Regular Adventures of Adventuring (Priv.)
Sept 19, 2023 15:45:05 GMT -5
Post by Brandy Alayin on Sept 19, 2023 15:45:05 GMT -5
Slipping quietly out of the room, I look back at Zenshu. His pale form is hidden underneath a pile of blankets, only visible by the freshly wrung cool cloth I just placed on his forehead. Sighing, I softly shut the door behind me. Kika took the liberty of getting breakfast, well brunch, since we had both slept in quite late. She soon came in with several fish frozen inside of a small ice spike. Casting Create Spark and Control Flame into the small countertop stone-carved stove, I set to work cooking. Kika sits on the stool next to mine, handing me several bottles of herbs and spices. To my surprise, she was the one to start talking.
"How is he?" Kika gestures to the other room, and the sleeping Zenshu within. Worry lines her otherwise round and gentle face.
"Better. Mostly his body needs energy to heal, and rest. And well.." I let out a small chuckle. "He's doing that for sure." Kika laughs at this, a soft, whimsical sound. "But really, don't worry a bit. The fever's pretty mild, and the infection is receding fast. He's strong." I spin the skewer, and the roasting fish with it. The savory aroma hits my nose, and with it my animal-sensitive sense of smell. My mouth waters. Trying to distract from her worries, we began to talk over the sound of the small kindling of flames. Talking, we ate the roasted fish, paired with rice, vegetables and a thick, spicy sauce.
"So where did you learn to cook like this?" Kika asks, pointing to her plate. I swallow, and look up at her. She is quite tall for a woman, but apparently on the shorter side for a dragon.
"My mother taught me most of it. She was a lot better than me at it. Genelle then taught me everything she knew as well." Kika looks at me quizzically, head slightly tilted.
"Genelle? Isn't she that strong lady that sells beauty products in town?" I nod, swallowing another bite.
"The same. She and her husband raised me after Mother died. They were close with my parents." Kika nods. We eat for a few moments. Clearing the dishes, I nearly jump at what Kika says next.
"So you and Sir Zenshu ay?" I turn to her, red in the face.
"And what possibly would you mean by that?" She smiles at me, her large blue eyes ablaze with amusement.
"It's none of my business Brandy, that I know, but even I'm not as oblivious as my master. Your prowling around like a fox isn't going to work." I sit again, looking her right in the face.
"Well what do you suggest I do then?"
*continuing from other quest thread
Looking down at my worn, scuffed boots, I hesitantly walk into town. Zahakariya's words flash in my mind:
"Three days. I'll be waiting for you at Auntie Genelle's." He heads to leave, but looks at me over his shoulder. "Oh, and I know where the scythe is." He smiles to me, warm and sweet. "I love you."
Fear runs through me, growing with every step. I resist the urge to turn and flee from the conversation I had to have with my brother. Trying to distract myself, I think about my last conversation with Zenshu. Talking it out, we both agreed it would be of both our interests to take a few days apart. I had business here, and he had business in Sol City, looking for his father. Both were personal, and as close as we are, neither of us are ready to do those things together. And as much as we like each other, we still aren't courting, yet. With questing, and the two dragons packing for Sol City, me and Zenshu hadn't had the chance to sit and discuss our feelings. It had only been a day since he left, but I already missed him. I wanted him back, with me, so I could tell him how I felt. So I could tell him how much I really cared about him, and that he was kind, honest, loyal, handsome, strong, hardworking, handsome, funny, quite attractive, handsome, and that I really wanted to kiss him and...
Tripping on a rock, a face full of dirt yanks me from my drifting thoughts. Brushing dirt and dust from my person, I continue into town.
Knocking on the door, my heart pounds in my chest as I hear a set of nimble, soft footsteps approaching the door. It squeaks open.
"Brandy." Zahak steps aside to let me in. I step inside, removing my shoes. He grabs my hand, leading me inside. "Michael is helping with the shop today. They knew you were coming here... to talk."
Sitting on the couch, I nuzzle into Zahak's shoulder, our many tails intertwined behind us. He wraps an arm around me while I lean into him. Letting my Arcana flow through me into my tails, I finally relax a bit as I feel Zahak's energy connect with mine. Contact Bonding was common with Kitsune, especially among family. The exchange of strength, energy, and Arcana, in addition to the physical affection, was beneficial for both of us. It had been years since either of us had done this, longer since we had done it with each other. But still, we needed to talk.
"Where have you been all this time?" I ask tentatively.
"Searching. For answers. About Father. About the Primal Arcana. Then, about the attack. About the Library. Everything." My mind was reeling.
"The library? I thought everything was burned?"
"So did I." His voice grows dim. "Everything was taken beforehand, during the raid. The books. The medicine. The weapons. Everything." He looks out, lost in thought as he continues. "Most of it has been sold, and for quite a lot as well. A good portion now belong to a collector in Darkveil City."
"Darkveil. How did they end up in the Ash Lands?"
"One of the... raiders. He's quite rich." Zahak looks at me. "Why are you so curious about the stuff in the library?"
I look at him incrediously. "Powerful spell books? Scrolls with lost medicine recipes? Sacred weapons? Why wouldn't I be?"
Zahak laughs, a warm cheery sound.
"You don't change at all B, do ya?" I chuckle, and lean further into him, his strong energy easing my worry-riddled demeanor.
After about thirty minutes, we finally get to the topic of our Father. Eyes dark and empty, my brother looks at me.
"He's alive."
"What?"
"He's alive. He's been alive this whole time." Zahak's voice fills with rage. "He was taken, held captive, and when he finally escaped, he found out everyone thought him dead. And that it had been years since he'd been taken. His wife had had his baby, both his kids were grown up, everything was different. So he just... never came back." He takes a breath, and I feel the wet tears on my face. Zahak looks down at me, and his eyes water as well.
"He did come back. He finally came back to see his wife's grave. But he wasn't able to find us. So he's gone."
I blankly stare at him.
"How, how do you know all of this?" Zahak lets another deep sigh out.
"I.. I talked to him."
"What?"
"It wasn't hard to realize it was him when an older version of myself was holding a bouquet and weeping at my mother's grave". Zahak squeezes my shoulder. "He wants to talk with you as well, so as soon as you can go back and grab your stu..."
"WHAT?" I lurch back, breaking the energy connection with Zahak. "You think I'm just gonna drop everything and go with you?"
*Not Done
"How is he?" Kika gestures to the other room, and the sleeping Zenshu within. Worry lines her otherwise round and gentle face.
"Better. Mostly his body needs energy to heal, and rest. And well.." I let out a small chuckle. "He's doing that for sure." Kika laughs at this, a soft, whimsical sound. "But really, don't worry a bit. The fever's pretty mild, and the infection is receding fast. He's strong." I spin the skewer, and the roasting fish with it. The savory aroma hits my nose, and with it my animal-sensitive sense of smell. My mouth waters. Trying to distract from her worries, we began to talk over the sound of the small kindling of flames. Talking, we ate the roasted fish, paired with rice, vegetables and a thick, spicy sauce.
"So where did you learn to cook like this?" Kika asks, pointing to her plate. I swallow, and look up at her. She is quite tall for a woman, but apparently on the shorter side for a dragon.
"My mother taught me most of it. She was a lot better than me at it. Genelle then taught me everything she knew as well." Kika looks at me quizzically, head slightly tilted.
"Genelle? Isn't she that strong lady that sells beauty products in town?" I nod, swallowing another bite.
"The same. She and her husband raised me after Mother died. They were close with my parents." Kika nods. We eat for a few moments. Clearing the dishes, I nearly jump at what Kika says next.
"So you and Sir Zenshu ay?" I turn to her, red in the face.
"And what possibly would you mean by that?" She smiles at me, her large blue eyes ablaze with amusement.
"It's none of my business Brandy, that I know, but even I'm not as oblivious as my master. Your prowling around like a fox isn't going to work." I sit again, looking her right in the face.
"Well what do you suggest I do then?"
*continuing from other quest thread
Looking down at my worn, scuffed boots, I hesitantly walk into town. Zahakariya's words flash in my mind:
"Three days. I'll be waiting for you at Auntie Genelle's." He heads to leave, but looks at me over his shoulder. "Oh, and I know where the scythe is." He smiles to me, warm and sweet. "I love you."
Fear runs through me, growing with every step. I resist the urge to turn and flee from the conversation I had to have with my brother. Trying to distract myself, I think about my last conversation with Zenshu. Talking it out, we both agreed it would be of both our interests to take a few days apart. I had business here, and he had business in Sol City, looking for his father. Both were personal, and as close as we are, neither of us are ready to do those things together. And as much as we like each other, we still aren't courting, yet. With questing, and the two dragons packing for Sol City, me and Zenshu hadn't had the chance to sit and discuss our feelings. It had only been a day since he left, but I already missed him. I wanted him back, with me, so I could tell him how I felt. So I could tell him how much I really cared about him, and that he was kind, honest, loyal, handsome, strong, hardworking, handsome, funny, quite attractive, handsome, and that I really wanted to kiss him and...
Tripping on a rock, a face full of dirt yanks me from my drifting thoughts. Brushing dirt and dust from my person, I continue into town.
Knocking on the door, my heart pounds in my chest as I hear a set of nimble, soft footsteps approaching the door. It squeaks open.
"Brandy." Zahak steps aside to let me in. I step inside, removing my shoes. He grabs my hand, leading me inside. "Michael is helping with the shop today. They knew you were coming here... to talk."
Sitting on the couch, I nuzzle into Zahak's shoulder, our many tails intertwined behind us. He wraps an arm around me while I lean into him. Letting my Arcana flow through me into my tails, I finally relax a bit as I feel Zahak's energy connect with mine. Contact Bonding was common with Kitsune, especially among family. The exchange of strength, energy, and Arcana, in addition to the physical affection, was beneficial for both of us. It had been years since either of us had done this, longer since we had done it with each other. But still, we needed to talk.
"Where have you been all this time?" I ask tentatively.
"Searching. For answers. About Father. About the Primal Arcana. Then, about the attack. About the Library. Everything." My mind was reeling.
"The library? I thought everything was burned?"
"So did I." His voice grows dim. "Everything was taken beforehand, during the raid. The books. The medicine. The weapons. Everything." He looks out, lost in thought as he continues. "Most of it has been sold, and for quite a lot as well. A good portion now belong to a collector in Darkveil City."
"Darkveil. How did they end up in the Ash Lands?"
"One of the... raiders. He's quite rich." Zahak looks at me. "Why are you so curious about the stuff in the library?"
I look at him incrediously. "Powerful spell books? Scrolls with lost medicine recipes? Sacred weapons? Why wouldn't I be?"
Zahak laughs, a warm cheery sound.
"You don't change at all B, do ya?" I chuckle, and lean further into him, his strong energy easing my worry-riddled demeanor.
After about thirty minutes, we finally get to the topic of our Father. Eyes dark and empty, my brother looks at me.
"He's alive."
"What?"
"He's alive. He's been alive this whole time." Zahak's voice fills with rage. "He was taken, held captive, and when he finally escaped, he found out everyone thought him dead. And that it had been years since he'd been taken. His wife had had his baby, both his kids were grown up, everything was different. So he just... never came back." He takes a breath, and I feel the wet tears on my face. Zahak looks down at me, and his eyes water as well.
"He did come back. He finally came back to see his wife's grave. But he wasn't able to find us. So he's gone."
I blankly stare at him.
"How, how do you know all of this?" Zahak lets another deep sigh out.
"I.. I talked to him."
"What?"
"It wasn't hard to realize it was him when an older version of myself was holding a bouquet and weeping at my mother's grave". Zahak squeezes my shoulder. "He wants to talk with you as well, so as soon as you can go back and grab your stu..."
"WHAT?" I lurch back, breaking the energy connection with Zahak. "You think I'm just gonna drop everything and go with you?"
*Not Done