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 Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 10:04 am
Quote: Ewya sighed and leaned back. Her children were back where they were supposed to be, and all seemed more or less in balance once more. She could only hope that it would last. She closed her eyes and drank in the feeling of the calm. It was delicious. However, she had learned from the ordeal. That was something she hoped all her children would be able to do in time, to take any ordeal and come out of it with lessons learned. One of the things that she had taken in was that things could not simply wait forever. She was going to have to take some actions on her own, lest others take them for her, again. This was not Pandora, this new world, and this fractured tribe was so different then the others, while so much remained the same.
One of the things she had to act on was the meeting with the elves. She had her eye on these so called Wolfriders for some time now. Their bond with their wolves, even though they are not present, was much like her own people with their Ikran. Each wolf would take a single rider only, though the elves outlived what they called their furry cousins, and would by necessity of their life style and duration have more then one over their span of years.
The Wolfriders also seemed very aware of the forest and the life around them. They marked time with the seasons, and the moon. Odd to see a moon from this angle, rather than living on it. The Wolfriders too were removed from their world, though they seemed more aware of it then the Na'vi were. Which was just as well, for Ewya. In their previous forms, both had been four fingered and point eared, and both had trouble with humans, sky people to her own children. Though the Elves were the intruders on their world, not that they recalled it. Well, one did, and it was to that one whom she must speak.
One more similarity poked at Ewya as she sought out Timmian, the foremother of the Wolfriders. Their ability to communicate mentally. Were they able to teach that to the Na'vi, without the use of the Queues... The ramifications for her children were endless. So many lost the all important connective feature when the transference was made. This would be a way for them to regain what they had lost.
Ewya sent her spirit into the land to seek the High One, as her people called her. She found Timmian resting beside a stream,very nearly as far from her children as she could be without leaving Dream Valley; well, as far as she could be from the main pack. Her son wandered near, and Ewya wondered if mother and son were aware of each other's locations. As a direct approach, one she could not take with her children, was the most polite, Ewya returned to herself. Her mind brushed two others as she passed, a mind filled with light, bright and pure as the dessert sun, and a mind filled with the darkness of deep caves. She intended to look into both, in due time.
Once back securely to herself, she lifted to the sky and flew to where the one she sought rested. She landed before her, across a small finger of the stream. She bowed low. “Timmian, I presume.” Quote: Timmain looked up at the odd pony before her. Blue of skin, and pretty in her own way, but certainly not anyone whom she had met before. And yet... Yet there was a feeling of almost sameness to her. Something in Timmian felt an automatic kinship with this other. There was some way in which they were the same. Her time in wolf form had blunted her tongue when she spoke as an Elf. She knew this from the reactions her children had given her when she had returned to them. Now, in this new world with it's valleys and single moon, and lack of recognizable humans, Timmian had decided that it was best not to rejoin them just yet. However, solitude was not suiting her, and for all she did not know this other, she welcomed the company, for however long or short a span the interaction would take. “What are you?” Timmain asked. In this new world, the question seemed to suit her far better then asking who someone was. Too many here were filled with a sense of self importance and seemed offended when she did not know their name when given it. Fewer, oddly, seemed to be offended by the question of what. Strange world indeed. Quote: “I am called Ewya, by my people. They, much like your children, are not from this world, though they are admittedly less aware of it. When we came to this world to form our new tribe, I began to learn of your Wolfriders. They are in some ways much like the Na'vi, the children I have brought. I had hoped that, were you amenable, we could let the people and your elves meet, and see if they could not learn to stand side by side, as brothers and sisters, learning each from the strengths of the other.” Quote: Timmain studied the other carefully. “There is a voice within me that says that I would need to know more. This was ever the way for my people before. A search for knowledge, and a hunger for it. New things, new experiences, this is, in part, what brought us from our world to the world of Adobe, the land of two moons. However, there is a larger voice that warns that I must be fair. The meeting is within my power to facilitate, but not within my ability to prevent. My agreement means more then my disagreement, in that case.” Quote: Ewya nodded once. “I am a deity to my people, and have forgotten what it is like to have another's will override my own. I was careless, and found myself as powerless as you. One already took steps to throw my children and yours together. I was able to bring them apart again, but the meeting has occurred, and I doubt either side likely to forget.” Quote: “My children, such as you call them,” Timmian said, “Live in what they call the 'now of wolf thought', they are unlikely to busy themselves with discussions of what has passed. This is less so true for other elves, a number of which who are here. I have sensed the minds of Savah of the Sun folk, desert elves with memories longer then they stood tall, and the one called Winnowill, who plays games that span centuries. There are also some few who are both mine and not. The one, Venka, is child of a Go-back and a Glider, raised by the Wolfriders. The Gliders are the elves from which Winnowill drew forth, yet the Go-Backs all but pride themselves on living in the moment more then any other. They are from my distant son, Two-Spear who fractured the Wolfriders of his day into separate tribes. His became the Go-Backs, following the call of out lost ancestral home, and his sister's, Huntress Skyfire, remained Wolfriders and moved further into the woods. There is one more whose mind I have touched, however, that were he to meet your children, would remember. He is child of a Wolfrider of my direct blood and a healer of the Sun Village He is called Suntop. Unlike his twin who is very like her father, Suntop is very much like the elves of the dessert in magic and temper both. He, I believe, would keep the memory alive.” Quote: “He is among those who my children met,” Ewya said, “as is then one called Venka. Quote: “Then,” Timmian said, “there is little cause for this conversation, they have met and the meeting shall be recalled.” Quote: “Through their meeting, I learned that they will likely come together again on their own, either through chance, or the interference of others once more,” Ewya said. Quote: Timmian studied her closely. “Then I do not understand why you sought me out. If you believe it to be inevitable, if it has in fact already come to pass once and you believe will so again even without our hands in it,” she glanced at her feet. “or hooves, as the case may be, then why are we having this conversation?” Timmian asked, somewhat frustrated.
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 10:11 am
Quote: “A number of reasons,” Ewya explained. “To begin with, it is polite. I thought that you would appreciate having some say in what happens to your children.” Quote: “I do, when I do,” Timmian replied with a nod. “However, I spent generations away from them, lost myself in the mind of my Wolfish form. I have had little say since in what they have done, and none at all while I was apart. As you pointed out yourself, we have no say now either.” Quote: Ewya nodded the smallest bit. “We do, and we do not. If we do nothing, I believe they will eventually find themselves one way or another. I was not aware of your absence, I have been with my children since before the time they call the first songs. However, since they will meet anyway, then what say we do have, if we act in time, is a say in how they meet, why and when. Politeness, as I said, however, was only one of the reasons, being able to mutually agree upon how was another. I also wished your blessing, that you would look favorably on this. At the best, I would like for you and I, and for our peoples, to work together in the future, I feel that we have much to offer eachother. There is much to learn. At worst, I wanted to insure that you did not see this as an attack, which it very much is not. I am not looking to harm your people, or to replace you in their eyes in any way shape or form.” Quote: Timmain considered then nodded slowly. “Mind, I do not think it is possible for you to do so, but I take your words to heart, and I understand. I would be willing to see this coming together, yet I am still unsure what our peoples have so in common that you believe this will go well. The Wolfriders have found themselves hunted and called demons by humans, betrayed by trolls, and annoyed by our little helpers, the preservers. Even some of their own kind have proven to be enemies. A first encounter could be potentially disastrous, if not handled properly.” Quote: “You ask what they have so in common,” Ewya responded. “I believe they have a fair deal. They have us, for one.” Quote: “I have watched your children, these Wolfriders. They speak of you sparingly, but when they do, they seem to hold yourself and your son, I think he is, Timmorn Yellow Eyes in some regard. They seem to consider themselves your children. I have referred to them as such and you have allowed me to. Is this all fair?” Ewya asked Quote: “Yes,” Timmian confirmed. “But that is because there is direct linage between myself and the Wolfriders, their being my children is quite literal” Quote: “They seem to have Deified you in their minds,” Ewya replied. Quote: “And my son,” Timmian said, “yes, I had noticed that too. More notable is that my son is included, for generally they count all first-comers on the level that they count me, where as he was born more to their world of birth then even they were. They call my sisters and brothers, my friends long gone the High Ones. They swear in our names, both oaths and anger.”
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 10:11 am
Quote: “While the root differs, the trunk is the same,” Ewya said softly. Quote: “Come again?” Timian asked, somewhat puzzled. Quote: “The reasons,” Ewya said, “That you and I are each deities to our people, and seen as mother figures are different. However, the result at present is largely the same. Our people look to us in time of need.” Quote: “I like that. I am not certain I agree, but I do like the saying, may I use it?” Timmian asked. Quote: “I would be honored,” Ewya said with a low bow. “As I talk directly to my children so rarely, it is scarce that any ask to quote my words.” Quote: “Then I am honored to share this conversation with you,” Timmian replied. Quote: “We are both much the same, perhaps there is less reason to be honored. I think I would prefer to have some one I could talk to as an equal, rather then one more person honored by my presence,” Ewya said with a sigh. Quote: “I could accept that,” Timmain agreed. “I returned to my people a short time, and generally found it more comfortable to be as a wolf among them. Oddly, I think they found it more comfortable as well.” Quote: “For them to be wolves around you?” Ewya asked. Quote: Timmain studied her, unsure if she was joking. “For me to remain as a wolf, there was only one among them who sent to me regularly enough to feel comfortable, I think. He helped me retain my mind, where in previous times I had lost it to the joys of being a wolf. “I do not think it would be wise for any for me to walk among them again so soon, though many seem to have forgotten my time among them. Something odd happens as each comes here. I recall one not my own who had come later to the previous world. With her I could confer, and I would believe that she would well know what the cause is, yet she does not yet seem to be here.”
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 10:12 am
Quote: “Something odd?” Ewya repeated, head tilted as she studied the other. Quote: Timmian nodded once. “They each remember their adventures and lives, but only to a point, and that point varies from Elf to Elf, though the ones who have come together seem to share the same memories. The one with whom I had spoken when I was among them, the one called Skywise, he seems to recall the most. He was gone for much of the time I was a wolf with the pack, but the times he was present he had, as I said, helped to keep my mind. He recalls the time he spent away from the pack, though no other seems to. Cutter, ten times removed from me and his mate and cubs recall only so far as having met me in the palace and no further. The ones called Redlance and Nightfall recall the birth of their daughter, but watched her grow up again as though it were the first time. It is quite odd.” Quote: “Perhaps it is a mystery we could investigate together,” Ewya suggested. Quote: Timmain thought about this. This new comer, this Ewya, she was not Amiie, but perhaps she could be another to talk to. She seemed to come from a similar enough background. Yes, she could be pleasant company after all. “Perhaps,” she agreed. She felt herself warming slightly to Ewya, though she was still somewhat distant. She always found it hard, making connections, in this form. No, ever since she shed the wolf and rejoined with the palace, that was when the isolation had begun Or maybe it was when he mate had died when she was a wolf. She never had sat to consider the timing before. Those were thoughts for another day, one she rather doubted would ever come. She had found much of the now in her own thoughts, regardless of form. Somethings remained, it seemed. Quote: Ewya nodded. “Then we have plans for the future as well,” she said. Quote: Timmian blinked. She was unaccustomed to planning for the future, and had been for some time. Quote: “For now, however,” Ewya said, “I think we should focus on our people. You asked how they were alike, yes?” Ewya asked, to confirm. Quote: Timmain nodded slowly. The other, this Ewya, had a phenomenal gift for juggling multiple lines of thought at once. Timmian seemed to recall that she had once been much the same, perhaps. It was stunning, really, what thousands of turns of the seasons as a wolf could do to an Elf. Quote: “Well,” Ewya began, “they are both very tied into the nature of the world, be it the one they were from or this one. Pandora, the ancestral home of the Na'vi was a moon, and I believe the Woldrider's world had two of them. That one isn't a commonality, but an interesting tidbit. Anyway, both your people and mine respect nature and can connect with it in ways no others can. The Na'vi, on Pandora used an appendage called a Queue, that looks like a braid of hair, to communicate with their world. I am trying, since much on this world lacks a suitable counterpart, to have these find other ways to access the land. Thus the bond your Wolfriders have, not only with their wolves, but their lock sending as well would be good for the Na'vi to learn. Both peoples are experienced and expert hunters. I am sure there is much they could teach each other in that respect as well.” Quote: “I suppose I can see that,” Timmian responded. “However, as I said, I would rather not show myself to my children again at this time...”
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 10:13 am
Quote: Ewya nodded. “I understand. I have never interacted directly with my own, either.” Quote: Timmain actually gaped at that. “You haven't?” she asked. “Then how have you looked after them? From the way you speak, I assumed you were much more involved with your children then I am with mine!” Quote: “I look in on them, and watch them. When they join with the world, I feel them, can access their minds directly. Those without the Queue I can reach at all times. But to the Na'vi, I am the Goddess of Balance. I protect all, I cannot be seen as favoring any. To speak to one Na'vi, I must, in fairness, speak to all of the people. As much as I would love to do so, there would be those that would age and die before I made one full circuit. To maintain the balance, I must speak to all, or none. However, I can work through intermediate methods. Also there are those that call themselves priests, priestesses, shamans, shamanesses...” Ewya trailed off, seeing an odd expression distort Timmian's face. Quote: “Do not,” Timmian advised in a hiss, “allow your people to call themselves priests in front of the Wolfriders. Not if you want them to be seen favorably, or even fairly.” Quote: “Why not?” Ewya asked, surprised by the vehemence in the other's voice. Quote: “The Wolfriders, of all the children of the First Comers, would most have an issue with the word priest. They were most beset by a group of humans who called themselves the followers of Gothra. The humans who did the most torturing and killing of the Wolfriders called themselves the Priests of Gothra. Priest may well be a difficult word for the Wolfriders.” Quote: Ewya nodded. “I do not know how to communicate that to my people, I will have to think on it.” Quote: “Because you can't just tell them,” Timmain said slowly. Quote: Ewya nodded again. “Exactly.” Quote: “I never thought I'd so appreciate my bond to my people,” Timmain murmured.
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 10:14 am
Quote: “Though you cannot speak with them currently, either,” Ewya pointed out. Quote: “I could if I wanted to,” Timmian replied. Quote: “And if I really wished to, so could I,” Ewya said. “We have both made choices regarding our relationships with our people. In some ways those choices were the right ones, and do well for us. In others, however they make our lives difficult,” Ewya said. “I shall figure out how to convey it to my people, I hope.” Quote: “I hope so too,” Timmain said, having to grudgingly admit, of only to herself, that Ewya was right. They both faced consequences they might not desire, should they be direct. Quote: Ewya nodded. “I will do my best,” Quote: Timmain sighed softly and looked up at the night sky. “If we cannot be direct, how will we direct our people?” the High One asked. Quote: “Through others,” Ewya said. “Though the land and portents.” Quote: “Through the land?” Timmain asked, not quite certain that she heard right. Quote: Ewya nodded, “Yes, from the land, the plants, the animals. All living things that can be read by the People. Can your people not read the land that way?” she asked. Quote: Timmain laughed. “No, they can't. Further, I can't control those things. You can?”
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 10:15 am
Quote: “Of course,” Ewya said, surprised. “You really cannot?” Quote: “I cannot,” Timmian confirmed, still amused. Quote: “Then....” Ewya trailed off. Quote: “Then we simply find another way,” Timmain said, not put off in the least. Quote: “I suppose we must,” Ewya said. She moved over the water to sit beside Timmain as she thought. Quote: Timmain sat down as well. “Perhaps we allow them to meet the natural way.” Quote: “Perhaps, but given recent events, I am afraid that if we do not intercede, some one else will,” Ewya said. Quote: “What exactly happened?” Timmain asked. She was curious, but more, she was enjoying the company. Quote: “A pair of dragons took two of my pri.... two of my people who are charged with interpreting my will for their tribe were investigating the scene of a small fire at the edge of Dream Valley, where they now live,” Ewya began. Quote: “I recall that fire,” Timmain agreed with a nod. “Luckily it was so far from my people that I don't think any of them were aware, but I'm not sure.”
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 10:15 am
Quote: “You're not sure?” Ewya asked. Quote: “You seem to be very closely connected to your people, you called then Na'vi, yes?” Timmain asked. Quote: “You know what they are aware of?” Timmain pressed. Quote: “Yes, of course,” Ewya said, a bit confused. Quote: “I do not,” Timmian said. “I cannot access their minds unless they send to me and allow it. So knowing them and knowing where their holt is, I can be reasonably assured that from the location and the wind, that they did not know about it, but were any of them to wander, as some do, then they might have known. Quote: “I see...” Ewya said slowly. Then she blinked. “Wait a second, the location of their holt?” she asked. Quote: Timmain nodded, unsure where Ewya was going. “Yes?” she asked. Quote: “So, they're sedentary?” Ewya asked. Quote: “Do they stay in the same place?” Timmain asked. “Well, somewhat. They have a holt, with a new Father Tree that is home, yet there are a few with a tendency to wander, and more, their leader, Cutter, has a penchant for quests.”
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 10:16 am
Quote: “Quests?” Ewya asked, curiously. Quote: “To find others like his people. It started by accident, but became his passion,” Timmain explained. Quote: “There sounds like there is a story to that,” Ewya mused. Quote: “There is,” Timmain said with a chuckle. “Several in fact.” Quote: “Perhaps we should get together some time, I would love to hear them,” Ewya said happily. “That could be amusing.” Quote: “It could be welcome. Why not now?” Timmain asked. Quote: “We still have the other matter to discuss, before some one else does it for us,” Eywa replied. Quote: “Eh. Okay,” Timmain said. “But hadn't we already established that we could not do this, since I cannot nudge my people in the same way?” she asked. Quote: “Not quite. We established that, but also that your people have settled and for the most part have a stationary place where they can be found. Which means your people do not need to move, so you do not need to make them move. If they are in the habit of staying, we can be reasonably assured that they will stay. So it is my people who must move.” Quote: Timmain nodded. “Alright, and you can manage that?”
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 10:17 am
Quote: Ewya nodded once. “Yes, I know just the pair to work with, they will listen, and the people will listen to them.” Quote: “Then it sounds like you have a plan,” Timmain said. Quote: “We,” Ewya corrected. “We have a plan, friend.” Quote: “I have nothing to do to aid you, you have a plan. Friend?” Timmain asked. Quote: “Friend,” Ewya confirmed. “On Pandora, I had few that I could call friend, as I could not single out my children. This world is so different. I look forward to the changes, this one among others.” Quote: “It has been a while, since I have had a friend to talk with,” Timmain said softly, nodding. “I had many, among the other first commers. However they are all gone now. I think... it would be a good experience.” Quote: “Then, we are friends? Outcaste, yet on a pedestal?” Ewya asked with a small laugh. Quote: Timmain nodded. “An interesting way to put it,” she said, chuckling. “Alright, friends.” Quote: Ewya smiled warmly at Timmian. It felt good to have some one she could talk to, and Timmain seemed kind, and seemed to care for her children for all she affected to be non-nonchalant. Quote: Timmain leaned back a bit, and watched the sky. A friend from beyond the stars. Perhaps that was what she had needed, after all. Some one who traveled much as she had, and who had similar responsibilities It was intriguing
Log 10 - End
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