Character History
Cyrus was born to Nada and Darrock Treestride. While there were no complications at birth, as Cyrus grew up he had a tendency to become very sick which left him physically weak compared to children of the same age. While his peers ran and played, Cyrus was often confined to less intensive activities. Even at this young age, Cyrus was all too aware of the Drykas ideal of being useful to the clans, of not being weak. He would often hear whispers of what others would say: “Cursed child”, “Won’t live much longer”. Cyrus’s mother always pushed aside his concerns, she was always strict but patient with Cyrus. While his mother saw nothing wrong with Cyrus, his father was a different story. His father never directly belittled Cyrus, and always did the duties that would be expected of a father to his son, but Cyrus could see the disappointment in his father's eyes on the days Cyrus was too weak to leave the Pavilion, or on the days when Cyrus could hardly catch his breath. Despite his frail condition Cyrus tried his best when he did not feel ill. He would train with his mother in magic and the manipulation of djed, and his father would teach him how to live on the Sea of Grass.
As Cyrus could not play with his peers, he sought out a way comfort himself in his solitude. Cyrus found that when he was surrounded by one of the sparse outcroppings of trees that dot the Sea of Grass or laying by a stream he achieved the comfort he sought. He could not venture far of course, the Sea of Grass is a dangerous place after all, but when he could slip away he enjoyed sitting and watching the fish and the animals traverse the Sea of Grass and listening to the sounds of nature. When he was by himself in these places he could forget about his troubles. In Cyrus's darkest moments he could go to these places and find refuge.
As Cyrus grew older, around the age of 8, his body began growing stronger and more resilient. He only grew ill when any man would. Cyrus seized upon his newfound health. He desperately tried to prove himself. He would go with his father hunting every day and when he returned home he would train with his mother. Eventually, Cyrus's diligence paid off. As a teenager he could go hunting alone and provide food to his Pavilion. He was becoming more proficient at entering the web and producing res, the trademarks of his clan. He became bonded to a strider, Sacha, marking his transition into a true Drykas. He was useful. He was accepted. This wasn't enough for Cyrus however, he needed more. He needed to wash away the image of a sick child from the minds of his people.
To this day, that's Cyrus's goal: to prove himself and to go above and beyond what is asked of him.
Heirloom:
Cyrus has a clay offering bowl, designed for the Goddess Caiyha, that was given to him by his mother on his Ezihiwe. It is very dear to him, as it is fairly ornate. The bowl itself is about a foot in diameter and an inch thick all the way around. The sides of the bowl are dark green and show carved images of vines and leaves along with the knot work indicative of Cyrus's people. The inside of the bowl is an off white although its original color was most likely true white and has dulled with use.