Just a little Talk

It's another lovely winter day today, and the light of the sun has drawn more than a few people out of their homes. Zeke is one such, sitting on one of the benches in the temple square thoughtfully. There is a basket at his side, but he seems to take no notice of it at the moment. He's enjoying the sun even if it is cold. That, if his cloak being drawn about him, is what his cloak is for.

Sunshine on scales may not be the best one can do for warmth in these lands, in this season, but it still feels nice. More are active and out with the nice(er) weather, and Tlanexhuani is no exception. Though the bluescale might well be tromping across the temple square, if need be. Speaking of bluescales, one spies the other, and moves towards the bench. There is not loud hail in announcement, though his rustle-step-tap of splinting, feet, and walking spear are far from inconspicuous. It's not until he is more conversationally-near the Sunguard that he speaks up. "Peace on your nest, Shaman. The Dragonfather continues to shine brightly on us this day."

Zeke looks up at the subtle sounds approaching his location and seems surprised to see Tlan. He bows his head politely to the other blue-scale. "Peasce on your nessst Tlanexhuani. The Dragonfather hass ssseen fit to blesss usss with hissss light thesse lassst few daysss, and thisss one isss glad of it. Will you join thisss one?" He motions to the bench.

"Ssa." It is first an affirmative of sunlight and gladness for it. "Ssa." The second is for Zeke's offer before Tlanexhuani shifts himself some to ease onto the bench. Not immediately next to the shaman, but not as far away as he could possibly settle. "You would share words with this one?"

"You mentioned the other day that you wissshed to ssshare wordsss with thisss one." Zeke replies easily enough, lookin out across the temple square. "Thisss one underssstandsss that it isss likely that you have many quesstionsss."

Tlanexhuani's tail flicks slowly behind him. "Ssa. This one knew N... nest-mother. Knew you as egg. Now this one sees both, after many seasons. This one does not know the between. This one does not know you, the Shaman. Only you, the egg." A pause in thought and more tail-flicks. "From words shared, this one not know your nest-mother, now."

"That isss a long sstory, of many yearsss." Zeke explains in short, trying to find the words that he is uncertain of. "More yearsss than you might expect. Thisss one isss older than nessst-mother now, by the work of ssstrange and powerful magicsss. It would be easssier if thisss one knew what you wanted to know."

Word of age causes a slow blink of surprise, though it passes quickly enough. 'Strange and powerful magics' is a valid explanation for a great many things. The maybe-not-quite-so-old bluescale looses a light hiss of mirth. "Shaman may make this one feel young again."

As that fades, he searches for his own words. "This one would know ...many things. With so many yearss, see kin is not know kin. This one would know of Zeke, from your words, not nest-mothers'. Shaman of Dragonfather!" His chest swells with that, but it is brief. "Finder of kin by choice, when not know of kin by the blood. If would share. Is also many words, long story. Will take time..."

One set of gestures gestures vaguely in the air. "This one would know of nest-mother. She ... iss not as this one remembers in ways. Will seek her words, also."

For a moment Zeke's tail swishes in amusement, but he truly does not know where to begin any sort of story of his. Mention of 'finding kin by choice' draws his head up and he looks at Tlan. "You know of Ssseldan?" He sounds surprised and he scratches his head near a horn for a moment. "Thisss one can not sssay how he became kin. Thisss one knowsss it isss unussssual to have ssoft-skin kin. Othersss think thisss one ssstrange for it, but Ssseldan hass proven him-ssself to be more than merely a 'friend' to thisss one. He isss alwaysss there to sshare wordsss. Alwayss there in timesss of need. Thisss one iss there for him asss well."

He falls silent and looks at the ground suddenly. "Ssshe will not likely tell you the truth of her."

Tlanexhuani is spurred by the returned -shared- amusement and his tail sways more easily. "You shared words before of taking kin. Few words, but enough. That kin is the best of the softsins. This one not know many softskins, but those known are good. Your kin is worthy kin." Then there is the looming nest-mother.

He exhales and follows Zeke's gaze somewhat, though towards a different patch of ground. "Ass she speaks not the truth of you... Her eyes see all different..?" A guess, uncertainty rather than known. "This one wishes she was as before. That you knew her as before... but cannot change that. Can only learn what is now, do what is now."

Snout and eyes shift to Zeke. "This one is not best among any, knows not if is worthy... but would seek to earn your choice as kin. In time. If not... would be glad still to know another of The People." And Shaman to the Dragonfather! ... but he has puffed about about that enough already.

"Ah. Thisss one forgot." Zeke seems embarrassed to have done so, but he lets the conversation move along. "Sshe isss not well in her mind Tlanexhuani. Thiss one isss not sssurprisssed that she iss not asss you remember her. Thisss one wissshesss to have known her before... ass well."

Zeke lowers his claw and he meets Tlan's gaze. "There isss time enough for usss to get to know one another. In time perhapsss we will be kin again asss we ssshould have been from the beginning. Thisss one isss glad to meet you." A nod here.

"Sssa," Tlanexhuani thumps his tail firmly, with some accompanying clunking. Firm agreement. To which? Perhaps all. "This one is glad to meet you, Shaman Zeke. Is enough, for now. This one not keep from dutiesss." He leans forward on stave to help rise, with some creaking of knees as much as hide or splint. "In time, maybe we will share words over younglings play... Words of faded scales and tired tails. Two old egg-tenders complain!" He huffs out some hisses at the self-deprecating humor.

"That would be welcome Tlanexhuani." Zeke says, rising to his own feet and picking up his basket. "Until we meet again, may His light illuminate you." He offers this in farewell, and begins to make his way across the temple square back toward the temples.

-End