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 Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2023 6:15 pm
Quiana was a bundle of nerves. While she had recently acquired all the traveling herbs and supplies that she should need for a trip overseas, it was finally hitting the Elidae that she was actually leaving Kahi to go visit foreign lands all alone. She had at least gotten to say her piece to her grandmother, sharing her feelings and expressing her decision to track down her missing mother or at least news of her, and while things seemed resolved between them there was still a wariness that clung to her spirit. Her grandmother had been worried, but too weak to truly protest the matter and there was still some hope that she could reunite with her daughter at least one final time before passing from this world and back to Aisha’s embrace. I just hope this is the right decision. Quiana stared down the winding path that would lead from the Elidae encampment all the way to the boat that could take her to the Kahi islands and from there towards Matori where her mother might be living now. Quiana just hoped that Matori hybrid truly had some connection to her family, the markings were too striking and the rumors from the other visiting Elaria about seeing her mother years ago in Zinris were just too coincidental to ignore. Still, she found herself simply holding onto her satchel for a moment longer, simply staring towards the path as she waited to take the first step towards a journey that could potentially change everything.
[Quiana 1]
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 7:27 am
Qila had managed to gather up what she thought she'd need for a trip, though in truth she felt under prepared. All trips she'd taken previously were to surrounding areas. Nothing so far as to go to the mainland. She adjusted the pack on her back by the straps, pulling at both of them to ensure the thing was tight and not going to fall off. Her mother had expressed her desire to remain home but did not try to stop her from leaving. All Qila had wanted to do was go visit the other trees. She wanted to see them for herself. To know where Aishan's originated from. The thought was a romantic one but the reality was scary. She'd be crossing the ocean instead of looking at it. So there she stood, not even half way down the path, just kind of staring at the distance. Qila wasn't going to change her mind, she knew that, but it felt like she might need a little bit of help in putting one foot in front of the other.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 8:27 am
"Oiy, what is with the warrior ones blockin' the road?" The murmured whisper of a Kahi startled Quiana, the Elidae turning as a pair of merchants hurried down the path towards the village where the docks waited for them. The distraction was enough to break her out of her thoughts, the sounds of the world suddenly crashing back into attention like the distant waves crashing against the nearby beach and the sound of tropical birds as they flew overhead. The crowds were gathering, a ship preparing, and Quiana knew she only had a few hours to get whatever final supplies she needed in the market before leaving. A good meal would probably be good, also, that much her rumbling stomach agreed with.
Still, what had he meant about someone blocking the road? Quiana frowned and turned back around, her gaze widening slightly as she noticed another Elidae standing off the path just around the bend. "You alright, over there?" She asked, waving towards the other Sister. She looked like she was carrying a lot of belongings...was she also going on a trip?
[Quiana 2]
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 12:12 pm
She was too busy zoning out that she missed the murmurs of the Kahi around her. It wasn't until she heard the more direct question from another Elidae that she blinked out of her stupor and turned her head to look at them. A stunned look was on her face for a fraction of a second. "Huh?" When her eyes landed on Quiana she seemed to clear her throat and straighten up a bit. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm just.." Qila motioned toward the path that would take her the rest of the way toward the ship. "... trying to move my feet." Her eyes went toward the other Elidae and she offered a smile. "Its a big step. So I wanted to savor it." She looked over the other girl for a second. "Are you heading toward the market or somewhere else?" She had to admit to some curiosity.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 12:51 pm
"A bit step indeed." Quiana recognized the same hesitation that she was feeling a moment before and a warm smile crossed her lips in return. "Are you leaving the island for a time?" She asked before nodding at the other question. "I'm heading to the market for a bite before getting on a ship." Quiana admitted as she glanced around, her gaze skimming the crowd and also looking for anything that may look interesting down the road. There was something that lingered in the air, maybe some freshly baked bread or something that she was catching a whiff of and the Elidae figured she could try to track that down in the limited time left before the ship departed.
"Are you hungry? We could grab a bite together...that is if you're going into town as well."
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 1:19 pm
She took a deep breath in, though it felt a bit shaky, and as she let it out she nodded her head. "Yeah. I want to go see Chibale." She wanted to see the original mother tree. And since word had spread that the Alkidike were allowing some visitors now she was more than a little curious. "I guess it just hit me that I'll be going really far away." Across the ocean wasn't like she was going across the island. Her head nodded, the bob moving her antennae against her hair a bit. "Eating first is probably a good idea." The comfort would be a big help but also the energy it provided for the journey. Why hadn't she thought of that? The the invite to join the other Elidae came and she felt a smile instantly spread across her face. "That would be really nice." And it may just help her to settle her nerves. "I"m Qila by the way." That way the other girl had a name to call her by.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 1:53 pm
"You'll be home before you know it." Replied Quiana with an encouraging smile, the statement partly for the other girl and for herself. "It'll be interesting to see Chibale and you'll be with other Aishans while visiting." The Alkidike didn't intimidate her as much, but that was possibly because she had been raised by one. Her grandmother was a sweet soul, not one to truly intimidate her despite having been labeled an Extremist so many years ago by the others. Her other grandmother that she never met....well it was just a blessing that Quiana probably never did meet her considering the stories.
"Good. Then let's go find something. I think I smelled something baking on the wind, maybe we can find some pastries in a shop or a good stew at a tavern." She placed a supporting hand on Qila's shoulder, giving her a small pat. "I'm Quiana, it's nice to see another Sister on the road like this." That would mean that they could potentially be traveling together, right? Matori was on the way to Chibale...at least that was the first stop from what she had gathered from the others when finding a ship for her own journey.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 2:05 pm
Her head gave a nod. It was a bit scary to be so far from home, mostly because she was used to the terrain and things like that so there was really no surprises. Qila knew there would be surprises left and right once she left the island. "Meeting other Aishans will be fun." That had been another lure for her. "Nice to meet you and glad I'm not the only sister traveling today." It gave her courage to know she wasn't the only one with aspirations to go see the mainland. So with a nod she motioned for Quiana to lead the way. "What did you have in mind? I admit I was a little scatter brained and didn't even think of having something to eat first." She really needed to give things a better thought. Or at least think of the steps to take before hand. "Oh, pastries sound nice. Won't slosh around in the stomach on the boat ride." Plus something sweet might also be a good pick-me-up.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 2:33 pm
"Mmhmm." Quiana replied with a nod, thinking about her grandmother's own words that had helped out when she thought about traveling. "There's always a lot of fears about leaving for the first time, but it helps to focus on the positives and exciting things that can happen during the journey." She advised quietly as she continued along.
"Honestly, I was surprised to see another Elidae on the road." Admitted Quiana with a chuckle. "Not that I'm complaining, it'll be nice to have someone else on the boat with me." Her smile grew at the decision of pastries. "I can agree with that. Maybe they'll have some of those stuffed breads as well." The ones stuffed with something like smoked fish were always good and she could also just go for one full of berries or any type of fruit, honestly. Picking up her pace, Quiana glanced around the streets of the smaller village along the docks. It looked like a couple of shops were here along the pier, a good way to attract the attention of travelers. "Ah, I think we found a bakery." She gestured towards a larger wooden building, the one that had little puffs of smoke coming from a chimney. "After you." Inside they would find little tables and chairs with a display counter filled with different types of food for purchase.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 3:23 pm
"I always wanted to go to Chibale I just never really stopped to think about the distance." In theory she'd known she'd have to cross the ocean but when reality hit she forgot how big the ocean was. "I suppose I skipped over the journey when I thought about it." The way there would be just as amazing as the destination. "Same here. I didn't think anyone else wanted to travel so far." Qila was pleased she'd been wrong though. "Glad I thought wrong." As they neared the bakery the smell of cooking bread hit her nose and she felt her mouth water. Qila had loved it when her mother had made fresh loaves at home. "Mm, it smells amazing." She turned her head to look at Quiana. "Stuffed breads would be a good find. I like the ones full of peaches, have you had those?" While the more hearty fish filled ones were also good she was more of a fruit baby. Qila was the first to enter and when she looked around she couldn't help the smile that took place. It was an inviting shop. She made her way over to the display counter to look at what was available.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 3:58 pm
Quiana hesitated a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I'm not going to Chibale exactly but I will be heading in the same direction for a bit." She promised with a small smile, not really certain how to even explain her own trip save for visiting family that lived overseas. The Elidae tucked a stray lock back behind a pointed ear, pondering the whole situation before the delicious smells of the bakery distracted her more.
"Hmm...peaches? I haven't. I usually get the smoked fish or wildberry." Admitted Quiana quietly as she pondered the option. "Should I try peaches instead then? I may take some to go as well, I'm not certain what ship food will be like."
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 4:02 pm
"No? Where is it you're headed to, if you don't mind?" If it was somewhere another sister was going then it might be worth a look while she was out. "Peaches have a sweet taste to them and they tend to be somewhat juicy." Which had a tendency to make the bread a bit soggy if one wasn't careful. "You can try a bit of mine to see if you like it." Qila offered. No point in Quiana getting a whole one and deciding after a few bites she wasn't a fan. "I was thinking the same thing. I may take a smoked fish to go." Having something a bit more filling for later may be a good idea. "I never did ask how long it takes to cross the ocean so I'm not sure how much food to take." In case she didn't like what was on the ship she wanted to have something on hand that she could at least snack on.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 4:28 pm
Quiana paused, thinking about her answer. It wasn't as if Qila had asked about the details so surely it would be fine, right? "Matori. The beaches there sounded nice and I may have some family living there." She expressed with a small shrug. "Figured it was time that I saw some of the world, I love these islands but we have roots overseas that will be nice to explore."
"I do enjoy sweets and most fruits." Quiana mused, her expression brightening at the offer. "Sure. I can get my usual wildberry and we can always share?" She liked the idea of that. It was almost like a little casual meal between Sisters before going off on a huge venture. She did tap a finger on her bottom lip thoughtfully as she pondered exactly how long the trip could take. "I spoke with a hapuna once who said it could take weeks or even a month to get to certain areas. We should have rations on board, but it'll be nice to have something we actually enjoy for the first couple of days." Then there were little stops along the way, the ship picking up trading goods and the like before heading to Matori and beyond. "I'll get a variety of things. We can share the peach one now and then split more on the ship? That way we at least know we can share a meal going forward until we dock again?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 5:14 pm
She'd only heard a small bit about Matori. Not enough to know where to locate it on a map or anything. Qila knew it was on the mainland and from there one could travel into other territories. "Oh. Well beaches will make it feel kinda like home and having family there will make it better." It sounded like Quiana had a good plan for her trip. "I'll have to get a map when I get there so I know which direction Chibale is in." She'd only figured it was north and right off Jauhar. Qila liked sweets. Anything sugary was okay in her book. Ever since she'd helped bake when she was little that had been pretty much all She'd wanted. "Sounds good." When the other Elidae explained the length of the trip she thought about it and decided she would need to stock up on snacks. Or at least have something she was fond of for the first leg of the journey that would last. "You are surprisingly good at planning for a trip. Much better than I am anyways.."
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 7:23 pm
"Hmm. I hope so." Quiana truly did. The Matori Elaria hybrid she had met before had been a pleasant enough encounter so Quiana truly hoped that the rest of the puzzle would fall into place when she arrived in the foreign place. "I'm sure they'll have some in a nearby town or city. Merchants have to know trade routes, right?" She suggested thoughtfully. All it took was asking around and hoping that others were social enough and inclined to answer an Elidae's questions.
"I had some advice from a seasoned traveler else I would probably be at a loss, honestly." Admitted Quiana with a small shrug. "I brought medical supplies and even got moss from a Sister who advised it was good to soak up blood in case of a bad accident." Since the shop seemed quiet for now, Quiana walked up to the counter and placed an order for a basket of the pastries. Three wild berry, three peaches and some smoked fish and plain breads that will last longer. She noticed with a small smile as she handed over some coin. "See anything else you'd like, Qila?"
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