A Lunar Eclipse

[Bvie 1754]

 

 

 

 

 

The smoke of the flames burned her eyes, yet her eyes did not water, they did not blink.

 

Her gaze held upon the the fire within the brazier as it crackled and sizzled, eating away at the twigs and leaves that gave it life.

 

The townspeople formed a line behind her, waiting patiently to pay their respects to the flame and the Princess.

 

Gifts of lapis were around the small pond that housed the pedestal that rose from its center, cradling the brazier and flame.

 

“Where did I go wrong…..why couldn't I save him?”

 

The only words in her mind as she stared at the flame, recalling her memories and past.

 

~

 

Her first memory of hearing the Kha’s name, the age of Vailor and a simpler time. When all there was to worry about was a crazed Mukar shouting about a bird.

 

“He stole my wife and my child, I will get them back!” A tigrasi roared in her home before a table of foods and drinks.

 

“Inajio, calm down.” She tried to reassure the Kha. “I don’t see how a father would do that to their son.”

 

The tigrasi snarled. “Then you do not know Tepah.”

 

~

 

Who was this Tepah that would cause such pain and hurt to this Kha? She wouldn’t have long to wait to find out, for he strolled in only days later, curious as ever.

 

“Would you like to play a game, Princess?” The tall Tigrasi spoke, his blue robes loosely hugging his frame.

 

“Erm, I suppose?”

 

“Oh very good, Tepah likes games.”

 

She eyed him curiously. “Alright, what game shall we play?”

 

“Tepah wishes to play the question game.”

 

~

 

She despised the question game. Yet, she saw nothing barbaric or crude of this Tepah that his son accused him of. So when the realm came to an end and Axios fell upon them….

 

“Sa’vi, Princess. Tepah wishes for land to make a home for all the Kha that are with Tepah.”

 

“No question game this time?” She’d ask, relieved.

 

“Oh, Tepah is willing to play if-”

 

“No! No that’s fine, take the manor and let me know if there’s anything else I can do.”

 

“Mul’ta Princess.”

 

~

 

His presence in the city was welcome and warm. He’d have his rough moments, but he always lended his aid when she asked for it.

 

“Tepah…” She says weakly, looking up at the Kha’s face from his arms as he carried her inside.

 

“Hush, Tepah has you Princess.” The Kha made his way to her bedroom and laid her upon her bed.

 

“I have to….” She’d start.

 

“Sleep. Tepah will keep you safe, Princess.”

 

“Lily…..call me Lily.”

 

“Sleep then, Lily.”

 

The bed would sink low as the large Kha laid himself upon the foot of the bed, curling into an orange ball as he watched the door.

The low hum of an old Dwarven hymn would echo out, a sad tune yet gentle enough to rock her exhausted state to sleep.

 

~

 

Laughter in the city streets as the sun baked the people below with warmth and happiness.

 

“Tepah!”

 

The large cat would turn his head towards the direction of her voice. “Oh, Sa’vi Lily.”

 

She’d move to sit next to him on the bench and wrap her arm around his larger arm, finding comfort in his presence.

 

His tail would wrap around her waist and he’d chuff, a smile on his face.

 

~

 

A mess of bookshelves and papers scattered across her bedroom. Cloth and sheets hanging from the walls as roofs to a makeshift fort.  A simple Kha flag hanging from one of the posts.

 

“What in the world?!”

 

“Oh.” An orange head would pop out from behind a sheet. “Sa’vi, Lilypad.”

 

Her hands on her hips, a look of annoyance on her face. “Tepah?! What’d you do to my room?!”

 

“This is the Kha fort. Come, Lilypad. Tepah found the Duck book. Let Tepah read it to you.”

 

She’d sigh, a small smile appearing on her face as she moved to join him in his play fort.

 

~

 

But….why did the duck want that grape? A question she never knew the answer to until later in life.

 

“Munna! Look what Tepah taught me!”

 

The young Kha hopped into their muun pool and with time, released her energy. She looked up at the princess, her small chest, heaving with anticipation for her rewards.

 

“My, Tepah sure has been working hard! You’ll make him proud and keep training, alright?”

 

Young Aife nodded and stuck out her tongue as she concentrated on absorbing more Muun energy, practicing the gifts Tepah had given her.

 

Only one of the many gifts he gave the people of this realm.

 

~

 

Her hands traced over the stairs of the manor that she visited earlier that day. The halls quiet and empty. For so long he housed those unwanted, those unloved, those turned away by society in his own home. And as quickly as they came, they quickly left him.

 

“Tepah, where is everyone?”

 

“It is how it is, Lilypad. Tepah’s family comes and it goes.”

 

“Don’t you worry about them or feel sad?”

 

“Tepah does not, for family dies all the time. There’s few things in life that Tepah would mourn for.”

 

“Like?”

 

He simply stared at her for a minute before heading inside his manor for the night, leaving her to look up at the stars and the moon.

 

~

 

Her  arms crossed in front of her as she paced through the manor, looking over at his fine silk sheets from Haria, one of his prized possessions. The fine china he would drink out of, now sat on the table alone and collecting dust. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she looked at the table where they last had dinner.

 

“Tepah makes the most delicious melon and meat food!”

 

She took a small piece of cooked chicken and dunked it in the sweet syrup and popped it in her mouth.

 

His orange tail swung back and forth behind him as his eyes narrowed, watching for her reaction. Waiting….

 

She smiled and popped another piece between her lips and chewed it quickly.

 

That’s all it took to make him happy. Her smile. And now, she wished she could only smile for him one last time.

 

~

 

The wind washed over them as she bent down to help him carry a wooden beam across the rooftop of the palace. His body drenched in sweat and his breathing heavy. He promised he’d finish her home, no matter how large the task.

 

“She’s beautiful, Lilypad. A small little panthera, she makes Tepah so happy.”

 

She grunts as she leans the beam against the wall. “Then I’m happy for you, Tepah. You deserve to be happy. You’ve been through so much.”

 

“She reminds Tepah of someone special. Simple yet important to Tepah and-”

 

A pair of arms wraps around him, a head leaning against his back. His paws moved to cover her hands. “Lilypad?”

 

“Take care of her. If she makes you feel like this, do not let her go. Hold her close and let her know that she’ll always have you.” Her quiet voice reaching up to him.

 

“Lilypad, Tep-”

 

“No! Just, promise me. Promise me you’ll be happy. Promise me you’ll be alright.”

 

She held him close. And he sighed, patting his paws over her hands. “Tepah promises.”

 

~

 

The calmness of the Druid grove met resonated with her soft chimes as she walked through the tall forest. Another day, another ward.

But a conglomeration of people drew her attention, and in the center of it, an orange fur ball.

 

“Tepah?”

 

“Lilypad!” He shouted and moved over to her.

“What….what are you wearing?” She laughed.

 

The orange fur ball stood in a glamorous black tuxedo.

 

“It is nice right?”

 

“Yes, Tepah. You look quite dapper.”

 

His eyes widened as his creamy whites looked at her. “What does that mean?”

 

She laughed. “It means you look quite handsome.”

 

His paws rose to his cheeks as he blushed. “Aww, Lilypad…..”

 

~

 

The draft of the sewers ran up her spine. Her hands slid along the slick and mossy walls.

 

“Tepah?”

 

She looked into his den. His Goddess abandoned him and now he resided in this dark alcove.

 

“Go away, Lilypad. Tepah doesn’t want to hurt you.” His hands holding his head, cradling his disheveled and confused mind.

 

Still, she walked into the tiger’s den, unafraid and unhindered as she moved to rub her hands over the blue robes that covered his back. She cooed as she rubbed his back, not prying into his sadness and confusion, letting him know she was there, that she would always be there.

 

“Why can’t Tepah be happy? Why can’t Tepah have what Tepah wants so much?” He asked her as he held his head.

 

“Keep fighting for her, and she’ll come to you, Tepah. You will be happy. I promise.”

 

Her hands continued to rub his back, trying to comfort him, trying to understand. She thought she did…..

 

~

 

But only later did she understand what he meant. Only later did she understand why the duck visited the man every day, asking for a grape. In the late night, the normally occupied tavern was empty save for all but two. They sat at the bar, the orange fur ball staring at her as she lowered a mug of tea she held for him to drink.

 

“That is why the duck asks the man for the grape every day, Lilypad. Not because he wants the grape, but because he wishes to see the man every day.”

 

A slow realization drew upon her as she lowered the tea cup from him, setting it on the bar.

 

“Then you mean….”

 

“Do you think Tepah would have stayed, Lilypad? All this time? Do you think Tepah would have turned down offers elsewhere?

Do you think Tepah would have refused to coup you because of the city? Tepah did it for you, Lilypad. Tepah has always….done it for you.”

 

“Tepah…”

 

~

 

The line of townspeople left, leaving only her and her family behind her as the sun set and the moon began to rise.

 

In the privacy she finally moved from her spot, silently picking the lid off a box.

 

Her hands sunk inside, wrapping themselves around the damp and green object.

 

As night  began to fall around them she carried the plant towards the water’s edge.

 

Her small feet stepped over the mounds of lapis gifts and tribute brought and her feet sunk into the mud and sand as she entered the pond.

 

Her black dress clung to her frame as it became soaked, making her way further into the pond as she stared at the brazier, until her waist was just below the surface.

 

She moved the plant onto the surface, letting its roots and vines sink below the water and cling to the stones below.

 

She turned and exited the pond, and watched as the moon breached the clouds in the night sky.

It’s warm light shown down onto the bond, illuminating the lapis into a beautiful array of turqoises, teals, and blues.

 

But at the center of the pond’s surface, below the moon’s reflection, the lilypad she had placed settled as the rippling of the waves from her exiting the water softened.

 

And as the moonlight touched the closed flower of the lilypad, it began to slowly open itself, awakening for the first time in its life.

 

Her husband and son brought her a robe to wrap herself in, but she stood still that night, staring at the moon light that warmed the flower that sat on the lilypad. She stared at how the moon light changed the lilypad, giving it a reason to bloom into something beautiful, but only for it.

 

As the sun began to rise to chase the moon away, the lilypad’s flower began to close, hiding itself from the daylight and awaiting for the beautiful moon light to return, to give it one more night of happiness and love.

 

The sun’s rays signaled the start of a new day and she turned from the scene, letting the light shine on the small silver tiger charm that now hung on her necklace, next to the silver ‘C’ that had been there since Vailor. Her lips parting only to say, “Now, I’m the one waiting.”

 

The sun’s rays illuminated the city, along with the plaque that seated itself at the base of the brazier, showing words that had been carved by hand to commemorate his life.

 

 

Tepah

 

Priest / Friend / Family

 

Man

Spoiler

I think I'm becoming notorious for writing sad goodbye posts at this point, but it's the only way I can really express how I feel. 

 

It took me a day to digest the news, even oocly.

 

Tepah, @Gizzol, Haunter, Andy.....you've been a friend to me for so long now that even though knowing you'll still be around, just knowing that I won't get to see you're little orange fur ball again, it hit me hard.

 

I know what people say about you. I've heard it my self. I've seen it myself. And sometimes, people in this world are cruel and hateful for no reason. And that doesn't change on LotC. It just becomes a medium for their words to hurt us. For them to judge us based off a twisted one sided story and you are forever painted as an awful person, without an opportunity to defend yourself.

 

And I know how it got to you. I know how it hurt you inside when we'd talk, and you'd tell me of what they say. But every day you kept going. You tried to put on a smile, to let others feel like it didn't bother you. You smiled so your own feelings didn't drag down the others. You made sacrifices to make others happy, time and time again. And that's the side of you, the side of Tepah, that I never want to be forgotten. 

 

You're a role model, regardless of those that wish to say otherwise. The way you help new players on this server, even after what people say. The way you give to others to give them an experience worth coming back to, even when you only slow your own progress. The way you helped me get through the hate, even though I'm sure my own issues just piled onto yours.

 

I don't know what else there is to say, but I will miss Tepah dearly. I'd even play the question game again just to hear him call her Lilypad one more time.

 

~ Lily

 

[Slothtastic 761]

J'Dul sighs, his own heart falling loose as he heard of this.

 

"Tepah.... yew were a guud friend tew J'Dul.."

[Greekbro33 105]

Gray would sit at the top of the lock tower, one leg dangling off as he uses his other knee to rest his arm and chin on. He would stare at the moonlight remembering the Lesson and trip Tepah took him on, it now buried in his heart forever as one of his lifes best moments.

 

"Goodbye Tepah.. you will forever be in my heart, as both a friend and Mentor.."

[HedgeHug 2049]

(( Beautiful writing +1

[Gizzol 252]

((Thanks squirt. I just really needed a break and I was tired that I kept coming back on tepah. I hope you come to enjoy my other personas the same and maybe we can rp when I'm around.

[OzYmandi 647]

A Graven who knew Tepah from a distance cries, but he hasn't got any eyes....

[Ballentine 218]

Enar would sigh, remembering old Tepah. 

[Archipelego 2188]

A small halfling named Kasfer dies a bit more.

[Oriaros 180]

Aife would hold her hands to her head. Shaking her head, trying to steady her breathing. "They're lying..." would mumble over and over again to herself. Rushing out the tavern being told by Nani he was dead. "Whuu killed him... Whu killed him..." would keep trying to steady her breathing. Finally she snaps "Him..." would growl, heading towards home. 

[Chaw 964]

Tarub cries a little bit, for the first time in over 60 years, he mumbles to no one in particular. "Ah knew yeh a lung time Tepag, an' yeh weh always loya' when t'ose dirteh dwarves t'rew yeh out. Rest en peace my old frien'."

[Beamon4 1690]

Dimlin would shed a few tears for Tepah drinking in his honor before looking to all around him saying "Oi wot yeh looking at I wasn't....crying for someone I knew since meh beardling years" He would then go back to drinking sighing

[Ducklingator 795]

A young Alice sat atop her small crib, frowning as she looked around. A yellowish blob in the form of a bracelet wiggled about her wrist in utter joy; though the girl herself was not very satisfied. "Ma? Where's Tepah?" She asked- her ponder was answered with a pained sigh.  

[Daisy 9735]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

If you feel this is a mistake, please contact myself or any FM and we'll restore it.