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Post by raiu on May 16, 2009 23:06:23 GMT -5
The tribe that Reno and Abra were in was one of the first to arrive at the settlement. They had missed the real traffic that would happen when it got closer to the festival by a full day and took up a spot near the settlement before everyone busily went to set up their own stalls or looked to see what was already there. Reno however was on abit edge, It had barely been two days prior that Dama tried to kill both him and Abra and with such a large group of people she would most likely be in it, most likely at the "Arena", a large colosieum located in a cavern under the settlement with a surface entrance some where in the town. He sighed, at the very least he could get to the oasis before the festival happened. It was a ritual that plenty of exiled followed, to them bathing in the oasis helped clense them of their sin. Some people thought that it was based on a parath tradition but no one could realy be sure with so few paraths around. When Reno reached the oasis he looked around and saw that it was empty. Usualy people bathed after the festival, more for geting the smell of booze of of them then for religion. Realy that suited Reno just fine, he would rather skip the bath then bath with a bunch of drunkards. He took of his clothes and placed them in a nitch between two close growing trees, a place where few theives would be able to get to with out anyone noticeing, before going into the water. The sky was starting to darken and even a parath would be hard pressed to notice Reno's head peeking out of the water.
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Post by Nalray on May 16, 2009 23:48:38 GMT -5
Abra went to the Oasis as soon as the Tribe was close to town. As she had nothing to set up, or go do in town, it seemed the the most natural choice. She went to a hidden place she knew of that she found when she was young. A small cave that remained cool even during the hottest days of the summer thanks to the water near by. Exhausted from traveling, she slept tell the sun started to set. She woke only minest after Reno went into the water, and climbed out of her hiding spot. With the sun down, she could move without being seen by anyone but a parath.
Abra walked carefully around the water, her eyes close and simply navigating by feeling with the pads of her feet. Not many people came to this place tell after the festival, and when the drunks came she gave them a wide berth. Her ears twitched as she heard the breathing of someone out in the water. Opening her eyes, she looked out, but in the darkness of the water she wasn't able to pick out anything but a soft glint of medal jest under the surface. Her eyes flashed and she called out. "Reno? That you?"
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Post by raiu on May 16, 2009 23:55:07 GMT -5
Reno nearly had a heart attack when Abr talked and dove underwater, only to surface a few moments later coughing for air. 'A-A-Abra!' He turned to look at her and saw her as a darker patch against the night and started to blush. 'You nearly gave me a heart attack! What are you doing here?' Abra had cought him off guard, with his pants down or rather with his pants off. He realy didnt expect anyone to stumble onto him then.
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Post by Nalray on May 17, 2009 0:07:10 GMT -5
Abra laughed quietly, finding Reno's reaction predictable, but at the same time humorous. Humans all seem to get that way when their not wearing any clothes, though it wasn't something she really much understood. It must have to do with the fact the only fur they seem to get in only on their scalp. "I'm always here when I can be." She answered, smiling slightly in the dark, before wading out into the water some. "I really should be asking you that. You humans normally wait tell after the festival before trying to clens yourselves."
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Post by raiu on May 17, 2009 11:11:39 GMT -5
Reno was silently fumeing at himself for leting himself get into this problem. 'Id rather let the sin build up then bath with a bunch of drunks. When they try to clense themselves more sin is absorbed into their bodies then let out. The drink does that to plenty of people.' He sighed inwardly. Abra realy cought him off guard and he hated when people do that.
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Post by Nalray on May 17, 2009 11:33:14 GMT -5
Abra sighed slightly before turning and walking out of the water. "You do realize this doesn't work tell you get a blessing from the Paratharien Elder." She said sighing somewhat. Humans had starting coping the old tradition years ago, but back then the Parath Elder refused to bless humans as humans had their own elders. Humans still thought it would work even if they didn't though, and that ignorance as been passed down threw the generation. "I can take you to him if you like, but I can't guarantee that he will find you forgivable or worthy of his blessing." She laughed quietly again. The old parath that had the title of elder now was jest as stubborn as the ones in the past, but she was sure she might be able to convince him to do it for one of her friends. She is his granddaughter after all.
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Post by raiu on May 17, 2009 13:12:36 GMT -5
Reno let out a short chuckle when Abra said the words forgivable and worthy. 'Heres a passage from the religous book of Reno. "Although the Holy Father has damned me to walk the sands of my destruction the creations of God may take pity and misjudge me."' Reno smiled slightly before geting out the water and starting to get dressed. Even in the night the mark of exile on Reno's back could be seen, although it was a bit blured. 'Ill make a bet with you. If your elder gives me the blessing then Ill do what ever you want when the festival starts. If he doesnt then I wont make you do anything for me durring the festival, deal?'
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Post by Nalray on May 17, 2009 13:33:31 GMT -5
Abra sighed, and walked over to Reno. "No deal. If you don't believe that you can be forgiven then no one will forgive you." Her claws lightly traced over the exile mark on Reno's back. "I guess it would be the pointless guester though. Being forgiven in the eye's of Paraths doesn't let you return home." She sighed again, before turning and walking towards town. "I'll still take you to him if you like." She called over her shoulder.
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Post by raiu on May 17, 2009 14:23:16 GMT -5
'That was just the self pitying crap that I made up the first year that I was here. I only call myself those names out of habit.' He turned and looked at Abra traced the mark on his back. He didnt realy like anyone touching that mark. 'Well, wouldnt matter if we dont try.' He put his shirt back on and followed Abra. 'Something tells me that it was a good thing that you didnt take the bet.'
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Post by Nalray on May 17, 2009 14:59:03 GMT -5
"I was referring to the bet, but your probably right about me not taking the bet... That is if you really do wish for the blessing... You'll still most likely will have to prove your worth for it though. Parath Elders don't exactly bless humans." Abra explained sighing somewhat. They came back into town, and headed for the center. The Elder always stayed by the Oasis, so he had residence in town that has been past down threw generations, so as the town got bigger, it found itself in the vary center. Abra stopped in front of a stone door. There wasn't any marking on it to suggest that it was the home of someone important, and it didn't draw the eye. Many people passed by it every day and most don't even notice it's there. Abra turned at look at Reno with a hard glare. "Tell anyone about my relation with the elder, and you'll be begging for death by the time I'm done with you." She spoke with a quite voice, but it was still full of steel. Without explain what she even met though, she open the door and slipped inside.
The inside temp was cold, despite the heat the normally made the air hard to breath outside. Abra enjoyed the cold, but it didn't occur to her that Reno might be a bit uncomfortable sense any water still on him would be freezing about right now. It was pitch black inside as well, only two candles in the vary back showed any light. Between the candles sat a single parath. His fur was black, other then his graying muzzle, and the lines of white fur that resembled tribal tattoos that some wore. The way he gained them though was much more painful then a needle braking the skin again and again. A red hot brand had to be dragged over his skin to make the fur grow back white and in the pattern see now. Abra couldn't help but winced in pain when ever she thought about that. Aside from the graying fur though, the elder looked fairly young and strong. Despite the cold, he wore no shirt, making it easy to see at a glance that he was as strong, if not stronger then the giants that had attacked them two days before. The elder look to be a giant himself even. His face looked like a mix of a wolf's and a lions, and his eyes were closed. He sat between the candles seeming to meditate.
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Post by raiu on May 17, 2009 18:26:51 GMT -5
Reno wanted to ask Abra abit more about what the ratual was like but her threat stopped him. He had a feeling that if he told anyone then he would have daggers all over him. That is if he even knew what she was talking about. He shivered slightly when she opened the door and a blast of cold air hit him. He could see the pair of candles flicker but he was more interested in the parath elder. The first thought that came to him was that the parath looked like a complete badass. That was also the second and thrid thought. After the third thought the cold got to him and he had to hold in a sneeze, which even blocked was enough for a parath to hear.
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Post by Nalray on May 17, 2009 18:46:57 GMT -5
Abra looked at Reno for a moment with a glare, before looking back to the elder. A smile was over his face, but he hadn't open his eyes yet to look at the new comers to his home. "Ya, Abra. It's been awhile. Are you well?" He spoke with a deep voice the resonated threw the room and seemed to build on itself. Abra walked towards him and kneeled on the ground in front of him. "Yes Grandfather..." She paused, looking at Reno for him to come closer before continuing. "I've brought my friend, Reno, for your blessing... If he's worthy." She added, making sure that it didn't sound as if she was trying to order him to. The elder seemed to think for a moment, before nodding. "I'll speak to him then. You'll have to leave I'm afraid." Abra nodded, bowed to the point where her forehead rested on the ground, before getting up and leaving Reno with her grandfather.
The elder finally open his eyes, which were a faded gray color, impling he was blind, but an amused smile came on his face. "Seems Abra might not hate humans as much as she used to." He said, before laughing and gesturing for Reno to sit down.
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Post by raiu on May 17, 2009 20:29:45 GMT -5
'She still hates humans alot, she just sees it as a safer place.' Reno smiled at the elder and sat down infront of him. 'So you are Abra's grandfather. No wonder she threated to make me beg for death after she was done with me if I told anyone. I wouldnt want that much attention placed onto me or to anyone else. Sorry if Im not giveing proper respects, I just dont know anything about parathien rituals so Im more than a little nervous.'
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Post by Nalray on May 17, 2009 20:46:35 GMT -5
The elder listened to Reno silently, closing his eyes again. "It might jest be you she likes, but you didn't come her to discuss my granddaughter. You, as a human, don't have to worry about customs or rituals. I have to ask why she has brought you to be blessed, though, as you could jest as easily gone to your tribes elders for a blessing... Unless." His eyes opened again, focusing on Reno intently like he could see right threw him to the vary core of his being. "Your a sinner." He said as a moment, before closing his eyes and leaning his head back in thought. "This will be interesting... But you have to be sure of your choice. This isn't some thing you do impulsivly."
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Post by raiu on May 17, 2009 21:27:56 GMT -5
Reno shook slightly when the elder leaned in as if to study him. He had a feeling that the elder was stareing into the very depths of his soul. He was suprised that the elder noticed that right away. He looked down for a moment and thought things over a little. If even his soul showed that he was a sinner then God realy had damned him. After a few moments he looked up and a sence of determination was in his eyes. 'I want to do it. Im ready.'
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