I'm Not A Prize Or Possession, So What Is It That You Want? [P] Nomad

The incident from the day before at the meeting with Nomad calling her beautiful had never ceased playing itself over and over again in her head. It had been bugging her because there was no way he'd think such a thing the first time he saw her. There was no way anyone could possibly love her. Not even Deannach had cared enough to stay for her, and her own father hadn't cared enough about her to stay with the Dust. So what was it that Nomad wanted from her? It hadn't occurred to her that he could also have been a Nomad, considering his name. Jaz thought about it for a minute, but decided that he hadn't been a wolf of Dust. His frame didn't look at all familiar to her, and she had memorized pretty much every detail of every Nomad before they'd split up- this Nomad wasn't an original. He was a fake. A fake using her home element and lifestyle. Possibly using her. But for what?

Nomad hummed as he flew through the skies. He was going to leave later on to reach the Spiorad since he had made aprevious attempt, and no one had shown. Possibly worried about the Shrouded Lands it seemed or helping those that were trapped. No matter. A quick break and off he would fly again. He had been gone for a little while and his abilities needed to be recharged in a way. After flying over the foci a few times Nomad flew down to the summit where he saw a familiar face. Jasmine. The wolf he had seen at the mini-meeting there on the summit of the mountain.

Soon circling above, and since the sun was out he was sure she would see his shadow, he made a graceful landing on the rocks partially covered by snow. "Well hello again! What brings you out on this day?" Nomad asked as he looked at the expression on her face. She seemed to be troubled and a look of confusion on his was evident. What could be bothering her? She was so cheery at the meeting and now she was all down. He tilted his head as he sat down wondering on this.

OOC: Jasmine thinks snow is clouds that have fallen from the sky

The wolf she'd been hoping to find landed nimbly before her and plopped his haunches to the ground. Taking in a deep breath, Jasmine calmed herself before she went off accusing him of things he may not be at fault of. She didn't know for sure that he'd known about the Nomads and that he was an imposter giving others false assumptions. She didn't know if he'd commented her looks to make fun of her instead of meaning it. The only thing she did know was that his words were bugging her and she felt that she needed to talk to him right now. Her tail curled around her legs as she also sat, making a fine mark in the small amount of fallen clouds in the area. Jasmine had given up trying to convince others that the sky had fallen and she'd also given up trying to put them back in the sky. If the Feolans cared so much about their sky, why didn't they fix it every year when the clouds fell? She lifted her paw and looked at it, staring with multicolored eyes. Her paw was wet! These clouds were made of water! Standing up quickly, she ran to a larger rock where the clouds hadn't fallen on it and sat down once more, looking at Nomad. “Why did you say those things to me at the meeting? You could hurt someone if you don't mean them...”

This post has been edited by Jasmine: 27 Oct 2009

Seeing her react to the fog, Nomad chuckled. "There is nothing to fear. This that I am standing on is snow that has frozen from the rain. It falls softly and blankets our world in white. This is natural from our lands. Something tells me you didn't used to be from this element... is this true? Especially since I saw you climbing up the rocks instead of flying." Nomad was not intending to make fun, but more of a tease really. He couldn't help being a flirt.

Her statements caused a brow to perk. What did she mean 'hurt someone'? Did she think he was lying? He kept the look of confusion on his expression as he began to speak to her. "Why? Because I did mean those things. You do have a lovely voice and I do believe you are beautiful. We are all beautiful in our own special way. You have a way of being informative and you are cute when you get shy. I can't help saying that, but it is true. I love listening to your voice for it reminds me of the winds that pass through the foci in the early morning as it whistles, thus our foci being called Whistling Rock if I remember correctly."

Jasmine stared at the male, confused as to why he was laughing. Was it so strange to be afraid of the wet clouds? Though, she heard his explanation quite clear. She tilted her head to the side in thought, pondering the concept of snow. He'd asked her a question, and honestly, she didn't want to answer it. If she said she used to be of Dust, she may have to explain herself. If she didn't, he would only get more curious. Decisions, decisions. Jaz's ears swiveled toward him as he answered the question she'd asked. She'd never been complimented like that before and could feel heat rushing to her cheeks. Though, her face sneered at him when he compared her to the foci. She only nodded to let him know he was right about the name, or so she thought he was right. She knew basically nothing of being a Feolan, so this was all very strange and new. “No... I'm not a real Feolan. Well, I am, but I don't think this is my home. I belong in the unclaimed lands where my pack used to reside. I used to belong to the Nomads of Dust, until our numbers grew small and Deannach tried to save us all by allowing us to run to the Critheans or Feolans- the elements we've derived from. After that, she disappeared. I've been hoping she'll come back some day, so don't be surprised if I'm suddenly missing.” Jasmine thought for a moment, how to respond to his... flattering compliments to her. She'd never heard of a wolf being so kind and open with their emotions. “I'm not cute,” she stated stubbornly. She missed her old coat with the browns and the blacks and her multicolored eyes.

"REALLY now!? That is interesting! What were the Nomads like? What did they look like? What kinds of abilities did they have?" Nomad suddenly had this pluthera of questions for the femme and soon caught himself before he could ask more. He noticed her saddened expression on her face and saw that she missed her family. Nomad too became sad for her. What did happen to the Nomads? He had heard some of what they were like, but never how they had to choose what element to go back to that created them in the first place which was Air and Earth.

Nomad then chuckled as she spoke stubbornly at how she was not cute. "No you are not. You are beautiful." Nomad said softly as he let out a warm smile to the wolf. He suddenly felt something for this wolf. He didn't know how or why, but he liked it. It was as if his own heart had wings and suddenly took flight which he found his own body began levitating in the air. His wings were fluttering softly and he let himself plop back to the ground and gave a cheeky smile. He chuckled again being in his playful mood and wagged his tail wondering what she would say next with that voice of hers.

Jasmine was startled by his reaction toward her being a Nomad. At first she thought he was angry, which she would have understood, but then he asked her several questions relating to how she and the pack had lived. She frowned a bit, remembering them and how happy she'd been compared to now. Though, she came back to where she really was, sitting on the boulder with no snow and talking with Nomad. She sighed a bit, but didn't risk putting a paw down from the rock. Water terrified her. "We moved from place to place in the unclaimed territories. I joined them when they'd been in Amethyst Ridge and then we moved to Diamond Shores. That was when... well, I already explained it. Not all of us were lucky enough to get to the forest or the mountains and were turned to crystal somewhere in Pearly Cliffs."

Jasmine paused, gathering herself before she started crying. She missed them so much... "We varied in colors, most of us the color of the soil. Browns, blacks, tans, golds, grays." She would have gone into how she had looked, but she didn't want the flirtatious male drooling all over her. "Our charms included the ability to turn into dust itself, it used to happen to me on accident when I got excited. It started with my... sister, of sorts. She was the Entertainer and was always excitable. I must have picked it up. Though, I've been gone so long that I forget what else we could do." She paused again, waiting to hear if he had further questions. He did not have the reaction she thought a wolf would have if she told them she was a Nomad at heart.

"It's difficult for me to remember that I have to return here should I venture away. I never had to do it before and I don't know any of my charms let alone any wolves to teach me. It stresses me out sometimes. The only knowledge I came here with was your basic history and that my mother's side was originally of the Feolans." It was a long time before she said anything in return of his compliment. Jaz was mostly remembering, how her life used to be. Before Deannach disappeared. Before Dalis became a Uiscen. Before she had this roller coaster of emotions.

Heterochromatic eyes looked over at Nomad. She hadn't realized she'd actually been staring at the ground as she thought. Jasmine had been so lost in her own memories that she'd completely forgotten about Nomad. Suddenly she remembered that he'd complimented her- again. Was he ever going to stop? Probably not. She rolled her eyes and continued speaking. "How can I be so beautiful if I carry the looks of a wolf I am not? I can imagine I also smell, considering the fact that I despise water and my way of cleansing myself is a good dirt bath. No one can ever be beautiful if they are forced not to look like themselves. You can call me beautiful, if you are so inclined, once Deannach comes back and I am of Dust again. Until then, you can just call me Jasmine- or Jaz." Had she seriously started arguing with the way another wolf felt toward her? Of course she was, or else she wouldn't be Jasmine. Was she Jasmine? The real Jaz probably would have accepted Nomad's compliments and asked him if he wanted to play a game. Where did that wolf go?

Nomads smile faded away and he nodded listening to her. She had been through a lot it seemed. He felt some what bad in a way that she had to go through such things and had to experience such emotions. Nomad listened further as she argued with his compliments.

"As I said earlier, we are beautiful in our own special way. I do from time to time take baths in the dirt for it keeps the sun out and it feels good in my pelt. And yes they can be beautiful - for it is not the outside that makes them such Jasmine..."

Nomad spoke hoping she would understand that it was her personality that he adored. He sighed as he looked over her and saw her different colored markings and such. He thought of how she looked had she had the markings of earthy browns and the like. She would still be beautiful in his eyes for sure.

"What is most important in a pack is that you judge a wolf by who they are and not what they look like. You may not be used to the fact you are a wolf of air now rather than dust, but this is what it is now. You must learn to accept it until the time that the celestial of dust returns."

Nomad didn't wish to speak about how the celestial of dust would most likely not return if she had not returned already. Something told him that she would not return at all, but he wanted to be honest with Jasmine... He just didn't know how to say it that wouldn't hurt her.

Jasmine couldn't believe how difficult Nomad was being about the whole beauty thing. Of course she knew everyone had their own special something they could flaunt to others, but it wasn't like any of that mattered. She groaned when he went on and on about how wolves could also be beautiful on the inside as well as the outside and how one shouldn't judge. And, who was he to tell her what she needed to learn? She knew just as well that she had to accept the fact that she was temporarily a Feolan. Jaz stayed quiet for a while, going over what he'd told her. This entire conversation was frustrating her. She'd wanted to talk to him to get answers, not feel flattered by his compliments. Her plans had gone completely off-course and each time he did something that she didn't expect, it only frustrated her more. She looked away from him for a minute, staring out into nowhere. When she turned her head back around, she asked, “What do I look like? I'm afraid to look at myself in a reflection, so I have no idea what I look like other than that I'm light blue with some white and purple spots.”

Nomad squinted his eyes only some as he tried to read her. Obviously she wanted to say something to him or ask him some questions. Looking down Nomad watched the snow for a moment and was silent before turning his head up. "I am sorry - it seems you wish to speak to me of something." Nomad said silently with his tone raising in pitch at the end as if he were asking a question. Nomad listened to her next set of words and smiled some.

"Your pelt is the light coloration of the sky and the backs of your ears are white while the insides a light purple. Three spots lie under your eyes, each ranging in a difference in size, bigger as they are closer to your muzzle and smaller as they are farther. Your back is sprinkled in white and purple spots as if you were coated in dust. You also have a symbol upon your forehead which I do believe it means what you formerly were. Dust."

Nomad was silent after this. He wanted to give her a chance to speak since, well, he had done most of it himself! He took a mental note of that for later when he would correct it. Nomad remained still as his pelt waved, but there was no wind. His wings remained dismissed and his tail curled about his toes.

Hearing Nomad speak, Jasmine cocked her head a bit to the side. Had she wanted to ask him something? She had no idea. “Um... Well, you're frustrating me. I wanted you to come over here so I could get answers about why you had complimented me, but instead you give me the answers and compliment me more. I don't understand.” And she didn't. No one had complimented her before and she didn't have any idea how to accept them. It was just so... weird. Jaz listened once more as he described her, and she frowned as he described that her markings resembled dust. Great, now every time she saw her reflection she would see that mark on her forehead and memories would spring into her mind like a wildfire in the middle of a dry Lasair. Just what she didn't need. She paused, trying to think of what to say next. She wasn't exactly good at initiating conversations like she used to be. She used to be able to say something and not care who heard her, but now it was like everyone was judging her on the words that spilled out of her mouth. “Sooo... Did you hear anything from the Spiorad yet?”

Nomad listened intently as she spoke about how frustrated she was. Nomad sighed. He didn't mean to do that, but no matter. It was time to tell her his answer. Nomad looked to the ground for a moment to gain an answer that she would understand before looking back up.

"Well.. the truth is.. I like you. Well to be realistic - I am attracted to you. I don't know why, and I don't know how, but that is all I know. That I am. May it be your personality and appearance I don't care Jasmine."

Nomads voice was partially quiet now as the wind brushed about them. It gently kissed Nomads fur making it dance and wave all the while the silence soon stood out among them. He didn't answer her next question for he wanted to hear what Jasmine would say. It was important to him after all.

Jasmine thought those words would be coming. Though, as much as she couldn't believe them, they explained all of Nomad's actions towards her. She wouldn't let him fall for her, not easily anyway. She wasn't exactly ready for any kind of relationship, let alone one with a wolf she just met. It was hard enough making friends, so his words were too big of a step for her. Taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, she tried to think of what to say, how to respond. Her ears flicked back in thought and her head rested on her paws. Jaz's thoughts were running wild inside her mind. Should she say she's not ready to be so close? That it's dangerous for him to like her? It wouldn't last long? He would find someone better than her? Eyes closed for a moment, thinking of possible solutions and outcomes to every possible thing she could say to Nomad. Sighing, she sat up on the rock she was perched on, her tail curling around her paws. As soon as she did so, she thought of Kyran. He was still here, right? Jasmine shrugged, having no idea, but her heart was full of hope. They'd been friends pretty much since the day they met. He and Karina had been her only friends as a pup, which was only ironic that they were both Feolans. Now she couldn't decide if she should ever have to choose between Nomad and Ky. Sighing, she said, “I was afraid you would say that. I... I don't think I'm ready to handle any relationship like that, it's hard enough fitting in here already and trying to make friends. Plus, you'd probably be better off without me, it seems like everyone else I've known is. Even Deannach thinks she's better off without her wolves...” Deannach, Dalis, Faber, and Saia had all taken care of her, or were supposed to. They'd all left. Faber had left before even meeting her. Deannach and Saia weren't coming back... ever, and Dalis was Nerio, but probably didn't fully remember her. Life sucks, she decided.

Nomad nodded as he listened. Indeed he wasn't trying to rush her, he was just simply stating the truth. He listened to her and nodded. "It is alright Jasmine. I don't mean to rush you and I don't want to. You wanted to speak to me about why I commented you and so I told you in all honest truth. I want you choose whatever to do with your life and not have others choose it for you. You are who you are, and by the celestial of your former pack you have been granted a second chance at life. I say live it to the fullest and never let your dreams down!" As Nomad spoke of this he puffed his chest out and spread his wings proudly. Chuckling, he then relaxed and nodded to her.

"And I rather have you with me than anywhere else. Not to be selfish or anything, but though I just met you I already consider you as a friend Jasmine. Never give up hope. If you let the dark energies such as sadness and hopelessness enter inside you, it is hard to get rid of and to move on looking forward into the future. I am not trying to tell you what to do, I am just trying to help is all. Because you're my friend Jasmine."

Nomad smiled as he sat next to her in attempts to comfort her. "I am sure that all the others that you knew never meant to leave. I am sure that they are out there somewhere thinking about you and possibly trying to come back. I hope they do Jasmine. I wish to see you happy and smiling rather than sadness upon your face."

Jasmine laughed a bit when Nomad puffed out his chest. She stared at his wings, mostly in awe and jealousy at the same time, but also anger. She didn't want to be here, on this mountain, and be allowed to be there without permission. She wanted to be a Nomad again and have to ask for entrance to any claimed territory. Strangely, the male seemed to be making her feel better. It was weird, to be around someone who obviously cared so much. His words made her feel uneasy, but only because she didn't know such kind words even existed. They comforting, too, and she enjoyed his presence when he came to sit close to her. Her feeling of peace made her confused and she was unable to process her thoughts clearly. Jasmine pondered a bit about the last speech he gave, about the others not meaning to leave. For a bit she felt quite stubborn and wanted to retort something back about how they had all meant to leave her, but then she thought about it more and realized that she hadn't really been left on purpose or intention. Dalis was only sticking up for what he believed in. The other Nomads had a choice. Deannach... well, she had no idea why her Celestial left. She'd always figured it was because she'd lost faith in her wolves, but Jaz had never lost faith in Deannach. It was a strange concept for her to understand. “You may be right, after all. My 'father' had only been sticking up for what he believed in. Something about a Displaced wolf not allowed in some sort of giant meeting in the Grasslands. He'd been Displaced before I came along and apparently wasn't treated so rudely. I probably would have done the same thing, but I don't know.” Jasmine sighed, finally feeling better. She couldn't remember the last time she'd actually felt good and innocent. “Thanks, Nomad. I feel much better now. Though, I'm afraid I don't know what to talk about now... Well, what about you? What's your story?” She figured she'd talked too much about herself, it was only fair if he did the same.

((Sorry for taking so long. Been having a bug.))

Nomad smiled when she asked about his story. "Well, it is unlike from yours, though I know what happened to those I lost. I was younger back then when I lived out on the borderlines of the lands here. My parents were solitude loving wolves and we lived together as a family. Sure they left for meetings and such, but they always didn't involve us unless we reached a certain age. One morning however, since they had left for a meeting and wouldn't be back till way after we were sleeping, I found both my brothers and my parents gone. I went up to speak to the lead Mentors and Advisors, since they called it those before they got renamed, and I was told they no longer resided with us. My family were more of the type to... have different ideas of their element I shall say. So I figured they became displaced and sad as it is, I knew I had to move on and not dwell on it too much. Sure I mourned for the decisions they made, but their memories also shall last with me for as long as I breathe this air."

Nomad spoke and since he could see that him sitting by her comforted her, he could only smile as he wrapped his tail around her just to comfort her more. He hoped it would anyway without her thinking he had gotten too close. If he had, she had to only show a sign and he would move off some. Nomad listened intently for a reply from her maw. She from what it sounded like had a hard life similar to his, only hers was more detailed and more intense than his. She had lost her element and was forced to find another. He hoped perhaps he could help her see the beauty in this element as her previous element.

OOC: It's okay! This thread is getting old, we'll have to end it soon x:

Jasmine frowned when Nomad said he'd figured his parents Displaced. Dalis. Nerio. The other wolves that he'd been standing with at the big meeting. She winced a bit as his tail curled around her. His company and closeness felt comforting, but now he was a bit too close. She shied away from his touch, but gave him a reassuring smile. It was a smile that tried to tell him that he wasn't at fault, she just wasn't ready for anything at the moment. There were no words she could say that would explain any of her thoughts or feelings, so she kept to herself for a long moment. Should she comfort him or try to make her own history sound worse? It was confusing, trying to think clearly. A Mediator was needed for a Mediator, she laughed silently. However, it was logical, to think that Mediators would need the advice of other Mediators. It was hard to take in the problems of every wolf and give them advice without it affecting oneself. Jasmine sighed a bit and directed her gaze toward the clouds. They were so high up on this mountain that it was like they could touch the clouds themselves. Though, she figured it wasn't possible. A wolf would probably die if they were to fly that high. Returning her gaze back to the mountain, she stared the so-called 'snow.' It was... frozen water? Is that what Nomad said? If it was frozen water, why wasn't it solid? “Nomad, why is this snow soft, if you say that it is frozen water? It looks nothing like the ice on the river that runs through the Jade Grasslands.” She figured that he would think she was random, asking that question, as it was completely off-topic of what they had been talking about, but her thought process made it make perfect sense to ask without it sounding weird.

"It is because when the rain begins to freeze in the air, which is what it does, it partially spreads itself out so it becomes flatter and in different shapes and then it falls like feathers to the ground. Once there, it doesn't become solid like water, but more softer like ... like the pine needles that fall to the ground off of their branches, only less pokey." Nomad chuckled as he moved away a little bit. He could see she was uncomfortable with how close he was getting and he respected that so he remained silent as he shuffled a little.

"The great thing you can do with snow..." he spoke as he looked to the ground and used a breeze to make a small circle of it and then rolled it on the rest of the snow some till it was the shape of a ball. Picking it up with the wind again, he smiled. "Is to throw it at others softly and watch it explode!" Lowell teased as he made it move forward, at a normal wolf trot pace really, attempted to hit Jasmine with it. He hoped this would only make her want to play than be afraid of it. He knew that she wasn't quite sure she welcomed being a Feolan yet, but he knew she had to give it time and to give it a chance.

OOC: YEah sorry.. been sick and such -__-;;

Jasmine nodded in understand when Nomad explained the snow to her. She'd been on Paragon for two years, and she just found out about the snow. She rolled her eyes at her thoughts. Her mind had wandered away from Nomad, thinking and remembering. The past, the present, the future, it was all thought of. What would happen to her the rest of today that would influence her tomorrow? Her past had already influenced her present, so it didn't take long for her to know that. Jaz's thoughts were interrupted when a ball of wet hit her in the face! Her jaw dropped instantly and she jumped in the air, falling off of the rock she'd been laying on. Her eyes glared at Nomad, blaming him immediately. She knew it was him, the snow didn't just fall from the sky. Wait- yes it did, but that wasn't the point. “Hey!” Now her face was all wet, along with her paws. Ewewew! She couldn't stand being wet, so she found a dry spot and started licking her paws to see if they would dry faster. “Now I'm all wet, thanks a lot,” she said, teasing him a bit. She didn't want him to feel bad, at least.