True to every other child in Desnind, Ajo'tey received the nurturing and educational nourishment to eventually decide on a path to walk. It took him more time and effort than most others needed though, nothing really interested Ajo'tey enough to revolve his life around. A better way to put it is probably that he simply couln't pick one path over the other, he wanted it all. It wasn't until a certain elder that he wasn't on great terms with told him that he would never amount to anything, that the only thing he'd master would be nothing, that the first flame was lit. As much as he hated the fact he had been put in his place, and rightfully so, by someone that had done him so wrong in the past. He had understood the message for what it really had been, more than simply a burn or critique, it was solid advice. Ajo'tey swallowed his pride and resentment, looked for Elder Qu'ska, and offered her a token of his gratitude. A collection of seeds he had found after searching far and wide for the plants in the dangerous forest Desnind calls home. The plant was known for being a reagent in a painkilling ointment, one with a fairly long lasting effect even! But when he presented Elder Qu'ska his gift, she sneered at him as she looked from the contents of his open palm to his sincerely delighted face, finally being able to pay back this Elder for showing him at least the way to decide a path.
Ajo'tey was dumbfounded by this reaction. "You fool. I don't know wh
--Shut up!-- What you were planning with giving me these seeds. Do y---Oh no! Did you give one else one of these seeds, ANYONE?!" Ajo'tey blinked rapidly, his facial expression would probably be hilarious if the situation didn't appear so dangerously serious. He instantly knew this was not a prank, and that these seeds are not the ones he expected them to be..Damn it all! "No, I didn't, they were only meant for you...A gift!" He added the last part to make sure Elder Qu'ska didn't strike him down that very moment as he had never seen her so angry, especially when he mentioned they were '
only for her'. Now it was her time to blink rapidly.
"What do you mean? Who would even want these seeds as a gift. I wouldn't even give them to YOU! And by the Immortals, would I love to!!"
"Why? I thought the plants were used for that healing ointment, I saw you limping in pain the last few weeks so I thought you could use it!!"
Elder Qu'ska looked angrily as Ajo'tey spoke, looking deep in his eyes and trying to catch him lying. Already balling her hands into small fists that would still easily knock his lights right out. Ajo'tey noticed this too and kept his eyes on her hand, until the silence between became awkwardly long. He noticed her lightly shaking fist eased up and looked back up, at her slightly smiling face and unnaturally happy eyes. Again the tables had been turned and as she looked at him with that lill' smile on her lips, he could feel himself getting awkward.
"Fool." She said as she took hold of his hand and turned it around, taking the dangerous seeds with her.
"The plant is, indeed, used as a reagent in a healing salve. The seeds are basically weapons when eaten, poisonous to us and most other races...If you don't believe me, go ahead and eat one, y'brat!"
"..I didn't realize."
"I know. Anyway, thank you for this
wonderful gift...I do appreciate it, Ajo'tey." She was teasing him again, but he could tell she was sincerely grateful for the gesture at least.
After some back and forth verbal jabs between the two, Ajo'tey went on his way, with another flame lit on his path. As much as he wanted to help, he 'nearly killed' her, in a dramatic train of thought anyway. Not to mention he got to explore new territories and learn new things about something he already even knew about...It felt like he had finally found his -main- path in life. He decided on learning as much as he could about the flora in Desnind, before taking on the rest of Idalos!
It was during one of the more recent arcs, when Ajo'tey was on another expedition by his lonesome self, this time to find himself -hopefully- the rare Black Lotus. He had recently learned about its favored terms and conditions for blooming, and he could only think of one location that was within his limited reach. He hated his limitations but he wasn't adept enough to make long expeditions on his own, not safely at least. And he enjoyed his life too much to put it at risk even more, just braving the wild forest around Desnind was a huge risk on its own. So he opted to visit the cave near a relatively nearby lake, a few trials S-W of Desnind. He was relatively certain that there'd be no predators in that cave as it's often used as a makeshift shelter by other Sevir, most often hunters. As soon as he arrived at the lake, he spotted a few bushes of beautiful flowers with white petals and purple centers nearby the cave. At first sight these flowers were gorgeous and seemingly harmless, Ajo'tey knew better nowadays than to underestimate nature in all its forms, including flowers and plants. These flowers were Fecrier, or Rash cups, as they are more commonly named. Its pollen would surely be a major pain in the ass on his way back to Desnind if touched, as the rash it produces where the pollen touches skin, is no joke.
Dodging those flowers, he made way to the cave, with no hunters in sight, Ajo'tey was pleased. He had the place to himself. Leaving his belongings behind a rock in the dark nearby the entry, he only carried the essentials to harvest the rare Black Lotus if he was lucky enough to come across it.
But as soon as he entered the cave deep enough to be swallowed completely by darkness, he suddenly found himself looking up at a grand full moon, a cloudless and starry nightsky gave way to be immersed completely in this beautiful sight. What made matters even weirder was that it didn't feel weird. It almost felt like he was simply looking up at a nightsky, on his back in the prickly grass. He was conscious enough to know he entered a cave just now, but still it felt like it all made sense. Without making sense. When he heard a buzzing, he was suddenly back in the cave, swallowed by darkness and now actually freaking out. What just happened? Did he just hallucinate? He was clueless and honestly too scared to continue deeper into the cave. As shamed as he is reflecting on this, he turned tail and left his expedition for the Black Lotus for what it was, making way back to Desnind.
After telling everything that happened in the cave to his, by now close friend, Elder Qu'ska, she was silent for a while and interrogated him as much as she could before he nearly snapped from the pressure! "I told you E-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g I know, woman, let off will ya?"
"Getting smart with me?! I don't recall coming to you for answers, or you don't want to hear what I think is the answer?" She knew just how to push his buttons, this she-beast! Elder Qu'ska never held back, for anyone, she was blunt and rough around the edges but sweet as candy once you can read between the lines and get to know her. "I do, happy? Now ease the vice around my head already, I confess!" He said with a smirk. She narrowed her eyes and shook her head smiling. "Brat, I think you've had a vision. I think it's time.."
One arc more passed before Ajo'tey was finally strong enough in his shoes to brave a world beyond Desnind, in search of his spirit animal and to learn more about Idalos' plantlife, to soak in everything he could, before coming back to Desnind.
