Date: 7/7/2001 10:35 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Jinn Kiko
The woods were alive with night sounds, well morning sounds really. The sunlight was threatening to peek out, but had only so far dared to lighten the dampened color of black. For the most part, it'd been a starless night with the only saving grace the eve he'd spent with his two most favorite people in the world.
It was weird this life, growing up only to hate and kill and figuring that for the lot of your life until one day you're set free to discover warmth and love. Giving life rather than take.. saving life rather than swindling - strange concepts to a killing machine.
The silk slip of river he was following twisted as if to avoid one of the many huge trees that created the forests of RhyDin and he too shifted his tracks with both feet. Traveling in human form was much slower, but it gave him time to reflect and devise. He couldn't say how long he had been walking, after taking his own shower and ensuring that the two were safe and sound he'd found more energy than he knew what to do with. It couldn't have
been that long as it had been a trying if not rewarding day, but the nudging of the sun's light past the comfort of night's shoulder like an incessant annoyance of a guest who somehow crashed the party, was enough to create the feeling of weariness.
And the night goes on..
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Re: And the night goes on..
Date: 7/7/2001 10:36 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Jinn Kiko
The capricious guide of water had twisted once more, this time to avoid a half dam probably built up by the not so gregarious furry members of the river neighborhood. It was then that Jinnaiya's panther hearing kicked into effect, allowing him to sidestep and peer before the tree came crashing down.
"Now what do you suppose--?" But before he could have time to finish compiling that thought a tiny scream pierced the air. He didn't think, he just bolted - heading for the source of that pained exclamation.
Around the corner a child (female by the looks of it, but who could tell with the head wrapping?) was pinned by the split wood near the stump. The felling of another tree was beginning and the trapped child was quivering with fear in almost fetal position as a larger man was working to get her free.
There were two choices: One: Help the man by pushing the tree up (a cinch with his well worked form) or Two: Run forward and sway the falling tree to a different target area which could possibly put more lives in danger. Stop and think means stop and die. With only a slight pause he threw himself towards the tree dancing with gravity and threw it off course. He spun trying to get away from the new inertia of his wooded friend and
cried out in anguish as a branch retaliated by slicing across his elbow between the two bone ends.
Funny bone? Was that what they called it? Who had that sick of humor that he enjoyed such a strike to that chord of nerve? Jinnaiya could only pale as his forearm shattered first into sleep tingle pricks, then suddenly freeze as if the hit to the outside elbow had resulted in a gash that seeped all the warmth from that part of his body. The child was safe now so he had no problem dropping to the ground to cling to his new and somehow absurd
wound. Absurd in the way that it was ludicrous how painful such a hit was when there was no telltale scratch even.
From: Jinn Kiko
The capricious guide of water had twisted once more, this time to avoid a half dam probably built up by the not so gregarious furry members of the river neighborhood. It was then that Jinnaiya's panther hearing kicked into effect, allowing him to sidestep and peer before the tree came crashing down.
"Now what do you suppose--?" But before he could have time to finish compiling that thought a tiny scream pierced the air. He didn't think, he just bolted - heading for the source of that pained exclamation.
Around the corner a child (female by the looks of it, but who could tell with the head wrapping?) was pinned by the split wood near the stump. The felling of another tree was beginning and the trapped child was quivering with fear in almost fetal position as a larger man was working to get her free.
There were two choices: One: Help the man by pushing the tree up (a cinch with his well worked form) or Two: Run forward and sway the falling tree to a different target area which could possibly put more lives in danger. Stop and think means stop and die. With only a slight pause he threw himself towards the tree dancing with gravity and threw it off course. He spun trying to get away from the new inertia of his wooded friend and
cried out in anguish as a branch retaliated by slicing across his elbow between the two bone ends.
Funny bone? Was that what they called it? Who had that sick of humor that he enjoyed such a strike to that chord of nerve? Jinnaiya could only pale as his forearm shattered first into sleep tingle pricks, then suddenly freeze as if the hit to the outside elbow had resulted in a gash that seeped all the warmth from that part of his body. The child was safe now so he had no problem dropping to the ground to cling to his new and somehow absurd
wound. Absurd in the way that it was ludicrous how painful such a hit was when there was no telltale scratch even.
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Re: And the night goes on..
Date: 7/7/2001 10:39 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Jinn Kiko
"English?" The word was said with such a strong definition that at first Jinnaiya didn't realize what it was. When it was repeated, the black man looked up from rubbing his elbow anxiously to nod absently.
"You okay?" The static of the English bombarded him once more causing again only a nod for a few minutes.
"I can't.. my fingers." He wasn't speaking in half English in mockery, it just stung like fire at one second, then burned like ice another so the thought process from brain stem to mouth was quite hindered. His arm from the elbow down had the feeling he'd left it in a freezer for half an hour then decided to screw it back on. His hand was numb, wrist thick and hard to move, and his fingers wouldn't obey his minds demands.
"Xenia, karshketook sec hanwhick." Jinnaiya had no idea what that meant, but as the child neared (yes, it was a female) he allowed her to take his damaged hand and arm and study seemingly enamorously. She touched her index finger to the palm of his hand and pushed causing his fingers to steeple inward. Satisfied she flattened the curled fingers watching his reaction curiously.
It wasn't so much painful as it was an effort even though she was doing the work to unfurl those digits. He could move them only barely of his own accord and the pure cold that had gripped his arm was unnerving more in it's speed and intensity that it had set in, than anything.
"Come." After the girl child had done her examination and spoken aside to the man he'd stood and motioned for Jinnaiya to follow. Concern for his arm, and perhaps his weariness was what muted his wariness of strangers and with faith he simply followed.
From: Jinn Kiko
"English?" The word was said with such a strong definition that at first Jinnaiya didn't realize what it was. When it was repeated, the black man looked up from rubbing his elbow anxiously to nod absently.
"You okay?" The static of the English bombarded him once more causing again only a nod for a few minutes.
"I can't.. my fingers." He wasn't speaking in half English in mockery, it just stung like fire at one second, then burned like ice another so the thought process from brain stem to mouth was quite hindered. His arm from the elbow down had the feeling he'd left it in a freezer for half an hour then decided to screw it back on. His hand was numb, wrist thick and hard to move, and his fingers wouldn't obey his minds demands.
"Xenia, karshketook sec hanwhick." Jinnaiya had no idea what that meant, but as the child neared (yes, it was a female) he allowed her to take his damaged hand and arm and study seemingly enamorously. She touched her index finger to the palm of his hand and pushed causing his fingers to steeple inward. Satisfied she flattened the curled fingers watching his reaction curiously.
It wasn't so much painful as it was an effort even though she was doing the work to unfurl those digits. He could move them only barely of his own accord and the pure cold that had gripped his arm was unnerving more in it's speed and intensity that it had set in, than anything.
"Come." After the girl child had done her examination and spoken aside to the man he'd stood and motioned for Jinnaiya to follow. Concern for his arm, and perhaps his weariness was what muted his wariness of strangers and with faith he simply followed.
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Re: And the night goes on..
Date: 7/7/2001 10:42 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Jinn Kiko
Again he had lost track of time with their trekking through the forest as he listened to the man explain that they were a gypsy type folk who moved from place to place and had just settled here on the edge of the forest to try and reestablish a semblance of home. Borris the man's name, and he interjected several times through the explanation how grateful he was that
Jinnaiya had ventured along. The girl, Xenia had pretty much plastered herself to Jinn's side looking up at him with a respect that almost made him uncomfortable.
The "village" or the beginnings of such had the warm comforts of a family and as soon as he stepped into the bustle he felt the change as if a switch had been flipped. Even with the skin tone of the newcomer the glances spared towards him were kind and open and nonjudgmental. The language thrown around on all sides of him was not familiar, but those who spoke to him or in his presence reverted to a thickly accented English with reverence as to
his heroic deed. It was embarrassing and flattering all in the same.
Xenia was tugging on his jeans and pointing towards a small dingy white cloth that formed a tent, he followed. The inside was more spacious than it appeared causing Jinnaiya's weary look to dissolve into a bit of confused blinking for a few moment but the girl was already gone. He sat in the middle of very fluffy blankets on the ground and worked on flexing his fingers. Very slowly the feeling had returned and he found the muscles actually
responding rather well. The hand and forearm was still very cold and sleepy numb, but at least it was moving.
"Eh?" The inquisitive grunting was Xenia again, she was extending a piece of bent metal that served as a cup with warm steaming liquid inside. The smell was delicious, the tint a warm brown suggesting a tea of sorts and indeed that's what it tasted of. While he drank eagerly he cast another look around the inside.
White flowers decorated the bottom of the tent filling the area with a most wonderful heady scent. It made him both dizzy and comfortable in the same. The day seemed to catch up with him and his vision blurred and fuzzed at the edges. The little girl who's cloth covered head seemed more than a bit silly now to him, patiently moved the covers aside and patted the semblance of a pillow for him to lay down on - he didn't hesitate in the least.
Laying on his side he stared at a very near white flower, his eyes narrowing in heavy contemplation. It was very hard for him to think and force any surface thoughts, he was sinking quickly. White flowers.. didn't Makalaster use those every once in a while when one of his fighters was hurt? What was the name? Concentration was exasperating now, a struggle he was losing by the second.
"Don't worry, we take good care you." The man had popped his head in to see how their guest was doing. It was his face that Jinnaiya last saw as the word Lotus popped into his head.. the flowers... they're l--- he was out.
From: Jinn Kiko
Again he had lost track of time with their trekking through the forest as he listened to the man explain that they were a gypsy type folk who moved from place to place and had just settled here on the edge of the forest to try and reestablish a semblance of home. Borris the man's name, and he interjected several times through the explanation how grateful he was that
Jinnaiya had ventured along. The girl, Xenia had pretty much plastered herself to Jinn's side looking up at him with a respect that almost made him uncomfortable.
The "village" or the beginnings of such had the warm comforts of a family and as soon as he stepped into the bustle he felt the change as if a switch had been flipped. Even with the skin tone of the newcomer the glances spared towards him were kind and open and nonjudgmental. The language thrown around on all sides of him was not familiar, but those who spoke to him or in his presence reverted to a thickly accented English with reverence as to
his heroic deed. It was embarrassing and flattering all in the same.
Xenia was tugging on his jeans and pointing towards a small dingy white cloth that formed a tent, he followed. The inside was more spacious than it appeared causing Jinnaiya's weary look to dissolve into a bit of confused blinking for a few moment but the girl was already gone. He sat in the middle of very fluffy blankets on the ground and worked on flexing his fingers. Very slowly the feeling had returned and he found the muscles actually
responding rather well. The hand and forearm was still very cold and sleepy numb, but at least it was moving.
"Eh?" The inquisitive grunting was Xenia again, she was extending a piece of bent metal that served as a cup with warm steaming liquid inside. The smell was delicious, the tint a warm brown suggesting a tea of sorts and indeed that's what it tasted of. While he drank eagerly he cast another look around the inside.
White flowers decorated the bottom of the tent filling the area with a most wonderful heady scent. It made him both dizzy and comfortable in the same. The day seemed to catch up with him and his vision blurred and fuzzed at the edges. The little girl who's cloth covered head seemed more than a bit silly now to him, patiently moved the covers aside and patted the semblance of a pillow for him to lay down on - he didn't hesitate in the least.
Laying on his side he stared at a very near white flower, his eyes narrowing in heavy contemplation. It was very hard for him to think and force any surface thoughts, he was sinking quickly. White flowers.. didn't Makalaster use those every once in a while when one of his fighters was hurt? What was the name? Concentration was exasperating now, a struggle he was losing by the second.
"Don't worry, we take good care you." The man had popped his head in to see how their guest was doing. It was his face that Jinnaiya last saw as the word Lotus popped into his head.. the flowers... they're l--- he was out.
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Re: And the night goes on..
Date: 7/7/2001 5:36 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Jinn Kiko
The lengthy half of the day was over with, two toned eyes could tell that much from the darkened white material over him. He twisted a bit to gaze around the room blearily a moment to try and decipher what was going on. Panic gripped like icy fingers as he shot up to try and flee but it was pain, slight but annoying enough, that brought the realization and memories
flooding back.
Zeneeya or whatever her name was had lay beside him, sleeping off her own slightly injured ankle, but now blinked sleepily at his movements. What was this place again? Oh yes, the camp. Muscles stretched and coiled trying to give fluid to movement and fingers lay back his dreds as he yawned a bit. He couldn't help but notice that all but two of the white flowers had been removed while he slept, or had he simply perceived more than there had
been?
"Good fellow, welcome." Borris' head had popped in the seam of sheets to float bodiless a moment.
With no more prompting needed, he climbed eagerly from the enclosure to embrace the cool air. The sky was darkening with less temperament than the shifting winds gave clue to but Jinnaiya was happy all the same.
"Sleep good? How fingers?" Borris wiggled his own fingers as he led the way through camp as if he knew his English were hard pressed for clear syllables. Jinn could only nod as another yawn assaulted his jaw, and wiggled his fingers in reply. They were still a bit stiff and even then the cold remained in reminder.
"The girl that was there with me.. " he began, but Borris was tugging on his arm and pulling him into another tent, larger than the one he just vacated.
"She sleeps. We have but one sick tent, I sorry for uncomfort." Several women were sitting along the huge tent, some on the floor and others in rocking chairs crudely devised from wood. Small animals were in cages carefully woven of thin metal much like the cup he'd drank from earlier. A wolf was more freely wandering and at the sight of the stranger a woman had reached her gnarled hand to it's scruff as if to hold it back.
From: Jinn Kiko
The lengthy half of the day was over with, two toned eyes could tell that much from the darkened white material over him. He twisted a bit to gaze around the room blearily a moment to try and decipher what was going on. Panic gripped like icy fingers as he shot up to try and flee but it was pain, slight but annoying enough, that brought the realization and memories
flooding back.
Zeneeya or whatever her name was had lay beside him, sleeping off her own slightly injured ankle, but now blinked sleepily at his movements. What was this place again? Oh yes, the camp. Muscles stretched and coiled trying to give fluid to movement and fingers lay back his dreds as he yawned a bit. He couldn't help but notice that all but two of the white flowers had been removed while he slept, or had he simply perceived more than there had
been?
"Good fellow, welcome." Borris' head had popped in the seam of sheets to float bodiless a moment.
With no more prompting needed, he climbed eagerly from the enclosure to embrace the cool air. The sky was darkening with less temperament than the shifting winds gave clue to but Jinnaiya was happy all the same.
"Sleep good? How fingers?" Borris wiggled his own fingers as he led the way through camp as if he knew his English were hard pressed for clear syllables. Jinn could only nod as another yawn assaulted his jaw, and wiggled his fingers in reply. They were still a bit stiff and even then the cold remained in reminder.
"The girl that was there with me.. " he began, but Borris was tugging on his arm and pulling him into another tent, larger than the one he just vacated.
"She sleeps. We have but one sick tent, I sorry for uncomfort." Several women were sitting along the huge tent, some on the floor and others in rocking chairs crudely devised from wood. Small animals were in cages carefully woven of thin metal much like the cup he'd drank from earlier. A wolf was more freely wandering and at the sight of the stranger a woman had reached her gnarled hand to it's scruff as if to hold it back.
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Re: And the night goes on..
Date: 7/7/2001 5:38 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Jinn Kiko
The wolf sniffed at the air towards Jinnaiya, growled once menacingly and bared it's fangs. Jinn's own hair bristled on the back of his neck and he paused to bare his own teeth back and growl in a different undertone. The face off, unbeknownst to Borris who was chattering in broken English about how such rocker was made, or from which forest the table had been
gathered, or other such nonsense turned in time to catch a warning chuff from the wolf before it lay on the floor, it's muzzle on it's forearms. He blinked in surprise.
"What wrong with Alec?" But the old woman, apparently keeper of the aforementioned, simply shrugged and looked puzzled as Jinnaiya walked past unbothered.
Squares had been cut in the rectangle mammoth of hut and then covered by larger pieces of fabric that served as window shades. The shades were propped gently by guide sticks that allowed the cool fingers of the wind to seep in and caress the multitude of gathered. Young women sat or knelt beside older, some learning to sew, others learning the art of metal bending. Some were being told stories, some in classes learning to add and subtract
pebbles and sticks, and even yet others simply sat around chattering about idle things and laughing.
"Through here we find our feast, but first." Borris dropped off speaking after pointing to a roughened doorway cut out in the far wall opposite where they'd began and spoke quietly to an olden man who sat mostly by himself. The language far beyond Jinnaiya's understanding gave him the freedom to turn and learn more of the building they were in.
In the side next to where they were standing was a middle aged woman sewing together material so white it almost seemed blinding. The gauzy material was entrancing and so soft that he almost wanted to pick it up and run off with it - certainly Liet would love the texture and make some sort of shirt or something with it.
"It's for festival tonight. You pick good time to save child, my friend." The words rolled off his tongue as if doing tricks to break into Jinn's thoughts. The black man could only contain his jumpiness and grin sideways at his guide which caused him to laugh suddenly and slap him on the back. Jinn really didn't know how to handle that, so he merely turned to head where they had been destined before.
From: Jinn Kiko
The wolf sniffed at the air towards Jinnaiya, growled once menacingly and bared it's fangs. Jinn's own hair bristled on the back of his neck and he paused to bare his own teeth back and growl in a different undertone. The face off, unbeknownst to Borris who was chattering in broken English about how such rocker was made, or from which forest the table had been
gathered, or other such nonsense turned in time to catch a warning chuff from the wolf before it lay on the floor, it's muzzle on it's forearms. He blinked in surprise.
"What wrong with Alec?" But the old woman, apparently keeper of the aforementioned, simply shrugged and looked puzzled as Jinnaiya walked past unbothered.
Squares had been cut in the rectangle mammoth of hut and then covered by larger pieces of fabric that served as window shades. The shades were propped gently by guide sticks that allowed the cool fingers of the wind to seep in and caress the multitude of gathered. Young women sat or knelt beside older, some learning to sew, others learning the art of metal bending. Some were being told stories, some in classes learning to add and subtract
pebbles and sticks, and even yet others simply sat around chattering about idle things and laughing.
"Through here we find our feast, but first." Borris dropped off speaking after pointing to a roughened doorway cut out in the far wall opposite where they'd began and spoke quietly to an olden man who sat mostly by himself. The language far beyond Jinnaiya's understanding gave him the freedom to turn and learn more of the building they were in.
In the side next to where they were standing was a middle aged woman sewing together material so white it almost seemed blinding. The gauzy material was entrancing and so soft that he almost wanted to pick it up and run off with it - certainly Liet would love the texture and make some sort of shirt or something with it.
"It's for festival tonight. You pick good time to save child, my friend." The words rolled off his tongue as if doing tricks to break into Jinn's thoughts. The black man could only contain his jumpiness and grin sideways at his guide which caused him to laugh suddenly and slap him on the back. Jinn really didn't know how to handle that, so he merely turned to head where they had been destined before.
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Re: And the night goes on..
Date: 7/7/2001 5:42 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Jinn Kiko
"Hungry?" Jinn nodded his affirmation as they left the warmer tent behind to battle the throng of laughing and playing children. A huge fire sat in the midst of all the tents scattered around, and many adults were gathered on logs cheerfully chatting of a battle or something made barely clear by their hand gestures. Some looked to the stranger and smiled, others
just stared stoically before turning back to their crowd or speaker.
"Gene?" He blinked to Borris a moment before shaking his head and taking the offered bread.
"Jinnaiya." he corrected before pulling off a bite and stuffing it in his mouth, he was ravished beyond belief. He couldn't believe he slept that long.
"Oh." Borris nodded after attempting the name once more and found themselves a nice trunk of wood to serve as a bench. Jinn sat next to him and studied the crowd.
"Do they all know English?" Borris shook his head lightly while munching his own piece of the speckled bread.
"The elders know, some children. We learn only what is necessary to survive. It would be foolish not to know in a place that speaks mostly this language no?" He crinkled a grin to the black man and suddenly Jinnaiya felt better about being there and grinned back.
"I spoke to Xenia's mother, she beg you not take her girl for another few moons." Borris was testing the waters with this statement and instead of looking to his companion, he was studying his bread intently. Jinnaiya choked.
"Take Xenia where??" This was not sounding good at all, and the bread was momentarily forgotten.
"You save child, you may have her." He looked relieved though at the hastily shaken dreds.
"No no no, I was doing a good deed, I have my own girl." The thought of taking Xenia anywhere for any reason was a frightening one. Him responsible for a child? He loved children, would protect any child in lieu of his own life, but to take one to raise? What's more, a child that he had no knowledge of and didn't even speak the same language? We're sorry, you are not an instant winner, please play again. Drink more coke.
Borris nodded apathetically the easy smile returned once more on his thin face, "Then child father bring you ax with which bad tree was cut with, and you may have another thing for your deed."
Jinnaiya grinned suddenly, he knew of the perfect thing, albeit Liet was going to kill him for getting yet something else for her. He mentioned to Borris the soft material he was interested in and was granted plenty of it for when he took leave of the camp. His host had given him a can of water and plate of freshly cooked and beautifully steaming meat when the music began.
From: Jinn Kiko
"Hungry?" Jinn nodded his affirmation as they left the warmer tent behind to battle the throng of laughing and playing children. A huge fire sat in the midst of all the tents scattered around, and many adults were gathered on logs cheerfully chatting of a battle or something made barely clear by their hand gestures. Some looked to the stranger and smiled, others
just stared stoically before turning back to their crowd or speaker.
"Gene?" He blinked to Borris a moment before shaking his head and taking the offered bread.
"Jinnaiya." he corrected before pulling off a bite and stuffing it in his mouth, he was ravished beyond belief. He couldn't believe he slept that long.
"Oh." Borris nodded after attempting the name once more and found themselves a nice trunk of wood to serve as a bench. Jinn sat next to him and studied the crowd.
"Do they all know English?" Borris shook his head lightly while munching his own piece of the speckled bread.
"The elders know, some children. We learn only what is necessary to survive. It would be foolish not to know in a place that speaks mostly this language no?" He crinkled a grin to the black man and suddenly Jinnaiya felt better about being there and grinned back.
"I spoke to Xenia's mother, she beg you not take her girl for another few moons." Borris was testing the waters with this statement and instead of looking to his companion, he was studying his bread intently. Jinnaiya choked.
"Take Xenia where??" This was not sounding good at all, and the bread was momentarily forgotten.
"You save child, you may have her." He looked relieved though at the hastily shaken dreds.
"No no no, I was doing a good deed, I have my own girl." The thought of taking Xenia anywhere for any reason was a frightening one. Him responsible for a child? He loved children, would protect any child in lieu of his own life, but to take one to raise? What's more, a child that he had no knowledge of and didn't even speak the same language? We're sorry, you are not an instant winner, please play again. Drink more coke.
Borris nodded apathetically the easy smile returned once more on his thin face, "Then child father bring you ax with which bad tree was cut with, and you may have another thing for your deed."
Jinnaiya grinned suddenly, he knew of the perfect thing, albeit Liet was going to kill him for getting yet something else for her. He mentioned to Borris the soft material he was interested in and was granted plenty of it for when he took leave of the camp. His host had given him a can of water and plate of freshly cooked and beautifully steaming meat when the music began.