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Post by Seema Tara on May 25, 2012 18:30:59 GMT -1
Seema reached into her satchel and brought out a rolled-up leather canvas. Over the last few weeks, Seirei had come to realise Seema knew her way around very little of Tialka and had drawn her up a large, detailed map. Although Seirei had left off the homes of most of the Tialkans (which, after all, Seema could add on herself once their owners trusted her enough to take her there), he had drawn on Mira's cave. This had been at Seema's request, as she knew that to be accepted into Tialka, both socially and culturally, Mira's support would be invaluable.
And so it was that, as seema drew her scarf up around her face to protect from the bitter wind, she reached the mouth of Mira's cave and peered in curiously. Seema did not really know if Mira still lived here since her marriage and the birth of her cubs - but Seirei had assured her that if she persisted, she would find her there at some point.
"Hello?" she spoke softly, not wanting to enter for fear of being unwelcome. "Mira?"
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Post by Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo on May 25, 2012 18:39:53 GMT -1
Mira, who had been relaxing on the dais that stood in front of the entrance to the Crystal Caverns, lifted her head at the sound of Seema's voice. She yawned and stretched her legs before standing up and making her way to the entrance to her cave. To help block out the wind, there was a large wall of ice at the mouth, forcing visitors to go through a small corridor to enter.
"Come in, Seema," smiled Mira, appearing at this corridor. "You're lucky I'm here, as you might imagine I spend most of my time with the children. Hiruko has them today," she added, "he knows I like to come up here once in a while." She led Seema to the main room, where it was a little warmer due to the blocked wind. "What brings you here today?"
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Post by Seema Tara on May 25, 2012 18:47:57 GMT -1
Seema looked around as she entered the main room, awestruck by the sudden size of the cavern in comparison to the narrow corridor. Dragging herself from these thoughts quickly, she turned to Mira and smiled, a little nervously.
"Well... It's just, Tersias is back now and so the den is..." she was stumbling over her words, unusually for her, but Mira was somebody she knew so little. "Well, and what with the cubs too... and they're getting bigger, of course..."
Shaking her head, trying to pull her thoughts together, Seema took a few deep breaths. "I want to stay near Tersias and the family, they're all I have now, but... well, I can't help feeling I'm intruding a little, and the cramped environment isn't exactly easing the tensions with Seirei. And, well, you know he and I have never really seen eye to eye, and I don't want to exacerbate things, so..."
She chuckled a little "I guess what I'm trying to say is I'd really like your help, to step out on my own, find my feet in Tialka for myself. But I have no idea where to start, I don't wanna encroach on anybody's territory or offend anyone, and I've no idea how to build a house and..." She looked up at Mira, her silvery eyes looking a little scared. "Please could you help me?"
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Post by Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo on May 25, 2012 18:54:31 GMT -1
As Mira listened to Seema's stumbling explanation, a soft smile of understanding formed on her face. "Of course I'll help," she replied as their eyes met. "Though to be perfectly honest, I found this cave and added to it, so I have little knowledge of actual house building."
She paused for a few moments to think. "I know many caves here, though I doubt you'd much care for those since you'd like to be close to your family," she said. "I think the best location for a new home would be in the actual forest. If I asked, I'm sure Hiruko could grow a tree big enough for living in for you. He has something similar, you see, so he's relatively experienced in that regard."
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Post by Seema Tara on May 25, 2012 19:01:22 GMT -1
A massive, warm (and extremely rare) smile flooded Seema's face and her eyes lit up with appreciation. Mira's happiness to help was a big step towards acceptance for Seema - something she had not been sure she would ever find in Tialka. "Oh thank you so much!" she laughed, throwing her arms around mira's neck in a grateful hug, before remembering herself, and letting go promptly. She jumped back a little, biting her lip apologetically "Sorry, forgot myself for a minute there" she chuckled nervously.
"It really means a lot to me, though, Mira. I wasn't sure I'd ever get accepted and I know this is just a start, but..." she smiled again "I just have a really good feeling about this place lately, you know?" It was true, as well. Although her agreement with Kurai was still niggling at the back of her brain, since meeting Kiryu it felt like something had changed in Seema - the hopes and dreams she had when she arrived in Tialka first were flooding back and she was on a high.
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Post by Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo on May 25, 2012 19:10:18 GMT -1
Mira gave a laugh at Seema's enthusiastic hug. "I'm glad you feel that way," she said, sharing the smile. "Like me, Tialka does seem to give second chances to those it feels deserve it. It's already given Shiro a second chance, so why not you? Besides," she added, "it's probably about time you really started being a part of this community." She gave Seema another warm smile.
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Post by Seema Tara on May 25, 2012 19:15:47 GMT -1
"I guess I did kinda stuff up the first one, so I'm glad you feel that way". Seema had always known returning to Tialka was a risk - but thankfully, it seemed like it was starting to pay off. "I feel like there's so much I can bring to the table, but I've been kind of scared to step up and start because I was worried people wouldn't really want me around after how I behaved before..."
Seema looked up at Mira, "I'm sorry I've never taken time to get to know you before now, Mira. Tersias talks about you all the time, she thinks the world of you, but I guess I've just been afraid that I won't be able to live up to everything Tersias means to Tialka." Seema felt a little sad realising that a big part of the reason she had been so lonely in the past weeks was that she hadn't made enough effort. "I know that sounds really stupid - but I arrived expecting her to always need me around, expecting that we sorta came as a package. And now she's all grown up and I need her a lot more than she needs me, if I'm honest."
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Post by Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo on May 25, 2012 19:39:13 GMT -1
"I guess older sisters would feel that way," replied Mira. "I'm unlucky enough to have never gotten that chance, but I can understand where you're coming from." She gave a small smile. "I'm dreading the day my own children leave to make their own way in the world. They will need me for so long, and then they'll be capable to look after themselves and not need me. I know it's not the same, but I'm sure you know what I mean," she added with a soft laugh. "Though I am sure she will need you again someday, just not in the way you expect."
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Post by Seema Tara on May 25, 2012 19:59:15 GMT -1
Seema half-smiled, appreciating Mira's attempt at empathy. Then, deciding the talk was getting a little too emotional for her tastes, she brought herself back to practical talk.
"Would a treehouse involve a lot of climbing? Because climbing isn't really my strong suit... I guess it's more of a feline thing. If there was a ladder or something, I'd be fine, but I don't know how secure that would be...?" Seema knew very little about treehouses and even less about Hiruko's home, so had a lot of questions.
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Post by Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo on May 25, 2012 20:06:11 GMT -1
"Well if need be, I'm sure Hiruko could add a staircase within the trunk for you," said Mira. "I think he added ours in when we were wed, as I'm less of a climber than he is. I'm better at scaling rock faces instead of trees," she added with an amused grin. Her mind supplied her with a memory of running around the mountains of Gregale, and then of her failed attempts at climbing the trees in the lower lands. "Is there anything else you'd like in your home?" she asked, dragging herself back to the present.
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Post by Seema Tara on May 25, 2012 20:17:11 GMT -1
Seema looked thoughtful. "It would be nice to have a playroom, for if the cubs came over for the day. Not neccessarily a big one, or a fancy one, but just somewhere they can be out of the way if Tersias is ill or if Seirei wants some time alone with her. Other than that, it's just about having somewhere to call my own, you know?"
Seema smiled. She had never had a home of her own, and the thought of one was enough to send her heart racing. She could entertain guests, she could have time to herself, she could decorate... It was so exciting!
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Post by Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo on May 28, 2012 21:56:26 GMT -1
Mira smiled at Seema's expression - she could almost feel the excitement emanating from her. "I'll talk to Hiruko as soon as possible," she said. "If you like, we can return to his now? I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I took the cubs off his paws so that you could talk tree building." Mira gestured towards the mouth of her cave. "Besides," she added, "I wouldn't be surprised if you wanted to leave the cold of the mountains behind."
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Post by Seema Tara on May 29, 2012 13:07:55 GMT -1
With all the excitement in her mind, Seema had hardly noticed the cold in the cave, but almost as soon as Mira pointed it out to her she realised she was shivering like mad. "That would be lovely" she smiled, her teeth chattering. Following Mira's gesture, she headed towards the mouth of the cage. "How are the cubs? It must be weeks since I've seen them, I daresay they've grown a lot"
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Post by Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo on May 30, 2012 22:48:32 GMT -1
Mira walked at Seema's side as they went through the corridor, which was only just wide enough for the both of them. They stepped out into the cold air, a light flurry of snow falling before their eyes. "They're doing well, I'm pleased to say," answered Mira. "And they have indeed grown." She gave a smile. "You'd think that seeing them every day would render you ignorant of their growth, but I still remember how small they were when they were born." Mira gave a reminiscent sigh.
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Post by Seema Tara on May 31, 2012 7:54:30 GMT -1
Seema smiled a little. Not being a parent herself, she couldn't really empathise with Mira's situation, but she couldn't help watch her with a little smile. "I'm glad things are going well" she said politely, not knowing what else she could really say, but not wanting an awkward silence as they walked. The air was cold and a little shiver ran down her spine.
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Post by Hiruko Koudo on Jun 6, 2012 12:18:46 GMT -1
<<OOC - I am cutting the journey to Hiruko's den short as Hiruko cannot meet you two out in the mountains since he is looking after the cubs  >> Lena and Lios had been playing for over an hour and Hiruko's eyes were becoming quite strained watching them closely whilst trying to clean up around the den. The door opened to reveal a slightly soggy and cold Mira and Seema. He knew Mira didn't take much notice of the cold and damp but Seema looked a little chilled. "Been up to the mountains, have we?" Hiruko asked which was directed at Seema generally. He knew Mira had gone to spend some time up there. Grabbing a thick towel that Hiruko had woven himself, he passed it to Seema. "Here, have this for now." Settling down into the wooden chair near the cubs, he offered them a seat with a gesture of his paw. "What have you two ladies been up to?" |
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Post by Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo on Jun 6, 2012 13:05:24 GMT -1
The cubs bounded over to their mother at her arrival, babbling at her and making Mira smile. To quiet them, she used her power to remove all the water from her fur, shaping it into a globe of water above their heads. They hushed immediately, staring at it with wide eyes. Lena, the more curious of the two, reached out to poke at it, and was amazed to see that it didn't burst. Giggling a little, Mira took a seat, leaving the globe of water with the cubs.
"Seema paid me a visit in the mountains," explained Mira. "She was hoping for help on building a home here in the forest, so that she could be near her family, but not be intruding. I suggested you may be able to build a tree for her."
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Post by Seema Tara on Jun 6, 2012 17:12:59 GMT -1
Seema wrapped the towel around her shoulders gratefully. "Thank you, Hiruko, that is very kind" she smiled as the chill began to subside.
She looked up at Hiruko and Mira. "I'm under my sister's feet and her family need their space. It's time for me to start to put down roots" she expained, and half-smiled, hoping Hiruko would agree with Mira's suggestion. "Mira had suggested a tree, but i'm really not very good at climbing. I was hoping there might be a way of putting a spiral staircase inside the tree?"
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