Welcome to Gaia! ::

This was the first time in recorded history, or at least her life, that Maia could remember being sent out on a mission. She'd just returned from her own wanderings, a few things she had gathered stuffed carefully into a side pocket of her bag. Like always, she'd gone straight to Chiro to show him, to have him appraise her finds. After so many years, this was still much the same thrill as the first time he had scouted her out, when she'd had that piece of pottery in her hand. She never wished for anything more than what she was doing. Didn't really know if there was more to it than this. She hadn't seen anything of Chiro's own work, just a few colleagues who had stopped by one day while she had been there. It seemed like the older Wind male had been quick to store her things away and shoo her out the door, but she might have just been imagining it, too distracted by the strangers had she been than she forgot Chiro was even there until he was opening the door for her to leave.

That was the only time she ever remembered seeing anyone in there. Not that she herself was there all that much to judge or catch anyone else. It had soon been pushed from her mind. Maybe what she had been tasked to do now had to do with those men. Chiro claimed to be missing a shipment from Zena. He didn't fill her in on what it was, nor did she ask. It was none of her business. Probably just something from his workers up there, not that she knew if he had any that far or not. Surely he must. Apparently said shipment was a small locked box that was now being kept in a nearby village, a few days travel away. He wanted her to go and retrieve it for him. Maia felt the responsibility of the task, pride welling up within her at the importance of it and her being the one being asked to do it. He couldn't leave the office. She understood this. So, after a quick stop to her home to restock and drop off anything she needed to, the Shifter was back on the road. She knew of this village. Had never stopped at it herself, but she remembered passing it many times during her own travels. It was an easy enough walk. Just follow the road.

She camped in the woods, just in view of the road. After a few days, the village popped into view, a settlement of Shifters mostly up in the tree, with a scattering of houses down below. One such building that stood out was the one she needed. A local gathering place where all the packages and mail were sent to await pick-up by the resident they belonged to. Without wasting any time, Maia went straight for the door, opening it slowly and peering around. A single person was in here, a man who was picking up an envelope from the many boxes lining the wall. He turned and looked at her, glancing across her clothes and lingering on her hair. Blue hair wasn't anything that uncommon in her own village, but she'd come to learn quickly it wasn't as wide-spread across Jauhar. With a sigh, she prepared for the usual questions. No, she was not a hybrid. Yes, this was natural.

The man opened his mouth and she braced her shoulders. However, the sound that came from him wasn't anything she recognized. The young Shifter blinked a few times, not realizing this settlement didn't speak a common tongue. Chiro had never mentioned it. Maybe he didn't even know.

Well. This was an inconvenience she hadn't anticipated. Maybe she could wait for him to leave and go search the boxes herself?

But he didn't leave and she guessed she couldn't really blame him. If a stranger entered one of your buildings and stood there, silently suspicious, she wouldn't leave them alone, either. How was she to communicate she only wanted a lost package?

"Hi." Seemed the best place to start. Maia added a wave, hoping the one word would convey that she didn't speak his language. He said something else, awkwardly waving his hand back at her. "I am looking for a lost package." She pointed at the boxes. He shook his head, either because he didn't understand or he was telling her she couldn't have them, it was unclear. She wondered if she should return to Neued and tell Chiro of the miscommunication.

Fortunately, someone else entered, asking in a more common language what she was doing there. She was able to tell him easily what she needed and was back on the road to return the retrieved box. Maybe she'd get to see what was inside it when she got back.