Flashback Childhood Matters (FlashBack) Pt 1

[Akarn]

Childhood Matters (FlashBack)
Fall 17th day 502 AV
Part 1

The golden rays of the sun peaked over the horizon of the Sea of Grass to make for a nice start to the morning. A slight breeze wound itself through the stalks of grass enough to sway it back and forth. Anise, wife of Jayden, sat with her first child, Akarn. She gazed at him thoughtfully watching him bound through the grass that was a bit taller than him. Sometimes the only indication of where her son whereabouts was the grass shaking violently in his wake. She knew he was keeping himself busy until his father came back from the morning hunt and avoiding her. For the mornings were hers to teach her son, this was the agreement between mother and father.

The young Drykas woman sat cross-legged in small patch of pushed down grass that for this morning she claimed as her own. She had a knife in one hand and a small tubular shaped piece of wood in her other. She was busying herself notching out holes along its length. The tube already had beautiful etched carvings of runic symbols and small horses adorning the outer layer of the item. One end of the item flattened out to taper. The small pieces of chipped, curled wood from her work lay about her legs and on the ground. It was a slow process since half of her attention was trying to keep track of her energetic son.

Picking up the wooden flute she was working on she gave each hole a tiny blow to clear out any loose particles that may of fallen back in to the piece. Then she turned it over and shook it a little reassuring herself that it was indeed clear. Then she brought the tapered end up to her soft lips and blew. The decorative flute emitted a slight whistle sound and she ran her fingers over each hole while blowing.

Even the melody of tuning the flute caught the attention of Akarn. He stopped in the tall grass and turned back towards his pavilion. The sound was majestic to his young ears and he smiled in joy hearing it. He did not hesitate in making his way back to where his mother was sitting. He sprang through the grass and in to the opening. Once there he stood mesmerized by the music.

His mother had begun to play a melody and even though he did not recognize the song it had stopped him in wondrous awe. The music threads entwined the air and seemed to draw his very being in to it. The sound made him feel safe and peaceful while he listened to the euphony. The song came to an end and her emerald eyes gazed up at her son and she smiled. She lifted the flute from her mouth and held it with her palm open for her son to look at it.

Akarn stepped forward slowly raising his small hands almost afraid to touch the flute. He did not want to destroy the magnificent thing or the memory of the moment. His fingers gingerly stroked the music instrument. He looked over at his mother and she nodded, knowing his desire. He softly picked it up and turned it about to wonder at how elegant it looked and yet the simplicity of its inward design. He placed it upon his lips as he had seen his mother do, and blew. Not a sound was heard except for the light hearted chuckle of his mother. So the young child blew harder, but to no avail.

Then with a disappointed filled face and scrunched lips he handed the flute back to his mother. She smiled to her Akarn, "Do not despair my son." He emerald eyes sparkled. "Zulrav has not yet gifted you with the whispering sound." She stood and then looked back down at her son. "Do you remember Zulrav?" she said laying her hand about his windswept hair.

Akarn nodded and he remembered the tales. "Zulrav, he is the one who rattles the night during the rainy season."

Anisa laughed, "Yes, Akarn, he is the thunder but he is much more." She took her sons hand and led him in to the grass. "Do you see the wind?"

Akarn looked out through the grass, "The wind is unseen, momma, you cannot see it."

"But you can," She said with a softness. "Do you not see how Zulrav sways the grass or causes the wind to feel cool upon your cheek?" Then paused for a moment to let him take in what she had said. " These are the signs of Zulrav, along with the rain, the thunder and the lightning." She guided him back to her patch of land and sat down again and waited for him to do the same.

Akarn could now see the wind and maybe not the cause of it but definitely the effect. There was wind signs all around him. The movement of the grass, the air as it lifted his hair, scent of a camp fire coming from the pavilion. His mother always looked at the world through different eyes then he did. He followed her back to the small flattened area of grass and sat beside her. he knew play time was over for the moment.

Seeing him settled, she continued. "Without Zulrav we would surely perish. He gives of gift of rain and that is where all water comes from. Without water nothing would survive. So you should give thanks to Zulrav, if even just for that." She saw Akarn fidget a little and knew he wanted to hear more about the flute so she looked over at him. "The Drykas are not just mighty warriors like your father, Akarn. We are much more." She held up the flute to her young listener. "Zulrav has gifted us the whispering sound and through it we get melody. A sound that can only be made by your own wind. Not everyone can learn it, but those that can will be able to weave a tale of sound for all to enjoy."

Akarn looked at the flute for a second then up to his mother. "Can I learn?"

"Yes you can, but only Zulrav can grant you the mastery of it." She lowered the flute. "But before you can learn to play such a thing you must first understand it." With that she pulled out a small tubular piece of stalk and a small knife. "I will teach you both of these, if you like."

The young Drykas child nodded eagerly and he took the items. He had already learned to carve small horses from her and he enjoyed the task. He smiled and waited patiently while his mother produced another hollow grass stalk. She smiled at her son and knew she had his attention and she began to teach and he began to learn.

[Jackalope]

Hey, Akarn! I'm going through and grading your 'Childhood Matters' threads, and I've noticed frequent use of NPCs. I need to direct you here. In order to use NPCs such as your family in the way you are, there's some stuff you need to do. Read up on that thread and let me know once you've taken care of things regarding that, and I'll be happy to post your grades! Thanks a bunch!