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 Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 7:34 am
The mystic. Their mystic. Their future.
The young girl who had bloomed a few years prior, when Zayana was still young herself, was finally done with her initial training. Already at an age to explore the land of their camp, and move away from the matron's grasp, the young mystic was often seen playing, training, and communicating with sisters, cousins, and their great mother.
Zayana felt a mix of envy and pleasure.
Envy because this girl, this special girl, was going to be the shining beacon in their tribe. And pleasure because she was finally bloomed, which meant their great mother was strong enough to sustain their tribe.
Lumikani and Zandala seemed happy as well, expressing elation that the Elaria were all but guaranteed a future of strength, success, and happiness thanks to the blessing from Elzira.
Zayana was torn, but she knew one thing. It was her duty to ensure she was close to the mystic, to make sure the mystic had guidance and a relationship with as many Elaria sisters as possible. The cousins were strong, but they'd soon die off, and all that would be left would be their words and a mystic to lead the Elaria.
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Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 12:53 pm
Nivalis knew the names of all of her sisters. Though many of the older Elaria were too busy keeping up with their own training regimes to have lengthy or frequent interactions with her, Niva thought it important that she know all of them, despite this. After all, she expected them to know her name, of course, and it seemed only respectful to offer the same courtesy. Still, since she occasionally wasn't given the opportunity for direct conversation, she'd had to resort to more roundabout methods, in the past.
During her earliest and more stationary lessons of language and inscription with the Matron, she'd asked whenever one of the other girls was within her line of sight. "What's her name? What's she like? Tell me about her." Initially, the older woman seemed almost annoyed by her young charge's distractedness. But Niva's curiosity was easy enough to divert to her work. The Matron showed her how to write her sisters' names and would tell her their stories in the ancient tongues. It did help her learn that much, and it would've been worse to have a young mystic with no interest in those around her, anyway.
Now, Nivalis knew the names of her sisters. All of them. Some she knew names better than faces. But she wanted to know more. And it was time she sought that information from the source.
It was the hottest part of the day, a brief interim between her early-morning exercises and the more studious part of her afternoon that Nivalis broke from the Matron's side to join in with the rest of the tribe's (her tribe's) noonmeal socializing. It was perhaps the most enjoyable part of her day. As soon as her bright green eyes landed on one of the older girls, Nivalis beamed.
"Zayana!" She called as she scurried promptly to her sister's side. Niva reached as soon as she was near enough to pluck up the other girl's hand, because touching seemed a good way to form bonds as well. "Are you going out somewhere? Take me with you!"
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Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2016 6:51 pm
Zayana was startled from her silent musing, often sitting alongside the few cousins she socialized with since finishing her youth training. So it was a startlingly moment when a young voice, a familiar young voice, called her out.
Wide eyes only had a moment to look up from the few remains of her meal when the mystic, the mystic, joined her side. A few hushed comments were made, mostly from the cousins who disliked Lumikani, but otherwise most ignored the young mystic's chosen meal mate. Zayana, however, felt her nerves hum as the little youngling joined her side, and she swallowed her food before turning her full attention to the youth who now held her hand.
Zayana felt like a young child, uncertain what to do with such an honor. So, she took a moment to settle before taking in Nivalis' words.
"Oh, mystic..." she mused softly, her spare hand moving to brush back her bi-colored dreads, "This afternoon I'm to work on my bow skills atop my Limbara...you are welcome to join me..."
She held her tongue, there was no one who really commanded the mystic. She was of age to hear the voices and speak with the mother, so now everyone knew she was making her rounds and choosing her companions. It was a true blessing to catch notice of the mystic, and Zayana wouldn't sway her otherwise to join someone else. If she wished to spend time by her side, Zayana had no reason to refuse.
"Please, I've finished my meal...if you are ready we can go now?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 11:48 am
Nivalis had already decided she didn't care what her sister's chosen activity was. The other Elaria wasn't that much older than Niva herself, so surely she wouldn't be undertaking any tasks that would be too dangerous to even watch. More importantly, she wanted the opportunity to be at her sister's side and learn whatever she could from the meeting. Zayana wasn't yet as far ahead of her as some of her other sisters. There was still much they could learn together.
Still, Niva found herself blinking in brief startlement at the mention of a limbara. Did Zayana really have one she trained with? They were such large creatures, that the young girl couldn't help but think she might have noticed if any of her sisters were keeping them as pets.
But then perhaps she simply didn't pay as much mind to that as she ought. Even if she'd seen one, she'd likely immediately thought it was a source of food. She hadn't time or space to care for any creatures herself, so it hadn't occurred to her that anyone else might. But if she really thought about it, she could see how some of her more thrill-seeking sisters might consider it a worthwhile challenge to tame Yael's beasts. Especially one as large and dangerous as a limbara.
Nivalis' smile broadened. "You've tamed a limbara?" She chirped in excitement. "Oh, yes, I would love to see! You can even ride it? Is it very large? Have you given it a name? Come, come, yes!" Niva demanded gleefully as she tugged eagerly on Zayana's hand.
"I am ready!" She lifted her sister's arm and gave a delicate, pleased twirl beneath it before righting herself and resuming her pulling. "Where do you train? Do you go very often? Where does your limbara even sleep?"
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