The Unexpected Savior (Jean) (Complete)

by **Sahashkalila** on March 28th, 2012, 9:45 pm

Kalila smiled behind her veil, appreciating that Jean seemed to judge her character than her looks....perhaps she wasn't that dangerous looking, though looks could be deceiving. She liked Jean though, and didn't want to damage the image that Jean seemed to have of her.

"I am glad that you feel comfortable around me, mosst people do not,"she said with a chuckle, noticing that they were getting near her home. Jean's comment about her age though made her even more amused and she glanced over to her companion, mirth evident in her voice. "Lookss can be decieving, I have traveled a long time and sseen many ssightss. You would laugh at my age." She wondered briefly what Jean would think if she told her her actually age. It would be hilarious of course, but she didn't want to risk revealing what she was yet. She could see her house in the distance and her steps quickened a bit, anxious to be back home.

Kalila pondered over Jean's comment on knowledge, agreeing with her for the most part. Knowledge gives one numerous opportunities and privileges, things that she greatly enjoyed having. But there were other aspects to having knowledge, such as knowing how to use it. "It is a noble thing to do, to pursue knowledge, but there is also a price as well. With knowledge comes prejudice and biased opinions.....so it is both a blessing and a curse."

by **Jean** on March 29th, 2012, 2:01 pm

"I can't help but ask then. You've made me too curious. How old are you? I won't laugh, I promise. Here, I'll tell you mind as an incentive. Twenty-two." Jean quickened her pace to match Kalila's, and in turn so did Lee. "I haven't been traveling for too long, just a few years. Zeltiva is one of my favorite cities. A great place for knowledge, with the university and all. Someday maybe I'll go study there," there mused aloud. Classrooms weren't her favorite places, but the university was renowned, so maybe it would be better than most schools.

"I'm going to have to disagree. Knowledge, I think, would end all prejudices and biased opinions. When you understand something, there should be acceptance. It's how I am at least. I try not to ever be prejudiced. Everything has its natural order, and most things are as they should be. Prejudiced people just want something to hate. Here's an example. Say you fear wolves all your life because you hear stories of them killing travelers. But then one day you're out in the woods, and you see a small pack. They don't attack you, because they don't feel threatened. They've just eaten. And then they just leave. That would be the end of my fears, if it were me, because I'd then know that the stories were just what they were. Stories."

Jean looked down at the woman, eyebrows raised. "Do you see my point? It's not a very goo example, I know."

Lebanon reached down to try and eat some grass as they walked, and she absently tugged the reigns, correcting her. She reached into her backpack and pulled out an apple, holding it out to the mare. Lee bit half of it off, crunching contently and snorted softly. Her lips foamed from saliva and apple juices, and she ate the other half after the first mouthful was swallowed. "Do you ride?" she asked Kalila.

by **Sahashkalila** on March 30th, 2012, 3:23 am

Kalila couldn't help the chuckle of amusement as Jean asked about her age. She was old enough to be her great grandmother, almost five times Jean's age. She wondered what would happen if she just blurted it all out, telling her what she was and how old she was. She seemed to be doing that a lot lately....perhaps she was getting more comfortable with doing it. Or maybe she was going mental.....that seemed more like it.

"To be honesst Jean....I am one hundred and two and sstill counting. I left my home when I was ninety eight and traveled for four yearss and now I am here. In all my yearss though I have never been to Zeltiva, although I would love to go to the college there ssomeday,"she said, glancing to the side to see Jean's reaction to her words. She did not feel overly threatened by this girl and she listened to Jean's explanation on knowledge, thinking that she had a point...but not everyone thought like she did. People could be cruel with knowledge, and it wasn't like Kalila's race had a lot of nice things going for them. The storied weren't kind to the Dhani, and there was very little truth that people knew about her race.

"I ssee your point Jean.....but not everyone thinkss ass you do. There iss always a grain of truth in the sstoriess," she said with a chuckle, watching the horse carefully beside her as Jean asked her if she rode. She would be lucky if the horse let her pet her. Animals were not fond of Kalila, and she supposed it was because they could smell her scent, she was never really sure what it was. "I do not ride, I would be lucky if your friend even let me pet her."

by **Jean** on March 31st, 2012, 3:09 am

One hundred and two. Her mouth hung open in a shocked little 'o'. Kalila didn't seem to be any older than herself! Jean's mind reeled, and she almost thought she was going to have to sit down. One hundred and two! She pushed her auburn curls away from her face, frowning in thought. So, Kalila wasn't human. What was she? She looked human. What other races looked like humans but lived for over one hundred years? Jean was too shocked the think of any she'd read about. She never imagined meeting one so casually like this, and matter-o-factly learning that they'd lived for over a century.

She shook herself mentally, berating herself for being so shook up over this. Kalila had been kind to her, it was rude to react this way about her age. Humans weren't the only race out there, obviously she could run into any others at any time. She smiled apologetically, looking at Kalila with obvious interest. She wanted to ask what she was more than she'd ever wanted to ask anyone anything, but she wouldn't. That was more personal than age, and she respected the woman's privacy. Jean suddenly felt childish compared to this much older woman. She'd been hyperactive for some unknown reason, prattling on about this and that, and Kalila had been calm and collected the whole time. Her face flushed a little, embarrassed with herself.

"You would know more than I do then, about what is true and what isn't. You've obviously seen so much more than me. What I wouldn't give to have a shred of your experience. And I'd be surprised if Lebanon snubbed you. She's a gentle thing, doesn't usually mind strangers." But Jean really didn't know how Lee would react, seeing as how she herself didn't even know what Kalila was. Lee probably already knew more than she did about their temporary companion. "You must have been through a lot after living so long." There was obvious awe in her voice as she spoke.

by **Sahashkalila** on April 1st, 2012, 10:24 pm

Kalila watched as several emotions flitted across Jean's face and she almost felt bad for telling the younger woman what her age was....almost. It was amusing to watch even though Kalila meant no ill will towards Jean, she just felt like blurting it out and wondered what the reaction would be. SHe did not have many people to really talk to and Jean wasn't a bad sort, very talkative, but not a bad sort and Kalila liked her.

"My race developss sslower than humansss, sso I have not really sseen ass much ass you think I have. Mosst of my life I have been in Ahnatep, the lasst four yearss have really opened my eyess to the world and I have learned a thing or too," she said with a shrug, approaching the small house that was her home. She stopped in front of it and looked at Jean, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she smiled. "I do not mean to ssound like I am lecturing, that iss not my intention. Jusst ssome advice from one persson to another. Ass for your horsse...I'm ssure that sshe iss lovely, but horssess are not ussually fond of ssnakesss." Her lisp was more pronounced as she dragged the last word out, amusement in her eyes. "But I have enjoyed your company Jean, and I thank you for esscorting me to my home. Perhapss we sshall meet again?" Kalila hoped that they would. She liked this bubbly woman and would very much like to get to know her better.

by **Jean** on April 1st, 2012, 11:30 pm

They had reached what must have been Kalila's house, seeing as how she stopped at the door. Jean listened to Kalila's words as if they were bars of gold. She'd never met any race that could live so long, that she could remember, so any words of wisdom from her companion were probably more valuable than anything she'd set her eyes on. But she didn't get what she expected. Jean pretty much forgot everything else Kalila said when she got to the part about horses not being fond of snakes.

She'd been walking and talking with a Dhani this whole time? It didn't even cross Jean's mind that would be what Kalila was. It seemed so ironic now that they'd talking of stories, truths, and rumors. There were so many stories about the Dhani that Jean couldn't count, and she didn't imagine any of them were good. But after this walk with Kalila, she was starting to doubt her own suspicions of the snake people. She'd always been wary of their kind because of the rumors, but now she didn't know. Kalila was so kind and level-headed, how could she be a monster that people fear the Dhani to be? Her mind reeled and her jaw worked, trying to get out the right words.

Finally, she was able to clear her throat and speak. "I never imagined meeting one of your kind like this. It was so casual, I always imagined there would be more... unique circumstances." She was smiling in amazement and shaking her head. "I've enjoyed your company too. I hope we do meet again, I'd love to get to know you better. I'm curious about your kind. After this walk, I doubt many of the rumors of your kind are really true, eh? And you're welcome for the escort. It was my pleasure, I assure you. I look forward to someday hearing your stories. And you know, I just thought, you probably didn't need my help at all with that man earlier did you?" This made her smile widely, showing all her teeth and crinkling her eyes. "I might have actually saved his life instead."

Jean's curiosity was almost a palpable substance, making her want to stay and talk longer. But then again she didn't want to keep Kalila out while it got dark. She needed to go and rethink her opinions on some things anyway. This evening was an eye opener for her. An experience. Not wasting any more time, she grabbed a fistful of Lebanon's mane, stepped into the saddle's stirrup, and hoisted herself into the seat. The mare shifted and sidestepped to keep her balance, then twisted around once as Jean tugged the reigns, making her walk a circle to change leads.

Jean smiled timidly down at Kalila and gave a half wave. "Until next time, then?" She heeled Lee's sides and clicked her tongue, urging the horse into a canter. As she rode off, she glanced over her shoulder for a last look at the Dhani woman. Her mind was at war with itself. All these years of hearing that Dhani are monsters, and then I get shown nothing but kindness from her, she thought. Jean twisted back around to watch where Lee was going, steering the mare around a shuffling elderly couple. What an evening!

by **Ink** on April 14th, 2012, 1:58 am

And in the Aftermath . . .

The Rewards are Revealed.

Kalila :

Jean :

Written in the ink :