Stranger Things

[Naiya]

Summer 57th 516AV

It was lovely again, as the weather held it's middle ground. Warm, delightful, and stirred by a gentle wind. It furthered bolstered the peaceful mood that stemmed from the days before. So much good had been done for the refugees, and a good number of Drykas as well. The boy she had met, sandy haired and perhaps a bit wild, he was a charming child, nearly grown, really. He had been good company, and made what had become a frivolous task in her own mind, one that served a great purpose.

Looking more closely at the event, perhaps it was just his kindness that had spurred her good mood. All the same, she luxuriated in the feeling of lightness as she gazed out the open pavilion flaps. Her store was slow, although she'd made a few sales today, she had plenty of time to work, and once the work she could do from inside the store was done, she was left to peer at the crowds and meander through her thoughts.

As the sky began to darken Naiya moved from her position of rest, her motion stirring a response from her baby. The movement in her belly a common reassurance that her little girl was fine. She tidied, sealing jars, refilling water baths, and tying closed the vents and gaps in the pavilion.

She was nearly done closing up, but Seirei had come by to help her open the shop, namely to move the display table into a prominent place in front of the shop. Now she was alone to move it back, and her stomach was too large to lift the table alone.

"Excuse me," greetings, pardon Her voice was firm, cutting through evening chatter with the force of words meant to be heeded by others. The man she noticed turned to look at her and she smiled, Greetings, "Would you help me move this table?" Not far, inside. The man, a refugee perhaps, looked a little startled, and perhaps slightly confused. She took hold of one end of the table and mimed lifting it, which was clue enough.

"Oh! Uh.. sure." His common was more comfortable, clearly, and she smiled as he rushed to help her, a glance at her belly seeming to hasten him along.

"Thank you," She told him, noticing with proximity that he seemed a bit thin. "Come, have a token of gratitude." She shaped the pavi word as she spoke the common, hoping to connect the word to the sign. He looked confused, but lingered, unsure.

His hesitation was long enough for Naiya to slip inside and find a hearty gently pressed cheese.

"For you, please. Bring the container back when the cheese is gone, and I can refill it for a bit more help." The offer was genuine, she was confident enough in herself despite the rumors, and signs of violence. If nothing else, a shout would bring all sorts of Drykas running, her pregnancy was one known and celebrated. The city had been excited for the child long before she had been able to wrap her head around the idea herself.

The people would have been keeping an eye on her, especially those near her shop and home. If the refugee turned violent, any number of people would come to her defense.

With the man gone, and her table tucked away, she closed up the pavilion, waddling around the side to find her home tucked neatly away as well.

It was however, fairly empty, as evening chores and plans began, so Naiya found herself stirring the fire alone. The embers burned low, perhaps too much so to start a new fire. Yet, getting close enough to the ground to strike up a new one was a task that brought her great difficulty. She knelt carefully, leaning only slightly forward, trying to get her hips to bend the rest of her out over the fire.

She struck the flint, shaving the metal curls over the woodshavings. Fussing over the starting of the fire with such intent that she might have missed everything else around her.

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Naiya space Pavi | Common | Tukant
other space Pavi | Common | Tukant

[Pulren Marsh]

The end of another long day. Always something to do, though Pulren knew that he was a glorified gopher. With all of the refugee mess going around, he felt blessed to be able to move about freely and also as a member of the Watch. Still, though, he longed for the sea and things familiar to him. The general heat and smell of horse shyke he could do without. The demeanor of the people more than made up for any discomforts, however. As haughty as the other Watch were, it was clear that Azmere's acceptance of Pulren carried a lot of weight and the Zeltivan was not going to scoff at such a thing.

As dusk passed into darkness, he made his rounds, making sure that all of the clan businesses were secure and none of the refugees were making any trouble. Pulren's appearance, in his leather armor, shield and trident in hands, he was an imposing figure, even for his height. Most of the refugees made way for him an the Drykas respected him enough, at least. As he moved between the tents, he saw a man standing at the opening of a tent, a familiar face on the other side. Naiya Dawnwhisper, the pregnant Drykas woman he had met a few days before, was offering the man some food. Something about the man's lingering presence drew Pulren's attention, mostly due to the safety of a pregnant woman. Though she was with child, Naiya was probably still as tough as ten Zeltivan women. Nevertheless, he felt drawn to aid.

He was unsure if the man felt Pulren's approach or maybe the ind blew him away, but he soon curried off to his own devices. Marsh shot him a glance before approaching the tent himself. Intending to check in on Naiya, he moved the flap of the tent aside to find the woman bent over, cursing and fussing at the remains of a fire. Pulren wanted to help, but he stood there silently a moment longer. She wore pregnancy well, especially from Pulren's current angle. He cleared his throat, hoping not to scare her or make her burn herself. "Naiya? Do you need help?" He stepped inside and put his weapon and shield down, waiting to offer assistance.

A Gossamer Template

[Naiya]

Canvas whispered softly at her back, a sound familiar, but the voice that spoke common was one she could hardly place. She felt a moment of fear as she turned to cast blue eyes upon the rugged man in her doorway. Her heart settled in her chest at the vaguely familiar face, even as her mind chided the dogs outside. This man had made it all the way into their home unannounced, and really what good were watch dogs that didn't at least bark?

She sighed as the big heavy head of Ashette poked into the pavilion on the other side of her home. The black dog bellowed a warning, delivered far too late as he galloped forward towards the rugged visitor. The common words processed in her mind as she straightened, slow to rise from her kneeling position as she put the rest of her thoughts together. From outside she heard a tumble of heavy feet and a second bark of warning, Baluke also late to the show.

"Enough." The command came strongly to the beasts, who barked again, ignoring her command. She searched for a stick of a reasonable size, easily enough she cracked it loudly against the dirt. "Enough." she repeated firmly even as apology formed over her shoulders towards the man. The second call was enough to call her beast of an animal off, he turned to her with a goofy grin and once she was sure he had settled attention on her, she rewarded him with affection. Baluke's head appeared behind them, already turned to the command.

"I'm sorry." She shifted consciously into common, missing the depth of apology that she could have offered in her native tongue. "They are still learning to listen well, and I am not the most skilled teacher." Her hands formed words that half appeared and fell, unneeded commentary to a man who could not understand it.

A gentle grin formed across her lips, what a sight she must have been, kneeling in the dirt wrestling to reign in her animals with a barely started fire at her front. No wonder he thought she needed help. She shook her head, she didn't need help, not really. She lingered over the fire a few moments more, making sure it caught before she rose. Kneeling was much easier than sitting, but still she righted herself slowly with a heavy hand on Ashette who hovered near her side. The pony sized dog was a useful companion.

"It's a pleasure to have company, you must stay, at least for tea?" She patted the black fur of the dog roughly, then brushed her hands off on the front of her loin cloth. Whether it was purely motivated by the tradition of muloyim, or the recollection of his kindness in the recent past, she felt comfortable inviting him to linger beside the fire.

Or rather in the shade, the proximity to the fire simply an aspect of the meals that needed cooking. Naiya offered him a seat, the colorful cushions that littered the floor available for his comfort, whether he found it in sitting in the breeze of the open pavilion or lingering beside the fire. She pulled a wetskin from the rafters and filled her kettle, setting it beside the growing fire. Mugs she would have to fetch, but she was capable, and there was little hurry.

"How is the watch treating you?" she asked, mildly interested in how he adapted, but also seeking to hear how they were receiving the outsiders. With all the kerfuffle about 'us' and 'them' Naiya knew tensions were running high. The watch were meant to be ambassadors, but they didn't have to be kind about it.

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Naiya space Pavi | Common | Tukant
other space Pavi | Common | Tukant