|
Post by DB on Feb 5, 2008 1:10:49 GMT -5
Pachacamac raised another brow. "Since that long ago?" It was amazing enough that the old man lived this long without life support, let alone by himself.
|
|
|
Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 5, 2008 1:12:42 GMT -5
Athair simply nodded, feeling no need to give details of his travels.
|
|
|
Post by DB on Feb 5, 2008 1:13:56 GMT -5
"... well. ... Do you know any places we can replace our missing supplies?"
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Feb 5, 2008 1:18:03 GMT -5
Tikal, meanwhile, had managed to inch her way out of the water and took refuge against the nearest tree, resting her weight against it and gasping for air. It didn't occur to her just how much she'd been holding her breath until exactly that moment.
|
|
|
Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 5, 2008 1:21:56 GMT -5
"I am afraid not. I have been staying away from heavily populated areas. Even I do not wish to run into the overlander's creations." Athair was, even as he spoke, considering a completely different train of thought.
|
|
|
Post by DB on Feb 5, 2008 1:27:27 GMT -5
Pachacamac's nose wrinkled. The old man was completely useless. "Have you seen anyone else from our caravan? We've been scattered..."
|
|
|
Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 5, 2008 18:26:07 GMT -5
The elderly echidna frowned, as he shook his head again. "Not recently, I'm afraid." Athair glanced towards Tikal for a moment. " Perhaps..." He mused quietly, tracing the worn grooves in his cane again with his thumb.
|
|
|
Post by DB on Feb 5, 2008 20:50:12 GMT -5
The echidna's nose wrinkled, ever so slightly, and only for a moment. He was about to say something that he'd probably regret, but ... "Perhaps it would be best if we stayed together."
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Feb 5, 2008 22:25:15 GMT -5
Tikal glanced at her father, her eyes deeply bewildered. Pachacamac had never willingly invited company unless he was trying to get something, but all she'd seen him regard the Elder with was contempt. Was there something she wasn't seeing, or was her father up to something... again?
|
|
|
Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 5, 2008 22:31:13 GMT -5
Athair's composure actually SLIPPED for a moment, and he just stared at his extended grandson. "Did I hear you correctly? You want me to travel WITH you?" Well, this solves half of my plan neatly... Thank you, Goddess.
|
|
|
Post by DB on Feb 5, 2008 22:38:41 GMT -5
Good. Maybe now he'd be less likely to get abandoned, or killed via bad information. "Wouldn't it be wiser for us to travel together? Safety in numbers?"
|
|
|
Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 5, 2008 22:41:11 GMT -5
Athair frowned, and nodded, acknowledging the wisdom of Pachacamac's statement. "Yes, it would. And besides, I could stand to have some company every now and then." And the fact he'd be able to watch over his extended grandaughter was definitely an added perk. He had a plan, he just needed a decent reason to enact it.
|
|
|
Post by DB on Feb 5, 2008 22:43:36 GMT -5
"Good. I'm glad to hear you'll be with us." But not really. "I think we should find a place to rest for the night."
|
|
|
Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 5, 2008 22:45:08 GMT -5
"There's nothing wrong with this beach, is there? I've spent several days here already." Without a tent, fire, or even that much food, but that was all by choice.
|
|
|
Post by DB on Feb 5, 2008 22:50:01 GMT -5
"Not that I know of, Elder- but you'd know better." Being able to divine and all.
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Feb 5, 2008 22:52:35 GMT -5
"Um..." Gingerly climbing to her feet, Tikal weakly attempted to inject herself into the conversation. "Would you have me gather firewood, Father? ...Or do any foraging..?" Getting back on Paccy's good side would be beneficial, yes. If she was ever there to begin with.
|
|
|
Post by DB on Feb 5, 2008 23:10:23 GMT -5
Pachacamac eyed his daughter for a moment, considering. He'd rather she not run off out of his sight again, just in case she'd decide to not return... "... It may be best if you stay here and dig a pit for the fire. I'll gather the firewood."
|
|
|
Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 5, 2008 23:13:56 GMT -5
Athair nodded slowly. "That would be best." Athair's expression was again stony towards Pachy, but that was normal.
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Feb 5, 2008 23:16:27 GMT -5
DENIED.Not that she particularly wanted to do the gathering, but it didn't look like she'd pleased him. Tikal wilted slightly and nodded, her eyes back on the ground. " Yes, Father." Without waiting to be told, the priestess began looking for the best location to dig the pit.
|
|
|
Post by DB on Feb 5, 2008 23:18:26 GMT -5
The darker echidna turned again to Athair. "I'll gather firewood now. It'd best to get this done before the sun sets." And off he limped.
|
|
|
Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 5, 2008 23:24:00 GMT -5
Athair waited until Pachy had vanished into the trees, before turning to Tikal, his expression softening. "It's quite all right to breath normally now." The elderly echidna stood, and walked over next to the young priestess, prodding at the sand with his cane for a softer spot to dig in. "I... apologize for that incident earlier. My distant grandson has... that affect on me."
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Feb 5, 2008 23:29:56 GMT -5
"I should get to work," Tikal mumbled, already dropping to her knees and digging into the moist dirt. "Father will be upset if I daudle..." Suddenly something the old priest mentioned caught her attention, and Tikal peered up at Athair questioningly. ".......Your grandson?"
|
|
|
Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 5, 2008 23:38:59 GMT -5
"Well, there are two generations between us. I'm his great grandfather." The elder smiled softly. "I'm not surprised you don't recognize me. I left while you were still rather young." For a moment, Athair scratched his chin. "Although I didn't think I'd changed so much since I last saw you."
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Feb 5, 2008 23:48:39 GMT -5
Tikal.... stared, in silence, for some time. She honestly didn't know what to do with that information. It at least clarified a few things, but at the same time, the young echidna was at odds over how to react to that information. That was good news... wasn't it? She thought it was... The sound of distant shuffling caught her ear, and Tikal's attention darted over her shoulder to wherever Pachacamac was working. I don't have time for this right now, she reminded herself. Returning to her digging, now a little more feverish to make up for her lost time, the priestess added, " I'm sorry, Elder. I have to work now."
|
|
|
Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 5, 2008 23:51:35 GMT -5
Athair nodded. " We can speak more at a later time, perhaps." He then walked off a short distance, and sat cross-legged, facing the lake.
|
|
|
Post by DB on Feb 6, 2008 0:18:57 GMT -5
A short while later, Pachacamac returned, carrying a decent amount of firewood beneath one arm, then dumped it unceremoniously besides where Tikal had been digging. Glancing down at the hole, he simply muttered, "Too deep." His gaze then shifted to the where the older echidna sat, and he made a sound not too different then from "Hmmph."
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Feb 6, 2008 0:21:19 GMT -5
The priestess frowned. "I'm sorry, Father..." Tikal quickly began pushing some of the sand back into the pit she'd dug, hoping to win Pachacamac's approval.
|
|
|
Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 6, 2008 0:24:57 GMT -5
The elder echidna made no move in reaction to Pachacamac, his gaze still fixed on the lake. The light of the fading sun, reflecting off the water, was almost hypnotic, a trait Athair greatly desired at the moment. He was going to use his divination, to learn if things would change in his clan, for Tikal, and Pachacamac. But such a thing would take time. A resource the elder still had in great supply.
|
|
|
Post by DB on Feb 6, 2008 0:38:56 GMT -5
Pachacamac nodded slightly, "...better. Go get some stones. Don't wander off too far." That said, he crouched down next to the pit and began to rummage through a small pack he had with him- the last of the supplies.
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Feb 6, 2008 1:01:09 GMT -5
Tikal released a small sigh of relief, then nodded in obedience, darting off immediately to do as she was told. She still had a faint glimmer of hope of winning at least some of Pachacamac's favor. The priestess removed her shawl and busied herself filling it with rocks she hoped her father would approve of.
|
|