This Beats Tea Any Day (Mesa)

[Dhatzu]

Timestamp: 55th of Summer, 511 AV Location: Mountainsides outside of Lhavit Status: Closed, Tag Mesa The trip down the well trodden path from the Amaranthine Gates provided a breath-taking view of the jagged peaks that surrounded Lhavit. But in reality...about any place in the City of Lights provided such gorgeous scenery. The orangey sun, hovering over the mountain range, cast a warm glow on the rocky peaks, fading through a spectrum of colors as one looked more skyward. Dhatzu, though born and raised in Lhavit, never ceased to marvel at the beauty of his home and the rugged land that surrounded it. He just wished he did not have so much time available to see it from the road. Travelers coming and going often were escorted along the steep, winding path on Okomos by Hachia Koat, the Guide to the gates. The Shinya Acolyte was not afforded such accommodations, so he descended the mount on foot. A cool breeze tugged at his robes as he finally reached the bottom, rounding past the Guide's shack near where the steps to the path began. Dhatzu headed toward the river that flowed through the rocky terrain nearby, Idly twirling the curious skirmish sword between his hands. The short sword blade, mounted on a haft, glinted as it caught the rays of the setting sun. A small satchel was slung over his shoulder. Following the river, the lhavitian began search intently along the bank. It was a particular tree he was looking for,well more of a bush. It had bright purple berries, but that was not what Dhatzu sought. It was the thin, serrated leaves. The tea derived from these leaves was his favorite, but virtually impossible to cultivate. However, it was the young man's favorite tea, and the owner of the Mhakula Tea House told him if Dhatzu could find some, he would brew it up just for him. After all, the Shinya Acolyte was one of his most faithful customers! So...accompanied by the low rush of the river and the growing shadows, he scoured the landscape for the most elusive plant.

[Mesa]

As the setting sun cast its ever lovely glow across the mountain, Mesa kept hidden in the plentiful nooks and crannies of the terrain. The night was descending on a soft wing, bringing with it all the comfort she desired while hunting. She would use the shadowy night to stalk her prey, and subsequently take it down. She felt a deep rumbling in the bowels of her tummy, coercing her to open her eyes and ears. The hunger fueled her senses, whipping at them to stay alert. The smell of a hare floated by on the wind, rushing past with the current of the nearby river. Her jaws parted, allowing her pink tongue to loll out. She swore she could taste the hare on the soft breeze, taunting her into salivating.

Her black claws gripped the dirt as she peeked out from her cover. Her haunches stretched to their limits, dragging her hind legs across the ground. She stood up straight, feeling the tension in her body tighten. Food was one of the things she valued most in her life. Meat was the answer to her everything, and a huge chunk of it was hopping her way.

Hopping? No, as it came closer, she deduced it wasn't hopping at all. Rather, it was walking. It seemed, at a second thought, much larger than a hare as well. What was this nonsense coming her way? She eased back into the shadows to watch and wait, curious, though not dashing headlong into possible danger.

[Dhatzu]

The lone lhavitian mulled over the days lessons as he scanned the landscape for the prized tea tree. His projection assignments were behind, as he was struggling with finer manipulation of his astral hand. It had lead to frustration and he eventually left off of them. He was told he did not meditate enough. He should have been mediating instead of looking for some bush. But it was more than just an exercise in tea-leaf retrieval. It was a chance to get away from the city and into the mountainsides where he had spent so much time exploring. The serenity of the river and towering peaks would certainly prepare his spirit for a fruitful time of meditation when he returned. He wondered if he would hear the whispers of the shadows. Perhaps, with some luck, he could persuade some to help him find the elusive tea plant. He peered into the deepening shadows beneath the trees and rocky outcroppings along the river. As the light of day waned, his ability to see into the pools of darkness improved, any tea plant in the shadows would not be able to hide from the gift Akajia had given him. In fact, the thing that hunkered down in the shadowy cover of a copse of trees did not escape Dhatzu's attention either. Unable to determine what it was for sure, the lhavitian could see it was dark itself, barely moved, and seemed to be watching him. With a casual spin, he took the haft of the skirmish sword in both hands, but did not slow his pace. His sense, however, were honed in on that dim shadowy place, cautious of what lurked within it, until he could get a better look.

[Mesa]

Mesa’s eyes adjusted to the darkness as she laid in wait. The shadows crept up along the coppice in which she hid, weaving between the branches and rocky crevices to darken her hiding place. As she sensed the being drawing nearer, she tightened her belly to the ground. Her breathing softened until she was nearly holding it. Surely she would be hidden...

No? As the figure came closer into view, she found him to be a man. A man with a weapon, at that. In the instant that he continued to grow closer, her body tensed. With her ears pinned back, she contemplated darting away, but feared the figure’s mistaking her for making an offensive attack. Truthfully, she would not mean this being harm if he kept his distance, but he was seemingly fearlessly drawing ever closer. Had he spotted her clearly?

A blue and gold eye surveyed the man as she prepared herself for what he may or may not take her for. She yearned to run, but to what avail? The thought of being sliced to bits did not appeal to her.

[Dhatzu]

Dhatzu did not make a beeline for the creature's shadowy hiding spot. The acolyte still did not know what it was. There were many dangers in the peaks surrounding Lhavit, both animal and the more sinister symenestra. Instead, he continued his walk, casually, along his original path, but his eyes remained fixed under the trees. Finally, his gnosis vision opening the shadows to him. A wolf, dark-furred, hunkered down in the dim light, ears pinned back. Dhatzu froze. Wolves were not to be taken lightly. Where there was one, there was usually more. His nerves came alive, adrenaline coursing through his system. He had never seen wolves this close to the city. Dhatzu did not want to continue on, leaving the wolf behind him and risk an attack. He had no interest in killing it, or being attacked by it. For a long moment human and lupine eyes locked. Then, like a soft whisper, the lhavitian heard a voice. "This one is different." Speaking in Makath, it was all the voice said. Dhatzu turned his head enough to see a shadow clinging to a nearby rock. The nightstalker nodded his acknowledgment to Akajia's minion. Unwilling to let down his guard Dhatzu took one step back, an indication that he did not wish to engage the wolf, but not trusting enough to turn and walk away. He pondered the shadow's words...This one is different.

[Mesa]

Had Mesa been a creature of more courageous persona, she might have attacked this stranger. She eyed him closely for any signal of his hidden intentions. This man was a curious sight to behold, as he nodded into the air and took a single step backwards. He had been spotted. Her heart raced, fear enticing her body to shiver. The thick ruffle of fur at the base of her neck between her shoulder blades pricked up, and she settled her body tightly to the ground. Though he did not appear to mean her any sort of harm, strangers were not to be taken lightly. They could not be trusted. No one could.

For the vast majority of Mesa's life she had disregarded all other sentient life besides those necessary to sustain her own. She hadn't the slightest clue what fate awaited her, and that very idea terrified her. Her timid nature left her weak and worrisome. The smallest, most gentle whine escaped her nose as she hugged the ground beneath her, hoping that this figure would leave her to her hunting.

[Dhatzu]

The wolf, as Dhaztu could now see as his vision pierced the shadows, did not make any threatening moves, contrary to what he expected. He could see that the creature had seen him, staring at him with one gold and one silver eye gleaming from where it thought it was hidden. There was no threatening growl, no show of teeth as a warning. The few wolves one sees in these mountains are fleeting glimpses, though the rare appearance of a pack is something to be concerned about. As with any wild animal, a wolf would become fiercely defensive if it felt cornered, much as this wolf was. But this animal appeared...apprehensive. The words of the shadow still whispered in his mind. This one is different. How? Shadows were rarely straightforward with him. They liked to toy with him, or play themselves off as these cryptic denizens of the night with their closely-held secrets. But they have never outright lied to him. His gut told him the shadow was right. There was something different about this large, dark-furred wolf, and his own fascination with secrets compelled him to take a risk. The acolyte took a few cautious steps forward towards the wolf's place of concealment, his weapon lowered. It was at the ready, but not openly offensive. A thrill shot through his body, nervous and excited, driving his heart to race and his nerves to tingle. "What are you my friend." Dhatzu spoke out loud in lhavitian using a calm voice. Of course the animal could not understand him, but he hoped his serene tone would ease the wolf's apprehension.

[Mesa]

The strange words rolled off of the man's tongue and parted his lips. Alerted to the strange chorus of spoken language, her ears stood up straight, and her head cocked to the side for a fraction of a moment. Instantly, however, she planted her head back down to the ground, and inched backwards away from the man. Unable to decipher the meaning to his words, his tone would alone would not be able to lure her closer. Her eyes surveyed his, searching for a glint of truth that would betray his real intentions.

There was, however, nothing seemingly malicious about this figure. Nothing but his drawn weapon. Though it was not angled at her in an offensive state, she could make out the gleam of the weapon in his hand, at the ready for whatever her actions may be. She shook at the thought of fleeing, and his possibly mistaking her for attacking. With anxious eyes she watched the sword, and wondered how fast he could swing it. The fear gripped her belly and twisted it uncomfortably, forming a knot that suppressed a bubble of air.

Again, she inched backwards away from him, frightened, though not quite trusting. She hoped this man would be truthful in his showing kindness, but she hadn't the urgency to trust him so soon.

[Dhatzu]

The wolf was by no means a pup, as large as any adult Dhatzu had seen alive or dead. But the animal did not behave as he would expect an adult wolf to act. In fact, if anything, the beast seemed shy. There was no threatening snarl and baring of teeth typical of a defensive wolf, nor the inclination to flee and avoid a confrontation altogether. Instead it simply hunkered down in the shadows, watching him, as if it too was trying to figure out what Dhatzu was all about. The wolf's heterochromatic gaze darted down to the hafted sword in the human's hand. Dhatzu too looked down at the weapon he grasped. It knew it was a weapon, a threat. The lhavitian made a decision. This encounter had proven too intriguing, the strange wolf too interesting to bypass, so much so that he was willing to take a risk to discover why the shadows believe this animal to be different. Meditation had taught the young man patience, and he employed that skill to quiet his mind. His breathes became deep and even as a serenity suffused his soul, his peace reflected in his posture and the features of his face. Only then did he move. Slowly, the acolyte crouched, placing the skirmish sword on the ground, and with equal caution, stood again. Dhatzu showed the wolf his hands, palms out, to show he held no weapon. Then his voice, steady, as soft as it could be and still audible over the babbling of the river, lifted up again. "Come out, curious one, I will not harm you." He invited in lhavitian.

[Mesa]

Straining to move solely her eyes, she watched this man as he moved slowly, seemingly respecting her need for space. She feared he could somehow sense her timid, submissive demeanor, though she wasn't sure how. What she did know was not to take her eyes off of him. He had yet to earn her trust, even with his cautious movements. Though he hadn't made any attempt to hurt or scare her, she didn't understand his motive. Was he attempting to coax her from her position? Why? She listened to his breathing as it settled into a deep rhythm. Her ears twitched curiously.

As he placed the sword on the ground and turned his hands palm up, she inched her nose forward to sniff. This was a step, she was certain, though she was not entirely yet convinced. Again he spoke, and after a long moments pause, she whimpered a high pitched whine. She was intrigued, and yet frightened. What business did he have speaking to her in such a foreign language? She determined that he certainly wanted her to ease from her hiding spot (or what she had thought was a good spot). But should she comply? Her curiosity was piqued, but she remained wary.