Deepwood Weald balun che'

tags for visibility & reference but always an invitation! otherwise, all welcome!

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many trees.

two gathered. with @Flecha and @Sabah at their side, ajaw cuts the path towards the serpentstooth ( sawtooth spire ).

in the spindly forest blanketed in red and green ferns, ajaw feels enough sacred energies to call for few day's rest. to explore and scout and hunt.

they use this time to scout themselves, always a keen eye towards the suntouched peaks ( sunspire mountains ); using it, the serpentstooth, and the stars when the blanket of midnight settles upon the wilds to keep their direction.

following the instinctual tug that tells them that they will find the sacred place there.

As she had promised to do, Sabah followed close alongside her ajaw. He would never be far from her sight. Not if she could help it.

Herself and another, Flecha, were led to an interesting place. 

The holcan observed closely, awed in some sense.

This place good. Hidden. The trees certainly played their part, keeping the surrounding area concealed by branches and ferns.

It was promising. But in the end, Kukulkaan would decide where they stayed and where they ventured.

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this place is good. hidden.

kukulkaan makes a low rumble of agreement in their chest; like coming thunder.

blood red and emerald green ferns fall beneath their paws, cutting a path to find their path back.

but was to be hidden what they want?

this one agrees, ajaw replies, frostbound gaze snapping to a lone doe that spooked, darts off deeper into the territory. prey is plentiful.

but it does not call to them and thus, it is not right.

but the land does not sing to this one. it does not feel sacred. arguably, any territory they claim could be considered sacred ... but they listen for the singing in the earth, in the wind. here, among these ferns and spindly trees, the earthsong is absent.

It was good land, but it did not appeal to ajaw.

Does ajaw want open land, or closed land? Did he want land open to run, or closed off by trees and mountains? Sabah asked this simply to know perhaps where she could lead him. There was a time she was a skilled tracker. Perhaps she could prove herself to him as this again.

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this one feels the earthsong pulling this one towards the suntouched peaks. a gesture in the direction of the sunspire mountain range is made with their muzzle.

though this one trusts the very breath of their life in the holcan, a territory naturally fortified against enemies is preferable.

for they did not doubt there would be enemies. and best to have a territory that worked for them.

this one thinks the season gift will do well here in this place of many ferns. offered as a compromise and in an effort not to disqualify her suggestion.

The two had a similar idea. This pleased Sabah, but she did not speak this aloud. He was far above her in ever way. It was not appropriate to assume her thoughts were equal to that of the ajaw

Give your want. She asked of him, firmness and confidence present; but yet, she was respectful all the same. Sabah will fulfill. If he wanted her to find a place befitting this description, she would find it. If he wanted her to stay by his side, she would stay. Either which way, she was his to command.

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this one knows, holcan. offered to reassure: kukulkaan was confident in the unique abilities of each holcan, and trusted them as both a unit and individuals.

even so, they are not quick to answer; weighing sabah's strengths and their monumental task still before them.

there was no doubt it could be done, but deciding which holcan to send scouting and which to keep with them was, like everything: a calculated move.

stay. ajaw eventually decides. this one will send a few of your sisters to scout the suntouched peaks, but you and this one will go together.

To her surprise, ajaw wished for her to stay. Others would be sent in her stead. 

Then Sabah stays. Even despite her will to show this great skill, she would act as he commanded

Continuing on, she followed after him.