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Post by Leda on Feb 13, 2008 2:21:06 GMT -5
"Heh..." The priestess looked uncertain. She tended to shy away from using what few skills she did have for others if she could avoid it, mostly out of fear of giving inaccurate results. But at the same time, it was her duty as a servant of Antowas to lend her power to someone less skilled... And it looked like it would make her so happy, too. "Well, I can try," Tikal replied at length. "Just... Please don't take this too seriously. I'll probably do it wrong."
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Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 13, 2008 2:25:22 GMT -5
Athair glances over, and smiled sagely. "Just relax child. Don't try to force it, and you'll do just fine." The echidna's smile remained as he turned back to Soren. "I appreciate your understanding. I hope to be able to do something to remedy the issue soon." Athair glanced down at the sand, sighing slightly. " I've been gone for a bit too long, it seems."
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Post by dcbishigirl on Feb 13, 2008 21:00:21 GMT -5
Bella nodded at Tikal, and pulled her glove off. Keeping it in her other hand she showed her now bare palm to her new friend. "Somethings cannot be helped I'm afraid," Soren glanced at Athair. It wasn't his place to say anything.
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Post by Leda on Feb 13, 2008 21:56:13 GMT -5
The pup's paw waited eagerly for her counsel. Tikal gulped and carefully took Bella's oustretched hand. She really, REALLY didn't want to mess this up. This wasn't a reading she had to do because her father was hovering over her shoulder and demanding results; this was supposed to be for fun! The priestess drew in a deep breath, held it, then looked down into Bella's palm in search of information. (1=success, 2=failure) [dice=2] The echidna's brow scrunched, and her face slowly fell. She could find things like the lifeline, and the loveline... but just could not for the life of her discern their messages. Tikal struggled over and over, but her hands began to shake, and her eyes became hot and stingy. " I'm sorry," she eventually whispered, releasing her grasp on Bella's hand. " Maybe the Elder can do it for you." Tikal withdrew slightly from the campfire and buried her face against her knees. Athair clearly believed in her, but, he didn't know her the way Paccy did. Paccy had watched her consistantly mess up her readings for 19 years. Paccy warned her many, many times that she was foolish and incompetant and barely skated by as a priestess. Maybe it was just as well he'd taken her beads away; maybe she didn't even really deserve them. I probably only got them out of pity, Tikal wistfully lamented.[rand=9608835964632105082262281687879521604514983434235433049858832163914]
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Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 14, 2008 1:55:52 GMT -5
Athair had looked over at Tikal as she began her palm reading... and as her face fell, so too did his. He even watched her move off to the side, and could almost FEEL her silent lament. My poor child... Have you lost so much faith in yourself? The elder sighed softly, his heart sinking at his extended granddaughter's sorrow. Nodding to Soren apologetically, Athair stood. "If you will give me one moment." He then walked over to Tikal, kneeling next to her, and resting a hand gently on top of her head. " Child, You have had a long, and trying day. You can try again tomorrow. I am sure you will succeed then. After all, even those of us with the farthest sight at times cannot find the messages in our own two hands." [dice=2] (Inspiration. 1 = He's got nothing, 2 = Success) After a moment's thought, a thought came to the elder that seemed... not quite his own, but important somehow. And, as any good priest would, he whispered it so only Tikal, who needed it most, would hear. " And no matter what your father may tell you, you have greater talent than you realize, and I will believe in you regardless."[rand=6996220116138436252737202141894966502813260584958848628699307578]
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Post by Leda on Feb 15, 2008 2:15:57 GMT -5
" Thank you, Elder," Tikal squeaked without looking up. She refused to cry; not yet, anyway. If her father came back and caught her blubbering, he'd be angry, and she was already in enough hot water. " You're too kind."
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Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 15, 2008 2:23:42 GMT -5
Athair simply smiled softly as he petted his extended grand daughter's head. He could tell she was still upset, and she NEEDED to let that out, or it would eat her alive. "No kindness, child... Simple honesty." The elder nodded, seating himself comfortably next to Tikal. Please, child, don't let this sorrow consume any more of you than it has...
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Post by DB on Feb 16, 2008 13:55:53 GMT -5
A good deal of time later, Pachamac returned, an armload of extra firewood in tow. Glancing once again at the newcomers, he unceremoniously dropped the wood pile next to the fire, then sat off to the side, not saying a word.
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Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 16, 2008 16:58:56 GMT -5
Athair, after his (semi)successful attempt to console Tikal, had returned to sitting by the fire. He'd let her think over the things he'd said... and only hoped she believed him. He glanced up as Pachacamac arrived, and watched him drop the firewood into a messy pile, then sit off to the side. Good, I won't need to bother with him for a little while yet while he's sulking like that.
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Post by Leda on Feb 17, 2008 23:35:54 GMT -5
Tikal jerked up at the abrupt clattering of the wood, and peered up at Pachacamac dolefully. " Welcome back, Father."
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Post by dcbishigirl on Feb 22, 2008 16:06:37 GMT -5
Soren glanced over at the returning echidna before returning his eyes to the fire. His obvious dislike towards them was.. disconcerting to say the least. As he sat quietly near the fire, he idlely wished he had his violin. Bella felt bad that she had upset Tikal. She shouldn't have pushed for the palm reading. She stood and moved closer to the female echidna. "Tikal?... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to upset you."
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Post by Leda on Feb 23, 2008 2:25:54 GMT -5
The priestess turned to her peer for a fleeting moment before lowering her face in shame, and shaking her head. "You did nothing wrong," she replied after a tense silence.
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Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 24, 2008 0:04:28 GMT -5
Athair was torn between speaking to his great-grandson about his manners, and giving Tikal some support she still seemed to desperately need. So for the moment, he maintained the tense silence between the three males.
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Post by DB on Feb 24, 2008 0:08:13 GMT -5
And, again, Pachacamac got up and began to walk away. This time, however, he made a gesture to his daughter. "Tikal."
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Post by Leda on Feb 24, 2008 0:11:26 GMT -5
And at his beckoning, Tikal bolted upright, and quickly climbed to her feet. " Yes'ir." The young echidna gulped forcefully; she'd been deeply dreading this moment.
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Post by dcbishigirl on Feb 24, 2008 0:48:07 GMT -5
Bella watched as Tikal was called away and glanced over at her grandfather. Soren motioned for her to come over by him. So she stood and positioned herself next to him. "... Is she alright, Poppy?" Soren.. didn't know how to answer that. After all, she didn't look alright.
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Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 24, 2008 0:50:51 GMT -5
Athair frowned as Pachacamac led his daughter away, even narrowing his eyes slightly. His grip on his cane tightened, but he didn't stand, or even move any more than his expression. He knew that now was NOT the time to act. He wasn't sure when it would be yet, but when it was... He would get his extended grandchild away from her boar of a father.
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Post by DB on Feb 26, 2008 17:13:35 GMT -5
After awhile, the larger echidna returned, once again taking his spot away from the newcomers, not saying a word yet again.
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Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 26, 2008 17:24:25 GMT -5
The elderly echidna glanced over at Pachacamac returned, his frown deepening as he noted that ONLY he had returned. Gripping his cane tightly, he got to his feet, and walked over to his great-grandson, his eyes narrowed into a dangerous expression, when seen on the elder. "Pachacamac Put... where is your daughter?" Athair's voice turned icy as he asked the seemingly simple question, his tone suggesting Pachacamac's continued well-being depended on his answer. The elder already had reasons to dislike the younger echidna... and part of him hoped Pachacamac didn't give him a reason to want him DEAD.
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Post by DB on Feb 26, 2008 17:29:36 GMT -5
*posting again for flow of conversation*He wasn't completely sure how such an old man was able to instill so much fear into him, but Paccy frowned in reaction to the Elder's demand. "She should be on her way back." He paused, leaning back a bit and turning to look behind his shoulder. She WAS coming back, wasn't she? Unless she decided to run off again...
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Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 26, 2008 17:38:49 GMT -5
Athair lifted his gaze from Pachacamac, looking the direction the two younger echidnas had gone earlier, his expression softening into a slight expression of concern. If she hadn't come back yet... "... You will remain here. And you will be polite to our guests." Not a set of orders, but simple statements of fact, as the elder began walking in what he HOPED was Tikal's direction. Pachacamac, if I learn you've hurt her, I will come down on your head like the wrath of Astal himself.This thought drove the elder, his cane clasped in a white-knuckled grip, as he slowly vanished into the night.
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Post by dcbishigirl on Feb 29, 2008 2:30:47 GMT -5
Bella let out a sigh... and looked over at the large echidna for a moment, then to the path, only to look back at the fire. She really hoped Tikal was okay. It wasn't often she met someone she immediately liked. Bella stared at the fire and, though she didn't realize she was doing it, started singing softly, " Le scatole di musica hanno dentro, melodie che trasportano con loro..." Soren smiled gently at his Bella. This wasn't the first time she had done this. He knew this was her way of calming herself down.
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Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 29, 2008 2:31:46 GMT -5
It wouldn't be for almost half an hour, or almost three quarters of one, until the priest returned, carrying a female figure with surprising ease. As he became sufficiently lit by the firelight, his passenger was revealed to be Tikal, sound asleep in his arms. The elder strode past Pachacamac, seeming to ignore the younger echidna for the moment, until he laid his granddaughter down near the fire. After a quick look around, he picked up the cloak the priestess had dropped earlier, and covered her up, leaving his cane in her hands before he turned to Pachacamac. Now to deal with you, boy...". . . She's had a strenuous day, she simply needed some time to sort her thoughts. When I found her, she was exhausted, so I brought her back." The elder's eyes narrowed slightly as he continued. " I would suggest you leave her be for the time being so she can rest." Athair's tone had taken on that icey tone that would tolerate to disobedience from the younger male, cane or no cane.
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Post by Leda on Feb 29, 2008 2:40:35 GMT -5
Though she wasn't usually such a heavy sleeper, Tikal definitely wouldn't be waking anytime soon. She curled up in a way not so unlike the fetal position, her face apparently damp and swollen, and grasped her grandfather's cane close to her body.
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Post by DB on Feb 29, 2008 10:23:32 GMT -5
The echidna's nose wrinkled slightly at the sound of the pup's singing. It wasn't that he disliked it, or that she was a bad singer, it was just that she was making noise at all. Luckily, and that's used loosely, Athair returned with Tikal shortly after the pup had begun. Peering with curiosity and possibly authentic concern (though possibly not) at his daughter, he glanced up at Athair. "... is she alright, Elder?"
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Post by V for Vizetta on Feb 29, 2008 14:19:38 GMT -5
The elder looked Pachacamac in the eyes as he responded, his expression tolerant, for the moment. "Yes, fortunately." No thanks to you.Athair turned to look down at Tikal, a small smile visible for a moment as he rested a hand on her shoulder, almost paternally. "As I said, she just needs to get some rest. After narrowly escaping that attack earlier today, and a great many things she'd had on her mind, she had a small breakdown." A massive understatement, but the elder didn't wish to worry the two canines that were with them.
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