|
Post by Thorn on Aug 22, 2018 5:37:01 GMT -5
The year passed quickly. Kohimu was reluctant to relocate- the cliffs around the Whispering Cave made him feel so cut-off from the island. He did point out it was unlikely anything would sicken the Heart again immediately after the Spirit and healer restored it, but Te Tai brought up the sower-ghosts and their wicked ways, and Kohimu couldn't think of much to refute that statement. Since the younger taniwha was built for the shallows and not for making regular journeys out to remote caves, it fell to Te Tai to make sure they remained united. While Kohimu wandered the same shores and crags he had for the past hundred years, as often as twice a week a great shadow passed overhead, and he was joined by a second taniwha in a flurry of dark stone wings. "I would rather not," Te Tai grumbled, as they made their way to the Waterfall Basins during one such visit. "Lots of creatures means lots of noise." Kohimu nudged him. "You were happy enough collecting all that fish. We can leave whenever you like. I won't stop you." "I am not leaving you to the mercy of tiny gossiping dinosaurs." "Fine, then we'll leave whenever you like." They walked in comfortable silence. There was a noticeable spring in Kohimu's step- Te Tai realised that he was genuinely looking forward to this. Te Tai supposed this was where his partner got his now expired blessing from the Spirit, so the place only held good memories for Kohimu. On the other hand, Te Tai had never personally been to the Waterfall Basins. He wasn't sure about seeing it for the first time, thronged with masses of mortals and possibly even that Sha (although he had to admit, he didn't dislike the idea of seeing Renpi again. The three of them were, after all, perhaps the only creatures of their kind still on Naelus.) When the two taniwha arrived, Beech was standing at the head of the crowd, looking pretty dignified for a furry mammalian creature. Kohimu was clearly engrossed in what she had to say and didn't even react as Te Tai sighed softly and settled down on the ground beside him. He may have missed the Spirit's original blessings, but he'd received his own later in a beautiful flash of gold. Even now Te Tai could see the cavern's layout in his mind as if he'd lived there for centuries, rather than a single year. It felt good to have a purpose again. It would have felt even better if Kohimu had been given back the immortality he'd done everything to deserve, but there were limits to even the powers of Spirits, and at least right here and now they were still together. "I thought maybe-" Kohimu turned to Te Tai, pale eyes flashing. "Every year, Tai. Every year we'll gather together and tell it all over. I think that's amazing." They watched the younger creatures flock after Beech. Te Tai knew what Kohimu was thinking- that so many of these mortals were born after the events, and would need a good strong retelling to understand their importance. He had the feeling this was one story Kohimu wouldn't add to or embellish. It had plenty of meaning all of its own. Kohimu's gaze shifted, and he stiffened. Te Tai tried following his line of sight, but all he saw was a faint shimmer in the air. However, the healer Kopi was walking towards it. Was there something they could see he couldn't? Te Tai couldn't fathom why this had so distressed his companion. "Kohimu, what's wrong?" "Nothing, Tai," he murmured. "I, ah, I need to talk to Kopi." "Should I come with you?" "No need. I won't be long," he paused. "I'm so sorry to leave you here, but I won't be long. Promise." Te Tai snorted. "Don't apologise. Whatever business you have with the healer is none of my concern. I'll be back here if you need me." Kohimu nodded and bounded after Kopi. He'd seen the apparition before- silent and so fleeting that at first Kohimu thought it was his imagination, stuck on what had come to pass. In many ways, of course, it still was. Not a day went by when he didn't imagine the stench of his own burning flesh, but it got easier with time. Everything did. This apparition, however, was decidedly not of his own mind, even if he badly wished it were. He stopped when the healer spoke, lingering alongside the cunicanine's altacat sister. Svar had never replied before, but maybe now was different. Kopi was a guardian after all- he had a special influence Kohimu, even with all his years, could never replicate. Kohimu and Tai join everyone else by the water! Both of them helped collect fish for the gossip dinos, so they knew something was going on, but not precisely what it was until now. Kohimu sees Rabbit ♠'s Kopi and Tash going towards the apparition he realises is Celestial's Svar, and goes to join them.
|
|
|
Post by RielCZ on Aug 22, 2018 15:08:30 GMT -5
It had been about one year since the Sowers had plagued the island, and the tribe of longma cast into infamy as one of their very own had been outed as belonging to the dark forces of nature herself. Coupled with the death of their longstanding elder mere days prior, the tribe of longma were thrown into general confusion. The dragon-horses lay low after that; it seemed a number of the island's residents were trying to find other longma, Rui lookalikes, to question, chastise, or kill. Yes, their species had fire and could be destructive if necessary, but doing so in that climate would be seen as nothing but provocative. Rui Tianma. Treated as a hero by some in the tribe of longma, and a villain by many others. Many longma were intrigued by her prophetic damnations, incantations, and accusations. Many others thought she was at best deluded and at worst a megalomaniac. Still others believed her to be the first in a continuing systemic problem of the island's stir crazy youth. Rui's once best friend had told the others in the tribe, "She used to talk about wanting to be free of the mists. Not of tearing them down, not wanting the destruction of the island -- but wanting to be genuinely free to explore the outside world." A motive? Perhaps, but certainly that couldn't be all to it. A filly trotted up to Grandma. "Bai," Grandma said as she saw the young one approach. "What may I do for you on this sunniest of days?" "I would like to know more about Rui Tianma, the longma," Bai replied. Grandma sighed inwardly. Yet another one -- she was supposed to convey wisdom and knowledge to the whole tribe, and yet she found herself mostly answering questions about a figure whose ministry lasted all of a few weeks, if that. Grandma was de facto a sleuth, piecing together pieces and histories of the tribe's most popular longma in a long time. "How much do you know about her?" Grandma asked, smiling. "That she did it because she wanted to be free?" Grandma's smile wavered a little. "Do you remember the old Grandma?" Bai had to think. "Er... a little?" "I used to have long chats with that Grandma," Grandma replied. "I knew that I would take her place one day, as I was elder than the others, yet less than half the age of our former matriarch. But that's an aside." Grandma took a deep breath. "One of the things Grandma had told me was that she believed Roy -- what she called Rui -- to be not only a prophet, but a leader. A leader who would one day guide the longma back to the Yellow River, from whence we as a tribe were taken by the spirit." The filly stared up at Grandma, wide-eyed. "We were born off the island?" "No, all us longma living here today were born on the island. But our ancestors called the Yellow River, far from here and behind the mists, their home." Bai had to let that sink in. A river that was yellow? Marvellous. "I can only guess that Grandma had told Rui, and that she had taken that to heart. Even in her dying breaths, Rui said, 'I sew because I wanted to guide all of you to a better place, a place under the care and wisdom of the light.' The light, of course, is Mother Nature -- it would seem to me as though she believed herself to guide not only the longma back to their homeland, but all creatures of Naelus back to the places wherefrom they had come. And, perhaps most importantly, back under Nature's domain. She even said, 'By killing me, you stand with the Sower leader, who is for destruction and bloodshed.' Unlike the firebird who was the leader of the Sowers, she really didn't want to see the creatures of Naelus burn." "Why didn't she come back as a ghost like other Sowers did?" "That's for her soul to know, not for ours to assume. She did say she would come back one day, to guide all citizens of Naelus back toward the light of Mother Nature. And maybe she will, but one year is hardly any time at all. Perhaps Mother Nature even granted her some privilege we cannot begin to imagine." "And Mother Nature will come again one day?" the filly inquired. "More than likely, one day she will try and reclaim control over this dissenting yet merciful land. But not for a long time. Not until many generations have passed, and the citizens long since forget about the atrocities that happened here, and about Mother Nature herself." "But what about the holiday to commemorate the victory of the forces of the spirit against Nature?" "I do appreciate the valiance and spirit of the thylacine." Still, the elder longma shrugged. "But holidays pass, time marches on. Even the best of intentions fail. I can think of at least three annual festivals that once were celebrated by the longma before we even arrived on this island, according to Grandma, the origins of which are now completely lost and the commemorations of which no longer occur. But don't let that detract you -- celebrate now, enjoy the revelry. Celebrate while you still can. But before long, generations down, everyone will forget." She said this not maliciously, but matter-of-factly; through the lens of old-aged wisdom, which even the young Bai could appreciate. A lull. "Is Mother Nature really so bad?" Bai asked. "That I refuse to speak about," Grandma said with a frown. "That's for you to decide. Rui decided she was not. Many others in our tribe decided that she was, and is. But for now, know that Mother Nature is long gone." Another lull. "Would you like to come with me to the celebration?" Bai asked with a grin. Grandma smiled wanly. "Bai, I can't leave my post--" "Please please," she interrupted, bubbling. "You said yourself, celebrate while you still can!" A few other young longma surrounded Grandma and Bai, chorusing, "Come to the festival with us!" Grandma smiled warmly. "Alright, lead the way." The young longma Bai discusses Rui Tianma with (the new) Grandma, before Bai and Grandma and some other young longma leave for the festival.
|
|
|
Post by Tiger on Aug 22, 2018 21:51:11 GMT -5
Sretash’s first year of his second life was quite eventful - though not as eventful as the one year he’d been dead. That was a good thing, of course; “eventful” covered “sowers terrorizing the land” as much as it did “magical water that brought miracles to those who swam in it” and “magical emeralds that brought dilophosaurs back to life”. Or...one dilophosaur, anyway. That was one of the hardest parts; even if Sretash knew he had spent the past year with his mother somewhere in some sort of afterlife, he couldn’t really remember that, and when it really sank in that now it was going to be a lifetime before he saw her again, it felt like she had just died. “Which I know sounds stupid!” he’d whined to his sisters as they sat with him while he curled up and shook, too overwhelmed by grief to stand. “It’s not stupid,” Xsabaskis had said - simple, blunt, inarguable, as she’d always been. But, a moment later, she gave his shoulder a gentle nudge and admitted, “I miss her, too. We know how you feel.” Not as one-tempered as she’d always been. The other hardest part were the vague memories of his death - mostly the fall rather than the impact, though sometimes, that reared its head, too. Mostly they came when he was asleep, and they’d been frequent at first, like his head didn’t have any other memories to make anything different. Luckily, though, they - and the grief - became manageable in time. Adjusting to the lingering damage from his fall was also difficult, though not quite as bad. He’d opened the lid of his bad eye a few times - when he was alone, to ensure he didn’t frighten or disturb anyone with the sight of a scared eyeball - just to be certain he needed to. And he found he was, indeed, blind in that eye. Which was a shame, and sometimes frustrating, but he couldn’t really begrudge the magic water for not fixing that defect when he’d been dead for a year and a ghost for not even an hour; it couldn’t have had much to work with. Nor could he be too frustrated at the gap in his jaw that exposed a little teeth. It was an adjustment, but not the worst. Being alive again was really much more good than bad. He, again, couldn’t quite remember it all, but he definitely felt that he had missed his living family - and while the past year had obviously done them harm, it had also brought some positive changes to their lives and family. And one of the changes had been making some new friends. There were Kopi and Tash, Beech the also-formerly-dead thylacine, Quicksnap, and more as the islanders became much more receptive toward making friends with other species. The dinosaurs especially had a lot of branching out to do, and Sretash was happy to help participate. Which meant he was the first up the day of the mysterious Waterfall Basin Gathering. His family was close behind, though Xsabaskis was a little wary. Not of the gathering itself, of course - well, not exactly. “If I have to chase more suitors off because you insisted we get there early,” Xsabaskis informed Sretash as she led them through the woods to the Waterfall Basin, “I’m going to make you handle them.” “That isn’t nice! I’m practically a hatchling!” “Oh really?” Taakeyrr said. “Yesterday you were very sure you were my age.” “You were teasing me yesterday. I defended myself.” They weren’t actually quite certain how old Sretash was; he’d been close enough to fully-grown that it was hard to tell just by looking, and while he’d grown a little, so had Taakeyrr and Xsabaskis. In the end, he’d had to accept that he would never know his exact age - and made the best of it by claiming to be younger or equal age to his sisters, whichever seemed more advantageous at that moment. “Anyway,” Sretash went on, “I’m sure everyone will be too focused on the mystery to bother you!” “That’s what you think,” Xsabaskis grunted. Sretash hoped no other dilophosaurs would btoher her today, and not just for his sake; he did feel bad for her, having had to deal with more than one or two other dilophosaurs who were interested in starting a pack of their own with his elder sister. Xsabaskis had vowed to reject all of them - “If they can’t figure out I want to spend a year or so with my brother now that he’s back, they’re too stupid to be an eligible mate.” “Well, if they’re pretty enough, you have my blessing,” Sretash had told her. Xsabaskis had just snorted, the sound and her posture carrying the air that she thought it was funny he thought she might find a dilophosaur with a crest pretty enough to sway her. At some point, they were all going to have to consider it - splitting off from the main pack. Xsabaskis wasn’t the only one getting interest, though Taakeyrr felt it was mostly due to her Guardian status and had so far taken even less of an interest in dealing with it than Xsabaskis. Sretash hadn’t received any attentions, but he felt like there were fair reasons for that - he’d been dead for a year, which might be a little or a lot off-putting, and there was the whole age-uncertainty thing. Right now, he was privately happy not to be dealing with that. Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be any dilophosaurs close enough to start trying to chat Xsabaskis up when they arrived at the basin. Seeing Beech at the head of it was a surprise, though Taakeyrr was quick to say, “We should’ve known; this is at least the second time she’s used the Coelophyses to help inform the whole island of something.” Her idea was a good one; Sretash knew the past year was one the island would be best avoiding. Even if they couldn’t prevent the return of Mother Nature, they could try to prepare their descendants - and even if they couldn’t do that, they could at least be here now, alive and happy and aware of it, and that was, in its own way, a victory. A summary of what’s been going on the past year with the dilos from Sretash’s point of view! (Cutting the post short on a good ending line tonight before I start interactions, but interactions will be had!) (Raptors will get a summary, too!)
|
|
|
Post by Shinko on Aug 23, 2018 11:18:48 GMT -5
Mochi had turned a few heads when people saw them in passing. The little moon rabbit, once plump and soft, was looking somewhat worse for the wear after the slim pickings brought on by the fire. They definitely hadn’t wanted to over-graze the fragile young grass the spirit had called up, grass which had a hard time growing tall and strong with the spring rains having already passed. This meant rationing, which meant a good bit of weight loss for the rabbit. Things were finally starting to improve, thanks be to the Spirit. And the rice harvest had been surprisingly good in the autumn, meaning that after a sufficient time spent in preparation, there was a small feast of mochi, dango, and other such goodies for Beech’s gathering. Still, Mochi did their best to pretend not to notice the eyes trailing over their still-slightly-boney frame. They were far from the only one on Naelus that could stand to gain back some weight, after all. They fiddled with the small chunk of quartz they’d kept from their tiny dose of the elixir of life- the bit that had been looped through a braid of their hair. It was useless now, of course, but the little stone made for a nice momento. The grinned as they watched Beech wrestle with her siblings, Kopi and Tash talking, and Sretash with his family. They had helped do this. That was… amazing. “Anybody hungry?” they called cheerily, hoisting a stone covered in little chunks of rice cake in the air. “I’ve got sweeeeeets!” Stop; Mochi time! Moonbun is a little worse for the wear, but hanging in there. Anyone is free to come talk to them.
|
|
|
Post by Tiger on Aug 23, 2018 16:02:00 GMT -5
Yellowtail’s raptor pack had been a little late in joining the island-wide efforts to catch the sowers, but they were not going to be late to this gathering. Trading bits of information for bits of information, the pack had learned that someone had bribed the coelophyses into spreading the word, and that they had been bribed by fish, and that those fish had been caught at the behest of...well; the coelophyses hadn’t been entirely clear on that. Though always some of the most social of the dinosaurs, they had learned the proper names of even more species in the past year - they just didn’t always apply the to the corect species. But they decided to go; none of the possible animals it could be seemed like something the whole island couldn’t handle. Driftstone and Shadowstep went ahead to check things out, just to be safe; upon realizing it was Beech hosting, they went back to report the good news to the others. And it was very good news, because they had brought along the chicks and the chicks were very impatient about standing around waiting for scouts to return. “It is lucky we were not hunters come to eat them,” Shadowstep said to the adults as the chicks, barely taller than the adult coelophyses and each a bundle of garbled feather types propped up on stubby legs, scampered a little ahead of the rest of the pack. “We could hear their complaining from a good ways away!” “Good thing nothing is stupid enough to hunt raptor chicks these days,” Yellowtail said, not a little smugly; Things with the wolves had remained tense well after the sowers, until Deinos finally scrapped up some courage and came forward with a very practiced, formal apology. It was just the right amount of ceremony, and after getting a favor from the wolf and his friends - their help in hollowing out a large tree trunk and then filling it with river-water so that Dara could have a soak whenever they came to visit, if they so wished, Yellowtail magnanimously decided to grant them forgiveness. So long as they never so much looked at a hatchling with ill intent ever again. There had been no grand battle, so it wasn’t the most exciting story to tell, but Yellowtail had decided the island probably had enough battle stories for the year. “It would have been lost in all the other stories,” she told her pack, all of them knowing full-well that it was a particularly stupid time for violence. Like their prey, the raptors had grown a little leaner; it also turned out to have been a particularly stupid time to have growing chicks to feed, but there hadn’t exactly been anything they could do about that. They still assured themselves they cut menacing figures as they stepped out into the crowd. Rather than skulking around looking for information, however, most of them had specific plans. “We are going to look for Quicksnap,” Shadowstep announced. “I wanna come, too!” Wolfthorn insisted, his voice still carrying an undercurrent of the squawks and squeaks he’d made as a baby. “I bet I’m tall enough to climb on his back now!” “Not without using your claws you’re not, little brother,” Driftstone said. “..But I suppose there’s no harm in comparing heights. And making test jumps. At trees.” That seemed to be enough for Wolfthorn, who happily trotted alongside his brothers as the pack continued into the group. The girls, Hightide and Snowstorm, lifted their heads almost in unison as a call made its way through the air - [ “Anybody hungry?” The following declaration of having “sweeeeeets”, whatever those were, was a little confusing but didn’t deter them. They set off; Shadowstep, who happened to be closest, picked up his speed to trail after them. Apparently sweeeeeets were being offered by a rabbit, and even from a distance, they didn’t smell like meat at all. “That’s weird,” Hightide informed her sister after announcing her conclusion that they didn’t seem to be the food they were used to.. “Really weird,” Snowstorm agreed. “But we could try one anyway!” “We could!” Shadowstep caught up with them at that moment and lowered his muzzle to nudge them back a little from the rabbit. “You should not,” he chided. “That smells like a plant-treat, and we should not be taking plants from the plant-eaters.” “We’d only try a little!” Hightide protested. Ignoring her, Shadowstep turned to the rabbit and said, “I am sorry - they are too little to always remember that plant-eating may make them sick.” Snowstorm insisted, “But we’d only eat a little!”, as if Shadowstep hadn’t heard Hightide and so this might change his mind. The raptors arrive \ o / Driftstone, Shadowstep, and Wolfthorn are keeping an eye out for Quicksnap, though Shadowstep is currently occupied keeping Hightide and Snowstorm from harassing Mochi. ( Shinko)
|
|
|
Post by Celestial on Aug 23, 2018 16:13:25 GMT -5
Morag had, against all odds, managed to survive the past year. She was definitely feeling her age, with her old bones now creaking at the strain of living, but despite that, the haggis remained in good spirits. It helped that so many animals had banded together to help. Whereas previously she had managed to get by on the kindness of strangers, now it was the rule rather than the exception. Many animals were keen to help her, either in aiding digging up soft worms which her teeth could handle or simply giving her somewhere warm to sleep for the night. Which was just as well: times were lean for the whole island. The grasses were few and far between so she had to subsist mainly on worms and bugs, only nibbling on the young grass just enough to soothe her stomach. But by the kindness of everyone, Morag and the other animals got by. Autumn came and, remembering what the Spirit said, Morag watched the berries ripen with eager anticipation. She left them alone even as winter approached, watching and waiting. In time, they began to smell a little bit like the uisge but still she waited. Only when the first frosts arrived did she attempt to try some, choosing a relatively full tree that she had been eyeing for a while. Reaching them, however, was another task. In the end, Morag had to call over a friendly indricotherium to get the berries down from the tall trees. It oblidged, knocking down a bunch from one tree. The haggis stayed away: the indricotherium could easily squash her without even noticing. She only returned when the job was finished. To her disappointment, it seemed that the beast had sampled quite a few of the fermented berries and gotten clumsy. What few berries remained on the ground had been mashed to pieces. Not wanting to waste it, the haggis sadly lapped up the juices. Her ears immediately perked up. This actually tasted nice. Better than nice. And much easier on her poor teeth. Perhaps mashing the berries after they had been picked would be a good idea. She would need somewhere to put it. Looking around the island, Morag eventually found some large gourds that grew on the ground. After recruiting her friend the St Kilda Mouse and her family to hollow it out in exchange for the marrow, Morag asked more friends to help her gather the berries and mash them. The resulting liquor was aromatic and pungent. Not like the uisge but still pleasant. It certainly was just as heady. The little haggis got quite woozy even after several mouthfuls. This was far too precious a gift to keep to herself. She was going to share it. After all, her best memories with the uisge was the time she spent drinking it with Renpi. There were rumours of a spring festival. If the water would last through the winter, she would bring it there. What better to liven up a festival than with drink? With the help of the animals of the island, Morag gathered several gourds worth of mashed berries and stored them in a deep hole, allowing them to ferment. Heady scents rose up from it, making her head almost spin but the haggis remained steadfast. She only took tiny sips. Spring arrived. Opening up the gourds sent up a rush of delicious scents from them. They were ready. The only issue was transporting them but even that could be mitigated with a few friends. This one took the form of a kindly pegasus. Morag hopped down from its back as the horse landed by the Waterfall Basin and squeaked. "I have brought drinks! Come try it! It really is amazing, dearies! The Spirit taught me to make it!" she snuffled. "Careful though: it's strong." *** Very little changed for the wisp that flitted around the island. It watched from the edges as the scars of Mother's conquest attempt slowly healed and the animals moved on with their lives. Whether the wisp felt frustration or relief at this development nobody could say for not even it knew. It had considered continuing fighting. Not by corruption but simply luring unsuspecting animals towards its flickering, ethereal light, only to lead them off a cliff or into a patch of poisonous plants. But what would be the point? It no longer served Mother Nature, with death having severed the pact they had made. Getting revenge for Kohimu was also pointless: why get revenge for someone who now walked the island alive and well, and more to the point, considered you a traitor. So the wisp let the thought pass. All it did was flit back and forth across the island, silently watching but never doing anything. There was nothing to do, after all. The wisp had seen the many who, in life, it has considered friends. They were the ones it spent the most time around, watching them but never once having the course to reveal itself, let alone make the effort to speak. There was so much it could say but it did not have the heart to say it. On the rare occassions when it was spotted and its friends tried to approach, the wisp spread its wings and fled, disappearing into the air. On the day of the celebration, it had planned for nothing different. It had come down to the Waterfall Basins like everyone else, appearing in a patch of bright sunlight which would mask the flames that made up its body. In the year that had passed, the essense that made it up, freed of a mortal body, had gotten the chance to expand itself. Whereas before it conformed to every feather in its body, these days, the wisp's flames were looser and made him look more like a bird-shaped fire than a bird made out of fire. It watched as the animals came down and celebrated, wistful thoughts flitting through its mind as it saw the mochi brought by the moon rabbit. In life, it would have been happy to go take a few but now, food meant nothing. Besides, it seemed like the living islanders needed it more. All of them looked thin and haggard, even if it did not erase the joy that they clearly felt. So preoccupied was he in his observations that he did not notice as one of the animals approached him until a familiar voice caught his attention. "Svar? Svar, is that you?" Kopi asked. The wisp recoiled, its flames flaring for a moment. Fear and panic appeared in its jet-black eyes. For a moment, it thought about fleeing. But then another figure joined Kopi and the wisp's spirit sank. Kohimu. There was no running now. Not when the two that in life, it had considered best friends, had cornered it. Perhaps it was time to face the inevitable. The wisp hopped down from its perch, approaching the two. It bowed its head, almost in a nod before looking up at them both expectantly, awaiting whatever words the two wanted to throw at him. Even the flames that made up its body had died down in their movement, making the wisp look small and pathetic as ever. Oh look, these two parts fit together so seamlessly. Like chalk and cheese. No mood whiplash here. Over the course of the year, Morag learns to make fruit wine and brings some to the party. Feel free to have your characters get wasted. x3 Svar-wisp, meanwhile, has not spent the year doing much. He is silently watching everyone at the Waterfall Basin enjoying themselves when Kopi( Rabbit ♠) and Kohimu( Thorn) corner him. Knowing these is no point running, he approaches them and prepares for any feels they want to unload on him.
|
|
|
Post by Shinko on Aug 23, 2018 16:54:30 GMT -5
Mochi chuckled at the little raptors, doing their best to keep their fur flat despite the nearness of evidently hungry predators. “Sorry about that- rabbits can’t fish well, or I’d have tried to bundle up some fish slices in rice for you.” They mulled, then brightened. “Ah! I have an idea!” The moon rabbit shuffled through a second wrapped leaf that seemed to have more toppings for the mochi to be applied upon request. Finally they came up with a small, waxy object with regular round shapes along the side- a chunk of raw honeycomb. “This is made by bees- it’s very tasty, and almost definitely won’t make you sick. Go ahead and give it a lick. You can have the comb if you like it, I promise it’s safe to eat too. Just… gently please? I like my paws where they are!” “Then maybe holding them out to a pair of hungry raptor fledglings isn’t a wise move,” remarked a deep, teasing voice from a ways off, just out of earshot of the group around the moon rabbit but almost right behind Wolfthorn. “Boo!” Quicksnap added with a wide, trollish grin. Tiger Mochi is apologetic about the lack of meat treats, but proposes a compromise in the form of a sizable chunk of raw honeycomb, which isn’t uncommon for predators to consume while chomping on bees. And Quicksnap sneaks up behind Wolfthorn because trololol.
|
|
|
Post by Rabbit ♠ on Aug 23, 2018 17:27:42 GMT -5
The figure reacted to hearing Svar’s name. Their flames grew for a bit. It was Svar. This wisp, or whatever he was, was Svar. There was nobody else it could be. Svar, the firebird that was part of the sowers. He corrupted and killed other inhabitants, including Kopi himself. Tash let out a low growl when she realized who it was. Kopi puffed out his chest, trying to make himself more threatening. As they were doing that, a taniwha had approached the three of them - Kohimu, that was the name. Svar hopped down and bowed his head. It was if he was expecting something from the three. He said nothing. Was he even able to speak? Was he even able to defend himself and his actions? Kopi took in a deep breath. He had been waiting for this moment. He had been hoping Svar came back as a ghost or something similar so he could talk to him. Kopi had wanted to scream about what Svar and the other sowers had put the whole island through. Throughout the entire year, Kopi wondered why Svar would turn on him like that. Kopi was ready to let out all of these questions and emotions, the thoughts that had tortured him for so long. But yet, Kopi couldn’t force himself to yell at Svar. Svar was a sower, but he was also Kopi’s friend. Even after everything Svar and the other sowers put Kopi and everyone through, he couldn’t bring himself to lash out at a former friend. The cunicanine sighed. He sat down on the ground, looked at Svar, and said, “I thought you were our friend. I thought we could trust you. I know you were worried about these humans you’ve talked about, but none of them ever came to the island. So why? Why did you turn to Mother? Why did you turn against Spirit and everyone else?” Kopi looked down at the ground, hoping Svar could respond. *** “Roar! I’m Mother! I’m here to hurt you!” Solier shouted. “I, Spirit, will chase you off!” Pewter replied. He headbutted Solier, knocking him fully into the water. "Begone!" “Pewter, Solier, you know Kopi and Tash don’t like it when you play that game,” Mulberry whined. Solier stood up and waded to Mulberry. “Kopi and Tash aren’t here, are they?” He shook his wings dry. “Besides, we’re not hurting anyone. It’s all in good fun. It’s not like we’re going to become those sower creatures.” “I just don’t think Kopi and Tash would like to hear you were playing it again. You know Kopi takes Mother stuff very seriously.” “We know, we know, because he’s a guardian,” Pewter groaned. “Promise not to tell them?” Mulberry uneasily stirred for a bit before responding. “I promise.” Mulberry stepped out of the water and shook herself dry. Pewter and Solier followed her. As annoyed by her as they were, they wanted to keep an eye on their little sister. The three of them wandered around the basins. Playing in the water was fun, but they now wanted to look around and talk to some animals. As they were walking, they heard some squeaking. They turned to see it was Morag. Kopi and Tash had told them about Morag before. Pewter and Solier walked over to her with Mulberry lagging behind. Morag had some gourds near her with some sort of berry juice inside. The juice gave off an interesting scent. “How are you doing today, Morag?” Mulberry asked. She gave her a sweet smile. “And what is this stuff?” Pewter added. He got close to the juice and sniffed it. “I don’t think we’ve ever seen something like this before.” Kopi and Tash realize that the wisp is indeed Svar ( Celestial ). Kopi prepares to lash out at him, but can't do it. He simply asks Svar why he sided with Mother Nature betrayed Spirit. (Kohimu ( Thorn ) is present as well.) Meanwhile, Pewter, Solier, and Mulberry are hanging out in the water. The kits leave the water and come across Morag with some strange fruit juice they're not sure about, so Pewter asks about that.
|
|
|
Post by Tiger on Aug 23, 2018 18:43:36 GMT -5
Wolfthorn jumped when he heard Quicksnap’s voice from right behind him - but quickly, he turned, baring his tiny teeth and extending his scrawny arms. “ Hsss-rrraaargh, Uncle Quicksnap! It isn’t nice to sneak up on your friends!” He bumped his nose against Quicksnap’s significantly bigger muzzle. The girls, meanwhile, were focused on their offered treat. “Be gentle - no teeth,” Shadowstep admonished. Their already huge eyes wide, the young raptors stretched their necks forward and poked out their tongues to lick the honeycomb. Hightide wrinkled her muzzle and pulled back...before leaning forward again to sniff it and take another lick. Snowstorm had managed three big licks in the same amount of time, and pulled back only to licked their lips over and over again. “That’s goooooood!” she informed Mochi. “How’d ya get the bees to give it to you? I thought they can’t talk!” To Quicksnap, Shadowstep said, “We are hoping they will learn a lot about the other animals on the island by being here today. I did not think bees were one of them, though.” Driftstone, joining them along with several of the other raptors, said, “Well, better to learn about bees by mouth than by experience!” Wolfthorn IS NOT ASCARED AT ALL!!1! By Quicksnap but no seriously, he’s not actually afraid of the sneky kaprosuchus. Hightide and Snowstorm sample the honeycomb...with mixed results (feel free to have a raptor take the honeycomb if Mochi doesn’t wanna hold onto a spitty dinosaur one for some reason???), though Snowstorm enjoys it and wants to know how Mochi got it. ( Shinko)
|
|
|
Post by June Scarlet on Aug 23, 2018 20:09:05 GMT -5
Julaine went the to Waterfall Basins followed by four little scimons of her own. She had become a mother in the past year, and loved her little children dearly. There was Pepper, the biggest; Sydney, the most adventurous; Margret, the prettiest; and Violet, the shyest. Roda followed them as well. She liked to watch after the little ones and tell them stories of Denzell. And since the Spirit had given her the gift of tangibility, she was able to hold and touch the children. When they reached the falls, Beech told them that this was a gathering to commemorate the blessings of the Spirit of Naelus, and to celebrate the victory over the sowers and Mother Nature. Roda frowned. She didn't like being reminded of the part she had played in the battle. She had died serving a cause she didn't believe in anymore. Stories of a year ago were one of the few stories she refused to tell to the next generation of scimons. She left that to to others who had played no part at all in the matter. Roda had spent the last year trying to understand the Spirit's words to her, and appreciate predators more. It was hard. They still targeted scimons, same as always. But she understood that this was simply what they needed to do to survive. And they still respected truce zones, which she understood now was a curtosy they didn't have to extend. But she still became angry ever time she heard of a new scimon death, and knew she had a long way to go to find the peace the Spirit spoke of. It had been a lean year as well. Roda wasn't affected as a ghost, but she watched as the scimons and island as a whole suffered. If only Svar hadn't set that fire. But Roda knew she shared some of the blame as well. She had her part to play in all this, and her share of guilt. But now was a time of celebration. Julaine took the little ones to Mochi for some mochi, and Roda watched, thankful that life carried on despite all the death that had happened. Julaine has four little scimons of her own now! Roda likes to watch after them and tell them stories of Denzell. What she doesn't like is telling them about a year ago. Roda still has regrets, and is still trying to understand predators better. The little ones go to Mochi Shinko for some treats.
|
|
|
Post by Shinko on Aug 23, 2018 20:28:53 GMT -5
Quicksnap’s grin broadened, and he rumble-purred at the young raptor. “I was testing your reflexes! A good uncle prepares his nephews for everything, that’s only right!” He wuffed softly into the feathers on Wolfthorn’s breast. “Good to see you, squirt. How’ve you been? Keeping your big brothers and sisters busy?” Mochi grinned. “I didn’t ask them for it, because no they can’t talk. I got a bear to help me. They eat the bees and their larva out of the hives, and if you find a good size hive and lead them to it, sometimes they’ll give you a few slabs of the honeycomb if you ask nice. I have an agriotherium friend who helps me with it a lot.” Mochi proffered the honeycomb to Snowstorm, grateful to get the dripping sticky liquid- and the dripping sticky raptor spit- off of their paws. As little scimons began to clamber through the raptors to pick over their mochi, the rabbit went on, “I heard you can also use smoke to confuse the bees so they don’t sting, but given the fire last year I didn’t think that was a good idea to risk. Bears feel the stings, but are pretty good at ignoring them if they’re determined enough.” Quicksnap gave Shadowstep a light tap with his tail. “No knowledge is bad knowledge! Although hopefully this doesn’t see Snowstorm invading any honey trees, she isn’t a bear and that would go poorly for her.” Tiger Quicksnap teases Wolfthorn a little, then asks him how he’s been. Mochi explains that they know a bear who helped with the honey. (Baby scimons are there too June Scarlet)
|
|
|
Post by Tiger on Aug 23, 2018 21:47:15 GMT -5
Wolfthorn puffed his chest out proudly. “Yeah! I am!” he crowed. “They chase me around all the time!” “The chicks are starting to learn to climb trees,” Shadowstep said in a beleaguered tone. “Wolfthorn has taken to it like a fish to water.” “I can’t get up high enough to jump on your back yet,” Wolfthorn said shrewdly, tilting his head at Quicksnap. “But when I do - then you’ll get surprised!” He held up his arms and mock-growled, as if to impress upon Quicksnap the intimidation he would feel when that day arrived. Driftstone said, almost fondly, “Listen to this little terror. He’s going to fit right in.” Ignoring his big brothers, Wolfthorn asked, “How’re you and Beech doing? Did you go on any adventures?” Snowstorm, meanwhile, took the honeycomb with her mouth with surprising care. The comb was too big for her to fully support with her mouth along; she had to support it with her hands to get it safely to the ground. She planted a foot on it to claim it while licking honey from her foreclaws and staring at Mochi with wide eyes as they explained how they got honey. “No knowledge is bad knowledge! Although hopefully this doesn’t see Snowstorm invading any honey trees, she isn’t a bear and that would go poorly for her.”Shadowstep clicked in agreement. “Luckily, she should not be able to climb high enough to bother bees. We will have to make sure she's taught about bees early." Snowstorm ignored this grim portent and instead looked uncertainly at the adult raptors to ask, “Aren’t agriotherium really really really big?” “They are,” Yellowtail confirmed. “A very brave moon rabbit, hssssaaah?” “How’d you make friends with a agriotherium?” Hightide asked. “We made friends with a tree octopus and a kaprosuchus,” Snowstorm pointed out between loud smacks of honey. “But we’re raptors.” “Do not underestimate the danger of rabbits,” Shadowstep cautioned. “They have much more impressive teeth than you would think just by looking. I was told they never stop growing.” Babies and callbacks \ o / ( Shinko)
|
|
|
Post by Thorn on Aug 24, 2018 6:38:48 GMT -5
Kohimu looked down at the cunicanine. Oh, Kopi...This firebird had, directly and indirectly, brought about both of their deaths. Sure, they'd returned with only a few scars to show for their ordeal, but some scars lie below the surface. Kohimu supposed Kopi must dream of his death too. Did Svar even care? They'd been friends for so many decades- watching the island as immortals, seeing other animals come and go. Kohimu had trusted Svar like few others, in spite of his flaws. In the end selfishness won out: their friendship hadn't meant anything, until he needed a flimsy justification for a fiery revenge. The taniwha exhaled slowly. They wouldn't get any answers by scaring the creature away, after all. Kohimu's markings no longer glowed, so at least he didn't have to worry about that giving away any kind of emotional intensity. Fighting to keep his voice level, he finally spoke: "They never came to the island. I know your fears aren't always rational, but you know that too. There was never any danger before this madness. What Kopi said- yes. I've been wondering the same."
|
|
|
Post by Shinko on Aug 24, 2018 7:30:17 GMT -5
Quicksnap chuckled at Wolfthorn’s declaration of intent to ambush him from up a tree, giving the young raptor a wink. “Come at me, kiddo, let’s see how you do. Anyway, I wouldn’t call it an adventure exactly, but she’s taken up a new hobby- collecting feathers. She found a tyrannosaur feather that was knocked off during a hunt- not one of Thunder’s, but still- and it was so different looking from raptor or dilophosaur feathers that she got curious about how many different kinds there can be. She says she wants a feather from all the different types of birds and dinosaurs on the island, which is a pretty tall order! But she’s already managed to get microraptor, coelophysis, and even traded a fish for a wing primary from an archeopteryx.” He gave a gape-mouth grin. “She’s been trying to work out a way to stick the feathers to her fur so she can wear them around because she thinks they’re pretty. She had the idea to use tree resin, but she and I both lacking hands or tools, she’s had to accept defeat for now.” Mochi, meanwhile, was giggling. “Our teeth are definitely not to be underestimated! Here, watch!” The little rabbit found a thick branch nearby, and proceeded to gnaw their way through it, leaving deep groves from their teeth with every bite. They then held it out to Hightide for her inspection. “I made friends with Neerit- that’s the agriotherium- the same way I make friends with a lot of people- mochi! The quickest way to any bear’s heart is through their tummy, especially if you have treats to offer them.” Tiger Quicksnap explains that Beech has taken to collecting feathers as a hobby, and has been trying to figure out how to get them to stick to her fur so she can wear them like decorations. Mochi then shows off their teeth, and explains to nobody’s surprise that they bribed the agriotherium with sweets.
|
|
|
Post by Celestial on Aug 24, 2018 8:37:26 GMT -5
The wisp knew exactly what they were going to say. It was the restraint they exhibited that was surprising. Kopi looked like he wanted to scream but he did not, and Kohimu...well, Kohimu was always kind and gentle. Perhaps the wisp should never have expected any rage from him. In a way though, it did want to be yelled at. It deserved every scrap of their anger. But no: they simply wanted answers. Shifting in its spot, the wisp bowed its head and shut its eyes. A rasp that sounded like the crackling of fire, or perhaps a breath, came from it. It grew louder, beginning to sound more like syllables and finally, words. " I...feared...did not...want...to fear," it gasped. " Wanted...to serve...again. Mother...mistake...hurt...everyone...and me." It had grown fainter, becoming almost invisible, though it was impossible to tell whether it was from the strain fo speaking or because of its emotions. The fire flickered and wavered as though the wisp was panting. Finally, it opened its eyes again, glancing between Kopi and Kohimu. The sadness in its eyes was almost palpable. " I'm...so...sorry." *** Several youngsters- two cunicanines and an artacat- that had been adopted by the guardian and his sister (or that's what she could recall) bounded up to the haggis. She could not for the life of her remember their names. “How are you doing today, Morag?”Morag greeted them with a joyful squeak and a snuffle. "Hello dearies. I am getting on as best as my old bones allow me. You younglings enjoy that energy while you still got it." One of the cunicanines sniffed at the juice in the gourds. “And what is this stuff? I don’t think we’ve ever seen something like this before.”The haggis grinned. "This is the Water of the Spirit. Not quite the Water of Life but close enough. If you drink it, you will feel good, but drink too much and it will make you feel bad," she produced several walnut shells- both ones the Spirit gave her and ones she had collected herself- which hung from the side of the gourds and pulled them down using her teeth. With her nose, she pushed three towards the youngsters. "Go on. Dip these into the gourds and give it a try. It's very pleasant. Or if you don't want any, get some for the old lady, why don't you?" The wisp is very remorseful. It makes an effort to speak to Kopi( Rabbit ♠) and Kohimu( Thorn), expressing this. Morag, meanwhile is offering booze to the underage.
|
|