[Jungle Wilds] Song of Nature (Tinnok)

by **Radiant** on June 11th, 2014, 3:29 pm

The Myrian fell with her eyes upturned, white filling her eye sockets as her hear stopped beating, with a final muscle twitch, she returned to Dira. Just for a few ticks, Tinnok could feel peace washing over her, like she had done something significant for Mother Nature, it was a great deed, to slay the tainted and restore balance. This temple might be desecrated now, but as time went on, Nature will reclaim what was rightfully hers.

However, Tinnok's trials weren't over yet, through her swimming vision and dampened hearing, she could hear various grunts and roars echoing all around her, from the walls, the corridors, accompanied by heavy thuds of footsteps, getting louder and louder. Though the master had left the temple and one of its higher-ups slain, there still remained the undead horde, attracted by the sounds of combat, they made their way to the main hall.

An abomination, with the head of a serpent but the body of a human, some kind of twisted abomination of a Dhani, strode over to the almost passed-out Witch, staring at Tinnok with its sunken eye-sockets, it raised its crude club-like bone weapon, it seemed this fight would be Tinnok's last...

*RUMBLE!*

A small quake shook the temple, pieces of debris falling from the ceiling, the undeads were distracted for a tick, then continued their way to the half-breed, with the snake-headed abomination raised its weapon once more...

*RUMBLE!*

Another quake, followed by a piece of a fist-sized rock falling on top of the snake, causing the undead to be stunned, and then...

*CRASH!*

Part of ceiling cracked open and a large humanoid-sized boulder fell through the ceiling, obviously the one responsible for destroying part of the temple's already fragile structure, the large piece of rock crashing down, its path directly heading to the snake undead, the aberration only got a tick to raise its serpentine head before its dead boy was literally crushed under the rock's sheer weight, missing Tinnok by barely an inch.

Then, screeches... lots of screeches, an orchestra of high-pitched cries filled the temple's walls as numerous flocks of Nightmare Bats entered through the ceiling hole, all of them shrieking angrily as they descened upon the undeads, swarming over them with sheer numbers, scratching and biting on every part of their bodies. The abominations swung their crude weapon uselessly as the bats just kept coming and coming, their unlive would be over soon.

"Heeeeeeeey! Tiniiiii!"

A shout called out to Tinnok from above, the cheerful high-pitched voice belonging to the green-haired girl named 'Tsuya'. Her cheerful and relieved greeting came with the constant sounds of heavy flapping wings, as Tinnok focused her vision, she could see the girl was riding on the back of a magnificent giant bird, its silver-white fur shimmering in Leth's light, beautiful red eyes - unlike those foul undead - peering down as the divine bird examined the Witch, they both locked eyes, the bird sending thoughts of relief and assurance, they were here now, no undead in this foul temple shall touch the daughter of Caiyha.

More rumbles shook the temple as the ceiling crumbled some more, giving way for the large male bird to descend down into the main hall, escorted by the swarm of Nightmare Bats, Tsuya smiling happily. Once the bird landed, the girl would jump down then immediately sprinted to Tinnok, glomping herself to her, "Tini! Tini!" She half-cried, half-shouted, happy tears falling from her eyes, "I'm glad, I'm glad that you are alright... Tini..." Tsuya lightly shook Tinnok's body, urging the Witch to at least sit up, "C-come on, l-let's go home... Mama wants to see you..." She would try to pull the Witch to the Ta'rukahl, then as soon as Tinnok did so, the great avian began flying back to the Twin Mountains.

by **Tinnok** on June 13th, 2014, 2:29 am

She was so weary, so tired. As her vision shifted and she looked up at was soon to be her demise, she simply hoped that Caiyha understood, she had done what she could, it had simply not been enough. Perhaps another Witch waiting in the wings would be able to finish the deed, would have the power to eliminate that horrible liquid creature and all of its ilk. She stared up at the glinting weapon, the hideous being behind it, and then the rocks rumbled, shifting the half breed’s injured body, then exploded, the massive rock that landed mere inches away from her face giving her heart a new reason to pound in her chest, a strange satisfaction filling up her chest as she saw a mangled arm sticking out from beneath the chunk of granite, bone weapon clattering onto the floor, useless now.

Then they came, chittering, screeching, raucous and beautiful all in the same measure. Tinnok’s lips parted as one of the Nightmare bats landed gracefully on her shoulder, lapping the blood off of her chest where the gladius had dug into it, tending to her like a parent would a sick child, she felt a bit of concern, mixed with a sort of confidence, the confidence of a battalion of an army that knows it has won a battle emanating from the creature. Dusty fingers rose and scratched the bat behind the ear, offering her thanks, but barely a tick later it flew off to join its comrades, leaving Tinnok to stare up at Tsuya and the massive bird she had flown in on, dust and debris scattering around the room from the powerful currents generated by the massive bird.

There were some legends that Tinnok truly believe were just that, and those of the Ta’rukahl was one of them. It looked like a section of Leth’s grace itself had been shaped into a bird, a faint pulsating glow radiating off the massive thing, its form the essence of regal composure, part of the half breed wondering if this was reality or just her own exhaustion. When she met its gaze she was faced with a great intelligence, it was like looking into the eyes of some sort of God. It had seen much, and seemed to tell her with its serene gaze that this was not the place she was going to die.

Even as Tsuya beckoned, Tinnok’s eyes flickered behind her, at the undead being ripped apart by bats, but farther than this scene, back to the woods with the tigers, jaguar, and akila hounds. She had promised to go back after all this was over, and that wasn’t even counting the mounts that had carried them so far so quickly, the creatures that had remained outside of the Temple…She closed her eyes. She would go back, she had to, but first…

Tsuya, though small helped the Witch rise. Her legs groaned beneath her, breathing labored as she managed with the girl’s help to get on two feet and drag herself to the bird, feeling quite the bumbling fool climbing atop its back behind the green haired little Witch and digging her fingers into the silver feathers of the bird, her entire body awash with thanks for the ride it was giving her.

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by **Radiant** on June 13th, 2014, 8:06 am

The Leth-touched bird flew with great might as he spread his wings then flapped them, causing strong drafts to be created on its wake, with Tinnok and Tsuya on its back, it was ready to return to the skies. About twenty chimes later, the Witch and the mysterious green-haired girl finally let the desecrated temple, Nature would cleanse the remainder of the undeads there, hopefully once and for all.

The Ta'rukahl flew with ease as it passed over the beautiful jungle night, its silky feathers glowing with an ethereal shimmery glow, under the full force of Leth's light, he looked even more beautiful. Tinnok could finally rest easy, the weight on her chest and shoulders regarding the task Caiyha had given her was lifted...

However.

"Well done~" A blood-curling sardonic voice spoke out of nowhere, echoing all around them. Tsuya's immediately hugged the bird as fear gripped her heart, and Tinnok could feel the Ta'rukahl warned her of an impending calamity, a sense of fear coating him.

In front of them, slightly to the right, The Witch could see a pulsating dense cloud of sickening miasma floating fast on the sky, like sentient puff of gaseous dried blood, its speed matched the silver bird, and the voice was indeed coming from it. It was the same abomination that Tinnok encountered earlier in the ruined temple, the one called "Mistress Penderghast"

BGM :

"Aha... ahahahahahahaha!" The cloud echoed with cackle, with its simultaneous trio of voices, and as it floated closer to the bird, Tinnok could feel her gnosis pulsing with utter revulsion, the being before her was an utter nemesis of life, its very presence taint the living air, the Witch could feel her lungs burning as if she just inhaled fire. Tsuya looked in pain as well as she clutched her own chest, coughing, rasping, and... a blood splotches marring the bird's silky feathers, the girl was coughing blood.

"Well, well, well, looks like little insect can't take my presence, why do you keep such a thing alive, dear Witch? Rule of the jungle, survival of the fittest right? You should just kill her!" The cloud of miasma cackled as she flew in front of the bird, forcing the Tarukahl to stop and hover in mid-air or risking its lungs be burned to death.

The miasma in front of Tinnok then changed its shape slightly as it formed a head among its bulk, the very same glowing-eyed abomination of a child, Perderghast grinned at Tinnok, a smile so wide that it literally stretched from ear to ear, "I must say... you really did a good job, that pathetic Myrian might be a puny pulser, be she did marked twice by Lord Uldr, how did you do it? Was it some kind of power granted to by the bitch Caiyha? Haha! AAAAHAHAHAHAHA!" The monster didn't even hold any resolve when she stomped upon Caiyha's name, then it went perfectly silent, before continuing, "However, I am confused~ confused and confused~ And do you know why, dear Witch?" Penderghast then dashed forward as she enveloped Tinnok's head and torso, burning her skin, flesh, and lungs with her potent essence of undeath.

A whisper, so quite and foul directed only at Tinnok and Tinnok only, "Because you are a hypocrite, ehehehehe... why did you help one of us? Why did you assist the particular Wretched One named..." Of course, the Witch would know what come next, but Penderghast just loved to take her time, "Evalin? Ahahahahahaha!" She suddenly cackled as Penderghast released Tinnok then flew away to the moon, literally, leaving a parting gift in the form a faint echoing whisper,

"Betrayer."

.........

Then, everything went silent, only the sounds of the Ta'rukahl's panicked flap of wings broke it, no sound of insects, no flow of wind, and even Tsuya went silent... when Tinnok looked down, the young girl really looked traumatized, her eyes were wide, she was trembling, and blood splotches marring her cheeks and dress, she coughed up so much blood that her skin took on an unhealthy parlor.

Without waiting for Tinnok's decision, the Ta'rukahl knew what to do, they must return as soon as possible to the Twin Mountains, it flew even faster, its muscles tensing with acid, but it didn't care, he would reach there... or die trying.

The Desolate One let the Witch live where she could just easily the three of them, perhaps out of some twisted form of gratitude regarding Tinnok's assistance to Evalin.

by **Tinnok** on June 13th, 2014, 12:40 pm

She slowly positioned herself into a more comfortable seated position as the flight began, able to tiredly marvel at the ground below. Part of her was thrilled to feel Caiyha’s presence again at the temple, perhaps only emanating fro the pool of water, but another part of her looked back from whence they had come. When she had recovered her strength she would need to go back to those ruins. She had the ability to help the land around the place return to its former glory faster, especially if any of those cretins of un-life were left. She would make sure they were all well and truly dead, and they could go back to whatever void spawned them.

It was almost as if the monstrous undead thing was able to read her thoughts, for even as she pictured the little girl controlling that Myrian, the Myrian controlling those she had cut down first, her thoughts went to Evalin. Evalin had said that Caiyha was one of the few Goddesses she did not hate…Tinnok hadn’t liked her reasoning for why, but if she was one of those beings, which she had to be, why wasn’t her aim also to eat away at the land, suck the life out of it? She seemed much more focused on the hate between Dhani and Myrians. A pang of guilt filled her chest, swiftly changing to barely concealed terror and frustration when the cloud rose and circled them, Tinnok’s hand going to a dagger, as if somehow that puny weapon would help her against a cloud of wretched liquid that was laughing at her.

Her eyes flickered to Tsyua, seeing her rock and heave, groaning in pain as burns began searing into her skin from the abomination’s powers. She could do nothing to stop this, nothing at all. Her arms felt like lead, and even now she found it hard to keep her eyes open though right here and now this display could mean all three of their deaths.

But the creature was not here to kill her, perhaps she ‘amused’ it, just like Evalin was amused by her. Was that the nature of the undead? Long lived beings that loved to toy with the mortal ants beneath them? Well an anger rose up in the half breed at this way of thinking, her mouth opening in some kind of weary retort only to have it snatched away from her throat when the cloud whispered of her helping Evalin…She knew.

And with that word the creature flew off, leaving the three travelers shaken and for Tinnok and Tsuya, even worse for the wear. As the great silver bird flew back to the temple, Tinnok’s face buried itself in its silver feathers, unable to look at Tsuya, or enjoy the cool breezes wafting out of the night sky. Her reasoning had seemed so sound when she had seen Evalin’s icy form that day. She had had two choices, be the undead creature’s enemy despite having a giant Dhani and a mysterious figure on her side, or to temporarily ally with her, to learn more about her. But what she had learned was horrifying. She should have listened to the Dhani when he had pleaded with her to kill the undead woman in her weakened state. First she had betrayed the Myrians that had raised her, and then in her cowardice she had betrayed Caiyha. The blood cloud was right, even if Evalin could have killed her, she should have tried…better to try and fail then to give the being a new body for which to taint Caiyha’s land like this as the other Returned had.

So as they flew, Tinnok’s relief at returning to the temple began to turn into a pulsating sort of dread. Caiyha would not reward her for her services, she would rip away her mark and let her suffer the rest of her life in the deafness she would experience afterwards. It would be the most terrible punishment Tinnok could receive, worse than death for a certainty. The Witch had had nightmares about just such a thing not long after first receiving her mark. The idea of failure so terrible, returning to her life of hate and discrimination without being able to hear the jungle and all its life as she did…

She felt a sudden strange pulse of emotion from the Ta’rukahl, making her cease her wallowing for a tick. It showed her its own vision of when it came into the temple, of the fallen Myrian warrior, seeing the three abominations down the hallway which Tinnok had traversed. It saw the cloud retreating, leaving them alive. It didn’t communicate the idea expressly, but she felt a sharp thing, almost like a slap through her phylonura to snap out of it. Because of course, that was exactly what the floating being had wanted her to do, give into paranoia, fear.

Tinnok inhaled deeply through her nose. She had been taught that sometimes in order to mediate one had to inhale all the good emotions, and exhale all the bad ones, that this helped calm the mind and center one’s thoughts. This was difficult to do in her current state, yet it helped to be upon the bird, who seemed strangely calm, even after such an incident. Perhaps it was an animal’s instincts. It may have died, but it did not, and thus there was no need worrying about what ifs. Tinnok inhaled that, Tsuya’s innocence, the beauty of the starry night they flew threw, and exhaled her hatred for those undead things, her fear of the floating cloud, her fear of what would happen when she met Caiyha again. Even if she lost her mark, she could still serve Caiyha, and she could still fight to eradicate those things wherever she roamed. She would only grow in power, and perhaps someday, it could rival that disgusting creature…and Evalin’s…should they meet again.

Word Count990

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by **Radiant** on June 13th, 2014, 3:44 pm

For the remainder of the trip, Tsuya was almost silent, only occasionally heaving, coughing, and trembling as her body slowly recovered from the Desolate One's foul miasma, the male Ta'rukahl also steadied his movements, having calmed down, assured the gaseous undead had left them alone, however, he didn't feel like taking a rest now, they would have to reach the temple tonight, waiting would risk the safety of both the Witch and Tsuya.

At last, they came upon the familiar mist from the Twin Mountains, the Ta'rukahl sent a soothing feeling of relief as he entered Caiyha's private domain, the great silve avian slowed down his velocity as he prepared to land, blowing strong drafts from his wings as it landed on a clearing near the temple, then hunched his body down as he the two humanoids to disembark, obviously Tinnok would have to carry Tsuya, the girl was in no condition to walk.

It seemed time was frozen here in the Tear of the Clouds, the place looked as serene and peaceful as they had left it, the repulsing pulse from encountering so much undead quickly died down, replaced by feelings of calm and safety, but this time, the temple - or specifically, the alter - beckoned the Witch, urging her to go inside. The walk to and in the temple seemed longer this time as there was no cheerful green-haired girl to lead Tinnok around for she was clutched in the Witch's embrace.

As Tinnok arrived before the altar and knelt before it, she could feel her consciousness being pushed again, this time a mental gesture of praise and felicitation washed over here, but then... also a harsh firm motherly scold as the presence - mentally - slapped her, like a mother would when finding out that her child had done something naughty, on purpose. A flash of a bird's view played for a few ticks in the Witch's mind, of her talking with the Wretched One named 'Evalin' along with her ilks.

The presence then paused, giving Tinnok about five chimes to explain herself, perhaps it already knew why, but it still wanted to hear the words from Tinnok's own lips.

After that... a loving embrace, like how a mother would after scolding her daughter, and saying that as long as the Witch was sorry and knew what she had done wrong, it would be alright, everyone made mistakes, the difference being whether one would learn from them or not.

"Unh..." Tsuya stirred then slowly opened her eyes, she then absently crawled over to the altar, then gently drank the water from it, the girl then sighed in relief before she tucked herself in a deep sleep, the presence then told Tinnok that Tsuya would be alright, she was wounded, but she would heal.

.........

As Tsuya slept, all around Tinnok, butterflies of all colors flew near the altar, then the vines moved, twist, and bent, forming into the rough shape of a woman, then they opened, like a blooming flower, revealing a woman with long earth-colored hair, leaf-green eyes, and simple brown-colored clothing, despite her down-to-earth appearance, the beautiful woman in front of Tinnok exuded a divine aura, and through her mark, the Witch would know that she was indeed, Caiyha herself.

"Tinnok, my daughter," The Goddess also knelt in front of the half-breed then hugged her tight, physically this time, staying like that for about ten ticks before she released her, "I have to tell you something..." The Goddess' eyes then went to Tsuya, "She... is not a spirit of the forest, despite what that Myrian might think, she..." Caiyha turned her gaze back at Tinnok them smiled, a combination of sadness and love, "...is Penderghast's daughter."

Of course, the Witch would want an explanation, then an explanation she would have, "A human woman in Alvadas, violated by foul men, she left her unwanted daughter to die in the wilderness..." The Goddess then lovingly caressed Tinnok's wounds, her touch gradually mending them, like how nature herself would heal each wound and scar, "She regretted it, she thought her daughter was dead, she began hating herself... then everyone, Uldr came to her... the rest, is as you have witnessed. However, little did she know, a Witch, your sister, took her in, brought the crying infant here, I took care of her myself. I gave her friends, gave her the ability to communicate, but I did not mark her, she is still a child." Caiyha smiled then gently caressed Tinnok's cheek.

"Tinnok, my daughter," Her expression turned serious, but still held her gentle motherly aura, "You have seen how hate destroys, everything, not just oneself, but everything around you. Tsuya didn't know that, she was naive, it was time for her to see the evils of the world... you did exactly that, also cleansing the taint from the land, you helped one of them, I am willing to look over your mistake, promise to me you will never do so again," The sharp firm look on Caiyha's features told the Witch that Mother Nature was very serious and she meant every word she said, "So... I ask of you, Tinnok, are you ready to bear the responsibility of a mother? Are you ready to take the next step? Answer me truthfully." The Goddess paused, letting her half-breed daughter formed her words and answered her.

by **Tinnok** on June 13th, 2014, 11:06 pm

When they landed Tinnok lifted the green haired girl in her arms. Despite all of her injuries Tsuya seemed so light and fragile in this moment. It had been such a long day for the little one, harder than most any day she had probably had in her life. Tinnok smiled sadly down at her thin frame, a flicker of affection coming across her features. Despite this hardship the child had been luckier than she knew to live in the embrace of Caiyha, surrounded by a wealth of flora and fauna that would do her no harm.

Tinnok placed a hand on the Ta’rukahl’s soft neck, sending her thanks to their companion for the journey. The bird gave her a long look with its deep red eyes before turning and beating its massive wings, becoming air born once more. Tinnok wondered if the creature preferred flying at night, since it seemed so much like the moon.

Her footsteps were heavier even though the tug from the Temple was just as strong, if not stronger than earlier that day when a jaguar and a young girl had guided her to the steps. Yellow eyes focused hard on the dark ground to keep from tripping and spilling onto the ground with her precious cargo, so focused on putting one foot in front of another that she nearly did just that when she realized she was at the entrance to the great rocky expanse, covered in such thick foliage.

Tinnok grunted as she slowly, gently set Tsuya down, then stared, a bit apprehensive at the altar a moment before kneeling down, head bowed, eyes closing. The transition was near instantaneous this time, and not so shocking. The half breed felt a sort of warmth wash over her, but it turned cold fast, and her body quaked when she felt the anger of Caiyha’s presence, the glimpses through the creatures of the jungle wilds of that day in the woods with Evalin.

“I have no excuse. My mark told me the wrongness of what I was doing, of that creature before me, but I had never before seen or heard of creatures that were living but dead…I saw its power that day, and I felt a fear of the unknown I have never before known. I knew that thing and the allies it controlled could have killed me…I am sorry…”

Her voice trailed off, lids closed so tightly she could see a faint pulse of red signaling her heart beat. She waited for more feelings of anger to wash over her, to feel the same painful instantaneous flash when Caiyha had first marked her, but in reverse…but these things did not come. Instead she felt a strange feeling, one she had rarely to never received from her own mother after a punishment. That relief and comfort came to her again. No being was perfect, certainly not the wayward half breed, and this…this was alright.

A long breath escaped Tinnok’s throat then, and her eyes flickered to Tsuya, who seemed to be conscious. She opened her mouth to say anything, but before she could the girl had taken her water and already curled up like a dog, returning to sleep. The half breed’s lips twitched, feeling that sense again, that Tsuya would be alright, but then her focus was drawn away.

When Caiyha had first appeared to her, flowers bloomed in the wake of her footsteps, and creatures seemed imbedded in her divine clothing. This appearance was different, and yet entirely the same. The half breed’s eyes widened in wonder, watching as roots joined together to make the crude shape of a woman, butterflies of all colors awakening even in the night to greet their mother as she rose from the very earth. When she emerged her beauty was simple, yet simultaneously divine. Tinnok started to rise, and then stopped midway, unsure of what to do, her mouth agape as the Goddess embraced her like a mother would a child, and in an instant Tinnok gave into the embrace. She smelled of earth and pollen and rotting leaves, her clothes and skin felt like loamy soil, and bark. Her head sank somewhere towards Caiyha’s shoulder, and she felt a large hairy caterpillar brush against her face, crawling onto her neck and shoulder as the Goddess pulled herself away, and Tinnok felt as if the very air had been sucked out of her. Her body tingled all over, her Gnosis mark pulsing happily just beneath her skin.

It took a moment for the half breed to recover from all of this, but her mind snapped instantly to the Goddess’s words, yellow eyes drinking in her form. She glanced at Tsuya as the story unfolded. What a strange series of events that led to the cult, to the girl appearing here, to her meeting her. It seemed a little hard for her mind to grasp that the child like entity could have once been a mother to such a serene child, but it was clear this God of Hate, this Uldr, warped his denizens in untold ways which made her skin shiver even in the presence of her One True Mother.

At Caiyha’s words, her ask of a promise, Tinnok shook her head fervently, the desperate, “No, never again,” rushing out of her mouth as fast as she could manage to form the words. But when Caiyha continued to speak, that was when the half breed’s certainty wavered.

Mother. The word had so many meanings to the half breed. Her own mother had been cold and aloof, one large reason she had turned to Caiyha in the first place, finding a sort of surrogate parent in the harsh wilds of the jungle, where no one could judge her for what she was.

“I promised a Dhani a child…” She began, wondering if Caiyha already knew this story before she could even begin to tell it. “In return for helping me cleanse a glad of filth and rot, he made me promise him a child. After consummating I went off into the wilds in search of peace, and I found a great stone tablet devoted to Oriana, one of your daughters I had never before heard of. I read the story there, and it spoke of her being the guide to mothers as well as bears, and so that night and many nights afterward I prayed to her not to be with a child, for I was so scared of what it would have to go through living only in the wilds, with no one but me to look after it, it is so dangerous…and for one not marked so lonely as well…an even worse fate may have waited for it in Zinrah...” She trailed off, her voice coming in starts and stops, for it was hard to focus with such a potent divine being watching, listening so intently.

“I like to think she granted my prayer. I still thank her, and added her to those in the natural pantheon who I hold so highly.” She smiled up at Caiyha, her eyes slowly filling with a wetness she desperately wanted to hold back, but could not. She was not some teary eyed barbarian woman, but this night and many ones before it all seemed to culminate in this moment before her Mother and the Mother of all the natural world. “I do not know if I am ready to bear the responsibilities of motherhood.” She said the words slowly, as if they pained her to say, but they were the truth, and she could never lie to her Goddess. “I want to say yes, to better serve you, and all that live under your domain, but I do not know. Maybe I am not ready, maybe I will never be.” Tears slid down her cheeks, but Yellow eyes met those verdant greens one directly, not blinking, determined. “But I know I will serve you until the end of my days, until Dira claims my soul and I join the the earth with Semele and all the creatures that live there.”

Tinnok wanted to raise a hand and wipe the tears away, but she would feel more the child doing it, and so she let them dribble down her face down her chin, dripping down onto blood soaked skin and clothes with imperceptible drips.

Word Count1,396

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by **Radiant** on June 14th, 2014, 7:39 am

The Goddess went silent as she listened to Tinnok's tale and confession, the myriad of butterflies circling around them both, providing them with a sort of sanctuary, a private moment just between Mother and Daughter, Caiyha's features looked calm and understanding, like a wise woman beyond her apparent years. Mother Nature then extended her right hand as she gently tipped Tinnok's chin gently to look her in the eyes.

BGM :

"I understand..." The Goddess began speaking, "You made a pact with a Dhani to cleanse taint from the land, your goal is right, and you are willing to bear his child... or so you thought." Caiyha broke eye contact as she looked backwards, not into the temple's entrance, but beyond into the jungle, into Nature itself, "In truth, you are not sure about your decision, you prayed to one of my Daughters, begging for a life to not form in your womb, is it not?" It was a rhetorical question of course, Caiyha already knew, "You are afraid that the unborn child would have to live alone, an outcast, and you are also afraid the child would be hunted by my serpentine grandchildren, yet you take the decision to create life, life is not something to be toyed with, now I know you don't mean to, but sometimes... mistakes are made without even realizing them." The Goddess smiled as she broke the embrace then went to Tsuya, Caiyha picked up the young girl by bridal-carrying her, then gently offered her to Tinnok.

"Both she and you are my daughters, though no mark adorned her skin like you do, I was the one who nurtured her," Caiyha brushed Tsuya's knee-length long green hair then kissed her forehead, "What is she, Tinnok? She is also an 'outcast', like you... but different, she never had contact with Myrians or Dhani or humans, aside from the Witches that visit here..." That explained why Tsuya could speak Common, but of course, she couldn't read or write, "But, if you look at it from my perspective, Nature's perspective, she is very much a part of life, like you, like everyone else. Outcasts, are those that have go against nature and life itself... of which you have tirelessly slain just bells ago, Tinnok." The Goddess then raised her right hand, a butterly landing on her index finger, "That said, are you an outcast? To Myrians, perhaps you are, to me? No, you are not."

"You are willing, and the fact you have the wisdom to realize your own weaknesses..." The Goddess urged for Tinnok to rise and sit beside her near the altar, "Alone is proof that you have grown, think about it, compared to yourself years ago, what has changed? You left your people, who never accepted you in the first place, you devoted yourself to me, I deem you ready, sure you will make mistakes along the way, everyone, even me, makes them, but..." She put the tip of her right index finger to Tinnok's lips, "That is what make us perfect." As Caiyha began to wipe Tinnok's tears from her cheeks, the Witch could feel her gnosis pulsing... and growing, the lifelike tattoo moving with life as they grew and grew.

Over the next two chimes, Tinnok's mark transformed and blended, now gaining the beautiful image of lakes, ponds, rivers, along with its fishes. Not stopping there, caves, corridors, lizards, and bats also joined in... "I hereby grant you authority over the Riparian and Subterranean Biome, Tinnok..." The Goddess then motioned with a wave of her hand, also turning her head as if speaking with someone else, behind a wall near the altar, "Do you what this means?" Came forth a green-scaled woman with sharp reptilian eyes, "Siku?"

The Alvina of Serpents grumbled under her breath, "But ssse hasss... Myrian blo-" But the stern gaze of her Mother brought the Goddess-Queen of Dhani to silence, muttering heavily instead, "I underssstand, Mother..."

"Good, now stay there for a while like a good girl you are, will you, Siku?" Caiyha then turned her attention back to the Favored Witch, "You will find yourself be accepted in Zinrah, no matter how begrudgingly, if any of the Dhani tries to hurt you on purpose, trust me... I will know." As she said so, Caiyha's eyes turned to Siku for a tick, driving the point home, she was not kidding.

"One more thing," Caiyha gestured to Tsuya, "You will find her to be a good daughter and responsibility, she can help you with your duties. Tsuya is touched by my power, she has the ability to communicate with animals and plants just like a singular marked Witch, however, she has no authority of any biome, she is not ready for it... yet, though perhaps you can make her be." Caiyha leaned in as she whispered loving words to Tinnok.

"I love you, my daughter, even if you are the only one considered an abomination in the jungle."

With that, she nodded then gestured to the Serpent Goddess, "My daughter can escort you to Zinrah should you wish, if not, you can stay here, whatever you wished. Now then, until we meet again... my Favored Daughter" As she said so, Caiyha's form became covered in vines until she could no longer be seen, then the vines slithered back into the ground, forming into the same altar, leaving Tinnok and Tsuya alone with the mother of all Dhani.

"So, don't waste my time, Witch, what do you want? Can I go now?" Siku stepped forward as she crossed her arms over her chest, snickering at Tinnok, "Just because Mother likes you, don't expect me to adore you like she did, you bear the blood of those cursed monkeys, nothing can change that."

"I tire of this, do you want to go with me or not? My patience is running out." Siku might speak arrogant and threatening, but Tinnok knew better, as vile and dubious as she was, the Serpent-Goddess knew to not mess with her own mother.

by **Tinnok** on June 15th, 2014, 4:32 am

She wasn’t sure what to do. The half breed’s life had been one search for acceptance after another, and to simply have Caiyha sweep her discretions and mistakes away as if they were nothing. A logical sliver of her mind calmly explained that to a deity so old and wise as this that they truly were. She was but a child in the Goddess’s eyes, one struggling and growing, but still so young. Her heart ached with the caring that Caiyha was bestowing upon her in this moment.

There were so many things to tend to in the world, but for a sliver of her great time on Mizahar, she was here…tending to one of her many daughters.
When Caiyha offered her Tsuya’s body, Tinnok accepted it, her fingers gently curling around the girl’s arms and torso as one might handle a piece of glass that might shatter at any tick. She wondered if this was a bit of an ironic joke on the part of Oriana, the Mother of bears and caretaker to mothers. Perhaps she had indeed heard her prayers, and whispered her own request in Caiyha’s ear. It seemed the faintest of possibilities that this was all some strange coincidence, Tinnok had slowly begun to learn that the world cycled in far more devious and fateful ways. And now she too was to be a mother. She had learned to care for the land and animals of the jungle, had found a comfort in it. This…this was a whole new challenge.

Wordlessly, her joy to great to speak, Tinnok sat next to Caiyha, still holding on gently to the small girl in her arms, a soft sigh escaping her lips as she found a new power coursing through her right arm. Her eyes were able to draw away from Caiyha’s visage to gaze at her strangler fig, watching as the roots suddenly began to display from beneath the grass and ferns gently waving in an unseen breeze. Darkness cover her arm, crawling across her forearm, forming rocks, slick with moisture, fine bits of moss and stalagtites clinging to dark ceilings. She saw insects, could see the dark form of bats clinging to the roof of the cavern, nearly sensing blind creatures so used to darkness in the depths of the wetness of the cavern.

And then from above the strangler fig the branches opened up, thick vines turning from bright green to blue green, to clear blue, as up her shoulder and approaching her neck a watery expanse began sinking into her skin. Her eyes could not catch all the details, but she saw a fish dart from the water into the strangler fig, the shadow of a bird soaring over the water, untold mysteries hiding beneath the watery depths. Tinnok’s breath caught in her throat, the wetness ceasing from her eyes, but only just, her emotions still roiling happily within her gut.

So focused on the beautiful lifelike designs was the Witch that she at first did not notice the name that was spoken, the word sinking into the back of her mind, slowly dragging her from her blissful reverie to glance at the figure emerging from the shadows of the room.

Once a terror and hatred would have filled her at the sight of demi-Goddess, and daughter of Caiyha, but far too much had changed over the years of Tinnok’s life for her to summon up such an outdated ideal now, even if she was the Queen of all Dhani.

Her realization of what the new biomes meant finally caught up with Caiyha’s apparent plans for the Witch. Zinrah. The word filled her with so many confused feelings. Ordinarily she would be killed going there, yet there was such a firm assurance behind the Goddess’s words…and Siku seemed to begrudge her mother that much. A part of Tinnok had always been curious about how the other half of her blood lived under the ground, and this…this was the perfect time to find out.

Another part of her mind called to her. Just because of this cavernous advantage did not mean she had to live with the Dhani. She could still travel. She had heard tales of a place where the thing pale race of humanoids the Myrians had driven out living in a giant cavern, and there was water all over the lands that she could tend to.

Yellow eyes glanced down at Tsuya thoughtfully. These were the thoughts of a being that traveled alone, going where the winds would take her and nothing more. Though she wouldn’t use the term ‘mother’ just yet, she had suddenly taken on the responsibility of another completely sentient being. Traversing into unknown lands with a child that had been raised and sheltered on this mountain top when Caiyha was offering her safe haven amongst the Dhani…Siku’s word to back it up?

And then there was the Undead Witch who she refused to name any longer, who claimed that names were useless. She was Aka’s servant, and the Reimancer needed to know what hate and danger she possessed. Tsenrika had told her not to tell anyone…especially Aka, but after the events of this day, it was clear these beings posed a threat not only to the rocky peace between Myrian and Dhani, but the very jungle itself, and that…that was not allowable.

So wrapped up in her thoughts was the half breed, that she almost didn’t catch Caiyha’s departure, but the words drew her back, and her face lit up with a smile. “Thank you, Mother.” She said, all the wishes for the love she had never bestowed upon her biological one spilling out into her adoptive one. And then the Goddess was gone, and Tinnok was left with an ornery deity. Her eyes flickered to Tsuya, her mind going back to the glade and ruins. She had to return to them, ensure the land was cleansed and those filthy things were truly dead, had to return to the site of her animal comrades and send them proper thanks…

But she would have time to do this, Tsuya could even come with her when she had recovered, to make sure she saw a Witch follow through with her duties. She nodded once, then at Siku’s impatience she rose swiftly, making sure not to jostle the exhausted girl, and inclining her head respectfully to the Snake Goddess, she would not bow to this Queen, but it didn’t seem prudent to offend an already irritated Snake. She began to speak in Myrian, but thought better of it, and decided to settle with her broken Common.

“Thank you, Siku.” She said slowly, making sure the sentences were whole. This was not a time to appear a total fool to one’s host. “I will go with.” She stepped forward. The next day her body would ache, be bruised, her wounds would need cleaning, and be dirty and painful to tend to. But tonight, despite all of the hardships, she felt as if she could fight even that terrible being made of liquid and hate, such was the strength Caiyha’s faith and gifts had bestowed upon her.

Word Count1,193

c

by **Radiant** on June 15th, 2014, 2:40 pm

Tinnok :

Notes :

My radiance is not bright enough?

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, beam me a PM and we can work it out.

Name: Tsuya
Race: Human
DoB: 58th of Fall 500 A.V
PoB: Alvadas
Title: Nature-Touched Child, Goddaughter of Tinnok
Skills: 10 Animal Husbandry, 10 Botany, 5 Foraging, 5 Wilderness Survival
Special Ability: Tsuya was nurtured and touched by Caiyha's power, she has the ability to communicate with animals and plants similar to a singular-marked Witch, but she has no authority of any biome.
Additional Info: Tsuya was an unwanted daughter of a human woman who lived in Alvadas, conceived out of forced consumation, the newborn baby was abandoned in the Wilderness by her mother. Taken in by one of Caiyha's Witches, the girl grew up under Caiyha's care in the Tear of the Clouds. Touched by the Goddess' power, the color of her hair and eyes turned into a shade of leaf dark green.

The child grew up happily, with the fauna and flora and occasional Witches who visited the temple, but she was still naive of the world, Caiyha deemed it was time for her to go, the Goddess assigned Tinnok as her godmother.

Together with Tinnok, she does her best to assist the Witch with her duties and, hopefully, one day, becomes a Witch herself.

Skill	XP Earned
Acrobatics	+5 XP
Weapon: Dagger	+5 XP
Weapon: Scimitar	+2 XP
Weapon: Spear	+1 XP
Weapon: Longbow	+2 XP
Endurance	+5 XP
Wilderness Survival	+3 XP
Investigation	+3 XP
Stealth	+2 XP
Tactics	+4 XP
Socialization	+5 XP
Rhetoric	+3 XP
Intimidation	+2 XP
Leadership	+4 XP
Riding	+5 XP

Completed [Jungle Wilds] Song of Nature (Tinnok)