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Post by gijoespouse on May 29, 2007 13:01:35 GMT -5
The loud sound of wood crunching, the banging sound of a wagon bed hitting solid ground and the startled cries of a wagon driver brought the Flame Dancers gypsy caravan to a halt. The lead wagon had hit a sudden dip in the road, and the weight of it had cause the wheel to break. An elderly earthbender in the group used his abilities to raise the wagon up, while other gypsies came out and calmed down the ostrich-horses.
Auina Kym had been in the back of her family's wagon when the accident occurred. Once it came to a stop, she piled out to see things for herself.
This isn't good. We don't have anymore spares with us.
Juning's voice rang out above the others. "We're not that far from Zhy. We'll just send one of the other wagons ahead to fetch another wheel."
The "queen" of the Flame Dancers glanced about, as if looking for someone. "Ah! Where's Ritika? We can send her ahead with her wagon."
Auina spoke up, "I'll find her Juning."
Juning leveled a finger at the mahoganey haired woman. "Make it quick!"
"Yes, ma'am."
With that, she headed toward Ritika's wagon.
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Post by sahara on May 31, 2007 18:25:38 GMT -5
The sun shone brightly through the trees of the Spine, casting warmth on everything it could reach. The cool Autumn air played around the Gypsies, bringing smells of drying leaves and fresh air. The sun felt good upon her skin, warming her to the very tips of her fingers. The light of day was all around her, and the birds sung their songs as if they had not a single care in the world. And they didn’t. Not at the moment, at least. Their melodies intertwined seamlessly with each other, the music of their souls. The joy of the feathered creatures could be heard with each note to one who was listening, and knew what to listen for.
Sahara had been diligently working on her next performance…or sleeping. Her eyes were closed, her body curled, lying in the caravan just behind Aunia’s. Her hair fell down to rest upon her shoulders; it’s ebony color lighter in the rays of sunshine, as the caravan’s top was undone. With a sudden jolt, she woke up. It seemed as though the caravan had stopped suddenly, and rubbing her eyes, she got up. Quick to leap off the caravan, she found Aunia close by.
Hey shiny golden coins, ties on to her belly dancing uniform, jingled as she ran to the other Flame Dancer. To an outsider, it may seem like she only had one set of clothes, but she had multiple copies of her single belly dancing uniform, her clothing of choice. Finally caching up to Aunia, she spoke, “What happened? Why did we suddenly stop?”
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Post by zahira on May 31, 2007 21:23:08 GMT -5
Zahira bounced out of her own wagon, her mother Kali not far behind. She saw Auina and Sahara running up the caravan, which had suddenly stopped. The sun was warm on her dark head, and her gold eyes searched up the caravan until she spotted the trouble: a broken wagon wheel.
Damn.
"Where are you two running off to?" she called to the other girls, curious. Finding a spare? Going for help? They were probably going to be late for Zhy, which was too bad, or so thought Zahira. Kali lifted her chin, also looking for the trouble ahead. The retired belly-dancer, though still pretty in Zahira's eternal opinion, sighed exasperatedly.
"Zahira, go on and help," she ordered, greying head dipping in a slight bow to the on-coming girls. "I will finish sewing your pants."
Zahira blushed lightly at the mention of her ripped pants -- more so at the memory of them ripping than anything -- but stood waiting for the other girls.
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Post by gijoespouse on May 31, 2007 22:22:40 GMT -5
“What happened? Why did we suddenly stop?” a voice called from behind her, accompanied by the sound of jingling coins.
The mahogany haired acrobat turned and saw it was Sahara, a belly dancer among the Flame Dancers.
"It looks like we broke a wheel on the lead wagon. It'll need replacing."
"Where are you two running off to?" another voice called out.
Auina recognized the voice to be Zahira, a retired-belly dancer. Once she and Sahara caught up to the woman, she spoke.
"The lead wagon broke a wheel. Juning needs Ritika to take her wagon in to go get a spare. I was just going to go get her." The acrobat put a hand on her hip and shook her head. "It's too bad we had to use the last one so soon after the twins left with Xia and Kura. Now we'll have to head into Zhy ahead of the caravan."
Thinking of the twins...well...Li Wu in specific brought on a bit of heartache. She really missed him, even if he was a hopeless womanizer.
He and Bai Wu will be coming back though, she thought to herself.
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Post by sahara on Jun 3, 2007 17:34:55 GMT -5
As Sahara caught up with Aunia, Zahira, another belly dancer, caught up with them both. The other woman had a different style of belly dancing, but Sahara still regarded her as a role model. When Aunia told them the problem, Sahara couldn’t help but smile on the inside, though she put on a very serious facial expression. She didn’t mind being late for Zhy, and this, to her, was another adventure.
“But,” Sahara inquired, “Isn’t it a long walk to Zhy without Carvan support? Won’t it be better if we walk into a nearby village, even if we run the risk they don’t have wheels? It’s beautiful out here anyways…”
Sahara loved this kind of weather, the cool air brushing up onto her stomach, and the sun shining, glowing her face. In a word, Sahara could be described as an explorer, she loved going into new towns, be them small or large, (and often head to the bar, where she would get so drunk she wouldn’t remember the experience the next day…).
“Well?”
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Post by gijoespouse on Jun 3, 2007 19:01:09 GMT -5
“But, isn’t it a long walk to Zhy without Carvan support? Won’t it be better if we walk into a nearby village, even if we run the risk they don’t have wheels? It’s beautiful out here anyways. Well?”
Auina shrugged and flipped a thick braid of her over her shoulder.
"Juning wants Ritika to take her wagon ahead to Zhy to see if they have any replacements," she repeated. "Besides, I don't think anybody wants to carry or roll a new wheel all the way back to the caravan."
Up ahead, Auina looked behind her and saw the self-proclaimed queen of the Flame Dancers looking none to happy that she was having to wait. The acrobat smiled sheepishly at her two companions.
"I better hurry up and do what she said. Do you guys want to come with?"
The barefoot Earthbender knew it was highly likely the two would take her up on the offer. Neither of them seemed to like to miss an opportunity to explore. Sure, traveling to the outskirts of the Caravan wasn't too much of an adventure, but it sure beat hanging out inside a wagon waiting around and doing much of nothing.
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Post by zahira on Jun 5, 2007 19:25:49 GMT -5
“Isn’t it a long walk to Zhy without Carvan support? Won’t it be better if we walk into a nearby village, even if we run the risk they don’t have wheels? It’s beautiful out here anyways…”
"I thought Zhy was the only village around here anyways," Zahira murmured to herself. Of course, she was known to be quiet mistaken most of the time. Stretching her back, she listened as Auina went on.
"I better hurry up and do what she said. Do you guys want to come with?"
"Sure!" Zahira chimed in. She was eager to get out and about. "I know where Ritika is, hold on!" The belly-dancer dashed away from the two girls swiftly, running barefoot along the halted caravant to find her best friend's wagon. She spotted it a mile away; made of wood and led by an ostrich-horse, just like the others, and painted with Ritika's favorite colors.
Running a hand through her tangled, inky-black hair, Zahira knocked on the wooden door. "Ritika! Ritika!" she called to her dearest friend.
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Post by ritika on Jun 5, 2007 19:47:47 GMT -5
Ritika swayed happily to the gentle bumping of the wagon along the road. She eased on of the partitions open and allowed some fresh air to escape into her wagon. Her ostritch horse dropped his paces until at last, he came to a halt. Ritika peered curiously at the trail of unmoving wagons. What was going on?
A soft murmur of voices swept through the trail and Ritika caught bits of the conversation, something about a wheel. As if to answer her questions, a rapid knocking shook her wagon followed by someone calling her name. "In a moment!" Ritika called out. She leapt past a pile of linen onto the floor and flung the door open with a flourish.
"Zahira!" Zahira stood sheepishly before her, panting slightly and Ritika beamed. "What happened? Someone said something about a wheel.. is everything okey in the front?" It was rather frustrating, the lack of contact she had, being at the end of the trail.
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Post by sahara on Jun 7, 2007 21:01:37 GMT -5
A mischievous smile bloomed as Aunia asked if Sahara and Zahira would like to go with her. What Aunia had said made sense to her, of course, being the youngest of the three girls here, she often made insensible decisions. “Of course!” Sahara said, “You need not have even asked!” Sahara could only watch as Zahira quickly made off to go find Ritika. Sahara sat down in a small patch of grass, and then lay down, waiting for Zahira to come back with Ritika. Something about the weather made her feel calm, relaxed, and…lazy. It was a hot day, and her hand drifted to the small lily tattoo on her back.
She suddenly realized why she had felt so relaxed, such a day felt exactly like in the village she was born in. Of course, she was brought up in a desert terrain, but this feeling was closer to the desert than any other she had felt, (excluding when she was in the desert, of course…) Getting up after a few moments, Sahara’s mind shifted to the men she might find in Zhy. Of course, last time she had bed a man, she found a couple gold coins missing from her outfit…
Becoming aware once more, Sahara smiled towards Aunia. “I hope we find the wheel quickly, I feel in the mood for a drink or two…” she said playfully. Indeed, it had been a long time since she had entered a bar. “I hope Zahira finds Ritika soon…”
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Post by gijoespouse on Jun 7, 2007 21:39:37 GMT -5
"Sure!"
“Of course! You need not have even asked!”
Guess it was rather stupid to ask, considering these two, she thought to herself.
"I know where Ritika is, hold on!"
"Okay!"
Auina watched as Zahira ran off down the trail, to what appeared to be the end of the caravan. Hopefully the belly dancer would be quick, so Juning didn't have to wait any longer. She heard Sahara speak.
“I hope we find the wheel quickly, I feel in the mood for a drink or two. I hope Zahira finds Ritika soon…”
The acrobat frowned. "You shouldn't be worrying about getting drunk. Besides, Juning didn't mention anything about the rest of us going into town with Ritika. For all we know, she could be sending one of the men ahead with her...."
Her tone of voice came across much more nagging than she had meant it to. She was worried about Sahara getting into trouble if she were to get too drunk. Not only that, but such unsavory men in those bars tended to flock to the young woman. Men who were inebriated had little in the way of good judgement, especially when alcohol is mixed with a beautiful woman.
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Post by zahira on Jul 1, 2007 21:27:21 GMT -5
"What happened? Someone said something about a wheel.. is everything okey in the front?" her friend the contortionist.
"Yeah, a wheel in the front broke off a wagon. Juning wants a bunch of us girls to go into Zhy and grab a new wheel... then bring it back to the caravan. Auina and Sahara have been waiting for us, c'mon!"
She shook her inky black hair and sprinted off again, stopping with a bounce just before Aunia and Sahara.
"sending one of the men ahead with her...." she heard Auina saying.
"What was that?" the belly-dancer spoke up. Was there something wrong? Shame, it would be, since it was such a nice day for a jaunt into town by themselves. The sun was warm on their backs, and a light, cool breeze picked up, ruffing her goldenrod tunic, patched and frayed as it was.
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Post by gijoespouse on Jul 6, 2007 13:48:00 GMT -5
"What was that?" a voice asked.
Auina turned to see Zahira, who hopefully was coming back from Ritika's wagon. The acrobat tossed back a mahogany braid as she replied back.
"I was explaining to Sahara that Juning may not want us to be the ones going with Ritika. Even if she does want us to go, I'm sure there wouldn't be anytime for a stop at a bar..."
The last comment was aimed specifically at the younger belly dancer. Again, her tone came across a bit too much like nagging, but she wouldn't take it back. She just didn't want to see one of her friends...her family...get into a bad situation. If that meant she had to nag them to death, so be it.
"C'mon, let's go get Juning...."
Auina led the way back to the "queen" of the Flame Dancers. The wagon that had wrecked was now minus one broken wheel and two of the stronger men had a hold of it. The old woman noted the girls' approach and addressed them.
"Auina, why don't you, Zahira, and Sahara go with Ritika to get this thing replaced?" Juning asked, though it was more of an order than a question. Her reasoning was that between the four girls, one of them would be able to use their...uh...feminine whiles...to talk the carpenter in Zhy down from his price. She was fairly sure that Auina, the more prudent of the group, would be able to keep the other three reigned it.
Auina was a bit surprised, but didn't question the older woman.
"Sure Juning. No problem," the acrobat replied.
Juning scrutinized the group, then leveled her pan at Ritika. "Go to Zhy...go directly to Zhy. Do not go on any side tracks!"
She leveled it next at Sahara. "No partying. No drinking. You are to see the carpenter and that's it!"
She then brought it up to Auina. "Act responsibly and keep them in line."
Finally, it was leveled at Zahira. "You help her keep them in line..."
Juning stood there...pan aimed dangerously...then lowered it, withdrawing a pouch of money. She tossed it to Auina, who caught it deftly, then meandered on to bark out more orders. Auina stood there a moment...then turned to the others.
"Okay...we should get going I guess..."
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Post by ritika on Jul 17, 2007 15:34:52 GMT -5
Ritika steadied her caravan at Juning's feet and listened as the woman dictated her orders with a stern but motherly tone. She nodded obediently and observed cautiously when Juning turned to Sahara. Not even the matriarch could civilize Sahara.
'..No partying... No drinking...'
Ritika snorted in a most un-ritikaish way despite herself. The only thing that would stop Sahara from partying was if there was no one to party with. Frankly that wasn't very possible, she concluded. The contortionist watched wide eye as Auina caught the sack of coins and she stared uncertainly at it. Certainly, a broken wheel wouldn't cost that much to fix.
Was Juning testing their self control? She really wouldn't have minded a quick drink. Ritika eyed Juning and with a sigh, turned to her friends, patted the beak of her ostrich horse confidently and flung the door of her caravan open.
"If we're gonna go, we might as well move now."
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Post by sahara on Jul 17, 2007 17:59:56 GMT -5
Sahara glared at Aunia at a “you’re no fun” kinda way as Aunia told Juning that Sahara had wanted to stop by a bar. Aunia was always so responsible; it almost made Sahara feel like she had a mother with her at all times. Yet, she couldn’t deny that she had grown to live the other flame dancers; they were all a big family. Sahara could only watch as the flame dancer’s queen brought out her pan, and raised it to each one of them.
It was soon Sahara’s turn, and Juning spoke, “No partying. No drinking. You are to see the carpenter and that's it!" Sahara breathed a sigh of annoyance as she heard Ritika snort. The youngest of this small Flame Dancer group looked at the other, and could tell she thought Sahara wouldn’t be able to keep her self-control.
Well, Sahara couldn’t blame her. She wasn’t quite sure she had the ability either. Juning sure had given Ritika a lot of money, perhaps the flame dancers could go get the wheel fixed quickly, and with spare time (and hopefully some spare money), go find a small pub and get a few cheap drinks…or maybe not…. After Juning had finished her round of speech, Sahara turned to look at the faces of Aunia and Zahira, both of who were to keep Ritika and herself in line.
Ritika, who rushed them into the caravan, interrupted her thoughts. In all honesty, Sahara wanted to rush as well, the quicker they left, the quicker they could get the wheel fixed…and perhaps have a few minutes to enjoy themselves.
Sahara nodded to Ritika and stepped inside the caravan. She found the inside very roomy, and sat in the bat, stretched her legs out, and waited for the other two flame dancers to enter.
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Post by pamuy on Jul 23, 2007 12:48:32 GMT -5
Clickety-clack, clickety-clack, clickety-clack, clickety-clack...
Pamuy's wooden geta made such an inconspicuous noise as she approached Juning from behind, the shaft of Pamuy's open parasol laying on her shoulder, shielding her milky brown skin from the sun. She had heard the whole conversation, or at least enough to understand its meaning. Eavesdropping was a common bad habit Pamuy had, but she wasn't likely to stop. One finds out the best gossip that way.
The girls were to go to Zhy, pick up a wagon wheel, and come back immediately. A fat chance that was. And Zahira was asked to help Auina keep them in line? Auina the earthbender, she could understand. Auina was a dear friend of Pamuy, and just as responsible, though perhaps not as level-headed and prudent. But that raucous belly-dancer was far from responsible enough to keep Sahara and Ritika in line. Poor Auina would be swamped with trying to keep the other three women in line. She would need help, and Pamuy was more than willing to follow.
While a few feet behind Juning, she kept walking while speaking up, sandals clacking. "Juning, might I go along with them? I have a feeling Auina and Zahira might need another hand." Her tone was innocent, using a choice of words she felt was neutral and inoffensive.
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