PM to join [The Knirin Gardens] The Red-head monkey

[Sami]

28th Spring 513AV
11th Bell

It was calm for the moment, the spring having finally begun to grasp hold of Riverfall, or at least in the mind of the young Inarta at least. Winter for her however had seemed to have lasted longer than normal, to her it had begun since the Djed storm, this ever looming darkness and worry hovering not above her and the land. But that may have just been her. She took careful steps around the park, her eyes watching the Akalaks train upon the grass and practice their combat, whilst others seemed to take a more peaceful approach. Sami however had been set upon something else that day.

As soon as she saw it, the girl had made a beeline for it. Her target had been sighted and she had laid claim to it. Within the inner half was a particular tree that had captivated the mind of the young Inarta that her mind would not shift from it. It had turned into a foe that she had to be defeated, one that she had to overcome and in the only way she knew how. Upon the tranquil grass she stared up into the budding branches, the thin blossom having coated it, her eyes tracing the broad branches down to the base before returning up to the branches above her. Sami reached up to them, standing upon her toes as she stretched up, her fingers barely touching the rough bark. She rocked back down to her feet, hands going to her hips in annoyance.

It was going to be harder than she previously thought, not that it was going to stop her. She went around the edge of it, raising her foot in places and pressing it against the trunk in places, whilst her eyes continued to search for a way up. She pressed her weight once more, gripping this time onto a slightly lower branch and tugging at it. Her lips pursed, a small frown having formed its way there. She extended both of her hands up above her, and raised her legs so she swung on the branch for a mere chime and then released. The strain on her arms caused them to ache, the muscles in her hands twitching after the awkward grip she had on them. But it did not stop her from continuing.

She knew she needed speed in order to begin scaling this tree, and so that is what she would use. Sami pulled herself back from the base, giving her space to run at it. Her eyes locked upon the branch, shoulders hunching in her toes ready to push her off before she did. She gave a grunt as she leapt at it arms out to catch at it before she smacked against the ground. Her eyes clenched shut for a moment as she hung there suspended, her arms having wrapped their way around the branch and her toes hovering mere inches above the ground. She cautiously looked down, eyebrow raised slightly in surprise. A grin flashed on her face as she swung there for a while, and her mind tried to work out the rest of the way up.

[Felavik Dysodamus]

Felavik was out in full garb today his lakan sheathed on his belt and his body protected by flexible leather armour. He was on patrol. Sort of. His shift had ended about an hour ago but, in all honesty, he had nothing else to do. His life was training and patrolling and sparring and training and patrolling and guarding and training and sparring and patrolling. How much would his life change if he did an extra few hours of one? Felavik's route (for one man was not expected to patrol the entire city at any one time) took him into and around the inside of Knirin Gardens. After all crime did not stop just because there were more trees. It was Felavik's favourite route to take for that reason. Knirin Gardens was easily the most peaceful place in the entire city. That wasn't to say it wasn't lively. Kids played, older kids sparred, men meditated (and sparred), woman even were found relaxing in the shade. It was this sort of peace and happiness that Felavik donned his leather armour for in the morning. As he strode through the beautiful garden, secretly wishing his armour didn't soak up the sun's rays as well as it did, he spotted a pair of boots hanging from a tree. Then he spotted some shins. Maybe a bit of knee too. Felavik frowned and made a beeline for the tree. The closer he got the more of the girl he could see, for it was in fact revealed to be a woman. Well a girl, for her age, in odd clothing. He could just make out the ginger hair of the Inarta. When finally he was more or less below her he looked up and called “What in Riverfall are you doing, young Miss?” Oddly enough Felavik and the boys his age had never done such things when they were younger. Akalaks had an affinity for the Earth and the further from it they got the more nervous it made them. OOC NotesSorry about the Short Reply. I suck at first posts. Also it looked so much bigger on Word.

[Sami]

Sami’s legs swung as she struggled to pull herself higher up, her waist having now pressed itself against the branch. Her arms wrapped around it as she caught her breath, her cheeks aglow with the activity. She continued to flail for a bit, using all the strength she could muster to drag herself up. She raised a leg up and threw it over the branch and let out a long gasp as she steadied herself there. For a while she simply sat, soaking in the sun rays through the leaves whilst her fingers locked themselves onto the branch. Or at least until she saw the blue giant hovering beneath her. The girl blinked down at him, her head tilting slightly as she tried to understand his tongue.

She leaned herself down slightly her head coming level with the branch whilst her legs and arms secured themselves onto it, “What does it look like I’m doing Mister Blue? I’m climbing of course!”
Her head turned upwards once more, and her arm reached out for a branch above her. Focus covered most of her face as she gave it a firm tug and pulled away the moment it released a creaking noise. Her lips pursed and her eyes turned to another one, before repeating the same procedure. She gave a heavy sigh when she could not find one that did not groan, and so a pout covered her face. Though only for a tick at most.

“You’re one of those Akalak aren’t you?” she looked down at him with an element of curiosity on her face. She had seen the Akalak before, but she had yet to actually stop and talk to one of them properly outside of conversations that were of official importance. Her back leaned against the main trunk of the tree, her fingers now having claimed a spindly and thinner branch that was bent down to her. Her fingers traced the buds and blossom, closing in on occasion to study the petals up close before finally she released it. Those bright blue eyes turned down once more to the Akalak “So why all the armour? You all warriors here or something?”

[Felavik Dysodamus]

Felavik watched the girl's antics with some curiosity. He had, as previously mentioned, never witnessed someone climbing a tree before and to him it looked like interesting work. He could admire the methodical way the girl seemed to move and the strength she displayed to keep herself in place. It occurred to him that perhaps the root goal of such an exercise was indeed the exercise the task gave. It looked to him like a challenge of both mental and physical proportions and with completing it one would strengthen both. “[Sami]What does it look like I’m doing Mister Blue? I’m climbing of course![/Sami]” Mister Blue, the Akalak repeated in his head. That was a new one. Of course non-Akalak children were always prone to mentioning the blueness but she seemed a bit too old to him for such immature observations. Whatever the case it bothered Felavik little. She wasn't exactly acting maliciously after all. "[Sami]You’re one of those Akalak aren’t you? So why all the armour? You all warriors here or something?[/Sami]" Felavik was so taken aback by the first question that she had already asked the second and third before he could collect his wits. “Well, yeah. I am an Akalak and we are all warriors.” He replied shortly unsure what else to say. After a few moments he followed up with “Every citizen of Riverfall is required to be trained in the event of an emergency – not just Akalak – though wherever we are Riverfall or no our culture and our great Father, Wysar, demands we pay homage to the warrior ways of discipline and strength.” Felavik sort of hit his stride there though when he finally finished and looked up at the girl he got the sudden sense that she didn't really care...

[Sami]

“Wysar?” was the first thing that came from the lips of the Inarta. She held tightly onto a branch, her legs wrapping round it for support. Her attention had been grabbed- for the moment- and so she stared down upon the Akalak with a keen interest “Your Great father? He a god then? What’s he a god of?”
Sami eased herself across the branch, her grip now secured so she could lie across it. Her fingers drummed on the branch as she thought carefully. She was far from knowledgeable on the topic of gods, and it had been a while since anything remotely interesting had caught on to her. He spoke of combat and learning, something that the people of Riverfall deemed necessary, “Good thing I can use a bow.”

“But… Why you need to be warriors then?” Sami stared down at him her head cocked in an inquisitive fashion “I mean is there a reason why other than it being an emergency? Better yet, what sort of emergency? Should I get better at fighting just in case?”
Her fingers drummed against the wood before she stretched out a shaky hand to grab at the fine branches and pull them in. Her expression changed once more, eyes having returned themselves to the blossom and the fine shades of colour that existed there. Once more her mind was distracted, her fingers feeling and touching the tender shapes that they made. The branch was released, the loose blossom being flung into the air whilst the girl turned down to the Akalak once more. There would indeed be more questions, but for the moment the Inarta was awaiting only answers from this man.

Then of course, as soon as he answered there would be a new flurry of questions directed at him. If he had not walked away by that point that was.

[Felavik Dysodamus]

“[Sami]Wysar? Your Great father? He a god then? What’s he a god of?[/Sami]” Funnily enough it encouraged Felavik to see her interest. Her ignorance did not bother him in the slightest. She was young and yet so many older could probably claim to not know about Wysar as well. Instead of dismissing it, however, the girl seemed genuinely interested to know about the God. Felavik, ever the devout follower, was happy to spread the teachings of Wysar to any who would listen. “Wysar is the God of Discipline. He teaches us the importance of duty; duty to ourselves and duty to others. Discipline is not just about keeping yourself in order. Discipline is knowing where you fit in the grand scheme of life and doing what you must to maintain order in the world.” Felavik's speech was tinted with some amount of awe and respectful devotion though perhaps Sami's young mind wouldn't pick up on such things. “It is said that the Akalak were born from the union of Wysar and Akajia; the God of Night.” Felavik added in thinking that might explain why he had called him father. “[Sami]But… Why you need to be warriors then? I mean is there a reason why other than it being an emergency? Better yet, what sort of emergency? Should I get better at fighting just in case?[/Sami]” Felavik chuckled. Her youthful enthusiasm was refreshing. Many of the Akalak and even, perhaps to some extent, himself were so stiff and respectful. Her unabashed thirst for knowledge was something exhilarating to behold. “No, no, girl, we are not in any danger. Riverfall's walls hold true and perhaps one of the greatest fighting forces in Mizahar today reside here. We do not train in weapons just because of an emergency. We train because we wish it. The warrior lifestyle is one of discipline and respect. Through training in combat we achieve a vigour and respect for life that bleeds into all other aspects of our life.” Felavik replied passionately. “You will not find a happier and more respectful man than one of a blue or red shade, milady.” He added with a smile and a bow.

[Sami]

Sami watched the face of the man change to one of pleasure upon her questioning, and with zeal did he respond almost instantly. But with his responding tone there was happiness along with there being little mocking, she listened. Her head leaned down closer where she could, eyes becoming fixed upon the Akalak whilst he talked. The tree let out a quiet groan in the breeze, but Sami was far from paying attention. She was more fixed upon the information to really care anyway. That and he seemed to appreciate her questioning.
“Akajia is God of the Night?” she blinked and slowly eased herself up on the branch, before speaking in a questioning tone “But I thought that was Leth…” Her fingers scratched at her face as the girl pondered upon this issue, her young mind searching for its own answer. There was a heavy sigh of realisation after a few chimes, and the girl slumped “Wait… Leth is the moon. Ignore my question.”

There was the reassurance however that everything would be fine in Riverfall, that no ill would come of the people who lived there. Or more over what caught her interest more was the mention of discipline and respect. Her nose creased at the idea of it, knowing it far too well to be a personal weakness of hers. She was a child that lacked a lot of discipline, and lacked the ability to hold her tongue where need be. It was a state she knew well, and because of that it became difficult for her to fit in with society.

Looking about herself, the girl had finally decided it to be time to come down from her perch. She shuffled awkwardly on the branch, eyes darting about for a way down. The girl reached a hand up to grab at something for support, and carefully swung her leg over.
“Don’t move! I’ve got more questions to ask!” she spoke quickly “When I get down that is…”
She shifted her weight slowly forward, her eyes staring at the ground that seemed quite a drop below. Not that it was in reality, the distance was barely seven feet, but to the girl who had rather foolishly climbed up without thinking about getting down it was a big gap. She swallowed, and looked quickly at the Akalak and then back down at the ground.
“Uh, Mister Blue, can you help?” she gave a squeak.

[Felavik Dysodamus]

He noticed how she reacted to his questioning. She was quiet, focussed and inquisitive. It seemed to him like she was a natural learner and it seemed that he enjoyed to teach for he was gaining some amount of pleasure in telling this girl about his peoples and his God. “[Sami]Akajia is God of the Night? But I thought that was Leth…[/Sami]” Felavik was confused for some moments himself. Akajia was great and all but Felavik rarely actively worshipped her. She was the God that had burdened him with the Dark Brother. She was the God that had brought cowardice and dishonour into him. It was hard to wish favour of one that had done such things to him. “[Sami]Wait… Leth is the moon. Ignore my question.[/Sami]” She worked it out before he could formulate a reply. He smiled. He was impressed. Maybe he wasn't the only person she'd ever questioned? He might have given her some praise but acknowledging her success was as not ignoring her question as she wished. “[Sami]Don’t move! I’ve got more questions to ask! When I get down that is…[/Sami]” “Not a muscle.” He assured her. It seemed his titbits of knowledge were great enough to get her out of that tree. In a strange way he felt oddly honoured and relieved too. After all he would have hated to see the girl fall out of the tree and hurt herself. “[Sami]Uh, Mister Blue, can you help?[/Sami]” It seemed she was having trouble getting down. This was trouble for Felavik too. Trouble being he had never climbed a tree before and he didn't know if he could get down himself never mind with the girl. He frowned looking the tree up and down; looking the girl up and down; looking himself up and down. Finally he took two steps backward and held out his hands. “If you let go I will catch you.” Felavik declared to the girl. He had surmised by the distance and the approximate weight of the girl that he could probably catch her. She didn't seem so heavy and the distance was not altogether that far. He was confident he could catch her. He hoped that she had the courage to jump though. “I am right here. I'm not moving anywhere. I am strong and true like a rock but cuddly and soft like a... like a puppy.”

[Sami]

He gave her his reassurance that he would not move whilst she continued to look for a way down, even when there was the momentary look of trouble having past him by. She did however raise an eyebrow at him when he held out his hands to her ready to catch.
“You Akalak must have some petching big dogs…” she curled her fingers around the branch above her, and looked down at the ground once more “Promise?” She tightened her grip around the branch and slowly eased herself pushed herself forward. Sami felt her arms strain as the support of the branch beneath her went, the muscles going straight and taunt. She dangled there, feet flailing wildly as she tried to come to terms with the distance. There was a flash of panic and fear fixated upon her face. There was a tremble of noise, fingers clawing at the wood as she tried to grasp on.

She glanced down at the Akalak, eyes wide as she tried to summon out the courage to let go. Her fingers released, the drop appearing rapidly below her, as she went in his direction. Instinct forced her to curl up, eyes clenched with her arms clamped around her. Whether or not she was safe within his arms or not was beyond the mind of the Inarta, she was too busy trying to stop the rush of adrenal that had hit her on the way down. She knew she had hit into something, but what exactly she did not know. Cracking an eye open to look at the world around her, and the now lower height.
“I think I’m down now,” she managed to say “Thanks Mister Blue… actually, what is your name?”

[Felavik Dysodamus]

“[Sami]Promise?[/Sami]” Felavik looked up and mustered his most serious tone. “I promise.” He would have sworn a Grand Oath right then to catch her (if he knew what one was) not because he had a special attachment to her or anything. He simply refused to let a person in need down. Well in this case he was letting a person in need down but you knew what I meant. Felavik tensed as she let go with her legs. It was a false start though as she began to hang by her fingers. Felavik was readying himself with every passing second. He was widening his stance to keep him rooted. Of course if his calculations were incorrect (his eye-judgements) than the widening of his stance would work against him as he might not be able to adjust his location very quickly. He tried to find a balance. One moment she was still up there and the next she was sailing through the air. He was right. He was right. Widen. Widen! (Vikor was screaming 'run, run away, she might crush you!') He did widen and she fell into his arms like he was Galileo himself. There was a moment when his arms threatened to give with the impact but Felavik kept his arms tight and rigid and the moment passed. He cradled her in his arms almost like a babe. She had certainly curled up like one. He couldn't tell whether she had landed like that or no. She felt so fragile in his hulking arms. For just a moment he felt an overwhelming need to protect her from the dangers of this world. Then she spoke and brought him back to reality. “[Sami]I think I'm down now. Thanks Mister Blue... Actually what is your name?[/Sami] Felavik smiled and righted her onto the ground in a standing position. Felavik stood properly towering over the young girl. “Felavik; Son of-” He looked down at the girl seriously. She didn't want to hear the usual spiel. He sighed and sat down on the grass making him a little bit more level with the girl. “You can call me Fel. What's your name?”