Closed [Bronze Woods] The sound of a whistle (Maxi)

[Akilia Dosert]

Akilia 22th of Spring 513 Akilia was doing her usual thing in the Bronze woods which was hunting. She was trotting around in her wolf form tracking the scent of a deer. Her mouth watered at the smell of her quarry, the deer was easy to track since little drops of blood formed an easy trail to follow. She'd left her clothes back at the crystal pool that she had found earlier she'd stashed them in a hollow log that wasn't too dirty but she guessed hoping for a clean one was too much to ask in a forest. She spotted it, the deer. It was small doe, its leg was injured blood trickling slowly from it. Akilia moved closer her blue eyes noting that the doe was grazing and definitely hadn't noticed her quite yet. A good meal it will make. Patience I just need to be patient...oh and clam too. Regulate your breath...one small silent step after the other...yes that's it. Akilia coached herself inwardly as she moved forward ever closer to the poor deer. She licked her lips in anticipation and in doing so forgot for a second to watch where she was going, her paw landed on a stick with a crack and the deer looked up skittishly. Then it turned tail and bolted. Akilia made a grab for it leaping out of the vegetation and giving chase. It was a chase not worth going after since in only a few seconds the hunt was over. Akilia had been left panting in the dust. "Outran by a deer." She muttered to herself crossly. "And it was injured too! Stupid deer... I should have been faster, just to slow. Have to eat that stupid tangy rabbit tonight then. Tasted awful this morning, old and tough." She turned around and started to make her way to the pond where she'd left her clothes, still ranting. "Meat got stuck in my teeth. Wish prey got slower and less weary..." She trailed off the sound of the swishing waters of the pond nearby coming into earshot. She still couldn't see the pond since it was hidden nearby vegetation, she picked up her pace a little from a slow walk to a slow but steady trot. All I need is a bit of relaxation...dozing on the tree near the pond would do me some good. Then back to hunting.

[Maxi]

Earlier that day, Maxi had just finished his farming for the day and so his father allowed him to go do whatever he pleased for a while. The idea of playing his flute came to mind. It was always what came to mind first upon the mention of spare time, his only source of entertainment that always awaited him.

With the wooden instrument in hand, he fled to the outside. Lightly jogging, he began to think of where he could play his flute undisturbed. The Bronze Woods sounded like just the right place. And so he averted his direction towards them, whistling lightly in preparation for what tune he was going to play. What song to play, what song to play... "Hmmmn..." Maximillon thought about it for a while, and finally he decided. Meh, I'll wing it... I don't feel like playing an old song. Time to make a new one.

He arrived in the forest silently, dropping his pace to a brisk walk into the depths of the forest. On and on he went, deep into the green wonderland. There he found a small clearing of which the sun shone brightly upon. A larger boulder sat embedded into the ground, a perfect place to sit, and with a massive tree nearby to provide shade for the single massive stone. Ah... perfect... He sat down and propped the flute on his lap, stretching his arms to either side of him for a moment while taking in his surroundings. Sunny, vibrant with colors, beautiful. The perfect inspiration for a musician to compose a song. He placed the mouthpiece of the flute to his mouth, and closed his eyes, taking a deeep breeaath.

A smooth and sleek melody glided through the forest, a young man playing a majestic song through his precious wooden flute. The song rose pitch at times and sunk to a low tone at times, a varied tune which was illustrating his feelings. At it's peak it twiddled like a bird singing it's song while at its bottom it hummed the tune of wind rustling through the trees. Maximillion implemented a few breaks in the music as well, taking a breath before resuming. This continued for a long while.

[Akilia Dosert]

Akilia Akilia had changed back into her first form, her human form and had just finished slipping on her second boot when a wonderful sound filled the air. I didn't know a bird could sing like that. She thought intrigued, maybe its a new species? She headed towards the sound slowly with care her boots barely making more than a rustle in the undergrowth. Forget thinking by the pool, I'll do some bird watching. She decided pushing a large leaf connected to a large fern that had been blocking her view out of her way slowly hoping not to disturbed the bird. What she saw instead was a boy. A boy holding a whistle in his hands and playing it rather well while sitting on a boulder in a clearing in the shade of another of the many giant trees that decorated the woods. Akilia crouched down, watching him...like a creeper a little farther away from the side of the clearing. She knew if he slightly turned his head towards her as he played, he'd more than likely see her there, hair all over the place clothes patched up here and there and intense watchful ice blue eyes focused. She probably looked as much a predator as she did as a wolf. She gave him the once over with her eyes, looking for a weapon he might be carrying on his person. Black hair like as dark as a raven's wing, a bit muscular, gray clothes.... She observed. She squinted her eyes wondering what his eyes might look like but his eyes were closed. She relaxed a bit he didn't look like anymore than the average boy. Though she usually didn't happen upon many people who came this deep into the woods. Her curious and mischievous nature got the better of her at this point and she slowly moved over to the tree that the dark haired boy was underneath and began to climb it as silently as she could. Sadly for Akilia climbing wasn't exactly her forte so leaves showered down as she grappled the branches roughly sucking in a breath everytime she felt she was about to fall. She successfully though clumsily managed to climb at least off of the base of the tree and sat on a fat sturdy branch her boots hanging over the boy. I wonder if I can scare him. Fat chance of that, but anythings worth a try right? "You play well." She said casually down to the boy. "I'm Akilia, who are you?"

[Maxi]

The music flitted blissfully past Maxi's own ears, making him virtually deaf against anything besides the pure notes of his beloved flute. Maxi continually played his instrument, indoctrinated by it for the time that he played. It was strange. An obsession was what Maximillion had with this tune. In his mind he pictured himself in the bright and shiny heaven, gleaming with babbling brooks, ravens flying all around him. Ravens? Why ravens? His thoughts had a tendency to wander, and here in this state is where he developed a majority of his philosophies. Pondering ravens and their concept distracted him greatly and led him on an adventure of guessing and imagination.

"You play well." She said casually down to the boy. "I'm Akilia, who are you?"

The entire universe in Maxi's head collapsed in the instant he heard someone else's voice. The notes suddenly dwindled in strength and accuracy, quickly becoming reduced to a mere flurry of spontaneous notes. He fumbled with the flute and accidentally dropped it onto the forest floor. His eyes widened quickly. He stared up at the strange girl in the tree, her patchy clothes hanging from her body. A very very young girl, she was the least kind of person he expected to show up in the woods. "H-hello there...erm... my name is Maximillion Ahrow. Uhh..." Gah! Stupid! Why did you give her your name?! The lips of the young man turned to a frown. "I'm sorry... can I help you?" He cocked an eyebrow at her, still a tiny bit nervous. He wasn't exposed very much to public. That is, as far as talking to strangers. He walked through the crowded streets of Syliras many a time, but never really talked with anyone much. He was shy and couldn't help it.

[Akilia Dosert]

Akilia Akilia was really getting into the music at this point swaying to the melody...well until it ended. Looking down at the boy below she smiled she'd barely caught his name after he'd stopped playing. "You sure can." Akilia chirpped before hopping off the branch. It was a bad idea having been a little more than a few feet off the ground she landed with an "oof" lightly on her feet but her momentum chucked her forward causing her to roll out of it. She jumped up not bothering to brush herself off and faced the boy...er, Maximilion. Maximilion, what a mouthful. I think I'll call him Max. Yes I think that suits him well and if not him, it sure suits me! "You could help me by playing that whistle of yours, Max. Did I mention that your quite good at it? Well now I have. Where'd you learn to play?" She asked curious. Time to play the cheerful annoying little girl. She thought; the sassy bold girl won't do here, no sirey! She tilted her head at him still flashing a smile, though a bit smaller now. I wonder why he pauses so much when he speaks? He's older than me, don't old people boss around the young? Maybe not then, or at least not with him. I wonder where he came from. Syliras no doubt but directly from the city or was he one of those travelers on the Kabrin road? Maybe he was taking a short break from his travels or his life. "How old are you Max? I'm six months old give or take a day. Are you a human? You look like one."

[Maxi]

"Sure you can." He blinked a few times as she landed on the ground nimbly, though he noticed the slightest puff of breath born from effort to keep upright. Maxi doubted he would've been able to jump from that high. He glanced upwards at the tree for a second or two, judging the distance between it and the hard ground. Yeah he thought Totally would of chickened out. I need to get some guts... He heaved a small sigh as she told him something else. "You could help me by playing that whistle of yours, Max. Did I mention that your quite good at it? Well now I have. Where'd you learn to play?"

The young man squinted at her and tilted his head. "Whistle?" Half a second later, he realized what she was referring to. "O-oh! Do you mean my flute?" You need to learn to think faster, Maxi. Faster, faster! He took a few steps over to the stone boulder he was sitting on, and picked up the instrument, brushing it off a bit and staring at it for a second. Then he turned to the strange girl. And then back to his flute. And then back again. "I don't play well around other people. The best I can usually manage is a few notes. And I taught myself out here, or in other isolated places..." This one was a quite 'matter-of-factly' kind of girl. What was her name? Akila? Aklia? Ah! I got it! "I'm 19, Akla. Didn't really celebrate very many of my birthdays... I don't really remember...heh..." He gaped at her once she mentioned her age. Six months?! She should be a baby! Once again, he began to catch on in a moment. She must be a different race. "I'm h-human. What...about you?" Scratching the back of his head, he blinked at her again.

She's weird...

[Akilia Dosert]

Akilia A flute, so that what it was. She gave him a small frown at his reply, "you know, you should play more. For a self taught guy you play your...uh, flute incredibly well. That's just my opinion since thats the first time I've heard music excluding the songbirds. I even thought you were one at first until i saw you. A songbird that is." At the mention of his age she gaped. "Wow humans live a long time!" She said impressed. If he was a Kelvic...well a wolf Kelvic he'd be as old as dirt... "I'm a Kelvic. A wolf Kelvic to be specific, I'm about twelve in humans years I'm guessing." She turned her head towards the direction of the Kabrin road even though they were nowhere near it. Thanks to her Kelvic animal she could hear the bustle going on around there fairly clearly if she concentrated. Flighty eyes back on Max now, she asked "did you come from the road? The er...Kabrin road? Or do you live in the city?" She did a quick 360 spin about her arms outstretched to the world around them. "I live in these forests. I was born here you know?"

[Maxi]

Akilia was frowning at him now. "you know, you should play more. For a self taught guy you play your...uh, flute incredibly well. That's just my opinion since thats the first time I've heard music excluding the songbirds. I even thought you were one at first until i saw you. A songbird that is."

Maxi stared blankly at her. "The... first time? You haven't heard any other music?" Immediately the young man felt pity for her. "Oh, you ought to! There are so many people who are so much better than me! I'm not really that good..." At least, he didn't think he was. No, definitely not. The songs were only a gate to his imaginary world, precious to him and no one else. Surely that was the case. she must be mistaken. "I do play a lot though. But as I said before, only where I can be... alone." He shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah."

"Wow humans live a long time!" She said impressed. If he was a Kelvic...well a wolf Kelvic he'd be as old as dirt... "I'm a Kelvic. A wolf Kelvic to be specific, I'm about twelve in humans years I'm guessing."

A kelvic. This is the first time I've seen one. He inspected her from the tips of her toes to the peak of her head. She just seemed like the average girl. Perhaps the canine was a tad bit strange, but there are many kinds of kids.A wolf girl. Interesting... "You're... a kelvic? Hmmn..." He blinked a few times "Yeah, I come from inside the city. But I wander a lot, so I've been to the Kabrin road before. My father told me not to go too far down it though, and so I've only been a little down it. You live in this forest? What do you eat?" She's a wolf you idiot "Uuh...err...nevermind...

[Akilia Dosert]

Akilia Akilia gave Max a small smile. "So are you a musician or something?" She asked. Wait didn't he mention he played only for himself? Whoops. "Oh, right you play your flute in secluded areas." She tilted her head a bit to the side, "why do you only play alone? Why not other people too? Are you afraid of what they might say? How they might judge?" At the promoted question of what she ate she blurted, "I eat about anything I can catch out here. I cook it, or eat it raw." She took a few steps forward and stooped and picked up his flute. She studied it for a few seconds before outstretching her hand for him to take his instrument. "What's life like in the city? I'm been there a few times but its too noisy and crowded. Makes me feel like I've been stuffed into a cage." Her eyes flicked over his physic, appearance the whole deal, before landing on his eyes. They where so gray that one could call them average...but there was more in there. He's eyes are so full of curiosity...like he's trying to go somewhere see something. I wonder what? I like him, he's nice, a bit skittish like prey but kind and nice all the same.

[Maxi]

"I'm not reall-" The small girl corrected herself. "Y-yeah." Sheepishly he scratched the back of his head, and stared at the ground for a little while. Why do I play alone? It's just... more comfortable. And I can concentrate when I'm alone, it's much more difficult while someone else..." Maxi looked up at her. ...is watching. The short answer was yes, he was indeed afraid of being regarded by the judging eyes of strangers. They held no understanding to his position, nor any warmth. To him they all seemed cold and merciless, peering into the depths of his soul while he played his flute. They could never understand what he felt while playing his flute. Never.

The young man chuckled a bit. "You eat anything? Hmmm... For a second or two he considered challenging her. Perhaps just picking up some random thing or another and presenting it to her to eat. But then again, she was a stranger. He probably wouldn't manage to catch anything anyways. As Akilia touched the flute, Maximillion flinched. No one ever really touches his flute, and that's for a reason. It was something precious to him. In his eyes everyone mishandles his flute. Touching it is a threat to it's sanctity within his mind. What would happen if she dropped it into mud? What if she tripped and broke it over a rock? What if she got it wet and ruined the wood? The world seemed hostile suddenly, and he was anxious until the moment it was placed in his hands. He stuck it in his pocket like he usually did to keep it from harm. Though a part of it stuck out of his pocket, it was good enough for him right now. "What's life like in the city? I'm been there a few times but its too noisy and crowded. Makes me feel like I've been stuffed into a cage." He was silent for a second or two while considering the question. "I...uh...dont really pay a-attention to it much...heh... It's just like normal, I guess. I don't have anything to compare it to either, I've only ever live in Syliras." Was she sizing him up? The thought made him a bit uncomfortable. Gah! I need to get a grip on this social thing!