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Post by Seirei Hisakata on Apr 22, 2012 15:27:14 GMT -1
The den was empty when Seirei pushed open the circular door of their underground home. Seirei assumed Seema had taken the pups out for their usual daily walk. They must have only just left, for the embers of the fire still glowed a little. Placing a few new logs onto the hearth, and a few sparks from his tail, a roaring fire soon lit the room. Very gently, he put Tersias down on their bed, then busied himself with finding the brass tub that they kept in the corner behind the table. They normally bathed in the stream on a mild day, but Tersias needed a bit of tender loving care. He had soon heated up enough water to fill the tub a few inches deep, then waited for it to cool a little so Tersias wouldn't scald herself.
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Post by Tersias Tara-Hisakata on Apr 22, 2012 15:30:20 GMT -1
Tersias gingerly lifted the large canvas satchel from around her aching shoulders. Not caring much for its contents, she let it fall with a clatter on the floor beside the bed, and a variety of oddly shaped bundles fell across the room. She sighed, knowing that it was irresponsible leaving it all to just spread across the room, but didn't move to pick it up. She was too tired, and too weak, to much care what happened to any of it.
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Post by Seirei Hisakata on Apr 22, 2012 15:41:01 GMT -1
Once the water was ready, Seirei gave Tersias a hand getting into the bath. Normally she would have refused such fuss, but he could tell by her lack of energy that she wasn't up for much attitude, let alone coordinate her legs properly. Once he was certain that she wouldn't slip under the water, Seirei went to pick up her satchel which had accidentally slipped onto the floor, spilling it's contents on the ground. Picking up the items - a small canteen for water, a scrap of bread - Seirei sawa couple of objects that roused his curiousity. He had no idea what they were for, but they looked ancient, like for some old purpose. One was wrapped in a silk-like cloth, and felt heavy and hard underneath. Uncertain of whether it was his place to unwrap it, he carried it over to the tub and showed it to Tersias. "What's this, hun?"
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Post by Tersias Tara-Hisakata on Apr 22, 2012 15:47:44 GMT -1
Tersias' fur bristled and her muscles stiffened. She looked at the bundle, her expression somewhere between suspicion and fear. "Don't unwrap it if you want to stay at this end of the room" she warned him firmly, "I'm not joking."
Taking the bundle out of Seirei's hands tentatively, she handled it as if it might at any moment explode. "This belonged to my mother. It's called a Gweledigaeth and my grandmother made it." she was still eyeing the bundle constantly, as if a little unnerved by its presence. "Here, take it a second while I dry off and I'll try to show you. Leave the water though - we'll need it"
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Post by Seirei Hisakata on Apr 22, 2012 16:00:02 GMT -1
Seirei was a little surprised that such a small thing would cause such a big reaction from Tersias. Hoping it wasn't something explosive, he took the Gwelegschmosh - what was its name again? - back in his paws. Whatever it was, it must be something significant for Tersias to have travelled back all that way with it in her possession. "Is this the reason you came back?" He asked cautiously. He would begin to gently probe her on her return as delicately as he could.
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Post by Tersias Tara-Hisakata on Apr 22, 2012 16:16:42 GMT -1
She chuckled a little ruefully as she dried off. "Actually, it was just about the only thing that tempted me to stay..." She said softly.
Re-entering the room, Tersias took the bundle from Seirei's hands. Unwrapping it, she revealed a small, rectangular slab of creamy marble, which she set down on the floor. "My grandmother built the Gweledigaeth for her sister, who used to suffer terribly from uncontrollable episodes due to The Sight. Perhaps that will help to put its purpose into context."
The Gweledigaeth was a rather bizzarre sight to behold. On first glance, it looked almost like a grand old clock - it featured a circular plate, which was brass, in the centre and had marks where 12, 3, 6 and 9 belonged on a clock face. On closer examination though, one would notice three deep channels in the marble producing two concentric circles around the brass plate. It also had a long cable protruding from its edge, ending in a brass structure with two widely seperated prongs at the end (rather like a very large tuning fork).
"The idea is that the Gweledigaeth helps you to bring on a vision... the brass circle is an input pad, where I place my paw. The first circle helps me to direct the Gweledigaeth to a rough idea of what I'm thinking about. It's supposed to have an enamel overlay with painted symbols of various things but that's been lost over the years, so you really have to just move it until it feels right." she said softly. "The fork is an output - you match up the notch in the second circle with this outer mark to turn it on" her explanation was simple, but brief, and to demonstrate she turned the second circle until the notch met a mark which on a clock would correspond to twelve.
Lifting the fork, she suspended it in the tub of water. "You need water to project the image into - it doesn't work in air."
She looked at Seirei. "If I can control this, it will let me ask my sight questions - and it will let me show people what I see in response. It doesn't always work; it's difficult, and temperamental, but think what this could do for Tialka...."
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Post by Seirei Hisakata on Apr 24, 2012 18:25:19 GMT -1
Seirei was impressed that such a device existed; he certainly had never come across such an intricate object. "So I can actually see your visions as you see them? At the same time?" If it worked, it would be such a relief. Many frustrating moments had passed when Seirei had had to watch his mate suffer without knowing what was going on in her mind. As Tersias began to prepare the demonstration, Seirei felt a lurch of anxiety all of a sudden. "Wait - will it hurt you?" He looked over his mate's body, diminished even further by her fur being wet. Could this device have effects that Tersias wasn't letting on?
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Post by Tersias Tara-Hisakata on Apr 24, 2012 20:04:50 GMT -1
Tersias pulled herself away from what she was doing and looked up at Seirei. "Well, yes and no... My visions won't happen exactly how they used to. By bringing them on and giving them a certain direction there won't be as many unexpected visions, but the ones I do have you'll all be able to see as long as I have the energy. As to its effects on me, it doesn't hurt me, it's just hard work. Like when you're digging in the den, or flying - as long as I'm careful and stop when I need to, it's perfectly safe." she said calmly, looking up at him. "It's a lot easier to review an old vision, so that's all I'm gong to try just now, I don't have the strength to do more than that." She smiled, "I'm being careful, I promise."
Before Seirei could argue any more, she placed her paw on the brass pad and took a deep breath. Her eyes began to mist over a little as the vision took hold, and a fuzzy image appeared in the water, almost like a reflection - darkness; blackened grass; bare, charred trees; the vision of the future should that invasion they all dreaded come.
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Post by Seirei Hisakata on Apr 28, 2012 18:33:07 GMT -1
Face illuminated by the mysterious glow from the bath water, Seirei recognised the scene before him. It was Tersias' most recent vision, the one that had caused her to blame Kiryu, but now Seirei knew otherwise, having discussed it with the other founders and Hayashi the other day. He wondered if explaining their new theory on this dark future would help clear some things up for his mate, who had reacted so passionately before. The same few images seemed to return again and again, like a loop, and Seirei looked up to see how it affected Tersias. Her eyes were cloudy like they always were when she went into that state of mind, but now he could not even see the irises of her eyes. It was like there were two great white marbles fixed into her sockets. His paw trembling slightly as he lifted it, he placed it on her shoulder, to try and bring her back.
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Post by Tersias Tara-Hisakata on Apr 28, 2012 19:07:43 GMT -1
Tersias was pushing her body to its limits, and she knew it. But as the vision reached its end stages, where she spoke to Seirei, she was overcome by dizziness. Feeling a vague sensation of warmth around her shoulder, she pulled her paw away from the pad, feeling its connection to her pull almost like a magnet as it was severed. Looking up at seirei, she smiled weakly as she took a few deep breaths. "Did it work? Did you see it?" she asked shakily. There was no denying that she was drained.
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Post by Seema Tara on Apr 28, 2012 19:30:19 GMT -1
Seema entered the den as casually as if she owned the place, the cubs following. The tumbling cubs immediately saw their mother and rushed around her eagerly, all keen to talk to her, hug her, show her their newest find. Seema hung back, eyeing Tersias with concern - she was nothing but skin and bones. "What happened?" she asked, looking horrified. She looked from Tersias to Seirei and back - how had this happened?
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Post by Seirei Hisakata on Apr 30, 2012 14:25:10 GMT -1
"Yes, I saw. Well done, hun," he said quickly, trying to put some enthusiasm into his voice. Seirei gave her a little lick on the top of her head, but he had a more important thing on his mind at that moment than the device. Tersias looked unwell. Her limbs were shaking and there was little sparkle in her eyes. He wouldn't tell her, not wanting to upset her further, but he was actually responsible for keeping her upright at that moment, subtly supporting her tiny frame with his body. If he let go, she would surely fall to the ground.
Before he could suggest that she should lie down while he made her a meal, Seema and the pups had burst into the den. Seirei's eyes welled up at the sight of his five happy pups. This was not how he had wanted them to reconnect with their mother, not when she was this weak. Worried that their energetic pushes and shoves would be too much, Seirei gently poked a few of them aside whenever they got too boisterous. He wouldn't ruin Tersias' time with her children, but at the same time he had to play bodyguard.
His ears pricked up when he heard Seema's demand. "She came back," he said simply. "She's home now. If you could take care of the device by the tub, I'd appreciate it. I can't touch it, and nor can the pups I'm guessing. I don't want them to get hurt by mistake."
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Post by Tersias Tara-Hisakata on Apr 30, 2012 18:18:34 GMT -1
"Hey babies!" she beamed with happiness at the sight of the five little faces around her - their family was finally back together. Too tired to stand any longer, she lay down and nuzzled the cubs with her nose. "Mummy missed you so so so much. Have you been good for daddy?" she looked from pup to pup, her heart warmed by the sight of them. She looked up at Seirei, her eyes lit up with excitement and relief.
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Post by Seirei Hisakata on May 5, 2012 15:29:41 GMT -1
Seirei couldn't help smiling, no matter how much tension Seema had created. Pushing the pups gently away so their mother could catch her breath, he pulled Aislin and Ebony to one side, "Girls, could you help your mother get into bed for me? Make sure she's comfortable and start making a little broth for her out of the rabbit in the store. Ebony, you know where I mean. I need to take Sai and Kai out with me to stock up on food. I've been neglecting the cupboard recently ..." It was true. Seirei hadn't felt up to keeping an eye on such menial things for the past few weeks and had made do with what scraps he could get together on his walks in the forest. He realised, now that his mate was home, that he'd let the quality slip, and planned on making up for it with a big dinner to celebrate their family getting back together again. "Ok, Dad." The two girls said, rushing off to find what they needed. With their mother being gone for so long, Ebony had almost replaced her mother, especially with looking after Artemis emotionally, who had doted on Tersias since the day he was born. The other pups had fended for themselves, Sai fancying himself on a mission or quest of some sort, but Artemis had always needed a little extra help. Her little brother - even though they were the same age she always called him this fondly - wasn't as good a hunter as the other boys, always preferring to stay home. He was, however, extremely knowledgeable of the plants in the forest and their uses, and Ebony always asked his advice. She called him over from the other side of the room, where he was still nuzzling his mother's tail. "Artemis? Could you go fetch some rosemary and dill for us?" Thrilled to have something to do, he dashed, a little clumsily, out the door without a word. Chuckling a little, Seirei pulled Sai and Kai onto his back, like he always used to when they went hunting together, gave a quick lick goodbye to Tersias and made his way out the den, leaving Seema still standing there. ((OOC - Seema can start meddling if you get me, Hil  )) |
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Post by Seema Tara on May 7, 2012 9:00:27 GMT -1
Seema wrapped the device Seirei had indicated back in the cloth on the floor beside it and stowed it away in a cupboard, on a high shelf so the cubs would know it was off limits. This done, she stood back for a little while, watching as Aislin and Ebony made a start on a stew. Then, totally out of the blue, she threw her hands above her head "Girls, girls, what on earth are you doing?" she tutted, as if exasperated by their attempts. "Give that here, you're both far too young to be cooking. Go play" she scolded, taking the rabbit from Ebony and the pot from Aislin.
Aislin protested a little, but Ebony put a paw on her shoulder. "Aunty Seema is just trying to help too, Aislin. Mum's her family too, remember" she whispered. "Why don't you go make some tea? I bet mum could do with some".
Seema set about making the stew with what little Seirei had left, muttering as she went. "Honestly, it's ridiculous, the children being responsible for their own meals, living off scraps like this, getting no education. You'd think their mother would do something about it, they deserve structure, and a childhood. No kids of mine would be living like this." it sounded like Seema was talking to herself, but the words were definitely loud enough to be heard by her sister, but more importantly by the cubs. If she and Kurai were to succeed, the pups would need to believe that she was offering a better alternative.
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Post by Tersias Tara-Hisakata on May 7, 2012 9:11:11 GMT -1
Tersias' eyes welled up a little at Seema's words, but she was far too tired to argue with her sister. Instead, all she could do was bite her tongue for now, and deal with seema's attitude when she had the strength to.
As she was thinking this, Aislin brought her over a cup of tea. "Here you go mummy, I brought you some tea" she smiled as she gave her the cup.
Tersias took the cup and sipped gratefully. "Thank you honey, that's exactly what I needed. Now, there's a wooden box over there, could you bring me it? I want to show you some things I brought back for you all" she smiled, and licked Aislin's head. "You too, Ebony, I want you to see this too."
Ebony came and curled up at her mother's side, and Aislin brought the box over and curled up on Tersias' other side. "My two girls" smiled Tersias, opening the box.
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Post by Seirei Hisakata on May 9, 2012 13:22:27 GMT -1
At that moment, Artemis came bursting into the den, two big clumps of herbs clamped between his teeth, clearly delighted at his find.
"Ebony, I found some! I hope it's enough -" He stopped dead in his tracks. In the place of his two sisters was his Aunt Seema, who was stirring a now bubbling stew, rather visciously, over the fire. Wondering if his sisters had done something wrong, he quickly put the herbs down at his aunt's feet - even though she had been with them for a while, she still scared him - and ran over to the bed. "I thought Dad said we could do it ..." he whispered to Ebony, who responded with a simple shrug. As bold as she was, she knew not to get on the wrong side of Seema.
In the meantime, Seirei and his two other boys were deep in the forest, in the region near the lake, tracking prey. Deer and other larger mammals often gathered at this time of day to drink and bathe, and they would need a big catch if they were to have a feast tonight. The plan was to herd an animal towards Seirei, so he could quickly dispatch it, therefore, Sai and Kai were placed around twenty feet opposite their father, so if prey did appear, they could make noises to scare it and chase it in the right direction. The boys weren't big enough to tackle a deer by themselves, though they had grown in strength and skills, thanks to their father's lessons over the past months.
At last! There it was, The tell-tale signs of rustling hoof against foliage. Seirei flattened himself to the ground, and the boys followed suit. Sai could smell the scent of the creature, it was only a few feet away, and he began to drool. "Get ready, Kai," he whispered to his brother, who nodded, tensing up his body, ready to strike. "NOW!" Sai leaped out in front of the creature, snarling and flapping his wings as wide as they would go. It was a beautiful doe, big enough to knock them down had its watery eyes not been filled with terror. Kai was soon at his brother's heels, and together the two of them, nipping at the deer's hind legs and yapping, turned it round the curved bank of the lake and then Seirei was upon it. A quick blow to the head and a slash of a talon, and the doe lay still before their feet.
"Good work boys!" Seirei said cheerfully, ruffling his sons' heads with a clean paw, who were worn out, panting with all the running they had to do. Seirei, being as strong as he was, didn't even have to recover. Chuckling at their lolling tongues and little pants he reassured them, "Don't worry, your stamina will soon improve as you get older, and then we can find food more effectively. But I think this'll do for this evening." He heaved the carcas over his back and began the short walk back to their den, Sai and Kai trotting after his heels.
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Post by Seema Tara on May 11, 2012 9:20:09 GMT -1
Observing Tersias as she attempted to reconnect to her children, Seema felt a pang of anxiety - if Tersias and the pups got close again then their plan would be hopeless. So she decided to intervene.
"Ebony, Aislin, where did your father leave the other rabbit?" She called over, as she took the bundles of herbs from where Artemis had lain them down.
Ebony went into the store and fetched the remaining rabbit "It's the last one, though, I don't think dad would want us to use it all, Aunty Seema..." she said a little uncertainly, as Aislin hung back nervously.
Seema just smiled "When it's me that's cooking we'll focus on a great meal, not on what's left in the cupboards for tomorrow. If needs be I'll go catch another myself later, ok? Thank you girls, and thank you Artemis for the herbs" her tone was much softer than normal, and sweeter, almost sickly. "Why don't you three go play outside and keep an eye out for the boys coming back, eh?" she bundled the three cubs out of the door and proceeded to tend to the stew.
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))