A Vantha, an Akvatari, and some wood.

[Palla Frostfawn]

15th of Summer, 514 AV


It was just a normal day at work. Palla had gone through her normal morning routine, and was now working on carving a mouse. The mouse was small and was carved out if an almost gray colored wood. The tree that it was from wasn't the healthiest, Palla determined, but she examined the wood and decided that particular piece - she had a few other pieces of wood from that tree in worse shape - wasn't likely to crack. Palla went ahead and started carving the wood.

Soon, she came across a knot - one right in the middle of a piece. Palla carved around it, but soon encountered another problem. The wood was cracking. She looked at the wood, sighed, and threw it back into the pile of local wood. I shouldn't have even used that piece of wood. Palla pulled out a piece of wood that looked almost perfect, from her exotic wood pile. Palla decided to carve the same mouse. She roughed the shape out with her knife, as always, and then just looked at it. Palla decided that all ot needed was a bit of refining. She smoothed it out and sanded it down, then put it on her shelf.

It was one of her better pieces, but Palla still felt that it was a waste of exotic wood, such a simple piece in wood as expensive as that wood was. Still, she put it on a shelf, doubting anyone would even know the difference.

Palla sat at her table, already having decided what she wanted to carve next. She seemed to have more inspiration, and was just generally more happy. It didn't seem to be because of her dream, because the cheeriness didn't surface until around the seventh of summer. Palla didn't make the connection, though.

Palla started carving a boat. It was very simple, but one could still tell what it was. It was hollowed out into the basic shape of a rowboat, and it had three rows of seats, basically rectangular blocks. It wasn't the best, but was done quickly and efficiently, unlike some of Palla's other carvings. She had a tendency to get distracted easily, so some of her carvings toook longer than they should due to Palla's daydreaming.

Palla was just starting a new carving when she heard the door open.

[Calters]

Cal sat by the side of the road on the bottom tier of the city, clutching his ocarina to his bare chest. Feeling a song rise in his throat, he brought the instrument to his lips and blew. The music was high-pitched but painstakingly slow, creating an eerie vibe. His fingers ghosted over each button slowly, transitioning from note to note seamlessly. Only a few notes squawked out of time and for that, Calters was proud. He didn't mind messing up a few times, especially in front of such a small crowd. It was unlikely that anyone in the crowd cared enough to reprimand him on it.

When he was finished he stood and nodded at the single Human who had been dull enough to remain until the end of the song. Cal knew that he must not have listened to him play before.
"I don't suppose you could spare a silver now, could you?"
But before the musician had even finished his prompt, the man had scurried away, realizing his mistake. With a shrill, irritated tweet of his ocarina Calters sat back down. Of course not! No one here appreciates my style like they should. Greedy, that's what we all are!

Just as he had started another tune he caught sight of a sign across the way.
"Palla's Carvings- Riverfall's only source of woodcarvings".

A carver? That means this Palla fellow is an artist too! Surely they will appreciate my songs. Eager to prove himself, Cal shook his wings out and pulled himself into a hover. Gliding over the ground, he quickly made his way to the shop.

It was not exactly what he expected. The door made a sound when he came in as though it were not used to frequent usage. There was a single woman sitting carefully studying a piece of wood. It seemed dull, but when he took in the walls...
"Woah..."
Each wall was adorned with a shelf and on those shelves were carvings. Some were small and some were larger, each with it's own tracks and curves in the wood. Cal reached out a hand to touch a particularly beautiful mouse when he remembered his purpose for being there. He pulled his hand back and turned awkwardly to face the woman. But his mind didn't seem in control of his mouth and the words he spoke were not what he intended. He spoke formally, almost as if by habit.

"How do you make such beautiful art? My music is but a gust of wind compared to your stylized trees!
Hearing the line out loud, Calters knew it would make a great lyric and fumbled in his leather covering for his journal. It must be here somewhere!

[Palla Frostfawn]

16th of Summer, 514 AV


"Woah..." Palla looked at the creature that had just come in. She put her carving tools down and went to greet him. What is he? Is he like Rosela, of a different race? Palla looked at him with an expression of curiosity, but tried to act normal, as if she saw winged humans with tails for legs on an everyday basis. Palla looked at his maroon wings and the tail that was blond, but held gray in it. Still, the... The man? Whatever he was, the creature looked young, around Palla's age. Palla watched as he reached out to touch a carving of a mouse, amd greeted him with an awkward "H-Hello, I'm Palla." She forced a chuckle, as she usually did when talking to a customer. Her happy gestures usually weren't real until she warmed up to them. "If you didn't guess by the shop name."

The man spoke with an air of formality, and Palla smiled as he complimented her art. "T-Thank you. My art is nothing compared to that of some of my hold members." If he asked what a hold was, Palla would explain. "I-I'm a Vantha, a person of the winter. M-My eyes change colors with my mood, and I'm most comfortable in the snow." She chuckled, a more real one this time. "T-These summers are practically unbearable. Anyways, Vantha have these groups called holds, each with their own affinity. I-I'm a Frostfawn, and my hold's talents lie in animal husbandry, but all Vantha seem to have a bit of a talent for carving or storytelling."

"It's all a matter of practice. A-And passion, of course. If you don't care about something there's no point in doing it."

While Palla wasn't vain, she did enjoy the compliment, as would most. Still, her mind was only half focused on his words. What is he? He acts human, but he can't walk, that's for sure. While Palla treated him almost exactly like she would any customer, her curiousity had no bounds. All you had to do was look into her eyes to see that.

Palla watched as he started searching for something in a leather strap across his torso. "W-What are you looking for?" She asked meekly. Palla was curious about this creature, this man, and she wanted to know more. She had so many questions. What is his race? Should I be scared? Can he fly? It would be so cool to fly... It's not like I could just grow wings, though. Besides, Palla thought, recalling how he had struggled to get through the door, dragging himself along. Being whatever he is has its drawbacks. Remembering that, Palla looked once more at him. "Are you comfotable here?" He didn't look as if he could exactly sit in a chair, but Palla had to have something to help if he was uncomfortable.

[Calters]

Cal listened to Palla's lengthy introduction with interest, though he did continue his search for his journal. Assuming that the Vantha had shared the information in anticipation of an exchange, Calters prepared himself to tell his story. However, her tale did not end the way he had expected. She looked curious, but acted as though he were just another customer.
"W-What are you looking for?" She asked softly. "Are you comfortable here?"

Calters finally found the journal hidden between the leather and his hip. He produced the book with a wave, shaking the thing until a small piece of charcoal tumbled out into his open palm.
"Just looking for this. I need to write something down."

Quickly, he opened the pages and picked a corner of one that seemed mostly clean. Cal scribbled the line, then placed the charcoal back between the pages and tucked his journal away once more. Once he was finished, he looked back up at her. She seemed to be waiting for an answer to something...
Oh yeah! Am I comfortable?

"I'm never comfortable," Calters said with honesty, noting the questions in her eyes as he talked. "But that's not your fault. I'm an Akvatari. That's what this is all about." He flexed his wings and motioned to his tail. With a serious tone and a thoughtful expression, he continued. "My name is Cal, and I'm here to tell you, it's a lonely, discouraging, and frankly inconvenient life being an Akvatari. I would not recommend it. One thing I would recommend, however, is the ocarina. Beautiful music can make life tolerable. Sometimes anyway."

Still in awe of the wood carvings all around him, and the Vantha before him who had created them, he could find only one other thing to say. Cal held up his instrument with pride.
"You ever made one of these?"

[Palla Frostfawn]

16th of Summer, 514 AV


Palla was curious about what he was writing down, but kept quiet, as she didn't want to pry. His journal looks pretty messy, or at least more than mine is. It's probably a better idea to write in charcoal, but I wouldn't put it between the pages. The Akvatari scribbled something in his journal and then put it back in the leather strap across his torso.

"I'm an Akvatari." I've heard of them before... Where, though? Palla thought for a moment. Isn't there an expression "as sad as an Akvatari song" or something? It makes sense. He seems so depressed. "I'm sorry you feel that way. I-I've felt isolated before, although my troubles now seem petty. I don't think I could be of much help, but I've felt depressed in the past." Palla said, trying to sound lighthearted as her eyes turned a deep blue with a slight green tint. Palla hated to see people that were hurt in any way, shape, or form.

Looking at Cal, thinking of how isolated he must feel, probably like a freak of nature, Palla's depression, her reasons for stammering, they all seemed so insufficient. She felt bad for feeling bad. Sure, the wings and tail would be fun to have, but the stares he may recieve on the street? The isolation he must feel from being the only one of his kind here, or at least Palla assumed so. She had seen a few Vantha in the city, but no other Aktavari

"I-I don't think I could." Palla answered. "I could make a decorative one, no problem, but a functional one? T-That's way beyond my skill. I doubt I could even make a flute. I-I know enough to run this shop, but not much more. If you'd like, I could try, though. I-It'll be good practice, and besides, I'd like to learn to carve one. C-Could you help? I don't know how to carve an..." What's it called? Orca something? I think it's kind of like a flute, but it doesn't resemble one at all. Oh, ocarina! "Ocarina."

"S-So, what brings you here? Could you show me a bit of your music?" He seemed very proud of his instrument, Cal, and Palla wanted to see just how well he could play. There wasn't much doubt in Palla's mind that he could play, but Palla just wanted to see to what degree of competency he could do so.

Assuming he played at all, and with a bit of effort, Palla would ask "W-Would you mind teaching me how to play? I could teach you how to carve in return." Palla hoped that nobody would walk in, as even though she sympathized with him, she was quite enjoying her interactions with the Akvatari.

[Calters]

The sweet Vantha was an open book, Calters soon realized. She held nothing back and was willing to share with whomever came through her door. She asked for nothing in return, save a bit of knowledge. So when Palla asked him to show her his ocarina music and to help her with her carving, he found it difficult to say no.

Without speaking to her in return, the Akvatari pulled a genuine smile and picked up his instrument that was dangling from his neck. He bobbed his head once or twice to pick up the time, pressed it to his mouth, closed his eyes, and blew.

The music that sprang forth was soft and hollow, giving off the impression that it was an echo of an earlier melody or a song lost to time. It was a slow tune, but the lyrics were hopeful should he ever be able to sing them. Cal was surprised to find himself short of breath and had to stop halfway through the song to suck in a deep breath. Other than that, his performance went without mistakes. Proud of his skill and unique style, Calters gave a flourish with his left arm when he finished.

Returning to himself, Cal searched for the words to explain the ocarina to the carver.

"The way this instrument works is all up to this little spout here." Cal pointed to the mouthpiece, which resembled a whistle's. "That creates the sound and then these little holes on top control the pitch. It wouldn't be too hard to create the holes, I would imagine, as long as you knew the right size and location. But the mouthpiece may be more of a challenge. You can't see the inside very well from here and personally, I'm not sure how that part works."

Palla's offer of trading skills was tempting to the blooming artist but he was apprehensive about letting another touch his instrument. In the end, he decided that an extra talent under his belt wouldn't hurt him one bit, so when he was through explaining the mechanics of the ocarina, he accepted her deal with a nod. He fingered the ocarina nervously before holding it out on his open palm.

"Put the strap around your neck so it doesn't fall," He prompted. "And then hold it off to the side just like I did. There's no need to deal with the holes right now, so whenever you're comfortable you can just let loose and blow."