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 Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2022 2:29 pm
With the cooler months on their way, Luleta had been wrangled up to help with hunting down supplies. Their numbers were only growing, and she needed to collect enough to be worth contributing. She didn't object to assisting in the matter, but it sure could get tedious.
At the least, she had been sent off today for something a bit more exciting than grains. There were special wild peppers that were one of the main factors in a medicine for those who ended up suffering exposure during the winter, and they only grew at this time of year. The area was near the southern mountains, overgrown and interesting to explore, and far enough that it required a special trip like this. Considering its proximity to the the Yaeli towns, only certain Elarians were chosen to go as well.
The tank of a girl clambered over a fallen log and sighed. She would have preferred something more physical to do, like hunting down furs or meat, but she was still proud to have been chosen for this otherwise difficult job.
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Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 4:47 pm
1/7 It was time for the harvest. In the past, for Caolan, this had been a time for celebration and laughter - a time where he and his sisters would go together to collect peppers and moss and other tough-skinned fruits. Even back then, mother had been worried to let them all outside the settlement, but they were all together and, even if father was away for this season, she would concede and they'd go to gather together. There were so many happy memories, of back then.
But... then things... changed. Xenia disappeared, Kitya left soon after, father was still often away and... mother hadn't wanted them to go out, this year. Alfina was back home, but Caolan... was struggling.
He had two satchels, one slung over each shoulder, and was determined to not go home until they'd been filled to overflowing. ... He was... coming to realize that was a tall order, however, as he didn't quite have the keen eye for it his sisters' always had, and couldn't recall if the moss he grabbed up was the type he liked for his paints, or if this was the medicinal type, the one that helped numb your gums when chewed--
Ughh! He should know this! Now, though, he was trying to remember where those peppers were; the ones that... did- something. Yet another thing he couldn't remember...
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2023 10:23 am
It had been some time since Luleta had come this far along the island. As tedious as the task could be, the trip itself was turning out to be quite refreshing. A relaxed stroll through the forest was a nice change from her usual rigorous training practices. Add in the fresh berries she had found to snack on, and it was difficult to complain anymore.
Now, she just had to find those peppers. She knew she was close...
Ah, but it sounded like someone else was close, too! Her relaxed posture instantly flipped to alert and prepared as she dropped down into the foliage for cover. It was difficult to see through the dense undergrowth, but she remained still and vigilant. She didn't want to scare whomever walked nearby, but she also had no intention of being caught slacking if any threat appeared. Better to do the approach on her terms rather than theirs!
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2023 3:13 pm
(2/7) There was a noise, the snap of a twig that made Caolan look up, squinting, but as he paused to look around he didn't see anything except the typical foliage of the darker parts of Yael's forests. He hummed, shaking his head, then continued along, picking his way further along. His eyes lit up though when he saw one of the familiar clumps of moss, which he hurried to, dropping to his knees by the gnarl of roots the moss was growing along. He touched it with his fingers, then peered at his fingertips, brightening up when there was no stain of purple - so not the kind that made paint. This must be the right kind!
He fished his knife from the scabbard at his side and began to carefully cut the moss out. "This is a good piece -- oh... should I leave some to grow back?" He tapped the tip of his knife against the roots and frowned at it, consdiering.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2023 6:53 pm
Luleta tensed as the steps quickened. Was it coming for her? Had she been seen? A hand darted to her blades, and then... a head of purple hair passed by not far from where she hid. They seemed to be going for that moss.
Well, now she just felt silly. She tucked her blade away as the Yaeli talked to the moss. She had meant to just move on, but she couldn't help overhearing the question. "Of course you leave some," she blurted out as she stood. "You always leave a little of what nature is kind enough to provide us. Even if it would grow again from the roots, it's just polite."
Goodness, what had she just said? She was spending too much time with her cousin...
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2023 11:47 am
(3/7) Ah!! Caolan jumped at the voice that rang out behind him, and as he whirled around to face her he only just managed not to trip over the roots. It was a - really pretty, really big Elaria, and every old adage and warning his mother had given him rang through his head like a bell. But - he noted that she had no drawn weapons, and...
Well, would she offer advice to him if she was just going to kill him? And besides, as ... tense as things were, it wasn't like their people were outright fighting these days.
"Polite. Yeah - right. Okay." He squeaked out, blinking quickly as he hurried to put his knife away. "I don't usually uh-- I mean, thank you! For- telling me?"
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2023 8:47 pm
Though she did feel a little bad for startling the Yaeli, Luleta couldn't help a faint chuckle of amusement. They seemed to need a moment to find their voice, and she waited patiently. She took the time to inspect the Yaeli. That purple hair was interesting, but those stones! She was never going to get used to those weird looking growths coming from earthling skin.
"You're welcome." She smiled bashfully, suddenly self-conscious of talking to an earthling. "Anyway, I was taught that you should leave a little behind in most cases of foraging to encourage it to regrow. I take it you do not come out here often for gathering?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2023 4:12 pm
(4/7) Laughing was good, right? Laughing... definitely meant no gutting or stabbing. As such, Caolan slapped a huge, if nervous grin on his face as he stood up, wiping his moss-covered hands against his hips. "Not alone, at least." He admitted, before he realized maybe it ... wasn't? a good idea to admit he was by himself.
"I get this sort of - dark... purpley? Sorta stuff that I use to make paints - and I've been told those smother the good stuff, so I just take it all usually." He rushed to explain, scuffing the toe of his shoe against the roots. "Do you uh- need some too? I can share?"
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2023 8:24 pm
The earthlings were so little, it always surprised her to find one wandering through the woods alone. Of course, she knew that earthlings held plenty of surprises as well. "Oh. I suppose that is okay since it is destructive." Ah, using the moss to make paints? That made sense. She knew many plants were used to make dyes for clothing and items.
"No, thank you. I am here for something else." Besides... it was probably best to not ask an earthling to help with collecting for the sisters. The truce was still.. a touchy subject for some, and she preferred to pick her battles. She didn't need help, but that didn't mean she couldn't be open about what she was doing. "There are these peppers that only grow around this time of year, and they're only found in the grove a bit south of here."
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Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2023 8:57 pm
(5/7) She was so tall! And pretty- Caolan had seen plenty of hybrids, and the occasional Aishan, trading, but generally the people in his settlement shied away. Even now, years later, they were superstitious, especially those like his mother who were wary and careful of strangers. There was just something so otherworldly about them, with their antennae and eyes and-- big...ness.
So, he felt relieved that she approved of him taking the other types of moss. She was so polite, too - though his face crumpled a bit when she said 'no'.
It felt somehow anticlimactic, to part ways after meeting so suddenly. He was used to meeting people he'd see again. "Oh-- well, I don't want to hold you up. You probably have a long way home after." Caolan grinned, trying to be friendly, even as curiosity made him want to follow, or learn more about these 'peppers' she was talking about.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2023 10:22 am
Were.. they staring? She peeked down at herself before letting out a light chuckle again. Right. Many Yaeli were still adjusting to having Elarians around that weren't threatening them. She must have been a strange sight indeed to the earthling!
"Weeeell, I'm actually not in that much of a hurry." She tried to smile as amiably as possible. If they had such a big smile on, maybe that meant she could help positively affect the Aishan-Earthling relations! "Would you like to see the peppers? I wouldn't.. use them for paints, but they have other important uses. I am sure the Yaeli would benefit from using them as well."
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2023 12:24 pm
(6/7) Aw man -- he must've been SO obvious, because she was chuckling at him and he felt his face go hot. She seemed... pretty far from bothered about it though, and she actually... was inviting him along? His eyes widened, and he gave a quick nod, giving a final glance around. There was no more of the moss to collect anyway, not unless he took all of it - which they'd both established was a Bad Idea.
"What do you use them for?" He asked, curiously, as he fell into step, more than happy to follow wherever she was leading. "Oba has peppers they put in their food - is it like that?"
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2023 1:08 pm
"I appreciate the company. I am Luleta." It was strange to see an earthling so willing to spend time with her. Strange, but also pleasing to the peace-lover in her heart. There was no question that Luleta liked training and battles considering her toned physique, but she truly appreciated seeing others get along just as much.
"They're particularly useful for the cold season. Mostly as a medicine. It's used for those exposed too long to the cold." She glanced back with a slight wince and put more focus into walking slower. Luleta was large, even for an Elarian, and adjusting to walking with a wee earthling required constant attention. She had to make sure she was walking where the earthling could follow without too much trouble. "You would have to be cautious if you put these into food. They will burn the skin right off of your tongue if it is not prepared properly."
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2023 3:23 pm
(7/7) Lu...leta. That was a pretty name. Caolan tried to not act like too annoying of a fawning, excited mess that would make her regret inviting him in the first place. "I'm Caolan! Nice to meet you." He responded eagerly. She was so much taller, that he had to walk faster just to keep up with her easy pace - at least until she slowed down. He beamed up at her in thanks.
Then, his expression turned to horror at her warning. " Ohhh-- oh. Well uh - maybe if I bring some home I should uh... give it to a healer or something." He could NOT be trusted with something like that!
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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