Heading Home [Alynshi]

Summer, 510 AV, 3rd The sun had just risen, casting early morning shadows along the streets of Syliras. Shouldering her backpack, Emory sauntered out of the Golden Dragon, scarcely evading the muddy puddle in her path. Desperately in want of her bonded mount, Raisia, Emory decided she had garnered all the supplies she had come to Syliras seeking and would now return to Wind Reach. The warm summer air set Emory in a harmonious mood. A light zephyr swept a current of air through her long crimson locks as she whistled a Trail Bird’s song. It was going to be a long journey home. Side stepping another puddle, Emory marveled at the great city which she was leaving. It was a pleasant excursion, but such a city personally measured up to nothing, compared to the snow-tipped mountains and waterfalls of home. She’d never give them up. Unfortunately, the traders she had arrived with when first coming to Syliras, were no longer within the city gates to accompany her home. She would have to travel home, alone. The bold proposal did not rest well with her, but what were her options? Hire a body guard? Emory was certainly not going to go wandering about like a wounded hatchling, despairing for a lift. It would not do and at the very least, she was not completely defenseless. She had her longbow and her arrows. Pinpointing that mental note, Emory isolated her worries. Instead, she replaced them with notions concerning her rapidly approaching exodus. The street beyond her lone person promptly transformed into a market square. For the love of the sky, she moaned, Where on earth did I just turn? I’m supposed to be heading towards the gates! Instead of withering under the current circumstance, Emory substituted her complaints with something much stronger, her curiosity. Travelers and native Sylirians alike, crowded along the various booths and peddlers of sorts. To her vast amazement, races she had never laid eyes upon or even heard of stood amongst the throng. Her plan was simple. She would casually bump into someone or tap them on the shoulder if her wits failed her, and ask which way to the city gates. Nodding her head, Emory strode foreword.

[Alynshi]

She had barely managed to say the right words to the lady behind the desk as she brought the caged raven to her. "How much?" She asked quietly, her words heavily accented from a lifetime of speaking tawna. The shopkeep glanced at the raven, then back at the Chaktawe woman. "10 gms." She said, gazing at the young girl's heavily feathered clothing.
Alynshi barely suppressed her frown. She was buying the raven mostly for its beautiful glossy black feathers, and maybe a little for the sake of a companion. Alynshi gently set the caged bird onto the counter of the shop and reached into her backpack, pulling out a sack of coins. "If I may ask Miss, do you have any training in dealing with birds?" The Shopkeeper said.
Alynshi looked up, her face expressionless as she attempted to decode what the woman had just said. She understood that the shopkeeper was asking a question about the bird, and she was rather unsure as of how to reply.
"I'm buying it for feathers." She explained slowly, hoping she was giving the right reply. The shopkeeper briefly gave her a disapproving look. "Just for the feathers?" She asked. Alynshi pondered over her sentence for a few moments then nodded. "Alright then." The shopkeep said, holding out a hand which Alynshi promptly placed 10 gold-rimmed coins into. "Oh, and another for the cage." the woman added. Alynshi held back a sigh, and then placed another coin into the outstretched hand. The lady smiled and nodded, and Alynshi grabbed the cage of her bird who squawked once and exited the store.
The rush of seeing so many people still surprised her, the sudden sensation of the freckles on her hands giving off so many signals at once shaking her mind. It was barely even morning, as Alynshi had been able to watch the sun rise from a window inside of The Tooth and The Claw. She didn't understand why she had awoken from her uncomfortable position on the streets so early in the morning just to purchase a bird she didn't understand how to properly use. She yawned, glancing around as she held her free hand over her mouth. Alynshi still was surprised by the varying appearances of all the people, being amazed all over again as she saw their varying appearances in the faint morning light. She often would stop and stare at the blue-skinned Akalak, gape at the odd-eyed Kelvics, and shuffle away from the occasional zombie-like Nuit. She was prepared to stop and watch a rather tall Akalak, when a sudden flash of red caught her eye.
She passed the handle of her raven's cage to her left hand and made her way through the crowd in pursuit of whatever kind of creature held something bright red on its body. As she shoved her way past a rather chubby human, she was able to see it. She was seeing the creature from behind, but she was able to distinguish that it was female, most likely human, and that the red she had seen was the girl's flaming red hair.
She had yet to see a person of this sort, with hair a brighter shade of red than the desert rocks she saw back in Eyktol, and she couldn't help but dodge behind a building and exit out of the other side, in front of the red-headed girl, in order to catch a glimpse of the girl's face. She had shockingly green eyes, more vibrant than any she had seen so far, and her hair continued to mystify the Chaktawe as she watched it gently move as the girl did.
Alynshi suddenly felt a sudden pang of loneliness and an overwhelming feeling of being out of place as she realized how pitiful it was for her to be stopping in the middle of the market square just to watch a girl to see her vibrant red hair. She broke her glance from the red-head, a light pink blush covering her cheeks, embarrassed. She probably looked like a psychopathic bird lady who was very, very lost in this large city. She was preparing to turn around and leave the square when another idea popped into her head. If she was so lonely and out of place in this town, why didn't she try and make friends who may know how to return her back home to Eyktol? Of course, her train of thought instantly circled back to the red-headed girl, who was now quite a distance away but was still visible thanks to her red locks. Alynshi decided that she would attempt to befriend the girl, and see if there was any way that said girl could aid the Chaktawe in returning home. She started after her, trying to avoid looking around at anything other than the red head. She managed to loose the girl three times, always miraculously stumbling back upon her after she shoved past 3 or 4 people. She soon has only a person away from the girl, and her nerves suddenly began to effect her. What was she thinking, charging after this girl so fiercely just for the means of friendship? The girl probably wouldn't even be interested. She glanced down at the unnamed caged raven, who gazed back up at her with black eyes, and she noticed two fallen feathers in the bottom of the cage crossed in an X. She smiled, thanking Eywaat for the sudden sign, and brushed past the man separating her from the girl. She outstretched her hand and gently tapped her on the shoulder, waiting for her to turn her head towards her before she said "Hi." Then, her mind went blank.

[Emory Ruin]

Emory masqueraded through the mass of strangers. She had not yet summoned the courage to ask anyone for the simple directions for the whereabouts of the city gates. Despising her meekness, the Inarta woman sauntered foreword into the crowd of busy traders and buyers.

She had not heard the girl approach her from behind, merely seen her from the corner of her jewel-like eyes. Actually, it was not even the girl who promptly captured her fascination either. It was what she was holding under the tight grasp of her tiny fingers.

“Hi,” spoke the stranger with glossy black hair. Feathers lay limp under her curls and Emory instantly found something that would bond the two girls for a couple seconds. She must favor birds.

Hungry, came a thought that was not her own. Hungry, worry, Hungry, skyless! urged the voice again.

Emory peered within the cage at the onyx raven. Peace, she sent through her thoughts. Looking back up at the stranger who had approached her, she stated simply. “Your bird is hungry.”

Curious as to whether or not the woman had heard her, she motioned towards her stomach, circling her hand over her abdomen and then pointing to the caged creature. “He’s a bit ruffled among all this commotion. Have you had him long?”

Voices and outlandish tongues bombarded her ears. The smell of a hundred different tales loomed about them, the market became something quixotic and mystifying to Emory. She refocused her attention back to the woman, now taking in her appearance.

Her clothing was unlike her own in many ways. For one, she did not wear britches. Emory’s black slacks momentarily comforted her, for Emory could not imagine having to travel in a dress. Also, vague streaks of fair paint danced across the young woman’s nose. Her cheeks were speckled in white paint also, though much of it had been wiped off.

In conclusion, Emory determined that she must be a traveler much like herself. She did not bear the impression like one who knew where she was, therefore, Emory labeled her as a foreigner and potential acquaintance.

“Excuse me, but do you know which direction the Sylirian gates are?”
She had meant to wait patiently for a response, but she elapsed very little time for one to make a response. At least now she would not have to hunt an alien down in order to ask her question.

[Alynshi]

Alynshi couldn't do anything but blink. She had been expecting something much different to come from the red-head's lips, maybe something like "Hello, who are you?" or "Go away", not "Your bird is hungry."
Alynshi glanced down at the caged raven. The bird did look rather flustered, and it was standing in a way that gave the impression of being slightly weak. She looked back up at the woman, noticing the motion over her stomach and nodded.
"Have you had him long?" She asked. Alynshi shook her head no, and decided to speak. "No. Just bought him." She said, wanting to cringe at her own accent. Alynshi shrugged off a strap from her backpack and opened the flap, rummaging around in it until she produced a loaf of bread. She understood that the bird probably had never been given this type of food before, but it was all she had. "No bird food." She explained quickly to the red-head. She broke of a piece and slipped it into the bars, the bird sniffing it once then taking it from its owner's hand and slowly eating it.
Alynshi saw the girl's gaze on her dress, and felt a bit self-conscious. The girl was wearing pants, something she had seen many women in the city also wearing, while Alynshi was wearing a dress that her mother had given her the day before she was arrested. The dress surely wasn't uncomfortable, and she could easily move around in it. truth be told, she found things similar to a skirt or wrap much easier to maneuver around in then pants.
“Excuse me, but do you know which direction the Sylirian gates are?” The girl asked.
The sentence was longer, the longest anybody had spoken in common to her so far, and it took her a few good seconds to decipher it. She understood me, but, do, you, know, which, direction and are, and she was able to piece together that the girl was asking her for directions. She pursed her lips and silently whispered the final two words, and then realized that she had heard those words before. "Sylirian gates...yes." Alynshi said, nodding her head and turning toward the proper direction of the gates. She figured that gate was similar to a door or opening, and she recalled the place where she had entered the city from. This, she supposed, must be the gates.
She looked over her shoulder at the girl, giving her a gaze that said "Do you want to follow me?"

[Emory Ruin]

The feather-haired woman glanced down at her caged bird. The sight made Emory flinch, birds were not meant for cages they were guardians of the sky. All the same, she could not manage to obtain any displeasure for the young lady. Especially after she reached into her satchel and pulled out a tidbit of bread for the bird.
Emory sighed as the famished bird pecked the tiny loaf in half and began to devour it. Ravens would eat just about anything. Grapes, stew, fresh meat and bread crumbs.
When the bird had finished his meal the woman met Emory’s eyes and turned away.“Would you like to follow me?” she inquired simply.
Well that was easy, Emory thought. “Yes, lead the way.” She gestured with her hands in a lifting motion.
They weaved their way through the crowd of people. Someone stepped on Emory’s petite foot, but she did not cry out. Another woman jostled her and almost forced the Inarta to trip upon her guide. I’ll be lucky if I don’t poke some poor lad’s eye out, mumbled Emory. Her longbow was not heavy, but it certainly was not the lightest thing in the world, either. Not to mention her traveling backpack and quiver full of arrows added to weight slung over her back.
The company of three [Emory, the stranger and her bird] broke away from the busy street market and into a more compacted road. Horses rode about on either side, their hooves resounding a lovely clip clopping sounds wherever they strode.
There was more air to breathe and Emory’s load immediately seemed more buoyant than before. The massive golden gates could be observed from where they paced, though it must have still been a good couple blocks away because Emory could not see its base.
Though she rather preferred silence to the common tête-à-tête, the paint across the woman’s nose and he feathers webbed together questions in Emory’s curious little mind. At first she remained silent, for fear of offending the woman. As the gates enlarged, Emory eventually deducted that if she didn’t ask at all, when would she receive another chance?
That and from where they were currently striding, Emory could reach the gates by herself if the woman decided to leave her. So Emory stepped beside the lady and asked.
“Not from around here? Your feathers are quite beautiful. Raven feathers, no?”
Emory felt a soft nick at her heal. She must have a tiny pebble in her boot. The feeling began to agitate her but since they were so close to the gates, she did not stop to take it out. Instead, she briefly stopped for a second and kicked her right boot with her left. That of course did nothing and Emory trudged on.
The later in the day, the hotter it got. Summer truly was the season of dry lips. Emory ran her tongue over her own and suddenly remember that she had not refilled her water skin. Thankfully she vaguely remembered a fountain near the entrance of Syliras and there she would be able to refill her water for the journey home.

[Alynshi]

OOC info(Yeah, I got a horse now, so I'm just gonna squeeze that in somehow. I)

Alynshi was honestly surprised that she was able to remember the way so well. Sure, she almost misstepped and took the wrong path several times and almost tripped over a misplaced hunk of wood on the ground, but she still managed to navigate the city pretty fairly.
When they reached the horses, Alynshi couldn't help but gaze over the different breeds. There wasn't a wide arrange of the horse breeds, from what the Chaktawe could see, but the colors of their pelts varied greatly, similar to the appearances of their owners.
One particular horse caught her eye. It was the type of horse she had seen in the desert, with sandy golden colored hair and a mane the color of desert rocks. She recognized the horse as that of many in her tribe had had, and though she had never ridden one before, she couldn't help but go look at it.
She turned to the girl. "I will be back quick." She said, unaware of the improper common, and quickly shifted through the crowd to the horse. It looked up at her expectantly, huffing out through its snout. She noticed that it was a mare.
"Hello there girl, who do you belong too? Why is somebody like you here?" She said in Tawna, raising her hand to its nose and letting it sniff it. The horse appeared to understand, and nuzzled her hand. Alynshi noticed something odd, a piece of folded paper attached to its mane via a piece of twine. She plucked the note off, folding it open to find it written in common letters but using the Tawna language.
Alynshi,
Here's a horse. It'll make life a bit easier for you, and help you get home. Sorry that I took you all the way to Syliras, i'm sure you'll be fine. I hope you get the horse and nobody steals it.
--Kappa.
Alynshi slid the note into her pack and noticed that the horse had a rope around its neck. She couldn't help but smile at this final gesture of kindness from Kappa, the person who had rescued her from jail and taken to her Syliras.
She grasped the rope and walked ahead of the girl, motioning for her to follow. She could see the gates now, and she recognized them instantly. The red-head followed, and eventually stopped again and spoke.
“Not from around here? Your feathers are quite beautiful. Raven feathers, no?”
Alynshi's face went blank, a sign that she was thinking, and managed to piece together the meaning. "No, I'm Chaktawe, Eyktol. Thank you, mother's gift. Dress from mom too. Raven, kalanue feathers, one color blue. Sorry I speak odd, I didn't learn common as first language." Alynshi replied. It was the most she had spoken since she had parted ways with Kappa. "I'm Alynshi, from Suli tribe. Who are you?" She asked, not in an impolite way, and gave Emory a small smile.

[Emory Ruin]

Their small company turned towards a cluster of houses along the street. Hurriedly, Emory recognized the pungent scent of manure and the sounds of a horses calling to each other. The houses were in fact Inns and they were soon strolling through the wooden frames of a stable barn.

Emory’s guide stepped over to a mare to whose tack their hung a note. After reading the slip of paper, she pocketed the note and slung her belongings over the beast. Emory sighed, she knew the journey home would be long and she quickly pondered how much a horse would cost her.

After calculating the amount in her head and then contrasting it to what she had left, Emory decided she’d rather go home with her intended amount.

Their group left the stables before the stranger finally answered her question and introduced herself. She was known as “Alynshi” from the Suli tribe.

“I have never heard of the Chatwakee”, stumbled Emory. She knew she had pronounced it wrong, but she had never been one for foreign tongues. “The Common Language is a second language for me, also. My native tongue is Nori, language of the birds. I am Emory from the mountains of Skyinarta. My people are the Inarta and that is where I am headed.”

Emory waited for her companion to grasp all that she was saying. It appeared that Emory must know more of the Common Tongue than her, but she had also received a teacher. Whether Alynshi had a teacher or not remained a mystery.

After a few more moments and the gates were now clearly in sight, Emory ventured further with another question. “Is your home far from Syliras?” She inquired.

Alynshi’s mare neighed contentedly. Again, she wished for a beast to help her to the ship. Emory wanted to be home as quickly as possible, and that would require taking a ship. Although she feared vast waters, the distance between her and Raisia had been too long and Emory could no longer stand it.

Many travelers passed through the Syllirian gates. Alynishi stopped to allow another cart go by and Emory ceased her questions. The woman of the Suli tribe had helped her well enough, now she would have to continue her journey home alone.

[OOC, make your next post to rap it all up. Alynshi can power play Emory a little bit and perhaps follow her out of the city before answering her questions and expressing the need to find her own way home. Goss has told me it is going to take most of the summer season for Emory to get home, so the sooner we leave Syliras, the faster we can get home. I intend to leave the city and post in the Sylirian gates so we can leave. I’ll send you a message as to where the next post will pick up, okay? PM me if this is not. We need to get a mod in to read over and finalize the thread. Thanks !]

[Alynshi]

Alynshi gave a small grin at the red-head's mispronunciation of the word Chaktawe, but she was much closer to the true way of saying it than Alynshi had expected. The fact that the girl hadn't heard of the Chaktawe was less than surprising, as Alynshi knew that they were nowhere near her homeland.
""The Common Language is a second language for me, also. My native tongue is Nori, language of the birds. I am Emory from the mountains of Skyinarta. My people are the Inarta and that is where I am headed.”
Alynshi was surprised. Emory's common was the most she had heard from a single person and the fact that it wasn't her first language surprised her. This opened up the chance of her speaking it incorrectly, but from what Alynshi had heard the girl had said everything correctly.
Nori, the language of the birds was her first language. Language of the birds, Alynshi couldn't help but smile at the irony. She had seen the supposed sign in the bottom of her cage from the God of birds concerning the girl before she had confronted her, and here she was proving to have an actual connection with them. Alynshi glanced down quickly at the still unnamed raven, and up at her mare. Alynshi had no experience with birds, other then the ways of collecting their feathers, and had purchased the bird for the sole purpose of companionship. There seemed to be a chance that Emory could teach her how to properly use the bird. She would question the girl later.
"I also hope to return home, missing family. Though I do not know how to get there." Alynshi replied.
They were now standing before the gates, people bustling besides them and bumping into their shoulders. The mare gave an unhappy snort, and Alynshi patted its snout as an effort to calm it.
“Is your home far from Syliras?” Emory questioned. Alynshi nodded. "I believe it to be, the Eypharian who brought me here traveled many weeks to arrive." She replied.
Emory nodded, seemingly satisfied, and turned and thanked Alynshi for her help. Alynshi nodded and smiled. "I'm glad to help, Emory." She said, watching the Inarta go.
The Chaktawe couldn't help but notice how the girl seemed a bit..worried about her departure. The way she unsurely walked out of the gates made her worry about her. Alynshi glanced up at her horse, and down at her raven, and both seemed to be saying the same thing, go.
Alynshi quickly trodded out of the city, following Emory until she was behind her. "Emory!" She said, volume a tad louder then her normal speaking voice, making the Inarta turn. "We come with you, if you wish?" She asked, motioning to her animals. The girl just nodded, and Alynshi smiled, giving her raven another chunk of bread and thanking Eywaat for the new friend.
(Hope that was ok, i'm not much of a power-player. I didn't want to go overboard, so I controlled her as little as possible.)

[Tabarnac]

XP Award! Emory XP Award: Birdkeeping +1; Negotiation +1 Lore Award: Chaktawe (basic) Alynshi XP Award: Horsemanship +1; Birdkeeping +1 Lore Award: Inarta (basic) Finances: -11 gm for raven and cage Additional Note Good work playing strangers in a strange land! I like how you both explored the difficulty of discourse in a language not one’s own. I realize this wasn’t a training thread, but I tried to reward you anyway. If you want to build those skills, remember that you have to actually exercise them in your posts. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or concerns. Keep writing!