An Interruption to Contented Tending (Zahlee)

[Asha]

Asha tilted her head in thought as Zahlee’s words sunk into her mind and directed her thoughts. No wonder she rarely witnessed a Kelvic shift more than once a day if the shift was taxing for them. And it rather explained the often voracious appetites of those she had witnessed shift. What an intriguing notion. She had very little experience or knowledge of magic, particularly of the ancient magic that created the Kelvics. The Kelvics were a very odd race but now Asha felt intrigued by the bestial creatures. She wondered briefly about how Kelvics managed their shift in appearances but the topic was so immense and daunting she quickly pushed it away. That would a field of study for a later date perhaps a hundred years or so. Mayhap then she would be wise enough to comprehend such matters. “That’s very interesting Zahlee, I had no idea it was so tiring for Kelvics to change forms. I must admit I’ve never quizzed a Kelvic about their life very deeply.” Asha admitted with a small grin. She left out the fact that she had previously thought Kelvics too dull of a subject to consider. “It’s unfortunate that it’s so tiring for you to shift. I imagine you must miss your true animal form terribly. I know I would miss my Jamoura body if I had to waltz around as a silly human.” “And no, I’m certainly no teacher. I’m not as good with plants as you think. I work for a Jamoura named Mogg and he gives me pretty detailed instructions. Without those I would be completely lost and probably end up somehow killing the entire forest. I guess you could say I’m very good at following instructions. And, well, picking weeds isn’t very difficult. At least it wasn’t after I learned which plants are which.” Asha chortled gleefully at her own admission. She didn’t like to admit not being skilled at something but she was rather prone to honesty. It was almost unfortunate. “Oh, passion, um….. sorry for the confusion. What I meant by passion is something you care about very, very much. Something that makes you want to wake up in the morning and visits your dreams in the night. For me, I love to learn, especially about other races and creatures. I’m passionate about learning of foreign races you see. That’s what I mean about passion. Is there anything you feel passionate about yet? Or are you still searching, young friend?” As she spoke her hand gestured around the space in front of her and her eyes sparkled happily as she mentioned what truly interested her. All the different creatures flooding the Base Camp to aid the Spires had cemented her desire firmly. She longed to see every race of sentient creature alive and study their existence and habits extensively.

[Zahlee]

His eyes wheeled on her and his face contorted in anger. "We are beings that live in the human and the animal world. For we are both part human and part animal, so when you insult humans you are still insulting us." he voice seemed different than before. As if he were trying to keep his fury under control but was failing miserably."As for this passion that you speak of. I have no idea what I want to do with this brief life I have been given but I trust that I have a purpose that is either to big for me to comprehend or to small for me to notice. It is likely that I will never even learn my purpose, but what can I do? I am not a god or a goddess and their whims are strange to us. Especially to we Kelvics who have no real us for them. We a but playthings in their grand scheme of life. We are used and then left to rot if our purpose has been fulfilled."

He trailed off a minute before sticking his trembling hands into his somewhat tattered pants, trying to control his breathing as he did so. His fury was still there but he soon had a control over it and began to speak again. "I am sorry for my harsh tone. It's just that when someone brings up the gods and things having to do with the future it bothers me. I have no real love them but I know that without them we would get no where in this life. It's sad to say but sometimes I wish I had never been given this life because I know that I'm just going to end up being used for one of their goals." he spat the last sentence out as if it tasted vile.

[Asha]

Asha’s eyes widened as the young Kelvic turned upon her in anger, but she remained silent throughout his tirade. She was more surprised than offended at his outburst and was curious as to what could have caused it. She didn’t think her words had been insulting. Humans were silly after all. Why did he take such offense to that? She felt he was a strange creature indeed but that only intrigued her more. She had always thought of Kelvics as more or less pure animals that chose to pull human skin over their bodies on occasion and parade about society that way. “I do not view the gods the same as you do, apparently. My people were created by the wise goddess Caihya. We owe our existence and our intelligence to her. I do not view my people as her playthings. We are her children and she loves us endlessly. She would never use us without great need but if she did it would be an honor to be in her service.” Asha’s words had moved her to some emotion and her chest began to rise quickly as her breathing increased. The thought that Caihya would use her children as toys in idle schemes was almost insulting. Also, it seemed like bad luck going around and complaining about the gods, and Asha did not want to be associated with that. She inhaled a few deep breaths to let the irritation ebb away. Anger was useless and unhelpful. “As far as your purpose, Zahlee, well, we are not always meant to know such things. But I will say this, purpose and passion is different. Purpose is what your life leads to. You cannot know it until you reach that destination. But passion is chosen and present in your life every day. But I suppose in a way that must be found too. Sometimes I forget how young Kelvics are so my apologies. I forget that I have had so much more time to consider these things in my life.” Asha gazed at the young boy who had trembled with angers only moments ago. In some ways she felt sad for this small Kelvic boy who was so angry with the world. He seemed to not understand the gift of his life and his importance in the cycle of nature. It made Asha appreciate the values her community had impressed upon her.

[Zahlee]

He noticed how Asha he regained her compose and felt a little guilty for upsetting her.

"Asha I am very sorry if I have offended you. I am just confused about how my life has turned out this way. I mean my parents were devout servants of Lady Caihya and praised her for every meal that entered our stomach. I just don't understand how she could let something happen to my parents whenever they were so loyal. I've contemplated this for a long time and I still have yet to come to a reasonable answer." he said trailing off once again.

His hands were now resting loosely in his pockets and his breathing had softened to as it had been before his anger had clouded his judgement. Then he looked directly into Asha's eyes his own nothing more than empty pits of sadness.

"Is there a way I can meet Caihya and ask her myself? Please if you know any way, any way at all that would allow me to find her I would be most grateful?" he pleaded with her.

[Asha]

Asha smiled gently at Zahlee as he explained the way he felt. She couldn’t be upset with him for his rash words. She understood the harsh emotion of youth and the way it could make you say things you might not have meant, especially if his family was at risk. She knew all too well the emotions that could overtake a person when their family was in danger. “I understand your anger about your family. It is tragic to lose a family member; there is no doubt about that. But you mustn’t blame Caihya for that Zahlee. The balance of nature must be upheld, and we must all die one day in order to uphold it. As for why, I do not know. I don’t think it is for us to know. All I know is that one day Dira will come to take the life that Caihya has provided me.” Asha looked up at the clouds a moment after she finished speaking. Discussing the day Dira would claim her always gave her a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. She never enjoyed that feeling. Sighing she pulled her gaze back down and to Zahlee. “I do not know of a way to contact Caihya. Perhaps you should visit her temple? Though it’s rather dangerous to visit right now. Maybe you can go when it’s safer. Though I don’t Caihya presents herself to just anybody who wants to see her. She chooses who she sees. What do you wish to see her for, again? Did you say that you wanted to ask her about your parent’s death?” Asha had no idea how to respond to that sort of request. Caihya wasn’t someone to be beckoned at will. Asha didn’t know much about the goddess but she did know that. Though that seemed a general rule about most gods.

[Capricious]

Character Name

Asha

Skill	XP Earned	Lore Earned
Teaching	2	• Plant: Stinging Nettle
Gardening	2	• Mouse and Moles Bush?
Anthropology	1	• Mental Note: Take a Bath
		• Shifting Takes Energy

If Zahlee should return, I will grade for him/her. I wish this thread had lasted longer.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.