Planting season came upon the land so suddenly that flowers could be seen blooming amidst the melting snow. Jawn stooped to pluck a daisy, inspecting it thoughtfully before dropping it in the feed pail. Since the middle of Winter, Jawn and Narim remained here at this small, dilapidated farm that lay a good 5 lengths away from town.
The pair arrived to find the sheep matted and the fields unharvested and wilted. The couple that had worked this spot of land for nearly 65 Winters had finally grown too old to care for it anymore. Jawn and Narim's arrival was said to be "an answer to our prayers to the Great Mother". Voris and Lani were certainly unique people. Voris, headed into his 80's, had grown somewhat senile and shouted everything he had to say, and he was just outspoken enough to ALWAYS have something to say. Lani, however, was a soft spoken, sharp woman with severe dark eyes and bizarre tattoos dotting her bent wings.
Narim had never spent any time around Lasaeri and it took him a while to get used to their ... strangeness. Lasaeri people were shorter than Mafaeri, stocky and muscular with large liquid ebony eyes and sun golden skin. While the Mafaeri were tall and lanky, pale and lithe, the only real resemblence one nationality had to the other were the huge bat-like wings which folded at their backs.
The wings, in Narim's travels had been a mystery. The Mafaeri bound their wings closed, open wings were seen even more shameful than wearing rags or being disrobed in public. To the Lasaeri, however, their wings played an intergral part of their daily lives. Often, as Lani scurried about the kitchen to make dinner, Narim could see her carrying bowls or various ingredients in the cusp of her wings, and sometimes when one of the lambs grew distressed she would dash into the field, scoop the creature up, and cradle it in her wings until the lamb was consoled.
Narim considered the variety of differences between the two cultures, lost in deep thought, when Jawn dropped the feed bucket at his feet with a loud crash. Narim jumped and smiled, roused from his thoughts.
"If it's too heavy for you, I can carry it the rest of the way." narim offered, abruptly the androgen shook it's head and returned a smile. As the days passed, Jawn's smile seemed less contrived. Narim seldom thought about kiss these days. After he made it known he did not share the androgen's feelings, the issue had not come up again. Perhaps, Narim had considered, that was the greatest perk of being an unemotional being. Jawn didn't seem hurt by the rejection.
"No, I just wanted to let you know that Mayar and Hyda will be arriving midday. I've already spoken with Voris and Lani and they seem unconcerned with having visitors." Jawn reached down to lift the pail when Narim picked up the flower that lay atop the feed.
"First daisy of the planting season, that's good luck!" Narim chuckled.
"I'm glad I could bring you a little luck, then."
Narim shook his head and gentled tucked the daisy behind Jawn's ear.
"This spot of luck is rightfully yours." Narim's gaze caught Jawn's for just a brief moment, a slight chill coursed through him, then Jawn turned abruptly and bounded away to the chicken coop.
The pair worked hard until Jawn finally became aware of the presences Narim had sensed early that morning. A whistle sounded beyond the gate and Narim responded in kind, dashing to greet their guests.
An androgen and a surpisingly beautiful woman arrived, both bowing deeply to Jawn's feet.
"It is good to see you well, old friend." The woman smiled warmly and she embraced Jawn.
"Agreed." The Androgen added. "The Council has been abuzz since you severed yourself from the collective."
"And what say they now that you've journeyed to meet with me?" Jawn asked as it led the guests to the small cabin Jawn and Narim called home.
"I don't know. I too have prayed for severance and it has been granted." The androgen looked to Narim. "Please forgive me, I am Mayar. We are well met." Mayar extended a hand placed it on Narim's shoulder briefly. "And this is Hyda, a created woman." Jawn leaned in to Narim and whispered "It means that she was once an androgen but has surrendered the Tarik's Oath."
The woman bowed deeply again, her dark curls spilling over her shoulders. "We are well met."
"Get that girl out of the mud, you heathens!" a shout came from behind the cabin. The hunched ancient Lasaeri joined them. It seemed at first the guests were taken aback by the way Voris spoke, but soon they too ascertained his personality was due to his age.
"The mud ain't no place for a lady so beautiful." He reached out to help Hyda to her feet just as Lani rounded the corner.
"You ol' lecher!" Lani commented as she quickly dove in between her husband and Hyda. "you must forgive my husband, it seems his nether regions are steering his boat again." She gave a sharp glare to her husband before leading the woman away, calling for the rest of them to follow.
"I have food prepared, and would like to propose a special evening. You two arrived at the perfect time. Tonight is the Firefly Festival." The old woman dragged the now quite confused Hyda behind her, an uncommon glee filling the air around them.
The pair arrived to find the sheep matted and the fields unharvested and wilted. The couple that had worked this spot of land for nearly 65 Winters had finally grown too old to care for it anymore. Jawn and Narim's arrival was said to be "an answer to our prayers to the Great Mother". Voris and Lani were certainly unique people. Voris, headed into his 80's, had grown somewhat senile and shouted everything he had to say, and he was just outspoken enough to ALWAYS have something to say. Lani, however, was a soft spoken, sharp woman with severe dark eyes and bizarre tattoos dotting her bent wings.
Narim had never spent any time around Lasaeri and it took him a while to get used to their ... strangeness. Lasaeri people were shorter than Mafaeri, stocky and muscular with large liquid ebony eyes and sun golden skin. While the Mafaeri were tall and lanky, pale and lithe, the only real resemblence one nationality had to the other were the huge bat-like wings which folded at their backs.
The wings, in Narim's travels had been a mystery. The Mafaeri bound their wings closed, open wings were seen even more shameful than wearing rags or being disrobed in public. To the Lasaeri, however, their wings played an intergral part of their daily lives. Often, as Lani scurried about the kitchen to make dinner, Narim could see her carrying bowls or various ingredients in the cusp of her wings, and sometimes when one of the lambs grew distressed she would dash into the field, scoop the creature up, and cradle it in her wings until the lamb was consoled.
Narim considered the variety of differences between the two cultures, lost in deep thought, when Jawn dropped the feed bucket at his feet with a loud crash. Narim jumped and smiled, roused from his thoughts.
"If it's too heavy for you, I can carry it the rest of the way." narim offered, abruptly the androgen shook it's head and returned a smile. As the days passed, Jawn's smile seemed less contrived. Narim seldom thought about kiss these days. After he made it known he did not share the androgen's feelings, the issue had not come up again. Perhaps, Narim had considered, that was the greatest perk of being an unemotional being. Jawn didn't seem hurt by the rejection.
"No, I just wanted to let you know that Mayar and Hyda will be arriving midday. I've already spoken with Voris and Lani and they seem unconcerned with having visitors." Jawn reached down to lift the pail when Narim picked up the flower that lay atop the feed.
"First daisy of the planting season, that's good luck!" Narim chuckled.
"I'm glad I could bring you a little luck, then."
Narim shook his head and gentled tucked the daisy behind Jawn's ear.
"This spot of luck is rightfully yours." Narim's gaze caught Jawn's for just a brief moment, a slight chill coursed through him, then Jawn turned abruptly and bounded away to the chicken coop.
The pair worked hard until Jawn finally became aware of the presences Narim had sensed early that morning. A whistle sounded beyond the gate and Narim responded in kind, dashing to greet their guests.
An androgen and a surpisingly beautiful woman arrived, both bowing deeply to Jawn's feet.
"It is good to see you well, old friend." The woman smiled warmly and she embraced Jawn.
"Agreed." The Androgen added. "The Council has been abuzz since you severed yourself from the collective."
"And what say they now that you've journeyed to meet with me?" Jawn asked as it led the guests to the small cabin Jawn and Narim called home.
"I don't know. I too have prayed for severance and it has been granted." The androgen looked to Narim. "Please forgive me, I am Mayar. We are well met." Mayar extended a hand placed it on Narim's shoulder briefly. "And this is Hyda, a created woman." Jawn leaned in to Narim and whispered "It means that she was once an androgen but has surrendered the Tarik's Oath."
The woman bowed deeply again, her dark curls spilling over her shoulders. "We are well met."
"Get that girl out of the mud, you heathens!" a shout came from behind the cabin. The hunched ancient Lasaeri joined them. It seemed at first the guests were taken aback by the way Voris spoke, but soon they too ascertained his personality was due to his age.
"The mud ain't no place for a lady so beautiful." He reached out to help Hyda to her feet just as Lani rounded the corner.
"You ol' lecher!" Lani commented as she quickly dove in between her husband and Hyda. "you must forgive my husband, it seems his nether regions are steering his boat again." She gave a sharp glare to her husband before leading the woman away, calling for the rest of them to follow.
"I have food prepared, and would like to propose a special evening. You two arrived at the perfect time. Tonight is the Firefly Festival." The old woman dragged the now quite confused Hyda behind her, an uncommon glee filling the air around them.
