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 Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 11:10 am
Vepkhia 1
Vepkhia thanked the wagonmaster for all of his generosity. She had met the old man a little outside of Oba and had instantly liked the hybrid. While she had never met her own grandparents but she imagined this man was what a grandfather would be like. The man who said everyone calls him Gramps anyway had also been traveling to Matori and then onto Yael as well. Hed been so kind to her telling her not to worry about anything as she reminded him of his great granddaughter. Vep had not been in a place to refuse him so she accepted his generosity and prayed to Serin for his safe travels. She attributed her safe, and rather comfortable journey across the southern portion of Tendaji to him. Vepkhia knew it would have made her parents feel better if they knew she had met someone like Gramps who had tried to ensure the safety of a young woman traveling on her own. But at last, she found herself standing outside of what her brother said was his home… yet it seemed impossibly large. Not only that but it was also behind a large, and busy, establishment that she knew to be owned by Kres and his wife. Vepkhia had a hard time coming to terms with the life that Kres had built for himself since leaving home and while she was happy for him, she couldn't help but wonder if she would ever be blessed in that same way. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, she raised her hand and knocked on the door.
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 11:11 am
[Kresimir 1]
Kresimir, despite being extremely nervous for his daughter's upcoming trip, was also extremely excited. His little sister was going to be here in the next couple of days and he couldn't wait to see her again after so long. It had been awhile since he last visited home and he felt a little bad about not being the best big brother and being the for his sibling as he had in the past. Yet he had his own family now and they had to take priority over anything else. Still, he was excited to have Vepkhia around for a little while and would be happy to escort his sister and his daughter to Yael. He had just finished up some small jobs around the Violet and was going home for the day. Kres had just rounded the corner to go home when he saw a tiny frame on his doorstep. His face split into a huge grin and he rushed forward to take the petite woman in his arms, twirling her around as he once had.
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 11:11 am
Vepkhia 2
The big bear hug she received from behind had startled her causing her to gasp in surprise yet she would know that laugh anywhere. "Kres!!!" she squeezed excitedly. After a couple of turns she was set down and righted so she could look at him. Boy had he changed from the young boy her age when he left home! Obviously that was a given since he was married with two kids, but his appearance had changed so much. Gone was her young brother who doted on her and in front of her was a man, a husband, and a good father. Vepkhia smiled at him once more before giving him her own bear hug, her head falling just below his shoulders. "I've missed you!"
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 11:11 am
Kresimir 2
His little sister was still his little sister, with some changes with the years of course. It looked like her face had slimmed down and he noticed with a worried gaze that she looked slimmer than he remembered. But, as she gave him a big hug, Kres felt strength in her that he didn't remember from before. "I've missed you too little sister. Come on inside, we'll grab something to drink and put your bags in your room. I have to admit, I wasn't expecting you for another day or two. You made good time or maybe your letter just made it to me late."
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 11:11 am
Vepkhia 3
Vepkhia shook her head. "No your guess on my arrival was probably correct. I actually got pretty lucky " She told him as she followed him inside the house. Her eyes went wide as she took in the furnishings. Things were homey, yet elegant. Refined yet inviting. It was clear they had a booming business and were well off and Vep was happy for her big brother. "Your house is amazing!" She thought she glimpsed some gardens through a window or two. The design seemed so interesting, she wondered what it would be like on paper.
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 11:11 am
Kresimir 3
Ahh, he wondered what the story was behind that. There surely was with a statement that starts with 'I got lucky'. Kres led his little sister through the hallway to the main living space with the kitchen off to the side. Smiling at her remarks, he gestured for her to have a seat. Kres went into the adjoining kitchen and poured some water into some glasses. Returning, he handed her a glass and sat down next to her. "Thanks Vep. Ito and I designed it together and I assisted some of the craftsmen in its building. It was a rewarding experience. But please tell me about your trip here and how you got lucky."
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 11:11 am
Vepkhia 4
Taking a few sips of water, Vepkhia nodded in thanks. "Thats pretty awesome Kres, that you and your wife did all this. I'm glad you found her, she seems to make you happy." While Kres was still Kres her brother, he was also so much more. He had grown so much in the time that they had been apart and yet she hadn't, she thought sadly. "Hmm okay. So just outside of Oba, I really had not been traveling for long I met up with a little caravan of Merchants. Well rather they were passing me by in their wagons. One of the last ones to pass had an old hybrid man. He stopped and asked me where I was heading to. I told him Matori. Apparently he was also heading this way on his way to Yael and offered me a ride. I was hesitant to jump in a wagon with a stranger so I declined politely. The old man, who explained everyone called him Gramps, said he didn't feel right leaving a young woman traveling by herself so he slowed his Quhar and he rode alongside me and made conversation. It wasn't until it got dark that I started to trust the old man. He offered for me to ride once more and I agreed. We caught up with the rest of the caravan and had a few hours of sleep before we hit the road again. So I didn't go much of they way by foot and Gramps shared what little he had in his wagon with me. Im extremely grateful to have met him along the way."
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 11:11 am
Kresimir 4
Kres waited patiently for her to finish telling him about his journey. It sounded like she got lucky indeed. Not only did she save herself some tired legs but she also had the protection of others it sounded like. "Do you know when he was planning on leaving for Yael? I'd like to give him my thanks for seeing you safely here if he's still in Matori." He leaned over and gave her another quick hug. It was so good to see her.
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 11:11 am
Vepkhia 5
Vepkhia pursed her lips as she thought back on her conversations with the old man. "I want to say that he had some business to attend to in Matori before he traveled to Yael. So I hope so! We'll have to travel to the coast maybe and see when the next boat to Yael is anyhow, we can look for him then!!" It made sense to Vep! It might be a little hard for them to find one traveling hybrid man but they would certainly try!
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 11:11 am
Kresimir 5
Kres nodded his head in consent. He wouldn't mind doing a bit of traveling with his younger sister. That way he could make sure she would at least survive on her own in Yael. He wasn't a fool enough to think that both her and Aria would stick together the entire time they were in Yael, it wasn't exactly practical. They both had different reasons for traveling there. "So why are you traveling to Yael? Your letters were a little vague." He hoped it wasn't a road with a dead end for her sake.
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 11:12 am
Vepkhia 6
The young woman was excited for this time with her brother. They had both changed so much over the years. And then came the question she was hoping not to have to answer, at least not yet. She sighed and fiddled with the hem of her skirt while she thought of the best way to tell him what she had learned. "So you know how most of the healers I've seen have thought that my issues normally point back to a deficiency of one thing or another?" She started.
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 11:12 am
Kresimir 6
"Yes…?" he answered hesitantly. Kres remembered when she was just a little toddler, the poor girl hadn't been able to do very much, not nearly as much as other kids her age. She had tired quickly and had to take lots of breaks. He always felt bad for her. He felt bad that she didn't have a normal childhood, or really, a normal life. It was why he had spent so much time with her in his youth. If kids her age didn't want to be her friend then he made sure that he made up for it. "Did someone else think something different?" He was skeptical. Kres didn't want his baby sister to be taken advantage of.
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 11:12 am
Vepkhia 7
"There had been a traveling healer who had recently met with others from Yael and Belrea to share some information. He said that Yael had a lot of different types of plants that might be of use to help strengthen me and my body…" Vepkhia looked up at him to gage his reaction. "I know I know…" She said after catching the look that started on his face. "It's a long shot… but we can't rule out the possibility right? Both Yael and Belrea are so new and different in comparison to the rest of Tendaji."
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 11:12 am
Kresimir 7
He scrubbed a hand down his face as he tried to listen without interrupting. Chances were someone told her a pretty little story to get her hopes up because they felt sorry for her. But, she was right. It wasn't something they could rule out. ”I remember talking about a training plan, did you decide that wasn’t working for you? Don’t get me wrong, Vep, I’m happy you’re here. But traveling to Yael….it’s not as simple as getting from Juahar to Matori sis. Even then, quite frankly you got lucky with finding someone safe to travel with. I don’t want to put a damper on your excitement, I just worry about you.” Kres was unlikely to talk to anyone else the way he was talking to his sister, the only ones he likely would have been his children. He never really realized how much he tried to be there for his sister when they were younger until he had kids of his own.
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2022 11:12 am
Vepkhia 8
”I did try…” Vepkhia said meekly. The young woman sighed, it seemed like no matter what she did there was no solution to her problems. Maybe it was all just wishful thinking to have a little more of a life than the one she had. ”I just feel like I have to try any and all options that might be open to me…you know? I don’t feel like I have the luxury to be patient. And if anything this trip has shown me that. It wasn’t the most fun getting here but it was an adventure in and of itself. I’m getting tired of always being patient and inactive, I want to try and take my future into my own hands.” It was the truth. Hopefully her brother would realize that. Kresimir’s approval of her plans was important to Vepkhia.
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