Alkina Jaara
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Alkina used the time she had at hand to survey the world around her: how the different individuals of the tribe each contributed to the preparations of the upcoming festivities in each of their own way. Luckily, because of her disability she didn’t have to worry about getting caught stalking those around her - though it did limit how far she could sense what happened and the clarity of what happened, though it was still better than being ‘completely’ blind, she supposed. If anyone looked in her direction they would see nothing but the alien-looking girl that had been part of their tribe for the past 17 cycles, with her white features covered in fine materials. Furthermore, Alkina had quickly learned that her misty eyes could easily scare the children of the tribe and some of the more superstitious adults, which was why she had them covered in her ceremonial piece that not only hid away where her attention was focused, but also made those around her more at ease.
It was in this moment when Alkina was enjoying sensing a group of small children playing a few strides away from her tent that she was interrupted by two of the Elders in the tribe. She sensed their approach before they made their presence noticed by the usual vocal noise that she had heard too many times over the course of her lifetime.
“Alkina,” one of them began after clearing his throat to make her notice him, “I hope you are ready for the ceremony later - we expect quite a show in honor of the Dream and the End of the current cycle”
Alkina slowly rolled her eyes - and she was actually glad that she had covered her own eyes so that they wouldn’t notice this impatient gesture. Of course
they expected something. It was always like that: throughout her life she hadn’t been able to - nor allowed to take part of any of the regular choirs in the tribe, instead she had been treated like glass: handled with the utmost care and protection as she was
special.
“Of course Elders,” she responded with her usual calm and enchanting voice, “I have prepared a special show in honor of this great day - you have nothing to worry about, it will be worthy of The Dream”
A gentle smile sprawled across her face as to reassure the Elders in front of her that she was both happy and honored to participate in the upcoming ceremony. However, if she could be granted one single wish it would be to allow her the freedom of those other young in the tribe. Oh how she yearned to hunt, to run, to celebrate life. Instead she was trapped inside this small tent, essentially a prisoner in her own tribe.
“We are happy to hear that,” the Elder said with a tone that was smeared in happiness and escaped a large smile that even Alkina could sense. “All of the Elders are looking forward to your presentation later - now, rest until then, we sadly have to go attend other matters”
Alkina simply smiled and nodded her head in acceptance before the Elders made their way out of the tent. Finally, when they had gotten far enough away so that she was certain they wouldn’t notice, she let out a small sigh.
Oh how she wished to escape this place…
However, instead of jumping head first into another one of her usual sessions of unhappiness and unreal fantasies, she focused her mind on what happened around her. Stretching her senses to try and catch as much of what happened near the small tent she was housed in - and just as she took another sip of the sweet juices of the Nuu’ka fruit that had been poured into a small clay cup, she noticed a sudden shuffling of feet close to her. She couldn’t recognize who these footsteps belonged to - mainly because they were muffled by the sand and because she hadn’t really been in close contact with too many of her fellow tribesmen other than the Elders. She began to focus her attention on what was going on as this behaviour seemed odd to her: why would a small group of the tribe hide behind this tent?
