Kisaik tilted his head as he saw Abigail arrive from the portal out of the magic tree that he'd gifted Saoire. He glimpsed the area she had come from, just beyond and it reminded him of his original home of Magani. This excited him, to meet another tunawa from his homeland. He almost wanted to remove his necklace of reflection so he could speak plainly in treetalk with another of his kind, but then that would've excluded the Cadouri that had graciously hosted them.
The knight extended a hand to Abigail, and grinned, "Welcome to Faldrass, Abigail! It's so wonderful to meet a home tunawa! What news do you bring from Desnind? Is everything well in the southlands?"
Abigail smiled shyly at Kisaik and nodded, "Yes, things have been very peaceful and calm in Desnind. It's been a good few seasons, all told... That said... I do have a gift that I brought. I only hope it pleases you."
Kisaik nodded, but then shook his head, "Oh, let's spend some time before we open gifts. You see this tree? There's a grand story behind its planting. Although I do not like to boast, I'm fairly proud of the events that led to it finding its way here. If you're interested in hearing?"
Abigail tilted her head, and then straightened and nodded. "Yes, I would like a tale! We can put off the gifting to later."
"Beatrice, would you also like to hear the story? You've probably heard it already in fact."
Beatrice smiled at Kisaik, but shook her head, "I have heard the story, many times, but I'd still like to hear you tell it, if you would."
Kisaik nodded, and grinned. "Well then, have a nice little seat and I'll try my best to tell it!"
The tunawa knight took up position in front of Naficula Adanu, and cleared his throat. "It was a dark night, late at night in Yaralon, beneath the branches of the First Tree..."
"I knew something was off in the air, and felt it first in a pain behind my eyes. The pain compounded upon itself, throbbing and feeling as if it would tear me asunder. I ran to try and flee the pain, but it followed me, until I fell prone on the ground, amidst the foilage of the First Tree."
Beatrice and Abigail gasped and brought hands to their mouths. Beatrice leaned in to Abigail, and told her in a whisper, "I haven't heard this part of the story before! Stories always sound different depending on who's telling it seems..."
Kisaik cleared his throat and continued. "Next thing I knew, I was in a cavern with a few people, including some spirit companions. We tried to find our bearings in this terrible cavern, but then a loud roar issued from the tunnels. It was enough to send shivers down my bark, I tell you."
"The roar was that of a Sessfiend, a terrible creature with unearthly hunger, and nothing good about it." Kisaik glowered for effect. "I took point, along with the tree spirit that had been summoned to my aid. There, we made our way down, and came face to face with the terrible demon. The Tree spirit heroically threw himself in the way of the Sessfiend, using his branches to dig into the surrounding rock, and then caving the area in. The Sessfiend was pinned in the rubble for a moment, but the Tree Spirit sadly perished."
"But not all was lost."
"I saw a shining acorn in the middle of that rubble. Having seen it, I thought to rescue it, to salvage what I could of the magic tree spirit. In so doing, I came face to face withi the glowering eye of the demon itself! It raged against the rocks, trying to gnash its teeth, unsettle the rock..."
"But my courage held, though I shivered like a leaf. I snatched the acorn from the maw of the sessfiend, and placed it into my satchel. From there, the rest of my companions finished the Sessfiend off, but I felt nothing close to relief, for a great tree spirit had perished in those tunnels..."
"Later, much later, after benefiting from the power of the magic acorn which as it turned out allowed me to travel all over the world through the under-world of plant root systems, I came to Saoire's Dream, and offered to plant the tree in Saoire's own garden as a gift for her services to Scalvoris. She accepted, and here grew the great tree!"
Beatrice and Abigail followed along with the story with rapt attention, and seemed entertained enough although Kisaik thought his delivery could use work. Still, it was a good tale then and now, and he was proud of his part in it despite the fate of the tree spirit.
Abigail got up off her seat on the ground, and approached Kisaik. She planted a chaste kiss on his cheek, and Kisaik blushed with sap filling his cheeks. "You are quite the heroic tunawa, Kisaik!"
Kisaik puffed up at that, and smiled, "Thank you!"
"I think you'll enjoy the gift I have in store... at least I hope so. It's a bag of special seeds... for Riversteel trees. These grow best around water, and have very strong and tough wood." She handed him the pouch, which was full of acorn-like seeds as he stared into it. He smiled up at Abigail, and was very happy then all of a sudden. "I shall give them a good home here in Scalvoris. We'll introduce Riversteel Trees to Scalvoris! I can see it being of great benefit to the people here not just to me. These trees will be enjoyed by a good many!"
Abigail smiled at him, and Beatrice watched on with contentment. "I hope so! But now let us partake of the food and refreshments, and soon it will be time to part."
So they whiled away the time in drink and food, and good company, as they enjoyed the last of their time together, sharing stories of their home and childhoods.
When it came time for Abigail to leave, Kisaik escorted her himself to the portal. They hugged nicely, sharing in the hug with Beatrice herself as well. They held the hug for a good few moments before relenting, and then Kisaik held them at arms length. "It was marvelous to meet you Abigail. Should you ever visit Scalvoris again, I'd love to show you around Sweetsong Settlement, and my tribe's tree!"
Abigail grinned, and replied in a singsong voice, "I'd very much enjoy that!" She smiled.
But for now, it was time that they parted. And so the portal took them back to their places, and Kisaik was left to plant the Riversteel trees where he would.
For the moment, he took a bite out of one of the acorns, to sample its flesh so he could memorize and internalize its various properties and green lore.
Then, he got to planting a couple of riversteel trees on the outskirts of the Oasis between the Sweetstone Tree and the water. It would take very little time indeed for the tree to grow to full measure, less than a cycle all told. And by then, Kisaik and Sweetsong would have a source of good Riversteel Wood.
He made sure to note in the admin tent of Sweetsong where he'd gone to, and what he'd done, what he'd retrieved. He made special note to Vega, that she might want to take a look at the new trees growing on the outskirts of the Oasis.
It'd be a great arc, coming up, he could feel it.
