Looking out to the edges of the swamp, the mender felt admiration whilst watching the sun's persistent rays managing to pierce even the densest tree cover; darkened bog waters appeared to reject the beams of light; but nevertheless their glistening surfaces gave away their acceptance of sunlight. High humidity levels would have persuaded anyone else to take off a white coat they happened to be wearing-- an unbothered Cruncher whistled to herself, crouched by a small shoal of stones. Finding smooth rocks, perfect for skipping or adding to a decorative bowl, she deposited her favorites into her left-hand pocket-- her right-hand pocket contained something already important, too important to be pelted with stony keepsakes at the very least.
Out of almost all the locales, Toka Mocal seemed to change the least in Cruncher's humble estimation-- never appearing falsely welcoming or inviting, just the same old, grumpy marsh. "You know, this saying is counter-intuitive to how living beings grow and develop but Toka Mocal? Never change," joked she. Dusting off her hands, she stood up and took a look around for more than just cheery sunlight this time. Unlike him to be running so late, Cruncher huffed lightheartedly. Perhaps even he was not incapable of feeling that 'fear of visiting the mender'! A fanciful and funny thing to imagine, but certainly not him-- he was hardly afraid of seeing that white medical coat of hers anyhow.
Fluttering birds, displaced or shaken from their perches by the arrival of a figure larger than themselves, alerted the Mender to the presence she'd waited for. "Better late than never! C'mon over, there's stuff and things to discuss. And there's nice sun on this spot. Hah, it's been ages," Cruncher said, friendly exaggeration gracing her words like a well-worn scarf or cap. If he made me wait another eon, then maybe I'd tell people his name was actually pronounced Arachnid, the long-tenured mender giggled to herself before waving to her friend.
"Toka Mocal looks the same as I remember, and few are those who share the memory."
Revealed by the rapid vibrating of insignificant feathered creatures, Xyan did nothing to hide his disdain as he approached the white-coated mender. Golden irises flickered down to where the other suggested seating himself, analyzing it of any filth. The noted spot wasn't exactly clean, but neither was Toka Mocal itself. A simple conclusion, then: he would make do with the situation and crouched down onto the sun-filled spot, joining Sunshore.
"If a season is considered ages by the likes of you, I worry for your memory. Do you also take inflictions of the mind? That would certainly be a troubling development."
Glove-covered hand raised to the man's chin in serious, contemplative thought without jest.
"Well, I process ailments of the head... differently, but I like to think I make it out alright. In taking away the troubles, I find there's little left to be troubled by," Cruncher grinned. A soothing exhale followed her words; the ambient sunlight seemed to bend to fully encompass the two of them, scaring some of the small critters unused to such levels of illumination near the brush and mud.
Time flowed differently to the aged, or so the saying went. "I appreciate your sitting next to me! It's good to see you again, and with such nice weather." Cruncher pulled her knees up close and wrapped her arms around them, as if to bundle herself for maximum sunning surface area. "My memory should be of little worry; some of their expressions have caught on with me; it's fun, how they describe with great exaggeration small periods of time as 'eons' or 'ages', you know."
Retrieving from her coat pocket a small wooden box of sweet snacks, she offered it to her companion. "For you, or for the one under your guardianship if you still don't like baked confections." Cruncher shifted gears carefully back to Xyan's question, since she knew well his propensity to hone in on a subject or theme when left unanswered. "I've conducted as much testing as anyone in a position like ours could, all very delicately and sensitively. I trust me, as I hope you trust me," she smiled. "So, what do you want to chat about? Want the news? Gossip? That's a good word, gossip. Don't say it too many times though, or it starts to stop seeming like a real word. The clanspeople taught me that!"
Uneasiness switched to that of relief, Xyan no longer having to concern himself to the trifling matters of his ally. An essential weight he'd have to remove, then, judging the other to be worthless to him. Thankfully, this would not be the case.
Golden irises settled upon the box of sweets with mild surprise. Cruncher was known to share offerings, but it'd been time since they last shared anything... a drink, if he recalled correctly.
"I'm not quite sure if he would like these... but I shall offer them to him, at the least. Thank you."
Removing the hand from his chin, Xyan extended it, accepting the other's treat. He moved to store it within the pockets of his own coat, safely beside him and away from the creatures of the marsh.
"I've been absent for a bit as I fulfilled-- rather, attended to some concerns. Tell me, how was the festival? Did you decide to participate?"
She clapped her hands together softly, delighted to see him accept the baked goods as if it were the first time he'd accepted them ever-- such was the simple joy of Sunshore. "Peachy! That's one I learnt recently. It means pleasant, or very nice. Great word in its own right."
To all but the most perceptive, or persistent, Xyan would certainly seem unreadable, unreachable even. Cruncher grinned, as their goddess might smile similarly upon them-- a lovely and warm day spent with a companion had little competition in the way of 'things to enjoy when not working mending duties'. She cleared her throat and began recounting her experience at the festival.
"I did attend! It was only briefly, as I was called away for work, but I saw some of the clanspeople interact amicably with people from other places. There was a funny little one who swore they were a cactus but I think one of the clan hunters dispelled the notion for them. Relations between the clan and the outside world seemed nice enough, during the festival. This most recent assembly, I'm told, was more tense, however. Some turmoil about the deputy being, well, a little more than gone, if I can put it like that," Cruncher shrugged sheepishly-- Xyan's concerns and business always seemed well-handled, well-taken-care-of, relative to her own watching over the clan to the best of her mending abilities. To hear only secondhand about the loss of a devoted Solarisclan member had stung; as if it were an affront to her sensibilities and purpose, Cruncher had refused to believe the news until it'd been confirmed in the shared clan menders' notes. "Something like that happening under my watch... I dunno, I felt like I should've seen this or something, and tried to prevent it. Hmm. It's all kinda grim stuff, ain't it? Festival was fun, though. I wish you'd shown up, I'd have given you one of those fried bananas; those were real good. I'll try and learn the recipe maybe. How was your trip out? Anything noteworthy? Glad you came back safe, all intact seems like," she beamed.
Peachy. He took a mental note of the word, saving it for another of their conversations.
Outsider chuckled at the first half of Cruncher's story, amused by the cactus-like clan member. An odd judgement to place upon themselves, but that was alike the clansmen. Odd.
"The Blessed One?"
Any hint of a smile accompanying his enjoyment of the retelling transitioned back into his earlier emotionless expression. Upon further inspection, however, would indicate the edges of a frown, met with a bit of puzzlement from the news.
Although his featured soured, he decided not to press on the issue.
"Yes, it is quite grim. However, this isn't the first incident, nor will it be the last. Do try not to be too harsh on yourself. My trip, on the other hand, was no different than those previous. Once again, as tedious as can be."
Closing his eyes, he let out a deep sigh, unable to conjure anything that might contribute to the entertainment of conversation between the two.
"Young one was upset after I refused him allowance to return with a small keepsake from our journey. He has this obsession over material possessions-- I'm not sure how to handle him."
Cruncher exhaled soothingly, with enough force to shoo a loose lock of hair out of her eyes. "You know, I've been told that bees, little honeybees, have very short memories. I oughta take a page from their book, at least for this context; maybe treat myself to a little forgetfulness," joked the mender, reclining upon her elbows and letting her legs stretch out ahead of her. "I appreciate your reminding me, Xyan-- it gets real easy being harsh on myself, in the mending business sometimes. Not everyone's like us, and, well, that's been a disadvantage a couple times in the past for them, hasn't it?"
The sunlight had slowly crept away from the two of them, drawing back towards the horizon as it did, without fail, every evening. In the past, Cruncher has wondered why the sun felt the need to shy away-- surely, everyone would benefit from its continued presence? The distance, and time, that night created between the sun and its devotees only strengthened, in her mind, that sacred and special connection. So as to not sink too deeply into past spiritual ruminations, Cruncher leaned to look happily at Xyan. "Very glad you're back. Even if your trip put you through tediousness supreme."
Hearing him talk about the young one in his charge was exciting; she'd yet to meet them herself, but she imagined them to be very well-behaved and proper much like their guardian Xyan. Cruncher nodded along as her companion completed his thought. "Let him grow out of it; he'll pick up, sooner or later, that material stuff is great and all but being with others is the real greatness. For instance, you give him one of those cookies and let him eat it, just by himself; and then, later, you ask if he wants to eat some with you, together and stuff. Neither of you will need a taste test to know which situation makes the sweets better," Cruncher giggled. "If there's one thing I learned from this one batch of successful clan crafters, here's probably a world where he just wants those keepsakes to better remember those particular stretches of time he spent with you!"
A small smirk spread across the man's features, imagining the scene to which Cruncher crafted of the guardian and child. Pleasant-- no, peachy. Even as the sun swept past the associates and retreated past the worldly horizon, the idea that stayed with him could only be described as so. Perhaps he should have returned sooner to the eastern clans, if not to fall behind on the happenings and manners of speech which enveloped them.
"I believe he's a tad older than you might be thinking. He's much too prideful to bring along Solarisclan grounds, but once he humbles himself I'll be sure to introduce you."
With how serious the wanderer was known to be, his words were akin to that of a promise. His concern was with the boy, although he couldn't watch the child's every move. Thus, he had to be wary of the time he spent away from his side. An odd sentiment to consider, as he was unused to caring for the well-being of others. Was that how Cruncher felt towards the people of Solarisclan?
"I think I comprehend why the clansmen mention of time passing by too quickly. The next time we meet, shall it be at yandu? There are a few hidden spots where the sun can be viewed overhead. If at all possible, the child will accompany me, so you are encouraged to bring extra sweets."
"Is that so? Well, y'all two know where to find me; come around anytime!" Mender Sunshore grinned. Another prescient saying of the clanspeople cropped up in her mind; as if the clanspeople saw into the mind of Cruncher, and possibly the mind of Xyan as well, the lot of them seemed fond of saying: 'They grow up too fast!' She felt her companion had already enjoyed enough folksy clanspeople wisdom this afternoon and kept the proverb, itself a sort of extension of a topic the two had already touched upon, to herself-- only showing it through a lingering, balmy gaze out towards the sunset.
"Yandu works, for sure. I can't remember the last time I went there, and I'm pretty sure I didn't get to enjoy any sun-- what with the threat of arrows overhead forcing us to hide in caves and stuff... Ancient history, really. I bet my cave painting of you is still up," giggled Cruncher. "Shoot, before I forget. Don't let the kid eat all the cookies, teach him, like I showed you before, that the thirteenth one is for Her. You have some kinda windowsill or something where you're at where you can put the offering out on, right? Either way, I'll bring extra sweets next time, don't you worry; even if it's just you, I gotcha covered," she said happily.
Cruncher sat up some, to crouch at the water's edge in part to stretch some more and in part to prepare to head back to the clan dwellings. "I'll go on ahead, then. Still have to confer with the other menders about recent happenings and things before tomorrow shows up. In any case, Xyan, be mindful of your health and may you enjoy nice sunny days ahead! See you soon, partner," she beamed before making her way through the brush. Of course, Cruncher did not leave without gently tousling her companion's sun-warmed dark hair-- a Sunshore tradition at this point, if there ever was one. A cheerful, soft combination of humming and giggling could be heard by those in the vicinity until the mender had left the marsh area completely. What a great way to spend the day, Cruncher thought to herself as the clan's tree homes came into view.
Nodding to Cruncher's words, Xyan found himself readying for his departure, standing and brushing himself off. Of course, he was sure to secure the obtained goods, the gift being the most important object on his form. Surprising, how crucial it became to him after nothing more than a short conversation. Certainly, he would take the mender's advice to heart.
"A short request before you depart-"
He started, listing out more than one thing to touch upon before the two split again. While she stayed crouched down; did the tide seem a little bit higher than it should?
"Sorry, a few things. Send word of the next Deputy once announced, along with the new Blessed Child. And..."
He trailed, reconsidering what he was about to say.
"Never mind.
May your trek back be safe as the goddess leads your way."
He dipped his head as he felt around for the package of cookies once more. He'd wait for Cruncher to fully leave his line of sight before departing from the vicinity and away from home.
