Scene Archives

breathes in deep of the warm desert air, then gently urges his steed onward towards their destination.

he smiles as he hands over the supplies. “Likewise, my friend! Good to see you well! How are things faring here?”

: “Yazhn Ravhi bid me to spend some time outside the walls of the Temple, and I am more than happy to oblige.”, he says with a wider smile. “It also gave me a good excuse to bring the supplies you all needed.”

: “Shade and comfort to you as well, my friend. And that’s perfectly alright! Are they there now? I’m looking for the one called Wolf, in particular. Teacher tasked me to deliver something to him on his behalf.”

bids his apostate friend goodbye and heads down the path toward the shelter-rooms.

is, in fact, in the shelter-rooms–having himself a brief meditate, by the looks of it; coat and shoes off and sitting with legs crossed, palms resting lightly on his knees. He opens his eyes when Dyu enters, blinks once, then smiles. “Shade and comfort, Yazhn.”

gives a bow in greeting, “Shade and comfort to you as well, Wolf. Deepest apologies if I interrupted your meditation.”.

chuckles, shrugs. “If I didn’t want there to be a possibility that I would be interrupted, then I would go somewhere that was more private.” He stretches out his legs with a grunt. “It was really more of a break between things. A reset, if you will.”

chuckles and smiles. “That’s absolutely fair!”. He sets down his pack, then reaches in and pulls out an envelope with a seal that is all-to-familiar to him. “Lest I forget, Yazhn Ravhi sends his warmest regards, and tasked me to deliver this letter to you.”, he offers said letter to Wolf, with an expression that says ‘Quest: Complete!’.

absolutely doesn’t get immediately to his feet and take the letter and read it–because he is a yeresh, and yeresh have a certain dignity which is not to be punctured even by the desperate need to read the words of someone you’ve crossed literal worlds to meet. Instead, he takes about ten seconds to get to his feet instead of five, and puts on his coat first. ⁂

takes the letter, and carefully pops the seal (making sure to keep it and the letter intact in the process) and begins to read. And reads. At one point, his eyebrows go up so far they’re nearly in his hairline. Not long after, they lower and draw together until they’re nearly one unified line of dark hair. And then, at the very end, he smiles, just a little, with a soft warmth that Dyu can probably suspect does not get shown so openly very often. He reads the letter through again, top to bottom, and then folds it again, running a fingertip gently along its edge. “Well.” Wolf glances up at Dyu and flushes, just a little, along his ears and cheekbones. “Ah, forgive me. That was very rude of me, but, ah, I assumed that his message must be important, if it could not wait until we returned to the City.” It’s mostly the truth. 🙧

catches the flushing of Wolf’s cheeks and ears, finding it very similar to the coloring that crossed Ravhi’s scales before he was given the letter, and smiles very warmly. “Oh, no forgiveness needed! It was a letter from Teacher, so importance was assumed.”

: “How long do you plan to stay? If you must return immediately, I understand, but…” His fingers tap against the paper in a slightly uncharacteristic fidget. “If you’re spending the night, I think I might have a letter for him in return.”

: “Teacher bid me to have some time outside the Temple, and, to be honest, I…could use it more than I thought. So, I will be here for a short while, at least. Should I happen to return before you do, I would be more than happy to deliver a letter to him for you. I am certain he would welcome it!”

laughs, still a little red around the cheeks. “One most earnestly hopes so.” Wolf sits back down, crossing his legs again–his red coat now a pool around his legs–and gestures to a nearby cushion. “Well, please sit, then! You’ve had a hard journey under the sun. And I admit, I’ve wanted the chance to speak with you.”

smiles and gladly takes a seat on the cushion, legs crossed in a similar fashion, the fabric of his robe draped over them. “Why, thank you! And I, you, as well. I’ve certainly wanted to chance to get to know everyone better.”

chuckles softly. “An earnest, eager learner. I can see why you are Ravhi’s heir.” His head tilts, fractionally, his eyes surprisingly sharp. “It is an immense duty…and a heavy burden.”

he sits more upright, and nods. “We perform our Work, so that none go un-tended. It is our duty, as Kin.” he says, slightly bowing his head, and placing a hand over his heart.

smiles a little. “And who tends the Kin?” His head tilts back the other direction.

: “We Kin tend to each other as well!”, he rests a claw on his chin, trying to find the right words. “Well, take me for example; the Vehru provide for my material needs, and Teacher provides leadership, as well as support to myself and the other Yazhn.*

: “And you support him in turn?” His tone is not at all edged, and he’s smiling gently, but there’s the sense he’s weighing the answers carefully.

smiles softly, nodding. “Without question. He is always there…has always been there, for me, and for Qarina. I will do whatever I can to be a support for him, just as he has been one for me. Ever, and always.”

’s eyes flick over Dyu’s face, wolf-green, weighing–and then he smiles, and nods. “Good. I have often thought about how lonely it must be, to have such a weight on his shoulders.”

: “He can always use a shoulder, even when he doesn’t think he needs it. I will always offer mine, as I’m sure you would do the same.”

: “Very good. Aye, as I would.” Wolf leans back a little, his body language more relaxed, and yet his eyes are still keen and sharp. “And you? Who shall you share your burden with, Yazhn Dyu?”

He thinks for a moment. “Well, mostly with Teacher, and Qarina, I suppose. As far as the Kin, they are the ones closest to me. My…closest -human- friend, Ardith, recently went to their rest.” he looks wistful for a brief moment.

’s expression goes somber. “Ah, I see.” Wolf bows his head briefly. “I am sorry, my friend. May his memory be a blessing.” Gently: “And how are you doing?”

: “We will see each other again, on the God’s Day. It is why we do our Work.”, he bows his head briefly. “Thank you, the concern means much and more. I am…doing better. The grief, at first, was…it felt like the air had been pulled from my lungs. But…” he smiles a bit, “Teacher gave me comfort and shepherded me through it.”

blinks, just a bit, then smiles softly. “I see. Good for him.” The smile turns more wry. “Grief is…like that. The ache fades with time, but I find that it never quite goes away. It can be made…bittersweet, at least. As the pain fades, the sweetness of the memories returns–the time spent together, the…” He sort-of-laughs, eyes going a little distant. “…the gratitude that you had at least some time with them.” Wolf’s gaze refocuses, returns to Dyu. “Though, admittedly, we do not have your same comfort, on my world–no such promise.”

: “Teacher had told me of that; that your world, Almachadta, does not have something akin to the God’s Day.” he places a hand over his heart. “Though, I wish it were not so.”

smiles, laughs a little, even. “That is very kind of you. I suppose it must seem very strange to you–that we simply accept death as a part of life, and accept that those we lose are gone forever.” Wolf shrugs, looking thoughtful. “It is not that there aren’t people who believe in an afterlife of some sort, but I admit there’s very little agreement on what that might look like–or even if it exists at all.”

smiles warmly. “I would not say ‘strange’, just different. We can have differing beliefs and thoughts, especially when you come from distant worlds!”

tilts his head a little, then smiles. “Indeed.” His expression darkens, the smile fading. “Then again, it would be hard for us to share in your Work…our world doesn’t last that long.” His smile flickers back to life, but it’s lessened. “Yazhn Dyu, you know why we are here, yes? That we seek answers to the calamity that befalls our worlds, a way out from the cycle that traps us?”

he nods, his expression softens into one of compassionate concern. “Aye, I am aware of your mission. I know not how I can best be of aid, but I will do everything in my power to help, however I can.”

rubs his chin with his fingertips, looking down, pensive, the silence stretching out. He inhales slowly…exhales. “Forgive me, Yazhn Dyu, for what I am about to do.” He looks up, meeting Dyu’s gaze with his own. “You have heard this tone before. Yes?”

his eyes go wide, his jaw dropping, more than he himself could expect. “I…I have! That tone, that resonance, I…I heard when the God spoke to me, before I awoke the first time. Whenever I feel his presence since.”

exhales, softly. “Before you awoke.” Wolf chews on his lower lip, briefly. “…there is so much we don’t understand. How people can be given life without birth, for one.” He forces a smile, though it’s more of a grimace. “My companions and I, we call that tone ‘Alethic.’ There are resonances for each of the five types of gnosis–you speak in that of Radiant, as does everyone of this world. The people of Almachadta speak in Flourishing. But Alethic is different. It seems to be…deeper. Like speaking truth into the world. It is special, in ways we do not entirely understand.” ⁂

: “Yazhn Dyu, I have no right to pry into this. If it is too private a thing that I ask, then I beg your forgiveness and I will speak of it no more. But that voice that spoke to you. I would ask: what did it say?“ He looks like he’s about to ask something else, then shakes his head. “Forgive me. But we know so much, and yet so little. And Mu…this world is different. It sustains, when the others are consumed. It lasts, when the others do not. The more I understand…the greater chance I have of knowing why your world is different…and what it might mean for ours.” 🙧

is briefly starry-eyed, learning of the different resonances, and whispers a ‘FASCINATING!’, before shaking his head and returning to Wolf’s question. “It said, ‘You are the gate. Pain passes through you and leaves lighter. You hold the keys; you open the way for those who cannot open it themselves. When one can go no further, you bring them to the door and see them through. This is what you are.’ I took that to speak of being a healer; a shortener of the path of relief and comfort.”

rocks back at that–clearly a little surprised at Dyu’s enthusiasm–and then closes his eyes, clearly mulling the words. “You hold the keys, you open the way for those who cannot open it themselves…” Wolf says, almost to himself. Then he shakes his head, and a wry smile flickers across his face. “Thank you for sharing, Yazhn Dyu. I do not know if that was the information I sought, yet…I am deeply grateful for its sharing.” His expression is almost wistful. “It must be a great gift, to have such…clarity of purpose.” But his eyes go distant again, and whatever–whoever–he’s thinking of…by the looks of his expression, he’s not as sure of that as he sounds.

with a smile, “We all have a purpose, even when it does not seem so clear to us what it may be. And it is my honor, Yazhn Wolf.” and no sooner did those words leave his mouth than he realized what he said. “Ah! Apologies!”, he rubs his face, a bit embarrassed. “You, admittedly, remind me so much of Teacher that it just…my mouth moved quicker than my brain.”

blinks, then bursts out into a laugh. “You would not be the first, Yazhn Dyu. It’s the closest term that people have to what I am, and it is meant as an honor–I take no offense in its use.” Wolf’s tone turns mildly teasing. “If you must be formal, Yazhn Dyu, then I am Yeresh Wolf–but I do not think we need be so formal, eh?” His smile mutes into something less teasing, but more warm. “And to be compared to your Teacher is a great compliment. He is strong, and proud, and wise.”

laughs, shaking off the embarrassment, and nods. “Aye, that it is. Yeresh…okay, I will remember that for the future. And yes, I suppose we do not have to be so formal.”. He smiles softly. “That he is. And, I’m fairly certain, he would be honored knowing such comparison was made.”

flushes a bit, and ducks his head for a moment, and when his head lifts again his smile is star-bright. “One hopes, my friend. One hopes.” Wolf rubs his face with a hand, pushing his hair back from his face, regaining some of that yeresh dignity. “Well then. Tell me, Dyu, and tell me true. These people. These places. If the God had never spoken to you–had you no charge, no destiny, no remit from above…these lives. Would you still care for them? Would you still be their shepherd, their firelight, their guide?” He leans in, and suddenly his eyes are locked on Dyu’s, weighing, watching. “Would you set your feet on that path, and walk it to its end, for their sake–and their sake alone?”

closes his eyes, placing his hand over his heart, before raising his head to meet Wolf’s gaze. “I would walk that path to it’s end, until my body could move no longer. Until there was not an ounce of me left. Because more than anything, I believe that what we do for others, is far and away greater than what we have done for us. So yes, Yeresh Wolf, I would be their guide, their light in the darkness.”

studies Dyu’s face intently for a long moment…then grins, with just a hint of fang. “Good. Then I have something to teach you.” He stands up suddenly, brushing off his knees, straightening his coat. “Well, come on, then. Sitting around here certainly isn’t what needs doing!”

stands up, brushing out and straightening his robes. “Sounds like fun, I’m in!”

looks at Dyu, eyebrows up…then barks a laugh. “We’ll see if you’re that enthusiastic by day’s end.” His eyes twinkle–he’s pretty sure Dyu’s up to it. Wolf stuffs his feet in his boots and starts to head for the door, then pauses near the threshold, looking off to the side–by the look on his face, he’s suddenly a million miles away. “…and amidst it all, a people…”

tilts his head, curiously, then moves to meet Wolf at the door.

shakes himself, as if to clear his head. He pulls a wry smile. “Just…remembering something my own Teacher told me once. It’s good, sometimes…to get a reminder of why we walk this path.” Wolf grins at Dyu, almost bouncing on the balls of his feet. “Come on then! Let’s see who needs helping.” And he’s out the door with long strides, trusting–or assuming–that Dyu will follow in his wake.

he chuckles to himself. “Yep, Yazhn, the both of them.” he says before bounding off to follow Wolf to wherever he is leading him.