In the Heart of the Mountains

[Cassia Edric]

Cassia was growing used to living out in the wilderness of the mountains. The trees and caves were her shelter, she used to the sky to tell time, and the stars were important points for navigating their way. She was currently in the midst of traveling with [member="Lavania"], and learning the ways of the force through magic. Cassia had been afforded ample time to practice the skills she’d recently learned, though there was still much left to be improved upon. The young witch felt like she was finally beginning to grasp the complexities of the force, but her self-confidence when it came to using magic was still quite thin.

She currently found herself sitting on a large rock, where she had a lovely view of a waterfall breaking through the mountains. Cassia’s eyes were closed, and she sat quietly with her staff resting on top of her crossed legs. Her mind was open and still, she listened closely to every sound around her, trying to feel the sounds as well. She let her senses stretch out, feeling the force flowing all around her. Though she was in a very peaceful state, she was still mildly aware that it was nearly time to resume her training. Cassia wasn’t sure how much longer she and Lavania would dwell in the mountains, or what sort of tasks were ahead of her, but she was determined to make the most of her experiences here.

Slowly she let her eyes open and she drew in a deep breath of the fresh air. It was the start of a new day, and she had the feeling that there would be much to do.

 

[Lavania]

[member="Cassia Edric"]

The scents and sounds of the mountains came to her while she was going to meet her student. She was certain of a few things when it came to the young witch and one of those things was the girl had skills at least. She might not be on the path of the nightsister wanted her to be. She hoped to see her embrace her sisters and master to dance with them in the caves. For now though the use of her bed in the shack was for the girl as the nightsisters who slowly grew into a small group waited to see what was coming. Lavania stopped kneeling there and bringing her hand out as she brushed at her students hair. "Are you ready to begin?"

 

[Cassia Edric]

Cassia smiled as she felt Lavania’s hand brush at her hair, she turned and looked to her master. “Yes, I am ready.” Came her answer. She knew that Lavania had some students that were nightsisters, and so she came to value this time spent with her master greatly. In the back of her mind, she knew that she may not be so fortunate in the future, for she didn’t want to be greedy with Lavania’s lessons. This felt especially true now that the nightsisters seemed to be making their way home. It’s true that Cassia was not part of their clan, though she didn’t feel excluded by their circle, magic was the thing that brought them together.

[member="Lavania"]

 

[Lavania]

[member="Cassia Edric"]

Lavania looked at her as she moved with the girl coming to the creatures outside as she spoke. "Very good, we'll begin with your first lessons, the magics here must make you yourself. The rancor herds of the world work with us, they are our friends, they protect us, they will carry us and our burdens. We must find yours, mine the outsiders call a Tyrant rancor because it grows nearly twice the size of the others but there are some others. Bull rancors, dragon rancors, some smaller that live in greater herds."

 

[Cassia Edric]

Cassia’s eyes widened as Lavania said that they would have to find her a rancor. She knew that the beasts were of great value, as they provided a means of travel, and also protection. A rancor would certainly become a very useful ally to have, but the thought of going near the creatures still gave her a bit of a fright. Having grown up on a farm, she was used to working with large animals, but nothing that would even closely compare to a rancor. “I must tame one?” She asked uncertainly, wondering if her next task would be to go into the wilds to find the right match. “I will try my best.” She said, clenching a fist. Cassia hadn’t the faintest clue how one would even go about trying to approach a wild rancor, but she felt fortunate that Lavania was there to guide her.

[member="Lavania"]

 

[Lavania]

[member="Cassia Edric"]

Lavania looked at her and felt her now as she moved closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Pulling her to be closer. "You will be fine but as much as I can teach you I am a nightsister and you are a member of the witches. We have chaned, the clans work together and have their differences but a witch staying with nightsisters is not allowed. Your clan is somewhere scattered and they will come back to you but until then you will need someone to protect you little witch. I can only offer so much but." She trailed off while walking and coming to an area as she spoke. "We have far more that have appeared. My tyrant rancor doesn't have to be yours there are some choices as well." She was looking at some of the rancors there were there and the tyrants were massive but there were the smaller ones, the bull with thick tusks and flying in the dragon rancors her and Anastasia had found children of in a joint between witches and sisters.