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Post by June Scarlet on Jul 27, 2018 21:36:23 GMT -5
Julaine, sitting in a tree far from her nest, was swept away by the tidal wave. She was caught in the water, unable to breath. Just when she'd given up hope, a song and light guided her to fresh air, to solid ground. She lay on the ground, just savoring every breath. Eventually, she took in her surroundings. Was it night? Ha it stopped raining? No, she could hear the rain outside. She was in a cave. The cave. The Whispering Cave. It had to be. Roda had always wanted to visit here. Julaine had heard legends about this cave, about the time Denzell had traveled here and discovered the secret of breaking open nuts with rocks. After defeating a cave monster singled-pawed. She looked around. Hopefully there weren't any more cave monsters in here. The voice of the Spirit of Naelus spoke. She said to travel the tunnels to the heart of the island to find out the truth of the war they were fighting. "The truth of what's going on?" said Julaine. "I want to know that myself. What's really going on." And she set off to explore. Meanwhile, a ghostly scimon was slowly reforming elsewhere in the cave. I know what's really going on and who's behind this, she thought to herself, and yet, I want to know what the Spirit had to say about it.Julaine is swept into the caves by the tidal wave, and after hearing the Spirit of Naelus, starts to explore the tunnels to find the heart of the island, to find answers. Meanwhile, Roda is interested in the Spirit's side of the story.
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Post by Tiger on Jul 27, 2018 22:35:09 GMT -5
The water was truly horrific. Taakeyrr had never seen so much water, certainly never swam in it - maybe when she was a chick exploring the river, though dilophosaurs had a healthy caution of deep water. And no wonder, because even a dilophosaur’s size and strength were no match for a wave of water taller than the treetops. For the second time in very recent memory, the third distinct time in her life, Taakeyrr felt completely and utterly powerless. Some part of her mind, that was somehow not entirely focused on telling up from down, remembered the discussion she and her family and Beech had so recently been having - maybe the sower-god just wanted the entire island and all its animals destroyed and this was simply her getting impatient and finishing the job, consequences be darned. Then the song, and the glow, and air - Taakeyrr pulled herself onto land, coughing and dripping water. She looked around - it was dim, like it was night out, but she could hear other animals splashing and coughing and stumbling onto the stone shore as well. After a moment, she began to make out shapes, and to her relief, there were two large, bipedal ones nearby, that turned out to have long necks and round crests. Even as she padded up to them, Taakeyrr couldn’t help but look around, trying to figure out where they were and who all they were with. They were in some sort of cavern, that much was clear. It almost reminded Taakeyrr of some of the places in the Crystal Crags, though those caverns only reflected light off crystal - the light here seemed to come from the little stones on the ceiling themselves. Some of the animals, she recognized. Many more, she did not, or at least, couldn’t have named. Xsabaskis growled, drawing Taakeyrr’s attention back to her. “Where’s Beech?” the bigger sister demanded, looking around. Taakeyrr turned in place to get a better look - she couldn’t see the thylacine yet. “That was ocean-water, wasn’t it?” she said, turning back toward her family. “That’s - it’s what the mob was using to try and hurt Beech!!” Soaitsae’s lifted his head high, continuing the search. “But - she’s already dead, surely….surely it can’t - ” A voice reverberated in their heads - My little ones, the time has come for you to learn the truth. Travel the tunnels until you come to the heart of the island, and there I will show you the true nature of the war you have been made to fight.The Spirit again. It was as if she’d heard their earlier conversation. “...We can’t go until we’re sure Beech is okay,” Taakeyrr said, and Xsabaskis grunted and planted her feet in agreement. ------- The raptors had been alerted to the wave by the shrieking - but there had barely been time to do anything or go anywhere - Nettleback, who had been tending to the hatchlings almost obsessively since they had woken from the dream where he had almost struck out at them, just barely had time to wedge himself into the opening of the tree they were temporarily using as a creche to try and protect the hatchlings before the water overtook them. The pack was swiftly split, despite being huddled together against the storm. The part of Driftstone’s head that could now sense his pack practically pounded like a headache from inadequate sleep with the way everyone was moving around. The song of the Spirit was a relief, and the beacon and the calming water gave him a direction to swim in - before his lungs, meant for swift, little breaths burst. He clambered onto the shore with a series of displeased clicks and hisses and noises like a baby mammoth sputtering through a trampled nose. He shook his feathers off and resisted the urge to turn back to the water and shriek at it for the indignity - if only because he didn’t know yet what was around to hear him shriek. Raptors had fairly good night-vision, but it still took Driftstone’s eyes a moment to adjust. Tiny blue stones glowing in the ceiling, strange whispering noises, more island residents clambering out of the water…. Very strange. Driftstone’s Spirit-given sense for his pack’s location finally slowed and settled its frantic movement. A group of four, far away, a group of two more a little farther off, and three others here. He guessed the fact that he could sense all of the raptors meant they were all still alive…but he couldn’t be certain. He hoped to sense the far-away ones moving soon. In the meantime, he needed to seek out his packmates. The raptors had been tossed quite a bit further apart by the water than many of the larger animals, and that combined with the darkness left Driftstone very thankful for the ability to hone in on his packmates. First he found his sister Duskrunner; then, Shadowstep, one of the feathers on his wing badly bent to the point he was probably going to have to pull it but otherwise unharmed; and finally, Yellowtail found them, hopping down from the back of an unnerved-looking quagga who just nodded quickly and hurried off when Yellowtail thanked him for his assistance. “You all heard the Spirit’s words, too?” Yellowtail asked, after they had all ascertained there were no serious injuries and they all still sensed all the rest of the pack. The raptors confirmed that they had, while searching for one-another. “Did Dara get swept down here, too?” Yellowtail asked, her eyes turned mostly on Duskrunner. “I don’t know - I didn’t see.” Duskrunner’s tail swayed back and forth in agitation. “I hope they did not, I hope they floated high and away. They said salt-water hurts them, and this was salt-water for certain!” “Hmm. We will keep a sharp eye,” Yellowtail determined. “But since we don’t even know if they’re here...we should follow the Spirit’s instructions.” She looked toward the tunnels where the other animals were beginning to disperse. “Dara will likely do so, too. And besides….I would like to see the heart of our island, and the shape of this conflict!” The dilophosaurs and some of the raptors (Yellowtail, Driftstone, Shadowstep, and Duskrunner) were swept into the cave. The dilos are looking around for Beech (@shinkoryu; I know you have Beech Planz so I can have the dilophosaurs just get a glimpse of her somewhere in the cave if y’need, nbd); the raptors took some time to find one another and are concerned about Dara ( Liou) - though whether they were with the raptors immediately beforehand is left deliberately vague. Yellowtail suggests they get moving, though, because Dara will likely head that way as well and she’s curious about what the Spirit wants to show them =O
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Post by Shinko on Jul 27, 2018 23:06:04 GMT -5
Never before had Beech been witness to a literal wall of water- and she would have been entirely happy if she never had to witness such a thing again. Her ethereal body was almost immediately torn asunder by the salt, and for a time she was in so much agony that she was unable to see or hear or even think. She wasn’t sure how she even found her way out of the water, but at length she did, the scattered embers of her essence slowly rejoining on a stone bank inside the Whispering Cave. She blinked, groggy and confused. The last thing she remembered was talking to the dilophosaur family, then water everywhere. She stung, oh how she stung, all over. Slowly the thylacine rose to her feet, shaking as if to shake off the sensation. It didn’t really work. Her ghostly body left more driblets of itself behind as she moved, like it hadn’t quite regained its full ability to hold itself together. The spirit’s voice echoed in her mind, and Beech looked around. What? A heart? What did that mean? Distantly the thylacine could see Quicksnap, and a ways off the dilophosaur family (she was immensely relieved they’d made it here safely, and though she couldn’t see him hoped Kohimu had managed the same.) She started to move towards one of the familiar figures, giving a loud yip to get their attention over the murmuring of the crowd. She saw them turn towards her, but a flicker in the corner of her eyes distracted the thylacine’s attention. Turning, she tensed. The cat!The hairless sower-cat! It was here too! “You!” Beech snarled, the fur on her spine bristling. The cat, still reassembling itself after the salt water dip, hissed and fled down one of the cavern’s many branching tunnels. With a growl Beech scampered after, not willing to let her escape a second time. Xsabaskis had asked her to see if one ghost could pin another, and Beech meant to test that theory! * * * Quicksnap had already been washed down the island by the flooding of the Winding River- the tidal wave only served to finish the job, and he wished for once that he was one of his many aquatic cousins. He was immensely relieved when he finally managed to breach the surface, and grateful he’d had the good sense to sun unmovingly for so long before the storm broke. He’d be nearly torpid with cold by now if he hadn’t. At least he wasn’t as blind as some of the other animals seemed to be- crocodilians were naturally nocturnal, and thus had excellent night vision. The crocodile briefly looked around, catching sight of both Beech and the dilophosaurs, but losing them again almost immediately in the crowd that was presently milling about in the cave. He began to pace forwards through the large group of animals, rumbling from time to time to get clumps to clear the way for him. He didn’t manage to find Beech or Soaitsae’s family again, but he did hear another familiar voice. “But since we don’t even know if they’re here...we should follow the Spirit’s instructions. Dara will likely do so, too. And besides….I would like to see the heart of our island, and the shape of this conflict!”That was Yellowtail- Driftstone and Shadowstep’s leader, he was certain. He remembered her from the bonfire, vaguely. He followed the voice, and sure enough there were the raptor matriarch, Quicksnap’s two friends, and a fourth member of their pack. The kaprosochus gave a soft croak, like a mother calling her nestlings, to alert them to his presence, and bumped his nose against Driftstone’s haunch. “This a private bird party or do you mind if I join you? I’m curious about all this too, and you lot could probably use some dumb muscle in case of in-the-way boulders or the like.” With a tired but amused rumble, he added, “I just hope this cave is not your ‘death’s warren’ from a few days ago, Driftstone. I still am not quite ready.” ( Coaster) Beech manages to collect herself after a painful submersion in salt water. She looks around for anyone familiar, but the first person she spots is the ghost of Genevieve, whom she promptly chases into a side tunnel (got Coaster’s permission to have Gen run off this way). The two are out of earshot so don’t feel obligated to address them if you don’t want to, but if you do want to feel free to have noticed the chase and go after them. ( Tiger) Snappy is in the cave too! He decides to go bug the raptors because mesozoic snark buddies!
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Post by Rabbit ♠ on Jul 28, 2018 1:25:26 GMT -5
There was water. Large bounds of water coming fast. So fast. Couldn’t react. Animals being hit. Being swept away. Couldn’t do anything. Some saved themselves. Not all were lucky. Swept away. Lots of screaming. Lots of it. Swept away. My little ones, the time has come for you to learn the truth. Travel the tunnels until you come to the heart of the island, and there I will show you the true nature of the war you have been made to fight.“Oh…” Tash’s head was spinning. She didn’t know how much time passed since she washed up or how long she was in the water. All she could focus on was breathing and trying to calm her head. Wait, what happened to Kopi? Where was he? What happened to him? The last thing she remembered was the wave and she didn’t know if Kopi was swept up by it. Could he even be swept up by it? Was he okay? Tash quickly got up only to nearly fall back down. Her legs were hurt. Something must have hit them. She shouldn’t be surprised; that was a rough wave and a lot was picked up. She couldn’t be walking like this, though. One leg was a front leg and the other was in the back. There was no way she could walk steadily. She shook off the water on her wings and flapped them. She hovered above the ground. Okay, she could get around like this. The artacat looked around. She was in a sort of cave. Tash wasn’t familiar with any of the caves on Naelus. She heard there was a cave somewhere under Naelus, but she was never sure. Was this it? The scenery was beautiful, but it was so unnerving, being down here. Other animals were washed up as well. How many animals were swept up? As Tash was looking at the animals, another one came out of the water. This one was a lot more ethereal than the rest. It had to be… “Kopi!” Tash called. She flew to him. “Kopi, are you okay?” As much as Kopi wanted to say he was, he really wasn’t fine. He was in pain. Everything stung. Everything hurt. He didn’t expect the wave to hurt him like this, especially as a ghost. He couldn’t focus, he was dizzy, he was unsteady. “I-I didn’t expect that to ha-appen,” Kopi answered. His words were slurring together, though they were getting more coherent by the word. “Tash, what happened? A big wave hit us?” “A big wave hit us. Now we’re in a cave.” Tash looked up. “Hey Kop’. Did you hear something before you came out of the water?” “I think so, yeah. I’m not sure, though. I was more focused on getting out of the water. I didn’t know the ocean stung that bad.” “Stung?” Tash was confused, since the ocean didn’t sting. It bashed Tash around, but the ocean itself never stung her. Granted, Kopi's never been in the ocean, but it shouldn't hurt him. “Maybe it’s a ghost thing. We’ll ask Beech about it when we can. But that voice. Something about the heart of the island? Was that Spirit? It was the same voice that we heard after we were skeletons.” Kopi shook his body as he did many times in the past. Even though he was a ghost, he felt the water clinging to his fur. He felt each and every drop clinging to his nonexistent skin and each drop stung. “It could have been the Spirit,” Kopi answered. “I’m not sure. Why are you asking me?” “You’re a guardian. Of all the animals, I thought you would know.” “Tash, we just got swept up by a wave and I am in utter pain. I am not in the mood to try and remember if I’ve ever talked to the Spirit.” Tash couldn’t blame him for that. “I’m sorry.” “No, don’t be.” Kopi rubbed up against her. “Are you okay? You’re not on your feet right now.” “I just hurt a couple of my legs. I’m okay. We’re okay.” Thank the Spirit that they were. Did the Spirit just talk to them? It had to be, who else would it be? What did she mean by the heart of the island? Why bring them down here? Tash trusted in the Spirit - if Kopi trusted in her, Tash would, too - but she questioned her methods. “What do we do now?” Tash asked. “Do we help the other animals that were washed up? Do we go to the heart?” “We should go to the heart,” Kopi sighed. “I’m not sure if we’re in the best condition to help other animals. There’s not much we can do for them if they are hurt, anyway.” He looked around at the animals. Some were still lying by the water. Some were getting up. There were a few animals that looked familiar… “Wait, is that…” Kopi took a step closer to those animals. They were dilophasaurs. Xsabaskis and her family were down here as well? Were they okay? The wave banged up Kopi and Tash and the other animals, but what about them? They were bigger and stronger than them, but it was a big wave. “Baskis! Baskis!” Kopi called as he ran off to them. “Taak! Sae!” Kopi had never been the most graceful runner. However, now he was completely clumsy. He couldn’t run straight, he almost lost his balance, he tripped on his own ears a couple of times. The wave disoriented Kopi and he still needed to shake it off, but he didn’t want to wait. Tash was flying after him, partly because she was concerned about what’d happen if he fell, partly because she was concerned about the dilophasaur family, too. Kopi nearly ran into Taakeyrr. He doubted he would hurt her, since he was much lighter than her even when he was alive, but he didn’t want to take the chance. Kopi did, however, stop by her, hopped up on his back legs, and lightly pressed his front paws against her leg. “Taak, are you and your family okay?” Kopi asked. He couldn’t seem to get those words out fast enough. “Are any of you hurt?” Tash doesn't remember much since before she was swept up. She's a little dizzy and hurt after the wave. She begins to look around for Kopi when she notices she and other animals are in a cave. Eventually, Kopi comes up from the water, in pain from the salt water. The two do their thing of checking if the other's okay. They take note of the voice they heard and wonder if it's the Spirit for a little bit. Tash asks if they should help the animals or "go to the heart" and Kopi says go to the heart, but then notices Baskis, Taak, and Saw ( Tiger ). Kopi immediately bolts to them (ungracefully, I might add). He goes up to Taak and asks if everyone is okay.
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Post by Celestial on Jul 28, 2018 8:20:52 GMT -5
Kohimu was dead. He was dead and Svar had killed him. All because he could not contain his own panic. He did not even stop to look back at what he had done. After the flames burst, Svar flew blindly into the sky, ignoring the lashes of water that struck him. Steam curled off his feathers and pearls fell in steams from his eyes onto the land and water below. The wind tossed him about in every direction, and while the bird instinct that had been embedded into him screamed to right himself and land, Svar did not obey it. He could not. Not after what he did. He could have said something. He should have said something. But he did not. Now the only creature on this island that he trusted, his friend, was dead. His feathers grew heavier. Their glow dulled. The steam that had been skimmed off them eventually dissipated. The rain had soaked the firebird through. He screeched and flapped his wings, desperate to stay aloft, but all his efforts were for nought. Svar plunged into the ocean. Instead of fighting, however, he shut his eyes. If this was how it would end, that was fine. He no longer had the strength to live. It was almost a disappointment when he found himself breathing again. Svar wearily cracked open his eyes. He was underground. There was a faint glow around him, almost like starlight. That was enough of a slap in the face to startle him into awareness. Where was the glow of his own plumes? Had he been turned into a skeleton again? Reflexively, he reached back and felt his tail with his beak. No, they were still there. Just they were no longer shining. Perhaps after what he had done, the divine light had finally left him. A voice permeated his consciousness. My little ones, the time has come for you to learn the truth. Travel the tunnels until you come to the heart of the island, and there I will show you the true nature of the war you have been made to fight.He should continue. However, that was the last thing Svar wanted to do. What was the point anymore? What good would winning this fight achieve? What would he lose if this battle was lost? It did not matter anymore. Nothing mattered. He had lost everything anyway. Kohimu was dead, all because of him. His feathers brought misfortune to all, most of all himself. Tears fell on the ground all around his feet. The firebird threw back his head. A wail of despair echoed throughout the cave. Svar's not going great, everyone.
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Post by Tiger on Jul 28, 2018 11:11:48 GMT -5
The odd reptillian noise drew the raptors’ attention right away; Yellowtail lifted her head in interest, Duskrunner lowered her shoulders and tensed in caution, and Driftstone and Shadowstep chittered with excitement. “This a private bird party or do you mind if I join you? I’m curious about all this too, and you lot could probably use some dumb muscle in case of in-the-way boulders or the like.”“...We are not birds,” Duskrunner said in confusion, but her posture shifted into one more like her mother’s. Driftstone bumped his head against Quicksnap’s huge snout. “I don’t think our mother would mind!” Looking to the raptor in question, he added, “A big friend in these caverns is probably no bad thing, hssaah? Even if they aren’t death warrens.” “I was wondering how much of your talking at the fire was just being close-by, and how much was actual friendship” Yellowtail remarked, her tone more amused than anything. “I decided we should be friends when we noticed him injured by the cliff the day Driftstone killed the first sower,” Shadowstep explained. “We’ve talked to him probably as much as Duskrunner has to Dara - just in different places.” “He shared a fish with us a few days ago,” Driftstone reported. “A very large one. And he didn’t even complain when Shadowstep climbed all over it!” Shadowstep nipped at his mate’s jaw, but turned back to Yellowtail. “Driftstone may have adopted him into the pack already.” Yellowtail chittered. “Yes. I’m sure that was all his idea.” She stepped toward the kaprosuchus (ignoring Driftstone’s quiet but gleeful, “Look at how much trouble you get into! She doesn’t believe you!” to his mate) in favor of looking the huge crocodile over. After a moment, Yellowtail snapped her teeth together and said, “Very well; let’s have you along. You seem like you’ll be good, sensible company - and I will gladly take muscle when we don’t know who all is with us, or where we’re going.” She looked toward the tunnels, where some animals were beginning to investigate. “Now we just need to decide which path seems the most promising.” ------- A familiar yip caught the dilophosaurs’ attention, and they turned in time to get a glimpse of Beech through the crowd. She looked to be all right - maybe a bit fuzzy and mistlike, through perhaps that was the distance, but in one piece - and her call hadn’t sounded distressed. They lost sight of her a moment later; perhaps she had seen Quicksnap - or perhaps someone less friendly, though Taakeyrr guessed that wasn’t the case, that Beech would have come closer to the dilophosaurs if that was the case. Before they could debate amongst themselves whether to go after Beech or respect her right to go off on her own, they heard something else - less familiar, but certainly recognizable. After all - they’d just heard it a few days previous. “Baskis! Baskis!” Xsabaskis’ head twisted so fast Taakeyrr swore she felt a breeze from it. “Kopi?!” she sounded relieved and astounded and unsure all at once. If any of them had thought it was just an echo, just an old memory reviving itself in this strange place, the same voice called out “Taak! Sae!”, and then, they could see the hovering artacat and alongside her, a semi-transparent, dull-blue, long-eared and stumbling cunicanine.” He staggered to Taakeyrr’s side, pressing slightly chilly paws to the dilophosaur’s ankle. “Taak, are you and your family okay? Are any of you hurt?” he blurted. Taakeyrr lowered her head to see and speak to him better - the poor animal was shaking and unsteady. “We’re fine!” she said. “I’m glad to see you!” “Me, too,” Xasbaskis said, leaning down as well. “Are you all right? I mean…” She clenched her jaw a moment, then said, “From the ocean water. Don’t know if you heard, but salt-water hurts, uh...animals like Beech. It looks like it wears off though; just relax, we’ll stay with you.” Taakeyrr saw her sister adjust her stance, shifting her footing so she could leap into a fighting position if it were needed. “It’s a relief to see both of you again,” said Soaitsae. He tilted his head a little at Tash. “Are you all right? Flying in this cave must be exhausting, do you want to rest?” A loud cry from some kind of bird echoed through the cavern; Xsabaskis jerked and lifted her head, darting it left and right to try to see around the crowd. “...Svar,” she announced after a moment. “His light’s gone out; must’ve been drenched in the storm.” “Surely he’s not wailing because of that…” Soaitsae murmered. “Is he injured?” “...Can’t tell. There’s other animals nearby, though; let’s make sure Kopi and Tash are all right first, before we try to push through the crowd to get to the firebird.” The raptors accept Quicksnap’s company on their field trip expedition \ o / ( Shinko) The dilophosaurs are reunited with their cunicanine friend! \ o / Xasbaskis explains the salt-water thing to Kopi and both Kopi and Tash are advised to rest a moment cause dang. ( Rabbit ♠) They hear Svar’s cry as well, but decide to hold back for the moment while they help Kopi and Tash.
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Post by Shinko on Jul 28, 2018 11:43:58 GMT -5
Quicksnap gave Duskrunner a cheery wink. “Chirps like a bird and has feathers like a bird, must be a bird! A big bird, but still!” He snorted into Shadowstep’s head-feathers playfully by way of demonstration, making them ruffle in the breeze of his breath. The kaprosochus let Yellowtail inspect him, and grinned when she spoke her approval. “I will gladly swat aside anyone who tries to be rude. Although after you set Thunder on the wolves the other day, one would hope nobody with sense would think to interfere with you.” At Yellowtail’s question, Quicksnap looked the tunnels over. “I think before everyone roused and started talking I heard strange voices. Whispers- this is the ‘Whispering Cave’ so I guess the name had to come from somewhere. Maybe if we figured out which tunnel those whispers were loudest in, that would lead to somewhere interesting?” * * * When the much reduced Renpi had approached Mochi again, at first the moon rabbit had assumed it was a different individual of the same species. The sha had corrected them with all the haughty dignity that a spoiled little kid could muster, insisting she was the same powerful godbeast, just she’d sort of molted, like a snake would you know, and of course it would happen now, ugh! Mochi had heard of creatures reincarnating into younger bodies periodically, but had never seen it firsthand. It would have been fascinating, except that Renpi was alternating guarding the cave entrance like a lop-eared stone sentinel, then getting bored with that after two minutes and trying to engage the rabbit in a tussle before reining herself in for a brief guard-duty once again. When the wave came, Renpi briefly panicked, asking Mochi what to do and howl-braying like a sad puppy, then caught herself and tried to insist she would protect with her life! She led Mochi up the cliffs, but not quickly enough to prevent both of them to be caught up in the surging water. Mochi just barely threw their arms around Renpi’s neck in time to prevent them being separated. At length the two of them were drawn by the Spirit’s song, and managed to haul themselves up into the cave. After several minutes of panting and gasping for air, Mochi fading in and out of consciousness, they were jerked awake by a loud birdlike shriek. The rabbit, still soaked to the skin and thoroughly exhausted, forced themselves up and looked around. There was a searing ache in their chest, from what they weren’t sure, but they forced themselves to ignore it. The source of the noise turned out to be the firebird, Svar. Curiously, cautiously, Mochi hopped over to him. Voice tight with suppressed pain, they said, “Um… Svar? What’s wrong, are you hurt anywhere?” ( Tiger) Quicksnap is glad to be accepted into the ranks of the raptors! He suggests they head in the direction that the odd whispers in the cave are strongest. Meanwhile Mochi recaps their reaction to Renpuppy ( Liou let me know if there's anything that needs changing, I did my best based on your descriptions) and asks Svar what’s the matter.
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Post by Celestial on Jul 28, 2018 12:04:52 GMT -5
Svar's head lolled around towards the source of the voice that had spoken to him, trying to see through his tears. Finally, he caught a glimpse of the moon rabbit. "Mochi..." he murmured. Behind the rabbit, there was a creature which looked vaguely like a cross between Renpi and a puppy. At another time, Svar would have leapt away from the stranger but right now, he could not muster the energy. "I'm not hurt. But..." he gave out another wail and sank onto the ground, his crest drooping. "Kohimu is dead. I killed him," the firebird raised his head to the sky. "We were ambushed by some creatures who thought he was a sower and they collapsed our shelter upon us, and I let out a burst of fire..." he was cut off by a sob. The cave surface was by now littered with small pearls. "I should have said something but I didn't! And then in my fear, I killed my best friend! He was a good creature, kind, understanding, loving, innocent of everything and yet I couldn't speak up! Now he's gone and it's all my fault!!" The firebird gave another scream before his head fell down onto the cold, hard rock. "You should leave me, Mochi. I attract nothing but misfortune. You should leave before I kill you too," he glanced past the moon rabbit at the creature that might have been Renpi. "Same to you, whoever you are." Svar tells Mochi( Shinko) and Renpi(?)( Liou) about Kohimu in between cries of anguish.
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Post by Rabbit ♠ on Jul 28, 2018 13:58:50 GMT -5
Taakeyrr lowered her head to see and speak to him better - the poor animal was shaking and unsteady. “We’re fine!” she said. “I’m glad to see you!”
“Me, too,” Xasbaskis said, leaning down as well. “Are you all right? I mean…” She clenched her jaw a moment, then said, “From the ocean water. Don’t know if you heard, but salt-water hurts, uh...animals like Beech. It looks like it wears off though; just relax, we’ll stay with you.”“I’m fine, we’re fine. We're a bit banged up, but we're fine,” Kopi sighed. He plopped back down onto the ground. He scratched at his nonexistent fur. “That explains why the wave messed me up like that. And why everything stings. I need to talk to Beech about being a ghost. “So yeah, I’m a ghost now,” Kopi went on. Did they know that he was dead? They were now, of course, but what about before? “I’m sure the birds have been spreading the news but… Yeah, Muuri… the Lionheart… I tried to help, but…” Kopi didn’t know how to explain it and he didn’t want to figure it out now. “It’s a long story. Point is, I’m dead.” “It’s a relief to see both of you again,” said Soaitsae. He tilted his head a little at Tash. “Are you all right? Flying in this cave must be exhausting, do you want to rest?”“I’m okay, I just hurt my legs,” Tash informed. “That’s why I’m flying. At least I can still move.” A loud wail echoed through the cave. Kopi quickly turned to the source, falling to the ground in the process. It was Svar. Svar looked extremely distressed. Why was he this way, though? Kopi couldn’t remember seeing Svar like this. The firebird had always been extremely worried about things, but he couldn’t be upset about this. The dilophasaurs talked about waiting to see if Kopi and Tash were okay. They appreciated the sentiment, but Svar was clearly in more distress. “Is Svar okay?” Kopi asked. “I don’t know,” Tash responded. “He could be hurt. Or maybe something happened to another animal.” She turned to Kopi. “What if he heard about what happened to you? You two are friends.” “I don’t know. Maybe he did? I’m not going to go over there in case he doesn’t know. I’m sure finding out I’m a ghost isn’t going to help.” Besides, Kopi had other things on his mind right now. He looked over at Xsabaskis. “Hey, did any of you hear something about the heart of the island?” Kopi says to the dilo family ( Tiger ) that they're okay, just a bit shaken up, and that Kopi is now a ghost. He doesn't go into detail, but he's extremely chill about it. Meanwhile, Tash explains that her legs are hurt, but is still good to fly. The pair hear Svar crying and they wonder why he's upset. Does he know Kopi's dead? They don't know and Kopi doesn't want to break the news to him if he doesn't. Kopi then asks Baskis if any of them heard anything about the heart of the island.
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Post by RielCZ on Jul 28, 2018 15:58:59 GMT -5
One second the tribe of longma were in mourning. The next they were in water. *** Rui opened her eyes -- mere water could not extinguish her!... But it had seemed to extinguish her flame; she tried to breath fire to light her surroundings, but found it useless. Her eyes slowly adjusted. She was surrounded by darkness, yes -- save for a few patches of iridescent blue light. "NO MATTER HOW LARGE THE DARKNESS, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE LIGHT!" But Rui did agree with the resounding voice from earlier. Exploring dark caves sounded like a fun idea -- and finding a heart at the end? That was like gold at the end of a rainbow! An ever-so-slight rainbow sheen, dyed colors of blue, reflected off her scales. Rui smiled and flipped her mane hair. The dragon-horse trotted about rather aimlessly, trying her best not to hit walls. "Ow!" she said to no one in particular upon hitting her hoof hard against a jutting rock. And then she heard the distant, tormented wails of the BIRD-on-fire. He was talking about his friend and hopelessness and... Poor thing. She didn't know the BIRD all that well, but she felt compassion for him: she, and all of the tribe of longma, had just lost their elder; but he had lost his best friend. She walked toward his voice, hoping to offer comfort -- but then she scraped her front left shoulder on a rock jutting out from the side of the cave. "Owie!" Even with light, this was harder than it seemed. But what exactly WAS the cave light, anyway? Mustering her strength, Rui flew to the cave roof. Bright blue lights shone all about the place -- it was mesmerizing. Entrancing. She was entirely bathed in powderblue light, and her scales shone like never before. She wanted to reach out and touch the light, the whispering-nothing-but-everything blue light... but thought better of it at the last second. She flew back to the ground and continued her trotting. Though she had no idea where she was going, she decided to let the light guide her way. Rui finds herself in the cave. She hear Svar ( Celestial) off in the distance, and feels compassion for him: like she and longma lost Grandma, he has lost his best friend. However, on her way over there, she hurts herself because of the dim light. She decides to fly above and examine the light -- it's something of great beauty and WHISPERS. She almost touches one but thinks better of it and soars back to the ground. She's just wandering around the caves in search of the mentioned heart, if anyone wants to encounter her.
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Post by Tiger on Jul 28, 2018 16:18:10 GMT -5
Shadowstep squawked when Quicksnap ruffled his feathers, and combed it back down with a hind talon. “First splashing me with water, then ruffling my crest - you are a menace, Quicksnap!” “I will gladly swat aside anyone who tries to be rude. Although after you set Thunder on the wolves the other day, one would hope nobody with sense would think to interfere with you.” Yellowtail showed her teeth in a gape-jawed smirk. “We were only being good neighbors. The wolves might have posed a danger to those tiny tyrannosaur chicks!” She listened to Quicksnap’s guess at where to look, and chittered in agreement. “That does sound reasonable. I don’t know if the heart would be at the source of the whispers, but even if not...I would be interested to see what causes the whispers!” Yellowtail looked over her shoulder and chittered sharply - the three other raptors lifted their heads, looking very much like the birds Duskrunner claimed they were not, and stopped squabbling with Shadowstep’s ruffled crest to come join their leader.For all their fooling around, there was sharp, cunning interest in their eyes as Yellowtail explained the plan, and the raptors swiftly split up to find the place the whispers were coming from as quickly as possible. “I don’t suppose you know if the wave that swept us away pulled all the way back from land?” Yellowtail asked Quicksnap, her eyes on the raptors moving through the gloom. “Some of my pack is still up there.” Only a short time passed before Duskrunner and Shadowstep returned; Driftstone caught sight of them from the tunnels he was searching and started to make his way through the crowd. “I found a good tunnel,” Duskrunner announced. “The whispers are louder and there is enough room for him” - she nodded at Quicksnap - “to fit.” “I met Duskrunner at the same tunnel, and she is right,” Shadowstep said. “But I have other news. Less good. There are other raptors here.” “Hmm. Whose pack?” “I couldn’t tell. Not my mother’s, but that is all I can say.” “Well,” Yellowtail said slowly, “presumably we’re all friends here...and no raptor can claim the Whispering Cave as territory.” “Let us hope,” Shadowstep agreed. He stepped aside for Yellowtail to lead the way toward Duskrunner’s tunnel. ------- “I’m fine, we’re fine. We're a bit banged up, but we're fine,” Kopi said - and if this had been almost any other situation, Taakeyrr would have laughed at the incredulous look on her sister’s face. “So yeah, I’m a ghost now. I’m sure the birds have been spreading the news but… Yeah, Muuri… the Lionheart… I tried to help, but…It’s a long story. Point is, I’m dead.”Xsabaskis swallowed heavily, tried to speak once, failed, and had to try again. “We - yes, we know about what happened, we - Beech came and got us and…” Taakeyrr took mercy on her sister, though it wasn’t much easier for her to say it. “We almost got there in time, but...but not soon enough.” Kopi must not have heard the dilophosaurs coming - no wonder, face to face with a corrupted predator several times his size… “I’m sorry,” Xsabaskis said. “I should have had you come stay with us, or stayed with you - if I had…” Her teeth briefly clenched together again. “...I’m sorry, Kopi.” After allowing the group to discuss the heavy topic, Soaitsae said quietly to Tash, “I see; the wave was rough on the little creatures, I’m sure. If you want to rest, one of us can probably carry you on our backs. Just let us know.” Taakeyrr hadn’t thought of Kopi’s point about Svar not being shown a ghost of a friend just yet (a friendship she was a little surprised to hear about, but then, Kopi was also friends with her notoriously curt, grumpy sister) - but she agreed he had a point. While the dilophosaurs were relieved to see Kopi as a ghost rather than an emptiness in the world where a cunicanine used to be...spirits seemed to be a mixed subject on the island right now. And given that Svar apparently kept company with Kohimu, it seemed possible he could have some of the same beliefs the taniwha did, and that seemed like a layer of conflict they didn’t need to put upon themselves right now. “Hey, did any of you hear something about the heart of the island?” Kopi asked, drawing the dilophosaurs attention back to him. Xsabaskis grunted assent. “When we got to shore. The Spirit says we need to go through the tunnels to find it?” She lifted her head and peered in the direction of the tunnels. “Looks like there’s more than one choice. Think some of them are gonna be too small for us, but there’s plenty of bigger ones.” She paused a moment, looking at the ceiling. When Taakeyrr said her sister’s name in a questioning tone, the dilophosaur said, “The lights - I thought they were stones. They’re not.” Taakeyrr looked up, and sure enough, after a moment she realized there were slight movements from the blue lights, and odd hanging threads. “...Are those...bugs?” “Looks like.” Xsabaskis stared a second more, then shook her head and looked back down at Kopi. “You two want to come with us? Once you’re feeling well again, Kopi,” she added sternly. The raptors split up seeking the tunnel with the loudest whispers, as Quicksnap suggested. They find one, but Shadowstep reports spotting raptors from another pack. Mysterious 8O ( Shinko) Xsabaskis and Taak explain that yeeeeaaaah, they uh...kind of know about Kopi’s murder, oops 8’D Xsabaskis apologizes for not being able to get to them in time. Also Soaitsae offers Tash free dilophosaur rides if she gets tired from flying, they agree plan “don’t throw a fresh ghost at Svar” is a good one, the dinos figure out the lights on the ceiling are worms, and Xsabaskis asks if Kopi and Tash want to stick with them on this ~*tunnel adventure!*~ ( Rabbit ♠)
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Post by Rabbit ♠ on Jul 28, 2018 18:17:37 GMT -5
Taakeyrr and Xsabaskis saw Kopi? Was that after he died? It had to be, Kopi didn’t remember seeing them. Then again, maybe Kopi forgot. He might not have seen them. “Hey, it’s okay. Taak, Baskis, it’s okay,” Kopi comforted. “I’m sorry you had to see that.” A shiver rolled down his spine. He didn't want to think what it must have been like for them. “I can imagine it wasn’t fun to deal with Muuri. I tried to heal her, but things went bad fast.” Did Taakeyrr and Soaitsae know Kopi was the healer? Xsabaskis knew. Would she say something after he died? Whatever, he could explain as they went through the cave. “Let’s not talk about that now. I’m just glad none of you got hurt.” He smiled. "And even if you were late, I appreciate that you came for me." Kopi looked down deeper into the cave. He couldn’t tell how far it went down. It must be pretty deep. He looked up at the ceiling. Xsabaskis and Taakeyrr mentioned that there were bugs up there? Kopi couldn’t tell and he wasn’t about to ask either of them for a closer look. It all looked like rocks to him down there. “I want to go with you. I want to see what’s down here,” Kopi went on. “I’ll be fine. I made it over here, after all.” “I’m coming, too,” Tash added. “Though, if you were okay with it, Sae said something about one of you carrying me?” Ghost comforts and curiosity of the cave. \o/ Kopi tries to comfort Taak and Baskis ( Tiger ), explaining he tried to heal Muuri and that he's happy they're all okay. He wants to go with them in the cave and says he's fine to go on the Tunnel Adventure!. Tash wants to join as well.
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Post by Liou on Jul 28, 2018 18:54:06 GMT -5
The light enfolded her completely and the world seemed to freeze around her. Caught in the core of her star, the Sha basked in the blaze, letting it flood her entire being. Deep inside, a tiny, fierce red spark pulsed. It was the only time when she could be sure of its presence. As the surge forked and branched deeper within her, she felt lighter and lighter. She wondered, like she did every time, what would happen if she stayed long enough to reach the lightest possible state. Worries soon clouded her mind and weighed down her form - very soon. The lightning flickered off, leaving many colours to flash inside her eyelids, and the thunder resumed its deafening roar. She fell on the cracked ground in a mess of gangly paws, sparks still crackling at the tips of her fur. Rain streamed over her like a waterfall, her ears rang from the constant noise, and the rocks, the many, many rocks stank. Renpi remembered that she was alive. It was a wretched state. She had to yowl and whine her discontent for a long time before deciding that it was not worth sitting in the rain, and scrambled down the rocks instead. How dare they be so rough against her soft pawpads. This was the worst. And after all she'd done to rescue the moon rabbit, they pretended not to recognise her. Renpi had no intention of explaining yet again that she was the only Sha on the island. She quickly made it quite clear that she was a large and noble creature and not to be trifled with, unlike other beasts of slight stature. Perhaps she would deign to explain more about her regeneration - after inspecting that scent on Mochi's fur. And that other scent on the cave wall. And that twitching - just her tail. Renpi was still a little taller than the rabbit. Other regenerations had left her much smaller and more vulnerable. In these cases, she'd had time to prepare and find a litter of jackal pups to join, or a large hen to sneak under and be loyally protected by. This time, the looming threat of the enemy deity and the need to stay and fight must have cut her regeneration short. She'd ended up as a larger sort of pup, thankfully. All the memories of her long life remained, ready to be grasped and used at need. Renpi left them alone. The large, empty space at the forefront of her mind had been cleared for new thoughts and sensations to pour in, with no room to spare for elderly musing. The wave was too large to take in. Even she had never seen such a thing in her life. How could they even stand a chance against such a wave? It was a dreadfully dishonourable tactic, and she must howl the gross unfairness of it to everyone, or at least, for the moment, to Mochi. That was when Renpi remembered that things had been even more unfair towards Mochi, and from then, her goal was to protect them through this cataclysm. When she was swept underwater, only survival remained, only her floppy paddling paws, her desperate little heartbeat and her indignant lungs. At last, sweet, delicious breath was restored, and a hard, steady thing for her to rest on. Renpi had experienced enough appreciation of the little things in life for the next few centuries. She must have dozed off. The frantic rise and fall of her ribs slowed. When she opened her eyes, she recognised Mochi's fur somewhere near one of her paws. Her ears still rang from that terrible pressure and the water that would not leak out no matter how many times she shook. Despite the icky salty fire that lined her throat, Renpi took in a deep breath, for her displeasure was too great to be contained in this small body, and she must, she simply must howl it to the rest of the world. She was cut off by a tremendous wail. Renpi let out a quiet, surprised yip. She had wanted to do her own howling! Mochi quickly found the source of the interruption. Of course it would be the firebird. Renpi followed Mochi curiously, wobbling on her tired paws, and listened to Svar's tearful confession. "You killed Kohimu? But, but he was a nice protector taniwha! With wisdom and stories and all! How many taniwha are even left on the island? Just cause you burst into fire?" She slammed a soft paw to the ground, swatting away a bunch of Svar's tears. "It's not even fair! Now what are we gonna do without Kohimu and what he knew and who else is gonna help against the enemy? Those big dummies! Where are they? You tell me where they are and I'll give them a piece of my mind! I should have been there too!" One of her ears refused to stand; she flicked it back impatiently. It drooped down again in a second. Renpi looked down at Svar's flopped head. "Hey, wait a minute, who are you calling misfortune, you fancy chicken? I came here when I heard you yell and I am not a misfortune! And neither is Mochi! They're very good fortune!" Renpi promptly sniffed at the said good fortune. "Are you all right, Mochi?" Renpi's regeneration did not wipe her memories, but left her with the impulsiveness and emotional maturity of a puppy. She is not too small, more of a gangly growing pup. She is taken aback by Celestial because who howled when it was her turn? She tells Svar a lot of things, lamenting the unfairness of it all but also being angry, but wait, Shinko, is Mochi OK?
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Post by Shinko on Jul 28, 2018 19:43:29 GMT -5
Quicksnap tilted his head, seeming to give it thought. “I would hazard a guess that it probably has pulled away again. The level of the sea itself didn’t rise, only a bit of it was pushed high by the wind. And the entire island is on a slope.” He demonstrated by dipping his tail into the saltwater pool nearby, then withdrawing it and allowing beads of moisture to run back off. “See? Water follows the downhill path, so it will go away. Likely at least some trees were uprooted, but as long as we are all alive the forest can regrow.” He gave a wary rumble at the word of an unfamiliar raptor pack, but agreeably followed Yellowtail and the others. Everything was cast in an unearthly blue light from the glowing points overhead. “I don’t suppose there’s some traditional way for one pack to greet another?” he asked Driftstone in a light voice. “If you have to do a formal feather-dance I might need to get one of you to sit on my head as a wig or something.” He huffed softly. “I don’t suppose any of you have any guesses why the Spirit wants us to find this ‘heart’ before she tells us things?” * * * Mochi was duly horrified when they learned that Svar had accidentally killed someone in a fit of panic. Renpi didn’t really help the situation, lecturing the firebird before getting promptly distracted by their own tangenting. “Svar, this is Renpi; she was bigger a little while ago, but um. She got little.” Hurriedly they added to the sha, “But you’re still fierce, I promise!” Mochi lay down beside the firebird and licked his cheek under one eye, adding, “She’s right though. What happened was awful. A tragedy. And Svar, it can’t happen again. You’ve gotta get these panic attacks and hysterics under control if you don’t want this to happen again. But that something bad happened unintentionally doesn’t make you a bad person.” Tentatively the rabbit added, “Would… it help if we did something later today? After we get out of the cave and the storm passes. Kohimu, that’s the name of the one at the meeting that wanted to do the funeral for Beech, right? What if we gave him one?” ( Tiger) Quicksnap is wary of the strangers, but makes light of the situation and makes chill conversation. Liou Celestial Mochi never met Kohimu directly, but is duly horrified. They agree that Svar needs to stop flying into an incoherent panic at the slightest provocation, but point out that he didn’t do it on purpose and offer to help Svar give Kohimu a funeral later. (Since Mochi comes from divinity they know what a funeral is.)
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Post by Tiger on Jul 28, 2018 21:40:24 GMT -5
“Hey, it’s okay. Taak, Baskis, it’s okay. I’m sorry you had to see that. I can imagine it wasn’t fun to deal with Muuri. I tried to heal her, but things went bad fast.”Xsabaskis opened her mouth, but didn’t seem to be able to articulate her surprise. Taakeyrr was rather stunned, too - Kopi was sorry the dilophosaurs had seen Kopi murdered? That seemed like the last thing the cunicanine should be apologizing for. “Let’s not talk about that now. I’m just glad none of you got hurt. And even if you were late, I appreciate that you came for me."“Of course we did,” Xsabaskis said. “I - you don’t have to apologize. For any of that.” She seemed like she wanted to go on, but refrained, presumably since Kopi had declared he didn’t want to talk about it. The two declared their intent to join the dilophosaurs, Tash asking, “Though, if you were okay with it, Sae said something about one of you carrying me?”Soaitsae said, “I did, yes. I think it’s only fair I volunteer first; if you want to find a comfortable spot on my back?” While the two settled that matter, Taakeyrr twisted her head and stretched her neck until she could see Svar, too. It looked like some animals had approached him to help, which was good; just because Taakeyrr agreed that their group wouldn’t be helpful to the firebird didn’t mean she didn’t want him helped. “What do you think happened?” Taakeyrr asked Xsabaskis in a low voice. “...I don’t know.” The firebird wailed again. “But I don’t think we’ll like the sound of it when we hear it.” The dilophosaur sighed, turned to face the tunnels again, and led the way toward the many open mouths. She looked between a few that were appropriately dilophosaur-sized. “We should…” She hesitated, glanced over her shoulder, and ammended, “Which one do you all think we should take?” Taakeyrr tilted her head a little; Xsabaskis met her gaze unflinchingly, and Taakeyrr stepped forward a little to examine their options. “Well… that one seems like it has enough animals exploring it. ...That one too. This one...I can smell some water, I think.” “Could be flooded,” Xsabaskis said. “Or...it could be a river,” Taakeyrr said, her tail twining a little as she spoke. “And a heart is connected to all the blood-bringing parts of an animal, right? Water is...sort of like blood. The closest an island could get.” Soaitsae had checked the remaining tunnel. “This one has some plants along the walls. Moss, of course.” “...Kopi? Tash? Observations? Opinion?” Xsabaskis asked. ------ Yellowtail clicked consideringly at Quicksnap’s guess about the water’s course and direction. “That’s more or less what I hope happened. I admit, my concern is less the forest and more my pack...although with so many back-from-the-deads, maybe I need to rearrange my concerns.” As they started down the tunnel and the ruckus from the other animals began to fade, Quicksnap asked Driftstone, “I don’t suppose there’s some traditional way for one pack to greet another? If you have to do a formal feather-dance I might need to get one of you to sit on my head as a wig or something.”Driftstone chittered, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “If I tell you yes, will you show us how you would fake a feather dance?” “Driftstone would make a great disguise,” Duskrunner jeered. “He’s more feathers than anything else!” “ Hssaaaah, ,don’t pretend you don’t want to see it, too, Duskrunner!” Yellowtail growled softly; when the two had stopped their banter, the raptor matriarch said, “No dancing, fortunately. It should be all talking, especially if their matriarch was not washed down here with them. And with you around, I do not think they will try anything foolish. but...this is new territory. Unexplored land. They may try to claim they have the right to explore the area first, and if we keep on going, it is territory trespass.” Shadowstep chimed in, “And usually that is just handled by displays and shows of force, but for something as important as this…” He clacked his teeth together. “We cannot back down, and they would likely not want to, either, and there is only one way to resolve a disagreement then.” Driftstone said, “But hopefully, they won’t do that. This is very important to the whole island, and there’s been enough bloodshed. Also, we have a very large raptor with our pack, so they would be fools to pick a fight!” The dilos begin scouting tunnels and find two that look interesting. One smells like water, which may lead to an underground river (or flooded caverns, whoooo knooooows?) and the other has moss on the walls. Xsabs asks for Kopi and Tash’s opinions. ( Rabbit ♠) Yellowtail explains that a meeting of the packs _should_ be peaceful, but that raptors have a “claim this area for exploring” rule that can result in territory disputes, which can result in fights. While they hope the other pack will recognize that this is kind of important and also Yellowtail’s pack has a kaprosuchus....you really never know with raptors.( Shinko)
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