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 Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2021 5:11 pm
Another year had passed and everyone was out and about celebrating the arrival of the new year. Odina adored the celebrations and every time she saw others carrying trinkets to the great tree the little Vandrea always tagged along to try and offer her help, especially to the older Sisters who always carried so many things. She enjoyed helping and had already made a promise to the great tree that she would be using this year to train and become even stronger than before. She wasn't that small anymore after all and Odina was determined to prove it! After helping with a basket of chimes, her eagerness to help hang them around the forest showing in how many different trees she climbed to do so, Odina found herself walking around once more and just enjoying the sights around her. Still, it was kind of boring and she did have to wonder what the rest of her family was up to. Was Seiong also looking forward to the new year? Odina grinned at the thought as she turned around to try to see if she could spot her sister among those who were already gathered for the festivities. At the end of the night there would even be a feast and a bonfire along the beach to celebrate the arrival of the new dawn, something that Odina always looked forward to every year.
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Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2021 11:15 am
Seiong stood under the tree with a basket of flowers in hand, looking bashfully around at the other offerings hanging from above and strewn along the ground. All these lovely handmade trinkets and items were so lovely. Meanwhile, Seiong was afraid she was going to hurt herself should she try anything with a sharp edge or any sort of point. Everyone else was so graceful and skilled...
She set the basket down and smiled wearily. The flowers would have to do, just like the year before.. and the year before that... Something needed to change.
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Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2021 11:26 am
Odina had a spare pair of chimes that continued to make music while she raced about the gathering of Aishans. It was rare to see a bright smile on her face but she always enjoyed festivities. Would it be better if there was a contest involved with everything? Of course, but she was always delighted to spend time with family and friends on days like this even without needing to fight or compete. However, that smile slightly died when she found her sister and noticed her expression. Was something up with Seiong? Odina tilted her head and walked towards her sibling with curiosity. "Everything okay?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2021 11:44 am
'Uh-oh.' Seiong's face instantly brightened back up when she realized Odina was there and turned to her sister with a nod. "Yup! I'm just dropping off flowers for Azehra." She turned back to the basket, expression faltering once more despite her attempt to be cheerful. "I tried to find the prettiest ones that I could for her, but then I worried about taking all the pretty ones from the fields because I want to leave some for future pretty ones, but Azehra deserves the best ones...." She realized she was rambling, hand rising to rub at her neck. "Now I'm realizing Azehra made these herself, so I'm just giving her something she made...."
Change the subject!! "Are you helping with the chimes?" she asked, focusing on Odina once more.
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Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2021 11:52 am
Odina blinked in confusion at the subtle shift in expression. Was she missing something? The young Vandrea pursed her lips as she studied the flowers. "They're still super pretty and I'm sure Azehra likes to see them since they bloom across the way instead of up close." She finally stated with a firm nod. What could be wrong with that? "Plus a Sister said as long as you leave at least three flowers behind for every one you take they'll grow back in no time." Was that the problem? Was her sibling afraid that she had taken too many flowers?
Her attention snapped towards the chimes in her own hands as Seiong pointed them out and the youngling nodded. "I helped place a bunch of them earlier and these were extra. The warriors said I could hang them wherever I liked or take them home if I wanted. What do you think?" She offered one of the wooden chimes towards Seiong, the pale wood carved with twisting flowers and making noise even with the slightest movement. "Care for it?" Maybe that could perk her sibling up?
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Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 5:44 pm
She hadn't thought about it that way! Bringing the flowers for Azehra to see up close did help her perk up a little. Seiong nodded confidently. "Yeah, I made sure to leave lots of them." She smiled bashfully. "I remember being told three, but I always leave at least five, just to be sure."
Reaching out for the chime, she ran her fingers over the floral carvings. Someone had put hard work and gentle care into making this... "Do you think mama will be okay with this hanging in front of the house?" she asked, smile coming back up. After all, crafts such as this were made to be enjoyed. Even if she couldn't make one herself, she could appreciate that others were able to.
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Posted: Tue May 04, 2021 3:50 pm
"Even better." Replied Odina encouragingly as she nudged her sibling. Her expression only grew brighter as her sister seemed to enjoy the chime and the young Vandrea couldn't resist nodding her head. "I'm sure she'll be fine with it! Someone was telling stories about how the melody of the chimes are good messages being carried by the wind. I wonder if Aisha sends her love that way? If so then surely Azehra does too!"
She scrunched her nose thoughtfully as she considered the chimes. "Maybe even we can send messages through the chimes too? Like our desires for an awesome new year."
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 1:01 pm
Seiong's smile grew. "Good messages? That would be nice! The wind always sounds so pretty already, I guess the chimes just give it something to play with. Oh, I bet Aisha and Azehra pass messages on the wind to each other all the time." She liked the thought of the goddesses using the chines to pass messages around. It was so sweet and playful, with just a hint of sobriety from family distance.
"Us?" she asked curiously, gaze lowering back down to the chime. Her desires.. "What do you want for the new year?"
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 1:12 pm
Odina grinned happily at the thought. Perhaps it was a bit childish but the youngling did secretly enjoy having a bit of an imagination despite her attempts at being more mature than others her age. "Maybe we should try passing messages with our chimes. I could hang mine on the opposite side of our home from where you pick to hang your own." She suggested thoughtfully.
"Me?" Odina pursed her lips and flicked one of the chimes so that she could hear the melody. "Probably to just be as helpful as I can to everyone so that I can continue growing stronger and better at everything. Of course that means I hope for lots of adventures too! What about you?"
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 1:25 pm
Seiong slowly turned the delicate chime sticks for further inspection and tapped a few together to test the sounds along with Odina's flick. "We could make our own secret code," she mused thoughtfully, excitement for the idea rising. How fun would that be?!
Her excitement faded when she was reminded of her mood before her sister had arrived. Cheeks flushing lightly, she looked over to the gifts and sighed. "I wanna learn to do more than pick flowers, so I can give Azehra a better gift next year." she murmured with a bashful gaze. "Is.. that selfish?"
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 2:39 pm
"Oooh." Odina blinked as the realization slowly dawned on her. Rather than just whispering to the chimes they could learn how to make certain notes on their own! "That's an idea." She agreed with a firm nod, her lips twitching upwards into another grin as she imagined the possibilities. Who needed to worry about their family overhearing secrets if no one knew their code or realized that the chimes meant anything at all?
"I don't think so." Odina tilted her head to the side thoughtfully. "It's selfish if you're doing it for your own credit or to just be vain about things but to want to give more to others and Azehra? That's not selfish at all." She smiled towards her sibling. "If anything it's you being nice to want to do more like that. Flowers are still nice though!" She nudged her sibling playfully. "I know some who would just trample on them instead of arranging them so nicely."
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 6:01 pm
Seiong let out a slow sigh of relief. Getting the affirmation that wanting to do better for Azehra and the community was a good thing eased her mind quite a bit. Now, getting the skills to do that would be the tricky part... How hard was she willing to work, which skill should she pick, would she be able to do more than one... Like trying to pick a weapon, it was enough to make her head spin!
The nudge brought out a giggle, her gaze looking to the placed flowers with affection now. "They are pretty... and like you said, now Azehra can see them up close." She looked to Odina with a smile. "Were there any more chimes left over? I bet Briallen and Faenna would like their own to share!" Their sisters were older, but surely something like this would be right up their alley!
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 4:00 pm
Odina's antennae flicked happily when she noticed the shift in her sibling's mood. "Exactly." She agreed with a smile as her gaze swept over the flowers once more. They truly were super pretty. Odina blinked towards Seiong as she suggested extra chimes before slowly nodding. "I think the Sisters should have a few more...maybe we can catch them and ask!" She held out her hand towards her sister with a grin. "Let's go find them?"
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Posted: Sun May 09, 2021 11:09 am
Seiong gazed up at Azehra's protective branches up above, more hope in her eyes compared to earlier. Whatever she decided to learn this year, she was determined to be good enough by the next year's festival to be able to make something nice for the goddess. She looked over to the outstretched hand and nodded eagerly. "Okay!"
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