The depthstriders clan pt3
The air in the cave was thick with the mingling scents of damp moss, water, and the earthy undertones of mineral-rich stone as they emerged from the water. They had been swimming for a while, slowly getting better, but their breath holding could use a lot more practice. They weren't bad (except for Valentine, he was the worst), but they could not rival one adult haedian's lung capacity.
As they all emerged from the water, they noticed Ornaax standing near a mossy slab to the side, a haedian they hadn't noticed sorting through some items. Cailu got the attention of the others. "Let's go check what that is, we are too exhausted to keep swimming anyway."
The four approached the moss-covered slab where Ornaaxwas deep in conversation with another haedian, a brown furred one. The pair stood beside the moss-covered crafting slab, with the unnamed haedian sorting through a collection of different materials: vibrant corals, polished metal hoops, and delicate strands of string. Ornaax glanced up as the group approached, his green eyes lighting up as they approached.
“So you aren't dead, that's good” Ornaax greeted them with a laugh, seeing as he had left them to fend for themselves for the past hour. “Are you done for the day or were you just taking a break to check what we were doing?” He gestured toward the assortment on the slab. "These are all crafting materials, we use them to create accessories for the clan, isn't that right?" The other haedian, still sifting through corals and fabrics, unbothered by the distraction, offered a brief nod of acknowledgement but remained focused on their task.
Mer’s eyes lit up as he leaned closer to the slab. “These are so cute! Do you Depthstriders gather all this yourself?”
Ornaax’s smiled. “Most of it, yes. The corals we collect ourselves, and the metal was salvaged from old remnants that were found here and there. It’s a tradition here to repurpose and reshape what we find into something meaningful. The fabrics were traded for with other clans”
Jeon-e stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the shimmering array. “Can we take some to craft with now? or are these being saved for something else?” she asked enthusiastically.
The haedian that was sorting through it looked up, his eyes meeting hers with an amused glint. “You can take whatever, i don't bite. I'm just sorting these since they're the last batch that was collected”
The reos then gathered around the slab, their movements slow as they began sorting through the materials. Valentine carefully lifted a length of string with his teeth, laying it aside as he selected a few smooth corals of different hues, deep reds, pale blues, and vivid yellows. Mer found himself drawn to the polished metal hoops, envisioning their use in a bold, intricate design that would be perfect as bracelet.
“These hoops could work really well with some corals around the circumference,” Mer mused, holding one up to his paw to check on the diameter.
Jeon-e’s focus lingered on a cluster of tiny, pearlescent beads. “These would make for elegant accents,” she murmured. She nudged a few beads into her pile, as well as some corals and a piece of string, her mind already spinning with ideas.
Cailu selected a simple metal band and some small hoops, as well as two little purple corals.
As the reos worked to craft their pieces, Ornaax watched silently, his gaze keen and appraising. His presence was a quiet affair, just observing these land dwellers that had nothing to do with them participate into an activity that was enjoyed by many depthstriders. The faint sound of corals clicking together and the metallic clink of hoops being handled filled the air, punctuated by the occasional murmur of conversation.
Valentine was the first to complete his creation. He lifted a necklace strung with vibrant corals, the colors blending seamlessly from one to the next to create a rainbow gradient. The string held the corals in a simple braided patter. He draped it around his neck, adjusting it until it rested comfortably against his fur.
“i like it,” Jeon-e said, “It reminds me of when we spent the day at the river, watching the sunset.”
Valentine’s ears flicked back in embarrassment. “I just liked the colors...”
Meanwhile, Mer was putting the finishing touches on his bracelet. He had used a metal hoop as base, and had wrapped the corals all around it while securing it with string. For each coral there was a knot, keeping them in place. When he slipped it onto his paw, he smiled broadly at how intricate it looke.
“What do you think?” he asked, holding it out for the others to see.
Jeon-e looked at it for a moment. “It suits you,” she said with a faint smile. “You always liked the trinkets aesthetic.”
Mer’s grin widened. “Exactly.”
Jeon-e herself had been working on a bracelet of her own, but hers was more delicate and intricate. She had carefully threaded the pearlescent beads together, spacing them with tiny fragments of coral. The design was unassuming but elegant, just little pops of colors once in a while. She slid it onto her paw and moved it around to check that it wouldn't fall.
Cailu had also finished, a necklace with three hoops dangling from the front, and from the hoops small pieces of corals were hanging on. When he slipped it on, it fit snugly, even if the design was on the feminine side.
The four reos admired each other's creations, and were surprised when Ornaax started complimenting each piece, enjoying details of them that they had not thought about and showing them how different cultures noticed different things.
953 words
https://www.deviantart.com/reos-empire/art/S-T1-Ornaax-16564-1018002341
https://www.deviantart.com/reos-empire/art/S-T1-Cailu-16558-1018001366
https://www.deviantart.com/reos-empire/art/Jeon-e-17263-1119400196
https://www.deviantart.com/reos-empire/art/Valentine-17284-1125665856
https://www.deviantart.com/reos-empire/art/Mer-17277-1123141798
Submitted By Nora
Submitted: 1 month ago ・
Last Updated: 1 month ago
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