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 Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2024 8:55 pm
Kechiri 1
It had been about two weeks of living off the land and avoiding pirate scum, she was hopefully closer to civilization at this point. Her dress was in sad tatters, her hair was matted and full of twigs from all of the mad dash bushwacking she had had to do over however many days it had been, she had sort of lost count at this point.
She longed for food she didn't have to hunt and cook herself, and even more so for a hot luxurious bath with all of the best soaps she could import. Might as well be floating among rose petals too.
Eventually she came to an open meadow, a pair of snaptrotter basked in the far corner. A wiff of woodsmoke caught her attention and she made to cautiously follow the smell. It would not do to blithely stumble upon those she had been working so hard to avoid. But it could also be help or a passing traveller that might part with a bit of bread. She missed bread. She was definitely in need as proud as she was her stomach had priority.
Her body was starting to show the ribs, though she was eating asmuch as she could forage and hunt, she was also pushing to cover as much ground as she could per day in order to get home and start her revenge arc. And she would get revenge.
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Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2024 9:06 pm
Raolvar 1
He had been in the outback, wandering tendaji as he wanted and had finally come back to Matori. He felt unacustomly antsy which usually wasn't a problem after his longer ventures in the bush. It was finally happening, he was getting lonely. He wanted to meet someone to share his life with. He had thought this day would never come, he thought that the bush would have been enough. It wasn't. He craved companionship and human talk. He had thought he might have found something in Masika but nothing had ever sparked between them, which was okay, he would get the necklace from her eventually, she had at least kept that safe for him, or he would just let it go, he was not sure.
He had made camp as was busy preparing food, when a twig snapped near by.
He put a hand on his dagger and looked up to see a solid specter just beyond the light of the cook fire. Face wreathed in shadow the slight frame wavered in the light. Had he by chance fallen asleep? "Hello?" He called. Hecking curious now. "Can I er help you?" He had enough food, he could offer some bush hospitality it looked like his guest was female.
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Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2024 9:13 pm
Kechiri 2
She swore softly when the unseen twig broke under her foot, she had just figured out the man at the campfire was not one of the evil pirates that had sunk her precious ship. The flames flickered and illuminated a familiar face.
An iceling that happened to be best friends with her Uncle Thal. She tried to speak but after so long not using her voice she found it thick and raspy, clearing her throat and trying to resummon her voice. I am Thal's niece, I beg your help. I need to get home, I am being hunted by pirates."
There, quick concise and to the point. Sensing safety her knees wobbled with exhaustion. She took a stumbling step forward and reached out a hand. She was woefully lacking in strength and was hungry and very tired after walking for what felt like forever. She was sure he would help, Uncle Thal had a good eye for people and Raol had been Thal's friend for ages. Slowly she sank down the the ground, too tired to continue any further now that safety was in reach.
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2024 12:51 pm
Raolvar 2
He rushed to the woman's side, finally recognizing her despite the tangles mass of hair and coating of dirt. He helped her over to the fire and then he dug out his cloak and some of his warmer clothes to bundle her in. He boosted up the fire and gave her some warmed broth. Anything to tide her over until he could get real food into her. He stirred the meal pensively. "Pirates huh. What happened to your ship?" He hadn't seen her often since she had come of age and went harring off to sea, though he too had been lost in the green tree sauce inland for most of that time anyway. "Your family must be worried about you."
He penned a note to be sent by messenger bird the next day,. That would at least give her family an idea of where she was and that she was at least with him now. She still looked quite cold. It must not have been an easy time for her out here. SHe had enough bush skills to survive, which also said a lot about her character, bu she lacked the basic supplies to thrive out here. She now looked like a blanket swamp monster but at lest she had stopped shivering.
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2024 1:22 pm
Kechiri 3
"She sunk in the attack, there were two other ships it was more than she could handle ambushed as we had been. There has to be a traitor on this crew. I just have to figure it out." She tapped her temple as if hoping to jog the identity of the traitor out of all the crew information she had stuffed in her head. She sipped the broth gratefully before eating as much of the solid food she could that he gave her. She was very tired then, having safety warmth and and a full belly was a very potent mix indeed. Soon enough she would be back on the ranch and planning pirate demise. "Thank you," she said. No crew around to impress. No sign of pirates. She allowed herself to open up for just a little bit with him.
He had saved her in a way, by warming her up and feeding her. She had nothing better to do than get to know him as she had been young when he had last been at the ranch. Besides he had a pleasing voice that would lill her to sleep if sh was lucky.
"I was kind of hyper when you were at the ranch last, and I did not pay much attention. I want to know more about my rescuer."
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2024 4:56 pm
Raolvar 3
"I am sorry for that, I know it must have been very important to you. May those pirates and the traitor pay with their blood in compensation." He saw the hard glint in her eyes and knew it would end thusly.
"An opportunity to make your ship greater at the very least," He stroked the fur of his rakadu Xerius. The beast had been a strong comfort for him since he had bought him off Thallassa a while ago. A companion for days of lonliness, a bulwark against the dark where unknown things tended to lurk at inoportune moments. There was nothing more he could say about her ship so he took her bowl and washed it. Good talks always seemed to happen around campfires for him.
"Me? Well there isn't that much to know, I lost my family young and I tried to build a relationship with a woman off and on, but nothing ever came of it, so I wandered for a long time honing my trade and have just decided to come back to Matori to see if I can't find someone here." He was critically lonely.
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2024 5:18 pm
Kechi 4
"A woman huh?" There was not but one man who didn't get in trouble when there was a female involved. She was highly amused. "Sounds like a cold fish to me, maybe find someone with a bit more fire. I er do see where you are coming from. I have had my share of company on shore leave but no one has ever really stuck. Either they are boring or they disapear by morning and I am easily lost back to the tides for long stretches on end. My plan was to start looking for a permenant mate but well the whole ship, pirate, sinking thing happened."
"I aim to lead a rich life and just now am I realizing that life is better when shared. Plus I would like to have kids of my own someday. I just need to find a mate that can handle the sea or me being gone for a while sometimes. Plus I don't exactly have a lady like temperament and would need a very strong man with self confidence." She shrugged, indicating how hard it was to find one of them. "Plus its a bit hard to look when I'm gone for long periods."
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2024 5:25 pm
Raolvar 4
"Yes that would make it difficult. Not that I am having any luck on land either. However may we try it out together? Maybe after you get your ship and pirate situation sorted out we could er..go on a date?" It seemed like the most obvious solution to their mutual problem. Maybe he did have to try someone with more fire and despite what he had heard from Thal she seemed to be okay when she was alone. He was plum ready to try at this point. She was indeed one of the most beautiful women he had seen in his travels. And she was having a similar dating game problem so why the hell not. He wasn't royalty but he felt like if he met the other requirments it might work out. He would even try going to sea with her so long as he was allowed to wander uncharted islands once in a while. Besides she would have to put more trustworthy people on the new ship. He was sure that she was running through these same logistics too. She was smart her family all said so.
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 5:48 pm
Kechi 5
She paused for a moment, caught off guard perhaps for the first time ever. That she supposed was what happened when you let your guard down. She had never been more vulnerable and it took significant concentration not to bring her mask and walls back up immediately.
However, he could very well be the one who could make it work. He hadn't run screaming and he wasn't exactly rushing her either. Perhaps she had panicked because unlike the others, she cared about his opinions of her. Perhaps for the first time ever she had found someone she maybe could love, given time.
Usually the thought would have her nearly throwing up but in her heart of hearts she wanted a family and a dependable man like her Father that she could love and be loved by in return.
He wasn't afraid of the sea or threatened by her job or afraid of her or indeed commitment in general.
Finally she inclined her head and nodded at him.
"Agreed." SHe would sort her life out and then see where this would take her.
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 5:48 pm
Raol 5
He had nearly been holding his breath while he waited for her to answer. He exhaled deeply when she finally did. Xerius was giving him amused side eye from where his head was curled around Raol's body. Earthlings were so strange in their mating rituals, the radaku rolled his eyes and laid his head down , snuggling with his master which was their nightly routine. He had been with Raol for the longest time, other than the one who had tamed him. That man had sold him to Raol a kind man. Serious still remembered his first master as being very kind indeed. A patient one, but Raol was now his one and only master and Xerr would look to no other.
Raol for his part had been processing the information that they would have a date to prepare for soon, a real date, not a wish washy answer or blow off or a long drawn out aquaintance.
It was interesting because it would be with the niece of his best friend. Raol was not worried about Thal though, the girls father perhaps but not Thal. Still it was worth it.
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 5:48 pm
Kechi 6
She smirked a little at his flumoxed expression. "Its okay, I'm a little excited too. Its not often I get to go on a proper date." Not ever really. She just chose the cutest guy from the pub right before she went to bed that night. Most of them she didn't remember and there really was no fun in that.
"Nice radaku, I recognize him as one Uncle Thal tamed." When it doubt ask about the critter. Besides sailing she knew critters. Pretty hard not to growing up in the family she had. At least Tathy had gone beast tamer in route, unlike the rest of them deeking off in all different directions to whatever profession called to them the most. The sea had always sung it siren song to her the loudest.
The way of beast taming was not for her but she did train her own familiars she just didn't want to do it as a career.
Some things had to be done right and when one wanted it done right it had to be done oneself or by a select few (family.)
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 5:48 pm
Raol 6
"Ahem yes, it has been an embarassingly long time since I had a date. The last one in fact was with your Aunt Rista before she chose your Uncle as her mate."
It had been his first and only true date. The other male had won the ladies heart fair and square and to good effect if the 4 children they had together was any indication.
Female mate choice being quite critical as always. "I don't resent it, I just want her to be happy."
And now he hoped it would be his turn to be happy, what more was there to life after all? It had been so long, but there was no use crying over spilt milk. Perhaps in each other they would find solace and a new life free from the lonliness that plagued them both, like a loyal hound on a long hunt.
It would be good to have that chance. "Well, I don't know about you but I am tired. Long tirp ahead tomorrow, you can ride Xerius and I will get you back to the ranch in one piece, least your father have my hide prematurely."
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 5:48 pm
Kechi 7
Well at least they were both in the same boat, as they say. Kechi smiled softly perhaps for the first time in her life, usually it was a fierce grin. She tended to approach life full throttle, but she had zero experience in this area. They turned in for the night. The radaku would watch for danger, she felt better with him around, when she caught him watching she wiggled her fingers at him in invitation. He looked amused but did not move away from his Master. Because of the way she had been raised, she had no fear of animals, sometimes she felt like she communicated better with them, than she did people. Animals had a much harder time lying than people did. Kechiri could usually tell when people were lying but it was anything but fool proof. Raol wasn't lying, just as she had let her guard down, so too had he. It was a comfort at least, sleep took her then.
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 5:48 pm
Raol 7
He awoke the next morning, stoked the fire and made breakfast and coffee. They were still a ways from the ranch. They wasted little time and were soon ready to be on their way. Raol packed most of the stuff on his back so that Xerius could carry Kechiri. She had lost enough weight on this harrowing journey, she need not walk the rest of it off. It took but a moment for Xerr to sniff her and decide whether or not she would be permitted on his back. He opened his mouth to tastes her scent and breath and he found it to be vaguely familiar from a very long time ago. He remembered her being much smaller indeed.
His radaku consented and Raol fitted the rest into the saddle bags and they were off on their journey. They would travel faster this way. He had no doubt that when she was in peak physical condition that she could keep up with him. But she was currently a shadow of her former self.
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 5:49 pm
Kechi 8
The road was long and rather more dusty than she had thought. Initially they were in bush as rangers did not really depend on roads. Game trails were faster and brought them to better placed most of the time. Eventually they found a proper people trail and followed that for ease of speed. It was unlikely the pirates would be sitting in wait in such a busy place, there were still consequences if you were caught in public areas doing illicit things and most pirates were known to the authorities...likely because of her and her fantastic people face sketch skills. She had an eye for detail.
To pass the time she and Raol chatted. For once it was nice to just talk to someone, freely without having a filter or watching what she said. She told him the whole story that involved the pirates and as she travelled she pinged ideas off of him and finally she worked out who the traitor was that was on her crew, she would deal with that arse later. For now she was gasp enjoying herself.
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