5th Summer 518 AV
"Speech"
"Speech"
The okomo, being sacred, had a holiday. To outsiders it could seem strange for the majestic goat-like creatures to have such an honour. To Saiyin though, the okomo were especially important as they had played a backdrop to her childhood forays into the wild grass plains that were their grazing land. Her mother's okomo statue had been her favourite toy too, although playtime and toy were both gone now. Even so, she strolled from her home with excitement, contemplating the day ahead.
She was alone like normal. Hessel was locked up in her house complaining of a stuffy nose, and Saiyin didn't blame her for retreating away. The fog was miserably enfolding the mountainside still. She breathed in the cold air and snuggled deeper into her cloak as she walked, trying not to lose sight of the path as she followed the distant noise of the festival. An okomo wandered past, looming very suddenly from the mist, and Saiyin jumped before laughing to herself at being such a fool. To her surprise, the okomo grunted in return, looking a little edgy and bothered. It was a surprise too. Usually, the animals were docile around humans, who they saw frequently across the mountain. Saiyin shrugged her shoulders, but remained a little puzzled until she reached the main part of the festival, where her attention was captured by the paint stall.
She parted with a few kina in return for a selection of coloured pots, a stubby paintbrush, and a small bag of okomo treats. Like a child, she grinned and began to scan the grass for the elusive okomo. She watched actual children running past trailing laughter, and smiled in response. Saiyin wasn't thinking of very much, but she wore a look of contentment. Festivities were a particular enjoyment of hers. There were some who didn't like them much, but she wasn't one of those.
After several chimes of searching, she was in luck. A glossy-maned okomo wandered past, and she bent down on her knees to gesture towards it, attempting to lure it closer. "Heere, here here! Tch tch tch!" Saiyin clicked her tongue and spoke softly, as if talking to a baby. "Why, aren't you lovely?" It was true, though. The okomo's horns were elegantly spiralled, and she extended her hand towards its nose to softly touch it. With a grin born of success, she continued to gently pat the nose of the okomo, letting it know she wasn't a threat. With her free hand she rummaged for the little sack of food, and withdrew a chunk of carrot.
She smiled in delight as she watched its eyes follow her hand, and then chuckled as she felt its rough tongue pick up the piece of carrot and begin crunching. "Ain't that nice, mister?" She kept feeding it, chunk by chunk, and then stroked its back. The okomo was lovely and soft, although a little damp from dew and mist, but its horns were perfect. She wondered what to paint, and carefully bent down to unscrew the paint pot and dip in the brush to start on the okomo horn.
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