Post by Yuliya Dukhkin' on Dec 29, 2008 10:24:50 GMT -8
Yuliya rubs the withers of Black Jewel, softly murmuring comforting words to her. She says them out loud, even though she knows she could talk to her in her mind. With a longing look at her, she puts down her head and ducks her head to go into her makeshift home of driftwood. She cocks her head as she notices a strange lump in the brown bag that holds all of possessions. Frowning, she kneels down. Reaching in, she sees that it is a journal, with a green outside. She opens it's thin pages to find a quill. She reaches again into her bag and finds a bottle of silver ink. She whispers, "Voyin," as she dips the feather into the silver ink, and in loopy handing, writes "Evening Star,' on the first page. She turns the page, and begins to write.
I just know that is was Voyin who gave me this. He must have slipped it in my bag that day before I left, it's funny that I never noticed it before, but he likes to be secretive like that. He knows that I like surprises...as long as they're good ones. I suppose he guessed that I like to write...but there's so much paper in here! Usually I could steal a few sheets from my father but...it's all here, and all for my use. Could I possibly have that many thoughts?
My name is Yuliya Venera Dusha Chasy Bihaty Povitria Pryroda Miasiats Svitanok Nebasnyy Dukhkin'. However, as many names as that is, I have other names that people call me by. Some people call me Yules, and my father and brother call me Tornado. The people of my tribe call me Evening Star or Zorya. My uncle sometimes calls me Namid, or Taipa. I have so many names. Okozir says that each of my names is a different part of me. I guess that might be so. However, Evening Star is my name for a different reason. They say a name is given for you to be called, and then another name is given to show what you are. I am the evening star. Okozir is New Moon. Voyin is Fierce Stag.
My father, Vivek, is the Ataman of the Spirit Horse Tribe. Because I am his daughter, I was expected to be perfect, and for awhile, I was, at least in the sense of the word. I could sing and dance, I laughed and hugged my father, I learned horseback riding as soon as I got on a horse...my only flaw was the white scars the blanketed my upper arms. Tribespeople were saying that I would be easily married. I said I didn't want to get married, but they didn't understand. I CAN'T get married, I promised myself I wouldn't.
But then there was the accident, and I started screaming. People wouldn't understand what was happening, they got confused. They started avoiding me, because, if I started screaming, they wouldn't know what to do. When I turned eleven, the age children usually start to work towards what they will become, I didn't. I still did whatever I wanted, and other girls became jealous. Because my mother died, I had to have another woman teach me, but no one was willing. So I rode and rode, only Okozir seemed to understand, and Voyin.
Voyin is my older brother. He's nineteen years old, and pretty much the only thing that holds my family together. Back when I lived with the Cossacks, my father was worried that, because Voyin is now of age, he would marry someone and leave us. That's part of why I was sent away. But he really didn't have to worry, Voyin is a sissy when it comes to that kind of thing
Okozir is my best friend, or, he WAS my best friend. He's a year older than me. His mother died too, but his father is mean to him. That's why he spends as much time as possible with me instead of at home. It's easier with him than other people, he doesn't force himself on you. With us, silences aren't awkward, they're normal, and comfortable. We both just listen to each other, and not always each other's words. that's another thing, we both understand that you don't have to speak out loud to say something. And sometimes we'll just listen to what's around us, and the animals around us.
Animals are the most important thing to me. There is never a moment in which I am not with one.
Black Jewel is my mare. She's a pure black Arabian mix. She's difficult to ride, and even letting me ride her is rare. And with anyone else...they wish. She's really quite arrogant and haughty, but I love her all the more for it. She doesn't take s*** for anything.
Mr. Darcy is a new addition. My father sent him to me after I already arrived here. My uncle, Voda, saved him. He's a bay thoroughbred, and is really quite a gentleman, and easy to ride.
Apollo is part lab, part chow. He's extremely protective, and wary of strangers.
Luna is a husky. She loves to push Apollo's buttons and be sarcastic.
Streak is my peregrine falcon. He's very loyal and he wants to prove himself.