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 Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2020 9:30 pm
The trees of Jahaur stretched far into the skies above. Unlike Sauti, the dense rainforest covered most of the sky from view only leaving faint sunlight flickering here and there through the rich canopy. Verosh had been roaming the forest floor gathering a variety of herbs and roots that grew scarcely along the shadowed ground. He had been searching along the darker portions of the forest floor for what seemed like forever before he finally spotted what his father had been asking for. With a sigh of relief Verosh slowly moved forward, bending his tall frame over to crouch along the ground and grabbed a final few strands of the stringy herbs that grew like brittle needles from the ground. Though when he bent down again the hybrid found himself cursing loudly as something wet wiggled across his fingers. Verosh pushed the few illo away, their glowing bodies squirming quickly behind the nearest group of crystals, “Could you not?” He commented to the small creatures as he pulled back with a glare.
At least he had gotten the herbs that his father had asked for. Now he just had to trek back through the forest and drop them off with his father. But Verosh did have some free time so perhaps he could get away with practicing a bit more before heading back? It is only morning after all. His aqua gaze studied the area before he decided that he could afford to move forward a bit until he found an area with more space to train in. It was only a short hike but he managed to find a little clearing where the trees weren’t quite so dense and he could easily swing his spear around. Going through the motions that the other Alkidikes had taught him, Verosh worked at it for what seemed like a couple of hours before a sudden and unexpected thing forced him to stop. A crack as the spear connected too soundly with a tree, the wear and tear from too many training sessions weakening the shaft so that it eventually snapped. That is unfortunate. Sighing, Verosh sat the broken pieces down and wiped the sweat from his brow. A pool of water had formed at the base of a tree, the shallow area perfect for retaining water from any afternoon rainstorm, and Verosh scooped up the deliciously cool liquid in his hands before rinsing off both his hands and face.
At least he felt productive today even if that meant he would have to find a new weapon somehow. Surely he could find an artisan tomorrow or so. He doubted he would be so fortunate today unless he truly went out of his way. The thought made him sigh. It would mean another afternoon lecture from his mother about how to not be reckless when it came to training. If his weapons broke like this then what would happen to his body if he kept it up? Even though he was now a warrior in his own right it didn't stop his mother from keeping her eye on him. Verosh just shook his head at the thought. That was the last thing he wanted to worry about now. Perhaps I should try to find someone so I can avoid that lecture.... Honestly it was a very tempting thought. He could perhaps take a few more hours before returning home, especially if it meant he had a new spear and didn't have to endure any lectures.
kaname423 No worries! heart Marked Fin. ;D
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Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 12:58 pm
Jhana wiped the sweat from her brow and huffed a sigh. It was one thing to work on the weapons, it was another to collect the materials. She had been in the forest from before the sun was even up carting around her wheelbarrow to gather what ores she could from the rock deposits in the forest. It was always better when she was able to go to the mines, but she only needed a smaller amount today to keep doing her work. The sisters in her village had asked her for more arrows and another shortsword. It should be a fast day if she could get it back to her shop before lunch.
She grabbed the handles for the wheelbarrow and picked up the end, the wheel sinking slightly into the dirt. It was heavier than she had intended but extras wasn't a bad thing.
She continued to push and before long she had head a crack nearby and stopped again, her antennae twitching. She wasn't sure if she should even dare to go check out what that was. Cracking sounds usually weren't good news in the forests. She settled her barrow down and wiped her gloved hands on her pants, before quietly tiptoeing her way toward the source of the noise. She was fully prepared to see some large animal like a radaku making the ruckus, but was surprised to see a man around her age, though with antennae himself. Strange.
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Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 7:36 pm
Verosh sighed as he looked over his broken weapon once more. Would he really have enough time to try and find a new one? He was even wasting time now just debating on what he should do.The hybrid glanced towards the skies, his blue gaze intent as he pondered the amount of light he would have left. Not like it would matter if he had to spend the afternoon on finding a new weapon. It wasn't as if he could train anymore as it was. How frustrating. His gaze narrowed sharply at the broken end of the spear before he twisted and threw it away from him as hard as he could. Thankfully it wasn't the part with the spearhead, but it still sailed through the air with some force before landing on the ground with a loud thud.
Biting the inside of his cheek, Verosh hesitated a moment before his shoulders dropped with shame. Even if no one had been around it did not grant him the right to act like an upset child. "Tsk." He rubbed the back of his neck before venturing forward towards where he had thrown the bottom half of his spear. Even if it was broken he couldn't just leave it laying around like that. He moved towards where it had landed, his hand reaching forward to grab the weapon piece before he paused and blinked in surprise. It seemed that he had not been quite so alone after all. Verosh's fingers connected with the bottom half of his spear before he quickly jumped to the side to quietly study the stranger he had almost bumped into. A flush of embarrassment threatened to darken his cheeks as he realized that surely she had witnessed his small tantrum, if not almost gotten hit by the spear piece that he now held in his hands.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 6:44 pm
The bottom half of a spear sailed through the air and landed pretty close to Jhana before she could jump at the sudden movement. The guy came closer to claim what he had just thrown and she felt her lips form a pout before she could even realize she was doing it. She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to push the feeling of being startled out of her body. "Hey... you look like you probably need a new spear." She offered.
She looked at the other piece he was holding and couldn't help but notice that it looked worn to begin with and probably would have needed replacing soon anyways. "Do you have someone you normally go to?" She didn't think he did, not with how old that one looked, he probably didn't get replacements or parts from anyone, but she could ask anyways. She gave him a look over and decided that he looked like the kind of guy who was alkidike enough to maybe use her help. "I'm Jhana."
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 6:59 pm
Another hybrid? Verosh's gaze narrowed as he studied the girl who hadn't chewed him out yet but appeared to be pouting at him? Still, he couldn't hold back the small flare of temper that rose in his chest at her commentary. "Really? Do you think?" He retorted sharply before glancing down at the obvious pieces in his hands. There definitely was no going back for the broken weapon. He didn't even know why he had retrieved the cursed thing. Nor did he have the right to snap at her considering that she had almost been hit as a result of his reckless behavior. Shame decorated his cheeks with a deeper flush before he looked back over in surprise at the question, "Someone I normally go to?" He repeated with a frown before finally shaking his head, "I usually receive my weapons as gifts or barter from local merchants to replace my broken ones." It was not the first time he had broken a spear and had to barter for one nor would it probably be the last...a fact that he sheepishly kept to himself.
Verosh paused and studied Jhana thoughtfully before offering his own name, "You may call me Verosh." He finally replied, "Would you happen to know of a place where I can get a new weapon?" Part of him wanted to apologize for nearly whacking her with the broken piece but another part of him held onto his silent pride. If she wasn't making a fuss about it then why should he admit to his folly? Instead he was more curious now about who the hybrid was and if she truly could point him towards a blacksmith or merchant who could provide him with a new spear.
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 1:35 pm
She felt the sharp pangs of irritation at his snarky remark. Well there wasn't a reason to be rude about it. Jhana's pout turned into a purse before she quickly pushed it aside. She could be better than this, other women her age wouldn't resort to sinking low and whining about something. She inhaled deeply and wave and arm in the air in a vague gesture. "Well, Verosh," She put probably more sass into his name than she should have, "I happen to be a place you can get a new weapon."
She let her eyes wander and take in the different pieces that was this guy now that he was close enough for her to inspect. He was obviously part alkidike, that was for sure, but he definitely wasn't fully. She would save her questions for later though, no need to be rude right off the bat, unlike some other people. "I'm a blacksmith for my Sisters." She continued to explain herself to him. She had been practicing for about five years now so she was nothing to laugh at when it came to weaponsmithing, though she wasn't so sure he was one of the Sisters himself.
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 8:25 pm
Verosh studied the girl's expression, his mouth almost ready to fire off some sort of retort before her reaction startled him. Even if she had spoken his name a bit more sharply than expected there had been no rude comment for his own attitude. He did not completely lower his guard but the tension in his shoulders did loosen ever so slightly, "Oh?" He replied with a quirked brow, "Where would that be?" If she knew of some sort of merchant that would be convenient. He just hoped that they did not charge too much for a new weapon. Earthling blacksmiths especially tended to be a bit harsher in their pricing whenever they saw Verosh approaching or at least that was how he felt. It definitely did not have anything to do with his typical arrogance or smart comments. Not at all.
His blue gaze narrowed whenever he noticed that she was staring him over. He attempted to not do the same in turn though it was hard considering how different she also looked. Verosh could not pinpoint exactly what mixed blood she had but he held his tongue since she had not asked him about his own strange appearance just yet. His attention quickly was ripped from studying her physical form to the new information, his gaze widening slightly before he found himself blurting out probably a rather stupid reaction, "Really?" He started before giving a slight cough to try and cover his surprise, "I mean I was not expecting to run into a blacksmith today. It's not often that I find a Sister who has picked up that craft." Most he knew were warriors save for the very select few who opted to use their talents to help out in other ways. It made him curious about why the other hybrid had chosen to become a blacksmith, but since she had given him the courtesy of not asking questions he would try to avoid them for now. It was rare for him to hold his tongue but since a new weapon was on the line he did his best to behave. "Since Aisha has seen it fit for us to run into each other today would it be acceptable for me to ask for your help?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:03 pm
Jhana watched and noted how his tone suddenly changed. Mhm, that's more like it. Jhana was perfectly capable of helping this guy and it was nice to see that he could realize when he had gotten lucky. "Mmm yeah, I don't mind." She started her words off slow. He had mentioned Aisha, and it seemed to her that was a pretty good sign that he had grown up on the alkidike side of the world. She was trying to put two and two together. Maybe he was a Sister after all. It wouldn't be the first time a male hybrid she knew was a Sister. Her uncle Rishima was possibly even stranger looking that Verosh.
She shrugged her shoulders to Verosh and put a friendly, if not a little bit strained, smile on her face. Verosh hadn't done anything too awful that she needed to return his earlier attitude. "I don't mind helping you out, but I need to get my materials back to my workshop first." She started to walk off back toward where her wheelbarrow was sitting on the path. "If you want to follow me, I can see what I can do for you. Or if I have anything finished already that you like."
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Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2020 3:02 pm
Could she not aid him after all? Verosh felt tempted to give up and to spend his time searching elsewhere when Jhana finally and slowly offered her aid. It seemed Aisha was trying to teach him a lesson about his temperament today as the warrior forced himself to be patient. He had been told many times before that he had a rather prickly exterior when it came to interacting with others, his arrogance and short temper often proved an obstacle when it came to making connections, but he was trying. Perhaps if she had chewed him out for his earlier attitude or for the way he had nearly speared her the young hybrid would have some snark in store but Jhana had been reasonable and it threw Verosh off. He was always used to being on the defensive and yet she was offering him aid instead of a fight.
It made him want to be helpful in turn, "Then let me help you with your materials." He offered sheepishly as he followed her, his long legs quickly taking him to the wheelbarrow, "It would not be right for me to do nothing to help you when you're offering a weapon." Verosh managed as he managed to focus on grabbing the handles of the wheelbarrow and pulled it upwards, the heaviness of the load causing his arm muscles to tighten as he freed it from the ground and pushed it forwards, "Did you truly mean to push this all by yourself? How far is this workshop of yours?" He found himself asking bluntly, the question slipping from his lips before he could stop it.
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2020 12:39 pm
Jhana couldn't help but laugh at his surprised questioning. "Yes, I was most definitely going to be carrying that by myself. I'm tougher than I look." She joked, flexing her arm at him with a grin on her face. Between the supplies and the actual smithing, she was getting pretty good at pushing her own weight around.
"My place isn't too far at this point, just about a ten minute hike that way." She pointed in the direction the wheelbarrow was already facing. "I appreciate the help." She tried to thank him, even though their meeting hadn't started all too friendly.
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2020 8:25 am
"So I see." Verosh lifted an eyebrow in reaction to her flexing before pushing the wheelbarrow forward. Despite his attempts to look cool for the quickest of seconds a smile had actually flickered across his lips at her playful attitude. If anything he could relate to her response. As a hybrid he often felt the need to prove himself to the pure blooded Alkidikes Sisters. The thought made him glance almost shamefully back her way. Had he not done the same thing that they did to him just now to her? His blue eyes softened for the briefest of moments before he jerked back around and focused on the path ahead of him. "I mean my apologies. I should have known a Sister would be fully capable of pushing this." For once his voice held no snark in it and was actually sincere.
Of course that realization made Verosh push the wheelbarrow even harder as if racing towards the workshop to leave behind any embarrassment at his own words. After a few more silent minutes of simply rolling the wheelbarrow, the tall hybrid glanced back towards Jhana. "I'm assuming we should be close now, no?" He managed as he studied her, his voice steady now that his own embarrassment was tamed. He had surprisingly not been in this area often before now. Apparently his herb gathering had pushed him further into Jahaur than what he was accustomed to and the young warrior actually felt a bit lost. Not that he would admit it of course but his movements did slow as he waited for Jhana's directions. A courtesy obviously and not because he wasn't capable of figuring it out on his own.
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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2020 7:22 am
Jhana had thought that she actually saw a smile before Verosh turned back around and went back to pushing the materials she had been carting home. Hmm, maybe he wasn't all cranky like he made himself out to be. Not that she knew him that well to begin with, but he was nothing but slightly sour since they had met. And he did acknowledge that she was a Sister and even insinuated that she was equal to a regular Sister so he was earning some major bonus points in her book.
The trip was relatively quick and it was only a few minutes before Verosh broke the silence. "Oh yeah, we're close." She answered him. "It's right over there beyond those trees," she said pointing to a cluster of large old trees. There was too much foliage in the way to get a look at anything beyond it, but that was a selling point for Jhana. It was close to the edge of the village but you couldn't see it from the outside.
When they rounded the break in the trees her forge and cabin could be seen a few feet away from the trees she called home. "We can just drop it off over here behind the cabin and I'll show you what I have inside." She suggested to Verosh.
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2020 8:09 am
Verosh nodded as he moved the wheelbarrow in the direction that Jhana pointed. Soon enough the cabin came into view and he paused to study it. "It's fairly hidden." He commented thoughtfully before he finished pushing the materials to the back. Dropping the wheelbarrow onto the ground, Verosh took a moment to wipe his hands against his leggings before returning to Jhana's side. His jaw clenched slightly as he gaze between the other hybrid and her home. "Is it normal for a forge to be hidden from others?" He asked bluntly before shaking his head. "Either way let's see what you have."
It wasn't his business why she was located out here after all. At least that was what he reasoned though his own personal experiences as an Alkidike hybrid boiled his blood. If someone was being harassed it was hard for him to not speak his mind or to step in. A fact which had resulted in many a brawl for Verosh while he was growing up. Regardless, Verosh forced himself to focus on the task at hand. He was eager to get a new weapon and return home. Perhaps he could even place an order for something more sturdy if Jhana's work was truly exceptional. Not like Verosh could be picky considering his own circumstances but his pride refused to admit to such a fact.
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Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2020 11:30 am
The question wasn't unheard of for Jhana, but she was still surprised when anyone asked why she chose this spot in particular. "Well, no, it's not really normal..." she trailed off. How did she justify her choices exactly? It's not like she was forced out here, but she had chosen to be further out than the others. "The village isn't far, it's just a few more minutes that way. They all know how to find me. But this puts me closer to my mothers." She offered as an answer. It wasn't the full truth, but it wasn't a lie either. She didn't want to admit that after being picked on as a child she may or may not be holding a slight grudge.
"If you wanna come inside." She gestured into the doorway after she had pulled it open. The room was steamy to say the least, she was almost always working and there were still hot coals sitting in the forge's belly. "Sorry about the heat. It's just something I've gotten used to, but I usually keep my finished weapons in the other building. I just finished these spears yesterday." She pointed out the weapons still sitting on her workbench table.
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2020 9:05 pm
"I see." Verosh frowned before giving her a thoughtful look and finally speaking again, his tone a bit gentler. "As long as you feel comfortable but do not think that you need to hide yourself from others." She should feel pride as a warrior of Aisha. Even a blacksmith had great value in their community and he would judge her based on the weapons which she made and not by her appearance. After all had he not been judged by his appearance before joining the hunt? Verosh clenched a fist at the memory before moving forward after Jhana and into her forge.
When he entered the steaming room, Verosh found himself immediately taking off his tunic and revealing lean muscles decorated with various scars from years of training and hunting dangerous creatures. Other than that he just had his leather leggings but the relief that it gave his upper body was almost immediate. "It's no problem now." He replied before moving past, his tunic clenched in one fist while his free hand trailed over the weapons thoughtfully. His blue gaze appraised each spear until he finally settled on one and after tucking his tunic away into his satchel the young warrior picked up the spear and twisted it in his hands. "They're very nice." He complimented as he ran a finger lightly along the sharp edges. "Would it truly be acceptable for me to have one?"
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