[The Dolwoods] A Journey Of The Heart (Eventide/Chumomisto/PM to Join for Others)

[Avrie Eventide Drega]

TS: 20th of Aperitus, Summer, Era II, XIV (pf)

Avrie drove carefully and the stout white mellen mare seemed to have no problem pulling the sturdy Vardo through what turned out to be wilderness. The road here was wild, overgrown, but also there were signs of reassurances. Wagon tracks rutted the ground as if many vehicles such as hers had passed that way before. She'd even seen one old campsite, off to the side of the road. The fires had been well tended, but the grass along the creek there had been well-grazed down, a silent testimony to the amount of animals that had been traveling with whatever group of wagons passed this way.

Avrie's little group was sizeable as well, though she traveled as the sole human in the group. There was three goat kids bounding in and out of the line of wheels, sometimes pacing the mare pulling her load, sometimes falling behind to graze at flowers. Four cows came too, three small mini's and a milk cow that seemed to be gaining weight as she grew. A crate of secured chickens rode up under the Vardo, and upon its roof sat two peacocks comfortably, as if unconcerned that their home was on the move.

Some would have called Avrie stupid for traveling alone. But she had a Katana on the porch beside her, and her magic gathered close about her. She wished now though, for the company of another human... Venn perhaps, or even a fearsome dog like Jade's Nymira. But such things in her life were still up in the air, and as far as she was concerned beyond her control. A dog would come if one was meant too. So too would Venn, if he ever decided his hearts true path. For now, she needed a break, needed to get out of Natura and ply her skill and practice her art. She was a bard, and bards needed to move around once in a while. She was also something of a Seer herself, and as such she was chasing ghosts, narrowing down her past so she could move onto the future.

That was what this trip was all about. She wanted to learn who Lirelle Chumomisto was... who the rest of the Chumomistos were. Somewhere, down this road, there was family. She'd chase them, all the way to the sea if she had to, in order to make their acquaintance.

[Gitana Chumomisto]

She rode bareback a short distance away from the rest of the caravan, her legs curled tightly around the barreled waist of the red and white colorwash mare Kizzy, her hands loose upon the rough hemp rope that served as reins--no gaje reins and bridle this, but a crude halter of vivid red stitched intermittently with yellow and bright green. Her father would be furious when he found out she was wandering...again...but this time she had the company of her brother Jehan who had borrowed one of their cousin's horses to dart amidst the trees with her.

"Atch, Gitana! We should be gettin' back to the drom a'fore we go too far in. Tana! Och, you'll get us lost!" Jehan's voice trailed after her as she guided Kizzy around another tree, using her voice to slow the horse rather than any jerk of the ropes. She flashed a grin at her brother as he used more caution to navigate the thick underbrush, not giving the trust to the mare as she'd done with Kizzy.

"Don't be a dilo, Jehan! It's just a short ride. They won't notice we're gone for another candlemark or two. Come on, 'less you're afeared," she teased him and just as he was catching up she nudged her heels into Kizzy's sides and was dancing through the woods at a quick-paced trot with Jehan picking through the woods at a hurried walk behind her.

Through the woods they wound until finally they reached the road again. They'd been retracing their way from where they'd come from earlier that brightening, back towards the darkening before's campsite. They emerged onto the road at a walk, Gitana leaning forward to pat Kizzy's dusty shoulder as the horse whuffed underneath her.

Jehan came up alongside her, adjusting his grip on the hemp rope. "I'll bet you five crowns I can make it back to the kumpania a'fore you, huh?" He flashed a grin at her then and before she could muster up a retort of her own, he was off, the large horse sprinting down the road at a gallop.

"Och, beat me?" she muttered and followed suit, darting after him, bent forward as the wind flipped around her.

But it wasn't far until she spotted something she considered a little out of the ordinary: A lone vardo surrounded by a small menagerie of animals, meandering its way along the roadway, wheels following along the ruts of her own kumpania. Jehan whipped past the vardo, keen on his victory, with little more than a wave and a gusty, laughing greeting, but Gitana found herself curious. Few of the gaje adopted such wagons for their own, but it was not entirely unheard of, she knew that. Let Jehan win. I'll show him the next time!

She eased Kizzy down into a trot, coming up alongside the vardo and curving in front of its path, pale blue eyes examining the young woman in the wagon's seat. No, no one that she knew.

Tana's mouth curved into a wide smile as she settled along the side, Kizzy trotting forward only to have Gitana turn her back towards the strange vardo and the woman...a woman who looked very much like one of her own and yet...here she was, on her own. "Lost your kumpania, rawnie?" she greeted the woman, mouth flashing a white grin against a dark face. Indeed, the woman did not look as if she'd been exiled in some fashion or another, her hair uncut. Too much like a Air'riela, like herself, to be anything else. So why did she wander alone?

[Hanzi Ambarando]

The last guest lurked in the wilderness. He was dirty with the grime of the road and sweaty with exertion, the young gypsy male took a deep breath in a obscuring clump of brush. He could hear the creaking of wooden wheels in the distance, who could it be? The cautious Hanzi waited for the coming cart to reveal itself.

A single Vardo. He thought. Was someone lost? Hanzi knew the way, was it worth a hot meal? The gypsy pondered.

All in all, nothing too frightening about cows, goats and crated chickens. No doubt their larder would be well stocked, and no doubt they would be in a charitable mood. Best now to keep observing.

Hanzi followed the vardo wondering what was for supper. He imagined a fat, rich widow making a varmint stew in there. Perhaps she even had some liquor? Mmmmm.

A couple horses raced by while Hanzi dreamt of dessert. Hanzi- still embarassingly on foot- dove for safety as the racing young gypsies past by them. Hanzi was about to shake a fist before he saw one of the riders. He knew that face, after their Daj's were close friends and both families spent time together when they were younger. Gitana was much smaller then, and he much more gangly and shy.

"Baxtalo!" He cried out. The luck of the gypsies again! He rushed from the sides of the road. "Gitana! Gitana Chumomisto! It is Hanzi Ambarando!" Hanzi huffed and puffed towards the vardo and Gitana. "I come bearing news!" He cried out in rapid Aire.

[Anora Eventide]

(OOC: There's space for you to talk amongst yourselves before this if you like )

Two matching horses, spotted white and chestnut came down the road at an easy pace. A young man's indignant voice rose loudly above the soothing rhythm of horse hooves.

"…And then the pretty gaje didn't seem so pretty anymore. Her face curdled like milk from an old goat's tit as she yowled at me!"
A voice nearly identical clucked his tongue and responded pedantically.
"I told you the red-heads had an imbalance of elements."
"You and your elements…" he paused, "She swore to send her father after me. Feth it."
"Caldo! Your swears!"
"So sorry, my Didikai. I meant, Amria!"
A motherly sigh escaped one, "Wasting breath with gaje curses. I'm ashamed of you."
"Well, I'm out of sorts after that redhead hissed at me."
"Ah, young love."
The other voice reared to begin a new string of swears, but stopped short as they passed the group.
"Oh ho! What is this? Tana's on the loose again, Haldo!" A perfect white grin split the young man's face as he looked playfully at Gitana, "Break anything yet my little blackbird?"

The Air'riela was old enough to get into real trouble, but young enough to be charming while he did. His hair was straight and stopped at his shoulders, and his merry eyes were a sparking emerald. A narrowness to his features gave him the air of a crow, and his dress the look of a gypsy buccaneer.
The other rider trotted forward a bit to peer past the fist. He was identical, save he had an affection for copper earrings and bands about his wrist. Balanced his elements, he claimed.
"And I see our shiftless cousin has come to visit as well!"
It was all rolled with a grin and teasing good-will.

Caldo, ever attentive to the ladies, soon landed his attention on Avrie manning her Vardo. Looking at her with a reverent astonishment he exclaimed.
"Mira baxt! What a lovely face has graced me on the road today, Rawmie. I think it a fair omen."

Never one to be left out, Haldo dismounted to greet the lady properly. He moved near Avrie on her perch, but his brother's voice stopped him.
"Keep your clumsy hands off the lady and her things, Haldo."
Not looking away from Avrie he responded in a voice smooth as new cream, "Clumsy? I'm gentle as a kitten Caldo."
Caldo dismounted, smacking his brother's fingers away from Avrie and reached to take her hand in a knightly manner.
"If by that you mean, you scratch and piss indiscriminately, Haldo, then you are correct."
The new victor, Caldo, looked adoringly to Avrie, ignoring his brother's murderous stares.
"Sastimas, miri pakvora Rawmie."
His brother's poignant cough momentarily deflated his raptured look. Drawing in a breath he smiled and began again.
"We are the Gry brothers, cousins to this ill-looking gent." He jerked a thumb at Hanzi.
"Thankfully his looks came from his father, not our blood," chimed Haldo.
"I'm Caldo," continued the one holding her hand.
"I'm Haldo." The young man was walking about the horse and maneuvered to take Avrie's other hand.
With a rakish panache Caldo kissed her hand, while the more reserved, Haldo kissed the air above it.
"What may we do for you?"

[Jehan Chumomisto]

There was always fun to be had in winning, however not when your competition gives up in order investigate things. Jehan went on a short distance before halting his horse and gently trotting it back towards where his younger sister had decided to look in on someone’s Vardo. Why his sister’s curiosity couldn’t be quenched for just this short time was beyond Jehan. It was perhaps because of this curiosity that he had grown so protective over her in the last few eras. He was generally protective over his family at any rate but he sometimes feared more for Gitana than the others.

As his horse made its way towards Gitana at Jehan’s guidance he watched her as she struck up a conversation with the stranger. He wasn’t sure how he felt about all of this, a lone Vardo, perhaps it was a Gaji or someone who had been outcast. From his vantage point he couldn’t see who his sister was talking to. It wasn’t until he had trotted up beside her and gave a pat to the broad shoulders of his cousins horse that he seen that she didn’t show any signs that she was cast away, nor did she look like a Gaji.

He was speechless for a few moments trying to think of why she would be alone here and not with her kumpania yet still with her Vardo. It wasn’t often that one got lost in his experiences though it isn’t completely unheard of. He would tell his sister when they were alone that she owed him the 5 crowns as her stopping was a clear sign of forfeit. But for now he was silent except he offered a more kind greeting than his thought his sister had "Sastimos." The question that had been on his mind had clearly been asked and until there was an answer that was no need to push things beyond a greeting. Perhaps his sister could have introduced herself first before asking the question assuming that this woman may not be able to keep up with her kumpania.

Jehan turned to see Hanzi and quickly dismounted his horse. He had remembered the boy from when they were young too. Perhaps had he stopped and not raced by him he may have welcomed Jehan too. ”Why do you greet mira pena but keck Mandi?” his common held a thick accent and had he not been talking to a fellow gypsy he would have used more of it, his voice held in it humor. But he knew Hanzi would know what he was talking about. ”What Nevipe have you brought?” he asked forgetting for a moment about the stranger on the wagon.

Jehan looks very much like Gitana, it was clear that they were brother and sister. He was only slightly taller than her at 5’6 inches. He had a slender frame, smaller than most males have but still masculine enough that he didn’t look like an undeveloped female. They shared the same deep olive colored skin tone and dusky blue eyes. For his garb he was wearing a pair of simple riding boots as well as a simple pair of gray trousers. His shirt however was filled with colors mainly reds and oranges which were the colors he wore most often, his shirt was loose and open revealing his chest and stomach though when he rode by it would reveal his lower back as well. He wore a sash sideways over his shoulder as well that was a solid bold yellow.

[Avrie Eventide Drega]

ooc: Forgive the slowness of response... rl natural disasters are getting the best of me these days.

It was a lovely day deep within the woods. Far too lovely, it seemed for the birds to abruptly stop their song, and the woods to hesitate for just an instant. That was all the warning Avrie got before her world started to fill with people. The bardess looked astonished as a colorwash galloped by and a second one pulled up effortlessly. The girl aboard was young and lovely, and looked about as wild as the Dolwoods around them. Avrie couldn't help but smile a greeting. She spoke Aire, though her accent was a bit off the norm, colored too much with common. "Sastimos! Nai, I've not lost my Kumpania. Well, perhaps upon second thought I have. I'm Avrie Eventide, or Lirelle Chumomisto in Aire. I'm looking for The Beatrizia Chumomisto Kumpania, and my mother... Nicolesza. I was told they summer in the Dolwoods about this time of year." Avrie said hopefully. The girl seemed very bright, engaging, and perhaps knew something of the Kumpania she sought.

Then Hanzi stepped forward, introducing himself without meaning too. Avrie gasped as she realized the man said the girls name, and she turned her gaze from him back to Gitana, raising an eyebrow. "Are we related?" She wondered aloud, as the other man joined the two young women. Then, out of the blue, two men, so closely alike that they appeared to be twins themselves manifested. She found herself repeating her earlier greeting. "Sastimos, fair weather and easy roads too you too, Manus. It's nice to meet all of you. I'm Lirelle Chumomisto. And I'm starting to suspect I found or am nearing the Kumpania I was looking for." When Jehan road up, she wasn't a bit surprised. From a lonely road, the world had just opened up and dumped her admist what she suspected were relatives, of a sort. What sort she wasn't sure, but she waited calmly, until perhaps someone enlightened her.

Haldo and Caldo were charming, and so was Jehan. All and all, the people surrounding her looked engaging, happy, and altogether outgoing. Avrie smiled, relaxed at last. Perhaps the trip was well worth it.

[Gitana Chumomisto]

The horse fidgeted beneath Gitana and the girl shifted with the movement, patting a thick muscled shoulder absently as if to soothe the mare. Her eyes remained focused on Avrie, although they traveled occasionally over the horse, the vardo, the animals... Her mouth curved into a puzzled grin as the young woman made the reason for her presence known, a grin that quickly shifted into a slight frown at the mention of her mother's name...which was also, coincidentally, her own mother's.

But there was hardly time to puzzle it out as a fresh voice came gusting towards them, one she recognized and, for a time, banished the confusion inflicted on her. The frown slipped away again, replaced by a flash of white against dark skin as she smiled, eyes shifting towards the man jogging down the length of road. "Hanzi! Sastimos!" She did not immediately catch the tone of his voice, that perhaps something was wrong and the news truly urgent. "Sar san? Shee miri daj kushti?"

And then her brother appeared and she stuck her tongue out at him as he greeted Hanzi, smiling and antsy on the back of the colorwash. "Because--mandi am more rinkeni than you, miri prala," she teased him, fluffing her hair with a laugh. Gitana wasn't necessarily a person claimed by vanity, but she at least found comfort in the fact that she was not generally considered unattractive on top of everything else.

She could hear the voices down the lane, coming closer and she slid down off Kizzy's back, stumbling a little as feet connected with solid ground, so that she would not be looking down at Hanzi, for a brief moment Avrie's revelation completely forgotten--or else dismissed and attempted to be forgotten--as she greeted a longtime friend. "What shee o barri nevipe, Hanzi?"

And then the others were upon them, talking the lot of them--not an uncommon occurrence at that, not with Haldo and Caldo to spur the conversation. She grinned at Caldo as he teased her, lifting a shoulder with a gesture of good-natured dismissal. "I was waiting for you to get here!" she responded easily enough, but they were already refocusing elsewhere, the identical twins swarming the young woman on the vardo with all the charm and grace the Air'riela could muster. She watched them, the young woman's words chiming through her head. Could she see the traces of her mother in the face of a lupunza? Unless she was no lupunza at all, but one of them and her mother had gone to visit another man at Hanzi's kumpania...

She studied Hanzi. "O nevipe, Hanzi!" she insisted, gesturing impatiently.

[Hanzi Ambarando]

Hanzi could have bit knocked over with a feather as he processed the information. So while people were talking to him, demanding the news, all Hanzi could do was open and close his mouth with astonishment. Jehan, Gitana, his counsins, and Avrie/lirelle- the lupunza he sought? He took a deep breath.

First off he held a foreboding finger out towards Haldo and Caldo Gry, his own cousins.

"I'll box both of your ears you whelps!" He promised in Aire very loudly. "You're lucky you got some Ambarando in you through your father, my uncle. Much too noble for the likes of the Gry! I'll beat you both when I am done with my errand." He smashed his fist into his hand and gave a playful wink.

"Sastimos cousins, it's been too long. However, grant me a moment to fulfill a promise I made."

"Jehan!" He held up a hand in greeting. "Sastimos! You rode so fast I could not make out your face! I see things are well and you are healthy, I am happy my friend. How is your father? Please come hear my tale- the Nevipe concerns you as well." Hanzi motioned for Jehan to come closer.

"...and Gitana. Sastimos. It's been a long time since I've seen you and your brother. Nearly six summers since I stayed with my relatives the Gry for a summer. Your mother talked about you often Gitana and she is right-you grow more rinkeni by the cycle. If sleep was as rinkeni as you, I would never want to wake, miri rawnie." Hanzi smiled warmly as he patted Gitana's horse's rump and turned to Avrie.

"And I have searched for you as well. Only masaka could have put together such a baxt arrangement! Baxtalo!" Hanzi praised Ambarando the Traveller.

"Gitana, Jehan, meet your half sister Lirelle Chumomisto. Lirelle meet your half sister and brother Gitana and Jehan.' Hanzi smiled and held his arms out wide. The smile faded and her nervously ran his hands through his hair.

His voice dropped and became grave as he announced-

"I was sent by your Daj, Nicolesza Chumomisto, from her deathbed. She sent me to gather all her children for her funeral and collect their inheritance.

"She took violently sick on the road while visiting my daj. She lasted no more than a brightening after she fell ill. It was sudden and there was nothing that could have been done. Our healers tried their best, but this sickness worked so swiftly. She sent for me when it became apparent that she would not live much longer. I feel terrible about this, she was a friend to my familya. You have my sympathies." Hanzi held his head sadly. "I promised her that I would contact you all, lead you back so you can collect her belongings and body for her funeral."

Hanzi turned around and faced his cousins.

"Tell me my boon cousins, where's the Kumpania heading? North I hope?" He asked.

[Jehan Chumomisto]

”Half sister?” Jehan asked lowly examining Avrie. She had looked like them, like a gypsy but that rarely meant anything as many gypsies shared similar features. It would explain however what she was doing out here along and the conversation that had been started but interrupted by an old friend. He had heard the word mother but over the racing hoof beats he couldn’t hear anything else. Even then his common is not as good as others and he often makes mistakes in what people are trying to tell him.

Unfortunately though they weren’t able to get off to a nice meeting as Hanzi continued with what he had been asked to come all this way for. Jehan knew at the same time that Hanzi remembered what his news was. He didn’t know what it was, all he knew was that he was about to tell the small group some bad news. The excitement of finding them all together stopped suddenly and Jehan could feel it though he couldn’t explain it. It was as if the adrenaline of the meeting in himself was suddenly stopped, an he felt nervous and upset before the words were spewed out.

Jehan swallowed and took a step closer to Hanzi holding out his hand ”I thank you Didikai for bringing this Nevipe to us and fulfilling our Daj’s last Pooker.” The hand that Hanzi would feel greeting his would be rigid and firm. It wouldn’t hurt but there was clearly feelings behind it. Jehan would also touch his elbow and whisper another thank you. He looked up at Avrie ”If you plan jawl as well would it be much trouble to have our Didikai ride with you in your Vardo?” he asked trying to use as much common as he could not sure if Avrie would be able to comprehend anything else though she had used a greeting of the gypsies. His accent when speaking common was strong and he struggled with much of the words.

He quickly mounted his cousins horse again giving it an encouraging slap on the shoulders containing his emotions the best that he could. He looked Gitana, he didn’t know what to say to her, he wanted to comfort her, to protect her from all of this but he couldn’t. He didn’t allow any tears to fall from his eyes, he just looked at his sister and swallows though his mouth was dry.

”I will go to get Everilda our Pena” he said this time looking up at the stranger that was his sister that he knew nothing about. ”I will be Divano you on O way. Gitana, will you come with Mandi or keck?” he asked gently. He didn’t want to leave her alone but he was going to have to unless she would come with him. He rode gently over to her to touch her hand and try to comfort her some. He would whisper in a low voice ”Come with me.” He didn’t demand it, but it was a gentle request.

”Where shall I ride when I leave?” he asked looking at everyone. He was taking it hard, he was going to be sick soon but he tried to keep calm. If he were to lose it than Gitana likely would. When he was closer to her he could feel it, it was taking his breath away so he could only imagine what it was doing to her.

[Anora Eventide]

The lively pair dimmed at Hanzi's announcement, their hearts welling with compassion for their fellows. They released Avrie's hands and bowed their heads.
Caldo murmured low, "Akana mukav tut le Devlesa,"
Softly translating Haldo added, "I now leave you to the gods."

Caldo answered Hanzi, "It goes wherever they need it to go, cousin."
As his brother spoke, Haldo hovered near Gitana's horse casting her such looks. If she was afoot he likely would have hugged her, but as it was he only murmured.
"Go with your Prala, blackbird. We will follow to the kumpania down the way."

The twins lingered as affairs were decided and eventually escorted Avrie and Hanzi in the Vardo towards the kumpania.

When the kumpania was visible, an accusing voice jettisoned up from the loose circle of wagons and livestock. As the group drew nearer, they found its source was a gaje man impeccably dressed, and coiffed, with rose oil in his hair and wax in his mustache.
Beside him was a frog-like fellow, whose eyes strained to be open wide, fighting to comprehend what went on around him. He smiled and frowned gradually as understanding came on him slowly.
Facing the pair was a woman in her middle age with straight shoulders and sculpted limbs. Her eyes were a dusky blue and her stern features were more noble than pretty. A younger woman hovered nervously beside her, her mouth gaping and closing, as she gasped on retorts.

The neatly dressed man continued to storm at the elder Air'riela, who withstood him with the calm of a lioness.
"Our work is under a pressing timeline. It will be a damn benediction from the mouth of the revered gods if we obtain half the price of that stallion for those two overgrown dogs."
The younger woman's mouth made a grim line and she spat an answer at the man's feet in Common.
"Air'riela horses are better than gaje men." She turned to her Baro suddenly pleading in Aire, "Those were our departed sister's wedding gift to Luca!"

The Baro gently rested her hand on the woman's shoulder. While the Baro, Ebrah, was not tutored in gaje arcane, her voice had a touch of mysticism, able to soothe at will.
"I know, Nadya, I know." Ebrah looked at the gaje, her steady eyes, terrible for the quiet determination in them. One almost believed a mountain would move if she bid it.
"We will solve this." Her common was perfect.

Though a little cowed by the woman's look, the man was able to sputter an answer, "That is where you are highly mistaken, Miss. Our esteemed supervisor does not indulge the rambling ignorance of gypsy machinations or your… your… stick chucking, and I doubt the Magistrate will give the word of thieving vagrants credence over a reputable horse merchant's."
He swallowed, bolstering himself. "It has been seen to, lady. Your incorrigible hellions set free our prize horse and we're confiscating those two jumpers as compensation."
With a dramatic sweep of his arm, he called to his frog-like associate, "Del! Let us take our leave, and shake their dust from our boots."
The little man scratched his dirty hair. His voice had to wind up before it found its flow. "Wellll… Everen, donchya think we oughta be a little more law and orderly 'bout this?"
This commentary was rewarded with a meaty smack to the back of Del's skull.
"Del, when your oh-so-wise counsel is required, I will squeeze your head."
This reprimand only made Del smile, he saw it as a gem of wisdom falling from his companion's mouth.
"Right."
The gaje pair left in a thundering cloud of dust, pulling a black and white horse behind them.

The Baro fixed her eyes on the departing gaje, while the young woman looked to her expectantly. Suddenly the Baro's voice rang out.
"Haldo! Caldo! Now!"
A collective wince arose on their faces and Caldo muttered, "Our Baro calls."
"Who happens to be our esteemed mother."
"Doubly dreadful," Caldo finished.
With a somber grace the pair bowed and one, it was hard to tell which, said, "You must excuse us."

The Baro wasted no time, she didn't need a Kris to read this pair.
"A gaje horse merchant said two young Air'riela boys set his prize stallion free. Explain."

"Maybe I took it for a bit of a joyride," Haldo begun timidly.
Caldo coughed into his hand, "And maybe I took his daughter for a bit of the same."
"But I didn't set it loose. We put it under more locks and keys than our sister's virtue! The daughter even helped us."
They spoke in unison, a sign of their sincerity, "Honest to Gods!"

It was a perilous moment before the woman nodded, their honesty gauged.
"Solve it. Those were Mala's gift to Luca. He will be back soon. You can explain matters to him."

At that moment the woman glanced up to the others, her expression softened with a smile.
"Nephew! And you have brought a Rawmie friend!" She paused, "But why so grave? Bad road?"

[Avrie Eventide Drega]

Avrie nodded, and moved over so Hanzi could jump up on the porch of the Vardo and sit comfortably on the other side. Vardo's didn't really have driving seats. They just had wide porches folks could perch on, legs danging down by the traces. And truth be known, she was glad for the company as she stared at her half brother and half sister, uncertain of he welcome and uncertain what to say.

"Half pena y peno? Lords miri baxta is doing well, it seems. So I've found the Chumonisto's then? Khushi." Avrie smiled, and found herself scooting over yet once more as a horse was tethered to the back of the vardo and either Haldo or Caldo... she was a bit confused as to which, joined them as well. The vardo was feeling somewhat crowded suddenly. But what was more worrisome was the way Jehan studied Gitana with genuine concern. Was her presence here going to disrupt the entire kumpania? No... perhaps not. Perhaps it was the news instead.

"She's gone then? Oh Nicolesza...." Avrie said softly, voice filled with longing and pain. She'd came a long way to meet her mother, never suspecting that it would be too late or that there were so many other children. Uncertain of her welcome, the others joining her on the porch was a surprise. But how would the others in the Kumpania take it? She have any idea as she drove the wagon up to the atchin tan, that there'd be such a mess underway with what appeared to be a gaje party demanding retrobution for a lost stallion. Avrie pulled up, and took some time maneuvering Cirrus into position so she could add her Vardo to the circle of wagons. Then she secured it with the hand break and gave the mare a scoop of grain in a feed bag to keep her quiet until she could unhitch her if she was indeed staying. Already, her own livestock was joining with the kumpanias herd, so all was well in that aspect too.

With such a conflict underway, no one seemed concerned that yet another vardo joined their group. It was obvious, within a few minutes of joining the crowd of gypsies, that the gaje were going to steal what didn't belong to them in because of a misunderstanding between the twins, a daughter, and a stallion. Oh lords. Normally, she'd step forward and try to solve the problem, but this was Air'riela business, not Eventide business... and growing up with all the Air'riela camped on their land, Avrie was more than used to this sort of thing. The Baro was the authority here, and her decisions would stand. The Baro would speak, sort things out, and solve the problems. Anything else would be disrespectful.

And so she stood with the group, feeling the jekhipe all around her, and tried not to feel so angry that these men thought they could steal without proof, making accusations without evidence. Avrie sighed as the Baro let the men leave, horse in tow.

Then the Baro turned, delt with the twins, and studied her and Hanzi. "Lirelle Chumomisto" Avrie said simply, then quietly added. "I would ask your permission to park my vardo with your kumpania, and bring three mini cows to add to the wealth of the familiya that we can butcher tonight for a feast to honor my half penas and pralas." She said softly. Avrie didn't know if the Baro would hold a Pakiv, but she wanted to make sure they weren't set behind foodwise if they did.

[Gitana Chumomisto]

Hanzi made his greetings, prattled on a little, and though it was nice to see a friend she'd not seen in eras, it was nonetheless taxing on her growing impatience when she knew he had news to share. "Hanzi--" she started, hoping to move him along, but he was already getting to the point, grandly sweeping his arms wide as if welcoming the newly gathered family with open arms. She stared at him, shifted her eyes towards Avrie in speculation, mouth a little tight. Lupunza, of that she had no doubt. But... Was there something amiss with this introduction of a sister?

Hanzi's dampened expression drew her attention back to him and tightened Gitana's heart. Bad news. Not good news, for all that Hanzi seemed eager to have brother, sister...lupunza...all in one place. Was their mother leaving their father for...this one?

Ah! but the news that came! She stared at Hanzi, hands clenching the makeshift reins draped loosely over Kizzy's neck. Her heart felt stabbed, damaged, and she looked around her at the faces, saddened, touched with grief. He had not said...that she was dead, surely. She had merely misheard, had to have. Daj could not be dead!

But the looks upon their faces were not easing away into something softer, sweeter, and Jehan was there, imploring, asking her to come away. She wanted to jump down and grab Hanzi about the shoulders, shake him until he told them that he was lying...for surely he had to be lying. But she was frozen to Kizzy's back, legs stiff, refusing to budge, arms feeling strangely limp. "Kek! Hanzi!" she gasped after a moment, but could not find other words to say.

They were urging her away and for a split moment she wanted to scream at them to shut up and let her stay, to rattle Hanzi and tell her the truth, but still she could not find the words and shaking her head she nudged Kizzy into a walk, a trot, and moved off down the lane ahead of them, turning off into the woods without a warning to Jehan, letting him follow if he would...not that she doubted one way or another.

"What prikasa is this?" she spat eventually, drawing Kizzy in and letting both herself and horse stand there for her prala to approach, if he would. "Gain a pena and lose Daj? What prikasa?" All of the words were a quick tumble of Aire, fast slipping from her tongue, choked a little in her throat as she fought to accept the announcement. She wanted it to be a lie and yet the rock in her gut, tugging, hardening, told her it was anything but false. "She was supposed to go and come back! Muller'd? He is lying! Jehan! He has to be. She was supposed to come back!" She was shaking, hands white on the rough hewn rope connected to the halter, her face draining of its color. The possibility that Daj might not be coming back...