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Post by Taliyah on Oct 10, 2016 20:43:23 GMT
Kayin took in what she said and nodded. "I understand how you feel, I also try to stay neutral. Unfortunately, my people have experienced a great deal of prejudice and tragedy at the hands of others, like Dejja for example. We have all lost people which causes us to be wary. I am however not in agreement with how she handled this situation. Barring a self-defense situation, I do not advocate for violence against those that are strangers that are brought here."
He regarded Lucia and Daeus. "I apologize for any harsh treatment received and you have my word it will not happen again. Now as to why you are here....Did you choose to come here of your own volition?"
Lucia was surprised by how level headed and calm Kayin seemed and decided that the truth would be best served at the moment. "No, we were sent here."
"Did your orders involve committing destruction or violence to any degree?" He paused for a moment and then continued. "I would answer truthfully, there are those in this world that once lived where you did, and I have ways of finding out if you lie."
She shook her head emphatically. "No, not at all. We came merely to observe. If you know of our world then you know it does not fare as well as this one, any knowledge we can gain may help us."
Kayin paused for a long moment. "I am going to release you. You are travellers and if you do not mean to be a threat then you I grant you my hospitality for as long as you may need it. Stay or go as you wish." He released their bonds and sat beside Lucia. "I am Kayin. What is your name? Do you have knowledge of your parent's origin? Of whether they are human?" He looked apologetic. "I know those are personal questions but from the sounds of it, you coming here triggered an awakening in you."
"I do not know about my parents. I raised myself. So you know what's happening to me?"
He nodded. "I believe so. I think that you are actually one of us. I am willing to explain all of this after you have had time to rest and eat and anything that you need."
Kayin looked at Vulira. "You are also welcome to stay."
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Post by Vulira on Oct 11, 2016 4:26:58 GMT
Vulira smiled slightly, pleased by the turn of events. "Thank you," she said, "I would like to talk to you at some point about how I ended up here, and what prejudices your people have faced. That's one of those things that I tend to get involved in. I... have seen prejudice destroy so much..." she frowned, waxing introspective for a moment. Then one ear twitched rather violently and she blinked and shook her head just slightly.
"But working out what's going on with Lucia takes precedence!" She crouched down by Lucia, tail arching to help her balance in the awkward position. She pulled another paper packet out from under her chain mail with one hand, and grabbed her water skin with the other. She poured a little bit of water into the packet and started mushing it between her fingers.
"Is it dislocated?" she asked, looking at Lucia and the rabbit person inspecting her. "Here's a pain salve," she said, offering up the paste-filled packet as she reattached her water skin with her other hand.
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Post by Taliyah on Oct 15, 2016 19:11:53 GMT
Mavis the rabbit shifter finished her inspection of Lucia's arm and looked at Vulira. "Yes, unfortunately, it is. Miss, would you be willing to help hold her still so I can pop it back into place? Then we can put the salve on it." She looked grateful for the help and moved to face Lucia.
"I apologize but this will hurt for a moment. You will need to rest this shoulder for several days. This injury was uncalled for, but no matter we will have you fixed up in no time."
Kayin tried not to hover. "Thank you for helping her Mavis." He was quiet thinking about what to do. "If we are correct this is unprecedented among my people, we've never had a traveler from that world be one of us before. Normally one learns of their guardian animal before they become a young adult. We've never had someone receiving the visions as an adult." He paused. "I just realized I don't know your names. I apologize for my bad manners."
Lucia arched an eyebrow. "Bad manners? No disrespect meant sir but you are the first nice person we've encountered here barring this young healer. I am Lucia."
"I am Daeus." He sat there just taking in the change in the situation and the current conversation. He was a bit perplexed and not sure what to do.
Kayin had a rueful expression on his face. "I did not get here as quickly as I had hoped to. If I had you might have had a better experience. Lucia I may need to work with you personally to assist you until I can figure out how to explain this to my people just to be safe. It caused a regrettable reaction from Dejja. I'd rather like to prevent similar reactions for your own safety."
He nodded to Vulira. "I would be more than happy to exchange information with you once we have this situation well in hand."
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Post by Vulira on Oct 15, 2016 19:32:45 GMT
"Lay flat on your back, Lucia," Vulira said. She set the packet of salve on Lucia's lap and gently pushed against the collarbone on the opposite side of the injured arm to encourage the other woman to lay back. She helped the rabbit woman straighten Lucia's arm 90 degrees out from her body, and then helped keep Lucia still while the other woman pulled Lucia's arm back into place, adjusting her density enough to be heavy, but not so much that the weight was damaging.
"I'm Vulira," Vulira told Kayin as she regained her feet and returned her density to normal. "You said it's a guardian animal? Are you like... dual-spirited? Humans sharing a body with an animal soul? Is that how it works?" Vulira asked, tilting her head to the side curiously.
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Post by Taliyah on Oct 19, 2016 18:53:44 GMT
Lucia did as Vulira told her, and her face turned slightly pale as her arm was put back into place. The only sound that escaped her was a small whimper. This was pain that she knew was coming so she handled it far better than when it had been wrenched out of place.
Mavis helped apply the salve and did so without a word so Vulira and Kayin could talk.
"Essentially yes, we are chosen by an animal when we are young. Once we have acknowledged and accepted our animal we have the ability to begin to take on their features and even aspects of their personality when in our animal form. This form does not come without it's responsibilities and restrictions, however."
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Post by Vulira on Oct 19, 2016 21:29:56 GMT
Vulira nodded, tapping her cheek with one finger. It was similar to other creatures she'd encountered in her travels. There was a part of her that was insatiably curious and loved to do research that niggled at the back of her mind and made her want to ask dozens of questions and take copious notes. But she quashed that impulse for the moment for several reasons; no notepad, not the time, place or purpose in being here, probably not super relevant, and in all honesty, not that useful. Only a handful of node worlds, like her own, were populated by many interdimensional travelers, and in the grand scheme of all existence, they were a pitiful minority. An encyclopedic collection of notes and comparisons of flora and fauna across the impossibly random history of her travels would barely be useful even to the travelers at home, let alone anywhere else, and Vulira had no intent of going back, if she even could.
"Well, I suppose it would be safe to say Lucia's animal has been acknowledged, but I imagine acceptance will be much harder. It won't be enough to pay lip service and just say it's accepted, I'm sure. She'll have to come to terms with it on an incredibly deep and personal level," she said, glancing over to where Lucia rested and recrossing her arms. "I would imagine it'll be difficult for anyone to really help her with that. I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess the very idea is going to run counter to everything she was raised to believe. Worlds that focus on science and technology often have a turbulent relationship with magic and mysticism. And I suppose the reverse holds true too, sometimes, though in my experience, the people in heavily magical worlds tend to view science and technology as just new types of magic and miracles and embrace them more easily than their counterparts." Vulira shifted her gaze back to Hawin, head tilting a little to one side, chin lifted. "How does that hold up here?" she asked, one ear swiveling forward while the other angled off to the side, giving her a slightly lopsided appearance.
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