[Flashback] Family life

[Osami]

15th Spring 495 Av Flashback



“Osami are you even listening to me?” The voice was harsh and firm as an older male figure stood before a much smaller younger male. The adult stood nearly six feet tall with a slim build. Fiery red hair stood out the most of him and almost made the dark green eyes fade. Scars lined his bare chest that told many stories if one looked closely. The only clothing on the man was a pair of lose pants that were much like a large skirt and a pair of black sandals.

The young male on the other hand was just around 4’2 give or take. What stood out the most of the young child was his orange flame hair lighter blue eyes. His own frame was very skinny yet that could had been due to lack of eating or just his young age. Like the older male the child wore the same type of outfit which was the shirtless look and baggy skirt like pants of a basic linen.

“Sorry Father but yes I am listening. We went over the basic steps of the bow last time and even used it for awhile. Even if I did miss all the time...” Osami said in a soft voice as he had his eyes cast downwards thinking about the events. His brother on the other hand Oaleu was a far better shot then he was but it felt like he was better at everything then he was.

“So it would seem however at least act like you are. If you won’t then you might as well brush up on your acting skills. Now the reason why you are using a short bow and not a long bow is that it takes less strength then it would a long bow. Plus you won’t be really need to focus on long range kills as the short bow can get a range of about 400 feet which will be more then enough for you.”

Osami just had to nod in understanding as he let his fingers along his bow. It was nothing fancy or special compared to other bows but he did like it. It was a gift from his father, Ahonu, just days ago. Yet the bow his brother got was far better in terms of looks but anything Ahonu got for them Oaleu always got the better end of the deal.

“Now Osami I want you to go over what you were taught. You have ten arrows in your quiver and you will fire them all however you are in under no rush. Your aim is to learn more of your stance and learn what it feels for you before you worry about hitting anything. Once you learn the basic steps then you will worry about hitting your target.”

A total of ten steps dealt with archey but all in all were rather basic. He went over them just days ago and that was what he was still doing. In order to be great at anything he was always told to master the baby steps for they were the building blocks to the great feats of life. How he hated that saying but he still did as he was told for he knew it was for the best. If he lacked skills in as an archer then he would let his people down as a hunter if he was called for it.

His feet slide along the ground until they were align with his shoulders. Simple stance but he had to understand that he could not keep the weight on the balls of his feet but he had to keep his weight even like he was just standing. His lungs filled with a deep breath as he held it for a bit before blowing out though his nose. Breath and relax. That is what he had to understand as he closed his eyes finding his own focus.

After a bit of time he let his open once more. His feet moving back to where they were beforehand as he let himself walk around the cave before returning to where he was. He had to let his limbs move about as he felt like it would not be as meaningful if he could not go back into the stance from a different stance such as walking. His feet moved along back to around his shoulders as he kept his back straight and balance even.

Ahonu would not say anything. Not to him. No all the joy and praise always went to Oaleu. If Osami wanted anything like that he would have to do great around his mother, Verph, as she was the one that showed Osami more loved then Oaleu. Deep down Osami knew that they would follow in their footsteps for he already knew skills his mother taught him while his brother knew more from his father yet he could never understand why they did not care for them both.

His bow was brought up by his left hand yet no arrow laid in his right hand. His bare hand moved into position as if he held an arrow pulling slowly on the string. This part was just to understand more about the bow string and how to move his arm without the arrow. It took a lot of effort to pull the string as the bow slightly moved under the weight of his arm.

The fingers used for the action was his Index, Middle and Ring finger. The back of the hand had to be as flat as he could make it. He moved his arm as far back as he could yet it was no where near the amount needed as he let the string return back to its normal state. His arm and parts of his back already felt on fire and tired from the simple action yet he had not built up his body to withstand bow. Simple idea yet it did take strength which the young Inarta just lacked right then.


Osami let his arm relax before pulling one out of three arrows from the small light weight quiver along his back. They were very basic arrows that had no markings or anything wroth note of made by students odds are if one had to form a guess. Yet even that meant little to Osami as all he could think of was to prove to to his father he was just as good as his brother with things like this.

The arrow was placed along the string of the bow. The index feltch was facing towards him as he moved his fingers in the right position on the arrow before moving the bow back upwards holding it up with his left hand as his the muscles in his right arm and back burned and stretched as his right arm pulled along the bow string once more.
He wanted to stop. He wanted nothing more then just to let his body relax as he pulled with all his might to get the string near his face and at the same time pushed on the bow with his left arm to keep it from moving towards him. He was told over and over that he could never move his face and body to meet the string of the bow but to force them to meet him. Yet that was far easier said then done with his lack of strength. Yet he wanted to do this and make his father proud. He had to do this.

The aiming part was easy on paper however harder in practice at least towards Osami. If anything failed in the steps then the final steps would not work yet he had to hope it would all work. All he had to do was line the sights of the target with the arrow. The target was not that far away and was a easy mark. All Osami had to do was to line it up and fire the arrow then he would get praise that everything child wanted.

The muscles in his body still on fire and flaring with pains as he pulled and pulled on the string yet still no where near his face. His right elbow just on his side as he kept his focus on his left arm pushing the bow and his right just pulling the string. His own balance not even being kept his check as he moved the weight on the balls of his feet more often then not.

However none of that mattered in his young head as he forced the aim and released the arrow firing the shot prematurely. All his hopes for praise went inside that arrow and no skill showed as the arrow did not even come close to anything. It just went towards the ground after a foot as Osamis bright smile on his face crashed as well as he saw his pride and joy flutter and die.

His young eyes looking towards Ahonu who just shook his head slowly. No smile or praise along his face as he looked upon Osami. Just a cold stern look that Osami always saw whenever he did not do well in terms of physical skill

“I won’t even begin to tell you how much you failed with that. You were the one that kept saying you were ready all day and night yet clearly you were just lying to me. One you need to bring the bow string to your face to get full effects of it. You need to move your right elbow higher so it can match where your ear is to get better aim. Your balance clearly needs work and even you can’t follow though with it. Once you fire the arrow you need to stand still until the arrow hits the target or clearly is seen away from the bow before you move as then you will get it off track. This lesson is done. Clearly you are just wasting my time and your peoples energy.”

Ahonu did not even wait for Osami to have a reaction as he left the child. Clearly if Osami could not do a simple task in Ahonus eyes then he had no reason to be around him.

Osami had no reaction on the other hand or even said anything as his own father left him. He just let his knees hit the hard ground letting the bow fall from his hands letting it bounce along the ground away from him. Little droplets of tears hit the hard rock ground as he felt like his small heart was ripped out for trying so hard. He did not mean to lie or even thought was lying to anyone as he was so sure he could do it right.

All he wanted was just what every kid wanted from their parent. Was that so wrong? Was it so bad for him to want his father to tell him he was proud of him or good job? Why did he show his brother all his love and care? Why? Questions flooded his young innocent mind before a flash of raw rage filled his body as his voice just yelled in rage as his hands formed fists punching into the hard floor. The rock tearing his skin along his knuckles as blood pooled along where his tears were as he just kept punching over and over to feel anything other then the pain he felt in his heart.

[Osami]

Osami was home at last. He knew he would have to see his father and brother as he pushed the door open, blood staining along the wooden handle due to his knuckles bleeding at a steady rate now. However the pain made him feel better then the feelings inside his heart as he closed the door behind him looking about the small area he called home.

However he did not see his brother or father but just a female which was his mother. She stood roughly 5’4 and wearing the same type of clothing as Osami did with the pants. Her top was called a Vinati which was a brown shade of color of cloth that went around her chest yet kept her mid stomach area bare. Her green eyes peered past long fire like red hair that was kept braided but the bangs that danced in her face now and then. Yet what stood out the most in Osami’s eyes was her smile that she had when she saw her child even if the smile did fade when she came closer to him.

“Young Sir what have you done to your hands? Did you fall or get in a fight? Come here before you bleed all over the place.” She said as she quickly pulled out a white cotton cloth warping his hands inside it pushing weight on his hands.

“No Mother...just its nothing. Where is Father and my Brother at?” Osami said as he looked around, his face showing signs of flinching from the added pain of the dry cloth as she took care of his hands.

“My Osami you know I know its nothing. You don’t get wounds like this from just nothing. However they left a bit ago for a hunting trip. Your father wanted to show Oaleu what it is like to ride on the back of a eagle. I don’t think they will be long as the weather is still a bit harsh but he thought it was best to show Oaleu how things were.”

“No fair! Why does Oaleu always get to do that? Why doesn't Father ever let me do that? Why? It’s no fair! Why does he not love me the same way?” Osami yelled as he threw his hands in the air letting the blood stain cloth hit the ground as he stomped about the little home.

However Verph just smiled softly at him before picking up the cloth. “I know you think he does not love you but he does my little Raven. He knows you are better for being on the ground then in the air and that is no way to think as a weakness. You took more to Philtering then anything else and he knows you will be best to improve them and not having to worry about trying to work on how to hunt. We all have something we are good at and you one day will understand that this is to help you.”

Osami at last stopped yelling and throwing a fit as he just stood still. His hands at last starting to form weak scabs to stop the bleeding but he knew what she said was right for she would not steer him wrong. That he knew deep in his wounded heart. She was always around and always trying to help him understand things in life but she just starting teaching him real skills just months ago even if a bit earlier but she felt it was for the best she said plus it would help him focus his restless energy.

“While they are away we can go over some lessons. Keep your mind busy as I am sure you are in pain and tired from the days events. Lets go over some basic recipes that will tend to be the most common you will make shall we? Afterwards we will go eat something and then you can sleep then have a better day tomorrow.”

Osami just smiled and nodded his head. His own spirits soaring upwards as he looked at his Mother. Such a simple joy as he went with her in the world of understanding and ideas.

He found himself sitting with his mother at a little table. A basic alembic set was in front of him along with a few bottles, knives and a range of herbs and other food items. It would seem it would be a fun little lesson he thought to himself as he waited for her to start.

“Now we have made this before but I am going to have you make it again. You will come to the day when you can make it with your eyes closed. What we are making again is just a Rosy lip balm. It costs a good pinon to get the items needed but you can trade it for more as it will be in high demand with the cold winds. Now you have rose petals, honey, almond oil and oil from a shea nut which traders brought over last time.”

She said as she gave him a simple blank sheet of paper, quill and a small almost empty bottle of ink. That meant he would be taking notes on what to do so not only would he hear it but also put it in his head from writing it. Learning was never done with a empty mind after all.

“Now my Raven I am going to let you work on your own pace but you should be able to make a few doses of this. Let me go over the steps again so you understand what do to. Wasting things is what you always want to avoid after all. Now you will use a basic mortar and paste to crush the petals then add some water before throwing them in the still. It will boil and the oil that you need will go to the cucurbit which you will then be able to use.”

Osami just had to nod as he wrote down what she said. This really was not the first time he was told this or worked on some form of it with her but it still made him happy with so many emotions as they went over it. This was her way of showing him that he was ready to learn other things but maybe his father was right. Must learn the basic steps before you could move on. Yet that thought was quickly pushed back as she kept talking.

“Now the honey will always be used last you must remember. Once you have the rose oil you will then mix the other oils together but the measurements are what you much pay mind to. one teaspoon of Shea oil and almond with half a teaspoon of the rose oil. The honey you will need just a touch for sweetness but more sweeter it is the better it may sell but always remember not to over do it. As you know this first part is more herbalism then philtering but philtering is always something to boost other things such as herbalism or cooking even. Always remember to keep an open mind when working with the idea of brewing different things.”

Osami just had to nod even if he was a tad young to understand all the ideas one could gain. This lip balm would help the lips from breaking and bleeding in the wind but he did not know what he could make with cooking down the road but maybe one day he would. He wrote down what she told him and then at least told him to craft it as she watched. She would not be helping him step by step yet would guide him if he had to need it.

He placed five rose petals inside the mortar before using the pestle to crush the petals. His fingers still felt stiff and in pain from his earlier outburst with his father but he did not voice his pain. He knew it was his fault for his actions and nothing could be done about it. He just let his teeth bite down on his lower lip as he kept pressing forward with the clock-wise rotation of crushing the petals down.

It was not hard work but it was still work. He knew he could not play around as one day he would have to do this on his own and help his people and home. His passion laid within helping others in his own way. They were right he would not make a great hunter but what he could become could help in more ways if he just took time to understand that and polish up on what life did offer him.

A bit of water was added as he moved the petals towards the still as he let the fire under it warm up. It was a basic idea of how things worked but the water would boil breaking down the petals and the steam that came off would travel up a tube and drip into the cucurbit which would be the oil needed.

Osami put the last few petals in the mortar and started to crush them up once more as he kept an eye on the set up as well making sure nothing would burn. That was something he did when he first learned how to do this which was burning things. That was lesson one he had to guess of not to burn things for while his mother did care and show more love she was also firm when she had to be and he did not want to see just how his punishment would be this time around.

The rest of the crushed petals was put in the still with a bit more water. Slow work but he did enjoy it on some level for reasons unknown to him. He was not gifted in any form of magic or even hunting and gathering but this was what he was gifted in for some reason.

The honey had to be warmed up so he placed it in a small bowl inside another bowl with water inside before placing it over the flame. The water would boil and slowly heat the honey so it would not burn but he would have to keep stirring it as it could not get out of hand. He just had to warm it up enough to pour easier as the last step into the jars.

As he let the honey warm up he took the measurements for the other oils placing them in two other jars. First the almond oil was first as he read over his notes then the shea oil. Afterwards he took the oil from the still which was ready at last pouring just enough in the jars. He had a bit more rose oil left over yet he would not try to use it all as he also made that mistake one time. He had to keep things right and would just save the oil for someone else or for a later project.

At last the honey was ready and he took it off the flames scoping and placing just a teaspoon worth inside the two jars. Another spoon was used to stir the mixture which he found looked about right. Again he had a bit more honey but would save it for the cooks as he placed stoppers over the jars yet as he did the room was filled with a single person clapping softly.

“Very good my little Raven I do think you have the hang of that now. It will need to thicken up some but I think it will work just fine. Depending how much you spent on the items will help you get a idea how much to sell. Remember never undersell and never over price. As long as you come out just a bit ahead in something you will do fine. Now lets clean up and go eat. The jars should be ready afterwards.”

Osami felt proud of himself as he did clean up the area. Just two jars but two jars that told him he was not a helpless person in everything. No it told him he could do whatever he put his effort towards.

[Mercury]

Osami Skill(s) Weapon: Shortbow +4 XP Writing + 2 XP Observation + 1 XP Philtering + 4 XP Lore(s) Range of a Short Bow Receiver of Castoffs Learning the Basics of Archery Taking Baby Steps Archer's Stance A Father's Scorn Sibling Jealousy Mini-tantrum A Loving Mother Dealing with the Consequences Rosy Lip Balm Recipe Method to my Madness: I love the technicality of your writing, it's very precise and tells me you've been researching. Keep up the good work. I've done a bit of archery and I've been told not to dry fire. Dry Firing is pulling back the string without nocking an arrow and letting the string go. This is dangerous for the bow and yourself. The energy that is usually released into the arrow has nowhere to go and is instead reverberated through out the bow, which could cause miniscule fractures and cracks that are not visible until it's too late. Last time I accidentally Dry Fired ,I got major string burn (but that's because I overextend my elbow). Great solo Osami, can't wait to see more. You can address any questions or concerns to the little voice in your head. A.K.A. PM me.