Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Aug 16, 2021 13:34:38 GMT -6
It was at this point that Noari just grasped his head in frustration and alarm. What. Was. She. Doing? Trying to get eaten by that thing? It had teeth! It was a predator! And by no small coincidence, he began to, perhaps, understand where the yang was getting some of her behavioural cues, much to his detriment and concern.
Darky didn't move, a slight involuntary flinch aside when the creature snorted water at her. Her closed eyes slowly pried themselves open again, only smirking back at it, as she slowly wiped her face, "I feel like I should have seen that one coming, but that's on me." As the mariliev climbed ashore, she sat herself down on the pool's edge, letting her feet dip into the water. Seemed only fair to follow its example, though in a roundabout way - Where it was climbing to land, she let her feet dangle in water, so both of them were in-between the surfaces, in a way. "As I said, I wont hurt you, so you're curious, feel free to investigate." and she held the hand out again, though more crossways, in case the rest of her needed inspection as well.
The bushes behind her were strangely quiet, which was fortunate, because that meant Ander was keeping to his command to stay. The clock was rather ticking on that front, though, as sooner or later he'd grow bored enough to do something else and she needed to be quick to catch it, when it happened.
(14) August Darky: 14 Noari: 2 (4/5) / 2 (4/5) Ander: 32 (4/5) / 34 (4/5)
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Post by Jack on Aug 16, 2021 14:07:17 GMT -6
Hmm, this was interesting. Was she alright in the water as well? Tilting its head it stared at her and snorted again before sniffing around her a little. It could learn to like her, it figured, and even though it gave the two critters the side eye where they were hiding, it figured it wouldn't be too bad. Laying down for a bit, it closed its eyes and fell asleep for a bit.
[Congratulations, you've tamed the creature!]
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Aug 16, 2021 14:18:46 GMT -6
No sooner does the creature lay down and doze off that the sphinx lets a deep exhale loose that had been held for several minutes. Okay, they were okay.. Fortunately for them this creature seemed more easily startled and curious than truly territorial or mean (Some of the mining familiar tended to be.. a lot more aggressive in that notion). So with it now asleep and calm, the sphinx finally call the gallor over again, making sure to hold onto him before he wanders too close to the sleeping form. "Easy, there.. You can inspect, but not touch, okay? They're not quite a playmate yet, so you'll need to be careful."
The word 'careful' was largely unknown to Ander, and not just because he didn't have the brain to understand Common. Even when being held back, the little gallor wiggled and squirmed, trying to get just the liiiiittle bit closer, so he could paw at the form (Seeing as the beak didn't exactly make for good olfactory senses). But the mammalian's grip was resolute, so at best he could only gain a few inches of ground.
Some plants shuffled nearby as Noari finally came jumping back through, deftly landing on the stone pathway and parting his hands in huffy discontent. He was clearly unhappy with something she had done, but it was still a little difficult to tell what exactly, since the two were still working on their line of communication.
(15) August Darky: 15 Noari: 3 (0/5) / 3 (0/5) Ander: 33 (0/5) / 35 (0/5)
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Post by Jack on Aug 16, 2021 14:25:19 GMT -6
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Aug 19, 2021 5:24:28 GMT -6
The sphinx observed the series of gestures and agitated grumbles bordering on growls (That's about as far as Noari's speech comprehension and ability went), while simultaneously trying to hold back the gallor. It wasn't exactly a simple job, but she'd had experience juggling different types of creatures in the past, so it wasn't exactly unfamiliar either. One hand let go to rise up and calm down the hara, while the other was use to scoop up the gallor and set him down to the other side of her. The hara settled, though still with a frowning face, and the gallor was presented with a whole new view with a whole lot of other things to look at, instantly switching his attentions.
In particular, a pale and brown bird was sitting on a rock on the other side of the pool, casually observing the whole scene, which made Ander's eyes turn to immediate saucers.
"Easy, Noari, easy.." Darky addressed the hara in the meantime, "It's alright, I know this thing was quite scary, but they're harmless and.. well, not really at that bad once you get to know them." She tried a smile, but it didn't seem to soften his glare any. Admittedly, out of the two of them, she also hadn't been almost eaten, so that was fair.
(16) August Darky: 16 Noari: 3 (1/5) / 3 (1/5) Ander: 33 (1/5) / 35 (1/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Aug 19, 2021 5:29:55 GMT -6
The hara crossed his arms, the shiny new shell horn strapped to his back like a makeshift sword, seemed to fume for a moment, then unfurled into another series of noises and gestures. Points to the beast, pointing to the water, growling and spit-hissing, rumbling as he made the motion to jump up and hide, finally back at the beast again and then at her. In full honesty, she barely understood it, for it wasn't even any specific form of sign language, very much more uniquely 'noarian'.
Again her hands came up to settle him, this time letting go of the gallor in the process, "Okay, okay, yes, it was scary, but there was no harm done. You probably scared it as much as it scared you." And she pointed to the pool, at the various other shapes swimming within. In addition to the blue-ish shape from before, there was a similar gray-type shape, along with something more wider. But between them, they shared the same sentiment - Calmly just swimming in lazy circles around the shallow pool.
What was neither lazy nor calm was the gallor, as he began to waddle towards the seabird in the distance, suddenly released from the hold.
(17) August Darky: 17 Noari: 3 (2/5) / 3 (2/5) Ander: 33 (2/5) / 35 (2/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Aug 19, 2021 5:34:57 GMT -6
Ander wasn't too familiar with the instincts that governed him yet, in large part due to his age, and in another due to the fact he wasn't exactly a product of a 'normal' type of genealogy. There was a lot of magic involved, one part water, one part shadow. But he did understand himself to a predator, in whichever fashion his young hatchling brain defined it. The bird was not fooled, it stared right at the gallor as it was approaching. It also continued staring when the gallor suddenly slinked down against the ground and slowed his pace, to waddle closer in what he assumed were stealthy tiny steps. (Again, easier said than done when one's body colour included a whole lot of azure and cerulian by default).
Back at the other end, Noari watched the pool, eyes darting between the shapes swimming under the water. The frown softened, even so slightly.. but the arms remained crossed, as if out of security or stubbornness. This wasn't their type of ground, as much he understood. Their home was elsewhere and they were largely guests here, but he still didn't quite understand the whole process of 'mansion' and 'gifts' that it left.
(18) August Darky: 18 Noari: 3 (3/5) / 3 (3/5) Ander: 33 (3/5) / 35 (3/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Aug 19, 2021 5:39:46 GMT -6
Some things they could take with them, but not others. The shells were okay, but he wasn't supposed to protect what he finds against the locals who are angry at him for taking them? The logic didn't follow.. or maybe he was missing something. Finally, he glanced up at the sphinx, not quite as indignant as before, but still having that air of edge about him. Slowly, he pulled out the shell from where it was holstered on his back and showed it, brow craning.
Darky nodded, "Yes, you can have that one, if you'd like. Just be careful with it." and she leaned to look over the pool, where a wooden boat had since appeared to float on the surface. It was a toy boat, one of many she'd seen, although too small even for Noari to enjoy. All the same, she picked it up and set it down on the paved ground between them, picking up a seashell from nearby to put into the boat. "If you find more, bring them here and put them in the boat," she indicated.
Almost there.. almost there.. Ander inched closer and closer to the bird on the rock, who seemed as unbothered about it as if he was a passing crab.
(19) August Darky: 19 Noari: 3 (4/5) / 3 (4/5) Ander: 33 (4/5) / 35 (4/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Aug 19, 2021 5:45:04 GMT -6
Considering his carapace, perhaps it even thought he was. So for all the failures to stealth and sneak, the gallor got to within just a few feet of the bird before he stopped. The paws and claws tucked up under him, the butt doing a small wiggle as he prepared.. and then pounced.
The seabird flapped open its wings and jumped out of the way without too much issue, especially seeing as the gallor's pounce landed him about a foot too short. He might have been a mighty predator in his mind, but his body was still a chubbly little chick that didn't quite have the same motorskills as a fully-grown gallor. There was much too much for the little guy to learn on that front.
On the other side of the pool, Noari watched the sphinx's demonstrations, and side-eyed it a moment, before finally approaching, setting the shell into the caravel model. "Good, that works," the sphinx smiled, nodding in approval. The hara didn't exactly trust it, but.. he also didn't mind not having to carry the stuff around himself. Backing up, his eyes scanned their surroundings for anything else to put there, quickly spotting another piece of shell in the lush jungle plants next to the path. Right next to a rather strange green and brown rock.
(20) August Darky: 20 - (added) Noari: 4 (0/5) / 4 (0/5) Ander: 34 (0/5) / 36 (0/5)
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Post by Nadia on Aug 19, 2021 7:40:55 GMT -6
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Aug 20, 2021 9:07:22 GMT -6
With a few skips and hops the hara was already next to it, crouching down to pick up the shell. The shell clinked lightly against the small stones in the lush soil, and the rock in front of him shuddered. Noari fell dead-still, frozen in time as he stared towards the rock. First, it shook, then it shuddered, seeming to adjust itself. Pieces of it broke away (or at least detached from beneath where they had been hidden) and formed claws in front of it. Lush stalks of green rose up on it's back and finally two dark, gleaming eyes came out of the shell to stare directly at him.
And still Noari did not move, although he had begun to realize a lot of the things in the manor didn't exactly come as they seemed.
The sphinx was fussing about with the ship, trying to find a good place for it that wasn't in the middle of the road. Both because it would end up being largely underfoot and in the way, and also because it wasn't likely to survive even a passing glance from the gallor, much less a full on collision. Finally, she settled to place it on top of one of the broader, flatter rocks, where it was only slightly in danger of slipping into water.
(21) August Darky: 21 Noari: 4 (1/5) / 4 (1/5) Ander: 34 (1/5) / 36 (1/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Aug 20, 2021 9:12:56 GMT -6
And right on cue, the gallor was already waddling over, back around from the other side of the pool. The bird had been a distraction, but once it flew too far out of his reach, it was easily forgotten in favour of the next shiny thing or object in motion to catch his attentions. In this case, the sphinx and the ship, which was being translated as a bit too literal of a toy in his brain.. The only thing saving it from being chewed upon and batted around was the fact that the gallor was about half a foot too short to reach the top of the rock.
It didn't stop him from trying to jump up all the same, chirping with quite a lot of insistence in the process, until the mammalian finally had to pick him up again and cradle him like a baby, "Nooo, no no no, that one's not a toy, Ander. If I let you have it, you'll end up breaking it and maybe hurt yourself in the process." But that did bring up an interesting point, in that the gallor could probably use some form of toy..
In the meantime, the staring contest continued beneath the plants.
(22) August Darky: 22 Noari: 4 (2/5) / 4 (2/5) Ander: 34 (2/5) / 36 (2/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Aug 20, 2021 9:19:14 GMT -6
Noari wasn't exactly sure what he was looking at, as he'd never seen a crab before. The shell looked like it was the gallor, but the eyes were far too different, not to mention the 'plants' on its back. And the claws.. He wasn't sure if the thing was being hostile, indifferent or just unable to see him, but at his tiny size even those claws could pack some punch. At the same time, the thing wasn't moving or retreating back into its shell, so he couldn't exactly stay here forever, either..
Finally, the hara decided to risk, taking a few silent quickened breaths before his legs tensed and pushed him up and backwards with the shell still in hand, gone in a blink of an eyes. Well, the crab didn't exactly blink, but when Noari finally landed on the round stoned surrounding the pool, all nervous and alert, the crab hadn't even moved a pincer.
The sphinx walked around along the pathway, trying to peer between the plants and rocks for anything that could suffice as a toy. Something strong enough to survive the abuse it was about to get, but nothing that could inherently cause Ander any harm. Even a sufficiently sized stick would have done, in truth..
(23) August Darky: 23 Noari: 4 (3/5) / 4 (3/5) Ander: 34 (3/5) / 36 (3/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Aug 20, 2021 9:24:36 GMT -6
No, no, not quite.. One rock was too big, one too sharp, that leaf was too soft (It would last exactly a second) that one more like a log than a branch and much too big.. The sphinx shuffled through the leaves with the gallor still cradled in her lap (And for what it was worth, Ander found this carry-on ride to be hilarious fun). Something caught her eyed towards the base of the thicket and she crouched down, reaching for what seemed to be a piece of pumice, shaped strangely.. It was only when she pulled on it and felt a drag that she realized the shape was due to it being connected to ropes and lines scattered around the rest of the undergrowth.
Setting the gallor down, who was thankfully as curious about this as her, the sphinx began to untangle this.. net? Yes, it certainly seemed like it.. from the jungle growth around them, taking a few leaves and plants as unfortunate casualties.
Noari frowned, confused. He had expected more aggression out of the beast, but it simply scurried a little more forwards, onto the paved path and settled back into its rocky disguise, as if nothing had happened.
(24) August Darky: 24 Noari: 4 (4/5) / 4 (4/5) Ander: 34 (4/5) / 36 (4/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Aug 20, 2021 9:31:30 GMT -6
The hara stood, slowly, keeping the crab in his sights, but not further disturbance seems to come from it. Either he was that much far away, or it simply had lost interest (Didn't really matter in the long run). Not one to look a gift equillion in the proverbial fire-breathing mouth, Noari figured its best to leave the crab be, seeing as it was seemingly returning the favour. A few quick hops across the stones brought him back to the wooden ship model, and he carefully wiggled the long shell into place on the deck, where the others had already been arranged into neat rows. There we go..
..and loose. The final twig to keep the net in place snapped at the tug and the mammalian was able to drag the net out of the jungle green and back to the path, where she laid it out in full. Before Ander had too many notions of playing with the whole of it (And likely getting himself irrevocably stuck) the sphinx pried loose one of the deadwood branches stuck in the net and rolled it along the ground away from herself.
The gallor took all of two seconds to follow it.
With a brief window of peace awarded, she reached for a matting of kelp in one corner, a sudden surge rushing up her fingers as soon as they touched it. Strange.. That was.. new.
(25) August Darky: 25 Noari: 5 (0/5) / 5 (0/5) Ander: 35 (0/5) / 37 (0/5)
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