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 Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2024 6:48 pm
Zariah was one of the more stubborn, if not most stubborn, younglings in her little village in Tale. She refused to back down from any challenges and as a result easily got convinced to try about anything, even if it was impossible or not. Today the youngling was already hanging from a branch, having been dared to try to reach the top of the tree where others usually faltered because of how giant the tree was. It didn't have a house built around it like others within the village of tree houses, but rather it was a wild tree with gnarled roots and limbs that stretched all across the meadow across from town. Still, that didn't stop Zariah as she reached out towards the next branch with determination.
"Just a few more..." And then she could see what ever new challenge awaited her next.
[Zariah 1]
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Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2024 7:40 pm
Coleus didn't really want anything to do with the game that had been so popular as of late. According to his grandmother, the games were utter nonsense and they had no place playing something so beneath them. Of course, his companions were pushy with their desire to play, and he relented. Maybe just a couple rounds... That was how he found himself jumping up into the lower branches of a large tree with a few scorra feathers clutched in his fist. An angry scorra screeched at him from the ground and paced side to side. Thank goodness they couldn't climb! He panted heavily and made sure he was well out of reach before he dared to lean against the trunk to rest, oblivious that anyone was higher above him.
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Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2025 8:40 pm
The screeching of the scorra was the only alert that Zariah had to another presence at the tree. "Oh?" The youngling blinked, her hands nearly slipping from the next branch as the sudden noise startled her, and after she regained her footing she found herself twisting upside down so that she could get a better look at whoever was below her. So there she was with her tunic thankfully wrapped with a sash around her waist to keep it in place while her braid dangled past her eyes and nearly blocked her vision as she kept her legs firmly wrapped around the branch that was supporting her as she surveyed the area below. "Someone tick off the scorra down there?" She called out, still trying to see who was below since the tangled branches and her swaying braid blocked part of her vision.
[2]
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Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 8:04 pm
In a bit of instant karma, Coleus felt his heart leap into his throat when a new voice called from above his head. He had to turn and clutch the big trunk to keep from falling down to the waiting bird. He gave himself a second to make sure he was secure again before he looked up through the branches. "What?" He hadn't been paying enough attention to know the words said... but he knew that voice! "Zariah?! Is that you?" The scorra pecked at the base of the tree and looked up again with and irritated squawk.
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Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 8:45 pm
Ah, so she did recognize that voice! "Coleus?!" Zariah called back down to her brother, swaying slightly as she tried to get a better view of him through the branches. "What are you doing picking fights with scorra?" Now that didn't seem like her brother at all. Or was the blood simply rushing to her head too much by hanging like this and making her delusional? Was that a thing? Zariah wasn't certain, but she started to reach for another branch to move and right herself....just in case.
[3]
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 10:34 am
It was her! What was she doing so far up there?! His cheeks flared hot as Coleus looked back down at the angry scorra. "I, um..." He lowered his voice a little, counting on the distance and branches to muffle his answer. "I got dared to." Then his volume went right back up. "But more importantly, what are you doing way up there? It's dangerous up there."
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 1:59 pm
"Ooooh, you took a dare?" Zariah chirped, the girl amused as she listened to the furious lecture of the scorra that was still pacing and letting out noises from below. "Never thought I would see the day." She teased as she slid back down another branch and got a bit closer to her brother. "It's not too dangerous, but I took a dare as well! Do you want to climb up higher? Might as well since we're stuck here for now." Eventually the scorra would wander away, right? Or could they figure out something to distract it while they ran back towards the village? Did these branches have fruits or nuts on them? Maybe they could pluck some and toss it towards the scorra...
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Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 9:30 am
At least his sister wasn't too close to see the way the heat spread along his face. It really had been stupid to accept that challenge. Once he'd accepted it though, there had been no way to honorably back out! "Wait, you, too? Not again!" He groaned heavily, even though he was clearly in no position to be throwing the metaphorical stones. He was ready to turn down the offer to climb when he heard the scorra squawk again. Oh, right. "Okay, I'm coming up. Just don't go too much higher, okay?" He tucked the feathers into his belt and started climbing the gnarled branches. "How long've you been up here?"
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Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2025 3:47 pm
Zariah simply laughed at her brother's groan. "There's nothin' wrong with showing others that I can do something!" She called back, her gaze bright with amusement since the girl truly enjoyed saying I told ya so to the other younglings in the village. Someone had to show them that things could be done if you tried hard enough! So much for them trying to intimidate her or bully her with their little challenges.
"I won't go up too high. There's a hollow here where we can hang out for a bit." Zariah offered, shifting in the branches when she heard her brother climbing up towards her. The girl shifted on the larger branches and went towards the main trunk of the tree where there was a giant hollow, one that she peeked in towards and nearly scooted back from when something shifted inside. It was just a beetle though and Zariah simply shoo'd it away so that she could clear the space if Coleus wanted to use it. "You don't think it'll stay out there all night, right?" Surely the scorra would get bored and leave before sunset...hopefully. "Not too long?" She questioned blinking as she tried to think about exactly how long she had been in the tree. "I was playing around the branches once I grabbed one of the leaves from the top that the others were too scared to go after." The leaves at the top of the tree were more colorful for some reason, the shifting colors brightest there at first while the rest of the tree was taking time to change hues with the season.
"But really? A fight with a scorra? Did they dare you to steal eggs or something?"
[5]
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Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:19 pm
"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should," he called, quoting their grandparents. Coleus knew his sister was capable of just about anything, and the others in the village were just jealous! It did feel good to see their surprise whenever she returned victorious from whatever challenge they gave. Still, it worried him that she would actually try just about anything... He pulled himself up level with his sister and dared a look back down. The scorra was still pacing, but the squawking wasn't so constant. "No. It should get tired of waiting soon. Should definitely go back to its flock before night." His cheeks flared hot and he let out an embarrassed cough as he revealed the long purple feathers stuck in his belt. "I thought I could just pet it and grab a couple loose ones, like the ones in the gardens sometimes drop. It still didn't like that." He snorted lightly. "So I got feathers and you got leaves.."
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Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 8:04 pm
Zariah pursed her lips in protest as she listened to Coleus. "I meaaan....as long as it doesn't hurt anyone, right?" She replied finally, the youngling not liking that idea of bowing at any challenge. Nope, not for her! So far she had only managed to injure herself significantly that once and it was just a slight sprain - that was all. And did accidentally picking a fight with a witu count if it didn't catch her at the end of the day? Not even Zariah had admitted that one to Coleus before, the youngling afraid of worrying him more than usual.
"Pfft." Leaves and feathers indeed. Zariah let out a laugh as she listened to Coleus, her gaze going back towards the scorra from where she could see it through the branches. "At least we were successful, right? It might be fun hanging out a bit together like this anyways." She teased, swinging her legs as she settled onto a thicker branch where she could easily sit with a leg dangling on either side. "But you should be careful...that scorra might remember you for a while even after it leaves." Zariah grinned towards her sibling. "You might be chased around a bit if you stumble into it again." Hopefully though he wouldn't have to climb a tree every time, but he definitely might get squawked after!
[6]
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Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 8:37 pm
Coleus huffed again. "It hasn't hurt anyone yet." A few scrapes here and there, but when would one of those jerks challenge her to something too dangerous? His sister wouldn't be able to resist. This time, his snort was one of amusement. "Well, it wouldn't make sense for us to fail at these." And it was helpful having some company during this scorra driven exile. His brow rose with surprise, and then furrowed with concern as he peered down through the branches. "Good point. I'll.. just try to avoid all of them for a while. Find some chores and stuff to do around home rather than out here in the fields."
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Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 8:46 pm
Zariah simply shrugged, her gaze determined even as she held her tongue. She didn't want to upset Coleus by arguing with him, but her answer was simply to work on getting strong enough that nothing could hurt her. That was a good goal, right? She nodded subtly to herself as she settled in for the waiting game with the scorra pacing beneath them. It could have been worse. The scorra could have gotten the whole flock after them, which would have been slightly amusing but also a lot more complicated if they decided to hold them hostage here in the tree.
"I mean we could have...maybe? The tree could have moved or the scorra could have run away before we got our treasures." Joked Zariah, the idea of a tree growing legs and walking away making her giggle. "Coming up with a plan already?" She shook her head towards Coleus with a grin. "Maybe you could just gather some fruits as peace offerings even. We can try to find some once it gets bored and leaves for a bit." She peered down through the branches, prepared to keep an eye out for any chance at their escape while the scorra stayed beneath them.
[7]
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Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:19 pm
Coleus groaned and made extra certain that his hard-earned feathers were in place. "I'd rather not think about that." He'd given in to the pressure of his peers, so he absolutely could not fail! It would be even worse if he was successful and then lost his prizes and proof. He sighed lightly with a subtle pout. "That wouldn't hurt. I really don't wanna be stuck at home because of a scorra..."
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