Completed Sweet 16 (Shausha)

[Silverrain]

The hopping around wasn't a good sign and when the Zith took to howling her displeasure, Silverrain probably should have stopped. But she didn't and so the other woman tore her stitches out. The Drykas tried to protest but it was too late.

The Zith had launched herself into the air before promptly plunging as much as one can plunge into shallow water. Silverrain winced as she witnessed this mess. She continued to watch the Zith panicking in the shallow water and shook her head.

"What did you do to me! You made it worse! I'll get... you..."

Silverrain sighed heavily. In her thick common she called out, "Now who is foolish? Have you never had stitches before?"

The young woman turned to her Strider only to find that Bramble had shied back a number of paces. Gesturing irritably she muttered in Pavi, "She's not going to do any harm, she'll faint first."

Silverrain grabbed a light blanket from the yvas and bundled it into her arms. She turned and walked to the bank of the river. "This wasn't supposed to happen. I was supposed to ride out here and clear my head." She spoke in common once more, her tone lecturing. As she spoke she tossed the blanket over the Zith's head. "But no. You were here being all weird and feral. And I -had- to find out about you. Because I -am- a foolish girl.

Next Silverrain crouched, seeking to grab the Zith's arm and pull it back toward herself. "You are bleeding badly. This will not kill you, unless it takes infection, then you might fever and die. Since you don't want stitches, we can pack it with mud and you can just get it fixed when you get home. But you will faint if we don't stop it soon."

The Drykas watched the Zith expectantly, her lower lip pushed out in a thoughtful pout.

[Shausha]

How to tie a knot.
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"Mud?!" Shausha shrieked, arching her back where she lay. She definitely would have killed this girl if she had the strength. "How is that a good idea?"

Shausha tried wobbling to her feet, but fell before drawing herself even a foot from the ground. She settled for crawling, injured arm tucked under.

"Give. Me. That." Shausha snarled, pulling the blanket the crazy Drykas had retrieved. She tried ripping it, but her injured arm refused to clamp down with any semblance of strength. Taking a corner of the cloth between her teeth, she ripped a thick strip from the colorful weave. Her dark blood dotted its folds and mud caked the underside. A token left from the time she met a Zith.

Her eyes were dazzling from the light off the water, so she flopped on her side facing away from the river. Usually there were slaves for this sort of bandage thing, but she'd be damned if she allowed this human to injure her again. Winding the cloth tightly around the small (but now widened) wound, she proceeded to tie a knot. The cloth slipped around as she tried to tie it one handed. Giving up, Shausha buried her head in her uninjured arm and gave a resigned sigh.

"Why did you even come here alone?" Shausha's muffled voice was softer than usual. Then asking something that she had always wanted to know, Shausha added weakly "Why do your people even have tattoos? Why... Why are your names weird?"
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[Silverrain]

Grimacing, Silverrain snagged the corners of the ripped cloth and tied it tightly. "I am sixteen today. I am old enough to marry. But..I look like a boy and so many may be concerned about my ability to bear children and I might not be able to wed and..It's all silly, but it's very..stressful." The girl sighed. Why was she sharing this with the Zith? She dropped down onto her rear, sitting on the bank. "I came here to gather my thoughts. To make myself calm so I didn't embarrass myself or my family by panicking."

The other questions had made her smile, faintly. She paused, mulling over what she had already said and what she would say next. "The tattoos are called.." She searched for the right translation into common. "Windmarks. They are earned. We get ours when we prove ourselves as Drykas. Able to attract and ride a Strider."

A tiny smile curved Silverrain's lips. "Our names are as they are because we choose them. We name ourselves after important people or events or places or things in our lives. I have chosen my name to remind me of a very important friend who had saved my life. When something new, more important, more meaningful comes, I may change it."

Now she sighed. "I shouldn't be talking to you. I should have left you be. I know you think I'm a stupid girl and I think I might agree. I'm just..not ready to go back to the pavilion yet." Another pause. She would be surprised if the Zith was even listening at this point. So she stopped and asked, "How will you get home? Does the light stop you from flying? Is not the wind your ally?"

[Shausha]

Light to me is dark to you
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"I chose my name, too" she said hazily. Shausha flopped her wings several times, trying to re-create the sha-sha sound they made when rubbed together. "And you are a stupid girl... Why would you worry about mating when you obviously don't want to yet?" Unsure what "marriage" meant, but certain it had to do with the goings-ons of men and women, the answer was obvious to her. "Just don't mate."

Sitting up but keeping her eyes closed, she rubbed her head and breathed deeply, trying to quell the vertigo. Her arm throbbed terribly.

"And you don't just lift with the wind like magic. You've gotta push off and like..." Shausha had never described flying before. It was so innate, so integral to her being. "balance forcefully," she finished, failing to perfectly translate concept into her second language. "It's harder than running because there's up and down as well as right to left. There's also tilting side to side." She held up three dark fingers, "three directions. And the light.." Shausha felt warmth return to her cheeks. Slowly, she unsquinted her eyes and blinked, the tall girl coming into focus.

"The light to me is dark to you. I can fly, but everything is so bright." Emphasizing her point, she shaded her eyes and drew her wings around her.
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[Silverrain]

"Just don't mate."

Silverrain wanted to laugh at that, but she didn't. Maybe she wasn't ready yet, but she was so concerned with who her husband might end up being. She didn't want to just end up with someone because her choices were too few or she waited too long. In the mind of a sixteen year old Drykas, even twenty seemed old, though she'd never say it aloud.

As the Zith explained flying, she lost Silverrain. The young woman simply nodded. Maybe it's like riding, it's just something that you know, you do. It is hard to explain. You simply do it.

She looked up at the morning sky. "It -is- pretty bright. It'll be a nice day today, I think." Her attention turned back to the Zith. "You're looking better. I guess we don't need to put mud on it." An impish grin took her lips. "But we could put mud on your face, maybe it will block out the sun."

A sudden thought struck her. "Do you sleep all day then? That seems..very unproductive. When do you get things done? Also, do you eat your slaves? Someone told me it's what you do..you make them work all day and then you cut off an arm for a snack."

[Shausha]

Lore
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Shausha stared at the girl, taking in as much detail the cover of day did not hide. Glaring hard, she showed her lower set of fangs in a small gesture of intimidation to discourage her from doing whatever she had planned. After a moment, she decided that the girl was not going to attack her face with mud. Empty threats!

Taking a fist and rapping it gently on the girl's forehead, she said incredulously, "Why would I sleep at night? That is when I 'get things done'." This girl certainly was something.

"Our slaves are not food usually. Our slaves are for work. They tend to our city while we expand it. Did you know every zith woman bears two pups? Every time! We grow fast! The only times I have ever someone attack a slave was when it tried to escape. Oh, there was that one time someone attacked a slave that was not theirs and the slave's owner killed them." Shausha blinked several times, a half smile on her face as she remembered the roaring atmosphere within the cave while she was in the crowd that surrounded the fight. "Oh, but there are scattered clans that keep slaves for eating, too. But I am from Xy. We are a large colony!"

Feeling very much herself again, Shausha began to chat away, "Life in Xy is very fun. Everyone is constantly chatting and talking and flying and fighting. We also have a head hunter who is in charge. Well there are several. It just depends on your patriarch..." She began to wonder if the girl could use any of this information against her family. Then again, if this Drykas girl, or any of her people went in search for one of Xy's elders, Shausha and her people would have a tattooed feast the same night.

"Ok, so, If you ever get caught up by one of my brothers or sisters -- which you probably will judging by how silly you are -- you better tell them you're good at something in case they plan on making you a food human instead of a work human. Are you good at cooking or building or something?" Shausha tore another strip of fabric from the blanket and re-wrapped her wound. She proffered the bandaged arm to the girl so she could tie it.
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[Silverrain]

Silverrain rubbed her forehead and grinned faintly at the response about the night. It made sense, but it still seemed a silly time to do things. Not that the Drykas would mention that, this Zith seemed unfriendly to being challenged.

"Twins? Each and every time?" Silverrain frowned. Childbirth could be dangerous, and more so the longer it lasted. Two babies. But it seemed to work for the Zith, as this one had said, they grew quickly.

Silverrain took the bandage and tied it. I weave. I made that blanket. I do a tiny bit of sewing but I'm not very good. But, that's neither here nor there. I won't get caught." She smiled brightly at the woman. "I don't usually wander off on my own, so you and yours lost your chance today. Sorry."

Silverrain paused a moment, shuddering at the thought of her freedom being taken. The Drykas did tend to take people among them, but it wasn't slavery, as such. It was..offering a new life. It was necessity. And most people found themselves quite happy in the end. Why wouldn't they be? It's good to be Drykas.

"Our people sound..similar. We have very close families, we travel together. Live in pavilions together. We work together and laugh and talk. And then we wed and join new pavilions and have new families. We have Ankals, men who lead each pavilion. And they help guide each clan. And the clans work together for all of us." She was getting rambly, but she did so love talking about her people. Her voice was proud, a smile over her lips. "I am Crimsonsky, that is my pavilion. And you can tell my clan from it and from some of the colours I wear." She motioned to the red scarf holding her hair at bay. "I am Ruby clan. We are crafters."

Silverrain smiled even broader, her thoughts on her lessons growing up. On trying to learn how to make a myriad of things. Though, right now it may have been better were I Opal. She eyed the bandaged wound. She knew nothing of medicine except that sometimes you needed stitches and sometimes mud stopped the bleeding and infection was bad.

"Are you sixteen? Do you have a husband?"

[Shausha]

Oops
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"Yup! Twins every time! Then they're bornded after 3 months. I am telling you, we have lots of family." Shausha was proud of how prolific her race was. She had heard stories that some races, like the loathsome Akalak, had a very hard time creating children. She had also seen that the slaves' pregnancies lasted almost three seasons! "You know, sometimes I forget who my siblings are!" She laughed, reaching out for the torn blanket.

"You made this? Your clan are crafters? Hmm..." Examining the stitching close, she saw the zig-zag pattern of knots and woven thread, interlocking perfectly to create a strong bond. She tore a thin strip of the colorful material and un-did the knot that held her dreadlocks. Tying the strip into her hair, she bit her bottom lip in a smile. Now she had a token from the time she met a Drykas.

"Hmm..." The sun was getting brighter as it neared Shausha felt the back of her hair after re-tying the knot, trying to locate the ribbon. "If I had a pavilion I would name it 'Crimsonground'. After you kill something, you would be surprised at how much blood runs out of the body; It goes everywhere." Abruptly, she raised her head, keeping her eyes squinted closed and cocking her head from side to side. The next question her new acquaintance posed surprised her out of her consentrated state.

"Noooo! I turned 11 in the spring! And I do not have a mate, yet. I might next spring, though. Depends if I want." Shausha began drawing in the the sandy, muddy bank with her claws, creating a large criss-cross pattern around the two of them.

Suddenly, Shausha's ears picked up the stomping of boots from just beyond. Panicking, she darted into the underbrush. The fur on the back of her neck began to stand on end as she pressed herself to the ground. Camouflage in the daylight was no camouflage at all. She prayed that these thin trees and scrubby bushes were enough to cover her completely.

Several Drykas stepped from the tall grasses of their territory and began to speak with the girl she had just met. Sweat began to bead above her thick eyebrows and her breathing began to shallow. Perhaps the girl would rat her out. Perhaps she was the foolish one here. Examining the newcomers, she confirmed that they all had tattoos. The colors they wore now had new meaning, but apparently these were not peaceful crafters of the red clan.

The newcomers jabbed at the ground where she had foolishly left her marks. They raised their arms in wide gestures, speaking a wild and foreign language.
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[Silverrain]

A bit of pride took Silverrain as the Zith tied a piece of the blanket into her hair. She sat a bit straighter, lifted her chin a bit higher. This was soon overshadowed, however, by her stunned response to the Zith only being eleven. "But you look.." The statement was cut short by the sudden panic of the Zith.

This was soon explained as a group of Emerald Clan stepped toward her. One broke off to check Bramble, the Strider relaxing in their presence. Silverrain stood, her mind racing. They can't find her. She didn't do anything wrong, she's just a bit strange.

A young man, a few years older than Silverrain herself, approached her. "What are you doing out here, child? Where is your pavilion?"

Silverrain bristled. Her hands gestured her irritation. "I am no child, today is my sixteenth year." She paused, her gestures and tone both softening. "I was out for a ride and was struck by the beauty of the river, which is turn inspired a new...pattern for my weaving." She motioned the the criss-crossing in the sand, though she cringed inside. It was such a basic pattern.

The man eyed her, gauging her. His friends were examining the ground, talking quickly with one another about tracking. "There were Zith near here last night, and early this morning if the remains we found are any clue. Though there is light in the sky, it can still be dangerous. You are foolish to be out here alone, little Ruby."

Despite herself and the situation, Silverrain couldn't help but have her heart skip a few beats. He was terribly handsome, and a hunter at that. And Little Ruby just sounded so nice coming from him. She blinked a few times to clear her thoughts. A small, impish smile took to her lips. "Zith? Well, that explains what I saw earlier. When I arrived, something large was just flying off, over that way." She motioned as far from the hiding woman as she could without pointing back the way the hunters had come. "Had I guessed it was a Zith, I wouldn't have stopped. I -should- be getting back to my pavilion though."

She wanted to slip in some signal, some message for the Zith, so she would know she was not being betrayed, but she didn't know what she could do or say that wouldn't give it all up. Instead she elected to leave, hoping this would encourage the hunters to do the same. As she gathered the ripped blanket, smiling sheepishly at the hunters, she destroyed the markings with her foot prints and sweeping of the cloth. It's not much, but it'll have to do.

Silverrain approached Bramble, tossing the blanket over the yvas before gripping it and swinging herself astride. "Consider me chastised, Emerald. Will you accompany me back to my pavilion? For safety?"

[Shausha]

D'awwwww
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The ground felt unusually dangerous. Any movement could break a stick or crackle some leaves, calling attention to her shoddy hiding place. She dared not move. Frozen in place, panting shallowly, Shausha stared as the girl pointed with them to the scratching she had left on the river. Her old bloody-bandage was lying there as well. The green-clad men were armed with weapons; Green must mean warrior.

For a few moments, she crouched, sick to her stomach with worry. Any moment, she'd be discovered... and slaughtered. Why would this Drykas girl protect me? I feed upon their kind. She watched as the girl gestured away from herself, out towards the sea. Very surprised, but not one to say "no" to a good luck, Shausha's heart leapt.

Though, when she saw the girl blush coyly at one of the warriors at the forefront, Shausha took a moment to roll her eyes. Silly, silly girl.

A pang of sorrow twinged in her heart as she saw the girl mount her steed and head back towards the flowing fields of Cyphrus. When she was certain they were gone, she sat back and yawned. Tears of fatigue lined the corners of her eyes. Judging by her (lack of) shadow, it was nearly noon. Shausha carefully stood up and scampered a few yards away from the river before catching a breeze under her wings and lifting off.

She flew low and fast along the river for as long as she could, using the trees for as much cover as possible. Maybe she'd come back the next night and see if the strange girl had returned. No, definitely not. Why would she? Shausha pinched her mouth to one side and replayed the strange encounter in her head once again. They weren't so different after all.
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