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2nd Sky Journey 🐺 The Shards 🐺 [Written]

[Some recent activities have brought a certain issue to the forefront of his mind.]

I have a question for all of you....

[There was a slight delay in his words]

If your crew were to gather all of the shards- what would you intend to do with them?

[Knowing all that they did now, it was possible that someone might try to use the power for ill-will. Not that anyone’s answers would alter Ratonhnhaké:ton’s plans. The shards, like Washington’s scepter could fall into the wrong hands. He wouldn’t trust it or them to anyone.]

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[Her story was certainly something he could relate to. As it stood now he was the only one that could end the tyranny of George Washington. He was the only one to have completed the Sky Journeys so many times, and had survived disaster after disaster.]

That is a lot of responsibility for one to bear.

[Never having met a vampire before arriving here, he's not entirely sure what the variety in her world is capable of- but her reaction to them is enough to know it is very serious.

Although Ratonhnhaké:ton wouldn't admit it- or rather he wasn't aware of it himself.. they could relate on that count too. When he utilized the power of the spirit creatures he could easily let the power go to his head and end up taking things too far, endangering the lives of innocent people in his wake. He had not done so yet- but... there were drawbacks to amassing strange powers.]

Are there any of your kind that are able to resist temptation? Even if there are not- it might be wise to try building your own self control. I am sure it would not be an easy process, but it would be a rewarding one if your efforts were successful. Life is always about choices.. and it might not seem like it now, as affected as you are by the presence of blood but that too I believe is a choice. You can either resign yourself to the idea that it is out of your control or you can learn to master it.

[Like he thinks he's in charge of the whole spirit animal thing]

By training. [Naturally] Not just with the bow and arrow but also with other methods of taking down an opponent. [And of course... the blood thing he mentioned earlier]

I am trying. There're some who can control themselves pretty much perfectly. They're ancient, though. They've grown and learned and been taught. I'm...

[It still seemed so strange to her, to think in terms of the vampyric life.]

Their hundred is like a human's twenty. I'm, like, five to them. A child. And they treat me like it.

Except Claudius. He's the only one who seems to have any faith in me. Well, and Prewitt. But he works for Claudius, so that kind of goes without saying.

That must come as some relief. [Knowing that it is possible, instead of being left completely in the dark. Mastering it will take time and persistence. Her concerns are valid that she could hurt some innocents along the way]

Then that should act as a catalyst to push you forward in your training. [At least it would for Ratonhnhaké:ton.]

I wonder.. how much faith do you have in yourself?

I...

[It's an interesting question, certainly. Because she barely knows herself. She has to think for a few moments, take a deep breath, and sigh.]

I have faith that I can learn, at least?

[The hesitation is very telling. Alex is going through a difficult period in her life where she is terribly unsure of herself]

It is a start.

[You can build on that. Well- at least she's not over confident, which can be just as bad if not worse than having no confidence at all.]

How have you been trying to improve your tolerance? [He did wish to help her with her situation if he was capable of it, but first he would need to know what she was already doing. Vampires were a relatively new subject to him.]

Back home, I was seeing how much I needed and how often before not having blood or not having enough caused problems.

[Though Claudius and Prewitt weren't in agreement there. They'd told her she needed all her strength. Once the Assembly was taken care of, once things were set right, she could learn to control it. Until then, she needed to be able to be vicious.

But, somehow, it seems wrong to say that to him. But a frown passes over her face as she forces the words back down.]

Here, between the battles and seasickness if I don't, that's not really an option. So I've been working on an alternative -- the sheep. None of them have died. Just a little blood from a couple to keep me functioning right at night.

.. And what did you determine?

[Here it seemed like the opposite might be true. Given that the rest of the crew were not of the same species being able to control her urges would be imperative no matter what she'd been told before. At least Alex herself had seen the merit in building her tolerance and testing her boundaries]

[Ah the sheep. So that's what they were for. That meant that his father had known about all this before.......]

They have been serving you well then, do not forget to thank them for their sacrifice no matter how meager it may seem.

Thank them?

[It's actual curiosity. There's nothing mocking about her tone. After all, Alex has heard a lot stranger, especially since coming here. Plus there's the whole "difference in religion" thing to consider.

But in the interest of learning more about his way of life, she continues in that vein.]

How? Is there anything in particular I should do?

Yes. Those creatures are other living things with spirits all their own. It would be disrespectful to take them for granted.

[~~Every rock, and tree, and creature has a life, has a spirit, has a nammmme~~. Ratonhnhaké:ton realized that not everyone holds the same beliefs as his people, but he adheres to them. If he didn't, he never could have completed the Sky Journeys, and he never could have formed a bond with the spirits himself.]

That would be up to you to determine what you feel would be appropriate or right. When I take the life of an animal I tell them Niá:wen or thank you in my native language. It may not seem like much but it is an acknowledgement of their sacrifice. In your case, the sheep have not had to lose their lives so if it were me, I would see to their care and make sure that their living conditions are as ideal as they can be on board a vessel such as this.

Edited 2014-04-18 05:12 (UTC)

[Two years ago, the idea would have gotten a raised brow and a shrug of "To each their own."

But with part of her prey being human? At least partially so? And having killed them before?

Something hits home a little more.

She nods a bit and smiles at him.]

I will. I don't know a lot about caring for sheep... I came from a pretty big city, not anywhere rural... but I guess I'll have to learn, won't I?

[She's already trying, since their livelihood is hers.]

[He nodded to her words]

The sheep can provide us not only with sustenance but also their wool. The more self sufficient we become on this boat, then the better off we will all be.

[Alex's problems are unique to him, and he was curious and hopeful about how she would master them in the coming months.]

There will be many things that each of us will have to learn in order to make the best of things here.

[Alex smiles a little, turning her head to look at him.]

Thankfully we have each other. All of us, I mean.

[Yeah. Totally good save there, teenage girl.]

We can learn from each other.

[He faintly returned the smile as she looked toward him. The pleasant expression suited her much more than that somber one it replaced]

Yes. None of us is completely alone.

[Lucky for that teenage girl, Ratonhnhaké:ton is oblivious to the slip]

Mm. [He agreed though he wondered if Haytham would ever learn the lesson that Ratonhnhaké:ton wanted him to learn... before it was too late]

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2nd Sky Journey 🐺 The Shards 🐺 [Written]

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