A Storm Stirs ((Attn: Durent/Trent))

[Roan]

What teenager enjoyed chores? What person enjoyed chores, for that matter? Tia would always rather be climbing trees, exploring the grounds, or surroundings of the Tower than scrubbing floors, sweeping paths, or cleaning pots. Somehow, it seemed she was never given chores for the stables. Perhaps those who were in charge of assigning her to chores knew she loved to be around the horses, and didn't find picking and cleaning stalls a chore as much as it was taking care of four legged companions. All of Tia's family had an affinity for horses, with her grandparents still running one of the best horse farms in Saldaea.

Instead of working in the stables on this clear afternoon, Tia was tasked with sweeping one of the garden paths. While she wasn't keen on doing chores, she never shirked her responsibilities, and always gave it her best effort. Tia was, in some ways, your typical teenager, but in other ways, not so much. She respected her elders, and was not so rebellious as some of her Novice peers. Truth be told, she hadn't made many friends among the Novices, as most seemed to give the girl a wide berth. If it bothered her, Tia rarely let it show.

"Do you think she will notice?" came a familiar voice from behind Tia.

"Do you think she will care? It is not like she's noticed how bad a job she's done thus far. Her head is so far in the clouds, it is not like she cares. Why should she? It's not like anyone would dare punish the great granddaughter of the Amyrlin Seat," said another familiar voice, the sarcasm dripping with each syllable.

Tia paused mid-stroke and took a deep breath. She knew the two novices who were approaching, and they were two of the few who didn't give her wide berth. In fact, they did all they could to try and make her life miserable. She looked up, and frowned as clouds started to close in. What had been a beautiful, crisp day was turning overcast, and the presence of the sour-faced novices weren't helping to improve the day. Before she could turn and face them, a clump of mud landed just in front of her feet. Her lips twitched to frown, and in the distance there was a rumble of thunder.

Letting out a sigh, Tia turned to face her two would-be bullies, "Anya and Jadine, do you not have something else to do other than pester me? I'm trying to get my chores done."

"Hah, chores? As if you care about chores. Everyone knows you don't have to do them. . .you don't get as many chores or as many punishments as the rest of us novices. No one would dare challenge you because of your great grandmother, the Amyrlin Seat," the second one, Jadine, said with a sour expression planted on her face.

There was another rumble of thunder as Tia set her cold expression on the young woman, "I don't get the number of punishments because I do as is expected of me, and respect my superiors. Plain and simple. And she's my great great grandmother." She shook her head and started to sweep away the mud they threw at her feet. She wished she could have joined the novice ranks without everyone knowing who her family was, but it seemed like before she even donned the white dress, anyone and everyone knew who she was, and how she was related to the Amyrlin Seat. She didn't go out of her way to tell people about her family, but nor did she hide her heritage.

Tia was brought up to always give her all at everything she tried, and earn the respect of those around her instead of relying on who she was or who she knew. Her biggest pet peeve was when those around her assumed she got where she was due to who her Mother, or great great Grandmother was.

"Oh please. . .don't even try to play it off. You know you've got it easy compared to the rest of us," countered Anya.

Turning to face them fully, Tia tried to keep her anger at bay, but was failing miserably. Her mood seemed to match the weather, and was punctuated with another rumble of thunder, "So easy that I have to deal with the two of you bullying me relentlessly? Constantly questioning whether I've earned my place here even though I'm no further in my studies than either of you? So easy that most Novices and Soldiers avoid me for fear of the wrath of the Amyrlin Seat? The sole friend I seem to have that is close to my age is my brother as the rest who are not so rude as you seem too scared to get to know me. I do not have it easy. I have it lonely, and I do the best I can of a situation that was thrust on me. . .I wanted to join the Yards not where this damned dress!" Her nostrils flared as she finished, though she was about to say something else when both girls' eyes went wide.

((OCC: Hope this works for you!))

[Trent]

Exhaling a deep breath, Durent willed his muscles to relax and to release the stress they held. He had just finished going through some unarmed combat forms and now he sat on a hillside under a tree, meditating. These activities he did quite often, especially now that he was M'Hael. The Yards were often too loud and chaotic for his tastes to get a proper practice in alone. They were great for sparring, but for exercising and clearing his head and getting some time alone, nothing beat the peace and beauty of the Gardens.

He formed the void in his mind, feeding into it all of his worry, stress, ambition, plans, everything. Saidin hovered just beyond, tempting him to grasp it. When he was younger he might have seized it just for the rush of power, but it was something he had learned to control over the decades. He Listened to the wind passing through the Gardens, gaining an idea of what the weather would bring. He'd always felt a strong connection to the weather and always had seemed to know when it was going to change. He wasn't sure if his Talents with Cloud Dancing enhanced this or not, but he was grateful for it. The day was clear and beautiful and seemed like it would be remaining so for a while.

He started to focus on his upcoming plans, meetings, audiences, reports, and duties as M'Hael. Going over each one meticulously while he held a peace of mind. He heard the voices of young girls on the periphery of his thoughts, but ignored them. A minute or two later a rumble of thunder broke his concentration and he snapped his eyes open, a little alarmed. The sky was darkening, he could now feel the storm brewing. He was confused for a moment, this isn't what should be happening, unless he'd been confused earlier about his impressions.

The conversation of the girls came back into focus for him, and he heard the two girls taunting the third. He recognized her from their comments and from the family resemblance. They hadn't seemed to notice him at all under the shadow of his tree. When Tia's eyes narrowed, Durent could sense female channeling and it was followed by an immediate crackle of thunder. She was causing this. A wry grin spread across Durent's face. A fellow Cloud Dancer, one who didn't seem aware of what she was doing quite yet, and a powerful one at that, to be causing the formation of a thunderstorm accidentally.

The other two novices seemed stupidly ignorant at what was happening, and Durent felt that if he didn't intercede, one of them might end up struck by lightning if Tia's mood continued to worsen. Durent stood and buttoned his Asha'man's garb back up all the way and straightened it. He began walking over calmly, though he did seize the source as he approached. Just in case.

The two novices taunting Tia noticed him first, their eyes going wide in horror and recognition. He looked at them nonchalantly, "For girls so bothered with her lack of chores, I would think you wouldn't want to keep her from the one she's been assigned, yes? Or perhaps you are bored and need something to fill your time as well?"

The two shook their heads in unison, curtsying deeply, and were soon almost running down the path back towards the Tower itself. When they had gone. Durent waited for Tia to turn around. He allowed a warm smile for her. "I'm sorry for interfering. I hope it doesn't make things worse for your situation. However," he pointed at the gathering clouds up above, "I needed to calm you down to keep that from getting worse."

[Roan]

Tia's eyes went wide when she heard the man behind her begin to admonish her Jadine and Anya. She didn't know who it was, but it was someone to cause the other two to suddenly become so compliant. When the pair curtsied and scurried away, she debated whether she should turn around or not, but good manners got the better of her. Taking a deep, steadying breath, Tia forced herself to calm down as she turned to face the newcomer. The Novice recognized the Asha'man instantly, and was about to curtsy when he apologized for interfering.

"I'm sorry for interfering. I hope it doesn't make things worse for your situation. However," he pointed at the gathering clouds up above, "I needed to calm you down to keep that from getting worse."

Tia tilted her head, and gave the M'hael a quizzical look, "I. . .I don't understand, Father. Keep what from getting worse?" She followed his pointing hand up, and looked at the dark clouds of the gathering storm. . .which seemed to be dissipating. He couldn't possibly mean. . .oh but he did, didn't he?

The Novice paled as she lowered her eyes and met the M'hael's gaze. "The weather? You think I. . .I caused the change in our weather?" she asked, though she had a sinking feeling she knew the answer. She hadn't been channeling. . .not knowingly channeling, but then. . .how was it her Grand Memma knew she'd channeled when Tia herself hadn't realized it? She'd learned how embrace Saidar and knew the near euphoria she felt, but there had been none of that just now. So. . .could she have changed the weather? She hadn't quite learned how to school her expressions, and her confusion was quite clear.

[Trent]

Durent focused on the storm above dissipating naturally. He seized saidin and sent a complex, twisting pattern of Air, Water, and Fire into the cloud system with a wave of his hand. The weave served to counter the rotation of the small storm, cancelling out its effects while containing the weather patterns emerging from it. The clouds dissipated quickly and the wind and thunder died down, returning the Gardens to the beautiful sunny day they had been experiencing a few moments ago.

"Yes, Tia, the weather. I know the experience firsthand, as it was something similar to what I went through when I discovered I had a Talent for Cloud Dancing. Talents often manifest uncontrollably at first. With the strength of the storm you summoned accidentally, you are likely going to be a powerful Cloud Dancer. We will need to find you a teacher. I can help you with some of the principles, but as is always the case the weaves we use to accomplish the same actions will be very different."

Durent could still remember his first weave, calling down lightning on a clear day to accidentally kill two Caemlyn city guards. It was so long ago but he could still feel the guilt and see their faces. They’d just been doing their job, and Durent’s friend had stolen someone’s coin purse… such a waste.

Durent let his words to Tia sink in for a moment, allowing her to process what he was sure was a lot of information all at once. "Would you like to sit down for a moment? I'm sure you must have some questions."

[Roan]

Tia's heart began pounding as the M'Hael confirmed that, yes, she was the one who was causing the weather to change. The sound of her pounding heart threatened to drown out Durent's words.

....are likely going to be a powerful Cloud Dancer. We will need to find you a teacher...

The Novice went wide-eyed as Durent put a label to what she'd done. Cloud Dancer. She didn't understand how, though, as she hadn't actively channeled.

After a moment, Tia realized the M'Hael was looking at her intently, as if expecting an answer, and then she recalled he had asked one just moments ago. Tia was not one to stammer when nervous under normal circumstances, but this wasn't a normal circumstance. It was not every day the M'Hael addressed a Novice, nor was it every day you were told you had a talent such as Cloud Dancing.

"Uhm...sit? Yes. . .yes, Father, sitting down might be. . .might be smart," Tia finally replied. Inwardly, she rolled her eyes at herself, knowing she likely sounded like a babbling idiot. There was a bench near by, and fortunately, the other two Novices hadn't flung mud on it. She felt as if she was moving in slow motion as she approached and then sat on the bench, her thoughts racing through her mind, not offering any clarity on the matter.

Chewing on her lower lip nervously, Tia tried to sort through the jumble of confusion racing within her mind. As the M'hael sat next to her, she looked to him as she started to reply, "I. . .I didn't. . .I didn't realize I was channeling. And and after. . .after what I experienced during my sessions when I embraced Saidar. . .how could I not know I was channeling?" Not thinking exactly straight, she couldn't help but blurt out a second question almost immediately, "And, what exactly is a Cloud Dancer?"

[Trent]

Durent guided Tia gently over to the bench and helped the young girl sit down. He'd gone and terrified the poor girl, it seemed. He had grown very blunt after being alive for so long, he'd forgotten how someone new to all of this might respond to these kinds of discoveries. He would need to be more...gentle in his words to her, ease her into the idea, or at least make sure she understands the benefits.

He considered briefly where to begin, the girl looking to him with nervousness and confusion. "You might not have known you were channeling, and that is not something to be worried about. Our strongest innate Talents, often called Latent, are often brought out whether we like them to or not. They are such a part of our being that they manifest almost unconsciously, as an extension of our emotions. This is both exciting and useful, in that it helps us to identify them, but can also be dangerous and could cause accidents. However, this is exactly why you're here at the Tower. To have these discoveries in a situation where they can be identified and trained. Once you learn the mechanics behind what you're doing, you'll be in complete control of your Talents and your channeling ability in general."

He decided to show, rather than tell the beginning of his second part of his explanation. He seized the source and wove a small, intricate weave of Fire, Water, and Air, between his hands, a tiny storm forming there, his fingers appearing to 'contain' it. "As for what Cloud Dancing is, it's a bit of a complicated question, but this is part of it. Cloud Dancers are those who are Talented in manipulating and controlling the weather. Create, change, or end storms; control the temperature of an area; manipulate lightning and other natural forces—all of these are various parts of Cloud Dancing."

[Roan]

As the M’hael explained that what happened to Tia was nothing more than a Latent Talent, the Novice began to relax. To have this talent manifest itself when it did, and in front of the M’hael? Less than ideal, but perhaps given that he was a Cloud Dancer. No, he might not be able to teach her, but he could certainly explain the basics, and answer any questions she might have.

A moment later, he formed a storm between his hands. Tia went wide-eyed, and couldn't suppress the gasp that escaped her. It was perhaps the most spectacular thing she had ever witnessed in her (admittedly) short life. “Amazing!” She watched the storm and said nothing more for several seconds, “And you are saying this is something I was doing. . .and can learn to control?”

The Novice should have waited for him to answer, but when she was excited about something, questions came one after another, and she couldn't help but ask as they came to mind. “What purpose would Cloud Dancing serve?”

[Trent]

Durent's warm smile came unbidden but he didn't try to suppress it. Cloud Dancing, when not used in combat, was one of the few things in his life that gave him pure joy. "I am almost certain that yes, you possess the Talent for Cloud Dancing. You will one day be able to do things like I can, and many more.

"The possibilities are too numerous to really expound on fully, though there are plenty of books in the Library that try. Small applications could be something like to controlling the temperature of a room or encampment for those you are traveling with or shielding a small area from a storm. More impressive could be assisting an area in a drought or using the winds to your advantage to clear an area of debris.”

He thought of various uses he’d found over the year, there were truly too many to name. “A lot of it will be based on your own creativity. However, something you must remember, and this is very important: Weather is a very complicated, interconnected system that we do not fully understand yet. There is a reason it storms in Cairhien while it is sunny in Mayene. As such, your efforts in a certain area can have catastrophic results if not contained. For instance, if you summon great winds to speed a boat down a river, the wake might cause flooding for local farmers. If you create a storm to help a drought, that storm might go on to become a damaging thunderstorm in another nation. Always keep that in mind when practicing and exercising these powers. They are incredible, but we must use them wisely.”

Durent smiled as he realized he was rambling. Something he definitely didn’t do very often, but he was glad to let the mask of the M’Hael slip a little bit, especially in an area of his passion that wasn’t battle and Shadow and memories of dead loved ones. “I’m sorry for rambling on, I’m sure you must be suffering from information overload.”

[Roan]

Weather is a very complicated, interconnected system that we do not fully understand yet. There is a reason it storms in Cairhien while it is sunny in Mayene. As such, your efforts in a certain area can have catastrophic results if not contained.

The M'hael's expression took on a more serious look as he began to explain some of the complexities of weather, and the potential for disaster if a Cloud Dancer let their work go unchecked. Tia thought back to the rumbling thunder and darkening skies she'd caused because two idiot novices got under her skin. How bad could it have been?

It could have been very bad. . .

Tia's imagination could often get the best of her, and it currently showed her a scene of the Gardens enveloped in rain as lightning forked across the sky. At her feet, not too far away were the two Novices who thought it fun to tease her.

Could she really have killed them?

Yes! Why else would the M'hael step in?! Think with your head, girl!

Resisting the urge to shake her head, Tia focused on what the M'hael was saying. She felt a spark of excitement at the possibilities that Cloud Dancing could mean, though was still uncertain. How could she learn to control it when she didn't even realize she'd been doing it in the first place?

He is looking at you expectantly part of Tia's mind registered as she met the M'hael's gaze. He said something about informational overload. . .he's expecting a reply. . .

Giving a worried smile, Tia shook her head, "A little, maybe, but. . .no. I'm sorry, my mind seems to be wandering away with possibilities. At the same time, I. . .I have to learn to control it. If you hadn't been here today..." Tia trailed off and looked down the path where the two Novices had long since retreated, "Fortunately, you were here. How easy would it be to arrange someone to work with me, and help me learn to control my talent for Cloud Dancing?"

OOC: I am SOO SOO SOOOOOO sorry for the delay. Life got insane on me, but I'm finally catching up.

[Trent]

Durent

Durent gave what he hoped was a warm, reassuring smile. The girl definitely seemed overwhelmed by what was going on and all of the information he was giving her. That was completely expected. He would have been very surprised if she wasn’t reacting this way. He still remembered when Leanna Sedai had told him all those years ago that he did in fact have what it took and had the Talent emerging in him as well. “It’s nothing to worry about at all. My trainer for Cloud Dancing took me out to a remote area of the Mountains of Mist to practice as even the Channeling Yards are often not large enough to fully see the scope of what you will learn to do. Make sure, as with anything of the Power, to give yourself plenty of time and don’t feel discouraged in your learning of it.” He had certainly needed many, many training sessions and years of practice to arrive where he was today. It had taken him weeks just to learn how to make the wind blow a certain way or to affect the temperature. “I’m available to help you with any theoretical or application questions, and it certainly shouldn’t be too difficult to find you a trainer. As usual, the weaves with Saidar are slightly different. I will assist you in finding a suitable teacher, if you wish.”

OOC: No need to apologize at all! I totally understand, and my response times are hardly what I want them to be. Do you want to continue you this thread or move on? Also, did you need someone to RP a female Cloud Dancing trainer for Ria?