Msafiri/Story: Difference between revisions
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{{Neighbor Tabs}} | {{Neighbor Tabs}} | ||
{{Neighbor Stories | {{Neighbor Stories | ||
|s1_title | |s1_title = The "Little Brother" | ||
|s1_text = Under the dim moonlight, a circle of young creatures engaged in animated chatter on the great plains. | |||
|s1_text | |||
"It's my turn! What do you think we should play?" | "It's my turn! What do you think we should play?" | ||
"No, no. It's my turn today! I wanna go fishing!" | "No, no. It's my turn today! I wanna go fishing!" | ||
"But you get the next two days too, that's not fair at all!" | "But you get the next two days too, that's not fair at all!" | ||
"It's not my fault you won't be here for your turn... Plus, I need to practice hunting anyway." | "It's not my fault you won't be here for your turn... Plus, I need to practice hunting anyway." | ||
"How about I go instead? There'll be tumbleweeds today, and I want to catch the biggest one!" | "How about I go instead? There'll be tumbleweeds today, and I want to catch the biggest one!" | ||
"Alright, enough. Let's do this the usual way — draw lots!" | "Alright, enough. Let's do this the usual way — draw lots!" | ||
One of them pulled out a handful of wooden strips from their pocket, and the circle instantly closed as everyone picked their lot. | One of them pulled out a handful of wooden strips from their pocket, and the circle instantly closed as everyone picked their lot. | ||
"The triangle mark — I got it!" Someone let out a victorious whistle as the others reluctantly returned their blank strips with pouty faces. And as this was happening, Msafiri was going about his usual hunting practices with his younger brother, blissfully unaware of the shenanigans that were about to unfold. His bright, sharp eyes focused intently on the prey mid-flight. | "The triangle mark — I got it!" Someone let out a victorious whistle as the others reluctantly returned their blank strips with pouty faces. And as this was happening, Msafiri was going about his usual hunting practices with his younger brother, blissfully unaware of the shenanigans that were about to unfold. His bright, sharp eyes focused intently on the prey mid-flight. | ||
He crouched and sprang up in a clean pounce. The soft feathers landed in his palms right on cue, and so did the prey's small form. His little brother clapped in celebration. | He crouched and sprang up in a clean pounce. The soft feathers landed in his palms right on cue, and so did the prey's small form. His little brother clapped in celebration. | ||
"Plop!' said the small pebble that suddenly struck his brother's back. Msafiri immediately locked onto the source of this prank with deadly precision. He was on his way to teach the little troublemaker a lesson when his brother spoke up. | "Plop!' said the small pebble that suddenly struck his brother's back. Msafiri immediately locked onto the source of this prank with deadly precision. He was on his way to teach the little troublemaker a lesson when his brother spoke up. | ||
"It's fine! That was our signal anyways, heh." | "It's fine! That was our signal anyways, heh." | ||
He watched as his brother skipped toward the "secret meeting" and kept watch from a respectful distance. Even kids need their privacy, he thought to himself. | He watched as his brother skipped toward the "secret meeting" and kept watch from a respectful distance. Even kids need their privacy, he thought to himself. | ||
However, whether it was the telltale winds or the rush of excitement after a successful hunt, Msafiri's sensitive ears overheard some strange chatter. | However, whether it was the telltale winds or the rush of excitement after a successful hunt, Msafiri's sensitive ears overheard some strange chatter. | ||
"Weren't you guys supposed to take turns? Why are you guys here?" | "Weren't you guys supposed to take turns? Why are you guys here?" | ||
"Taking turns just doesn't work. Drawing lots is way easier! Besides, I got lucky, hehe. Can't blame me for that!" | "Taking turns just doesn't work. Drawing lots is way easier! Besides, I got lucky, hehe. Can't blame me for that!" | ||
"Well, fine! You know the rules, show me the good stuff first..." | "Well, fine! You know the rules, show me the good stuff first..." | ||
Could it be that his little brother was involved in something written in the sacred laws...? | Could it be that his little brother was involved in something written in the sacred laws...? | ||
Before Msafiri could put two and two together, the little rascal who had drawn the lucky lot rushed up to him. | Before Msafiri could put two and two together, the little rascal who had drawn the lucky lot rushed up to him. | ||
"Big bro Radarear! What are we gonna do? Hunting? Chase tumbleweed? What it is, I'm your little brother for today!" | "Big bro Radarear! What are we gonna do? Hunting? Chase tumbleweed? What it is, I'm your little brother for today!" | ||
"You're my... little brother? What do you mean?" | "You're my... little brother? What do you mean?" | ||
Msafiri looked down at the kid with pigtails and expectant eyes. His lips twitched as even more questions popped into his head. | Msafiri looked down at the kid with pigtails and expectant eyes. His lips twitched as even more questions popped into his head. | ||
"Well, anyone who draws the lucky lot can be your little brother for a day for the price of one fish! I've already paid mine~!" | "Well, anyone who draws the lucky lot can be your little brother for a day for the price of one fish! I've already paid mine~!" | ||
As the answer dawned on him, Msafiri lifted his head and twitched his ears as he spotted his actual little brother sneaking away. | As the answer dawned on him, Msafiri lifted his head and twitched his ears as he spotted his actual little brother sneaking away. | ||
''Uh-oh, busted!'' His little brother, who hadn't gone far, shuddered as the gravity of getting caught red-pawed by Msafiri descended on him. | ''Uh-oh, busted!'' His little brother, who hadn't gone far, shuddered as the gravity of getting caught red-pawed by Msafiri descended on him. | ||
Finally, Msafiri learned why his little brother, who usually complained about never having enough fish to eat, had been sharing half of the catch lately. | Finally, Msafiri learned why his little brother, who usually complained about never having enough fish to eat, had been sharing half of the catch lately. | ||
|s2_title | |s2_title = Kula Bata! | ||
|s2_text = This was the first time Msafiri had tasted such authentic...sand. | |||
|s2_text | He spat a couple of times as he stood up. Fine yellow sand reustled and fell with his movements. | ||
He spat a couple of times as he stood up. Fine yellow sand reustled and fell with his movements. | The lens cap of the recording device was off, and the localized sandstorm was captured in its entirety. | ||
The lens cap of the recording device was off, and the localized sandstorm was captured in its entirety. | |||
"Is it filming already?" Msafiri leaned in closer, blowing away the misbehaving feathers on his headband that interrupted his curiosity. | "Is it filming already?" Msafiri leaned in closer, blowing away the misbehaving feathers on his headband that interrupted his curiosity. | ||
The camera bobbed up and down,, nodding affirmatively in place of its operator. | The camera bobbed up and down,, nodding affirmatively in place of its operator. | ||
"Well then, welcome to Planet D-18's exploration site. I'm your Driftingale Exploration Team Guide, Msafiri." | "Well then, welcome to Planet D-18's exploration site. I'm your Driftingale Exploration Team Guide, Msafiri." | ||
He abducted an innocent emergency flashlight from somewhere to serve as a microphone while skilfully mimicking a documentary host. | He abducted an innocent emergency flashlight from somewhere to serve as a microphone while skilfully mimicking a documentary host. | ||
"As you can see — we've just been invited to an exceptionally warm welcome ceremony fresh out of the vehicle, and even sampled some local delicacies." | "As you can see — we've just been invited to an exceptionally warm welcome ceremony fresh out of the vehicle, and even sampled some local delicacies." | ||
"Pfft—" the cameraman barely stifled a giggle. Msafiri tactfully stepped out of frame, leaving the recording to the professionals as he turned his attention to setting up camp. | "Pfft—" the cameraman barely stifled a giggle. Msafiri tactfully stepped out of frame, leaving the recording to the professionals as he turned his attention to setting up camp. | ||
But the camera faithfully captured everything in sight, including a greenhorn who accidentally tore a hole in the tent just as another wave of yellow sand came with a gust of wind. Fortunately, this one came and went quickly, and Msafiri's timely assisted evacuation meant no one was hurt. No one, except for the torn tent, now half-filled with sand. | But the camera faithfully captured everything in sight, including a greenhorn who accidentally tore a hole in the tent just as another wave of yellow sand came with a gust of wind. Fortunately, this one came and went quickly, and Msafiri's timely assisted evacuation meant no one was hurt. No one, except for the torn tent, now half-filled with sand. | ||
The green horn was at a loss after causing the major blunder as Msafiri pulled out his allpurpose tape and started mending the tent. | The green horn was at a loss after causing the major blunder as Msafiri pulled out his allpurpose tape and started mending the tent. | ||
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That night, the entire team enjoyed a nice, long, three-hour "sand bath." Topics from serious expedition work to not-so-serious gossip were exchanged, and the newly assembled team became fast acquaintances in no time. | That night, the entire team enjoyed a nice, long, three-hour "sand bath." Topics from serious expedition work to not-so-serious gossip were exchanged, and the newly assembled team became fast acquaintances in no time. | ||
While the windswept sands didn't exactly have any real therapeutic properies, at the very least, some of this team felt relieved. | While the windswept sands didn't exactly have any real therapeutic properies, at the very least, some of this team felt relieved. | ||
And for Msafiri, that was all that mattered. | And for Msafiri, that was all that mattered. | ||
|s3_title | |||
|s3_title = Special Coming-of-Age Gift | |||
|s3_text | |s3_text = On the 364th day of his fourteenth year, Msafiri became a “runaway” on the eve of his adulthood. | ||
He still remembered that phone call from Driftingale Travel Agency years ago, which wasn’t meant for him, but still… | He still remembered that phone call from Driftingale Travel Agency years ago, which wasn’t meant for him, but still… | ||
| Line 90: | Line 88: | ||
Though Msafiri wondered… why did the fish soup at the bonfire party that night taste a bit too salty? | Though Msafiri wondered… why did the fish soup at the bonfire party that night taste a bit too salty? | ||
|s4_title | |s4_title = A Long, Long Time Ago | ||
|s4_text = It was an evening ten years ago. | |||
|s4_text | "One, two, three..." | ||
"One, two, three..." | "One, two, three, four, five..." | ||
"One, two, three, four, five..." | |||
Young Msafiri, who had just learned to count, was squatting on the ground and enthusiastically tracing the geometric patterns his mother had drawn around their camp. Three points, in groups of five — he shared the pattern he discovered with his little brother, who was still too young to speak. His brother tilted his head and twitched his ears, listening intently even if he didn't understand a word. | Young Msafiri, who had just learned to count, was squatting on the ground and enthusiastically tracing the geometric patterns his mother had drawn around their camp. Three points, in groups of five — he shared the pattern he discovered with his little brother, who was still too young to speak. His brother tilted his head and twitched his ears, listening intently even if he didn't understand a word. | ||
The tantalizing smell of roasted meat from the campfire teased young Msafiri's nose, and his empty stomach growled shamelessly in protest. ''Nope, no food until I learn this!'' he silently vowed. | The tantalizing smell of roasted meat from the campfire teased young Msafiri's nose, and his empty stomach growled shamelessly in protest. ''Nope, no food until I learn this!'' he silently vowed. | ||
... | ... | ||
Msafiri twitched his ears and wrinkled his nose as the memories came. The wild winds indiscriminately assaulted all in its path, chilling travelers to the bone. It had been three days and three nights, and Msafiri still hadn't tracked down any prey. The memories of roasted meat could no longer make him salivate. Forget about exploring the planet under these conditions — it was much more likely for him to end up a desiccated corpse and become one with this wilderness. | Msafiri twitched his ears and wrinkled his nose as the memories came. The wild winds indiscriminately assaulted all in its path, chilling travelers to the bone. It had been three days and three nights, and Msafiri still hadn't tracked down any prey. The memories of roasted meat could no longer make him salivate. Forget about exploring the planet under these conditions — it was much more likely for him to end up a desiccated corpse and become one with this wilderness. | ||
Msafiri could draw beautiful and elegant geometric patterns by hand now, but the question of his survival hung by a thread. | Msafiri could draw beautiful and elegant geometric patterns by hand now, but the question of his survival hung by a thread. | ||
Could those patterns truly evoke ancient protection...? Msafiri wondered as he found a branch that could barely support his rest. He stared into the seemingly unchanging starry night and recalled another memory. | Could those patterns truly evoke ancient protection...? Msafiri wondered as he found a branch that could barely support his rest. He stared into the seemingly unchanging starry night and recalled another memory. | ||
It was another day, ten years ago. | It was another day, ten years ago. | ||
After finishing the night patrol, young Msafiri sneaked behind the tent again and, imitating his mother, picked up a stone and scratched a few wobbly triangles on the ground. His attempts almost seemed pitiful when compared to his mother's refined string of shapes, and that made him curious as to how exactly she managed to draw such straight lines. | After finishing the night patrol, young Msafiri sneaked behind the tent again and, imitating his mother, picked up a stone and scratched a few wobbly triangles on the ground. His attempts almost seemed pitiful when compared to his mother's refined string of shapes, and that made him curious as to how exactly she managed to draw such straight lines. | ||
As he carefully traced those lines with his stone, he caught a sudden "thud" from behind — his toddler brother had fallen. With a body that reacted faster than his mind, young Msafiri turned and rushed to scoop up his brother, not realizing that the beautiful triangles had been cut in half by a long, grave scratch. | As he carefully traced those lines with his stone, he caught a sudden "thud" from behind — his toddler brother had fallen. With a body that reacted faster than his mind, young Msafiri turned and rushed to scoop up his brother, not realizing that the beautiful triangles had been cut in half by a long, grave scratch. | ||
"HISS!" | "HISS!" | ||
Caught in the moment, young Msafiri couldn't tell if his father was angry or simply concerned. Maybe it was his loud hisses, or maybe it was the hypnotic dance of the campfire... either way, Msafiri couldn't remember what exactly happened after. He vaguely recalled his mother telling him a story while pointing at the stars in the sky. A story about those geometric patterns. | Caught in the moment, young Msafiri couldn't tell if his father was angry or simply concerned. Maybe it was his loud hisses, or maybe it was the hypnotic dance of the campfire... either way, Msafiri couldn't remember what exactly happened after. He vaguely recalled his mother telling him a story while pointing at the stars in the sky. A story about those geometric patterns. | ||
Perhaps it was time to visit home after this expedition? It had been long since he last went back. But for now, Msafiri felt his eyelids grow heavy, and allowed the night to gently shut his eyes. Just a brief nap... a micro-nap that won't do any harm, he comforted himself. Frost began to form on top of his lashes as they quivered in the wind, but the bonfire in his dreams was simply so warm that he didn't want to wake up. | Perhaps it was time to visit home after this expedition? It had been long since he last went back. But for now, Msafiri felt his eyelids grow heavy, and allowed the night to gently shut his eyes. Just a brief nap... a micro-nap that won't do any harm, he comforted himself. Frost began to form on top of his lashes as they quivered in the wind, but the bonfire in his dreams was simply so warm that he didn't want to wake up. | ||
"Once upon a time, a long, long time ago..." | "Once upon a time, a long, long time ago..." | ||
He could hear his mother's gentle voice again, but it jolted him awake instead. | He could hear his mother's gentle voice again, but it jolted him awake instead. | ||
Reflected in his bright pupils, several stars in the dark sky formed the shape he knew by heart and blinked to a pulse, as if responding to some query. | Reflected in his bright pupils, several stars in the dark sky formed the shape he knew by heart and blinked to a pulse, as if responding to some query. | ||
The stars were silent, but Msafiri felt as though he was under the watch of tender eyes. Beautiful memories weren't meant to be traps on his unwritten journey. They should be the strength that keeps him moving forward. | The stars were silent, but Msafiri felt as though he was under the watch of tender eyes. Beautiful memories weren't meant to be traps on his unwritten journey. They should be the strength that keeps him moving forward. | ||
Msafiri finally climbed down the tree. ''This is not the end yet'', he thought to himself. And to his delight, another passing wind brought him the scent of prey. | Msafiri finally climbed down the tree. ''This is not the end yet'', he thought to himself. And to his delight, another passing wind brought him the scent of prey. | ||
}} | }} | ||