Private Similar Souls

[Eryndel]

The market thrived like a living organism—vibrant colors blooming from every stall, voices weaving into a ceaseless hum, and the scent of sweet grain-cakes drifting through warm air. Travelers brushed past one another, each caught in their own purpose. Yet Eryndel moved with quiet grace, every step measured, like a breeze slipping through branches rather than boots over stone.

She had come to observe and to learn. That was what envoys of the Kiir did best—listen to the world and let it speak.

But something else called her attention. A presence. Familiar—not in memory, but in essence. The way another heartbeat in the crowd echoed her own rhythm.

Her hand paused above a basket of preserved fruits, her gaze drifting—until it found the source—another Kiir.

You didn't see many beyond the groves. To find one here, among durasteel vendors and neon signs… it stirred a quiet, reflexive warmth inside her chest. Their eyes met—recognition of kin without names.

Eryndel stepped closer, careful not to intrude but unable to ignore what fate had placed before her. Her voice was soft, airy like leaves stirred by the wind.

"Kiir…" A small, genuine smile touched her features. "It is rare to see one of our kind so far from the old roots."

She inclined her head respectfully, tail shifting with curiosity rather than defense.

"I am called Eryndel. May I ask from which grove your path began?"

The market's noise continued around them, but for this moment, the world had narrowed to just two branches discovering they once belonged to the same tree.

Zaytee

 

[Zaytee]

The overwhelming, heavy scents in the air, and the busy crowd made Zaytee's tail swish around excitedly as she walked through the sea of stands, her head turning from one side to another to be able to see the colorful chaos around her to the the fullest. She has never seen anything like this place before, with so many different race, and exotic snacks in every corner... like the whole galaxy would have been compressed into these busy streets.

But something... some invisible force, with a strange familiarity scented in the warm air, grabbed her attention just as she was leaning closer to look at a bunch of colorful, weirdly shaped fruit.

Her head snapped to the side instantly, watching the movements of the crowd, the small waggings of the tail impatiently looking for that 'something' that she know was there, even though she didn't know what it was.

Then she finally noticed it.

A pair of green eyes were watching her just as intently as she did from the other side of the stands, with horns elavating the other's height, and a thin tail swishing behind elegantly. One of her own kind.

Zaytee watched with wide open gaze while the other approached, not believing her luck to find another Kiir so far from home, so far from the planet they knew so well, so far from the tribe she knew all her life... And as the other got close enough and started to talk, even her own tail seemed to stop the endless swishing for a moment.

"I-I'm Zaytee..." She started, but in the next moment without any foreshadowing, her hands moved and she wrapped her arms around Eryndel, pulling her close and holding her tightly, wanting to know if she was real or just another cruel nightmare.

Eryndel

 

[Eryndel]

For a heartbeat, Eryndel stood there — breath catching as Zaytee's arms wrapped tight around her. The sudden press of familiar warmth among unfamiliar scents… the instinctive stillness of a Kiir who couldn't quite believe what she'd found — it struck Eryndel deeper than she expected. Her own arms moved in response, steady and sure.

She returned the embrace fully, one hand resting at Zaytee's shoulder, claws kept soft, her tail curling once behind her — a quiet reassurance born of shared lineage. The pulse of the market washed around them: sizzling food, calls of traders, a dozen species bartering in a dozen tongues. But here, in this moment, it all felt distant.

"You are real," she murmured, voice low, meant for the closeness between them. "And you are far from alone."

She eased back only enough to see Zaytee's face, gaze gentle — relief and surprise and something like pride flickering in green eyes.
"I am Eryndel. It is good to meet one of our own beneath these strange suns."

Her hand remained lightly on Zaytee's arm — grounding, warm. "Come," she said, and the subtle curve of her mouth hinted at a smile. "This place has so many scents that even I cannot name them all."

A glance at the food stands — vibrant fruit, spiced skewers, pastries steaming under heat lamps. "Are you hungry?" she asked softly. "If you wish, we can share a meal. We can… breathe in this place together."

Zaytee

 

[Zaytee]

Like at a sign, Zaytee's stomach started growling like some wild creature of the forest, tuning out most of the other noises and making the Kiir blush with embarassment as she tilted her head to the side.

"W-well I can certainly eat..." She chuckled lightly. "It's been some time since I could borrow a few bites from someone's lunch."

Turning toward the endless rows of food stalls, she grabbed Eryndel's hand, pulling her lightly after herself, not wanting to loose her in the crowd while she sniffed her way around, trying to find some snack for themselves. Spicy meat jerkies and honey glazed dried fruits surrounded them alongside of freshly baked small breads and sugar coated cakes, the mix off all these making her gulp quietly as she smiled at her companion, but with her tail wagging excitedly, she couldn't hide her happiness.

"What would you like to eat? I don't even know if any of these are bad for us..." Zaytee looked around, deeply in thought while she watched the rainbow colored baskets full of unknown fresh vegetables and fruits. "Altough I got quite sick after some purple thing that I... khm... that I got somehow."

Eryndel

 

[Eryndel]

Eryndel let herself be pulled along, a chuckle escaping her lips at the soft, embarrassed growl of Zaytee's stomach. Her own tail twitched slightly, a subtle echo of amusement, and she allowed herself to enjoy the unhurried chaos of the market through the young Kiir's excitement.

"You need not be embarrassed," she said softly, voice calm and steady. "Even the Force is not immune to hunger." Her green eyes swept over the stalls, taking in the vivid colors and unfamiliar scents with a patient curiosity, cataloging possibilities without judgment.

Her fingers lingered briefly in Zaytee's hand, a quiet grounding, before she tilted her head toward the food around them. "Most of this is safe, I think. But caution is wise. You learned that purple fruit the hard way." A faint smile tugged at her lips, tempered by careful concern.

Her gaze settled on a basket of honeyed dried fruits and small breads, letting the light catch her cloak's green threads. "Perhaps we start simple. Something gentle to taste the flavors without overstepping our senses."

She followed Zaytee's tail wagging, letting herself be carried along by the young Kiir's enthusiasm, but kept one eye quietly scanning their surroundings. "And if you like, we can try a few different things. A small journey for the stomach before we continue the one for the senses."

Her tone remained calm and patient, but underneath was a quiet joy—sharing this small, grounding moment with someone of her own kind in such a vast, overwhelming place.

Zaytee

 

[Zaytee]

A sneaky smile appeared on the young Kiir's lips as they got closer to one of the side stalls, the scent of sweetness filling her thoughts, with a plan slowly taking form in the back of her mind.

She squeezed the other's hand softly before she winked in her way, her tail wagging sideways even further until it 'accidentally' bumped into some boxes in its way, the whole unstable structure wobbling for a moment before the top, smaller boxes fell from their high place, dropping onto the ground. The noise turned the attention of everybody all around them toward the loud crash, and soon after the stall owner next to it started cursing and swearing in their way in some unknown language.

But Zaytee just walked forward nonchalanthly, holding Eryndel's hand and avoiding bumping into anybody else by stepping to the side again and again, disappearing from the vicinity of the stall within the matter of seconds. She stretched upward, letting out a small yawn escape her mouth, and as her tail lifted again, two small piece of fresh baked bread was in the coiled tail.

"Here, try this." She offered one toward the older Kiir with a small nod. "It smelled so nice, I couldn't stop myself from borrowing some."

She grabbed the other one, holding it with two hand as she bit into the soft baked goods, happily nomming on it like a little hatchling.
Eryndel

 

[Eryndel]

Eryndel tilted her head, green eyes narrowing just slightly as she accepted the small piece of bread. "And why exactly did you do that?" she asked softly, though her tone carried the faintest thread of amusement. "You know you could have paid for it."

Her fingers ruffled through Zaytee's hair gently, careful not to startle her, and a low, quiet laugh escaped her throat. "Though I suppose the bread smells too good to resist. That much I understand."

She took a small bite, letting the sweetness linger on her tongue before her gaze returned to the young Kiir. "It's important to remember… taking without offering something in return isn't the way we live among others." Her tail flicked once, light but deliberate, reinforcing the lesson.

Eryndel's hand brushed through Zaytee's hair again, softer this time —a grounding touch. "Enjoy this, yes—but let it also teach you: curiosity and cleverness are gifts, but they are best paired with respect. One day, you'll thank yourself for practicing that."

She offered the other piece back to Zaytee, eyes warm but firm. "Now… enjoy it. And perhaps next time, we find a way to ask first."

Zaytee

 

[Zaytee]

Zaytee's hand stopped midway through her next bite, glancing toward her companion slowly, her eyes wide and her gaze shifting. Her Head lowered, tail coiling around her leg with embarrassment, and she gulped down the bite in her mouth before answering.

"I... I don't have any money." She admitted, brushing off a few crumbs from her face. "I don't even understand these..."

She looked away, watching the lively crowd around while her hand tightened around the remaining little piece of bread.

Back at home, her tribe was one of the closest knit ones in the South forests. They followed the Kiir teachings, moving from time to time, praying to the gods, making sure that the Force around them was kept undisturbed and steady just like any other tribe on their planet, but property had no real meaning for them. Everybody slept together in whatever place they found most comfortable, when they were hungry they just grabbed some dried meat from the racks without giving anything in exchange, and every other piece of clothing and tool was up for grab whenever they needed it too. A small tribe that shared warm spots, food, and every little trinket they found, because what was the meaning of keeping everything for themselves?

What was the meaning of not being able to eat, when all these stalls were heavy with so much food?

She already tried to just go up to one and get a few bites a couple days ago, but that didn't go well for her... these shopkeepers were protecting their products like wild creatures their younglings.

Shrugging her shoulders, she continued eating the little bread in her hands.

"And besides, I bet he won't even notice it." She muttered quietly.

Eryndel

 

[Eryndel]

Eryndel's gaze softened as she listened, watching Zaytee tuck the bread close, tail coiling nervously. She reached into a pocket of her cloak and produced a small handful of coins, letting them rest lightly in her palm.

"It's… understandable," she said gently, voice low and steady, "that your tribe shares freely. That has value, too. But here, in a place where others have spent time and effort to prepare what they sell, payment is how they honor their work — how they protect what is theirs."

Her fingers brushed lightly over Zaytee's, a quiet reassurance. "It is not wrong to take pleasure in food, or to be hungry. But we also learn to respect the labor and care that went into it. These stalls are full of skill and sweat, and the people who made these items trust that others will offer what is fair in return."

She held out the coins again, just enough for their small purchases. "Use this. Let it be a lesson, not a burden. Enjoy the bread, yes—but also remember that fairness matters, even when no one is watching. That is how trust grows."

Her tail twitched gently, brushing against Zaytee's leg, and her lips curved in a faint, approving smile. "You will learn quickly — and in the meantime, I'll make sure you don't go hungry."

Zaytee

 

[Zaytee]

Zaytee's head tilted to the side, observing the shiny coins curiously like it would be a new type of creature hiding in the palm of the older Kiir.

"You... know quite much about the outside world." She remarked softly, leaning closer to Eryndel.

She took a small sniff from her shoulder, the tip of her tail moving back and forth with excitement as she smelled the familiar scent of soil and fresh greenery, finding herself back in the forest for a short moment.

Even with Kiir standards, this lady seemed extremely beautiful, having a type of... sophisticated beauty in her movements, which was rarity to be seen... Moreover, even those firefly like little lights seemed to be attracted to her presence, swarming and dancing around with more energy that she had ever noticed arond the others.

"Which parts are you from?" She asked quietly, sniffing her again like this would help her locate her origin. "Don't take it in the bad way please, but... you seem too fragile to be from the South forests. Your mannerisms are quite special too, and the lights... You look more like one of the gods than a typical Kiir."

She blushed lightly, taking a step away from Eryndel to not scare her, but her tail kept up the slow swishing as she looked away.

Eryndel

 

[Eryndel]

Eryndel chuckled softly, the sound low and gentle, as she observed Zaytee's curious sniff and wide-eyed gaze. She lowered her hand slightly, letting the young Kiir's tail brush past as a small, reassuring gesture.

"You have a keen sense," she said warmly. "It is good to notice what others might overlook."

She tilted her head, letting her emerald eyes meet Zaytee's. "I am from Okarthel, beneath the World Tree of the Emerald Grove. My people live with the forests, learning patience, respect, and to move in harmony with the Force. That… shapes the way I walk, the way I carry myself, and perhaps even the subtle presence you notice."

Her gaze softened further, watching Zaytee's blush and careful step back. "I am not a god, little one. Only a Kiir, as you are. The lights you see, the quiet strength you sense… those are reflections of how I have been taught to live, not of some divine nature."

Eryndel's tail shifted lightly against Zaytee's, a grounding, friendly touch. "Curiosity is a gift, and it serves you well. But remember, seeing beyond appearances — and understanding where someone comes from — is what turns curiosity into knowledge. You are learning that already, and that is enough."

She gave a slight nod, encouraging, patient, letting the fireflies dance around them as if to punctuate her words with quiet reassurance.

Zaytee

 

[Zaytee]

"Emerald Grove?" Zayte asked back hesitantly.

She has heard before how some Kiir still lived beneath the tree of life, but seeing one right in front of her felt... different. There were too many whispered stories of how it affected the ones who stayed too close for too long, or the ones that hatched right under the giant tree.

"Is it true that the Tree always gives whatever food you need the most? And that you don't even migrate further than the roots are visible? Does ships really visit from other worlds daily?" She continued the questioning curiously.

They were so different in dozens of things like if they wouldn't even belong to the same species, but it only made this meeting more special for her.

"The south forests are so rarely visited, and my tribe was not even always in the area when any of the ships came that I only saw two ships in my entire life... Well, three if we count the one that brough me here by accident..."

Eryndel

 

[Eryndel]

Eryndel smiled faintly, the corners of her eyes softening. "Not by accident," she said quietly, her tone even but kind. "The Force rarely works through accidents — only through paths we have yet to understand."

She listened to Zaytee's cascade of questions, tail flicking once behind her before she answered, her words unhurried. "Yes, the Tree gives freely. Its roots feed the land for many leagues, and its presence calls to those who live near it. We grow what we need — fruits, grains, herbs — all thriving beneath its shade. But the Tree does not grant what we ask. It teaches us to listen, to learn what we truly need before we take."

Her gaze drifted briefly to the sky, where transports crossed in glinting lines. "And yes, ships come every day—traders, scholars, pilgrims, sometimes those who wish to see the Grove for themselves. We welcome them — though few stay long. The air around the Tree hums with the Living Force; it can be… overwhelming for those unaccustomed to it."

She looked back at Zaytee, expression steady and warm. "The South forests are quieter, but they are no less important. The roots of the world reach even there. You came here for a reason, whether you know it yet or not."

Her tail brushed lightly against Zaytee's again — reassuring, grounding. "Perhaps it was not an accident at all, little one. Perhaps the galaxy wanted you to wander — to see how wide it truly is."

Zaytee

 

[Zaytee]

The young Kiir thought for a long moment, then shook her head quickly.

"Naaah, pretty sure it was an accident. You can call it the way of the Force, but I will call it 'hunting a frog and ending up in a storage unit on a ship'." She chuckled softly. "I believe that even if some things are destined to happen by faith, others... well, others can be a random frog that you try to catch."

As they walked through the crowd, they finally reached a bigger, open area, where the yelling from the market quieted down greatly, and only a few kids of different races played together with small toys, running around and laughing just like kids do. Zaytee looked at them with a small smile, her tail twitching lightly behind, not sure if she would like to join them or rather feeling the motherly instinct to watch over the younglings like back with the tribe. Closing her eyes for a moment, only listening to their surroundings, she recalled the last day she could spend the day with the hatchlings of her family, letting them chase her tail around, catching small critters with them, and helping the smaller ones learn how to climb a tree in case any danger would arise.

She tilted her head backwards, feeling the rays of the two suns warming her hair and horns from above while taking a deep breath from the unusually dry air before she glanced back towards Eryndel.

"You know... the suns here are so warming... So unusually hot, that I would like to just spread out on top of some tree with a full stomach."

Eryndel

 

[Eryndel]

Eryndel's laugh was quiet, soft as wind through leaves. "Then perhaps the Force works through frogs, too," she mused, a hint of humor threading through her calm voice. "It would not be the first time it used strange messengers to change someone's path."

As they stepped into the open space, her gaze followed the sound of laughter — the children darting through sunlight, their joy pure and unrestrained. It pulled at something in her, a familiar ache mixed with peace. "They remind me of the hatchlings from home," she said quietly. "The way life always finds its rhythm again, no matter how far it wanders."

When Zaytee tilted her head back, basking in the warmth of the suns, Eryndel smiled faintly. "You're right," she agreed, the soft glow of her eyes reflecting the light above. "The heat here feels alive — as if it wants to sink into your bones and rest there."

She reached out, brushing her fingers lightly against Zaytee's shoulder in a companionable gesture. "Then let us do just that. We'll fill our stomachs first, and then find a good tree to stretch out on. The day will forgive us a little laziness."

Her tail flicked once behind her, amusement in her tone as she added, "Though this time, we pay for the food before we go climbing."

Zaytee

 

[Zaytee]

Rolling her eyes at the suggestion and chuckling, Zaytee grabbed Eryndel's hand tightly, but careful enough to not hurt her. The soft skin under her touch made her feel that her own rough palm, that was scarred in many place from the branches and stones of her home, was not really worthy to even hold this sophisticated, gentle Kiir's hand. She tried waving away this feeling, reminding herself that they were both leaves of the same tree, and in the end, she just smiled widely at her, tilting her head to the side.

"Okay... but this time, you should choose what you want us to eat. Do you have any favorites around here? Maybe something you tried and liked since you left home?" She asked in a soft tone, while curling the tip of her tail around her own leg to stop it from the endless wagging.

The sun above their heads warmed her olive skin, making her blood rush like a little lizard in the middle of the day, while her bare horns gathered even more of the sweet feeling warmth, her hair sticking to the nape of her neck in the unusually warm weather.

Eryndel

 

[Eryndel]

Eryndel smiled at Zaytee's enthusiasm, her hand steady and warm in the young Kiir's grasp. "You forget," she said softly, a faint teasing lilt threading through her calm tone, "that simplicity often tastes best when shared."

She glanced around the market, letting her senses guide her more than sight. Amid the mingled scents of oil and spice, one stood out — a small stall nestled beneath a faded canopy where steam curled gently upward, rich with the aroma of roasted grains, herbs, and something faintly sweet.

"There," she said, inclining her head toward it. "That scent — roots and wildleaf, cooked slow with grains and a touch of honey sap. The vendor calls it forest stew, though I suspect they've never seen a real forest."

Her lips curved into a knowing smile. "Still, it's warm, earthy… grounding. It reminds me of the meals we used to share beneath the Tree — simple, but made with care."

She gave Zaytee's hand a light squeeze before leading her through the crowd. "Come, we'll start with that. It isn't home, but for a moment, it might feel close enough."

Her tail flicked once, playful, as she added in a softer voice, "And afterward, we'll find that tree limb you mentioned. A meal, some shade, and a quiet place to listen to the suns. That sounds like a fine plan to me."

Zaytee

 

[Zaytee]

Tilting her head to the side, Zaytee glanced toward the stall, taking small sniffs from the air to be able to identify what type of snacks could that stall hold, and to her hope, it wasn't smelling any bad. Earthly smell, like the mix of mushroom they sometimes found near dead treetrunks, and the chewy roots the elders always insisted on munching on, because they said it made them healthy and more resistant against poisons and venoms... it felt strangely familiar.

She squeezed the other's hand in response to her movements, making sure that they didn't loose each other with all of the people around, and as they got closer, the aroma became even stronger, almost making her jaw hurt just from remembering those hard, dry roots. The steam and smoke that emerged above the small fireplace behind the stall made her vision blurry, and altough her eyes became watery, she just quickly rubbed the cuff of her shirt over them, only holding into the older Kiir with a tighter grip.

She peeked over Eryn's shoulder, trying to catch a glimpe of all the different little bowls that lined on the table in neat rows, some already filled, with the dark brown liquid, while other only had some type green, long leaves in it, with different kinds of herbs being sprinkled over them.

"It... doesn't look so bad." She gulped hesitantly, tail swishing behind her from uneasiness.

Eryndel

 

[Eryndel]

Eryndel felt the tightening of Zaytee's hand and gave it a small squeeze in return, grounding her in the noise of the market. "It isn't bad at all," she said softly, her voice a calm current against the bustle around them. "You smell the roots and mushrooms, don't you? The earth remembers, even when we are far from it."

She stepped closer to the stall, exchanging a quiet nod with the vendor before gesturing toward two bowls. The savory steam rose between them, thick with herbs and the faint sweetness of honey sap. "This one," she murmured, "is made from rootstock and stone fungus — simple, but it carries the warmth of the ground. It was one of the first things I ate after leaving the Grove."

Turning slightly, she smiled down at Zaytee — the kind of smile that steadied, not instructed. "You see? The galaxy may be vast, but its flavors are not strangers. You'll find pieces of home in unexpected places if you listen long enough."

She accepted the bowls, pressing one into Zaytee's hands. "Here. Try it. Slowly. Let it tell you where it's from."

Then, with a faint glimmer of humor in her eyes, she added, "And if it turns out dreadful, I promise I'll finish it for you."

Zaytee

 

[Zaytee]

The younger Kiir suspiciously eyed the wooden bowl in her hands, tilting it back and forth to splash the liquid inside, sniffing it curiously before she finally lifted it to her lips, sipping a small gulp of it.

In the next moment her eyes widened, and as she looked at Eryn, the tip of her tail started drumming a fast, happy rhythm against the ground.

She wanted to gulp down the thing in one go, but with very much self restrain she kept herself back, listening to the other's advice and rather just drinking it with small sips, even though her tail didn't stop the happy wagging while she filled her stomach with the warm stew.

The taste was even better than the smell, being sweet and a little bit of salty, with green onion pieces swimming on top of it and smaller chunks of cut up roots strenghtening the aroma even more.

As she finished, rubbing off the remaining few drops from her chin while her other hand held the empty bowl, she looked away, embarrassed how quickly she still finished her portion.

"Uhm... I think... I think it's kind of... good?"

Eryndel