Post by Itanecrio on Apr 19, 2010 18:57:36 GMT -5
(link to planning thread: click here)
The jungle seemed to hold its' breath, as if watching Tanivera's prowling figure. For out of the highland flowed a wide stream, it's waters now still and dark beneath the shadow of the weeping boughs overhead, the only sounds fleeting and furtive. Pallid lights shifted beneath the water, as plants disturbed by unseen bodies coloured at the disturbance. With a stifled curse Tanivera pressed on, more quickly knowing now that the relative safety of the rocks ahead needed to be reached. The prowlers and predators had sensed him and were under way hunting him. On his right, he heard the stream growing noisy in its banks, as he began to press up the slope toward the rocks. If soon the danger of the jungle was put behind him, here more than any place, was the threat of Toruk the most real, for over the sweeping rocks and formations, there was no hope in speed or stealth to escape the lord-beast of the skies. Tanivera braced himself, knowing that if Eywa had not willed for Toruk to be flying elsewhere, his death was at hand. It was solely an act of dignity and pride that he walked slowly and upright as he crossed the stones of the long low hill. He did not look overhead, but looked only toward the slender shape which grew to one side of the summit. A young tree, growing in a slow spiral from the ground, with boughs that sifted and moved in the winds giving off a faint blue light. Sitting in the shadow of this tree, the Tree of Visions, was the Tuyeteria exile, Itanecrio, his head bowed as he inflected upon the visions he saw having made the bond of Tsahaylu with the living tendrils of the tree.
"Itan." Spoke Tanivera, knowing that the pale giant would have heard him, but would not lift from the spell the tree wove over him until its' ministrations within him had drawn to an end. Overhead a dreaded shape moved across the sun, and it's shrill voice pierced Tanivera's heart with chill and doubt. But at the voice of the Toruk, the tree seemed to move, it's boughs showing a fiercer light. Perhaps it was only in the imagination of the noble, but it seemed Toruk pitched his dreaded wings and banked away. When Tanivera looked back, Itanecrio had stood, and was watching him with dark eyes.
"Elder Tanivera." The hulking Tuyeteiran bowed, his skin as pale as the stones upon which the Tree of Visions grew. "You've come to consult with the tree."
Tanivera shuddered, his sun-darkened form shimmering with the interplay of phosphorescence. "No Itanecrio, that tree has no love of me. I come to ask what you have seen. Our tribe, and that of the Itami have suffered the loss of too many warriors, solid warriors, who ought not to have vanished as they have. With no sign."
Itanecrio's hand opened, and the wind blew a frond of the Tree of Visions into his hand. "I have seen nothing of the cause. But have seen enough to believe I should go in the seeking of the answer. I have a part to play, I think. I hope I have seen enough to buy enough time." Itanecrio held the frond, his thoughts showing in the lights upon his skin. "Are you certain, Tanivera, that you will not face what the tree wills to show you?" The pale giant smiled sadly, "Then let us go."
The jungle seemed to hold its' breath, as if watching Tanivera's prowling figure. For out of the highland flowed a wide stream, it's waters now still and dark beneath the shadow of the weeping boughs overhead, the only sounds fleeting and furtive. Pallid lights shifted beneath the water, as plants disturbed by unseen bodies coloured at the disturbance. With a stifled curse Tanivera pressed on, more quickly knowing now that the relative safety of the rocks ahead needed to be reached. The prowlers and predators had sensed him and were under way hunting him. On his right, he heard the stream growing noisy in its banks, as he began to press up the slope toward the rocks. If soon the danger of the jungle was put behind him, here more than any place, was the threat of Toruk the most real, for over the sweeping rocks and formations, there was no hope in speed or stealth to escape the lord-beast of the skies. Tanivera braced himself, knowing that if Eywa had not willed for Toruk to be flying elsewhere, his death was at hand. It was solely an act of dignity and pride that he walked slowly and upright as he crossed the stones of the long low hill. He did not look overhead, but looked only toward the slender shape which grew to one side of the summit. A young tree, growing in a slow spiral from the ground, with boughs that sifted and moved in the winds giving off a faint blue light. Sitting in the shadow of this tree, the Tree of Visions, was the Tuyeteria exile, Itanecrio, his head bowed as he inflected upon the visions he saw having made the bond of Tsahaylu with the living tendrils of the tree.
"Itan." Spoke Tanivera, knowing that the pale giant would have heard him, but would not lift from the spell the tree wove over him until its' ministrations within him had drawn to an end. Overhead a dreaded shape moved across the sun, and it's shrill voice pierced Tanivera's heart with chill and doubt. But at the voice of the Toruk, the tree seemed to move, it's boughs showing a fiercer light. Perhaps it was only in the imagination of the noble, but it seemed Toruk pitched his dreaded wings and banked away. When Tanivera looked back, Itanecrio had stood, and was watching him with dark eyes.
"Elder Tanivera." The hulking Tuyeteiran bowed, his skin as pale as the stones upon which the Tree of Visions grew. "You've come to consult with the tree."
Tanivera shuddered, his sun-darkened form shimmering with the interplay of phosphorescence. "No Itanecrio, that tree has no love of me. I come to ask what you have seen. Our tribe, and that of the Itami have suffered the loss of too many warriors, solid warriors, who ought not to have vanished as they have. With no sign."
Itanecrio's hand opened, and the wind blew a frond of the Tree of Visions into his hand. "I have seen nothing of the cause. But have seen enough to believe I should go in the seeking of the answer. I have a part to play, I think. I hope I have seen enough to buy enough time." Itanecrio held the frond, his thoughts showing in the lights upon his skin. "Are you certain, Tanivera, that you will not face what the tree wills to show you?" The pale giant smiled sadly, "Then let us go."