Timestamp: Summer 3, 508 AV Aello sat in the lotus position, upon a patch of deep green grass, which tickled her exposed skin. Her belongings sat in a pile to her right side, as she placed her right hand on her right knee, and her left hand on her left knee; palms upturned, to the clear blue sky. Her knuckles brushing lightly against the bony knobs of her kneecap as she closed her dark brown eyes to the bright, new day. Once her lids had shut lightly, and her long brown lashes had tickled the underside of her eye socket, Aello took her first deep, cleansing breath. She drew the warm breath of air into her lungs, and held it there for several seconds. When her pale pink organs began to sting from the air's pressure, Aello released it back into the world with a gentle sigh. She waited but a moment before taking in another burst of air. She could feel her lungs expanding, extending its embrace to the ethereal entity for a time. Keeping it close for approximately seven seconds, at which time, her lungs began to sting once more, and she let it all out. Another delicate sigh left her pale pink lips, as she waited another moment before inhaling. The air, she realized, as she repeated the process a number of times, carried the subtle scent of morning dew. The subtle scent of freshly cut grass; as though someone had been of the mind to use it as some sort of garnish; or food for their pet. Aello allowed herself to enjoy the scent as she continued to take several more, deep, cleansing breaths. Until a time in which her heart felt light; airy. Until a time in which the rise and fall of her chest had grown rather steady; uniform. Calm and serene. At which point, Aello allowed herself to slip into the next stage of her morning meditation. Aello took one final, cleansing breath, concentrating on how long she could hold it in before she let it out. The rise and fall of her chest, before shifting her concentration to her eyelids. How when closed, they allowed her to see nothing other than a pale peach shade, which at times, seemed to vibrate, or even, turn in on itself. She concentrated on the image, how she could turn it into something more. Aello imagined the peach side expanding. Becoming several slender lines with a wispy tuft at the top. She imagined them taking on a golden-yellow edge. Multiplying until they became a field of wheat plants. Around the edges of her field, Aello imagined several chunky, dark brown lines sprouting out of the ground. Similar to the color of her hair; but different in its texture. It was rougher, strong and firm beneath one's touch. Not at all smooth or silky, like her long brown lockes. As the brown lines continued to grow, reaching for the sky, the girl pictured several scattered lines coming out of each of the first. Forking, splitting into several smaller branches, which were covered in sharp, pointy, green leaves. The field then, was surrounded by a ring of evergreen trees. She could vaguely make out the scent of them carried to her by the winds, as she set herself down in the center of the field. Flattening several long fronds beneath her slender form. The rest swaying gently in the breeze; dancing, as her hair splayed out against the earth. Sinking into it, becoming one with it. At first, Aello trained her eyes on the wheat. She ran her hands over the ground, allowing the fronds to tickle her pale flesh much as the wispy hairs that lined their tops did. Slowly, after several chimes had passed, Aello raised her hands. She ran the tips of her fingers over the wheat that had been left standing. Strumming them, as one would a harp or a guitar. As they vibrated beneath her delicate touch, Aello imagined them producing a low hum, similar to her bowstring after she had released an arrow. She visualized them altogether, producing a beautiful melody to accompany the dancing of the wheat. Something that moved in time to their quivering bodies. She pictured the tune serving her, by relaxing her further. Allowing her to locate an even greater sense of security and serenity. Finally, Aello closed her eyes, and rested her hands upon her stomach. Just above her belly button. Her fingers wove together, like the finest-crafted tapestry, as they fell with her chest; rose with it. Aello sighed as she pictured the world around her; listened to its song in silence for several moments, as the wheat cast several dark shadows over her eyes. Even though the shadows unnerved her somewhat, Aello kept her eyes shut for what felt like ages, before opening them again, and glancing up at the sky. The sky was a light blue shade, similar to a baby's blanket. Scattered here and there was the occasional fluffy white cloud, which reminded Aello of a sheep who had lost sight of the rest of its body. Her lips curled into a delicate smile, as she gazed directly at the brightly-colored sun. Causing her eyes to sting as she traced a bright purple dot across her field of vision. She could feel its warm, golden rays reaching for her. Enveloping her, and shrouding her in a cloak of light; of intense heat that made her feel both safe, and rather loved, if not a little sweaty. She loved that feeling- the way the sun sent a soft, tingling sensation to each limb it touched. The way it caused several beads of clear, salty sweat to appear upon her brow. The way each droplet seemed to reflect a small portion of the sun's radiance. Aello sighed. This state of being, this portion of her existence was simply wonderful. Filled to the brim with both simplicity and a never-ending state of bliss. The girl simply did not want to open her eyes again. To forget. To allow this magnificent world to slip away; to let go. Aello simply had to much to let go of of late. She didn't wish to add something else to her growing list. Aello sighed. After taking in a few more moments of her creation's song, of its spirit, she forced herself to will her mind away. To wiggle her toes, before she eased her eyes open, ending her peaceful, morning meditation. Her eyes caught sight of the green grass that surrounded her. The way it grew on a slant, alongside a gentle, rolling hill. The way it swayed as Zulrav whistled and released his own breath. She could feel him sweep her long brown hair off her shoulders. The grass tickling her bare skin so relentlessly it stung, and grew red. Her back, neck, and muscles aching because they had been forced to hold the same position for over an hour. Slowly, Aello closed her eyes, and eased her head back, so that it seemed to rest in the place between her shoulder blades. First, she turned her head to the left, and then the right, before she rolled it around in a counter-clockwise fashion. In the hopes that she may free herself from the bind of sore muscles and stiffness. As she moved, she forced her aching back to remain as straight as a board, for just a bit longer. Feeling as though, if she allowed her shoulders to slump, it would only serve to increase the pain she experienced in the long run. Fearing that she'd never get her back to return to its prior state. Once her neck had begun to loosen up, Aello allowed it to still, as she stared straight ahead. She rolled her shoulders several times, first forward, and then back. The movement worked to ease the tension in her shoulder muscles; and although it failed to eradicate it completely, Aello could feel herself releasing a sigh of relief. Her body seemed as though it were continuing to unravel, as though her bunched muscles were uncoiling; unwinding. Other areas of her body, mainly her legs, felt heavy with their newly acquired level of serenity. After a few more moments, Aello leaned forward, and placed her hands in front of her. Palms face down on the ground; several fronds of green grass seemingly growing from the spaces in-between her fingers. She pushed her fingers together, then apart, over and over, allowing them to stretch, as she unfurled her legs, and pushed them behind her slender form. She stayed upon her toes as she alternated- pulling her knee closer to her stomach with one leg, and then repeating the process with the other, as though she were about to break out into a sprint. When her hands began to hurt, from the tiny grains of dirt that relentlessly dug into her palms, Aello pushed up upon them, easing her body into a standing position. At which point, she raised her arms, extending her reach as far to the sky as they would go, as she drew her legs together. She held this position for several seconds, before bending at the waist to touch her toes. She held the stretch for about ten seconds, before she extended her reach towards the sky once more. Allowing the sun to filter through the spaces between her fingers, before she tried for her toes once more. Aello repeated the stretch cycle fifteen times before allowing her body to come to rest in a more standard, standing position. "Time to start off the day," Aello called to the few birds that circled above her head. "Time to see if I'm anywhere near as flexible as I was when I was younger..." Aello sighed. "Better start with something basic, just to be sure I am warmed up." With that thought in mind, Aello raised her arms over her head. She held then straight up, as far as they would go. Her fingers pressed firmly into each other, forming a nearly impenetrable wall. Aello's palms were turned in the direction she was facing. Time for forward rolls, she thought, as she leaned forward, bending at the waist, as she pushed up against the ground a little, putting a small spring in her step. Her body curled into itself as she lurched forward, her hands meeting with the terrain first, a second before her head. Only moments before she flopped onto her back. |