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Post by Rabbit ♠ on Aug 14, 2018 14:05:06 GMT -5
As Kopi and Tash approached Mochi, they noticed that they were running. To or from what, neither of them were sure. Kopi noted that Mochi was clearly still in pain. “My family lives in these woods!” They retorted hotly. “I’m not just going to sit around like an invalid while they’re maybe burning to death!”“Mochi, you’re injured, you shouldn’t push yourself,” Kopi scolded. “You need to get out of the forest right now and rest.” “You can’t really blame them, can you, though?” Tash asked. “What made you want to come here?” “I wanted to find you.” Kopi paused for a moment when he realized what he said. “To be fair, I’m a ghost-” “They’re just worried about their family just like you were about me, Kop'.” Tash walked closer to Mochi. “Do you know where your family lives? We can help them out if they need it.” Kopi scolds Mochi ( Shinko ) about going in the fire injured like they are and Tash defends them, saying Kopi is the same way. Tash offers to join Mochi to find and help their family.
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Post by Tiger on Aug 14, 2018 14:17:21 GMT -5
”Are you sure you should be telling me this?”
A short, purr-like chitter met Driftstone’s question. “Maybe not. But I am going to do it anyway. ...It is an important story; I do not want to tell it wrong to your whole pack.”
“Our whole pack now,” Driftstone said smugly; apparently the customary season before sharing pack-stories had done little to fade his pride over getting his mate. Raptors were not, of course, known for their humility or any lack of enthusiasm, so this didn’t especially surprise Shadowstep. It was endearing, even.
He still gave Driftstone a little nip in warning, though. His mate’s replying burble of chirps suggested he was more amused than anything else, but he did settle onto his belly in the grass and leaned a little against Shadowstep. “All right, all right - I’ll stop. This is your very important story, right?”
“Right. It is the one I have to tell the best: The All-Hunters and the Eagle-Eye.”------- Shadowstep sprang a ridiculous height into the air at the sound of the shriek - he and the pack immediately turned in the cry’s direction, hissing and showing their teeth and claws. Shadowstep’s attention was caught by Quicksnap, however - despite the sunshine and the warmth and the fact that he was only begrudgingly going back with the raptors, the kaprosuchus dropped to his belly. Sunspeckle and Driftstone jumped again at the sound, and they all turned to look at the eerie black glow that rose like dust puffed out of Quicksnap’s skin - and then it was gone. Before Shadowstep could do more than realize the black glow - which looked very much like the light around the marks Mother Nature had left with her tentacles - must be the corruption, another loud sound tore through the tense quiet.This time it was accompanied by light - and though the sound faded, the light did not. Very many things happened at once. Quicksnap leaped to his feet. Trees burst into flame. Driftstone screeched and Yellowtail snapped a very unnecessary “Fire!” “It’s coming this way!” Quickstone said, swinging his big head back toward the raptors. Yellowtail gave a single authoritative bark and a sharp “ Run!” - Shadowstep twitched, pulled himself out of his shock. He nudged Quicksnap’s shoulder, not even thinking about the possibility of a corrupted Quicksnap taking offense to that. “Come on! Whatever happened, we do not want to be caught in it!” “Water!” Sunspeckle blurted as they ran. “We need to get somewhere with water!” “Or out of the trees!” Driftstone said. They could loop around to the river, Shadowstep thought. Maybe - it would be risky, as fast as this fire was moving. His mate might have the right of it - “The High Hills!” he called. “The hollows might even have water!” Yellowtail gave a short bark of agreement. “What about the others?” Sunspeckle shouted. “The rest of the pack?” Yellowtail snapped, “They have to do the best they can. We can’t help them if we burn up!” Shadowstep realized he finally knew Yellowtail well enough to know when something hurt for her to say. He could still feel their locations in his head - and they were moving, so they must not be dead, but the fire was so big and so fast, and they had an injured raptor and three chicks...hopefully the back-from-the-dead octopus they also had with them had some tricks Shadowstep hadn’t seen. They made it to a slightly higher part of the forest - Yellowtail sprang-climbed partway up a tree to get their bearings, and Driftstone took the opportunity to pant, “What did happen? That was - the sower-mother, that’s the one who screamed?” “I think so,” Shadowstep said, turning to Quicksnap. “The last sower must have died - Quicksnap, does that mean you are okay again?” =O what’s this, flashback-y followup on a very very very old raptor/eagle eye plot point?In present-day - the raptors with Quicksnap encourage running from the fire. A few suggestions for destinations are made, the final one from the raptors being the High Hills (though Quicksnap is welcome to voice disagreement/other options \ o / ) When the raptors pause to get their bearings, Driftstone and Shadowstep finally agree with Quicksnap’s “what’s going on???” question and piece together that the scream was from Mother Nature and likely that was over the last sower being killed - so Quicksnap is ok again, right?! ( Shinko) ((Music for the second half of the post is the second half of this very fitting (but hopefully not exactly fitting 'cause that island did not make it) track) (warning that it gets very loud very suddenly at about 1:30)
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Post by Shinko on Aug 14, 2018 15:52:59 GMT -5
Mochi had bristled when Kopi started trying to boss them around- did they seriously not get my family is in danger?- but fortunately Tash interjected, and Mochi was relieved that the artacat seemed sympathetic. “They live along the northern part of the woods, in a shallow depression in a clearing,” they answered. “Probably they’re not there now, but I don’t know how far they might have gotten without possibly getting trapped!” * * * Quicksnap let himself be nudged on the shoulder by Shadowstep, compliantly turning in the direction the raptors were guiding him and running as fast as he could behind them. Which was to say, not very- in the trees they were far more agile than he was, and his exerctions while corrupted were starting to catch up to him. It was only the pure adrenaline of primal terror that let him keep up well enough to even keep their tail feathers in sight. It was with a great deal of relief that the kaprosochus stumbled to a stop when the raptors paused for a breather. When Shadowstep asked if he was okay, Quicksnap winced and looked down at his feet. “So I was corrupted again. Curse it. Curse it all.” He hissed, but the sound had none of the menace it had carried while he was corrupted; now it just sounded tired and defeated. “I wouldn’t use the word ‘okay,’ but I’m sane again if that’s what you mean.” He hunched his shoulders. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. For everything you had to go through to keep me… in check.” He took a deep breath, then urgently said, “Listen, all of you; we can’t go to the Hollow Hills. I don’t know how old any of you are, but nine years ago there was a smaller fire in the Pines that started when lightning struck a tree. A lot of birds died in it because they panicked and flew into the air, and choked on the smoke. Up is the worst way to go.” He turned his nose deeper into the Pines. “But there’s a narrow place through the forest where the cliff is less steep, and it’s possible to get down to the beach. That might be our best bet.” Rabbit ♠ Mochi explains where their family is Tiger Quicksnap has saaaaads. He pulls himself together enough to point out that smoke rises, so maybe the Hills aren’t the best destination. He suggests headed to the shoreline (and by that I meant the beach on the opposite side of the island, through the Shadowed Pines, since that’s closer to where they are now. Mochi and Lackintell went there once much earlier in the game, so it’s established to exist, lol)
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Post by Thorn on Aug 14, 2018 18:10:23 GMT -5
Two sets of guardian powers? This was evidently enough to distract Kohimu. I didn't know that was possible. She must be a very special creature. Who?Kohimu tried out a series of noises, before settling for The Eagle Eye the microraptor mentioned. Beech's friend.Te Tai's feet hadn't even brushed the ground when Beech was off, bounding towards the assembled group of dinosaurs, and...was that Renpi? The taniwha hung back, still struggling to disentangle his thoughts from those of his frantic companion: I know it's been difficult, he said. First the little scimon, and now Svar. But we need to focus. We're here to protect her, remember? This- Taak, correct? Yeah, Taak. That's much easier! Good. And if we're going to do that, I need you to focus. Svar wasn't who you thought he was, but he's dead now. He got what he deserved. We don't have to worry. Unless he becomes a ghost, Kohimu added. Nobody mourned him. Nobody cared, and maybe they shouldn't, but- he wasn't always like this. I don't know what happened. I didn't think it would be Svar. Revenge wasn't as good as I thought it would be. Speak for yourself. I am personally very glad that beast got what he deserved, even if I wasn't able to snap his scrawny neck myself.He could almost feel Kohimu wince, and resolved to change the subject, scurrying forward to join Beech, Taak, and the others. Short post! Kohimu learns that age old lesson that revenge isn't always as super tasty as you think it's gonna be. Tai learns nothing, except to perhaps be a little more sensitive regarding Kohimu's dead friends, no matter how lacking in morals they may be. Shinko Tiger , Liou and June Scarlet all have characters present.
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Post by June Scarlet on Aug 14, 2018 20:20:56 GMT -5
There was fire. Julaine didn't know what she could do to help. She was lucky to not be caught in the flames herself. There was discussion among the animals. What could they do against the holy flames set by the last of the sowers? The answer came in the desperate plea of the Spirit herself. Bring the healer to heart of the island. The healer turned out to be a dilophosaur, no, the dilophosaur, the Eagle Eye, she was also the healer now. Apparently the Spirit had reassigned the role after the previous healer Kopi had died. She had seen Kopi yesterday, and Julaine had expressed her desire to help. Now the other dilophosaur was asking if anyone would like to come along with the healer. Julaine saw her chance to finally make a difference, and volunteered. Her sister had turned out to be a sower, and died for it, and regretted her actions. But Julaine could make a difference now, and turned things around for scimons in general, if not for Roda. They went down to the Crystal Crags to look for the portal they had exited the caves through. “...Maybe look for any of that orange-and-yellow stone? The kind that was in the Heart, that looked like all the animals.” said a dilophosuar. Julaine started looking in the nooks and crannies the larger animals couldn't get to. Being small had its advantages sometimes. A large puppy Sha joined the search, as did the ghost Beech and a taniwha. "I wonder if the portal feels magical as well," said Julaine. Julaine isn't sure what she can do against the flames, so when the opportunity to help the healer comes up, she volunteers to help search for the portal in the crystal crags. She's able to search small corners the bigger animals can't reach, and wonders if the portal feels magical. Search Squad: Tiger June Scarlet Shinko Liou Thorn
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Post by Rabbit ♠ on Aug 14, 2018 20:29:57 GMT -5
“I sure hope they didn’t get trapped. What direction do you think they could have took?” Tash asked. She looked over at Kopi. Kopi was pouting. “Kopi do you think you can track scents as a ghost?” “I could try,” Kopi mumbled. Kopi started to furiously sniff at the ground. He knew Mochi’s scent by now. If Kopi could smell, he would be looking for a scent similar to Mochi. He’d have to get through all of the smoke, though. Kopi’s snuffles sounded more like grunts than actual sniffs. It was almost if he was mad about searching for a scent. Tash watched as the cunicanine sniffed away. It’s clear that he was still thinking about Svar. She really couldn’t blame him, but now wasn’t the best time to be thinking about what happened. Poor Kopi, Tash couldn’t imagine what he was feeling. Tash looked back at Mochi and said in a low voice, “I’m sorry about Kopi. A lot just happened with Svar and Kopi hashas a lot on his mind.” She swallowed a lump in her throat and licked at her paw. “It's just a mess.” Kopi's still in a grumpy mood, but he tries to sniff out where the other moon rabbits. Tash apologizes to Mochi ( Shinko ) and tells them that Kopi has a lot going on now.
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Post by Tiger on Aug 14, 2018 20:50:43 GMT -5
The padding of paws on sand drew the dilophosaurs’ attention from the walls. A small red canine-like creature appeared, damp with sweat - she looked familiar, but it took Taakeyrr a second to realize - she must be another creature like the big red doggish-thing that had leaped in to help stop the fight between her and the entelodont. A very young one of the species, apparently - a kit? A pup? Pup, Taakeyrr thought. She spoke like an adult, though, and...actually, aside from the pitch, she sounded almost exactly like the same animal, from Taakeyrr’s patchy memories. Smelled the same, too. That was uncanny, even the raptors didn’t sound or smell so much alike - maybe the bigger one had been her mom? Then her manners caught up with her. She awkwardly mimicked the little dog-like creature’s bow as best she could with two legs and a long neck, which was not especially well. “Thank you for your help.” She wasn’t positive the pup was going to do well in a fight...but then again, hadn’t the bigger one done some trick with its mouth that made it much, much bigger? And the puppy spoke like an adult...it seemed like she should know her fighting abilities. Still, she added, “Hopefully, if we can find the passage fast enough, nobody has to fight that creature at - “ She was distracted by the sight of something huge swooping around the curve of the island. It was big, reptilian, fearsome-looking, and Taakeyrr’s first thought was that it was a creature the sower-mother was sending after them. Fortunately, before she could panic, the creature’s wings dipped and she saw a familiar shape and color on its back. The flying animal swooped closer, coming in for a landing that at least didn’t look hostile - surely if it was going to attack, it would stay in the air and lash out with its claws - and Beech sprang onto the sand. Taak! What’s all this about you being the healer? When did that happen?”Just when Taakeyrr had thought she couldn’t feel any more nervous or guilty. “...When we left the Heart, it…” There wasn’t really time to explain how it had felt, even if Taakeyrr could have put into words the feel of something taking root in the sense she always had when using her Eagle Eye, and somehow branching, extending and growing and shaping itself into something different, something healthy and fresh and new. “Something happened with what was left of my Eye, and we found the Lionheart, and fixed her - and I’m going to heal Quicksnap, if killing the last sower didn’t do it, I swear,” she said, meeting Beech’s eyes. “I would have done it when we first found out, but it wasn’t strong enough yet; if I use it one night, I can’t use it the next. Or...I don’t know if it would be strong enough to do anything after just one night, at least. So - once every two nights. I think, if it works like I think it did for Kopi.” It occurred to Taakeyrr that she didn’t necessarily have to tell Beech about healing Thunder’s canine first…but Quicksnap hiding things had been a disaster for him and Beech both, and Taakeyrr didn’t want to repeat that. “And...and last night, I healed Thunder’s not-wolf. I wanted to heal Quicksnap first, I really did, but - he had all the raptors guarding him, and the one we met said he didn’t seem as bad as most of the corrupted animals - and the wolf-thing had already killed someone, so Thunder clearly wasn’t - “ She bit off a frustrated growl. That had irked her - having to make such a wrong-feeling choice partially because the tyrannosaur was being less responsible than a raptor pack.“I don’t know it part-doses get rid of corruption, but I promise - once we get this taken care of, we’ll find Quicksnap, and if he’s still corrupted even with the sowers all dead - I’ll do all the healing I can tonight, and if we have to, we’ll do it again tomorrow night. ...But I’m sorry, Beech.” After giving the thylacine a chance to reply, Xsabaskis shifted her feet and gave a little coughing growl. “We need to get to work - the Spirit needs Taakeyrr in the Heart for something, and I’m guessing this is a ‘the whole island depends on it’ kinda thing. “Apparently there’s an amber line we’re looking for?” Xsabaskis went on, looking in Renpi’s direction for confirmation. “Assuming the cave’s near where we were let out of the Heart last time.” "I wonder if the portal feels magical as well,” Juliane said. Xsabaskis clicked in agreement. “That’d be nice - if we could feel when we were close, that’d narrow down where we need to look.” “Beech,” Taakeyrr said suddenly, a little tentative. “You knew where that cave was when I was corrupted...and I think you said you used to explore around here when you were little? ...Do you know any other caves?” -------------- ”When the raptors came to Naelus, they learned from the older creatures that this was a place of peace. They told the raptors that the price of safety from the cold, dark world they had left behind was a simple one; do not kill except for food.”
“Or in self-defense, don’t forget that one.”
“Right. Do not kill except for food, or in self-defence. ...Though many of the the islanders, especially the ones who had lived in the Old Place with them, saw the raptors as fearsome and dangerous, the raptors were not unhappy with this rule. They wanted what most animals do - to be safe and to live in peace.”
“And their other choice was going back to the Old Place, I’m sure that helped their decision.”
“Now you are just being disruptive,” Shadowstep scolded, and pretended to be too upset to continue, until Driftstone flopped against his side and gave Shadowstep a conciliatory nuzzle under the chin.
“...Life on Naelus was very good,” he continued. ”There was food to eat and fresh water to drink, trees to climb, places to run and hide and chase, and safety for the hatchlings. For most raptors, for most generations, this was enough. But not for all.”------- ”Hsssaah, do not apologize,” Shadowstep told Quicksnap. “It was not your fault, and you could have been much worse.” Driftstone gave him a friendly headbutt. “We’re glad to have you back to normal though. Even in the middle of a forest fire.” There wasn’t much more time for reassuring the kaprosuchus, though, and they all seemed to know it. Quicksnap himself moved the conversation along, explaining why the Hills were too dangerous. The raptors hissed and clicked a little at this news - they hadn’t known that about smoke, but if birds had died doing it, well...raptors shouldn’t risk it. “But there’s a narrow place through the forest where the cliff is less steep, and it’s possible to get down to the beach. That might be our best bet.”Yellowtail leaped back down to the ground, pointing her muzzle in the direction Quicksnap had indicated. “I don’t think we have much choice. Show us the way; we’ll follow you.” oh god plz don’t make me write a summary of this monstrosity Uhhhhh dilos talk to animals at the Crags! Highlights include: Tiger realizes the dilos don’t know about Renpi’s puppification yet ( Liou) Oh no it’s a dragon oh wait Beech is riding it ( Thorn) Taakeyrr has to come clean about being the healer and not healing Quicksnap and explains and apologizes even though it’s all Shinko’s fault! ( Shinko) Xsabasksis points out they need to get on finding the amber mark Renpi mentioned, and agrees with Julianne that it could be magical, and that would actually be quite helpful! ( June Scarlet) Taakeyrr remembers Beech saying something about caves in the Crags before hmmmmmm! I’m literally one paragraph ahead of this spot in the raptor story. We’re going on this journey together. The raptors real quick forgive Quicksnap! Yellowtail agrees they should go the way he suggests and tells him to lead (the raptors will follow on foot this time)
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Post by Draco on Aug 14, 2018 22:04:50 GMT -5
The quokka was dragging Kuzen off to the river. Believing the kappa to be dead, he wanted to have a sort of burial at sea, or in this case throw the dead body in the river and hope he doesn't get blamed. " I'm not dead," thought Kuzen. "I hope no one things I'm a murderer for carrying around a dead body! I mean, it's pretty suspicious!" " Just get me to the water," screamed Kuzen in his mind. Kuzen tried to move around, but was paralyzed for the most part. The mix of being frozen and lack of water did a number on his body. Usually loosing water would at least mean he could move about a bit sluggish, but this was a whole different thing. The quokka finally gets to the river and tries to catch his breath, leaving Kuzen laying next to the water. Every inch of Kuzen struggling to get closer. "Would have been a lot easier if there was a fire or something to get rid of the body... Though a fire last night might have saved me this problem in the first place!" Almost on demand, fire erupted around them. The quokka's eyes narrowed as he took in the sight. Panicking he tries to scoop water in his hands and toss it at the fire, failing. "I need something to scoop water with! Something... Something..." He looks at Kuzen's head. He grabs him and starts to bucket water using the kappa's head. Kuzen would sigh in relief for a brief moment every time he was in contact with water, but then kill over again he lost it. This repeated over and over as the quokka tried to put out the fires. Quokka tries to get rid of the evidence of the "dead" Kuzen in the river.
Fire erupts.
Kuzen is now a water bucket, having brief moments of life, before it's poured out on holy fire.
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Post by Shinko on Aug 14, 2018 22:09:22 GMT -5
Mochi tilted their head in Tash’s direction. “Svar? What happened with Sva...” The moon rabbit broke off, their fur bristling. “Wait, Svar killed Kohimu with fire, and now the whole forest is on fire… did Svar do this? Did he panic again? I told him he needed to work on getting that in hand!” * * * Beech listened as Taakeyrr explained, her ears pinned back with frustration. More secrets. More lies-by-omission. Spirit, would it ever stop? “I just wish everyone would trust me,” she whispered sadly, her nose pointed down. “I wish I could be an equal ally ‘stead of someone to be helped or protected.” She swallowed hard. “I killed him. The last sower. It was that firebird, the one who was with us that day with the entelodont. Because even though we weren’t completely sure if he was the right one, when he started to escape I just… I felt so mad. So tired of being helpless, of being a victim, of not being able to help when you were corrupted, or when Quicksnap was corrupted, or when Kopi died, or when I had to learn Kohimu was dead secondhand after-the-fact. I didn’t want to just watch anymore, while my friends suffered.” She looked down. “I murdered him. Maybe you could say it was self-defense, but he’s still dead. I gotta live… well, un-live with that. So… so can you please, please promise to trust me from now on? Please?” Xsabaskis cut in, and Beech listened in silence while the others spoke. Right; priorities. She tilted her head at the question about caves, and said, “No, but I do know where there might be some stones the same color as the ones in the heart where. It’s harder to see ‘em in the dark, but I put off some light, so that should help. I dunno about them feeling magic, but maybe Te Tai would know what to feel for?” She tilted her head towards the taniwha. * * * Quicksnap nodded, starting off through the pines towards where he knew the slope would start downhill. As they went along, he quietly asked, “Beech, have… have any of you seen Beech at all? Do you know if she’s…” his voice cracked. “Okay?” He gave a bitter, tired laugh. “It must disgust you. That I would kill someone so close to me, then keep it a secret. Your packs would never do such things, I’m sure- I don’t deserve to be counted as your brother.” Rabbit ♠ Mochi is confused, then alarmed, and asks if Svar started the fire. They don’t yet realize it was done intentionally. Tiger June Scarlet Liou Thorn Beech has a lot of feelings, the summation of which being that she feels like everyone is always trying to protect her by keeping her out of things and lying to keep her safe. She insists she wants to be treated as an equal, and that as the one who killed Svar she has her own burdens of guilt and sin to carry now. She then acknowledges knowing where there might be some Tiger’s Eye and asks if Te Tai could sense magic. Quicksnap also has feels because dysfunction junction! Tiger by all means feel free to have the raptors discuss their own character stuff, I don’t mean to lionize the conversations I promise.
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Post by Thorn on Aug 15, 2018 8:44:18 GMT -5
Kahu had not seen her taniwha in days. There was a rumour he'd died, his reclusive mate now the only survivor. She didn't want that to be true. He might be a totally ridiculous creature, but he was her totally ridiculous creature. So the moment she caught the snippet of news of a lizard-like creature roaming the north, she went to investigate. (This creature apparently had wings, unlike Kohimu or Te Tai, but maybe they were mistaken. Or perhaps a new taniwha had joined them after all these years. Either way, Kahu wanted to be there.) So it was that Kahu found herself racing through the trees, tongue lolling, with the highwind woods ablaze. She needed to escape- the smoke and heat wasn't good for anybody- but a shrill cry for help stopped her in her tracks. The smoke wasn't too thick here just yet, and so Kahu could quite easily make out the small form of an elderly haggis. "Hey!" she cried out. "Hang on, I'll- I'll help you. I'm not hunting, I promise I won't hurt you." She sprang over, very gently grasped the little haggis' scruff in her jaws, and continued her flight. Kahu goes looking for her taniwha, and bumps into Celestial's Morag in the nick of time.
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Post by Liou on Aug 15, 2018 10:12:59 GMT -5
The sight of an unburnt taniwha was most welcome. Although confident in her abilities, Renpi was forced to admit that the advantage of size was not one she could provide. She knew that Te Tai had been close to the start of the blaze, too. "Good, you are here," she told Te Tai, while the guardian was explaining her actions to the thylacine. Renpi did not want to sound too pleased to see him, though. She stood straighter and added: "That way, I can keep you out of trouble. It'd be dull not to have a taniwha around." The tone of the thylacine caught her ear in a way that sounded all too familiar. Renpi turned back to the center of the Healer's group, head tilted. She had been so sure that Te Tai had been the one to execute Svar. "You were born on this island," she said quietly, watching the thylacine. "This was the first time you killed not-for-food." The others had moved back to the pressing topic of the portal. Now the scimon's comment gave Renpi pause. It had not occurred to the Sha that the portal might feel more magical than its surroundings, so used was she to magical happenings. Glad to be reminded of this piece of mortal wisdom, the Sha bowed her head with a quiet "Indeed." She then sidled over to Beech and waited for a pause in the discussion of the portal. She did not bother with an introduction. "Another's death is a heavy burden to bear," she told the thylacine. "Even more so, I believe, when added to the burden of one's own death." Suddenly more conscious of her appearance, Renpi leaned at an angle that would make her scars more visible to Beech. "And yet, as time passes, feeling that burden and remembering its weight is what keeps us safe from apathy. I pray that you will be able to look back on your choice with no regrets in your heart. May that choice be the only such choice you will ever have to make." Before she could stop herself, Renpi continued, a warmer, grateful tone seeping into her voice. "You are the swift wind of hope that blew across the island on the day our bones were bare, are you not. You are the one who brought us back to our senses and rallied the guardians." The Sha bowed again. "I remain in your debt." Renpi is kind of relieved to see Te Tai arrive, Thorn . She tsundere's at him too. I guess it's a juvenile Sha thing? Renpi quietly agrees with June Scarlet about the portal. She listens to the dilophosaurs of Tiger , but does not say anything more to reply to, whew! Renpi hears that Beech did a non-hunting kill for the first time and is struck with sympathy, Shinko . She shares her impressions as an Old Warrior, and takes that chance to solemnly thank Beech for what she did back in bone-round.
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Post by Rabbit ♠ on Aug 15, 2018 10:43:14 GMT -5
“Svar sure did cause the fire,” Kopi said curtly. “That lying little traitor.” He began to hop. “If we’re going to be looking for the other moon rabbits, we need to keep looking. Come on, Tash, Mochi.” Kopi walked off without looking back. Tash followed close behind along with Mochi. Kopi kept his nose close to the ground, angrily sniffing, hoping to pick up on a scent. Until that happened, the best he could do is look around and hope to hear something. “Svar’s dead,” Tash explained. “He was the last sower and Beech killed him. When he died, these flames erupted out. I think I heard him say something about not failing Mother. I'm pretty sure Svar knew what he was doing.” “He lied to us. All of us,” Kopi added. His eyes never left the ground. “He got what he deserved.” Everyone goes on a moon rabbit search and rescue and Tash explains what happened to Mochi ( Shinko ).
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Post by Tiger on Aug 15, 2018 11:40:40 GMT -5
"One year, two raptors were born to a nest infected with a terrible illness. There were five eggs laid in the nest; only two hatchlings survived. The elder, who had never become sick at all, was named Purefeather, and her minutes-younger sister, who had been sick but survived, was named Deathbreaker.”
Shadowstep couldn’t suppress a snuffle of amusement. “I wonder if that is a made-up name, though. It is so dramatic it is almost silly. She was probably called...Blackback or something. Named after her feathers like most of us.”
“You think she had black feathers? I always pictured red.”
“...But then she looks like Redclaw.”
“Not in my imagination she doesn’t.”
“...All right. Purefeather and her sister Redback - “ Shadowstep dodged a nip from Driftstone and continued properly. “The two chicks got an unusual amount of attention as they grew up, and combined with praise for surviving what had killed their siblings, the sisters became very…confident. Confidence is good, of course. They were told they were strong, and strength is good. They had so much attention that they learned faster than nestlings who had to share their parents and older siblings, so they were told they were smart. Being smart or learning a lot is good.
"But there was one thing they were not told, and one thing they were not taught - not when they were chicks, not when they were fledging, and not even when they were almost adults."------ “Duskrunner saw Beech,” Driftstone confirmed. “She was with the dilophosaurs and she must have seemed fine. Duskrunner told Beech you wanted to find and say sorry to her for something. And it sounded like she wanted to talk to you, too. But face-to-face, and without the corruption. I think they went looking for the last sower after that.” “The killing wasn’t your fault. Keeping it a secret was a bad idea,” Shadowstep agreed. “But even raptors make mistakes sometimes. Like going to the High Hills and choking on smoke, that would have been a mistake! A raptor or raptor-brother just has to learn from their mistakes and do better next time. …In this case, I mean ‘the next time you want to keep a secret that you shouldn’t keep a secret’. ” The raptors confirm they (well, Duskrunner) saw Beech and give Quicksnap some details about that. Shadowstep says keeping the secret about Beech-murder was dumb, but it’s okay, even raptors do dumb things sometimes! ( Shinko)
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Post by Shinko on Aug 15, 2018 15:16:41 GMT -5
Mochi’s fur bristled with horror. “Svar? Svar was- and I stopped Te Tai from hurting him!” The moon rabbit swallowed hard, tilting their head. “Kopi, are you… how are you doing? You seemed like you knew him pretty well when we met by the falls, this has to be… hard.” * * * Quicksnap gulped, clearly nervous at the news that Beech wanted to talk to him. On the one hand, that might mean he had a chance to offer a sincere apology. On the other, there was no way that conversation could possibly be anything less than awkward and painful for both sides. He managed a small smile at Shadowstep’s reassurances, however. “Let’s just hope we all live to learn from those mistakes. This will be grand fodder for your chicks next season, neh? Nightfire, or Greatblaze, or something like that.” He swallowed hard. “Do you know where they are? The others I mean. Maybe I can try to find them and guide them to you. It’s the least I can do after you left them so long to help me.” Rabbit ♠ Mochi turns the talking-about-feels around on Kopi and asks how he’s doing. Tiger Quicksnap manages to cheer up enough to make a joke, then suggests a dumb that definitely wouldn’t get a huge, slow, lumbering animal like him burned to death, nope.
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Post by Rabbit ♠ on Aug 15, 2018 16:13:30 GMT -5
Kopi stopped walking. He didn’t lift his head up from the ground. He had to think about Mochi's question. There was no way Kopi was okay right now. He didn't want to say anything to Mochi about it. However, he couldn't leave them without an answer. “Svar was my friend,” Kopi said in a low voice. “When we were alive, we were both paranoid and scared of so much. We were scared for different reasons, but it didn’t matter. I understood how he felt I grew a connection with him, I felt like I could trust him.” Kopi looked up at the sky. Smoke choked the scenery and embers peppered the nighttime sky. “And he was a sower the entire time. One of the few animals I trusted before the murders started happening turned out to be the one who was after me.” The cunicanine’s voice grew low and shaky. He turned to Mochi. “I was afraid of everything because of animals like him. Evil animals that wanted me and the other guardians dead.” Kopi looked over at Tash. Shock and sadness was all over her face. Tash was left speechless. She wanted to say something, but the words got caught in her throat. “It is hard. It hurts to know someone close to me wanted me dead,” Kopi continued, glancing back at Mochi. He began to hop off. “I had to learn eventually, but I wish I didn’t have to know.” I think I broke Kopi again. Kopi answer's Mochi's ( Shinko ) question about how he's doing. Short answer: Not well.
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