[Jauhar] The Ol' Run Around (Selvei/Adenah)

[Painted Moose]

Life in Jauhar wasn't so bad anymore. Adenah still missed the sprawling desert of her homeland, but some concessions had to be made. They just couldn't go back; or rather, her mother couldn't. Adenah, however, was free to go as soon as she was old enough, but waiting was an absolute agony.

She missed the dry heat that would cover her skin in a nice, thick burn instead of giving her sweat in areas she hadn't known existed. It was brighter in Oba, without any of these trees to block out the sun, and as pretty as all the glowing fungus was it just couldn't compare to seeing the stars sprawl out over wide, open sand.

One day she would go back, but until then they were stuck in Jauhar with her mother's people. Which, admittedly, wasn't as horrid as she claimed sometimes. For one the shifter boys were a lot cuter than the obans; and most of them appreciated the charm that came with her vibrant hair, as opposed to looking down on her for being 'different'. Adenah was still too young to really understand what all those alluring gazes wanted from her, but she knew them well enough to know they thought her 'pretty'. It was enough to go to her head, and made her dress just a little more scantily than what her mother would have preffered.

But then again, it was Jauhar, and it was okay to show some skin to stay cool.

It was that same sense of self confidence that brought her out to the market. With her family preoccupied, Adenah was able to sneak out for a little alone time and seek out a new pair of earrings. She was supposed to be saving the money from her chores on important things; like a durable cloak, a sensible daggers and boots....but earrings were just so much cuter!

DraconicFeline

 

[DraconicFeline]

Painted Moose

Selvei was a little afraid of his grandmother - not that he had any reason to, she was just so big. She towered over his Mama, and he could have sworn that she was bigger than Papa, too.

He was more scared when he lost sight of her, though - here in the market, where there were so many places to find someone, and to lose someone. "Laki?" Selvei squeaked, trembling as he clutched his doll to his chest. His call probably wouldn't have called anything of value, it was so quiet and shy amid all the wonders of the market.

And so lost.  

[Painted Moose]

DraconicFeline

Adenah was on the hunt for a proper jeweler, none of those imported fakers, when she heard it. At first she assumed it was someone's pet that had gotten lost, or some kind of spooked bird, but after a momentary glance she spotted a little boy.

At least, what she assumed to be a boy; it could have just been an underdeveloped girl, but shifters did love slapping unnecessary clothing on their daughters, so she doubted it. What do I do? This kid had nothing to do with her, so there was no reason she should be the one to stick around and help it. This was her day after all; the one she was going to get in a long time without anyone to slow her down!

And yet....Adenah found herself rolling her eyes before making her way closer. Maybe it was the big sister in her that caused it, but she just couldn't leave the kid alone. "Hey, you okay?" Please say yes so I can leave.  

[DraconicFeline]

Painted Moose

Selvei was right on the verge of tears as strange faces passed by overhead, a canopy of strangers that were not his color, not his people, not his family. He hugged the doll tighter, his eyes stinging, until a voice from above - clearly directed at him made him look up - and up - and up - on the face of a nice black and red lady.

"N... no..." he whimpered, shaking his head. If she was asking, that meant she was all right... right? "I'm lost..." he sniffled, eyes brimming.  

[Painted Moose]

DraconicFeline

I'm lost.

Well, crud.

She couldn't just leave him there. Kids were cute at times, but they weren't the smartest and Adenah didn't think that this one could push past his fears to find his way home. Even if he did, where was home, for something like this? He didn't look like anything she'd seen before, 'cept maybe for some travelers. Maybe that was it.

"You're not lost; you're on an adventure. If you're lost that means you might never get home, but being on an adventure means that you can go back whenever you want." She bent down at the knee, and held her hand out to the whimpering little thing. "And adventurers get all kinds of information by talking to locals, so, let's talk and help you get to where you need to be, okay?" Adenah wiggled her fingers invitingly. She had baby brothers, but they weren't big enough to do anything with yet. So, maybe this would be good exposure?

Though, she kiiiiinnnd of hoped they would be a little tougher.

"First of all, my name's Ade and I live here. What 'bout you? Local or traveler?"