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Post by Shinko on Jul 29, 2018 6:58:06 GMT -5
Quicksnap tilted his head, frowning slightly. “I wouldn’t think the Spirit would approve of fighting over exploring the cave when we have much bigger problems just now,” he agreed. “I only hope our friends, if they do indeed come down this way, will listen to sense.” He looked away, yellow eyes clouded. “There has been more than enough bloodshed.” He rumbled softly. “Sorry; I don’t mean to give offense to your way of doing things.” ( Tiger) Quicksnap reminds us “oh yeah his friend may be a hanging-around ghost but she’s totes still dead ‘cause of all this” by lowkey disapproving of raptors causing a violent ruckus over _fun spelunking._
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Post by Celestial on Jul 29, 2018 7:03:57 GMT -5
Mochi and Renpi were probably trying to help. However, the more they both spoke, the more the grief in Svar's silver eyes was replaced with anger. His feathers fluffed up, except his crest: that remained firmly down. Even when Mochi licked his cheek, all he did was flinch further away. He clicked his beak in Renpi's direction, snapping as she got too close to him. If she had been insufferable as an adult, in this form she was downright unbearable. " I am misfortune, Renpi. You both are fine. Neither of you have feathers attached to you which bring bad luck to their owners! And there is no need to rub in the death of my best friend by saying what he meant to the island and asking what we're going to do without him. I feel bad enough already." With that, the firebird turned to Mochi. "And you: do you really think I keep panicking because I have a choice? Because I like it!? If I could control my fear, I would have done so a long time ago. But you try spending over a century in the same cage, in the same room with only the changing faces of generations of humans leering at you as the only way to keep track of the passsage of time!" As quickly as it came, his anger faded, only to be replaced by the same listlessness that consumed him before. Svar's feathers drooped and his head lay back down on the ground, as if the fight had drained him of the last of the energy. "I appreciate that both of you at least have your hearts in the right placet. So thank you for that, I suppose," he murmured. Blinking several times, Svar pondered Mochi's suggestion about a funeral for Kohimu. "Assuming the other animals won't mind- they targetted him because he tried to send Beech off properly- that...might be nice, I suppose. I could not go to the funeral of one friend all those years ago. I don't want to miss out going to another." The firebird continued to lie on the ground. By now, his tears had dried up, replaced only with empty depression. "First Elena, now Kohimu...I should not be surprised. All the friends I ever make die," his eyes rotated to Mochi and Renpi. "All the more reason for you both to leave me be. The sowers are still out there. So is their leader. With how much bad luck I bring, if you stay with me, the next creatures you encounter will be them." Svar really does not appreciate the ways that Renpi( Liou) and Mochi( Shinko) are trying to help. After snapping at them though, his anger does fade and he acknowledges a funeral might be nice. He still asks them to leave because his friends have a bad habit of dying and there are still sowers out there.
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Post by Shinko on Jul 29, 2018 9:02:58 GMT -5
Mochi bristled when Svar lashed out at them, ears pinning back. Once the firebird was done speaking, Mochi hopped around him, wincing at the pain from their chest but doing their best to ignore it. “Look, you’re right- I don’t understand what you’ve been through. Most of the island doesn’t; I’ve never even seen a human, I just know of them from stories. Until this stuff with the sowers, Naelus has always been completely safe. So it’s weird to see somebody so afraid all the time. But I can’t understand if you keep withdrawing!” The rabbit groomed their face with a sigh. “So stop trying to make me leave, I’m not leaving.” The rabbit thumped down on their cottonfluff tail, holding up two huge back feet for Svar’s inspection. “You say your feathers cause misfortune? Well my feet bring good luck. So we’re even. Whatever happens, happens because it was gonna happen anyway, not because of your feathers.” Moving gingerly back to a more natural position- the rabbit was hurting even worse for having moved so sharply- Mochi added, “It’s not in my nature to abandon someone who’s upset. That’s why I always bring comfort food around. But I don’t have any rice cakes, so myself will have to do, if you want to talk. Or just sit quietly, that works too.” ( Celestial) Mochi acknowledges that they don’t understand Svar’s perspective, but they can’t if he won’t explain, and says nuh-uh to leaving.
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Post by Tiger on Jul 29, 2018 10:28:04 GMT -5
Yellowtail clicked almost dismissively at Quicksnap’s apology. “It’s all right. You’re correct, this is neither the time nor place for it. We love to explore and learn and discover new things, and to prove to other packs we are the best at it, but when there are murders on the island and the Spirit has requested our presence, it is time to just rely on our own confidence to carry us through. ...Younger or less-secure matriarchs, or raptors without their leader’s guidance, might not be as wise as that, however.” “Some mothers do not teach their children manners!” Driftstone said with an open-mouthed grin. They continued a little further in silence before Shadowstep asked, “You asked if we had thoughts on why the Spirit wants us to see the heart first?” He glanced at Yellowtail, who apparently gave no sign she disapproved of the topic, and continued, “Because I have one! What if the heart...is what’s being attacked?” Duskrunner made a somehow skeptical little hoot. “Attacked by the sowers? Then what are they doing on the surface corrupting animals instead of hiding here where none of us would find them? ….And how would the procoptodon have gotten here? Scimons and cats can climb, maybe, but a giant hopper would have much more trouble!” “Not attacking it like clawing it,” Shadowstep said. “Attacking it by making the island sick. When an animal gets sick from a wound, their whole body feels hot. Their nose runs. They cough. If an island has a heart, maybe it can get sick, too.” “But you can’t go into a fever and stop it with your hands,” Duskrunner protested. “No. But this is an island and there is god-magic at work. Or maybe it is different when the insides are this big.” Duskrunner’s clicks still sounded skeptical, but Driftstone was predictably quick to say, “That sounds like a good theory. Even if it’s not from the island being sick, the sower-god could be attacking the heart while the sowers distract us.” He turned to Quicksnap to ask, “What about you? What do you think?” Yellowtail agrees it would be stupid of the raptors to start fighting over cave exploration rights, but it’s still a bit of a concern because young raptor packs/young raptors might be stupid. Shadowstep brings up the question about why the Spirit is taking them to the heart first to voice his theory about what’s going on - that the sowers or sower-god are attacking the island’s heart and perhaps there’s something the animals can do about it once they see it. It is certainly a theory. Driftstone is a suckup and wants cuddles later so says it’s a good theory, and asks what Quicksnap thinks. ( Shinko)
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Post by Shinko on Jul 29, 2018 12:11:18 GMT -5
The crocodile rumbled thoughtfully. “It’s a good notion, though I do worry. If the island itself is sick, I’m not sure what we can do to fix it. Aside from giving these sowers a good-” he snapped his jaws together with an audible thunk.“I was wondering if there’s something there the spirit wanted us to see. I’m not sure what exactly, but something that can’t be explained in words, and that we have to witness firsthand to believe or understand.” As he spoke, the kaprosochus heard a faint clicking a ways behind them; identical to the clicking of his companion’s claws on the stone of the cave floor. In an undertone he rumbled to Yellowtail, “We have company coming up from behind.” ( Tiger) Quicksnap thinks Shadowstep’s theory is a good one, if worrying, explains his own thoughts then hears clawsteps behind them. Hmmmmm...
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Post by Rabbit ♠ on Jul 29, 2018 12:19:57 GMT -5
Tash nodded and lied down on Soaitsae’s back. She adjusted herself to get in a comfortable position. She yawned and folded up her wings. Kopi looked back at Svar. Other animals were checking on Svar. Kopi was relieved to see the other animals looking out for him. He would like to talk to him at some point, but now wasn't the right time. At least some animals were able to. The dilophasaurs began to look at the different tunnels. Kopi watched them look down them all. He eventually decided to hop up next to Xsabaskis. Each hop, he fluttered his legs as usual. His lower body occasionally dipped below the ground, but made his way back to the surface. Kopi looked at some of the tunnels. Some had animals going through them. One had moss. The other had water running through it - at least that was what Taakeyrr said, Kopi wasn’t sure. “...Kopi? Tash? Observations? Opinion?” Xsabaskis asked.“I’m fine with whatever we do,” Kopi answered. He looked over at Soaitsae and Tash. “Tash, what do you think?” Tash didn’t answer. Kopi hopped over to Soaitsae to look at Tash. It was hard to see, but she was curled up and her eyes were closed. Her antennae occasionally twitched and Kopi even heard a light snore. “And she’s asleep,” Kopi said. “I should have expected that, we had a long day.” He looked over at Taakeyrr. “I think you’re onto something with the water. It could be something like blood. And even if the water doesn’t lead us to the heart, it could lead us somewhere.” Tash takes up Sae's offer and lies down on his back. Kopi looks back at Svar. He's glad others are checking on him. Kopi examines the tunnels with the dilos ( Tiger ). He says he's fine with whatever they do, but does say Taak might be onto something with the water.
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Post by Tiger on Jul 29, 2018 15:00:08 GMT -5
Yellowtail had opened her mouth to reply to Quicksnap’s suggestion about the heart and the Spirit’s intentions for showing it to them before an explanation - but swiftly shut it when she, too, heard the clicking of talons. ”We have company coming up from behind.” Yellowtail stopped and turned; the other raptors followed suit, Duskrunner and Driftstone padding back a few steps to flank them properly. “We could claim our right to this tunnel first,” Shadowstep whispered. “No. Let’s try for sense first.” A group of four raptors came swiftly around the corner, drawing to a sharp halt when they saw Quicksnap. The biggest of them recovered first, shaking out bright red-orange feathers and looking the other raptors over. The newcomers were more or less the same size and shape and had the same rich brown feathers and black scales as Yellowtail’s pack; aside from their accent colors, shades of reds, oranges, and browns, the only immediately noticeable difference was thicker, broader banding on the chest than either those of Yellowtail’s bloodline, or Shadowstep’s. “Well met,” Yellowtail said, her voice even. “Your pack was washed down here, too, was it?” “We are looking for the heart of the island,” a male raptor said. The banding on his neck extended up onto the feathers of his lower jaw. The big female with red-orange feather tips hissed at him. “Wonderful; so are we,” Yellowtail said. “My pack must not share borders with yours; I’m Yellowtail of the Shadowed Pines.” “I am Sunfire,” the red-orange female said. “My pack is of the Highwind Woods.” Her clawed fingers ripped with movement. “The Whispering Caves would run under our territory.” The two raptors who hadn’t spoken yet trilled and clicked, even as Yellowtail’s entourage growled and hissed. “She must be on her first brood,” Driftstone whispered to Quicksnap. “That’s where the latest grown hatchlings started claiming territory.” Yellowtail said, “It seems to me that we’re in unclaimed territory, and that the Spirit set us a task. One that did not include obeying territory borders above-ground.” “But the Spirit would rather the island’s heart be untouched by sowers, yes?” Yellowtail growled, her crest puffing. “State your meaning plainly.” “None of my raptors are corrupted. None are sowers. We cannot say that about most of the other animals here, not for certain.” Sunfire tapped her long claws against the cavern floor. “There is at least one sower-ghost here, after all.” ------- Soaitsae snorted softly in amusement at Tash falling asleep - though he wasn’t surprised, either, given what she had gone through. “I think you’re onto something with the water,” Kopi said to Taakeyrr. ”It could be something like blood. And even if the water doesn’t lead us to the heart, it could lead us somewhere.”“I wouldn’t be opposed to going that way,” Soaitsae agreed. “All right.” Xsabaskis looked around the cavern one last time. “Hm. Still don’t see Beech...hopefully she can track our smell.” But it was entirely possible Beech had gone ahead of them, and with no way of knowing, Xsabaskis started toward the tunnel that smelled of water...and Taakeyrr led the way in. “Wait,” Xsabaskis said sharply. “I should….” Taakeyrr turned back to look at her, features stiff and set; Xsabaskis hesitated. “...Can I take the lead?” Taakeyrr tilted her head for a second...but sighed and shifted so that Xsabaskis could get past her. “I can fight, too,” she grumbled. “I know. I just don’t want you to have to.” And to Xsabaskis’ surprise, Taakeyrr left it at that. The tunnel began to descend rather quickly, at some points sharp enough that the dilophosaurs had to awkwardly sidestep downward to avoid tripping down the slopes. The smell of water continued to grow stronger as they went, and it was soon joined by the sharp scent of some kind of wet stone, though unlike anything Xsabaskis could remember smelling on the surface. But even harder for Xsabaskis to ignore was the slightly glowing form of Kopi. He had said he didn’t want to talk about it, but the questions bounced around her mind - was being dead….all right? Was he cold, could he feel anything around him, could he smell the water, did he feel too light without the weight of his body? Was he like Beech and had come back for a specific purpose? Why hadn’t his memories been distant like Beech’s? (Come to think of it, the sower-cat’s memories had come back more quickly, too. Maybe Beech was the unusual spirit, rather than these two being odd for not having amnesia?) The only thing she felt wouldn’t be a breach of Kopi’s request, she asked - “How’re you doing from the water? Is the salt gone yet?” Dun dun duuuuun, the other raptor pack shows up! There are four raptors, led by a raptor named Sunfire, whose pack’s territory is in the Highwind Wood right above the Whispering Caves. (Based on this, Driftstone, at least, suspects she is a fairly new leader (meaning her pack is likely her and her mate’s first clutch)). Sunfire informs them that her pack is also looking for the heart, and not-so-subtly imply that their goal is to keep sowers away from the heart (including mentioning that Genevieve’s ghost is around, so clearly there are no sower-proof protections on the caves) ( Shinko) The dilos, Kopi, and Tash enter the tunnel, Xsabaskis has a lot of unasked questions, and she asks Kopi if he’s feeling better from the salt-water yet. ( Rabbit ♠, do feel free to move the party deeper into the tunnel and to any obstacles/discoveries/whatever you’d like!)
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Post by Thorn on Jul 29, 2018 15:23:55 GMT -5
( Earlier, during the storm.) With the foolish Rawhn safely sheltered in a cave, Te Tai dived beneath the waves. Kohimu had been blessedly calm for some time now. Obviously he wasn't caught out in this storm then- scurrying around, saving creatures who didn't know how to show a taniwha the proper respect! Sometimes Te Tai was very glad he himself wasn't suited for land. He would have done absolutely nothing for that 'friendly and welcoming' persona Kohimu went in for. Te Tai doubted he would last a week on solid ground without biting some nuisance, stepping on a rude rodent, or ruining the smaller taniwha's life in some other dramatic and gossip-worthy fashion. It seemed Te Tai had been too hopeful, because that anxiety soon started to return. He ignored it at first, but it carried on building, rapidly turning into real fear. Te Tai snorted, bubbles billowing before his face. After so many years of peace on this island, it was truly uncomfortable to feel fear through their bond. His own heart quickened in response. What was Kohimu so afraid of? Had he found a sower? The fear spiked and become something else entirely. Te Tai finally knew for certain what it was to share a mental bond with somebody as they died. His whole body spasmed. He twisted in the water, fighting to reach the surface, but the storm and sheer panic were against him. His flesh felt hot, as if lava coursed through his veins. There was shock and fear, and pain rolling over him like a great wave. He couldn't think, couldn't concentrate, couldn't formulate a plan to get them through this. Te Tai's vision blurred, and his mind slipped away into darkness, even as his body tumbled towards the sea floor. *** When he came around the pain was gone. So was Kohimu. Te Tai's veins no longer burned, instead humming again with that age-old energy. He would normally be happy to feel powerful again, but not here and now. He knew what this meant. No, no. Kohimu oh gods, no.
Te Tai climbed unsteadily towards the surface. Maybe this wasn't really happening. Maybe the water was somehow blocking their connection. Maybe Kohimu was....what was the word? Corrupted. Maybe the agony he'd felt had been the dark shadows, or whatever nonsense Kohimu called it, tearing into the bond and poisoning his mind. Maybe he was temporarily gone, but not beyond saving. The renewed energy permeating Te Tai's flesh said otherwise. Only on Kohimu's death would it come to him. How long since I last let him know how much he means to me?A flash of nausea, as he remembered something else: I called him an idiot. Our last conversation.The taniwha broke through the surface, snapping his jaws. His screams were lost among the sheeting rain and crashing waves. He didn't know who or what could do this, but he couldn't let them get away with it. Te Tai would make sure they suffered a long, long time for the injustice they'd caused today. If he wanted to do anything, Te Tai couldn't stay in this form. The ocean had served him well for a long time, but it wouldn't help him locate the enemy, who were no doubt even now strutting about the island, content in their dark work. Kohimu's energy, elevating what he'd already possessed, would be enough for Te Tai to change his shape one last time. The taniwha sank into the shallows and began the process. His limbs shifted first, digging into the stones and sediment, anchoring him against the shifting waters. His tail thinned, and his body flattened against the ground, but he kept his long draconic face and sharp teeth. It was his most frightening feature, and a fitting last sight for whatever foul creature had done the impossible. And you'll know I'm doing it for him, as you get what you deserve.In the end, Te Tai had become a lean lizard-like taniwha; shorter than before, with flesh like a river-worn stone, the wings shifting slabs of rock folded against his sides. There was so much more he wanted to do- those carvings, those beautiful patterns, were gone from the world. He would have liked to wear something similar, in remembrance of his companion, but he couldn't bring himself to use the last vestiges of Kohimu's energy. It was all that remained of Kohimu, and that was exponentially more important than colorful patterns. He stored that energy close to his heart, warm and painful, a constant reminder of what needed to be done. Thus adorned, Te Tai left the ocean and for the first time in centuries took to the air. He fought his way outward, before circling back up over the cliffs, unsteady from the winds and the years spent underwater. There would be no body left- this he knew, much as he hated to think about it- but there are ways to locate a killer beyond examining their work. He would make them pay. Te Tai feels Kohimu dying, but blacks out before he slips away entirely. When he wakes up, Tai has vengeance in mind. Having received Kohimu's energy, he uses it become a flying lizard- about three metres long, similar in size to Kohimu. He also has wings...so, yeah, he's basically a dragon now. Angry and mean enough to be one, too!
Te Tai takes to the air and heads towards the island to exact revenge. I am not going to confront anyone with him, don't worry. This post is entirely prequel to the current events in the cave, and exists because I wanted to post something where Tai deals with Kohimu's death. =)
(Thorn rambles: this post surprised me. I expected Te Tai to be overcome with sorrow, but apparently grief for him has translated into anger. I think the sadness may come later, when he gives himself more time to think.)
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Post by Shinko on Jul 29, 2018 15:38:24 GMT -5
Quicksnap had kept quiet, allowing the raptors to handle their own diplomacy. However, once Sunfire finished speaking, he stepped forward with a long, low, rumbling crocodile roar. “If I was corrupted, all four of these with me would be dead already,” he growled. “And you are arrogant little twits if you think you can stand alone against the sowers. Are you now taking cues from the wolves? Think you can bully and bluster your way into being the grand heroes of the island?” He gestured at Driftstone. “This one killed one of the sowers a few days ago; by being clever and lulling her into letting her guard down, not by stalking random strangers and throwing his weight around.” Lifting his head as high as he could in the tunnel, the kaprosochus added, “I have lost much to the sowers, and I advise you to take from my experience what I had to learn through agonizing hardship; this thing is bigger than any one islander or pack. Only by setting down our pride can we overcome it.” ( Tiger) Quicksnap is unimpressed, and advises the rival raptor pack not to use this situation to establish themselves.
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Post by Tiger on Jul 29, 2018 17:25:56 GMT -5
Despite having seen Quicksnap already, certainly not missing his existance, the raptors of Sunfire's pack twitched in surprise when the kaprosuchus stepped forward and spoke. Sunfire and a raptor with sandy feathertips hissed at being called arrogant little twits, and the other raptors didn't precisely look pleased; in contrast, Driftstone puffed up with pride when he was noted to have killed a sower. "As he says," Yellowtail added as the kaprosuchus finished. "This is too big a matter to let pride and territory decide things." The male raptor with banded markings on his chin made a displeased noise almost like a caw. "And who is the crocodile?" "Do not be rude!" Shadowstep said, snapping his teeth at the other pack. "He is a kaprosuchus, and happens to be a pack-brother." "So getting into a fight would be a bad idea," Duskrunner said. "Because we would win." Sunfire's raptors reacted in a variety of compositions of snarls and bared teeth and hisses. Sunfire herself took a slow step forward. Yellowtail didn't move, but Driftstone showed his teeth and both Shadowstep and Duskrunner shifted their footing and lowered their bodies, ready to pounce forward. "We're looking for sowers, not the corrupted," Sunfire said, coming to a slow stop. "A corrupted raptor - or kaprosuchus - could not bide its time - but a sower certainly could." "Yes," Yellowtail said. "But the kaprosuchus sat by while my son caught and killed the scimon sower, which seems like something a sower wouldn't do." She tilted her head with a questioning trill. "Oh - surely the news about the raptor who killed a sower did not miss your pack?" Sunfire's feathers puffed. "Of course it didn't!" She clearly faltered, but with a shake of her head, recovered. "What would you have us do to protect the heart of the island, then?" she demanded scornfully. "Surely you agree sowers should not be allowed near it!" "Of course I would rather they weren't. But what are you going to do? 'Protect' this single tunnel? You can chase everyone out of here if you like, but if more than one tunnel leads to the heart, or this tunnel does not, you've failed already." More bickering with the other raptor pack. Would Quicksnap like to point out any other ways Sunfire's plan is stupid? \ o / ( Shinko)
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Post by Shinko on Jul 29, 2018 18:01:36 GMT -5
Quicksnap rumbled his agreement with Yellowtail’s comment about him sparing Driftstone. “And let me say it plainly- the sowers murdered my best friend. The back from the dead thylacine, Beech? I’m sure you’ve heard about her. I am not of their order, and if you suggest it again I’ll take my repayment in a nice sized feather clump from each of your hides.” He raised a brow-ridge. “A thought- instead of pointlessly defending a single tunnel, why not travel to the heart peacefully? Then, once you are there, you can attack anyone who seems to be doing something untoward. The sowers are very easy to spot in action if you know what to look for; a limb lit with black-purple fire trying to touch something. “What’s more, if you did manage to stop a sower in action, you would win the gratitude and respect of the island. Doing this is only going to make people resent you, as they resent the wolves. Let’s not give Thunder more reasons to emerge from her trees, hm?” ( Tiger) Quicksnap is insulted at the insinuation that he’s a sower, and suggests the raptors might be better off just going to the heart and protecting it directly if something goes wrong.
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Post by Rabbit ♠ on Jul 29, 2018 18:13:25 GMT -5
Deeper, deeper, deeper in the tunnel they went. The floor of the tunnel began to descend. The dilophasaurs had a bit of trouble walking down the sharper slopes. Kopi, on the other hand, didn’t have much trouble. Was it because he was smaller? Because he was hopping? Because he was a ghost and wasn’t worried about hurting himself? “How’re you doing from the water? Is the salt gone yet?”Xsabaskis’s question was enough to distract him and make him fall, though. It wasn’t fast or hard, just a light plop. Kopi didn’t feel any pain from the fall. He just got back up and continued moving as if nothing ever happened. “I’m doing okay. I can still feel it a little bit, but it isn’t hurting me,” Kopi answered. “I’m getting the hang of moving around again, so that’s good.” Kopi hopped a bit ahead of the dilophasaus to get an idea of what’s ahead. There wasn’t much that was different. Kopi didn’t know what he was expecting, but he was disappointed. Surely, they were getting close to something. As everyone got closer, Kopi noticed a body of water in the distance. It was a river. An underground river. Taak was right, she did smell water. The cunicanine looked at where it was flowing to, then hopped towards the edge. Kopi stared into the river. The flowing water made gentle sounds that would normally be relaxing. Though it was faint, he could see some rocks in the bottom, sitting under the water, unaffected by what’s going on around them. It was funny. It was almost like the day he met Xsabaskis. That reminded him of something. He turned back to Xsabaskis and said, “Hey Baskis. This may not be the best time for it, but…” Kopi hopped closer to her. Should he say this in front of Taakeyrr and Soaitsae? It didn’t matter anymore, anyway. “...thanks. Thank you for keeping my secret about being the healer.” The dilos and Kopi are walking through the tunnel. Kopi tells Baskis ( Tiger ) that he's doing okay from the salt water. They come across a river and Kopi's reminded of how he and Baskis met. He then thanks Baskis for keeping his healer status a secret.
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Post by Draco on Jul 29, 2018 18:18:41 GMT -5
Kuzen slept on the cave floor with a shaking paranoid waterlogged quokka beside him. The quokka fumbles around with his hands and looks around a bit freaked out and sits down, pushing himself against the wall. Things have not been going well for the poor quokka, and the last thing was probably one of the scariest times for him... --- Earlier, the quokka screamed while trying not to blow away from the strong winds (even though they weren't strong enough to really move him). Then a kappa showed up, followed by an angry creature, and before he knew it the creature was gone as well. The quokka sighed in relief and actually stopped screaming for a moment, staring at the kappa. Before he could say anything, he was once again screaming as water overtook the two of them. The quokka clung to Kuzen as they were washed away to who knows where. He screamed as his kappa raft went towards trees and rocks and other large deadly objects. He grabbed a small branch from the water as it flowed past and used it to help guide the kappa around. He paddled as fast as he could before they it a pile of sharp broken trees. The whole time he just screamed in terror. Eventually he blacked out and woke up in a cave next to Kuzen. --- Kuzen sat up as he woke up. He blinked and figured he was either dead or something else happened. He looked at the quokka and then at the rest of the cave around him. He couldn't see well, but could make out a few shapes and noises scattered around. He just sat there hoping his eyes would adjust a little more. Kuzen slept through a big rafting adventure.
The quokka however didn't, and instead experienced the rafting adventure first hand.
0/10 quokka stars, would never do again.
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Post by Tiger on Jul 29, 2018 19:13:57 GMT -5
Sunfire jerked her head back at Quicksnap’s threat to bite off some of their feathers, and the raptors behind her made various noises to express how appalled they were as well. “He said he’ll bite off our feathers?” hissed the final raptor to speak, a female whose feathertips were spattered with sparse black markings. “That is what he said!” Shadowstep called over helpfully. It earned him several stink-eyes and a very rude noise like a gargled bark. Sunfire’s glare settled on Quicksnap as he spoke, and though her feathers remained puffed and her posture tense at first, gradually, the spiking settled and her tail swayed back and forth behind her. “He makes many good points,” Yellowtail agreed. “The only way to stop any sowers from touching the heart at this point is to be at the heart to intercept them - and anyone there, in addition to thinking you are very quick and clever, will also see that they’re a sower. Murdering animals in lone tunnels - that will look very bad. Especially,” she said in tones of great solemnity, tilting her head so the blue light glinted off her eyes, “if you target large predators. You know what that will look like.” Sunfire’s eyes narrowed, then widened again. She clicked her long claws against the ground once more. “...Yes,” she agreed. “You and your… kaprosuchus know some interesting things. I will confer with my pack.” Shadowstep nudged Quicksnap with his shoulder once Sunfire had begun whispering with her pack. “That was well-done!” he whispered. “She will not want to lose feathers, and she would very much like to look brave and clever in front of the rest of the island!” “We should keep watch on them, though,” Duskrunner said. “You told them what to look for, but I don’t think we should trust that they’ll wait for certain.” The other pack finally separated, Sunfire turning smoothly back toward them. “We have discussed what we have learned,” she said. “And it seems to us that, if the tunnels lead to the same place, we would protect the island best by being at its heart. It may also be that the Spirit has another gift to give us there, and perhaps that would be useful for fighting sowers.” “Perfectly logical reasoning,” Yellowtail said. “We shouldn’t remain here for long, then; we don’t know how far the rest of the island might need to travel. You are welcome to join us, if you’d like. As he’s already pointed out, our friend Quicksnap is not a sower, and he would make anyone else who thinks twice of attacking raptors think yet again.” After a moment, Sunfire said, “...Yes. That would be...a suitable arrangement.” Her tone couldn’t entirely hide her lack of enthusiasm over the idea, and when the packs set off, she did keep her raptors a short distance behind Yellowtail’s pack. Driftstone tolerated this for about four paces before whispering to Quicksnap, “Remember when you said we were mostly feathers? I put up a fuss at the time but secretly, you are right. May I borrow your back so I can show these raptors that we are watching and won’t be taken by surprise from behind?” ------- Xsabaskis had expected the underground river to be in something like an underground clearing - more space, more open ground, something of the like. But no - while the tunnel opened a little wider around, accommodating the group and the water both, it was still very much inside a tunnel. That made sense, she supposed, if Taakeyrr’s idea about the river being like the blood. They stopped for a moment to take in the sight. Taakeyrr sniffed at the water, but to Xsabaskis’ relief, didn’t drink it. “It smells a little odd,” she said, wrinkling her muzzle a bit. Xsabaskis almost wanted to blame the blue light darting off of it, but of course, those were only reflections from the strange caterpillars on the ceiling. “Hey Baskis. This may not be the best time for it, but…” Xsabaskis looked down as Kopi approached her foot. “...thanks. Thank you for keeping my secret about being the healer.”Her stomach swirled with guilt to be receiving another thank-you that felt undeserved in light of all she hadn’t managed to do - but Xsabaskis bowed her head slightly and said, “Of course. You’re welcome. ...Although Taakeyrr and my father know now as well. Possibly more of the island.” She sighed and explained, “I did keep it secret from everyone, even them - “ she nodded toward the other two dilophosaurs “ - at first. Partly because you asked, and you did heal my sister...and partly because of the obvious; the fewer animals who know a secret, the harder for that secret to get shared with animals it shouldn’t. ….When you….” She huffed. “When we couldn’t stop Muuri in time...she was saying you were corrupted, or a sower, and I - I knew she wasn’t in her right mind, but I got angry, I couldn’t let her….” She growled. “I blurted it out.” From nearby, Taakeyrr said, “Well...I was about to say I’d used my Eye on Kopi, so… “ Xsabaskis grunted in acknowledgement, looking at the stones in the river for a moment. “...If you don’t want to talk about this, stop me, but...the cat-sower said they already knew you were the healer. They baited Muuri to think you were a sower, specifically. ...Do you know how they find out?” After considering points very carefully, including an oddly specific mention that killing large predators in seclusion would not look very good, Sunfire decides that she has reconsidered and will take her pack to the heart itself to catch sowers there. They follow behind and Driftstone asks Quicksnap if he can ride on his back to keep an eye on them, juuuuuust in case. ( Shinko) Xsabaskis assures Kopi that she did keep his secret until the last minute, as per the narrator post. She also points out that Genevieve claimed the sowers already knew Kopi was the healer, and asks if Kopi knows how that happened ( Rabbit ♠)
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Post by Shinko on Jul 29, 2018 20:15:15 GMT -5
The kaprosochus chuckled softly at Driftstone’s request, lowering his head and neck to give the raptor a clambering surface. “Just don’t jab me,” he said with mock sternness. “I saw Shadowstep climbing the dunkleosteus the other day and he used far more talon than I’d like to have in my scales.” Once Driftstone was done, the crocodile called over his shoulder. “You know it occurs to me that I never told you who I was when you asked; how rude, I’m sorry. They call me-” He moved so swiftly his jaw was a blur, clacking it shut with a noise like crunching bone and hooking a single loose, trailing feather from Driftstone’s tail on one of his tusks. Flapping it up and down proudly like a pennant, he finished, “Quicksnap.” ( Tiger) Quicksnap agrees to give Driftstone a ride as long as he’s careful with his claws, then has a bit of fun at the other raptor pack’s expense.
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