Closed What Does Blue Look Like to You? (Zyah'suyakal)

[Uopa]

The Sixteenth Day of the Spring Season, Five Hundred and Thirteen Years After the Valterrian

[Uopa]

"Please, be sure to bring back your little one," Kristina Tusanki, the hostess of Bastani Bakery, implored Uopa as she departed the sweet smelling shop. "I'm sure he would love to try our double-iced, dark chocolate, cherry-filled jarcakes!" "Yes, I'm sure he would," the Inarta graciously replied, with a smile and a nod, as she swiftly slipped outside. As long as you're willing to buy him a new set of teeth once the ones he has rot right out of his little head, she thought with a wicked grin as she quickened her steps, putting as much distance between herself and the den of delectable delights. She had stopped in to price a natal day cake for her Aunt Nimi, who would be turning another year older, later this season. Nothing more, nothing less. However, the baker and his wife had tried everything in their power to ensure that she went home with a sack of sweets. Thankfully, Uopa was able to fend them off, regardless of the fact that chocolate - actually, anything even remotely chocolaty - was one of her true weaknesses in life. The city's Sweetday on the sixtieth was usually her undoing. She had to do her best to refrain from spoiling herself this early in the season, especially since she had recently started training her body. Okay, where to now? she pondered as she stood not too far from this season's Survival Festival sapling. I have the cake priced, the decorations figured out, and the guest list is taking shape with each passing day. What next? she continued to ponder as she began to walk. I guess I could shop around for a gift..., she reasoned just as she carelessly clipped the shoulder of a woman who was passing by. "Oh! I'm so sorry. I'm not paying any attention to where I'm going," she lamented as she grabbed the woman's elbow in an effort to save her from stumbling to the ground below. "Please, forgive me. My mind was miles away...and for such a trivial reason, too!" she added with a slight chuckle. "Party planning of all things. Honestly."

[Zyah'suyakal Songbringer]

Zyah'suyakal listened to her surroundings, content at just hearing the way they moved and spoke. It was music to her, in some ways, in others it was just white noise. Her Strider, Ryzan was in close step behind her, he was constantly nibbling at her hair or her hand, she let out a soft giggle as his whiskers brushed against her bare flesh. The city was very lively today, nothing like the sublime beauty of the coastline or vineyards. In some ways the Drykas female found it unnerving, she was far better prepared for the open lands in the Sea of Grass then the confining streets of a large city or port. She was pondering her thoughts when someone walked into her shoulder, as soon as they impacted the Drykas knew it was a woman. Even before hearing her voice, she knew dew to the lightness of the collision, the curves that were much like her own and the fact that the woman was shorter in height. And after hearing the voice her suspicion was confirmed. She listened contently for a moment to the woman's frantic apology before she smiled.''It is quite alright, I wasn't paying attention either, I was thinking about colors of all things. And well, I was trying to remember what they looked like, so you are not at fault. I am....'' She reassured the woman with a gentle smile, and a warm hand on her arm over the hand that was gripping her shoulder. Through the woman's touch she could feel her pulse, it was beating steadily, and at a normal rate indicating that the female was young and healthy. The Drykas female tried to picture the other woman in her mind but soon failed.

[Uopa]

"Oh?" was all Uopa was initially able to say as the realization of the woman's situation unexpectedly struck the Inarta nearly silent. Had she really just admitted that she could not see? How was it even possible that she was out here on her own? This realm was dangerous enough for a sighted individual, but for a sightless one - and an attractive female at that - it had to be an absolute night terror! It just had to be. "Again, I'm so very sorry. This was entirely my fault," she was finally able to muster, regardless of the fact that there was nothing new to the sentiment of her words. She was basically reiterating what she had stated a chime earlier. I can do better than this! she scolded herself. "Is...is there anything I can do for you? I mean, I...I'm sorry. It's not that you appear to need any assistance at this very moment...except, well, maybe a warning system would come in handy for when clumsy, fiery-haired Inarta are on the loose, but...still...I feel the need to offer." Nice. Treat her like a mere child. "You know what? Let's try this again," she rambled, feeling herself grow more and more awkward as the chimes passed. "Hello, and welcome to Riverfall! My name is Uopa. I don't believe I've seen you around...here...be...fore..." Oh for the love of the gods above! And what's this poor creature going to say to that brilliant introduction? 'That's funny. You're face sure looks familiar to me!' Nice going, idiot. Could you be any more ridiculous? Could you? I think not!

[Zyah'suyakal Songbringer]

The young Drykas could do little but fall into a fit of giggles. The sound was melodious and soft, she put a hand over her mouth to stifle the sound. "I am sorry, you just sound silly, there is no need to be so awkward around me....I am blind, but I am not dumb, I am capable of caring for myself, and it is a pleasure, Miss Uopa. You can call me Zyah'suyakal." She smiled again, then there was a nudge on her back, it pushed her forward against the other, so each was flush against the other. Zyah'suyakal sighed. "And this big oaf is Ryzan, he is my Strider." Apon hearing his name Ryzan let out a soft whikering sound of approval, then rested his massive head on his Rider's shoulder. Ryzan stared at the Inarta, wide chocolate brown eyes staring at her, he then huffed, and turned his head to chew at his Rider's hair, yet still kept eyes on the other. His rider giggled, then shouldered him out of the way. "Come on you big oaf, not right now. And stop chewing on my hair, no wonder it is getting short." She sighed yet it was with generous humor, her Strider huffed, then backed up a few steps. Many other citizens walked around the trio, watching the Strider with wide eyes. Ryzan shook out his mane, making the shells in it clink together.

[Uopa]

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Zyah'suyakal. I'm sorry for being so awkward. It's just, well, I can't imagine what it's like to be sightless. I mean, how do you...get about? Wouldn't it be better to have a sighted companion, you know, beyond your handsome four-legged friend here." At this point, Uopa offered her hand to the horse, allowing him to sniff, lick, and nibble it as he saw fit. "Forgive me, once again, if I'm being rude in asking such questions. It's just, it's fascinating to me. My profession is that of a glassworker. I can't imagine doing it without my sight. I think it would be near impossible. However, you'll probably tell me you're a skilled archer or seamstress...or something elaborate. For all I know, being sightless gives you an advantage that I can't even imagine at this chime in time." Taking a step back, the Inarta regarded the woman and her horse with a keen eye. They both appeared well-groomed and in good order. If she hadn't been told, she would've never guessed the girl had any shortcomings. However, again, maybe she was assuming too much. Maybe being sightless was a gift of the gods. Perhaps there were positives to such a negative. Although, now that she had a moment to reflect on the situation... "Wait, I just remembered what you said a few chimes ago. You said something about trying to remember what colors looked like. Does that mean you were once with sight? Again, forgive me, I know this is really none of my concern. Truly, it isn't. But, I...I'm just so very fascinated by the whole idea of 'seeing' the world through your eyes. What images do you conjure up in your mind?"

[Zyah'suyakal Songbringer]

"Ryzan is all I need, he has been my eyes since I was a child, which was when I lost my sight. It was needed of me to loose my sight, for it I had not, I wouldn't have met my beloved Strider. And don't try and touch him, he will try and bite..." Zyah'suyakal caught Uopa's wrist with a firm yet soft hand wrapping around the woman's wrist. The Drykas sighed, theses questions were all the same, and she was treated the same each time, not that it much mattered of what she thought, she was expected to tell the one who was curious to ask questions. Yet when Uopa spoke of her glass-work, she smiled, curiosity of her own brewing. "To answer a few of your questions, I lost my sight around the age of twelve, we even Visited the Opal Clan, they are renowned for their medicinal herbs, and healing abilities, even their best healer was unable to stop the deterioration of my sight. And your questions, and I find this surprising myself, are tolerable. Normally I hate the constant bombardment of questions, but you are an exception." She released Uopa's wrist, then instead touch her finger's to the woman's face, feeling the youthful contours of her gentle face, the Drykas' finger's were slightly callused indicating that she was a hard worker, and it was true, the young girl had grown up in the Grasslands, a land of untamed beauty, and dangerous creatures. "I see by touch....." Zyah'suyakal whispered, her breath was soft, and serene, the voice of a woman content at the moment.

[Uopa]

"Oh," Uopa let slip as she allowed Zyah'suyakal to touch her face. It was the least she could do for hounding the poor woman with so many questions. "Your hands, they, uh, they remind me of my lover Kanto's. They're thick skinned and a bit rough," she explained as her left cheek was stroked and her nose was tapped. "It's not a bad thing, well, to me at least. Although, I must admit, I wasn't expecting you to have such overworked hands, which just goes to show you how much I really look at the things I'm able to see." She allowed the woman to explore for a few chimes more before speaking again. "I hate to ask you yet another series of questions, but, well, as you already know, I'm curious." Uopa paused now to make sure that she hadn't upset the young woman with her words. Zyah' had mentioned that numerous questions usually annoyed her, but for some reason she was okay with the Inarta asking as many as she had. She didn't want to push her luck, but when it seemed okay to continue, she did. "So, I feel the need to ask you...what do I look like? I mean, do you use an image from your past, from when you could see, or do you conjure up something new?" She took a moment now to consider this notion. It seemed, well, somewhat liberating and, to a degree, rather exciting! Didn't it? Zyah' could picture things however she wanted to and nothing would get in her way. People could be young and pretty, well, forever! The realm around her could be an unending sea of beauty. If someone were to be hurt or, worse yet, killed right before her, she had the option to never see such horrible things. Although, maybe the mere sounds of such an event were worse than being able to actually see what was happening. Maybe the mind created worse images. It was possible, after all. Sort of like thinking there was something wicked lurking in the shadows in the middle of the night. The mind's eye could be a powerful thing when it wanted to be. "I must say, I sort of envy you," the Inarta randomly admitted as she moved to take a seat upon a nearby bench.

[Zyah'suyakal Songbringer]

''You envy me? I must say you are one of the first to say such thing.........You asked me what yu looked like, I see a beautiful young woman who has lived a good life so far. You don't have stress lines nor do you have many signs of aging......like I said, you are beautiful in my opinion...." Her cheeks became flushed as the other mentioned her lover. For some reason Zyah'suyakal felt s stab of dissapointment, which was absurd. She allowed her fingers to linger for a few more moments before pulling away. She listened closely to the movements of Uopa, then with confidence that one would not have believed the young Drykas possesed, she made her way over to the bench, seatimg herself she turned in the direction of her newfound companion. ''Does my blindness make you think less of me? And if it does, allow me to assure you that I am quite capable.....Wait! You are fluent in Nari, yes? I ask you, could you possibly teach me some of the language? I only have a basic understanding of it, you see my bother's wife taught me some, but .....'' She sighed and reached out to run her fingers over Ryzan's shoulder. For the Strider had moved himself to stand beside the two female's almost acting as if he were protecting the two. Zyah chuckled and then allowed her fingers to fall away. "You have a good kind heart, I can hear it in the wa you speak, as well as your heartbeat. It speeds up when you are nervous, such as you are now. You are also quite curious of me, hell, I would be curious about myself if I was in your shoes...." Her voice trailed off once again she ran a hand through the thick curling tresses that adourned her head as Ryzan stepped closer to Uopa, he extended his head and began to nuzzle her. It seemed that he was curious of the other.

[Uopa]

"I do. I envy you. I envy your ability to conjure up whatever image you wish for every little thing in the world around you. If you want the sky to be ten shades of pink, even when the sun is not rising, it's pink. If you want that great big orb in the sky to be made of candy, it can be. I know that may sound ridiculous, especially since you once were able to see and, clearly, neither of those things are particularly true, but still. Extend that notion to the people around you. In your mind's eye, everyone can be young and beautiful for the rest of their days. You don't need to see pain or suffering, disease and death. Disfigurements can suddenly be no more. Warts and grey hair and wrinkles be gone!" Uopa giggled now, realizing that she was getting more than a little carried away. "I...I'm sorry. Sometimes my mind just wanders off into crazy little notions and, well, I lose myself. Forgive me. Now, to your question about Nari. Sure! I could teach you a few key phrases and words. It's my native tongue, so I speak it better than common," she informed the young woman as her four-legged companion nuzzled his way closer. "Well, it looks like someone is warming up to me. May I pet him now?" she questioned as she adjusted herself upon the bench.