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Post by Thorn on Aug 8, 2018 15:00:22 GMT -5
Great, so the voice had gone silent right when Te Tai needed it most. What was he supposed to tell Svar to do? "I want them dead too," he said, lips curling into a snarl. "Why should these creatures get to live? They didn't talk first, Sha. They didn't think. Why should we give them that courtesy? Especially when they deserve it so little." Svar asked for your help, the voice cut in. You can help! The last story I told him was about Murirangi. What? You know that's a bad idea! There are too many clues, it would be far too easy for a creature to figure out what you once were.He deserved it, Tai. You can, I dunno...say that Murirangi came back as a taniwha, so maybe Kohimu will return in some way too. It's a lie. I couldn't save you this time. The truth doesn't really matter. It's a story with meaning. I'm not ready to reveal myself just yet, but just tell him about the story. It will help, I think. I hope.All this happened at the speed of thought. Thus, it was only a few moments after he first spoke that Te Tai sighed and turned to Svar. "There was a story Kohimu liked," he hissed. "About a human who died and became a taniwha. I don't know anything about these 'panic attacks', but I do know that if you feel an emptiness, just remember that Kohimu is still out there somewhere. Not as a taniwha, but as...something. Like Murirangi's fellow humans, we might not see Kohimu again, but he's still there." He hissed and glared at Renpi. "This doesn't mean that I will forgive these beasts. They do not deserve my forgiveness. However...I understand, Svar, how his absence hurts. I think of ideas I want to share with Kohimu. I meet creatures I find intolerable, but who I know he would love. Your grief is valid." Te Tai tries to offer Celestial's Svar some comfort, in his own way, and aided by The Voice! However, he wants Liou's Renpi to know that he does not want the beastiebeasts shown a shred of mercy for what happened to Kohimu. Also even though I referenced it so often it was barely even hinting anymore, I've finally officially revealed the most important part of the taniwhas' shared backstory. Yay!
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Post by Celestial on Aug 8, 2018 15:27:49 GMT -5
At first, Te Tai agreed with him. Svar's crest rose slightly and for a moment, the bloodlust surged into him. Perhaps Te Tai could kill them instead, and Svar would get the satisfaction of watching, knowing that Kohimu was avenged by those who cared about him the most. But then the taniwha seemed conflicted like he had been before. His eyes went distant, not entirely there. Svar's breath caught in anticipation as he tried to figure out what Te Tai was about to say. "There was a story Kohimu liked. About a human who died and became a taniwha. I don't know anything about these 'panic attacks', but I do know that if you feel an emptiness, just remember that Kohimu is still out there somewhere. Not as a taniwha, but as...something. Like Murirangi's fellow humans, we might not see Kohimu again, but he's still there."The firebird blinked. "Kohimu...is still out there?" he repeated in a faint voice. "He told me that story before he died. I thought it was nice. I just wish we could have saved Kohimu the way Murirangi had been saved." He sighed deeply. "Even if we did kill them...he would not have wanted this. Killing them in his name would be wrong. He only wanted to kill the sowers but they had done harm. Those sivatheriums had..." he clicked his beak angrily. "I know they had bad intentions. But they probably did not mean for it to go that far. As for what I did..." the firebird closed his eyes. "Kohimu always understood. He was patient with me. I don't think he would have blamed me." Svar looked up at Renpi, wriggling once again under her paws. "You can let go of me. I don't want to kill them. That was a mistake," he raised his head up, gazing at the snow. "Perhaps we can find shelter. And then when this stops, focus on other things. There are far more important things in life than mindless revenge." Svar listens to Te Tai( Thorn) and is comforted by his words. He thinks Kohimu would not want killing in his name and relents on revenge. So you can let go of him now, Renpi( Liou)
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Post by Birdy on Aug 8, 2018 15:40:37 GMT -5
The small group of leverets huddled together, staring at the expanse of white before them. “What is it?” one asked, warily eyeing the mysterious cold wet substance. “I don’t know…” said another. “Is it safe?” asked a third. “I think so…” replied the second. “Why do you think the clouds are falling?” asked a fourth, gazing upwards. “They’re not falling, they’re leaking,” said a new voice, one of the older - though still very young - leverets. “Nuh-uh! When clouds leak, it rains,” retorted another one, about the same age as the newcomer. “Like they’re peeing!” chimed in one of the youngest, proud he'd thought of something to contribute. “...So if clouds pee when it rains, does that mean this white stuff is cloud poop?” mused another of the youngest. “It doesn’t taste like it,” said one of the braver ones, after licking at the ground. “ EWWWWWWW!” squealed a less courageous leveret, horrified at what the Brave One had done. “I'm telling!!” “TATTLETALE!” yelled the Muser, running after the Tattler. Another of the braver leverets - a young skvader - cautiously hopped out into the snow, sniffed at the air and ground, then dropped and rolled around, as if taking a dust bath. Then carefully, she leapt to the side so as not to destroy her masterpiece. “Look!” she cried, fluffing her wings to remove the excess snow. “It’s me!” “No it’s not,” scoffed a young jackalope. “It doesn’t look anythin’ like ya!” “It does too!” retorted the skvader, ears moving backwards, laying against her head. “It does not,” the jackalope countered, matter-of-factly. “It does too,” the skvader said, eyes narrowing. “It does not!” “It does TOO!” “OW! Quit boxing me!” “Well, you started it!” “Did not!” “Did too!” “Did not!” “Did too!” “Did no--OW, STOP USING YOUR WINGS, that’s cheating!” “It is not!” “IT IS TOO.” “Kids kids kids!” A new voice entered the mix - an older one. The adult jackalope hopped over to where the two were tussling. “What's wrong?” “She started it!” cried the young jackalope. “Did not!” she cried, ceasing her bludgeoning with her wings and darting over to the older jackalope. “He said that doesn't look like me but it does so and–” “LIAR LIAR TAIL ON FIRE!” “I’M NOT LYING, YOU ARE.” “I AM NOT!” “YOU ARE SO!” “AM NOT!” “ARE SO!” “AM–” “KIDS! ENOUGH!” the jackalope shouted, trying to be heard over the arguing. “Look, I don't care who started it, you're both going to finish it! Look, it’s almost time to go to sleep - see? The sun’s almost set. You all can play more tomorrow.” Disappointed “awwww…!”s rang out from all the gathered leverets. “Do we hafta go to sleep now?” asked a young jackalope, looking up at the older one. “Yes, you do,” she said, looking down at the younger one. “But, the sooner you go to sleep, the sooner it will be tomorrow and the sooner you can play again!” “Really?” “Really.” This seemed to satisfy him, and he joined the others once more. “Now, come along,” she said to the group, nodding her head in the direction of he caves that the jackalope and skvaders were still gathering in. “We should all be getting back. The others will be wondering where we all got off to.” And so with grudging agreements, the leverets followed their jackalope guide back to where the others were gathering, quickly finding their families and huddling close for warmth. Tomorrow would be another day, and they couldn't wait to see what new exciting thing it would bring.
Everyone Else: *deep, thought-provoking character development with some Feels thrown in for good measure, and also Epic Flashbacks!*
Me: lol, poop
The leverets who I still refuse to name which is why things read so awkwardly, whoops are having fun with this strange thing called “snow”! They have a deep (albeit brief) philosophical discussion about the bodily functions of clouds, and then two of them begin to fight, only to have this fun spoiled by an adult who says it’s bedtime for everyone. So, they go to bed in hopes that tomorrow will come faster and they can have more fun!
(I'm sure nothing bad will happen in the meantime to spoil those plans, nope.)
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Post by Shinko on Aug 8, 2018 16:00:16 GMT -5
Round 18: A Sunny Morning Inara paced through the trees, her silver hooves making barely a sound despite the leaves and branches that littered the forest floor. It was a little after midnight, and the island had warmed up enough that the snow was melting again, though fog still lay thick on the island. In the distance, despite the evening gloom and the thick veil of fog, she could see a point of light. It rippled off her iridescent coat, turning the white fur to shades of orange and gold. “I know you’re out there,” called a voice from the light, and Inara snorted. She moved closer, ears erect and head held high with pride, as a medium-sized crimson bird became visible at the epicenter of the glowing. He met her glower for glower from his perch high up in the tree, shifting from foot to foot with nervous energy. “I know what you are, unicorn,” he said matter-of-factly. “Delightful! That puts us on even ground then,” she replied with false cheer. “I know your little secret too, birdy.” Svar’s feathers bristled, and Inara chuckled. “That’s right- you’ve been extremely bothersome to track down, you know.” “In that much, it seems we are the same,” he said, not meeting her eyes. “Each of us is the last of our kind.” Both fell silent at this. Contemplative. Finally, one of them spoke to the other. “Why haven’t you tried to corrupt me?” “I know of your powers- you could have one of your loathsome crystal shields still.” A pause. “Though on that same note, you haven’t tried to turn the island on me.” “In this climate? We both know someone who seems too eager to assign blame is probably going to be the next to die. We’ve both of us lost friends to their paranoid madness.” They were quiet again- Inara thinking bleakly of Dara, murdered on the flimsiest of pretexts, and Svar again agonizing over his accidental part in the death of Kohimu. Finally, the firebird spoke. “We are at an impasse, or so it would seem.” “Mm,” Inara murmured in assent. “I wanted to speak with you at least once, before the end; one divine servant to another.” “The end?” Svar repeated, brow lifting a trifle. “Come off it, firebird; there are eyes on us both. You know as well as I do that one way or another, one of us will be dead very, very soon.” The bird gave an owl-like hiss, wings mantling in spite of the obvious fear in his eyes. “Is that a threat?” “No- just a fact,” she replied, sounding almost tired now. Resigned. “It could be me just as easily as you.” A fire lit in her gaze, and she met Svar’s eyes squarely. “But I will serve with every fiber of my being until that day comes. And by the faith that has brought me this far, I will succeed.” Svar’s eyes narrowed. “I never thought I’d find another deity to serve after Svarog was lost. But I did- I’ve found purpose once more, and with Kohimu…” He swallowed hard. “With Kohimu gone, that purpose is all I have. I don’t mean to fail a second master.” For a long time they stood, locked in their silent struggle; the devotee and the final sower. Then, his anxiety getting the better of him, Svar turned and flew off into the night. Inara watched him go for a while, then turned and plodded off in the opposite direction. * * * Even the bravest of animals on the island would probably have hesitated a little bit to go anywhere near Thunder’s nest while she was already in a foul mood. Unfortunately the newly-appointed healer had a job to do, and visceral terror of a giant apex predator or not that job was getting done. The Healer just hoped that Spirit wouldn't think less of them for being a little tentative about their forward progress through Thunder’s territory. They weren't quite sure what they were looking for exactly- some sort of not a wolf canine? They would have to hope that they would recognize this thing when they saw it. Worst case scenario it would probably be pretty obvious once it started growling at them, but that might wake Thunder up, and the healer was devoutly hoping to avoid the that. Finally, around dawn, they heard in the distance the sound of several sets of very large lungs breathing in sleep. Did Tyrannosaurus growl in their sleep? That noise was probably just snoring, but snoring should never have sounded so bone-chillingly threatening. I do not envy the previous healer having to do this job.The healer suddenly tensed; they can hear the unmistakable sound of something not as big as a Tyrannosaurus Rex growling in the underbrush. Well- at least that made this easier. The healer just really really hope that Thunder wouldn't wake up before they were done here. They heard a rustling in the bushes and ducked just in time to avoid being pounced by a mid-sized black and brown wolf-like creature. It made no effort to talk to the Healer; it just growled like a territorial animal. The Healer squared their stance, and the next time the canine lunged they met its nose with their own face. With a flash of gold the deed was done. The canine & the healer tumbled together for a moment, but when the canine rose it was without any malice. It eyed the Healer with tilt-headed, almost comically confused expression. Good- time to get out of here. The healer cast a reassuring smile at the canine, then turned and dashed off into the trees. No more time for stealth- they wanted out of here before Thunder caught them in her territory. “Seems my hunch was right- I had a feeling if I waited here, around the corrupted dog I'd find you.” The Healer tensed. The voice was distorted beyond all recognition, and seem to be coming from everywhere at once. “Who’s there,” they demanded. “The one who will bring the island to its knees. The last, but the greatest. You fools think you have been winning. But that's only because our Mother has been playing fair up until this point. You think nature is cruel, but you're wrong. She's fair. Very, very fair. All things in nature survive, or not by their own merits. And so even though She is much stronger than your pathetic Spirit, She has allowed this farce to continue in the name of giving the island a fair chance to earn its survival. “But we killed the healer; the cunicanine that the spirit had chosen. And in response, the spirit broke the rules. She appointed a new healer, and hid her new healer behind a never lifting mist wall so that our Mother would be unaware of the deceit. “But if your spirit has decided that she is done playing by the rules, then what reason does our mother have to be fair? I think you have had enough of the spirit intervening on your behalf- and Mother Nature agrees with me.” All at once there was a ripple; a flash that wasn't quite light which ran across every living thing within the healer’s field of view. Every tree, every blade of grass, every fern and bush- even the healer’s own body seem to briefly illuminate from within. Then that light rose high over the treetops, and from every direction of every bit of the island more such lights shot skyward. They formed together high overhead, taking a shape that was far larger than even the largest dinosaur that the healer had ever seen moving across the island with tremorous steps. Then the light cleared, and Mother Nature’s terrifying visage looked down upon the island of Naelus. She did not speak. Instead the great creature allowed all of its tentacles to spread out around its body in a net-like wave, and then brought them down upon the top of the island. Black fire illuminated on the tentacles, forming spectral chains wherever they touched the earth. Loud enough to rouse the entire Island, the voice of the spirit shrieked in pain. For the very first time, the mist wall around Naelus vanished. See now how you fare without your little handicap. Mother Nature remarked, sounding almost disappointed. The black fire faded, leaving blacks scorched chain imprints across the surface of the island. It is probable that the outside world won't become aware of you immediately. But the clock is ticking little living fossils. The outsiders will bring modern survivors that will outcompete you, and diseases to which you have no resistance. If you want to survive, you must win this war before they discover the island. Can you earn your existence without the spirit of mercy’s help? With a hiss of her twin serpent heads, Mother Nature vanished once more. The corruption failed because the victim was the HEALER Dog had been PURIFIED Optional Scenario: None
Mandatory Conditions: It is sunrise. A glorious, bright, mist free sunrise.
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Post by Thorn on Aug 9, 2018 16:26:44 GMT -5
Kohimu, I’m not very good at caring, Te Tai confessed. He’d struck off from the others hours ago, and was now apparently somewhere between the Shadowed Pines and Highwind Woods. Te Tai had no idea where he was going, just that he needed to get away from Svar and Renpi. The Spirit’s shriek echoed in his mind, and the rising sun illuminated patches of badly charred earth, but this only made him feel even more powerless. He didn’t know how to find this final sower. He didn’t care enough to try. Even if they did find it, what then? Why would that prevent this horrifying tendril-snake-monster from appearing once more? What about Quicksnap? Kohimu suggested. What about Kahu and the other kuri? What about your fellow ocean dwellers?It doesn’t matter. You’ve seen what she can do. She’ll be back, the still-living taniwha replied. You’re frightened. That’s okay, that’s only sensible. All you can do is try. Please, I just want to to try. I won’t ask any more than that.A second passed. Maybe. Where are you, anyway? What are you?I’ve given it some thought. I’m definitely dead, so I must be a spirit of some kind. As for where I am...that’s unclear. I’m looking through your eyes, and seeing at least some of your thoughts. I think it’s like the bond we used to have, only stronger, because that’s all that’s left. If that makes sense? It doesn’t really to me.Maybe the Spirit can give you a new body? Te Tai suggested. If we defeat this sower. She is Mercy, after all, and that would be merciful.I don’t think she has those kinds of powers. I’m sorry. I feel...connected to these events. Like being a kaitiaki: I’m not a guardian, but I still feel some sense of responsibility for this island. I think once Naelus is safe again, I’ll be gone.You can’t! He didn’t even try to hide his desperation. Just gone, just...nothing?You survived without me for centuries, Tai. You can do it again.Te Tai grunted and raised his head, scenting the air. There was something up ahead, glowing very faintly, but he couldn’t smell anything. He knew at once it was that spirit again, Beech, the one who’d helped rescue the denizens of Naelus from being trapped as living skeletons. Maybe she could help this time too? Maybe she knew how to find the final sower? He started towards her, already preparing an introduction, confident she wouldn’t recognise him with his skin back on, let alone an entirely different arrangement of body parts. She might say things you don’t like, Kohimu said, and Te Tai realised how quiet he’d been the last few minutes. Don't overreact, Tai.Te Tai and Kohimu leave Svar and Renpi and continue off on...some vague quest. Tai lacks motivation (or so he tells himself so he can pretend he isn't actually just vrry scarrredd), and Kohimu does his best to encourage him. After some thoughtful (haha) conversation, Tai notices Shinko 's Beech up ahead, and decides to ask her if she knows how to find a sower. Kohimu warns that he may not like what she has to say if Other Topics come up.
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Post by Shinko on Aug 9, 2018 19:08:35 GMT -5
Beech had split up from the dilophosaurs after they returned to their den for the night to sleep, thanking them for coming to comfort her. But she didn’t need to sleep, and thus felt that she shouldn’t waste good time lazing about when she could use that time to at least try to find clues about the final sower. Maybe if they could get rid of this final enemy, Quicksnap could come back to normal. The thylacine spent most of the night running as far and as fast as she could. She stopped frequently to speak to the island’s nocturnal residents, the bats and owls and other such creatures. None of them seemed to know anything, but Beech kept trying anyway. Surely somebody had to have seen something! It was hard to judge the passage of time in the fog, but she realized it was getting lighter- it must have been around dawn. Frustration prickled at her ethereal pelt. A whole night wasted to no progress. Maybe she should head back to Taakeyrr and the others, regroup and try to decide what to do ne- A ripple of energy shot through the trees, making Beech start. Then, she watched in horror as Mother Nature took shape high overhead, as she put some sort of binding on the Spirit, as she tore the mist wall away… NO! Nononononooo, she can’t win, she can’t, it can’t be over!She started to run, bolting towards the place where the dilophosaurs had their den. They had to hurry, they had to stop things, they had to fix this!Then, a shadow swooped by over her head, and she sprang backwards with a gape-jawed shriek of surprise. * * * Quicksnap was roused from his torpor by the sound of a shriek- then, like a curtain being yanked away, the mist was jerked back and dawn sun shone golden through the canopy. For the barest hair of a moment, he had the presence of mind to realize the snow from yesterday was gone, and to wonder where the scream had come from. Then the shadow of something large and purple passed overhead, and he heard a distant, menacing voice. Rage and terror blossomed in his skull, and the kaprosochus charged out of the tunnel with an angry bellow. “Kill them!” he howled. “Kill all of them before they kill us! Overgrown jellyfish, you think you can threaten my friends?” With another roar, he surged off into the trees, body warming in the sunlight and gaining energy. Thorn Te Tai does Beech a spook. XD Tiger Quicksnap… takes the Mother’s threats well. 8’D
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Post by Tiger on Aug 9, 2018 21:55:13 GMT -5
Moving to the top of the den had either been Driftstone and Shadowstep’s best idea, or their worst. On the one hand, they were closer to the sky when that horrible thing appeared - like a mix between their pack’s misty cephalopod and an eel, with some kind of head-dome like a pachycepahlosaur’s, but floatier. And bigger. Immensely bigger - it looked like Thunder and her chicks and probably the male she’d had them with could fit inside the head alone and still have space over their heads. That didn’t even begin to account for the long tail, or the tentacles - which struck the island and caused a scream that made even the raptors go fearfully silent. As soon as the behemoth creature was gone, of course, they attempted to fill the air with snarls and hisses and their peculiar shrieking roar. It felt rather empty and hollow to yell at an empty, uncaring sky, however, and their voices didn’t sound so loud with the Spirit’s scream and the primordial beings’ sneering still in their heads. “That beast is evil! Shadowstep declared. His entire body shook with some combination of rage and lingering fear. “ Evil! What creature attacks animals doing no harm, for no gain?!” He pointed his muzzle toward the sky. “Only one sower left!! Do you hear that?!” On the other claw, shouting might have been their biggest mistake; whether woken by all their noise or simply by the warm air and fueled by his corruption, Quicksnap burst out of the den, lunging into the trees with a bellow and a challenge. “Quicksnap!” Driftstone shouted. “Quicksnap, no!” But the kaprosuchus was already off and probably in no state for listening. He let out an agitated shriek. “We have to follow him!” Shadowstep declared, and he leaped to to the ground. “Come on! Quickly! Before he finds someone!” “Go!” Yellowtail agreed. “We’ll follow from the trees, go!” “Quicksnap!” Driftstone heard his mate call. “Quicksnap, you have to stop! You could hurt someone!!” The raptors DO NOT LIEK the giant jellyfish and express their displeasure (after she’s, y’know, gone, because you’re lying if you’re saying you’d yell at the sky while a giant jellyfish monster is in the process of attacking your island home). Unfortunately, Quicksnap was also woken by Mother Nature’s attack, and the raptors rush after Quicksnap to try and stop him. Which will surely go well. Seeing as the last time they had the cold on their side and still only barely kept him under control 8D ( Shinko) (I’ll do a post with dilos later, brain is being uncooperative and I gotta figure out what they’re doing this round)
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Post by Celestial on Aug 10, 2018 6:56:55 GMT -5
After the emotions of the day, Svar was thoroughly exhausted. He wanted to be alone for a while, to find a nice sheltered spot where he could sleep for as long as he wanted. However, with the snow falling, he had not wanted to leave Renpi alone. The Sha, on top of being tiny and puppy-like, was shivering in a way that would provoke a feeling of sympathy from anyone. So, with a little reluctance, Svar stayed behind to keep her warm. He stiffened a little as she curled up to him but whatever dark, fearful thoughts ran through his mind, he soon dismissed them. In her current state, she could probably barely hurt a fly, let alone a creature like him. Nevertheless, he remained only until the snow stopped and had melted enough that he thought she could manage without him. Te Tai had left earlier, something the firebird hated to admit he was grateful for: he could not shake the feeling the older taniwha still despised him. Svar had flown off into the forest where he had ran into his enemy: Inara the unicorn. Their conversation only had the flimsiest veil of civility: both knew that to attack the other was a poor idea. It was much better to allow fate to take its course, whatever it might be. He could only pray the island sided with him. He found a sheltered place in the Shadowed Pines, in the large, abandoned nest of a Palaeoephippiorhynchus stork. No sooner had he settled that the firebird fell asleep. A piercing shriek awoke him. Svar took off into the air on instinct, rising above the trees. Immediately, he wished he had not. Above him, spreading out its tendrils over the isle was a purple jellyfish, enormous and monstrous. The firebird had known deities. He knew the abilities they had and the aura of power that emanated from them. This was greater than any he had ever met before, let alone served. This was Nature herself. Fear blossomed within him. If she was here, things for them had taken a sudden turn for the worse. Sunlight hit his eyes from the eastern horizon and the firebird narrowed them. Wait...sunlight? Normally the mists would be obscuring any sunshine until the sun was much higher in the sky. Unless...oh no. A voice echoed in his mind, one that could only belong to Nature herself. It confirmed what Svar feared: the veil around the island was lifted. It was now open to the outside world. To humans. Panic overtook him. He could already imagine it: humans, coming to the island, seeing him...he did not even know how long it would have been since humans last saw a firebird. For all Svar knew, he might be the last of his kind: an even more valuable prize for capture. To put into a cage again, to display, to be leered at in a space without even room to stretch his wings. Not again. Never again. He would not be captured by humans. He never wanted to be afraid again. Shrieking, the firebird took off over the island, desperately trying to get away, even if in his panic, he did not know where he could go. Svar keeps Renpi( Liou) warm but leaves as soon as the snow stops. He runs into Inara, as detailed in the narrator-post, before going to sleep. When he is awakened, it is by the Spirit's shriek and Nature appearing. Svar freaks out, realising that now humans can access the island and hunt him. He flies off blindly, panicking. Anybody can spot him and interact with him.
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Post by Shinko on Aug 10, 2018 10:04:06 GMT -5
Quicksnap heard the voice of one of the raptors calling his name, but he didn’t have time to stop and explain. Didn’t they realize they were in danger? His nostrils flared, and he caught the scent of warm blood and heard multiple fast-beating hearts. There- there! But the raptors were catching up, they were faster than him! He wanted to yell and warn the dinosaurs off, but that would ruin what little element of surprise he’d have thundering through the brush as he was. He exploded into an open clearing and saw them- a family of about ten nuralagus. They were gathered around a marking on the ground, a scorch mark in the shape of multiple odd little interlocking ovals. The scorch mark shimmered faintly purple when the sun hit it- the shadow! It was the shadow! And these creatures could only be the ones who’d placed it there. With a furious roar, the kaprosochus lunged, sending the startled and terrified nuralagus scattering in every direction. Tiger Quicksnap is slower than the raptors, but manages to keep ahead of them long enough to cause a GIANT BUNNY STAMPEDE!
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Post by Tiger on Aug 10, 2018 13:56:14 GMT -5
The raptors weren’t able to keep Quicksnap from reaching the edge of the trees - Driftstone could feel panic building in his chest, or at least, his heart felt like it was rapidly beating against something hard enough for him to feel the reverberations. The cold night had lulled them into a false sense of security - now, by daylight, it was clear they didn’t stand a chance of keeping the kaprosuchus under control. I hope that longma’s back-from-the-dead is trapped under the ocean for all of eternity! he thought furiously. The nuralagus were naturally not reassured by the sight of a furious boar crocodile and a group of raptors running straight toward them - they bolted, in all directions because of course the did - Driftstone had to come to a sharp halt to avoid being rammed into by one especially panicked giant rabbit. “Quicksnap!” he shouted. “Leave them alone!” Yellowtail and Sunspeckle, who had traded positions with Duskrunner near the middle of the night, were still poised in the trees, looking for safe places to jump down to. Yellowtail found one, landing just behind a nuralagus - still too far to be much help. Shadowstep managed to skirt around a rabbit,nearly going to his belly to make the turn, and then pounced, landing just a raptor-length and a half from Quicksnap’s face. He didn’t bare his teeth or show his claws, but stood with his body low and feet wide apart, ready to spring. “Quicksnap! Look at me! You cannot hurt these animals!”
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Post by Rabbit ♠ on Aug 10, 2018 15:09:33 GMT -5
Kopi didn’t sleep that night. He hadn’t felt the need to sleep since he died and came back as a ghost. He didn’t know if that happened to all ghosts, just him, or if the weariness would catch up on him at some point. He stayed with Mochi throughout the night. Mochi was injured and Kopi wanted to be sure they would be okay. Kopi still wasn’t sure what happened to the rabbit, but hopefully they’d be okay. It likely wasn’t something time couldn’t fix. Kopi spent the night looking up at the sky, running his tail through snow and the puddles they left behind, occasionally looking back at Mochi to see if they were hurting any more. Eventually, the colors of dawn came. The sky lightened and the stars began to fade into the sunrise. The sunrise came quicker than Kopi thought it would. Time seemed to be moving faster for the cunicanine these days. Maybe it was because of everything that had happened over the last few days. Yeah, that was probably it. Kopi looked up at the sky, watching it turn into a light blue. The sky was still murky due to the fog, but that wasn’t unusual. Kopi had been around these mists for a long time, he was used to having them around at this time of day. As Kopi was looking up, the mists began to fade. That was strange. The mists never went away at sunrise. Spirit did leave the island covered all day, maybe she needed to rest? Then he heard a scream. Kopi hopped up and looked around. He couldn’t see anyone that could have screamed. It sounded close by, though. Who could have screamed? What was happening. Kopi looked back up at the sky. He saw… something... He didn’t know what he saw. It looked like a two headed snake with something covering their heads with smaller snakes trailing behind them. It was enormous and colored vibrantly. Soon enough, Kopi thought of who it might be. “Mother…” Kopi said under his breath. Mother was taking away the mists. The mists Spirit had put up for who knew how long. That scream… Was that Spirit? Could Spirit even do that? Kopi didn’t know much about Spirit, it could be possible, but why was she shrieking? Mother pulled down the mists, could that be why? Was Mother hurting Spirit?Kopi glared and barked at Mother as she went through the air, vanishing soon after. Even after she was gone, he growled in the direction she went in. Mother had hurt the animals of Naelus. Her and her sowers destroyed the island and so many lives in the process. Now she was hurting Spirit. When was she going to stop torturing everyone? When would she be satisfied? Kopi began to furiously dig at the dirt. Mother was everywhere. In the air, in the plants, in the dirt. It wasn’t much, but it was something he could do to potentially let Mother know he was mad. No, that wouldn’t work, not at all. If Mother didn’t come after him for digging before, she wouldn’t do that now. Kopi stopped digging and hit the pile of dirt he formed out of frustration. Mochi said there wasn’t much Kopi could do to help Spirit other than keeping faith. Kopi still had faith in Spirit, but he wanted to do more. There had to be something else. Kopi was a guardian, he protected the animals and healed Mother’s corruption in them before his death. That must have helped Spirit in some way, healing the animals. If Kopi could do that, then there had to be something, anything he could do now. Kopi bolted off. The cunicanine went as fast as his legs could carry him. He needed to find something he could do, he needed to find someone who could know what to do. Kopi ends up staying with Mochi ( Shinko ) for the night to see if they would be okay. He doesn't sleep that night. Eventually, morning comes and Kopi sees Mother Nature in the sky, lifting the fog, and Spirit crying in pain. He isn't so happy. He thinks about what Mochi said about not being able to do much outside of believing in Spirit, but he still feels like he needs to do something. With that, Kopi runs off, in search of what he could do. If you want to stop Kopi and interact with him, feel free. (I just wanted to get something in at some point.)
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Post by Shinko on Aug 10, 2018 15:14:09 GMT -5
Quicksnap ignored Driftstone’s shout, but he couldn’t so easily ignore when Shadowstep leapt right into his path. The kaprosochus hissed, low and long. “Stand aside!” he snarled. “Tear them, bite them, ssssnuff them out before they get usss!” He stamped in one of the burned areas, leaving a deep groove where his foot had been. The print too shimmered momentarily with the black fire of corruption before it receded to normal dirt once more. For a moment after he touched the scar in the dirt, the raptors saw what Beech must have been able to see- Quicksnap’s body wreathed in a shroud of the Shadow. “Poisssson!” he screeched. “The island is poisoned! Have to sssstop them!” Something moved in the tree overhead, and Quicksnap reared on his hind legs with a ferocious snap of his jaws. It was revealed to be a too-curious little black primate with a white striped chipmunk face and wide amber eyes. It recoiled with a fearful chitter, but lost it’s balance in the process and slipped from the branches. Tiger Quicksnap doesn’t seem soothed, stamping on the burn mark on the ground, then knocking a hapless carpolestes out of a tree.
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Post by June Scarlet on Aug 10, 2018 17:06:12 GMT -5
Julaine woke to screaming. It sounded like the Spirit of Naelus herself was in pain. Then another voice spoke, the same as the one who had announced the nightmare of living bones. Julaine looked out of her nest to spot a huge jellyfish drifting across the sky. This was Mother Nature. And she had removed the mist that protected the island from outsiders. This was bad, this was very bad. She got out of her nest, and scurried down the tree. Julaine was scared. But she was also brave. There had to be something she could do to tip the balance in favor of the Spirit. Some small thing to help. She noticed a cunicanine running towards her. It looked like Kopi, except he was silver and misty looking. Like a ghost. Could Kopi have died? Julaine moved to talk to the cunicanine. "Kopi, is that you? Did you see what happened just now? The mist is gone. Mother Nature has hurt the Spirit. There must be something we can do to help." Julaine wakes up to the screaming of the Spirit of Naelus, and Mother Nature drifting across the mist free sky. She spots Kopi Rabbit ♠, and says there must be something they can do to help.
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Post by Tiger on Aug 11, 2018 0:14:00 GMT -5
Shadowstep couldn’t say he refused to be intimidated when Quicksnap hissed at him, but he did his best not to look intimidated. The kaprosuchus’ stomp and the fiery black burst of light it produced, however, made him jump with a little squawk that caught halfway in his throat. “Poisssson! The island is poisoned! Have to sssstop them!”“Yes, but the rabbits are not - “ Quicksnap reared up on his hind legs. Shadowstep sprang back, positive Quicksnap had finally lost patience and his limited control over his corruption and was going to simply crush him to death. Only when he heard the chitter did he realize something was wrong - by the time he saw the falling primate, he was too far and too late to do anything about it. Luckily, Driftstone had a better vantage point and must have been on his toes, ready to act; he leaped onto and from Quicksnap’s broad tail to get a touch of additional height and length to his jump, and managed to get between the primate and Quicksnap. He gave the hapless monkey-thing a hard shove with his nose toward the tree, biting his teeth down on an snarl of ”Idiot!” Yellowtail darted up just behind him, her big body hiding the primate from immediate sight as it made a dash for the tree. Driftstone turned back toward Quicksnap, the feathers on his back rising, but he shrunk the rest of his posture down, clearly trying not to look threatening. Rapidly, almost rambling but with just too much direction, Driftstone said, “I’m sorry for stepping on your tail, Quicksnap, and I hope that later you will forgive me for that, especially because I didn’t even tickle you with a feather this time!” Shadowstep hurried back to his position, and his brain tried to hurry to a better way to handle this. The raptors were in a panic, that much was clear, and nothing good came of doing things in that state of mind. It might even be making Quicksnap’s panic worse in return, the way shoving a sibling meant getting shoved right back. What - besides the cold - had worked so well the previous night? “Quicksnap,” he said, trying to keep some of the fear out of his voice. They at least seemed to be out of immediate targets, unless more animals like the primate-thing showed up out of otherwise sensible hiding spots; most of the rabbits had figured out how to get a safe distance from their attacker and his feathery, long-clawed entourage. “Let’s - you know, I agree, this ground is bad. Very bad.” He almost stomped it as proof, but was a little afraid to do so in case it triggered something. “Maybe we should go somewhere away from it? You said it was poison - you do not want to be around poison, right? Especially when you are already feeling unwell?” Driftstone manages to rescue the carpolestes (hopefully my imagingin of the scene was correct, but correct me if not, Shinko!) - but commits a grave sin by stepping on Quicksnap’s tail. He apologizes for his appalingly rude behavior, but will it be enough??? Also Shadowstep tries changing tacks, basically like “well trying to talk him away from something else worked last time let’s try it again?” He also does not like the Bad Ground, thanks for ruining perfectly good dirt, Mother! ( Shinko)
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Post by Shinko on Aug 11, 2018 19:41:49 GMT -5
Quicksnap had tensed, jaw wide as he felt the weight of Driftstone on his tail, but he came up short when he saw exactly who had leapt on him, managing to keep his irritation to a warning snarl. “I’m sorry for stepping on your tail, Quicksnap, and I hope that later you will forgive me for that, especially because I didn’t even tickle you with a feather this time!” The big kaprosochus blinked, his yellow eyes looking for a moment confused. He shook his head as if to shake something off. “...I’ll think about it,” he growled. “No sense wasting energy yanking your feathers when there’s real enemies to consider.” Shadowstep called his name then, and though he kept a wary eye on the trees, he could see now that his quarry had escaped, so he gave the raptor’s words a bit more attention. “Let’s - you know, I agree, this ground is bad. Very bad. Maybe we should go somewhere away from it? You said it was poison - you do not want to be around poison, right? Especially when you are already feeling unwell?”“Unwell?” he echoed, frowning. He hissed softly. “But the poison-shadow-sowers… the longma said she’d return the light, but the light burned, and… I have to stop them!” Tiger Quicksnap… responds to Driftstone’s joke? Not as cleverly as he normally might, but it seems to register! He also seems a bit more cognizant in his answers to Shadowstep than the day before, likely because he’s had time to warm up.
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