Jeweled Quest

[Sweetp4u]

Awni

She nodded and smiled gratefully at Gawyn. Sitting would be nice for a moment. Get their barings and look around. She dug into her sack and pulled out some dried berries and jerkied meat. She chewed slowly, keeping her eyes moving at all times. Wondering what lay ahead of them all on this path. She drank from her canteen and offered some to Gawyn, handing him some dried berries. She didn't take no for answer, just sat in silence. Before dark they would need to find more food stuffs, and fresh water.
She would suggest that later, some were looking at her oddly. She had been tracking along in silence all day, and still did not know what to say to these strangers around her. She turned to Gawyn and was going to ask him about camping in a safe place when she noticed he was writing in a book. She held her silence and ate some more. When he finished writing, she looked back at him. Watching as he put his things away, she finally asked him what he thought.
She whispered, not wanting to sound bossy to the others, "If we can, I think we should find a place to camp tonight with fresh water, and try and locate food as we travel. Its an idea..." She shrugged and put her things away. "Perhaps someone who is good with directions scouting ahead? We shouldn't break up the group, we are safer in numbers.. But that does make sense to me." She fell silent, hoping he would give her some input on what he thought.

 

[Inkubus]

Valentin

Valentin sat among the questers and found a nice tree to lean on ....he listened quietly to there names and watched there, personalities and habits. The Gods only knew what was intended of us but it was a eclectic band of jewels... but whos adornment are we, or whos blade, Mali said we choose our own fate, is this a quest? a test? Perhaps both...

Valentin casually pulled forth his lyre as he compiled the information in his head and tried to make sense of it. Subconciously he began to quietly play music... a song about jewels in the rough.

 

[jinnysub]

Shom-ani

Sigh...cutting through the underbrush when all you had to do was pick your paths and slip through...maybe bend down every little while...

If we're counting on fresh game for food, I hope Mali either sends animals running at us, or a few of us will have to leave the group to hunt. This noise would even scare away the insects.

North...did any of these people know the dangers that lay in that direction?

 

[poohlive]

Everyone sure was preoccupied with staying together. It was almost to the point of lunacy. No hunting, no seperation, all of them sticking together.
It was a jungle, not a mausoleum. What did they expect to find out here, mauraders? Skeletons with axes for arms? Besides a few bears what could possibly be out here to hurt them?
He wasn't sure.
If it had all of these people spooked, then something must be up. Besides, if Mali truly wanted to test them, she would send a few surprises herself.
Besides that, he still wasn't comfortable with all of this. Human company wasn't his thing, he would rather hang in the back, and let everyone talk, and only come forward when he had to.
Or when Mali came back, and all of this could be straightened out.

 

[JediKnight]

As Jem returned, the others were sitting and talking among themselves. He couldn't help feeling left out as he listened to them make plans. It was nothing new to him, but he had felt so close to these people...

He found a spot a little apart from the group and sat down to eat. He was again beginning to doubt that he belonged here. He didn't want to question Mali. She was a goddess, after all. But he couldn't help feeling that he didn't deserve to be a part of this...

He looked up to see Shom-ani sitting nearby. He hadn't said anything to her, or to any of them for that matter, since the beginning of this adventure, but he suddenly felt the need to talk to someone.

"So," he said to her, "What do you think of... all of this?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Awni

Gawyn didn't respond to her, he looked lost in thought. Sighing, she glanced around. Everyone was occupied with their own thing, and she was antsy to move. Picking up her pack, she whispered to Gawyne, "I'll be back shortly, I need to go take care of something" She didn't give details, she figured he would assume its personal stuff and not bother for more than that. Which was fine with her. She was good at dirrections, and she would hear them moving off if she stayed out too long.
So her pack on her back, she stepped over the log and into the forest. Vanishing behind a heavy over growth of vines, she went exploring. For water, food and just peace and quiet a moment. She wasn't sure if they had to stay together, Mali did not say. This was a quest for each to find their purpose in like, so sooner or later they would all break up. Go different directions, and such things.
This wasn't her forest she was used to, but it looked the same. She watched the animals, noticing what they ate, and avoided. Watching a little furry creature nibbling some blue berries, she decided those would be safe. Mamals all tended to eat the same things. Big or small. Picking some, she placed as many in the pouch as it would hold. Glancing around, she wandered further into the silent forest.
Every now and then a beautiful colourfull bird would fly over, and land near by. Awed at the new sights, she would stop and look, sometimes following. She found a patch where the sun was coming threw the trees high above. A warm spot to sit, and relax. She sat down in the center or the falling light, and basked in the heat it provided. No one in sight, no sounds. This was heaven. She wouldn't fall asleep. She needed to listen for the others moving on.
She pulled out her blue garnet and looked at it. She wondered what it truely meant? It almost matched the eyes of that tiger cub. She held it up to the light and looked at it closer. Nope, nothing special in it, just what it meant. Sighing, she put it back into her sack, and pulled out her compass. Where everyone was sitting should be west of where she is. She glanced around at her trail threw the heavily covered green ground. "Well who needs a compass?" She smiled, she left a trail anyone could follow, including herself back.

 

[TygerEyez]

Mali

*bump*

ooc: I just came by to check your process. I'm sorry I haven't been here lately, but the new year is trying my patience already. I'll make a post within a day. My apologies, and nice work!

 

[jinnysub]

Shom-ani

"So," [Jem] said to her, "What do you think of... all of this?"

"I don't know. I really don't know. So many people who have no idea what they're doing, where they're going, and how to get there. And so few people who seem to know anything about traveling in dangerous places like this."

"I saw you scouting ahead. I noticed that you can move quietly through the forest, unlike most of the people here. It looks as if a few of us who have some experience will have to take some kind of care of the rest of the people. But I have no idea how to make them even understand the dangers that surround them, even the day to day challenges of finding food for a group like this."

"I know how to take care of myself. I don't know how to take care of so many people. I haven't said this many words to anyone in a long time. Or been with this many people."

 

[TygerEyez]

Mali

"Then it is precisely time that you were around more people," I smiled. I leaned against the tree from which I had appeared behind, and chuckled at their look of surpise. "It has always been very hard for me to not travel the journey with my Destined.

I gathered my skirts in my hands again, and moved closer to their group. "It is getting dark, my Children. You will need a fire to keep you warm, correct?" With a simple wave of my hand, a fire appeared on the open floor of the jungle. A slight movement of my fingers caused the flames to reach high into the sky, licking the underside of the glowing moon. When they finally returned to normal height, a metal pot and pitcher sat nestled within the heat.

"Are you hungry?" I asked softly. "This jungle is sparse when in regards to food, and I would not let you go hungry, of course. Come: sit and eat. I have realized there are many questions that each of you probably have, and that I have not even tried to answer them. This is my oversight. I am here for the remainder of your journey to ask, and you may ask anything. Do you have any questions at all?"

 

[Exosus]

Shattenjager stood away from the group, having refused to touch the machete, prefering to slip around the beaten path, keeping the group in sight, but out of contact, until Mali appeared.

"...Do you have any questions at all?"

He frowned,"What do we seek to the north?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Awni

She approached the camp once again and heard Mali talking. She came in quietly and stood behind everyone. She had alot of questions but wanted to remain silent for the moment. Glancing around the circle of people she too wanted to know what lay north. Since the question was already asked, she didn't do anything more than sit down and rest against a tree.

 

[Anher]

Gawyn

Looking over his shoulder Gawyn saw Awni come back into the circle. Getting up he moved over so he could stand next to her. "Sorry about earlier, I was busy working on something," he whispered in her ear.

Opening the journal to the newest entry he showed her a charcoal drawing of her, sitting on the log. "I'm not that good, but it gives me something to do besides write."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Awni

She glanced down at the picture and gasped in awe. It was exactly her image on paper. She scooted closer to look, fascinated by the little drawing of her. She smiled up at Gawyn, "That is very good." She whispered back. She didn't want to interrupt the conversation, so she sat back motioning him to sit with her and listen.

 

[TygerEyez]

Mali

Shatterjager's question was inquisitive, and intelligent. I could almost hear the faint whisper of his Spirit Guide in the back of my mind. I considered the question for a moment before I chuckled.

"Because it's tradition, I suppose. We have always traveled north, but I suppose it makes no difference. There are many tests in these Jungles. Would you prefer to travel to the east? The west? South, perhaps?"

 

[Exosus]

"It depends on whether these tests involve violence. I'd rather not be sent to a test that would force me to harm another living creature. But it is up to the group... I will stand by their decision, and fight if I absolutely must."

Shattenjager shrugged, looking into Mali's eyes, holding her gaze.

"And traditions aren't always the best way to go about things, Mali."

 

[poohlive]

"Yeah, far be it from us to change what has worked for hundreds of years," Garret muttered, only loud enough for a few people close to him to hear.
With that, he walked up to this Mali, and bowed humbly.
"I'm afraid there's been some mistake. I know all of these other people are here for their destiny, but I don't think I am. I just found this jewel, and an old man told me to come with you. I think it belongs to someone else," he held it out to her. The emerald sparkling despite the fact that the sun could not penetrate the canopy overhead.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Awni

From what she gathered they could go their own way. Any direction they desired. Thus said, she turned, grabbed her bag, and headed back into the forest the way she came from. She had liked the little grove she was in, and wanted to go back. From there she would decide which way to travel. Which ever looked easier to her would be the best route. Perhaps she was meant to do more, but she figured if Mali had something for her alone, Mali would deliver her advice. So since she was prepared to go, she went. She didn't stop to see if anyone followed her, she just walked back to where she had been sitting before. She made a small camp fire, pulled out the berries she gathered and sat back against the tree. This was best anyways, she wasn't too big on crowds. They always seemed to nit pick and fight. Argue over who was in charge and so forth. This way, she went the way she wanted to. Not the way she was ordered. She smiled to herself, pulling out her bed roll and laying down apon it.
She listened to the night sounds around her, in the distance she could hear some night creature howling. This was comforting, and if she was destined to die out here, so be it. She recalled the drawing Gawyn had done of her, she never realized how she looked to others. It was fascinating in a way, but did not alert her own determined value. Wether she was beautiful or not wouldn't matter in life. Wisdom and know how was the way to go. That and having a purpose in life.

 

[Anher]

Gawyn

Taking a little while to consider Mali's words before acting he too strode into the jungle. Taking the same path Awni had blazed. When he reached the grove she decided to camp in he waited for her to settle in before disturbing her.

Stepping into the light of the fire and waving to her. "It's just me," he said. Hoping she wouldn't shoo him away his pack dropped onto the ground from his back. "You don't mind some company do you?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Awni

She glanced up at Gawyn, "No, go ahead and have a seat. Want something to eat?" She handed him the bag of berries and some jerky.
"I know we I could have stayed there and enjoyed the meal and all... I'm just not big on crowds is all."
She turned to him, watching the fire light up half his face,
"Why did you leave?"

 

[TygerEyez]

"Violence is not always the best way to go about things, either," I answered coolly.

"I am not asking you to prove your skills in battle. Nor am I asking you to protect your fellow Destined. There is nothing here that will kill you. What I am asking is that you look inside yourselves for answers."

"Above all, do not assume anything."

From within the sleeve of my dress, I withdrew a small square of a mirror, and held it for Shattenjager to see. "When you see yourself, Child, what do you see?"

 

[Anher]

Gawyn

Taking the bag and the meat he settled onto a log. "Thanks," he smiled as he took a bit and chewed for a bit. Looking into the fire as he considered his reply.
Finally he shrugged, "Same reason I guess. I'm not one for crowds, at least unfamiliar ones."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Awni

She nodded her head in agreement, "Large crowds are hard for me too. Too many bodies in one spot just makes me tense. Antsy, something." She sat in silence after than, pulling out her bed roll and laying down. The night sky was filled with beautiful stars, bright and in various colors. The peace of the night coming, helped her to relax.
"So, what do you do in your spare time Gawyn? As for me.. Well I spend most of my time in the forest. Alone mostly. But there is something peaceful about it, serene. Easy to fall in love with the beauty around you, without even realizing it. you know what I mean?" She rolled to her side and looked over at him. Wondering if anyone ever did understand her and her train of thought.

 

[Exosus]

Shattenjager looked in the mirror, curiously, tilting his head, and seeing a reflection of himself

"I see a man, with many flaws, and some good points. I see myself, as I picture me, anyway. How do I know if what mirrors show me is a lie, or the truth. Perception is the key"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Awni

ooc: its been awhile since anyone has posted here, so I am withdrawing from the thread. Itsa wonderful story tho and feel free to cast another to play my role if you desire.

Sweet P