1st day of Summer 519 ‡It was late in the afternoon; the skies were brightened with the heating of the sun attempting to scorch through the darkening layer of clouds high above that provided splotching's of shade and cool quietness upon the beaches below and beyond him. A boat had brought him to Syka, along with a trader and a few of his goods, as well as a handful of others from the northern reaches of the Suva Sea. The oars were being hauled in through the port holes by the dozen arms that had been rowing it this far inland. The boat was nothing overly large, but low enough, and flat enough to be able to be driven onto the shores, and pushed back into the sea for departure. He who owned the boat had mentioned that he had never been to Syka before, but was sure that they were there when the beach that spanned out far along the coast had splotches of small buildings and a few people noticeable who were out and about. Thus Torien understood well enough that they had reached their destination. His mind was more suited to flying in the skies, than riding upon the shifting tides of water that had driven him towards a forlorn state of seasickness. He was in a hurry to get off, as soon as he could. Now was his chance. They had passed a reef before making it to the nearest of beaches. The Syka river had to be rowed passed before reaching the beach where the community seemed to thrive. ‡ Boots of a darkened leather slid into the sands he now stood upon. Some of the grains being squished outwards to form the print of his step. Those boots rose up towards his calves, adorned with buckles that were darkened to keep from reflecting a shine. Sun-darkened legs lead to the hang of leather straps that were belted to the tight strengths of a war belt layered around his waist. These wide leather straps hung with metal adornments upon them. Some of them were embossed with symbols, others were plain and unadorned with insignias or meaning save for some feint ability of defense, or display similar to brigandine. These hanging leathers thus swayed slowly with their sturdy heaviness, na form of protection, yet with the allowance of air to flow and cool off flesh where it would sweat in such heat. These curtaining folds hung over the ridges of thighs that had yet to become chiseled from running amongst but perhaps had a modest amount of use as would one who owned not a horse, and walked about instead to get from one location to another. ‡ His upper body was concealed by the overture of a light materialled mantle that hung loosely from the burl of broadened shoulders. There was a strong bulk about his chest but still, a modest amount, as well as a slender diverseness of his waist that some women were able to be caught oggling upon in the streets of his prior home. For those women were known to go home to men who were guilty of eating far too much and possibly because their women fed them, way too much. He recalled one story, where a woman began adding a particular herb to her food she served her husband. And he went about running to undo his drawers in the proper place whilst he could before it was too late. Her excuse had been that it was to help him lose weight. ‡ Anyways, such his cloak was wrapped around to keep from occurring in these settling moments where he sought to start a new life. The cloak was of a dark burgundy tone, like the thickness of his own blood. Something he’d spilt a few times in his past and looked to continue to spill from others in his future. Time with his bow had allowed him to note the varying shades of such a form of life's’ sustenance while hunting for instance. One of his arms, besought with arguing muscles enwrapped like tight vising cords beneath flesh, held onto a strap that led to his backpack. It was a leather adornment that weighed behind him with a few necessities that he felt should be brought along. It though was not carried as if it was weighing him down enough to find a place to set it. Jutting up from the same side of his back was a quiver, laden with enough arrows to take out a group of ill-intending miscreants, one by one. Discreetly strapped to the quiver was sheathed a short sword, a basic sword, a cheap one. One that would be useful regardless of it’s worth, when and if a melee weapon would be needed. ‡ There was the jutting of another hilt beyond, a smaller one, adorning the wide belt at his waist. Along with accouterments hidden within a few leather pouches tied shut with leather cords that he felt jostled loosely with the weight of their contents. Far above, his head was concealed by the brevity of a shadowing hood. Enough of the lining was pulled by lithe fingers to conceal the guise of his features, and perhaps further discreet his identity. Dark eyes lulled about the beaches beyond him, beaches that led to the rise of a few roofs that were noticeable over the lush green tops of trees. Trees of many variations he began to discern with curiosity and appeal towards the coloring fruits that grew from their arms. ‡ None the less, Torien had arrived, and began to head further from the boat now that they had finally reached Syka. Utterings from a few others about guided him with knowledge that there were places he could stay for a few nights. There was no sign of fences or walls surrounding the village. Some places looked in the process of being built further down the beach where a few tents were scattered further in the distance. The village seemed quite well off since it appeared to not be endangered by any outside predators or theft by neighboring youths of nearby villages, if there were any. There were already plans within his mind to find a suitable spot to secret his belongings which were not many, and easily hidden. He could spend some time in the air afterwards as his other half, even now, he felt his wings aching to unfold from their rootings at his spine. His shoulders shifted involuntarily to the subconscious idea, as if he would need to flap his wings even now. Wings which would lift him high into the tops of the trees, and scout out the area with a prominent eye to determine what was where, and where it would be best to settle at. First thing was first of course. ‡ He shifted his grip on his bow, its grip remained warm in his fist as he strode onwards. It was prized to him, perhaps the most important thing on him. He was silently assuring himself it would not be stolen whilst on new land, and in new company. It was the tool of his trade and what his lifestyle would be based upon to survive where he knew the untamed roamed with little restriction. ‡ Upon his left shoulder jutted the tail end of a wooden shield. This bottom side of it was acutely angled, so it could be driven into the ground. There were a few things to be done to it. Little tricks of the trade that he overheard, or picked up from watching other warriors who practiced, and sparred on the outskirts of the city's barracks. It was strapped onto his torso, the strap itself hidden beneath the folds of his mantling cloak. It had no emblem or insignia upon it, and appeared fresh off of someone's wall of priced armor. ‡ Sometimes he didn’t feel dangerous at all. Other times, people just whispered it at him, as if he didn’t recognize the fact at all. Were they seriously needing to tell him that? Perhaps it was a peaceful world, or their part was. It reminded him that he had elsewhere to go, the jungle beckoned him into its’ depths, into its dangerous clutches. The Goddess Caiyha came to mind. She whom sometimes he felt was watching over him whilst he flew around as a hawk. She who gave birth to so many of the trees that rose up so high into the skies. Needless to say, there was an abundance of plants and smaller greeneries along the beach that his eye was not used to being appealed to whilst in a port city. Peculiarities of his interest ebbed into his thoughts, Caiyha must love this area, for she had taken a good amount of her time to ensure it was beautiful. Perhaps such beauty drew beautiful women to its’ threshold and peaceful surroundings. If it was safe for such plants to become beautiful, it must be for women as well. -‡- Word count = 1505 -‡- |