Why hello there, intrepid explorer of forums! Welcome to Obdurate, where things are always ![]() Join our community! (If you do decide to register, please send a personal message to one of the administrators or leave a message in the cbox at the bottom of the page. This helps us cut down on spam. Thank you!) Then, of course, all you other people who already have accounts can sign in. You know the drill. |
| Seek and Descry (hiatus); PRIVATE - Sequel to Hide and Seek | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 11 2010, 08:50 AM (1,388 Views) | |
| Oop | Jul 20 2011, 08:21 AM Post #31 |
|
so they scream
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Talia listened as she cleaned the blood from around her mouth, her heart sinking. Long distance running was more of a wolf attribute. Snow leopards were faster, but couldn't run for as long. Their best hope for overtaking Snow would probably be Aplin or Kale, since they had an even mix of both. Still, Talia didn't like depending on other people, and so she would try her hardest. She looked to Eirian. "You'll be fine," she said in response to Leo's unintentional brashness. "It's not that far. It can't be so bad." They followed Leo to the stream and lapped at the frigid water. Then, Talia prepared herself for the long and daunting run ahead of her. ((I'm sorry that this is such a fail. I really need to reread it to remember the characters, but you said that you wanted to come back to it. It just took me a while to get myself into gear.)) |
| If you're gonna hit it, hit it until it breaks. | |
![]() |
|
| Cookie Dough | Jul 21 2011, 03:24 AM Post #32 |
|
Death to Babies
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Leo snorted, "Sorry, I didn't mean to insult..." He walked towards Snow's cave, returning with her quickly after. Snow sat at the starting, looking at the little group of kids. None of them even hit puberty yet. What a fun time that would be! She pulled her mind back to focus when all the kids lined up beside her. And soon they were all off, Ti transformed into her larger wolf form, but Miiya knew better than to waste energy in the beginning, and Delise rarely changed except when she was training with her mother and sisters. It was a long path, and Leo was distracted and far too tired by the third lap, Snow having lost him far before then. Ti, even with her large size, was still a wolf and had to walk over the snow, she had been able to keep up, but the pace was too much for her and she slowed down drastically. Miiya kept a good pace, but she, too, was falling farther behind. Delise continued to bound gracefully, keeping pace with Snow rather than trying to outrun her and then get tired out, she knew she was faster, she just needed to last to the end near to Snow. However, Snow was not straining in the least, it looked like a casual jog on her end; Delise was having to force it as distance drained her. Leo looked around at the high peaks surrounding them. He wanted to explore now more than ever, not run in circles. Even though Snow had told them to not venture too far, he wanted to see what was on the other end of this pit. He quickened his pace, trying to see past the eternal fog of the area. ((this is just trying to get back into it, so soz it's kinda bleh >.< I have some ideas I swear XD)) |
| |
![]() |
|
| Oop | Jul 22 2011, 05:18 PM Post #33 |
|
so they scream
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
((Alright. I've reread the intros for the characters. Can't promise I'll remember everything, but I will do my best.)) Talia faded more quickly than she would have liked to admit. More muscular than her sisters, she weighed more. Only her large paws kept her from falling behind, and her general fitness. By the middle of the second mile, her breath was coming in heavy pants. To her chagrin, Eirian was doing so well that, were he not so far in front of her, he'd be offering her encouragement. In a way, she was pleased for his success. Yet, in a different way, she begrudged him. Though he rarely left the library, when he did, he usually went out for runs (even the recluse of the bunch had an urge to exercise once in a while), and he was light. Not just skinny, but his muscles were long and thin, wiry, and didn't weigh him down. The spitting image of their father. That with his large paws, and he was having to strain much less than the others. He was up ahead, running beside Snow, face scrunched into a determined snarl like Talia had never seen. And then she realized, he's hungry. When Eirian was hungry, he became one of the most short-tempered, grumpy people this side of Esralia. That, at least, he didn't get from Lazriel. Not that Talia would know, anyway. Laz was kind of hard to make grumpy anymore, especially when it came to his kids, with whom he had seemingly endless patience. Aplin was trying a different approach. He hung in the middle of the group, somewhere between Kale Talia and Delise. He tried to conserve some of his energy, but he was breathing only slightly less raggedly than Talia. Still, he kept up his pace, and so long as he could save something for the final stretch, he'd do well, though Talia doubted that he'd be the one to beat Snow. Kale. Well, he'd given up long before they started. With his attitude, as long as everyone else tried and someone actually accomplished something, he figured he wouldn't give much effort. He lagged behind, at an easy lope, not straining himself, but still panting. After all, of all of them, Kale was probably the heaviest (or second heaviest, next to Leo). He seemed to toss glares at Aplin once in while, but otherwise never really strove to catch up. He was content to simply stay in the back. As long as he could see Talia's tail, he seemed okay. He probably wouldn't even keep up that much if he had any sense of direction at all. Overall, they pretty much all performed oppositely of what was expected, with the exceptions of Kale and Aplin. Edited by Oop, Jul 24 2011, 09:47 AM.
|
| If you're gonna hit it, hit it until it breaks. | |
![]() |
|
| Cookie Dough | Jul 23 2011, 08:50 PM Post #34 |
|
Death to Babies
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Snow let her tongue loll to the side out of entertainment, picking up her pace around the fifth lap. She looked at Eirian and Delise, they were surprising her, but she knew there was no way they could really beat her. She could sprint this entire thing, but she wanted to challenge them, not crush them. She was especially interested in Delise and Eirian for running. They had the best speed and they were both hungry. She wondered what they would do if she started sprinting, both straining already. She wondered how much she could push before Delise would snap, her temper was usually very much like her father, her real temper, anyway. Delise never got truly angry, she even had more patience than Eirian, probably, but only from her mother's stubbornness. If she wasn't so flirty and airy she would make a very good leader. "So, Delise, how much can I push before you get mad? What about you, Eirian? What can I coax out of you two?" She growled a laugh. Delise snorted, growling in annoyance, she dare not reply and waste the little air she could get. She lengthened her strides, her muscles burning and becoming numb as she pushed. She wanted that carcass; she was starved and thrust out into the wilderness. She could beat an old wolf! Ti recovered a little, jogging languidly at Leo's tail, her large size making it easier for her to keep up. Leo picked up his pace to run beside Kale, as he had been lagging before out of laziness more than inability. He looked at Snow up ahead and stuck his tongue out to the side, unsure of the use when it wasn't hot, but it made him feel exhilarated! It felt right. He let out a shallow howl; wolves got their true howl after puberty so he was not yet fully matured, but he could almost do it. Miiya was able to keep her pace up, she would give it her all at the end, but she doubted she would be the one to beat Snow. By the ninth lap Delise was panting and her breaths came in shallow breaths, her muscles quivering in the effort. Her eyes had red in them from her laboring. Ti and Miiya were the same, their eyes giving away their exhaustion. Leo just looked ragged, as if he had just been in a fight, his teeth showing slightly as his face stayed in a snarled state. Snow was panting, but was by no means exhausted. Just as they entered the tenth lap she kicked up a cloud of snow and darted ahead. Her whole body seemed to elongate as her legs became a blur of movement. She was naturally fast for a wolf, but by no means a match for Eirian or Delise, even on her best day, but they were exhausted. Delise growled and pushed herself forward, calling on any energy her body had left, her eyes going completely red. She did not become larger, she was far too exhausted, but she sprinted with all her might, nipping at Snow's heels as she fought to force her muscles to move faster. She hoped Eirian would have the strength, it seemed she would just fall short if she couldn't get moving more. Leo, Ti, and Miiya followed suit, sprinting and falling further behind except for Miiya who covered some more distance when she transformed into her larger form. At this point Snow was going to give them the carcass, at least for Eirian and Delise who looked ready to collapse yet pushed themselves onward. They had truly done their best, that and if any of the kids died their parents would kill her for sure... She could still see if any would beat her at this level of exhaustion, however. |
| |
![]() |
|
| Oop | Jul 24 2011, 09:46 AM Post #35 |
|
so they scream
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Toward the end, it seemed that Eirian's scowl disappeared, eased away. He looked as if in a trance, and the rhythm of his body was obvious. He took deep breaths through his nose, held them for just a moment, and then exhaled. He seemed to strain far less. The pain of burning muscles seemed to no longer afflict him. His strides naturally spread wider, allowing him to cover more distance with less effort. A true runner's form, brought about by a true runner's trance. Talia had only experienced such a thing once, when she'd been running at night (exploring as usual), and hadn't even noticed that she'd kept running until she'd almost left the mountains entirely. At this point, she was no longer jealous of Eirian. No, she just wanted someone to beat Snow so that they could eat. They were all too exhausted to even attempt to hunt for themselves. They needed what Snow had for them. When Snow spoke to him, he seemed not to hear. Whether driven by determination, hunger, instinct, or a mix of the three, it wasn't relevant, because Eirian was going to run until he had nothing left. That much was obvious. Talia worked even harder to move to catch up. To see her brother like this was awe-inspiring. He was as majestic as any snow leopard could be, running like something as wild as the wind. Aplin, too, surged forward, but he didn't have the speed necessary to catch up, though he tried. Finally, when Snow sprang into what had to be the final lap, Eirian seemed to take on an almost unnatural speed. His stride widened to make it seem more like he was gliding than running, his feet only touching the ground what seemed like every ten feet, and then with such speed that Talia could just barely tell. She knew by his rhythm, which changed. Every time his front paws touched the ground, a great burst of air left his lungs, noisy, but empowering at the same time. His thin chest heaved, and his mouth hung open despite the cold, desperate for air. He was no longer running. He was flying. With an almost possessed single-mindedness, he drew ahead of Snow. Then he began putting distance, slowly it seemed, though they moved at such intense speeds that Talia could barely see them at all, between them. He ran until he was beyond sight, though they could still hear him, breathing heavily. It was terrifying and thrilling at the same time. He rounded the final bend, and Talia could not help but let out a cheer that resounded like a victory cry. Aplin smiled as well as he could through his panting, his tongue hanging from his mouth. Kale also let out a holler of excitement. When they finally caught up, rounding the bend, all of their laughter and cheers drew to a halt. Eirian was laying down, it seemed, but it also seemed like he wasn't moving. His pale human skin almost blended with the snow as well as his leopard coat. Talia's overworked heart froze, as well as her breath. Aplin was the first to rush over, and then Talia, who changed to her human form and knelt beside her brother, sweat now running down her skin rather than panting. "Eirian!" she cried, placing a hand on his hot shoulder as Aplin searched for a pulse. She waited what seemed like an eternity. "He's fine, I think. Just passed out." "Never seen anybody run like that before," Kale said, coming to stand next to them. He moved between them and, more gently than Talia would have ever thought possible, lifted Eirian from the snow. His muscles trembled over the weight. Although he'd run it more slowly, he'd run the entire course as well, and was equally exhausted. "Let's at least take him in. He'll catch something out here." Eirian looked something far worse than sleeping, his quivering limbs dangling limply from Kale's strong arms. They all turned to Snow, looking for direction, or at least approval of their plans. Edited by Oop, Jul 24 2011, 09:46 AM.
|
| If you're gonna hit it, hit it until it breaks. | |
![]() |
|
| Cookie Dough | Jul 25 2011, 01:27 AM Post #36 |
|
Death to Babies
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Snow watched as Eirian darted past her, amazed at his focus, though she didn't think it would end well. She stopped lightly, panting. She was tired, but the kids were truly exhausted, poor Eirian was unconscious and Delise was heaving and panting so hard her whole body shook as she stood beside Eirian. Leo changed and went to Eirian along with Miiya, both concerned. Ti stopped at the finish and changed to her human form, standing hunched over and panting as she held her hands on her knees in her exhaustion. Snow changed to her human form, taking Eirian from the kids. He was bigger than her, but she wasn't that tired after their run so it would be better for her to carry him. "Come on, I was beaten, so the meat is your's. Leave a leg for your brother though..." She led them back to the cave, laying Eirian down on the bearskin that served as her bed, a stuffed rabbit skin as a pillow. She shooed the hungry crowd away from the fresh kill, taking a knife and cutting off one of the front legs. She then let them have their fill, setting the meat aside for Eirian when he woke along with a bowl of fresh water. Delise hungrily tore into the stomach, pulling out the tasty liver before making herself content with, mostly, its hide. For all eight children to eat their fill, there would need to be three deer, probably, or at least one more so she chewed on the hide and let her siblings have some of the good flesh since she had taken the liver. Ti contented herself with the throat of the beast and Miiya gnawed at the remnants of the cut front limb. Leo took most of the other front leg. He was starving and this buck was just what they all needed. He never thought of how much they ate at home or how fortunate he was to have such a talented hunting pack. Just seeing how easily they could devour one deer was amazing. To think that catching this same creature would be nearly impossible for them right now without considerable luck. Leo hunted, he was very good, but, aside from Talia, none of his siblings had real hunting experience. A hare and a deer were very different. They would have to focus on food in their free time so they would not be so ill from exertion. They needed to keep their strength up... Leo finished his share quickly, laying down near Eirian's feet in his wolf form, whimpering softly, and soon after he had fallen asleep. Delise laid next to Eirian as well, "He's okay, right?" Snow was fiddling with plants on a little table. She turned, nodding, "He's just a little tired. He ran very hard. You all did well, much better than I anticipated. You are all naturally gifted with your parent's good genes. Even being so weak you still have some fight in you!" She smiled, giving minty-smelling cups of hot tea to everyone. "I want you to grow from this experience, not break, this tea will help you feel better..." She smirked at Leo napping, leaving a cup beside him but not wanting to disturb him. Miiya looked to Snow, "Will we do this everyday?" She shook her head, "Tomorrow we are doing combat and reflex training... Training will be different much of the time, so don't worry, you'll get very strong while I am teaching you!" She smiled, walking deeper into the cave and rummaging through things noisily. Ti sighed, "That was really harsh! Even Leo passed out and he didn't run himself ragged like Eirian..." ((don't worry, training I'll mostly skim over in the future, just wanted to do first one :P)) |
| |
![]() |
|
| Oop | Jul 26 2011, 04:10 PM Post #37 |
|
so they scream
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
((I don't mind. I'm excited for your ideas, though!)) Talia, after eating her share of their dinner and drinking her tea, changed into her snow leopard form and laid beside Eirian, opposite Leo. With him stuck in his human form (which took less energy), he would need the warmth. Not long after, Aplin approached, and Talia scooted over, making room for him so that they could both be near Eirian. She couldn't ever remember being so proud of her brother. Sure, Eirian always did amazing things: he found new medicines, new methods of doing things, invented new weapons, translated texts, made new discoveries. All on nearly a daily basis. But, honestly, no one appreciated those things like they ought to have. They got used to things being improved, got used to the convenience. Got used to Eirian's name. "The prince did this!" and the "Eirian completed that!" He seemed to cast a shadow over their smaller achievements, and no one liked to be made insignificant. Talia had never really realized how much work Eirian put into things. It made her feel like a horrible sibling, but she resolved that she would never take her brother for granted again. Not just her Eirian, either, but any of them. To even think about losing one of her siblings made her want to dig a hole in the ice and never come out of it. For now, though, they were all together, safe and warm, if not overly full. For that, she could be thankful. Purring loudly, she draped her tail protectively over Eirian. Aplin purred in response, and he too lent Eirian his tail. Talia nudged her head onto her younger brother's large front paws, and he set his slightly more wolf-like head atop hers. It did not take long for all of them to sleep, and Talia would guess that they were all too exhausted to even dream (she was, at least), and so even Leo should have had an easy enough time finding rest, even with so many minds in the same room. ((Wow. Talk about useless filler posts.)) Edited by Oop, Jul 26 2011, 04:11 PM.
|
| If you're gonna hit it, hit it until it breaks. | |
![]() |
|
| Cookie Dough | Jul 26 2011, 10:40 PM Post #38 |
|
Death to Babies
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
((Haha I hope they meet expectations XD I have a tad godmodding here, hope you don't mind)) With all the children huddled together and asleep (Ti, Delise, and Miiya had quickly joined the huddle and fallen asleep), Snow would be able to have the day for herself. She slipped off into the tundra. It was only a couple hours before Leo woke. He was a light sleeper, naturally, so it wasn't because of his abilities, this time, that he was the first to wake. He quietly got up, making sure not to disturb his siblings. He could feel the soreness of his muscles as he sniffed the air. Snow wasn't here, they were alone. He couldn't even feel her mind, so she must have been a good distance. Why would she travel so far, though? Was it because she had the opportunity with them all asleep in her cave? He walked outside, the snow was cold against his warmed body and sore muscles, but he continued to feel around. It was snowing, heavily, so his eyes were useless, but he could smell and hear, still. He stiffened with the slight movement beside him, then turned to find nothing. He turned behind him, then stuck his nose to the ground, angrily. Another nose, much smaller than his, met him. It was like a small wolf... It couldn't have been a dog, dogs didn't burrow at all. He'd never seen such a thing... He sniffed it, whispering, "What the heck are you? You're a shifter, I know you can understand me. I could just eat you, you know!" Her voice was a bit shrill, but she was quiet as well, "Dumb child, I'm a fox! Dumb children! Dumb, dumb, dumb! Know nothing!" She chuckled. Of course, why had he not thought of a fox? He'd seen the orange and white ones down closer to plants and farther from snow. This was all white so a... a tundra fox. Simple name. He'd completely blanked. "Sorry.. Wait- how do you know about us?" "The queen of course! Of course! Silly child reads a mind but doesn't know? Hoo-ho!" She chuckled again. What was that suppose to mean? "My mom sent you?" She shook her head, "You asked how I know not why I'm here! Silly silly!" He rolled his eyes, he remembered foxes a lot better now, they liked annoying people... "Okay then, why are you here?" "Talk to she-Snow! Of course of course, Silly silly!" This puzzled him, he tried to read her, but her mind was so repetitive and confusing. What was worse, all her thoughts were completely ephemeral and just as he would start to read, it was gone. "Why?" She chuckled, "Ooh wolf-queen's-pure-son can't read?" She chuckled, obviously seeing the frustration on his face, "Calm, Silly silly! She-Snow called Fiiii! Where she-Snow?" "I don't know, I can't sense her at all..." He jumped with a bite on his tail, turning to see Snow. She shook her head, "Good thing I don't want to eat you... I'm not like other wolves, I have to let you in. You're not as strong as your mother to overpower me~" She looked at the fox, "And actually, it'll be easier since he's already here! Well, one of them, the other one is passed out.. Do you have anywhere you need to be in the next 24 hours, Fi?" The little fox nodded her head, "Ha! Fiii's got nowhere else to beeees!" She hopped onto Snow and curled up on her shoulders. "Me and Eirian?" Snow nodded, "I need your help. It's a scholarly and exploratory dive into the past. I need you both and I figured Eirian would love anything that has to do with finding out new information, especially about a whole lost people. And you get to do first-hand exploring!" "I get the feeling our parents don't know about this..." Leo followed after her, his body a bit low to the ground. She shook her head, "Better to ask forgiveness than permission. Besides, I'll be there, it's completely safe. Worst that could hurt you would be a cave in or something, but Fi is coming with us to make sure we are safe from the elements! I'm coming in case some hungry bear pops up!" She laughed, quietly. Leo wagged his tail, "That's exactly what I love to hear! Danger and secrets! Though I don't understand why specifically us? I don't have much knowledge about old stuff..." "It'll be easier to explain when we are there... It'll only take a day, at the most, so your siblings can rest while we go exploring. I'm sure they'll be happy to have the cave..."[/b] ((ok, idea number 1 starting NOW! Of course, this is just a lil bit of it so don't worry, it's not just gonna be a long random story about history or anything xD I know those aren't so fun for more than a couple posts so this is a good idea!!)) |
| |
![]() |
|
| Oop | Jul 27 2011, 03:31 PM Post #39 |
|
so they scream
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
((It's okay. And, you know, I was actually thinking about our old merpeople topic. I think it was from you mentioning history. Reminded me of that AWESOME backstory about the gods you made. I guess I'll make this one from Eirian's point of view, since Talia has dropped in significance for the moment. Not that I mind. At this point, I think I almost like him better than Talia. But I'm sexist with my characters - always have a soft spot for the guys, I'm sure you've noticed.)) When he woke, Eirian's muscles immediately began a cacophonous symphony of aching screams, and one side of him felt much colder than the other. He already knew why without looking. Someone slept beside him on the one side, and no one on the other. He found out who when he opened his eyes. Talia and Aplin slept beside him, looking adorably close, with Talia's head on his paws, and his head atop hers. Judging by Leo's absence and the gap in their formation, he'd gone out for a bit, but had been in charge of keeping Eirian's side from freezing. Sliding the two familiarly fluffy tails from his person, the prince stood on still-shaky legs. His stomach immediately set to growling, and he noticed the frosty tea and thick haunch left, ostensibly for him to indulge in. And indulge he did. After changing into his leopard form to keep warm, he hungrily (though also quietly), gorged on what had been left for him. Still thirsty, though, he decided to make his way to the stream. It was strange for him to wake up in such a cold place, and it seemed to take him much less time to wake up. He assumed the frigidness was from the climate, much different here than from where Abeo was located. Stretching his sore and stiff muscles, Eirian left the cave, squinting against the onslaught of precipitation. He appreciated it (it helped keep Abeo strategically blocked in the winter, as the passes between it and Esralia were almost impossible to traverse even in small groups, let alone an entire army trying to march through, and it also refilled the streams and such when it melted in the spring), but it did not much suit his mood. For all of his usual quietness, Eirian wasn't much for the mornings. He often stayed up late into the nights, working on projects that he could not bear to set aside until morning. His schedule, because of it, was a little erratic compared to most. It would seem, though, that Snow will have him even more turned around, running them ragged so early in the morning. At the stream, he sighed, then, with a large front paw and his sharp claws, dug a hole in the ice large enough for him to drink from. The cold water stung his teeth, but served to wake him even more. It would seem that being outside here meant being alert, whether he wanted to be or not. Still, he depended on his light, dappled fur to keep him out of trouble for just a bit, while he drank and wandered in his thoughts. ((Another useless filler post, anyone? ))
|
| If you're gonna hit it, hit it until it breaks. | |
![]() |
|
| Cookie Dough | Jul 27 2011, 03:48 PM Post #40 |
|
Death to Babies
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
((Oh yeah yeah, I remember I had fun with that one! I have my moments xD haha)) Leo stopped, "He's up already..." He turned to follow where Eirian was going. The stream was this way, he must be thirsty. Snow followed him, not wanting to have to search for Eirian by nose in such weather... Something moved in the distance upstream. The thick fog covered it from being recognized as anything more than a blob. However, its eyes turned to look strait at Eirian, glinting in the light. It would be hard to see, for the eyes were quite a distance, but for the sharp eyes of a cat, maybe he would be able to spot the pure-white irises, the black of the pupil being all the more noticeable against the white color. The eyes flicked to look behind Eirian then disappeared into the fog and snow. Leo appeared beside Eirian, "Hey! How are you feeling? So, Snow has a project for you and I! It sounds fun!" Snow shook her fur, lightly, trying not to knock the little fox off her shoulders, "We will be exploring some old writings and whatnot. Your father taught you to read that old leopard writing, right? These ruins at the other end of the basin and up the mountain are covered in something similar. I think it is a bit older, but I figured if anyone could read them, it would be you. How about it, you interested?" She snorted, "You did very well today, I just hope you aren't hurt. I wanted to push you, not make you pass out..." |
| |
![]() |
|
| Oop | Jul 30 2011, 11:50 AM Post #41 |
|
so they scream
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
((You have a lot more moments than most, then. ))Eirian squinted at the fog, an eerie feeling washing over him. He thought he saw eyes lurking in the gray mist that sat heavy on the snow, but couldn't be sure. Yet, as he stared into the eyes, he felt himself unable to move, petrified, as it would seem, by his own shock and, perhaps, fear as well. The eyes looked behind him, whether to warn him or simply to look, Eirian didn't know. Rather than just glance behind him, he slowly turned, backing away so that he could see where the eyes were and also where they looked. Something moved closer through the fog. Eirian hissed fiercely, eyes wildly darting back and forth between those that he could be imagining and the figure moving toward him. He knew that he probably looked crazed, but he didn't really care. He was unsure if he was hallucinating or if he should be wary. The fur on his spine felt as if it was standing on end, his ears pressed flat to his head. Eirian was not know for his fighting. The most ignorant fool in Abeo knew as much as that. But, when threatened, like any creature, instinct took over, and Eirian would not stand unprepared, a target easily taken out. He was smart, after all, and knew when to be careful and listen to his more wild side. He continued hissing threateningly until he saw Leo, even after hearing him. He'd rather be made fun of for being spooked and imagining a hazard than be stuck with the disadvantage. In any case, when he saw that it was Leo, he stopped his hissing, but still growled in annoyance. "Shh!" he hissed, creeping around (still in his poised crouch), to again look at where the eyes had seemed to be. Something felt wrong. His hair still stood all along his spine, his ears still flat, though not quite so severely. They twitched, trying to pick up any sound. It was obvious that he sensed something was off, a growl still rumbling in his throat. But, after a few moments more, the strange sensation passed. Eirian's ear stood upright again, and he slowly stood from his crouch, though his fur did not lie flat immediately. He said nothing about his strange behavior. "Let's wake Talia first. Someone should be awake while we are gone. And I don't think we should come to the stream alone any longer." Finally, he turned away from the place where he thought he'd seen the eyes and walked back toward the cave. Talia would be severely put-out, not being able to go with them, but they needed someone capable to stay behind with the others, and so she would understand. They would just have to bring her back something from their little expedition. Now that he wasn't so alarmed, Eirian ran through a list of what he could have really seen: a play of light, stones on the opposite bank, perhaps even two mountain birds. (Though the last was almost impossible, he still considered it. He would rather think that he'd seen two birds than think that he'd gone crazy.) |
| If you're gonna hit it, hit it until it breaks. | |
![]() |
|
| Cookie Dough | Jul 31 2011, 03:51 AM Post #42 |
|
Death to Babies
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
((>///< Dawww thanks!)) Leo had been surprised, initially, then just concerned, but Eirian had just been spooked was all. Maybe he had been too focused and been startled. His mind said otherwise. Leo snorted, "Oooh~! Eyes lurking through the mist~!" He jumped around, "It was probably a deer or something... I felt some baser minds around, but nothing dangerous..." Snow shook her head, "Well your mind-reading can't detect me so it's not a guarantee, but I already checked these mountains. There's nothing intelligent here that could hurt you. Leo is right, it was probably nothing more than some little prey animal drinking at the stream. Maybe you spooked it! Anyway, I constantly check the area. I'll go by the stream and scare it off, no worries..." She padded into the cave, poking Talia. "Wake up, try not to disturb your siblings too much..." Leo stayed just outside the cave with Eirian, as to not wake their other siblings, "You're still not used to the wild, huh? You see lots of things out here, even if it was something potentially dangerous it was probably just passing through. There's always rogue predators migrating all over the place or maybe you just saw wrong, I mean, the mist is really thick. Don't stress out over it. Maybe Snow and I could have sniffed the area, you seem really edgy about it..." He still thought it was funny, but if Eirian genuinely thought it was something to be cautious of, maybe it was, he had Dad's intuition in most cases, a keen sixth sense, really. ((Sorry, super lame, but I'm tired, I'll try to be on some tomorrow depending on how my day is going. I has things to do xD)) Edited by Cookie Dough, Jul 31 2011, 03:52 AM.
|
| |
![]() |
|
| Oop | Aug 2 2011, 03:13 PM Post #43 |
|
so they scream
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Although he would rather be teased than have something happen to him or his siblings, Eirian didn't appreciate Leo making light of the situation. He wouldn't have reacted that way if he hadn't truly believe that something was wrong. "That's not necessary," he said. He already felt foolish. He didn't need Snow and Leo sniffing around to make him feel even more embarrassed about it. Talia woke up easily, but seemed to sulk about being left behind. Eirian pulled her aside and told her what had happened a the stream. She didn't seem quite so skeptical as Leo, but nor was she so quick to pass it off. Eirian nudged the earpiece that dangled from her ear, the piercing still slightly red from being new. "You're a princess with a duty to protect our own, Talia. We have to have someone here with good instincts and an ability to react to danger. You know we would take you if we could." Talia sighed. She never was any good at staying angry: she was too level-headed for that. "I know. I just want to go with you." "Next time, sis." "Yeah, yeah. You'd better get going before everyone wakes up and starts complaining about being left behind with me in charge." She leaned forward then and licked his face. "Be safe." "And you." ((I have no idea what is going on. So I will stop here. I'm sorry it took so long for another short, useless post. BLARGH!)) |
| If you're gonna hit it, hit it until it breaks. | |
![]() |
|
| Cookie Dough | Aug 3 2011, 12:08 AM Post #44 |
|
Death to Babies
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Fi was climbing all over Leo as he growled in annoyance, Snow trying to reassure him that she wasn't going to do anything to him... He didn't look convinced, but he stayed still all the same. Snow turned and pulled Fi off Leo, walking to Eirian, "I hope you're not too tired because it's a bit of a hike, but we have all day, we just can't hang around at night. I've never seen other shifters out here besides foxes and the occasional bird or deer, but just in case..." "The night is scary~" Leo jumped behind Snow, making fun of her. "Your limbs will thank me when they are not ripped from your body by a bear or something... Besides, it's for your safety, I've explored at night. Anyway, follow me, let's not waste time," With that, Snow led them back to the stream and to some rocks that made a more stable crossing. Once past there it was just steep rocks and the occasional slope. It was icy and the rocks were sharp, even Snow seemed to struggle. Fortunately, it only took about an hour because the mountain then became long, deliberate paths. The paths were old, but mostly intact except for some piles of snow and rocks from time knocking them down the mountain. It was cold and ice froze to the fur, quickly, but the fairly swift pace would keep them all fairly thawed. After a while, stone rubble began to dot the path around them. Weapons and armor stuck out from the snow in some areas and some scorch marks could still be seen on some of the rubble not covered in snow. The rubble gradually got larger until a full town could be made out and it all led to a large cliff, the mountain becoming rugged and foreboding past the huge cliffside and on both sides of the cliff on the upwards and downwards direction of the mountain. The ruined city was on the only flat land for quite a distance. At the base of the cliff there was a large door covered in old writings, arrows, scorch marks and dings where weapons had tried to break it. At the very middle where the two doors were suppose to open a glowing stone was wedged in the door handles, apparently making it impossible to open. Many weapons were strewn around these ruins, even some bones preserved in the cold for so long. A regally-dressed skeleton was dangling by a rope wedged in the top of the closed doors by its wrists, a single arrow sticking out through its skull: a sacrifice. The columns leading to the doorway were adorned with visible writings, and crumbled walls could also be read. Snow put her ears back and bowed respectfully, "It is a sad place, and I know you are both so young, but this violence is an important part of your histories. It is gruesome, but you aren't babies either, aside from Aplin and maybe Talia I would not expect your other siblings to be mature enough to handle this..." Leo whimpered, sniffing the ground in a twisted curiosity. He could smell them all, he could almost feel their spirits still haunting this place. This was not like other battles, this was a slaughter. The natives smelled very different than the soldiers that had come. Most of the bodies were of the tribal peoples, they smelled like the earth down to the core of their bones, but the soldiers smelled of fire and metals, along with the earth that had been staining their scents for so long. "If these people fought so hard to protect their secrets it seems wrong to take them out of curiosity... I don't think we should be here... Not to mention if an army couldn't get in, how can the four of us?" He whimpered, digging out another native from the snow and sniffing them gently as to not disturb the body (he had only removed some snow from the top of the skeleton to begin with, he hadn't moved the body). "I wouldn't have asked you two so specifically if I didn't know it would work. And I do realize how this may appear to you, both of you, as disrespectful and potentially dangerous, but these people have a lost art hidden away behind these doors. We aren't here to exploit their secrets, only to recover what was lost. These peoples were shamans, suppose to commune directly with the gods and impose their will on earth. Of course, they only interacted with a small group of creatures surrounding this area, they were mostly here to guard this cave. They outdate both our species by quite a margin, I don't even know what they were, originally, all I know is they interbred with the natives and kept their secrets within their blood, even their mates were excluded. Apparently they bred most heavily with snow leopard shifters since Esralia became their main ally. These writings are the original form of what Lazriel was teaching you, Eirian, you should be able to decipher them, they looked nearly identical when I was looking at them... "They cataloged the ancient history of the mountains and of both our species and many others on these pillars- or so I've been told. This used to be a grand hall cataloging the history of these peoples and their mates- shifters and non-shifters alike for wolves, snow leopards, foxes, bears, deer, birds, even rabbits. As you can see, most has been destroyed, but much of the writing is still here. Over time I am sure an avid scholar like yourself could rediscover a lot of things here, but I need you to look for one thing in particular. This cave holds all their knowledge, and there is a chant to open it. I know it's a big job, but it's supposedly at the bottom of a pillar and pops out from the other writing. Of course, most of what I know is based on tales passed down through generations since there are few documents of them left, if any so there is a chance it could be false. This place is full of history and knowledge, though. I thought we could at least try..." Leo stretched, "Okay okay, that's great, but I'm not too interested in history and whatnot... Honestly... Plus why do I need to be here then? I can't read this stuff..." "I know you don't like learning too much... But they knew a lot about us. When you hit puberty, it will be fairly sudden, Leo, as it is for all wolf males. And when that happens your powers and your temper will both become quite powerful all at once. If you think you can't handle yourself now, you'll be in big trouble when you finally Howl. Maybe their secrets will help you too. I wont lie, I want some information too, but I wouldn't have brought you here if it was only for me... I'm not selfish. More importantly, however, that skeleton tied to the top there sealed this door shut. It's a male demon-blood. To open the door again it would require another..." She quickly continued, "Don't worry, just a prick of a paw would be enough. By now the magic from his blood would be weak, it wouldn't take much of your's to counteract it," She turned to Eirian, "I wont force you to do this if you really don't want to, but I really think it would be a benefit to Abeo to have the contents of the cave. Which leads me to my final point; only the purest bloodlines can enter, so I cannot go in with you, but that was why I asked for Fi's help. She may not look like much but she is very pure-blooded when it comes to foxes, she should be able to enter and help you where I cannot. What is physically in the cave is lost knowledge, but these were a peaceful people, it shouldn't be anything harmful..." ((:O Wow long post! Soz I went so crazy, but I'm not gonna do many info posts, I promise. This little plot idea-thing isn't gonna be an info bomb or anything, not beyond this post really, this should be the most XD I promise! And I hope this isn't too lame, I've wanted to do something about shamans- I always thought they were so cool ))
|
| |
![]() |
|
| Oop | Aug 7 2011, 09:44 AM Post #45 |
|
so they scream
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
((I don't mind! Like I said, I like history and stuff. It was a great post.))The climb left Eirian's already aching limbs burning and shaking with the effort. Every once in a while, he had to stop. This was not so easy a thing as running for one such as him. Still, he took care to memorize the path. He doubted he would ever return, but maybe, if nothing dangerous lived here, he could bring Talia. Surely she would enjoy such physical labor and pointless exertion. At the top, Eirian sat panting for a moment, his wiry muscles all quivering. Looking around, though, it was totally worth it. Already, before Snow even spoke, he wanted to start collecting things, testing them, finding out the secrets they held. He eyed the architecture with wonder. In fact, he was already examining the letters as she told him, needlessly, what they were. He could tell. Changing to his human form, he crouched beside the nearest carved pillar, running his slender fingers over the letters that were well-worn. "A hundred years more, and this would have been useless." The letters were similar, but something in the way they were arranged was different than the script that Lazriel had taught him. He blinked, staring at the white stone, and then looked to the ground. Using a finger, he scratched in the dirt. If this symbol goes there... But no, because that letter has to... So, this means that, which means that the sound of the letter must have evolved over time. And sound mattered, this time, if it was a chant they needed. Eirian wasn't well versed in the pronunciation, since only Lazriel had ever spoke it to him, but if he could arrange the letters and use common sense and his vast knowledge of the history of the area, then it should've all come together without too many unfortunate twists of words. He thought all off this while scratching, at an almost manic pace, in the dirt. This should be... no. He occasionally swiped a hand over something he'd scrawled, wiping it clean. It was mostly an advanced pattern of guessing and checking, making informed assumptions and conversant conclusions. His stormy eyes didn't leave the stone, but even blindly, he wrote, if not neatly, coherently. Coherent to him, anyway, seeing as he was the only one who knew the language. Finally, he sighed, standing, and looked over the notes he'd made. It seems to come together nicely, after that. "It's not so difficult, really, once you figure out that what should be the first letter of each word is actually at the end, with another syllable tacked onto the end. Strange..." It wasn't until he looked around again that a chill took over him. He'd been so focused, that he hadn't noticed the eeriness of the place. The corpses. The devastation. He could certainly treat it as a piece of history when he read about it, or saw evidence of it, but to see it first-hand, it nearly made him ill. "There are still strong powers at work here." Back in his feline form, the whiskers on his face were tingling, evident by the way his nose kept twitching. He was glad that he could not smell the place as well as Leo and Snow, if nothing else. ((Sorry about the wait! It's finished now! I based the shaman language on Pig Latin, only made it sound more elegant. lol.)) |
| If you're gonna hit it, hit it until it breaks. | |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
![]() Our users say it best: "Zetaboards is the best forum service I have ever used." |
|
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Ferngully · Next Topic » |





![]](http://z4.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)


))

7:52 PM Jul 10