A vision of the past. A echo in time.
————
The wind howled as X’cinna Ares, of the Sept of the Falling Stars, stalked her prey.
An Outsider camp had brazenly established itself within the domain of the Nunh, thus, Warlord X’indro and his warriors were order to cut them down. They descended upon the camp in darkness, and set to work slaughtering the Outsiders. X’cinna was a lookout, assigned for the duty of pursuing any survivors. After a few minutes, screams could be heard coming from the camp as the Sept’s warriors set about their business. X’cinna tried to peer into the darkness of the camp, the torches smothered by the vanguard. All she heard were the screams of the Outsiders and the eager snarls of her siblings, “X’orri seems to be getting really into it,†X’cinna noted particular high pitched screams alongside a delighted snarl, indicative of her savage sister’s perspective of ‘fun.’ X’cinna’s ears flicker in multiple directions, trying to filter out the sounds from the camp in alert for those seeking escape. Soft pattering could be hear, X’cinna smiled coldly and turned to pursue…
—————
Roroyo didn’t know how much she cursed her fortune, but Twelve knew she cursed it often enough now. Her little lalafell feet pattered through the narrow canyon, while the sack of what possession and merchandise she had on her rattled on her back. She came to Eorzea to make a name for herself, to exploit the riches of this conflict-ridden, but relatively unexploited land. This was supposed to be a productive expedition, she and her business partners would journey into the unknowns of Xevlphatol, east of the reclusive city-state of Ishgard and strike it rich from the neglected mineral resources surely hidden beneath the tundra. They hired a few guards and headed north, confident of their success; Ishgard barely paid attention to what it considered the useless eastern tundra, neglected similarly also by heretics and dragons alike. Her eyes shifted left and right as she ran, her Lalafellin ears catching the sound of rustling bushes, the wind or a ‘pursuer’? Roroyo kept running.
—————
Peered at the tiny tracks, a child? Foolish Outsiders, bringing their children to the wilds, away from their fortified settlements. Perhaps she should capture it as prey for the older kittens, X’cinna grinned. Like a shadow, she stalked the ‘?child?’ through the canyon, catching a glimpse of a small figure zigzagging from boulder to bush. Eventually she recognized some familiar geographical formations, and a savage smile came over her, as a predator cornering her prey. She was a shadow, shifting from cover to cover, stalking her untrained prey, more so out of amusement. She briefly exposed herself as the ‘child’ glanced back and beheld the latter’s widened eyes of terror. At last the ‘child’ ran into a crevice and X’cinna pounced, thrusting her spear at the ‘child’s’ throat…
—————
Roroyo cried as the spear pressed against her neck, her extended family flashing before her eyes. “Wait! Can’t we cut a deal!†She prayed in her heart that this savage somehow understood a measure of the Common dialect. “Hmm, deal?†the miqo’te’s eyes narrow, like a predator judging the value of its prey. “I… I can show you things! I have merchandise! I can give to you!,†the miqo’te stared at her before her face broke into a predatory grin. “Alright, show me, ‘child.’†Roroyo noted how the savage addressed her, but did not dare correct the miqo’te, if she thought her a child, maybe the savage will be more lenient. Roroyo looked in her sack and despaired…. She had grabbed most of their rum supplies in haste and had forgotten most of her alchemical potions back in the fallen camp. In despair, she quickly pulled out a bottle and chugged it down, perhaps it would dampen the pain from when the savage would pierce her body with that jagged spear. “Hmm? What’s that your drinking at a time like this?,†the savage purred inquisitively. “Ah. Try some. Miss.†Roroyo offered the bottle.
—————
X’cinna frowned at the spiced beverage being offered to her by the ‘child’, however, curiosity piked her interest. She swiped the beverage from the ‘child’s’ hands and proceeded to chugged it down. Suddenly, the world melded and sifted around her as she felt a warmth in her body. The ‘child’ remained standing where she was, cornered, although backing up slightly against the wall. Poison? Nay, the ‘child’ drank some and her cheeks only turned slightly red. However, a strange, indescribable feeling warmed X’cinna as the wind from the canyon chilled her back and tail. She drank some more… as the ‘child’ pulled out another bottle from the latter’s sack and chugged it as well. “See…. not…. poison…. drink…. ssssspiced … rrrrrum,†the ‘child’ started to slur. X’cinna suddenly felt a strange sense of comradeship with this ‘child’, a indescribable feeling for a Warrior of the Sept. “Ahh… this beverage… you have more?â€, X’cinna inquired.
————
Roroyo fell back into sobriety as her merchant instincts seized on the savage’s inquiry. While it is unlikely this miqo’te would have any gil, Roroyo valued her life and sought to leverage her chances of survival. “Ah yes. I have more. Lots more!,†Roroyo explained to the slightly flushed miqo’te. “I can give them to you… if you let me go?†Roroyo desperately inquired. The miqo’te glanced at the rum bottle in her hand and her spear planted in the ground on the other, “Or I can kill you and take the rest of the beverages,†the miqo’te purred. Oh no! Roroyo recoiled in horror, “Please wait, I… I can teach you about all different kinds of drink… all different kinds of beverages,†she desperately proposed. “Oh, there are more drinks as such? Beyond what lies in that sack?â€, “Yes, good miss! There is a realm of liquid delights awaiting all who seek it!†The miqo’te look thoughtful, bringing up the spiced rum bottle to her nose and sniffing at it once more, her ears flickering as her white-furred but blue-tinged tail swished behind her. “How about…â€
————
The remains of the camp were illuminated by the morning sun, naught but ruins and massacre left as Warlord X’indro’s warriors celebrated their victory. Two tias collected anything that appeared to be written documents, while some of the warriors amusing themselves with their prey, while others eagerly picked up shiny and pretty trinkets. A few warriors were gathered around Warlord X’indro as he dramatically read from a plundered Outsider text, the warriors were clapping and swishing their tails, as he dramatically gestured. He stopped as he noticed X’cinna returning to camp, a large sack held over her shoulder. “Ah, X’cinna. You return from pursing prey?†He smirked at her. “Indeed, Warlord. I have returned with spoils!â€, “Hmm? What did you do with the prey?â€, “Oh. I ate it.â€, X’cinna nonchalantly replied. “Of course, but it’s only been a few since the sun emerged. You sure are gluttonous to have finished your prey so quickly,†Warlord X’indro smirked as the other warriors gather around him chattered.
“Warlord, such displays are beneath me. I merely sampled what interested me, as you do with your trinkets,†X’cinna retorted. “Mph. Outsiders have interesting works of words. The Nunh has always expressed interest in their knowledge, despite their weaknesses. I am merely immersing myself in their ideas,†X’indro pompously countered. “Do such ideals typically involve two tias Blessing each other, Warlord?,†“I know not what you speak of, Warrior X’cinna,†X’indro glanced at X’cinna and looked over to her sack. “Now, what trinkets do you have to share? I hope it was worth the trouble of carrying it back.†X’cinna’s ears fluff and her tail raises in pride, “Of course, Warlord. I brought back enough for all of the war band to partake! I also learned some interesting things from the prey before I finished it. I shall tell you….â€
————
The carriage rolled on south towards Camp Dragonhead, within a bundle of blankets could be seen shivering. The carriage driver looked over his shoulder at the bundle, “It’s rather fortunate we found you Miss. You would have been food for the Fury knows what out there. Fortunately, we almost to Camp Dragonhead. House Fortemps is accepting of foreigners and from there you can find another chocobo caravan to take you south to Gridiana.†The bundle opened and two big eyes glanced at the driver, both in gratitude and weariness, “Thank… you, Ser.†“No problem, Miss. I would say… it’s the first time I encountered one of you lalafells and you seem contrary to the rumors about your folk,†the driver responded, “Ah. No offense, Miss.†Roroyo looked up from her bundle and gave a tired smile, “None taken. I just want to go home.â€
The driver smiled at the cute lalafellin face, “What were you doing all the way up here? You’ll be trespassing on Ishgardian land if you pl…. Nay, I suppose   it wouldn’t matter now, by how you look.†Roroyo frowned and shook her head, her dark greenish hair messed up, “These lands are… not for the likes of me and my kin.†Roroyo looked up at the roof of the carriage: she had lost her business partners, her guards, her merchandise and alchemical material. However, that savage miqo’te didn’t seem interested in the gil she was carrying, but was focused on the rum supplies she inadvertently salvaged. The miqo’te left her enough supplies to survive for a few suns, and pointed her in the general direction of Ishgard. Roroyo hugged her blankets further, “I should have never left Thavnair,†she mumbled.
————
When the warriors of the Southern Defense returned to the Home Sept, they reeked of spices and concoctions. Their state lead to a brief scandal within the Sept as warriors and tias drunkly shifted through captured supplies for more of the beverages. Nevertheless, the Nunh was amused, so it worked out. Roroyo sold her remaining assets, and returned home to Thavnair, opening a brewery specialized in Eorzean beverages. X’cinna never forgot the lessons taught to her by the ‘child’, and sought to sample many different beverages in her sept’s actions against Outsider intruders. However, occasionally she did wonder how that ‘child’ would have actually tasted…
————
The wind howled as X’cinna Ares, of the Sept of the Falling Stars, stalked her prey.
An Outsider camp had brazenly established itself within the domain of the Nunh, thus, Warlord X’indro and his warriors were order to cut them down. They descended upon the camp in darkness, and set to work slaughtering the Outsiders. X’cinna was a lookout, assigned for the duty of pursuing any survivors. After a few minutes, screams could be heard coming from the camp as the Sept’s warriors set about their business. X’cinna tried to peer into the darkness of the camp, the torches smothered by the vanguard. All she heard were the screams of the Outsiders and the eager snarls of her siblings, “X’orri seems to be getting really into it,†X’cinna noted particular high pitched screams alongside a delighted snarl, indicative of her savage sister’s perspective of ‘fun.’ X’cinna’s ears flicker in multiple directions, trying to filter out the sounds from the camp in alert for those seeking escape. Soft pattering could be hear, X’cinna smiled coldly and turned to pursue…
—————
Roroyo didn’t know how much she cursed her fortune, but Twelve knew she cursed it often enough now. Her little lalafell feet pattered through the narrow canyon, while the sack of what possession and merchandise she had on her rattled on her back. She came to Eorzea to make a name for herself, to exploit the riches of this conflict-ridden, but relatively unexploited land. This was supposed to be a productive expedition, she and her business partners would journey into the unknowns of Xevlphatol, east of the reclusive city-state of Ishgard and strike it rich from the neglected mineral resources surely hidden beneath the tundra. They hired a few guards and headed north, confident of their success; Ishgard barely paid attention to what it considered the useless eastern tundra, neglected similarly also by heretics and dragons alike. Her eyes shifted left and right as she ran, her Lalafellin ears catching the sound of rustling bushes, the wind or a ‘pursuer’? Roroyo kept running.
—————
Peered at the tiny tracks, a child? Foolish Outsiders, bringing their children to the wilds, away from their fortified settlements. Perhaps she should capture it as prey for the older kittens, X’cinna grinned. Like a shadow, she stalked the ‘?child?’ through the canyon, catching a glimpse of a small figure zigzagging from boulder to bush. Eventually she recognized some familiar geographical formations, and a savage smile came over her, as a predator cornering her prey. She was a shadow, shifting from cover to cover, stalking her untrained prey, more so out of amusement. She briefly exposed herself as the ‘child’ glanced back and beheld the latter’s widened eyes of terror. At last the ‘child’ ran into a crevice and X’cinna pounced, thrusting her spear at the ‘child’s’ throat…
—————
Roroyo cried as the spear pressed against her neck, her extended family flashing before her eyes. “Wait! Can’t we cut a deal!†She prayed in her heart that this savage somehow understood a measure of the Common dialect. “Hmm, deal?†the miqo’te’s eyes narrow, like a predator judging the value of its prey. “I… I can show you things! I have merchandise! I can give to you!,†the miqo’te stared at her before her face broke into a predatory grin. “Alright, show me, ‘child.’†Roroyo noted how the savage addressed her, but did not dare correct the miqo’te, if she thought her a child, maybe the savage will be more lenient. Roroyo looked in her sack and despaired…. She had grabbed most of their rum supplies in haste and had forgotten most of her alchemical potions back in the fallen camp. In despair, she quickly pulled out a bottle and chugged it down, perhaps it would dampen the pain from when the savage would pierce her body with that jagged spear. “Hmm? What’s that your drinking at a time like this?,†the savage purred inquisitively. “Ah. Try some. Miss.†Roroyo offered the bottle.
—————
X’cinna frowned at the spiced beverage being offered to her by the ‘child’, however, curiosity piked her interest. She swiped the beverage from the ‘child’s’ hands and proceeded to chugged it down. Suddenly, the world melded and sifted around her as she felt a warmth in her body. The ‘child’ remained standing where she was, cornered, although backing up slightly against the wall. Poison? Nay, the ‘child’ drank some and her cheeks only turned slightly red. However, a strange, indescribable feeling warmed X’cinna as the wind from the canyon chilled her back and tail. She drank some more… as the ‘child’ pulled out another bottle from the latter’s sack and chugged it as well. “See…. not…. poison…. drink…. ssssspiced … rrrrrum,†the ‘child’ started to slur. X’cinna suddenly felt a strange sense of comradeship with this ‘child’, a indescribable feeling for a Warrior of the Sept. “Ahh… this beverage… you have more?â€, X’cinna inquired.
————
Roroyo fell back into sobriety as her merchant instincts seized on the savage’s inquiry. While it is unlikely this miqo’te would have any gil, Roroyo valued her life and sought to leverage her chances of survival. “Ah yes. I have more. Lots more!,†Roroyo explained to the slightly flushed miqo’te. “I can give them to you… if you let me go?†Roroyo desperately inquired. The miqo’te glanced at the rum bottle in her hand and her spear planted in the ground on the other, “Or I can kill you and take the rest of the beverages,†the miqo’te purred. Oh no! Roroyo recoiled in horror, “Please wait, I… I can teach you about all different kinds of drink… all different kinds of beverages,†she desperately proposed. “Oh, there are more drinks as such? Beyond what lies in that sack?â€, “Yes, good miss! There is a realm of liquid delights awaiting all who seek it!†The miqo’te look thoughtful, bringing up the spiced rum bottle to her nose and sniffing at it once more, her ears flickering as her white-furred but blue-tinged tail swished behind her. “How about…â€
————
The remains of the camp were illuminated by the morning sun, naught but ruins and massacre left as Warlord X’indro’s warriors celebrated their victory. Two tias collected anything that appeared to be written documents, while some of the warriors amusing themselves with their prey, while others eagerly picked up shiny and pretty trinkets. A few warriors were gathered around Warlord X’indro as he dramatically read from a plundered Outsider text, the warriors were clapping and swishing their tails, as he dramatically gestured. He stopped as he noticed X’cinna returning to camp, a large sack held over her shoulder. “Ah, X’cinna. You return from pursing prey?†He smirked at her. “Indeed, Warlord. I have returned with spoils!â€, “Hmm? What did you do with the prey?â€, “Oh. I ate it.â€, X’cinna nonchalantly replied. “Of course, but it’s only been a few since the sun emerged. You sure are gluttonous to have finished your prey so quickly,†Warlord X’indro smirked as the other warriors gather around him chattered.
“Warlord, such displays are beneath me. I merely sampled what interested me, as you do with your trinkets,†X’cinna retorted. “Mph. Outsiders have interesting works of words. The Nunh has always expressed interest in their knowledge, despite their weaknesses. I am merely immersing myself in their ideas,†X’indro pompously countered. “Do such ideals typically involve two tias Blessing each other, Warlord?,†“I know not what you speak of, Warrior X’cinna,†X’indro glanced at X’cinna and looked over to her sack. “Now, what trinkets do you have to share? I hope it was worth the trouble of carrying it back.†X’cinna’s ears fluff and her tail raises in pride, “Of course, Warlord. I brought back enough for all of the war band to partake! I also learned some interesting things from the prey before I finished it. I shall tell you….â€
————
The carriage rolled on south towards Camp Dragonhead, within a bundle of blankets could be seen shivering. The carriage driver looked over his shoulder at the bundle, “It’s rather fortunate we found you Miss. You would have been food for the Fury knows what out there. Fortunately, we almost to Camp Dragonhead. House Fortemps is accepting of foreigners and from there you can find another chocobo caravan to take you south to Gridiana.†The bundle opened and two big eyes glanced at the driver, both in gratitude and weariness, “Thank… you, Ser.†“No problem, Miss. I would say… it’s the first time I encountered one of you lalafells and you seem contrary to the rumors about your folk,†the driver responded, “Ah. No offense, Miss.†Roroyo looked up from her bundle and gave a tired smile, “None taken. I just want to go home.â€
The driver smiled at the cute lalafellin face, “What were you doing all the way up here? You’ll be trespassing on Ishgardian land if you pl…. Nay, I suppose   it wouldn’t matter now, by how you look.†Roroyo frowned and shook her head, her dark greenish hair messed up, “These lands are… not for the likes of me and my kin.†Roroyo looked up at the roof of the carriage: she had lost her business partners, her guards, her merchandise and alchemical material. However, that savage miqo’te didn’t seem interested in the gil she was carrying, but was focused on the rum supplies she inadvertently salvaged. The miqo’te left her enough supplies to survive for a few suns, and pointed her in the general direction of Ishgard. Roroyo hugged her blankets further, “I should have never left Thavnair,†she mumbled.
————
When the warriors of the Southern Defense returned to the Home Sept, they reeked of spices and concoctions. Their state lead to a brief scandal within the Sept as warriors and tias drunkly shifted through captured supplies for more of the beverages. Nevertheless, the Nunh was amused, so it worked out. Roroyo sold her remaining assets, and returned home to Thavnair, opening a brewery specialized in Eorzean beverages. X’cinna never forgot the lessons taught to her by the ‘child’, and sought to sample many different beverages in her sept’s actions against Outsider intruders. However, occasionally she did wonder how that ‘child’ would have actually tasted…
