[Yael] Those Whom The Gods Guard [Zekiel | Jiaya]

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

Those Whom The Gods Guard

Fate, whether understood as the will of the divine or something else entirely, acted upon different forces in a myriad of different ways. People were no exception. Over the course of his studies and the career that followed, Zekiel had no shortage of exposure to the vast range of fortunes the gods dealt out, from lives of relative ease and luxury scattered with ample blessings, to the far opposite, destitution and desperation.

Why the gods handed out the fates they did was a question generations had attempted to answer since the dawn of time, so far as Ze understood it, and countless books and religious texts were dedicated to the inquiry.

But he personally didn’t think it his task — or the task of anyone on this world, for that matter — to answer conclusively. It was a question beyond answer, and intended to be so. Their path was only to observe, and attempt to make the most of the framework provided. Still, when the gods did appear to grant special favor to certain individuals, it was often impossible to miss, and Zekiel did sometimes muse on the way fortune affected the blessed individual.

On this day, though, he did not of course know what the day would have in store for him as he set out. One of the local traders, a man who owned a fairly sizeable section of land on the outer edge of town, had recently acquired two ‘mammu’ — massive, thickly furred and tusked beasts with long trunks, native to the far foreign land of Zena, ice country — and in involving himself with creatures of the far shore, had harbored concerns about bad omens or curses bleeding over with the introduction of creations of other gods.

Naturally, he had resorted to calling upon the clergy.

Thus, as Zekiel approached the property and disembarked from his ride when it came to a standstill, his thoughts were at least in part on the call at hand: he was here to cleanse any foreign spirits or negative energies and impart the gods’ blessings on the man’s new area of business. Much of his mind, however, had meandered of its own accord, relaxing in the familiar tapestry of sounds and scents that came with housed animals, drawing to recollection the last time he’d been in similar territory.

It had been quite some time now since he’d last seen a mammu, but that had been under very different circumstances.  

[PrinceFigment]

The Only Black Uke

Of course word had reached the young Yaeli of the new creatures being shipped into the land. It was different, new, exciting, and he was completely thrilled to have a chance at seeing them close up. In his short life, he'd not managed to get away from the island, so he was eager to learn of anything beyond it.

He hurried through the rather sparse crowds toward the edge of the town. Dodging easily between people, he made good time, managing to get to the docks in time to watch the local priest arrive to bless the beasts. Jiaya skidded to a halt, thick boots finding stability, even against the sand and stone of the shore. A gap-toothed grin, which seemed to be a permanent feature, was even more prominent as the gigantic, furred creatures were led off of the ship.

Eyes glistening, he absently moved further toward the whole proceeding, entranced by the sheer mass of these things.  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

Zekiel drew a breath in, savoring the familiar salt scent of the shore as he made his way towards the loading docks. About halfway there, he was joined and escorted by one of the customs officers, but after a brief introduction, his attention was free to wander back to the scene about him and all it encompassed. From the sound of the wind and water casting a backdrop on local chatter, to the energy in the air fresh from its journey across a great spanse of ocean, the coastline always brought a special ease to Zekiel. Having been raised in his earliest years by the sea, it still summoned to mind for him a sense of home, early family, and beginnings. Regardless of the simultaneous tribulation that had come with those times.

As they came to where he would perform his cleansing ceremony, the merchant who had asked for him informed him — as was visible on approach — that the mammu were only now being offloaded, and as they had to be inspected first by the authorities, it would be a few minutes before he could proceed.

In the meantime, Zekiel couldn’t have said what force pulled his attention first or most, but as with many things, he didn’t second guess it. The boy who drew his eye seemed to radiate with a private energy, unburdened by the cares the world settled on the shoulders of most, and, since he had some moments to wait anyway, he approached.

“The gods smile on you,” he greeted. “Have you ever seen beasts of Zena before?”  

[PrinceFigment]

The Only Black Uke

Jiaya barely cast a glance toward the man who approached him, but even that briefest look was enough to tell him that the man was a priest. No doubt, he was here to see to the animals, given that they were not of this land.

He turned his attention back to the beasts, still absolutely mesmerized. "I haven't. I've never had the privilege of leaving our island."

The young man wished, one day, to change that. As fascinating as their own creatures were, he could only observe a limbara so many times. The world beyond their small island was so vast, so many beings, so many creatures. He was eager to see them all, to learn of them, perhaps even to tame them.

"They're... amazing..."  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

PrinceFigment

“They are quite wondrous,” Zekiel agreed warmly. “I have only once been to the far shore, and never further than its coast, so I have never seen the mammu’s home country, where I hear that the land stretches high into the clouds where it is encased in a perpetual winter. But a good friend of mine has made it her life to study and train beasts of different origins, and I have always thought these to be fascinating.”

He eyed the boy speculatively a moment before smiling, as though coming to some internal conclusion.

“You will see many more lands and beasts than I in your years, I think. That spirit will carry you many places…”  

[PrinceFigment]

The Only Black Uke

Despite his upbringing, Jiaya had never put much faith in the words of the priests. But to hear that he may be sent to wander the lands, it was quite something. He would love to get away from everything on Yael, to see the world beyond their island. It sounded amazing. There was only so much that his home had to offer him.

Glancing to the priest, he smiled slightly. "You think so? It'd be great to just... get away..."  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

PrinceFigment

“I do,” Zekiel said.

It wasn’t, despite the opinions of some, that Zekiel saw himself as a foreseer of divine fate. Quite the opposite, in fact, he understood the gods’ will as entirely separate from his own and mostly beyond the full understanding even of the clergy.

But, rather than a diviner of celestial intent, he did sometimes get a sense from a person, a feel of direction or inspiration as some undefined energy or light in their eye. Those things, he found, often corresponded with the winds of fortune. As one of the customs officials approached, likely to tell him he could begin his cleansing, Ze turned another glance to the boy at his side.

“Would you like to come closer?”  

[PrinceFigment]

The Only Black Uke

The young man lost himself in thought, letting his mind wander, venturing into what discoveries he might make in the other lands, what creatures and beings he would meet. He was certain there was much more to the world beyond, though how he would go about leaving the island, he wasn't all together certain. Still, there was an almost dreamy smile on his face as he watched the giant beasts, only just registering as the official made their way toward the priest.

Blinking a bit, bringing himself back to the present, he looked to the clergyman. "... is that allowed?"

He wouldn't typically care what was allowed him, much less what was not, but these weren't anything he was familiar with. They were so foreign to him, that there was the slightest hesitation, even among the wonder he felt as he watched them.  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

At the inquiry, Zekiel shook his head. “Not usually, or so I would guess,” he said. “But since the gods put you here and you show interest, I will ask for you and I think your luck may be better than most.”

As soon as he finished, the customs officer stopped shy of his side, clearing his throat and setting a hand on the hilt at his side. His gaze flicked only momentarily to the boy before settling on Ze. “Father Zekiel, the animals are secure and the area clear. They are ready for you.”

Zekiel smiled. “Thank you, I will be there in a moment. This…” He gestured to his new acquaintance, “…is a young friend of mine who would like to come a little closer with me. Might we proceed on his promise not to interfere? He has quite an eye for beasts…”

The officer, skeptical despite Zekiel’s easy tone, eyed Jiaya with uncertainty. But, it was generally unwise to go against the wishes of a priest. He shuffled his stance, and notched his chin in greeting. “And ah…who are you?”  

[PrinceFigment]

The Only Black Uke

When it came to luck, Jiaya had no doubts that it was on his side. It was always on his side. Hands behind his back, he watched the official approach, not at all unnerved as the man's hand travelled to his hilt. He guessed that was pretty normal behavior for people dealing with this sort of thing.

Staying silent, he let the priest speak with the man. The young man felt it best not to interrupt while they exchanged greetings and the like. Keep his chances a bit higher, though if anything were to prevent it, he knew it would be for the best. Still, as the man turned to him, he offered a smile, "Jiaya. Curious about the creatures."  

[Miss Chief aka Uke]

The officer grunted in response, eyeing the boy only a moment longer before giving a conceding roll of his shoulders. “Well, don’t…touch anything and stick out of the way. These are dangerous beasts, you hear? Being underfoot, no telling what could happen…” From there, he muttered something more indistinct about ‘trouble’ if ‘anyone got hurt’ though it was lost mostly under the background crash of some piece of cargo being offloaded.

Nothing serious, Zekiel guessed, since it was not followed by distressed shouts.

And personally, he didn’t think mammu needed to be classified as ‘dangerous’ beasts, though they certainly had great power in them—but nor was it a pressing enough issue for him to clarify. So, he smiled instead and, as it became evident this was all the invitation they would get, he gestured for Jia to follow as he moved in himself.

In practice, as was often the case with such things, he didn’t actually have to do much. It was mostly his presence and the fact that he did anything at all which served to grant a sense of ease to those who would call upon him. But Zekiel considered that just as well. He enjoyed the opportunity to come out, and on occasions such as this in particular, he was privy to experiences he never might have been otherwise.

“Ohh, the gods did make you beautiful didn’t they?” he greeted one of the beasts cheerily. “I know you’ve come a long way to be here and as wondrous as these shores may be, there are many strangers aren’t there? But I promise it’s nothing that need distress you, I’ll be over in a moment and you’ll be on to your new home…”  

[PrinceFigment]

The Only Black Uke

As the official finished speaking, Jiaya offered a slightly-distracted nod, moving toward the cargo area. He honestly wasn't at all concerned with the dangers, knowing that luck was often on his side, far more often than not. The young man was never in any real danger. This was surely not going to be any different.

Eyes wide with wonder, he watched the creature as they approached, getting perhaps a bit closer than he should, but they didn't seem altogether vicious, so he was more than comfortable going nearer. Jiaya couldn't shake the absolute pounding of his heart as he came into the mammu's area. There was an excitement, being so near to something so strange. It was something amazing.

"You think they understand?" It wasn't meant as an insult to the creatures, only curiosity. Some of those on Yael were too stubborn, or too vicious, to show any sort of comprehension. He wondered if it were any different with those from other continents.