♒ ๑ Isla ๑ ♒

๑ Sen op yu gaf ona woda, woda bilaik hon yo daun. ๑

[islakomfloukru]

trikrufaye:

Faye followed both word of mouth and her own nose to the Floukru warrior. After catching wind that a woman had been trading fish, and then walking a bit further to catch the scent of her, Faye found herself approaching the Flougeda member from behind, attempting to keep her nose from wrinkling at the scent of fish [however minimal it was].

“You’re from Floukru, yes?’

Isla scanned the girl before her, taking note of any threat and attempting to gauge her intention before it could be presented. She nodded once and straightened, giving up on the wish to remain uninterrupted to give the stranger her attention. Trikru, she thought, based on her appearance. “Do I give it away so easily?” She asked, no malice in her tone despite her annoyance. 

[islakomfloukru]

the silence guides our minds

Dark clouds rolled in first, their initial warning. The people of Flougeda were well versed in weather and it was only one look at the sky and the notice of small animals in their surroundings burrowing away, hankering down for a coming storm to give it away. It didn’t take foresight to see that, though Isla assumed many turned to the rumored teller in such times. By midday the word had spread throughout and all were in action. Isla herself took the the villages, commandeering the last remaining horse from the stables to make her journeys through their land. Her sister was away and so without prompting Isla easily slid into the role, taking on the persona of a leader and ordering many in their preparations. 

The docks needed securing, she assumed the ship builders and fishers on the task well before her arrival and she was not wrong. Special attention was paid to tying Cora’s ship to the floating doc though she was not aboard it, Heda’s possessions were as protected as Heda herself. Leaving in secret meant leaving her ship behind, Isla simply hoped she was clear of the storm in her travels. 

Nearly through, with the rain’s arrival from the edges of dark menacing clouds and nightfall on the horizon, Isla cast a look back at the shore. She wiped at her face to clear water from her eyes and keep the wind from whipping unruly curls into blocking her gaze from an arriving ship. Her stomach both dropped and fluttered and she checked the sky again, a renewed worry coursing through her. It wasn’t that Isla hadn’t given thought to Delphi throughout the day just that the women’s whereabouts were rarely pinpointed and Isla was at minimum sure of her absence. She thought it better. That Delphi may be traveling somewhere outside of the storms reach. If Isla worried for every storm the pirate faced she would never sleep. Still, the rain picked up and the wind howled more fiercely against the panes of glass windows behind Isla, prompting her to move forward. She was back in motion, trudging through the advancing storm in moments and once she reached the docks she made no hesitation with boarding the familiar ship, calling out to Delphi to gain her attention and bring her topside. Then, hopefully, away and onto dry land were it was safer. If she might be so persuasive. 

@floukrudelphi

[islakomfloukru]

Isla, keeping to herself and tucked away in a quiet corner of Housouda, was enjoying the warm bread and sweetened berries she had gained in trade with fresh smelts from her mornings haul. Hoping to enjoy the treat unnoticed, the sound of nearing boots were unwelcome and although reluctant to do so she lifted her gaze. 

[islakomfloukru]

Isla’s feet were bare as she walked along the docks. She’d just come from her rowing boat, fishing and collecting traps and cages. Her hair was pulled up, decorated with small shells woven into it, a light tunic dress covering salt kissed skin, clinging in places where water still beaded against her. She took a moment standing on the wooden slabs outside the well known ship of her destination to straighten herself. To breathe deeply and steel her posture. Isla held her netted bag of goods concealed behind her back when she entered, presenting herself in a completely different manner than when she had walked up to the ship. 

“Siren.” She called out, her voice polite but commanding. It was practice more than anything. Isla had been imitating her sister nearly all her life but never in a serious manner until she had called herself to do so and naming it that, here with Siren, was better than what it really was. Siren was a challenge, she saw right through her act on multiple occasions and for the life of her, Isla couldn’t shake the need to prove just once that she could be fooled as easily as the rest. At every chance Isla put it to the test. 

@sirenkomfloukru

[oceanrise]

The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.

- Jacques Cousteau (via coco-writes)

[islakomfloukru]

at odds | flashback

[trikrufaye]

Juno did not bother to bite back his words. With large shoulder curved forward in anger, Juno stepped forward in a way that his head was pushed before his body, as if he was trying to hold himself back. “I am no traitor! Not to Floukru, not to Heda.” Juno’s loyalty was almost to a fault. He and Isla had a similarity in that as well as their anger, and even though Juno knew that they both understood that, he was too blinded by the fury brought on by what Isla was saying to consider that Isla didn’t really mean what she was saying.

That blinded fury prompted him to spit words down at her, the twisting fire he felt in his stomach choking up into his throat like acid reflex and fueling the flames in his words. “At least I was there for her.” The shout from before had left his lung, volume reduced to an almost whisper, all be it a violent one. “You are her sister.” Juno noted each word with a purposeful pronunciation just the same way Isla had done to him. “You are meant to guide and protect her.” Bending her words back at her, Juno focused all the blame he could muster off of himself and onto Isla. It was pointed, meant to wound her. If Isla was going to be unreasonable, he was going to make her suffer for it.

But, as Isla lowered her voice, the loud whispers he had spat at her became loud shouts once more.

“How did this happen?!” Juno wanted to throw his hands up in the air, but instead he resorted to tilting his head down towards her, resisting the urge to punch that look of blame off the woman’s face. He didn’t need to feel guiltier than he already did. “This happened because we were ambushed. This happened because Cora was trying to make peace.” Juno’s voice continued to grow louder and louder as he went on. “This happened, because you let it, because you didn’t try hard enough to help me talk her out of it!”

He let himself drop to silence, breathing heavily with gritted teeth and a face twisted into something between utter guilt and utter fury and blame. When he spoke again, his voice was a true whisper. Steady and calm, but still sharp.

“This happened. And now she’s dying.”

[islakomfloukru]

Isla’s breath was stolen from her and she gasped to regain herself, to yell and scream right back in Juno’s face. How dare he? How dare he be so bitterly against their Heda’s word. Cora wanted what was best for them. It was not his job or hers to rise up against that. Isla’s fists balled at her sides, nails biting into her palms, ready to lash out at Juno again but she knew her place. Her blind rage had gotten the best of her on arrival but she would not strike him again--at least, she would attempt not to. 

A scolding for his near treason sat venomously on her tongue but Juno’s final words cut into her and she winced, visibly taken back. Isla put her clan first, as a warrior, with the personal sacrifices she had made for Heda’s safety, there was no doubt there but Juno’s words, those words, they hurt her too deeply to put it above anything. Isla may let their roles dictate their interaction otherwise but Cora was her sister before she was Heda and that was a loss she couldn’t fathom. Her love ran deeper than the devotion of loyalty. 

“Don’t say that.” Isla said, meaning so much to spit the words, growl them out with the hatred that she felt for the man in that moment but they fell softer. Her tone betrayed her fear and Isla looked away, casting her gaze out over the water to center herself. That would be better. If she were out drifting along the currents, it would always be better. Isla never stopped yearning to take sail and escape into a different kind of living but never more than just then with her feet planted firmly to the docks and the fate of her twin hanging in the balance somewhere behind her. If she ran she would never know, never knowing would be better than bad news. But Isla wasn’t a coward. She squared her shoulders and lunged at Juno. 

Isla threw all of her weight into him, intending to knock him on his back and pin him down under wailing fists. Curses spewing past her lips in no coherent order. 

[calicoqueens]

[islakomfloukru]

at odds | flashback

[trikrufaye]

The blood still covered his hands.

It had even managed to seep down into the layers of cloth clothing beneath the armor he’d worn. That had been removed once he’d returned home to the Flougeda village as an attempt to shed some of the worry he felt. But, at seeing the blood beneath it, Juno doubted that he’d be able to find any sort of peace for a long time. He couldn’t stop cursing himself. Violent whispers pushed from his lips, under his breath, where he stood at the end of the dock. How could he have let this happen to her? Protecting her had been his job.

His back was turned to the shore, face kept clean towards the sea. If he didn’t look over his shoulder to where he knew she lay bleeding, fighting for every breath he knew she more than deserved, maybe he could handle himself. They’d been ambushed. He knew that wasn’t something he should have felt guilty about. It wasn’t his fault, but he still couldn’t shake the first time he saw her, stuck through and on the ground at the hand of that Azkru beast.

Peace was a futile wish. Cora had put her best foot forward, one heading towards the end of a war that had gone on for too long in the eyes of many - even though Juno did not share that opinion. She had been after peace, and for once Juno hadn’t fought her on it. Look what happened because of it. Juno cursed himself, not because of the ambush, but because he hadn’t tried to stop her. It was his job to look out for his Heda, not cater to her futile desires of peace.

When he heard footsteps approaching at a quick pace on the dock, Juno was snapped from his thoughts.

At first, when he turned to face the advancing frame, Juno’s immediate reaction was to think it was Cora, with his thoughts to wrapped up in her and all. At first a wash of complete relief hit him, broken across his face in a broad smile, only to be quickly swallowed up by confusion and a step forward. “Cora, how are you -”

Right in the mouth. Isla.

“Aye! You bi…”

Juno trailed off, turning away from her to rub his swore jaw. It was impossible for him to hide the burning anger that quickly took hold of his eyes in a glare and for a moment he swooped back towards her, his lumber frame advancing on her before he stopped himself. Pulling back and straightening his shoulder, easily towering over her, Juno glowered down at the clearly very furious woman. That was fine, Juno was equally as angry, and he had half a mind to dunk her curly haired head under the docks and hold…

“What have I done?!?” It was pure anger in his voice, masking all disbelief and confusion. Just red fury. “Do I look like Azkru swine to you, you ass?!”

[islakomfloukru]

The sight of blood on Juno had Isla’s stomach revolting, turning and causing her pause. She faulted in her anger, eyes sweeping him as he approached. Though the look on his face, a rage to match her own, brought her guard back up and she readied herself for his returning attack. It didn’t come. 

“It would not be the first time my sister has been blinded to traitor among us.” Isla spit back in response. It was aimed as the lowest of insults she could muster but Isla hadn’t actually considered that Juno could be like Largo, a name that she would readily forget and kept clear from her tongue. Especially in her sister’s presence. 

“You are Baka.” She said, each word noted with purposeful pronunciation as if she were speaking to a child. “You are meant to guide and protect her. If this was to be dangerous than I should have been summoned to...” Isla trailed off, she didn’t need to explain it. She never did. The arrangement was never spoken, Juno knew enough for it not to be spelled out, even in their privacy at the end of the docks. 

She stepped nearer to him, lowering her voice in an attempt to control her anger. 

“How did this happen, Baka?” Isla forced out past her teeth, eyeing the red stains that clung to Juno’s skin again. The real question was what were the severity of Cora’s injuries. She might have begged him to tell her lies if necessary, for reassurance no matter the truth but Isla couldn’t see past her anger. She wanted answers just not if they were not what she wanted to hear. So she asked questions laced with blame instead. 

[islakomfloukru]

at odds | flashback

She didn’t need the details to know what happened. Cora pulling the weight of Floukru at her heels left the safety of their lands for one reason, peaceful negotiation. Something that was abundantly clear her sister’s chosen Baka was incapable of. Juno didn’t want peace. He wanted to keep blood on his hands and the icy chill that Isla experienced receiving word that Heda had returned injured said that he’d gotten his wish.

Isla had a mind to head straight for him first, to brandish her blade and tear into his flesh and give him the carnage he so badly craved. The thing was, Isla was unsettled in the chaotic lull between war and calm too and the fire that still burned inside her for Azkru could not be doused so easily but she, unlike Juno, trusted in Cora. Isla set her own feelings aside in place of her loyalty and she wished for the life that her sister envisioned. Where peace was as easy as breathing and life in Flougeda could flourish. In their current reality it was fanciful but if Cora wanted to make strides toward that, Isla had every intention to back her.

Her sister’s quarters were sealed off, Isla would get in the way, she was told. Healers were a shorted supply and whether or not there were any past the closed doors was about a fifty percent chance. The idea of her sister succumbing to her injuries gnawed at Isla and she found herself marching with determination toward the only person that could give her answers.

Isla swung at him first, she wasn’t even sure if he had seen her coming. Juno was a large man, well built and made strong but Isla was strong too and more than her fists colliding with his jaw she wished to knock him on his ass. Shove him off their docks with nothing but his ego to keep him floating. Juno was something in this mess of a potential tragedy that Isla could hit and all the anger she held onto for the hard life they were living poured out in the outlet of that blame. She hated him.

“What have you done?!” 

It didn’t matter if the conflict or attack was not Juno’s fault, it was his job to protect Cora and Isla was sickened enough with worry not to give a damn.

[ @bakajuno ]

[floukrudade-blog]

Rough Waters (past para)

The war was over. Dade should have been happier. His whole family had survived, including Rush who was a constant source of worry for him. At least he hadn’t seen the battlefield. But it was difficult to fear anything other than complete emptiness. Their people had been decimated, and even without the threat of war, survival for them as a people was going to be hard work. Floukru had always been survivors and didn’t shy away from challenges but currently not even that knowledge could comfort Dade.

Perhaps Discoverer had been a bad idea. He always had come here with Valin. To celebrate even. The empty place beside him poked at the ache in his chest he was trying to deaden with drink. It wasn’t as though he’d lost his best friend yesterday, but with a peace finally in place it was as though the weight of it came pressing down on him. There was no battle to focus on, or azkru warriors he could fight to avenge Valin’s death. He was just gone. And Dade, the one who was supposed to be the one with words had never told him how he truly felt. He downed his glass and set it down with a clank. “Another.” He asked with a nod of his head.

[islakomfloukru]

Isla was bored. It sounded awful even only in her thoughts, to attribute their new peace to boredom but the blankness of her day and the break in the gritty routine a warrior actively at war kept was maddening. She couldn’t sit through Cora’s meetings, Isla didn’t have an ear for the sort of homeland strategy that was the next step in their recovery. Perhaps she simply needed a break. Every one of those who fought so valiantly did. What she would do with that break was the issue. She couldn’t stand to be idle and if her distraction ran dry or the hard labor she supplied herself in chance to keep her hands moving ran out, absent thoughts drifted to the sea. To her ship, to the opportunity to make her own way, she yearned for it. But her place was in Flougeda, she had resigned herself to that. Without war, this land was her only choice.

When she was still too long, she turned to their place of gathering. To indulge in a hot meal or calm her call to the sea with moonshine. There was comradery in the Discoverer, between elders, workers, and those she had returned from battle with alike but the air was thick with their losses. Even here where the drinks ran strong and drunken sailor songs erupted from crowded corners, the lasting sorrow was palpable. It could be seen in the eyes of some but no more than in the men and women who slumped against the rutty bar, swaying in their stupors in an attempt drown their insides like traitors in the salty shallows. A familiar sight in the time since the wars passing.

“A sea slug would chance better at walking at the rate you are going, friend.” Isla commented from the corner of the bar, observing Dade as she had been since taking up a seat. She did not know him well, not how one knows their neighbor but she had seen him fight and was familiar with the skills he possessed with a trident in hand. 

[heda-cora-blog]

Cora was expecting her sister to be just as playful as her like they would have been before, however that was not the case. She heard the tone in her voice and Cora pressed her lips together. “I just wanted to see you.” Cora defended herself as she held onto her sheathed knife. When she asked if she had been following her Cora tilted her head. “Yes.” She knew that would annoy her sister and said, “But remember I know your movements and ways better than anyone else.” She said. “Anyone else couldn’t follow you as easily, sister.” She said clenching her jaw. “I haven’t seen you since the reaper events.” 

[islakomfloukru]

Isla stared at Cora for a moment, taking in her words and then she huffed and continued on the path she was walking before the interruption. Her annoyance was at her own failure to detect someone in her wake. Cora or no, no one should be able to sneak up on her. It was times like these Isla remembered, in all her pride and dedication to personifying her sister, Cora always bested her at everything. 

“You wanted to see me.” She parroted, sounding suspicious. “Could you not have done so without showing off?” Isla asked, a hint of the smile she was purposely directing away from Cora in her tone. “How has this day of sleuth been treating you, sister?”

[heda-cora-blog]

Cora knew where Isla was going to be, traveling the borders and protecting them, and she wanted to see her sister. She hadn’t seen her since the reaper attacks and she wanted to make sure she was okay and managing. She had seen her twin leave the village and head through the woods, Cora making a decision to follow her for a little while. 

She followed her sister and watched how her movements were just like her own  but if you knew either of the girls one could tell them apart. She kept her distance until they were far enough away from the village and she cracked a branch on the ground. She heard her sister’s voice and she called out. “Sister, it’s me.” She said coming out from around the tree with her hand raised.

[islakomfloukru]

Isla was surprised to see Cora, more than surprised. Her thoughts cycled through unexpected, to confused, and then briefly lingered on something playful. Her hand was still wrapped around her weapon ready to pull it from its holding and memories of sparring as children made Isla’s lips twitch up mischievously. Any other day had she not been busy with more serious matters, she may have surprised her sister with a challenge. Playfulness was rare between them these days. Ultimately Isla settled on annoyance and she dropped her sword fully back into place and stood up straight. 

“What are you doing out here?” She asked, unhappy that Cora would be roaming so deeply into their woods alone after the events previous in the week. Sure Isla knew Cora was just as able to fight as well as herself or any warrior she knew but it was dangerous and unnecessary. Even if her worry was only a precaution. Isla had a thought then and she narrowed her eyes. There was no way Cora would know where she had gone if she hadn’t known all along and her annoyance toward her sister grew when she realized she hadn’t noticed her on her tail. “Have you been following me?”

[islakomfloukru]

Isla had spent some of the morning bathing herself in murky salt tinged bath water. She used collected mud from just under the sea’s edge and mixed the beady sand grains into an exfoliant to cleanse her skin. It was a holy day and as much as the warrior felt there wasn’t time for that she still took the measure of care in preparing herself as best she could. Isla considered taking time with their Tattooer but many in Flougeda were grieving and would be seeking session to find balance with the tide. Observing the day would be good for her soul but she preferred to remain useful. 

Still smelling of the mix of sea and lavender Isla took to the woods, armed with her sword sheathed against her back and a dagger at her hip. The afternoon was spent in travel, zigzagging along a usual path to pick up on anything unusual worth tracking on her way to their nearest borders. Isla took her time patrolling them, searching for hints that their land had been breached. When she heard the nearby snapping of twigs underfoot the warrior instinctively reached for her sword and readied her stance. 

“Show yourself.” 

[floukrudelphi]

Delphi’s expression was grim - a look that was wildly out of place on the trader’s face. It was rare that she ever became this serious, even in the heat of battle where she was most at home. A virus, however, wasn’t an easy opponent and couldn’t be bested with sword in hand. “Perhaps we should reach out to him.”

“I’ve seen you in a fight, I know your skill. But, it never hurts to have a little support.”

[islakomfloukru]

Isla only nodded. It was the right idea, find out where their healer was with training and possibly bring him home. If not just for information, it wasn’t a large jump that if Rush was able he might be needed. She would bring it to her sister’s attention. 

“I suppose it doesn’t.” Isla did not doubt Delphi, she hadn’t truly suspected it of the woman and she didn’t feel the need to prove herself otherwise. Maybe she simply hoped to hear her admit that her reasons were a veiled excuse for something else. “On the subject... the security of our homeland will need increasing in the coming days. If any of the suspicions prove true we may have more than reapers to guard against. Your presence would be valuable should you choose to stay longer than the tending to your ship requires.” Isla looked away when she asked. The reason was valid but she never thought herself to ask that of Delphi and though it was a tactically sound suggestion, internally Isla’s motives still blurred. 

[floukrudelphi]

“Then you have me as your companion for the rest of the night.”

“Azkru.” Delphi confirmed, tapping her fingers on the table. Her gaze flicked around the Housouda before landing back on Isla’s face. “I haven’t heard much but from what is going around, it’s a rotting virus. Back in Polis, one of Azgeda’s was also infected with it and the man died in the middle of the hall. Has Rush returned from Trikru? He would know more with Kira as his mentor.”

[islakomfloukru]

Isla let that sink in, a virus. On top of everything else. She supposed she should count Floukru lucky that none of their own had been infected with their healer out of reach. “No, he has not.” She responded distractedly. Isla often jokingly considered Rush Trigeda’s problem for the time being but he was valuable. That she recognized. 

The warrior signaled for another drink and she tipped her head when she looked back to Delphi. “Do you think me unable to protect myself?” She asked, more curious than accusing.

[floukrudelphi]

Then accept the fact that I will stand as your guard during your play, heda.

Rumor has it that an Azkru caravan was attacked. Unfortunately, it was not the haiplana’s caravan but rather her handmaidens’. Most escaped but not unscathed. There’s more than that, too. From what the underlings have whispered, the reapers were using weapons that were tainted with some sort of sickness.

[islakomfloukru]

“I have no qualms with you joining me, if you wish it.” 

“Azkru.” Isla hissed and finished off her drink, allowing the burn to settle warmly in her throat. An attack on themselves even with a reach in prosperity was an illogical thought, still it lingered. “Have you heard any word of the healers speaking about this?”

[floukrudelphi]

“Being a trader has its perks, especially when information is one of the most desired currency. Rumor has it that we were not the only ones besieged by reapers.”

Delphi’s jaw tightened at Isla’s words, expression turning severe despite the ring of practicality in Isla’s words. “I know you just didn’t tell me you were using yourself as bait.”

[islakomfloukru]

I am refusing to be idle on the matter. If bait is how you would like to describe it so be it but any objection tipping your tongue will make no difference. You know that.

What have you heard?