing fascination for her.
As much as she loves to investigate, she also hates the strict responsibilities that seem to come with being smart. Mnyiri would rather be thought of as a rampant idiot than to feel the pressure of being called on by anyone. They wouldn't want her to ever leave, and she has plans of seeing the world! So, for the most part, she plays the "dumb blonde" stereotype.
Interesting facts -Mnyiri became a vegetarian after seeing a radaku pack tear into their prey. -The more gaudy, tacky, and outrageous the item, the more Mnyiri will adore it -If she could get by with it, Mnyiri would be nude 24/7 -She's left-handed -Travels with more bags/satchels than a Sauti nomad; she keeps all of her "treasures" with her, since she has no formal home to store them
Painted Moose
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 6:13 am
❖☾History❖☾
Second born children are rarely looked at as blank slates. They are often compared to their older siblings, even if their guardians are unaware of doing so. Mnyiri was created by her mothers' strong desire for a daughter to banish the ghosts from their pasts, but it was not to be.
When she was born, both of her mothers couldn't have been more protective. They sheltered her from the world in her formative years, and had it been up to Amaka she might still have been kept indoors. Ysmir wanted a strong, healthy daughter and often Mnyiri would hear whispered conversations between the two about the safety of their daughter. Arguments were had; sometimes loud enough that Mnyiri would cover her ears and escape just to find peace.
The fighting didn't last long, and each match seemed to end with more affection on Mnyiri than ever before. Mnyiri seemed to blossom in the crystallized jungle, and Amaka's hold on her loosened as each new day passed. Ysmir's influence was strong; the brazen half-breed had bred a bold, inquisitive daughter that could hold her own. She didn't want her child to cower away from other's as she had growing up. Ysmir told her many a time that if Aisha didn't like her, then she wouldn't have given her to her grandmothers, and the same went for Mnyiri. Just because she shared shifter blood didn't mean that she was any less a Sister. Bullies came and went. Scathing remarks, however, remained. Mnyiri remembered every rude comment tossed at her, and tried two-fold to be a better Alkidike than anyone else. Her open personality and childish antics ensured that she was never short on friends, despite her mixed blood.
Mnyiri spent most of her days playing with others her age, but sometimes she would catch Amaka watching her with a forlorn look on her face. She always wondered why her mother seemed so reserved at times, only to openly receive Mnyiri's affection the next. Each hug and exclamation of love from Mnyiri seemed to take her by surprise. Ysmir had told her about Amaka's older daughter, Ilyra, but only enough to make the young girl curious. When she asked her mother about it Amaka made an excuse every time not to talk about it. After a while seeing the pain it brought up on her mother's face was enough to stop Mnyiri from asking.
As she grew, Mnyiri began to notice the differences between her family and those of her friends. Her mothers didn't live together; they never had. Mnyiri wasn't even sure if they actually loved each other. She couldn't remember a time when they had embraced, or looked at each other like other mothers. Most of the time she lived with Amaka, and when Ysmir came home she would stay with her for a few days. These visits became far and few between the older she became; war was brewing and the Oban invasion was spreading. As an experienced Guardian, Ysmir was called to the front lines on many occasion, and she readily went each time. She liked to jeer that this was the elders way of trying to get rid of her for good. Every time she returned Ysmir would boast of her skills as loudly as possible, much to Mnyiri's excitement.
The last memory Mnyiri has of Ysmir was of her mother mounted on the back of her kinfa, spear in hand, blowing out kisses. She was killed in combat; an Oban patrol had discovered the ambush Ysmir's squad had prepared, and set it aflame. The survivors of the fire battled fiercely with the enemy until there the causalities on both sides were too great to continue. Many bodies were left in the open, unable to be given rites because of the sheer number. Unfortunately, Ysmir was one of them.
For days Mnyiri had made the journey from her home to that of the scouts and informants, asking all that she could about her mother. Did they make it? Were they too warm? Too cold? Had Ysmir asked about her? When was she coming home? There was no news to give her until Ysmir's death was announced. A sister presented Ysmir's spear to Mnyiri with a scrap of Oban cloth tied to the shaft. The youngling was devastated; it had to be a mistake! Her mother was invincible! Ysmir was the tallest woman she had ever seen and she never said Mnyiri was too heavy when she would climb onto her shoulders. There was absolutely no way she was dead. Mnyiri yelled at the sisters, calling each one an insult worse than the last. Rotten, dirty liars, the whole lot of them!
Hours later, when she was calm enough to listen, Amaka told her the story of Ysmir. Mnyiri wasn't sure why she had opened up like that; she never had before. It was as if there had been a box that both her mothers stored their pains and hurts in before locking it tight.
Ysmir had never known her father. She was raised as an only child with her mother, who spoke as little as possible about the man who had helped create her. The only information she would give was that Ysmir's father wasn't a good man, and that's all she had needed. Like her mother before her, Ysmir had trained hard to become a Guardian Grit alone saw her through; in her younger years she had closed herself off from everyone, and responded to taunts with hardened fists.
The woman had calmed in her older years. Ysmir had lost three daughters to skirmishes with earthling soldiers; one to Shifters and two to Obans. In her grief she had bonded with Amaka, the mutual loss of offspring bringing them together. It had never been a joining of love, but rather one of the highest respect. They each had needed someone to ground them, and the union had prompted asking Aisha one last time for a child. Mnyiri had been their gift, their second chance, and neither one could have been happier.
Seizing the moment, Mnyiri asked once more about Ilyra. For the entirety of her life she had assumed her older sister was dead, and even then believed it. Mnyiri had only been hoping to find out what had happened to her when Amaka told her the truth. Ilyra wasn't dead; she was alive. She couldn't have been more upset if her mother had set her feet on fire. All this time she had a sister, a real sister!, and she couldn't even see her. Amaka explained that relations between her and Ilyra were tense at best, so she hadn't planned on explaining any of it to Mnyiri until she was older.
It wasn't until her Prentice years that Mnyiri fully understood that. Her mother had been fragile at one point, hiding behind a strong shield, and had wanted to keep her close. Mnyiri understood it, but still held it against Amaka. Sisters were supposed to be close; sisters were supposed to be together! But her mother was there, and Ilyra wasn't. In time her aggravation at her mother had shifted to the lost sister. Who would want to leave mother? If Ilyra didn't want their mother, then Mnyiri didn't want her.
A few pairings of Alkidikes were to go to the southern most tip of Jauhar and scout for information that would benefit them against the Obans. Amaka had been called by the Elders to be one of them. Mnyiri wrapped one of her favorite hair ties around her mother's wrist, a gaudy pink thing, and kissed it before seeing her off. As much as she hated watching her go, Mnyiri knew that what her mother did was for the good of their people.
She spent her time alone honing her skills with friends, as well as dabbling in practical jokes. The young girl had no doubt her mother would have been furious if she'd known Mnyiri had glued a girl's dreads together with sap, but she wasn't here, was she?
She was mid-flirt with a rather lovely Amazon when news of Amaka's passing came to her. It felt as if someone had pulled the very earth from beneath her. Mnyiri hadn't realized she'd fainted until she woke up on the ground, several pairs of concerned eyes watching her every move.
Amaka had been paired with her daughter, Mnyiri's older sister, and was taken down by an Oban arrow. The report had been that Ilyra had tried to save her, but it was too late. It didn't matter to Mnyiri that her mother's sacrifice hadn't been in vain; she was dead. Dead meant she would never be able to hold her again. Dead meant she would never be scolded, told not to touch something, chastised for wearing her skirts to low...Dead meant no more 'I love you's.
And she had died protecting Ilyra.
Mnyiri didn't return to her home that night or any other night after. She packed what she could, and left the village. She knew in her heart that she couldn't stay there any longer; the memories were simply too painful. Somewhere out there her sister was waking up to the sun while her mother didn't. Mnyiri wasn't entirely sure what she was going to do once she found Ilyra, but she had to find her. She had to know the girl that had shunned Amaka, but was still somehow worthy of her sacrifice.
She had to know Ilyra.
During the extremist uprising, Mnyiri remained in Jauhar, gathering what information she could about her sister. If she had gone to fight in Sauti then that's where she would go, but leaving without that kind of information was foolish. What she needed was contacts.
Mnyiri stole Jioni from a girl who bullied her many years ago. The girl in question had received it as a gift from her visiting grandmother, and had lorded the Sandscale over Mnyiri. So, naturally, when her back was turned Mnyiri ran off with the thing.
By the time everyone found where she had hidden it the creature, now called Jioni, had bonded with Mnyiri, much to everyone's dismay. When the attempt was made to forcibly remove it from her hold, Jioni bit the hand of Mnyiri's bully. From that moment on Jioni was Mnyiri's best friend, and constant companion. She doesn't go anywhere without her, and spoils Jioni rotten.
A mature radaku with a stubborn streak and a hard bite. He's a surly customer who growls nearly every time Mnyiri wraps her arms around him. However, he's stuck with her thus far and doesn't seem keen to leave any time soon.
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 6:18 am
❖☾RP / World Event Log❖☾
Prentice [Jauhar] When Worlds Collide - Rhonann [Jauhar] Fire Away - Rhonann [Jauhar] Friends? - Nadiya [Jauhar] Don't make me come up there! - Briella [Jauhar] Girl Time - Senja
It was a rare night when Mnyiri felt tired enough to fall asleep.
If she slept at all it was little, sporadic naps spaced out as unevenly as possible. There were no nightmares preventing it; just a general abundance of energy that kept her going at all hours making it impossible to rest. Her mothers had tried for years to correct Mnyiri's sleep habits, though little good came out of it. In the end they had to accept that their daughter would always keep going until she could go no further.
In the months prior to meeting Rhonann she had continued her travels regardless of where the sun was in the sky. Jioni would climb onto her back when too exhausted to go any further, and Mvua would just nestle down for the night, content with tracking them when he had more energy. She saw more of the wild in those days. The canopies above her sang with life, vibrating down through the tree trunks into the very ground itself. For a while she hadn't come across anyone other than the Alkidike she had grown up with, though things had started to shift the further she went away from Chibale.
Mnyiri's adventures had been exciting, but lonely. The nights had drug on into days of conversing with only a few random strangers she met on the road. More often than not it was her own kind, though once or twice she had spoken with shifters. They hadn't been too keen on answering any questions, though; most of the time they ran away from her, weapons raised and eyes widened with fright. It was disconcerting, to say the least. Mnyiri was the least likely of her sisters to attack any earthlings, but it didn't seem to matter to those strangers. They saw something evil; a large, terrifying woman with a spear and eyes like a dark pit.
After that she'd stuck closer to Alkidike settlements, choosing to focus all of her efforts on finding Illyra among her own kind.
Naturally, fate had different plans.
On her way back to familiar villages Mnyiri had found Rhonann. Or rather, Rhonann had found her. After that, everything had changed. For a while Mnyiri could do little other than watch the earthling as she moved, completely entranced with her exotic features. There was too much to study, so much to learn...and yet, with Rhonann's amnesia all of that was stalled. They were learning about the outside world together, which in a way, was comforting to Mnyiri. Rhonann made traveling fun again; she gave it vitality and the comfort of knowing someone else was there to share your discoveries with.
Sleeping came easier these days. Mnyiri was forced to stay in one area each night so that her companion could get some much deserved rest. It prompted her to bed down next to the earthling, and ponder what it was that made her tick. And, in these calming moments of contemplating, Mnyiri would often slip off into a peaceful sleep.
(WC: 505)
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 1:43 pm
❖☾Prentice Solo 2❖☾
The longer Mnyiri spent around earthlings, the more she begun to see just how truly odd they were.
The young and able bodied took on professions that were better suited for those who were unable fight. She couldn't understand why anyone who could defend their people would choose not to; did they feel no shame in staying behind?
She sipped at her drink, body leaned over heavily onto the table before her. Mnyiri had to wait on Rhonann to meet up with her before leaving, but she'd been the one to choose this spot. Earthlings often congregated around alcohol, so naturally Mnyiri had wanted to be in a tavern. It was the only place in the village that didn't seem to mind her strange appearance. Although that was largely due to the fact most of the tavern's patrons were either busily discussing trade deals or too drunk to care.
Her eyes traveled across the gathered groups and picked up bits of information along the way. There were less weapons in the packed room then she expected. Only the travelers carried them, though they didn't seem too keen on using them at the moment. They talked cheerily with the waitress, whose day apparently circled around filling tankards and dropping coins between her breasts.
A pair of younger males were chatting with each other about...patterns?
"...the wrap will go over the shoulder and loop around the waist belt. If you keep the bodice tight enough it should look like..." He was scratching out something on a piece of parchment paper while his friend watched on. Where were their weapons? They didn't seem lame or injured. Both boys were around her age, so it didn't make sense to Mnyiri why they wouldn't have had training by now. And why were they talking about clothes? Didn't their elderly make them? It seemed...wrong, somehow, that they would waste their youth on things that could be done in their later years. Or, as a side hobby.
Mnyiri adored her studies to the point of obsession, but she still made time to train. She made it all balance out, so why couldn't they?
Sipping at her drink, she looked out over the gathering and felt isolated. It hadn't that long since she'd last seen one of her own kind, but it was long enough to make Mnyiri homesick. There was comfort in familiarity and being in a strange area, with strange customs made her feel out of place. She was excited to be traveling, but in these moments of calm Mnyiri had to wonder where her life was going.
She was going to find Illyra and then what? What else was there? You promised Rhonann you would help her. And how long would that take? How many months, years? Mnyiri could learn so much in that time, but how much would she lose in the process?
She was an Alkidike so her profession was set with very little room for divergence. There were rules in place to guide her, but Mnyiri had to wonder...What would she have been if she had been raised with the shifters?
That stumped her. Mnyiri mulled over it with a lot of grumbling and twitching, making those around her quite nervous. Not that she noticed, mind you. With her studies and love of anatomy Mnyiri deduced that she likely would have been a healer of some sort. Perhaps someone who studied theories and tested out the newest healing techniques? It seemed interesting...but boring. There was a lack of balance in that mindset. Either way, if she were to focus on one over the other she would ultimately be left unfulfilled.
So, the earthlings could have their dull, fruitless professions. She was more than happy with the pursuit of becoming a Guardian while keeping up her studies. After all, no one said that she couldn't do both.
(WC: 644)
Painted Moose
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 2:01 pm
❖☾Prentice Solo 3 - Mnyiri Chooses Guardian!❖☾
In order to be considered a Guardian, Mnyiri would need a mount.
That was where Mvua was supposed to come in.
The grouchy radaku wanted less to do with Mnyiri than he did with others of his own kind and generally kept to himself. On the rare occasions that he allowed her to get close she wasn't allowed to hug on him, or to touch him without fearing a good bite.
Today, Mnyiri looked down at the sour creature, hands on her hips and a firm frown upon her face. Today was going to be the day that Mvua accepted her as a rider. Today was the day he would come to trust her, and everything would be awesome.
Mvua didn't get the memo.
"Vu vuuuu," she cooed. He was curled up with his back against a tree trunk, peeping up at her with one shrewd, unamused golden eye. Everything about the radaku screamed 'leave me be, you crazy woman', but Mnyiri was persistent. She knelt down beside him, reaching her hands out to fix the beads she'd meticulously placed in his mane. Even though he didn't move to run away there was a stiffness about the predator that made her cautious.
Mnyiri leaned back with a sigh. "Vu vu, why won't you let me love you?"
His droll stare seemed to say 'because I hate you, that's why'. Or at least that's how she took it.
"We could make a great team if you'd let me ride you. Imagine how cool it would be if we showed up in battle. I could throw my spear, you could bite them and we could be like real partners." Mnyiri was almost at squeal levels, though the sour vibes coming from him seemed to subdue her. "Vu vu, you're a butthole, you know that?"
His only response was a short growl that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle to her.
Getting him to cooperate would be a challenge. Mvua had always done things his own way. At one point in his life he had been the Alpha of his pack and near invincible. Mnyiri had come across the pack late one evening, keen on skirting around them to avoid a conflict when she found an ailing pup. She had no more than touched it when three adults surrounded her, Mvua included. He was the only one that bothered to see the creature aiding the young; all the others saw was another predator. Mnyiri tried to flee, but they attacked and Mvua defended her.
Because of that one action he was mercilessly attacked by his pack and when they were able to get away, Mvua was ex-communicated all together. Mnyiri was beyond grateful that he'd been keen enough to see she had meant no harm, but the girl felt guilty. If it hadn't been for her he still might have ruled over the radaku. Mvua may have been in the later years of his prime, but he was a massive beast with a ferocity that was unmatched in any radaku she had ever seen.
And thanks to her he was alone.
"...do you hate me, Vu vu?" That seemed to draw his attention. The radaku raised his head, turning his golden gaze upon the dejected girl. "I hope you don't because I really, really like you and I want you to be happy. You don't have to help me out if you don't want to; I can find another mount. I just thought...well, I don't know anyone else I'd rather ride into battle with. You've always had my back and I want to be there for you too."
As a Guardian she would need to be able to trust her partner no matter the circumstances. It was clear that Mvua had little patience for her coddling, or for her in general, though he did seem willing enough to huddle close during the rains. Her mother, Ysmir, had looked magnificent atop her kinfa. The bond shared between the two was a sheer miracle to behold. Her bond with Mvua, however...was less so. If she rode with him now Mnyiri had no doubt that he wouldn't buck her off the first chance he got.
She hadn't noticed Mvua until he was nearly upon her. He'd crept closer just a little at a time until he was now laying beside her. For a moment she was so stunned that Mnyiri didn't move. What was he...? Mvua raised his head, gave a little whine and laid his head atop her lap before closing his eyes in sleep.
Mnyiri was so happy she could have cried. It was hard to restrain herself from squealing and wrapping her arms around him, but she held firm. This was the first step in their journey together. Someday he would let her cuddle him, but not today.
Although...Mnyiri moved her hand to rest upon his neck, softly winding her fingers through his ivory mane. She moved about the thick, coarse hair as if it were nothing more than water with a soft smile on her face. The temptation to touch him was too strong for her to ignore. It was just so rare that he allowed this kind of contact and it meant the world to her that Mvua was trying this hard. He really was sweet underneath those ridiculously thick layers of vicious bite. He had taken Rhonann into his pack, just like Mnyiri, and hadn't tried to eat Jioni once.
"I'll make you proud, mother." Mnyiri murmured. Ysmir had always shown her daughter the extremes in life, and had fought to instill in her a sense of self pride. At the time Mnyiri just thought her mom was all bluster for no reason. Now that she was out in the world she understood why having a strong backbone was necessary. It wasn't the battles she needed to worry about; it was the awful, scathing stares.
Mvua didn't care one lick that she wasn't full alkidike, or that she was alkidike at all, for that matter. He seemed to only care about her heart, and for that, she loved him all the more.
(WC: 1021)
Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2016 6:56 pm
❖☾Prentice Growth Quest Solo!❖☾
Quote:
Mnyiri has a deep rooted hatred of the fire tribe after the deaths of both mothers at Oban hands. Her fears are only confirmed when she sees a fire earthling riding away from a wailing alkidike on the back of a Janarim, holding something precious in his arms. Thinking the worst, Mnyiri gives chase atop Mvua, and will manage, somehow, to unseat the rider from his mount.
It is then that she will discover he was carrying a child; a half-breed son. His son. The mother will catch up and demand to have her child returned. With both sides at war with each other, Mnyiri must intervene before the parents come to blows. She will be prompted to weigh in on the best interest of the child, thus setting her own fears and prejudice aside to look at the situation as a whole.
Her own experiences as a hybrid in alkidike society will help her to determine where the boy would be better suited, all the while learning not to judge an entire race by their ruling political party.
Mnyiri casually strolled betwixt the the indigo trees, eyes ever watchful for those nasty little Keldari. At her side was Mvua whose casual lope would at times cause him to fall behind his mistress though she would always wait for him. With the morning sun just now beginning to crest it left little wonder as to why the well traveled road they walked upon was empty. Mnyiri was content with it. She needed to stretch her legs after a long, virtually sleepless night and with Rhonann still snoozing away it hadn't felt right to wake her companion to join her. So, that left Mvua, and the two now walked in companionable silence. Sounds of chittering maglardilla broke through the void every once in a while, though from the ground floor Mnyiri was unable to see the tree top dwelling creatures. All she could imagine was a colony above her head getting ready for the day before their neighbors. It was almost enough to put her at peace, until she heard the screaming.
Well, shrieking.
Kicking up her boots, Mnyiri ran towards the sounds and took a small detour off the path before almost being run over by a very large, very armored creature. She screamed herself and might have been bowled over if Mvua hadn't pushed her to the side. The pair hit the ground hard where she was content to stay for the moment, but fate had other ideas. Mnyiri pushed herself up to catch sight of the rider before both they and their mount disappeared onto the main trail. It was an Oban who seemed to be holding a wrapped bundle in the crook of his right arm.
Well this was new.
An alkidike broke through the brush, panting and out of breath, holding onto a spear with white knuckles. "Get back here, you-!" There was a moment where Mnyiri's ears started to ring not only from the decibel, but the sheer content of her words. The only other person she'd ever heard speak like that had been Ysmir, and her mother had threatened to tan her hide if she ever repeated her. When she was done with her rant, the sister dropped at Mnyiri's side onto her knees. It was obvious that she was exhausted, though the fury eeking out of her made Mnyiri wary to offer aid. Still, she had to try.
"Are you oka-?"
"Are you a rider?" The older woman reached out to grasp Mnyiri's forearm. Her eyes traveled to Mvua, then back to Mnyiri. "Did you hear me? Are you a rider?!"
"W-well not yet."
"But you can ride?"
"Yeah, sure I-"
"Then go! He stole my baby; you can't let him get away!" Mnyiri didn't need to hear the desperation in her voice to know she had to help this woman. Snatching up her own spear, she stood only long enough to sling herself over Mvua's back. For once he didn't try to buck her off, though Mnyiri did have to kick him into gear. Without a true saddle to hold onto she was left clinging to his back like a second skin as the radaku shot off into the trees.
Mvua was smaller than the janarim by far, but he was wickedly fast. When he hit the main trail the striped radaku put on a burst of speed born from a life of pack hunting that left Mnyiri helpless to guide him. She trusted him to know where to go and what to chase, though that part was easy. It wasn't hard to catch up with the great armored beast. It may have looked ferocious, but compared to her radaku it may as well have been limping along.
The paranoid rider looked over his shoulder a few times, noting their progress with a growing frown. With thick jungle on either side of him the male had no choice, but to remain on the path and with a child in his arms he couldn't attack thus leaving him vulnerable. How do I get him to stop without hurting the babe...? That was the real trick here. If she hurt the janarim it might take a hard fall, thus crushing the infant in the process. If she knocked the rider off he could fall as well and - the pattern was obvious.
Mvua seemed to have an idea of his own. He ran up to the janarim's side and started snapping at the beasts heels. While brief the contact was enough to begin to irritated the beast. It didn't take long for it to stop completely in the road to turn around on Mvua with a great roar despite it's riders wishes. As if sensing what was to come, the rider attempted to disengage from his mount and make a break for it. However, with the babe he was slow to dismount and barely made it to the tree line before Mnyiri snatched the back of his shirt. She held him there for a while with the tip of her spear at his back before speaking. "Turn around and give me the babe." At her back she could hear the sounds of a stand off between Mvua and the janarim. Both creatures seemed to have been trained well enough not to attack without their master's consent, though neither was happy about it.
If Mnyiri had thought the alkidike had a foul mouth then she was doubly surprised as to what came out of him. He turned, though reluctantly, and seemed to hesitate about giving up the child until he saw Mnyiri. Really saw her. Something in that moment seemed to shift, which actually confused Mnyiri so much that when he carefully handed her the infant she was genuinely at a loss. "What? Do I have something on my face?....oh Aisha, you killed her didn't you. That's why you're looking at me like that." It would make sense, after all. He was part of the fire tribe; a bunch of heartless monsters. Why wouldn't he have already ended it's life?
"...I would never harm my son." His voice was small and not without worry. The man's crimson gaze never left the bundle in her arms.
Son? Interest peeked, Mnyiri peeled back the swaddled cloth from the bundle's head. What she saw chilled her blood. "What...?" Through all of this the infant had remained asleep, though now that she was gently prodding it the child seemed to wake. His mocha skin was peppered with alkidike markings, and each marking was outlined in bright orange crystals. In the midst of his dark obsidian hair resided two little antennae, but those eyes....the eyes that looked into her own were as dark as blood itself.
"Kessar!" Mnyiri whipped her head around to see the alkidike run up to them. Although her chest was heaving, and she was covered in sweat she still managed to look like a demon on the hunt. For a moment Mnyiri though the man would be gored through by her spear,but the sister dropped it in favor of sucker punching the Oban in the jaw. "How dare you?!" She shrieked. It was then that the boy decided he'd had enough and began to wail in Mnyiri's ear. Her child's distress seemed to break the sister from her fury and she reached for the babe before Kessar grabbed her arm.
"You can't keep him, Illyndra, and you know why." Despite the bruise quickly consuming his jaw he managed a stern frown.
Mnyiri awkwardly bounced the babe, eyes drifting between his parents. They bickered horribly among each other, all the while ignoring the obvious stranger holding their squalling infant. When her patience couldn't take anymore, Mnyiri raised her own voice; "Would SOMEONE tell me what's going on?! Did Kessar steal your kid, or not?!"
Then, in awkward sort of unison, the pair confessed to being lovers. She had taken care of him when he was injured in Jauhar during the invasion, and then they were reunited in Sauti during the stint with the extremists. Both were too proud to admit they loved each other until Illyndra moved back home, but Kessar had given chase. Living in Jauhar, though, wasn't working for him. In Oba Kessar was a wealthy Noble and the change had been too drastic for him. It broke down their relationship, and while it would have been easy to walk away before...it wasn't so easy after having a son.
"So...Kessar is going back to Oba and Illyndra, you're staying here?" When the older woman nodded, Mnyiri pursed her lips. Who in the world would pick a fire earthling as the parent of their child? The sneaky jerk had run away with it! He said he loved his son and had good intentions, but Mnyiri didn't trust him. At all. There was no way an Oban could be this concerned about a hybrid child, let alone one mixed with alkidike blood. He was likely going to take it back home and sell it as a freak or do some weird experiments on him. As the infant calmed in her arms Mnyiri found herself holding him protectively. Like hell you're getting this kid, jerk.
"Illyndra, please, you and I both know this relationship was doomed from the start. Why are you making our son suffer because of it? You know he can't be raised here. The very fact that he's a male is enough to give him grief, not to mention the fact that he's a hybrid." Kessar turned to Mnyiri with a pleading look. "You're a mixed blood too, aren't you? You should know what kind of life he would have if he stayed here."
"Oh, and your people are so much better?" Illyndra hissed. "Your family made their fortune on the backs of slaves. At least my sisters are honest; not backstabbers and cut throats who are out to save their own hides."
"Oba's different now. My father was placed into exile because of his involvement in the slave trade, and my family is rebuilding. We're trying to help." He ran a hand through his scarlet hand in frustration. "Your son could be a Noble; let that sink in. Whatever prejudice he would face could be minimized because he'll have enough money to push it all away."
"But that would be lies! They would eat him alive the moment you stripped that away from him. Better to raise him as the sister he is, and give him skills to defend himself than to dress him up as a child's doll."
Mnyiri felt herself being tugged in two directions. It was obvious that these two were at a standstill that likely wouldn't end until they came to blows. An older, more experienced soul should be acting as the judge in this case, but if no one spoke up the two may very well do something they would regret.
After checking to make sure the infant was at peace with the world, Mnyiri gently placed her spear on the ground amidst the fussing and snarling of the parents. When she rose the child was cradled in her left arm, with the right sweeping up from the undertow to support it's weight.
"Hey, so - are you listening? Hello? HELLO?!" Mnyiri raised her voice once more to get their attention, or rather, to get them to shut up long enough for her to talk. "Illyndra, I know you want to keep your baby and yeah, even for a boy he's pretty...cute." She struggled for a word to use that wouldn't outright insult the child. To her he was a terrible mix, but Mnyiri was keeping an open mind. "But you gotta know that he won't have it easy here. For one, he's a he, and that right there means a whole lot of nasty coming his way. Secondly, he's a hybrid and a fire hybrid to boot which means a lot of people in this neck of the woods would rather see your son dead than help him if he's in a pinch."
She allowed the truth of her words to settle before continuing. Illyndra was sobering from her anger, though Kessar seemed to grow more worried with each passing minute. "His life might not be any easier in Oba, but at least there he wouldn't be judged based on his gender. Besides, he'll be a Noble's son. One day he'll grow into power and he might be able to change things for the better for everyone. Imagine if he was the one to make a safe haven for hybrids? Or how awesome it would be to have a higher up in a foreign country that not only knew our culture, but was born into it?"
The more she spoke the more Mnyiri realized she'd grown attached to the little bugger herself. Oban soldiers had ruined her family, but Kessar wasn't a soldier. He seemed to be a loving parent who happened to fall out of love with his partner and simply wanted what he thought was best for his child. His eyes had rarely left the infant, same as Illyndra, as if they could will the babe into their arms by thought alone.
"So...you're saying I should give him up?" Illyndra's voice was barely above a whisper, and when her eyes met Mnyiri's she could see them misting with unshed tears. "They'll tear him apart. My boy will grow up dreadless and without Aisha to guide him."
"Illyndra." Kessar reached for her hands and held her as close as he dared. Mnyiri could still tell that he cared a great deal for her even if it wasn't in the romantic sense. They had a child together, and a checkered past, which bound them for an eternity. Even the way he held onto her hands spoke of an innate tenderness, which gave Mnyiri hope for the child's future. "Our son will have his dreads and he will know Aisha. I don't even plan on taking that away from him; or you. I plan on visiting as often as I can with him until he is old enough to travel on his own. I have no desire to raise my son without his mother, but I...I also cannot leave him where I know he may be killed simply for existing. I know you would do everything in your power to defend him, but some things are out of your hands, Illyndra."
Mnyiri moved closer to the pair, and held the babe out for Illyndra to take. There was no hesitation in the mother's eyes as she broke Kessar's hold to take her son. When she looked upon his face she could no longer contain her tears.
Her heart broke for them, and it felt odd for it to not feel wrong. For Mnyiri to side with an Oban over her own kind...For so long she had tried to close her eyes to the truth that was right in front of her. The citizens of Neued lived peacefully with one another for the most part, and they were a hodge podge of different races. While she still wasn't too keen on the ruling members in Oba, Mnyiri could no longer hide behind blind hatred. Kessar loved his son, that much was blindingly obvious, and even though Illyndra loved him just as much he was the better choice. This boy child would have a far better life in Oba; something that Mnyiri thought she would never say.
He would still be the brunt of many a cruel joke and insult, but Mnyiri felt sure that if he went with his father he would have a chance. Perhaps some Noble would see him for his mind and not his appearance, maybe even choose to marry him some day. Either way he was going to have to fight against the tide just to prove himself, or break down all together.
The parents exchanged a heart felt goodbye, and Mnyiri over saw Illyndra handing her boy over to her former lover. Kessar whistled for his janarim, who stopped snarling at Mvua long enough to walk back to it's master. When Kessar mounted he looked at Illyndra, then to Mnyiri and mouthed a silent 'thank you' before taking off down the main road.
"Do you think they'll be alright?" Mnyiri barely heard the whispred question. When she looked to the older woman she saw that Illyndra was barely holding herself together, and without hesitation Mnyiri brought her into her arms.
"It won't be easy, but yeah, I think they'll be just fine."
Maybe...just maybe she would go to those desert cities and visit the land just to see for herself how much it had changed. Mnyiri wanted to see with her own eyes the progress that Kessar spoke of, that she had heard so much about, because now...now she had a reason to think of the fire tribe as something other than mindless murderers and slavers. As something other than the cold hearted beasts who had taken her mothers' lives.
And once the resident alkidike populace saw hybrids in a brighter light, maybe Illyndra's son could return to her arms. With the extremists gone there was a chance this could very well happen in her lifetime, and Mnyiri was excited to see it.
(WC: 2879)
Painted Moose
Dapper Codger
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Painted Moose
Dapper Codger
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Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 10:44 am
❖☾Stage 2 - Solo 1❖☾
"I know you're prepping for your trip, but if you could just watch her for a few hours I would be so grateful."
It had been ages since Mnyiri visited with her childhood friend, and since she was in the area buying supplies a meet up had seemed inevitable. Both girls had grown into fine women; very fine, from Mnyiri's perspective. Osika was just as bountifully curved as Mnyiri, though a few inches shorter and with enough hair to cushion her should she ever fall onto her back.
On her hip bounced a tot barely out of infancy. Little dark hairs were sprouting atop her head, though not nearly enough to contemplate dreads. Her mother leaned over to gum the edges of her antennae, causing the little one to squeal out with laughter. "I know you just met her yesterday, but the elder who usually watches her while I hunt is sick. I don't know who else to take her to-"
"It's alright, I don't mind a bit." True, Mnyiri didn't know much about Osika now, nor did she know much about Vivi, her little puddin', but how hard could babysitting be?
"Use my house for anything you need, ask the neighbors if you have any questions, her blankets are-"
"Osika, calm down. We're going to be fine, aren't we, Vivi?" Mnyiri rubbed her nose against the toddlers and reached out to take her from her mother. The child was so perfect that Mnyiri doubted any other baby could compare! And what was it about their skin? Vivi was so pudgy and soft that all Mnyiri wanted to do was coddle her. In fact, she may have lifted the toddler to rub her cheek against the sweetling's tummy, eliciting yet more giggles from the little alk.
Osika seemed pleased enough by the interaction. Or at least, she was very good at hiding her distress. She was quick in saying her goodbyes, and with the promise of a speedy return the young warrior disappeared into the jungle.
---------------------------
By the time Osika returned her home was anything but fine.
Little husk dolls were strew about the floor along side fruit juice and bits of cushion stuffing. From a back room laughter could be heard, which drew the young mother towards Mnyiri and the tiny Vivi.
Both were covered in bits of fruit, thanks to a snack time rebellion, but neither seemed to mind. After a while Mnyiri had simply stopped trying to keep the little one clean. There was simply no way to keep up with her; and besides, what would fruit juice do?
Mnyiri had Vivi down on her back atop a quilt on the floor. Every time Mnyiri would draw closer the infant would let out a peel of laughter and try to squirm away, only to be caught in the older hybrids clutches for a raspberry to be blown on her tummy.
"Having fun?"
Mnyiri turned her head to look towards the doorway, giving the infant Vivi the perfect opportunity to grab a fistful of her dreads and pull Mnyiri closer. "We've had a blast. I didn't know babies were this much work, though; I'm pooped and she's still going strong." Laughing lightly, Mnyiri reached down to scoop the little one into her arms before standing. She tolerated the hair pulling, mostly because it didn't last long. Osika was already reaching for her daughter before Mnyiri got the chance to hand it over. It was a sweet moment; one so tender that Mnyiri wondered if her mothers had looked the same when she had been that young.
Or if she would look that way one day.
"She's had a bath - I'm going to suggest another one - we've had snack time, play time, we read a book - the only thing she wouldn't do is nap and trust me, I tried to change her mind." That had been an ordeal. There was a time in this adventure where Vivi had changed from a sweet, pudgy little bean into a frothing monster, and all because she was cranky. It seemed Osika had spoiled her daughter and the little one wouldn't nap without mommy around.
Not that Mnyiri could blame her. She doubted that she would get much sleep with a stranger hanging around too. "Thank you so much for your help." Osika bounced her daughter on her hip, eliciting another giggle out of the child. "Do you want to stay for dinner? ...Or would you rather call it quits for the night? You look exhausted."
"Dinner sounds great, but can I clean up first? My fingers are really sticky."
"Sure." Osika chuckled while Mnyiri tried to pry her fingers apart. It didn't take her long to navigate her friends home and find the bathing room. If she wanted a warm bath she would have to start a fire to warm the water before dipping it into the metal basin, but Mnyiri could have cared less about all of that. Instead, she simply stripped and dipped into the chilly water with careless abandon. Right now all she wanted was to be squeaky clean.
Still, as sticky as her new friend was, the infant had given Mnyiri a lot to think about. Did she want to be a mother one day? Spending the day with a baby had made her realize that yes, she did, but only if she found the right partner. Raising a baby was hard work on your own and Mnyiri had more respect for Osika than ever before because of it.
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