Flowers and Ferns II (Apprentice Druidism, Private, Minerva)

Brine · August 15, 2009, 06:22 PM

Timestamp: 1st of Imperos, Season of Autumn, Era XVI PF

The very first day of Autumn, had finally arrived within the Forest of Light, and Brine rejoiced in that fact. Perhaps now he could finally attend to his duties within the forest, under the canopy that was held high above him. He would finally be able to make things grow once more, and for that fact he was happy. Making his way through the forest, he looked around, as he moved his large lumberous legs forwards, his roots uprooting, and rooting into the ground as he walked. His brown bark covered him, and he could feel the cool mud around his feet as he made his way through the forest.

I wonder what Sorn and Elder Trach are doing, he thought, but dismissed the thought as quickly as it came. Perhaps it would be time for him to advance in his Arcane arts soon, as he was already an initiate, Apprentice would certainly come next. But as were all treants, Brine had an eternity, or almost an eternity to learn what needed to be learned, and as he wandered the forest that day, he would look for any sign of seeds upon the ground that he could help grow...

Minerva · August 17, 2009, 03:57 AM

It was Autumm, indeed, but the Forest of Light remained painted, flawlessly, in the vast pure white, of snow. The season was only truly present in name, it seemed, for the winter continued to linger on, encasing the Kingdom coldly, within its icy grip. The crunch of snow sounded beneath the treant's feet as he made his sojourn through the forest, on the hunt for seeds. He found none, beneath the layers of snow-covered bracken, and bush, although he did manage to run into Sorn, (more theoreticallly than technically speaking, of course- treants were not exactly the type to truly 'run,' after all.)

The younger treant appeared both surprised and happy to see him, after a time, his bark features contorting slowly into the seeming of the emotions, combined. "Brine!" He exclaimed, his voice a little exciteable, as the rushing of leaves upon the wind.

"What are you doing...? Are you...are you looking, for something...?" Sorn continued, his mannerisms a little more poignant, and deliberate, now. He was glad to see Brine, truly, but he was also rather curious, seemingly, as to what it was his slight elder, sought.

Brine · August 17, 2009, 03:01 PM

"Well, Sorn, I originally was going to look for any sign of seeds that I might be able to help grow, you see, but it looks like the snow hasn't melted enough for there to be any growth here," said Brine, looking towards his younger friend whom he hoped would someday become his future sapmate. Waving a bark covered arm towards the snow, he smiled and said, "Even in this cold weather I still seek to help the Forest of Light grow, to help nurture it and provide an additional life force for it. What is it that you seek to do for it. Is it the same thing that I seek?" and even as brine asked the question, he hoped the answer would be the same thing that Brine sought. To help the forest flourish, even in these hard times...

Ooc: my first iPhone post

Minerva · August 18, 2009, 04:11 AM

Sorn liked his elder, and how much he seemed to care for their Forest of Light. To his query, the younger treant responded with a smile- an action which caused a shifting of his bark, and a handful of snow to fall, in a soft rain of white, to the ground. "Oh...Yes, yes it is...although..." He paused, features crinkling ever so slightly, in thought.

"Now that you're here, and I'm here...there's something I remember..." Slowly, Sorn thought back, in ponderous flashes of the past, until...

"Elder Trach! Yes...He told me that I should tell you this, should I run into you." Sorn smiled, before moving on to explain what he had been told. "Elder Trach wanted you to seek him out, Brine. Something about your training? I think he thinks that you're ready to learn more about protecting the Forest of Light!"

To Sorn, this sounded like a most amazing thing, and Brine continued, it seemed, to be a role model, within the young treant's mind.

OoC: Awesomesauce! (:

Brine · August 18, 2009, 08:57 AM

As Sorn began to speak to Brine, he smiled, his bark creaking as he did, and looked at him with gentle brown eyes. What was he going to say, about the two of them being there? And when it finally came out, what he remembered, Brine was a mixture of both disappointment and excitement. He was disappointed that Sorn had not said anything about their relationship as friends, and perhaps taking it onto the next level as sapmates, but was excited about Elder Trach wanting to continue his training with him.

Nodding, he looked towards Sorn, and then said, "Thank you for the information Sorn, I'll be seeking Elder Trach out at once then..." As he began to walk past Sorn, he put a bark covered hand upon Sorn's shoulder squeezing it softly, and then smiling at him once more. "I will see you later in the season then?" he asked of Sorn as he began to leave the area, hoping that he would see the other Treant again that season, as he had much to discuss with him about various things, and they had all the time in the world to discuss such things, because they had an eternity to live...

Minerva · August 18, 2009, 07:39 PM

"Yes...of course!" Sorn replied with a smile, to his elder's query. He had noted, however, a certain hint of something- was it sadness?- within Brine's tone of voice. The treant did not wholly understand, and to do so would likely require a good amount of thought. Their kind were not truly prone to rashness, of any sort. They mulled over things, for ordinations or more if need be, before they would commit themselves, to any act.

Sorn simply watched his elder, for a time, before finally choosing to ask one question, solely.

"Is something the matter, Brine?" Sorn asked, the words spoken both ponderously, and slow. It had taken some time for him to decide upon asking the question in the first place, and so, what would be wrong with a few moments, more?

Brine · August 20, 2009, 04:35 AM

Stopping for a moment before he would walk away, Brine turned his barked head, the bark creaking as he did, and looked towards Sorn. "No..." he said deliberately. "It's nothing of great importance now my good friend... we shall talk about it later in the season," he finished, and then looked at him through soft brown eyes. It did seem like Sorn did care for him, or at least looked up to him still, perhaps not necessarily to sap-mate status, but then again, they ahd all of the time in the world to combine their spirits in the way that sapmates do. Later in the season, Brine would have to speak with Sorn about it, and hope the younger Treant felt the same way.

"I must go to see Elder Trach now, but thank you for your kindness..." said Grine, a smile forming on his face. And with that, he would turn and leave the younger Treant to his duties, and begin his trek to find Elder Trach within the Forest of Light...

Minerva · August 21, 2009, 01:32 AM

Brine offered his elder a smile in return, before watching him leave, into the shadows of the forest, once more. The young treat would return to his own duties, and Brine, for now, had his own to which to attend. He had to find Elder Trach, and his sojourn through the Forest of Light carried him on for quite some time. Was it candlemarks? Or brightenings? For treants, who took life so cautiously, so slowly and methodically, it was really quite difficult to tell. In actuality, it was late evening by the time Brine found the Elder, asleep or perhaps in deep thought.

A few moments after Brine approached, however, there was a creaking- a sound which clearly brought to mind something old, something born amidst grey webs and dead leaves.

"Young Brine, is it...?" The Elder treant murmured, his voice both as rich as the colours of fall, and as deep as the forest itself.

His eyes looked upon the young treant kindly, as the unspoken question came of how he had been, what he had been doing, how he had fared within the unusually long winter, just past.

OoC: If you want to do something with Sorn later on, I'd totally be up for that!

Brine · August 21, 2009, 01:49 AM

As Brine approached the Elder, his Elder, and Master of sorts, his roots dug through the snow into the ground, and he rooted himself there, so that he might be able to converse with Elder Trach while relaxing within the cold hardened earth. "Sorn told me that you were looking for me..." said Brine, a smile creaking upon his face. He spoke slowly and deliberately, enjoying the chance to converse with his elder once more. So much had happened over the winter, and Elder Trach knew most of it, so there was really not much to tell.

"He said something about the continuation of my training as a druid, and learning how to work with the weaves that i've come to use during the time that has passed?" he then asked, looking towards his Elder, his mossy brows raising in almost certain expectation of what Elder Trach would say, or how he would handle Brine's excitement and almost abruptness of the situation. Hopefully he didn't react too much to being told by Sorn that the Elder wanted to continue his training, but perhaps it was just good that he would finally be able to continue training his druidism, or at least practice using what he already knew, even in this snow covered forest...

OOC:I could make a seperate thread for later in the season if that's okay, and Brine and Sorn can have a talk, or do whatever...

Minerva · August 21, 2009, 02:49 AM

Elder Trach was old, and as he smiled in response to Brine's words, there was a heavy creaking of bark as his features contorted, a falling of moss and the chirping of a winter's bird as it adjusted its balance from one of the treant's branches, onto the next. Elder Trach was ponderous in answering- after all, treants had the blessing of being able to think out every word, every nuance of thought, within the extensive time frames, of their lives- and his smile remained, as he did.

"Yes, Brine. It is time...Time for you to continue your training...Time to learn how to become a better guardian of this place." He spoke, confirming what it was that Sorn had already said. Brine was to continue his training, to bolster his connection with the lady Carmelya, and this sublime, sentient creation, of hers.

The sound of bark shifting, slowly, came once again as Elder Trach's features moved from a smile, to something far more serious, in kind. The treant was sombre, indicating quite clearly that the next question he asked, would be important.

"The way will not be easy, young Brine. Are you ready, for this power, this duty...?" He intoned, before waiting, quite patiently, for Brine's reply.

OoC:Sounds good to me. (:

Brine · August 21, 2009, 02:57 AM

It was a very serious question indeed, and as excited as Brine was, he wasn't so sure what it would mean to move onto the next step in the process. There was apart of him that was afraid of becoming stronger, and learning to grow more with the power of Arcana, because that meant he would have to be a much stronger and more responsible Treant. He couldn't just be the young Treant he had been for so long, it was time for him to grow up, and become a better guardian of the Forest of Light.

Looking towards Elder Trach, his smile turned serious as Elder Trach had asked the question, and he took his time, mulling it over, and thinking about it, as Treants were generally slow creatures, for they had all of the time in the world to do things, as their lifespans were amazingly long. "I do believe that I am ready to move onto the next step... fear might catch me a bit, but as with moving forward, there are always fears that come up, and have to be quelled for the good of others..." he said, finally, and then let his brown eyes rest upon his elder once more...

OoCOkies, i'll make the thread, then PM you the link.

Minerva · August 22, 2009, 02:44 AM

Elder Trach listened to the younger treant's words with care, as though they ran the risk of being lost and scattered on the winds, if he did not. Brine spoke well enough, and it seemed clear that he was being honest, as well. The Elder smiled, though the gesture was only slight, this time, the creaking of the movement soon quietening, to a still.

"Fear is a good thing sometimes, Brine." The Elder spoke, in deep, sombre tones. "If you were not afraid, you would be arrogant, and such is not a worthy trait, for one meant to be a guardian, of the forest." There was much more to it than that, of course, though the elder treant considered this, internally. Moments passed, in tranquility in silence, before Elder Trach began to speak, once again.

"If you were not afraid of power, not afraid of responsibility, I would never have summoned you here, now. As it is..." The rich voice trailed off, lost to the curve of a knowing smile. More moments passed, as the elder treant closed shut his eyes. There was silence, once again, beyond the rustling of branches, the intermittent chirrup of the bird which made his home, within Elder Trach's crown of brances, and leaves.

The silence did not seem particularly special, in itself, but slowly, surely, Brine could feel something changing, within. Something was opening...some part of his soul, and as it did so energy, power, so many things came, rushing out.

If Brine had not been rooted, he would have been brought to his knees, as his mind was assualted by some manner of a backlash, with such an intensity it would have caused any lesser creature, to be sick.

The feelings came, and then, just as quickly, they were gone. What they left behind, however, was a feeling of power, of insight. Something which had always been there, within him- he simply had not realised it, given how it had previously been locked away.

Elder Trach's eyes opened, and he offered the youth a wide smile.

"Let us begin, shall we...?" He queried, drawing his roots forth from the ground as he hoped that Brine was ready and willing, to do the same.

OoC:You've been Promoted. (:

Brine · August 22, 2009, 03:19 AM

As his Elder Trach began to explain to him about fear of power, of responsibility, Brine could almost certainly tell that he wanted to say more, but refrained from doing so, as he probably felt the younger Treant wasn't ready yet. That was okay in Brine's mind, as he knew that in Time Elder Trach usually revealed all he wanted to say to the younger Treant, and for Treants time is all that matter... that and guarding the Forest of Light.

Suddenly, without warning, Brine felt his mind starting to expand rapidly. He fell to his knees, breaking a few roots on the way, their crackling and tearing echoing throughout the forest as all was silent when his mind began to expand. He didn't grunt in pain though, for he was quite used to breaking roots, especially with the ground hardened underneath them. But this sensation was different, he felt that he had access to more power, and was able to do more things with this power. He was now an Apprentice Druid, and he would have more responsibilities, as well as more power to use to help the Forest of Light.

Slowly picking himself back up, he would look towards Elder Trach and say, "I am ready to begin..." For even as he was weakened from the expanding of his mind and Vis, he was ready to start his training, and would await Elder Trach's instructions...

Minerva · August 26, 2009, 05:11 AM

"There are many things for you to learn, young one...Many things..." The Elder spoke, as he moved, and then, he said nothing more. Time passed in silence before the treant finally ceased in his strides, and by then they had reached a small clearing- quiet, and quaint, and still. The old treant took the time necessary to root himself to the ground, once more, becoming one with the earth beneath them, once again. Apparently, they were to be here for quite a while. As long as it took, certainly, for young Brine to learn, and understand, what was needed of him, now.

Elder Trach smiled, before speaking, once again. "Many things to learn, but you shall learn them all, in time, hmmmm?" His pleasant voice boomed, almost as though he were finishing the sentences he had started, much earlier on.

"We will have to start somewhere...yes...we shall start by having you learn to bend the trees. Bend the wood...Warp the wood...Yes..."

The spell was Imparted, even as the elder treant then went on, to explain.

"With the powers we have been gifted, young one, we may alter the structure of wood...bend it to a form, more to our choice. This spell will not hurt the wood, on its own, but the spell, as with all, should never be abused..." His tone as deathly serious there, and very rightly so. "Mix the ara and vis with the essence of nature, and use these to alter, to change the vis of the tree. Shape it as you see fit, and we shall see what comes of it, hmm...?" The elder treant smiled, before offering a few final words, in closing. "Pick a branch, young one- a part of the tree. You will not be able to bend all of it to your whim, yet..."

Brine · April 7, 2010, 12:14 PM

As the spell was imparted, so Brine knew how to do it. Bark creaking as he closed his almond brown eyes, he would work hard to enter his Clara, so as to practice casting the spell. Meditating, and entering his Clara, he would start to work with the weaves around him, pulling the Ara close to him, and mixing it with his Vis. As he did so, he would create an arcalysis reaction, and then focus upon the Plane of Nature, and channel the essense of nature into his reaction to form the mana necessary for the spell. Once completed, the young druid treant would then look towards a nearby branch, and start to alter the mana and abjure it to bend the branch upwards, attempting to warp the wood, but not too much so as to not injure the tree he was warping...