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.....Keiran Scarlet
3rd Day of Spring, 502 AV
Keiran raced up the mountain side trail, his long hair trailing behind him as him and the other youth competed to be the first to the top of the Suren Cliffs. his friends were all around him, climbing along the rocks, shifting their weights, pivoting their feet in precarious ways to get the best leverage to pull themselves up faster than anyone else. Calloused fingertips gripped the tried and worn places that had been used as holds since before they were born. Sweat beaded down the Yasi's backs as they focused their eyes towards their destination.
To Keiran and the other truly hopefuls, the task wasn't as hard as it was muscle memory. Like everything else in Wind Reach, it was how much you knew and how well you retained the knowledge. Like at the moment Keiran looked up just in time to see another young boy overextend his arm, causing his foot to slip from the hold he had, sending it straight for Keiran's face. Gritting his teeth, Keiran rolled his shoulder and locked his elbow into place while his right hand had a death grip on the small ledge it was holding. As the boy fell, Keiran wrapped his left arm around the boys waist, pushing off with his left foot to bring his falling momentum towards him instead. Letting his right arm rotate along his shoulder as he braced his side and pivot foot against the rock for balance.
Thankfully the boy immediately searched for another hand grasp nearby as the others below them stopped to wait, or moved around them. Inarta were such an impatient bunch. Keiran slowly return to his original position, taking a moment to shake out his right arm a bit.
"Watch yourself." Keiran said calmly but firmly. He didn't mind the pause in his own momentum, or even helping out the boy. There was however no excuse for letting your own shortcomings potentially hurt others when it is easily avoidable. "If you can't make a reach, take the slower route." The boy nodded, catching his breath. Keiran didn't wait for the thank you as he pushed forward. He knew the boy was thankful, but as it was, Keiran was just as impatient as the rest of them, if not more so.
As they reached the top of the diving cliffs, Keiran stood on the edge of the rock side. Peering down the 30 foot drop to the waters of the Twin Lakes below. They would be heading for the smallest of the two, but it was still a daunting experience. Standing at any height should strike fear, and any fear should be respected. Keiran remembered what his instructors spoke about fear, and recalled it to his memory.
Inarta without respect for fear will eventually fall victim to its everlasting presence. Fear is not evil, it shows you your weakness. Once you know your weakness, you can become stronger as well as kinder.
Keiran smiled a bit, stepping away to the edge as some of the Yasi began leaping from the cliff and into the water below. He studied each one as they fell, taking in the arches in their back, the way the kept their feet together or not. Arm and shoulder placement, the way they tucked at the high point of their jump. He did his best to take everything into account and figure out what worked and what didn't.
All the Yasi knew that the Wind Eagle's, even maybe some of the Endal themselves could have been watching. It wasn't unknown that Eagles would want to see how daring or courageous the new Yasi were. It could have been any of them, but it wasn't a matter of execution, but of purpose. As Inarta we are bred on purpose, that it lies within all things, and these kinds of tests are no exception.
As the number of boys began to dwindle, Keiran took up his spot in the center of the rock, preparing himself for the leap.
To Keiran and the other truly hopefuls, the task wasn't as hard as it was muscle memory. Like everything else in Wind Reach, it was how much you knew and how well you retained the knowledge. Like at the moment Keiran looked up just in time to see another young boy overextend his arm, causing his foot to slip from the hold he had, sending it straight for Keiran's face. Gritting his teeth, Keiran rolled his shoulder and locked his elbow into place while his right hand had a death grip on the small ledge it was holding. As the boy fell, Keiran wrapped his left arm around the boys waist, pushing off with his left foot to bring his falling momentum towards him instead. Letting his right arm rotate along his shoulder as he braced his side and pivot foot against the rock for balance.
Thankfully the boy immediately searched for another hand grasp nearby as the others below them stopped to wait, or moved around them. Inarta were such an impatient bunch. Keiran slowly return to his original position, taking a moment to shake out his right arm a bit.
"Watch yourself." Keiran said calmly but firmly. He didn't mind the pause in his own momentum, or even helping out the boy. There was however no excuse for letting your own shortcomings potentially hurt others when it is easily avoidable. "If you can't make a reach, take the slower route." The boy nodded, catching his breath. Keiran didn't wait for the thank you as he pushed forward. He knew the boy was thankful, but as it was, Keiran was just as impatient as the rest of them, if not more so.
As they reached the top of the diving cliffs, Keiran stood on the edge of the rock side. Peering down the 30 foot drop to the waters of the Twin Lakes below. They would be heading for the smallest of the two, but it was still a daunting experience. Standing at any height should strike fear, and any fear should be respected. Keiran remembered what his instructors spoke about fear, and recalled it to his memory.
Inarta without respect for fear will eventually fall victim to its everlasting presence. Fear is not evil, it shows you your weakness. Once you know your weakness, you can become stronger as well as kinder.
Keiran smiled a bit, stepping away to the edge as some of the Yasi began leaping from the cliff and into the water below. He studied each one as they fell, taking in the arches in their back, the way the kept their feet together or not. Arm and shoulder placement, the way they tucked at the high point of their jump. He did his best to take everything into account and figure out what worked and what didn't.
All the Yasi knew that the Wind Eagle's, even maybe some of the Endal themselves could have been watching. It wasn't unknown that Eagles would want to see how daring or courageous the new Yasi were. It could have been any of them, but it wasn't a matter of execution, but of purpose. As Inarta we are bred on purpose, that it lies within all things, and these kinds of tests are no exception.
As the number of boys began to dwindle, Keiran took up his spot in the center of the rock, preparing himself for the leap.
"Nari" | "Common"
