Barakah

She had been doing well on her own in the great city, and was glad for both her Podid companion Elsa and her close friends Aramoana and Rourke; if not for them she felt she never would have been able to climb that steep hill after losing her mate. Years passed beneath her that she felt fly by quicker than they ever had, and when she asked the female Coatl why she was a bit irritated when she received laughter first. "It's because you're happy, Barakah. No one seems to really notice the time slipping away when they're happiest." Ara had told her, and this took a bit of time for the wave colored Guardian to wrap her mind around.

And even as more time went by and she came into her own as a crafter, Barakah suddenly felt as though it were beginning to slow. And she once again asked her friend why it seemed so. She had not been given an answer for some moments, and when she looked over at the purple Coatl, having been sewing together some leather a clients order, she saw Aramoana had a small frown on her face. "Well that's different for everyone Barakah, when they feel time slowing down. It could be you're beginning to feel stuck in some way, or perhaps your heart does not feel just as much happiness as it did before. We all fall into a rut like that at some point, and often fall into it again. But don't worry, you'll come across whatever it is you need sooner or later." The smile that replaced her previous looks was not full, Barakah noticed but she chose instead to say nothing.

It wasn't but days later did the somewhat unruly female run into another, physically that is. Elsa had snorted in her fright as she struggled to jump out from under her master, and the Podid grumbled to herself as Barakah growled, shaking herself as she stood. Her eyes narrowed as she spotted the Tundra on the ground holding his head dizzily. "You really should be more careful, furred one, lest you run into someone who doesn't feel fit to leave you alone after." She hissed out, and was surprised when she noticed the armor clinking amongst his heavily furred body. He was a member of the guard! never in her life hadsd she met a Tundra who ever wanted to become a member of the guard, let alone so high ranking as this one; his status was higher than Rourke's, even!

She said nothing as he stood up and looked her over, his pinkish eyes calm and uncaring that she had acted aggressively; it seemed to her that he was not all he seemed to be if he were not to give out the punishment she so rightly deserved for having all but smashed a guard into the ground. "I'm sorry we ran into each other, I'll be on the lookout in the future instead of seeking a gift for my niece." He apologized, though Barakah was quick to notice the use of the word we in his sentence. "My apologies as well, General. I'm afraid I too was looking elsewhere to find the items I need." He nodded his head before sighing, and picking up some armor from the ground, the leather strap that clasped it to his foreleg now ripped in half and frayed at the edges; it would not do to simply repair it, for it would more than likely just tear in two again.

"I can fix that for you, Guardsman. I own the Craft and Repair shop in the Enclave district, if you're able to wait for a few hours while I make another strap and attach it to your armor." Barakah offered, and was surprised when the Tundra looked back at her with untamed surprise. "You are the one my niece keeps talking about? A Guardian? I did not think you would be such a well known craftsman, truth be told; Guardians don't often delve into that field." He told her, obviously astonished that she could craft anything. She narrowed her eyes and growled lowly at the insults he pushed around, and Elsa stepped between the two,and slapped her tail on the ground noisily, not enthralled with his words either.

"We are and we do work in the crafting field. Just because I do not use my foreclaws as deftly as you or a Wildclaw does not mean that I am incapable of doing so. Else assists in the places I cannot, such as holding a leather strap meant to keep armor in place; who do you think makes all your armor, Guardsman? Rourke was granted the go ahead to offer me the position when he spoke of me to his superiors!" He laughed loudly then, holding his gut with one paw as he did. Elsa squealed in dismay though soon clambered onto Barakah's back to laze away in the sun.

"You know Rourke? That Coatl truly does need a better position, mine even when he gets the experience! I was there when he offered the proposal and let us see the craftsmanship of the armor. You are remarkable, I must say!" She took the compliment in stride, used to such words from others in higher places amongst the society of the city. She had started out without so much gold in the beginning but her talents quickly became more known and many people requested her wares that she had a waiting list as long as her tail! "Well then, I do think I will take you up on that offer though; I have to return to duty tomorrow evening to read over some new recruits papers and sift out who will join us. Perhaps you'd like to put in an application, Guardian?" He asked, looking over the red wrappings on her body but she merely snuffed at the idea.

"I am perfectly content at my current job, I do not need to throw my life into the dangers that may rise up. Follow me then, we'll make quicker time if we fly." She told him as she stretched out her wings, casting one last glance at the Tundra before taking air. He followed suit quicker than she had, staying up with the larger dragon without effort before they soon descended in a small section South-East of the bazaar they had met at. Folding her wings quickly as she landed Barakah walked through an opening made between the low built sandstone wall surrounding her home and workspace; she immediately went to the smaller building a bit further back and gripped the heavy, metal door in one claw and pulled it to the right to open her shop up. "Put your armor on that table there, Elsa will work on it while I get the new straps ready." She told him, and he deposited the broken armor on the table mentioned as Elsa leapt into a chair position close to the table and got to work removing the torn strap.

As she worked she and the Tundra, who introduced himself as Algorab, talked quietly to each other about whatever came to mind; it made the time move both slower and quicker at the same time, Barakah noted, and she vaguely remembered a time she felt this way long ago, just simply at ease without worry for anything else. It had been with her mate, before he had passed away. She thought on that for a moment before mentioning it to Algorab as well, unsure what he may think of this. "Well, it must mean we were meant to meet each other I think. The Gods willed it to be; truth be told I was feeling a loss as you explained as well until we ran into each other. Pehaps this is the start of a very good friendship, Barakah." She was taken aback at his words, and thought on them for a long moment before she realized that it had grown dark, and long ago by the looks of the lights glittering outside the open doorway.

"Perhaps it will. I've finished your armor, but if you'd like to stay the night you're more than welcome. There's plenty of room, and I'm sure you must be as hungry as Elsa and I." She offered, and smiled when he thought on it a moment before nodding his head. This would be a good friendship indeed, as he had said and Barakah was glad she would be getting some company with a fresh mind who she could speak to so openly.

Lionfish
Noxtide
Opal