|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 10:49 am
[1]
Zakia reached a hand down to her side and let the tips of her fingers ghost along the radaku's back as it moved across the area. It was strange to look at; this creature that was so like her mother's companion but not. The radaku was obviously related - her markings were too similar not to be - but whether it was just a pack trait or if she was an actual descendant Zakia couldn't be sure. Where as his fur was a mixture of black and white, hers was shades of blue, like depths in a frozen lake. This one would never be large enough to hold an Aishan rider, not like Mvua, but she was plenty big enough to act as a partial scout and assistant.
The sisters Zakia had been staying with her lent her the radaku for the day, just to make sure their more northern friend returned in one piece. Not that she was planning on anything too dangerous, anyway; especially since it wasn't her getting home Zakia was worried about.
She stood at the meeting place, just south of the nearest earthling village, while the radaku paced. The packs on her back were light and in no way stopped her from turning, her sharp eyes glaring at a sitara clinging to the side of a massive crimson tree, before the little creature scurried upward out of sight.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 10:50 am
[Sabra via Discord]
Azreal was more accustomed to beds that had perhaps a bit more cushion in them, but he couldn't complain about having a place to sleep in Jahaur that wasn't a cavern floor. What truly bothered him and perhaps made him a bit more irritable in the morning was the divide from Zakia. Aishan customs are more stifling than Zenans, their pride be damned. He shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck as he worked out the stiff muscles from traveling and a restless night's sleep. He was glad though that he had left any mounts behind because the heat in the jungle country was far too much for any raptrix that he could imagine since he was already peeling the silk clothing from his skin thanks to the humidity. Azreal was accustomed to layers of cloth and furs, not light silks and cotton like what he currently wore with a shirt that stayed unbuttoned over a pair of basic leggings and boots despite his earlier intentions to try to maintain some sort of appearance with more professional attire. Other than earrings the only flashy thing that he wore was the rune etched layered necklace hanging around his neck, and other than that he took the bare minimum as he left behind his luggage at the inn where he had rented a room for a couple of weeks while he lingered in the area. All he swung over his shoulder was just a small satchel full of emergency food and medicine, a blank leather journal and some charcoal, but that was mostly it as he finished eating a honeyed roll and headed outside of the inn towards the meeting spot he had agreed upon with Zakia.
He stopped for a moment when he spotted her in the distance, Azreal pulling himself together before taking a step forward and raising a hand in a slight wave. "I wasn't certain how long you would take to arrive so I ate some breakfast. Did you eat already?" He began, trying to be as casual as possible despite the way his gaze flickered around everything and didn't linger on Zakia since their initial night together in that cave. Had she brought a radaku? That was the beast right? Azreal frowned at the creature, keeping a few feet away as it continued pacing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 10:51 am
[2]
“I did. I wake early these days.” Zakia offered a soft smile and pushed off the tree. She’d had a few bites of steamed maglardilla with some fruit – just enough to give her energy, but not enough to upset her nervous stomach – before heading out for a run. When she’d brought up her activities for the day and apologized for dipping out of training mixed looks had gone her way. Some sisters had been understanding, even teasing, but others...Well, it wasn’t anything she wasn’t used to.
Clearing her throat, Zakia smoothed her hands over the markings on her ribs that were on full display in the jungle heat before settling one hand on her hip and motioning to the radaku with the other. “This is Ista. I didn’t think you would mind an extra set of eyes.” And hopefully they wouldn’t need her fangs. The radaku paused in her surveillance of the area to approach Azreal and when Zakia didn’t seem to act aggressively toward him her posture relaxed.
“I was reading one of my mother’s journals-,” Zakia reached into the pouch on her hip and pulled out the leather-bound tome. She flipped to a marked page and handed it over, “-and found something I thought you might be interested in.” The words were erratic – little notes scribbled here and there, such as the fashion of Mnyiri’s dictations – but it spoke of a rune. Something carved into stone and a cave she hadn’t been able to access.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 10:52 am
[Sabra via Discord]
He was going to have to get more accustomed to her Jahaur attire so that he wasn't so easily distracted. Azreal realized when he noticed that his gaze had drifted towards the moving hands, the hybrid staring at the markings he rarely saw in Zena. Thankfully the introduction to Ista made his gaze snap towards the radaku instead, the mage nodding as he tried to adjust his stance. Well, that was until the words registered with him and the calm expression turned into the all too familiar frown that went straight towards Zakia. "If you think its necessary." Azreal managed after a moment, trying to shove his pride down even though he wanted to protest. Did he give off the impression that he would be such a major risk to her? It wasn't as if they were going on some crazy expedition....or maybe they were. Azreal's frown only deepened, but this time with more focus than frustration, and he flipped through the pages of the journal after accepting it from Zakia.
"Are you wanting to explore this area that your mother wrote about?" Azreal raised a brow as he finished looking over the pages, the mage looking back to Zakia with interest. "I'm not as experienced as my uncle or father about actually digging out relics, but it might be worth a look to see what this might be." He had only studied at the academy, going on a few smaller ventures with his father over the years, but perhaps it would be a good chance to explore the area and any discoveries would be a bonus that he could write about? His mind was whirling with the possibilities, Azreal opening the journal one more time to look at the notes about the cave for any hints. "If it was magically sealed then perhaps that's why your mother couldn't access it. What do you think?" It looked like it would be quite the hike from this area though, but if they could spend a few days together in the rougher areas of jungle then it could reveal some sort of treasure if Azreal could crack the code of this hidden cave.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 10:53 am
[3]
With the way her gaze kept drifting toward his open collar she absolutely thought it was necessary. Zakia didn’t trust herself enough to keep her eyes on the task at hand; especially when all they wanted to do was wander.
“It’s behind a waterfall so I thought it would be as good a place to go as any.” Her mother had described the area as wild, but budding in large, aromatic flowers. Getting him to go under any other circumstances might have proven difficult, but if she could appeal to the scholar in him then maybe...
“If it’s magically sealed on the edge of Aishan territory then they weren’t planning on anyone else to find it.” She pointed toward the outline of a cave her mother had drawn. “My guess is that whoever planted it assumed that the threat of patrols would scare off most, but not us.” Because she had the right blood and he had the right skills.
“If you’d rather spend your time in the village perusing shops or seeing a performance we could do that instead. I just thought this was a little more exciting is all.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 10:54 am
[Sabra via Discord]
Azreal simply raised a brow at the description. Was Zakia looking to go swimming, was that it? Or did she expect him to melt under the heat in Jahaur? The mage opened his mouth before quickly closing it. It was probably best that he didn't start an argument before they even left town to explore the jungle. Maybe there was another reason behind it, not that she thought he was weak. "Magically sealed and hidden beneath a waterfall? Is that why it seems so appealing?" Questioned Azreal instead as he shoved down his pride for the moment and shouldered his belongings, the mage preparing himself for the journey ahead of them.
"I have plenty of that in Zidel. If you wanted to go shopping then I can take you there the next time you visit Zena." Maybe she could see the academy as well then, if she even wanted to venture that way. Would Zakia find it dull in comparison to the wilderness here? Azreal shook his head to clear the conflicting thoughts and started walking past Zakia before he lost his resolve. "This is the way, correct?" He asked after a moment, pausing so that he could look over his shoulder towards Zakia and then to the radaku. "Or does Ista need to lead the way to watch for danger?" A bit of snark perhaps, but Azreal seemed calm enough even as he tried to keep his gaze more on Ista and less on Zakia to avoid any distractions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 10:54 am
[4]
A casual day of shopping? She couldn’t think of the last time she’d ever done something like that. It hadn’t fit either of her lifestyles – the vagrant huntress or the Alkidike sister – but maybe it would be good to change things. Exploring Zidel with a guide of her own would be more appealing than meandering about it on her own.
She very nearly lost herself in thought until he started past and only when Ista went to follow did Zakia also move. “Oh, yes, that way.” Zakia quickened her pace to get a little closer, pausing only when he did and if she’d had the ability to roll her eyes she would have. “Ista will stay to the perimeter; you won’t even notice her.” And true to her word, after a quick spoken command in Aishan the radaku moved past the two of them into the jungle. If it weren’t for the color of her fur Zakia might have lost her entirely but if one knew where to look they could spot her.
“I think I’d like to see the academy. Any place desperate enough to hire you must be a sight.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 10:55 am
[Sabra via Discord]
"I could have guarded the perimeters as well." Murmured Azreal, his silver gaze burning as he focused on the path ahead and not on Zakia. There was no longer any radaku to occupy his gaze and looking back at his companion would just make him stumble, so the path it was. Though he couldn't block himself from hearing her commentary, the winds snapping around them in a sudden gust showing a break in his temper before he quickly reigned it in. She almost had him there because he lowered his guard with her initial acceptance before deciding to add in the insult. Azreal swallowed against the emotions before twisting so that he could shoot Zakia a tight smile. "We'll see how you feel when you see it in the future. Most would consider it fairly impressive, actually. I think it's a far cry from desperation, but more so a recognition of hard work and talent." They had only just begun here, he shouldn't allow her to fluster him so quickly and easily!
"How is living here with the other Aishans? Are the beasts so dangerous in Jahaur that they need all able bodies to fight back? I'm assuming that's why they'll take whoever they can with the right blood of course." Azreal questioned instead as he started forward again, the mage brushing back some hanging vines as he tried to keep on what he assumed was a path with the worn down grass and roots of sprawling bushes and flowers crunching beneath his boots. The roots of the trees were far too big for anyone to crush beneath their feet, that much he was seeing as the further they went into Jahaur the larger the trees grew with their roots being wider than his own waist as they emerged from the ground in rolling formations that blocked out parts of the jungle floor.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:22 pm
[5]
The Aishan found herself nearly tripping over her own feet under the rush of wind. Usually the canopy was quick to cut out the stronger gales before they made it to the jungle floor so what was that? With a frown she looked up, as if the trees themselves were keeping secrets, before turning back to the path before her.
“So salty. If I’d known you were this upset by being left behind, I could have stayed in the village. I’m sure Chibale would have been fine without me for a night so I could protect you.” The comment about the right blood shouldn’t have driven her straight to anger, but it did. Zakia’s bite was no longer thinly veiled, but rather as sharp and wild as the jungle around her.
She brushed past him, not even bothering to excuse herself and ducked beneath a swath of hanging vines, doing absolutely nothing to push them from his path.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:24 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
"I see, that says enough." If she wasn't so necessary then....well, Azreal didn't want to finish that thought with how quickly his own temper was rising. It was indeed a bit of a sore spot for him to be locked out from another area just simply because he didn't have the inherited genes required for it, but it was even worse because it blocked him from seeing Zakia. As insane as that thought was considering how the pair of them only ended up going for each other's throats when left together like this.
The hybrid didn't even dodge the vines swinging towards his face. Instead he simply raised his fist in front of him, his fingers flicking open at the last second, and the vines immediately froze into shards that shattered as he walked after Zakia. It was all behind her back though so that she wouldn't notice the small display of frustration since Azreal hated showing how irritated he truly was. But his best efforts did nothing to stop the slight chill to the air that was noticeably next to him, the mage's magic fluctuating as his temper and body tried to adjust to everything. "Careful that you don't waltz off a cliff like that." He commented as he caught up, Azreal looking ahead at the uneven terrain. "That's the direction of the waterfall if I read the notes correctly, through some deep jungle that climbs up and towards an overlook."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:26 pm
[6]
“I’m more than capable of handling myself. It’s in my blood.” She quipped with a sharp look over her shoulder. The packs on her hips gave a solid thud as she stepped over a particularly tall root and the familiar weight of her longbow on her back was the only thing keeping her from outright stomping off. Why was she getting so worked up? It wasn’t as if they hadn’t nit-picked at each other before, but it seemed like lately anytime they were near one another that’s all they did.
Though she wasn’t nearly so agitated that Zakia could miss a few key signs. Her eyes traveled over patches of vegetation that had been moved, by something far larger than themselves, and tracks in the porous ground. Ista hadn’t come back or made any sort of sound to alert them so while she wasn’t on high alert the Aishan did stop to examine the tracks.
“They’re old, few days it looks like, but-” Zakia scrunched her features as she ran her fingers along the imprint. ,”-it might have been a bad idea to come this way. If this is what I think it is we either need to turn around or move faster.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:28 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Azreal froze. He knew better than to think that Zakia's sudden halt was nothing and so he simply waited for her to inspect the ground. Meanwhile, he also tensed as he tried to survey their surroundings in case there was anything that he could spot. This wasn't like Zena though where he could recognize a few prints, just whatever he knew from his time at the animal sanctuary, and Jahaur had a variety of creatures that he had never seen before. It was rare that anything from this jungle would make its way up north save for the few roaming travelers that brought them to the sanctuary for emergency aid and those that were shown off miserably in the capital that was far too cold for their comfort. Apparently though it was enough to make Zakia nervous and for once Azreal didn't have a snide remark as he simply asked. "Is it impossible to deal with?"
"If you're worried about me then I can hold my ground." Azreal continued after a moment, crossing his arms as he took a step back and looked around the clearing again. Ista hadn't come back either, so what was the radaku doing if there was danger nearby? "But if it's a few days old then maybe we can move past this quickly?" Unless Zakia thought that they would be hunted down faster than they could get to the next location? He wasn't a fool, she had obviously put thought into this trip and despite all appearances he didn't want her efforts to be forfeited by something if they could deal with it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:30 pm
[7]
“A reason to be cautious.” Zakia craned her head in the direction of the tracks and frowned. “If it continued straight then we should be fine, but if it into hiding-” The implications were enough. From their current vantage point, the huntress could only do so much and without purposefully hunting the beast she would just have to go off her instincts. I just hope they’re enough.
And where was Ista? Either the radaku thought it such a non-threat that she hadn’t bothered to warn them or - Stop it. You’ll just worry yourself. “I know you can, but I’d rather not invite trouble. Menzuri aren’t something to be trifled with.” That was something she’d had to learn the hard way in Zena; that sometimes that hardest battles were the ones you avoided. “Keep an eye out for webbing and we should fine to continue.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:33 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
“So watch out for webbing and pray that these…menzuri went straight ahead on that path.” Repeated Azreal as he processed the information. His aunt had talked about menzuri once before, but the memory was hazy since Azreal wasn’t so keen on learning about animals that were so far away. At least not in recent years, not when he hadn’t listened to one of his aunt’s stories since being a young child nestled up with others before a fireplace during a winter storm. What he did remember though was the nasty feeling those creatures brought from those hazy recollections, especially when webs were mentioned. Yep, it was definitely those creepy many legged crystal creatures that his aunt had described all those years ago. The very thought made him more alert as they continued forward, Azreal’s gaze skimming over every possible branch or plant for webbing.
Eventually though he found himself slowing down with concern. It wasn’t as if he was one to be overly attached to animals, but it would betray part of his childhood if he just ignored the missing radaku. “Should you try calling for Ista?” That was the name, right? Azreal frowned as he turned to look at Zakia. Just for his expression to immediately darken as he saw something gleaming nearby in the trees. “Dammit.” His gray gaze narrowed, Azreal nodding towards what appeared to be webbing stretching from the trees near them. Did it go almost in a half circle around them from the left towards the other side of the area? He didn’t feel inclined to go check, especially if it meant there were actually menzuri somewhere in the jungle surrounding them.
NEW
March 11, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:35 pm
[8]
Suddenly every sound was cause for a sidelong glance and shifting leaves may as well have been sentient beings. Zakia prided herself on not being overly prone to paranoia, but as she continued forward a pit had formed in her gut. The allure of this 'find' had been it's distance away from others, but if something were to happen it would just be the two of them against - Slow your thinking and breath.
"It has been a while, hasn't it?" She murmured. The radaku wouldn't have made herself too obvious, but she'd been trained to stay within sight. Since neither of them had caught so much as a glimpse of her...Zakia made a noise, somewhere between a call and a whistle in three sharp successive rounds. It was supposed to mimic the creatures around them so as not to alert potential prey, but distinctive enough to let Ista know it was time to come back.
When the radaku failed to show and Zakia caught sight of the webbing she repeated the process, this time louder with her hands cupped around her mouth. Nothing. Zakia looked back to Azreal, her face pinched in concern. "She's trained; Ista would have alerted if she'd found anything..." If she'd been able to.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
