Time Stamp: 67 Summer, 482 AV
Asha stood silently beside her father at the edge of the Meditative Petal. She looked up to find that kindly face gazing down on her. He nodded his head to encourage her on, and they moved forward together. The two walked together, one the smaller version of the other. Both with furry coats of jet black glistening in the summer sunlight filtering through the leaves. Even their eyes were the same rich brown hue.
The pair journeyed to the center of the petal, coming to a rest before a group of Jamoura seated around a twisted tree and stump. The Lectern of Eyris was an impressive sight no matter how many times she saw it. Her father valued the goddess Eyris above all others and so it was with great reverence that he brought his daughter there.
An old Jamoura awaited them at the edge of the group; the male was slightly wizened and graying with age. His face was contemplative but not unkindly so. Asha knew him to be Gruuk, resident priest of the Lectern. Her father and the priest exchanged nods and Gruuk stepped back, gesturing out an arm of welcome to Asha. Her father motioned her on and she stepped forward.
All were silent, a peaceful tranquility held the group. None looked up as she walked past and approached the empty stump. Her heart raced in nervous anticipation. Usually the stump was occupied by an older member of the community, meditating for days on end to produce epic works of argument and philosophy. But every once in a while a younger resident was invited forward to sit upon the treasured stump and be introduced to the experience and process.
Only half a bell before she had been complacently licking a stick covered in ants for her midday meal. Each bulbous ant crunched juicily in her mouth as she enjoyed her favorite meal. But then she felt the gentle touch of her father’s hand on her shoulder and she turned to hear him intone that she had been invited to sit at the Lectern of Eyris.
Asha had known her father would one day request a spot for his daughter at the stump, it was an essential component of his life and he meditated with the group daily. He had sat upon the stump many times, her mother had often brought her to meditate there when he did and listen to him expound on his ideas. She had not known it would be this day though, and immediately felt nervous. What would she possibly meditate upon to discuss with others? Topics of thought seemed to have fled from her mind completely and she found only blankness.
Asha stepped upon the stump and settled her weight beneath her awkwardly, shifting herself a few moments to get comfortable. She was young and still learning the way of wrapping her bulky body into a small stone. She envied her mother who sat at meditation with a fluid and elegant body. Her mother had meditated long enough to be graceful in her broad Jamoura body. She looked out briefly at the collective of meditating creatures, spotting her mother sitting among them and her father settling in beside her. She took three deep breaths to calm her heart and closed her eyes.
Asha stood silently beside her father at the edge of the Meditative Petal. She looked up to find that kindly face gazing down on her. He nodded his head to encourage her on, and they moved forward together. The two walked together, one the smaller version of the other. Both with furry coats of jet black glistening in the summer sunlight filtering through the leaves. Even their eyes were the same rich brown hue.
The pair journeyed to the center of the petal, coming to a rest before a group of Jamoura seated around a twisted tree and stump. The Lectern of Eyris was an impressive sight no matter how many times she saw it. Her father valued the goddess Eyris above all others and so it was with great reverence that he brought his daughter there.
An old Jamoura awaited them at the edge of the group; the male was slightly wizened and graying with age. His face was contemplative but not unkindly so. Asha knew him to be Gruuk, resident priest of the Lectern. Her father and the priest exchanged nods and Gruuk stepped back, gesturing out an arm of welcome to Asha. Her father motioned her on and she stepped forward.
All were silent, a peaceful tranquility held the group. None looked up as she walked past and approached the empty stump. Her heart raced in nervous anticipation. Usually the stump was occupied by an older member of the community, meditating for days on end to produce epic works of argument and philosophy. But every once in a while a younger resident was invited forward to sit upon the treasured stump and be introduced to the experience and process.
Only half a bell before she had been complacently licking a stick covered in ants for her midday meal. Each bulbous ant crunched juicily in her mouth as she enjoyed her favorite meal. But then she felt the gentle touch of her father’s hand on her shoulder and she turned to hear him intone that she had been invited to sit at the Lectern of Eyris.
Asha had known her father would one day request a spot for his daughter at the stump, it was an essential component of his life and he meditated with the group daily. He had sat upon the stump many times, her mother had often brought her to meditate there when he did and listen to him expound on his ideas. She had not known it would be this day though, and immediately felt nervous. What would she possibly meditate upon to discuss with others? Topics of thought seemed to have fled from her mind completely and she found only blankness.
Asha stepped upon the stump and settled her weight beneath her awkwardly, shifting herself a few moments to get comfortable. She was young and still learning the way of wrapping her bulky body into a small stone. She envied her mother who sat at meditation with a fluid and elegant body. Her mother had meditated long enough to be graceful in her broad Jamoura body. She looked out briefly at the collective of meditating creatures, spotting her mother sitting among them and her father settling in beside her. She took three deep breaths to calm her heart and closed her eyes.
