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Post by KD on Sept 9, 2013 1:54:53 GMT -5
"You're more than enough." She flushed softly at those last words. "Good, because he's had the whole of mine for quite a while now...."
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Post by Jenny on Sept 9, 2013 2:00:56 GMT -5
Tahki smiled softly. “He loves you a great deal. What that means for the tribe I do not know. But the heart chooses what it chooses. No one can get in the way of that. I wanted to tell you that Moraji gives his consent for you two to love one another as you wish. The tribe will learn to accept this. Besides,” she brushed her cheek. “Some now call you warrior, my Sinjun. You bled for our people. You championed evil for our tribe. Do you understand what this means? I have never heard it in our history there to be a female with such an honor, not that it was never once done. And you are human besides. Opinions are changing, my dear.”
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Post by KD on Sept 9, 2013 2:04:08 GMT -5
Sinjun flushed, fidgeting a bit. "Well, hardly a warrior...." She took a bite of quickbread, blinking a bit. "Well of course....I couldn't just sit back and let it harm the tribe if there was something I could do to help." She sounded honestly baffled. It had truly never occurred to Sinjun to not help, it simply wasn't in her nature.
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Post by Jenny on Sept 9, 2013 2:11:51 GMT -5
“A warrior,” Tahki said again. “Sinjun, when a young Yitoki comes of age he seeks out a way to prove himself. If he is brave in battle, fights well, and returns victorious with his prize he has joined the ranks of men. You have done all these things, and to tell you the truth I am glad you did not return with this Matthais’ head.” She chuckled. “Not all of the tribe will think this way, but I know Hoti does. And Hoti’s opinion carries much weight. While you may not carry the title, you have gained a great respect.”
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Post by KD on Sept 9, 2013 2:15:04 GMT -5
"Well, strictly speaking, if that was how we were going to go, Yiska should have brought his head back since he was the one that actually killed him," Sinjun remarked with some amusement. "But still....I'm honored."
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Post by Jenny on Sept 9, 2013 2:22:14 GMT -5
She chuckled. “The tribe does not need to know that,” she winked and tapped her nose.
“Yiska!” She called over her shoulder. “You can breathe now.”
That brought bubbles sputtering as Yiska laughed and sat up, casting water every which way. He shook himself off, flicked water off his tail and toweled himself as dry as he could and then picked up some fresh leggings.
He came out from behind the tent with a big grin on his face. “Well it was either drowning or listening to women talk.” He snickered again and plopped down to eat.
“Oh come now, Yiska. You’re well beyond that awkward stage.”
Yiska stuck his tongue out at her. “I chose not to be privy to the conversation when I heard my name.” He munched on some fruit. “I do not wish to become prideful.”
“Prideful, you?” Tahki snorted then smiled at his son. “Just eat. You need to regain your strength.”
Yiska stretched out his legs in a stretch, holding the fruit in one hand. “I feel fine. Better than ever.”
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Post by KD on Sept 9, 2013 4:42:55 GMT -5
Sinjun rolled her eyes playfully with Tahki when Yiska surfaced, smiling. She raised an eyebrow and peeled a fruit. "What makes you think we were saying anything about you that would make you prideful? What if it were the opposite?" she said with a bland, innocent look at him.
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Post by Jenny on Sept 9, 2013 4:46:50 GMT -5
“Why would anyone say anything bad about me?” Yiska laughed and ducked as his mother threw a piece of fruit at him.
“Yiska,” she chided with a smile.
“I’m kidding!” He held his hands up with a smile.
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Post by KD on Sept 9, 2013 10:59:25 GMT -5
"Oh, I can think of a few reasons." Sinjun popped a piece of fruit in her mouth, still looking innocent, apparently not caring to elaborate on what those reasons were. Of course, that was because there were no real reasons and they both knew it.
Klai went about the grim task of repairing her remaining golems and taking stock of what they had. Sapphira, meanwhile, had reached the destroyed outpost and stood surveying it quietly. So many lives lost for such utter selfishness....
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Post by Jenny on Sept 16, 2013 0:33:27 GMT -5
Moraji entered the tent minutes later and picked up a a piece of quick bread, popping it into his mouth before he sat down with a grunt, then stretched in contentment.
“Those that came to the council worried can now go abed without fear. It took some convincing for a few to have peace of heart, but we trust your word, Sinjun.” He turned his head and smiled at her.
“That is good,” Tahki commented with a sigh. “And now the tent will not feel so empty.”
“I have been away before,” Yiska reminded her gently.
Tahki chuckled. “Perhaps, Yiska. But I knew no harm would come to you those times before, this time was different. Your absence was more poignant this time. And Sinjun has always been with us here.”
“She was beside herself,” Moraji glanced up at her, his smile wane.
“Husband,” Tahki chided, and looked a little embarrassed.
“Oh, be at peace my love. We need not keep secrets here.” Moraji chuckled.
“Now things will be back to normal.” Yiska nodded a bit, but still looked worried. His discussion with the Shaman had him unnerved.
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Post by KD on Sept 16, 2013 0:45:15 GMT -5
Sinjun squeezed Tahki's hand again. She eyed Yiska, taking in his worry, but didn't press him on it.
Life slowly started getting back to normal. Sapphira came to give them an idea of what had happened around them, warning them about the destroyed outpost. They couldn't blame the Yitoki for it, but it might mean more humans for a while. She and Klai weren't leaving yet, going through the ruins bit by bit to make sure the danger had fully passed.
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Post by Jenny on Sept 16, 2013 3:04:03 GMT -5
Acceptance of Sinjun and her kin aside, the Yitoki would allow an uneasy truce between the new occupants of the human outpost, scattered travelers as they may be, as long as they did not draw too close to the Yitoki territory. When Klai or Sapphira visited the Yitoki council to update them on current events, Moraji would give them warm welcome and hospitality.
Yiska began to spend more time with the shaman, who had begun to tire quickly during physical exertions, traveling to the canyon to receive his advanced lessons. The grim look on Yiska’s face when he returned to Sinjun said enough. When Sinjun finally asked what was wrong, Yiska told her that the Shaman did not have much time left and it may be a matter of months before he grew too ill of old age to be long in this world.
At Yiska’s insistence, and much to the shaman’s annoyance, a female Yitoki was sent to care for the shaman. To cook and clean, as long as she did not touch his talismans and powders, and assist him on the bad days. After tasting her food, the shaman complained less frequently, and then did so only to keep up appearances.
“You’re becoming fat,” Yiska teased the shaman one day upon a visit, accompanied by Sinjun so she could play him a song on her lute. The shaman enjoyed his internal ruminations when her song wove through the air, almost as if the notes were a physical thing, and he would be peaceful and quiet, and at times let out a snore because he had been soothed to sleep.
Yiska put a finger on his lips and grinned, his eyes sparkling in humor.
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Post by KD on Sept 16, 2013 10:51:53 GMT -5
Klai brought a message from the leader of the new outpost who assured them anyone living there would respect the Yitoki's territory and he would do everything in his power to make sure explorers passing through the outpost understood that too.
The desert was forever changed. Klai and Sapphira had thoroughly destroyed the main temple but smaller ruins continued to do the landscape, showing no signs of sinking back into the sand. One of the more complete towers Klai turned into a residence for her and her golems though she made sure it was out of sight of the village. Occasionally, her familiar or one of the smaller golems could be seen covertly patrolling and strange totems of some kind appeared near some of the ruins. Sinjun explained that they were wards to warn Klai or Sapphira if someone entered that particular ruin, which meant they had concerns about it and it was best to steer clear of them. Sinjun herself often wandered out to explore them and had an exact knowledge of where each one was, although she always returned to the village by nightfall.
Sinjun was more than happy to play for the shaman. She played more and more of those songs that were simple notes weaving through the air. Sinjun spent time experimenting with such songs as the days passed, not simply playing for pleasure but testing the boundaries of her abilities. Fahla had tried to nag her about it and had been disturbed by the fact Sinjun had barely given her more than an annoyed glance and muttered something about sonic energy before focusing on her notes again. Her eyes had the fierce focus of a woman who loved her art.
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