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Post by June Scarlet on Jul 22, 2018 21:15:31 GMT -5
Julaine woke up in her nest. She was relieved to find that she was flesh and blood once more. That had been a scary nightmare. Had it been just a dream? Or had it been more real than that. In the skeleton form, she'd talked to Morag about her sister. She had suggested Julaine look for Roda and talk with her. Julaine had heard rumors that there was a ghost scimon in the woods. Maybe it was Roda. Julaine set off through the woods, looking for any sign of a ghost scimon. She stopped to talk with some birds, and got a better idea of where the ghost had been spotted. She went to that area and searched. "Roda!" she called. She was just about ready to give up when Julaine noticed a flicker out of the corner of her eye. She turned and saw a shadowy form about her own size. "Roda?" The form solidified into a scimon. "Julaine," it said sadly. "Roda," said Julaine again. "So it's true, you're now a ghost." The shadowy ghost nodded. "Yes, I died, and now I'm here." "Then tell me what else is true," Julaine said. "Is it true about you being a sower?" The ghost was quiet. "So it's true," said Julaine. "I wanted you guys to stay out of it," said the ghost, "I wanted to make things better for scimons, to make this island a better place." "So you poison animals into killing each other?" said Julaine. "You cause the wolves to go after scimons in suspicion? You cause everyone to dream about becoming walking skeletons? Yes, the island is a much better place now because of you've done." "It's not like that," the ghost shouted. "The predators, they can never die out with the way things are! I was going to make things better for prey animals, give us a fair chance once again!" "No," cried Julaine, "What you're doing is taking our paradise and turning it into a fearful place. I thought I knew you, I thought you wanted to be a hero. But this isn't what heroes do. This is what the people who oppose heroes do." "You don't understand!" said the ghost. "I clearly don't." replied Julaine, and turned to leave. The ghost watched as Julaine dashed off. How could she not understand? This was what had to happen for things to get better. Things would get better, given time for the plan to work. Sure, right now things were not so great, but things had to get worse before they get better. But yet... a small doubt wormed its way through her mind. She hadn't expected her sister to take the news so poorly. Maybe her sister had a point. Julaine goes to seek her sister Roda the ghost scimon. She finds her, and confronts Roda baout being a sower. Roda admits that she was, and tries to explain how she was making the island a better place for scimons, but Julaine points out that the island really isn't a better place right now. Roda wanted to be a hero, but this isn't what heroes do. Julaine runs off, and Roda begins to doubt herself.
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Post by Celestial on Jul 23, 2018 5:42:38 GMT -5
Morag remained on her back as the thylacine spoke. It was not the most dignified position but being old came with the perks of nobody excessively caring about your dignity, most of all yourself, especially if it was beaten out by comfort. However, when the ghost put a paw on her belly, Morag stiffened. This was definitely not comfortable anymore. “Even if you’re tired, don’t expose yourself like this, old lady. If I wasn’t already dead I’d probably be tempted to eat you; I’ve had haggis before and your kind are really tasty.”The thylacine then flipped the haggis over onto her belly before telling her she had not seen who Morag was looking for and returning to her spot. The haggis wriggled in place, tucking her legs beneath her and flicking her ears in irritation. Despite that, her tone remained conversational. "I have not lived to my age on my own without having some tricks, dearie," she remarked. Walking over to the thylacine, she settled near her, looking over the view with her. "That's too bad that you have not seen my friend. I might just take your advice. After I have rested my feet a little. Coming up here took it all out of me." As she settled, however, a shadow fell over them both. Looking up, Morag saw a dragon-horse who began to speak to the ghost. "You there, ghost-quadruped. What is the matter? I do believe it goes deeper than your inabilities to track squirrels."Beech's tone made it clear that she was immediately on alert. “Um… No offense, but who are you? I don’t think we’ve ever met. I think I saw you at the river the other day, but it might’ve just been a relative of yours.”Morag narrowed her eyes at the stranger; not out of suspicion, merely trying to get a good look at them. She could not remember if she had seen the longma before but that was no surprise. "I cannot recall you either, dearie, but do forgive me; unlike the youngster here, my memory is rather bad. Would you like to introduce yourself and settle down? It's always better with a little company. Would you care for a snack? The flowers around here are delicious, or so I have heard. Though if you prefer the meatier kind of food, I'm sfraid I cannot help you here. I am not for eating." *** Svar watched carefully as, to his surprise, instead of taunting him and trying to swat at him, Renpi instead sat down and answered his questions. Unfortunately, she had not seen Kohimu since he had. Given the rumours he had heard about how the previous sower had died, that made far too much sense. Renpi had been a busy creature indeed. Svar gave an involuntary shudder at the thought of how dangerous she could be if one got on her bad side. "We must not let the other side target him. You would do well to check on him. The sorcery that was wrought yesterday was a harsh blow to creatures like us."Creatures like us...she, him and Kohimu, Svar assumed she meant. Immortals. Most creatures on Naelus lived and died, passing on their genes to their children and living on through them but there were always exceptions to the rule. Some, like Svar, had a form of magic that had granted them that powers. Others, like Kohimu, had come across it by other means. And some, like Renpi, just were. OF course, none of them were completely immune from death. They had just as much to fear as anybody else. That Svar knew all too well. The dream, the smell of earth and the grinding of bones was still sickeningly fresh in his mind. "You, on the other hand, are still looking dazzling. I suspect that was not the case yesterday. Had you ever imagined meeting such a fate, sun-bless?"Svar stiffened. He could not recall the Sha being able to read minds. Nervously, he shifted on his feet. "I had never imagined being a pile of walking, talking bones, no. In fact, I never even thought of being bones at all, living or dead. I am sure you of all creatures would understand why," he gave Renpi a pointed look. "I suspect you were no better or worse than I was, Sha. Don't try to pretend otherwise." Morag is not happy about Beech's( Shinko) implications but answers in a nice way, even if she is annoyed. She wants to speak more but they are interrupted by Rui( RielCZ). Like Beech, Morag wants to know who the longma is but mainly because she cannot remember. She does invite Rui to sit with them for a bit, however. Svar, meanwhile, is very wary of Renpi( Liou). They continue to talk about immortality and the experience of the bone dream as well as what it meant for beings like them.
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Post by RielCZ on Jul 23, 2018 11:39:52 GMT -5
Rui smiled as the elderly-meat-thing invited her for company, but frowned at having been implied she was some predator. "Dont worry," the longma replied, "as part horse, I'm content grazing on grass, and as part dragon, I'm more than content catching and eating fish. But I will have to try a flower." The longma beamed at getting to introduce herself. "I am Rui, a beacon of light in troubled times." She casually flipped her mane hair. "And I sensed you, ghost-quadruped, are troubled." "IF YOU ARE TROUBLED BY DARKNESS, REMEMBER: LIGHT SHALL ALWAYS DISPEL THE DARKNESS." And Rui, having observed the ghost quadruped was also a teenager (in ghost-quadruped years), added, "And if it's about not having any friends, or someone gossiping about you, or you not being on top of the latest trends in comparison to other ghost-quadrupeds... Remember, light is in -- and I'm an available outlet to talk to." The dragon-horse bent down and ate a flower. Her eyes widened at the taste. "Oh man, these things are delicious!" Rui replies to Beech ( Shinko ) and Morag ( Celestial ) and offers Beech some advice and some friendship. She also eats a flower at Morag's urging and finds it highly delicious.
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Post by Liou on Jul 23, 2018 11:51:12 GMT -5
Renpi gave a whooping, wheezing cackle like a hyena's. "I would not even try to pretend. A fine team we would have made, you panicking and I snapping my teeth every which way, staggering like a day-old camel. Soaring sun and desert guardian, both reduced to bare remains." More comfortable now that they were on an equal footing, Renpi stretched out her front paws. "We ancient ones often pretend that age does not get to us, do we not. No matter how we look, we are still elderly. Perhaps that is why the children are so exasperating to us sometimes," she mused. "They take so long to learn what we have seen time and time again, and we cannot wait for them to catch up. It is vital for me to cycle back through childhood and remember that process." She flicked her ears back and frowned, her lips drawing down at the corners. "Which is quite the opposite of what we were made to experience yesterday. You were crafted by a god too, were you not. That disfiguration was a direct insult to our creators. That was what made me angriest." Renpi got up from the grass and shook a little water and a few insects off her. "Those are not very heartening thoughts, are they. Let me try again." She began to pace back and forth in front of him. "There is no point in telling you not to worry. You always worry." They'd had enough encounters for Renpi to know that. "I will do what I can to reassure you, though. What do you have to fear? Humans? I was not raised as a little pet. I can make any humans flee as if a demon was after them." She made a turn and walked past him again, exposing her more scarred flank. "Corrupted animals? Our Lionheart is a mighty guardian, and I will be patrolling too." Another turn. "Being corrupted, yourself? I would catch you and immobilise you before you could do any damage to your friends." She opened her mouth wide, giving him a view of her red tongue. "See, you won't end up in any place worse than this." Was that reassuring? It would reassure Renpi, if she heard it from someone else. "I can even chew up some apples and berries to sweeten my breath," she said in a bright tone, with a lopsided grin and a hopeful wag of her tail. Renpi shares more about being an immortal with Celestial and does her best to reassure the bird. Renpi is... A+ comforting.
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Post by Thorn on Jul 23, 2018 12:24:59 GMT -5
It would have been so, so easy to keep lying by the river and enjoying the blissful feeling of rain on his happily restored skin. But the Spirit's words rang in Kohimu's mind, and he knew that he needed to do his part. If this 'She' grew strong enough, would they be trapped as skeletal dreamers forever? Kohimu didn't want to think about that. Who would? Instead he focussed on what needed to be done. Deciding the Highwind Woods were a more likely spot for troublemakers than his current location, the taniwha struck out northwest. As he went, he tried to feel as Calm and Determined as possible, and Proud. Because even if Tai couldn't see him, he could still feel what Kohimu did, and Kohimu wanted to make up for whatever concern his earlier anxieties had caused. Plus, he would have known that call anywhere. Tai had given the guardians the sign they'd used to attract the Spirit's attention! Kohimu really was proud of that. For a creature which could act so selfish, the older taniwha had done a Really Good Thing. And was it really Beech who'd carried the message across the island? It had to be! If another thylacine had been murdered since, surely he would have heard about it- nothing on Naelus remained secret for long, after all. Kohimu hoped she was happy she'd managed to fulfill such an important role. Beech wanted to help, after all, and that was absolutely helping. Another part of him wondered if she'd moved on since, and how she'd feel about that, even though he knew logically that clearing the dream wasn't her reason for remaining. Beech had been present in her current state for several days prior, and it still made sense that the reason she was stuck here would be related to the awful dark presence behind the sowers. Kohimu still wished he could help- make her feel better about the whole thing- but that clearly wasn't going to happen. That was okay, though. He'd been around long enough to know when to leave something alone, although it would have been so much better if he'd realised that before letting dinosaurs convince him to speak with the thylacine. Much as it hurt to see her hurting, all he could really do was give her space, and hope Quicksnap and the dilophosaurs could help Beech work things out. Kohimu stopped near the woods, sniffing at the air. His sense of smell was not by any means the best, but the sheer scent of foliage and rain, in place of the stale earthy odors of that dreamscape, was enough to make his heart lift a little in his chest. Things were back to normal and if the many, many residents of the island could work together to catch the remaining two sowers, they would stay that way! Decided to write a standalone piece with Kohimu. He is happy about the rain, proud of Tai; glad that Beech got her chance to help, and really happy that the world looks and smells normal again!
He leaves the river and heads towards the Highwind Woods to continue his hunt for troublemakers, spurred on by the Spirit's words.
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Post by Rabbit ♠ on Jul 23, 2018 12:41:56 GMT -5
Kopi wasn’t entirely sure of what happened. He just remembered beams of light- no... they were the guardians. They were bright lights, though there was one faint one. Was that Taakeyrr? It had to be. As far as Kopi knew, the other guardians still had their powers. Taakeyrr’s was the only one to be damaged. Still, that was Taak… Seeing her do that... Taakeyrr did it. Kopi knew she was still a guardian. He knew she had it in her. “ Kopi!” Kopi jumped up at the sound of his name. It was Tash. However, Her outburst was from excitement rather than fear. Kopi smiled at the sight of her. Tash was back to her normal self. Flesh, wings, white fur with some fading brown stains, it was all there. She had a bright smile on her face. “I’m glad to see you’re okay,” Kopi said kindly. “I am, too,” Tash replied. “Did anything happen to you?” The cunicanine shook his head. “No, nothing happened. I just ended up talking to Svar and Taak and her family.” Tash sighed. “Thank the Spirit.” The artacat’s antennae drooped. “About what happened, I’m sorry-” Kopi placed his paws onto hers. He felt skin and fur instead of bones. Just what he wanted to feel. “Tash, it’s okay. I know you were scared. I was scared, too.” He sighed. “But that’s behind us now. We’re back to normal.” “What was that light we saw? The last thing I remember before I woke up were these lights.” “They were the guardians.” Kopi began to hop off. “Tash, if we’re going to look for solid ground to burrow in, we should get going.” “Right, right.” Tash went after him. “Those were the guardians?” “I believe so. What else could that have been?” Tash looked up at the sky. It was bright and cheerful. A fine mist of water was falling, coating everything in a cool dew. It was refreshing. The guardians had really brought this to them. They saved them. "I had my doubts about the legends," Tash said. She paused for a brief moment, "but it looks like the guardians are looking after us." Kopi chuckled a bit and nodded. "They are." Kopi and Tash walked off in search of sturdy ground, continuing to talk about the guardians as they went on their way. Yay, quick standalone piece. Kopi sees bright lights. He knows they're the guardians. He notices one faint light and he figures out that it was Taak. Kopi's proud of her. Then Tash wakes Kopi up. They're both happy to see that the other is okay. Tash apologizes for how she acted in the dreamscape and Kopi forgives her. The two then start talking about the guardians as they search for a place to burrow.
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Post by Celestial on Jul 23, 2018 13:50:30 GMT -5
Svar listened as Renpi spoke. Despite his wariness, the Sha was making a lot of good points. Nevertheless, he continued to watch her as she paced. Even though he only ate plants exclusively, the firebird was well aware with the idea of "playing with one's food". He had lived among humans too long. Despite Renpi's attempts to be friendly and reassuring, when she opened her mouth, Svar could not help but recoil. He rose into the air, landing a little bit away. Even at her remark at apples and berries, he clucked. "That's not making me feel much better. Being eaten is just barely under being captured by humans again in my list of things I desire the least," he flew back onto his rock, though his wings did not remain tightly pressed against his body in case the Sha gave him reason to take off again. "Nevertheless, I think your intentions are in the right place so...thank you. It won't make me stop worrying but I do appreciate what you want to do for me," the firebird gave a respectful bow of the head. "I suppose as fellow immortals, we can only do just as much for each other. I might not be as strong as you but I shall do what I can to also protect you from the corrupted or corruption. I am quick and I have the gift of heavenly fire from my creator: I am not completely helpless." He blinked as he realised what he said. The firebird lowered his head. "Sometimes I forget that, however. To be honest, I have not felt godly since my creator disappeared, replaced by the god born from humans. Perhaps yesterday's disfiguration was an insult to our creators, but after all he has suffered, I think it is the least of his worries." Svar scratched at the rock with his foot. "If I wish to be honest...sometimes I wish I was not an immortal. Death terrifies me and I do not wish to die, but at the same time, when I was trapped, I imagine it would be wonderful to finally have a deadline for my release. As such, all I could do was wait until the humans got bored or careless, something which too...far too long," he shivered. "Looking back, I don't know what was worse. At least she got to leave sooner." His head suddenly shot up. "I have said too much. You are right, I am far too old, but unlike you, I must carry my age. I am not a phoenix, nor do I care to be confused with one. So I bear my burdens and the memories of my long years and especially the memories of being a human prisoner. Whether I like it or not, that is what has shaped me as much as my creator. Us immortals live a thousand lifetimes: we have so much more that will make us, or in my case, break me." The firebird bowed. "Thank you for speaking to me nevertheless. I do admit, it is pleasant to have one who understands the difficulty that comes with our great lifespans. If you do not eat me or threaten to eat me or antagonise me, perhaps we can even be friends someday, when this is all over," Svar spread his wings. "Right now though, I want to find my friend. Perhaps we shall meet again, Renpi, and I pray it will not be in poor circumstances." With that, the firebird took off into the sky, a glowing dot against the clouds. Svar reacts to Renpi( Liou) and her talk. He is not reassured by her threatening to eat him, reveals he does not feel divine anymore, says he once wished to die and even now does not know what is worse: death or eternal imprisonment, and talks about how much he has to bear as an immortal. Lots of angst that he is actually happy to get off his chest. He suggests that perhaps when everything is all over, he and Renpi can be friends, before he flies off to find Kohimu.
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Post by Shinko on Jul 23, 2018 16:00:32 GMT -5
Round 14: An Unmitigated Disaster Beech eventually wandered off from the Bluff, taking her melancholy with her. Perhaps the others might have tried to follow after her, but she’d already learned that being a ghost did have some benefits- in a forest, someone who could pass right through trees and shrubs like they weren’t there would never be outpaced by someone who had to dodge around such obstacles. As she neared the meadow once more, she was considering finding Quicksnap and venting a little bit into his familiar ear. “-The truth!” Beech jerked in surprise. Who was that? Pausing, ears cocked, she realized she could hear not just one, but several voices. They were speaking in hushed tones, and she couldn’t make out anymore of the words being said. She could, however, tell the conversation was not a happy one. Beech slowly crept towards the source of the voices. One of them was high and frightened sounding. The others, were lower; two of them nasty and spiteful, the last laced with fear, anger, and desperation. Silently begging for them not to notice her glow, the thylacine peered through the trees- and what she saw filled her with pure, unadulterated horror. * * * For once, it seemed that gossip about the location of the back-from-the-dead thylacine was not all the rage with the local chatterboxes. The dilophosaurs had stopped several coelophysis and called up to no few flocks of birds, who were eager to question Taakeyrr about her guardian efforts the previous day but seemed singularly uninterested in the whereabouts of Beech. Eventually they got the hint that, “She was headed into the woods.” The woods were enormous in and of themselves, so that wasn’t much help- but at least it narrowed down a quadrant of the island to search in. As they were coming up within a mile of the treeline, however... “ Help! I need your help!” The dilophosaurs all jerked in surprise, heads whipping around to see none other than Beech charging towards them. The thylacine’s ears were flat against her skull, the fur on her back bristling, and she barely stopped in front of the dinosaurs long enough to bellow, “I’ll explain on the way, hurry!” before she’d spun on her heel and taken off towards the woods again. Xsabaskis paused just long enough to exchange a confused look with her sister, but compliantly took off in pursuit of the ghostly thylacine, Soaitsae and Taakeyrr hot on her heels. * * * Kopi chewed on a huge mouthful of grass, deliriously grateful that it was no longer turning into gross, dusty black rock in his mouth. It was strange how much you came to appreciate something once you’d lost it, even briefly. After the temporary experience of not being able to properly eat, he was more than happy to stuff himself as full of as much lush green matter as he could hold. Tash had flown off deeper into the forest to help scout for a potential new spot for a warren while Kopi ate. They hadn’t found anything the night before, and had been forced to spend the night in their temporary tunnel in the meadow, but now they were back out again, having split up to cover more ground. The sound of soft, quiet footfalls in the grass made Kopi pause in the middle of a hearty chomp, his head lifting and nostrils twitching. That was too loud to be Tash’s pawsteps, but too delicate to be Baskis or the dilophosaurs. Who… He got his answer a moment later, when a large, tawny form came into view. On first glance it seemed to be some sort of oversized rodent, with vaguely feline features and a long, stiff tail. She paused when she saw Kopi looking her way, and sat down in the grass. “You’re Kopi, right?” she asked. The little cunicanine tilted his head in confusion, but nodded. “That’s me. What’s your name?” “Muuri,” she said in reply. She flattened her ears. “I’ve been talking to some friends of yours, Kopi.” “Friends?” Kopi echoed. “You mean Tash? Or Baskis?” Muuri’s eyes narrowed. “I think you know exactly who I mean.” “Er…” the cunicanine felt a bit uncomfortable. “No. I can’t say I do, sorry.” Muuri stood, pacing forwards in Kopi’s direction. “Look, Kopi; I’ve been keeping an eye on you for a few days now. Watching what you’ve been doing and who you’ve been talking to. I see through your innocent act.” Muuri was briefly haloed by golden light in the shape of a lion, and as she snarled twin points of dark flame flickered in the lion’s eyes before it vanished. “We can do this the easy way, or the hard way; it’s your call.” Kopi tensed, his eyes widening. “The Lionheart; y-you’re-” “That’s right, Kopi,” she agreed, the halo of lion-light appearing around her body again, but this time it was interspersed with more embers of darkness. “I am the Lionheart. And regardless of whether you call the giver of this gift the Spirit of Naelus, or Gali, or by no name at all, She has appointed me to protect this island.” The marsupial lion snarled. “To protect it from shadow-sowers like you.” “Wait, what?” Kopi bleated. “N-no, I’m not a sower! Listen, you’re sick, I-” Muuri leapt forward, slapping Kopi over with a thick-taloned paw and pinning him down. “Don’t lie to me! I tricked the information out of your little ghost friends, the hairless cat! She admitted you were of their order, Kopi!” “No, no, listen I can prove-” Muuri shifted her paw so that it was pressing on Kopi’s windpipe, cutting off his breath. “If the only words you plan to speak are more lies, I think you have spoken enough.” Her guardian powers flared again, but only for a split-second. Unlike with Taakeyrr, Muuri’s guardian light did not shatter fighting against the shadow; no, her own suspicious nature, her own refusal to trust anyone but herself, to trust even her own patron Spirit, gave the shadow exactly the foothold it needed in her mind. Her powers told her to protect. The darkness told her to kill. Brushing aside the first impulse like one would brush aside an unwanted cobweb, Muuri brought her massive jaw down over the helpless cunicanine. * * * “No!”Xsabaskis put on a burst of speed, but it wasn’t enough. Helpless to close the distance in time, saw the corrupted Lionheart pin Kopi to the ground, saw her teeth come down, saw the blood- The huge dilophosaur leapt at Muuri, swinging around to smack the marsupial lion with her tail. Startled, Muuri fell, dropping Kopi into the grass. Xsabaskis immediately threw all of her weight onto the corrupt guardian, Taakeyrr hard on her sister’s heels to do the same. Soaitsae, meanwhile, took up a defensive position, watching for anyone else that might try to sneak up on them. “Beech!” Xsabaskis called. “Check Kopi!” The ghostly thylacine sprinted up to the cunicanine, but even from a distance it was obvious they’d been too late. Kopi was limp, his eyes dull and unseeing, his short fur soaked with blood. Beech gave a low, mournful whine, looking up at the dilophosaur sisters and shaking her head. “Good riddance!” Muuri screeched. “No one on this island can do anything right except me! I carried the weight of all the island for days! I’ve kept us all safe and I’ll continue to keep us safe, even if I have to slaughter every last shadow sower myself!” Taakeyrr hissed furiously, clearly meaning to retort that she’d checked Kopi and he’d been fine- but she didn’t get the chance, because Xsabaskis spoke first, her voice thick with grief and outrage. “You absolute idiot! He wasn’t a sower! Kopi was the healer!” Stunned silence followed Xsabaskis’ words. Even Muuri, despite her corruption, seemed taken aback. Then, laughter rang out over the assemblage, and Soaitsae snapped his head towards the sound with a warning shriek. “Good job, dinosaur; very good,” Genevieve called, the ghostly cat purring as she drew closer to them. “You know, when I saw my still-living cohorts had managed to sink the shadow into the accursed Lionheart who’s been dogging us so long, that alone was a victory that couldn’t be understated. But you see, there was a way to make this situation even more delicious! “We knew who the healer was. Have known for days. We just needed a perfect opening to take him out- and wouldn’t you just know, our dear little Lionheart here has apparently been suspicious of him for ages!” “You… used me?” Muuri whispered. Then, black fire roared to life from her eyes, and to the obvious astonisment of the dilophosaurs she thrashed free of Taakeyrr and Xsabaskis’ holds. “No one!” the marsupial lion howled into the sky as she ran. “No one can be trusted! Not ever! Everyone will die and then no one will ever fear lies and betrayal ever again!” “No!” Beech bleated, but before anyone could stop her, the marsupial lion had torn off into the trees. “Isn’t corruption beautiful?” Genevieve asked. “She was lied to by sowers but still lashes out at everyone but us.” “You filthy, monstrous, scummy-” Taakeyrr hissed, but she was cut off by a great boom of thunder high overhead. “Ah- right on cue.” The cat purred. “Our Mother must be very pleased; she gets power from death, you know, and this death must be especially nutritious!” The sower ghost took off across the meadow, but no one was watching her. High overhead, the clouds had begun to gather, rotating in a vast, dark spiral. The wind picked up until it was sending massive limbs sailing through the air, and rain drove hard and fast into the swiftly filling Winding River. Lightning forked across the sky, thunder deafened sensitive animal ears, and out at sea lethal waves began to churn... Muuri, the LIONHEART, is now corrupted Kopi, the HEALER, is now dead Because of the healer's death, Verso and Recto remain corrupted Optional Scenario: A huge, vicious storm has overtaken the island! High winds and the rising of the Winding River threaten everyone on Naelus. Help each other survive!
This scenario is still optional because if you want your character can hide out somewhere and ignore the storm- however next round will bring another MANDATORY scenario, so be ready!
Mandatory Conditions: It is late afternoon of the same day as last round. A hurricane is raging.
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Post by Rabbit ♠ on Jul 23, 2018 18:13:27 GMT -5
He was a guardian of Naelus. He was tasked with keeping the island safe. He was supposed to heal animals whose minds have been lost thanks to the sowers. He wanted to help, he wanted other animals to feel safe. He knew what it was like to feel scared, to feel hopeless. He didn’t want others to feel that way. Something like death wasn’t about to stop him. Not now. Kopi walked through the Highwind Woods. The wind was blowing and rain pounded on the ground. Kopi couldn’t feel any of it. The wind and water went right through him. It was strange. Kopi was so used to feeling these things. There were so many animals he wanted to check on. Makell, Kuzen, Quicksnap, Calix… Kopi always wanted to know how they were doing. Taakeyrr was still healing. Kopi understood that. She was a guardian, Kopi couldn’t have known what it was like for her. He tried to bring back her power, he did, but… Poor girl. May Spirit restore her powers. Verso and Recto were still corrupted. If only he had gotten to them in time. And Muuri… Oh, poor Muuri. Another guardian. It already stung that Kopi was dead, but from another guardian. Kopi knew Muuri didn’t mean it. Even if she thought Kopi was a sower, he knew she wouldn’t lash out like that. How long was she going to stay like that? Kopi prayed that she would feel better soon. There wasn’t anything he could do now, but Spirit wouldn’t let her mind be lost forever. What about Beech? She was a ghost. Kopi knew Beech was in pain. She didn’t show it when he was near her, but Kopi knew. He wanted to see if there was anything that could make her feel better. All these animals. They’ve been through so much pain, so much torture. Even if Kopi was dead, he still wanted to help them. Even without powers, talking to them helped. It helped with Taakeyrr. No amount of talking could ever fully heal someone from corruption, but it helped. However, there was one animal that needed him most right now. Kopi ran as fast as he could through the woods. He was moving so much faster now that he didn’t have a physical body. He didn’t need to worry about the wind knocking him down or tripping on rocks or thorns. He spotted her. Tash. She was right where the old warren was. The poor artacat looked so distressed. Kopi could only imagine what she was thinking. It appeared that she had built something near the entrance of the warren. It was a few rocks piled onto each other. Had Tash done that? What for? Kopi realized what it was as he got closer. It was a monument for him. What was she doing out in a storm like this, Kopi thought to himself. Kopi carefully hopped closer to her. As he was in the air, he fluttered his feet like did while swimming. He hovered in the air for a few seconds when he did that. “Tash, you need to find shelter,” Kopi said sternly but kindly. Tash jumped up and turned to Kopi. Her look of distress quickly melted into confusion and relief. “Kopi, I heard what happened, I heard you died, the birds were-” Tash began before catching herself. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there. If I was, maybe I could have helped-” “Tash, it’s fine,” Kopi interrupted. “I’m glad you weren’t there. I didn’t want you to get hurt.” “But…” Tash looked Kopi up and down. His normal brown coat was now a light blue hue. There were some marks on his body, but Tash chose not to look at those. “But you’re dead. Why are you even here?” “I wanted to stay. I wanted to protect you, Tash.” Kopi placed his paws onto Tash’s. Tash felt Kopi’s paws. They were cool to the touch, but it was still comforting. “I wanted to protect everyone.” Kopi sighed and bowed his head. It was about time he told her. “I’m a guardian of Naelus. I’m not going to let something like death stop me from protecting the animals on the island.” Tash was shocked. Kopi… her brother… the animal she was best friends with since they were kittens… was a guardian? Kopi didn’t tell her. Tash didn’t even think Kopi was a guardian. She wasn’t even sure the guardians were real until recently! And all this time, a guardian was by her side? “Tash, you need to get out of the storm,” Kopi informed. Tash shook her head, bringing her back to reality. “You’re a guardian?” she asked. Kopi groaned. She was going to be like this for a while. “Tash, I’m serious.” The cunicanine looked around. There was a shrub nearby. It wasn’t perfect, but it’ll do. Kopi hopped over to the shrub. He knew Tash was going to follow him. Sure enough, she did. Kopi and Tash got under the shrub. Once Tash was under it, he walked out. “I’m going to go for a little while. I’ll be back,” Kopi said. He turned to run off. Before Kopi could even move, Tash flew out and landed in front of him. “Where are you going?” she asked. “I want to help the other animals. I’m sure there are other animals that are caught in this storm.” Kopi looked up. It seemed like it was raining harder than ever. “Let me help!” Kopi looked back down at Tash. “You what?” “If you’re going to help other animals, I want to help.” Tash hopped up a bit and looked at Kopi with determined eyes. “You’ve done so much for me and for everyone. I want to at least try to return the favor.” Kopi smiled. “Thank you.” With that, Kopi and Tash off together, searching for animals that may need help. Presenting Ghost Kopi (or Ghopi, as I've been mentally calling him).
Kopi's still here. He's walking around the woods, thinking about all the animals that he helped and that needed help. He eventually finds Tash, just the animal he wanted to see. Tash built a monument for him. Kopi goes up to Tash and Tash is surprised to see him. She goes on about how she heard Kopi died and how she should have been there, but Kopi says that it's okay. Kopi says he wants to protect everyone and then reveals that he is a guardian. Tash is (understandably) surprised. Kopi leads Tash to a shrub and begins to go off to help others, but Tash says she wants to go along. Kopi goes with it and they decide to help together.
So yeah, Kopi and Tash are running around the Highwind Woods searching for animals that need help. Maybe you'll run into them?
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Post by Tiger on Jul 23, 2018 19:28:11 GMT -5
Xsabaskis let out an enraged shriek as the spectral sower cat bolted - the cat was back, too, the sowers could come back, but right now, Xsabaskis couldn’t think about that. She started off - not after Genevieve, but after Muuri. “Taakeyrr!” she snapped, a demand in just a few syllables. “But - “ “We have to catch her before she gets anyone else!” Xsabaskis was already off and running - she didn’t look back to see if Taakeyrr joined her, really just barely noted the sounds of heavy feet from behind her that told her Taakeyrr had joined in the chase. The dilophosaur fixated her attention on the cat-like creature they were chasing - follow her trail, follow the sounds, follow the broken branches and still-shuddering bushes, follow the scent - don’t think about the blood, the strike, the lurch of horror as Xsabaskis realized she had been too far to make it, don’t think about the blood - Lightning seared across the sky and the sound of it cracked over the island a bare second later. The wind was picking up, howling low and ominous, spattering the rain against the dilophosaurs, against he trees, against the trail… They had to find her - Xsabaskis didn’t know exactly what she would do if they caught up to the broken Lionheart but she couldn’t afford the time to stop and think beyond the fact that the cat was a raging murderer and had to be stopped - A gust of wind shrieked through the trees and buffeted Xsabaskis hard enough to make her stagger sideways. She heard a squawk and glanced over her shoulder to find Taakeyrr heaving herself away from a tree; the wind must have blown her into it. Snarling, Xsabaskis turned back to the trail. Rain pelted her face, forced her to close her second eyelids against it. She slowed - how were they going to find Muuri with their vision compromised? And the storm’s howling winds were going to cover sound - the rain was going to destroy the trail - they could be off of it already, if Muuri had taken any sudden turns already - Xsabaskis roared into the forest, jaws stretched so wide it felt like the skin at the joint might tear, until her lungs were out of air and too weak to make a sound that wasn’t instantly swallowed by the rising storm. Taakeyrr tentatively came up beside her. “We lost her?” Xsabaskis didn’t reply, unable to admit it out loud, but Taakeyrr seemed to understand by her sister’s stillness. “...That roar should get everyone nearby paying attention. ...Unlses you want to keep looking?” Yes. “No,” Xsabaskis said. “We... “ she paused to growl, and a choked version of the sound came out. “We lost her. We have to go back - best we can do is warn the birds and coelophyses.” Taakeyrr tried to look out into the forest, but staggered at another wind. Even if they miraculously found and caught up with the corrupted animal, Xsabaskis realized, they wouldn’t be able to fight her properly in this wind. Disgusted, feeling like rot on a carcass, Xsabaskis turned away from the pursuit and stomped heavily back the way they had come. Back to Soaitsae and Beech and....and Kopi were waiting. “...I’m sorry,” Taakeyrr said when they could see the others through gaps in the trees. “The idiot cat,” Xsabaskis growled, her voice thick. “How could she let - “ ...Of course, she hadn’t let herself be corrupted. She was no different than Taakeyrr, paranoid and delusional. But Muuri did not have the shielding of being related to Xsabaskis, and Muuri had just killed a friend based in part on a poorly-held suspicion. All that work hiding he was the healer, thinking I was protecting him, she thought, so bitter it made her feel ill. They took the last few steps back into the clearing. Soaitsae had taken guard near Kopi...Kopi’s body, looking his absolute sternest - but his expression softened when he saw his daughters emerging from the trees. “She got away,” Taakeyrr said. “I’m sorry.” Xsabaskis continued on toward the cunicanine; Soaitsae backed out of her way, head slightly lowered as if this were a show of dominance. “I don’t know that you two could have held her long, anyway,” Xsabaskis heard him say as she crouched next to Kopi. “This storm...we need to get out of it.” Xsabaskis wished she could see something Beech hadn’t - some sign that Kopi wasn’t dead, that maybe if they could find an animal with dextrous hands, they could do something to save him. But there was nothing; Xsabaskis was a predator, and she knew death when she saw it. Tash is going to be…Glancing toward Beech, Xsabaskis asked dully, “Do you think he’ll come back, like you did?” Xsabaskis and Taakeyrr try to catch Muuri, but she escapes; she and other animals in the nearby area might hear the roar Xsabaskis throws after her, though it might also be swallowed by the weather. They go back to where they left Soaitsae and Beech and Kopi; Taakeyrr and Soaitsae begin talking about getting out of the growing hurricane, while Xasbaskis sits by Kopi’s body and asks Beech if she thinks Kopi will also come back from the dead. ( Shinko, Rabbit ♠) (You want feels? Read the post, show don’t tell!)
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Post by Shinko on Jul 23, 2018 19:45:28 GMT -5
Beech held herself submissively- head below her shoulders, ears drooping, tail low. She whined, the noise barely audible over the howl of the wind. “I don’t know- I don’t understand how I managed to come back. If he does though, it… might take some time. I didn’t fully ‘wake up’ as a ghost until some hours after my death, and I wasn’t near my body when it happened either.” She shook her head. “I… I’m sorry Basky. I’m so, so sorr- Look out!” The thylacine solidified her entire body, barreling into Soaitsae with all of her might and sending the male dilophosaur staggering just in time to avoid a huge tree branch colliding with his head. Tiger Beech admits she isn’t sure, since she really doesn’t understand why she herself came back either. Then hurricane sends a giant limb flying at them because that’s what hurricanes do.
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Post by Tiger on Jul 23, 2018 20:45:29 GMT -5
Soaitsae made a highly undignified squawk as he was pushed aside, followed by a swooping hoot of surprise at the branch that had narrowly missed giving him another crack in his crest, at the least. “Thank you,” Soaitsae said to Beech; he had to yell to be heard over the wind. “We have to go!” Taakeyrr shouted, looking around frantically at her family and their friend. “We can’t stay out here or we’re going to get crushed!” Xsabaskis had been half to her feet when Beech had lunged. Her eyes and Taakeyrr’s met for a moment; the bigger dilophosaur’s eyes got a dull glow to them in the next flash of lightning, like the low orange glow of the sun when it set over the ocean. She turned to Kopi’s body, staring at it for a moment. “...Doesn’t feel right,” she called gruffly, just barely loud enough for Taakeyrr to hear her. “Leaving him here - in this, after he was... “ Taakeyrr didn’t know what to say; sometimes animals were covered with loose dirt or branches - but they were always left for the island to reclaim. The dead fed the insects and soil, which fed the plants, which fed the prey animals, which fed the predators, who returned to the island as well. ...Except Beech. Kohimu had moved her body and Svar had burned it. Which hadn’t felt right to Taakeyrr, really. ...But Xsabaskis had a point; abandoning a cunicanine who had died for nothing to the storm felt...unsettling. But Soaitsae called, “How will you carry him?”, and Xsabaskis visibly jerked at the thought. The only way to carry something without dropping it was in one’s mouth and by biting down. Instead, Xsabaskis took a few steps to the branch that had nearly his Soaitsae, and dragged it over to somewhat shield the cunicanine’s body. With the wind and rain as strong and shoving as they were, there was a good chance the branch wouldn’t stay for long, Taakeyrr thought. But she knew better than to say it. Her stomach felt as turbulent as the winds, and she had no doubt Xsabaskis’ heart was feeling the same. Taakeyrr wasn’t doing much better, honestly; a new friend, a fellow guardian - no wonder he’d been so kind to her when she’d been upset about losing her powers. And he’d saved Taakeyrr from the fate Muuri now seemed doomed to. And there was no way to repay him for that now; she and her family had been too late. “Let’s go,” Xsabaskis called as she rose from shielding the cunicanine, her voice tight but firm. “It’s a ways to our den, but unless we find someone we trust to share a shelter - it’s our only choice.” Her posture was tense and grim; Taakeyrr doubted they would be taking shelter with anyone, at least, not anyone her Eye hadn’t cleared - which was not very many animals. “You come, too, Beech - untouchable or not, don’t think you should be out in this.” “We need to keep an eye out for any other animals, too!” Soaitsae called, still shouting even as he rejoined the group. “Help if we can, or at the very least, warn them about - about the Lionheart.” Xsabaskis’ jaw tightened, but she bobbed her head in a nod. “Right. Anything else? If not - let’s go.” After Soaitsae thanks Beech for saving him, the dilos decide they need to get out of the storm. Xsabaskis debates taking Kopi’s body along but uhhhh reliable dilophosaur body transportation methods hit a little close to home, and she shelters his body with a tree branch instead.
Taakeyrr reflects on general dead animal body practices in an attempt to remind the readers that these are animals who don’t have the same dead body taboos as humans so it’s actually more weird/a sign of the violent way Kopi died that Xsabaskis is reluctant to leave Kopi to just return to the earth.
Taakeyrr also starts feeling the weight of Kopi’s death, particularly in relation to them both being guardians, and Kopi having healed Taak’s corruption, but is prevented from going full-ruminations by Xsabaskis declaring they should try to get to their den, and Beech is invited along because GHOST OR NOT you shouldn’t be out in the rain, missy, you’ll catch a cold out there!!!1 (ok she has no solid reasoning she just doesn’t like the idea of it) Soaitsae suggests they should watch out for other animals to warn them about Muuri and offer help if they can (because big dinosaurs are more resilient to wind than a lot of other animals).
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Post by Shinko on Jul 23, 2018 21:37:51 GMT -5
The thylacine nodded. “Right. I just hope my clan has the sense to move inland- I don’t wanna imagine what the waves down by the coast look like right now.” She followed as the dilophosaurs led the way through the shadowed pines. It was terrifying to watch the huge trees rock in the wind. A particularly strong gust nearly took Taakeyrr off her feet and sent a distant pine crashing to lodge against one of it’s fellows. Beech was deliriously glad that Quicksnap lived out in the meadow, where there were less things to become flying shrapnel. Finally- stopping once to free a sinosauropteryx that had been blow fully up a tree- they arrived back at the dilophosaur’s den. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the rear of the cave was thick with many, many bats, all of them shuddering in terror from the madness raging outside. “I don’t think any of them will do us harm,” Beech remarked, moving away from them and back towards the mouth of the cave where the noise of the wind would drown out any conversation further in. “Is it alright if they stay?” Tiger Teleport to the den! Which is currently infested by terrified bats taking shelter from the storm. Did you know the first bats evolved over 50 million years ago?
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Post by Reiqua on Jul 24, 2018 0:49:42 GMT -5
Waabi was sleeping. Again. She did that a lot. “Waabi,” Yira said, inquiringly. Her eyes fluttered open and she turned vaguely in the direction of the voice and the soft brown blur that she knew was Yira. “What is it gaayingal?” she asked, her weak and cracked voice shook as she spoke. “Can I go for a walk up to the bluff?” he asked hopefully. The winds were very strong today, even in this sheltered location Waabi had chosen. He thought it might be fun to play in the winds and try and walk into the onslaught. “No dear,” Waabi shook her head wearily, “not until your mother comes back.” Yira hung his head sadly. “She’s normally back by now,” he said, his bottom lip trembling, “do you think she’s okay?” Waabi’s drooping head snapped up to peer blearily but attentively in Yira’s direction. “Normally?” she asked. Yira nodded. “She goes away while I’m sleeping most nights. But she’s normally back before I wake up. She thinks I don’t notice, but I do.” He paused, thoughtful. “I tried following her a couple of times but I couldn’t see what she was up to, it’s normally dark. Sometimes there’s a weird gold light nearby, but I still never managed to see her...” Waabi’s eyes grew wide, unseeing as they were. “You must tell no-one of this Yira,” she said firmly and almost fearfully. If Muuri had not been in grave danger before she most certainly would be if that kind of information was known. Perhaps it didn’t mean what she thought it meant... but it wouldn’t do to raise undue suspicion. Still... it would make a degree of sense of the sort of questions Muuri had been asking her. If Muuri was in danger though... no, there was nothing she could do. Nothing but stay here and keep Yira with her as Muuri had asked her to. To keep him safe. If Muuri was in danger she would just have to deal with it herself. “May Gali protect her,” the old marsupial lion mumbled as she drifted back off to sleep. *** Yira sighed with frustration. Waabi was sleeping again!?Then a twinkle popped into the youngling’s eye. She was more blind than deaf... but surely... if he moved very quietly... his mother had shown him stealth... then maybe... she wouldn’t hear him... and he could escape... after all, the wind was quite loud and- Ooft. A gust almost blew him sideways off the branch he was gripping. The wind was very strong indeed here. Head bowed against the raging winds and driving rain he plunged forward into the forest. This was fun! Well, it was fun for a bit. But then it struck him just how big the forest was, and he felt very alone indeed. He should find someone safe. Maybe his mother, she would look after him. Or Gali. Gali was nice. And he remembered the tree octopus. Dara, they had said their name was. Maybe he could find Dara if he headed east. Yira looked up at the sky instinctively and promptly received a facefull of water droplets from a dislodged branch. Yeah, the position of the sun wasn’t going to tell him much about what way was east just now. Yira picked a direction that he thought might be east and headed that way. The wind was behind him now and it made progress a little easier. He hoped he found a friend soon – it was cold and lonely out in this storm. Let’s keep Yira away from the dangerous mama for a bit shall we? We shall. Yira is lost in the woods! (He never learns, does he? xP) He wonders which grown up he should go and find. Gali? Dara ( Liou )? His mum? He is currently in the Highwind Woods in a high wind and heading in a random direction (Probably not east xP). Anyone benevolent or malevolent is more than welcome to find him and help.
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Post by Celestial on Jul 24, 2018 5:32:28 GMT -5
Svar found Kohimu just as the rain was getting bad. Having heard the terrible news that the birds were wailing all across the island, the taniwha was more determined than ever to catch the sowers. While Svar was keen to help, he did not want to be out in this rain. When the first lightning strike hit, however, the firebird screeched and began to panic. Rain soaking his feathers and putting out his fire was bad enough but in a lightning storm, he could not even fly without risking death. They could not continue. The two eventually found a place in the Shadowed Pines where a combination of the trees and the overhang from the earth was large enough to shelter them both. Svar tucked himself into a space where he could see the outside but also be completely sheltered from the curtain of water that fell upon them. In the darkness of the storm, he shone like a beacon. "I hate this," the firebird grumbled, looking outside. "So much has happened and yet we are sitting here, away from everything. At least the corrupted guardian cannot get to us here," he shivered. Perhaps the birds were exaggerating. They tended to. He feared for his safety if the corrupted Lionheart was truly as paranoid as they claimed. Another crack of lightning. Svar screeched as the bright light lit up their entire cavern space and tucked himself in deeper, instinctively edging behind Kohimu. He trembled. Several panicked tears rolled down from his eyes, falling onto the ground as perfect, solid pale pearls. "I cannot stand thunderstorms. Rain at least is harmless but this..." he fluffed up. "One of my creator's fellow deities was a god of thunder and storms. Even if he and my creator were friends, I never liked him. He always claimed to be the ruler of the gods when it was clearly not the case." Svar and Kohimu( Thorn) hunker down in the Shadowed Pines to shelter from the storm. Svar is not a fan of thunderstorms. He grumbles about the old gods and tries not to panic, as usual. He knows the Lionheart is corrupted and killed the healer but does not know the Healer is Kopi.
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