Closed An Afternoon at Home

[Khida]

Khida let Rue lead the way out from the camp, following amiably as she scrutinized the grasses. Not knowing just what the Drykas was looking for, she left the searching to the girl; the Kelvic listened with half an ear while she talked on, turning the rest of her attention towards their surroundings.

She spoke of sage, fireweed, chicory. The names were meaningless to Khida, but she tucked them away in mind nonetheless, trusting that context -- identifications -- would come along in time. Experience suggested she might recognize the actual plants, had probably even eaten them during her time in Endrykas; she just didn't have the Pavi words to attach to them -- or in some cases, any words at all.

The girl also talked about her family, about going out with siblings to search for greens. To share knowledge. To be important? Khida remembered, vaguely, wanting to be helpful when she was young. It was a very distant impression, faded by the passage of seasons and the drastic changes in her life since. Family together, her hands sketched, internal ruminations given outward shape. "You have many... brothers, sisters? Very many?" So the red-haired girl's words seemed to imply, at least so much of them as Khida understood.

Common | Pavi | someone else

[Naiya]

There was only so much Rue could do with the language as a barrier between them, but Khida seemed more than willing to speak up when she did not know a word or did not understand a phrase. So Rue felt content enough in knowing Khida's speaking and signing would suffice until it did not, and then she would find another way to explain.

"I do. My father has twelve children including myself." Rue explained, as she searched for the best way to explain the system of pavilions that made up a Drykas family. Her hands ran an undercurrent of signing, mirroring her words in effort to add to the other woman's understanding, rather than using the signs to add extra depth or meaning to her spoken words. "My uncles and aunts, my father's siblings, have many children also cousins, we lived together when we were younger. There were twice as many children then."

The long stalks of the hyssop had deceived Rue, making them appear closer than they were in reality. The extra distance would not hurt though, and offered more opportunity to spot other plants. When they did get close enough for Rue to point out the plant, she stalled their conversation with a polite string of sign with a meaning along the lines of 'let us continue this soon for we may have more to say'.

"This plant, with the purple flowers growing like a cat's tail, this is called Hyssop." She shaped the sign slowly, offering it for examination by Khida. "It tastes similar to mint, but bitter, and sort of like green growing things in the spring." She plucked a young leaf off the plant, and again offered it to Khida for examination, and even tasting of the woman was brave enough to take Rue at her word.

It might go well in the stew, but it would certainly make a nice tea. So Rue set to removing a few stalks from the plant, leaving the base where they stemmed from in the ground. The roots were not necessarily good for eating, and the plant would serve far better if left here to be found by another than if they pulled the entire plant and took it for drying.

"We can take enough for the day, and even some to dry and use later, but if we leave enough, maybe we will come back next year and find there are even more plants to be had. If we leave it here, the flowers will go to seed and new plants will grow."

[Khida]

The red-haired Drykas continued speaking about her family. Khida stumbled over the number at first, certain she had heard it wrong, or confused the word with some other value. Twelve is? she gestured, her manner distinctly surprised and shaded with a hint of disbelief. And as many cousins again, Rue went on to say, something Khida considered pensively as they continued to walk, turning it over in her thoughts much as her fingers might examine an unfamiliar and wholly foreign object.

Many, many, she shaped in silence, but any further commentary she might have made -- and Khida herself was not sure such would have been forthcoming -- was nulled by Rue's gestures. The Kelvic blinked at them, gleaning only a sense of soon from the motion. But that, combined with the girl's indication of the nearby plants, was ultimately sufficient.

The girl spoke of the plant, something about flowers and spring and... flavor? Flavor made sense; they were here for herbs, plants which should have flavor. Khida found herself offered a leaf, and accepted it readily, pausing to examine its features before popping it into her mouth. She studied the plant proper as well, its shape and height and flowers, and the place it grew, while her companion harvested stalks. It looked like a mint, but with long thin leaves instead of the broader, wavy-edged kind she'd seen before. "Name is? Again?" she prompted, aware that Rue had probably said it before... but Khida's ears had failed to pluck that one word out from among the rest.

Rue continued on, mentioning taking and day and later. Also what Khida thought was coming back... Her brow furrowed, posture conveying obvious frustration in tandem with concentration. These words were simpler, though, more of them familiar to the Kelvic, and Rue spoke slowly enough that she could catch most of their shapes. She wanted, Khida thought, to leave some of the plant for future years. Well, that only made sense; taking it all would leave nothing, and nothing spawned only nothing. Yes, she finally signed in reply, definite and certain.

Common | Pavi | someone else

[Naiya]

Rue was quietly amused by the Khida's surprise, but decided it was best to leave it be. What did require commenting on was the frustration that was evident in the posture of the other woman. There was something missing from Rue's own speech that Khida needed more understanding of.

Examining the plant would in its own right serve an explanation of the Hyssop, and Khida was certainly noting the plant's features. Similarly the flavor of the plant would come with the tasting of the leaf that she had eaten with little trepidation. So it would seem that neither of these was the cause of the other woman's frustration.

"Hyssop. It is called Hyssop." Rue repeated for her, no dancing about the word this time, nothing to lose in translation. Yet, there was more to share with Khida than the name or the flavor of the plant. The nature of plants, growing and going to seed to come back anew with the changing of the seasons. Preservation. That was the word that she wished to share, but its reasons were more important.

So Rue began again, signing as she spoke, but this time in her limited vocabulary of common, halting and perhaps mispronounced. "We take some, what we need, more than need too, if want. Leave enough for other Drykas, and for..." Frustration of her own crept into her posture, not quite overshadowed by desire to help. "For more growing." That was the gist of it, she thought, although perhaps a bit more explanation would help smooth the furrowing of her companion's brow.

"Drykas change live." She began again, quickly realizing that that wasn't the word she wanted, "Drykas move, all seasons, but follow same place. Soon Drykas here again. If we leave growing plant, Drykas here again can use." A triumphant grin spread across her cheeks, for she was sure that she had managed to piece together the image that she wanted Khida to understand. "Drykas share plants, food, water, and this way the Drykas can live, but we must always make sure there will be plants, food, and water in the future as well."

Khida had seemed to understand the need to leave more plants to grow before, she had agreed with Rue's own assessment of leaving the plant behind, but now there was more reason to leave the plant. Or that was what Rue hoped she had impressed upon her companion.

[Khida]

Hyssop. Khida's lips shaped the word in silence, committing it to memory. Her companion resumed speaking then, and Khida blinked up at her, listening to her halting Common. Listening with growing impatience, as she went on to belabor her earlier point. The Drykas seemed oddly proud about it, too -- proud that her people were not bat-beasts, to rage and ruin and depart?

Granted, not being a bat-beast was something to be proud of...

Yes, know, know, the Kelvic woman signed, quick staccato motions reflecting her readiness to be done with the subject. Hunt some. Hunt not all. Hunt all, after hunt no more. Of course, predators generally hunted what they needed in the moment; and if what they found was the last available prey, that didn't change their need. But it made perfect sense, when there was abundance, to leave some behind where it could be easily found again.

She paused then, considering the plants that remained rooted to earth; after a beat of stillness, her hands made an aimless motion, her thoughts something that she did not have the signs to express. "It is easier to leave plants," Khida ventured in Common. "You can see them, count them here. You know what is all and what is part." Whereas trying to count rabbits, or sparrows, or even deer was basically impossible.

A moment later, she shook her head, outward evidence of her thoughts moving on. Go now? she asked of her companion. Hunt more, go home?

Common | Pavi | someone else

[Naiya]

Impatience was the response Rue received for her efforts, and she deflated slightly at the realization that perhaps she had trod overmuch on the toes of the other woman. An apology was her next thought, though it never seemed to have the weight she expected with the other woman. She discarded that as quickly as she did her pride at being able to communicate in a strange language.

Khida added more, a sort of commenting on the point Rue had attempted to make, but it wasn't quite in the same context and Rue was no longer so willing to brave the barriers of language between them. So instead she just nodded, accepting the words without comment.

Then, again, Khida seemed to discard the topic of conversation, a shake of her head preceding an inquiry.

She started to sign a response, a meekness in her movement, when she realized her hands were too full to be of any good use. So she pulled a long strand of grass, taking the stalk as though it were rope and tying it around the hyssop she had gathered. The leaves of the hyssop acted as knots, bunching together to hold the stalks in the bundle she had made. She tucked the loose end of grass into her belt, securing it at her waist and freeing her hands. Able to sign freely now, she began again.

Return around, continue looking as we return. Rue answered, still hopeful to find something a bit more suited to rabbit stew.

With that said and done, Rue turned, perhaps a bit suddenly, and cut out across the grasses, searching once more for the plants that could be added to the food. She considered describing the plants she was searching for, the bright blue flowers of chickory, or its tall woody stalks, and the bright flowers of fireweed that produced like wildfire spreads across the grass. She lifted her hands considering how to begin, but a quick glance at her companion changed her mind.

Instead she reached up to her hair, pulling it over her shoulder to make her decision not to speak seem less odd. She pulled at the hair a bit before deciding she would braid it simply as she walked. It would keep her hands busy, and keep her hair from tangling in the herbs at her waist. Three rough sections formed almost without thought, and then the motion of under, across, and over made quick work of the untamed mass.

When the sections of hair grew thin and difficult to maneuver she let the braid fall, trusting the tightly woven ends to hold together well enough to last the rest of the day.

Or at least until she grew uncomfortable once more and decided undoing the braid would serve as an equal a distraction as braiding it had been.

She wanted to be back at camp. She wanted to see Shahar.

Mostly, she wanted Khida not to be upset with her.

Rue had lead their search outwards, and in a round about manner back towards the camp, but now she cut across once more, heading more directly towards the camp and hopes of rescue, or at least a quick escape.

Instead she found Sage, the tough always green plant reaching out in distinctive leafy branches. "This one is sage." Rue informed Khida, "It is better for stew."

She crouched over the plant, drawing a dagger from her belt she used it to cut the plant from the base, cutting a few almost furry stalks from the ground root and all. Whatever they didn't use of this could be planted again, it was usually strong enough to survive such a thing.

[Khida]

The Drykas girl seemed to withdraw at Khida's response, tucking herself in like a turtle with his shell. The Kelvic couldn't fathom why -- it wasn't like she had been angry or menacing. Had she?

The girl tucked her finds away and signed return, look, which Khida understood -- though she knew not what to look for. More hyssop? She fell into step behind and beside Rue, as she would with the hunter -- not following directly, but paralleling at a small distance, giving her a slightly different angle of view on the surrounding grasses. There were no spiky purple flowers that she could see... but half of her attention remained on the Drykas girl, the way she fidgeted with her hair.

Anxious, Khida decided was the word she wanted. Or... maybe just unhappy. Or... something. She knew the shape of what she wanted to describe, the texture and heft of it to her awareness; it just didn't fit into a neat little box. Words were such a nuisance that way.

The red-haired girl stopped, indicating another plant that she proceeded to harvest. Something distinctly not hyssop. Khida glanced at it only briefly, focused mostly on the girl. When Rue finally straightened back up, the Kelvic was waiting. Wrong is? she signed, confusion shading her posture. Wrong do what?

Common | Pavi | someone else

[Naiya]

She straightened, expecting to wait for Khida to look at the plant, perhaps to taste this new one too, before they continued back to the camp. Instead, her focus was on Rue.

Despite her attempts to cover her upset, it seemed that the observant eye of the sometimes-bird-woman had seen through her ruse. She seemed to be confused, and the question that followed seemed to seek her involvement, her mistake.

I upset you. Caused frustration. She formed her signs slowly, thinking them out before letting them take shape on her hands.

She had crossed a line somewhere, whether it was in her lecturing on the plants, or the childish attempt to teach in common something Khida already knew. It had not been her place to step into the cooking of the evening meal in the first place. Questioning her authority and skill in her home had been a risk, and then to go further by adding a lesson to the mix. It wasn't so shocking that Khida had finally taken offense.

Rue had pushed her luck and received a chiding for it.

Not meant, not my intention. Apology.

In Rue's experience, quiet and an apology, followed by a quick escape was always the solution. At home she would tuck herself into her sewing, duck out to groom the horses, or attend to some matter outside the pavilion.

This wasn't home though, so she would have to wait and see what the rules were here.

[Khida]

I upset you.

Khida settled back on her heels, blinking at the red-haired Drykas in bewilderment that only deepened for the response received. Her fingers plucked at the air, but any signs they might have shaped were stymied before they began, a message as murky as the social ground she now found herself standing upon.

The girl's words made sense, but -- they didn't make sense. When had she been 'upset'? The Kelvic couldn't remember anything she would label with that word. Pleased, puzzled, often puzzled, maybe a little irritated, but... upset? No.

Where in the events of this afternoon had there even been anything worthy of upset?

Khida looked down towards her own hands, stilling their motion. She huffed out a breath, then shook her head slowly. She did not comprehend, but neither did she have to accept Rue's strange issue as something worth dwelling on. There was no issue, so it was no concern. Apology no, good is good all, her hands shaped decisively, and we go.

Khida paused to take a leaf from the sage plant, rolling it between her fingers and sniffing at the strong aroma. It had a strange texture, almost coarse. Not surprisingly, it tasted pretty much exactly like it smelled.

Then she led the way back to camp, a brisk walk that did not slow for the sight of other greenery.

Common | Pavi | someone else

[Naiya]

Kihda was entirely thrown off by Rue's words, apparent in the bewildered expression that shaped her. It turned Rue's own feelings towards a similar confusion. She was obviously not upset, though it went against what she Rue had assumed. Frustration was always such a lingering emotion, anger and upset a close following. Rue might have gone out of her way to step carefully the rest of the day, or at least until she could politely leave, because another woman might have taken offense, become upset, and not said a word about it.

Khida, if she was being honest - and she did not strike Rue as a woman who would be otherwise - was not bothered. Her frustration seemed to be momentary, and her dismissal merely a desire to move on with their day, not a dismissal of Rue herself.

It was.. unexpected. Perhaps, though, it was not a bad thing.

After a brief pause to now examine the plant, and to taste it, Khida took the lead back towards the camp. Her brisk walk was not difficult to keep up with, but it did prevent any more searching for the plants. Rue did not mind though, they had plenty.

Though they walked quickly, Khida taking the lead allowed Rue a chance to ponder what she was learning about the other woman. She had not taken offense, even when she had every right to do so - when another woman might have. She was direct, to the point of bluntness, but not necessarily malicious. Then there was her kindness, as soon as she had noticed Rue's discomfort, she had addressed it and done her best to relieve it.

She was certainly not like other Drykas women, perhaps though, she behaved more like the horses of the Drykas. Something to be attributed to the bird she was sometimes. Or perhaps because she was more a bird that was human sometimes. Was that what it meant to be Kelvic?

When they neared the camp, Rue paused for a moment by the run where they had washed the vegetables, crouching down to wash the dirt off her hands. Digging the sage from the ground had left her with not quite muddy hands, and before she did anything else with what would be food, she wanted to have clean hands. While she was there she ran the whole of the hyssop through the water, as well as the tops of the branches of sage she had pulled. The rest of the sage she thought to plant near by.