DEAD

[Derelict Draught]

Adonai

Dropping behind Raena, Adonai can't help but laugh. "Ha ha ha. You call that a kill? If it had been me the first shot would have slain it." A grin spreads about Adonai's face and he flashes a quick wink at the woman. "Then again, not everyone can be as wonderful as me." As he speaks the Netrwar Bliba that seems to have fallen under his spell lands gently on his shoulder, purring in his mind. Adonai shakes the beast off. "Shoo!" Flashing his trademark grin at the woman. Yeah, he's good. "Come, there is a stream nearby. I shall teach you to...fish!" Adonai shoos off the Netrwar and rushes into the brush, tripping and stumbling over the brush. Trying to save face he calls back."I meant to do that!" Reaching the streams edge he casts his bow aside and jumps in. Spinning to wink as he splashed down. Water rushes into his open mouth and causes him to gag and panic. Surfacing, Adonai glances about, the fish having scattered because of his thrashing. Silently he climbs out to retrieve his bow, his face a dark gold.


Beikon
Another day, another reef. Its not that Beikon didn't enjoy the freedom her position gave her, after all she did get to spend all day with her Mope playing amongst the reefs, its just she feels so left out of the loop. Everyday she goes out to recon the reefs only to return and find that the others have done so much more. Just the other day she came back to discover that the merchants had gone trading with those desert folks again. By the time she'd gotten there almost all of the furs they had brought back were gone and she was quite disappointed. She loved to see all the beautiful creatures that lived on the land, to imagine what they must be like to meet in real life. Perhaps she would get to go to the surface one day. She had asked Leader Jyxt about it once but he told her that her job was just too important. Just how important could searching the same reefs day after day really be? The only thing to ever happen is some kids spooking some wildlife when they played. So she had talked with one of the merchants, to learn how they walked on land with their guides. The merchant did more than she ever imagined, he sold her one of the pouches they used! Studying it, she discovered that the pouch was made of a type of sea grass that would constrict and contain anything put in it, even water! When the wearer moves the weeds would shift creating a small current which would allow a small guide to be sustained with ease. Beikon can't wait to try it out! No. I know what you're thinking girl. You aren't going on the surface its too dangerous. Beikon rolls her eyes at the comment as she finishes examining a piece of reef. "Aren't you the least bit curious about the wonders beyond these waters. I have time, this reef is fine. I could swim up one of the rivers and see where it leads. Come on, it'll be fun!" The Mope swims in front of her face in a panicked state. FUN! You think exposing yourself to the monsters on the surface is fun! The land people are monsters, the only reason the merchants can go is because they are well trained to fight! You know the tales about them. Beikon dismisses the Mope's fear. "It'll only be for a second..." Beikon swims off knowing the Mope will have no choice but to follow. You are insane. Dutifully the Mope follows despite its protests.
Beikon follows the river deep into the forest staying just below the surface, hidden in the shadows. Her attention is grabbed by a large splash in the water. She quickly surfaces at a shadowed bank and watches in silence as a Roea splashes foolishly. She can't stifle her giggles. The Mope hides within her garb. Look what you've gotten us into now girl...

[Solanum]

\\Ræna//

Eyes narrowing as Adonai appeared behind her, she turned around slowly to watch him. She didn't trust him as far as she could throw him, and that wasn't very far at all... "Oh really?" Rolling her eyes as he winked at her, she dismissed his failed attempts at flirting, her Ntnlia stepping to the side of her. He shrieked at Adonai, voicing his resentment for the man who upset his native. "Well, I guess it can't get any worse... He's already degraded me..." Walking after him, her strides long and smooth, flowing from one step to the next. Watching as he tripped, Ræna giggled. This was so worth the aggrivation he had caused her. "Oh what's wrong? The fish not instantly fall in love with you, and come swimming into your arms? Do you need me to show you how it's done? Or would that be a little too embarrassing for you?" Putting her bow over her body then securing it tightly, she dived into the water, making little splash on entrance. She was under for a little while before resurfacing with a single, nice sized fish. There was no need to go for anything larger, nor any more, as it wasn't hunting for food but hunting to prove her skills. Stepping out of the water towards Adonai, water dripping off her skin, she shoved the fish into his chest, crossing her arms across hers.
Her attention was drawn away by some giggling that was not her own, but a Talkur in the water. Growling under her breath, she quickly pulled out her bow, knocking an arrow into it and aiming at the native of the water. "Who are you?" There were many stories surrounding the other tribes with whom the Roea shared their world... Some good, some bad, many true and many completely made up to frighten children. Ræna had no idea on which ones were the true stories, and which weren't, so she wasn't about to take any chances. Whereas others had gone to the coast to trade with the Talkur of the water, she had always been left behind, so this was her first encounter with one... Shame she was with Adonai at the time, or she might have enjoyed herself.

[Derelict Draught]

Beikon
Beikon freezes when the girl draws a bow on her. She had once been taught how to fight and what the land life used for weapons but she had never really payed attention, often distracted by the other children or one of her own bad jokes. Beikon stares unsure of what to do. Speak before she shoots you! Beikon stares down at the Mope in her lap, of course she was going to speak just wasn't sure what to say..."Uh...Nice catch?" Nice catch? Really, thats the best she can do? Tell her your name! "I'm Beikon...Hi." All the horrible stories that she had been told of the land life as a kid flood her mind. She was never going to see the reefs again..."Please don't kill me and drag me off to feed me to your children. I'm scared if there are more of him." Beikon hopes the humor will offset the girl and maybe convince her to spare her. She doesn't seem to think much of the boy.

Adonai

Adonai rises to his feet the fish in his hands, beaten. "I wasn't ready is all. I ate earlier so my leg cramped up. Besides, everyone knows I'm really graceful and observant." Raena seems to ignore him aiming her bow off at the water. Maybe she's crazy. "Are you interrogating the fish now? So that's your secret scare them into submission. Ha." Adonai freezes as a voice rises from the water. Were the fish talking back? Is crazy that contagious? Taking a few steps back away from the lunatic, Adonai's eyes follow the bow and rest on the girl speaking to them. Feed her to their children? What? It takes a few moments for the fact that the girl just insulted him to sink in. "HEY! I am Adonai. Gift to the Roea. No woman can resist my beauty or my power." Adonai alternates flipping his hair and flexing his arms as he speaks. Surely even this strange girl will fall prey to his charms. His thoughts are disrupted as the Netrwar lands on his head, unbalancing him and causing him to crash face first into the water.

[Solanum]

\\Ræna//

The Talkur girl didn't seem a threat, so she slowly lowered her bow, limbs relaxing. "Sorry about drawing my bow on you... I was told stories about your tribe as a kid, I wasn't sure what was true and what was lie. You seem nice, again I'm really sorry." Smiling weakly, she held the bow carefully by her side, the arrow still knocked into it as a precaution. You could never be too careful. Opening her mouth to speak, she was cut off by Adonai, making her laugh even more than his last stunt had... "I assure you, there is no way I'd have children, especially not with... that." Rolling her eyes once again at him as he spoke of his beauty and power, she shook her head, brushing some hair from her face. "Is that so? Then how come I'm not all over you? I'm a woman. Or has your beauty and power cramped up too?" There was only so much Adonai that anyone could take, she felt sorry for his mentor... He had such a large ego it was almost unbelieveable. Just as she was about to shove him into the water, a Netrwar landed on his head. Somehow it managed to put him off balance, even though it's body weighed almost nothing... There was no way she could have kept the laughter she now felt down... The mighty Adonai had fallen face first into the water all because a Netrwar had landed on his head... Now that was what she called embarrassing. "So where you from?" Glancing back over at the Talkur, she smiled warmly, still giggling a bit at her tribe-mate's stupidity. "Don't worry, not all of us are like him."

[Derelict Draught]

Adonai

Adonai pulls himself from the water a second time. Lying face down, his rump facing the Talkur. "No you aren't clearly. That's why you are still mateless at such a late age. And don't flatter yourself. I have far better prospects back home." He looks over his rump at the Talkur, not quite ready to pick himself up. "I don't know, she seems to like the view. Every normal girl seems to like it. Everyone but you. Hmmmm...Anyway this charmer is Raena. She could use a little help with learning manners. Perhaps her mentor could teach her some." Adonai pauses momentarily, cursing himself for forgetting. "I'm sorry Raena. You know I didn't mean...He was a good man." For once Adonai is grateful when the Netrwar lands on his nose. At least its an excuse to keep his mouth shut and change the topic. Shooing the beast away. "What she said, where are you from?"


Beikon
Beikon smiles slightly at the discord between the two. They argue like a pair of kids. "It's true I have seen worse." She truly had, try waking up to the backside of a Oboroykm in the morning. She'd spent weeks scrubbing her face and it still makes her skin crawl. What are you doing? Run while her bow is down! Beikon pushes her Mope down trying to dismiss his anxiety. "So you two aren't together? The way you were talking I thought...nothing." Beikon can see the pairs obvious dislike of the idea and the pain that the mention of Raena's mentor brought. "What's a mentor?" Almost immediately the thought occurs to her that she should wait to ask. Smooth. Now she'll definitely kill us. "Oh hush. I'm from the reefs...everyone I know is."

[Solanum]

\\Ræna//

Ræna growled at him as he mentioned her mentor. "He taught me perfectly, I'll have you know. I just don't feel the need to have manners around you, I mean, look at you. He was a better man than you'll ever be." Rolling her eyes again, she took deep breaths to calm herself, just as her father had taught her. "I am mateless because I wish to be. I do not wish to give up my duty just so I can get pregnant, thank you very much..." Her voice betrayed her feelings of resentment towards him, her fists curling up into fists... She agreed with him about one thing though, she wasn't a normal girl... She didn't want to support her tribe by giving up everything she had ever stood for, at least not until she found the right guy... Besides, she wasn't that old... Only five years ahead of him... 25 wasn't old... Bending down and grabbing Adonai's wrist, she attempted to pull him up, hoping he'd help her a little bit. She was a better bowman than he, but he possessed more physical strength... Not that it mattered, her Ntnlia was close by, watching and waiting. His eyes were sharp. They could detect the slightest movement, and his strong legs could carry her out of the danger if necessary. "It's alright, you don't have to be scared of us. We won't hurt you." Slowly moving her hand back to her bow, she removed the arrow, placing it back in her quiver and putting the bow around her body. Once she was completely certain that it was secure around her, she looked back over at the Talkur girl, her hands up for a moment to show her that she wasn't holding any weapons. Not that she needed to. Even with her bow around her, she could have it drawn once again in a matter of seconds.

[Derelict Draught]

Adonai

Adonai recognizes the sting in her voice. He knew that she would rather he be absent but at the same time he wished to be nowhere else. He enjoyed her company he always had, not that he would ever admit it. Momentarily humbled by the injury he had caused his friend, Adonai rolls gracefully to his feet. Despite the lack of coordination he showed around others, when he truly wished he could be useful. Adonai runs his hand through his hair, pressing water from it. "It is true your father was a great man. He did teach you well and you have honored him greatly. One day though you will need to continue his bloodline, for the tribe, for your father and for yourself." Adonai faces the Talkur girl, ignoring the Netrwar as it lands on his shoulder. "Reefs? Never heard of such a place. The only stories I have ever heard of the Talkur is how they would grab you and drown you if you misbehaved." Adonai drops into a seated position on the bank of the stream. He doesn't wish to offend Raena further and the best way he can think to do that is leave her be.

Beikon
Scared? "I'm not scared. You two are hilarious!" Probably a poor choice of words...Are you insane? Beikon smiles at her Mope's comment. "Maybe. But only because I'm paired with you." Beikon watches the two. "Drown you? We would never. Well, maybe if we got really mad at you but...I had always heard that your kind were the vicious ones. Or was that the desert people? I really should have payed more attention. Anywho. Are all the women in your tribe so much better than the men. If so I imagine its a lot more fun."

[Solanum]

\\Ræna//

Frowning at Adonai, Ræna facepalm'd... "Oh come on Adonai, you've heard of the reefs. They are out at sea, further than most of us would go, but where many of th- the Talkur live. They're like forests, but underwater. I want to visit one, but I can't breathe underwater like they probably can..." Her Ntnlia stepped out from behind her, squawking a little at the Talkur and the Mope. Her presense aggitated him, but he was quickly calmed when Ræna placed her hand on his back. When Adonai spoke of her father again, she suppressed a growl... Then she started listening to what he was saying and calmed down completely... Maybe he wasn't so bad after all... Watching him as he crouched down by the water, Ræna smiled weakly. Maybe he was trying not to offend her again... "No, we are not at all together. You're welcome to take him away and drown him, he's misbehaved enough." Smirking over at him, she started laughing again, although this time not completely at him. Her mood had deffinately improved, instead of anything else, she was surprised at the Talkur's next question. "Wait... Your tribe doesn't have mentors? Wow... Mentors are your childhood teachers. Who taught you then, you must have learned from somewhere..." She seemed intelligent, so it stood to reason that someone had taught her... Maybe they called it something different? That would certainly explain...

[Derelict Draught]

Adonai

Adonai had once heard Mother Matb telling children in the tribe about massive forests underwater made of stone. So those were real? And the Talkur live there? "It must be incredible. Are they really that huge?" Adonai considers Raena's comment about drowning him. "I don't know, the women of the deep would probably rather have me alive." Adonai flashes a soft smile to Raena, showing that he was merely joking. Her last question truly did captivate Adonai's attention, without mentors how would they learn? Maybe they weren't separated from their parents as long. That would mean they had no tribe mother. Adonai thinks of Mother Matb with a smile, how he had loved her stories.

Beikon
Beikon is shocked by Raena's questions. Childhood teacher? Never heard of such a thing. A child must learn through experience. Yes members of the tribe would impart their wisdom to the young but they were no teachers. "We learn from the tribe and our lives. Everyone earns their task through their interest as children. I always loved to play in the reefs and I became a Surveyor because of it. I just always wondered what life was like on the land." Beikon would have continued. The tide has shifted! We are late to return! Panick shoots through Beikon. If she returns late the others will worry and search for her. "I'm sorry, I have to go!" Beikon doesn't wait for a reply from the land life and dives swimming with great haste.

Beikon stops momentarily at the reef, speeding over it with her eyes. Good, everything is fine. She continues to the tribe hoping no one has noticed her absence yet. In her rush, she failed to notice a growing crack in the reef. Behind the crack is a small tunnel leading into the open sea. Reaching the tribe, Beikon finds that no one noticed her absence or particularly cared. Drained from the swim, she found a place to rest with her Mope and was fast asleep.

Adonai

Adonai watches Beikon panic and swim away. "Looks like I've done it again Raena." Adonai smiles weakly at Raena. Seems he's scared off another girl, another potential friend. At least he had himself. You'll always have me! For once Adonai doesn't fight the Netrwar's desire to be close to him. Its nice to have one actual friend, even if it is a bug. Sulking slightly, Adonai climbs to his feet and starts towards the tribe. He wonders what plans Lefou has in store for the failed apprentice.

[LittleStarWolf]

The Bmecte
I was still up in my tree when I heard a commotion. A very loud one at that, which I knew to be quiet unusually for the forest. Afterall, many of the creatures and the natives who lived it were known for their gift of silence. The noise came again, this time I knew where from. I looked down at my Rowabb and he looked up at me. Sometimes we knew each other's thoughts more than our own. My tribe was gifted with extreme understandings of our guides, such at times that we could sense our guides emotions along with speaking to them. However my Rowabb and I both at times could even understand the words in each other's heads. Once again the noise came. It was starting to aggravate me some yet at the same time I was curious. 'Come my Rowabb'. I said in my mind, as I quickly and quietly landed on his back."We need a new name for you. Calling you My Rowabb all the time does not seem right." I said as we rushed towards the noise. My Rowabb nodded his head in agreement as he continued his way, clothed in silence, we were, and mists of light and shadows. Soon we came to a large old oak tree and hiding behind it, we could see and hear what was going on. We were close to the water's edge and could see two Roea and a Talkur. I have seen Roea many times before but only once before have I seen another Talkur. I was a mere child, barely learning to walk when I stumbled across a mother and child Talkur. The mother never saw me but the child, about the same age as I was, looked straight into my eyes as if we had been friends for a long time. I was brought back to the present time when one of the Roea, a large looking male, fell in the water. I couldn't help but almost laugh out loud at his stupidity. I watched for a while as the Talkur female and the Roea female talked back and forth. After a while the Talkur swam off. I knew I should go too but I was too curious about these pair of Roea's who seemed to know each other more intimately then others I have seen before. Maybe they were mates, yet the way they acted was more like sister and brother.