An Arbor Abounds[Or/Taz]

[Tazrae]

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Taz had been taught to keep her head in an emergency, especially in the jungle. They were ironically just outside of Syka proper and off the cobbled pathway too far away for immediate help. Her knee was a burning pain that felt like someone had rammed a hot poker into her flesh. It was such a blinding pain that she had trouble even thinking. All she could do was walk backwards off the ant trail and frantically brush the ants off her clothing with the flat of the machete. She could hardly walk, with her knee stiffening in rigid washes of pain where the ant had bitten her through the isuas pants. It was the most painful thing she’d ever felt and it kept her panting and all but screaming in pain as waves hit her.

Bree, who had been well clear of the ants, hissed in frustration, watching all three people struggle with the stings. She darted in closer, as if she wanted to help, but was terrified of the ants herself.

Tazrae didn’t get any more bites. Her clothing was layered and the only real vulnerable places besides at her wrists were her knees where the pants pulled tight against her tall boots as she walked. Brushing the ants away had limited the danger, so too had back-peddling out of the pathway of the creatures. It was a trick of dressing for the jungle. Always wear loose garments so that stings stung the garments and not through to the skin. It had saved her time and time again from wasps and bees and now ants as well.

But Moritz and Oralie’s predicament was more dire.

Oralie had headed down to the water and that was one of the least of all safe places to be anywhere in the jungle. Washing the ants off was a good idea, but that put her in the middle of the stream with Moritz when the main waves of pain hit. Taz wasn’t even sure she could move down the bank and get into the stream itself, so great was the pain and muscle lock on her leg. She was in a cold sweat, panting breathlessly, with tears streaming down her face at the wave after wave of pain radiating up and down her limb. She had no idea how the two Kelvics had made it down and away from the ants. Taz had to admire them, though she had no idea how they were both still on their feet.

Taz was just going to try and get down the bank when a hulking form stepped out of the jungle. Bree hissed at the newcomer, but didn’t attack. She simply watched at a safe distance. Nearly seven feet tall – perhaps taller – the form took two steps and was down the bank and splashing out into the water. It… no he… scooped up one Kelvic under one arm and the other under the other arm before turning and walking back up the bank. “Ants defend their hill. Don’t stand in their hill.” He said gruffly, still towing the two Kelvics like they were oversized housecats rather than people.

Taz frowned as he lumbered past and turned to follow, crying out each time she took a step. The creature turned then, raised his brow ridge, and shook his head. “Need me carry as well?” He asked, looking thoughtfully at her.

The Innkeeper shook her head, used her machete that was still in her hand, and cut the first big branch she could find into a walking stick and leaned on it to follow the Jamoura. Then Bree was there, her flank under Tazrae’s hand, supporting the woman as she walked. “It’s the guardian of the arbor…” Bree hissed. Tazrae had also assumed that was the Jamoura, even, as she hobbled after him whimpering in pain as the sting on her knee hurt like crazy.

The Jamoura lumbered on ahead, taking one stride for every four of Tazrae’s, both Kelvics still swinging under his massive arms. He led them into a large clearing that was dominated by a massive ebony tree. The clearing was lush with flowers and filled with birdsong, particularly the kind Oralie had kept hearing. The tree wove upwards into the sky, so tall it was hard to see much past its middle. The top was sheltered in the clouds, vanishing and reappearing as the weather changed. Tall grass woven with herbs and mushrooms littered the clearing and it was there that the Jamoura laid down the two Kelvics and roamed about picking various flowers which he immediately put in his mouth and began to chew.

When his mouth was full, he spit out its contents into his palm and offered each of them a bit of it. “Put on stings. Will help painful and numb flesh.” The Jamoura said. “I’m Brosh. Be welcome here. I heard you coming on the trail and knew the ants were out and grumpy today. Anteater was raiding them earlier. Left before you came.” He said thoughtfully.

Taz didn’t hesitate for help when offered. She took a bit of the paste out of Brosh’s hand and used her knife to cut back her pantleg over her knee and smear the stuff across the angry welt that was there where the ant sting happened. The relief that coated the skin was almost instantaneous and she shuddered as she realized just how much pain she was in and how badly it hurt. Taz couldn’t stop shaking even after the pain receded. “I’ve never seen anything like those ants.” She whispered, shaking her head. She thought about going back by there and collecting a few for their venom before she left. It absolutely sounded like a good idea if she were careful.

“I’m Brosh. I must ask. Why you here?” He said abruptly, looking at all three of them since they were now in a place, they could tend their stings.

Words: 993

[Oralie]

As Oralie stood in the edge of the stream, the water coming just up to the middle of her shin, she heard someone else coming up behind her. She was too busy brushing the ants off her arms to want to turn and see who it was, but she felt them trying to help her too. The pain was increasing in intensity now, her leg in particular spasming and threatening to give out altogether. Oralie whimpered with the waves of pain, wondering manically if cutting her entire leg off would hurt less.

Sure that all the ants were off of her now, she turned back towards the bank. The action of turning caused her leg to stiffen, the waves of pain and numbness causing her to practically fall into the bank of the stream. She saw then that it was Moritz who had followed her, and tried to thank him for brushing the awful ants from her back, but she just whined in pain at him instead. She was too busy trying to reach for her rucksack without letting the pain totally overwhelm her that she did not even register the sounds of something large tramping across the ground towards the pair of them.

Oralie had just managed to hook her fingers around one of the bag straps when a huge arm scooped her right out of the water. She screamed, surprised and disorientated as the ground suddenly disappeared from under her feet. It took her a few moments to realise that the thing carrying her appeared to be a huge gorilla, or what Oralie had been informed a gorilla looked like, having grown up in the confines of Syliras. It took her another tick to register that it – he – had spoken.

Having the weight taken off her bitten leg gave Oralie a moment to try and get her head straight. The pain was still unbearable, but the shockwaves of numbness and white hot pain were nowhere near as intense without her body weight being put through it. She glanced to the side to see that Moritz was also being towed along in a similar fashion. She assumed that it was the Jamoura carrying the both of them, and she wondered where Tazrae was. She knew that the Innkeeper had been bitten too, but she had not gone to the water.

Oralie tried to look for Taz, but being held under the arm of a huge gorilla-human made it very difficult to even see where they were headed, let alone see if there was anybody else nearby. She thought she heard a female voice she recognised as her friend cry out somewhere behind them, and then the voice of the Jamoura addressing her. Oralie felt a rush of relief, Tazrae was still with them.

After a short time, during which Oralie tried to keep her head clear through the foggy waves of pain, the Jamoura set her down with incredible gentleness onto soft grass. Moritz too was laid next to her, and she glanced over him to see how he was faring. Somehow, Tazrae had managed to walk the entire way. Oralie closed her eyes and put her head in her hands, only looking up again when the Jamoura bent to the trio offering some sort of paste for their bites.

Following Tazrae’s lead, Oralie scooped some of the paste from Brosh’s hand and fished her small knife from the pack she had somehow managed to cling onto while swinging from under the Jamoura’s arm. She cut her trousers over the bites and smeared the paste over the alarming, angry looking bites. Another whimper left her, this time of relief, as the paste soothed the searing pain.

She took a few deep breaths, steadying her head and rapid heartbeat. Oralie then took the time to glance around at their surroundings. It was truly beautiful. Flowers bloomed everywhere, and the air was heavy with the scent of fresh grass and herbs. She could hear the calls of the birds closer now, and her eyes fell upon a large bird with an even larger beak. She stared at it so intently that Brosh noticed and spoke to her. “Toucan. Very noisy.” He then turned to Tazrae. “Biggest ants in jungle. Unfortunate they found you before me.”

Oralie blinked up at the Jamoura, considering his question. Truthfully, the Kelvic did not know why they were here. She was something of a tag along to a trip that Tazrae and Moritz had already planned. Hesitantly, she ventured at an answer since the other two were still tending to their stings.
“We wanted to see the most beautiful place in the jungle. To see the flowers and the butterflies and the place the Caiyha herself blessed.” The last part was a bit of a guess. Oralie knew of Caiyah, having spent enough time at the Temple of All Gods and knowing the name of this clearing. Brosh did not say anything to her yet, seeming perhaps to sense Oralie’s hesitancy, or maybe just wanting an answer from each of them.

Oralie lapsed into silence, and as she gazed again around the clearing she realised that she felt totally calm. It was much more than just the absence of pain. She felt as though she had no worries at all in the world. She smiled serenely and turned to the others. “This place is wonderful, isn’t it.” She made to stand, wanting to turn to look at the huge tree properly, but she wobbled on her legs. Even though the paste had soothed the pain, her body was still weakened from the ordeal and the venom.

Brosh gently placed a large hand on her head, guiding her back into a seated position. The Jamoura then offered up the trio various fruits for them to eat in order to regain some strength. Figs, passionfruits and even papayas. Oralie gratefully picked up a fig and dug her fingers into it, splitting open the skin so she could get at the sweet pulp inside.

“Calm you feel is blessing of Caiyah. She protects this place.” The Jamoura watched the trio eat. “You safe here.”


+1025

[Moritz Craven]

Pain, Moritz could see, was a motivator. In truth it override his more logical side of thinking, and made him act more by instinct. As an Okomo if he was faced by a threat he could not fight, could not strike, then he would flee. So seeing Oralie doing so made sense to him to do the same thing.

Perhaps if he had taken the time to think things through further he would have done things differently, but in such a moment he had no such time. He just reacted. He just moved. Pain, or the need to avoid it taking over his reaction, and leading to him reasoning out things that didn't make sense as an excuse to tie to his natural response.

It wasn't until he stopped moving that the pain really set in, the moving part of his mind or some such thing overriding anything else.

Once the pain did set in Moritz felt his vision narrow and a red hot wave wash over him obscuring everything. His feet unsteady he stumbled and struggled to keep his feet.

He was unsure what happened after that. At some point he had passed out, that was for sure. Had he still been standing when it happened? Had he been in the water? Or had the arm wrapped around him before he passed out? Perhaps that would make sense, his mind associating it with a protective gesture, and letting go of the tiny bit of consciousness keeping him awake. Or perhaps not, perhaps it was before that, Moritz did not recall afterwards.

He just remembered waking up, and realizing he was on the ground and not where he had been before. Before he had been... In a place... Not here... Even that, where he had last been aware of things, was fuzzy in his head.

The first thing he noticed was a limb offering some kind of paste. Feeling weak and barely able to move he managed to roll onto his back, but nothing more than that. It took a conscious effort to move his arms then, and several moments before he willed his arm to move and actually worked up the energy to do so. Still he did his best to spread about the paste, but it took time and each motion of his limb seemed to take ages. Years. Lifetimes. Or perhaps just a few moments...

By the time he was half way done the pain seemed to be lessening a bit, helping him to further move and apply the paste in more spots.

He looked to the side to see his own pack hanging off a limb by a single strap, but did not recall how it had gotten there. Had he picked it up? Had someone else put it there? What was even in it? Was it actually his pack, or just one pretending to be his? This thought didn't make sense after he thought it, but the thought still hung in his head for a long series of moments.

It took Moritz a moment, still disoriented and not quite awake fully, to realize Brosh had spoken. Wait, how did he know his name was that? Oh right, he had just said it to them... And such was how his mind wove in circles, listening but confused. Oralie also said something, about trees being pretty or some such, but it did not make much sense to him.

Confused at the question and Oralies answer Moritz struggled to recall, but was having trouble remembering. Him and Tazrae... Words...

"I... I'm sorry, I am not sure. I think I knew... But I cannot recall. Tazrae, do you remember?"

Here he tried to peer at the woman, ending up staring at Bree instead, before his shifted his gaze again and found her. To no one in particular Moritz asked a question, which at the moment felt more important.


"Sorry, maybe someone said this, but how did we get here? And where were we before? Was I taking a bath?"

This was asked because Moritz was quite wet, and this reminded him of a recent memory of some water, but either from passing out or the venom or some other thing he was still having trouble putting everything together.

In response Brosh handed him some fruit, which he began to chew on, which had a quite strong flavor. Strong enough that he could feel it in his nose, and his eyes felt a bit wider afterwards.

WC: 746

[Tazrae]

Bree stretched out as Tazrae tended her wound with the paste Brosh offered. “Thank you so much for the rescue.” Tazrae said, her voice sincere and her gratitude in her eyes. She set aside her walking stick, actually leaning it against Bree, and then slide down the side of the Ixam to use her as a backrest as she faced Brosh and the others. Oddly, her left arm from the shoulder to the elbow tingled as if something was under the skin there and wanted out. Tazrae had no idea what it was.

She had only been bitten by a singular ant once, but once was more than enough. It felt like a wound from an arrow, shot clear through the bone. Taz had been slowly feeling better since applying the paste. “We were fortunate you found us. I’ve never felt pain like this.” She said shaking her head, still shaking slightly from the quickly receding pain. When the Jamoura asked why they were here, Taz had a simple answer for the big male.

“I was called.” She said simply, knowing this visit was asked of her. “And Oralie was right. It’s beautiful. It feels… pure here. I don’t know how to put words to the feeling this invokes in me.” She said softly, reaching out and stroking Bree’s flank. The Ixam turned her head and lipped at her shirt sleeve. It was one of Bree’s signs of affection.

The Arbor felt like Tazrae felt when she was incredibly dirty and stepped under the outdoor shower and washed all the dirt away until her skin was shining clean. With the pain quickly ebbing from the ant bite, she was feeling herself infused with energy and so incredibly peaceful. “This place makes me feel like I’ve come home.” She said simply, glancing between Oralie and Moritz. Were they feeling the same way?

Brosh gave Oralie some fruit then stopped by and offered her some as well. Taz took a pair of passionfruits, drew a knife from her boot, and began to peel it to reveal the sweet pulp beneath. She sliced and fed one to Bree while she herself nibbled on the other. The Jamoura paused at Tazrae, ran his thick fingers into her scalp and paused. “You are home. I feel first tree seed growing inside you. You a wildling of power, biggest power felt for long time.” He said matter-of-factly. He then released her head and ran a hand down her left arm from the shoulder to the elbow. “First tree grow here. It hides now, but soon we will all see. War comes here. War that will touch all. Powerful evil comes to Syka. Kihala brought Guardians to help. Caiyha planted first tree seeds as well. This tree…”

He turned and gestured at the ebony tree growing behind them wrapped in flowering vines. “This a first tree seedling.”

Tazrae nodded. She understood what Brosh said because she’d been tested and marked by Caiyah and had swallowed a seed given to her as a reward. She knew it made her less than human, or rather more, depending upon how one looked at it. She was mastering the ways of the wild faster than most people could. She thrived here in Falyndar. And Falyndar had embraced her as a daughter. Somewhere in the almost two years she’d lived here, Tazrae had fell in love with the land and in love with the life. It held her heart like no man or woman could.

At that moment, Moritz seemed to perk up, asking questions that made Brosh smile. “You not take bath. You flee to water. Follow cat.” Brosh pointed at Oralie. “Ants with bad bites got you. Bit you many times. Cat went to water. She smart.” Brosh added offering Oralie a smile. “Good leader.” He added.

“I wasn’t bitten as many times, Moritz. Only one got me and that was enough to get me out of their path. You two were gone before I realized where you’d went. I would have never went to the water. Fish around here have teeth and even the crocodiles are mean.” Taz affirmed. “Brosh fished you out… one under each arm… and carried you here.” She added.

Then the Innkeeper turned back to Brosh. “Brosh, we’ve also come to learn about Caiyah. Can you tell us more about her?” Taz asked, glancing between Oralie and Moritz again. This was Caiyha’s sacred spot and Brosh was its guardian. Surely, if anyone did, Brosh would be the one to know more about Caiyha.

“Caiyha is First Witch. Very special thing. Witches guard The Wilds. She first among them. You, Tazrae, are Witch, but it sleeps in you. Awaken soon though. War coming.” He added. He glanced at Oralie. “Cat… you long to be one. Can be one if you listen, learn, accept things.” He said plainly. “Understanding balance. Understanding violence. You will want to be Guardian too. Kihala watches Syka. Once you feel One With Syka, you will want Guardian.” He added, glancing at Moritz.

“I not know you. You think of Winter only. You want Winter back. But Winter never touches here. You will never understand here until you touch here and think less of Winter.” He added, walking over to Mortiz and offering him some of the selection of fruit he had left. “You miss home?” He asked, glancing at the more than confused look on Moritz’s face. “You Okomo. Okomo’s in Mountains. Long way from home.” He added.

He munched on the fruit that he had left after he shared his bounty, and then began picking wildflowers that were blooming on the vines and among the verdant green of the clearing around the giant ebony. He gently set one crown of flowers over Oralie’s head, and one over Tazrae’s. Then he braided a leis to place around Moritz’s head. The braided necklace hung down to his waist.

Brosh smiled. “What else want?” He asked with a smile. It was then that Tazrae noted he had beautiful blue eyes that contrasted with his long wavey fur beautifully. Brosh was a very powerful impressively built male. But he had a grace to his tall bulky form she hadn’t expected from a Jamoura.

Words: 1039

[Oralie]

Oralie watched Moritz carefully, concerned that he seemed to be struggling more than any of the rest of them. Maybe he was bitten more times. Oralie had two bites and that was more than enough. She was feeling more relaxed and clear headed with each moment that passed since applying the paste, and it appeared the stuff had worked wonders for Tazrae too. Perhaps it was just taking a little longer to work for Moritz. She nodded in agreement with Tazrae’s words.
“Yes, thank you, we are very grateful for your help.”

The Kelvic listened as Tazrae in turn supplied her answer to Brosh’s question after Moritz struggled to recall any information. She continued to flick her gaze to him to make sure he was still staying upright. Head titled in curiosity at her friend’s simple answer. Tazrae had been called? By whom, she wondered. She found herself nodding along as Tazrae elaborated on how she was feeling. There was something about the Arbor that she was finding difficult to put her finger on.

“It feels… safe. Like a comforting blanket.” Did it feel like home to her? She was not entirely sure but it definitely felt significant. It was similar to the feeling she had when she had sat by the fire speaking to Tazrae on her first night in Syka. Like it was exactly where she should have been all along. She absolutely belonged in Syka, but the Arbor? It was a different kind of comfort, a different but still significant place. She knew she had always been meant to visit it, but she couldn’t figure out the reason why.

Oralie picked up a passionfruit, needing a little more food to help level her head out again. It was even tastier than the fig she had not long finished and she sucked on the pulp with relish. Next to her, she could sense that the fruit was starting to Moritz too as he seemed to start to sit a little straighter.

The Jamoura seemed to agree with what Tazrae had said, and Oralie watched as he touched her head and arm. It seemed Tazrae was definitely meant to be here, and she was happy then that her friend had found this place. A wildling? The first tree? A war? Oralie had no idea what he meant by the first two, but a war in Syka? The Kelvic’s brows pulled together in concern as she watched Tazrae’s face. Her friend appeared somewhat unconcerned, so she must have known already. As Brosh turned to Moritz, she leaned a little closer to Taz.
“What is a wilding?”

Her attention was then caught again by the Jamoura’s words. He knew she was a Kelvic, specifically a feline. She gazed at him, blinking when he stated she was a good leader. Oralie wasn’t sure about that, she had surely lost all of her common sense in her panic. But it was a nice thing for him to say.
“How are you feeling now Moritz?” She hoped the paste had finally worked its magic on him. “Wait… the fish have teeth?!” That sounded even more alarming than the ants.

She returned her attentions to Brosh as he responded to Taz’s question about Caiyah. The Goddess was the First Witch, and apparently Tazrae was one too. She slid her golden gaze to the Innkeeper briefly. Again Brosh spoke of an impending war, but before she could think on it again, the Jamoura addressed her directly. She looked right into his gentle eyes as he seemed to delve into her very soul, uncovering things that she didn’t even know she felt or wanted. She wanted to be a Witch, she would be a Guardian…

As he turned to Moritz, speaking of Okomo and mountains, Oralie dropped her gaze to the grassy jungle floor. She pressed her hands into it, feeling how warm the soil was beneath her fingertips. The young Kelvic didn’t understand quite what a Witch was, but knew a little of the Guardians. What she absolutely knew for certain was that she loved Syka and the land and the people who lived on it with her. The place had welcomed her and protected her, helped her grow and start to blossom into the person she had always meant to become. She realised she would do anything to look after this place and its inhabitants. Even the biting ants, for surely they would not be here if they were not important too.

She lifted her gaze once again and looked over to Tazrae. Her friend seemed to be as one with the jungle more than anyone else she had spent time with. She would have to see if they could spend more time among the trees together in the future. Oralie found herself determined to learn as much as she could, not just about being able to survive here, but about everything else. The animals, the plants, all of it.
“Taz… you understand don’t you, about how all of the things are connected? Bugs and plants and things, I mean. Would you show me sometime? Even though I am a cat I don’t understand. Indigo told me that there were other cats the same as me here, but I don’t think they would see me as one of them yet.”

Oralie beamed as the flower crown was placed upon her head, smiling at her similarly bedecked friends. What did she want? She paused, considering. There really was something special about the clearing, it made her feel serene. Oralie knew there was a worry she wanted to ask about but she couldn’t remember it. Instead she asked, “Can you show how you made it?” She gently touched the crown on her head.

Brosh smiled again. “Choose flowers, long stems. Not many of same though, must be care to not take all of one thing.” Oralie gently rose from her seated position, her legs feeling stronger again now. She didn’t know if the others would care to try too, but she wandered and selected a few flowers she liked the look of. The vibrant colours mesmerised her, and as much as she would have loved a whole bunch, she made sure to only pick one of each. She reverently brushed her fingers over the bark of the ebony tree as she returned.

Brosh had found her a small vine, and he then showed how to weave the stems of the flowers into the vine to make whatever she wanted. While her creation was not quite as neat as the beautiful crowns and leis the Jamoura had made, Oralie was still pleased with her result. It was too small to be anything much, but Brosh let her loop it around his arm like a bracelet with a smile. She was surprised at how gentle he was, for someone who was intimidating in appearance. She had the sense though that most, if not all Jamoura were like him though. There did not seem to be a hurtful bone in his body. That thought caused Oralie to remember what her worry was, though it still seemed like a distant thing.
“Brosh… you said… you said that something bad is coming to Syka. How do you know? Will it be soon?”

+1210

[Moritz Craven]

Frowning in concentration Moritz looked about, but didn't feel much of anything. From what Tazrae and Oralie said they both felt something. Thinking introspectively he tried to see if he felt anything, but had trouble noticing. Perhaps he was a bit calmer? More at peace? Other than that he didn't notice much, but then perhaps it was like trying to notice a sound by its absence and he was not good at detecting such things?

After thinking about it for a few moments though he did realize it was the neutralness that was of notice. Like an odd ache in the back of his mind being gone, certain worries and concerns he held about himself, his family, Morwen, were gone. He still knew them, and they were still something he was aware of, but he felt a bit more... Detached from them in the moment.

Trying once more to sit a bit up Moritz looked about more closely, speaking in general for most of his words rather to anyone specific.

"I think... Maybe I know what you all mean. I don't really feel something, more I feel an absence of something here. I think this place would be well suited for meditation, if I ever return maybe I'll try it. Do you meditate much Brosh? I've tried it a few times, but I'm not all that good yet."

Moritz not knowing much about Jamoura didn't realize the race was almost infamous for the action, for meditation. "I meditate. Yes. It is a good place to meditate, here." The simple answer did answer Moritz question, though perhaps in a far off way. But then, perhaps he had not really asked the right question.

While Brosh's words seemed calm the topic themselves were of concern. He felt something in Tazrae, but he also spoke of war. War coming to Syka. War and strong evil... Coming to Syka? He did not doubt the Jamoura, having seen quite a few things in his past. Nothing Brosh had said came across as false or a lie, and so he saw no reason to belive he spoke falsely. And so asking how he knew like Oralie did not even occur tot he Okomo Kelvic.

"That... Does not sound good. Why is War, and evil coming to Syka? And is there anything we can do about it, or to prepare?"

Moritz himself had some skill of arms, but he was fairly certain they were woefully insufficient for a large battle. He really needed to crack down and train hard with his Verusk friend, and master his new capabilities from his Gnosis. But beyond that he was unsure what else he could or should do, well beyond learning more about exploring the wilds and surviving in them.

"Wait, who is Kihala? Or her... Guardians?"

From context Moritz knew that the First Tree was something important, though he was unsure how literal it was. Was it literally the first tree ever to be? If it was then surely that was a powerful thing, as would a cutting from it be.

As Brosh explained things Moritz vaguely recalled going into the water, but the memory was a bit hazy still. He had clearly passed out at some point, though when exactly he was a bit shaky on.

"Oh... I... Don't really remember that. I think I fell out of consciousness. Or... Whatever the word for that is. I kind of remember water... Yeah I'm not sure, its kind of confused in my head. Thanks for the help Brosh, for the saving us and carrying us and the plant stuff."

At the topic of Caiyha Moritz listened closely, doing his best to push other things aside and to focus on the words being spoken. A original source, namely a marked person of a divine, giving into about that divine, surely there was no better source other than that divine being themselves? With that and Brosh's general trustworthy nature Moritz felt confident what he said was true unlike what most people said. Though he also noticed how careful and measured the Jamoura was, hoping to some day be able to exude that level of honesty and confidence in his words.

As the topic of himself Moritz tried to budge up a bit higher, sitting more upright, as he tried to meet Brosh's eyes.

"I want to find Morwen. She came through here, though she isn't here anymore. She passed through a gate. I'm hoping to find that gate, and bring her back, or find someone who can. That is why I came to Syka. If I ever do that... I don't know what I would do next. I'm not sure if I would stay, or not. Or if she will die before myself or anyone else goes and gets her. I... Don't really know what I want. I'm not even three. I'm sure the time I have lived feels like nothing to you. But I do live in Syka. And I would like to understand it better if I can."

A bit of sadness sweeping through him for a moment, not really a bad thought but an odd melancholy one, Moritz thought of Lhavit for a moment.

"I do miss home, yes. Its all I've ever known before coming here. But... I don't know if its the place for me either. Or if Syka is. I've not really seen or experienced anything yet that would make me make this place my forever home. I... Just don't know. But I am here now, and I want to make the best of it while I'm here."

Thinking on that moment of Infinity, the building where Moritz had lived and grown up, full of ghosts and a living structure, Moritz felt a happy thought of Lhavit at the building. Not of his mother, but of that structure.

"Do you know of... Any living places around here? A building, a place, that is alive? Not a plant, but a building. I grew up in one, back in Lhavit, and I've never seen another like it. It could... Build itself. It was alive in a way no other building I've seen is. I think I miss Infinity, my old house, more than anything else. I've lived there longer than anything else I've done or lived in. But I've not seen any place like it since coming here. Have you heard of any such place around here?"

The more Brosh spoke the more confused Moritz became, as in truth he did not really know what he wanted. In many ways he was young, too young to decide where he wanted to spend the rest of his life. But then for a Kelvic he was not really all that young. Did he want to stay in Syka? Was Lhavit his home? What did he want? He did not know.

For a moment Moritz thought of a living structure like Infinity, perhaps on a nearby bit of stone or mountain where an Okomo could call home, but he felt the image slip from his mind, having trouble keeping focused on the idea.

Whatever Brosh did say or did not say Moritz would thank him for his help or words, even if he told him nothing more. He was truly thankful for the aid he had been given, and would do his best to make that clear.

At Oralie's question Moritz smiled and nodded, returning a simple "a bit better" as a reply, not quite able to stand yet but in truth feeling better since coming to the Arbor and being given the paste.

WC: 1,263

[Tazrae]

Tazrae glanced at Oralie and swallowed slightly. This wasn’t something she talked about… not to anyone. Was she ready to talk to Oralie about it? She met her friend’s golden gaze and the genuine warmth in the Kelvic’s eyes moved her. “A Wildling is someone who is not exactly human or Kelvic or anything like what they were born as. They take a part of the first tree into them… a seed, and that seed grows within them. You feel connected to nature. Your senses expand. Things change for you. Civilization has less call to you and you feel more at home in the Wilds. It’s a gift from multiple Gods, but Caiyha or Kihala often creates Wildlings. They usually bear her marks.” Taz replied quietly. The seed she had swallowed was part of her, growing within, and she had no idea how to integrate it with her current existance.

Oralie’s other question was answered by Brosh. “Piranha. Have big teeth. Can strip meat off bone. Eat fast. Water turns bloody. Like boiling pot. Not hot, just busy fish.” He added.

Tazrae noted Oralie’s reaction to Brosh’s words, and how she reached out and touched the soil. The Innkeeper reached out her own hand, placed it over Oralie’s hand that was closest to her, and linked her fingers with the Kelvic. Then she squeezed, gently, as if to say things were going to be alright. Her squeeze was also one of acceptance.

At Oralie’s words, Taz nodded. “I can try. But I think you need to spend more time as a cat. I think you spent a good deal of time being a human that could turn into a cat, but not enough time as a cat that can be human if she wants. If you spend time as a cat, you’ll see the world as a cat, and cats are very connected to everything around them. If you do that, I will do my best to show you what I know… “ Taz encouraged Oralie, not unwilling to help at all.

Taz laughed in delight at the crown and touched it gingerly then turned to admire Oralie’s crown. “Very pretty…. thank you Brosh.” Taz said, grinning even as a lei was placed over Moritz’s head. When Oralie asked, Taz joined in and both girls were soon braiding flowers into vines.

“Time hard to judge. Bad is coming. Caiyha makes Wildlings. Is sign. Kihala gifts Guardians. Is sign. One? Maybe nothing. Both? Certainty.” He explained, causing Tazrae to nod.

She could see why that was the conclusion Brosh came to. It made sense to her too. “It feels like the Gods are all around us, watching us.” The sensation was flattering and terrifying all at once. Taz was afraid she’d be found lacking… her bloodline was one of Syka’s many enemies. So too could be many other people.

Moritz spoke then and Brosh smiled at him, then glanced at the others as well. “Meditate much. You come. You meditate too. I teach. Anytime.” He added, gesturing to the flowers. “Scent relaxes. Open’s mind. Good For Meditation.” He added, indicating the flowers all around him.

Tazrae answered Brosh’s question. “Kihala is the Goddess of Life, Moritz. She gifted Syka with five statues and five guardians. The guardians can control the statues, which are magical and can spring to life to defend the settlement. The story is written in the Kihala Shrine in the middle of the Syka Commons… you can’t miss it. There’s a pool with colorful fish and a giant stone statue of a woman with plants for hair.” Taz explained. “I helped build the Shrine… and I often gather and plant flowers there to make it even more beautiful.” She added, not mentioning it was also the first place she’d gotten an eyelash viper bite.

The conversation continued. It ebbed and flowed.

Brosh shook his head. “Living Buildings? No. See life in building though. Creatures not human.” He said, indicating he knew of Inhumans living in buildings, but not of buildings being alive.

Taz looked interested though. “Is that a real thing, Mortiz? A living building? How is that possible?” She asked, curious. The young bard was interested in magics and had heard of all types, but nothing so exotic as a living building.

The Jamoura watched the interaction cautiously, then he bent, kicked over some vegetation, and dug his hands into the soil, pulling out a huge clump of it. The soil was cupped in his hand, filled with dirt overflowing. “You. Wilding. Hold Hand Out.” He said firmly to Tazrae and waited until she did as he asked. Once her hand was outstretched, palm up, Brosh spoke again. “In my hand, all knowledge.” He said, lifting the dirt. Tiny grains of soil spilled off his and fell once more to the Arbor’s floor. “You Moritz. Hold hand out also. Same Oralie.” He urged.

“All knowledge.” He said again, lofting the huge fist full of dirt. Then, he plucked a tiny bit of soil from his overfull hand and left just a tiny tiny pinch on Tazrae’s palm, then Mortiz’s palm, then finally on Oralie’s palm. The dirt he left them was no more than one or two small grains of sand. “What you know.” He said, pointing at the grain or two of sandy dirt in each of their hands. “Much knowledge out there.” He added. “Humans know this much.” He added, gently closing each of their palms over the dirt. “Should know more.” He added, offering a smile.

Taz piped up. “How do we learn more, Brosh?” She asked, curious now, and wondering what the Jamoura was getting at. “What more should we learn?” She asked, knowing that was also an important question.

Words: 957

[Oralie]

Oralie could sense the hesitation as Tazrae looked at her. She worried that she may have stepped over a boundary, but before she could say anything to assure her friend that she didn’t have to tell her anything that she did not want to, Taz started to explain. Golden eyes fixed on the bright blues of Taz as Oralie listened with fascination. She had no idea what the First Tree was, but it was easy enough for her to guess. While Oralie would have never suspected Tazrae was anything but human, she could not deny that the young Innkeeper was more at home in the jungle than anyone else she had seen. Perhaps minus Brosh now. Even so, she struggled to imagine Tazrae apart from her Inn – her friend lit up when she was hostessing.

She made a mental note to stay out of the water from now on, unless she knew it was free of flesh eating fish. The thought made her shudder internally.
Moritz too voiced that he also noticed the serene feeling of the clearing. It was curious, but the more the kind Jamoura spoke, the more it made sense to Oralie. It was also good too that he was finally noticing – it must have meant he was feeling better now.

She raised her gaze to meet Tazrae’s once again as her friend took her hand where she was feeling the warm soil. The corners of Oralie’s mouth twitched in a soft, small smile as she understood what the woman was saying without words. She nodded once, knowing that Taz was right. Oralie was a cat as much as she was a human. That was her key to understanding herself better, to figuring out the desires that Brosh had seen in her, and to connecting with her new home.

The Kelvic blinked at Moritz in surprise. How had he not heard of Kihala? “Did… did you not see her shrine when you arrived Moritz? It has a statue of her made of plants.” She nodded along at Tazrae’s more thorough explanation to him. “It’s so lovely, you should go and have a look at it. I think you would like the fish.”

Moritz was curious, and she watched him with a tilted head as he went on to speak of buildings that were alive. Earlier in the season he had told her about Spiritism too. She wondered what kind of place Lhavit was then, if they had ghosts and buildings that were alive like a person.

Oralie almost startled when Brosh suddenly moved to dig at the soil with his hands. She did as he requested, stretching her hand towards him with her palm to the sky. She watched as he placed tiny specks of soil on each of their hands, gazing at her own as he closed her fingers shut around the soil. She couldn’t even feel the little grains in her palm with her hand closed. She wondered idly how much Brosh knew, surely more than two grains of soil’s worth. He seemed infinitely wise.

Her attention was pulled back to Tazrae as she asked her question, an important one Oralie figured. If darkness was coming to Syka then there were surely things they should all be learning and doing before then.

The gentle giant examined each of them for a moment before he responded to Tazrae’s question. “You should learn to keep you safe.” Oralie thought it was an ominous statement, and he was looking at Tazrae as he spoke. “You are Wildling who is not awake, need to wake Wildling.” His gaze next fell onto Oralie. “As Wildling said, you cat. Be cat. Learn cat and learn jungle.” Moritz was next to be examined again. “You learn yourself first. You unconnected to anything. Need know your loyalty.”

The Kelvic had nodded slowly at Brosh’s words, but she still did not understand how embracing her wilder, cat self would help with the coming darkness. While she was frowning, trying to understand, the Jamoura addressed them again as a group.
“All you need learn together. Connect as group.” He motioned to Oralie and Tazrae, who were sat close together and then at Moritz who was a little further away. “These two together, make each other better. All need to be together. You three and rest of settlement. Be as one.”

“Should… should we learn how to fight? How to defend?” Oralie did not know the first thing about the technicalities of war, but she did know that it usually included fighting. Brosh looked at her for a moment. “Defend yes.” He did not sound overly keen to share too much on the subject of fighting. “If learn yourselves and land then defend is easier. If you one group then defend also easier.”

He settled himself back onto the ground. “Meditate. Think on words just learned.” Oralie glanced sidelong at Tazrae and then Moritz. She didn’t know what meditation was, let alone how to do it. The Jamoura studied them. “Close eyes, mind quiet. After meditate more understand of learnings.”

Hesitating for only a moment, Oralie let her eyes flutter shut. Her body went hyper aware of her surroundings as her sight was cut off. She could feel the closeness of Tazrae, the chattering birds seemed to get louder and her mind suddenly seemed very busy.
“Breathe slow.” Brosh’s words were soft and Oralie did her best to follow the instruction, focusing on breathing deeply. She still couldn’t understand how this particular activity was going to help anything, but she figured the Jamoura knew what he was talking about.


+933

[Moritz Craven]

Moritz was interested to hear of wildlings, at once a part of nature but separate from other things... Or at least, its own thing. Interesting to say the least, though he was unsure how one went about becoming one or what the point of it was. He was unsure if he would want to become one even if he could, not that he had any idea how to do so if he did want to.

From how she described it in some ways it reminded him of his own nature as a Kelvic, but clearly distinct.

He was less interested int he odd fish Brosh spoke of, but sure he did not want to encounter one if he could avoid it. They did not seem friendly by any means, though as with most less intelligent beings there weren't inherently bad or foul. The odd ant things before that had attacked did not act maliciously, rather they acted by instinct and nature. Reacting to a threat. Fleeing. Attacking. Eating as their nature prescribed, such was the ways of a animal below a human or Kelvic.

The topics of signs of things peaked Moritz interest quite a bit, wondering on other things he had seen. Had any of them been a sign of things to come which he had missed? Brosh seemed to know a lot, so perhaps it was simply him seeing the cycles and repeating things which led to him understanding that something was a sign. Moritz with his own short living experience was unsure when or if he would be able to do such a thing, but knew there was a lot more he did not know than what he did know.

"Have you seen these signs before Brosh, and know what they lead to, or do you have some other method of knowing what these signs mean? It seems an interesting idea, learning such signs, though I'm unsure how one would go about learning such things. But useful in knowing what things are leading to..."

He glanced at the flowers around his neck, wording to push himself a bit more upright, feeling his toes and wiggling them around to test his legs and feet and readiness to stand afterwards.

Hearing of such impending threats Moritz realized once again how young he was. Tazrae by comparison and Brosh had lived many of his lives over. He had tried to learn what he could in that short span of time, but he still felt his biggest failing was in dealing with people. He had simply not spent enough time dealing with such things, focusing instead on other topics. Oralie clearly had lived a more balanced life, and for that got along with others and understood people better.

Moritz nodded in response to Brosh's words, planning to come back once he was able to do so and suitably skilled. He had been here once, and would pay close attention on the way back, so that he could later come back and visit and train his mind and other such things. For now though he knew his skills in exploring the wilds were quite limited, and he needed to spend time journeying with others more knowledgeable on the topic.

From what they said Oralie and Tazrae both knew of Kihala well, and he nodded along as they spoke. Kihala the Goddess of Life...

"Hmmm... thank you for explaining. I don't think Kihala has come up since I arrived in Syka, at least not that I recall. I think I've seen the statue, but I guess I didn't really look to close. I probably didn't know what I was seeing. This whole place is so new, there is a lot I've yet to look at more closely. And my house I grew up in was a house of Spiritists, so my mother mostly spoke on Dira the Goddess of Death... Though I suppose life and death, are just two opposing sides of the Miza... I'll have to look at that, the shrine and statues and things, more closely."

Moritz was a bit sad to hear that Brosh knew of no living buildings around Syka, hoping there would be others. Instead he simply spoke on others living in the settlement, but not living things or parts of the settlement... When Tazrae showed her interest Moritz tried to think, but simply shrugged. Other living things inside of a building was quite different from an actual living structure.

"I'm not sure. My mother would probably know, but I just lived there I didn't really understand it too well. But it was definitely real, and its own living thing. It could add rooms, or change things, open doors, and such, if it wanted. I'm not sure how it worked exactly... But I think if I saw another I would know it, its djed, its look, is quite distinct... The entire thing hummed so to speak in a way no other place I've seen did. But I'd need to see it to know, and I don't think any of the places in settlement proper were like that, at least none of the ones I've looked at closely. Maybe one of the places out in the wilds? I've heard of there being various places out there, but I've not seen them. I'm not sure if it was related to the nature of the living building, or my mother being a Spiritist, but there were always lots of ghosts around. So perhaps look for a place with lots of ghosts?"

Moritz watched as Brosh left a bit of soil in his opened hand, looking at it closely but feeling he did not understand what he meant. After a bit though it came to him, and he realized the metaphor the Jamoura was using. All knowledge was a grand wide thing, like that mass of soil... And what each of them knew was but that single grain of sand in their palm. So limited, so partial. He tried to learn wherever he went but felt he knew his own lacking nature. He could try to deeply learn a few things, but would end up knowing only those few things... Or he could try to learn many things, but only shallowly.... Time... Time seemed the only way to resolve this, but he had so little time spent in this method.

"Time, seems to be the enemy of learning. The limiter. You can only learn so much so fast, can only experience so much in a time... But time is also limited... But just spending time doesn't guarantee you will learn... And focusing on one thing means you cannot focus on another thing... Learning seems so... Complicated. Almost as much as people..."

Moritz heard the others words, but he was uncertain how to go about it. Who was he loyal to? What was he loyal to? The settlement? The people? To Life? Death? He was both uncertain where his loyalty was, along with how to find it out.

He liked the people here, knew that they are good people overall even he found them them confusing most of the time... But committing forever to a place or person, he was unsure how to go about that, or if he should.

"I know a bit about fighting, a bit about defending myself, though admittedly I'm still knew to it as well. But I'm always willing to help or lend a hand if I can."

Moritz knew a bit about meditation, and this place of Caiyha being a place of peace meant he was a bit better able to calm himself than in other places. Which, he supposed, meant it would be a bit easier to meditate here than in other places where threats were possible.

Closing his eyes Moritz focused on his breathing, willing each exhale to push away some of his pain and distractions... Focusing he tried to clear his mind, picturing a empty vista of blackness devoid of anything else.... Then he pictured a bit of color leaking in, subsuming some of the other things, the colors of green and brown from the plants and trees reflecting in the image he pictured in his mind...

WC: 1,363

[Tazrae]

Taz was wondering how Brosh knew what he knew, but she didn’t ask. The Jamoura seemed isolated out here, away from most things. However, maybe he wandered or roamed. He knew things. But she’d heard that most of his kind were wise in the ways of knowing. There were lessons to be learned here and Taz didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to glimpse what the big male knew. When the soil was presented to her as a few grains, Taz stared at her palm, lost deep in thought. Tazrae knew she was naïve, having experienced less than most and having grown up sheltered in Riverfall.

The two women weren’t much different really, were they? Evidently, Oralie was as blind to her need to become the Ocelot as Tazrae was blind to the need to become a Wildling. Taz felt… protective of Oralie, but it was more than that. The Innkeeper had grown to love the Kelvic like she was some long-lost sister finally come home. There were no walls between herself and Oralie. There were secrets, of course, but mostly because of Alric and the fact that those secrets weren’t hers to tell. If Oralie ever met Alric and the man revealed his situation to her, Taz would be a whole lot freer to speak openly to Oralie and actually tell her the truth about what was almost always going on around her and most importantly inside her.

Taz almost always had a storm front of some kind brewing in her mind, heart, or even soul.

Her eyes darted up to meet Oralie’s as the woman said something to Moritz about the Kihala Shrine and the guardian statues scattered about the Settlement. It wasn’t a surprise to Taz that Moritz hadn’t noted or thought about them if he had seen them. The Innkeeper was starting to see that Moritz had a very narrow view on life in general and that while his view was valid, it was vastly different than her own.

Brosh reminded Tazrae of one of her old tutors back in the day she was learning to read and write… and learning about the world. Only, he felt wiser, and oozed a calming influence that she almost wanted to sink into. So little of her life had been calm lately. And she wanted more of this… more peace. Taz knew they all needed more training… more ability to fight and more ability to keep those they loved safe. But she blinked in surprise at Brosh calling her a Wildling and saying she needed to wake that part of her. Glancing at Oralie, though, his words didn’t surprise her overly much about Oralie.

She pipped up. “What do you mean Meditate? What exactly is that and how will it help us?” The young Innkeeper asked the Jamoura, curious. She’d heard the term tossed around a bit, but she really didn’t understand what it meant.

Before he answered Tazrae’s question, Brosh answered Mortiz’s.

“Sign’s everywhere. Clouds good sign of rain. Sun good sign of heat. Chill wind good sign of winter. Weather signs easy. Signs you mean are harder. You talking about signs from Universe? Signs from world around you? Signs from Gods and Goddesses? Harder signs to read. Subtle. Language of those signs harder to speak. Harder to listen too. Must learn language of signs. Must start with desire to hear and receive. Can ask questions all day, but not listen? Not hear answers. Must be willing to listen. If you not willing to listen or willing to hear, you not get sign. You must be wanting change. Signs come from tree, rock, stranger, friend. Anywhere. Bird might hover in your face. Is sign. Will you see it as sign? I know not. The world is smart. Very very intelligent.” Brosh said, tapping his head thoughtfully and standing up tall. The creature must have been at least seven foot tall.


“Universe always connected to you. Always want stronger connection. Always want stronger. You not realize this, especially if life hard, especially if you busy. Must listen more than talk. Must hear more than think. Signs also come multiple times. If thinks happen many times… be recurring signs. Recognize recurring signs. Act on them. Called Synchrodestiny. Universe not subtle. Universe obvious like rock upside head. Universe will send message over and over and over again. Must be smart. Must be receptive. Must learn to see signs, omens, and synchrodestiny. Pay attention. Make note. Unlock sensitivity. Moritz think literally. Moritz blind to signs thinking literally. Must feel. Must uses all senses. Must follow instinct.” Brosh reiterated.

“Most importantly, Moritz must surrender. Moritz, let go of answer Moritz needs and accept answer Moritz gets. Allow Universe to answer. Answer not always important. Sign not always important. Important is the interaction with Universe; The Connection, The Link.” Brosh said. “Universe smart. Genius. Universe simple. Not overthink Universe. “ Brosh said to Moritz, nodding as if that was his final thought on the matter. “Recognizing and receiving information through signs depends on willingness, earnest seeking, and listening. You shut up mind. You listen with heart.” He said touching his chest, then added a series of hoots at the end of his words, as if he switched languages completely.

Then he turned to Tazrae.

“Mediation is tool. Tool helps awareness of current moment.” Brosh answered simply. “Nine kinds. Want hear what types are?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.

Tazrae nodded.

Brosh held up all his fingers – all ten of them. Then one after another he listed the types of meditation and what they were for. Taz thought the technique interesting, but in all honesty having the visualization helped her retain what Brosh said enormously. He dropped the thumb on his right hand and said. “First, no meditation at all. Bad. Very bad. Meditation good.” Then he dropped the next finger in the right hand.

“Mindful meditation. Clear head, let thoughts drift through. No judgement. No thinking. Only observe thoughts drifting. Note patterns in random thoughts. Type teaches person to observe bodily sensations, thoughts, and feelings.” He said, then dropped the next finger. “Spiritual meditation. Clear mind, focus on the divine. Any divine fine. Observe what brain shows you. Good meditation for connections with sacred.” He added, then dropped another finger.

“Focused Meditation. Concentrates on any of Five Senses. Breath, Heartbeat, staring at flame, staring at stars, watching water… Brosh like melting snow making icicles. Like on roof or off branch. Very good meditation.” He added. “This meditation helps sharpen focus. Helps attention span.” He finally dropped the last finger on his right hand. “Movement meditation … yoga, walking, gardening, painting, cleaning body, swimming. Active meditation where motion guides deep connection to body and present.” Brosh added.

Then he dropped his right hand, and drew attention to his left hand that was still outstretched. His hands were huge… bigger than Tazrae’s head. “Mantra Meditation.” He said, dropping his thumb. “Use repetitive sound to clear mind. Word or phrase, song note, single sound, or chanting. Deepen awareness through holding sound. Good for bards. Good for Tazrae.” He added. “Good for busy people, busy minds, little people… baby people who can’t hold still.” He added, grinning at her. Taz sensed the teasing behind his words as he all but called her a fidgety child. She realized, in that moment, that she had been shifting restlessly, even fidgeting.

Taz returned his grin as he dropped one more finger.

“Transcendental Meditation. Big word. Hard meditation. Advanced. Quiet mind and induce calm. Gives peace. Learn other types first.” Brosh said, blowing the whole concept off as if it was too hard for them to understand at the moment. Then he dropped another finger on that left hand. “Progressive relaxation. Meditation that relaxes body slowly. Tighten and relax one group muscle at time, throughout the body. Help new learners, imagine ball of light floating through body, relaxing muscles, releasing tension as it travels through.” The Jamoura said, then dropped another finger. He seemed to love the physical examples.

“Loving-kindness meditation. Help self-feel compassion, kindness and acceptance in self and in others. Involves opening mind to receive and send love to and from others. Good for angry people. Good for resenting people. Good for thinkers who can’t feel.” He said, giving Moritz a hard stare.

Brosh waved the last finger on his left hand – his pinkie – and smiled. “Visualization Meditation. Feel relaxation, peace, and calmness by pictures in mind of positive places. Pretty places in nature. People one loves.” He said, nodding. “Good meditation. Easy for new meditators. Picture puppy. Everyone likes puppy.” He said giving a whoot whoot laugh.

“All should learn. Sit quiet five chimes. Then ten next day. Then twenty chimes … stay twenty chimes for one hundred days straight. Meditate daily. All kinds, maybe not transcendental. All other kinds are good. Get stronger in mind and body. Any questions?” He asked, glancing between the three people standing there listening. He liked having an audience. “Come here to Meditate if want. I meditate any time with you.” He said with a grin. “Help meditate pretty place. Caihya’s Arbor good place. Beach. Ocean. Pool where Syka bathes good. Water often helps. Meditate alone. Meditate with those you love.” He added as if this were his favorite topic and he couldn’t stop talking about it.

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