|
Post by yun on Nov 21, 2008 19:18:13 GMT -5
Yun hummed mindfully finishing up tracing the patterns on his arm, not that they had cemented plans she felt she could finally let go of him.Carefully her hands left his and she stretched, leaning back first, almost bending herself in half, imagining he got a pretty good view with that she started to get to her feet leaning over the other way using her hands to push off of the ground. She wasn't beyond knowing what boys wanted to see, she lived with two older brothers, of course they always talked about when girls bent over, it was creepy but she'd finally found some way to use their genders stupidity to her advantage.
Today she was wearing her usual clothes, a beaded belt in addition, she tossed it on figuring she wasn't going anywhere but it wouldn't get hurt too bad. Aside from henna her arms were bare, she was too lazy to put on her arm wrappings, the same could be said about her legs. Here and there a freckle could be found, the majority of them lightly splattered her face but they were never as scarring as she imagined them to be. The long section of her hair was tied up but not braided as she usually kept it making a pony tail trailing down her back from the mass of cropped hair on her head.
" Then lets go" Yun said smiling a bit with one hand on her hip. It would be just the two of them she imagined, it would be great, no one else around, they could climb the tree and she could make her move. He was so dumb, playing right into her hands and she didn't have to try.
|
|
|
Post by hok on Nov 22, 2008 15:16:22 GMT -5
Hok was still blushing well after Yun gave him some sort of sneak preview, showing plenty of things a typical teenage boy's mind would probably want to see; and of course, he never took his eyes off the girl for more than a brief flitter of his pupils in some odd and feeble attempt to make her think he wasn't quite watching so closely as she might have believed.
Thankfully, the fact that she wanted to do something other then aerobic stretches in skin-tight, soaking wet clothes was a great relief - otherwise he would have to excuse himself and probably go dunk in a freezing cold pool of water.
Hok nodded a bit when she agreed with his suggestion, after which he removed himself from the seat and walked a few steps away. Now sporting those cool designs on his skin, he was more than ready to go climb the titanic tree in the middle of the swamp, as the feet that quickly removed him from Yun's backyard would so clearly prove. "Alright, let's go then."
|
|
|
Post by yun on Nov 22, 2008 15:47:49 GMT -5
Yun followed along beside him rather smoothly, she was quick and had a long gate that could keep up with Hok even if his legs were a bit longer than her's. She wasn't too nervous but as soon as they left the invisible line separating the town from the swamp Yun half expected one of her brothers to hop out from behind a tree and scold her but she did well enough to keep that worry to herself.
Instead she focused on putting a little swing into her hips as she walked with a bit more bounce to her step, it seemed to work well enough for other girls and they were ugly. At least they would be compared to Yun, she did think highly of herself. In reality Yun was average, tom boyish and crass. Her best features would be her skin, tanner than most and her athletic build. It cut down on her curves but with a more trim body who would complain?
They were far beyond the village proper and Yun was nervous but there was no reason to scream at every rustle in the trees, instead she stood on her toes and walked across a log over a river in the swamp. Hopefully they trip to the tree would be eventless and they could climb without her getting caught or in trouble. With a smirk she glanced back at Hok stepping down onto the muddy bank on the opposite side of the river. " Bet Ah can beat'cha thar!"
|
|
|
Post by hok on Nov 26, 2008 2:31:38 GMT -5
Their walk outside the village and into the actual deep, dark depths of the glorious Foggy Swamp went easily, even if the familiar sights of vibrant green foliage and an eternally-stretched background that faded into gray behind the treeline had another item added to the scenic mix. Namely, that of Yun, who his eyes kept drifting to and quickly pulling back. There was some quality about her that day that seemed...well, more palatable. There was still plenty about the girl to avoid, but he seemed to noticed something further than what was visible. Aside from the fact that she was still Yun and that mental block kept him at a distance, it was kind of an attractive nature she possessed that day. She was still Yun, though - mark his words. Even one so hopeful as Hok knew people didn't change overnight.
Hopping across the small creek shortly after Yun, since they seemed to pass and fall behind each other slowly and randomly at any given time (and Hok happened to be behind her at that time, and trying not to fixate his teenage eyes at any part of Yun's anatomy he could see), Hok halted for the briefest second right after Yun offered her challenge. Taken aback slightly, he bolted off straight after her, hoping his long legs could catch him up with her. Never once did he take for granted her good mood at that time. "Oh, no yew can't!"
|
|
|
Post by yun on Nov 27, 2008 1:08:02 GMT -5
What could she say? She was a rebel with a definite competitive streak, there was no way she'd loose this race even if she had to resort to some underhanded tricks, but in the spirit of her attempted conquest today she'd do in in a different manner than usual. A smirk played it's self on Yun's face as she raced off into the forest on the path she knew would lead her to the spirit tree. She was fast but she was still a girl and physically weaker than men by most accounts, the bit of a lead she had offered her some room to play with but she was the one who was forging the path. It some what occurred to her that letting him win may have it's own advantages but it would be a trade off should he take his victory too far and actually think he was the one who had beaten her.
Deciding against it Yun kept running, her legs pumping along with her arms as she mostly used them to knock branched from her face and push off of trees that were all too common in the swamp. She leaped over small puddles and over logs starting to laugh lightheartedly with the exertion of energy. There was also a high she had from disobeying her parents and not being caught, she was over zealous and like most children she didn't think that she would be punished ever. It was the exuberance of youth and naivete, she was untouchable, the bane of her parents lives.
|
|
|
Post by hok on Nov 28, 2008 20:37:25 GMT -5
Hok could tell Yun was doing her best even to win such a universally unimportant footrace such as this, where there was no clear-cut reward whatsoever, rather than bragging rights. As his steady running pace made his heart pump and lungs strain, he had to wonder wistfully if all Yun's lifetime goals were that way; if she aimed to one day be able to lord something over everyone she knew. It almost made Hok laugh, unable to picture himself doing anything of the sort, but he had to admit it was sort of a funny premise. To win would be nice, but not the most important thing he could think of.
Even though the two shared about the same muscle mass in comparison, Hok wasn't quite as able as he thought to keep up with each pump of Yun's apparently powerful legs and each absured laugh from her mouth. Yun seemed to be enjoying herself, but Hok was starting to lag severely. He felt no need for drastic measures, though; neither cheating nor taking a shortcut, and especially nothing to bring harm to Yun just so he could win this short run. He still kept Yun within his sights, since her place ahead of him was clearing his way toward the massive tree...he hoped. If Yun didn't know where she was running, they were both screwed. He was following her the entire time, really.
Suddenly and out of nowhere, a mid-air snag and stop made him feel like things suddenly fell to a much slower motion. Like everything was playing at a fraction of its normal speed, even though his movements shared the same slowness. In the blink of an eye did he realize his carefree leap had caught his foot on the outcropping of a fallen log, causing him to fall face-first. Even more disconcerting was the exact nature of his fall, where he tried to correct himself and wound up tumbling like a ball. A slight moment of dazed confusion, closing his eyes to reorient himself, allowed Hok to stagger to his feet again and keep chasing Yun. "Cheater!" he yelled, clearly joking about his mishap. Whether or not he'd feel the pain of his sharp spill was yet to be found out, but his mind was certainly rushing with excitement after that.
|
|
|
Post by yun on Nov 28, 2008 21:41:49 GMT -5
She giggled wickedly when he yelled at her, honestly she wasn't even cheating! He made it too easy. " Yer klutzy legs aren't mah fault!" She shouted back to him as she pushed herself over some high dense roots and finally came to the spirit tree pressing her palms to it before leaning back against it breathing heavily. A rather large body of water reflected on the other side, even for the swamp the water wasn't that dirty, she would have started climbing but her breath was gone and she needed a few moments before she could start the accent, she also had to wait for Hok to catch up
Her legs felt a little wobbly and her head was light, her muscles had a familure burn to them she reveled in, honestly she loved running, working, excersizing, practicing her bending. It made her feel at home, she was athletic and that was the reason she was as thin as she was, most girls in the swamp sat around and didn't do much, they'd tend their siblings or help their mothers and while it gave them plump figures most liked Yun was more than contented with her own subtle curved and baby fat with sinuous muscle hidden underneath it. She stretched herself backwards pressing her hands to the bark for support before she stood back up her eyes searching the line of foliage for Hok.
As much as she may have wanted to she wouldn't rub in her victory, the grin on her face said it all, so when he finally came barreling into the area Yun was ready for him. She strode over to him starting to get her breath back and turned on her heels to look up at the massive tree, the biggest in the swamp and the one that supported all the others, it was kind of impressive in it's own way. The waterbenders of the foggy swamp revered it and it's spiritual properties, as a hopeful shamen she did respect it, the massive tree possibly was around since the world began. She would behave herself and do what she could to honor it. " So her' we are." Yun said with her hands behind her back looking at Hok with a slightly smug grin. " The veiw from the top's gunna be amazing."
|
|
|
Post by hok on Dec 1, 2008 15:04:10 GMT -5
Having built up a considerable momentum, Hok wasn't about to stumble and fall again after his little spill had ended. His legs would surely be shaky and weakened by the time he stopped, but for the moment it didn't matter. Hok was wheeling through the forest as fast as he needed, and even though he'd long since fallen behind Yun, he could still see every move she made from behind and trace her final destination from where he stood. Never once did he catch up to her, even when they came to the trunk of the impressively gigantic tree, whose arms spread out wide and far in a canopy over the body of the swamp. As he slowed to a halt, digging his heels in the mud, Hok took a moment to catch his breath before looking up at the tree.
Everywhere around the two, light shone through cracks in high branches, shooting out every aperture it could find and flooding the ground below so faintly. The sheer size of the outspread roots around them, from a closer glance, dwarfed them like ants. When all his senses were in play, it was absolutely astonishing.
"Ah think it's amazin' already," Hok said, looking up at the highest reaches of the tree in fascination. Slowly, he stepped in an aimless pattern.
|
|
|
Post by yun on Dec 10, 2008 18:12:16 GMT -5
Yun followed Hok's gaze to the tree and then looked up at the filtered light the leaves cast over the area, it even seemed to have a spiritual glow to it. She had to admit that the tree was worthy of her reverence where some people she knew weren't, honestly would this adventure take a back seat to her plans for Hok or would they slide away so she could enjoy this adventure. She didn't know but the prospect of seeing the top of the tree was alluring, surely they'd be able to see the whole swamp from up there. Hok seemed as mystified as she was if not more so. He seemed to wobble at the dizzying height the tree offered but she took a couple steps forward with a wide smile. She wasn't going to show any fear or back down. She said she could climb the tree and surely she could.
Walking up to a lower root she pulled herself up onto it with her arms taking the blunt of her weight. Soon she was crouched on top of the wooden arch and began to carefully step up onto larger ones with her arms out as her side to help her balance. Now this wasn't too hard, hopefully most of the journey up would be relatively smooth.
Once she reached the base of the trunk and started to climb up some vines she turned her head and looked down at Hok, dazed as ever. " C'mon!" She called out happily, something about the tree was inviting and she wasn't resisting.
|
|
|
Post by hok on Dec 12, 2008 15:24:36 GMT -5
Did Hok really want to climb that tree, now that he thought about it? It was so tall that it looked like the branches would scratch the sky each time they moved in the wind! It wasn't like he had much choice after Yun scurried up its trunk, though there was always the alternative where he ran away, spending the day enjoying himself alone in the swamp, then suffer the consequences a good deal after the deed was done. That would be an unpleasant end to the day, but at least the rest would be enjoyable.
Meh, no reason to dawdle, Hok thought. May as well, like always, go along with the flow. As such, he followed Yun quickly up the tree, pulling himself up that first vine and going from there. It was a good thing he wasn't afraid of heights, but he sure as heck wasn't going to try and out-climb Yun - there was more danger that way, even if he thought most precautions were stupid. "Phooey on yew! Yuh gotta head start!"
|
|
|
Post by yun on Dec 12, 2008 22:23:50 GMT -5
" We ain't racing." She tossed back with a bit of a c*cky smirk, honestly she'd already won one race for the afternoon, it'd be enough until she found something equally as challenging. For now she imagined that falling from even a small height would be bad, and if they were to rush and hurry up the tree it was likely one of them would slip and then they'd have a repeat of the previous night. Yun was limber and had some muscle to her thin body, she wasn't the least bit worried about tiring though she wondered if Hok would be the same.
At this point she had just pulled herself up onto a curved ligament of wood that casually looped around the tree and upward for a bit. She waited there for Hok and looked past him to the ground, rather pleased with the progress they'd made but looking up she realized they didn't even make it a quarter of the way, it was a bit depressing. When Hok made it near her she offered a hand to help him up. " Dew'n okay so fa'r?"
|
|
|
Post by hok on Dec 13, 2008 17:54:42 GMT -5
"Sure had me fooled," Hok said as soon as Yun's arrogant smile came into view, as if to deliberately throw the girl's claim back in her face. Yes, he was taunting her, like he had never learned from day one not to do so. However, she wasn't the most concerned over such things, since her mind was apparently on her journey up the massive tree. Hok had yet to tire out, even if adrenaline kicking it at a later time would fuel the rest his trek up the swampy feature. Yun was still too far ahead for him to catch up, though.
There came a point where he no longer stayed surprised at anything Yun did. It was like their adventures brought out the best in the young swamp girl, but Hok wouldn't find any reason to nitpick and complain. When he grabbed her hand and nodded when she offered her help, he hoisted himself up while at the same time trying not to pull her back. In a heartbeat, his eye caught sight of the actual distance between them and the ground. Were they really that far up already? Good thing he didn't care - it was actually kind of exciting!
"Yeah," he said rather breathily, again looking down to the earth and staring even longer. Tops of trees were distanced the higher the pair got - a strange thought his mind had to register. His entire life he'd only seen the undersides of the trees, their branches shielding them from most sunlight, but now things were different. "We're real high up, aren't we?" Hok said curiously, not at all scared as he took another step higher up the tree.
|
|
|
Post by yun on Dec 14, 2008 10:14:38 GMT -5
Hok took her hand and she helped him up, leaning her weight back as he came up so she didn't tumble over the edge and down a good who knows how many feet. That wouldn't be any fun for anyone involved. Maybe Hok for a minute or two but he didn't seem like the type to ignore someone even if it was for his own good. She kinda liked that about him. Even though he'd been bit for many times he leaves his fleshy ankle out there r the viper to get again. Hopefully she didn't wind up poisoning him.
She took a moment longer to soak in the surrounding, it truely was beautiful, even if they didn't make it to the top they might be able to make it to the top of the tree line and still see the swamp. That'd be enough for her and Hok seemed to approve of their progress. " Yeah..." Yun smiled a bit rather proud of herself for thinking this up, climbing the big tree was turning into the highlight of her week. She brushed down her top and skirt absentmindedly removing any folds or foliage on the fabric that wasn't supposed to be there but when she turned around Hok was already walking off. Boys, she huffed, always ahead of themselves.
With in a couple strides she was next to Hok and shoved his shoulder lightly not wanting to risk anyone falling from this height. " Jest cuz we ain't race'n doesn't mean ya can git ahead'a me." Still she made no move to pass him really, just casually strolling at his side. Up here it was peaceful, was it the tree or the lack of another living soul, who knew.
|
|
|
Post by hok on Dec 15, 2008 18:52:00 GMT -5
"But we ain't racin'," Hok said after regaining balance, wobbling back to balance after his arms flailed a bit. He was definitely taunting the girl, repeating exactly what she said minutes earlier, but it only made sense. As long as she was in the lead, of course she wouldn't complain about Hok being back in second place, but now the tables were so whimsically turned. Yun was jealous, no doubt about it, and Hok wouldn't let that one go. He smirked playfully to the girl, taunting and jeering in dead silence.
However, it seemed not to be a terrible care of hers. She didn't try to pass him right away, or at any time in the next minute or so. Hok wasn't exactly on edge, but kept a sort of expectancy afoot. She could jet ahead at any second, but it wasn't a problem. It was just a race, even though his knee-jerk reaction would, of course, be to run and catch up. That wasn't about to happen, though. It was just a leisurely pace until his taunt rose differing feelings in the other young one.
Calm and peaceful until; "Yer just jealous yer left in mah tracks." Picking up speed, Hok steadily increased his speed in ascending the tree. The race was not over, contrary to popular belief.
|
|
|
Post by yun on Dec 15, 2008 19:04:18 GMT -5
" So?" Yun added casually to his remark. She just didn't like people in front of her, she didn't mind it when they were beside her, that was just who she was. Even if she wasn't sweet on Hok which she tried to ignore, she'd push him and keep up her competitive nature. It wasn't in his character to pose any sort of threat to her and her chances of winning so why wouldn't she take advantage of his easy going nature. She was content to amble alongside him till they reached the top but in an instance of surprise he started to move ahead of her.
The confusion in her foggy green eyes was gone in a koi frogs second and she was taking a wider stride to catch up to him, breaking into a jog in relation to Hok's speed. She was a little shocked. It was Hok! He didn't race, when he did it was cause she'd whallop him if he didn't but here he was stepping up to the plate. She had to admit.. she was a little impressed. A smile spread across her face as she kept up with his gait trying to overtake him into the lead.
" Jealous ov yew?!" She called out in an almost haughty laugh as she got into the spirit of the chase. Honestly she liked a little bit of an competitive edge, she was used to it with her brothers and it was refreshing to add a bit of spice to the journey up the tree.
|
|