Going on Walkabout, Part 1
(Author's note: This story takes place "sometime in the somewhat near future" in reference to "present day Pari" (which, at the moment is Dryad Eyes for all intents and purposes.) It is probably that following spring, at least, that's when it starts.)
The first signs of spring could be seen peeking shyly from around and within the last vestiges of winter. Here and there the fields were sometimes still dotted with tenacious mounds of snow, and most of the grasses were still dressed in their winter shades of tan and brown. Some would even argue that spring wasn't really there yet, that it was still several months off. Eyrenya knew better as she breathed in deeply from where she stood on the ramparts of the Keep at Keeper's Gateway. The wind blew to her the scent of the damp earth slowly being warmed by the sun, of moss and the first shoots of new grass, and of tentative little flowers releasing their fresh, sweet fragrances in the hopes that their suitors, the bees, would soon be there as well.
Autumn and Spring had always been her favorite seasons, for they were the ones which always got her blood stirring, making her want to travel. This time was no exception, and as she stood staring off into the woods which were just starting to don a faint haze of green, so faint you could only see it out of the corner of your eye, she found herself longing to again walk the open road.
Soft, almost unheard footsteps came up from behind her, and a familiar scent wafted to her on a stray breeze. "Hello Nisuco," she greeted her cousin without needing to turn around.
Treyp shivered a little and drew her cloak closer around her as she leaned on the chest-high wall next to Eyrenya. "Brrr! It's still cold out here."
"Mmm-Hmmm. But it's a different kind of cold. It's not the winter cold anymore." Again, she breathed in deeply, unable to get enough of the damp air, and the tingling promise of new life it held.
"Mmm," Treyp mumbled non-committedly.
Eyrenya turned to study her cousin who was picking at the lichen growing on the wall. "You and Matthew have another fight?"
"Mmm."
"You planning on getting this thing between you two figured-out one way or the other anytime soon?" The question was asked innocently enough, but it held a slight barb, one which wasn't lost on the Dryad. Her eyes widened in surprise before her whole expression darkened into a scowl.
"Not that it's any of your business..."
"True, it isn't." Nimbly hopping up onto the wall, she sat cross-legged. The wind blew her unruly auburn hair across her face but she didn't seem to mind. Instead, taking out her pipes from the special holder on her belt, she started playing a soft tune.
Treyp turned her scowl on the countryside stretched out beyond the battlements. After a while she spoke again. "I'm not sure what to do about it."
Pausing in her song, Eyrenya tilted her head a bit in thought. "Talk to Lencu about it. Or... wait. Maybe not." She giggled a little. "You might actually want to KEEP Matthew." Treyp half-smiled at that and leaned forward to rest her elbows on the wall and her chin on her hands. "You know..." Eyrenya continued, "if I were you, I'd talk to Arimus."
Treyp straightened a bit, giving her cousin a quizzical look. "Arimus? About a relationship... sort of relationship... whatever!.. problem?"
Eyrenya nodded, playing a few more notes on her pipes. "I think she's in one. Haven't asked her details, but I've caught a few comments here and there. And she says a lot by what she doesn't say."
"Hmmm..." Treyp was rightfully surprised at the news, but in some ways even more surprised that it came from her cousin. Not that she thought of Eyrenya as being stupid, but she usually had such a carefree attitude that it always caught her off guard when she showed just how perceptive she really was. "Maybe I will."
"Good!" Hopping off the wall she started wandering back towards the stairs. "Oh, by the way, I'm gonna head off here for a few months."
Treyp blinked a few times, wondering if she'd heard that right. "Um... what?"
Eyrenya turned and continued her slow saunter but backwards. "Nisuco, I've been cooped up in this city for almost half a year now. Occasional trips to the nearby woods just aren't cutting it anymore. I need to stretch my legs a bit or I'm gonna go crazy."
"Nisuco," Treyp responded drily. "You already ARE crazy."
Eyrenya's answering grin brought a grudging chuckle to her long-time friend and traveling companion. "Don't worry though, I'll come back. And if something comes up between now and then," she shrugged, "well, I'll always be able to find you."
Nodding, Treyp's brows furrowed with concern. "Are you sure you want to go alone? I mean, I could pack up a few things and come with you."
"Huh-uh. Nope, you're not invited. You need to stay here and get your problems figured out. And just hiding away from them doesn't count. Besides, regardless of which way it goes, Matthew deserves better than that." Treyp sighed, but nodded her agreement. "Plus," Eyrenya continued, "I'm a big girl. I'll be fine by myself."
"If you say so, Nisuco."
"I do." With a parting grin, she turned and skipped down the stairway.
The first signs of spring could be seen peeking shyly from around and within the last vestiges of winter. Here and there the fields were sometimes still dotted with tenacious mounds of snow, and most of the grasses were still dressed in their winter shades of tan and brown. Some would even argue that spring wasn't really there yet, that it was still several months off. Eyrenya knew better as she breathed in deeply from where she stood on the ramparts of the Keep at Keeper's Gateway. The wind blew to her the scent of the damp earth slowly being warmed by the sun, of moss and the first shoots of new grass, and of tentative little flowers releasing their fresh, sweet fragrances in the hopes that their suitors, the bees, would soon be there as well.
Autumn and Spring had always been her favorite seasons, for they were the ones which always got her blood stirring, making her want to travel. This time was no exception, and as she stood staring off into the woods which were just starting to don a faint haze of green, so faint you could only see it out of the corner of your eye, she found herself longing to again walk the open road.
Soft, almost unheard footsteps came up from behind her, and a familiar scent wafted to her on a stray breeze. "Hello Nisuco," she greeted her cousin without needing to turn around.
Treyp shivered a little and drew her cloak closer around her as she leaned on the chest-high wall next to Eyrenya. "Brrr! It's still cold out here."
"Mmm-Hmmm. But it's a different kind of cold. It's not the winter cold anymore." Again, she breathed in deeply, unable to get enough of the damp air, and the tingling promise of new life it held.
"Mmm," Treyp mumbled non-committedly.
Eyrenya turned to study her cousin who was picking at the lichen growing on the wall. "You and Matthew have another fight?"
"Mmm."
"You planning on getting this thing between you two figured-out one way or the other anytime soon?" The question was asked innocently enough, but it held a slight barb, one which wasn't lost on the Dryad. Her eyes widened in surprise before her whole expression darkened into a scowl.
"Not that it's any of your business..."
"True, it isn't." Nimbly hopping up onto the wall, she sat cross-legged. The wind blew her unruly auburn hair across her face but she didn't seem to mind. Instead, taking out her pipes from the special holder on her belt, she started playing a soft tune.
Treyp turned her scowl on the countryside stretched out beyond the battlements. After a while she spoke again. "I'm not sure what to do about it."
Pausing in her song, Eyrenya tilted her head a bit in thought. "Talk to Lencu about it. Or... wait. Maybe not." She giggled a little. "You might actually want to KEEP Matthew." Treyp half-smiled at that and leaned forward to rest her elbows on the wall and her chin on her hands. "You know..." Eyrenya continued, "if I were you, I'd talk to Arimus."
Treyp straightened a bit, giving her cousin a quizzical look. "Arimus? About a relationship... sort of relationship... whatever!.. problem?"
Eyrenya nodded, playing a few more notes on her pipes. "I think she's in one. Haven't asked her details, but I've caught a few comments here and there. And she says a lot by what she doesn't say."
"Hmmm..." Treyp was rightfully surprised at the news, but in some ways even more surprised that it came from her cousin. Not that she thought of Eyrenya as being stupid, but she usually had such a carefree attitude that it always caught her off guard when she showed just how perceptive she really was. "Maybe I will."
"Good!" Hopping off the wall she started wandering back towards the stairs. "Oh, by the way, I'm gonna head off here for a few months."
Treyp blinked a few times, wondering if she'd heard that right. "Um... what?"
Eyrenya turned and continued her slow saunter but backwards. "Nisuco, I've been cooped up in this city for almost half a year now. Occasional trips to the nearby woods just aren't cutting it anymore. I need to stretch my legs a bit or I'm gonna go crazy."
"Nisuco," Treyp responded drily. "You already ARE crazy."
Eyrenya's answering grin brought a grudging chuckle to her long-time friend and traveling companion. "Don't worry though, I'll come back. And if something comes up between now and then," she shrugged, "well, I'll always be able to find you."
Nodding, Treyp's brows furrowed with concern. "Are you sure you want to go alone? I mean, I could pack up a few things and come with you."
"Huh-uh. Nope, you're not invited. You need to stay here and get your problems figured out. And just hiding away from them doesn't count. Besides, regardless of which way it goes, Matthew deserves better than that." Treyp sighed, but nodded her agreement. "Plus," Eyrenya continued, "I'm a big girl. I'll be fine by myself."
"If you say so, Nisuco."
"I do." With a parting grin, she turned and skipped down the stairway.