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 Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2022 4:14 pm
It had been an eventful week preparing for this voyage. Noelani was still grateful to the ocean goddess for giving her such a chance encounter when hunting for gemstones in the river because it had given her access to a ship and a sailor who was willing to go into the new waters with her. She had spent a delightful evening discussing plans with Theriar and after gathering supplies the pair had set sail. While she was not certain if they would get to Kahikina quickly the hybrid was simply set on enjoying the adventure. What if they discovered a new isle or found something ancient beneath the ocean full of gemstones and precious artifacts? The possibilities were endless! She wanted to bring back so much when they finally returned to Matori, to prove to her family that she was a successful treasure hunter just like her parents.
Almost a week later though that excitement was dulling down as days of open ocean with fair weather, just endless water all around them, had taken its toll on Noelani’s spirit. The ocean was still gorgeous but other than fishing there wasn’t anything truly happening. She could continue to just talk about things, even enjoying the nights pointing out the stars and the like, while sailing around but it would be a lie to say that Noelani’s spirits didn’t soar when she spotted the small island. “Look!” The young woman grinned towards Theriar as she pointed towards the first sight of land in days. Her gaze was bright as she glanced between the island and her companion, an idea swiftly forming. “What do you say to taking a bit of a break from sailing? Wouldn’t it be nice to see what this island has to offer and gather supplies?” Even more was the idea that was forming in her mind. “If the area is safe we could even try diving along the coast to see what we can find. Surely there can be some pearls at least.” That would be good if they needed to trade later on since surely all cultures had some use for the decorative stones, the Oban markets back home at least always were happy to pay for them if anything. Either way Noelani was eager to stretch her legs on actual land and to feel warm sand between her toes. Even if it wasn’t Kahikina it would be nice to see what this small island had to offer them.
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Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2022 12:40 pm
They had been sailing for quite some time. It was more pleasant than usual with a friendly lady on board. She had wanted to go to Kahikinia and as he had not ventured that far before he was well delighted. They had new kinds of water critters there and he was excited to discover some with his own two eyes. Maybe he could fetch some rare ingredients for Onora to experiment with in her cooking. They had been out to sea for a fair amount of time. He was definitely getting bored so she was probably nearly mad with it. The great blue expanse tended to do that to people. Hence why he had a whole library on board. "Absolutely, I am quite bored so I can only imagine how you must feel. It would be nice to stride around with something solid beneath our feet for a change." "Plus all the new species we might discover. You know I once helped a fellow alk hybrid (though his other half was matorian like yourself), search islands for rare plants and I'm afraid that thirst for new nature infected me."
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 6:51 pm
"I thought fishermen were supposed to be patient and enjoyed the peacefulness." Noelani stated playfully, her expression shifting from the island and back towards Theriar. She didn't blame him though for feeling bored since it had been a bit too peaceful lately. Even a few days of quiet sailing had been plenty enough for Noelani who adored the water but they needed something, anything to happen. She supposed that it was much better than getting caught up in a bad storm, but it definitely felt too calm for a thrilling adventure. The sight of land was welcome indeed.
"I'm glad you agree." Noelani turned towards Theriar with a brilliant smile. "I'm not exactly an expert in plants, but I do know basics for medicine." What was safe to eat when you were foraging, the best to make ointments for burns and a few other simple remedies but nothing too detailed. Admittedly it made her feel somewhat capable in the wilderness, but not knowledgeable enough to be called an expert or an herbalist. "It's a shame your friend couldn't tag along. It sounds like their knowledge would have been helpful, but maybe we can find some unique things to bring back with us." There surely were many things for them to discover, plants and the like included. Noelani gestured as the shore got closer, "It looks nice there. Should we anchor here?" She asked Theriar as she started to prepare a satchel, grabbing a few necessities for exploration. It would be good if they could actually forage for a few things. Even though Noelani had plenty of food for their journey it would be nice to extend the supply they had by finding fresh fruits growing along the island. Plus some coconuts or something ripe and juicy would be a nice break from dried fruits and jerky!
Noelani finished packing and glanced back towards Theriar. If he agreed to anchor here then she was ready to help out so that they could go ahead and explore the shore. "Have you ever gone diving before?" She found herself asking as she readied herself for dry land. "Once we make certain the shore is safe enough we can always do that before gathering plants and the like."
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Posted: Tue May 10, 2022 11:33 am
He posed dramatically. "Yes its true even fisherman have faults. It looks like a productive little island, and not everyone would come this far out of their way to go harvest it so I think we will be pretty lucky." He paused, "Diving? Well I can swim but I have never actually gone very far beneath the surface. I hear there are pretty things down there." Diving still reminded him of his old flame. He still pinned vaguely for her occassionally but he was getting much better. It had been a long time after all. "Could you perhaps give me a lesson or two? We can anchor here, probably best really as I don't know what the reef looks like as we get closer. Approaches to new islands are always risky as I don't have a map of the underneath."
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2022 7:51 pm
A soft giggle left her lips at the dramatic pose. "Well I suppose we all have our faults so I'll accept it." She teased before glancing over the island and nodding her agreement. "Unless we're already close enough to Kahi I doubt any earthlings live out here." She could not imagine encountering any natives on this type of island, it seemed too small and too far away from any of the main countries for settlements to thrive here. It was perfect though for a vacation perhaps or in their case for a relaxing afternoon to restock and refresh themselves before continuing onwards.
Her gaze widened with surprise at the confession but then again Noelani had to remind herself that not everyone grew up in a family of divers as she had. The hybrid instead found herself pursing her lips thoughtfully. "As long as you can already swim then that's a good starting point." It would have been a lot tougher indeed if she had to teach him to swim first! Apparently some sailors actually didn't know how to swim which was baffling to the hybrid. How dangerous could it be to go out into the ocean without knowing how to swim around in case of emergency? Now that was terrifying to think about.
"A lesson? Me?" She glanced over at him in surprise before nodding. "If you can trust me then I don't see any harm in it." Her mind was already going over the lessons that she had grown up with as a child, her grandparents teaching her as a youngling while her parents went on adventures. "I hope you can hold your breath well. I'll go see if I can find some reeds to help." She commented as she waited for the anchor to drop before opting to wave and jump over the side of the ship, her body slipping beneath the shallow waters before she emerged again along the shore. The sands here were beautiful and white, little pieces of broken shells crunching beneath her sandals as she walked along the beach and waited for Theriar to join her. There were some nice pools along the cove and Noelani found herself eyeing them as she secured two shallow reeds, her knife making quick work to prepare them for the diving lessons. She could hold her breath for a long time but she doubted Theriar could do something like that, not when he hadn't trained for it as she had.
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Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 2:12 pm
It was a gorgeous place that they had found and none too soon because there had been a lot of lovely..flat ocean. Too much in fact even for him. He was excited that he might get to explore the island and for the first time ever truly be able to appreciate a reef, so long as he didn't manage to suck in too much seawater. She swam gracefully seeming to be just as comfortable above the water as below. He was usually more comfortable above but it was time to change things up. Overall this excursion was very very good. He had been getting a little cabin crazy staying so close to Matori..for well ever. But now he had the opportunity to see new things! He joined her on the shore, swimming strongly. He too didn't understand why some sailors refused to learn to swim at least he hadn't been that stubborn. "Cute little island, looks to be abundant in all kinds of things." They could even stay the night make a campout of it if they wanted to. He secretly loved to chase crabs and spearfishing. It was so active and you didn't have to guess where the fish were as you could see them.
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Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 2:56 pm
"Mmhmm." Noelani nodded her agreement as she glanced around and echoed Theriar's thoughts. "The skies look clear and so I think it would be nice to spend the night on land for a change?" She offered with a slight flush, her gaze bright at the idea. She had spent time on the deck before, but it wasn't exactly easy to sleep beneath the stars on a moving vessel. It would be nice to camp for now and see what the island had to offer. Even if it wasn't treasure they could gather a few things for their voyage, the very thought of food making her eye some nearby trees. Maybe they had some of those coconuts that she could use to make a milky drink for an afternoon treat after lessons.
Now that Theriar had joined her on the shore the hybrid handed over one of the reeds. "Since you can't instantly learn to hold your breath like I can this should help with just exploring the nearby shallows." She explained with a small smile before gesturing for her companion to follow her. There was an area with jutting rocks along the edge of the island and Noelani chose them for a good guidance point since the silvery blue formations were fairly easy to spot in the sunlight.
"This may seem strange but if you ever want to dive you must learn to control your breathing and heartrate." She paused thoughtfully as she pondered her explanation. "The slower the better because it'll use less energy and help you to stay calm even when you go really deep into the ocean." She chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully before glancing at Theriar. "An excerise is a good beginning point and you can practice twice a day or so until you feel ready to try true diving. Keep your back straight, like this, then place a hand on your chest and one on your stomach....may I?" She flushed lightly before taking a step forward to reach for his hands so that she could help him with the proper placements. "You can breathe in and out to feel your stomach moving. It's a good way to practice taking nice slow, long breaths and to see how well your body handles it." As she spoke the hybrid demonstrated her own breathing, her motions quiet as she sucked in air and held it before releasing. Noelani realized she was still fairly close and took a sheepish step backwards before finishing her explanation. "Once you learn to control your breathing and work on holding your breath longer you can focus on training yourself to recognize that your urge to breathe is more of a warning system and that you actually can stay beneath the water a bit longer. It takes time but once you get accustomed to diving and learn your body's true limits then your mind will slowly get over that initial panic most feel."
Noelani tucked back a stray bang as she glanced away from Theriar and back towards the ocean. "Take your time to practice and once you're ready we can go swimming. Today we'll just rely on these reeds to help us breath instead of having to hold our breaths." She had seen a coral reef nearby and thought that could be a fun place to explore, it wouldn't require them to go into the far depths that she was more familiar with but it would be a fun adventure. The water was already so much more clearer here and not the murky color that she was accustomed to with in Matori. It truly did look like they were in some little paradise away from home.
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Posted: Sat May 28, 2022 8:38 pm
"I think spending the night would be most welcome you quite read my mind." It would be nice to have a campout on something that wasn't moving. He loved sailing and sometimes when he was on land he could still feel the ocean rocking him to sleep. But it would be nice to wake to the song of birds besides the ever present seagulls. Not that their songs were not alluring they were just a bit racous. He was also quite glad that she was not going to just toss him in the water like his father had taught him to swim. His dad had been in the water too of course but it would have been nice to have a little more verbal instruction. She showed him how to breath. "I had no idea it was this complicated, I'm glad I have a teacher." He tested his reed out with sheer curiousity. "Fancy yet simple." "You have no idea how long I've wanted to see properly what is below the waves and the beloved deck of my boat. I haven't been really excited about something for a very long time."
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Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2022 5:52 pm
"Mmhmm. I guess it's not a hard guess considering the last few days on the ocean." Mused Noelani with a small smile. She figured they both could use a break from the rolling ocean waves and spend some time on the land before they forgot what it was like to walk on solid ground. Even though she was eager for the islands that awaited them the girl still wanted to take her time and explore the world that she had been hidden from for so long. It was still crazy to think about how the fates had aligned and allowed her to make such a companion who would go out to sea with her.
"It does take a bit more work than one would think." Agreed Noelani about the deep diving lessons. She definitely did not expect Theriar to adapt right away since it had taken her years to become the diver that she was today but it was nice knowing that she could show him the basics in case he did want to take it up in the future. A smile lit up her expression as she nodded at his interest in diving. "I'm glad to help you experience this then." The hybrid acknowledged before unwrapping her side skirt and placing it gingerly on the beach, a few shells weighing it down until she returned. Now that she was in simple leggings and a basic shirt Noelani was ready to move forward.
"Let's just start with swimming and then we can explore the reefs here." She grinned towards Theriar. "Right off the boat just to get back into the water, isn't it a bit ironic?" Not that she minded. Noelani adored swimming and it was nice to know that they would have a solid place to sleep tonight once they came back. She would have to check for a spring later and see what other things she could gather once she grabbed some of those coconuts.
Without further hesitation the hybrid slipped into the water, her fingers moving to gesture Theriar after her before she slipped under the crystal waters. After a moment she found her gaze opening again, her eyes accustomed to the initial sting of salt water. The world around her was vibrant and Noelani found her lips curving upwards into another smile. There was a rainbow of coral here with so many vivid fish darting back and forth! She lingered a moment longer before popping up again to look for Theriar. "You'll like it down there. It's beautiful!" She called out, her damp curls hugging her neck from where some had escaped her braid during the short swim she had taken around the reef to check things out.
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 4:30 pm
Theriar fiddled with the reed a bit then adjusted it until it was comfortable and then paddled strongly out to join her, wincing as the cool sea water encased his shoulders which the sun had been patiently baking all day. After the initial shock though the water was a huge relief as was being able to properly stretch out and swim. Ahhhh, he loved sailing but even the biggest ships felt cramped after however many days on the sea. Curiously he bobbed beside her and dunked his head in, careful not to let the reed tip submerge. His breathing was fast but he was delighted to see the colorful fish in their natural habitat and not have to gasp for air by bringing his head up and ruining the whole spell. "This is spectacular! What an awesome trick!" Trelenwy had always made this look so easy and he hadn't realized how much life was down there from spending most of his time looking at the surface. "They are so cute." The years fell away from him and he felt like a little kid.
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2022 7:47 pm
A laugh escaped Noelani at Theriar's obvious excitement. "I'm glad!" She grinned at him happily before darting back beneath the waves, her body slipping away through the coral reef. Noelani took her time exploring a bit more, keeping an eye out for Theriar in case he needed her help, before she emerged once again. This time though the hybrid had an armful of clams as she floated near Theriar. "Feel free to explore more if you'd like, the reed should make it easy enough as long as you don't go too deep." She kicked through the water past Theriar, her gaze alight with energy brought back by their ocean excursion.
"If we're setting camp up here for the night I can prepare some dinner. Fresh clams and I can make a drink out of the coconuts." Noelani offered as she started to float closer towards the shore, her voice raising to make certain Theriar could hear her. "Do you think you could gather some fish, mister fisherman?" Some smoked fish, fresh clams and coconut smoothies sounded like a good dinner for Noelani. Maybe there were even some berries or vegetables in the denser jungle area? She wasn't exactly adept at cooking on a moving ship just yet but now that they were on more solid ground the girl was eager to do her best. Her grandmother was a great cook and had taught Noelani a lot, something to keep her entertained since she couldn't go out and about like most of the other younglings her age. Being kept at home could only allow her to do so many things and so while Noelani learned a lot about diving and treasure hunting she had also picked up a lot of home skills like cooking and crafting.
Noelani was careful not to drop the bundle of clams as she climbed out of the water, opting to keep her skirt off to allow her leggings to dry in the sunlight, and it wouldn't be long before she had gathered some wood for a fire and a pot for the clams.
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Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2022 2:01 pm
He floated about joyfully in the water having absolutely the best time floating about, watching the sharks and fish and crustaceans perform their ancient dances and oddly he didn't feel afraid like he thought he would. It was so beautiful down there like a new world. He got brave and held his breath coming up with a lobster for the pot and blowing hard through the reed when he reached the surface to clear the stalk of water. It wasn't a deep dive but it was progress and the reward was worth it. Lobster clam and fish, the ocean was full of bounty here on this remote little island. He would have to take Onora here one day, he would mark the coordinates on his map. "You bet I can get fish!" He struck out for the ship and put some lines out with bait. "The bait does most of the work." Then he joined Noelani on shore to help with what he could before going back to check the lines.
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Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2022 3:16 pm
While Theriar went to put out the lines for the fish, Noelani found herself walking around the small stretch of jungle that went through the island. She made certain not to wander too far away from the ship and thankfully found a few things nearby to help with the meal. Her hands were covered with dirt by the time she came back to the shore and she had to rinse them off quickly in the ocean but it was worth it since she had dug up some wild ginger that would mix in well with the coconut milk. The coconuts she had pulled from the tree were quickly bashed against a rock, the shells splitting almost perfectly in half from experience. Noelani carved out the shells for cups and after pouring the creamy coconut milk through a thin cloth, the material straining the liquid the best that it could, she made certain to add in some ginger and cinnamon that she had brought along to help spice the drinks. "Some syrup to make it sweeter and there we go." She beamed as she shook their drinks up and then closed the lid on the small jar of maple syrup that she had also tucked away in her satchel bag for their voyage. She had a bit of a sweet tooth and she couldn't imagine sailing away without a little bit of sweets in her belongings after all.
"Hmm?" Noelani blinked as she saw Theriar coming back from the ship, a small smile gracing her lips as she gestured towards the drinks sitting on a rather flat rock that she had used for a table. "I made drinks and the water is boiling. I'll toss the clams and your lobster in now. Feel free to grab a drink and take the clams once their shells open." A good meal was the least she could offer since he had tagged along on this voyage with her. Noelani let out a breath as she enjoyed the ocean breeze, the refreshing air lifting her spirits as she walked across the sand to grab at one of the coconut drinks. Now that the clams and lobster were boiling in the pot above the fire she could finally relax. "What do you think? Is this a good enough break?" She teased quietly, her shyness having mostly faded since spending the last few days on the ocean with her companion.
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:34 pm
He was more than impressed by her cuisine skills. "This is amazing! Much better than regular ship fare let me tell you, especially when one's ship is a fishing vessel." He handed her the lobster and gratefully accepted one of the deliscious cooling drinks. He hummed with pleasure as the liquid soothed his wind burnt lips. "Very good!" The smell from the pot on the fire was tantalizing as well. "We could stay for a day or two? I feel like one night might not be enough to discover all of this remote island's secrets."
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Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2022 6:58 am
A light flush decorated Noelani's cheeks at the compliments. "Thank you." She replied with a small smile, her fingers curling around her drink so that she could lift the coconut shell and take another sip. "My family was fairly isolated so I learned to be pretty self-reliant when I was younger. It's also not like we never ate seafood since we lived and thrived by the ocean. How about you? Did you grow up mostly in Matori or is it rude for me to ask?" The ocean brought them their lives and Noelani was raised to respect and work with it. She took the lobster and began cutting it open with one of her knives. It would be a lie to say that she wasn't more accustomed to this type of fare and so of course she felt confident with this meal. "I can handle this but I'm not professional cook. So let's see how you feel after a few more weeks together on the ocean." She teased lightly as she tore pieces of the lobster off and passed it back towards Theriar. Fresh seafood was always delicious and Noelani just wished they had more spices, a bit because of how many her family always brought home with them from Oba which she loved to make into chowders and curries.
Noelani blinked in surprise at the suggestion before slowly nodding. "I suppose that's a good idea. We could rest up and get more supplies from the island since we're not certain how long it'll take to reach Kahikina." The mysterious new islands were quite the distance after all and so Noelani was bracing herself for a long trip with her companion. As she finished a few more bites of her food the hybrid found herself grinning at Theriar. "Maybe this island will also have some rare treasures hidden inside. That would be exciting."
Her gaze drifted towards the sky and the hybrid found herself relaxing more as she took another sip of her drink and finished her lobsters, preparing herself to reach for the clams now that they were open and ready for eating. "The sky looks clear. If we have a crimson sunset then we should have a good day tomorrow." Red sky at night, sailor's delight. The phrase floated through Noelani's mind as she studied the surrounding beach, her gaze thoughtful as she tried to pick out a nice place to set up camp for the night. Probably somewhere a bit further back from the shore? It would be bad if they got caught by the tide after all.
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