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 Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:09 pm
Ika envisioned herself as a seasoned warrior by the tender age of six.
The prideful girl had gotten herself separated from her mother's side once again, and though she didn't go far, Ika still fashioned herself 'old enough' to do so on her own. She didn't need to be constantly looked after. No one told Eurig or Subira where they had to go; they just went. If anyone needed the help it was Ujiri, and that was just because he wasn't as smart as she was so he kept getting caught. A kind sister would help her brother so that he wouldn't suffer alone, and sometimes she would. More often than not, however, Ika would feign innocence to escape a similar punishment and run off without him.
Like today, for instance.
Her big brother was talking to some friends up by the main road and Ika had slipped down towards the river. She could still see him - could still hear most of what they were saying - but she didn't want to stick around. His shifter friends always looked at them funny, and Ika didn't like them. She didn't understand why Eurig did, either; he could have better friends, but he hated when she told them to go away so she decided she would go away instead.
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:10 pm
Sabra Via Slack
Out of all the routines that Verosh had picked up for his training it was swimming that he enjoyed the most. The rivers in Sauti had only been slightly warm enough in the summer to tolerate and far too chilled in the later seasons for him to even consider diving into. The rivers in Jahaur, however, felt like taking a pleasant bath, one of those rare things that his father had done for him as a youngling by using magic to warm the waters when his mother wasn't looking. After all any mighty warrior to be didn't need pampered in such ways. How could he become stronger if his father protected him from every little sniffle? Verosh smirked at the memory because for someone who spoke such words it wasn't as if his father had to twist her arm for them to take a warm bath together.
Admittedly now that he had been in Jahaur for almost a year the apprentice was actually tempted to miss the cold. The appeal of snow decorating the ground and all the fun he had as a youngling in it was still there but he knew that such things would unlikely ever be in his life again. Even if he should go back to Sauti it was not like he was one to play around in snow, that was something for the young to do. At least he could enjoy the water still even if it was for training.
As he reflected upon such matters Verosh was already moving through the waters like some golden fish. It was only when his legs were completely exhausted and the muscles in his arms and upper back burning that he decided to slow down and float on his back instead. And so there he drifted, a golden being with skin that gleamed in the sunlight from the water that clung to his mostly exposed body, and he continued drifting as he enjoyed the peaceful sounds of the river.
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:11 pm
Little feet picked their way through the brambles, being as careful as she cared on the upturned roots and rocks. Some parts of Jauhar had been stripped of their overgrowth to make suitable paths, but it was areas like this that Ika loved the most. The thorns that scrapped at her skin were a sign that whatever was beyond hadn't been touched in a while and it was all hers-
Or, so she'd thought.
A spark lit up her eyes and caused her cheeks to puff. She couldn't see what was making the noises from her current spot, but Ika knew the sounds well enough. Someone was in her river playing with her water and messing it all up! She had half a mind to stomp threw the brambles and give them a piece of her mind, but still, she moved as quietly as she could, until she saw the trouble maker.
And immediately blurted, "WOAH, I've never seen anyone that pale in my life!" This was almost better than having the river to herself. The sun was glistening off all that light, bright flesh and she couldn't help staring. It was the freakiest thing she'd ever seen.
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:12 pm
Sabra Via Slack
Well so much for the peaceful sounds of the river. Verosh had almost gotten to the point of dozing before sudden noise startled him into flipping upside down into the waters instead. Blowing bubbles from his mouth in frustration, the water thankfully taking the foulest of words and turning them into a silent current, Verosh immediately kicked upwards so that he could emerge and send a glare to whatever rude thing had startled him.
Kicking himself towards the shore Verosh reached out and pulled himself onto dry land. What was this? Some strange looking kid was the one who had disturbed him? His pale blue gaze narrowed into hard orbs, "Shouldn't you be with your parents or something?" Whatever it was that had created her because Verosh had never seen such a strange mix before, "As it is-" Here he stopped in frustration to free a water plant from his dreads before flinging it to the side and continuing, "You shouldn't yell at someone who is trying to rest. You're lucky I was in the water else you could have been hurt for startling me like that." Sheesh.
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:13 pm
"Shouldn't you? You're not that much older." He looked to be closer to Subira in age than Eurig, but that still didn't mean she was going to listen to him. Age meant very little to Ika; respect was earned, no matter the cost, and certainly wouldn't be given to some moody teenager.
"Hurt? Nuh uh, you'd have to catch me first." She kicked her legs out, moving to close the distance between herself and the water. He may have been moving towards dry land now, but that just meant there was more river to play in for Ika. "And everyone knows the bigger you are, the slower you are." The little hybrid turned around, flashing her eyes at him with a s**t eating grin, "So you'll be as slow as a turtle."
She dipped her toes into the water first before slipping in up to her calves. The stones on the bottom were slick, which made her wobble where she stood, but otherwise, Ika stood as proud and tall as ever. "So how come you're so pale? What kinda person are you?" The antennae she recognized, same as his markings but - "and your face is all weird too. Yours aren't the right color." She motioned vaguely to her own face. The designs were nice enough to look at but it was all off.
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:14 pm
Sabra via Slack
What an obnoxius brat. Verosh couldn't resist rolling his eyes at her sass, "At least I can reach a bottom branch of a tree." He retorted, "I don't see you touching one anytime soon nor do I see a weapon in your hands for defense." His lips curled up in disdain, "Unless you think speaking your mind will spare you from the beasts of Jahaur I would be more cautious." She probably had snuck away from someone after all. Not that he needed to be bothered because he certainly was not about to babysit some child who obviously knew nothing of survival.
Aaaand as if to prove it the girl was darting off into the waters. Sighing Verosh just moved so that he could find the brush where he had hidden his spear and outer clothing, "Is that so?" He found himself muttering under his breath at her slow as a turtle comment. Last time he checked at least he had strong limbs to push him through the water. What could she do? Radaku paddle? Don't let a child ruffle you. He had to firmly tell that to himself as he sat on a rock after finding his clothes to dry out his damp body. There was no point after all in putting on clothing to only get it wet - even though it was getting increasingly more tempting to do so as the youngling continued to prattle on.
"For someone who is also not that normal looking you enjoy looking at others, don't you?" Quipped Verosh as he stared towards the girl, "I'm guessing I'm the same as you. My mother is an Alkidike warrior while my other parent is an earthling though he is from Sauti and not wherever you come from." His blue gaze darted away, "Aisha just thought to give me the colors of his people rather than that of the Alks. That's all there is to it."
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:15 pm
At least I can reach the bottom branch of a tree. She mentally imitated the words, giving the phrase a condescending tone. Height was good and all, but at least she wasn't in any danger of hitting her head on a branch. "Don't see one in yours, either. What'cha gonna do? Splash water on someone or spook 'em away?" This guy sure was defensive, but he was fun to poke at. A lot funner than messing around the river, that was for sure. It was easy to get under her brother's skin too, but that was all old business. The pale one was fresh meat. "Oh cool, you got your mom's spear. Did she teach ya how to use it, too? Or are ya just gonna wave it around?" Or maybe it was his dads? She didn't know much about those. Dads seemed pretty useless to her. who needed a man around when you could do just as much with a woman. She had soft spots for her brother's, but when compared to her sister they didn't add up to much physically. Yep, girls were just better that way. She moved further into the water, going in as far as her hips now, and struggling a little. The water was stronger here, and if she wasn't careful it could scoot her further down. "Where's Sauti?" She dipped her hands under the water and wriggled her fingers, watching as the action scared off a few fish. "And I come from HERE. We've always been here."
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:16 pm
Sabra via Slack
Splash someone or spook them away? If only he could spook her away. Verosh snorted at the though before wiping at the few water drops that had clung to his skin. The girl was just fortunate that he didn't feel it worth the effort to dive back in and dunk her impudent face underwater. That would definitely be a way to entertain silence again and demonstrate how dangerous 'splashing' water could be. He quietly harrumphed under his breath at the thought before shaking the temptation away. No matter how much of a nuisance the girl was being he wasn't going to be that cruel....yet.
Aisha! This brat just would not shut her mouth. Verosh had to clench his jaw against her demeaning words before he let out a slow, very slow and deliberate, breath. "I can use it and I have." He stated as he twisted his dreads in an attempt to get out any water that had managed to get through the oils he used to keep his hair in place, "It's to the north, a few weeks of travel from here." He replied though his gaze did dart towards her with hidden concern. If she did get swept away by the current did that mean he had to deal with saving the annoyance? Verosh shrugged his shoulders at the thought before sending a grin towards the girl, "Well something in your blood must be from another place because you are obviously not full Alk. If you were completely from here then you wouldn't look so different from the Alks."
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:17 pm
"Then how come you don't have any scars? All the best have them." Her mamas' did; they were little, and spaced all over their bodies, but they were there. She tried looking him over, but the water kept pulling at her, so Ika decided to focus on it instead. Her toes splayed out on the rocks underneath her, helping to hold the little one steady.
"Do they all look like you there? The yellow hair and blue eyes parts?" She'd never seen anything like it, and as weird as it looked, Ika couldn't say she completely disliked it. He wouldn't survive long in the sun, that was for sure, but if his skin were a little more covered he might be alright.
Ika furrowed her brows, and groused, "Yah, but that doesn't mean I am. I'M from here, and that's what matters." Her body lurched forward a bit, causing her curls to bounce around her face before Ika regained her balance. "My mama's from Tale, but that's her; not me." Ika didn't care if she wasn't pure or that she didn't look like a shifter; she knew she was from Jauhar, always had been, and this was just as much her home as any stinkin' mooner.
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:18 pm
Sabra via Slack
"I haven't found a beast worthy enough to scar me." Replied Verosh bluntly as he glanced down at his arms. How was a youngling to judge him for scars? He had a few faint ones here and there but nothing remarkable that would stand out against his skin like some of the ones he saw on older warriors. The ones from war times, like the one that even decorated his father's lame leg, now those were the exciting scars. His mother had a few as well which included the nasty one from the beasts that had nearly destroyed her all those years ago in Sauti, but he never realized that scarring was now a requirement to be the best. Rather wouldn't it be wiser to avoid scars so that you could claim you took little damage in battle? Only a berserker would revel in their pain. He told himself as he shoved away the negative feelings like doubt which had dared to cross his mind at the youngling's words.
He quirked a brow at her question before nodding, "They do for the most part." His mother called him a ray of sunlight, her sunbeam if she was being loving while his father saw nothing awful about him at all no matter what he tried to complain about. It was suffocating but at the same time it was reassuring to hear those few words here and there while living with Sisters who scorned him for his mixed blood. Not that he would let such stupidity falter his own path - he knew he was a warrior of Aisha and he would continue to fight with others to prove it.
Verosh let out a chuckle of amusement, "I see." His gaze studied her thoughtfully before the obvious lurch caused his own body to lurch forward in reaction. Dammit the girl was making him nervous with how the current threatened to carry her away. His antenna twitched backwards in frustration before he finally stood from the rock as if stretching while in all honesty he was getting closer to the edge so that he could dive quickly into the waters if needed, "So your mother moved here with an Alk as well. I suppose that works if you insist on being here. Are you a Sister then or just an earthling living in Jahaur?" She was young so perhaps she wouldn't realize the weight of that decision just yet but it was something that had Verosh curious. Was he looking to another with a future similar to his own? A hybrid fighting to find her place with the Sisters?
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:29 pm
[6/10]
'Worthy enough'. Ika curled her lip at the words, as if the whole thing were simultaneously the most disgusting and stupid phrase she'd ever heard. Eventually she popped out with a round of ugly, open laughter complete with a little snort. "You should see your face! You look so serious! Like an old man who hasn't pooped in days!" She could just see it now; him all humped up with grey hair. With locks that light, though, he was close enough! Her laughing disrupted her balance once again and for a moment she was pulled forward with a sharp 'woah!' before her face hit the water and she regained her composure. At least Ika had the graces to look embarrassed after that.
"Nope, my mama move here for an alk and her daughter." Ika stated bluntly, "Mama Ariya already had Subira when she and mama Ujana got together. Mama Ujana was carrying Eurig, too, and then she had him and they all moved here together." It had been told to her so many times before that it was old hack. A lot of the earthlings and sisters alike looked at their family like it was weird, but Ika had never known anything else. "Subira's all alk, Euri's all leaf, aaaannnnnndddd Ujiri and me, we're like this. We're just us, I guess?" The full weight of his question didn't resonate with the child at all. She knew what her mothers were, and what her elders siblings fell into, but where did that leave Ujiri and herself?
And what did it matter?
"What're you?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:45 am
Sabra via Slack
Thank you river. He had been so stunned by her vulgar comments and laughter that he hadn't taken the time to react when she fell in the water. Now where had that attitude gone off to? Verosh wanted to quip at her but settled for just smirking obnoxiously as she emerged. Admittedly he had taken a step or two forward when she first faltered but he ignored that reaction as he settled back on the shore.
"What an...interesting family you have then." Talk about a variety. Why would an Alk leave a sister for some leafling? Then again he didn't know the full story nor could he trust a child to tell it properly. If he even bothered to even care about such a thing. He doubted he would have to deal much with this vague family of some random child he never hoped to meet again.
Still he would entertain a few questions while he waited for someone to show up and pluck the girl from his river, "my father is from Sauti and my mother is Alk. It's just them and me." His fingers reached into the ground as he sat and while he spoke he twisted free a few blades of grass, "That satisfy your curiosity or is there more?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:46 am
"That's not what I asked, " Ika groused. She turned, sloppily pushing some hair away from her eyes as she looked at him. The damp curls clung to the tips of her marked ears, making for a 'unique' look. "You keep askin' bout whether I'm this or that, so what are you? Are you a sister or not?" Her brother was gonna be a sister, at least he talked like he was, and that might confuse some people but to Ika it made total sense.
"I don't care where you came from anymore; you already answered that, that's old." He seemed more confused than most teenagers she'd met, and Ika had met a LOT! None of them seemed to know what they were doing, but this guy....wow.
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:47 am
Sabra via Slack
Verosh turned a blade of grass in his hands, "Oh? So you did actually pay some attention and remember." He replied lazily before tossing the twisted pieces of grass into the river where they were quickly taken away by the current. She was slightly heavier than a piece of grass which saved her from the same fate it seemed. Verosh studied the strange looking girl a moment more, his pale gaze reflecting the waters surface, "I suppose I was confused because surely you didn't have to ask what I am." He finally replied as he leaned back to rest in the ground.
"Why chose such a lackluster and low class choice when one could become a great warrior like the Sisters? Obviously my spear is a gift for training under them." He slowly turned his head so he could glance towards the girl in the river, "I also have dreads to mark me as a future warrior of Aisha." Sheesh was this girl taught nothing? How could she not recognize such obvious signs?
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:53 am
[8/10]
"That's so-!" Ika's temper immediately flared and her body jerked once more, though this time the little one didn't seem to care. She stood her ground, visibly fighting the current now with a full one scowl. "Low?! My mama's ten times the warrior you'll ever be, and she doesn't have to be an alk just to kick your butt!"
Both of her mother's were strong and amazing women, so to hear something like that...as if the alk way was just so much better....it struck a nerve inside Ika. She'd lost enough traction so that, even while still standing, she was moving down the river, inch by inch. "My brother has dreads too, and he's not a stupid, weird jerk like yo-!"
And in an instant, Ika was pulled under.
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