[Sauti PRP] So Long | Ygraine and Callum

[scarlett arbuckle]

Painted Moose

Alright - life on the road wasn’t as bad as she’d thought, as a kid. Ygraine remembered that long, long trip to Oba… the weeks of rocking, to and fro, on a cart, sick to her stomach and whining at her parents for a break. The oppressive heat of the desert; the crowds of people surrounding her. Then again, the Oba festival had been something of an anomaly - the roads packed to the brim with people traveling south… when she headed out on her own, she quickly realized that the roads weren’t normally so packed.

And, traveling between Sauti and Zena, the weather was less dangerous - and she traveled by foot, or on Morrigan’s back, so it she didn’t have to worry about getting road sick.

What she DID have to worry about was food and water, especially in Sauti. As soon as she spotted other settlements, Ygraine always made a bee-line for it, offering up what goods she’d scrounged up in Zena for trade, or even what she’d managed to hunt, with Morrigan and Pima, her perzi, by her side.

Ygraine had stayed at this specific settlement for the past week, recovering after a long time on the road - her feet were worn out, and she was happy to help with chores around the camp, if it meant a meal and time to repair her clothes and get new weapons. She normally used a whip, for day to day fights, but she needed to make new arrows and restring her crossbow, which she used primarily for hunting food. It was nearing night time, and the settlement was bustling, closing down their shops and starting fires, as they got started on dinner. Ygraine was helping by chopping up ingredients with a knife, reaching to scritch Pima’s ears as the perzi yowled at her, pawing for fish greedily. “Stop, Pi, you naughty thing.” She nudged the large cat with her hip.

1/10  

[Painted Moose]

Scarlett Arbuckle

Leaving Akiyal behind had been harder than Callum initially thought.

He worried over the boy, but there was only so much one could do when their traveling partner refused to see reason. Aki was nothing if not stubborn; he'd gotten the idea to hate the alkidike long before Callum had ever entered his life, and nothing he said could possibly reach him. He'd hoped, of course, to come back to the inn and find him still hanging around. It didn't seem right to let him go off on his own after that; what if the Dretch got hold of him? What if he couldn't find his family again? And yet....Callum made no move to search for him.

Akiyal was grown enough to make his own choices; that much he'd acknowledged before the boy's own family. It may not have been the choices he had in mind, but....well, Callum was going to fight and Aki just...wasn't. If he didn't want to stand then he would be safer in Sauti or Oba or wherever he went. Callum just hoped he would stay safe.

With that in mind, he'd packed up his things and set out for the road. Faulina flew leagues above him, damn near disappearing into the thick cloud coverage, which was fine by him. Callum didn't need her constant protection anymore; he was more than capable of defending himself these days. However, that didn't mean he didn't want some company. Traveling had always been his preferred lifestyle, but going alone...felt odd. It was easier to forget things when he was with caravans, stuck in cities, and sleeping in rooms full of people.

In that aspect he missed Akiyal the most. He was loud, impetuous and a constant worry, but the boy didn't hide anything. It had been refreshing to travel with him, and at least it wasn't quiet...not like it was now.

There was nothing, but the sound of his own feet on cold, hard packed earth to keep Callum company. He'd been walking for days now, and while occasionally the swordsman traveled atop Faulina, he mostly stuck to the ground. It was easier to stay focused when he, himself, was the one moving.

His hair had grown, and unkempt as it was from the road, it fell in wild curls around his thin shoulders. Added muscle or not, he wasn't a particularly intimidating man. It was because of that reason alone that Callum kept his nightly travels to a minimum. He was nearing a settlement now; one with an inn, hopefully, where he could spent the last of his coin for a warm meal. Beds came and went, but real food, something other than edible roots and berries, was a real treat.

He spotted a camp near the settlement, and may have passed it completely if a shock of white hair hadn't stopped him. Callum drew closer, his features shifting from a cautiously curious squint into a genuine smile. "Is that my baby girl, or a sprite I see?"  

[scarlett arbuckle]

Scarlett Arbuckle

Morrigan noticed Callum before Ygraine did. The raptrix, settled comfortably on the ground a few feet from her, looked up as he approached, whining happily and wagging her tail. But her mistress didn't look up from her work until she heard her father call for her. She blinked, looking up quickly, and her face blossomed into a smile.

"Papa!" She called, setting down the knife and hurriedly wiping her hands off on her skirt. It had been ages since she'd last seen him - and honestly, she and Sol had both worried about him, when they left home. ... Actually - she hadn't even known he'd left home. The last they'd seen eachother, he'd been recovering from... well. Baba.

The girl moved out from where she'd been working, stooping down to hug her shorter father, pressing a happy kiss to the top of his head. Somehow, in the last few months, it was as if the young woman had gotten taller - at least, that was how it seemed. Or had Callum always been so short?

"What are you doing out here? I thought you were back home - but..." She tilted her head to look over him, smiling fondly. His clothes were road worn, and judging by his ruffled hair... he'd been on the road for a long time. "You left right after we did, didn't you?"  

[Painted Moose]

Scarlett Arbuckle

Callum approach Morrigan first, and gave her a loving head rub, moving his long, calloused fingers around to her ears for a little scratch. He'd long since gotten used to seeing his lover's raptrix spending time with Ygraine. At first it had been odd simply because she should have been bonded with another, but...circumstances as they were he couldn't have been happier. Morrigan would keep Ygraine safe, and he owed her for that.

He had all of a minute to drop his packs before being swamped in his daughter's arms. Now that was new! Had she always been this tall?! Just looking at her in the glow of the firelight had stilled his heart. The cut of her jaw, the set of her shoulders...his baby girl was growing up right in front of him, and Callum couldn't do a damn thing about it.

Having to physically tilt his head to look up at his child was something Callum would have to get used to. It didn't stop him from moving his hands up, however, to capture her face in his hands for a flurry of kisses on her cheeks and forehead. Sheepishly, he dipped his head and gave a little, light laugh. "You caught me. I stayed back long enough to...board up before leaving." It...was perhaps not a great idea to lie to her, but telling the truth didn't seem quite right either. Admitting to burning the family home seemed a little 'wrong' after not speaking with his daughter for so long.

"You know how Faulina gets; she just can't stay in one spot for long."

And as if on cue, the kinfa descended from above with a very loud, ominous sort of call. If anything would prove to be a distraction it was that. One couldn't very well dwell on strange things when a bratty kinfa lowered to swamp the area. She landed just outside of Callum's reach and fluffed her wings before tucking them to her sides. She neither acknowledged his presence, nor bothered to look his way, but she did make a semi-pleasant chirp towards Ygraine.  

[scarlett arbuckle]

Painted Moose

Ygraine, grown woman though she was, still burst into giggles at the flurry of kisses from her dad, wiggling away from him with a grin that pulled ear to ear. Morrigan, excited both by Callum's petting and Ygraine's excitement, stood up and yipped at them, hopping from foot to foot excitedly. Pulling away from Callum, Ygraine dropped a hand to pet the excitable pup, fingertips scritching through thick, soft feathers. She didn't catch the slip, or the slight hesitation as he lied.

"Ah, yes. Faulina." She drawled, doubtfully, ticking up an eyebrow in question, only to step back, slightly, when the kinfa dropped from the sky, eyes softening at the sight of the big bird. It was... such a surprise, to see her father out here! But she felt such relief at being reunited. Once they pulled away from their embrace, Ygraine gently gripped him by the elbow and led him closer to the fire, where they could sit. "I can't believe you're here! How are you doing? Where have you been, so far? Anywhere cool?"  

[Painted Moose]

Scarlett Arbuckle

[3/10]

Callum just smiled through his daughter's skepticism, thoroughly committed to his lie. He'd always been able to stand behind falsehoods as easily as if they were truths; so, no matter how obvious a con it was, he acted as if Faulina were entirely at fault. He even went so far as to look over at the massive avian, cooing and crooning to her as if she were nothing more than an innocent hatchling instead of the ravenous wretch she was.

Even when she snapped at him Callum was only mildly surprised. Instead of disciplining her, as he should have, he merely gave her beak an affectionate pat before being led away.

Ah, a fire! He'd practically forgotten how chilly Sauti was, or maybe he'd just imagined it's warmth? In any case, he had a propensity for shedding all 'unnecessary' clothing as soon as Callum crossed the border from Zena, and that...had it's downfalls. Sauti, did indeed, get cold, and he'd come to realize he must have just been blind to it in his youth. It was nice, to nestle down and get warm with his baby girl; almost domestic, really, in it's own unique way.

"I'm fine, Ygraine, really." Callum laughed and held his pair hands up to the fire. "We've stayed in Sauti for the most part, but I'm not planning on staying long." Tame, close to home, safe; it wouldn't do to tell her the truth. What good would it do to needlessly worry Ygraine? "What about you? I want to hear about where you've been! "
 

[scarlett arbuckle]

Painted Moose

Technically, she should be working on cutting up and preparing food for dinner, but - this was her dad! There was no way she could do all that, not when she hadn't seen him in so long! She seemed loathe to even release him, and even when they settled by the fire she kept her hand settled against his arm. The contact was important to her, after so long apart.

As it was, Ygraine had the feeling her father wasn't being entirely truthful, if only because of his overly affectionate behavior to his monstrous kinfa- but she couldn't tell if it was something she should press, or something completely innocent that he, for whatever reason, just didn't want to share with her.

When the question was turned back around, she huffed, leaning back against one hand, gesturing with the other in a vague motion. "I got close to Tale but turned back - I think I'll head back towards the old stomping grounds, or to the capital."

She couldn't count the number of times she'd gone with her baba around northern Zena, collecting rocks or mundane crystals, while trading her grandmothers' goods. It felt... like a pilgrimage, of sorts, to follow their normal route, ending at the capitol then back towards home. Though - she was tempted to scale the mountain wall south of Zena to head towards Matori, instead.

It saddened her, to think that... it had been almost two years since her baba had... but. What else could she do but move on?

Her dad, though... she watched him closely, trying to gauge how he was doing based on his unkempt, road weary appearance.  

[Painted Moose]

Scarlett Arbuckle

[4/10]

"Why did you decide to turn back? Tale's lovely this time of year." There wasn't much beyond a vast, wide open savannah but that in itself would be a sight compared to a land of snow touched mountains.

The old stomping grounds.... "No! No, you should definitely go to Tale, or you know, the capital is an idea too. I would just hate to see you come so close to a grand adventure, only to go back home. The world is to big to stay in one little village." His pupils had momentarily flared, a clear sign of the panic in his chest, but Callum kept a mum lip about it.

Strands of wild, wavy hair fell around his face and when Callum moved his head they seemed to cover it like a mourning shroud. She couldn't go back to that. At least, not yet. "You were cooking, weren't you? Is there anything I can do to help?" It wasn't as if he had any great skill in cooking, but Callum could manage the basics. Besides, it would give him a chance to provide for his child like a father should and busy his hands at the same time.  

[scarlett arbuckle]

Painted Moose

Why did she turn back? Ygraine couldn't say she knew why. The thought of her father home, by himself, had honestly gotten to her - leaving home felt so wrong, in the wake of ... what had happened. She'd only been away for a few months as it was, and had had every intention of heading out like a boomerang; swinging home, at the end, with a bit of excitement under her belt, ready to take care of him.

She didn't know if she was worried that he had left home, or... disappointed. To be honest... the idea of all of them wondering around the lands, not knowing where the others were, and without an anchor home to return to... was scary. At times, it almost felt like Ygraine was the only one who had any hard, sentimental ties to Zena. If she went home now, there'd by no guarantee that anyone would be there, waiting for her.

Ygraine opened her mouth to respond, but instead blinked, raising an eyebrow at his quick change of topic. What the... that was... weird. Her lips pressed together, briefly, but ... it seemed more like her father was concerned for her benefit. He just seemed ... passionate about it. "Papa... okay. Okay, I get it." She reached out, settling her hand on his shoulder, squeezing it. "Yeah. Cooking." She pushed herself to stand, huffing fondly as her Perzi instantly stood with a happy yowl, rubbing against her leg - though the beast was big enough that the motion almost knocked her over. "I have some fish and veggies. Fish are scaled, just need to pick the bones out." She plucked up the knife and resumed cutting the greens, tilting her head towards her father.

It felt weird to dole out 'orders' for him. "A grand adventure, though? Where would you go?"  

[Painted Moose]

Scarlett Arbuckle

[5/10]

Callum sidled his way closer to the fish, and settled himself in a worker's spot. To his side the swordsman set up a clean cloth, so that once each piece was properly fixed they could be prepped for cooking. Callum handled each piece with care, gently pressing against the fillets to ease the bones out without damaging the meat. From his peripheral he could see Ygraine's perzi, and 'innocently' enough he pinched off a piece of fish to offer to the little beast.

"Yael or Belrea, I suppose. I've never been to either one so there isn't much reason not to go. Eema's offered to let me stay with her in Jauhar for a while, but after your grandmother passed...." Callum shook his head and went back to work. Corine's death had been years ago now, but he still didn't feel comfortable claiming her home as their own. Eema assured him in her letters that it still stood, and she would easily help with finding new owners, but a part of him couldn't let go.

"...I'll just start out from here and see where the wind takes me."

Once the fish had been deboned, he skewered each fillet lengthwise and positioned them around the circumference of the fire.  

[scarlett arbuckle]

Painted Moose

[6/10]

Pima knew her mistress wouldn't share, but once she recognized Callum's scent, the large beast happily slinked to his side, purring. Soon enough she was rewarded with a morsel, which she took daintily, settling down by his side to nibble at the fish.

If Ygraine minded it, she didn't let on; instead she kept her eyes lowered to her work, her full lips dropping into a thoughtful frown. Yael and Belrea were both overseas - across a seemingly endless divide of water and ocean. She couldn't say she liked the idea of Callum heading off to the toxic lands of Yael. Belrea, she felt, was much safer!

Then... he mentioned Eema- her 'mother'. When Ygraine was young, she'd pointedly kept her distance from the woman, as if thinking any connection with her would undermine her fathers' influence in her life; which was difficult, considering that her fathers had been so close with her, before, and even Sol seemed to rely on the calm woman.

It was just... too strange, imagining that the woman was biologically half of her. And especially now, that ... Baba was gone... she was somewhat loathe to reach out to her. Nothing could replace Nimueh in their lives; nothing should replace him - and maybe if her fathers hadn't gone to visit Eema, then none of this would have happened. That, and especially with Grandma Corine being gone - there was no way Callum would stay in Jauhar for long.

"Well - who knows? Maybe the wind will blow us both in the same direction, for a little while?" Ygraine suggested, her voice somewhat quieter, more meek than it had been previously. She didn't know if she was quite ready for her papa to head on his way, not now that they'd been reunited.  

[Painted Moose]

Scarlett Arbuckle

Callum reached out to gently brushed Pima's forehead with his fingers, casually navigating around her ears in soft, steady strokes before going back to his work.

Callum studied his daughter through his curls, stopping his work long enough to contemplate her words. In truth this was why he had waited until both of his children made their own ways in life to start traveling again. He was prone to fits of melancholy lately, sometimes forgoing his active lifestyle in favor of an entire day of rest or, on the reverse, working until he was too exhausted to dream. It was harder to keep a 'normal' routine around them, and while he knew she was worried, he just....didn't want her to be.

He could handle himself, had been, and he would worth through it on his own.

Still....he did miss spending time with his children, and as much as it made him question things, Callum couldn't turn his baby girl away.

"I don't know, Ygraine. Most girls your age would rather be with their friends than their father." He quirked his lips, and sat back, one hand making it's way back to Pima. "Are you really sure you want me to stay?"

Ygraine could be such a perceptive little brat when she wanted to be, but moments like these, when she hovered on the edge of a question, he remembered her as a child. Back when he could scoop her up, smother her forehead in kisses, and push the worries away.