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Post by Celestial on Aug 17, 2018 5:51:09 GMT -5
It all happened so fast. One minute she was in the smoke, coughing and crying for help, and the next, her prayers were answered as a dog-creature shot out of the smoke and grabbed her in the jaws. Morag squealed with joy. "Oh, thank Spirit! I thought nobody would hear me!" she cried. Her little legs wriggled as the dog dashed through the undergrowth. "But no! You came and you helped me! You are a complete and utter angel, my darling, dashing through the forest fire like that to rescue an old lady from the flames!" The haggis paused and look around, blinking. "Actually, that's a rather unusual thing to happen around here, especially at this time of year. Is it those sowers again and their Mother? I know she was making some weird weather around here," the haggis' ears flattened. "Oh, I should give them a good thrashing after they failed to listen to my talking-to. Those creatures ruin it for everyone. If I see that cat again, you can be sure she will get a hiding the likes of which this island has never seen." She glanced around at the dog. "Er, not a literal hiding, mind. She's a ghost, and even if she wasn't, I cannot remove anybody's hide. Unless we're talking about that ridiculous cosy she was wearing. What kind of creature has pink fur?" the haggis paused. "Unless you have pink fur, dearie, in which case, I am sure it looks wonderful. It is just hard to see with all this smoke." Morag granny-rambles but she is grateful to Kahu( Thorn) for saving her and wonders if it was sowers who started this fire.
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Post by Thorn on Aug 17, 2018 7:02:50 GMT -5
It was difficult to talk around the furry bundle in her jaws, but Kahu managed an affirmative urf. "It is hard to see," she panted, once she'd adjusted her grasp enough to speak. "Not too far now. You're very welcome." She narrowly avoided a fallen branch, bounded over another, and then the pair of them were out in the open air, free of the forest and smoke. Kahu managed a few more seconds of flight before she deposited Morag on the ground and dropped her head down onto her paws, lungs burning, coughing convulsively. "Right," she choked, when she had her breath back. "Lets go, my friend. Not safe yet." That was only too true- it was clearer here, but the fire was still spreading, already licking at the fringes of the meadow. Kahu trotted forward, keeping her eyes on the tiny haggis at all times, hoping for the creature to follow. Her favourite son Cloak's pack had claimed part of the Highwind Woods as territory, but she tried not to think about that too much right now. Cloak was smart. He'd lead them to safety. *** It was an effort not to glance back at the spectral animal he knew was present. The power of the guardians was surely enough to instill awe in even the most ancient of taniwha, and Te Tai was nowhere near that venerable. He did glimpse it as he started to circle, growling softly and looking for the Mother's interference, but then his vision filled with light and- She's already here, she's inside! Kohimu lamented, somewhat unnecessarily. Beech shuddered. “No wonder the Spirit said that the Heart needed a healer.”Te Tai grunted in response, entirely unable to find words. Something moved. Beech tore it aside before it could reach the Healer, but more were streaking towards them. Dark translucent tendrils, the statues beyond glimpsed as though through smoke. Kohimu cried out again, but Te Tai hardly needed the warning- he lunged in front of the Healer, extending his wings with a shriek, hoping to buy Taakeyrr some time by giving these things something solid to work around. He managed to seize a tendril and wrench it apart in his teeth (it tasted vile, like...he didn't even know what- like the water in my skeleton-dream)- but there were too many more, and with his wings extended he was hardly as mobile as he would have liked. Taak might need to reach the statues, Kohimu warned. Te Tai drew his wings back in with a solid snap, and sank his claws into yet another tentacle as it slithered by his feet. Kahu escapes the Highwind Woods with Celestial's Morag! After recovering somewhat from the smoke, she urges the haggis to keep running, and avoids reflecting on the possible fate of the woods' kuri pack. Te Tai does what he came here to do! He tries to shield Tiger's Taakeyrr with his wings. Shinko's Beech is already in front of them, I don't know where the others are right now, but look forward to finding out! ( Liou June Scarlet)
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Post by Tiger on Aug 17, 2018 13:32:45 GMT -5
“Redclaw was blessed by the Spirit with the powers of the Eagle Eye, a power used to see great evil or to confirm innocence. Redclaw had become a matriarch without much need for it, but to spite the Spirit’s gift by not using it would have been foolish. And she was grateful it was her habit to sweep her Eye over members of packs that were new to her or whom she hadn’t seen in a long time; never had she seen a shadow so dark as she did on that raptor.
“She could not, of course, take action then and there; the shadowed raptor’s pack would certainly object, even against the Eagle Eye, if Redclaw didn’t get proof. When the other pack had left, she told her own children what she had seen. She and one of her daughters decided to try and find the raptor themselves that very night. It was an arduous, dangerous task, and involved a great deal of trespassing. They had to stay very far back to avoid being heard or smelled themselves - and they were not sure their efforts were worth it they found nothing more than a bush where the raptor had spent much of the night.
"But they followed him again, and again, and by day, Redclaw went among the other animals to find out what evil might be being done upon the island. And when she and one of her daughters finally spotted their raptor handing a shell full of strange berries to a raptor across a territory border, they knew they had certainly found something suspicious. The other raptor was wreathed in shadow as well - but he smelled of another pack, which told Redclaw that this evil might go farther than she had expected.
"One of the berries had fallen from the shell as the raptor was handing it over. They took it to the birds the next morning, and they told her it was, of course, poisonous."------ The microraptors huddled together on the sand, looking like they would comply with Quicksnap’s “no flying” order without trouble. With their companion now safely out of the kaprosuchus’ mouth, one of them even called out, “Thank you!” as Quicksnap hurried away. “We cannot pull out plants that are on fire,” Shadowstep said to Driftstone. “So we need to put them out,” Driftstone said. He looked quickly around the beach, and then let out a noise like a somehow-abrasive pigeon’s coo - similar warbling, but a much lower and harsher pitch. It was a victorious sound, however, which might have been difficult for a non-raptor to figure out until Driftstone practically pounced on a large shell with a decently-sized opening. “I’ll get water!” he declared, snatching the shell up and darting toward the water’s edge. “You can come with me and help tear up plants after I put the fire out!” “Oh, thank you very much!” Shadowstep griped - but really, neither job was really very safe, and when Driftstone hurried back up the slope and toward the first with his seashell of water, Shadowstep was right behind him. Driftstone gets a shell and some water and he and Driftstone go to help Quicksnap with fire-fightingt
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Post by Liou on Aug 17, 2018 15:27:16 GMT -5
The darker, denser divine aura overlapped with the golden one before they'd even fully got through the portal. The enemy was already waiting for them inside. It must have been a trap, a trap set for the only Healer the island still had. Snarling, Renpi almost prepared to shove the others back and find a way out by any means. If they escaped this time, however, she knew that there would be no more gentle mists to enfold them and whisk them out of trouble. There would be no other lush, peaceful place to welcome them if they left this one behind in the heat of battle. This was the last bastion Renpi could defend. Until her dying breath. The golden light had left them in near-darkness. Renpi blinked a few times to adjust. The echo of the trickling water reminded her of the size of the cavern. Something that was throbbing faintly in the darkness began to slither. It sped up. The Sha seemed to expand as her fur bristled and her body quivered with rage. She leapt into a run and darted around Beech like a flash, narrowly avoiding the thylacine. Renpi's oversized maw swung open while she ran and gathered three of the attacking feelers before snapping shut. Not content to stop there, she kept on running and pulling on the tentacles in a tug-o-war, until the feelers writhed enough to send her rolling across the ground. She immediately sprang to her feet and charged back towards the Healer. On her way, she nipped at a tentacle that had been creeping up to the group. The Healer's clan and Te Tai, all large enough to shield the dilophosaur, could ward Taakeyrr directly; the smaller members of the group could divert the tentacles into the rest of the cave. "Force them to chase you," Renpi grunted when she came within earshot of Beech and Julaine, hoping the scimon and thylacine could hear. The largest clump of feelers, intent on reaching Taakeyrr, was converging over the group and trying to sneak through any gap in the sides. Renpi darted around Te Tai, hopped on the taniwha's tail, ran up his back and leapt off his head. This time, her enormous teeth snapped clean through several feelers. Their cleaved tips rained around the group and fell with squishy thuds. The Sha had landed a bit heavily after her jump. A group of feelers began to gather around her, like a separate platoon dispatched to deal with this annoyance. Renpi met them with growls like a crocodile's. She charged them, bit them, twisted them, yanked on them with a strength that made her body seem to bulge with muscle, leaning as far back as she could, her claws scraping against stone. She even tried to climb up one of the tentacles, in a wild tangle of thrashing limbs and claws, and was left dangling several feet off the ground with a mouth full of the wriggling things. They had gradually backed her against a cave wall. Renpi was left to snarl, something that she did with her mouth wide open and her jaws looming like a viciously sharp abyss. Her fur stood on end and crackled with static. That sight did nothing to frighten the tentacles. For a split second, the feelers came to a halt as they prepared to lunge. Renpi's eyes did not miss it. Her body whipped round. The tightly bunched tentacles aiming for her head met her rear end instead. The Sha's pronged tail hit them squarely; a bright spark briefly threw their shadows against the rock and faintly coursed up the inside of the tentacles. They fell limply against the floor, twitching a little. Renpi stomped on them a few times. No time for a breather. Back to defend the group. Renpi protec! But she also attac! Since Renpi is not big enough to shield Tiger, she takes on the task of annoying the tentacles so much that they chase her instead. She tries to ask Beech Shinko and Julaine June Scarlet to do the same. She runs a lot, bites a lot, pounces and growls and nips and tugs. She casually uses Te Tai as a launching pad again, Thorn.
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Post by Celestial on Aug 17, 2018 15:29:33 GMT -5
A stone bench in a garden surrounded by apple trees. His tail draping over her knees, a hand rubbing under his chin and stroking his back. Svar blinked. Where was Naelus? Where was his mistress? Most importantly, where were the creatures who had killed him? He craned his unbroken neck up and found himself gazing right into Elena’s blue eyes. His heart dropped. No, it could not be. She was dead. There was no way he could ever get to the place she had gone. And yet, whose golden-blonde hair was tucked so neatly into the silver crown that adorned her head? Who else would have such thick braids hanging down past her waist? What other human would have skin as soft as a peach skin, pale as cream? The questions persisted. Why was he not in his cage? And how could she be touching him without any trace of discomfort? “Elena…” he murmured, his silver eyes flicking up to her. Silently, he chastised himself. Humans did not understand his speech. To his surprise, however, she turned, looking directly at him. “Oh, Firebird...what have you done?” He bristled. “I did what I judged to be right. All I ever wanted was to not suffer anymore. You’d do the same in my place,” the firebird hissed. “The Mother came to me. She came to us all. I knew if I refused her, all that would bring was more fear, more pain, more hurt. For once, I did not have to be the one on the receiving end of it. Can you blame me?” Elena’s eyes gazed down at him sadly. “No, Firebird. But so much grief has been caused by you.” “They caused me grief,” Svar’s crest flattened. “They killed Kohimu. They deserved to feel the Mother’s wrath.” The woman shook her head. “But you still suffered, Firebird. All you did was for naught.” “What would you know?!” he leapt to his feet. “You at least had death release you. I remained a captive for over a century until I escaped! I suffered so long, in the hands of humans and from the scars they left on my mind, and nobody even took me seriously! I was doing what was right: serving the only god who could alleviate my suffering somehow, or at least not add to it, until the very end.” Elena reached out to him but Svar snapped at her fingers. “You cannot shake my convictions. You’re not even real.” The woman pulled back, looking hurt, but slowly nodded. “No. No I’m not, Firebird.” As if on cue, the garden around them began to crumble. The decay spread to Elena and she remained still, unresisting as she too fell to dust. The last thing he saw was her sad smile flaking away before darkness swallowed him. The firebird fell. He flapped his wings but it did him no good. Blackness was all around him, impenetrable even by his light. Svar screeched but his scream disappeared into the void. He did not know how long was falling. After a while the firebird was not even sure what direction he was going. However, he soon became aware of a light in the distance. It rapidly got closer and closer, and as it did, Svar could see what it was: fire. An enormous fire, almost blinding to look at, burning with the same colours that adorned his feathers. Coming even closer, he could make out details. The fire was burning in the rough shape of a sleeping man who was covered by enormous wings. Every curve and dip in his body was outlined by flames, except for his face. There, the fire burned so bright it was impossible to even look at, let alone make out details. But the firebird did not have to: he knew who this was. “Svarog…” he murmured. “Creator.” Whatever unseen force was pulling him close suddenly jerked to a halt. The enormous fiery body of his former deity was now so close to him that it engulfed his entire line of sight. Svar could not believe it. He never expected to see his creator again, even if Svarog was a mere sleeping shadow of what he used to be. The firebird closed his eyes, basking in the burning sensation that his creator gave out. Anybody else would have had the heat strip the flesh from their bone but to the firebird, it was merely comforting. He did have the essence of Svarog within him after all. Only one thing bothered him. Why am I here?As if hearing his thoughts, a thought cropped up within his mind, so deeply buried it could almost be called an instinct: the essence wanted to return home. Without a body to house it, the miniscule shard wished to return to its creator, to dissolve and lose itself within his form once again. Good. Svar was so, so tired. Shutting his eyes, he walked forward into the warm embrace of the heat radiating from Svarog’s body. Closer, closer...the fire was almost licking at his feathers, beckoning him forward as if into an embrace… And suddenly a sound like metal upon metal rang out, knocking the firebird backwards. He opened his eyes. What had just happened? Did his creator not want him? Gingerly, Svar walked forward again, allowing the flames of Svarog’s body to touch him once again. Fire suddenly burst from the firebird’s body but its colour was totally unlike the reds, whites and golds of Svarog’s. This fire was the colour of the most fertile earth, of rotted flesh, of the primordial darkness that begins and ends all life: black. The Mother’s corruption. The flames that made up the other god’s body recoiled from it before giving one almighty unified push, shoving Svar away with another almighty clang. His heart fell. Why could he not go back? Why was his creator not accepting him? Had the corruption… There was no other explanation. Svar had pledged himself to the Mother willingly. He allowed the corruption to infect his whole body, including the essence of Svarog. There was no way his god would take back one tainted by a primordial. Svar could never return. He was trapped and he had done that all to himself. The firebird wailed, only for the darkness to pull him away and swallow him once again. *** The forest fire continued to rage. The wind blowing through the trees occasionally created small fire whirls that danced for a few seconds before disappearing. This one started no differently. It rose and swirled with a gust of wind, spinning, dipping and flickering as fire normally does. The whirl continued to grow in height, its top reaching the lowest branches and bending over them. One would have expected the wood to catch fire but it did not. Even the leaves did not rustle from the air currents the whirl must have been giving out. It snaked and probed, small tongues of flame gripping the branch but all the while not even singing it. Comfortably perched on the branch, the whirl detached itself from the main body of the fire, and indeed even the ground. As it did, the whirl’s tail shortened and unfolded like a fan behind a rapidly forming body. Black streaks began to flicker through the flames, appearing and disappearing with the movement of the fire. Finally, a head, complete with a distinct beak formed. Completing the transformation, two eyes, black and bottomless as a starless night, opened. The wisp stared out into the forest. The flames making up its form flickered and danced but did not burn. Indeed, they barely even cast any light, nor did the fire crackle as the wildfire below it did. It sat upon its perch for what felt like an eternity, observing its surroundings. For a moment, there was a flicker of sadness in its eyes before it disappeared, replaced by a dead impassiveness. The wisp stared out into the forest, seemingly deep in thought before the flames making up its head dipped down. The fire that made up its body swelled and two enormous tongues spread from its sides in imitation of wings. They dipped in a powerful, downward motion, pushing the wisp into the air, silent as an owl. It flew upwards a few metres before it grew faint, eventually fading from view. It was not gone, however. Svar’s spirit could never move on. Meanwhile, Svar cannot move on and returns to the island as a will o’ wisp. If you want more, well...read the post.
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Post by Tiger on Aug 17, 2018 15:36:29 GMT -5
Taakeyrr’s eyes went wide at how different the Heart looked to when the islanders had seen it last - this time it was dark covered in tendrils, the water-pouring statues were barely trickling - it looked sickly, a strange thing to say about a cavern, but it did. “No wonder the Spirit said that the Heart needed a healer,” Beech said, and Taakeyrr was about to agree - when one of the horrible tentacle-things started moving. Beech dove at one lunging for Taakeyrr, Renpi lunged at others in the distance. Xsabaskis twisted around with a furious roar, ending on a snap as she clamped her teeth over another tendril and shook her head until it ripped apart. “I have had it with this cheating god and her grabbing!” Xsabaskis shouted. She snatched another tentacle in her teeth and tore at it with her claws until she could drop it on the ground. “Back! Off!” Taakeyrr drew back from a tendril trying to strike her arm; she managed to snatch it in her teeth, where it twitched and writhed like the world’s most disgusting fish until she clamped her teeth down and copied Xsabaskis’ headshake to rip it apart. It left an awful taste, like grime and dirt. She started to turn to battle more of the tendrils, but Xsabaskis gave her a hard shove, snatching a tendril that as lunging Taakeyrr’s way. Out of the side of her mouth, Xsabaskis snapped, “They’re after you! They’re tryin’a stop you from doing something! Do it!” Right - right, that made sense, the Spirit would have called the Lionheart if she needed a guardian to fight to clear out the cavern - but what was she supposed to heal in here, there was nothing living in this cavern, except maybe the tendrils… But the elk had done something to the wall; maybe it could interact with the stone here, too. Her eyes landed on the animal-shaped rocks. If nothing else, she decided, she could blast the tendrils wrapped around the rocks with some of her healing power and see how much they liked that!Plan made, she darted forward; she heard frustrated and startled noises from the other animals behind her - guarding her; the tendrils must have noticed Taakeyrr making a move. Soaitsae broke off from the group and came with her - Taakeyrr almost questioned him, but before she could, a tendril snatched at her arm and tried to yank her back. She screeched at it and pulled in the opposite direction; it felt like it was trying to crush her - Soaitsae sank his teeth into the tentacle and gave the tensed cord of muscle several strong, sharp yanks; unwilling or unable to let Taakeyrr go, it had no choice but to tear. Taakeyrr yanked the remains off with her teeth and tossed them aside. “Keep going!” Soaitsae shouted. Taakeyrr went. Her arm was still throbbing faintly with pain - if it hadn’t been clear before, it was plain now, these things could hurt her friends and family if they got lucky, or if they were trapped in here too long. She had to fix this, now!Halfway to the fountain, another tendril grabbed hold of her ankle and started winding up her leg. Taakeyrr jerked to stop, just barely managing not to fall. She tried to yank her foot free; the tendril hauled it back down. She saw more of them coming, slinking across the ground like snakes. Soaitsae was fighting one that must have been aiming for Taakeyrr’s back or neck. The others were moving up with the two of them, but were also busy with their own fights. Taakeyrr tried to snap at the tendril, but it hugged the ground too close for her to get more than the tips of her front teeth across them - so she did the only other thing she could think to do - put all her weight on the wrapped up foot, and rake her the claws of her other foot down the inside of her ankle. She hissed as some of the talon cut into her skin - but she felt the catch and then the snap of the tendril three times, and when her foot hit the floor again and she staggered to get her balance with her feet so close together, she stepped out of the sliced tentacle. The others were still coming, with a snarl, she took a half-step back, then charged forward, ignoring the protests from her squeezed, bleeding ankle. She feinted dodging around them in one direction, then darted the other and sprang over the momentarily tricked tendrils. At a dead run, the fountain was getting closer and closer - She had almost forgotten the tendrils around the statues. They rose almost as one as Taakeyrr approached, curling tighter around the animals as silently declaring them as theirs. Taakeyrr snarled at them, and summoned the elk. Or at least, she started to. Somehow, jumping over tendrils and then forgetting they were there hadn’t been the best strategy - they snatched at both her legs and pulled, so she landed on her stomach and chest, hard. Taakeyrr screeched and twisted around - and on that violent exhalation, the elk burst into the cavern where Taakeyrr had been standing. “Go!” she yelled to it, struggling to strain her neck to get to the tendrils at her feet so she could tear them free. “Fix the waterfalls!” She saw the elk’s antlers swing around as it pointed its head toward the fountain, and then a blur of gold as it bounded toward it.
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Post by Shinko on Aug 17, 2018 16:00:35 GMT -5
Round 20: A Spirit Awakened The elk’s light blazed within the Heart of Naelus, and the eyes of all four of the statues illuminated in kind. The black tentacles of Mother Nature’s grip flinched from Taakeyrr’s power, shriveled, and finally crumbled into ash. One by one the guardian statues began to jet pure, clean water in a steady stream from their mouths once more. Around the walls of the chamber the animal shapes lit with a light to match that which Taakeyrr was putting off. On the island’s surface, the black chain-like markings were blazing with gold from beneath, until they too finally dissipated, leaving only a scar on the ground where no grass grew. The animals who had fled to the Out Islands watched in awe as light blazed across the island in bursts like geysers, until finally with a brilliant flash Taakeyrr and all of her allies were brought out to the surface once more, standing in the shallows of the Waterfall Basins. Thank you, my little ones, the spirit’s voice echoed, strong and warm once more. Now it is time to finally end this.The island under all of the animal’s feet began to tremble. Then it gave a lurch, bringing many of the creatures to their knees. Slowly, ponderously, the island rose out of the ocean, higher and higher until all of the water between the Out Islands and the mainland had flowed away. Underneath was revealed not sand, but a hard brown substance in equally spaced plates. Light gathered in bubbles at the point where these plates met the bluff at the front of the island, and again near the Waterfall Basin and the Crystal Crags. As it pooled together, something huge and vaguely animal-shaped rose out of the water, seeming to grow from within the island itself. Then the light cleared, and with a burst of song like a whale call the Spirit of Naelus appeared in the flesh for the first time in millenia. “Come out, Nature,” she said, her voice chiming like a thousand giant bells in the ears of the animals. “I know you’re out there.” The light of life flashed over the island again, and the giant snake-jellyfish appeared once more, hovering before the Spirit. “This isn’t over,” she hissed. “It may take another hundred million years, but I will end your charade.” “No,” the Spirit replied. With a tone of pride, she added, “Not as long as my guardians and their friends stand against you. They are stronger than you think, and they have earned their right to survival.” The jellyfish hissed, thrashing its long tail angrily, but the Spirit sang a high, defiant note in reply. “ Begone!” she called breathing a blast of golden mist that Nature recoiled from as if in pain. “This is not your place- Begone!” As the mist thickened and began to form a wall around the island once more, Mother Nature gave a final, furious shriek of defeat, and fled. The Mist Wall closed behind her, cutting Naelus off from the outside world once more. “Now then,” the Spirit murmurred, glancing around sadly at the blaze that still burned on the shell-island at her back. “Let’s see about this mess.” She gave a long exhale, and the mist she breathed pooled and pooled until it formed thick, fluffy clouds. Rain began to pour down from the clouds, bathing the island in moisture that, as the Waterfall Basins had once done, turned to gold wherever it touched the living things below. Any animals who had been hurt found their hurts mending, and as the flames were extinguished to reveal a charred ruin underneath, the golden water seemed to coax the plants into new growth. Tiny, fresh new leaves began to appear in the blackened trees, new shoots of grass started to emerge amidst the ash of the old, and those trees that had fallen to earth- beyond saving- were cloaked in a bed of moss that would begin the process of returning them to the soil. “I cannot undo all of the harm,” the Spirit admitted sadly. “It may be a full year before the forest is as it once was- there will be a lean year, and you may have to ration what you eat. But the island will survive. You will survive. This I swear.” She breathed mist towards the animals, and they found their eyelids growing heavy. Even the ghosts felt themselves compelled to curl up, yawning hugely. “Now rest, little ones- we will talk again in the morning.” To be continued...
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Post by Shinko on Aug 17, 2018 16:59:23 GMT -5
When at last the residents of Naelus woke, they found to their relief that though the rain had stopped, the entire island was once more bathed in mist. From the light it must have been morning. Impulsively many of them looked up, and sure enough the great head and golden eyes of the Spirit still looked down upon them. Once all of the animals had woken, she spoke once more.
“My little ones,” the Spirit murmured, her voice gentle and sad. “You have suffered. You have endured. And you have triumphed. Death is part of life, and I know that in time all creatures must pass from this world, however much I grieve for it. But violent, merciless death that feeds nothing and helps no one is a travesty.”
Her eyes trailed over several members of the crowd in particular; those who wore forms semi-transparent and shimmering. “You were not ready to leave; you died not of natural causes but by the wrath of nature’s jealousy. It may be that some of you will be ready to move on now that your friends and loved ones are safe-” her gaze briefly flitted to Te Tai before she continued, “and if that is so, I respect your right to go on to your eternal rest.”
She smiled. “But for the rest, those taken too young and unfulfilled… Mochi?”
A small blue rabbit emerged from the crowd, ears pinned back with unease at being the center of so many gazes. Once they were far enough in front of the others to be in easy view for most, the moon rabbit pulled the stone off their neck and held it up for all to see.
“We moon rabbits pound and prepare rice cakes,” they began. “But that is only one art of two for which we are known. The patron goddess of all moon rabbits, Chang’e, out of grief for her lost husband, taught us the secret of preparing the elixir of life from the peaches of immortality. The peaches only bloom once every six-thousand years, however, and juicing them only provides enough of the elixir for a single dose.” Mochi gulped. “This is that dose, the last dose anywhere in the world, since the peach tree’s location has been long forgotten. This stone contains enough elixir to grant one person- or animal- divinity and immortality.
“Or, diluted, it can return restless spirits to life.”
That got everyone’s attention. The gathered animals burst into a flurry of muttering amongst each other, one that only a sharp fluted note from the Spirit interrupted.
“Be it known,” she cautioned, “that this will not grant the ghosts eternal life; only the natural span of years that was stolen from them when they were murdered. Know also that the souls of those who you call sowers, the servants of Mother Nature, will receive no benefit from the elixir at all. A fragment of Her power clings to them even now, and it always will. Death is Her domain, and Her chosen cannot cheat it.”
She smiled again, “But consider this my apology for all that you have endured. If you wish, you may have the greatest mercy I can possibly offer- a second chance at life.”
Mochi led the animals out to the Winding River, and with the help of a spinosaurus took a place out on a stone in the water’s center. They placed their small quartz crystal at the precipice of the stone, and grew their hammer to its normal size. Then, with as strong of a swing as they could muster, they brought the hammer down on the quartz. It shattered, and rivulets of glowing blue fluid poured down the side of the stone into the river water, turning the entire surface of the river downstream of the moon rabbit a brilliant, glowing sky blue.
The animals watched, this, awed and not a little hesitant. Then, with grim determination, the ghostly thylacine who had been the first soul trapped on the island after death plunged into the river.
Where her ethereal body touched the glowing water, blue turned to a blinding shade of white. As if on instinct, Beech plunged her entire body beneath the water, and was lost to the radiant white gleam. For a time, there was quiet, all eyes and ears straining towards the spot where Beech had vanished.
Then, the water exploded upwards as a solid, warm, real head covered in sand-and-cream fur erupted out of the river. Beech gasped, coughing and sputtering as she struggled to transition from a ghost that had no need of air to a living thylacine that was very much unable to breathe water. She blinked her eyes open, revealing not the empty white voids but two normal pale green eyes. As she stumbled out of the river, it was clear she had not escaped her brush with death entirely unscathed- where her neck had been bleeding as a ghost, there were two long scars, and as she limped over the grass it was obvious her left rear leg had not returned when her physical body had.
Still, she managed a tired smile, looking up at the gathered animals around her. “G-gonna have to learn how to walk on just three now that I actually have weight.” She tilted her head. “Anyone got anything to eat? I’m starving.”
Optional Scenario 1: The Spirit has granted a boon to the island; any of the ghosts that have lingered after their death may be resurrected by the elixir of life that was gifted to Mochi, if they so choose. This is optional; if their souls would rather rest, the Spirit respects that and wishes them well in the next world. This option is only available to RESIDENTS- the sowers chose to forsake Mercy and are beyond her power to help.
Optional Scenario 2: The Spirit is lingering to watch over the island as they celebrate their victory. If your character would like to ask her questions or even try to request some sort of boon, they may do so before she returns to sleep below the sea. (This is available to the sower ghosts, though the Spirit will not grant anything harmful to the island or it’s inhabitants.)
Mandatory Conditions: It is early morning, just after dawn. Mist once more bathes the island. The Winding River glows with faint blue light.
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Post by Rabbit ♠ on Aug 17, 2018 18:33:19 GMT -5
Kopi and Tash looked into the water. It looked inviting. Beech had just come out of the water, alive and well. Kopi’s eyes widened at the sight. Beech actually came back to life. She wasn’t back to normal, but she was back. Mochi’s story was true. Kopi didn’t have any doubt in their story, but he didn’t know that they had the elixir of life or that it could bring ghosts back to life. It was incredible to see it work. “You’re sure this is a good idea?” Tash asked. “Spirit didn’t hurt me when I went into the water for my blessing. She won’t hurt me now,” Kopi informed. “I trust in Spirit and I trust in Mochi.” Kopi smiled. “Just stay close by in case I need any help, okay?” Tash eagerly nodded. “Of course.” Kopi looked into the water one more time. He took a deep breath and took a couple steps back. He ran back up to the water and hopped in. Kopi sunk to the bottom. He didn’t kick his legs, he didn’t walk or move, he just stood in one spot. As he stood in the water, Kopi’s body felt different. Kopi looked down at his paws, barely visible in the water. They turned from light blue to brown. He wiggled his toes, enjoying the sensation of the water running over his fur. The transformation continued up his legs and to his body. Kopi began to move, getting faster and faster as his fur and body came back. Once he was complete, he lept up off of the river floor, swimming all the way up. He broke through the water and took a deep breath into his lungs. He coughed. It felt like he had been holding his breath for days. Kopi stepped back onto the surface. The cunicanine shook his body and wagged his tail to get rid of the lingering water. He still felt the water drops cling to his skin. For the first time, he didn’t care about the water on his skin. He didn’t worry about the water in his fur, he didn’t worry about falling back into the river, he didn’t worry about anything that could be after him, he didn’t worry about what could possibly hurt him. Kopi was alive. That was all that mattered. He looked over at Tash. Her eyes were wide and a smile was on her face. She ran up to Kopi and rubbed her head on his. The artacat was purring with delight. “It worked, it worked, it worked,” Tash said, her voice quivering. “Are you okay? Do you feel any pain?” “No pain. All I feel is the ground underneath my paws,” Kopi answered. He looked down at the grass and took a bite of it. With the bite of grass in his mouth, he looked at where Muuri bit him. There wasn't any fur where her teeth sunk into his body, but he didn’t feel anything unusual. He swallowed his mouthful of grass and said, “I feel back to normal.” “Normal…” Tash tilted her head. “Does that include your guardian powers?” Kopi hadn’t thought about his guardian powers. Were they back? He stood back and tried to summon his totem. He tried to glow like he did. Nothing. Nothing happened. Kopi didn’t feel any of the magic he had before. “No, I don’t think it does,” Kopi answered. “It’s fine, though. I don't need them. Powers or no powers, I am still a guardian and I will do what I can to protect Naelus.” Kopi looked around at all the animals. They all gathered around to hear Spirit speak. There were so many. Kopi and Tash couldn’t tell who was around. However, Kopi did spot a few familiar dilophosoars in the distance. “Speaking of guardians,” Kopi continued, smiling while looking at Taakeyrr and her family, “I think it’s time that I pay a visit to one.” Kopi ran towards Taakeyrr, Xsabaskis, and Soaitsae with Tash flying behind him. Kopi had grown used to running around with no weight. It felt as if he would lose balance and topple over at any moment. It wasn’t much different before he died, though it was something he didn’t want to worry about. “Taak! Baskis! Sae!” Kopi cried out. He slowed down from a run to a walk and approached Taakeyrr, rearing onto his back legs and placing his paws against her leg when he was close. His tail was wagging and he was smiling. “Taak, look! I’m not a ghost anymore!” KOPI IS BACK, BABY. \o/ Kopi takes a dip into the blessed water and he's alive once again. He and Tash are extremely happy. Tash asks about Kopi's Healer powers. Kopi doesn't have his powers, but he says he's okay. Kopi spots Taak ( Tiger ) and her family, so he and Tash go up to them and show that Kopi is now alive and well. (Tiger, if there's anything wrong with the scene, feel free to let me know. ^^)
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Post by Tiger on Aug 17, 2018 22:07:13 GMT -5
(Begins with a collab with Shinko) ------- They were on the back of a giant god. Taakeyrr couldn’t quite get over that - the Spirit of Naelus had been the very land they’d been walking on fighting for this entire time! The heart had been an actual heart - or, well, closer to one than any of them had thought. Taakeyrr and her family watched with dropped jaws and wide eyes as the Spirit confronted Mother Nature, firelight flickering and gleaming over the incredible amounts of water pouring down her neck. The air smelled, at least to Taaekyrr, ever so faintly of saltwater - sharp and vibrant and alive. And Mother Nature…fled. The horrible creature, a primordial force none of them could escape entirely, who had plagued the island with every disaster it seemed it could think of...was gone. The sowers were gone. The corruption was gone. And, in a single long breath from the god, the fire was gone as well. Taakeyrr almost didn’t need the Spirit’s encouragement to sleep; climbing down the crags, summoning the Healer’s elk twice, fighting the tendrils, and all on very little sleep, since she had spent the previous night sneaking through Thunder’s territory, had all worn her out quite well enough. The mist was back the next morning, and for once, Taakeyrr felt rested and almost peaceful. Then she realized, they weren’t in their den, they had just helped defeat a primordial force of nature, and their own god had made an appearance. And sure enough, when Taakeyrr looked around, one of the first things she saw was the Spirit’s face and glowing gold eyes above them. It wasn’t long before she spoke, and she and Mochi the moon rabbit explained a last gift. Taakeyrr looked over at Beech. “That means…” The thylacine’s ears were flattened, her blank white eyes wide. She whimpered, sounding somewhere between disbelieving and deliriously hopeful. “M-maybe… I hope.” Taakeyrr looked around and saw that the other animals were beginning to move. “C’mon, let’s follow them!” she urged. Xsabaskis was still looking up at the Spirit, her feathers slightly puffed and her expression almost stunned. “Xsabskis?” Taakeyrr prompted. Her sister blinked, shook herself out, and snapped back into focus. “Yes. Sorry. I’m coming. Let’s see if this works,” she said, determination strengthening her words. They watched at the Winding River as Mochi brought her hammer down on the vial and spilled it into the water, and then as Beech plunged into it - as much as a misty animal could plunge into something. But she very much burst back up - the dilophosaurs let out various squawks and calls of surprise and happiness to see the thylacine’s natural color and an obvious solidity. Taakeyrr started a little when she saw Beech’s leg was still missing - but, she supposed, trauma left scars, and even magic could only do so much. “G-gonna have to learn how to walk on just three now that I actually have weight. ...Anyone got anything to eat? I’m starving.”“We’ll find something for you,” Soaitsae said as he and his daughters approached her. “Welcome back.” “How d’you feel?” Taakeyrr asked. “...Aside from being starving?” Beech laughed, a little breathlessly, as her green eyes sparkled. “Wet,” she replied cheerfully. “A bit sore and unstable. I feel… I feel the grass and the rocks under my paws. I feel the river water in my fur. I feel… warm. As a ghost I was always cold but…” she breathed jaggedly, her shoulders quivering. “I feel w-warm.” Soaitsae gave her shoulder a nuzzle. “I’m so glad this worked - the Spirit’s right, you were cheated out of those years, and after all you did to save the island? You deserve this.” “And then some,” Xsabaskis rumbled with amusement. More seriously, she added, “...I’m sorry it didn’t fix your leg, too.” The thylacine looked around at the missing limb and gave a soft snort. “I won’t be able to hunt well like this. I’ll probably have to rely on my pack and my friends for food, since I’ll be too slow to catch anything. But,” she gave a few experimental steps, “I can still walk. Probably with practice I can still run. And that’s all I need to explore and see all my friends still. I’m just glad I didn’t have to say goodbye for real once the island was safe.” “Me, too!” Taakeyrr said. “When we were first getting to know you, I was kind of afraid that you stayed to do something specific, and then once that was done, you’d have to leave - but that would be so unfair, so thank goodness that’s not the case!” “We’ll help you get enough to eat,” Soaitsae promised. “And I’m sure you’ll have plenty of other animals willing to pitch in as well. Although - I’ve seen three-legged animals who are still very good runners, so don’t rule out being able to learn to run and maybe even hunt one day, too!” She giggled, then stumbled forwards and nuzzled her face into Soaitsae’s feathers, proceeding to give the same caress to both Taakeyrr and Xsabaskis. “Thank you. Thank you all so much for staying by me. For helping me when you didn’t have to.” “We could say the same to you,” Taakeyrr said, giving Beech a very light nose-bop on the shoulder. Xsabaskis agreed, “You could’ve decided it was better not to help any of us in case someone turned out to be a sower. I might’ve, I would’ve at least taken some convincing. But that would’ve been a bad move, clearly, so - thank you.” “As awful as a lot of this has been,” Soaitsae added, “I am glad it let us get to know you.” Beech smiled. “Maybe I just instinctively sense Taak was a guardian and you were all safe,” she suggested teasingly. But then her smile faltered and she bit the bottom of her mouth. “I still need to find Quicksnap though… I haven’t seen him at all since the snow. I hope he’s okay.” “Hopefully,” Taakeyrr agreed, her tail swishing. “He at least should’ve been with the raptors, they’re pretty good at surviving things. And if the corruption stopped as soon as you got Svar, then he wouldn’t have been corrupted even during the fire.” “I’m sure he’ll be around somewhere nearby,” Soatisae said, lifting his head to look around. “I can’t imagine he heard about the water and didn’t immediately think you would be there to at least consider it.” “Yeah,” Beech agreed. “Probably- I just hope I can track him down in this crowd.” “Taak! Baskis! Sae!” Beech started, looking over her shoulder to see a very much alive cunicanine trotting towards the dilophosaurs. She smiled, giving the pack a small wink and stepping aside. “We’ll find you and catch you a fish later!” Soatisae called out to her. She gave a cheerful yip of acknowledgement, then slipped off into the crowd- presumably to look for Quicksnap. The dilophosaurs, meanwhile, turned to the cunicanine. “Kopi!” Taakeyrr exclaimed. “You’re back, too! I’m glad you’re okay!” She looked up slightly. “And Tash, too!” “Good to see you two again,” Xsabaskis said, bending her head low to give Kopi a tiny nudge with her nose. “How’s it feel?” Taakeyrr has some stuff to react to, particularly in regards to the Spirit being awesome \ o / She and the dilos accompany Beech and the rest of the island to the river, and when Beech emerges de-ghostified, they all have a happy, feelsy moment and conversation. Kopi arrives, and Beech makes her exit to, presumably, find everyone’s favorite kaprosuchus, while the dilos talk to Kopi and Tash. Xsabs asks how Kopi is feeling, being all alive again~ ( Shinko, Rabbit ♠)
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Post by Rabbit ♠ on Aug 18, 2018 0:30:10 GMT -5
The dilophosaurs, meanwhile, turned to the cunicanine. “Kopi!” Taakeyrr exclaimed. “You’re back, too! I’m glad you’re okay!” She looked up slightly. “And Tash, too!”
“Good to see you two again,” Xsabaskis said, bending her head low to give Kopi a tiny nudge with her nose. “How’s it feel?”Kopi laughed when Xsabaskis nudged him. “It feels good. I’m feeling good,” he answered. He knelt down and took another bite of grass. He continued with the grass in his mouth, “I’m glad to have my body back.” “He’s already eating all of the grass he sees,” Tash teased. “I haven’t eaten anything in a few days, you can’t possibly blame me. And I’m being careful not to eat too much.” Kopi swallowed the grass in his mouth and turned back to Xsabaskis. “I’m pretty much back to normal, Baskis. I have to get used to moving around like this again, but that won’t be hard.” He puffed out his chest and got in a defensive stance. “I’ve been through a lot worse.” Tash looked up at Taakeyrr. “How are you three doing? Are you okay? Did any of you get hurt by the fire?” Kopi's doing dandy, thank you Baskis ( Tiger ). Tash asks the dilo family if they're okay, mentioning the fire.
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Post by Tiger on Aug 18, 2018 12:13:52 GMT -5
“Us? We’re fine,” Taakeyrr said. “We weren’t really even in the fire.” Xsabaskis snorted. “Well, before you hear it from somebody else, we were down in the Heart fighting some tentacle things Mother Nature left there. So it’s not like we weren’t in any danger.” “That’s true,” Taakeyrr admitted. “Uhm...there’s something else you should know, before you hear that from someone else. Your healing powers...I know they disappeared when you died, but, when we were leaving the Heart...the Spirit, ah...gave them to me. I think,” she said quickly, “just because I was the only living guardian who wasn’t corrupted and who had an empty space and some idea what I was doing.” She tilted her head. “But maybe now that you’re back...do you have powers again?” Taakeyrr assures Kopi and Tash that they were totally fine, didn’t even get near the fire! Xsabaskis says “ok but stuff still went down”. Taakeyrr confesses to Kopi that she got his healing powers after they left the Heart, though she wonders if he has his powers back now that he’s been resurrected. Geez, Taakeyrr, read the posts!! ( Rabbit ♠)
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Post by Rabbit ♠ on Aug 18, 2018 14:23:35 GMT -5
Xsabaskis snorted. “Well, before you hear it from somebody else, we were down in the Heart fighting some tentacle things Mother Nature left there. So it’s not like we weren’t in any danger.”“You what?” Tash exclaimed. “Mother must have really wanted all of us dead.” “I’m glad you’re all okay, at least,” Kopi said. “That’s true,” Taakeyrr admitted. “Uhm...there’s something else you should know, before you hear that from someone else. Your healing powers...I know they disappeared when you died, but, when we were leaving the Heart...the Spirit, ah...gave them to me. I think,” she said quickly, “just because I was the only living guardian who wasn’t corrupted and who had an empty space and some idea what I was doing.”
She tilted her head. “But maybe now that you’re back...do you have powers again?”Kopi’s eyes widened. He didn’t know his powers were given to another animal, let alone Taakeyrr. He didn’t know Spirit could give powers back so quickly. Kopi should have realized Spirit would do something after his death and Muuri’s corruption. Kopi smiled. “I didn’t know Spirit gave you my powers. I guess I should have known, but I didn’t.” He looked up at Taakeyrr. “She couldn’t have picked anyone better to take my place after my death. Thank you so much for what you’ve done. “As for my powers, I don’t have them back,” he continued. “I tried putting up my totem, but nothing happened. I didn’t expect anything to happen, to be honest, but it was worth a try.” “Does that mean you still have his powers, Taak?” Tash asked. Kopi's surprised to hear that Taak ( Tiger ) got his powers, since he was unaware that a new healer was chosen, but is happy that she became the healer in the island's time of need. He explains to Taak that he doesn't have his powers and Tash asks if she does.
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Post by Tiger on Aug 18, 2018 15:13:27 GMT -5
Taakeyrr rumbled consideringly. “I didn’t feel them leave - I think they would be pretty worn down, I used them to heal the Heart, but…” She concentrated, trying to feel for the powers the way she’d felt for her Eagle Eye even when she’d freshly used it - like sniffing for water when you were too far away to see the river. And sure enough, she could still feel them, sort of knotted to her Eye like healed bone. “I guess they’re still there,” she said. “...But that’s not right, you should have your powers back. You did most of the work; if you hadn’t healed everyone who got corrupted, there would have been so many more deaths.” “But it wasn’t your choice to take the powers,” Soaitsae pointed out. “How would you give them back?” “I don’t….” Taakeyrr’s eyes drifted upward, to where the face of the Spirit still took up a large piece of the sky. “ I probably can’t - but maybe the Spirit can? Or at least knows a way to do it? To tell the truth...I’d like a chance to see if my Eagle Eye powers can come back. I spent a long time learning how to use it - and I probably don’t need them, but I’m sure it’s safer to have the powers spread out again. ...What do you think?” Taakeyrr confirms that yep, healer powers are still there - but she suggests the Spirit might be able to give Kopi his abilities back, and asks for his thoughts. ( Rabbit ♠).
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Post by Rabbit ♠ on Aug 18, 2018 16:37:59 GMT -5
Taakeyrr did still have Kopi’s powers. She said they were likely weakened, and Kopi understood that, but they were still there. The Healer’s powers were more resilient than the other powers, at least that was what Kopi noticed. Its owner was immune to the corruption the sowers spread and it still worked after corruption was attempted. Healing the island’s heart was bound to drain the power, though. The dilophosaur went on to say that Kopi should have the healing powers back. Kopi was caught off guard. It hadn’t crossed his mind to get his powers back from Taakeyrr. Kopi didn’t even mention it and she offered them back. Soaitsae asked if it could be done and Taakeyrr suggested the Spirit could do it. He looked up at the sky, in the direction Taakeyrr was looking. “Your powers have been with you the entire time. They’ve just been damaged from your corruption. However, you’ll get to use them again. I know it. I can’t tell you when, but you will.” He paused for a second. “When I first healed you, I felt your power still inside you. I saw your light when the guardians called out for Spirit to find us when we were skeletons. If the Eagle Eye is still within you after all of that, it will recover and you can use your powers once more. “I’m not sure how my powers will affect yours, however. I don’t know if the my powers will affect your's recovery, since I wasn’t able to restore your Eagle Eye to what it was,” Kopi went on. “It may be best to ask Spirit to give me back my powers.” “Can Spirit do that?” Tash asked. “Spirit gave us these powers. I think she can give them back to me if Taak wants,” Kopi informed. “Having the guardian powers spread out is a good idea. If something like this were to ever happen again, I don’t want to risk multiple guardian powers being lost like that.” Tash nudged Kopi’s side. “But do you want your powers back?” Kopi nodded. “I came back as a ghost to continue being a guardian. I want to protect the island and Spirit to the best of my abilities. If having my powers back will help the island and if Taak thinks it’s best, then I will gladly take them back if it can be done.” He stretched his body. Even after dying and coming back to life, his back was still a little sore. He looked up at Taakeeyrr, then at Soaitsae and Xsabaskis. “Should we go ask Spirit if she can give her powers back to me?" Kopi rambles about Taakeyrr's ( Tiger ) Eagle Eye and how his power might affect her's, but is on board with asking Spirit if she can give Kopi his powers back.
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