Mathaira, traveling hatchery worker, Dinotopia
Forbidden Mountains
December 21 - Candlelight Carnival
Having arrived in the Forbiddens a few days ago via Sky Galley, I had
been welcomed into the home of my friends Petar and Natasha,
proprietors of the Glacier Ridge Trading Post in Thermala, and their
adopted daughter Ajzik. In this land of bone chilling cold, blowing
snow, icy terrain, and fur covered mammals the services of a hatchery
worker are obviously not in demand as in other regions of Dinotopia.
Nevertheless for some time I have made regular though infrequent
treks to Thermala, Sky City, and the Tentpole of the Sky as well as
other Mountain villages for the purpose of trade, bartering such
items as small baskets woven of reeds from Hadro Swamp and carefully
protected flowering plants from the Rainy Basin and receiving in
return the intricately woven blankets and beautifully designed cloaks
fashioned by the famed Tentpole weavers, their skill producing these
works of art from the fur shed by the region's mammals. In the past,
through bartering with my contacts in the Mountains I have also been
able to obtain ice, snow, and reindeer milk from which I prepared a
sweet frozen concoction as a special dessert for my friends in the
lower regions of the Island, however the narrative describing that
incident is described in detail in another scroll.
I was able to bed down these past nights in Ajzik's sleeping
quarters, having developed an aquaintance with Petar and Natasha's
adopted daughter upon our meeting several seasons ago, our
relationship having since developed into friendship and joined
hearts. We have sat up many a long night trading confidences, silent
companionship, and shared laughter, her purring giggle mingling with
my own soft chuckles as we strive to stiffle our humor out of respect
for her parents and for the sake of their sleep. Sharing the warmth
of my friend's furred golden body, the name Ajzik by the way
meaning "gold", I have had no need for any other sleep covering,
pillowing my head on Ajzik's massive paws and nestling against her
soft fur.
The Sabertooth walked with a limp, her right rear leg having been
injured in an avalanche when she was but a cub, her parents having
been killed in the same tradgedy. Petar, as part of the team clearing
the avalanche from the Mountain pass, had discovered the injured cub
and brought her back to the Trading Post where Natasha treated her
injury and nursed her back to health. In typical Dinotopian fashion,
the human couple adopted the Smilodon as their own daughter and she
assisted in the running of the Trading Post. Though somewhat wary at
first, the Mountain inhabitants gradually accepted Ajzik as one of
their own and she was now firmly entrenched in the village.
Though of different species and neither speaking the other's
language, the young Smilodon and I have devised a means of
communication through vocalization, body posture, gestures and of
course the Footprint Alphabet which is common throughout the Island.
Ajzik's years of living with her human parents had given her the
ability to understand the nuances of human speech while my own
relationship with ShadowStriker has taught me the rudiments of
rumbles and growls, though the Tyrannosaur vocalization emanates deep
within the body while the Sabertooth language generates from the
throat. It is in this way Ajzik and I share our late night
discussions and further bond our friendship.
Petar and Natasha having left the previous day in order to make a
stop at Bigtusk Flats, a village at the base of the Tentpole, in
order to barter some of the hand crafted candle holders chiseled by a
local artisan out of the chunks of granite which often fell during
minor rockslides common to the region, in exchange receiving the
woven outer garments such as hooded parkas and furred mittens which
are often in demand in Thermala, that village playing host more
frequently to travelers from more temperate regions of the Island.
Bigtusk Flats, by the way, is so named for the ancient mammoth, now
deceased, from which the Habitat Partner called Bigtusk is descended.
The village, once inhabited solely by mammoths, is now shared by
mammoths and other mammals, including humans.
Setting out shortly after dawn, I shouldered the bulky pack
containing my personal belongings along with provisions, having had
to loosen the straps in order to accomodate its wearing over the
heavy parka-like cloak which protected me from the icy climate. The
Smilodon had no such need of additional insulation, her thick golden
fur providing its own coverage against the blowing snow and freezing
winds. Her muscular body enabling her to carry more than her share,
Azjik bore the majority of our provisions in heavy pouches strapped
to her broad back. Having traveled enough times in this more frigid
region of Dinotopia, I knew to strap my water pouch beneath my cloak
directly against my body in order to keep its contents from freezing.
Likewise, Azjik bore her much larger water containers in the section
of pouches resting against her warm fur.
Though the distance from the Glacier Ridge Trading Post on the
outskirts of Thermala to the low plateau of the Forbiddens where the
Tibetans were sculpting the ice Temple was not great when measured in
necklengths, the snowbound path with its deep drifts and the constant
blowing of frigid winds descending from the deep ridges of the
Forbidden Mountains, lengthened the journey and made the time pass
slowly. A faint path was visible but not easily traversed, thus I
encouraged Ajzik to take the lead, her broad muscular body cutting a
swath in the deep snow and allowing me to follow in her wake. We did
not mind the rugged trek as we traveled amiably, oftentimes in
constant coversation yet drifting at other times into companionable
silence and especially at this time quiet reflection regarding the
upcoming Carnival.
Upon our midmorning arrival at the plateau, a festive atmosphere
pervades those present in the proximity of the carved Temple which
seemingly towers almost as high as the lowest Mountain ridge. The
Temple had been adorned by the Tibetans with finely wrought etchings
and ancient inscriptions detailing the Island's first Candlelight
Carnival. As the day wore on the celebratory mood was replaced by an
attitude of hushed anticipation and silent contemplation.
As twilight fell over the low plateau of the Forbiddens, the ice
Temple reflected the subdued hues of the rapidly descending sun
behind the Mountains. Dusky red mingled with muted orange and pale
lavendar and set the Temple ablaze with a riot of colors.
I retrieved a small intricately woven basket from my bulky pack.
Removing its lid I withdrew a soft cloth pouch the color of newly
budded ginko leaves. After loosening the drawstring I removed two
small parcels wrapped in a shimmering material of brilliant purple
hue, the color resembling that of Arcticum longevus flowers.
Contained within the first carefully wrapped parcel lay a single
Candle, a pillar, a miniature version of the columns seen in the
capital city of Sauropolis. Much time had I labored in preparing the
Candle. Made of sweet-smelling wax from bayberry bushes, I had made
several forays from my pod home in Bonabba and ventured into the
Rainy Basin, careful to remain on the fringes of the territory
bordering the Polongo River. As the bayberry bushes released their
bounty I gathered the grayish green berries from the Basin floor.
Boiling the berries and extracting the wax was a time consuming
process but made more enjoyable as village residents gathered on the
central green near the pond, each individual preparing their own
Candle in much the same way yet adding their own special touches to
make their Candle uniquely theirs. After fashioning the pillar shape
to my liking, while the wax was still warm I had carefully pressed
dried pear blossoms around the diameter of the Candle, reminding me
of the orchards near my pod home alongside the Gardens. I then
sprinkled upon the surface bits of dried giant ferns of the type
found in the Rainy Basin, bringing to mind the time I had spent in
that region and my unlikely bonding with one of its residents. As the
Candle burned the sweet scent of bayberry would be joined by the
delicate fragrance of the pear flowers and the earthy smell of the
Basin.
On this night, after withdrawing my Candle from its wrappings, I next
unfurl the Candle's holder from the bright cloth which binds and
protects it. Quite unusual in shape, it resembles the dormant volcano
of Volcaneum, a gift from a Rutiodon couple, Abbott and Shala,
several seasons back. I was priveleged to receive this token as an
expression of their gratitude as I had traveled from the Romano
Hatchery to Pumice Town in order to attend the emerging of Mabry,
their first hatchling, that particular species prefering to remain in
their own domicile rather than journeying to one of the hatcheries on
the Island.
Gently placing my Candle on its holder I join Ajzik and assist her in
fastening a small votive type candle to a glacier shaped holder
strapped to her midsection, the Sabertooth not particularly fond of
the flame yet wanting to honor her deceased parents with the amber
colored Candle bearing two deep scratches made by her claws and the
single word "love" inscribed in the Smilodon language.
Likewise I had also carved a single word on my Candle,
simply "cumspiritik", this phrase along with the mingling of the pear
blossoms and the Basin ferns embedded in my Candle indicating the
special bond, unlikely though it was, shared by ShadowStriker and
myself. Knowing that at this same moment that he was preparing to
light a similar Candle from the brazier of coals I had left with him,
much larger of course and decorated with entire fern leaves and
sprinkled with crushed pear blossoms, his Candle was also carved with
the phrase "cumspiritik" though in the Carnosaur language.
Ajzik and I approached the Temple together, sisters of the heart
despite our different species. As I lit my Candle from one of the
sacred ones provided by the Tibetans and placed it on one of the
carved niches of the ice Temple, I knew in my heart that
ShadowStriker was doing the same in the Basin, though placing his
Candle in a carved rock face rather than within an icy sculpture.
Like my friendship with Ajzik, my bond with ShadowStriker transcended
our differences, broke through the barriers of species and language,
creating a true "cumspiritik" during the Candlelight Carnival.
Forbidden Mountains
December 21 - Candlelight Carnival
Having arrived in the Forbiddens a few days ago via Sky Galley, I had
been welcomed into the home of my friends Petar and Natasha,
proprietors of the Glacier Ridge Trading Post in Thermala, and their
adopted daughter Ajzik. In this land of bone chilling cold, blowing
snow, icy terrain, and fur covered mammals the services of a hatchery
worker are obviously not in demand as in other regions of Dinotopia.
Nevertheless for some time I have made regular though infrequent
treks to Thermala, Sky City, and the Tentpole of the Sky as well as
other Mountain villages for the purpose of trade, bartering such
items as small baskets woven of reeds from Hadro Swamp and carefully
protected flowering plants from the Rainy Basin and receiving in
return the intricately woven blankets and beautifully designed cloaks
fashioned by the famed Tentpole weavers, their skill producing these
works of art from the fur shed by the region's mammals. In the past,
through bartering with my contacts in the Mountains I have also been
able to obtain ice, snow, and reindeer milk from which I prepared a
sweet frozen concoction as a special dessert for my friends in the
lower regions of the Island, however the narrative describing that
incident is described in detail in another scroll.
I was able to bed down these past nights in Ajzik's sleeping
quarters, having developed an aquaintance with Petar and Natasha's
adopted daughter upon our meeting several seasons ago, our
relationship having since developed into friendship and joined
hearts. We have sat up many a long night trading confidences, silent
companionship, and shared laughter, her purring giggle mingling with
my own soft chuckles as we strive to stiffle our humor out of respect
for her parents and for the sake of their sleep. Sharing the warmth
of my friend's furred golden body, the name Ajzik by the way
meaning "gold", I have had no need for any other sleep covering,
pillowing my head on Ajzik's massive paws and nestling against her
soft fur.
The Sabertooth walked with a limp, her right rear leg having been
injured in an avalanche when she was but a cub, her parents having
been killed in the same tradgedy. Petar, as part of the team clearing
the avalanche from the Mountain pass, had discovered the injured cub
and brought her back to the Trading Post where Natasha treated her
injury and nursed her back to health. In typical Dinotopian fashion,
the human couple adopted the Smilodon as their own daughter and she
assisted in the running of the Trading Post. Though somewhat wary at
first, the Mountain inhabitants gradually accepted Ajzik as one of
their own and she was now firmly entrenched in the village.
Though of different species and neither speaking the other's
language, the young Smilodon and I have devised a means of
communication through vocalization, body posture, gestures and of
course the Footprint Alphabet which is common throughout the Island.
Ajzik's years of living with her human parents had given her the
ability to understand the nuances of human speech while my own
relationship with ShadowStriker has taught me the rudiments of
rumbles and growls, though the Tyrannosaur vocalization emanates deep
within the body while the Sabertooth language generates from the
throat. It is in this way Ajzik and I share our late night
discussions and further bond our friendship.
Petar and Natasha having left the previous day in order to make a
stop at Bigtusk Flats, a village at the base of the Tentpole, in
order to barter some of the hand crafted candle holders chiseled by a
local artisan out of the chunks of granite which often fell during
minor rockslides common to the region, in exchange receiving the
woven outer garments such as hooded parkas and furred mittens which
are often in demand in Thermala, that village playing host more
frequently to travelers from more temperate regions of the Island.
Bigtusk Flats, by the way, is so named for the ancient mammoth, now
deceased, from which the Habitat Partner called Bigtusk is descended.
The village, once inhabited solely by mammoths, is now shared by
mammoths and other mammals, including humans.
Setting out shortly after dawn, I shouldered the bulky pack
containing my personal belongings along with provisions, having had
to loosen the straps in order to accomodate its wearing over the
heavy parka-like cloak which protected me from the icy climate. The
Smilodon had no such need of additional insulation, her thick golden
fur providing its own coverage against the blowing snow and freezing
winds. Her muscular body enabling her to carry more than her share,
Azjik bore the majority of our provisions in heavy pouches strapped
to her broad back. Having traveled enough times in this more frigid
region of Dinotopia, I knew to strap my water pouch beneath my cloak
directly against my body in order to keep its contents from freezing.
Likewise, Azjik bore her much larger water containers in the section
of pouches resting against her warm fur.
Though the distance from the Glacier Ridge Trading Post on the
outskirts of Thermala to the low plateau of the Forbiddens where the
Tibetans were sculpting the ice Temple was not great when measured in
necklengths, the snowbound path with its deep drifts and the constant
blowing of frigid winds descending from the deep ridges of the
Forbidden Mountains, lengthened the journey and made the time pass
slowly. A faint path was visible but not easily traversed, thus I
encouraged Ajzik to take the lead, her broad muscular body cutting a
swath in the deep snow and allowing me to follow in her wake. We did
not mind the rugged trek as we traveled amiably, oftentimes in
constant coversation yet drifting at other times into companionable
silence and especially at this time quiet reflection regarding the
upcoming Carnival.
Upon our midmorning arrival at the plateau, a festive atmosphere
pervades those present in the proximity of the carved Temple which
seemingly towers almost as high as the lowest Mountain ridge. The
Temple had been adorned by the Tibetans with finely wrought etchings
and ancient inscriptions detailing the Island's first Candlelight
Carnival. As the day wore on the celebratory mood was replaced by an
attitude of hushed anticipation and silent contemplation.
As twilight fell over the low plateau of the Forbiddens, the ice
Temple reflected the subdued hues of the rapidly descending sun
behind the Mountains. Dusky red mingled with muted orange and pale
lavendar and set the Temple ablaze with a riot of colors.
I retrieved a small intricately woven basket from my bulky pack.
Removing its lid I withdrew a soft cloth pouch the color of newly
budded ginko leaves. After loosening the drawstring I removed two
small parcels wrapped in a shimmering material of brilliant purple
hue, the color resembling that of Arcticum longevus flowers.
Contained within the first carefully wrapped parcel lay a single
Candle, a pillar, a miniature version of the columns seen in the
capital city of Sauropolis. Much time had I labored in preparing the
Candle. Made of sweet-smelling wax from bayberry bushes, I had made
several forays from my pod home in Bonabba and ventured into the
Rainy Basin, careful to remain on the fringes of the territory
bordering the Polongo River. As the bayberry bushes released their
bounty I gathered the grayish green berries from the Basin floor.
Boiling the berries and extracting the wax was a time consuming
process but made more enjoyable as village residents gathered on the
central green near the pond, each individual preparing their own
Candle in much the same way yet adding their own special touches to
make their Candle uniquely theirs. After fashioning the pillar shape
to my liking, while the wax was still warm I had carefully pressed
dried pear blossoms around the diameter of the Candle, reminding me
of the orchards near my pod home alongside the Gardens. I then
sprinkled upon the surface bits of dried giant ferns of the type
found in the Rainy Basin, bringing to mind the time I had spent in
that region and my unlikely bonding with one of its residents. As the
Candle burned the sweet scent of bayberry would be joined by the
delicate fragrance of the pear flowers and the earthy smell of the
Basin.
On this night, after withdrawing my Candle from its wrappings, I next
unfurl the Candle's holder from the bright cloth which binds and
protects it. Quite unusual in shape, it resembles the dormant volcano
of Volcaneum, a gift from a Rutiodon couple, Abbott and Shala,
several seasons back. I was priveleged to receive this token as an
expression of their gratitude as I had traveled from the Romano
Hatchery to Pumice Town in order to attend the emerging of Mabry,
their first hatchling, that particular species prefering to remain in
their own domicile rather than journeying to one of the hatcheries on
the Island.
Gently placing my Candle on its holder I join Ajzik and assist her in
fastening a small votive type candle to a glacier shaped holder
strapped to her midsection, the Sabertooth not particularly fond of
the flame yet wanting to honor her deceased parents with the amber
colored Candle bearing two deep scratches made by her claws and the
single word "love" inscribed in the Smilodon language.
Likewise I had also carved a single word on my Candle,
simply "cumspiritik", this phrase along with the mingling of the pear
blossoms and the Basin ferns embedded in my Candle indicating the
special bond, unlikely though it was, shared by ShadowStriker and
myself. Knowing that at this same moment that he was preparing to
light a similar Candle from the brazier of coals I had left with him,
much larger of course and decorated with entire fern leaves and
sprinkled with crushed pear blossoms, his Candle was also carved with
the phrase "cumspiritik" though in the Carnosaur language.
Ajzik and I approached the Temple together, sisters of the heart
despite our different species. As I lit my Candle from one of the
sacred ones provided by the Tibetans and placed it on one of the
carved niches of the ice Temple, I knew in my heart that
ShadowStriker was doing the same in the Basin, though placing his
Candle in a carved rock face rather than within an icy sculpture.
Like my friendship with Ajzik, my bond with ShadowStriker transcended
our differences, broke through the barriers of species and language,
creating a true "cumspiritik" during the Candlelight Carnival.