Flashback [Shivias] Learn What You May

[Briza]

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28th of Spring, 513AV

Red locks fell into her eyes as she bent over the flint and steel. According to her brethren it was a pretty important thing to learn. She stared at the strange items, not entirely understanding how two small items could possible bring a spark to life as fire. It boggled the mind.

The man stood behind her shoulder, his hand rest lightly on her head as she sat, crossed legged, in front of the kindling. "Briza, it is not a difficult concept," he told her, moving from behind her to take a seat opposite the sticks and her. The red haired beauty looked at him, her eyes still sorrowful. It had been a season since Aska, her eagle and companion, had plummeted to his death, and she'd barely survived the ordeal herself. Now she'd taken it upon herself to learn the skills she would need to leave this place. The man sitting across from her, knew her intentions, but none others had been told. She'd gone about each day much the same; these moments beside the lake were her breaks from the mundane, and her chance to build the courage and knowledge to leave.

Bryok watched her quietly, taking in the way she held the flint against the steel, and laughing at her frustration in the spark not taking. She signed in resignation, and tried to and the tools to him. He shook his head sharply, an indication that this was her skill to learn, the training her burden to bear.
"It's useless!" She cried, striking flint against steel on her 10th attempt, anger evident in her amber eyes. She jumped backwards, with a startled yelp, as the kindling burst into life, flames licking at the wood. "I did it!" She exclaimed, running around the fire to embrace her friend and tutor. He simply smiled at her. For some it could have taken longer. "Never stop perfecting the ability until you can do it in one strike," he chided her gently; he didn't want her getting two excited.
The unspoken instruction was for her to put the small fire out, so she ducked to the lakes edge and cupped some water in her hands, dumping it on the growing flames. The flames were quenched with a sad squelching sound. She knew to wait until the slight breeze had redried the wood.

"We wait, and you learn," he spoke to her, his voice soft as always, gently guiding, teaching her what she needed to know. "Patience is watching the goats graze by the lake, watching each movement of their jaw. Patience is knowing that they will be finished eating, but not rushing it," how true those words resonated with her. In her mind it was better described as being bed ridden for many days, knowing you could get up, but knowing you shouldn't for your healing.



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[Briza]

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28th Spring, 513AV

"What shall we do now?" She asked, her eyes bright with unshed tears. Memories swirled about in her mind. Her companion allowed himself a sigh as he got to his feet, motioning towards the berry bushes. "Pick one without pricking yourself," Bryok stated, waiting for her to move on.

She leapt at the opportunity, and skipped to the berries, feeling somewhat less melancholy than she had. Her first instinct was to put her hand straight into the bush, which resulted in a quick jab to her fingers, a slight bloody splatter across the leaves. Darn that hurt she thought to herself, as she stopped and looked closely at the plant. Judging where she could grab without being spiked. Her eyes found the base of the bush, where bigger thorns were, but further apart and large enough to avoid. Berries hung this low from the bottom branches. Very carefully she laid down beside the bush, and let her hand snake up under it. Her coat jagged on a thorn, but her fingers managed to successfully close around a clump of berries.
She rolled to her feet triumphantly, holding the small fruits above her head with a cheer. He simply smiled at her. It was an easy enough lesson; judge the challenge before diving in. She'd probably cut herself many more times in the future, but in time she'd learn to watch, then walk.


By this time the kindling had dried out enough, though it had collapsed into a pile. "Stack it," he told her sternly, as she knelt beside it and began trying to lay sticks on top of each other. It wasn't working well. What if I make a tower? she thought, and as with the thought, she attempted to stand them upright. Instead of staying straight up, they fell against each other into a triangular shape; almost identical to her tutors! She squealed excitedly, bellying her age of 24 years. Her friend nodded in approval as she stacked more sticks upright, and then tucked kindling around the base. Time to try again.
Taking up the flint again, she struck it multiple times against the steel, until finally, a turn less than the last, the kindling sparked and lit.
Very quickly she stood and kicked the lit wood away from the rest, stomping her foot on it by instinct. It conveniently smouldered and lost its flame. She returned to the fire and continued the same process, attempt, light and smother.

Her eighth attempt resulted in instant flame.


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[Briza]

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28th Spring, 513AV

"Briza, life is harsher away from Skyinarta, are you sure this would be a journey you should take?" Bryok asked her softly, his eyes gazing off into the distance. Briza nodded furiously, for no other choice presented itself, she must be away, and it must be soon.

She stared longingly up into the sky, watching as eagle riders landed their mounts along the platform, her heart longing to be with them, but that time was passed. Her very being ached with a form of loneliness that would not be cured with any potion or romp. Her very best friend, truly one of her only friends, would never fly the skies in his form again. Perhaps one day he'd return in the form of Inarta, and like Briza, have the amber eyes that tales say means they once flew the skies in past lives.

One could not remain in such an empty place, if she could she'd break free of her very being and dissolve into the atmosphere, but taking her own life would be a grand mistake, the Gods would not look kindly on it, and she may be destined to return as a rat in a future life.
That thought was not appealing; eagles loves eating rats.

"I'll teach you what more I can, but then you shall be on your own," he stated to her, pulling her from her reveralie. She nodded, her eyes clouded by shame and sadness.

"Look, there," Bryok shouted to her, pointing to something on the ground. All Briza could see was an indent in the grass, probably made by a passing goat. "It's just a hoof print," she stated, rolling her eyes. Bryok grinned, "why yes, it is, there is your first lesson in tracking, but where does it go?".
Briza grimaced and searched the ground in the direction she assumed the goat would have gone, the only issue being the fact that the direction she was, ran straight into the water. "It's gone," she pouted, bowing her head in embarresment. Bryok grinned at her, a rare show of emotion. "Guess where it might have gone, and find something to back it up," he instructed.
She thought for a moment about what he meant. She already knew where it had gone, for it was grazing further up, watching them with wary eyes lest it be dinner. Something slotted into place in her mind as she stared at the bank. Here were shrubs, and with shrubbery one always had the potentional to get caught in it, especially something with a coat as the goats had. She turned and smiled at Bryok as she walked into the shallow water at the edge and around the bushed, finding, on the other side, the continuing hoof prints. "Assume, prove and find," Bryok called over the small trees and plants, waving her back towards him. She nodded, and instead of walking around the brush, she walked through it, earning herself a few srapes along her legs in the process.

"I hope you won't have to track much, but you may find yourself in a place where you can not see into the distancem and you'll need to know how to find food. The deeper the print, the heavier or slower the creature is going, the more abnormal the print, the more likely the creature is running and is kicking the soil as they go, you may also find half prints, with scattered leaves and sticks, this usually means something is hiding it's path," he wrapped up a quick lesson. He could not teach her much, only what he knew.










Give me the strength, oh children of the sky, Gods on high. Deliver me from my pain and sadness, allow me the chance to change that which could not be changed. Allow my heart to heal, allow the break to be unbroke. Give me strength to leave this place of haunted dreams and set my feet upon a path that leads me where I know not.

A silent prayer drifted in her mind. It was time to go, she was sure. How hard could a massive journey be, really? The few travellers that made it here never seemed to complain, much.

She knew she had to set her foot forward, and take the first step.
She stared at the gates that had sealed her in this place since her childhood. An elderly man stood vigilance at his post. A sad smile drifted across Briza's lips, old Val, how she would miss watching him greet visitors.

"You off young Briza?" He asked, looking her over, taking in her backpack with her meagre belongings. "Yes, fairwell old friend," she answer, staring off into the distance as the steel gate heaved open.

One foot in front of another, lead me down this path ashunder, let me grow my wings if I should fail, and return once again. A silent motto as she stepped onto the path that would lead her away from a haunted past.



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[Raien Ironarm Pitrius]

XP Award!

Name: Briza

XP Award:
Wilderness Survival +2
Observation +3
Tracking +1

Lore Award:
Flint and Steel: A Peculiar Tool
What Patience Is
Wilderness Survival: Using a Flint and Steel
Wilderness Survival: Judge the Situation
Wilderness Survival: Building a Fire
Wilderness Survival: Lighting a Fire
Life is Harsh outside Wind Reach
Wilderness Survival: Your on Your Own
Tracking: Assume, Prove, and Find
Tracking: Meaning of a Deep Print
Tracking: Meaning of an Abnormal Print
Prayer: A Plea for Strength
Setting off from Wind Reach
Bryok's Kindness

Grader Comments:
A short yet meaningful and interesting thread. I do look forward to more from you Briza.