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Post by Hiiaka Séregon on Aug 14, 2007 0:16:34 GMT -5
As the forest gave way to grassland Hiiaka cued her horse to slow from a canter to a trot that was so slow that it looked as if her horse was moving in slow motion. Orophin was glad that he could finally slow his pace a bit. Hiiaka felt the way a fawn must feel the first time out in a huge meadow....exposed, almost to the point she became highly uncomfortable.
This was the first time in her life that she had left the safety of the trees. She was thinking that maybe they should have gone somewhere else, some uncharted place in Moonhaven perhaps. She couldn't even see a hint of civilization. As much as she loved being alone, she wished to run into a small group of travelers.
The wind was alot wilder here on the open plains, it was allot chillier too. Wisps of her sandy-brown hair broke free from her hair tie, whipping and twirling in the wind as if they had a mind of their own. She rubbed her arms and looked upward to make sure there wasn't a storm brewing, but there was not a single cloud in the sky. She pushed Sîrfalas on toward Meridain.
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Tian Kai
Novice
Tian Kai ~ Ranger
Posts: 20
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Post by Tian Kai on Aug 15, 2007 10:56:01 GMT -5
Tian allowed Galic to cross the river at his own pace. allowing the horse to take all the time he needed. Galic waited for the wolf to clear the bankbefore beginning the assent himself. As they reached the top Tian pat the horse firmly on the neck, "Good boy!" Tian said softly and again pat his neck.
Tian broke the silence between them as Hiiaka slowed her pace. She looked nervous, and to tell you the truth, Tian was a bit nervous himself. This was the first time that he'd been completely out of Moonhaven, without the company of any of his clansmen. There were unknown dangers out here, and he wasn't quite sure what they were.
Tian kept trying to tuck his hair behind his ears, but to no evail. The wind was blowing too hard for it to stay there on its own. He sped up Galic, and pulled up next to her, and scanned the horizon. There was nothing there. He thought to himself that they had to be still quite a distance from Meridain, but if they kept this pace, they should reach the city by nightfall.
Tian's stomache began growling and he reached into his haffon and pulled out the three sticks of dried meat he took from his house in Moonhaven. Sticking one piece in his mouth and jutted the other two in Hiiaka's direction, he poked her with the meat. "For you and Orophin!" He said with a smile as he handed her the jerky.
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Post by Hiiaka Séregon on Aug 17, 2007 17:36:55 GMT -5
Hiiaka smiles softly at Tian's gesture and takes the jerky from his hand. the sweet smell of the meat tells her that it is home-made, not like the salty store meat that she was carrying in her haffon. She stops Sîrfalas with a quick and gental pull on the mane and hopps off. Orophin runs over to her and waits for her to give him a peice, but she gave him a whole piece instead, the hungry wolf takes but a moment and is begging for more.
Hiiaka doesn't give in to his demand, she has never had jerky as wonderful as this before and is enjoying the time it takes her to chew the dried meat. She thanks Tian and hopps back on Sîrfalas and continues on her journey.
It was nightfall before they spotted the light from the cities torches, "We'll stay here for the night, and head into the city early in the morning." She says as she arches her back to stretch. The city was alive with noise and music. The sweet smell of smoked pig made her realize that it had been way too long since the piece of jerky that she had earlier that afternoon. There were no animals to be found, they were too close to civilization.
Reaching into her haffon, which she had taken off Sîrfalas, when they first stopped. Hiiaka finds the dried meat she had baught from Evadalia's earlier this week, and gives Orophin three pieces and takes out four more. She hands two peices to Tian and begins to eat hers. There was laughter now coming from Meridian now and she could see a few children playing sword fight with some sticks near the outskirts.
Hiiaka sits and looks up at the sky, and feels so insignificant. "There are so many...I....I don't think I have ever, in my life, seen as many that are out tonight!" Hiiaka says as she jestures to the stars shining over-head. The yawns come more and more frequently, her eyes begin to water, making her rub them to make them clear.
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Tian Kai
Novice
Tian Kai ~ Ranger
Posts: 20
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Post by Tian Kai on Aug 19, 2007 23:07:42 GMT -5
Tian stopped Galic, waiting for Hiiaka and Orophin to finish their jerky. He placed his hand on his brow, shielding the sun from his eyes. He kept scanning the horizon for anything but grassland.
When they reached the boarder of Meridain, the city seem like one living breathing organism. It seemed to throb with life, he swallowed a bit hard, he hated people, he felt that large crowds always brought out the worst in everyone. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were on the verge of something BIG!
He dismounted and proceeded to begin stripping off Galics' haffon, placing it spread out on the grass like a mat, next to Hiiaka. He accepts the jerky and begins to eat it. He watched the same children that Hiiaka was drawn to.
He couldn't see her tears, but he defiantly heard the yawns that followed. "You should rest now, I'll keep watch threw the night..." He wasn't taken 'no' for an answer. He remained at post as the sun began to rise. The banners caught the light and blared a bright orange and purple. Then the stripes of the circus tents popped with life.
The city was already starting, to come alive. The vendors were starting to arrive with their wares. The Blacksmith arrived in a wagon pulled by a team of 6 Freisian horses. The wagon heavy with iron and his furnace, pulling the horses a bit further forward after they, themselves had stopped. There was a horse dealer a bit further down the street, the horses were being brushed down and tied for the days sale.
People began to appear on the street already for the days' events. The orchestra was being tuned and readied for the first act of the day. Already he saw people entering the tent, which flapped noisily in the breeze.
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Post by Hiiaka Séregon on Aug 20, 2007 12:31:30 GMT -5
Hiiaka curled up to Tian and used him as a pillow, she had no fight in her tonight. She couldn't even fight the erdge to keep her eyes open. As she drifted off to sleep, she found herself dreaming of the future. She knew that she was on a quest of sorts, but she had no idea what it was exactly they were after. They were a trinity, but Tian was not among the other two. One was a dragon of sorts, it was only there at time, but also there is a woman, though she never witnessed the appearence of the dragon itself, the dragon never sticking around to meet the woman.
Her dreams tossed her from the dragon to the woman, neither admitting the other was around. This confused Hiiaka herself as she dreamed and her head began to spin uncontrolably. For some reason, even when she awoke the next morning, Hiiaka could not let go of the dream. 'This must have some importance..' she thought to herself.
She sat there for a moment and watched the city starting to come to life. She had never seen such a sight before like this. It both envigorated and scared her at the same time. Her interest was really peeked when she heard the music coming from undrneith the heavy orange and purple tent. She then heard the music stop and a voice announcing the first act of the day.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the voice boomed above the crowd. "Please direct your attention to the center ring! We have a special treat for you all today.... Presenting.... the amazing Calaelen the Yarl tamer!" The music began to play and then there were gasps that surely came from the audience. Now, besides the music there were cracks from a whip, and ferocious grawls and snarls.
Hiiaka listened carefully to the performence, even when she got up and gathered her belongings. She whistled to Sîrfalas who immedetly appeared at her side and placed the haffon on her back. The rustling through it she pulled out some jerky and gave it to Orophin, as she quickly slipped the leather collar and lead around his neck. She made sure it was secure with a firm yank, she knowing full well that she would have no other chance to get it on if he had his way.
With Orophin securly on a leash, Hiiaka slipped the loop over her wrist, then grabbed some jerky for herself. Orophin was sulking and whining a bit over his loss of freedom, but Hiiaka knew that this was the only way the animal would be allowed within the city limits. When she finished the jerky, Hiiaka looked to Tian and waited for him to be ready and then began walking toward the city.
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Tian Kai
Novice
Tian Kai ~ Ranger
Posts: 20
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Post by Tian Kai on Aug 20, 2007 17:42:17 GMT -5
Tian smiled and held Hiiaka as she slept. He could tell that her dream was not peaceful, by the way she tossed and turned as she slept. When she awoke he move his hand away as if he wasn't holding her at all.
He too listened to the announcer as he packed his stuff up, pulling some jerky out of his bag, munching as they continued to get ready. Tian threw his left overs on the ground at the wolf's feet for him to eat. He was hoping that Hiiaka didn't get upset at him, but he didn't think she saw what he did anyways, she was still messing around with things.
There was only a minute or two that she had wait before Tian was ready himself. He threw her a small smile and began to walk in the direction of the city. He could smell the fresh popcorn being made for sale. He couldn't wait to actually eat a full meal, the jerky wasn't a meal after all.
As they entered the city the streets were crowded and already Galic was protesting the lack of space and the fact that the cobblestone streets were hard and the people were packed like sardines, leaving him feel claustrophobic. Galic nickered loudly at the horses for sale and threw his head up when Tian tried to keep him moving.
"Come on Romeo!" Tian whispered with a bit of a laugh. They continued past the opening of the tent, Stopping only a moment to watch the man in the caged arena with the Yarl. "Come on buddy, keep moving, you'll have to pay like everyone else if you want to see the show!" The man said hastily as he collected the money from a couple now entering threw the slit in the tent.
"Don't make me get someone to move you and your horse!" the man snapped again. this time he stepped toward Tian waving his hands trying to spook Galic, but Galic just looked at the man and pinned his ears back. The man backed off when this happened and Tian placed his hand on Galics' neck. "Come on boy, I bet your thirsty!"
They continued to make their way through the crowds of people, searching for the local tavern.
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Post by Hiiaka Séregon on Aug 23, 2007 14:20:19 GMT -5
Hiiaka was calm and collected on the outside, but on the inside was a different story. She was dancing the very thin line of sensory over-load. Her eyes were large, taking in all that they possibly could. Sîrfalas wasn't phased by the people or lack of space around her, even the growls from the Yarl bothered her much, though her ears kept twitching. When Galic whinnied at the tied horses, she huffed loudly as she followed Hiiaka's lead. Hiiaka laughed alittle at Sîrfalas, because she knew exactly what the horse meant by it ....'MEN!" Hiiaka didn't even notice when Tian stopped in front of the entrance to the first tent. She continued walking until the slack on the leather lead was taught. It snapped her back into reality. Then she noticed that it wasn't just the caged Yarl in the arena who was growling, Orophin was too. As she turn to see what was upsetting the wolf, he pulled her a few steps closer to the man approaching Tian and Galic. He was in full defencive mode by this point, ears back, tail lowered and still, and teeth beared. She planted her feet and prevented the wolf from advancing any further. In the mean time, Calaelen the Yarl tamer, appeared out the employee's opening in the side of large tent. He was hot and was in dire need of the cool breeze and a stiff drink. He was Albian, though taller then the adverage Albian, leaning more toward seven and a half feet tall. The sweaty man was taking a drink from his flask when his eyes fell upon the woman and her wolf. He was totally intreged by the strength of the Zhoan woman. When the man backed up a few steps, and with Tian and Galic walking away, the wolf relaxed and allowed Hiiaka to pull him away. Hiiaka folded the leash a few times and held the coils, giving Orophin less room to get in trouble. And as she turned around thier eyes met and he flashed her smile and tipped his head to her to say a non-verbal 'hello!' Hiiaka waited for Tian and they continued thier way to the local tavern, passing two other tents in the process. The first one was located right next to the main tent. From the sounds emulating from within, most of the animals were contained there. Two thickly muscled, Nymandine Elves were posted at either sides of this tent, to prevent anyones' curiosity from getting the better of them. This tent was colored the same as the main tent. The last tent was about doble the size of the animals' tent and was colored white. Shadows of the people in the tent, and the constiant flow of people threw the opening, suggested that these were the sleeping quaters of the people employed with the circus. Hiiaka continued pushing her way threw the crowd until she reached the two taverns, vertually unaware that Calaelen was following her. She looked in both directions and decided that by the looks of the departing, the Gryphon's Claw Inn, was the better choice of the two. Continued in The Gryphon's Claw Inn
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