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 Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2020 5:45 am
 (Lines by kaname423, Colors by Scarlett Arbuckle)
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2020 5:59 am
Table of Contents
♦Table of Contents
♦ Katori
♦ Rps & Adventures
♦ Inventory & Art
♦ Reqs
♦The Story So Far...
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2020 6:43 am
Name: Katori
Nicknames: Kitty, Tori
Stage: 4 (Mystic Path - Monk of the Four Elements)
Race: Ice (3/4) /Shifter (1/4)
Gender: Girl
Status: Too busy being frustrated by some feral Yaeli
3 Base Traits: Sassy, Daring, Stubborn
Personality:
Katori will not hesitate to tell you what is on her mind. She's very sassy and always open to giving her opinion whether someone wants it or not. On the plus side you'll never have to worry about her being two-sided, but at the same time you may hear things from the girl that you would prefer not to.
She's also very bold and because of her loving family has grown up in an environment where she feels as if she can do anything as long as she puts her mind to it. She also has very few fears and even if something makes her hesitate the girl will push herself to confront it! Especially if her twin is in trouble since she would do anything for Taaru. Only I can mess with him like that!
On that note she is also very stubborn. Katori will always push herself to the limits so that she can prove her worth and stand her ground. It gives her a very competitive edge where she will always rise to a challenge. Coming from a family full of strong mages and warriors has given her a sense of pride after all and she dare not disappoint them. Sometimes her heroic attitude will place in her various dangers, but until recently she never worried about her own life. The adverse reaction to a traveling companion seeing her in danger has taught her to be a bit more careful going forward, just a little bit. She's still very bold and daring though which probably will never change for the fierce hybrid.
History:
Katori was born in Zena to Eresin and Talisia. Along with her twin brother, Taaru, she was raised in the animal sanctuary and lived in Zena for her whole childhood and most of her teenage years. They were perhaps a bit spoiled but she did not mind considering the grand manor that they were raised in. When she was a teen her uncle moved in with his lover and their twin boys, something which only delighted the girl more. She loved spending time with her family and helping out about the sanctuary, even going on missions in Sauti and Tale for her mother whenever necessary. Still, she had a bit of unrestrained power issues and often would be more destructive whenever it came to more delicate jobs and training sessions. Over time they realized that she had a strong affinity for natural magics and with the help of both her sorcerer father and mystic uncle, Katori has learned to better harness her magic within her punches.
As a young adult she went out and about exploring the neighboring countries with her twin, Taaru. They pair was determined to see the world and find out all that they could before finally separating on their own paths. She also picked up a quiristine from some merchants and Star keeps her company through most of her adventures, the familiar opting to not leave her side even when she tried to return him home. Now Katori is dealing with another feral person she picked up along the way while slowly heading through Zena once more, the woman looking for an order of monks to help with her training while also guiding Finn through Zena.
Currently: Traveling throughout Tendaji.
Interesting Tidbits! -Typical hands on hip behavior when she's arguing for her point
-Great skill at making pouty faces, especially towards her father
-Has perfected the eyeroll in response to lectures.
-Has unnaturally strong punches, is known to break things often.
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2020 6:46 am
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2020 6:47 am
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2020 6:48 am
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2020 6:50 am
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2020 6:51 am
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2020 5:44 pm
♦ Prentice - Affinity Solo ♦
Katori had named the quristine Star.
It was a simple name because she honestly was not certain what to truly call the horned stallion. He was a beautiful creature with a soft white coat dappled with the faintest of blue-gray spots and his horn was of crystal decorated in various shades of blues with silver. Even his gaze was the deepest blue that she had ever seen and it was lit with a glow from even more silver accents that made her think of the early morning sky right before the stars faded away. His mane and tail were silverish blue and sometimes even seemed lavender whenever the colors seemingly shifted when he pranced about.
He had been with her family for a couple of weeks now and his wounds were mostly healed. Katori and her brother had found him in the southern woods near the Sauti border and somehow Taaru had surprisingly managed to win the trust of the creature. He had enticed the quristine to follow them where Katori and Taaru both took to helping to clean out and patch up the wounds. Her silver gaze studied the quristine’s side as she thought about the various nicks and scratches that had decorated its sides. Whip markings perhaps? The worst was the giant scratches that had been bleeding whenever they found the quristine. Some large creature had almost taken it for a meal. Katori shook her head at the thought as her fingers lightly traced the healing wounds that decorated Star’s rump. “No one will ever know in a few weeks or so.” She promised the quristine with a small smile. Her mother had done a wonderful job using her healing on the creature and the quristine was almost good as new.
If only Katori was not so destructive then she would have loved to learn healing to help the creature. A small, sad smile crossed her lips as she thought about how much better she was with creating damage rather than healing. At least this time she had managed to be helpful when it came to saving the quristine. Star had been starving and bleeding so badly that he was dehydrated and low on blood. They had to take turns watching him when he first arrived to make sure he drank plenty and kept his appetite while regaining some of his weight and health. She still did not understand how a Yaeli creature had come to be in their forest but part of Katori hoped to never find out. After all it just reeked of trouble whenever she thought of it.
Her thoughts were disrupted whenever the quristined breathed against her shoulder. The warmth of its breath startled Katori and she nearly dropped the brush that she had been using. “H-hey!” She chided Star though a small smile crossed her lips. He truly was a playful creature now that he was more comfortable around her. Days upon days of staying up all night to keep him company while he recovered had increased their bond. Perhaps she was not a complete natural like Taaru but she could do something! She had honestly considered becoming a beast master like her mother or even a rider but so far Katori was torn. She felt like she was a bit too destructive...maybe she could pick up the sword but even that had not fared well for her during their training sessions with Kukiko and Tryston. So what was left? Any weapons in her hands seemed more dangerous to her companions than to her enemies and magic did not seem to appear for Katori like it did for her father and brother. Perhaps it was a male gene thing? Katori pursed her lips at the thought as she leaned lightly against Star. “Maybe you could tell me, Star? What do I decide?” Her brother was great with archery and working towards becoming a sniper who used magic in his arrows but she was still a mystery. Her uncle was a great mystic, trained in the arts of magic just like her father whom she adored, and her mother was so talented with healing and taming beasts. But where did it leave her?
Star nudged Katori and she found herself nodding. “You’re right. A walk would do me wonders instead of just sitting around moping.” She teased as she placed the brush down and gestured for the quristine to follow her. Katori did not plan to go far. She just wanted to maybe explore the open fields north of their home that led towards the Zenan village that was nestled at the base of the snowy mountains.
However, her hopes for a quiet ride were dashed whenever they were about an hour from her home. The fields had led to an open path that twisted towards the village. Without thinking Katori had started walking that way out of habit and Star had followed alongside her. It did not take long for the girl and her strange creature to be noticed by others, especially those who had been on the lookout for the beast.
Katori had taken a moment to wash her face at the nearby stream, leaving Star alone to graze and rest up in the open area. Never did it cross her mind that the quristine would be in any danger but when she heard Star let out a distressed whinny the girl took off from the stream like a bolt of lightning. What she spotted twisted her stomach into knots and she felt the fires of fury spreading throughout her limbs. Not even the cool air of Zena could keep her chilled when Star was in danger!
"Leave him alone!" Katori called out as she raced towards the trio of Sautians who were surrounding the panicked quristine. The men had ropes and two held long spears which they prodded towards the quristine to keep him in place. They seemed to feel no shame as twisted grins crossed their rough features while they taunted the poor creature. Katori obviously pegged them as poachers, some sort of hunters who traded creatures to the highest bidder either alive or in pieces. She could only imagine how rare a quristine from Yael would be for their customers. Just the thought made her upper lip curl in distaste. It was cruel the way they treated these beautiful beasts. It would be no surprise to find out that these men were the ones Star had ran away from.
Others may have been more afraid or careful about how they approached the men but Katori held no hesitation as she charged forward. "I said leave him alone!" She repeated angrily as she darted to stand between the quristine and his captors.
"Git outta the way, girl." Hissed one of the spear welders as he turned his weapon away from the beast and towards her.
"Seriously what is this brat doin'?" Questioned the other, his dark blue gaze holding Katori in obvious disdain.
"Leave girl if you know what's best for you." Commanded the leader as he stepped forward, "This is none of your business."
"I beg to differ." Katori spat back at him. "That's my familiar you're threatening."
All three men laughed. "Oh? So you're the one who was harboring our runaway prize?" The leader leaned towards Katori mockingly. "Thanks for taking good care of it. I'm glad you brought it back after we've spent days looking throughout Sauti. To think we just had to go a bit north after all!"
"Star is no prize to be sold!" Retorted Katori angrily as she stood her ground. "It's disgusting that you think you have any right to a beautiful creature which you treat in such a way!" She spat on the ground towards their leader in disgust. "Slime like you sicken me."
"Watch your words girl!" Suddenly a spear was in her face but rather than flinch backwards, Katori reached for it.
"Or what? You'll hit me?" Part of Katori was raging, almost daring the rogue to hit her. Something in her was on fire and she was not about to step down now. Just seeing how scared Star was had triggered a protective instinct and something within the girl’s chest was blooming. The rising power left a sweet taste in her mouth, the aroma of her magical energies almost seductive as she egged the rogues on. She craved a fight. When the spear finally came towards her the girl grabbed onto it with her hands and energy crackled in the air about them. Ice coated the weapon and as Katori’s hand closed around the sharp edges the weapon simply shattered into pieces. And with that awakening the rest of the fight became a blur.
When Katori returned to the manor she was bloody and tired, her body worn down from the burst of unleashed magical energies and her mind still in shock from the events. But that did nothing to stop the smile from spreading across her lips as she limped back with Star supporting her. I suppose I have a spark of magic within me after all. She thought with a quiet laugh as she stumbled the rest of the way home. Who needed a weapon when you could just use your fists and magic?
It seemed that Katori was true to her heritage and would become a mystic after all.
[1564]
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2020 6:07 pm
♦ Growth Solo to Stage 2 ♦
The time had finally come.
Katori let out a quiet squee into her pillows as she flopped onto her bed. Her mother had finally approved for her and Taaru to go exploring! Or well rather to go on ‘missions’ for the sanctuary. They could go out and bring back injured creatures or help their mother by gathering rare herbs and such from other countries. Ever since Katori’s magic had awakened she had started training in earnest with her uncle and father so that she could be ready to brave the world. She had gone to Sauti for several smaller ‘errands’ for her family but she had never ventured much further than that.
“To think I can see the ocean in a few weeks!” A brilliant grin spread across the young hybrid’s lips. She was truly ready to go! Was this a true sign of adulthood? When she was growing up she had never imagined leaving home but now that she was older the urge to adventure and to see the world for herself had truly blossomed. All it had taken was weeks upon weeks of training both with her uncle and father and even with Tryston when he was here a few weeks back to prove herself. They had set up a large training course or rather a series of trials around the estate and Katori had spent a whole two days figuring out every obstacle until she was successful. “Just a few weeks ago I would have stumbled or broken my training staff midway.” She teased quietly as she reflected upon her progress.
Now it seemed that she was truly becoming a fighter. Someone who could harness the power of the elements in her punches and defend herself from whatever dangers lurked in the outside world. Saving Star from those evil men had just been the start of her journey and Katori knew that there would surely be many more trials awaiting her outside of Zena. But whereas she had been worried and almost too frightened to even think about such things before she was now ready to embrace the danger. The awakening of her magic and the strong emotions she had felt defending Star had changed something within the girl. She was no longer a child who wanted to hide in the security of her family’s home. She wanted to be the one to do the protecting. It would take sacrificing the comforts of home but Katori knew it was a sacrifice that she was willing to make. Any transition from childhood to adulthood took trials and sacrifices after all. No more would she have the comforts of a plush mattress full of feathers and piles upon piles of soft furs to snuggle up in. There would be no more of Zyphire’s cooking to warm her belly and no more of her mother’s ointments to help soothe and heal any injuries. It would all be on her.
Well her and Taaru. She didn’t plan on going alone. Katori smiled at the thought. Plus, it wasn’t like they would never come back to Zena. It was just the start of them traveling away for only a period of time here and there. It was more about the dangers of whatever missions they encountered! She was even determined to venture to Yael and return Star if he truly wished to go home. I suppose we’ll see once I get to Yael. She thought with a small smile. It would be a few months before she would return to the comforts of home and even then Katori knew it wouldn’t be a permanent return. But she was older now and more than ready to face the world outside of Zena.
[621]
After years of training and trying to figure out her own strengths, Katori has proven that she is ready to leave home and go on her first big adventure. She is growing up from being a sheltered child and is embracing the path of a warrior.
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 4:59 pm
♦ Growth Solo to Stage 3 ♦
Katori forgot how much she missed the snowy mountains of Zena. The girl had dreamed about them several times during her travels over the last few months but to actually see them in the distance touched something in her heart. While she was never certain of her future path there was always that constant feeling of home whenever she came to the mountains. The animal sanctuary would be just ahead and soon she could just lay down and sleep. However, learning about Nasrin and Taaru had given Katori hesitation about returning home. It sounded like they had some sort of plan, an actual goal for the future while she still felt uncertain about the future. Did she have a goal? Was she going to find someone dear to form a life with one day? Was that all there was for others? Her family had the sanctuary which Taaru seemed eager to take over one day while Katori just felt at a loss. Did she travel forever? A wandering adventurer, a hero for any damsels or mates in distress? Katori pursed her lips before shaking her head. Who knew? Honestly it wasn’t as if she didn’t have a life. It was just unique and a bit chaotic. Katori smirked at the thought before picking up her belongings once more.
She had already picked up a variety of animals and helped others, including a rabid Yaeli, but there was still something missing. Even if she continuously told herself things would fall into place there seemed to be something that she needed to find. Maybe it was Finn with his constant chatter about magic and that staff which was finally getting to her. Katori had always had a physical way about herself but lately…well it would be nice to finally learn more about her style of magic and how to master it. Maybe there was a place for her in Zena? She had heard rumors of a group of fighters who lived deep in the mountains so surely Zyphire or someone could give her directions to a mentor. Katori took a breath as she glanced up at the path before her. “I blame you, Finn.” She murmured before moving forward. The guy was always crossing her path and putting her in a bad mood but now he had put ideas in her head about magic!
At least she wasn’t going to start off without a break first. She would at least get to rest up for a couple of nights at home before researching more of this but it seemed like some sort of plan was set for the young mage. The rumors about the group of reclusive fighters had to be true! She was finally home in Zena but it seemed a new chapter of her life was opening up for her back in her homeland. She was not going to travel back south for a while and instead of helping out at the animal sanctuary the girl was off in search of finding someone who could help her master the magic swirling up within her soul.
[515]
Katori has always just roamed about enjoying life from one moment to the next. She is realizing that she doesn’t really have a set path nor does she have a true grasp of her full capabilities, especially including her magic. She is starting a new chapter by returning from her travels to stay in Zena for a while while seeking out a mentor who can help shape her into a true fighter.
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Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2023 8:12 pm
Nightmares and Recovery
Even when her body was exhausted and covered in injuries, Katori still managed to toss and turn whenever she was faced with the familiar nightmare that haunted her as of late. After getting some basic first aid for their injuries, Katori had limped alongside Finn to the animal sanctuary that was only a couple of hours away from the forest where they had nearly died. Her family had instantly taken them into the sanctuary and rushed into taking care of their wounds, her mother chastising her throughout the whole procedure where they set an arm back into place and wrapped up sprained and broken ribs with bandages and various healing ointments, but it was her back that had silenced Talisia. Katori’s mother could not say anything as she took care of the deep cuts and carefully stitched everything together with only a splash of alcohol and cleansing oils making Katori’s breath hitch despite the pain killing medicine that she had drank earlier. Every stitch was even like usual but Katori swore that she felt like her mother’s hands were actually shaking for once when she saw the severe injuries that Katori had taken whenever the chiavi cut into her back. She had never seen her mother so worried before. It had been worth it though because she never wanted to see Finn picked up and flung around like that ever again. Katori closed her eyes tightly against the painful memory as her mother finished up with stitching the wounds, the scene replaying over and over again at that moment and later on in her nightmares….
They were simply walking through the forest when Finn suddenly was overtaken by a large shadow and the chiavi swooped down to pick him up. The beast was obviously in distress and while at first Katori would have joked about Finn not being enough of a morsel there was no time for any humor when her companion was in such danger. For once in her life Katori did not feel remorse to see a wild creature getting attacked by fire, her panic over Finn’s safety was too consuming even as he lashed out with fire towards the chiavi’s leg in an attempt to be let go. In her nightmares the chiavi sometimes actually flew away or swallowed Finn in one gulp, as ridiculous as that could sound to others since the beast surely couldn’t open its mouth that wide to swallow an earthling whole. Katori didn’t care though, not when she was lost to panic and despair everytime the nightmare came back with a different ending. Sometimes the fire just consumed both the chiavi and Yaeli while other times he managed to break free before falling forever into an abyss that just opened up beneath them while Katori could do nothing but watch.
The stinging sensation along her back though which often woke up up eventually after so much tossing and turning reminded her that they were fine and that the real outcome had been Finn did get freed, even though he had been flung and severely injured as well, but Katori had dove to protect him from getting grabbed again at the cost of her back. Those will be some gnarly scars. Her cousins had commented, getting a peek at Katori when she needed help to put on fresh bandages. Revna had even seemed somewhat impressed, something that was unusual for the usually haughty and reserved child. Thankfully Nasrin and Taaru had recently returned to the area and it was Nasrin who helped Katori the most with the recovery process, the healer having a more in depth knowledge of curing such wounds even though she did admit the jagged scars were so deep that even her own magic couldn’t fully take them away from Katori’s skin. Well, it’s not like I’m looking to be some prized bride anyway so it’s not that much of a loss. Managed Katori with a weak smile as her back stung in agony even with the help of magic as the skin slowly healed back together. It was mostly her fault anyways for taking on such a request and going in so recklessly. So many wins over the years had made her far too cocky and that was her folly that day since she did not pay close enough attention to prevent the attack. If those talons had pierced Finn any more then his punctured lung would have been so much worse and even she didn’t know if her first aid attempt that day would have done anything to save him. The very thought made Katori wince as Nasrin pulled the bandages tighter. I’m sorry, was that too much? Katori had simply shaken her head before the hybrid left, leaving Katori with her thoughts and painful nightmares. It was not as if she could hate the chiavi though because she was simply trying to protect her clutch with those poachers messing around and forcing her to act more malicious than any chiavi Katori had ever encountered before. Of course she had not known that at the time and had simply lashed back out at the creature, worrying about their own survival over anything else for the first time in her life. Then when she had left Finn after stabilizing him so that he would not drown in his own blood, Katori had found the beast defeated and she lashed out at the earthlings responsible before tracking down the things that the chiavi had been so desperate to protect ....a pair of innocent chicks who were scared and looking for their mother.
At least she had some dried fish to feed them before carrying them back towards Finn. Katori had been in pure agony but adrenaline kept her on her feet as she limped back to her companion and settled in next to him. It was a rare moment to see the pair actually huddled together, no fiery words being thrown at each other as they simply sat there in silence with Finn’s cloak around Katori’s shoulders for comfort. "You did good. I'm sure she'd say the same." Those words meant so much to Katori as she silently allowed the tears to fall down her cheeks, guilt consuming her for nearly costing her companion his life and for indirectly costing the chiavi her life by injuring her and leaving her open to other hunters. Perhaps the chiavi would have lived had they not hurt her so badly. Surely those hunters had no trouble finishing the job…guilt knotted Katori’s stomach to the point that she felt nauseated. If she hadn’t thought to track down the chiavi’s nest then those poor chicks would have also been lost to the spirits, the very thought broke her heart even as the image of the mother still fueled nightmares for Katori. She would do her best to make certain that they had a good home, even if she could not take them with her on this upcoming journey at least they would be safe at the animal sanctuary with her family. Thankfully some of her cousins from up north had actually been in the area at the same time with Revna naming the chicks, Flyka and Pulma. While Katori was still bound to her bedroom, not allowed to do much at all until her back had fully healed, the younger ones interacted with the chiavi and bonded with them in her place. Revna seemed especially happier with the chiavi, which did not surprise Katori considering how often she found the girl trying to climb the rafters in the bigger barn to hang out with the large birds. If she had to choose a spirit animal then Revna definitely had a bird following her, whether it was a chiavi or something else, it was a creature that could fly and had a large presence. The girl was far too much of a free spirit and spitfire to be anything less than a bird of prey. She also hoarded things like a mockingbird, something that made Katori glance towards her jewelry chest that she normally locked tightly as soon as the cousins came over. If that ever went missing she knew exactly who she would search first though Revna was tricky and preferred to hide things away in a nest somewhere. Not like she cared that much in this particular moment, surely Revna could take whatever she wanted since Katori felt so numb to the world thanks to her medicine and guilt.
Still, as Katori leaned back in her pillows and tried to shove the nightmares from her mind she couldn’t help but to worry about Finn. Apparently he had been patched up and was doing alright despite refusing to stay in the main house once he had the ability to move again. Only Finn would decline staying within a solid manor with comforts to instead stay in the stables and still find the stables a luxury. She mused with a small grin of amusement, her arm brushing against the various pillows resting on the bed. One of her favorite childhood pillows, a soft blue one with an embroidered mammu, had gone missing and she could only guess where it was. I suppose I’ll just have to cuddle a different pillow when I sleep at night. She mused with a small smile despite her pain, her whole body aching now that her medicine had worn away. It was probably best though because she truly didn’t want to sleep again, not just yet. The nightmares were truly wearing her down and she hoped that once she didn’t need medical herbs and was mostly recovered that her mind would settle and let her sleep without any reminder of the fight with the chiavi. "You did good. I'm sure she'd say the same." Katori just had to remember those words and the tangle of anxiety slowly slid away. They were almost like a magical incantation that simply filled her chest with warmth and determination. She would just have to take care of the chicks and do her best to not ever make a mistake like that again. I promise they’ll be taken care of. She thought as she clutched a pillow to her chest, the square piece only decorated with various swirls of silver and blue. Despite not being her mammu pillow, it was a nice and familiar thing to hold which reminded Katori that she was indeed home. Even if it was only for a visit there was something soothing about the fact that she was resting in her old bedroom, the familiar crackle of the fireplace actually putting her back to sleep though this time her dreams were far more quiet and not full of diving chiavi. Instead they drifted to happier things and towards a far more hopeful future.
[1802 wc]
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Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2023 8:21 pm
♦ Mineral Springs Reflection ♦ Katori stood on the edge of the old farmland that Nasrin had bought to turn into a resort. How had something been so close to the animal sanctuary without them realizing its actual use? Several smaller hotsprings were around the land and the ground itself was warmer than most areas from the waters that ran beneath the surface, coming from the depths of the nearby mountains and emerging towards the south next to the animal sanctuary. It was nice and toasty within the natural cavern that made up one of the many hot springs that Nasrin was planning on utilizing for her healing resort. The cavern walls were smooth and pale gray with natural quartz and crystals shimmering in streaks and swirls of purple and white. The opening towards the back of the cavern was covered in protective glass that worked similarly to the materials that Nasrin was planning on using in the greenhouse that was currently being planned out for construction and the sunlight flickering through it was enough to provide some light within the enclosure while providing additional heat. Since they were actually underground, the pools were surrounded by crystals that jutted up from the floor that also glowed faintly whenever the sunlight didn’t suffice. Katori had been convinced to come inside to rest up after her injuries and so here she was in a light dress borrowed from Nasrin, the cotton material so much cooler than the heavier leathers and furs she normally wore around Zena. She had even given up her bracers with their embedded rune stones in favor of something lighter that wouldn’t be as heavy in water. The silver colored bracelets chimed together around her wrists the metallic material actually mined from a rare meteor which helped the little runes fused to the metal even more. The bracelets had been a gift from her father but Katori rarely wore them because of how much she cherished them and was afraid of somehow losing or destroying the bracelets. The bracers had seemed a much better fit considering her habit of getting into reckless situations, mostly fights with others and even wild beasts, but at times like this she would break out the slender bangles since they wouldn’t weigh her down in the water. She simply didn’t like having bare wrists, to be completely honest, and the bracelets gave her comfort especially with the runestones attached to them.
“As long as you don’t try anything funny, alright?” She commented glancing down at her side towards a gray and teal zanteer that chittered at her. Banditt, as Nasrin and her brother affectionately called the creature, was notorious for collecting shiny things ever since he had arrived with them from Matori. Nasrin adored the creature though and he did enjoy slipping in and out of the warm springs, the water a blessing for the ocean creature who still shuddered at the sight of snow and ice. He had tried playing in the snow before, the one time it had really come down when Katori first arrived with Finn, but the zanteer had instantly bounced out of it before going straight into Nasrin’s open arms for cuddles and warmth. Of course since Katori was going to the springs today it only made sense that she took the little creature along with her. It was not as if her other familiars, most of them larger animals like the raptrix and quristine, could walk inside to take a casual swim with her. Nasrin was so busy with renovating the building and making plans for that greenhouse that Katori had offered to take Banditt with her so that he would stop stealing the pencils that they were trying to sketch out the plans with.
It would be nice though if I had someone to actually speak with while I’m floating around in here. She admitted with a soft sigh, her fingers reaching out to touch one of the glowing crystals with curiosity. Katori had only been in Jahaur for a limited time despite having family living there, but she had always loved how the larger crystals looked while walking through the deeper jungle. If it wasn’t for the sticky heat and the oppressive feeling of trees looming all around you the hybrid probably would have considered living there for a longer period of time before going back on her journey across Tendaji. Still, it was far away from home and such a hassle to travel all that way back and forth so she stayed closer to Zena after getting her experiences in Jahaur and even Yael. Yael had been an interesting experience where she had brought back Star after saving him from bandits but the quristine had refused to leave her even when she finally found some of his own kind that he seemed to recognize. “I suppose Star really likes me. Right, Banditt?” Katori asked the zanteer who was already racing around the edges of the steaming pools of water, the playful creature playing a game of will I or won’t I? as he stuck a paw into the water before splashing away to leave pawprints throughout the cavern. It was almost like he was just waiting on Katori to finally stop procrastinating and to actually get into the waters first. Katori rolled her eyes at the playful antics, a smile lingering on her lips at the realization that he probably was waiting on her to make the first move. What was he afraid of? Should she be afraid to get into the springs? Nasrin had gushed about the minerals in the waters here though and how amazing they felt while helping to rejuvenate those bathing inside so Katori doubted that the waters were actually dangerous. Unless? Could she be trying to sabotage the family by taking them out one at a time in these springs? The very thought of her potential sister-in-law being malicious was too amusing for Katori to even seriously ponder that idea.
“Alright, I guess I’ll go in.” Katori sighed once more before taking a final glance around. There was some sunlight flickering inside but the cloudy sky outside blocked out most of it leaving the crystals to light the room. Nasrin had already brought in a blanket for Katori, a heavy woven mat really, but it was pretty with dark green weaves that had golden and silver designs of flying raptrix and the nearby mountains. She had helped Nasrin purchase it earlier that week at the nearby village. There was an artisan who was really talented at making scenes come to life and she had truly captured the spirit of the nearby mountain range that blocked their little valley from the northern area of Zena. It was nice being closer to Sauti so that they still experienced more of the seasons and while winter did bring snow there was far less of it than what the northern part of the country received. Katori still couldn’t imagine how Zyphire’s lover had a whole village that once thrived up beyond the northern mountains. That area was brutal from what she had heard and she could easily believe it considering the blizzards that raged every winter just above the capital city. She had gone that way once while chasing poachers who had veered away from the main trail and the whole group had regretted that decision while nearly getting lost in the blinding white snowstorm. It was not surprising then that Sylvirah was much tougher and had a ferocity that few could match. If she didn’t have such a personality and strength then Katori doubted she would have survived living up that far north. The whole group of hunters honestly amazed her even when she did visit the new settlement once or twice it was still obvious that they had endured a much harsher reality than most. She was just thankful though that they had found a new home and seemed to be thriving there now. Ziya had come over a lot during her few stays here in Zena with his father and was now apparently training with her own mother to learn more about tending to beasts as a beast tamer. They relied upon their bonds with chiavi and raptrix to survive, the hunters always having a companion with them even if they no longer lived above the northern mountains. Katori could believe it considering how she had been saved by their own animals several times over the years. Star even was helpful during her journey despite his peaceful personality and appearance. If anything the most feral and dangerous creature that she had ever encountered was actually an earthling who drove her insane half the time. The very thought brought a laugh to Katori’s lips as she finally took off her outer robes and slipped down into the warm waters.
Breathing in the steam, the hybrid let out a happy breath as she allowed the water to wash over her cold skin. It was nice and warm in comparison to the cold streams that she had been rinsing off in since traveling around. Even the taverns usually didn’t heat water so she would often just be splashing her face with cool water from a basin and scrubbing her skin with a bar of roati milk soap or something to try and clean off the grime of travel. It truly showed her how spoiled she had been while growing up in Zena at her family’s manor where the animal sanctuary was. They had the huge stone house with fireplaces to keep the place toasty during the colder winter months and there was always hot bathwater, even if she had to fight for first dibs to it. The brass tub had been expensive and she knew that her grandmother was a horrible person yet Katori could not help but to appreciate her expensive taste. Who else had a deep brass tub and access to hot water that was pulled up from the furnace room directly to fill the thing for a warm bath? The local artisans always made the fancy soap for Talisia since she helped out with the village’s animals, the local herders constantly bringing in roati and the like for the beast tamer to help patch up. Her mother also tended to mounts and any other familiars that the villagers brought to the sanctuary while helping to take care of wild animals that may threaten the village and cause chaos for traders. Each time she helped there was always a gift of some type. Even if the products were often prepared to be sold at the capital or other markets there was always extra to gift Katori’s family for their aid, especially since her mother did not charge for her services. There was no set fee or greed for coins really, just an offer to accept whatever they could and wanted to give in exchange. It helped that her family still had plenty of wealth thanks to her grandmother who had been a council member and potentially abused the situation by not being the best of people. Katori winced at the thought but she was happy knowing that her family worked hard to help others in order to make up for the darkness of their family’s past. So far it felt like it was working as well considering how blessed she felt about her life. There were some up and down moments, everyone struggled at some point, but overall she knew that they were doing good in the world. It was a humbling experience traveling with no connections, learning about the world on her own and even despite having money it was hard to get access to the finer things that she had grown up with. Even these springs were a luxury compared to how she was living for the past few years while traveling across Tendaji. Oba especially had been a hassle, it was hard to find the best when you were a foreigner in a land accustomed to catering to their own nobility instead. Katori shook her head at the thought, sinking further into the water and watching as the herbal petals that Nasrin had scattered in the water early floated back and forth in the slight wave she had created with her movements. Maybe it was best that she never had the time to take a soak like this. It simply gave her too much time to actually reflect upon everything and sometimes it was best to just live in the moment, not in the past or in the mess of feelings that she was still trying to untangle. How did anyone deal with things like relationships? She did best just dealing with her family and their insanity. Adding anyone else to the mix, especially someone who was just as explosive as herself and even more feral was stressful. At the same time though…well things would be a lot quieter and more boring without him around, that was for certain. So what did she do? She simply had to go north and there was no hesitation in that decision, just confusion and frustration over the implication that she cared deeply enough to trek through those very mountains that had nearly killed her so many years ago. I am a mess. Katori let her back slide against the smooth stone sides of the pool, the hard foundation scraping slightly against her back and tugging against the sheer dress that she was wearing in the water. It felt weird to be in this particular spring completely naked, at least for Katori, and so she endured wearing a dress and simply batted at the thin material as she pushed back away from the wall and swam forward towards the center of the pool where she could simply float around. It was nice to be able to actually use her arm again, the cast and bandages finally being removed now that her body had mostly healed from the fight with the wild chiavi. She still felt horrible about the whole situation and how the mother had been lost to poachers. At least she had managed to save the chicks who were healthy and being raised with another clutch that had recently hatched at the sanctuary. Ziya was going to be delighted with them and probably take them back up north unless she wanted to keep them. Katori pursed her lips at the thought, sinking beneath the water and simply blowing bubbles in response to the thought. If she could convince Finn that a pair of bonded chiavi would be useful for travel then it would be one thing but she doubted he even wanted to look at a chiavi after fighting that one. He could barely even stand the adorable mammu who had tried bonding with him! Out of all the earthlings to pick up…Katori closed her eyes and sank even further in the water as she tried to let the warmth wash away the strange tangle of feelings inside of her chest. He was infuriating but at the same time having him in her life had made her mature and realize that she had been a bit of a brat herself. How had they not destroyed each other while traveling together over the past couple of months? A mystery indeed. Katori thought as she tucked her knees up against her chest, the hybrid simply curling up into a ball for a moment as she let the water surround her and held her breath. She just had to relax and focus on recovery, not on this confusing situation. One day at a time, Katori.
She would go north with Finn to find his mentor or whoever he needed to find to resolve his own past connection, that important staff guiding the way, and then she would go find the monks and train with them for a time. Strangely enough though it felt like her own fighting style had solidified since she had grown more during her recent travels. There was still a wild spark inside, a fierce power that often made it easier for her to slam something across a field but at the same time she wasn’t recklessly using it and destroying things every other day or so now. Maybe she had found some sort of resolve without needing years of training in solitude? Was that even possible? Katori shook her head, the hybrid kicking away from the bottom of the pool to emerge for fresh air. Taking a deep breath, Katori let out yet another sigh before tucking her damp hair behind a pointed ear. “This is so confusing.” A smaller body bumped against her own and she nearly jumped until she remembered that Banditt was hanging out in the water with her. “Oh, little guy.” She murmured as the zanteer jumped into her arms, the damp creature curling up against her chest as she held tightly onto him. “Why is everything so much lately? I just want to help others and explore the world…that’s all.” She just liked helping others…was that so bad? Memories of the earthquake and the following rockslide that had nearly buried her alive still haunted her. What was worse was that while she was still afraid of dark and enclosed spaces, thankfully this place had an opening right there and the windowed area as well, it was the memory of Finn’s worried face and his following anger and silent treatment that bothered her the most. It was worse than when she had been chastised as a child who often got into trouble with her brother when growing up in Zena. Worse than failing a magic exam and later understanding that she could never do the intricate things that her uncle and father did. Worse than watching a mother chiavi take its last breaths leaving her with the baby chicks she had died protecting…all of those things bothered her but it was those worried eyes that hurt the most. Katori closed her eyes before a tugging sensation on her wrists quickly got her attention. “Banditt!” The hybrid gasped with a laugh, her worries almost fading away as she looked at the adorable thief who was trying to tug off her bracelets. “I’m sorry but you really can’t have those.” She explained as she bent down and lowered the zanteer back into the warm water where he began swimming around again, almost as if circling Katori and thinking of a new tactic to acquire the shiny things on her wrists. Good luck little guy. These are not going to be lost so easily. Katori glanced down at the bracelets with a small smile. If only her father wasn’t away on another trip looking for ancient relics then perhaps she could speak with him. He was the one who was the most in tune with his emotions in the family and the easiest to talk with about such things. Her mother was a lovely person, but far more task oriented and not as good at expressing her emotions. Maybe it was something in the family? It felt like all the men, minus her trickster uncle, could easily express themselves and be as goofy as wanted while the women were always fighting and not really good at using their words. Katori made a face at the thought before sinking back into the warm water. Maybe she could just continue soaking here for a bit longer. She didn’t have to go back right away, right? Surely it would be fine to just enjoy the mineral water and let whatever magic the water had work its way into her body so that she could recover quickly and be refreshed for this upcoming journey. If only she could turn her brain off as well and simply relax! A curse left Katori’s lips as she started pondering things again. This was going to be a long week indeed and an even longer journey if she couldn’t figure things out in time.
[3331 wc]
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2023 1:49 pm
♦ Change ♦ Flyka and Pulma looked cozy up in the rafters of the biggest barn at the animal sanctuary. The large pale gray building stretched out across the beginning of an outer field, the wide roof allowing the adult chiavi plenty of access for flying back and forth. Katori had finally gotten her stitches taken out and was preparing for the next step of her journey north with Finn but she had also wanted to check on the pair of chicks that she had rescued after their mother was lost to hunters. Thankfully the chicks had been adopted by Laurel, a tan chiavi with bright green eyes and pale green and cream flecks that resemble laurel leaves which inspired her name, and so at least Katori took comfort in knowing that the chicks were not completely alone. Laurel had actually lost a clutch because of an attack before coming to the sanctuary and had been eager to adopt chicks to replace her own. Katori had only heard about it from her mother and cousins since she had been stuck inside of her room for the first week of recovery and just now was finally able to make the trek to the barn after taking care of everything else, including checking in on the Yaeli who drove her positively batty. “Hey.” Katori whistled as she entered the building and waved towards the chicks that were cuddled up close together with Laurel. Thankfully Laurel was familiar enough with Katori’s family that she had accepted the other hybrid who resembled her mother without much concern and it didn’t take but a few moments until she swooped down from the rafters and approached the girl who reached out to ruffle her feathers. “Thanks, Laurel.” Katori smiled as she waited for Flyka and Pulma to follow suit, the babies just barely able to hold their own and having to hop down the climbing ramp that her family had installed in the barn for chicks who weren’t quite ready to fly like the adults. It was pieces of wooden rafters that jutted out from the sides, allowing the chiavi to use their talons to swing from piece to piece until they fluttered down to the ground of the barn that was covered in straw to cushion any falls. Little chirps and coos announced their presence as they hopped over towards Katori who reached down, a bit slowly because of how sore her body still was, to also ruffle their feathers even though it was still mostly fluff and nothing like the adult feathers of the other chiavi. “Looks like you two are doing well.” She mused as she offered the dried fish treats that the chiavi adored. It was best to keep animals, especially the larger predators like the chiavi and raptrix, well fed and happy at the sanctuary else they would start looking to the other animals like the roati as a good snack. So her family had devised several treat recipes full of nutrients to help keep their animals strong and happy, something that also aided the recovery of injured wildlife that came into their sanctuary though most of those were kept on the outskirts away from the herds so that they could learn to go back into the wild without getting too pampered by the family. Other than her family’s familiars, most of the wild ones left save for the ones like Laurel who couldn’t fully recover and found a home at the sanctuary, the larger chiavi actually missing a leg once she came into the light. Still it did nothing to stop her from hobbling over, the bird enjoying the attention and cuddling up to the chicks once they finished their treats. Katori didn’t mind giving them as much attention as they wanted though, the hybrid taking the chance to just spend some time in the barn with the chiavi. Next she would go to see the raptrix, maybe bringing Finn along, and it would be an interesting experience. Despite everything it was nice being home after so long and Katori honestly missed this. She loved adventures and seeing all the different places but there was just something soothing about being home at the animal sanctuary. She could see her family and just chill with the animals, spending as much time as wanted bonding with them while their presence comforted her spirits. Everything had just been so much lately with the journey and the loss of the beautiful chiavi was weighing on her. Not only had she caused it’s death there was also that mixed feeling of not regretting fighting, she just wished that she had somehow managed to avoid it so that no one got hurt that day. Speaking with her mother had helped a little bit to ease her frustrations, but then the biggest frustration still lay ahead of her as she tried to figure out the mess of feelings that she was having because of Finn. Who knew that the person who infuriated her the most also concerned her the most? They had so many differences at first and still exploded at each other in certain situations but it felt like things were somehow pulling together the more they learned and grew along this journey. It truly made her curious about what the future held because it didn’t seem that she was going to be joining any monks and going into seclusion now, her magic was settling for some strange reason and it felt like Katori was starting to embrace the fact that she would never be quite like the other magic users in her family. Still, she was alright with that now because she was growing into her own person who would find her own path and continue maturing as she experienced more and more situations and learned from them.
[970 wc]
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