Welcome to my Home! (DragonSong)

[Kalak8538]

Before they separated, a sudden thought popped into Eihmo'tei's head. Poking his head out of the cave entrance, he called out. "Make sure those two keep practicing!"

He did not even wait for an answer. As quick as the Zerdani appeared, he pulled himself back into the entrance. He continued to scan the glowing rocks stuck in the walls of the cave.

"Let's see here..." he said quietly, whilst drawing his dagger.

[DragonSong]

"Alright, Tala, Ras, you heard him!" Kiara called when Kit translated the shouted order, chuckling to herself as the children complained but got down off the dragon easily enough. They were smiling though, and she thought maybe it was more for the form of the thing than because they really didn't want to practice.

"Great. But that still leaves these two pests," Kit grumbled, jerking his head at Bibi and Perryn.

Kiara gave him her sweetest smile and waltzed away to climb back up the rocks. "That seems like a you problem, love."

[Kalak8538]

It was much later in the day by the time Eihmo'tei re-emerged from the cave.

"Now I definately need a new knife... he muttered under his breath. He once again observed his crude stone tool. The tip had been broken clean off. The Zerdani let out a disappointed sigh, and sheathed in behind his back. The thought of the metal knife Ras promised to make seemed better and better by the second. Eihmo'tei continued in hushed tone.

"That was harder than I expected. The work paid off though."

He hurried over to his friends. They all seemed preoccupied with their various activities.
"I'm Back! How is everyone?"

[DragonSong]

"What had you so preoccupied?" Kiara asked from her perch on a lip of rock, watching over Bibi and Perryn- they had settled down between Kit's front paws and seemed to be making some sort of toy or game out of their woven palm fronds- and Tala and Ras practicing their spear throwing.

Ras, who'd started off the more adept hunter, was steadily improving. Tala meanwhile had made a huge leap forward, hitting her target squarely more often than not. Kiara would venture she was making nine hits out of the ten, while the boy took more careful aim and seemed to hit his mark every time.

[Kalak8538]

"It's a secret..." said Eihmo'tei with a smile. He put one finger to the front of his muzzle, akin to the "Quiet" gesture.

He put his pack down in the common area, but was very careful to put it down a certain way. He did this to hide what he had gathered, hoping to do it quick to avoid suspicion. Once the pack was "secure", the Zerdani went over to his two proteges.

"Good! Very good!" There was joy and pride in Eihmo'tei's voice. They had really improved, as he knew they would. He picked up the remaining spears at his feet. The wood fiber points had taken about as much abuse as he figured they would. It was nothing a good sharpening could fix. The Zerdani pointed to the rest of the party. "Let's go rest now, yes? I will get the spears!"

[DragonSong]

The children nodded and scrambled up to join Kiara on the rocks. Kit rumbled and slinked up after them. Shaking her head at Eihmo'tei's secrecy, Kiara gathered them onto a relatively flat portion of the formation where she had been setting up wood for a campfire.

The sun was sinking now, but it was still warm, so she shook her head when Kit offered to light the fire.

"Here!"

She looked up to see Bibi and Perryn offering her what seemed to be a necklace made of palm fronds and small chips of rock shot through with pink quartz. She took it, smiling gratefully at them. "Thanks you two. That's really sweet."

They beamed. "We made one for Eemo, too!" Bibi said happily.

Kiara laughed. "Well, go give it to him then," she encouraged, and they scampered off to do so.

[Kalak8538]

Eihmo'tei carried the five spears in his arms. On his way back to the camp, he was intercepted by the other two younglings, Bibi and Perryn. He looked upon their gift with wide eyes. There was some intense emotion there, more than what seemed necessary for a trinket. Slowly, he pushed the spears under one arm, and with his free paw, Eihmo'tei accepted the gift.

"Thank you, young ones."

The Zerdani escorted the two back to the campground. Upon finding a nice spot next to his bag, he sat and made himself comfortable. He secured the gift to his wrist, the same one as his other bracelet that featured three wooden beads. It was a bit loose, because of his thin wrists, but his paw was big enough to keep it on. Looking at them both, Eihmo'tei got an idea.

He took up one of the spears as well as one of the flat rocks. Just about ready to get to work on re-sharpening, he looked his companions in the eyes.

"This is a fine bracelet. Tell me, do any of you know the importance of jewelry making?"

[DragonSong]

Once his words at been translated, all four children were interested, shaking their heads "no" and scooting closer. Even Kiara looked up, curious.

Perhaps this may explain his reaction when she's paid with a small necklace back in Essyrn.

[Kalak8538]

"Kit... I'm going to need your help with this one..." he said with a chuckle, looking up at his black scaled friend.

He began the sharpening motions. If he would tell this story, he would get some work done at the same time. Running the rock over the point with ease, he looked out at his "audience". He cleared his throat.

"The art of jewelry making is very important among my kind. It is something everyone learns at a young age.

He paused, observing the point. It was good. They did not really require too much work each. Putting it aside, he picked up another and got to work. He continued.

"What makes this skill so important is... It is a way to capture memories. When a necklace, or a bracelet, or an anklet is made, it holds important memories within. Every time you look at your jewelry, or see the jewelry that you have made on someone else, it is easy to remember. The reason for making or receiving it, what was happenning at that moment, the emotions that were felt..."

Another one done. He put it aside, but did not take up another. Instead he inspected his own body, seeing four pieces of jewelry on himself. Actually, no, there were five including his necklace. He held up his arm, gently lifting up the loose-fitting bracelet with one claw.

"An example... Whenever I look at this one, I will remember you four. I will remember this place. I will remember everything I taught you here today."

[DragonSong]

Kit huffed and settled next to the Zerdani, apparently interested despite himself.

Kiara and the children listened quietly, smiling a bit as he spoke. "I like that way of looking at things," Bibi said when he'd finished.

"What memories does your jewelry hold?" Perryn asked curiously, scooting closer.

Kiara briefly worried that may not be a strictly polite question, but she let it go. If he didn't want to answer he didn't have to. Besides, she was curious too.

[Kalak8538]

Eihmo'tei chuckled again. He took delight in his companion's curiosity. He searched himself, trying to decide exactly which piece to talk about first.

The wristband on the opposite arm would go first. Seemed to be made from woven strips of brown leather. It was old, and had noticeably taken a bit of abuse. He moved his other index claw over to it. It was one of his earliest memories. "This one here... When a youngling is old enough to leave the parents' burrow, they find a place in the community to dig out their own home. As I did that, my mother made this for me. It holds memories of my younger moons spent in their home, and memories of becoming an adult. When I look at it, I remember the day I made my own hole for myself."

Next was the necklace, which the Zerdani propped up with the back of his furred fingers. It was made from cordage, probably made from reeds. Animal claws and a diamond-shaped stone hung from it."This is an exciting memory. It was made by my father after my first kill. Normally, we hunt as a team, but I separated from the group. There was a large beast that I tracked down. Unfortunately, it saw me coming... and it charged!"

Eihmo'tei stood up, and picked up one of the dulled spears.

"I was so scared. I reacted only by instinct... I jumped out the way of the creature, and put my spear into its side!"

Eihmo'tei was a natural storyteller. He demonstrated, stepping slightly to one side, and giving a controlled thrust of the hand-held spear. He was careful to keep the point far away from everyone. Revisiting the memory made his heart beat more quickly. Once again facing his spectators, he continued.

"Everyone came by after it was dead. I thought they would be mad, but everyone was so proud. It became the talk of the tribe for about a moon or more..."

[DragonSong]

Kiara almost didn't need Kit's translation, Eihmo'tei put so much emotion into his storytelling. She smiled as the children gasped, wide eyed and leaning closer to the narrator.

"Wow." Tala clapped, eyes sparkling. "I want to be a hunter," she said excitedly, turning to Kiara.

She laughed, tousling her hair. "We'll see what we can do in Cerenis," she assured her. Then she nodded back to Eihmo'tei. "Go on, then. What about the other pieces?"

[Kalak8538]

Looking at the other pieces of jewelry, Eihmo'tei sat back down. He seemed suddenly lost in thought. His smile never faltered.

"These..."

He paused. Slowly, he lifted his leg. Around the ankle was a bit of twine laced through yellowish stones. He dropped his leg again, letting his heel rest on the dirt.

"My best friend made this... The one I told you about. Me and her made matching anklets, and gave them to each other. This reminds me of her, and all the times we had together, both good and bad."

All that was left was the piece on the wrist (same as the loose one) with the three wooden beads. He seemed almost hesitant to talk about this one. His smile began to wane, and his eyes once again glassed up.

"Many Zerdani make jewelry for the elder... Takalo... to show respect and love. This one, I made for him. I was younger then... He gave it to me just before we left. It is a memory of him, and of home. It is supposed to help when I feel homesick..."

[DragonSong]

The children and Kiara fell quiet, evidently no one quite sure what to say. Then Perryn shifted closer to the Zerdani, touching his shoulder and saying, "Here, look."

He fished something out of a pouch at his belt, a handkerchief, Kiara thought. It was embroidered with writing and symbols she didn't understand, but it made the boy smile. "From my home," he explained, "Thanatos. Mother made it. I always keep it with me." He tilted his head, patting Eihmo'tei's shoulder. "It is good to remember home, even if it makes you sad."

Kiara's eyes prickled and she cleared her throat, looking away. Gods, a week with these people and she'd be a blubbering mess.

[Kalak8538]

The Zerdani's eyes were drawn to the odd piece of cloth. Upon Kit's translation, Eihmo'tei looked up at Perryn. He managed a smile once again.

"Perhaps jewelry is not the only craft that can capture memories..."

He looked to the sun, that was now noticeably sinking in the golden sky. It's golden light gave an air of peace and serenity.

"When did it get so late?" he questioned with a chuckle.

[DragonSong]

Kiara smiled softly. "I guess that's your cue," she said to Kit. The dragon nodded and spat a jet of fire at the pile of wood she'd gathered in the center of their little campsite, igniting a roaring blaze.

"Come on, you lot, get some rest. We leave at first light." Kiara ushered the children to their bedrolls despite their soft complaining that they weren't tired. Looking to Eihmo'tei she said with mock severity, "You too, then. Come on."

She laid down on her own bedroll near the fire, passing out provisions before she did so no one woke her in the middle of the night complaining of hunger. Kit curled around them all, using his tail to scoop the Zerdani closer to their little huddle.

[Kalak8538]

The Zerdani let out an "Oof!" as the great tail pushed him along.

Eihmo'tei gratefully accepted the ration. He had to admit he liked this foreign food. It tasted different than what he was used to. He settled in, but did not sleep. There was something he needed to do. Something secret. He waited for the rest of the party to fall asleep before starting.

[DragonSong]

Kiara woke to Kit's nose in her face. Groaning, she rolled over-

And found that Tala, Bibi, and Oerryn had snuggled against her side in the night. Even Ras had scooted closer. Smiling a little, she sat up and yawned. "Morning, guys. C'mon, shake a leg."