I really should have expected the yelling. I mean - I did surprise their camp by walking out of the woods, seemingly from nowhere. But did they have to keep yelling for hours? At least they let me keep my diary and pencil. They took everything else. I swear the little one is rooting around my bag to steal, not to check that I don't have weapons or something dangerous. Maybe calling them "little one" is not quite right, or at least not kind. The Bu'nes don't like you referring to their height or comparing them to anyone really. They're one of the smallest beings in the area and they understand the danger that comes with.
Although - really - couldn't it be an advantage to be small and be able to hide from the Creatures? Skies, can the Creatures even pick them up? I guess they don't really need to be picked up to be wounded but it's a thought...
Huh. That's a funny question to ask. They just interrupted my writing (rude, I was on a roll) and asked if I'd brought farian jerky. Farian jerky? What even is that? I guess it has to do with the farians, but like which one? The four legged ones or six legged ones? And when I asked that, they looked at me like I was crazy and went back to yelling. Now that I'm thinking about it - aren't the Bu'nes plant eaters? Why would they need food made from farians? Maybe they're not Bu'nes...I really shouldn't wander when I have insomnia.
Alright, I'm back - had to pause for more questions and I'm feeling less scared now. I am with the Bu'nes and they don't eat farian (thank the Skies, I was about to have nightmares) but they were hoping I had some farian jerky (still figuring out what that is) so they could give it to the Hibatos. I probably looked at them crazy because they decided to explain more to me (yay me). They have an agreement with the Hibatos that they'll share any farian products that come through their village in exchange for blankets. The Hibatos are known for their heavy, nearly weatherproof blankets - my dad said he had to exchange five brand new sets of tools for just one of the blankets (my mom loves the blanket so dad can't complain too much). When I asked why they had this special trade when historically the Hibatos dislike the Bu'nes they just shrugged, said it was out of necessity.
Then they told me the best story. Apparently, one of their babies got lost in the woods and the entire village had been searching for days to find them. I asked them how the baby got lost in the first place when you carry it with you all the time and they looked at me weirdly. I guess they don't carry their babies on them like we do? Which just seems really unsafe...Anyways. After looking for days, a Hibato emerged from the forest and held out it's hands - poof! There was the baby! The family was obviously overjoyed to see their baby and happy that it seemed healthy. The Hibato glared at them, starting to scold them and just when it was getting heated (one of the Bu'nes whispered the Hibato called them small), the Hibato collapsed. Luckily no one was squished - I mean the Hibato is one of the largest beings I've ever seen - and they tried waking the Hibato up. Only after they had left it alone and someone had started dinner did the Hibato stir. Apparently, the Hibato was starving and hadn't been able to find food in lieu of trying to get the baby back to its family. The Bu'nes offered it some food, which helped but it was obvious it needed more. When asked, the Hibato requested farian meat. The Bu'nes were horrified - I guess it's also against their beliefs to eat meat? - but then gave the Hibato their stash of farian jerky. The Hibato apparently was overjoyed and ate five pieces (the one talking motioned with her arms that the jerky slices were as tall or taller then she, even if she stretched her long ears). He then asked he could take the rest of the jerky to his clan, since the Bu'nes obviously weren't going to eat it. They talked back and forth and landed on giving any jerky they trade to the Hibato, in return the Hibatos will provide them with blankets that are too small or have mistakes in them and can't sell to the Bu'nes.
It's honestly a great exchange and a fantastic idea. I do wonder why the Bu'nes haggled over the jerky but I guess you do anything to provide for your family, right? But also, why don't more beings do this? Work together? I have a ton of ideas about what my family and town could do with our tools...I'll have to write some down for when I return.
Well, looks like they're giving my stuff back and want me gone. Not very welcoming, are they? But time to go. Until next time.
Day 2 - Evening
There's not much to report tonight. I've just been walking and observing the landscape. It's different to what I'm used to but also not? I can't put my finger on it...
The ground looks pretty much the same, except for a few mushrooms I've never seen. I also saw a five-legged farian today - but that could've just been an injured six-legged - hard to tell and I didn't feel like getting close enough. It's quiet, with the occasional snap of a twig or whisper of wind. I don't feel unsafe but I'm trying to be more alert. I really don't want to stumble on anybody's village again and make them nervous.
Maybe that's it? I felt so weird the other day after leaving the Bu'nes. Elated at learning new things but also...uncomfortable. I can't understand why they had such a sharp reaction to me. Logically, it's probably I look out of place in the area but...I can't help but feel it has to do with my appearance. I know my tail can gross people out or remind them of the Rats - but isn't that just stereotypes? I guess, tit for tat with my "small" comment. Still doesn't feel great.
Ah ha! It's not that but the trees. They're skinnier and tall, but not nearly as tall as the redwoods back home. When you look up, you just see the tops of the trees. But at home when you look up, it's like looking into another world. Kinda dramatic but with trees so tall you have to crane your neck, it just leaves you in awe. Plus, the trees are so old - it makes me wonder if they could hold memories, what would they see? What could they share? That would be cool.
Well, time for me to set up my tent before the darkness descends. Until next time.
Day 3 - Evening
Another quiet day, not much to see or do. It was nice to look at the trees at first, but now I'm getting restless. Well, more like my mind is getting restless - my mind just won't stop tonight. I've been thinking of my family and friends, the people and other beings I've met so far, the way the rips of the sky change as I travel. I almost miss the Lover's Cross from back home. Now, that part of the sky is occupied by the Rage Scar.
The names of the rip formations are so much more violent and aggressive in this area. Back home, everything has a romantic, emotional element to it - like Tears of the Lover or Father's Reach. I learned that here, Father's Reach is called Father's Cruelty. I think it has to do with their beliefs and religion up here. It's similar to what I'm familiar with but it has nuances that...evoke different emotions.
Back home, the belief I knew (and still hold to) is that the Sky Rip was this massive, global, cataclysmic event. While the Sky is Ripping or after the Sky Rip - it's kinda vague in our writings - there was a family that was desperate to stay together. They ran together, hid together, and all around strived to survive the horrible event together. But, at some point, the youngest got separated from the family, crying out. The Father noticed first, and reached out to capture the youngest's hands - but then the world went dark and he was forever immortalized reaching for his child's hand.
Up here, they have the same story - mostly. The cataclysmic event is the same and the family, yet in this area, the family is forced to stay together. The child or children (again, not super clear from the different versions I've heard) don't want to be with their parents, except for the youngest. At some point during the Sky Rip, there's too many beings panicking everywhere and the youngest knew they would get lost. So, they reached for their Father only to have the Father purposely pull away - abandoning the youngest to the chaos. Then the darkness descends and the two are immortalized inches away from each other.
And to top it all off, the Snakes have a much different story too. Again, same bones (Sky Rip and a family) but they insist that the family was not a Being like we know them today. They were a different type of life form that existed only before the Sky Rip and were wiped out during the event. The Snakes say that it's their fault the Sky Ripped in the first place - but, honestly it's hard to believe. I mean, other life forms? Why aren't there any records or bones or something? No one really understands what happened during the Sky Rip (except the obvious), but we know that there was a before and after. And nothing from before survived.
I've always had the theory that stuff did survive, but we just claim it's something different. Or it's in an area that no one has explored. I mean, for us to have an understanding of a "before" that means that it existed, and all things that exist leave behind some evidence - right? Otherwise, the "before" is just a figment of our imagination and that...is harder to believe.
Ugh, I feel like my head is spinning, going in circles. This is what I mean when I say my brain is too loud. Maybe I should have taken my sister with me. Nope. Ha. Scratch that, never travelling with my sister again.
But, maybe I can find someone else who wouldn't mind joining me...a thought for another day. Time to force this brain to sleep. Until next time.
Day 4 - Morning
Stumbled upon new Beings today - a Centaur camp! They're so tall (even the children!) but so far, really nice. They seem to have pretty open borders but when I asked about it, they just kinda smiled and moved the conversation along. Get the feeling I'm missing something...
I have a tour guide - Ronnie - and he's at least double my height with pretty chestnut hair. His hair is braided down his back, reaching just before the apex where his clothes meet his coat of hair. I asked him why he kept his hair so long - I thought it had to do with a tradition or something - but he just shrugged and said he liked it that long. We met a few of his buddies on our tour and they all had shorter hair, covered by knit hats. They teased him about his hair but he just laughed with them. I like the long hair, it looks good on him.
I've never spent so much time with Beings that have fixed transformations. My family and town lived next to a herd of De'r but we each kept to ourselves. They didn't seem to want to interact with us and - I guess we didn't really have a reason to interact with them either. I hope it wasn't because they thought we were prejudiced. That was one of the first things the Centaurs asked me - whether I thought they were lesser than because they couldn't shift between transformations like me. I said no, of course, but it hurts to know people think that. And why? They have family, they laugh when shopping and greet strangers like long lost neighbors. They're lesser than just because they have one form? That's ridiculous.
After his friends were done teasing him, Ronnie asked if I would shift into my other form for them - they hadn't seen it very often. I did and they all had these big reactions. It was nice but also - uncomfortable? Like, this is just who I am. It doesn't need that big of a reaction - as if I'm this other thing. Which, I mean, I guess I am. But so are they. Huh. Now I see where that thought pattern came into play. Doesn't make it right but - yeah.
I asked Ronnie if I could ride on his back and he made this face. They told me that they don't really like it when other Beings ask that because it makes them feel like a "thing" and not a Being - like they're not intelligent. I apologized (probably a little too much, based on their reaction) but I felt bad. Then I tried to ask them what else I should do or say, but they didn't really know. So we agreed to let the other know if something made us uncomfortable and to talk about it before making any judgments. They all are really nice. And Ronnie has a great smile with these big teeth. It's cute or maybe majestic since he's so big? Nah, he's just cute. Honestly, this entire camp is adorable (I feel like I'd get kicked if I told them that). They all are just so pretty with their shiny coats and funny reactions. I feel like I'm welcome somewhere, that I don't have to just travel through. I might stay a little longer than I'd planned.
