008. Dotharl

Nomin comes to learn more about the desert than she expected, as well as receives a pendant from Bayarmaa made from the copper piece from her Tumet trial. The Sagahl van eventually reaches the Dotharl Khaa, and Nomin is told about the souls of Dotharl...and even how souls of others are accepted into the tribe under certain circumstances. During all of this, she also connects with a young member of the Dotharl whose experiences resonate with her own that she immediately finds herself comforted by in some way.

Word count: 4,894

Steppe by Steppe Chapter List

A day and a half transpired as the Sagahli van pressed forward through Nhaama’s Retreat. In the wake of the harsh sunlight that heated up the sands to incredible temperatures, Bayarmaa and Barghujin took the time one morning to ensure the back of Esenaij’s wain was covered by a thick cotton canopy so that Nomin was shaded from the sun's harsh rays. In the meantime, those who walked took lighter clothes from their packed belongings to wrap around their heads and bodies, also taking the time to get Nomin dressed in the light and airy garments for herself.

“What are these for?” Nomin asked as Bayarmaa helped get her dressed lightly, but protectively.

“To protect you from the harsh heat. These clothes will let your skin breathe while allowing the wind to come through and cool your body. The sun will damage and dehydrate us if we aren't careful out here during Azim’s hours,” Bayarmaa explained. “We may be able to find glorious bounties in the desert if we know what to look for, but even that won't sustain us if we succumb to heat sickness or being too parched to function.”

In addition to helping Nomin dress appropriately for the desert heat, Baryamaa produced a leather cord with the copper filigree. There were some beads made of polished stone and wood that also adorned the necklace, making it prettier to look at. Almost instantly, Nomin beamed widely when it was given to her.

“You made it into a necklace!” Nomin exclaimed, drawing the cord around her neck.

“Mhm! When you told me about it, I took some nights to help shave it down and blunt it a bit so it wouldn’t cut anything anymore. I hope that’s okay? I probably could have fit it into the backing without doing too much…” Bayarmaa started explaining, hoping that some of her work with it would have been fine by Nomin.

“I think you made it pretty!” Nomin happily said, her tail flicking upward every now and then as it fell back into place. She held the copper piece of the necklace in her hand, smiling all the while as she turned it to and fro, letting the sun glint off of it every now and then.

“Then I’m glad,” Bayarmaa replied simply, smiling warmly as she double checked Nomin’s garments to make sure they were secured before telling her to get back onto the wain.

Nomin had her own waterskin that Bayarmaa packed before they fully set off from the Sagahl Iloh, thankfully. It was not something Nomin thought of, so having the water to sup upon while she rode in the back of the shaded wain made all the difference for beating the heat along with the clothes she was made to wear. While she was back there, she had been given the responsibility of ensuring the fruit and vegetables were nestled safely and securely, as well as remaining largely undamaged.

Travel was impeded at one point thanks to a pack of gedan that were traveling the sands. The pack was not large, thankfully; five of them. Nomin was the first to get carried out of harm's way thanks to Daritai's instinct that led him to scooping her up and out of the way from getting her arm chomped by one of the charging hounds. All the while, Barghujin and Keuken held themselves between the rest of the Sagahl and the pack of gedan, their lances pointed forward.

Bayarmaa’s disposition also changed, her hands flew to her bow and arrows to take aim and fire. Once Esenaij quickly got himself freed from the wain’s harness, he also collected his bow and arrows, providing supporting shots from a distance. Though the confrontation with the gedan took more time than they cared for, two were slain, and another two were injured before the remaining gedan ran off to seek easier prey elsewhere.

None of the Sagahl seemed particularly pleased about what transpired, though they paid respects for the beastkin they slayed. Nomin, on the other hand, had been far more hopeful that perhaps there could have been an exception to their ways. Her mouth watered for meat, though it was not meant to be. So, she practiced in paying respects, at least, for the fallen gedan who were now returned to Nhaama’s embrace.

Even though the Sagahl were not particularly pleased about the situation, each of them took on a job of bleeding, gutting, skinning, and butchering the two gedan they fell. Just about everything was collected, anything considered refuse being left to the sand. Hide, bones, meat, fat, sinew… Everything considered useful was prepared and packed away carefully in ways that Nomin never even considered until that moment!

“I'm sorry if that was my fault…” Nomin started when she helped Esenaij with cleaning the bones. She felt guilty, and went on into the why of it. “The Tumet taught some of the khüüked before our trials that if we were to see our trial at all, we needed to avoid the wildlife of the Steppe because small auri like me are more appealing to them as prey…”

Despite Esenaij’s sour disposition on most occasions, he gave a long, resigned sigh. Setting the bones aside in a burlap sack, he looked down at her. “It was not your fault, Nomin. This part of the Retreat is gedan territory, so it will not be uncommon to find them roaming about. Besides, it was not as if you went out of your way to find them and cause trouble. Small groups like that often grow desperate for food, as they cannot often hunt for larger prey with such few numbers.”

Esenaij’s words were gentler than normal, and Nomin’s tail flicked upwards slightly and tentatively as she looked up at him. A small smile graced her lips before she went back to help clean more of the bones that were left over from Daritai butchering the meat. The two of them carried on with idle conversation here and there, Nomin’s curiosities being answered about why they were expending so much effort in preparing the gedan remains if the Sagahl do not partake in eating or using the pieces of beastkin.

“Just because it's our way of life doesn't mean we should let it go to waste when it could benefit someone else who's way of life is different from our own,” Esenaij explained. “The Dotharl won the Naadam, and while our gift to them will surely be appreciated, their way of life here in the desert often revolves around their oasis. Finding food out in the desert is hard enough, they will likely appreciate the added meat once it's delivered.”

“And keeping it packed in that crate with ice crystals will help it stay fresh while we travel?” Nomin asked, glancing back toward Daritai and Keuken working on getting more of the meat cut, cleaned, and wrapped in parchment before packing it away.

“The temperatures the ice crystals will keep the meat at will prevent it from spoiling, yes…” Esenaij replied. He looked thoughtful for a moment, trying to think of any examples that Nomin could know. Finally, as he tied up the bag of bones, he said: “if you've ever encountered snow, perhaps the Tumet have dug holes in it to help preserve meat or even milk? The ice crystals essentially do the same thing without the need for such a heavy winter.”

Nodding along, Nomin hummed in thought at the information she had just received and reached for her waterskin to help wash her hands now that they were done. Though more time was spent getting the gedan remains situated and put away, Nomin watched with intense curiosity as even the hides were stored along with the ice crystals. When she asked about that, she was told that none of them had any materials to even start a tanning process, and that would have to be left to the Dotharl to take care of once delivered.

In the rest of their travels across the desert of Nhaama’s Retreat to the Dotharl Khaa, Nomin kept an eye out for anything that could have attacked them. Gedan, manzasiri, anala…anything that Esenaij and Bayarmaa had told her about, and everything that she learned about when she actually traveled alongside the Tumet as one of their children. What also helped were the recollections and information that Barghujin, Keuken, and Daritai were willing to impart as well in order to help keep Nomin aware.

It was fortuitous that they met with little else on the venture to the Dotharl’s oasis. Of course, when they met with the Dotharl guards, they had stopped them, their words terse and abrasive before Esenaij said that he and the others were here to deliver the tribe a gift. Noting the deeper blue colors of the Sagahl, as well as being shown the bounties of grain and fruit, the Dotharli guards soon relented and allowed the group through.

“Nomin, do you want to explore the oasis while Esenaij and the others make the delivery?” Bayarmaa asked, walking over to Nomin.

“Can I?” Nomin chirped eagerly in question, a smile growing on her face. She eagerly hopped out of the wain and looked around. She had already been quite taken with the sights of the oasis, but the idea of getting to walk around enticed her. She already noted that the ger that were weathered and worn, their blues fading from their time in the sun, day after day.

“Since we're welcome here, we can walk around as long as we don't cause trouble. You should go ahead and walk around as well; get your legs stretched after sitting so long in the wain most of our journey,” Bayarmaa said.

Walking over to Bayarmaa, Nomin elected to take up holding her hand for the time being. She knew that when the Tumet spoke of the Dotharl, they often had few nice things to say. Honestly, that recollection made Nomin just a little nervous about meandering around the oasis, even with Bayarmaa’s reassurance.

The two of them traveled the oasis together, Nomin peeking around curiously before the sound of a baby crying made her pause, tail stiffening as she looked toward the sound. Normally, Nomin would have just ignored it, but when she saw the cluster of Dotharli people at one of the open-faced structures, she pointed it out to Bayarmaa. Especially after seeing Sadu at the center point of them, a swaddled baby held before her by the winner of the year's Naadam, Maa.

“What are they doing?” Nomin asked Bayarmaa, turning her head to look up at the elder Xaela.

“It's somewhat of a naming ceremony, I suppose you could call it…” Bayarmaa started in response, bringing a finger to her chin as she thought over her words.

“Like how I would have gotten a name from my parents if I went back to the Tumet after my trial?”

Bayarmaa paused at the question before she frowned slightly, contemplating how to answer Nomin. She tugged on Nomin’s hand lightly to start walking toward the group. “Um…perhaps? Though, surely a lot more different. Why don’t we get closer to watch?”

Nomin followed along with Bayarmaa, feeling at least somewhat comforted by her presence as they neared. Nomin witnessed Sadu take the crying babe into her hands, surprisingly delicately as she hushed and rocked it to quiet it down. Once the wails had died down and ceased, Nomin watched as the baby gurgled and reached up, clutching some of Sadu's white locks as it giggled.

“Sadu Khatun, please tell me whose soul has entered the babe born from my wife?” Maa asked Sadu, getting down on his knees and bowing in respect to her.

Sadu herself, even while holding the swaddled babe, stood tall and proud. Her features were set with that same kind of air as she brought a finger down to stroke the infant’s cheek. Nomin watched as Sadu’s expression became more focused, her eyes staring down into those of the babe’s. Her brow furrowed, and soon, Sadu handed the baby back to Maa with a grin.

“This child bears the soul of Dhunan! The brave warrior who brought down several Oronir, Buduga, and Chaghan to see you, Maa, take hold of the ovoo! We will sing to this child praise of what he did during the Naadam, and how he would always put the other Dotharli before himself with the power of seventy manzasiri!” Sadu proclaimed proudly and with conviction. She took up her staff and rammed the butt of it into the ground, her free hand resting upon her hip. “Even in his past lives, Dhunan displayed great feats of strength! In this life, we shall ensure he grows strong, telling him of how his past lives trained and trained!”

The hair on the back of Nomin’s scalp and neck stood on end once the crowd of Dotharl started cheering, chanting the name of the baby with glee and mirth. She staggered back a bit before hiding somewhat behind Bayarmaa. Her tail wiggled stiffly with surprise at the raucous cheering. That was a little bit overwhelming in terms of excitement -- especially around such ruthless fighters during the Naadam.

“... I want to go back to the wain…” Nomin said, staying behind Bayarmaa before looking up at her.

“Is something wrong?” Bayarmaa asked, looking at Nomin curiously.

Nomin shook her head and pursed her lips, her hold tightening upon Bayarmaa’s hand momentarily. She then huffed lightly and said, “...It’s loud here.”

Bayarmaa offered a sheepish smile before turning and leading the way back; “very well. Come on, then. We’ll await Esenaij and the others once we find where they’re at.”

Following along after Bayarmaa, Nomin glanced over her shoulder at the cheering Dotharl at the khatun's seat before looking back ahead of her. While they walked, Nomin inquired about the Dotharl's naming and why it seemed like everyone had any kind of name, her examples being that both Sadu and Maa seemed to have names that would be more fit for the opposite gender. Bayarmaa only chuckled in response and did her best to explain how she felt was best.

“It's actually really no different than if someone were to have named their babe Nergüi, I feel…” Bayarmaa started. “In that the meaning is to mislead bad spirits. As such, it's actually not uncommon for parents to give names that would typically be associated with us to babes that are male when brought into the world.”

Nomin hummed in thought, her gaze going to the ground as they walked.She thought back to the naming ceremonies she had previously been witness to when children who freed themselves eventually returned to the Tumet Iloh for their pre-Naadam migration. Recalling some of what she heard and saw, she finally spoke, “the Tumet don't name us as babes, though. The names given to those deemed worthy at the naming ceremonies are usually given by the khan or khatun. Sometimes the parents.”

“Oh…” Bayarmaa frowned, realizing that perhaps more gendered names were what Nomin found herself used to if that was how naming went among the Tumet. “I can see your confusion, then. When it comes to the Dotharl, their souls have no prejudice to the babes they come back to within the tribe, so you get a lot of members that have names that may be confusing on a surface level because Sadu kahtun sees the soul within the babe and declares their previous life who now inhabits it.

“But it's really nothing to worry about overall. You chose your name, after all.” Bayarmaa gave Nomin a grin. “Nothing would stop Esenaij nor I from changing our names to something we preferred. I guess you could say that if I did that, I would be choosing a name worthy of me. Just like you chose a name worthy of you, hm?”

Nomin's brow rose, and her mouth fell slightly agape at the idea. “I didn't think about it like that. I guess you're right! Just as I am worthy, I chose a name worthy of me! It could have been a boy's name, too, if I wanted!”

The two of them made it back to the wain where they were greeted by Barghujin and Keuken. There was also another boy there who donned the light blue deel of Dotharli youth standing with them, a ripened plum in his hands that he seemed to have been nibbling on. Nomin’s gaze lingered on the boy for a moment, her tail curling inquisitively as she looked from him back up at Barghujin and Keuken.

“There you two are!” Keuken greeted both Nomin and Bayarmaa. “Esenaij and Daritai are close to done, I imagine, with their audience with the Dotharl elder. They’ve already brought in the gedan remains that we got for them to distribute later. I think last I heard, they’re discussing some of the collection methods of gathering some of the herbs and fruits that grow within the desert.”

Bayarmaa let go of Nomin’s hand and then placed a hand on her back, ushering her forward.

“Go wait in the wain for a bit. They might need me to help with some stuff once Esenaij is done.” Bayarmaa’s attention then went to both Barghujin and Keuken. She then approached the other two Sagahl to talk to them while Nomin tentatively approached the wain, her attention having gone back to the unknown Dotharli boy.

The Dotharli boy was basking in the shade of the cover that was used for the wain, his own attention falling upon Nomin as she approached.

“Hello,” the boy spoke, making Nomin freeze for a moment, her tail flicking with added hesitation. Her actions and uncertain expression made the boy laugh rather heartily before he apologized: “S-sorry! I don’t mean to laugh…”

The boy then composed himself, donning a pleasant expression and asking: “are you here with Mister Esenaij and the other Sagahl? I-I mean, I guess that’s a silly question since you’re wearing the Sagahl colors. Just…Mister Esenaij sometimes makes deliveries to the other tribes for trade. He’s given me some dawn plums before. I’ve seen the others before, but I’ve never seen you or your sister before.”

Nomin gave the boy a quizzical look, tilting her head slightly. She neared the wain, walking under the shade herself and soon leaning against it. Every now and then, Nomin glanced at the boy, wondering who he was and why he opted to approach the Sagahl van when it seemed other Dotharl were more interested in their own doings rather than greeting them. He was a couple ilms taller than she was, his horns taking shape into becoming horns that curved outward and then forward.

Though Nomin thought over her questions, she felt too shy to speak up right away. Especially since she was still uncertain about whether or not she should speak with the Dotharl freely after stories she had heard from the Tumet. However, she did think to herself that having more friends her age would have been nice -- even if they were part of different tribes. It would have been fun to meet them again, whether in Reunion or elsewhere.

And so the two children stood in silence for a long time.

The pleasant look on the boy’s face faded into worry as he nibbled further on his plum. Nomin could really only rock back and forth on her feet, her back bumping against the wooden railing of the wain. Neither of them were really sure what to do or say for the most part. When the boy made no effort to move away, however, Nomin let out a silent sigh through her nose.

“I’m Arik,” the boy finally said, introducing himself.

Silence hung in the air again for a time.

“My name is Nomin…” Nomin slowly introduced herself in kind. She turned her head to look at him again, noting more of his features. Given how it seemed this Arik was not particularly shy about approaching the wain nor the other Sagahl members, Nomin then asked: “does…does Esenaij come here often?”

“Sure! The Dotharl don’t often venture too far from the oasis to go to Reunion. Even then, the Dotharl, er, we don’t have too much use for some of the trinkets and things there when we can trade the Uyagir for arrowheads and ore, and the oasis being here means hunting is generally pretty easy for people like my mother.” Arik seemed pleased enough to explain how the Dotharl were pretty well supplied overall.

Arik then turned the partially eaten plum in his hands before taking another bite. After he swallowed, he continued after a momentary pause, “...we don’t get a lot of things that are grown from the earth around here, though. Not like any fruit in abundance, or grains that we can turn into bread.”

Nomin’s brow twitched with bemusement at Arik’s way of wording things and placing emphasis on addressing the Dotharl on their own versus including himself among them with ‘we.’

“Are you not Dotharl?” Nomin asked, dropping her voice to a whisper. The question made Arik look at her in surprise. However, he started shaking his head in answer.

“N-no. I mean. I am! Just…when the khan -- the Sadu before the one we have now -- looked into my eyes, he said that he saw no one he recognized. The Dotharli woman who gave birth to me…she told me stories of a Noykin horse master who was best friends with her husband…my father. His name was Arik, and he had died in the midst of a terrible anala attack,” Arik shuddered, leaving some details unspoken. “My mother told me that my previous incarnation could tame any horse if given only a handful of days -- and nearly any creature.”

“That’s pretty amazing…” Nomin breathed, genuinely thinking the brief bits that were told to her were interesting and enthralling. Even if she did not know of the Noykin herself, she was still captivated by the idea of reincarnation now that she was speaking to one of the Dotharl herself. “So…you’re a reincarnated Noykin? How did that happen that you are now of the Dotharl? When Bayarmaa was explaining it to me, she said that the Dotharl souls come back into Dotharl babes. How do souls from not-Dotharl come into the babes?”

Arik shrugged, his face twisting in some confusion over it himself. After a moment’s consideration, he finally said to her, “my mother tells me that sometimes friends of the Dotharl -- those who have given their lives for the lives of Dotharl -- are invited to our tribe through death. That must be what happened to my previous life. I died in my last life and was invited to the Dotharl…which is probably why I never feel too welcome in their celebrations.”

“I kind of know what that feels like,” Nomin replied, the mutual understanding of feeling like an outsider to their own tribe formulating that start of a bond. She looked at Arik and told him: “I actually come from the Tumet tribe. I passed my trial, but…I didn’t want to go back. I never really felt like I could get used to the Tumet traditions. It’s why Mister Esenaij and Miss Bayarmaa now take care of me! Esenaij took me in shortly after I arrived at Reunion.”

Arik offered Nomin a small smile at her story, more because he felt somewhat reassured by her words. Then he looked confused, as if he realized something.

“Wait, if you’re from the Tumet…did you get a name from them, or from the Sagahl?” Arik asked. “And that woman…she’s your sister, right? Is she also originally from the Tumet? She has markings like you do…”

“I named myself!” Nomin replied cheerfully and without hesitation. “And…that’s just Miss Bayarmaa. She has markings like me, but she’s Esenaij’s sister. I guess she’s my sister now, too, though.”

“Huh…” Arik’s expression softened at that. “I never considered that you could name yourself… Do the Tumet usually let you do that? Or…I guess…”

Nomin shook her head emphatically. She told Arik about the naming ways that the Tumet normally employed as she crawled into the back of the wain to get herself situated a little more comfortably. The more that Nomin spoke with Arik as the other Sagahl got the goods from their wain given to the Dotharl elder, the more she found herself happily talking about all kinds of things with him. From what he knew of the Noykin, to what Nomin often found herself enjoying now that she was part of the Sagahl.

During their conversations, Nomin told Arik how she ended up naming herself, recalling the trial of the Tumet and how she always kind of liked the blue markings on her scales. How they and her general appearance were the inspiration for just calling herself how she saw herself: lapis. She admitted it could have been more creative, but that the name ‘Nomin’ always just felt right as soon as it entered her mind.

Their conversations went on as the wain was progressively emptied of its contents. Arik finished his plum long before they were addressed by Bayarmaa, who greeted them both with a pleasant expression on her face.

“I’m glad the two of you seem to be making fast friends,” Bayarmaa said as she neared them. She looked from Arik to Nomin. “We’ll be staying the night within the care of the Dotharl, Nomin. I know you complain sometimes about not being able to eat meat since coming to us from the Tumet.”

Bayarmaa then dropped her voice to a whisper.

“But, if you keep it to yourself, I’ll let it slide that you eat some tonight with the meals that will be cooked tonight,” Bayarmaa said. “I can’t expect you to adopt the Sagahl diet immediately if you were used to meat with the Tumet for ten years. Just work your way to it. If you can, try to eat less meat than you normally would. I’d rather you ease yourself into our diet than pick it up immediately and end up resenting it.”

“So we’ll get to hang out for another day?” Arik excitedly asked, his mouth cracking into a wide smile.

“Mhm~” Bayarmaa hummed in response. She then focused her attention on Arik. “Well, maybe not a whole day, but at least for a good few bells.”

Bayarmaa glanced back at Nomin before speaking again to Arik; “thank you for keeping Nomin company. She’s slowly been making friends with the Sagahl, but it’s really nice that it seems she’s taken such a shine to you…Arik, was it? Esenaij mentioned your name when I asked about you.”

Arik’s smile became pursed for a moment as he looked down at the sparse grass underneath him in a bashful manner.

“It was fun, Miss Bayarmaa. I’m glad that she got to come with the Sagahl this time around,” Arik shyly replied.

Thinking on how Esenaij was typically more prepared to go and get himself out in an early fashion, Nomin brought her hands up to the leather cord around her neck. She slipped the necklace off that held the decorative copper piece in it. Though she stared at it for a long moment, Nomin really did feel a deep kinship with Arik and how their experiences within their tribes -- former or current -- made them feel.

“Just in case Mister Esenaij wants to leave right away in the morning, here!” Nomin said, thrusting her hand out and offering Arik the copper pendant that Bayarmaa had fixed up for her during their travel from the Sagahl Iloh to the Dotharl Khaa.

“What is it?” Arik asked as he tentatively reached out to accept the necklace.

“Remember what I said about my trial?”

“Yeah…but…what does that have to do with this necklace?” Arik looked down at the copper pendant as the rest of the leather cord and its bits and bobs pooled into the palm of his hand. His expression fell into bemusement as he looked over the item.

“Miss Baryamaa helped turn the copper piece I used to cut myself free into a necklace! I want you to have it. It’ll be like a promise that we’ll meet again one day!” Nomin explained, grinning. She looked back at Bayarmaa after mentioning her, looking to see what her reaction was. When Nomin saw that Bayarmaa had that familiar, gentle smile on her face, Nomin beamed as she looked back at Arik. “When we meet again, you can give it back. Or…maybe you can just keep it.”

“‘Keep it’?” Arik parroted back, his face twisting into further confusion. “Isn’t it important to you? Something that you used to free yourself with that you wanted to keep?”

“Well, yeah. If you want to keep it, you can. If not, just keep it until we meet again!” Nomin said. Puffing out her chest with a sense of accomplishment, she smiled proudly. “Since you know how important it is, I expect you to take good care of it!”

An amused scoff fell from Arik’s lips before he slipped the cord around his neck. The necklace was loose still, even around his neck as he looked down at the copper piece in the palm of his hand again. “Alright. It’s a promise then.”

#ffxiv

also: #Final Fantasy 14, #final fantasy xiv, #ff14

Mare Lamentorum (Hoper's Hold)