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 Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 9:18 pm
 howthpost oneHowth was still shaken by the time they reached the outskirts of the city, hundreds of nightmarish scenarios playing through his mind. Ultimately, they all ended in death, leaving him to silently obsess over how his life might have ended if she hadn't been there to grab him. How he would have drowned hanging in midair, his body dropping once his cold, dead fingers could no longer grip his dagger.
Her dagger.
The dagger he had bought in Matori had once been hers.
The entire situation felt otherworldly, as if their paths had been crossed by some mainlander's meddling god. Howth chuckled to himself, still staring into the middle distance.
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 9:19 pm
 xaawopost oneXaawo had no issues with Howth's silence, perhaps because she knew it was largely due to shock. She had seen such reactions before—her less adventurous sisters looked almost the same after she'd taken them cliff diving—but it faded with time, no matter how sever the trauma. Either the person got over it, they learned to hide their insecurities, or they never left home again. If he fancied himself an explorer, he'd have to get used to courting death.
She would have been content to ride in this cart, watching the sun set and allowing him time to process his own mortality had he not let out such an emotionless laugh. Xaawo sighed. She supposed it wouldn't hurt to check.
"Are you all right?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2022 5:04 pm
howthpost twoHe jumped a little at the sound of her voice, turning to look at Xaawo with a strained smile.
"Yes. I'm... just thinking." Would it be offensive to ask? Howth supposed if it was and she left as a result of his curiosity, it might not be a loss. Not yet. He still didn't like the idea. Hopefully, she wouldn't be angry.
"Might I ask you... your mother. Do you think of her as a god?" He sat straighter, damp boots shuffling against the boards beneath them. "Sorry. You shouldn't... please don't feel obligated to answer."
Surely that was too forward. He already regretted opening his mouth at all.
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2022 5:41 pm
xaawopost twoShe had expected a reaction at either end of an extreme—complete evasion or some blabbering, fearful confession—but the response she did get was so far from either that she spent a handful of seconds in quiet contemplation. Clearly he knew something of Aishan mother trees, so she didn't feel quite as protective of the basics as she might have with someone who showed complete ignorance, but this talk of gods... where had it come from? She knew very little about Belrean religion, if there even was such a thing, but if he was looking for a place to direct his worship, Azehra wasn't it. Not for him.
"I personally do not. She is my mother and she is a small miracle, but she doesn't control the weather or cast magic spells."
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2022 8:40 pm
howthpost three"No. I suppose she does not."
Howth felt himself calming as he pondered her tree and watched the horizon. Their silence was companionable, and he was thankful that she hadn't been put off by his question. The cart eventually slowed to a halt and the canvas flap between them and the driver drew back.
"We're here." The Wind man was clearly intrigued by Xaawo's presence, but he was respectful enough, ocean blue eyes only darting her way once or twice. Howth passed him a tip for the smooth ride and concentrated on getting to his feet without wobbling. It was tougher than he expected, exhaustion affecting him more than he'd realized.
"The room I'm renting isn't far," Howth said. "Once I've dropped a few things off, I can take you to see the appraiser?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2022 2:14 pm
xaawopost threeThough she had spent a decent amount of time in this city between her various journeys, she had never had the luxury of walking the streets without feeling guarded. No one had ever approached her with the intent to harm, but the stares and whispers were enough to keep her on edge. Now, walking slightly behind the well-dressed Geian, she faded into utility in the eyes of the locals. The only attention she seemed to genuinely attract was from the younglings, and she met the gaze of each child that looked her way with steady amusement. Many of them shrieked with laughter at the acknowledgment, but a few braver children stared with open curiosity.
Howth continued plodding forward, not appearing to notice what was going on behind him.
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2022 5:03 pm
howthpost fourHe paused in front of a single story building that looked to be made of packed earth.
"I'll be right back? Unless you'd like to sit inside?"
Xaawo's response was little more than a shrug, so with a nod of his own, Howth headed inside. His plan had been to grab some coin and go, but when he took a seat on his borrowed bed, the adrenaline finally left him slouching at its edge, his firmly planted feet the only things keeping him grounded.
Today had not gone as planned.
After a few minutes of calm introspection, he thought he might have been almost done dwelling on the shock of his potential death... at least consciously. It was time to pay Xaawo back and move on. Maybe she would get a kick out of Jasla. Howth looked around the room.
Oh no.
Where had the poscuta wandered off to?
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Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2022 10:03 am
xaawopost fourSoon after Howth disappeared inside, Xaawo took a seat on the ground near the door. She spent a few minutes staring at the dirt beneath her and breathing evenly before raising her eyes to the darkening sky, intent on watching the stars bloom above. Soon after, she felt an unfamiliar brush of fur around her ankles and the brazen tap of a wet nose against her calf. Her golden eyes widened as she lowered her gaze to the animal prodding at her leg.
"Hello," she said softly, her smile spreading wide as she offered the back of her hand for the creature to sniff. It was a poscuta, if she was remembering correctly, its mottled brown fur shiny and well kept. It didn't bother smelling her hand, it just leaned right in, pressing its face into her palm.
"You should be more careful," she whispered. "If you go around trusting everyone who pets you, things might end poorly." Xaawo chuckled. "I could help with that if you'd like. Teach you how to use those claws." She ran her hand along one of the poscuta's long ears.
"What is your name?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2022 7:40 pm
howthpost fiveHe hurried back to the hostel's exit, almost slipping on a smooth patch of flooring and adding to today's mishaps. Howth nearly called the poscuta's name as he rounded the corner into the light, but when Jasla sprawled on her back, receiving the scratching of a lifetime from Xaawo, he paused, leaning against the doorframe to watch.
He was pretty sure it had taken weeks for her to let him do that, and he'd rescued her from a forest fire.
When Xaawo started guessing at the creature's name—Neura, Anadi, Disrin—Howth finally stepped forward to haltingly lend his assistance.
"I call her Jasla. Sometimes she answers."
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Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2022 7:57 pm
xaawopost fiveXaawo turned sharply toward the sky, the bright-hued sunset forcing her to squint at him. Howth had returned with amusement in his eyes, and for a moment it made her bristle until she realized the emotion was not aimed at her.
"A charming name," she said. Xaawo would have chosen something different, but Jaz would do. "Are you ready now?" She hopped to her feet and the poscuta followed, rolling off of her back and watching the pair with attentive anticipation.
This bit of silver was burning a hole in her pocket. She had to learn its worth.
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Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2022 6:29 pm
howthpost six"Yes, I..." He moved to scuttle the poscuta back inside, herding her with his shins, but she wouldn't budge in that direction, standing stubbornly beside her newest friend. Howth sighed. "I guess that means you want to come along," he told Jasla. "Only if you behave."
In response, the animal abruptly took a seat and scratched her ear.
"Okay." He supposed that was that. Howth loosely clasped his hands, pressing his thumbs together as he thought. The appraiser, a meal, then they'd go their separate ways. It seemed a shame. "Right this way." He started toward the thick of town, trusting the two of them to follow.
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Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2022 8:14 pm
xaawopost sixTheir destination was closer this time with far fewer younglings along the way, and barely anyone glanced at them as they passed, even though their procession now included a poscuta. Xaawo didn't notice the appraiser's cottage until they were right on top of it, but when Howth motioned toward the door, delight bubbled through her as she examined it more closely.
It was a dull brown dome of a building, almost completely hidden by vines and branches, which was probably why she hadn't seen it in the first place. The door was small for an earthling, let alone an Aishan, though Xaawo was on the petite side for one of her people. It was carved with an intricate selection of local plants and animals, most of the ones on the lower half worn by small, curious fingers.
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2022 5:32 pm
howthpost seven"This is it," he said, hands clasped behind his back as Xaawo examined the door. She seemed entranced by the woodwork, and he didn't want to interrupt, but when she stepped back he took it as an invitation and approached, knocking out a familiar rhythm before pushing the door open.
"Zill?"
The space beyond looked empty at first, but he knew that their eyes only needed to adjust before they would see all on offer. The last time he had been to the appraiser had been mere days ago, and he couldn't imagine much had changed in the interim. Carved animals lined the wall, similar in style to the ones on the door, their gemstone eyes provided by explorers looking for some quick funds. Wooden masks with shiny metal eyes and smiles circled a large, cushioned chair, and on it perched Zill, striking an eccentric pose amidst his creations.
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2022 5:46 pm
xaawopost sevenThe walls sparkled in the dark like she was standing in a field of stars. As the room came into focus around her, the stars became gems and metals like the nugget she had found. A Leaf man sat at the center of the far wall, a smarmy grin below his carefully waxed mustache. Zill, she presumed.
"Good day." She presented her silver. "I am here to have this assessed."
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2022 7:24 pm
howthpost eight"Hello, Howth. Is this a friend of yours? I wouldn't have thought you had it in you to bring me someone so interesting." Zill leaned forward, plucking the silver from Xaawo's fingers. "A good piece. Small. It would be worth more as a ring, if you'd like." He handed it back and finally looked over at Howth properly.
"How did the two of you meet? I've never seen such a stunning variation of Alkidike patterning and coloration."
Howth swallowed and glanced at Xaawo. He hadn't known her long at all, and while she hadn't reacted poorly to his off the cuff question about her mother tree, he had no idea how far her cooperative mood extended. Zill made it sound like she was a capramel rather than a person. Howth thought he might have been a little turned off had the same question been directed at him.
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