Gathering the Goods (Solo)

[Tiki]

Gathering the Goods (Solo) 33rd Summer 511 A.V. – morning, Outer Petals Tiki did what Tiki was told. He had promptly left the petal from where he met Shurk, or rather where Shurk introduced himself, and went on his way. Some site seeing around the petals was refreshing. As night came back to Spires in the late evening, Tiki retreated to Grath’s rest for a good meal, something sweet to drink for his sweet tooth, and a refreshing rest. The late evenings were warm, a relaxing heat that lost its intensity in the night. The cool misty mornings always put Tiki back on his feet. He’d wash up, eat and be off. Kashal asked as always, “And where are you going today, Tiki?” His answer this time, to help Shurk, had Kashal’s brow furrowed. Tiki was smiling though, and Kashal trusted he’d not get into too much trouble. Something as harmless as Tiki running around was a danger, only to himself more than others. Tiki came to the Outer Petal as told and waited a while for Shurk. It might have been another bell before Tiki lost his fire for the project and started to think of what else he could do. As patient as he was, he didn’t like it. Just as Tiki was ready to venture off into the Inner Petals, a haughty jamoura came walking along the way toward Tiki. It was Shurk. He carried himself high feeling as if exalted now that his project was finally under way. Tiki brightened up, absorbing the charisma to fuel his own. He liked when others were happy. “Tiki, my boy,” Shurk shouted, Tiki wondering when he became the boy of a jammy… they had the same hair color, he reasoned. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long! I was just caught in conversation on the way over, nothing special, just some orders. We need to stay on track if we want to finish the stadium this season, yes? Right now, we have a few things to pick up… Let me just trying to remember what they were…” The jamoura stood scratching his head. “Well, we need wood, right?” Tiki tried to help the jamoura figure out what he was forgetting. The efficiency of Shurk’s plan was only offset by his inability to remember it, Tiki figured. Maybe that’s why Shurk needed Tiki around, to remember everything. Tiki was the real brains of the operation. “No kidding, cat? We’re not picking that up until tomorrow though. We already have most of the wood ready at the site anyway. The boys and I will pick that up tomorrow. It’s a big of heavy lifting,” Shurk explained. Tiki was wondering what Shurk’s deal with all these boys was. He didn’t know many other boys in the Spires, most he mistook for big jamoura. “There are some things we need to get started though, I think some honey-glue, and slugsuckle vines – reinforced of course – and… I think there were some things I wanted to get for you, Tiki. Remember what I said about those hands of yours? You’re going to have some fine things to take care of once the boys and I start on the big projects. Maybe you can work on the laya, or sihk goals. I have a design in mind. I really can’t remember what I needed to pick up. We have today to get things together anyway, and it’s not like we can do it all in one run. I’m guessing we’ll have to make a few stops before we’re totally done. The goods are being stored on the petals furthest west. We’re building between them, since no one would let us have a petal to ourselves! Hmph! They don’t know good entertainment when they see it. Well, when you’re ready Tiki, we can get going. Consider this your first formal tour of the city. You’ll know what’s what in Spires by the time I’m through with you.” The jamoura let out a hearty laugh and patted Tiki with his overpowering palm. Tiki coughed from the first slap on the back, but started smiling after. He saw the scared look on Shurk’s face when he coughed, as if the jamoura broke the kelvic. He was ready though, very ready.

[Tiki]

“If you haven’t figured it out just yet, we’re on the Outer Petals now,” said Shurk, not hesitating to start his lesson. He led Tiki across the petal to the center. The paths split off in several directions, none of which Tiki had really explored. He could just as well get lost going to and from Grath’s Rest and wherever else he might explore. Shurk started pointing in several directions trying to explain the layout of Spires from a distance. “There’s another one that way, and over there. Down that way you’ll see the Inner Petals, and in the center Caiyha’s Temple. It’s much like the sihk itself,” and Shurk made a circle with his fingers. “There are many circles, overlapping. The Temple itself is enormous. It can house all of Spires if needed. I can’t think of any time we had really needed too… Do you follow, Tiki?” “I’m following you.” Tiki meaning the literal of course only had a rough idea of the Spires’ layout. “So it’s a circle…?” “Yes, yes. You have the Temple at the center. It’s quite large. The Temple is supported by the Hahk’Maghtar, the Spires themselves. They are the great pillars that hide the city high above the ground. Then you see the petals, yes? Those six form the Inner Petals below us, and then we’re on the Outer Petal, one of twelve.” Shurk got uncomfortably close to Tiki’s face and asked, “You do know how many that is, right?” “Nope.” Tiki was smiling when he answered, of course. Shurk started on his fingers for Tiki, “One, two, three, four, five… Six, seven, eight, nine, ten…” The jamoura grunted and squinted. Taking a seat, he finished what he started on his toes, “Eleven, twelve. Now you.” Tiki started counting off his fingers with fair ease, looking back to Shurk for the reassurance that he was on track, “One, two three…four, five, six, eight – “ “Six, seven, eight… Use your fingers to remember.” “Six, seven, eight, nine, ten…” Tiki counted, his eyes rolling back as if to look in his head and mske sure the numbers were all there. He looked back at Shurk, his own toes incapable of the motion. His big toe went out, “Eleven,” and then Tiki made a strange face. Popping out his other large toe, he comepled his count, “Twelve. One, two, three, four, five… Six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven twelve. Did I get them all?” Laughing, Shurk applauded the kelvic, “Yes, good, Tiki, very good. You surprise me with what you know. You learn fast. That’s how many though, twelve. Do you see, Tiki?” “I see. Tiki eyes are good for seeing.” “No, no, do you see… do you understand?” “Oh, right. Yes, I understand. I see.” Tiki was giggling at it all. He had a clear image of the basics of the Spires and their arrangement. he was more worried about what each Petal looked like more than the city as a whole, but he knew at least. He situated the thought in his mind, the temple, the inner petals, and then the outer petals. The Hahk’Maghtar, as Shurk called them, were indeed enormous like the Temple of Caiyha. Shurk gave Tiki another look over, trying to understand the kelvic. Tiki looked right back with his aimless, judgeless stare, smiling…always smiling. “Well, look at us. Here we are counting on hands and toes, cat. We have better things to be done. Let’s get going then. We’re going to go through the Outer Petals, and then the Inner Petals to check for the orders, alright? You’ll carry the things for me, but don’t you worry, I’ll help with the heavy stuff. We need you in tip-top shape for the stadium’s construction.” Shurk rubbed his hand over Tiki’s head a bit more gentler than usual, sure to not break his delicate human body with the jamoura strength. Jamoura strength! Jamoura smash! Tiki quivered at the thought as the hand rubbed over him. What in the name of all gods did this jamoura consider to be “heavy”? What had Tiki gotten himself into?!

[Tiki]

Shaken or not, he was still smiling. Tiki was getting the formal tour he rushed off from before. Not only that, but he was being paid to do so. The money came as a second thought as he hopelessly counted his mizas in his head, trying to manage his funds to last him to Wind Reach. One, two three… he counted, never making it past twelve. Shurk was leading the way ahead of them as they crossed the Outer Petal toward the bridge to the next, and so on until they’d collect what they needed. “Shurk, what comes after twelve?” “Thirteen,” the Jamoura answered, absent mindedly. They went along again, Tiki counting back from one. They might have made exactly thirteen more steps, as he counted those next, before Tiki was inquiring about the numbers again. “What’s after thirteen?” “Fourteen,” explained the Jamoura, well caught up in the musings of his own plans. They were crossing the bridge in no time. The walking was quiet with the exception of Shurk’s thumping steps and Tiki’s questions, speaking of which… “What comes after fourteen?” “Fiftee – Don’t you know how to count, Tiki?” “Yes.” “Then why are you asking me?” “I don’t know all the, uh, numbers,” Tiki answered honestly. Shurk grinned. Tiki’s company was a unique one. The jamoura had fallen alongside Tiki in his step to better address him. That jamouran perspective of deception was put to work. Shurk asked Tiki, “How many numbers do you want to learn?” Tiki took a wide breath before he realized what Shurk was asking. He looked back up at Shurk, his mouth still hung open. Shurk had the most serious look about him on the matter. The Jamoura bowed his head in towards Tiki, expecting an answer. Tiki started to turn red, his mouth closing, and his gaze returning to their walk across the Outer Petals. Tiki grinned, looked back to Shurk and answered, “A lot.” Shurk’s serious face became one of misery. He didn’t see that one coming. He was learning more of Tiki’s understanding of the world though. Kelvic simplicity in its purest form was something whimsical yet effective. Shurk grunted to the building up ahead. Tiki was running ahead to go inside before Tiki called him back. The jamoura wasn’t very quick on his feet, even when Tiki urged him to come faster. “Slow down, cat! You’re going to give me a splinter…” Tiki had time to run back to Shurk and ask, “Why are you so slow? I thought only agi- fast people will play Sihk’Laya.” “Sure, the game demands agility! Agility for a jamoura of course!” “Why do I need to be so fast to watch you then if you’re so slow?” “I told you, I’m fast for a jamoura. Maybe you’re just too fast to play?” Tiki was stricken by the thought, but Shurk walked on with a grin. Tiki followed in Shurk’s shadows as they entered the building. “Shurk,” was all Tiki understood from the jamoura who greeted Tiki’s employer. The rest of the conversation of was some deep drone of sounds he couldn’t understand, or even replicate in mockery. His body just wasn’t capable then. After much grunting , Shurk introduced Tiki, “Oh, yes, Tiki, come closer. This is Dorn. Dorn, Tiki. This little kelvic is light on his feet, came across the wilds from Sylira…Syliras, Sylira,” Shurk corrected himself, returning a wink to Tiki, before he continued, “Anyway, I placed an order with the ole silverback for a few skins of honey-glue.” “For the stadium? I heard you’ve got a pretty good team together, for the construction and that game of yours. Excuse me, Tiki. It is a welcome breeze to have you here. What brings you to Spires?” “I wouldn’t pester the little guy, he’s kind of on the-” “Hi, Dorn, I’m Tiki. I’m from Syliras, Sylira like Shurk said, and I’m not sure why I’m here. I was walking to Wind Reach, and found the road again, but it brought me here. My mom said to not trust strangers, but you’re not that strange.” “Since when are you such a chatter box? What,” Shurk stooped down to Tiki’s level as a pausing thought came over him, “You never chatted like that for me. Are you calling me strange, little kelvic?” Dorn was losing himself to a rich laugh, Tiki smiling and blushing. “Little bugger, you are. Ha, Dorn, laugh while you can. I expect to see you on that field, and your father. The sting of a bee isn’t a match for mine in a game of Sihk’Laya.” “So that’s what you call it hmm? We’ve been wondering what the big secret was. Did he tell you that it meant “hoop-ball”, Tiki? Shurk, I digress, your creativity knows no bounds! Hahaha!” “On the court, Dorn, you and your team, my team, and Tiki will even judge. I’m serious now; we need to make a good impression on the deacons too. You’re a lot of hot air, Dorn, but we’ll test it on the field of Sihk’Laya.” “You’re a character, Shurk, you truly are. Ah you crack me up…” Dorn was cut off by a roaring from the outside, on the other side of the building through another massive doorway, jamoura sized. Tiki peeked over and saw the “room” it led to. Overhanging plant life darkened the area from Syna’s rays, although she still broke through. Another jamoura, larger than Dorn, grunted and gestured for Shurk to follow him back. Shurk nudged Tiki forward to walk ahead of him. “I’ll see you on your court, Shurk. Make sure you stretch first, hahaha!” Shurk snorted and grunted back in something very alien to Tiki, even with what little Jamourian he knew. Entering the room, Tiki saw it for what it was. They were situated on the edge of the petal at a graceful view that peeked past one of the Hahk’Maghtar into the distant temple. Massive, thickly woven baskets and jars of sorts were in some sort of storage outside. Tiki saw the bags Shurk referenced. They looked pretty full and heavy. “Tiki, give me a helping hand. Thank you, Larosh. I was telling you boy we’ll see you playing when were done.” “You humor me and the boy with your common, more so me with your jest. I heard you right. This is Tiki, no? Welcome to the Spires, Tiki. I’m sorry this one got a hold of your first. I could use a pair of quick feet.” “Your business skills know no bounds, Larosh. He’s perfectly content helping me out here.” Larosh leaned in closer to Tiki and told him, “If he ever becomes too much for you to carry, come back here. I’ll have some real work ready for you.” “Enough, enough. He’ll listen to you if you tell him that. Alright, Tiki, grab what you can and we’ll be on our way. Our spot is another two petals over. Don’t strain yourself either. I need you ready at all times. Don’t slack on me either, boy. I’ll talk with you soon, Larosh.” “Caiyha be with you both, Tiki and Shurk. Remember Tiki!” “Aw, shut it you old ape!” Larosh dismissed Shurk’s comment with a hearty laugh that made Tiki’s chest rumble. The jamoura were funny to him, in the odd way, but he enjoyed it. They’re openness, humility, and friendship was something to look up to. They were free spirits out here in the Talderan wilds, in the Spires actually. Tiki felt the stress in his back as he snagged two of the bags up over his shoulder. His grip was reinforced by the cords wrapped over and around him. Shurk took notice to the kelvic’s eagerness. He did stop him once they left the shop though. “Keep your back straight, like this,” Shurk said, manually correcting Tiki’s posture, “and lift with your legs. Only bend a little bit if your back hurts, but lift with your legs. You have strong, swift legs, Tiki. Keep your grip tight too, but don’t burn your skin on the rope. Alright, let’s keep going.” They crossed the Outer Petals. Along the way, Shurk in his professional tone addressed the shrines he had led Tiki past, and made up for those he’d forgotten. Tiki only gathered the basics of each divinity that was honored by the jamoura of the Spires. The first petal, from which Shurk had met Tiki,housed the shrine to Zulrav. God of Storms, Zulrav blows the wind, gentle breezes and thundering storms alike. Tanroa, Goddess of Time follows, and little more was needed to be said of her. Then there was Oriana, Goddess of the bears, even those massive things that roamed Taldera, and of parenthood. Tiki’s mother, at a time, might have prayed to her. On the last Petal between the two and the stadium site, there was the shrine to Navre, God of Cats. Shurk felt it a self explaining site for Tiki’s kin. The kelvic, however, had never heard of Navre, or put much thought to it. Not to mention, that meant all cats, and Tiki had met other cats; they give cats a bad name, in his opinion. Tiki kept looking back with the sacks over his shoulder, walking backwards of all things.

[Tiki]

The Kelvic and Jamoura arrived at the site, young Tiki still playing over the gods and their roles in his head. It was a crash course on the Mizahar divines, and he commit them all to memory. Sure he didn’t know much more than a name, title, and domain, but it was a start. The while over had been an easy going pace, but Tiki still felt the strain in his body. By the time they arrived at the stadium-to-be, his fingers burned to let go, blood rushing back into the fingers wound so tight they went numb. His back was sore, the slow throbbing sensation coming over him, but his legs were fine, strong as Shurk had observed. It was the finer parts of his movement that gave him the most trouble, a cat needing little more than to lunge out and dig into its prey. “Over the- oh, hmm, that works too. I’ll get them from here, Tiki; thank you. Alright, boys, how is everything looking? What’s left?” “Nothing, you said this yesterday. ‘I’ll run for the glue tomorrow and we can finally put that pile of wood to good use.’ Don’t you remember?” “Of course I remember! Eh, well… ” The Jamoura turned to Tiki, and said to him, “I guess I don’t have anything else for you to do today, cat.” Tiki stood empty handed, his mind matching the gesture. He awaited new coming orders while the Jamoura themselves spoke of putting a plan to action. They broke and went to work at once. Shurk came back to Tiki and spoke with him…to him. “You remember how to play the game, right, Tiki? I want you to take this Sihk’Laya ball, here,” and deposited the ball in Tiki’s otherwise empty arms, “and think up a few plays for me. Could you do that? Play around with it, while you’re at it. Maybe you have a knack for that sort of thing?” Shurk stilled Tiki’s admiration with the drawing up of a blueprint. It was the stadium-to-be, in blue print form. “Take a note here, the goals, the court… the little shapes are players. Pretty good, eh? Drew it up myself. Keep it in mind when you’re putting those plays together, alright?” Tiki nodded in affirmation, his feline eyes caught between the map, Jamoura, and ball. Shurk gave him a good rub on the head, enough to brighten the Kelvic more, innocent, childish laughter flooding outward. “I think you’ll manage to find you way home. I’ll see you tomorrow with some ideas, Tiki. Same time, but meet here. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day then, cat. May Caiyha guide your little soul, he-ha… Go! Go…” Shurk patted Tiki off on his way. The Kelvic could be seen bouncing the ball, kicking it, juggling it with his feet – or at least attempting to - the whole way between the site and Grath’s Rest.

[Cinna]

And the forest reveals.... I loved this thread! Tiki is just adorable and I want to just hug him and play games with him! Ugh, so so cute. I really enjoy the relationship that Tiki and Shurk have, along with the friendly interactions with the other Jamoura. Well done! Tiki : Skills: Observation +2 Rhetoric +2 Body Building +1 Acrobatics +1 Lores: Location: The Outer Petals Shurk: A Diligent Teacher and Friend A Lesson in Numbers If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to PM me