Masur of As’lin :: The Mysterious Painting
Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2021 12:19 pm
The Seeker and his goddess traveled far. On foot, the only way Masur ever choose to travel, they saw a great multitude of things. Many wonderful things that, even in the time Masur had strode the Queen Mother, he’d never seen before.
He pointed towards a distant mountain range that spotted the horizon before them, “Look, another mountain range more vast than the ones back home.” He remembered the icy peaks of his homeland well enough, living amongst them for last long as he had.
Odea nodded, “Yes, word is that a new civilization has emerged there,” she placed her hand atop his head, running her fingers through his hair as a smile crept across his face.
A new civilization! He thought it was wonderful, “I’ve enjoyed my time away from home. We get to see so much, the Queen Mother’s face changes more and more as the years span on.” He wondered if he would get to see it before it was his time to return home.
Usually young dragons on their pilgrimage return when they are ready. Some achieve great feats and return with a grand tale of their endeavors. Others learn more about their connection to the Queen Mother, through their connection with Naten, and return as teachers to the next generation. Everyone returns when they are ready.
Masur was different. As the grandson of the chief, he was expected to return when the tribe needed him. As inheritor to the chiefdom of the Northern Silver Dragons, he was expected to prepare himself for the pressures of leadership.
It was... inconvenient when he requested leave, since it was so soon after his grandfather’s passing, but Masur needed the time to get away. Lale Caelora held the most precious memories of his grandparents and especially... his father. He couldn’t live there.
It was allowed, but with a restriction. He wasn’t allowed the freedom of time allotted to his coevals. When it was time for the inheritance proceedings to begin, he was expected to return. Whether he felt ready or not.
“I’m growing tired,” Odea voice broke his trance like trip down memory lane. He looked at her reassuring face, knowing she could tell he was lost in his own head.
“Me as well.” They didn’t need to sleep very often, but they enjoyed it all the same. It was relaxing to take a load off every month or so to really recharge the batteries. Today, however, after their encounter with Jae, Masur and Odea could really use the break.
Masur did not stop his stride, “I could set up a camp and-“
“A camp, husband?” Odea interrupted him there. Dismissively, she shook her head, “We’ve camped every time for months.”
Masur exhaled, not in a frustrated way but because he understood her protest, “We don’t come across humans very often.” So they rarely found lodging. Even when they did Masur felt uncomfortable if he wasn’t under the sky for too long.
Odea smiled coyly, “Turn your nose,” she proclaimed as she gently ushered his head over his right shoulder, “there.”
Confused, but trusting, he took a couple sniffs of the air. Wafting on the breeze was a scent he hadn’t caught in months. The gentle delicate scent of deliciously baked apples.
“Baked apples.” He said quietly.
“Baked apples.” His wife repeated, “Mean?” She asked.
“An oven.”
“An oven.” She repeated, “Meaning?” She asked.
Masur stopped in place and turned towards the direction the enticing aroma drifted from, “Humans are nearby.”
Odea nodded pleasantly, “Yes, which means we do not have to camp, husband.” She shuddered gleefully.
Masur began to tread in that direction without much delay, “Yes, you’ll get your bed and hot water.” Which was what she truly desired and what she deserved. Without her, the encounter with Jae would have ended very differently. He didn’t mind dealing with sleeping under wood for a while.
He pointed towards a distant mountain range that spotted the horizon before them, “Look, another mountain range more vast than the ones back home.” He remembered the icy peaks of his homeland well enough, living amongst them for last long as he had.
Odea nodded, “Yes, word is that a new civilization has emerged there,” she placed her hand atop his head, running her fingers through his hair as a smile crept across his face.
A new civilization! He thought it was wonderful, “I’ve enjoyed my time away from home. We get to see so much, the Queen Mother’s face changes more and more as the years span on.” He wondered if he would get to see it before it was his time to return home.
Usually young dragons on their pilgrimage return when they are ready. Some achieve great feats and return with a grand tale of their endeavors. Others learn more about their connection to the Queen Mother, through their connection with Naten, and return as teachers to the next generation. Everyone returns when they are ready.
Masur was different. As the grandson of the chief, he was expected to return when the tribe needed him. As inheritor to the chiefdom of the Northern Silver Dragons, he was expected to prepare himself for the pressures of leadership.
It was... inconvenient when he requested leave, since it was so soon after his grandfather’s passing, but Masur needed the time to get away. Lale Caelora held the most precious memories of his grandparents and especially... his father. He couldn’t live there.
It was allowed, but with a restriction. He wasn’t allowed the freedom of time allotted to his coevals. When it was time for the inheritance proceedings to begin, he was expected to return. Whether he felt ready or not.
“I’m growing tired,” Odea voice broke his trance like trip down memory lane. He looked at her reassuring face, knowing she could tell he was lost in his own head.
“Me as well.” They didn’t need to sleep very often, but they enjoyed it all the same. It was relaxing to take a load off every month or so to really recharge the batteries. Today, however, after their encounter with Jae, Masur and Odea could really use the break.
Masur did not stop his stride, “I could set up a camp and-“
“A camp, husband?” Odea interrupted him there. Dismissively, she shook her head, “We’ve camped every time for months.”
Masur exhaled, not in a frustrated way but because he understood her protest, “We don’t come across humans very often.” So they rarely found lodging. Even when they did Masur felt uncomfortable if he wasn’t under the sky for too long.
Odea smiled coyly, “Turn your nose,” she proclaimed as she gently ushered his head over his right shoulder, “there.”
Confused, but trusting, he took a couple sniffs of the air. Wafting on the breeze was a scent he hadn’t caught in months. The gentle delicate scent of deliciously baked apples.
“Baked apples.” He said quietly.
“Baked apples.” His wife repeated, “Mean?” She asked.
“An oven.”
“An oven.” She repeated, “Meaning?” She asked.
Masur stopped in place and turned towards the direction the enticing aroma drifted from, “Humans are nearby.”
Odea nodded pleasantly, “Yes, which means we do not have to camp, husband.” She shuddered gleefully.
Masur began to tread in that direction without much delay, “Yes, you’ll get your bed and hot water.” Which was what she truly desired and what she deserved. Without her, the encounter with Jae would have ended very differently. He didn’t mind dealing with sleeping under wood for a while.