Traveling Voices
Sir Gravel
"Come, follow me."
Bate gets up from his chair, and faintly waves his hand for him to follow. Gravel gives the other a curious glance, but keeps silent as he follows behind. He watches as the elder holds the door open for him, and leads him outside. The trip isn't far, only a few feet to where a familiar plum tree stands at the foot of a hill near his home. If anyone knows Bate, they know he spends a lot of time under said tree. He doesn't particularly know the story of why he does it, but figures it's because it provides him shade when he sleeps.
Gravel glances up and the elder when Bate stops just at the foot of the old Plum tree. Pink petals sprinkle down, and Bate gently places one of his hands on the trunk of the tree.
"When I was a child, living in South Nova, there stood tall Plum Tree hidden below a thick sheet of permafrost. Where South Nova is deprived of supporting such life, the tree thrived. It's a very sacred tree, planted by my ancestors many, many years ago. The story goes Lord Kelderon Kalmari planted it after the death of his two Guardians and his wife. It represents the strength to live, even in the harshest conditions."
Gravel shyly reaches up to clutch his necklace around his neck.
Bate gently uses his talon wings and grabs several petals from one of the branches. "This tree is a direct ancestor to the one in South Nova. Planted by me and my wife several decades ago. When I look at it, I'm reminded of my own losses and struggles, I'm reminded of my past and future, and I'm reminded of what I had to endure to get where I am now."
Bate walks towards Gravel and places something in his hand. Gravel inspects it and see several petals. "It is said the petals carry our voices to those who aren't with us anymore. Maybe those we never had the chance to say goodbye to?"
The frills on Gravel's head lower as he looks at the small petals in his hand with sad eyes. Bate quietly stands by his side for a few minutes before taking is leave. Once the footsteps of the elder couldn't be heard, Gravel clutches the fragile petals and brings it to his chest. Gravel stands in silence, long past the afternoon and well into the late evening.
It's not until the stars start to appear does Gravel looks up into the sky and releases the petals into the sky. They twirl and twist in the wind, and with a resolved smile, Gravel looks on until he's unable to spot them anymore.
"Goodbye, my friend." Gravel finally speaks after several long hours; his smile is brighter than it's ever been. The weight of guilt he's been carrying for years feel much lighter now.
He doesn't know if the words Bate speak is true or not. But in that moment, once the petals left his hand...
He likes to believe it's true.
Bate gets up from his chair, and faintly waves his hand for him to follow. Gravel gives the other a curious glance, but keeps silent as he follows behind. He watches as the elder holds the door open for him, and leads him outside. The trip isn't far, only a few feet to where a familiar plum tree stands at the foot of a hill near his home. If anyone knows Bate, they know he spends a lot of time under said tree. He doesn't particularly know the story of why he does it, but figures it's because it provides him shade when he sleeps.
Gravel glances up and the elder when Bate stops just at the foot of the old Plum tree. Pink petals sprinkle down, and Bate gently places one of his hands on the trunk of the tree.
"When I was a child, living in South Nova, there stood tall Plum Tree hidden below a thick sheet of permafrost. Where South Nova is deprived of supporting such life, the tree thrived. It's a very sacred tree, planted by my ancestors many, many years ago. The story goes Lord Kelderon Kalmari planted it after the death of his two Guardians and his wife. It represents the strength to live, even in the harshest conditions."
Gravel shyly reaches up to clutch his necklace around his neck.
Bate gently uses his talon wings and grabs several petals from one of the branches. "This tree is a direct ancestor to the one in South Nova. Planted by me and my wife several decades ago. When I look at it, I'm reminded of my own losses and struggles, I'm reminded of my past and future, and I'm reminded of what I had to endure to get where I am now."
Bate walks towards Gravel and places something in his hand. Gravel inspects it and see several petals. "It is said the petals carry our voices to those who aren't with us anymore. Maybe those we never had the chance to say goodbye to?"
The frills on Gravel's head lower as he looks at the small petals in his hand with sad eyes. Bate quietly stands by his side for a few minutes before taking is leave. Once the footsteps of the elder couldn't be heard, Gravel clutches the fragile petals and brings it to his chest. Gravel stands in silence, long past the afternoon and well into the late evening.
It's not until the stars start to appear does Gravel looks up into the sky and releases the petals into the sky. They twirl and twist in the wind, and with a resolved smile, Gravel looks on until he's unable to spot them anymore.
"Goodbye, my friend." Gravel finally speaks after several long hours; his smile is brighter than it's ever been. The weight of guilt he's been carrying for years feel much lighter now.
He doesn't know if the words Bate speak is true or not. But in that moment, once the petals left his hand...
He likes to believe it's true.
Artist Comment:
December 5, 2022
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Just a little sweet moment with Gravel. Has it really been a year since I revealed his face? Time flies~~!!! ^o^
If you're not up to your Gravel lore, lemme refresh your memory~
Gravel lost someone very precious to him many years ago, when he was just a child. You can read all about it here in the description:
December 5, 2022
-----------------
Just a little sweet moment with Gravel. Has it really been a year since I revealed his face? Time flies~~!!! ^o^
If you're not up to your Gravel lore, lemme refresh your memory~
Gravel lost someone very precious to him many years ago, when he was just a child. You can read all about it here in the description:
Gravel blames himself for her death, and he has been shouldering the weight of it for many years. Bate decides to help him with that. =) It looks like it worked~ <333
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*Other important things to note. Yes, the Plum tree Bate is talking about is this one here. It's planted by Lord Kelderon Kalmari when his loves ones passed on. Which is mentioned in this comic page here!
My lore is all over the place, I know. XDD
Species © Nintendo/ HAL Laboratory
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem