Wanderer Slot Prompts

    Aborakota was making a patrol of the current area. His people were setting up camp and they asked him to double check that the area was safe and secure. They'd done a preliminary sweep before even deciding, but recent bandit attacks had everyone edge. Thankfully none of them had ketucari in them; presently he was the only one traveling with their people. Everyone else was off on hunting or trading missions. His feathers stood on edge as something snapped in the distance, catching his attention. The sparse greenery was doing an excellent job of hiding whatever made that noise.

    Curiosity got the better of him, and overrode his caution as he crept through the plants more boldly than he should've. He pricked his ears forward, straining for any sound besides his own breathing. Any scent that wasn't earth and other things.

    "What're you looking for?" someone asked. 

    Aborakota nearly jumped out of his own hide as he whipped around to confront whoever surprised him. He was met with the most unusual sight. A young kadin stood before him, looking unlike anyone he'd ever seen. She approached him cautiously, making his heart race. It wasn't fear. He was... smitten. He stumbled over his words.

    "Why, u-u-hum... greet-hello? Hello. My name is Aborakota. Who-uh what's your name?" he said, heart beating faster.

    Mild amusement danced on the stranger's face as she responded, "I'm Liatris. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

    "Wh-wherre are you from Liatris?" he asked trying to not sound as nervous as he was.

    "Mmmm, quite a ways from here. You smell like you're with the Nomads I passed. Seems like you'd know about everywhere and nowhere being home?" Liatris said with a chuckle.

    He pinned his ears back as he chuckled nervously, "y-yeaahh. We do follow a set path, or so the elders say. It always looks different to me each year."

    Liatris laughed. "true enough. Every time I pass through an area I did the previous year, I marvel at how similar, and different things are. Adds an element of surprise to the beauty."

    He relaxed some fo the tension in his body. As they continued to talk about anything and nothing, he scolded himself for being so reckless, she could, or may still be, someone who wishes or attempts ill on his people. It sounded like a weak excuse, even to him. If she'd meant harm, she would've done so already, and he wasn't gone from the camp long enough for her to have done anything to them.

    "You know, I don't meet nomads very often,  I usually keep my distance, especially when they have other ketucari with them. A stranger coming up from the wilds is almost always viewed with suspicion. Do you think your people would mind if I met with them? I can share tales and stories from the places I've visited," she asked sincerely.

    He shuffled his claws in the ground nervously as he spoke, "I'll need to check with the elders to make sure, but I think the children would like that. They'd be especially curious about your colors. Don't be surprised when they ask if they're our natural colors. Just uhm, when we get there, wait out of sight. if you can."

    Liatris nodded her head in agreement. Aborakota's body filled with a different kind of tension again. He decided to take a longer way back, after letting her know, to at least accomplish part of his remaining task. He felt guilty that he'd forgotten, and was already coming up with promises to the elders to stay up on watch all night if need be while they waited on the others to come back. The distant smell of cooking fires relaxed him a little. A comforting scent. Home. The elders were waiting for him,and he quickly explained who he found on his patrol. They agreed readily, surprisingly. That was when he saw the bulky body of his mentor lounging by one of the cooking pits; soaking in the heat. Ah, that's why, he thought. He turned back and chirped at Liatris to join them. 

    The children ran up to her, and from an excited, yet respectful distance, bombarded her with questions. Excited squeals as she answered questions. She met his eyes over their heads, with an amused but warm expression. He melted. And somewhere behind him, he was aware of his mentor having a good laugh at his expense.