[Flashback, Blue Grotto] Resting in the Grotto (Velarian)

[Nisana Curare]

Nisana gave a small nod of her head in response to Velarian's explanation. It made her a little less nervous, but it still gave her the impression that magic was not something for her. It wasn't so much the danger, but the fact that the danger could not be seen. There was plenty of danger in hunting, in handling a weapon, there was even danger in traveling about Kalinor. In all those cases the danger could be seen, or felt, or heard. The danger presented by magic seemed much more sinister, and dangerous.

Velarian whisper drove the rest of her anxiousness away, and she gave a small giggle and smile to him, "Well then, I promise not a word will leave my lips so as to not anger your Father."

Crouching down as Velarian crossed his legs Nisana watched his actions. At least, she did her best to. As he had said, there wasn't very much to see, but him cutting his hand did draw out a surprised blink from her. It wasn't something she had been expecting, and was certainly not something she had thought Velarian capable of. Though if blood was required, as he said, that would certainly explain it.

As Velarian began to talk of envisioning the flower Nisana let her eyes slide shut. Mental exercises like this were certainly familiar to her, as they worked well in practicing archery and other activities. Letting Velarian's voice guide her she pictured the flower in her mind, at first closed tight, but then opening as wind blew upon it. She wondered if Velarian's image was clearer, due to his practice in Animation, or if there was some other things he thought of as he focused like this. She didn't ask though, not wanting to break his concentration.

There was something soothing about Velarian's voice, almost hypnotic, and as Nisana listened to him describe the flower closing the image of the Velarian joined the flower in her head for a moment. He was smiling at her, and presenting the flower as a gift. Surprised, and a bit flustered by the wanderings of her mind, both flower and boy vanished from her mind as she opened her eyes. Feeling heat tinge her cheeks softly she glanced quickly at Velarian, relieved to see him focusing on the cloth flower on the ground.

Taking a slow and deep breath to calm herself she focused on the flower as well. She was curious what the next step was, but figured it was best to let Velarian work at his own pace.

[Velarian Zantedeschia]

"I am not sure he would get angry," Velarian admitted looking at the flower laying half a foot away before him. A few flocks of dust had settled on the moon white blossom. "He doesn't usually get loud. What he would get however is annoyed. My father is no good company when he is in a sour mood." It was hard to believe his father could grow more quiet than on a normal day, but he did manage. On days his father felt provoked the atmosphere in his study was thick with disappointment and sometimes Velarian found it even hard to breath, feeling his father's eyes between the shoulder blades. The old man had never punished him for a mistake. He rarely even rose his voice. Instead he ignored Velarian. Sometimes the boy rather had liked him to scream and shout. Suddenly he smirked. "I am glad you would keep our secret however."

Rubbing his palm, he looked towards Nisana. "Anyway. We are done." The few commands they would need they had infused into their creation and he had tied an astral body to the flower. Now he could just hope it worked. The slight worry he might have failed was gnawing at him. It probably would make quite the fool in the girl's eyes. The prospect made his heart flutter. In his mind he went through the steps again. Once. Twice. Finally he dared to reach out for his newest creation. In his hand it felt strangely light. His left hand forming a shield around the flowers head, the boy carefully got to his feet. One leg had gotten numb from all the sitting. More careful than usually he put shifted his weight from one leg to the other, before he finally stepped from the animation circle.

He had not felt that nervous in a long time. Finishing a work always got him anxious, always worried he could have made a mistake, but rarely he had an observer when testing out his work. His father aside that was.

Clearing his throat Velarian stepped forward. Briefly his eyes searched hers. It was rare he got someone's undivided attention, yet he felt to have hers. For the first time he noticed the silence lingering around them and from one moment to the next he felt even a little more uncomfortable. Again he cleared his throat. Slowly to not create a draft he dropped his free hand, revealing the closed pedestals. A little awkwardly the boy leaned forward to, his breath gracing the fabric.

In his hand the the flower started to open. Leaf by leaf the layers of fabric unfolded, not exactly the way he had pictured it, but close enough. The process was accompanied by soft rustling, the noise barely audible. A long moment the flower remained in full bloom, before it slowly started to close again. A little hesitant Velarian offered the flower to Nisana. "I am not sure... if you want it. But... I don't really have a need for it."

[Nisana Curare]

There was something about the way that Velarian smirked that Nisana found... pleasant. She couldn’t think of any other word to describe it, but when he smirked at her she couldn’t help but smile back. The fact that he seemed to appreciate her small joke only made her smile warmer.

When Velarian announced that it was done, Nisana gave a surprised blink and tilted her head slightly. She had to admit that she had expected something a bit more... flashy. Could a mirror of a soul really be created so simply? Not that she would vocalize her doubt to Velarian as she knew that he knew much more about all of this than she. Silently she watched him as he picked up the flower and stood. He seemed nervous, the way he hesitated slightly and shifted on his feet. For a moment Nisana wondered why he would be nervous, if the process was as safe as he had said, but when he looked into her eyes she realized what it must be. He was nervous because of her! The faintest of smiles touched her lips at this thought. Even with her little fumbles it seemed her charms had worked.

Before she could spend too much time congratulating herself however Velarian presented the flower. Nisana leaned a little closer, wondering if there was anything different to see of the fabric, and gave a soft gasp when the flower started to open on its own when Velarian breathed on it. Her eyes were wide with wonder as the petals opened gracefully, and she held her breath as the flower held itself open at full bloom. Only as the petals started to close did Nisana turn her eyes back up to Velarian, and still amazed by what she had just seen, she was caught off guard at his offer.

“I... You would give me such a gift?” she couldn’t believe that he would just give her such a thing. Realizing the similarity to the image she had had in her mind earlier she felt her cheeks heat up with a blush, “I... I would be more than happy to have such a gift,” she replied with smile which contained just a hint of bashfulness.

Reaching out her hand she carefully took the flower from Velarian, her fingers lightly brushing against his, and brought it carefully up to her own lips to breath on it slowly. Watching the petals open up once more she said softly, “It’s amazing Velarian, I can’t believe what I’m seeing,” as the petals closed once more she turned her eyes back to Velarian as a thought occurred to her, “Will it last long?”

[Velarian Zantedeschia]

"I would be glad if you took it," Velarian offered courteously. Before him Nisana's cheeks turn crimson and for a long moment he starred at the young girl unsure what to say. He was not usually spending a lot time around children, his younger sister aside. And when his sister turned red in the face then it was the first sign of anger, nothing else. In the girl's though he could see no ire, nor could he imagine how he might have made her furious. In fact the opposite seemed true rather. The idea she might be blushing for other reasons though was lost on the boy. Well, not entirely, but what remained was enough to make him feel just a little uncomfortable in his skin. Like if people were laughing about a joke he could not remember to have told. There was something going on. He just could not lay a finger on it.

And her touch made his skin tingle. Uncertain Velarian stepped back, his ruby eyes searching for the two circles he had drawn on the floor, the items still laying shattered around it. Looking at it now he had left quite the mess in his excitement to show off. Nisana's expression had fully rewarded him for the effort though and he could feel his chest swell with pride. He tried not to show it.

Nervously he cleared his throat. It seemed like the tenth time this evening. "Cloth is not the most durable material to work with." He looked at the flower with the slightest of frowns. "Yet, if you keep it half way dry and save it should last for a while. Eventually you could find a box for it on the market." The boy took a step backward, starting to pick up the material they had in the end not needed. "With careful handling it might last a few years? It is not easy to tell," he admitted, starting to fold the picture he had made of the animation process. His father better did not come to see it. Eventually he could burn it in the hearth. He liked the idea.

Fabric and paper rustled as the boy started to put his things back into the bag he had used to carry them over in the first place. With the tip of his shoe he rubbed at the circle, but the charcoal resisted his attempts to clear away the evidence of his his show. "If you ever need money you could probably sell it too," Velarian suggested. He was a practical thinker, even he couldn't quite stop him self to look over to the flower in Nisana's hand. It did not carry an imprint of his own soul, it had merely been given the reflexion of a fragment and yet he could not deny to feel a link to his creation. With a shake of his head he put the thought aside.

"It is not really useful... but you might get a little still." Velarian knew you could make good money with animation if you found someone willing to pay. Few had the coins needed for the elaborate golems a master could craft. Not that I am a master, the boy thought with a half sigh. He turned back to Nisana with a smile. "I hope you liked the animation though. It was probably not as impressive as you thought. Hope it was okay still."

[Nisana Curare]

There was a short time of silence as Velarian looked at her, and to Nisana he almost looked a little nervous. What reason did he have to still be nervous though, the demonstration was over. Unless... Nisana's eyes widened slightly at the thought of Velarian actually liking her. Normally she would dismiss such a thing as a distraction to her training, but the thought of Velarian feeling that way for her made her heart beat as quickly as a bird's wings.

Coming back from her wandering thoughts as Velarian cleared his throat, Nisana gave a small nod and a smile to his explanation as to how long the flower would last. She should see about getting a box soon then, and try not to handle it often. She did not wish to have the flower fall apart like a young child's toy.

Silently watching Velarian work to clean up the materials he had used, she blinked at his suggestion that she sell it. The thought hadn't even occured to her, but now that Velarian had mentioned it she found she disliked it. While the flower might be simple it had been a gift from Velarian, and she would not discard a gift from someone so carelessly. Returning Velarian's smile she gave a nod, "It was more impressive than I had expected. It's truly amazing what you can do Velarian. Thank you for sharing it with me."

Standing there with Velarian Nisana found that she didn't want to part company with him just yet. For a moment she wondered what she could say, and then remember his request from earlier, "Would you care to hear some stories of my Mother's hunts now? We could probably find somewhere comfortable to sit as I talk."

[Velarian Zantedeschia]

Velarian could feel his chest swell with pride. It was silly seeing Nisana was merely a young girl, good five years younger than him, but the boy could not quite keep himself from feeling excited. He sensed blood creeping into his cheeks and quickly looked down to close his bag, straightening out the shoulder sling longer than actually needed. "I hoped you would come to like it," he admitted with a smirk.

Her expression was worth the trouble he might get should his father find out, the boy decided. It was the first time he had ever practiced before someone not his father. He doubt he would make a similar display anytime soon and he knew it was something he would remember for a long time after. To her suggestion the young man nodded. "I would like that a lot." As if to look for a good place to sit down Velarian looked around. The place seemed unsuited to his tastes however as he shrugged. "Is there any place you want to go? Eventually we could go back to the grotto. Unless you want to stay here of course."

It was one of those places people went to mingle, although the special appeal of the location was not entirely clear the young animator. He liked the grotto for its silence and the reflexions the water cast on the stalagmites above the pools, making the stone shine wet. When Velarian had still been young, he sometimes had imagined the sky to look similar. He knew better now, yet he still liked to look up the cave ceiling thinking of the stars he knew from outside. Maybe if he was doing well with the tasks his father gave him to master, the old man would let him deliver some of his works to Lhavit at some point. The boy doubt it, but he hoped still.

"Is your mother still conducting the harvest? Or does she hope you are going to take over soon?," the boy continued, looking towards Nisana. Suddenly he wondered if he might talk a little too much. "I... am sorry. I did not mean to seem nosy." He tilt his head to the side. "However I would really like to hear a story."

[Nisana Curare]

"Maybe we should go back to the Grotto," Nisana said with a unpleasant glance around. During the time Velarian had demonstrated his skill in Animation she had forgotten just how dusty this place was, "If you would like, I could start sharing a story as we traveled there?"

Velarian's next question was surprising, causing Nisana to blink a couple times, but she wasn't upset by what he asked. Giving a smile and a shake of her head she responded, "No, as I said in the Grotto before, I do not mind answering questions you ask. It has been some time since my Mother last was called on a Harvest. There has been no need in our Web for a surrogate for several years. The next time should be when I, or one of my siblings need one, and I will be going on that harvest," there was pride and surety in her words, as she had no doubt that she would be ready to leave for Harvest on her own at that time. She was the daughter of Valvessa Curare after all.

"Is there anything specific you wish to hear of hunting?" she asked as she moved back towards the entrance of the building, "As I said, I am not much of a teller of stories, but I will do my best. Most of what I know are my Mother's tales of great hunts."

[Velarian Zantedeschia]

"The grotto it is then."

Velarian was glad to escape the dirt - and the intimacy - of the abandoned building. Nisana was nice, he had little doubt about that and yet her appreciation seemed to exceed what one should have received for an animation display. Even an impressive one with ensuing committal of the animated object. Or maybe he had been done that formidable? The boy could hardly believe it, even when he had to admit he liked the idea, a lot.

Continuing towards the wall he, started to climb with ease. He was not strong, not compared with many hunters. He had like most other Symenestra climbed for the better part of his life however and the movement came naturally to him. It did not hurt his fingers stuck to the wall easily, helping him to support his weight as he pulled himself towards the opening in the ceiling.

"I would like to hear your favorite story, if there is such a thing," he continued, climbing. The walls in Velarian's own home were covered in layers of silk and linen to hide the crude stone beneath, but in the deserted building such comfort was missing. It was the first time he noticed how the often simple fabric added to the convenience of his room. He looked over his shoulder. "If there isn't... how about her very first hunt? I don't think I have heard that one yet."

He had always imagined ones first hunt to be the hardest. Harvesters spend months and years away from home, cut off from the safety Kalinor provided. Velarian could not imagine to spend so much time distant from home, so far away. Some hunters were bold and hunted in cities close to Kalinor, but most such places you could only venture to once before people grew suspicious. The longer one hunted the longer distances one had to travel. Unless of course you were lucky and found a hapless wandered fitting the criteria. Still, the boy could not tell how often one might be so lucky. Rarely ever he guessed, not without preparation. Of course, some liked to watch out for travelers as they were easy prey. It was hard to be done alone though, he imagined. No one had ever bothered to tell him about such things, not even his brother who liked to boast about his duty as a hunter and the things he had learned.

Reaching the entrance, Velarian turned holding one hand out for Nisana to help her up. "But your favorite one I would prefer." Turning half he looked around. It grew late, he could tell so from the quiet laying over the city. There was no sound from neither nest nor place of purging and the market he could see in the distance was half empty. He stretched, ruby eyes coming to rest on the young girl by his side. He had never thought he would come to enjoy the evening as much as he did.

[Nisana Curare]

As Velarian moved to the wall and started to climb up Nisana moved to do the same, but paused and looked down at the cloth flower in her hand. It wouldn't do to have Velarian's gift flattened between her hand and the cold stone of the wall. After a moment of thought she carefully tucked the stem of the flower into her body wrap on her chest where it should be relatively safe until she arrived back at her Web.

With a satisfied nod at the position of her flower Nisana started to climb the wall behind Velarian. As she did the act of climbing gave her a reminder of why she had been resting in the Grotto in the first place. Her rush back to her Web and then here certainly had not helped in reducing her soreness either. Not that she regretted it, this had been a very enjoyable evening, but that didn't make climbing the wall any more pleasant.

Taking Velarian's offered hand with a smile Nisana pulled herself up next to him, "My favorite one? Let me think..." she trailed off as Velarian stretched and turned to look at her. For a moment their eyes met and Nisana felt as if her heart skipped a beat. Surprised by the feeling she quickly turned away and turned her attention to the empty area beyond the building.

"Well," she said after a moment, her voice giving away a hint of her flustered feeling, "My favorite story is one of her earlier hunts, but not her first," taking a slow breath to calm herself and her voice she turned back to Velarian with a smile, "I will do my best to share it well as we travel."

Climbing up onto the strand that would lead them away and towards the Grotto she was silent for a few moments as she gathered her thoughts before speaking, "My Mother had been hunting on her own several times previous, and each time had brought back a good kill to share with her Web. She was not satisfied though, because she knew that she was more than capable of bringing home something much more impressive. And so on this trip she ventures farther from Kalinor than she ever had before in the hopes of finding a more fitting prey for her skill."

As she spoke she heard her Mother's voice in her mind, and she tried to give her own voice the same inflections that always seemed to make the story exciting and more enjoyable, "She traveled for two days out from Kalinor, and on the third day she began to search for her prey. After several hours she came across signs, devoured carcasses and great gashes in the trees and dirt, that there was a large predator nearby. Carefully she stalked the creature in the wilderness, and eventually she found it. It looked like a wolf, but it was much larger than any she had ever seen or heard of before. As large and impressive as the creature was she knew that confronting it head on would be deadly for her."

Pausing for a moment she glanced towards Velarian. She hoped she was doing a good job sharing her Mother's story, and the Velarian was enjoying it so far.

[Velarian Zantedeschia]

"I am sure you will do well," Velarian encouraged her as he tried to make out the easiest way towards the grotto. No red cord lead to the small building, it was too unimportant to warrant connection to the main street system outsiders were able to walk comfortably. What remained where the steep silken ropes only Symenestra could navigate, a web of grayish white gossamer stretching out over, under and between cocoons in one of Mizahar's most exotic street systems.

The boy picked thread right ahead, using both hands to lower himself to the black cord usually used for transporting goods. Like the building itself a thin trace of dust covered the broad walkway, unused since the home's last inhabitants had moved out. Again he helped the younger girl down, starting to head towards the grotto. His pace was slow, the way broad enough for both of them to walk side by side without trouble.

Velarian listened, nodding to her story. Hunting was more important task. In a city which could not grow any crops nor had the space available to keep larger flocks of animals, hunting was the main source of food. The harvest might keep their breed alive, but a man would never need more than three woman in his entire life - food he needed considerably more often.

When Nisana reached the point where her mother the wolf, he looked towards her curiously. "So what did she do? Did she used one of her advanced hunter tricks?" Not caring about the gloom gaping to their feet Velarian kicked the air before him. Performed by someone else the move might have looked elegant, but in the boy's case it looked rather ungainly. Quickly he cleared his throat, falling into step with the girl. "If it's a special move you should show me at some point," he continued. "I am sure she does know many tricks for combat, does she not?"

Realizing he had kept Nisana from talking he fell silent. "Ah, please continue. It was not my intention to interrupt." Excitement and curiosity had carried him away, more than he liked to admit. He should not get so excited over stories, over dreams he had long since given up on, yet he could not deny the girl reminded him about all those things he had once wished to be known for. His eyes came to fix the dark opening into the grotto ahead. Suddenly he remembered the work still waiting for him at home. In the last moment he could keep his shoulders from slumping down at the thought of weaving. One day he might get away with opposing his aunt, only right now he did not quite feel to have the will for it.

Once more his eyes came to settle on Nisana. She had certainly proved a distraction in the past hours, yet one he did not mind. He focused on her words again, he did not want to miss anything of the said.