|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 2:55 pm
It was a busy afternoon in the Neued marketplace with crowds of foreigners browsing for wares and trading what they had with the locals. Kitya was in the middle of everything as she was gathering more supplies before roaming back towards Oba in search of her sister. Now what do I buy? The mage tapped a finger against her lips, her painted hands shimmering with fresh ink. Eventually she took a coin out and traded it to the Shifter for some dried meats that would last her for a few days before having to stop somewhere again. It was always nice to have emergency rations after all.
Kitya's biggest concern though was the sudden light weight of her satchel bag. The Yaeli blinked with confusion before patting at the leather satchel, her fingers missing not only one but both keldari! "Oh no. Taking a deep breath the young woman twisted about before moving through the crowd, her gaze narrowed as she looked for her missing familiars. They were usually well behaved but if someone had a good supply of crystals the pair of keldari would definitely try to sneak away for a quick snack!
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 3:04 pm
(1/10) Ydalin had never been so far from her home in her life, and so when her mother, Dannis, realized she was restlessly shifting, she had dismissed her, giving her a small pouch of coins and instructing her to come back by nightfall. It had been only a few weeks since her run in with a male hybrid, and her Elarian mother Maeve had ranted and raved ever since, furious that her bloom had been 'exposed' to earthlings. Her other mother had made a face and said it was good to be introduced early, and had responded by insisting that it was high time Ydalin go to an earthling village, and be immersed properly.
They'd left home to Maeve throwing things and shouting curses and insults at her wife, with her clutching Ydalin's face and murmuring that she was 'forbidden' from trying to make friends with the earthlings in town.
Which was easy, apparently, because there weren't any kids her age that she felt like playing with - they all were small, delicate, with the same strange faces the male earthling Verosh had had.
She'd gotten some rock candy from a merchant, and was crunching on it happily, watching the earthlings flit around - when she felt something against her hip. When she looked down - it was the strangest looking worm she'd ever seen! She reached out to touch it, gasping at the strange sensation of its scales, lowering her treat towards it - then grinning when a forked tongue flicked out, as it to lick it.
"It's good, right?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 3:12 pm
Where was her keldari? Kitya let out a sigh as she glanced about. Already a merchant had mentioned missing some crystals from his display and the mage had quietly walked along as if she had no idea why that would be a thing. Neither of her keldari were at the stall any longer and it was only a matter of time before she found them. Kitya continued whistling here and there, a haunting melody leaving her lips to try and catch the snakes' attention. Usually after they gorged themselves on crystals the pair would return to her or be found bathing in the sun for a nap. Mio was usually the first to fall asleep while Sia was her biggest troublemaker.
And it seemed that Sia was not sated. A hiss escaped Kitya's lips as she spotted the dark blue keldari with silver flecks lazily slithering in circles around a strange youngling, some sort of Aishan hybrid. While Kitya did not have her father's intense dislike for the Elaria the mage still found herself stiffening up at the appearance of the child. Did she have an Elarian mother or was she something mixed with Alkidike blood? Either way she has my snake. "Sia." The name came out of her lips more as a command and the Yaeli found herself snapping her fingers. "Come here." The keldari licked towards the crystal candy, moving back towards Kitya before pausing and studying the child once more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 3:19 pm
(2/10) At first, Yda didn't look up at the hiss of a name, because it wasn't her name you see, and there were so many people here she'd realized that voices could be talking to anyone. But then someone was snapping, and it was something Maeve did often to get her attention when she daydreamed, so she looked up - and realized that there was a strange earthling, snapping at her.
Yda was a friendly child, and one wouldn't normally call her obedient, but one also wouldn't call her the brightest, and so it didn't yet occur to her that the woman wasn't talking to her, but to the snake-like creature.
So she hopped up, and carefully stepped around the creature, padding up to the woman, who she peered up at. Even as far as aishan children went, Yda was tall - and so despite her clearly childlike proportions, she came up higher on the petite earthling woman than most children her age.
"Uh-huh? I bought this, I have earthling money." She said, brightly, pointing to the purse she'd been given, tied carefully at her hip.
|
|
|
|
|
|
scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 3:26 pm
Kitya blinked in surprise as the taller child came up towards her instead of her keldari. "That's nice?" She replied with a raised brow as she studied the youngling. "But you didn't buy the keldari, did you?" At least she hoped not or she would be having quite the word with a nearby merchant. Who just sold random snakes they found in the middle of the street? Maybe they would still have Mio? If that was even the case.
"Sia is the name of my keldari." Kitya explained as she crouched and held out an arm towards the snake, her expression almost gentle as she waited for him to slither up along her arm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 3:30 pm
(3/10) Why was the woman looking at her like that? SHE was the one who told her to come, wasn't she? Yda made a face at her, one her Elarian mother often wore, and took a pointed bite out of her candy, crunching on it. Then, the earthling continued, and Ydalin's interest piqued again, turning her head to look down at the little creature as it slithered up the woman's arm. "A keldari." She echoed, voice clearly intrigued.
"No, but they were hungry, so they were having some of my candy." Not true - the keldari had just licked it, but in her head that was the same thing. "Sia, that is."
|
|
|
|
|
|
scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 3:47 pm
"Yes, a keldari. They're native to Yael so I'm guessing this is your first time seeing one?" She tilted her head as she studied the strange youngling. "Unless you're from Yael and not Jahaur?" Where was she from? Kitya still had a lot to learn about these countries but something about the girl reminded her so much of the Elaria.
"That's the catch with Sia - he's always hungry." Replied Kitya with a chuckle. "I hope he didn't bother you too much." The Yaeli rubbed at the top of the snake's head, receiving a little hiss in return. "I'm actually missing a second keldari but she's more purple with golden flecks. You haven't seen her, have you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 3:53 pm
(4/10) Ydalin nodded, looking back at the creature again, smiling as it continued to flick out his little tongue at her. "Mm! I was born here. My mama is from Yael though - from Zinris. She never told me about keldari though." She bounced a little on her heels, already mourning the fact that most of her candy was gone. She considered going to buy more, but her mother was teaching her how to spend money, and had warned her explicitly to keep enough for her lunch, and she wasn't exactly sure how much earthling gold that would be.
She giggled along with the earthling, amused, shaking her head quickly. No, he hadn't bothered her. But... her expression crumpled a bit when the woman continued, gasping in sympathy. "Oh no... she's lost? She must be so scared!! Can I help look for her? Maybe she'll want the candy too?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 5:07 pm
"That's a shame. Keldari are some of the best creatures you'll find on Yael." Mused Kitya even though she was particularly biased because of how much she adored the snakes. So the girl did have an Elarian mother. Kitya pursed her lips at the realization before shaking her head. "So your mothers decided to raise you here with the Alkidike?" Interesting since Kitya could not believe that many Elaria would want to leave their home so easily.
A small smile crossed her painted lips at the girl's enthusiasm. "She may be more sleepy and less scared but I could use the help. Would you mind?" Kitya glanced about. "I'm new to Neued but any area that's sunny would be best, she's probably ate a bunch of crystals and is taking a nap." She glanced towards the girl and offered a quick explanation. "Keldari eat crystals and take long naps when they're full. I'm guessing she had her fill and is sleeping now."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2022 4:11 pm
(5/10)
What was there for a child to say about where her parents 'decided' to raise her? She just nodded, smiling brightly, eyes going round with intrigue as the woman explained her situation. "Sunny places... hmm... oh!" Turning on her heel, the child pattered back down the street she'd come from, antennae standing at attention as if, somehow, that would help her find the wayward snake. Of course, her eyes weren't very good, but if the pretty thing was as purple like the pretty lady said, she hoped it wouldn't be too hard to spot her.
The place she led Kitya towards was a bit more open, with a garden instead of the houses and market carts. There was no placard, no sign to depict why a garden was there. Notably - it was there to honor those lost in the Oban invasion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2022 4:54 pm
"Oh." Kitya blinked as she followed the child through the streets. It seemed the youngling had a destination in mind so who was Kitya to stop her? She tilted her head with curiosity as she entered the new area, the garden in the middle of Neued surprising her. "I was not expecting a garden here." She admitted since she was fairly new to the area herself, the meaning behind the place lost to the mage even though she appreciated its beauty.
Now that they had arrived though Kitya placed a hand on her hip to study the area. "Mio is lazy but she doesn't like being disturbed so she probably slithered some place high to nap. Let's try to find some good vantage points, okay?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2022 5:20 pm
(6/10) "They can climb?" Yda asked, loudly, turning back to the woman with glittering eyes. "I'm super good at climbing!! Okay-- okay, I'll look up real high for her--" She bounced in place, already spinning to try and look for the best tree or building to try and climb.
|
|
|
|
|
|
scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2022 8:54 am
Kitya laughed. "They can. Just imagine something squeezing its body around a tree and inching upwards, that's how they climb." She explained as she nodded encouragingly towards the youngling. "Just be careful, okay?" She was already looking about, her gaze skimming over the taller grasses and any bushes that looked ideal for the keldari. It shouldn't be too hard to find something so purple...
"I think we found her." Kitya stated after walking about, her gaze focused on a tree towards the edge. The lower branch was about six feet from the ground and there was a gleaming body just hanging there, Mio's body almost making a 'w' shape as she napped.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2022 5:30 pm
(7/10) Careful? Hah! She was an Aishan! She was literally BORN to do stuff in trees! Grinning proudly, Yda began to peer around, trying to spot the critter... only to gasp in relief when Kitya spotted her. The branch might have been in reach if Kitya lifted the girl up - but she wasn't sure if the thin woman would have the strength for it.
Climbing it was! Making a miming motion of rolling up imaginary sleeves, Ydalin swaggered to the trunk of the tree and began inspecting it for knots and other places to grab.
"Don't worry, Mio! We'll save you!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2022 5:37 pm
Kitya felt her magic swirl up within her chest. Even if it was wild magic the mage wanted to make certain that there was some level of protection just in case the girl fell. "Do you have crystals on you?" She called out as she watched the youngling start going into action. "Maybe you could bribe Mio?" Her keldari was fairly lazy unless you offered food then everything in the world was possible for the familiar.
Mio meanwhile barely raised her head, her tongue flicking out to taste the air before her eyes drifted closed once more. She truly wasn't even bothered to Kitya's frustration. Seriously need to start training her again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
