Just as Goldwind followed his rider, so did Chachan follow the both of them from astride Avenger. Once the four of them were in the shade of the great Sultantree, however, the little Lalafell too dismounted. Continuing to emulate his mentor, he undid the buckles and straps that held his own bird's saddle tightly in place. His own light pats for a job well-done were more near the young mount's breast, perhaps closer to the wing, which got a happy chirp out of Avenger.
As soon as his rider was out of the way, though, Avenger bound off with much unspent energy. Until called again, his tasks would most likely include chasing small bugs and harassing the larger Goldwind. He seemed more focused on the former for the moment, however, as something small and winged flit past his bright, shimmering avian eyes. With a curious trill, Avenger turned to look and shortly began to give chase. Gotta see it again, gotta catch it!
The Lalafell himself would have also been quite full of energy, considering it was his mount that had done most of the work in the race. He had merely directed and guided the bird, with most of the drain on him most likely coming from the emotional roller-coaster he had subjected himself to during it. The latter, however, would still have been tempered somewhat by the adrenaline wrought from that final jump and mad dash to the finish that still lingered within his small form. Should have, would have, could have.
Yet he ultimately wasn't, at least not as much as Chachanji certainly could've been. A lot of that energy was still being turned inward, however, focused on the musings and what-ifs of the question he was seeking to pose as he settled into a sitting position. When should he ask it, how should he ask it, and what would be her response? All of these questions occupied a large amount of the young Dunesfolk's focus. So much so that he was genuinely startled when a bright red apple was presented to him.
"Oh, um... th-thanks, Ms. Roen! 'n... 'n... I'm doin' akay." He was stuttering as he took the proffered fruit, there being a bit of a hesitation before realizing she had asked a question of him and answering accordingly. Chachanji always stuttered when flustered or nervous, though the youngest Gegenji child often didn't notice it and was quick to pout and stutter more when it was pointed out to him. Usually be his closest friend and "adopted sister" Leanne.
"It... it was pretty diff'cult at first, yeah..." he admitted as he took a bite out of the crisp apple, its sweet flesh and tangy juices helping to calm his wandering mind a bit. "I-I made a lotta frands though, so that's halped a lot!"
And it was true. Every passing sun seemed to result in another person entering Chachan's life. Some were there for but a brief, flitting moment like Dogberry and his Miqo'te friend Yangh whilst others cemented themselves more firmly into his circle of friends like the Sultansworn-in-Training Roysia Stone. It was actually starting to get to the point that he found himself doing more double-takes at some folks, trying to put one of the many names floating around in his memory to the faces that looked oh so familiar. The little Lalafell really needed to start writing names and stuff down in his little journal again, like Ms. Artemis had originally suggested. Maybe that would aid in dispelling that nagging feeling of faint remembrance, or at least provide him with a quick bit of referential material to use to help quench it.
But that was his mind starting to wander again as he thought on it, and it was Roen who again drew Chachan's attentions back to the here and now.
"Ser Warren? Um, yeah. He's been teachin' me lots 'bout swordin'," he admitted, rather proud of both his arms teacher and his own progress under his tutelage. "His frand Ms. Sei was also sayin' she'd halp me learn how ta fight 'gainst spears after we fought in th' Grindstone. She's... um... kinda scary at times though. I mean, she jumped up on a table at th' Quicksand 'n nearly skewered Ser Warren ta prove a point once!"
The youngster was fully ready to go into regaling the lady Hyur of what had happened before stopping himself. She had asked him about his training in a general sense at the end there. Sure it meant mostly his training with Warren, but it could serve as a decent enough segue into asking The Question. Yes, Chachanji's mind had converted it into a proper noun at this point, though he would have been rather hard pressed to describe it as such if asked.
"U-um..." The stuttering was back again. "There's... there's somethin' else too."
He hesitated, fidgeting a bit in his seated position against the bulk of the Sultantree. If the flush that came to his cheeks came any stronger, one might think he was about to ask his mentor a much more personal question than he actually meant to. Though, perhaps the reasons for walking the path one did was rather personal in its own sort of way. Regardless, the sudden crimson tinge to his cheeks made Chachanji's freckles stand out a bit more as he turned his violet gaze back onto Roen.
"I... uh... I talked ta Ser Crofe," he explained, trying again. "'n she wanted me ta... ta ask ya 'n Ser Warren. 'bout why ya became Paladins. Y-y'know, if'n ya don't mind tellin' me."
Why was he so nervous this time? Sure, the Lalafell had been distracted with the question before posing it to Warren, but he had managed to blurt it out without stammering quite so much. Maybe it was because the answer he got back seemed so... personal, as he had just been musing over just moments earlier? Or perhaps it was due to the thoughts that had drifted through his own mind once that explanation was given? Mayhaps Chachanji was both curious... and a little nervous of what revelations Roen's answer might bring.
However he felt, The Question was out there now, and youngest Gegenji's gaze fell upon his partially-eaten apple as he awaited her response.
As soon as his rider was out of the way, though, Avenger bound off with much unspent energy. Until called again, his tasks would most likely include chasing small bugs and harassing the larger Goldwind. He seemed more focused on the former for the moment, however, as something small and winged flit past his bright, shimmering avian eyes. With a curious trill, Avenger turned to look and shortly began to give chase. Gotta see it again, gotta catch it!
The Lalafell himself would have also been quite full of energy, considering it was his mount that had done most of the work in the race. He had merely directed and guided the bird, with most of the drain on him most likely coming from the emotional roller-coaster he had subjected himself to during it. The latter, however, would still have been tempered somewhat by the adrenaline wrought from that final jump and mad dash to the finish that still lingered within his small form. Should have, would have, could have.
Yet he ultimately wasn't, at least not as much as Chachanji certainly could've been. A lot of that energy was still being turned inward, however, focused on the musings and what-ifs of the question he was seeking to pose as he settled into a sitting position. When should he ask it, how should he ask it, and what would be her response? All of these questions occupied a large amount of the young Dunesfolk's focus. So much so that he was genuinely startled when a bright red apple was presented to him.
"Oh, um... th-thanks, Ms. Roen! 'n... 'n... I'm doin' akay." He was stuttering as he took the proffered fruit, there being a bit of a hesitation before realizing she had asked a question of him and answering accordingly. Chachanji always stuttered when flustered or nervous, though the youngest Gegenji child often didn't notice it and was quick to pout and stutter more when it was pointed out to him. Usually be his closest friend and "adopted sister" Leanne.
"It... it was pretty diff'cult at first, yeah..." he admitted as he took a bite out of the crisp apple, its sweet flesh and tangy juices helping to calm his wandering mind a bit. "I-I made a lotta frands though, so that's halped a lot!"
And it was true. Every passing sun seemed to result in another person entering Chachan's life. Some were there for but a brief, flitting moment like Dogberry and his Miqo'te friend Yangh whilst others cemented themselves more firmly into his circle of friends like the Sultansworn-in-Training Roysia Stone. It was actually starting to get to the point that he found himself doing more double-takes at some folks, trying to put one of the many names floating around in his memory to the faces that looked oh so familiar. The little Lalafell really needed to start writing names and stuff down in his little journal again, like Ms. Artemis had originally suggested. Maybe that would aid in dispelling that nagging feeling of faint remembrance, or at least provide him with a quick bit of referential material to use to help quench it.
But that was his mind starting to wander again as he thought on it, and it was Roen who again drew Chachan's attentions back to the here and now.
"Ser Warren? Um, yeah. He's been teachin' me lots 'bout swordin'," he admitted, rather proud of both his arms teacher and his own progress under his tutelage. "His frand Ms. Sei was also sayin' she'd halp me learn how ta fight 'gainst spears after we fought in th' Grindstone. She's... um... kinda scary at times though. I mean, she jumped up on a table at th' Quicksand 'n nearly skewered Ser Warren ta prove a point once!"
The youngster was fully ready to go into regaling the lady Hyur of what had happened before stopping himself. She had asked him about his training in a general sense at the end there. Sure it meant mostly his training with Warren, but it could serve as a decent enough segue into asking The Question. Yes, Chachanji's mind had converted it into a proper noun at this point, though he would have been rather hard pressed to describe it as such if asked.
"U-um..." The stuttering was back again. "There's... there's somethin' else too."
He hesitated, fidgeting a bit in his seated position against the bulk of the Sultantree. If the flush that came to his cheeks came any stronger, one might think he was about to ask his mentor a much more personal question than he actually meant to. Though, perhaps the reasons for walking the path one did was rather personal in its own sort of way. Regardless, the sudden crimson tinge to his cheeks made Chachanji's freckles stand out a bit more as he turned his violet gaze back onto Roen.
"I... uh... I talked ta Ser Crofe," he explained, trying again. "'n she wanted me ta... ta ask ya 'n Ser Warren. 'bout why ya became Paladins. Y-y'know, if'n ya don't mind tellin' me."
Why was he so nervous this time? Sure, the Lalafell had been distracted with the question before posing it to Warren, but he had managed to blurt it out without stammering quite so much. Maybe it was because the answer he got back seemed so... personal, as he had just been musing over just moments earlier? Or perhaps it was due to the thoughts that had drifted through his own mind once that explanation was given? Mayhaps Chachanji was both curious... and a little nervous of what revelations Roen's answer might bring.
However he felt, The Question was out there now, and youngest Gegenji's gaze fell upon his partially-eaten apple as he awaited her response.
~