06-25-2016, 03:45 PM
The air carried the scent of well cooked meat, like a barbecue, with the hustle and bustle of a town in the midst of a festival. But it also reminded her of a harbor, with workers hauling boxes around, lacking any grace or happiness.
Then the door to her right opened swiftly.
She swiftly grabbed her pistol, pulling it out of the holster smoothly, as soon as the door was fully open the pistol was already aimed. She clicked the safety off, eyes adjusting at the figure standing there against the backdrop of sun covered sand and dirt. Kalli then lowered it as soon as she could once realizing who it was. Jeff, who looked up at her with the confusion, hostility and worry all in one while his hand was still placed on the door to keep it open, his face dropped into his standard, blank, guarded look with his calm, cold voice. "Nice to meet you too, Whittorn wanted me to wake you up. I see the door did that for me." Kalli looked up from him, in front of her was an entire tribe, a primitive town with suspicious stares over their new visitors.
The tribe's housing was composed of sticks, sticks upon sticks, stick walls and stick ceilings. They'd have one or two windows as well a single door, and varied in sizes. Some seemed big enough to be a able to hold two families (and probably did!) while others were meant for only a couple, or- rarely -a mere one person. While a few people stared from such places, mainly the old and the children, there were plenty of adults outside meeting the convoy personnel. Whittorn himself seemed to be speaking to a old lady, who Kalli could only assume to be the tribe's leader, especially since the tribe's warriors were protecting her with a four man escort. Aoki was talking to her as well, standing next to Whittorn with much worry on his face.
The convoy itself had completely disembarked, supplies being dropped off and carried throughout the tribe to the edges, setting up sandbags and machine guns while the tribes' people made way. They kept looking on with hostile glances, as if unwelcome or not wanted, making Kalli concerned every second she spent observing this place. The convoy's personnel didn't seem to care however, talking among each other while hauling their supplies around. Jeff coughed loudly, causing Kalli to look down, realizing she'd taken a good minute looking around the place. Embarrassed, she holstered her pistol and jumped down from her seat, Jeff slamming the door behind her. "Follow me, prime." Jeff walked past her, motioning her to follow with his hand.
They began to walk toward Whittorn, Aoki and the tribal leader. The talking becoming increasingly louder while Whittorn rubbed the back of his neck, giving a concerned look, the tribal leader was clearly not pleased and Aoki was sweating intensely, his entire face filled with fear. Jeff stood between them all, moving both hands toward Kalli, introducing her "This is the prime, Kalli." Jeff then proceeded to walk away, as if he said nothing.
"So, you're that prime my initiate mentioned." The eldest spoke in a clear, soft voice, but her face was giving a look that would make most people freeze on the spot. It seemed as if she was about to do a public execution on one of her worse enemies. Whittorn's concern only grew, looking at Kalli and giving a mere shrug before taking a step back. The wind howled at them for a short time, the elderly woman steadily standing up from her hunched position, pieces of jewelry and valuables making noises as they swayed, attached to her clothing by small white strings. Her back was covered in a brown cape, skinned from a animal like anything the tribal people wore. The rest of what she wore was a long brown dress, her feet barefoot and ankles covered in tight bracelets, like her wrists.
She opened to speak once more, but unlike her face, she spoke with much joy "Great to meet you! Pardon me for looking so angry, I was just worried they were lying about a prime is all." then she began to go back to her hunched position, holding onto her walking stick tightly. "Your 'boss' here, Whittorn I believe? He is a man with good intentions, I hope you have the same." She then poked her stick toward Aoki, "And thank you for finding Aoki by the way, we'd be devastated if any more of our people were lost."
"You're welcome, Eldest." Whittorn stated, his voice of respect and kindness, to which the Eldest laughed off.
"I'm not the Emperor nor am I any king like Aragorn, so please, drop this ridiculous worship." She then turned to look at Aoki again, speaking in their native language. Aoki nodded, saying something back with a blank face, then running off down between the tribe's housing. "Anyway." The Eldest looked back at Kalli "My name is The Eldest, feel free to laugh if you can't control yourself, the name is honest however and I appreciate that. Now, tell me, can you show us any proof of you being a prime?"
Kalli sighed "I could summon something. Like, food."
"Go ahead." The Eldest took a few steps back, smiling. The warriors to her left and right never changed in emotion however, holding spears and wooden shields with emotionless faces. Whittorn once more shrugged at Kalli, unable to do anything but watch. Kalli stood firmly on both her talons, raising both hands and summoning her omnilium, it flashed and poured from her hands as it would take form on the ground- at first it was shapeless, confusing, baffling. But then it took form, a bowl, with numerous fruit piled in it. After three minutes of standing in the hot sun, it was over, with a entire crowd gathering to watch, mainly composed of the tribe's people.
While much of the tribe whispered and spoke, the warriors stood still with their blank stare. The Eldest kept smiling, nodding slowly before looking at Whittorn, saying "Good to see you weren't lying." she then looked at Kalli "I know prime's do not have a unlimited amount of omnilium, so I won't blame you if you wish to take back what you just made."
"Actually, if I may be 'diplomatic'," Kalli then lifted up the bowl, keeping it in front of The Eldest "what if you take it? A sign of good will."
"Well, that certainly is something 'diplomatic' isn't it? I happily accept." She then took a grape from the bowl, eating it, and pausing. Once again the wind howled. The Eldest then began to move her head up and down slowly, nodding and quickly sticking the walking stick into the ground, taking the bowl, lifting it up above her head and facing the crowd that her people formed, saying something in the tribe's language. The crowd then began to cheer and celebrate the new found alliance.
Whittorn then took a few steps closer to the prime, standing right next to her. "Never knew you were a diplomat." he said
"Yeah, and I never knew fruit meant so much." Kalli joked.