The Councils Choice [[ Land of Rivers ]]

[LavenderandVelvet]

The Council of the Silver Word and gathered the local tribesmen to speak upon the invitation to join the Village of Tanigakure. This tribe of Kemonomini has always been elusive with minimal contact with humans until now.

HeadlessKoko

Jenni Dear

 

[HeadlessKoko]

Cloaked and hooded in the simple garb of the Silver Wardens, Mani followed his master into the Circle of the Waxing Moon, a small, circular clearing in the jungle that was furnished and often used for meetings between elders and the representatives of the tribe: the chiefs of the groves and those wardens held in highest esteem among their own. Normally, it would only be used during the new years and the leap months, the rare times when the tribe, usually divided by gender into their traditional roles, would consult their goddess and make decisions as one.

One could say that a meeting such as this, which happened outside of the scopes of either occasion, only occurred once in a blue moon.

The male Viera, with eyes of blue and red, greeted the female members of his tribe with friendly reverence before turning his eyes to the skies above. The first twinklings of the night sky could be seen, and the moon gradually grew bright as it hiked nearer to the apex of its rise. This time, as the purple dusk ever so gently covered the earth below and the moon's light shined down with gathering strength upon her children, was an auspicious time to hold the meeting, no doubt chosen out of the wisdom of the elders.

A breeze blew through the clearing, pausing for just a moment to embrace and kiss her brother's cheeks, and of course, as many brother would, he was quick to wave away the bothersome sister and rub the kiss, even if it left no mark, off. The rustling of leaves as the breeze moved on sounded akin to laughter.

"Mani," a gruff voice brought him back to earth, and no more than his name needed to be said for the teen to understand the meaning behind it.

Per the orders of his master, Mani lowered his head and hand. Though, the silly smile he'd had on since the wind greeted him did not leave. On the opposite side of the grove, the foliage rustled, and even before they parted, he knew his sister would step out, walking proud with head lifted high and light green hair waving to and fro, as if that part of her body was still like the wind she was mere moments ago.

However, both knew their positions, and Mani had been reminded by his teacher just now. They kept the silly faces under lock and limited their conversation to just eye contact and a nod of their heads. After so long apart, no meeting would ever feel like enough, but the two respected each other too much to make a fool of themselves.

The female viera with hair like spring's first buds and eyes that mirrored the sun and moon bent down to the ear of her master, one of the elders of her tribe, and whispered a few short sentence before moving back to sit behind her.

The placement of the participants of the meeting was as such. In the center, a somber fire crackled, and the first ring around the fire, those with permission to speak freely within the meeting, were the elders and grove leaders, seated upon podiums of mossy stone in rugged shape, ageless as the history they should preserve and sturdy as they should be in both strength and sound mind. Sitting cross-legged in the second inner ring were those chosen by those within the inner ring, each seated behind the elder or leader they were affiliated with. Some were students, as Mani's sister was, others assistants, and yet other specialists that the may be called upon during the talks. Finally, the last ring, hardly past the dense growth of the jungle, there were the wardens who chose to or were chosen to come to the meeting. Usually, they would not even speak, merely witness to carry the news to the other males of their tribe. Though, considering the topic to be broached, it was already likely that such would not be the case.

[23 sentences]

LavenderandVelvet

Jenni Deer

 

[LavenderandVelvet]

As per usual, Mjern took her time walking into this meeting. After the inferno that claimed the lives of her mother and sisters, Mjern dedicated herself to the 'Silver Word' in secret; building a secret place in which she was able to communicate with the Silvery Goddess. Adorned with her mothers' jewelry, she breached the deep forest line and into the clearing where the fire burned and warmed the Viera around it. She always felt better having her 'brothers' and 'sisters' near. Some greeted her with delight and others jeered, her mother was seen as a rebel and that title had been passed down to her and her late sisters. It was not more than six months ago that Mjern declared herself the priestess of the Silver Word and it was safe to say that the older generation of Viera was not pleased.

She walked to her place around the fire and sat down, she refused to sit where her mother sat... she simply left the seat empty. Mjerns seat was one of the lonely seats as there was no one in her row. She sat tall for her Full Moon name. She sat in a way that she was able to still look over at Mani and pay attention to what was going on. She found him more fascinating than what these cantankerous old fools had to say.

HeadlessKoko

Jenni Deer

 

[Jenni Deer]

After helping a fellow sister with an injury that she accidentally cut herself while cooking, Kyrie had made her way over. Saw some of the males hanging out in trees, she felt an increase of annoyance as her left ear slightly twitched. However, she understood why they were here. To pass on messages and updates of the news. Meetings of this grand, after all, was rare, just like her birthday. Her day of birth happened to be on the day which was the longest day and shortest night. For a Veria, they all assume she would be forever out of touch with the Silver Word.

Yet, she's devout of the Silver Word. Constantly pray and for things to never change. They must've done something to anger the Silver Moon to cause the inferno that claimed so many lives. A sister from the inferno had stepped up and declared herself the priestess of the Silver Word which caused a slight rage inside of her. Was she really chosen? Was her tribe going to suffer next for this blasphemy? So far nothing had happened. Kyrie was important in terms of medical but usually, her voice wasn't the one that was heard for she usually keeps to her peace and focused on healing her sisters and brothers if they were severe enough to come to her. Sat down on a bench that was taken by few other sisters, she crossed her arms and legs as she waited for the meeting to start. She couldn't wait for it to be done so the brothers can go back to their duty and it would just be her and her sisters.

 

[HeadlessKoko]

He could feels eyes on him, eyes that were not his sister's. It was not just a gaze directed at a male viera but at him specifically, and that struck him as odd. Guided by a hunter's instinct, Mani searched for who would put him under their sights, locking eyes eventually with the perpetrator, a beauty that shined under the moon's light. He knew of her, through not just tales told through his sister's letters and lips, but also for her position and leadership. Also, though it hardly counted, from that one night years ago, when the skies bled red with fire, a garish substitute for all the blood that would have been spilled that night had it not been burned. He still remembered her frozen form to this day. It was similar to how she sat tall and proud now. The pride and courage she held herself with even as naught but a child had no doubt left their impression on the male Viera. However, he could not imagine why she would think even a fraction of the same of him.

Though he did not know, he was not to question his female kin. With somber expression in respect for the attention bestowed to him, Mani bowed his head in greeting after making eye contact, the black ornaments adorning his head flashing in the flickers of light that reached where he stood in the shadows.

"We give great thanks to the Moon Mother for this night," a voice ancient and wizened creaked out like the branches of an old tree from the eldest elder, signaling the formal beginning of the meeting, and Mani's attention shifted to the elders, as did those of the rest attending this meeting.

It was another elder who spoke next, "Rumors aplenty have drifted to the ears of many of you, but let only the truth shine under the moon's light this night. Thus, I will make it clear the happenings as of late. Outsiders who hail from a new tribe many miles but not so far have entered the lands given to us by the moon mother. They have come, should their words be trusted, to forge an alliance with us. They are not the first to make sure offer, many others have before, but the resolve of none prior have withstood the test of our silver arrows. Today, we gather to decide if we shall heed their offer."

The last sentence lingered in the cold night air. The fire in the center, no matter how warm, could not displace the chill felt down the spines of those Viera that have gathered. Outsiders, a feared being unworthy of trust. They had survived this long by secluding themselves, keeping away the corruption and taint of the hated outsiders from their beloved jungles. The eyes of the wardens glinted like the cold steel of a predator with the mere thought of those they had been bred and raised to hunt. The women of the tribe displayed a greater range of emotions, ranging from worried to infuriated. Even Sol, known for casting her ever gentle smile upon meeting from behind the wisest elder, displayed a somber expression here. However, none raised their voice to speak for it was not the time yet. The elders had not yet finished.

After the pause, two of those who had stood behind elders stepped up and spoke up, impartially giving opposing opinions on the matter at hand with equally composed expressions.

A small young one, only a few years past her age of expression and most certainly one of the newest of those apprenticed to the elders. Her skin was ebony save for freckles of pure white that speckled her entire body. Hair like satin curtains of the same color draped around her shoulders and tickled the tops of her ankles, as if her entire beign was protected by the night herself. Pale, silver eyes stared ahead, unfocused. The only moving part of her unmoving body were the star white ears, reaching to the skies above, twitching and turning with every little sound. Such a tiny figure, like a little spot of night in the vast sky, spoke up with a clarity and conciseness that belied her years and spoke for themselves the reason why she had been given the privilege of speaking as such in this meeting. "These outsiders have yet to attack us, but they should not be trusted. We should deny their offer and drive them out. Bringing outsiders into our fold will only destroy our ways. They will corrupt and pollute the jungles as they have done with the rest of the world. We must consider our own first and foremost. This has been the way since history has begun, and with the moon mother's guidance, we will rise victorious. If not, then that is also the way we were meant to take."

The counterargument was given by Sol, with her visage like the first signs of spring and warmer days peeking through purest snow. However, she spoke with a voice as muted as the uncounted snowfall in the middle of the cold season, not unlike the night she had been born. A voice that carried gentle yet also distant. "Ages we have spent isolated, peacefully living in our own ways, and each challenge presented to us, whether from without or within, we have risen to and succeeded against. However, perhaps the time has come, when we cannot keep up with the threats of the world on our powers alone. If there are more such monsters such as those present within the outsiders' envoy outside, then we must see and know with our own eyes. It is our duty to protect the Moon and the garden she has blessed us with. Once we have learned what we must, we will once more be able to seclude and protect ourselves once more, even better than before."

With their pieces spoken, the two young ones retreated to stand behind their masters once more.

The elder who had spoken second spoke once more, "What do our fellow sisters think?". Now was the time to speak.

[53 sentences]

LavenderandVelvet

Jenni Deer

 

[LavenderandVelvet]

LOCATION tab → The Council of the Silver Word tab tab COMPANY tab → company here tab tab MOOD tab → cannot be bothered

【 ☾ 】 tab

Mjern sat as the old creaking man spoke. Though he wasn't lying... she could not have disagreed more. She paid little attention to him as she thought of a several hundred things that she'd rather be doing. She looked up and caught Mani in her gaze again, through she hadn't really seen hm before... there was something so familiar about it. She had never been a fan of the old ways that kept them locked into the wood. There was an entire world on the move and they only came closer with each passing hour.

"That's quite a laundry list of disdain."

She walked closer to the fire, she wanted to be seen. She wasn't very well liked and those who liked her knew that she was an opinionated woman. She paced the other side of the fire looking at the elder. She purposely wanted to create a contrast in pair: New and Old.

"But I could not disagree with you more. Right now as we sit and hide within the wood; the world of Shinobi is on the move."

She circled around the fire as she spoke, she wanted to be heard as well as seen

"Hiding in the wood is not going to help us, we've ALL seen this before. If we unite with them: We can learn and take from them."


'I'm done hiding'

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HeadlessKoko

Jenni Dear

 

[Jenni Deer]

Kyrie listened to the elders as she clenched her fists slightly. The outsiders wanted to make an alliance with us? Kyrie was not comfortable with that idea. In history, she had learned how bloodied the outsiders were. They like to take or destroy and sometimes even both. They had been known to wipe off tribes and clans just because the less powerful didn't fit them. To her, the outsiders were poison. A young one spoke up and mentioned that while outsiders haven't attacked them but they should not be trusted. To deny their offer. Relief washed over Kyrie as she was proud of her young sister to speak up. Murmurs of the agreement were heard from few members of the tribe including Kyrie herself.

Then another spoke. Kyrie's eyes narrowed at hearing her words. Then another stepped up to the fire. Kyrie rose from her seat after one of the females if she remembered right, was from the Tribe who lost their gardens to a cruel inferno. Kyrie remembered that day very well, she was the healer on site. The wailings and crying of her sisters and her brothers bringing them to safety. "Then let them be on the move. We are not shinobi." spoke Kyrie as she too, approached the fire, "Perhaps it was your way of thinking that had the Silver Mother mad at us and cast upon the cruel Inferno on our Blessed Grove. We are safe and protected where we are as long we follow the Silver Word. There's no need to learn and take from the humans, they would simply destroy us. Their history is full of blood and wiping different tribes and clans, who's to say that they won't do that to us?" Murmurs of fear washed over the tribe but not all of them, of course, there was some that disagreed. "They are poison. Let's not fall into the faults of the human's sins."

 

[HeadlessKoko]

The younger girl, with skin like the night sky, silently bowed out as Mjern then Kyrie stepped up to carry forth the started discussion. Sheets of black and airy green both receded to stand behind the elders they served and learned from. The elders who, along with the other women of their age, watched the first words of the tribe spoken, and by the youth, of all people. The chiefs and leaders who had normally taken the lead of such discussion also watched, various expressions crossing their demeanors. Some curious, others offended, and still others uncertain.

The faces of the men of the tribe continued to remain hidden. Not a murmur was heard from their ranks, stoic and obedient as they were.

Mani, specifically, had his eyes cast to the ground. "The gaze, again," he felt it, and though he could not explain why, he knew after feeling it only once before who it was that looked at him.

Then another, more familiar gaze hit him, and Mani looked up. Not to Mjern, though, but to his sister, who smiled a silent query in his direction. The two tilted their heads in a brief, wordless conversation, then in unison, they turned their eyes to the two young stars that debated in the center. Their part could wait for a little longer.

[13 sentences]

LavenderandVelvet

Jenni Deer

 

[LavenderandVelvet]

LOCATION tab → The Grove // The Council tab tab Kyrie, Mani & His Sister, the Elders and etc. tab → company here tab tab MOOD tab → GURL... she said that...

【 ☾ 】 tab Mjern was unamused and began grooming her ears when the woman brought up the inferno. Her right ear turned and Mjern looked at Kyrie from across the fire. As Kyrie remembered, so did Mjern. The night burned into her like the flames etched the night into the trees and rocks of the grove. The look of confidence that once adorned Mjerns face like her headpiece faded into a wave of subtle anger. Her face was blank and slowly circled the fire

" So a fearmonger and denigrator? That's how you have chosen to present yourself? "

She seemed oddly disappointed in the display, though it probably couldn't be helped. Mjern wasn't' necessarily a fan of Kyrie, though as useful as the little hare was...she was the traditional Mimi. Though calling Kyrie 'rival' would be a stretch, it would be the closest thing.

" Whom here can tell Kyrie the name of the priestess on the night of the Decimation?" Her ears pivoted and turned as if to hear something. The Mimi around her muttered and looked at each other " Hmm? No One? Interesting... " Her ears pivoted back in front of her and just like her gaze stayed fixed on Kyrie

"Jote of the Full Moon was the Priestess the night of the Decimation. Do not talk like I wasn't magically there, you have NO IDEA how I suffered."

The thought of the night lived within her like a coiled snake in her gut; a cancer of her being. Gnawing and tearing at the things she used to love, blighted by flames. If it wasn't the flames that nearly killed Mjern, it would have been the frost if someone didn't pull her from its icy grip.

" We must grow and evolve with the world around us, that doesn't mean throwing away what made us. It's just looking upon it with a fondness and forging a new path. It's what she would have said. "


'Thoughts.'

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HeadlessKoko

Jenni Dear

 

[Jenni Deer]

Kyrie remained calm and collected as she could've sworn she felt the anger from Mjern projecting onto her. Perhaps she was imagining things. Kyrie took no offense to the name-calling, she did not see herself as a fearmonger and denigrator but as someone that wanted to protect her sisters and brothers. Protect all the Groves. Respectful as ever, she listened to her sister talk. After a bit of pause and their eyes met, Mjern's eyes were red as the blood moon while Kyrie's as blue as the Full Cold Moon. "We never said that we had an idea of how you suffered. What I'm saying that maybe this is too rash and too soon. You are still suffering along with many of your sisters and brothers about that night. We do not need to poison ourselves by going into the shinobi ways. To introduce them and be part of them would mean damage to us. They will not understand us or respect our Silver Mother. Some paths are not meant to be taken." Kyrie remained standing in her spot as her eyes were upon the elders for them to make their decision. She can only hope it would be a good decision and for her sisters and brothers to stay safe. "I want to see our sisters and brothers safe. The moment we open our arms to them, they will live here and slowly change us and have us forget out Silver Mother and she will not be without vengence."

HeadlessKoko

LavenderandVelvet

Sorry had no idea you posted