A visit home [K Tribe RP]

[Kailia]

((Takes place after: This event))

 

 

A few hours after leaving K'piru's company, K'ailia returned to her dorm room where she planted her face into her pillow on the bedroll. She figured when K'ile was ready to go, along with her mother, they'd simply contact her via the linkpearl.

 

That evening, no call came. Unable to sleep, K'ailia put on her white mage robes and went to the medical ward to study some healing texts. There really was little else to do. Garden was unusually quiet. But then she realized, it was extremely late.

 

Suddenly her Garden pearl lit up, "Help..." followed by a thump before it went out.

 

"Wait... that was Ventus...!!!" with that realization, K'ailia closed her books, grabbed the field kit she had assembled for her trip to visit the tribe and raced through the corridors of Garden, till finally she reached Ventus's room. Trying the handle, it was locked.

 

"Damnit..." she thought and held her hand towards the door and from the ground, earth erupted, shattering the door into splinters much like that inn door she had destroyed trying to get to her mother to try to calm her down.

 

On the other side, there layed Ventus, mask still covering his face. She bounded over to him in two steps and removed the mask. Unconscious. She felt for his pulse, it was faint. Quickly she activated the white magic into her right hand and did a quick scan. His mind had completely shut down, his body barely holding on. She worked the aether in his body to get him stabilized when two guards came racing into the room.

 

"Don't just stand there, get a stretcher! We need to get him to the infirmary quickly!" she yelled. The men quickly rushed out of the room, and came back with a gurney and they raced Ventus to the medical ward.

 

A few hours later, K'ailia had concluded she did all she could. Ventus was now in a coma, and not likely to come out of it. Unfortunately, because of the staffing situation, she was informed that because she holds the highest rank, she was now Headmaster of Garden. And just like that, her world was turned upside down. Here she was, a 16 year old girl, in charge of the entire academy.

 

The next day, she looked through ventus's last set of notes and found a letter addressed to her. Meeting the man mentioned in the letter, she made promises that were soon after, reversed by Ventus's file clerk, and informed the promise was not one she should of made, as there are protocols to follow. But she was free to make other decisions. Thus she assembled the few people she trusted, and assigned them the rank of instructor.

 

That evening, she fell into her bedroll, and breathed a sigh of relief. The day was finally over. As she closed her eyes though, her mind started wandering to all that had happened. Her arrival back to the tribe, the passing of her trials at last, the journey with K'ile, K'luha and K'haali. Then the last meeting with K'ile, where he had invited her to come to the tribe camp as an outsider. Something she had fully intended to do.

 

K'ailia sat up and looked down at her feet. So many had left the tribe, or just disappeared. But none had the courtesy to inform the rest of the tribe why they were leaving. K'piru had come to mind. Did she really want to be like the others and just disappear? Looking up, at her dresser, there laying on top was her airship pass. Perhaps her mother and K'ile left without her? K'ailia had been invited back to the tribe camp by K'ile. Perhaps it was time to fess up and explain her actions to the elders. If they decide she should be banished from the tribe forever, she would accept that. If she's going to be as responsible as she told her mother, then running away was not something she'd do.

 

Running away... it seemed her mother was getting good at that. K'piru had ran away, and from her last words to her, would continue to run away. Getting up, K'ailia dressed herself and tied the bandana around her head as usual. She picked up the airship pass and headed out.

 

A few hours later, she was in the airship landing. It would be a somewhat dangerous trip, but the airship clerk agreed to do a fly over deep Sagolii, under the agreement, they would not stop for anything, that if she wanted off, she'd have to jump. Agreeing to that, K'ailia boarded the airship and it lurched forward, then back as it exited Ul'dah and headed south. Passing over the mountains, she soon caught glimpse of the Forgotten Springs. But even that passed by quickly.

 

"Alright, whatever you are going to do, get ready to do it. We are almost to your destination." called the pilot. K'ailia tightened her bandana and stepped to the side of the airship. Below, she could see the familiar silhouette of the tribe camp, still some distance away, "We are here"

 

"Right, thank you for the lift", and with that, K'ailia lept from the airship and began her prayer to the element of wind. Showing up, a large sand twister formed under her, slowing her fall and lowered her down to the ground. The tribe camp though was still a few hours away. But she was here. She looked up and the airship was already on its way back to Ul'dah.

 

"No turning back now..." she said, as she began walking towards the tribe camp. Many things began racing through her mind. But none of them good. It would likely be the other tribe members would prevent her from entering the camp. Or with luck, maybe K'ile will be there to welcome her. But upon approaching the tribe camp, immediately huntresses rushed out with weapons drawn upon seeing her. She halted in her steps and put her hands up.

 

"I've come to speak to the elders. I am prepared to answer for all I've done." she declared. Now she would wait to see what would happen.

[K'nahli]

The sudden scurry of feet thumping across the compacted sand caught the weary girl's attention on her way back to her tent after having concluded her chores. Her maroon eyes were quickly carried back over her shoulder with the gentle tilt of her head to investigate the reason for the sudden commotion. Her sisters, a small number of the tribe's young huntresses, had their weapons drawn as they defiantly barricaded entry into the camp in order to deny access to an unseen visitor.

 

"Not another step!"

 

 

[align=center]"You're not welcome here, turn back now!"[/align]

 

 

"Return to your Ul'dahn masters!"

[align=left]           "Don't test us, outsider..."

[/align]

 

 

In spite of the vicious declarations, the aggressive scene did very little toward alarming the young archer. Instead, sheer curiosity was the sole reason that she found herself slowly approaching the rowdy gang with ears perked slightly hinting her intrigue.

Pushing past the huntresses she quietly made her way to the front of the group only to behold a very, unexpected sight.

 

"...K'ailia...?!" K'nahli retorted in sheer disbelief while cocking an eyebrow.

 

 

K'ailia; K'nahli's estranged, younger sibling whom had denounced her position as a tribe member quite some time ago to embrace the life of a more modern and civilized Eorzea stood idly before her with a expression that boasted adamance and conviction. Her sage eyes met with K'nahli's stare in a moment's silence as an uneasy audience loitered anxiously behind, exchanging uncertain glances and quiet whispers.

 

"...What.....why are you here?" K'nahli finally spoke after having overcome the surprising, unannounced appearance of her younger sister. Her gaze remained firm and direct as she tried to conceal unnecessary emotions and remain true to tribal law. If K'ailia thought she could just walk back into the camp as if nothing had ever happened, as if her decision to turn her back on her family in exchange for her own selfish pursuits had quickly been forgotten, then she had yet to outgrow her naivety.

[Kailia]

K'ailia kept her hands raised, "I was invited to the camp by K'ile. I can tell he must not of arrived yet. I've come to answer for what I have done. I seek only an audience with the elders. Nothing more. If they wish to deny my request, I will understand and I will leave."

 

She looked to each huntress for a moment then back to K'nahli, "I will remain outside the camp until I have an answer. I do not seek to walk in uninvited, regardless of K'ile's open invitation."

 

With that, she took a few steps back and found a small mound of sand to sit upon. It would now be up to the elders if they would see her.

[K'nahli]

K'nahli's sharp eyes followed her younger sister silently as she paid humble respect to those who offered her a bitter reception. Her hawk-like stare observed K'ailia carefully while taking careful note of her body language and the tone of her voice. The young miqo'te's behaviour was peculiar and alien to that of the girl she had once known; one that playfully roamed the golden sands around the camp, seeking out anything and everything she could to climb for her mindless amusement.

Though K'ailia's intentions escaped the quiet archer, her reply had more than sufficed to convince her.

 

"No need" K'nahli finally answered with a slightly softer voice. A slow blink concealed her fiery gaze as it flicked back toward her fellow tribekin to briefly analyze her sisters' mixed impressions on the situation. The younger girls merely met K'nahli's gaze and quietly submitted with anxious expressions while the few and older of the huntresses on the other hand didn't appear quite as convinced.

 

"You may enter... If any trouble comes from it then I will claim fault"

 

K'nahli added with a subtle gesture of her head to signal K'ailia to follow her inside. No sooner had K'nahli turned around, however, than she was met with with an opposing and hostile opinion.

 

 

"You have no right to decide that on your own, K'nahli Yohko" the voice of an older huntress snapped at her while revealing a grossly, offended expression.

 

"You are merely creating exception for your blood. I see no reason why we should openly allow her kind to walk on our grounds after she turned her back on us so willingly"

 

K'nahli returned the woman's angry stare for a moment though offered her no verbal reply. Her hand which had discreetly extended itself backward in search of her sister's firmly grasped it the moment K'ailia had come within reach, serving as a token of her assured security as she commenced escorting her protectively into the camp. While maintaining her glare on the older huntress, she briskly walked forth and passed through the group, the younger of whom hesitantly divided before her to provide clear passage for the siblings.

 

Having left the group behind, K'nahli pressed on without releasing K'ailia's hand. She offered her neither conversation nor as much as a simple glance as they passed by curious onlookers, some of whom immediately recognised K'ailia as an outcast and others whom paid the situation no special heed.

 

 

"Some of these younglings are getting too arrogant for their own good.." the older huntress sneered irritatedly to her companions alongside her, not allowing her eyes to fall away from K'nahli as she marched on forward with her rogue sister toward the Elders' tent.

 

"It won't be long before they find themselves reminded of their place" she snorted as a final remark before departing from the group to return to her own business.

[Kailia]

K'ailia followed silently but still holding herself in respect for her sisters... or rather former sisters from their language. K'ailia kept her eyes straight, as she was escorted by hand to the elders tent.

 

Once there, she turned to K'nahli and bowed, "Thank you for this opportunity. I know I did wrong and that is why I am here, to face up to everything."

 

With that she turned to the flap to the elders tent and pulled it aside and stepped in, letting her eyes adjust to the dark. But she proceeded no further, until the elders asked her to, but instead spoke, "Elders. I, K'ailia Yohko, have come to answer for all I have done, and to accept whatever judgment you wish to impose upon me. I promise to tell the absolute truth."

 

She took a deep breath, to await the elders response.

[Twinflame]

The shadowed tent was thick with incense and herbs as usual, the fragrant stink of alchemy and shamanism. The entry of the young White Mage caused the myriad fetishes that adorned the ceiling to shift with a subtle clattering, like teeth being stirred in a bowl. Shafts of dusty light turned, laying over pillows and blankets, shelves and bowls of half-prepared concoctions spread over the floor.

 

A wiry form snapped out of the shadows immediately next to K'ailia almost before the girl was finished speaking, knocking against her with all the force of a sinewy skeleton and pushing her further into the tent. A bowl of strange powers fell of K'ailia's head, filling her hair in the air around her head with a thick dust that would sting the eyes and nose. With the flicker of reflective, silver eyes, an ancient voice hissed, "Do not speak unless you are instructed to!"

 

Pushing off of K'ailia, the elder K'taka -- progenitor of both K'ailia and K'nahli -- snapped open the flap of tent that had only just closed. Her thin limb flew like a biting snake, and her thin fingers latched around K'nahli's arm. As though a creature peering out of the earth, K'takka glared at K'nahli, and the elder's hands shook with age and anger upon great-grandaughter's skin.

 

"K'nahli Yohko," she hissed. Her one disfigured finger and its black nail shivered grotesquely in the sunlight. "Go, find you father! Bring him at once! The elders would speak to you both. Now."

[K'nahli]

The sudden sensation of the K'taka's leathery fingers wrapping around K'nahli's arm without warning had unpleasantly surprised the unsuspecting girl. The elder was promptly greeted with an expression of timid shock as the young girl suddenly whipped around and was momentarily frozen by her captor's icy glare.

 

Blinking a few times, K'nahli began gently tugging her arm away to try and release it from the uncomfortable bind of K'taka's grip and back to the safety of her own person. She took care with her movements not out of fear of injuring the former huntress nor because it would be a hideous display of disrespect were she to rip it away defiantly, but rather out of an unexpected show of anxiety. It took only a few seconds, however, for that feeling to gradually slip away, though there was no hiding the persisting apprehension that lay quietly in the depths of her eyes.

 

"F..-ine, I'll get him.... but what does this have to do with me? K'ailia bears information relevant to our firedancer and claims that he was the one who instructed her to return. Turning her away so recklessly would be beyond foolish."

 

K'nahli spoke defensively though perhaps a little too bluntly for her own sake. Her crimson eyes quickly lowered for a brief moment as the realisation came over her; albeit, she didn't regret her words. She respected her elders but was not ready to allow herself to be bullied by them.

[Naunet]

K'ailia's intrusion on the thick silence of the elders' tent did not evoke reactions much warmer than K'takka's in the other two present. K'deiki's ratty, thin ears lifted and her wrinkled face grew even more deeply folded with a heavy frown. She did not move from where she sat. Her old ears did not catch K'nahli's words outside the tent and so she only watched their wayward great grandchild in disappointed silence.

 

The large form of K'jhanhi, somehow still towering in the tent despite his bent posture, very deliberately turned his back to the girl. "You know our laws. The news is that K'ailia Yohko has left. She would be wise to follow the actions of those others who've abandoned us."

[Kailia]

K'ailia sat before the elders. She had expected this sort of reception. Especially given she had beaten K'ile back to the tribe camp. But she was not stupid. She listened to the words of K'jhanhi, but remained silent.

 

What had her mother told them? Did she even tell them about what had led to the decision? These types of questions raced through her mind. She wanted to tell the elders everything, and then accept whatever judgment they placed upon her. Even if it means she'd be a permanent exile, she knew deep down, this was something she had to do.

 

And so she sat, silent, ears in a neutral position, her tail wrapped around, resting on her lap. If they will give her a chance to explain her perspective, she will gladly accept it. If they decide to pass judgment without hearing her out, she would accept that as well. She had her suspicions on what she'd be coming into. But at least, she felt, she was at least doing the right thing in answering for her actions.

[Twinflame]

"Idiot question!" K'takka snapped at K'nahli. "I thought you knew better. Don't spit in the dirt, girl. Find you father." Then the wiry-thin form of the elder snapped away, back into the tent, her frayed tail twitching about.

 

She took a small number of quick steps, until she was immediately behind K'ailia. The old woman's movements were stiff and quick, as she leaned forward and pressed the sharp knuckles of one hand against back of K'ailia's neck. "Bow your head! Humble. Your return means you do not understand. You have no right to be present, to speak. None."

[K'nahli]

K'nahli scowled angrily in response to K'takka scoldings. She could feel her subdued rage churning in the pit of her stomach and pumping unsavoury thoughts into her head, urging her to snap back and defend herself from the old woman's spiteful wrath. Her fists clenched tightly shut by her sides until her palms grew sore and begged for her relent.

 

With K'takka having returned to the cooling embrace of the tent's protective shade, K'nahli silently turned on her heels and proceeded away in the opposite direction to fetch her father as instructed. The situation bothered her greatly. She was not one whom had much affiliation with the elders under negative circumstances and she knew that remaining humble and respectful wouldn't be an easy feat should her patience be tested.

 

Her expression grew even more fiery and aggressive, as was natural for the girl. Though this wasn't tolerable. She needed to calm down.

[Kailia]

K'ailia felt the bony knuckles against her neck forcer her head to bow. But she did not resist. Instead, she bowed her head, though it made her ears flatten for a moment before she returned them to a neutral position.

 

But regardless, her mind still filled with questions. She could understand those banished from the tribe not being welcomed back. But why the ones who left of their own will? But more importantly was the questions of where was K'ile, and her mother.

 

She took a deep breath and calmed her mind. Clearing it of all thoughts. She would remain submissive. She knew her place right this moment. Protesting would only get her ejected from the camp. She had no intention of protesting. She came to answer for her own actions.

[Naunet]

"K'ailia Yohko would understand," came the low, firm voice of K'jhanhi. He still did not turn, did not give the girl the respect of his gaze, though he did offer his voice, "The one who has returned clearly does not."

 

From her position on the floor, K'deiki watched the shriveled, red and white form behind their visitor and let out a slow sigh that rattled her lungs between frail ribs. She, too, did not look directly at K'ailia when she finally spoke, her clouded over eyes keeping to the elder behind the girl, "It is one thing to violate our laws to the point of exile. It is another to willfully leave one's family. I cannot imagine what kind of heart it would take to do such a thing."

[Clover]

In such a small tribe, the news about K'ailia's arrival spread fast. The first emotion K'mih experienced, other than the obvious surprise, was a huge excitement to know that her lost sister was back. She couldn't help but hope that K'ailia had returned for real, because she loved her family as much as her family loved her, and wasn't simply paying them a short visit. Hearing other details about the situation, however, also created a sense of worry. It'd been her dear sister K'nahli the one who allowed K'ailia in, apparently disobeying the rules, and that meant that K'nahli might be in trouble with the elders.

 

Like every other curious or worried Miqo'te, K'mih ran in direction to the elders' tent as fast as she could. Everyone was waiting outside, dying to know what was happening. The first person to come out of the tent was K'nahli, and she did it alone. Her more than obvious annoyance could only indicate that things weren't going too well...

 

"K'nahli!" She called out among the crowd of Miqo'tes, who started interrogating the angry female. Unaware that the girl had a very important task to fulfil, everyone hoped that K'nahli could share some details of what was going on.

 

------

 

 

The news had even reached K'rahto Tia's ears, and he certainly couldn't have cared any less if it weren't for the mention of K'nahli. Being the antisocial being he was, he'd been standing at a certain distance from the main crowd, waiting for any sort of information while trying to look uninterested. When the female walked out the tent, K'rahto mentally cursed everyone for not letting him see anything.

[Kailia]

K'ailia listened to the elders speak. Upon hearing K'deiki say she could not imagine what sort of heart could do such a thing, she felt the tears run down her eyes. And without even thinking, uttered the words, "A hurt one..." before going silent once more.

 

She had not meant to speak, but the words came out anyways. Was it a mistake to come back? What was she expecting? Regardless of her reckless decision to leave the tribe, she still very much loved her family. But so much had happened since her trials.

 

Finally she leaned further over, planting her forehead into the mat she was sat upon, realizing her speaking was out of orders by K'takka. She braced herself for whatever assault that elder would inflict upon her. But she would not fight back.

[Lyraciilee]

K'yohko stood on the edge of camp, ears twitching with every small sound that he could hear around him. The wind whispered a soft song that fluttered across his ears. The sand sung in a low crackling voice. The sun over head beamed down in a loud aria that warmed his dark skin and dark purple hair. And the only active nunh of the Hipparon Tribe stood in the center of nature's symphony. He could hear the sounds of the wurms and the drakes far off in the Sagolii. He could feel the tremors of their movement miles away. He could smell the fire burning, thick with the blood of the innocent and the pungent smell of the tempered. Or perhaps he could not actually do any of that, and it was all merely a hunch from an aging man who thought he could commune with nature.

 

The light but hot metal of a steel sword hung at his hip, and the burning hot same metal of the shield on his back did not trouble K'yohko Nunh. It faintly touched his memories of a time when fire rained down death, and a man whom had had respected turned to ash. A time when the fire and ash poisoned his family and himself.

 

K'yohko opened his eyes, burning violet eyes surging with a hidden passion behind a rocky exterior. He lifted a hand and examined it. It was crackled and scarred with fights past, but if he looked close enough, K'yohko thought he might see a poison that was running through his veins.

 

His ears twitched with the rustling sounds of activity in the camp. New activity. Once more his eyes closed and he listened, the faintest wind carrying the news in quiet whispers. And only a word came to him as he listened and attempted to discern the news. K'ailia.

 

His lips turned to a thin displeased look, but he did not move from his spot of meditation.

[K'nahli]

The soft call of K'mih's voice would normally help pacify even K'nahli's most bitter of tempers, though unfortunately today that would not be the case. The infuriated girl pressed on without so much as turning her glance in her younger sister's direction. A mere wave in silent dismissal was K'mih's only reply. Admittedly, she realised that she would probably find herself apologising to the pink-haired miqo'te later on when everything had been settled and tempers were cooled, but courtesy was the least of her concerns right now. A number of other voices from curious spectators called out to the disgruntled archer at the same time though they too, fell on deaf ears. The rest was indecipherable to her as the small crowd gave in to whispers and speculation amongst each other with a lacking sense of discretion

 

 

It didn't take long for K'nahli to locate her father lolitering on the edge of the camp in the distance. His shady silhouette that burned itself into the cantaloupe horizon was instantly recogniseable even from afar, for his admirable figure was distinguishably tall, solid and powerful. His body language, or rather lack of, only confirmed the suspicions of those that would remain otherwise doubtful. She marched toward him with great determination, refusing to slow her pace in spite of the seductive idea to take her time and give herself the extra minutes that could be well put to use burning off her freshly brewed anger. The sinking sun gleamed brilliantly against the surface of her vibrant eyes as it slowly bid the land farewell in preparation for the ensuing darkness that lay ahead for the glowing sands and its humble inhabitants.

 

 

"K'yohko Nuhn!" K'nahli bellowed inconsiderately to the stoic hunter while ignoring the fact that he appeared to have been lost in a meditative state. She remained at a fair distance from her father, but close enough so that her call wouldn't rouse too much attention from anyone nearby.

 

"The elders would have you appear before them in their tent. Now" she spat her words rudely while making the message both clear and brief.

 

Without waiting for any acknowledgement, the girl turned her back on the man and began making her way back to the elder's tent on her own. It would only be natural for K'yohko to ask questions of course, thought it was with this in mind that she did so, for the ill-tempered huntress was in no mood for words.

Her abrupt departure would at least throw him off calling out to her. Or at least she had hoped.

[Lyraciilee]

K'yohko heard his daughter far before she spoke. Her feet stomped angrily across the grounds. He felt their angry vibrations and heard the sound of millions of grains crashing like ocean waves. Louder the storm of sands and anger came until it crashed to a halt some distance from himself. Out bellowed the voice an elder daughter, his own daughter to share in an even remotely similar hair color to his own.

 

His lips turned to an even thinner frown, and only his ears flicked in acknowledgment. When had it become acceptable for K'nahli to disrespect him? And when had it become normal for K'mih to run from him?

 

K'yohko turned and calm but strong movement. His eyes opened, narrowed as they focused in on his daughter's back. He did not run towards her, but walked with wide strong steps, feet silent and barely moving the sand beneath him. It was easy to catch up to her as they neared the tent and his hand reached out to grab her by her collar.

 

With a swift powerful movement, he caught the cloth of her shirt with his hand and pulled her back. He turned her to face him, fiery angery hiding behind his smoldering purple eyes. His grip moved to her neck, holding it perhaps a bit too tightly and constraining her ability to breath.

 

"You disappoint me, K'nahli." His words were but a whisper, thick and heavy with meaning and emotion, but ever still their normal sound. His burning eyes looked over her face, judgmental and unrelenting. There was a silence before her released her neck and pushed her to the side. He resumed his stride to the tent and paused at the entrance, only to glance back at K'nahli. He gave her a stoic look, but his eyes blazed with a dark purple fire she could not hope to understand. But perhaps there was one thing she could understand from that look. There would be severe consequences to face.

 

His head turned slowly from his disrespectful daughter and his form slipped beneath the tent.

 

The dark fire beneath his eyes did not falter as he looked through the tent. His grandmother caught his eyes first, and her frail but beloved form attracted his complete attention at first. But he took in the scene before him, lips pursing to a twisted scowl when he beheld his wayward daughter. There was a poison like a sick burning through his veins, catching dark fire where it traveled.

 

He said nothing, but his eyes looked down upon his daughter with judgement.

[Twinflame]

After pressing K'ailia's forehead into the ground, K'takka pulled her knuckles from the girl's neck and rolled back away from her, easing back onto her sharp heels letting her head roll, gaze taking in the many fetishes on the ceiling. On a whim, she reached up and took one that was above the threshhold of the tent, pulling it free with a snap of leather. Orobon bones clattered, buzzard feathers spinning as K'takka's furtive movements brought her around in front of K'ailia.

 

She threw the fetish on the ground in front of K'ailia, the sound a violent tumult of clicking bone, and then spun away. She took a wide bowl and put a very small amount of rust-colored powder in it. She dumped the powder over the fetish on the ground, and lay the bowl upside-down so that it covered both the fetish and K'ailia's head, effectively trapping the girl with the fetish and the powder.

 

K'takka leaned her meager weight on the bowl to hold it and the girl in place. She explained, "The orobon bones are an artifact which inspires wisdom and calm. The powder is from the smoldering glands in a sand-drake's neck: if you inhale very much of it, your lungs will be burned. I implore you to breathe very slowly, very very carefully, and to think. I once gave your father such a lesson."

 

As though summoned, K'yohko Nunh entered the tent. K'takka's silver eyes rose to him immediately, and for a moment they flashed with a softer expression. But K'ailia's weight beneath her kept her in the moment, and she gestured down with her eyes. "I am told the fire-dancer instructed her to return. This somehow does sound like likely, doesn't it?"

[Kailia]

K'ailia's tail fuzzed out as the fetish fetish was placed in front of her face, and in-took air just before the powder and bowl was placed over her head. She did not know what the powder was, but she held her breath, and listened to the instructions.

 

So it was Drake Gland powder. Inhaling even a little bit, would be extremely undesirable, if not, could cause breathing complications. If she breathed out too far, the powder would fly up, possibly into her mouth, nose and eyes. If she inhaled too quickly, her nose, throat and lungs would pay the price.

 

K'ailia closed her eyes, relaxed her body while keeping her breath held. The only way to ensure the powder remains where it is, is to breath so slow, that it neither lifts into the air, nor goes into her nose. One of the meditation states she had learned in Gridania should help with that she thought. Slowly, she released her breath through her nose, a little at a time, keeping her eyes closed, focusing on the breath.

 

The rest of her body was no longer there. Only her breathing was all she focused on, trying to find the right meditative state. The first state, she could see the powder shift slightly. She focused on a deeper state, until finally it would seem to any other observer, that she had gone limp like death.

 

Continuing focus on her breathing, she slowly opened her eyes to look at the fetish for a moment, taking in the bones shape, she closed her eyes once more and thought on the bones. The bones would give wisdom and calm the elder had said. This meant, from what she gathered, was that she was to reflect upon all her decisions she had made. To reflect upon her past, that led to the situation she was in now.

 

And finally, the question came to her. What was important to her? She had came here after remembering her brothers and sisters. She was invited back here by K'ile, to serve as an outsider. Indeed she was, but even having left the tribe, her mother had brought her things, she had made her dorm as close to tribe life as she could.

 

The tribe was important to her. Regardless of her tribe mates treating her as an outsider. Regardless of her mother constantly running away, and chucking things at her. Regardless of K'ile and his big mouth that started the whole mess to begin with. She still loved her tribe, but it still hurt that she was treated as an outsider before she even thought about leaving the tribe. And when K'ile got her and her mother back together, she had changed her mind of leaving the tribe, only to find herself feeling pushed away.

 

She opened her eyes, as tears poured out onto the necklace, onto the powder. She had felt alone since returning to Gridania. Unappreciated. Useless. What good was learning conjury, if people like her mother would run away at the first sign of magical use? And most of all, what was she to do, now that she was thrust into leadership of Ul'dah Garden. She had no answers. She had made a bad decision out of anger and hurt, without ever really explaining her feelings. But truth be told, she never really had the chance. The moment she spoke to her mother the first time, the yelling and name calling had begun.

 

So she stayed pinned under the bowl, her tears flowing across the fetish, as she did her best to maintain her breathing, even while thinking on all that. How long would she be forced to stay there? If she was to stay this way for a week, she knew she deserved it. The timid girl had grown into someone as violent and angry as her mother. And it was that violence and anger, that had put her in the position she was in now. But she still... had the desire to be with her family.

[K'nahli]

Prior to the incident, K'nahli could well have admitted to herself that she had since been uncomfortable bearing so much as a single thought toward her father ever since that day with K'mih. Neither would she have denied that her anger toward him, though unfair to the oblivious nuhn, could have manifested itself in the way that she spoke to him had she ever found herself in a situation where conversation was even required. However, the situation with K'ailia and K'takka had momentarily blinded her from her own petty grievances with her father. Her tone and disrespectful manner of calling out to him in this particular instance was purely misdirected; even K'mih had been on the receiving end of her frustration, though to a less volatile extent. It was for this reason especially, that K'nahli had not anticipated what would happen next, in spite of hearing her father's naturally long-strided pace breaking the sands beneath his weight as he approached briskly from behind.

 

When she was suddenly grabbed and pulled backward without warning she let out a soft gasp in surprise. Her vibrant eyes grew wide with shock and momentarily stole her mind from the cauldron of angry thoughts that bubbled and boiled insider her head. Before she had time to assess what had happened she was face to face with her father. He held her uncomfortably close, his massive form easily overshadowing her while he gripped her harness in such a way that caused it to constrict itself over her throat and slightly impede her breathing to the point that she let out an almost inaudible wheeze. Normally, K'nahli would respond to such behaviour defensively by immediately resolving to free herself from her captor's grip and aggressively demanding to know what they thought they were doing.

K'yohko would have been no exception to this, especially since the incident involving K'mih.

However, K'yohko was not the man she knew in that moment. It took only a second for her to suddenly fall submissive under her father's disgusted glare. Within the depths of his eyes, she discovered a powerful radiance of anger, an emotion that she had not even once been familiar with coming from her father. It was disturbing, even frightening.

 

"You disappoint me, K'nahli."

 

His words, though simple and fueled presumably through momentary agitation, had an unprecedented impact on the young girl. She quickly grew weak under his grip and timidly returned his enraged stare with wavering, glassy eyes that echoed her deepening sense of fear in that moment as she lingered like a corned animal that cowered before a ravenous predator. It was a surreal feeling, one that had been alien to her for such a long time. Not since since K'yhaega's passing had she ever feared so much for her own well-being.

 

"......"

 

She couldn't force herself to speak. No words came to mind and even if they did, she doubted she had the will to speak them while she was being subjected to her father's oppressive stare and dominating presence.

 

With an eventual and careless flick of his wrist he tossed his eldest daughter aside, causing her to stumble backward a couple of steps away from him. Following that, he paid her no further heed and quietly continued toward the tent, alone. She watched him with great anxiety as he abandoned her behind him, her body frozen and clenched fists raised protectively over her chest as though she feared for her own safety. Despite her anger held for the man, despite the heartache it caused her to imagine K'mih hoping to choose him as as potential mate, she knew deep down in her heart that she still needed his love and respect. K'mih had always been her loving sister whom had continued taking care of her - even when everyone else had forgotten - during her weakest moments, but K'yohko.... as much as it pained her to admit it, he was all she could have ever wanted in a father.

 

Admirably collected to the extent that those in his presence would feel assured that he always had the answers and remained entirely in control even when faced with great danger.

 

Enviably strong, granting him an aura of power that would leave him appearing nothing short of indestructible at least in the eyes of his daughters.

 

Passionately understanding, usually knowing when to speak and when to remain silent, and in the case of the former, having a tendency to say the right things.

 

He was her rock, a strong and powerful warrior whose skill and prowess she could only hope to faintly shadow in years to come. Why was it only now that she was realising these things? Had she been taking him for granted? Taking his love and patience too lightly?

 

And yet, now she was nothing but a disappointment to him. Though how could she blame him? Her behaviour over the years had called for nothing short of that response and more. Her eyes dipped down to the ground in total defeat.

 

The time had finally come, the time when even her father had appeared to be losing interest in tolerating her. How long would it be until K'mih felt the same way? A thin film of water slowly coated over her eyes, blurring her vision as her shoulders slumped low in defeat. What had she to offer anyone? The past five years she had done nothing but feed off of the kindness of those who remained true to her. And to what end? Until she had dried up their patience entirely and made them unhappy simultaneously?

 

 

The sand crunched beneath the fragile, young girl as she dug her rear foot heavily into the ground with a short step backward, followed soon after by another, until finally, she was turning and running away.

 

Where or why she didn't know herself. She just kept running.

[Izmina]

Having finished a long day of bow training, Tahj trudged back into camp and immediately became aware of an unusual commotion. Curiosity peeking, she headed towards the small crowd at the elder's tent, hoping to find her sister K'mih and find out what was happening. 

 

As she drew near the crowd, she caught sight of K'nahli out of the corner of her eye, turning in that direction she became aware that something was drastically wrong with her sister's body language. Tahj's brow furrowed with worry as the girl broke and ran away from the camp.

 

Tahj hesitated at the edge of camp, wanting to follow and be sure K'nahli was ok, but aware she was not yet nearly as familiar with the surrounding dunes as the huntress. "Nothing is more important than family" she thought, and took out over the sands in pursuit.

[Lyraciilee]

As his Grandmother spoke, K'yohko's burning eyes drew away from his daughter. He remembered the lesson she was enduring very well. In his youthful arrogance, he had learned humility and patience from his Grandmother in this method. He had learned many things from his beloved Grandmother K'takka, and K'yohko only futility wished she would regain some youth from those who wasted it, so she might teach the arrogant youth what it meant to be a part of this family. Arrogance and self-centered desires filled the sick ashy hearts of those whom he protected, and it was beginning to sicken him. As if the greed of Ul'dah reached far and vast into the Sagolii, adding more poison to their already infected bodies.

 

But his lips remained in a firm line, his scowl lightening as his attention was drawn by K'takka. The fire dance instructed his wayward daughter's return. It was all too likely. He gave a curt nod to his Grandmother, his arms crossed beneath his powerful chest in a tense manner. His entire body stood tall and powerful, tension in every muscle.

 

"His disrespect for the law grows tiresome. He is an enforcer of it, not above it. Yet he fancies himself to be so." K'yohko remarked, darkness and bitterness seeping into his deep smooth voice. His eyes flickered down to his daughter, the product of some such corrupting influence. "Just as your arrogant disrespect of your family grows tiresome, K'ailia." His words cooled, returning to only that deep smooth strong voice with a tense anger subtly hanging upon his lips. K'yohko's sharp eyes noticed her tears, dripping upon the floor. For once, his ears stood upright, tail bristling for a moment. His lips shut tight, and fury seemed to envelop him. But he was taught well, and with a low exhale, he calmed and everything returned to his form how it ought to be.

 

"You have no right to cry. You made a decision. Face your consequences like an adult." K'yohko's comment was blunt, and perhaps mean but he could not stand to watch his daughter cry with her face in the mud like a child. If she was to act like she was an adult, then she could not be granted the mercy of a child.

[Kailia]

"You have no right to cry. You made a decision. Face your consequences like an adult."

 

 

That was the words the man who sired her said. But that was all he ever did for her. Was help bring her into the world. She knew nothing of who he was. He was even now, a complete mystery to her. And yet he talked about facing consequences like an adult.

 

The tears stopped flowing, and anger set in. She wanted to scream out, that she had every right to cry. She was an outcast the moment she returned from Gridania. She knew nothing of her father, and doubted any of his children knew who he was personally. She was raised by a woman that runs away at the expense of her own health.

 

Her tail begin moving with clear signs of anger. How much more could she take. But she knew the answer. She would take everything they would throw at her. Tilting her head downwards so her mouth was away from the powder, she finally spoke, "Unlike K'piru, K'haz, and even my own mother, I will not run from the consequences of my actions. Too many just run away. And if given the chance, I would tell you all just what happened on the scouting mission... everything..."

 

She moved her face back to look at the fetish. She braced herself for whatever assault would come. But no further tears would come. She had now cried her last tears. Now, she would endure whatever designs they saw fit to inflict upon her. If it made her family happy to inflict humiliation or pain upon her for her actions, so be it.

[Twinflame]

K'takka put more weight on the bowl, straining it against K'ailia's neck to force the girl's head down, bending low to growl into the shadowed crack between the bowl and the floor. "The people you mention have enough respect to stay silent and humble! Especially your mother! She knows respect you've never demonstrated, and does not cheat on her lessons. The point of the fetish and the powder is to teach you the wisdom of silence, which it appears you have no concept of."

 

With a hum, K'takka blew beneath the bowl to sir up the dust and force k'ailia to breathe a small amount of it. "This is a lesson, not a punishment. Cheat again and I will show you what punishments we are capable of. Nothing you have to say is welcome or permitted at this time. Screw shut your teeth, bite off your tongue if you must, but do not talk." Riasing her face away, she muttered, "And I, as your father, won't have you blubbering like an infant. Conserve water in the desert, girl."

 

Her eyes lifted to K'yohko, the bitter glare sliding away to favor him with a more merciful gaze, though her words were still hard. "Where is your other daughter? I instructed her to return. Does K'ailia's cowardice already infect her as well?"