The Friendly Approach

JP with Lorem and Omni

This land was full of endless wonders it seemed. The sight of such a giant wonder protruding from the sand was staggering and had her staring, mouth partially opened in awe.

Voah almost involuntarily said, ‘By Erewhon!’ But swallowed that thought and let whisper, “My Gods…”.

She wet her lips. Seeing the robed people eating made her mouth water. They had eaten little more than water and dry coyote for the last few days.

Gonyaul stood amazed. Never before had he seen a creature of such size. He could only fathom what it must look like when alive. Was it peaceful or dangerous? The teeth gave evidence for the latter, but it wasn’t definitive. Did such beasts still exist? If they did, it has been fortunate that they haven’t crossed paths yet.

Gonyaul couldn’t help but imagine he was riding one across the desert. If it was dangerous though, he looked to his staff and personified it as his brother in arms. “Your scared? Fear is the mind kill. Don’t worry, we will befriend it together.” He whispered to the piece of hardened wood jokingly. Sometimes it was just fun to be outright silly, especially with all the seriousness being thrown around.

Gonyaul took a deep breath and began walking casually towards the gathering of people. He wasn’t making any attempt to conceal himself. Voah, if she objected, would need to pull him back.

Gonyaul wanted to just walk up and greet them cordially.

A large part of her warned against approaching the people directly, but what choice did they really have at this point if they wanted to survive? These people had food and there was safety in numbers. They could be part of that… but only if the group was welcoming to the company of strangers.

In the event that they weren’t welcomed, there was a few ways that could go. The people might simply reject them and tell them to be on their way or there would be a quarrel, ending in death or enslavement.

Neither option was agreeable but the only good of watching from afar, she supposed, was following them to the next oasis or even the holy city if they were lucky.

No, they should probably just meet them head o- - Well, Gonyaul was already heading in without any attempt at stealth. She quickly moved to catch up to him.

Gonyaul was smiling as Voah caught up to him. He hadn’t been pondering any of the negative end scenarios that she had, only the positive. His default way of thinking, looking on the bright side and believing the best about people, was going to get him into trouble one day. Well, that was what others kept telling him.

He had pondered this before, but it just felt like it was part of his very essence to treat others as the wondrous creations that they inherently are and the fruitful possibilities of what more they could be. He didn’t really know why it felt so natural to have this perspective, even when he knowingly had first hand experience of the atrocities that others were capable of.

Gonyaul when he was within ear shot, waved and announced their arrival in a merry tone using the word for hello that the Ozaniae use.

Voah was going to try things Gonyaul’s way. It was a good thing Voah knew how to play really good pretend like her father. She put on the same enthusiastic air as her fiancé and gestured with a sort of shy, friendly wave.