Rising Flames (Kol, Tazi)

by **Kol** on June 30th, 2014, 7:16 pm

Unbeknownst to the Myrian male, there were two outsiders, not just one. He had offered both of them drinks, an inappropriate kindness that caused more than one head to turn. Perhaps the Tempered Steel clan was not as worthy as it once was. Apparently they showed respect to both exiles and savages, "Peia," a stern, feminine voice reached out towards the distracted, happy sister, "Bring Kol to me."

Peia looked up, eyes searching for her brother. He was standing next to two women, and she began to smile. Uh-oh. Was her brother finally finding the time to spend time with the ladies? It was an amusing thought, one Peia was already wanting to heckle her brother for, but then her gaze honed in, seeing just who his company consisted of. The girl with the dark eyes would make people uncomfortable, but the other, Kol's shadow, was the more problematic of the two. And the way she stood so close to her brother... The exile would ruin her brother's reputation, even as a male. Peia began to walk toward the group, not pleased with what she would have to do.

Kol, on the other hand was just hoping to grasp an understanding of the innocent communication. He had introduced their names and for a moment didn't think that the Chaktawe would comprehend. But then she repeated a word that he accepted. Oryani. It was different, but a name that seemed to fit. He nodded. And then the question of hunting was presenting, just as Peia quietly walked up behind Tazi, lightly tapping the female's arm. Kol was busy talking to Oryani, "Hunt?" The word seemed familiar, and he struggled to remember its meaning, "Hunt..." Oryani pointed to the okapi that was being skinned and Kol believed he knew what she meant. He held out his arms to show off the blood on his body, patting the knife at his waist. "I kill. I hunt." Well, sometimes.

Peia directed a whisper at the Myrian female, leaning close so Kol would not hear, "He does not know, but we do." While typically a cheerful woman, Peia's warning was clear. 'Don't damn my brother or I'll kill you.' Then the attention seemed to shift towards the healer, causing Peia's disposition to change completely. She brightened, winking at Tazi while returning her attention to Kol. The exile could answer her own questions with the savage, she wasn't sent to send warnings.

"Kol, Kah'ri wants to see you." Peia patted her sibling on the back, her words taking on a teasing tone, as if she had not just directly threatened someone, "And good job with the food. Let's hope you have that much luck dancing later."

Kol furrowed his brow, glancing at his clan. One female in particular, was glowering at the trio, her fury directed at the male. Kol returned the stare, blatantly turning to ignore her. The gesture was open defiance to a female, but he wasn't a fan of that particular sister. Out of all his family members, he liked her the least. Instead, he took a long drink of his ale, interesting when Oryani mentioned Hooves and Horns. So, the word work meant occupation? He tried to piece together the connection between that and killing the okapi. She must have thought he was a full time hunter? Kol decided not to attempt explaining his actual job at Leth's Glow. He didn't have the patience, or knowledge to do so. It was also likely to not translate.

He took another drink, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the bikka he had collected just moments ago. He tossed it towards Oryani. If she was able to make herself useful in the community, Kol saw no reason to treat her so harshly. After all, he was employed by a Vantha and she was respected just fine. "Here." By instinct he found himself slipping back into Myrian, even on accident as he addressed the two, "Are you hungry?
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Myrian
Common

by **Tazi** on July 2nd, 2014, 12:59 am

Tazi was all too aware of the heads turning, the eyes glowing with distrust and some with hate. She couldn’t tell which eyes and feelings were directed at her, but she did know some of them were. If she made eye contact with the accusers, she found that they held the gaze until she looked away. Some of these people she had worked on at the medicine house. Some had laughed with her, told her stories, allowed her to poke and mix up medicines for them; that in itself took a lot of trust. Now, in a matter of bells, it had all been washed away by her cruel mother. Tilting her eyes down and cocking her head to the side, she only half focused on the conversation between Kol and Oryani. It was when a small tap tap on her arm that brought her back from her half daze. It also brought a shiver went up her spine. Turning, she found a young girl standing there. Oryani and Kol were too busy, and Tazi was too stunned to react quickly.

He does not know, but we do.

If her heart could have stopped beating right at that very second causing her to drop dead, she would have begged Dira to do it. Her face, red from where she had pinched her cheeks to bring life into it, drained of all its color. She was pale, light-headed all of a sudden. This girl had to be one of his sisters. The look she gave just before attention was refocused upon the former healer screamed it. Taking a very hard swallow, she stood up right, staring over the girl’s shoulder. Every stare she had felt prior to this was not even close to the hatred she saw when she met Kah’ri’s gaze. It was cold, and seemed to suck the air out of her lungs. Tazi had to tell herself to breath, physically commanding her diaphragm to work so she did not pass out. Oryani had addressed her, but she did not register what was said. Instead, words transpired between sister and brother, seeming to be the hook to drag her back to reality.

”Did you say something?” Tazi murmured in smooth Myrian, forgetting about translating and trying to remain normal. She was flustered, driven to being absent-minded. She was only making herself look more and more stupid. It was only when she was met with a quizzical look did she remember that her language did not translate to the black-eyed woman. What had they been talking about? Jobs. Maybe that would be the place to start.

”Heal…” She avoided any other words really. She was a healer, in the past. She did not even have the heart to go before Traya. Would the old healer have ill thoughts to her as well? Could Traya condemn her for her decision? Tazi did not want to know. All she wanted was to keep the pristine idea in her mind that Traya was a saint, a woman that should have been her mother.

When the conversation turned to food, Tazi began to panic again. Food meant getting closer to Kol’s clan. Which could only end badly. Hastily she danced out of his shadow, getting closer to Oryani. Tazi had to distance herself from him, to save him. Again her Myrian sang out, rushed in an anxious manner. ”I’m not hungry. I really should be going…”

Her voice trailed off. She really did not have a good excuse to leave, and nothing was coming to her as of yet. Tazi cursed herself, demanding her brain work faster and come up with something before he dragged her before the clan.

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Common - Myrian

by **Oryani** on July 4th, 2014, 3:29 pm

The Drykas nodded when Kol said he hunted, confirming her guess. He was a hunter then, from his simple description. It looked like a good kill, and a big one too. She wasn't sure what animal it was, but it looked like a strangely patterned deer-horse creature... so it was probably fast. Anything fast was hard to catch, unless you were on a horse, of course. She could outrun one of those things on a Strider any day.

Oryani frowned when another woman approached, but didn't say anything, knowing it wasn't her place. She may not have liked it, but she had a place. The Myrian muttered something to Tazi, then to Kol, causing the man to look around, but eventually do nothing. The female's reaction was more obvious, a stiffening and a little paling, if that was possible in a dark skinned Myrian. The Chatakwe's expression deepened at all of this, paying more attention to Tazi than her male companion.

The Myrian looked surprised when Oryani addressed her... the message hat certainly put the woman off. Thinking back, though... Tazi had been rather twitchy the whole time, and the Chatakwe was curious as to why. Even her slightly paranoid self wasn't this bad... and she had a good excuse, after all. She was asked a question in Myrian, before an answer was finally given in Common. Healing. That fit, with a woman less adept for fighting by build. "Heal... heal good. Help." She gave a small grin, respect rising for the woman. Healing required one to be good with blood and gore, even more than a fighter... as a fighter always had the adrenaline to deal with it. They had to be smart too, quick thinking, good at memorization, cool in a crisis... Oryani doubted she'd ever be a healer, or any kind of a good one.

Kol grabbed her attention again, tossing back a bikka that she barely caught in time. The Drykas frowned at it, confused as to why it was being returned. She'd paid it, after all, and the man had given her ale. Maybe she was overpaying, but she'd already made the decision, so... oh well. She shook her head and handed it back, ignoring the statements made in Myrian between the two, Kol's a question and Tazi's a strained answer.

by **Kol** on July 7th, 2014, 6:49 pm

The bikka had been denied and given back. Kol shot the woman a curious look, taking the tiny coin back as it was offered to him. Did she not understand? Kol found her decent (if savage) company and she had proven herself, at least in the ways of understanding how she fit into Myrian society. He tried to search for the right wording, to let her know the ale was free and her debt dismissed, but all he could think of was the word 'no'. Repeating that would surely do little good. He frowned, deciding to pocket the payment for now.

Kol turned to Tazi, crossing his arms. She was not hungry? It was a celebratory day. You ate because you could, not because it was necessity. Food was everywhere, being offered by every family. She needed to eat. She was skinny. To him, Tazi looked tired. Did she have a long day at the medicine house? Even her words were strained. Perhaps she had caught a sickness from someone?

"What is wrong?" Tazi was a companion, a friend even. They had only met a couple times, but there was a respect and a level of comfort Kol didn't have for many. Not even realizing what he was doing, his hand raised, about to brush against the female's arm.

Before contact, a harsh, demanding yell resounded his name, "KOL!" Instantly, he recognized the voice, and his face darkened. What did she want? Biting his lip to not snap back, Kol's jaw locked and he turned, walking before Kah'ri.

"What?"

Her usual warrior glare was directed at him, disgust laced at the end of her words, "Take your charity elsewhere. You disgrace me."

Kol's irritation rose, and he glared back. Disgraced her? Since when did she become the most important member of the clan? He remained silent, scoffing instead. His other sisters watched, but he would not argue with a female. It would only get him in trouble and the last thing he needed was his mother or one of the older members to reprimand him. After a few long, challenging moments of eye contact, Kol looked away, snatching the half skinned okapi he had presented and throwing it on his shoulders. Perhaps it was a childish gesture, but as far as he was concerned, he had hunted and killed it. If Kah'ri was to be such a true Myrian, she could go out in the jungle and bring something useful to their family besides arrogance.

The male looked back towards Tazi and Oryani, having a difficult time giving an apologetic look. He had never really done so. As he made his way back with the dead animal across his back, he was surprised to find footsteps pattering after him. Peia shrugged, throwing him a wink. Someone had to keep Kol out of trouble, and who wanted to be around their seething sister?

Peia weaved past her large brother, clearing her throat for Common, "We go. We cook. You eat? Good kill, celebration. Come. Both you, her." Then turning to Tazi, she nodded solemnly. It was a silent agreement that she would not tell Kol, as long as they could keep dodging problems. But that was up to her and how everyone interacted with them.

Peia perhaps spoke the best common, having learned it to talk to some of her friends in the city. She smiled, trying to lighten the mood while leading the group to a more... less threatening part of the city, "Bird steal meat. Very funny. Kol take no joke." She chuckled. Kol raised his eyebrow, his mood lightening the further away they moved from his clan. He had understood his name, and very little otherwise. He didn't interject. Peia had a better way with words than him anyway.

oocThis post was all over the place. Sorry, guys. Just kinda trying to keep both characters integrated. This will help with communication too, I hope.
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Myrian
Common

by **Tazi** on July 12th, 2014, 10:49 pm

Initially, as Kol came on strong with concern in his voice, Tazi did not know if she would be able to hold out much longer. However, the commanding voice of a far superior woman stole him away for a moment and she was able to breath as he walked away to see what his clanmate, and most likely family member, wanted. She released the air from her lung she had not realized she had been holding. The color that had drained from her face earlier seemed to come back in a slow wave. Distance was going to be necessary. Thankfully, she had an out, and she was just now realizing it. While Kol was gone, Tazi twisted her attention back to Oryani. Curiosity was taking hold of her suddenly. This woman was more than just an outsider. If anything, Tazi probably could have justified that they were of the same clan because they were outsiders together. This realization made her want to get to know the black eyed woman.

“Not Myrian. What are you?” Although her mood was beginning to lighten, she was still conscious about Peia’s presence and the occasional dark glare they would get. Most of the attention had left them to go back to eating, drinking and dancing. Only the Tempered Steel seemed to be heavily focused on them. Taking another slow breath, she forced a smile. It was not the prettiest thing, but she was trying to be genuine. “Nice to meet. Different, like me.”

It was at this point that Kol returned, his prize on his shoulders. Whatever had transpired between him and the woman clearly angered him if he took his okapi back from his clan. Then his sister was telling them to come along. A secret gesture passed between them and Tazi nodded quietly. Getting out of the thick of it would be best anyways, for all parties involved. Checking to make sure her medicine bag was on her hip, she stepped aside to allow Oryani to go first. Then she would follow the strange little group through the crowds. Kol’s sister, one of the ones she had not yet met, seemed very peculiar. Aggressive and protective like any real Myrian, yet eager to get into trouble for her brother it seemed. She wasn’t like the woman that had called Kol earlier.

Eventually they came to a small clearing that was still a part of the celebration, but not encircled by Myrians. As they all settled down, Tazi placed her back to the forest and stared out to the crowd they had just left. The small cooking fire burned, smells of roasting meat littering the air. Here they could watch and enjoy all the festivities, the music, and company of one another. Kol would be her biggest problem. He seemed to be more concerned than she thought he would be. Yet again she turned her attention to Oryani, trying to work more words in common. “You like here? Taloba? Jungle?”

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Common - Myrian

by **Oryani** on July 16th, 2014, 1:00 pm

Kol accepted the bikka, making Oryani feel a little better. Oddly enough, she wasn't incredibly worried about money here... she made more than she ever had in Endrykas. 5 mizas a day, rather than two... it was more than double! She also didn't buy anything expensive, and Alaril was seemingly having a wonderful time catching things... so all she had to worry about was herself. Living at the Den wasn't very expensive either, though she had to help out with the usual chores, of course. She didn't know if they'd go on today, at least for dinner... for breakfast someone had handed out a bunch of fruit and maize flatbread to snack on before work.

A few snippets of conversation continued in Myrian, until someone roared a word she did recognize. A name... and the voice was unfamiliar. Her head snapped in that direction, picking out a female Myrian with furious rage on her face. Was she mad at the male? Oryani didn't know why, unless... gods, it was probably one of those picky families who didn't like outsiders like herself. But Kol himself was being friendly... and that woman from earlier hadn't said anything. Maybe it was just a grudge from earlier? Hopefully... she didn't want to be causing a fuss.

There was a moment of argument, a staring battle... before the male turned, grabbed the funny deer-thing and carried it away. What? Now she was utterly confused. Was the argument over the animal killed? Who would complain? She stared at it with an odd expression, before turning and shaking her head. If only she understood Myrian, she would know what they were talking about. Or not, actually. She still needed to get to learning the language.

Tazi began speaking, and Oryani turned to face that new interest, hearing an often repeated question. What was she. Gods, she heard it often. Even in Endrykas she was of a little-known race, and she had to explain it most of the time. She gave a small smile, feeling a tiny bit irritated at having to answer again, but knew there was no way out of it. "I am a Chatakwe," she said simply, shrugging a little. She didn't expect Tazi to know what a Chatakwe was. Another comment came by and this time she frowned, cocking her head slightly. She knew that she was different, but... Tazi? That was something that could be argued. She could tell that the Myrian was certainly smaller than most, and she was twitchy... was there something she didn't know? Didn't understand? After a few moments of contemplation she nodded a little, getting some kind of an idea. "Yes," she added simply, when she realized an answer was probably needed.

The woman from earlier returned, looking much friendlier than the shouting one. This Myrian spoke in Common, so the Chatakwe was able to understand... and she nodded. Good... it didn't seem like Oryani was in trouble then, for simply being around this clan. The quartet set off at the suggestion, walking away from the clan-specific fire and towards the general kerfuffle of the rest of the celebration.

The woman brought up the bird incident, and Oryani smiled tightly. She was glad there were no hard feelings, and that it could have been taken as a joke... but there was still Alaril to be dealt with. She wasn't skilled enough in falconry to truly keep the bird under control, which was beginning to be a problem... a big problem.

Once again Tazi spoke up, continuing quite politely in Common. Another simple social question, but one she heard much less often. Most Myrians didn't bother to ask if she liked Falyndar... as the answer would obviously be yes. To them, at least. She pursed her lips in thought, considering it carefully. She didn't dislike the city, in her little time of being here... but she would have still preferred Endrykas, if she hadn't lost her Strider. The jungle itself was all new, and a little scary... but all round, she kept finding hints of the Sea of Grass all around here, in the culture, the people... and simple the constant danger of wildlife. If you could consider Dhani wildlife... though they too could be related to Zith.

"Yes," she said slowly, repeating the simple word again. "It is... different. Nice." She'd tried to elaborate, at least.

by **Una Tanta** on March 28th, 2015, 5:40 am

Kol :

Oryani :

Tazi :

Please don't be afraid to PM me with any questions or concerns^-^

PM to join Rising Flames (Kol, Tazi)