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Post by Darky on Aug 31, 2019 9:09:31 GMT -6
It was that noise and that sight that attracted the mammalian's attention just as her foot had stepped into the ship proper. She turned, leaning out from behind the hull and saw the equillion desperately come running up, a net in his mouth and a blue manta ray flapping just as desperately inside the net. Her ears rose, she blinked a moment and quickly took off to meet the equillion halfway. Before he got to her, she raised her hands, calling out, “Whoa, Bilious! Whoa! Easy there! Stop, stay, staaaay..” trying to calm him down before he decided to take another route in his perceived escape mechanism.
The equillion obeyed enough to slow down and stop in front of her, though he kept prancing in place, head moving every which way wih heighted concern. The sphinx reached out, gripping the net and going “Shh, shh, Bilious. Its okay, everything is fine, here, let me take this, and you’ll have nothing to worry about. Just let go, drop!”
It wasn't a command that he knew, but the gist of it from her posture and actions was enough for him to spit the net out and quickly back up again, ears still flat.
(28) August
Darky: 28
Bilious: 17 (3/5) / 40 (1/5)
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Post by Darky on Aug 31, 2019 9:09:56 GMT -6
It took about five seconds for him to stand there, more or less still save for the heaving sides, before his ears perked forward again and his posture loosened, as if the scare of a lifetime from mere moments ago was already a distant memory. If the net had been hot soup, the equillion would have likely been one to repeatedly burn himself every five seconds trying to eat it.
While it calmed him down, the sphinx now found herself in a bit of a pickle. She raised up the net to get a closer look at the small creature inside, recognized it as a water creature and then quickly began to look around in similar, but more controlled panic when it finally hit her.
Water creatures needed to be in water and the ray had been probably struggling to breathe for a while. Thoughts flashed by quickly - water, a pool of water, find one, dump it in, save it, the barrels on the beach? Wait, no! That’s freshwater! This was the ocean, ocean was saltwater, the ocean then! She turned and ducked into a run under the ship’s draped rigging.
(29) August
Darky: 29
Bilious: 17 (4/5) / 40 (3/5)
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Post by Darky on Aug 31, 2019 9:10:36 GMT -6
Net gingerly raised in her hands like a wet blanket that couldn’t be allowed to drip on anything, the mammalian was able to make it a few feet before a glint of something to the right caught her eyes and she turned to see a shallow pool of water just a dozen feet away, nestled between some rocks. The ocean, controversially, was three times as far. The closer, the better, then, and she took off towards the shallow, skidding to a stop on its edge and placing the net inside.
As the equillion followed, watching her curiously, she submerged the manta and carefully began to untangle the net around it. Half of the creature was free when she gripped a part of the net and pulled away, releasing the rest, when a small stabbing registered in her palm.
The manta squeezed itself free, swimming into the open pool of the shallows, while the sphinx gave a soft “Ow!” and sat backwards on the sandbar, looking at her hand. It wasn’t injured, but a familiar sharp conical shape was protruding from the tangled mess of seaweeds inside the net, causing her to give a small glare at it. How many of these was she going to stab herself on now?
(30) August
Darky: 30
Bilious: 18 (0/5) / 41 (0/5)
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Post by Renathan on Aug 31, 2019 9:41:10 GMT -6
  The Maraliev is very alone and very quiet, looking out to sea from its perch on a bit of wreck nearby. When it hears a noise, it turns towards the individuals, watching them with green eyes. It tilted its head one way, and then the other, as if trying to assess the sudden information. The creature hadn't had anyone to play with in a long time, or so it felt. Would this pair play with them? |
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Post by Darky on Aug 31, 2019 9:51:53 GMT -6
Darky sat in the sands, face close to the palm to survey damage. The prick had been softer, so there was no blood drawn, but the problem with objects just found naturally in the wild, especially man-made ones that had some wear and tear on them, was that they were a breeding ground for splinters. In so far as she could tell, however, her palm was fine.. for now. Worst came to it, she could just apply some medicine from the first aid kit once they were home.
The equillion in turn seemed fascinated by the manta ray now calmly swimming around in the pool, following its gradual but agile movements with a fair amount of attention, which left the only one out of the lot with a broader attention span to be the sea bird. It made slow circles above them, drawn to the commotion initially, but as things quieted down it made lazier and longer loops, catching sight of another creature nearby. The bird gave a small shrill, diving lower as it began to circle the strange brown fin-beast, seemingly in invitation to a game not unlike it had done with the equillion a short time ago. The creature did not have a long fur-covered tail like the equillion, but the sea bird chattered eagerly at it none the less.
(31) August Darky: 31
Bilious: 18 (1/5) / 41 (2/5) |
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Post by Renathan on Aug 31, 2019 9:56:16 GMT -6
The maraliev had indeed seen creatures such as this previously; small birds that stayed near the water somewhat. He tilted his head again to look up at it, in that uncanny way that plenty of sea-and-beach mammals tended to do. After a moment of simply watching the bird with curiosity, it seems to decide to humor the bird. A frill was lifted up, bright verdant green in color, not quite like seaglass. The frill was waved about, at the tip of the tail, quite a feat. After this, the creature settled it's tail back down with a slapping noise, and then performed the action again. Some sort of an invitation to a game, perhaps?
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Post by Darky on Aug 31, 2019 10:25:11 GMT -6
At the flair of the frill, the sea bird stopped its circling, fluttering in one place as it excitedly continued to chitter at it. In fairness, the sea bird was most likely on the bottom rung of local fauna intelligence, so for all the world knew, the mareliev could have been just another predator waiting to bait it into range. However, the fact remained that the brilliant gleam of the fins' emerald surface was attractive to it, as it fluttered left and right, trying to chase the sparkles of light.
A more awkward encounter of beak to fin was fortunately to be interrupted, when the creature's tail slapped the rocks and Bilious' head shot up at the sound. Ears forward, he scanned the horizon, nostrils flaring. He couldn't feel any particular scent, at least not yet, but he could see the fluttering bird a little ways off. The equillion took off, splashing through the shallow pool daintily enough to avoid the manta ray, but not so much as to avoid splashing the sphinx in water.
Galloping steps took him to the scene of the event, and he slowed down just before, jumping and prancing in the sands. This one wanted to play? He LOVED to play!
Admittedly.. he had a few more legs to do it with.
(32) August
Darky: 32
Bilious: 18 (2/5) / 41 (4/5)
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Post by Renathan on Aug 31, 2019 10:30:40 GMT -6
The maraliev was perhaps not exactly expecting the bird to stick around, but it was a persistent little thing. In the way that most creatures that were perhaps skillful hunters or perhaps not, it was not uncommon for the being to attempt to 'play' perhaps a little roughly with much smaller creatures. This was cut short, perhaps for the best since the maraliev had not had one of the birds stick around for that long before, by the splashing that the maraliev could detect from nearby. It turned away, putting the tail frill back down with another thump, and then turned to look at the newcomer much better than it had previously been able to. It was a legged creature, completely foreign to this beach-and-sea bound being. It was curious, scooting forward perhaps a bit ungracefully on the perch, closer to the ocean. For now, it kept its distance.
Was the leggy creature here to play, or harm them? They didn't have ultimately similar body plans, making for a difficult moment of consideration.
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Post by Darky on Aug 31, 2019 10:49:21 GMT -6
Darky sat completely still, hands still half raised, as the water dripped down off of her in small cascades. The worst was getting soaked, as the before continued to prove. But right up there with it was getting soaked was it happening when you least expected it to. She blinked, relaxed and began to wipe her face and eyes, breathing in and out in the typical style of being used to unexpected happenstances.
Bilious stopped, transfixed.
People (or creatures) who encountered him for the first time tended to note a few things right off the bat - he was spry, his eyes glowed bright which normal wilds certainly didn't do, and his mane and body was both cold and near-perpetually soaked. Bilious always looked as if he had just freshly stepped out of the shower, except that was accurate only half the time.
He also had the distinct outward expression that, despite the luminous nature of his eyes, the lights weren't necessarily all on behind them.
At the moment, his attention was fixed on the strange friend's tail, the way it had moved and shimmered and slapped on the rocks. Gears worked in his mind, best they could, and several seconds passed with his completely still form not moving and inch, before his tail raised, made a flicked motion to mimic the fins (with bonus flecks of water escaping to freedom), and lowered again. The equillion tilted his head, searching for a reaction.
He wasn't sure of the rules of this game, but boy was he ready to learn.
(33) August
Darky: 33
Bilious: 18 (3/5) / 42 (1/5)
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Post by Renathan on Aug 31, 2019 11:18:14 GMT -6
The greenish fins glinted in the light as the creature made its decision; looking at the odd slate grey thing before them. It looked wet, but that made sense, it was wet at the moment, of course. However, there was something odd about it... Really there was something odd about All things, though. It seemed friendly enough, and at that the maraliev pushed itself more dexterously than could be assumed of it off of the wreck and down into the water below. In the water the creature was much more agile, swimming about quite prettily and relatively speedily. It zoomed in a wide circle around the equillion, to the best of its ability, and then noisily invited him to swim and play. That was all the maraliev wanted, after all! Perhaps... Perhaps if this went well this being would be a good group replacement? It was a leggy and strange being, but it seemed like fun!
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Post by Darky on Aug 31, 2019 12:19:43 GMT -6
The equillion bounced backwards when the mareliev descended into the water, immediately lowering its head to follow where it went. He also immediately hit sand, seeing as his side of the waterline was still very much a shallows. Bilious pulled his head back, shook it clear of the sand and snorted out some of the water. The moment of disorientation didn't last, as no sooner had the mareliev begun to dip and dive in the water, inviting to play, that he gladly pranced forwards deeper into the water.
Now, it was well known some equillion could have the capacity to swim, if they had good enough training to, but it was also well known the swimming ability of hoofed beasts tended to be on the low side. As such, when Bilious trudged deeper and deeper into the water, to the point the waves crashed over his head and he simply disappeared under, it would have been a point of heart attack for most, regular, equillion owners.
But, being a kelpie, the water flowed around him like wind, hooves perhaps not as graceful in flipping and turning as the mareliev's fins, but none the less able to lend him unnatural grace as he swam. The ground was where he spent most of his time, but water was his element and seemed to react to him as if a fond friend. The equillion did a circle around the outcrop of rock, seeming to more glide than merely flounder, before swooshing past the mareliev on a close pass and blowing some bubbles, dashing off.
It was around that time when the mammalian had realized there was a distinct sense of silence in the area, which concerned her more than comforted. She sprang to her feet, net and manta ray briefly forgotten, before climbing a nearby rock to get a better vantage on where everyone else had gone.
(34) August
Darky: 34
Bilious: 18 (4/5) / 42 (3/5)
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Post by Renathan on Aug 31, 2019 12:31:10 GMT -6
The maraliev might have had a sense of humor, or perhaps it was from the shrill advent of having fun. Whatever it was that ultimately caused it, the creature jumped from the waves and bellowed out a series of excited noises before entering the water again gracefully. The maraliev was having quite a bit of fun; the most fun that it had been able to have in what felt like forever. The creature probably could play like that forever, enjoying the sort of game and the fun of it. Whenever the equillion moved past, the creature had nearly been unable to see with the bubbles in their eyes. They blinked a few times, and then stuck their head out of the water for just a moment before pushing back into the waves, searching after the leggy creature to continue the game.
The maraliev was growing very attached to the equillion, despite the difference in body structure. The enjoyment of being able to play a game with someone, anyone, was more than it could have asked for! Perhaps... Perhaps the equillion would let it come with them?
[Congrats! The maraliev has decided it will come with you if you don't force it to go away.]
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Post by Darky on Aug 31, 2019 17:08:46 GMT -6
One would think losing an equillion-sized creature would have been a difficult feat, and yet here she was. Having him run off on his own on a complete whim was nothing new, thought perhaps it should have given her more pause as to the manner of the last one. It was a frightening moment of silence broken only by the soft crash of waves further off, before the waves seemed to have additional, more intense sounds added - splashing and a sudden irregularity in how they crashed.
Darky pinpointed toward that noise, grabbed the drift net in order to stuff it in the bag and an old wooden bucket to scoop up the manta in some water. With the sound and the sea bird as her compass north, she started off towards the commotion.
Upon her arrival it was nothing short of a water war. Bilious was mostly submerged, but for the faint glow of his eyes and the way the water near him seemed to move on its own even against the waves gave indication of his whereabouts, while something - jury was still out on what exactly - seemed to be jumping and diving in various turn, a rumbly clicking sound accompanying it.
First impressions were decidedly deceptive, in that it almost looked like the two were fighting, but ultimately she knew better than that - the equillion hadn’t fought a day in his life and anything damage-wise he could have ever done would have been through sheer dumb luck and complete accident.
(35) August
Darky: 35
Bilious: 19 (0/5) / 43 (0/5)
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Post by Darky on Aug 31, 2019 17:09:20 GMT -6
Now, the other creature had no such alibi, and Bilious himself was well known for having his innocence and trusting nature draw him into accidental conflict with more.. temperamental natures. But the more Darky watched, the more she relaxed, hand slowly retracting the wrist-blade back in (not that it would have done her all too much good, what which her having most probably just comically floundered about in the water, trying to swing through molasses).
The sea bird circled its way down, swooping to land on her shoulder with a small ruffle of feathers and a soft peep. At least that one seemed to think this was fine, and in so far as she could read Bilious underwater, he didn’t seem to feel distressed. If anything it looked more like a game, and probably one of the more healthier ones, compared to the usual Bilious landed himself in (Nightmare’s understanding of ‘games’ were a little limited, and their children ranged from homicidal to as whimsical if not more than the wild himself).
Going out on a limb, she allowed herself that assurance - for once, everything was fine and they can relax. She set he bag down to one side and the bucket to the other, only now taking some times to have a closer look at the manta ray’s new little enclosure.
(36) August
Darky: 36
Bilious: 19 (1/5) / 43 (2/5)
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Post by Darky on Aug 31, 2019 17:09:54 GMT -6
It had been a rushed job, though the manta ray would hopefully not object all too much, considering the alternative in the drift net was a lot worse. But, sooner or later they would have had to find a way to carry it around with them, until they could figure out what to do with it. One method was to release it into the ocean, but no sooner had the sphinx waded into the shallows, away from the playing aquatics, dipped the bucket over and sent the manta ray on its merry way, that it simply turned itself around and returned with a curious look, ending up blanketing the mammalian’s toes.
She wasn’t sure what they were doing different this time around, bit whatever they seemed to encounter, seemed to also want to hang out with them. Still a better alternative to being preyed upon by spirits knew what, but something she needed some time to adjust to.
With the manta ray having decided to, for some reason, stick with them, she sighed, found a larger rock in the shallows and sat down on it, beginning to look over the bucket. Much like everything else it had been washed ashore with some wear and tear visible everywhere, from a dirty rope to the warped wood of its sides.
(37) August
Darky: 37
Bilious: 19 (2/5) / 43 (4/5)
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