(( In an effort to get back into the habit of writing, I'm going to challenge myself to write little quick fics every day about IC encounters or events. I used to do these 100 word challenges with some old WoW friends and I suppose this is continuing that tradition. Comments are welcome! These are crossposted from the XI:7 forums. ))
They did not speak in the weeks after the Calamity. Even when the Great Berimu, blessed with the wisdom borne of his name, led them to the oasis where the stars always shone the brightest, they shared no stories and sang no songs. It had been her father who told her that the stars themselves had blessed the place and so they came closer in hopes of hearing a beautiful song to share among their kind. They prayed and waited and huddled shivering around the fire. They stared and saw nothing but the wretched burning wound that was Dalamud and knew that the stars would be forever pale and cold, mere ghosts of themselves.
"What do you expect to do?"
Jajara listened to her breathing, the soft sounds her shoes made on the sand, to the occasional call of beasts in the distance. Straps of her leather satchel slapped against the backs of her legs and with them she counted the moments passing by. Only once did she think to turn around to fetch her watch, a gift from her father which had been rumored to have come from the hands of a Sultansworn; only once did she look back behind her and remind herself that there was no way to go but onward.
So she pushed herself forward, rising and falling over the crests of dunes built and moved by hot, stinging winds. Great Berimu was hours to the north by now; not once had she heard his bellowing call, and Jajara had little reason to believe they would risk an extra day or two just to search for her.
The thought drew a scowl to her face. Though she tried hard to focus on breath and step and motion, her thoughts inevitably drifted towards the last words she expected to ever hear from her mother.
"What do you expect to do?"Â she had said and there was disappointment glistening like venom in her eyes. "What exactly can you do for anyone?"
She shifted her backpack and wiped her brow. It was her uncle that had pointed a way and whispered well wishes. Somewhere at the edge of the desert stood the city of Ul'dah, and Jajara Jara had no where left to go.
They did not speak in the weeks after the Calamity. Even when the Great Berimu, blessed with the wisdom borne of his name, led them to the oasis where the stars always shone the brightest, they shared no stories and sang no songs. It had been her father who told her that the stars themselves had blessed the place and so they came closer in hopes of hearing a beautiful song to share among their kind. They prayed and waited and huddled shivering around the fire. They stared and saw nothing but the wretched burning wound that was Dalamud and knew that the stars would be forever pale and cold, mere ghosts of themselves.
"What do you expect to do?"
Jajara listened to her breathing, the soft sounds her shoes made on the sand, to the occasional call of beasts in the distance. Straps of her leather satchel slapped against the backs of her legs and with them she counted the moments passing by. Only once did she think to turn around to fetch her watch, a gift from her father which had been rumored to have come from the hands of a Sultansworn; only once did she look back behind her and remind herself that there was no way to go but onward.
So she pushed herself forward, rising and falling over the crests of dunes built and moved by hot, stinging winds. Great Berimu was hours to the north by now; not once had she heard his bellowing call, and Jajara had little reason to believe they would risk an extra day or two just to search for her.
The thought drew a scowl to her face. Though she tried hard to focus on breath and step and motion, her thoughts inevitably drifted towards the last words she expected to ever hear from her mother.
"What do you expect to do?"Â she had said and there was disappointment glistening like venom in her eyes. "What exactly can you do for anyone?"
She shifted her backpack and wiped her brow. It was her uncle that had pointed a way and whispered well wishes. Somewhere at the edge of the desert stood the city of Ul'dah, and Jajara Jara had no where left to go.
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