I Know What You’re Feeling

Denahi

Cursed Thorns

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I Know What You’re Feeling Jul 24, 2020 21:10:32 GMT Sadira likes this

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Post by Denahi on Jul 24, 2020 21:10:32 GMT

(Open to Sadira!)

Denahi’s face looked very much like a sabertooth tiger who’d been kicked in the snout.

Thunderclouds were gathering over the steamy humidity of the Indian Jungle, but even they couldn’t rival the dark man’s furrowed brows and hollow eyes. For once, his glare didn’t look quite so haunted. That emptiness was filled with confusion and frustration. Didn’t help his mood that his lip, cut recently in the battle at Nottingham, wouldn’t quit bleeding.

Denahi dragged the back of his hand across his mouth with impatient energy. He’d spent the morning tearing the shirtsleeves off of his blue-dyed fur garment. It was too hot here. Like being near a campfire, but without the companionship of his brothers. The hunter’s mind always revolved slowly back to that subject: why he was here, serving an army of creatures and people he couldn’t understand. The Spirits had led him here, so that their ranks could help him kill the demonic bear tht took away Kenai and Sitka.

...Didn’t they?

Denahi’s shaggy black bangs fell into his eyes as he trampled through vines and foliage of the jungle. He was looking down at the worn and rugged wolf totem Tanana had carved for him during his own coming of age ceremony. The wolf of wisdom.

He had no idea what that meant.

Didn’t the Spirits make changes? That was what the Inuit he’d always been taught, for generations, in his tribe. The Spirits knew what changes to make for the good of the world. His brothers were Spirits now. Denahi had been so sure that looking for revenge after Sitka’s death was wrong...but if Kenai, who’d last words were a man wouldn’t just SIT HERE and do nothing! was among their ranks now...well, wasn’t that the only explanation for why the Worlds Merged? Kenai and Sitka were binding things together in one big change, and helping Denahi cut the monster into tiny little pieces.

Right? It sounded crazy.

Denahi slashed one bare arm through a set of creepers hanging in his way viciously.

It felt crazy! And you know what else felt crazy? He’d spent the last day burning down shelters—huts—homes of complete strangers for the Thorns. He’d almost killed for them. In fact, he was supposed to have. And he couldn’t decide which was more frustrating; that he failed to do what the Thorns asked so pathetically, or that he didn’t even want to in the first place.

Denahi heaved a sigh and lifted his head. He couldn’t see through the canopy, but somewhere behind the storm clouds, in the lights that hid during the day, Kenai and Sitka were watching. “This is what you wanted, isn’t it? For me to kill the bear? If it is I—I don’t see how! This is the kind of help you send?” It didn’t sound like the kind of path Sitka would set him on...maybe this was all Kenai’s idea. If only he could see his kid brother’s stupid face...

Denahi looked down. While he’d been mooning up at the skies, his moccasins had disappeared in some kind of mud. Or..sand? The brunette hadn’t seen anything like it in the wilderness of danger and beauty that he came from. Hang on, was he...sinking?

“Ugh—just great!” Cried the middle child. He hadn’t brought his spear and looked around grimly for something to pull himself out with. Where were all the annoying vines when you actually needed them?![/i]

Last Edit: Jul 24, 2020 21:10:58 GMT by Denahi

Sadira

Cursed Thorns

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I Know What You’re Feeling Jul 25, 2020 11:53:53 GMT

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Post by Sadira on Jul 25, 2020 11:53:53 GMT

The Indian jungle being so close to the black keep after the worlds merged was a blessing for the witch in more ways than one. For starters the climate felt more like home. It wasn't the dry heat of Agrabah, but a more unbearable wet heat that caused her unruly bushy hair to stick to her forehead, but it beat the constant chill of the castle by a landslide - even if the vegetation was more than a little annoying. As agile and graceful as the ex-streetrat liked to think she was she could not stop tripping over vines.

"Oh for f-" Her curse devolved into a growl as she tripped again. She caught herself before she faceplanted, but the witch's frustration was growing. The irritating foliage and the lingering threat of a storm brewing meant that Sadira wanted to leave, but she hadn't just popped into the jungle for the fun of it. The humid jungle was the perfect place to find ingredients for spells and potions she might want to try down the line - the very greenery she'd been cursing all day just so happened to be a blessing in disguise and the entire reason she was here. She was picking out anything that looked interesting or familiar that she might have seen in her scrolls, but there was one flower in particular she was looking for that she'd yet to find.

She'd grabbed a lotus flower by the bed of the river and a couple sweet-smelling jasmines by a large tree, but she'd yet to come across a jungle geranium yet. The flame of the woods - as one of her scrolls called it - was used in a few spells she wanted to try - most of them minor which was why she felt comfortable enough to do them alone. But she couldn't find the damn thing, and the looming threat of the storm clouds in the sky were ready to chase the streetrat out of the jungle. Just five more minutes....

That was her last thought before her foot got tangled in a vine and sent her hurtling towards the ground. She let out an undignified shout as she fell, but had enough sense to throw her hands out in front of her to catch her fall. From her spot on the ground she growled again turning behind her to rip the offending vine from its root and free her foot. If she were a better sorceress she would have burnt it to a crisp. She was seriously considering risking accidentally burning the jungle to the ground to do it when a flash of red to her left caught her eye. The flame! "Yes!"

There the bushel of flowers sat innocently at the base of bush, the lone flower of this particular plant - perhaps the season wasn't quite right for a more fruitful plant yet, Sadira didn't know or care, she was just happy to get what she came for. She plucked the plant and almost got up when a nearby voice stopped her in her tracks.“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?" The desperate voice sounded like it was coming from behind the bush, but who was he talking to? And what was that about killing a bear? No voice answered the man, so she assumed he was talking to himself, something Sadira found herself doing often.

At his next indignant words, the witch got up and dusted herself off, chancing a peek behind the bush to see what exactly this person had gotten themselves into. Pushing back the greenery she tilted her head as she took in the man who - after about 12 hours of sleep and shave - she might have called cute. He looked tired. No, tired was too generous, he looked exhausted, the kind of exhaustion went beyond physical - clearly that was the case if he was out here shouting at no one.

Sadira had half a mind to turn around and leave him to his own devices, he was clearly on a mission and didn't seem like very good company anyways, but then she took in his predicament and had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. Quicksand. Of course she'd be the one to find him here like this, because the universe thought her life was just one big joke, apparently.

Sadira dropped the flower in the satchel that housed her collection of plants and herbs from the day's trip and stepped out from behind the protection of her bush. She really hoped this guy wasn't the dangerous kind of crazy. "You need some help there, bear-slayer?" She didn't know how deep the sand he was in went but the chances were good he wasn't in any mortal danger, quicksand rarely sucked you deep enough to kill, so she felt comfortable enough to accompany her words with a teasing smile.

Denahi

Cursed Thorns

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I Know What You’re Feeling Jul 25, 2020 19:57:17 GMT

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Post by Denahi on Jul 25, 2020 19:57:17 GMT

“Gerrgh—huh?” Denahi’s fearsome scowl, directed at the sand stubbornly gulping down his feet, dropped into startled slack. Beaded hair bobbed as the Inuit looked around for the source of the voice.

A girl.

The recognition that she was female, looked goose in age, and pretty, was dull in the hunter’s brain. It made only a small impression on the cycle of frustration seething under his gaunt surface. But it did make one.

Denahi hated losing face in front of anyone. Yet he pretty much always lost the most when girls were watching. In his home village, he’d never been able to connect with any. They all seemed to think of him as the tribe’s bonehead. Denahi remembered faintly how much he tried to shift that title into Kenai, especially after learning his totem was Wisdom. But his younger brother always had all the luck, and rarely got bit by grumpy dogs or tripped into the middle of a ladies’ braiding circle. Even after everything he’d been through, he still didn’t want to give the same impression to a new, feminine stranger.

Or get drowned in dirt.

So the Inuit’s voice came out more hoarse and harsh when he called out an answer. “What’s it look like to you?” What had she called him!? ‘Bear-slayer?’ If only. The nickname earned the girl a hard stare as he waited for an answer instead of anything like gratitude. Right now, he wanted out of this jungle, so there was no time to stop and really take in anything about her. Yet.

Sadira

Cursed Thorns

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I Know What You’re Feeling Jul 29, 2020 5:15:34 GMT

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Post by Sadira on Jul 29, 2020 5:15:34 GMT

    The hunter's sour reply caused the witch to roll her ocean eyes. This guy was no fun, clearly, but after finding the flower she'd come for Sadira was in far too good of a mood to let a big old grump ruin her fun. "What, no please? What were you, raised by wolves?" Not that Sadira could speak on anyone's upbringing considering she was raised by no one. Chances were good this guy knew more about manners and civility than she did if he had real parents - though he didn't seem to want to use them.

    "You're lucky I'm in a good mood." She told him, stepping closer to the offending puddle and kneeling down to get a quick feel for the sticky substance. In theory it should be no different than moving regular sand, something Sadira was getting quite good at - not that it was a super useful skill outside of the vast desserts of Agrabah. Neither Paris nor the Black Keep were brimming with free sand to use, and though she always carried some on her the limited quantity meant the possibility were limited as well.

    The thought occurred to her that she could simply pull him out, but there was a chance that the struggling would only sink him further down - and the further he sank the more painful it would be to pull him out. And though it was incredibly unlikely that she'd ever be so clumsy, if she accidentally fell in trying to get him out she was not going to be happy. Using her magic was simpler, cleaner. And for once it was something she knew how to do with absolute certainty - how often could she really say that?

    She stood up, fixing the strange man with a look. "Hold on... and don't move or you'll sink faster." She instructed before holding her hands out. She closed her eyes in concentration briefly, it didn't take long for the quicksand surrounding his feet to part like the red sea. She opened her eyes and smiled brightly. Even if bending sand to her will was one of the most simplistic tasks for the sand witch, she was always in awe whenever she did something magical right. Now, if the man had any brains he'd hop to safety as soon as possible before he started sinking again.

    "What are you doing all the way out here all by yourself, anyway?" She asked, as if she wasn't out here on her own just moments ago.

Last Edit: Jul 29, 2020 5:16:36 GMT by Sadira

Denahi

Cursed Thorns

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Female

13 POSTS & 1 LIKE

I Know What You’re Feeling Aug 1, 2020 14:21:22 GMT

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Post by Denahi on Aug 1, 2020 14:21:22 GMT

Denahi of a few months ago would’ve snapped back. There was almost something Kenai-ish in the sarcasm she used. But Denahi post-bear attack only stared sort of blankly. She was either going to help him or not. He didn’t feel like dealing with her attitude—not in addition to this sucking sand and joy jungle.

But then she actually moved closer...and instead of grabbing anything useful to pull him out, she acted like Tanana when the village elder sleepwalked. Denahi leaned forward, a half-formed idea that she was weirdly trying to grab his hands—but that made no sense. He was way to far from the bank, and she wasn’t even stretching. The Inuit felt his own movement allow another inch of fur pants to be swallowed.

“Uh—hey! Are you gonna—“” the middle child's bark was cut off as surely as if the hand of Sitka himself had reached down and snapped his brother’s jaw shut. Dark eyebrows swooped up in surprise. The sand was moving. His moccasins were free.

Denahi’s bead-laden hair slapped his face, he glanced from the girl to the supernatural freedom so quickly. There was no mistaking it, crazy as it looked. Somehow, she was doing this. Moving the earth.

When Denahi had stepped quickly to safety, he stood a foot or so from the young lady and eyed her warily. Curiosity was starting to work it’s way through the bad-tempered surprise. Dark eyes looked over this person with new interest.

He’d seen supernatural things since coming to the Thorns—apparently The Spirits weren’t the only ones able to make changes. But Denahi had sort of assumed that anyone else with strange power over nature would look like the fever-dream that was Maleficent. This girl...didn’t. Instead of horns and a face like the cruelest mountain peak, hers was round. Young. She had blue eyes, like looking into the bottom of a rock pool. No one back home had eyes like that. But in other ways, he was reminded of his people, a bit. She had dark skin and hair—and that hair! He could imagine Kenai making jokes—what, did you get dragged backward through a thicket? Then he was surprised to have that mental picture include the instinct to punch his younger brother.

If he were still alive.

His voice was less hostile when he stammered, “I-I was just—” What? What could he tell this girl, with the saucy mouth and the crazy powers? She’d helped him; he was pretty sure most of the comrades in the Cursed Thorns would have left him to figure out quicksand for himself. Or eaten him while he was stuck—most of them were untrustworthy by definition. They were animals. So the brunette shook his head, a little more hollow grit coming back to his gaze as he decided to ignore the question.

Maybe if he understood her better, his brain would make conversation happen more easily. “How...how did you do that? With the sand?”

Sadira

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I Know What You’re Feeling Aug 3, 2020 11:57:39 GMT

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Post by Sadira on Aug 3, 2020 11:57:39 GMT

    "You're welcome, by the way." The words weren't said with bitterness - maybe a little teasing, though. Sadira could tell her use of magic had caught him off guard, and honestly she found it a little bit adorable. Living among the Cursed Thorns she was used to walking on eggshells around most people. Sadira had never been good around people - she'd never really gotten the chance to socialize with anyone really - but the sorts of people in the army were...difficult to get a read on to say the least. They were all...dark and brooding and barely showed any emotion that wasn't rage. This guy might be rough, but at least there was something beneath the surface, someone she might like to talk to. His surprise was endearing.

    When he hopped out of the quicksand she took a chance to get a better look at him. He was a little bit taller than she was, and he wasn't from Agrabah, that much was obvious. Though he had the dark hair and complexion of her people, his strange manner of dress wasn't fit for the desert - or even the jungle, really. The heavy blue layers he wore looked thick and would have him dead of heat exhaustion in Agrabah within the day. At this close proximity his eyes reminded her of storm clouds - not in color, but intensity. He stuttered out an aborted attempt at an answer to her question, and though he ultimately dodged the inquiry she still found it kind of...cute. It was then that Sadira realized she'd never been this close to a guy in her age group that wasn't trying to arrest her in... well, ever. The thought was enough to cause the witch to avert her gaze.

    She shouldn't have been surprised at his question, it was a fair one, but it still caught her off guard a bit. Magic was kind of a common thing among the thorns. Surely he was somewhat familiar with it, right? "I'm a witch." She answered honestly - no sense beating around the bush - a confident grin on her face as she looked back up at him. "You do know about magic, right?" She asked honestly. Agrabah was such a magical place that Sadira had always had some basic awareness of it - most citizens of the desert city did. But since leaving Agrabah she'd become aware that not all places were like that - some even demonized magic. She supposed she'd find out where he stands soon. "I'm not very good at it, still learning." She admitted, some of her enthusiasm slipping away briefly.

    "Oh, but moving sand seems to be one of the few things I can get right without fail." The witch added quickly, not wanting him to think he'd been at risk of having his feet involuntarily amputated if she'd screwed up. As if to prove her point she summoned a small amount of the quicksand to hover above her palm. The sand was molded into a trio of little stars that she swirled around playfully. "See?" She asked, turning her attention from the shifting sand in her palm back to him.

    "That's kind of why I'm here, potions and spells need ingredients and this jungle just so happens to be a great place for collecting." She said, gesturing to the pouch at her hip full to the brim with flowers and herbs.

Last Edit: Aug 3, 2020 12:01:14 GMT by Sadira

Denahi

Cursed Thorns

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I Know What You’re Feeling Aug 13, 2020 14:49:10 GMT

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Post by Denahi on Aug 13, 2020 14:49:10 GMT

One of Denahi’s hands slowly found it’s way up to rub the back of his neck. His hair rustled behind a look of doubtful confusion as he tried to grasp what the pretty girl was saying. Magic.

He sort of knew about it.

Nobody in his home village really questioned where it came from. It was just understood that The Spirits had power to make great changes. Most of what he knew came from Tanana’s stories. Memories of how she described blue lights forming his wolf-totem from crude rock rattled in the young man’s head. His dark eyes reflected the movement of sand, and for just a moment, the grim, haunted look faded back. He leaned forward to get a better, if cautious, look, almost reaching out to touch the wiggling grains of dirt floating unnaturally.

Then he stopped himself and remembered to close his open mouth so he didn’t look like the bonehead Sitka was always telling him he was. The hunter straightened back up, pulling his mind out of curiosity to try and register what she’d said. “Potions and spells?” He echoed, glancing around at the jungle she indicated. He was kind of hoping something would look obviously different from the vines around him so he could try and puzzle out what those words meant—maybe then, he wouldn’t come across as an idiot.

But she’d said ‘ingredients.’ “What, like a recipe?” Mom used to make salmon-and-garlic stew. Then Sitka tried. Then Kenai tried, and Denahi was fairly certain he still had some scarring where his tastebuds used to be.

Sadira

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I Know What You’re Feeling Aug 21, 2020 18:46:16 GMT

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Post by Sadira on Aug 21, 2020 18:46:16 GMT

    Sadira smiled with fondness and a little bit of pride as the man reached out briefly, seemingly into her little display. She couldn't lie, it felt nice that her magic was impressive to somebody. Being among the Cursed Thorns, magically speaking, felt a lot like being a goldfish in a shark tank sometimes. Nothing she did could ever compare, and while that was excellent motivation to work harder, become better, it also sometimes took a toll on the self esteem. This guy was a good reminder that at least she could do something special. She closed her fist over over the grains of sand, stopping her little display before letting them crumble back to the jungle floor.

    Sadira grinned and nodded as he repeated her words, which bubbled into a giggle at his question. "Kinda, yeah." The witch nodded. She'd never thought of it like that before but she supposed potions were a lot like cooking with a recipe in a way. "But unlike cooking a recipe you wouldn't wanna eat a potion- unless you wanna turn into a toad or something." She laughed. "Then again, my cooking might do that even without magic." Sadira wasn't the best chef, the few brief forays she'd made into cooking food usually ended in disaster. Sometimes she could be a bit absent-minded with directions and cook times and it never ended well.

    "I'm Sadira, by the way." She said, taking the initiative and introducing herself. Then, "I'm assuming you have a name?" Prompting him to give his. The man had said little thus far, which was fine with Sadira, but there was a part of her that wanted to know more about him - starting with his name. If she had to prod a bit to get him to talk about himself, so be it.