The Rumblings of Earth (Zora)

[Norani]

Glade 20, 124

It was late in the morning, and it was comfortable and dark in the communal rooms of the inn that Norani had slumped into last night. Outside, the sun was bright and rising, and most Ecithians were already up and going about their days. After so much darkness, they wanted to embrace every moment of the sun that they could.

All except for one. Norani rolled over with a tired groan. She looked around the mats, seeing that once again, she was the last one left. She sighed, sitting up, still wearing the same clothes she'd been wearing for several days now. Her hair was greasy and stringy, not braided and cleaned as she normally kept it. Her eyes darted around, looking into each shadow corner, adjusting her response to low light, making sure none of it was true darkness.

It wasn't. That darkness wasn't here. She let loose of the tension but true relief never really came. It never came. She stood up, feeling an itching in her back, from her Summoning rune. It was Ooshi, asking to be summoned to her from Agst'rasera. Guilt washed over the Orkhan as she tried to ignore it. Ooshi would be better off there, in the land of spirits. Norani was lucky, so lucky, that when she got stolen by the Unknown's trap, it only took her. Her spirits had been ripped from her body, shredding their aether and her own. She was glad to know that they lived.

But if they stayed with her, they wouldn't for long. She wielded too much power too carelessly. She was terrified of what she could do, of what she couldn't do, of what would happen when she failed, or what would happen if she succeeded. She walked out of the sleeping areas and down to the mess hall. There were a few people left eating and Norani made her way over to the stone counter. She was handed a large salad bowl, with early season greens, lotus petals and other water vegetables in it. A thin line as she nodded her thanks, making her way to an empty table.

She ate alone and didn't taste anything.

When she was done, she made her way to the nearest Landing, looking over the massive balcony toward the east. Today her mission from Achaka was a patrol mission, but she was supposed to take a couple of people with her. Didn't matter who, but she needed to take at least two. She didn't know any other soldiers, all those that she had joined with were with Boraba and her family, wherever they had gone. Well, she would need someone who could fly, that would be a start, she supposed.

She turned back toward the Landing, raising her tired voice a bit, "Anyone here know how to fly? I am Ward Norani Windwalker and seek two people to accompany me to go east."

[Zora]

(Note: edited to include details about the sickness she's experiencing)

Life in Ecith had been… bearable. The mentality of sharing everything had gotten to Zora at first but one could only go so many days without bathing so eventually something had to give. She went through the motions of sleeping with others, eating with others, etc. even if she didn’t particularly like any of it. Still, it was a life and better than being constantly on the run.

Zora tried to make the best of her situation and soon found herself in a routine of sorts. She’d spend her early mornings at the necromancy workshops and afterwards she would go around looking for some way to make a living.

As it so happened, there was quite a bit to do for money. She’d already helped with relocating some dinos and had even gone out hunting as well. It proved to be challenging work which was good because it helped take her mind off of Jesse, who she hadn’t spoken with in weeks.

Just the thought of him and that bitch that he was cheating with made her mouth sour as she hovered in the sky over by one of the Landings. Her eyes darted around as she approached, trying to spot anyone who might have some work for her. Luckily, there did seem to be someone asking for people that could fly.

“I can fly,” She said as she casually hovered over and landed near Norani. “The name’s…” she hesitated, having nearly said ‘Kira’ then continued, “Zora. What’s the job? I’m new around here so I might not have the exact experience you’re looking for, but I can definitely fly and I’m not too shabby at Kinetics magic.”

It wasn't a lie, however a lot of what she wanted to do was simply not feasible anymore. The sickness had made it difficult for her to get by as a mage and often her dragonshard was the only thing that allowed her to do anything meaningful with magic.

She took in the woman’s appearance as her name hit her. ‘Windwalker.’ Zora assumed this meant that she could also fly in some capacity… likely magically, judging by the intensity of her aura. She wondered if the woman had also fallen ill to the sickness.

Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying

[Norani]

A foreign woman, a human, spoke up. Norani eyed her up, as was the custom with Ecithians, but quickly stopped once she saw no markings. Her lips grew thin, she never worked with a foreigner while home in the Commonwealth. But she tried not to let that bother her. Yeva was foreign once. Imogen too. And Kaiko, and Destyn, wherever they were.

This Zora deserved a chance too.

But still, no smile came on Norani's face. "I am running patrols to the east, searching for anything out of place in the elements, people or creatures that need help, that sort of thing." She felt a mask sliding in place now, and guilt that came from wearing it. She needed to be a good leader, that was the point of all this according to Consul Lonelyblade.

"It could be dangerous. Are you able to defend yourself?" She slowly tried to force a smile on her face. And it was strained, and she looked uncomfortable doing it. "I can protect you if needed."

Norani let the smile fall off and she relaxed, "Do you need any supplies or gear? We might be out in the skies for a few days." She stepped closer to the woman, offering her forearm to be clasped in the Ecithian, "Well met, Zora. If you wish to join me, we'll get outfitted and be on our way shortly. We can talk as we fly over the safer zones, I'll need to learn your capabilities in case we get in a pinch."

Norani plucked a wind out of the air, holding it in her hand, swirling and laughing in the grasp of the elementalist. "Go find Quartermaster Keeli and bring her here please." Norani imbued the wind with a larger amount of aether and when she released it, it wooshed off. "So how does your flying work? I've never met someone who used Aether Flow before, but I've heard stories."

She knew they had a few minutes before Keeli would arrive, so some small talk could fill the gap.

"I can fly in a few different ways. I can make myself as light as air and ride upon the winds as a kite does. I can have the winds carry me as I am. Or I can become the wind itself and travel as they do."