Learning the Language

Chene wakes up from her nap and sees a male faerie next to her.  She jumps up and to the other side of the mushroom, keeping it between them and looks for the nearest tree.  She spies the tree behind the faerie and stands still, hoping to avoid his attention.  She relaxes when she realizes she has met him before.
Jordon nods to her.
Chene says "Greetings Jordon"
Jordon says “Greetings Maam”.  He racks his brain for her name.  “Chene”
Chene smiles back at him.  She points to the mushroom and says "Jordon?"
Jordon frowns, points to the mushroom and says "That is a mushroom"
Chene repeats "thatisamushroom" and grins
Jordon realizes what he has done, shakes his head and points.  "Not that is a mushroom, just mushroom."
Chene pats the mushroom, a little confused and repeats "notthatisamushroomjustmushroom."

Chene runs to the tree and pats it. She turns to the faerie and asks "Chene?"
Jordon frowns and points to the tree "willow"
Chene smiles.  "Willow " she says as she caresses the tree.
Jordon says “Yes, willow.”
Chene points to the red flowers around the tree "Willow?" she asks
Jordon shakes his head "no."  He says “Flower.  Lilly.”
Chene shakes her head "no."  She says "Flowerlilly"
Jordon heaves a sigh thinking he did well as could be.
Chene points to the tree, then the flowers and finally the mushroom "Willow, flowerlily, notthisisamushroomjustmushroom."  She grins broadly.
Jordon tries to disguise his laughter and nods.
Chene sits on a wooden chair.  "Willow?" she asks
Jordon says “Maybe.”
Chene smiles again.  She is learning the language.  "Maybe" she says in delight.
Jordon says “oh!”  He points to the chair and says "Chair."
Chene frowns and says "chair?"
Jordon wonders if he can move close enough to her to sit down but decides not to risk it.
Chene pats the chair next to her and says "Jordon chair"
Jordon, surprised to hear what he believes is an invitation to join her, moves closer slowly and sits.
Chene watches the green lights move around the area and points to them.  "Casandra?" she asks
Jordon says ”No, spirit lights”
Chene repeats "Nospiritlights"
Jordon McGillivary: shakes his head and points again to the green lights.  "Spirit lights" he says.
Chene shakes her head, confused again.  "Spiritlights?"
Jordon says “Yes.”
Chene watches Jordon's head nod as he says yes and she begins to understand.
Chene nods her head and says "Yes."  She shakes her head from side to side and says “No.  Then she looks at Jordon.  "Yes?" she asks
Jordon smiles, delighted, and says “Yes.”
Chene smiles back at him. She hopes that soon she will be able to speak with the dreaded humans and ask about her sisters.
Jordon brushes his hand over the grass and plucks one.  He holds it out to her and says "Grass."
Chene takes the piece of greenery between her fingers and lifts it to her mouth.  She blows across it to produce a sound.  "Grass," she says
Jordon nods and thinks what next?
Chene points to Jordon's wings and asks "Jordon?"
Jordon flutters them and says "Wings."
Chene (nods and repeats "Wings."  She points to her hair and says "Jordon?"
Jordon thinks and lifts the bottom of his long blond hair and says "hair"
Chene smiles and says "Chene hair.”  She points to Jordon's hair and says "Jordon hair."
Jordon says “Yes, Very good.”
Chene points to Jordon's chin and giggles.  "Hair" she says.
Jordon laughs as he points to his chin and says "Chin."
Chene says "Chin" and then frowns.  "No. Hair."
Jordon brushes his hand over his whiskers and says "Beard."
Chene thinks about that for a minute and then smiles.  She points to the hair on his head.  "Hair," she says. She points to the hair on his chin.  "Beard" she repeats.
Chene strokes her own chin. "No beard" she says with a bit of laughter.
Jordon is relieved she picked it up so quickly.  “Yes!” he shouts.  Chene tries for something harder.  She points to herself and asks "Casandra Chene?"
Jordon frowns, confused
Chene shakes her head and points to him "Jordon?" she asks
Jordon understands and says “ah, you are both female.”  He nods. "Jordon.  I am male.”
Chene asks "Youarebothfeamle, Iammale?"
Jordon grimaces and shakes his head "No"
Chene says "No"
Jordon points to her and says "Female," then points to himself and says "Male."
Chene laughs "Casandra Chene female.  Jordon male."  She is delighted that she is learning.
Jordon says gleefully “Yes!  Wheww.”
Chene repeats "wheww."
Jordon McGillivary: smiles at her.  "We made real progress today."
Chene (Emyly Beaumont) watches jordon and says "Wemaderealprogresstoday."
Jordon swallows, realizes that was overly complicated and gives up on trying to work through it
Jordon stands and bows.
Chene (Emyly Beaumont) watches Jordon curiously and then laughs at his gesture.
Jordon says “Farewell.”
Chene repeats "Farewell"
Jordon McGillivary: lifts his hand and waves
Chene lifts her hand and waves as she understands he is leaving.
Jordon McGillivary walks away
Chene watches him walk away with a heavy feeling in her heart.  She needs to learn the language.  Who will help her now?

 

My thanks to Chene for her submission

Seriously Random Caption Competition

I took this pic the other day (don't ask)

Send the funniest caption you can think of for it via a notecard in-world to Cyneswith Luik.

The one deemed funniest by Friday (23rd) will win 200L ;)

Suggestions so far:

"George lifts his head; looking round and seeing only the chickens he thinks to himself........I didnt realise chickens could smell that bad.............."

(From 2ks Gears)

(Heh... very funny... *twitches eye at the dragon*)

"When Swith couldn't escape Isle of Arran in a barrel, the second best place she could escape to was a crate, where she went to her happy place."

(From Loraletti Dexler)

(Not only amusing, but probably true)

"Psssst....hey you, yea you! Got milk?"

(From saia Tigerpaw)

(lol)

"The hunter stalks his prey...tonight Jacen's boot dies."

(From Justine Moyet)

"Where's the chicken? That's not the chicken? I keep hearing chickens!"

(From Olivia Riverstone)

Had to add one myself, as I just thought of it:

"Cat burglar fails to spot chicken guard"

Updated: The winner was saia!

Updated updated: late entry from Jordon...

"what is a human doing in a crate ? meaaaaow??"

(trust a fae to be late... can't complain, I guess, lest I become victim of mischief...;)

an Acorn

Casandra flies towards the gypsy encampment and notices someone below.  She flies a bit lower and hovers over the pool.
Chêne turns, hearing a slight rustle of the wind. She sees a winged creature and freezes.
Casandra says softly,  "Hello, do you remember me?"
Chêne tilts her head, surprised that she understands the words and smiles. "Greetings" she says quietly.  She walks around the rim of the pool toward the other creature.

Casandra moves a little closer to the dryad and holds out a hand with a few berries in the palm.
Chêne remembers the previous kindness of the beautiful faerie and tentatively touches the berries.
Casandra moves her hand a little and flattens the palm more.
Chêne, deciding to trust her, selects a plump juicy berry, delicately places it in her mouth and smiles at the sweet taste.  She plucks an acorn from her headdress and offers it to the faerie in exchange with a smile of thanks.
Casandra slowly takes the acorn, smiles, and nods.
Chêne drops to the ground and using her hand, pantomimes digging.  She takes another acorn and pretends to drop it into the hole.  She brushes her hand over it and stands up, looking at the faerie.
Casandra stares at her, puzzled as to what she is trying to communicate.
Chêne stoops again, places her hand palm down over the spot and gradually lifts her hand higher and higher, keeping her palm outstretched over the same spot.  She sings softly as she raises her hand.
Casandra: hmmm....
Casandra nods and looks around for a likely spot.
Chêne watches the faerie fly to the other side of the pool and land on the rim.  She walks over to watch her.
Casandra shakes her head and rises into the air.
Chêne watches the faerie hover.
Casandra says to the dryad, "I am going to the area destined to be for the fae."
Chêne is curious and follows the flying creature as best she can on foot.
Casandra lands and turns to the one following her "I will plant it there."  She kneels near a spot that rises into the mountain.
Chêne maintains her distance, while craning her neck to see what the lovely faerie is doing with the acorn.
Casandra then looks at the tree lady, "I think this would be a good place. it will have light and rain will fall upon it."
Chêne is still amazed to discover that she can understand the winged creature and smiles encouragingly.

Casandra Shilova reaches out and touches the earth. As she works a hole forms and becomes deeper, then deep enough for a young sapling to sprout from. She gently caresses the acorn, places it in the ground and covers it with soil.
Chêne watches the motions of the faerie and begins to croon a song of joining with the earth and balance.

Casandra looks at the lady, sits back on her heels and joins in.  Her words do not match, but the intent is pure and her song creates a soothing harmony.
Chêne walks forward and stretches her arms up to the heavens, asking the goddess to send gentle winds and rain. She smiles at the faerie and says, "Together."
Casandra smiles and imitates the word.  She stands, "Thank you for the acorn; a big fine oak will grow from it."
Chêne points to herself "Chêne" she says.
Casandra nods.
Chêne points to the other woman with a questioning look.
Casandra points to herself and says "Casandra."
Chêne repeats the word "Casandra" and grins.  She points to the place where the faerie has just planted the acorn, "chêne" she says.
Casandra asks her, "Does the tree have your name?"
Then she nods in understanding, "I see, you are linked to the tree."
Chêne kneels at the freshly turned spot of earth and says soflty "Chêne."
Casandra looks down at her, and repeats "Chene."
Chêne stands and sweeps her arm around the empty spot "Casandra?" she asks.
Casandra shakes her head.  "It will be linked with me one day, but not yet."  She explains, "The spot with my imprint is further over."
Chêne points to the ground and then to herself "Chene together" she says.
Casandra nods hesitantly, thinking she understands, but knowing she could be wrong.
Chêne grins in pleasure. She is beginning to understand the faerie language very well.  She approaches the faerie and touches her robe "where?" she asks.
Casandra says, "Behind us.  I will show you."  She gestures.
Chêne smiles "I will follow" she says.
Casandra walks off, wondering if she can find the way on foot.  She breathes a sigh of relief as she succesfully winds her way over the terrain and reaches the glade.  She turns to the other woman.
Casandra gestures in a slow but wide sweep, "This is it."
Chêne emits a gasp as she sees the immense tree guarding the entrance to the glade.
Casandra realizes the dryad has moved quickly to the huge tree.  She says in agreement, "It is magnificent."

Chêne nods and strokes the tree, thinking to herself how wondrous this winged creature is that she could be one with such a great tree.
Casandra walks into the middle of the mushroom ring.
Chêne moves around the area which is filled with flowers and mushrooms.  She sees some multicolored trees and exclaims in delight.  She walks to the trees, extends her hand to touch one of the branches.  "Light" she says softly.
Casandra watches as the flowers change color.
Chêne smiles and touches the tree again to change its color.
Casandra looks on fascinated.  She and Chene stand quietly as they become absorbed in the magic of the trees and the plants.
Suddenly Chêne hears the wind in the trees calling to her and turns to the winged creature.
Casandra smiles as she approaches
Chêne places her hand on her heart and then tentatively touches the same place on the faerie.  She smiles and says "together."
Casandra is surprised.  She smiles and says "together."
Chêne) makes a sweeping motiion with her hand.  She whispers '"together."'
Chêne walks to the large tree beside the glade and vanishes.
Casandra turns and she is gone!

When Someone Doesn't Believe

I met Waterlily Moonstone exploring Arran.

Although tales of fae were told often by her family, she said "this is my first time seeing a real fae"

Waterlily: what happened to all of you? My mother told me that you used to be everywhere

Casandra: Humans invaded our spaces, cut the woods, uprooted the plants we love. chased us further and further away by their actions and their disbelief. Only some lands are accepting of us, and not all in those lands welcome us.

Waterlily: My dad said that when someone says they don't believe in you one fae dies.

Eeny Meeny.....

mmm.....which mushrooms? Placed where?
The complexities of life for a landscaper.....

Looking out over the village before the evening before it was plundered and the soulstone stolen.

Two of the three ships in harbor can be glimpsed below. They seem as small as stepping stones from here.