7(DSV Nautica) Sunsets and Learning
The gentle orange glow of the sun cast fading light on the alpine forest. Small patches of melting snow here and there littered the granite precipices and tall evergreen trees. They were very similar to redwoods, though a DNA analysis would show glaring differences. The evening sun already fading, the two Ayr'een ran through the forest, jumping over rocks,dodging branches. They weaved up the mountain, jumping 5 meter crevasses without a second thought. The silhouette in the lead was Aki. Trailing behind her was Zhi, her 'friend'. She cackled and jumped up onto a set of boulders leading the final meters to the to the top. Zhi scrambled over the rocks a little more sluggishly. He was from a clan of the low lying plains. These mountain clans were crazy to him. Aki squatted at the top of the mountain, barely having worked up a sweat. Zhi crawled the rest of the way up, to a giggling Aki. "Whats wrong? I thought you were tough!""Shut up.." he grumbled to her. She smirked at him.They were both only adolescents at this point. They were now training with their chosen clans in their next step of education. Zhi had come many miles away from the plains to train with Aki's clan, the Ayr'ashi clan. They were the best engineers and the minds behind the will metal that so defined their race. It was an honor to find a benefactor amongst them who would train him.
Aki had met him some months ago, and they struck up a quick friendship. He had just moved here from his home down south, and she had promised to show him the mountain range."Well...this is it!" She gestured in all directions, arms up in the air. Zhi looked around, entranced by the view. At an elevation of 4200 meters, they could see everything from up here. The orange sphere was setting even lower than when they had left. The evening brought an icy breeze across the mountaintop.Aki sat down against a rock conveniently shaped like a chair and closed her eyes. "Welcome to my clan Zhi. I hope you enjoy your time here.""I have a feeling I will. Thank you, Aki""For?""Being so welcoming. Its nice to have someone like you so eager to welcome a stranger into your midst." Zhi let out a small smile, his medium frame obscuring part of the sun from Aki's point of view. His dark gray hair had black streaks she found attractive. He wasn't heavily build, but he was smart. Very smart. Each clan had their own schools and branches in all subjects, but each clan also specialized in one or two subjects, beyond most others. Ayr'flae clan was notorious for their weapons technology. The Ayr'haie in the north were doctors, and cutting edge biology majors. The entire race, however, shared music, philosophy, and the arts as one. So the were separate, while together. Upon adolescence, an Ayr'een would either keep studying with his clan, or if they were talented enough, travel and learn from another clan if they were
gifted and had the interest.
Zhi was talented enough to be accepted into this clan. He looked forward to it, but he also looked forward to getting to know Aki better. He found her...dare he say...attractive? Probably his hormones talking, but he couldn't shake the feeling. He sat, his blue and white hide a pleasant contrast to the orange sky. Aki's purple went well with the oncoming night. They wouldn't make it back down the mountain by dark. Rather than risk injury, they would spend the night up here.Aki produced two synthetic will balls, dropping one on the ground, which morphed and formed a kind of mattress against the hard rock, the other formed into a warm blanket. Finally she projected a shield around them so the wind wouldn't blow them away in the night. She sighed and relaxed on the mattress, watching their sun grow even lower in the sky, now about a quarter hidden behind the distant ranges. They didn't have to be back for some days."What about you Aki? I'm an engineer...what about you?""Elite training...""What?"Zhi was shocked and dismayed.
"So...you are going away? North?""Yeah...I hope. I don't know when. Perhaps next year."Zhi smiled and closed his eyes. At least he would have some time to spend with her.Aki sensed his fluctuating feelings and tilted her head, looking at him."Something up?""Oh, no. Not at all...its just really awesome that you are training as an elite...That's rare..." Aki smiled and rested her head back, closing her eyes and peeling the synthetic suit off herself. The synth suits were great for just about everything. Diamond hard, but flexible enough to wear. Only thing they were terrible for was sleeping in. Zhi blushed at the now nude female next to him, pulling the blanket over herself."Don't be shy!" She winked at him and slipped under the covers, closing her eyes. Zhi blushed and tore his own suit off, the synth melting into a small slab, looking like a single color rock. He curled up under the covers with her, smiling in spite of himself. Aki was like most others. She had no shame. Zhi had been told that he was of the more prude Ayr'een. Other races they observed segregated their genders. Not here. Male and female held equal positions in their society, it was simply the way they were.
He closed his eyes as the sun rays slipped down below the horizon, turning the landscape all around them dark violet, matching Aki's hide. Then to a deep, deep blue. The tinge of purple in the south from the rings around their planet. It was peaceful here.