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Post by Jack on Aug 20, 2021 9:33:56 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 25, 2021 3:04:56 GMT -6
Well no, it wasn't exactly new.. The sensation had been felt before, on more than one occasion, but it had been such a long time as to seem forgotten. With a strong suspicion in her gut, the sphinx regarded the knot of kelp with a lot more caution, delicately prying the dried leaves off one by one until something pale and transparent shone back. More specifically, until it glowed back, even - a crystal shard, quietly humming with arcane energy. Encountering one of these had always had a mixture of excitement and fear, since on the one hand they were quite the valuable find, but on another the dangers in mishandling them could also lead to disastrous (And occasionally explosive) results.
She found herself even more grateful the gallor hadn't stumbled upon this first, nor by himself, since there was little doubt in her mind the little hatching would have considered the crystal no more a toy than the wooden driftwood stick.
Dusting the hands (or, well, gloves), the hara appreciates the masterpiece he's made. Distantly, he hears the sphinx mess around with the net, while the gallor is sending something wooden clattering across the stones like a hockey puck, but beneath that all there's another, more subtler sound. The pointed ears twitch as his eyes narrow, and he turns around to glance behind him.. And sees the crab stand stock still in the middle of the path.
(26) August Darky: 26 Noari: 5 (1/5) / 5 (1/5) Ander: 35 (1/5) / 37 (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 25, 2021 3:41:07 GMT -6
Noari scowled, feeling his wings rising in a defensive posture. So it can move.. and it seemed to have decided to follow after him. But the crab didn't seem to much react to that, just staring back at him with those black shining orbs on stalks, same as before. It was confusing set of signals, since the hara had expected there to be a reason for it to follow, whether it was aggression, fear or curiosity. With nothing to work with, the wings remained raised in that bristled state, as he slowly moved backwards before hopping onto another rock. Let's see how far back this one will follow..
The sphinx stood, carefully cradling the crystal as she dug around in the bag, trying to find anything to wrap it in. Remnant ones weren't generally considered as dangerous as their more elemental kin, but it was best not to take any chances. Luckily there was a scrap of a rag left over from a previous mining trip, so she made sure to wrap it in that, before placing the crystal in the bag. With that sorted, she looked through the rest of the net's trappings, but finding little else of note, so she carefully folded and rolled it up, the better to avoid Ander running across it to become a pile of trapped gallor.
(27) August Darky: 27 Noari: 5 (2/5) / 5 (2/5) Ander: 35 (2/5) / 37 (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 25, 2021 3:58:28 GMT -6
The scitter-scater of tiny paws continued to sound behind her, as the mammalian went back to where the creature was sleeping and Noari playing a new type of red-light-green-light with the crab, net tucked under her arm. It wasn't even half way there (on a particularly short path at that, it wasn't like the pool was very large) that something caught her sight from the corner of the eye. Her head turned towards the pool, initially feeling a little alarmed, as the shape had rather resembled the toy wooden boat. By that extension, her mind had made the logical leap that their little sea shell warehouse had somehow slipped and fallen into water.
But no, the boat floating across the pool was decidedly darker and noticeably empty of seashells. Inwardly, she breathed out in relief, not quite sure what the hara would do to her if she'd so easily lost his hoard of shiny shells. (In truth, it wouldn't have been nearly half a bad as if they had been Fhèr's but she was still learning to understand the little terran). The sphinx crouched down, trying to reach for it, but even at her best effort it was evident the boat was much too far out of reach. Hmm..
(28) August Darky: 28 Noari: 5 (3/5) / 5 (3/5) Ander: 35 (3/5) / 37 (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 25, 2021 4:08:18 GMT -6
An idea occurred to her, as she reached out a hand, making a small quick gesture through the air. Something at the back of the head glowed a faint yellow, and the air around the pond began to stir, picking up a faint breeze. The wooden boat was just a toy, and as such not nearly accurate to it's real life versions, but even a toy boat's sail takes some guidance from wind. Pushing in from behind it, the breeze carried it slowly closer, until the sphinx was able to pick it up from out of the water. Well, if nothing else they now had a backup for if something would happen to the first one (And more room for the shells, should there be none left there as well).
Speaking of, no sooner did she begin to stand that one caught her sight, scattered among the rocks surrounding the pool. Leaning down again, she carefully pried it loose and placed it on the deck of the toy ship, its first measure of treasure hoard. Between this and the net, the hara should certainly be glad of their 'treasure' so far, although she suspects the net would catch the yang's attention moreso at home than the terran's.
Behind her, the scattering sound received a sudden crescendo, followed by a worrisome silence, and then a splash.
(29) August Darky: 29 Noari: 5 (4/5) / 5 (4/5) Ander: 35 (4/5) / 37 (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 25, 2021 4:38:57 GMT -6
Innately, the sphinx felt a creeping dread in the silence that followed, broken when a much larger splash sounded as the inevitable (and predictable) conclusion. She didn't even need to turn around and look to know what had happened, for the mind had long since pieces together the series of events, but did so anyway, with an inward sigh. And sure enough, the picture did not disappoint the expectation - The gallor was in the pool, happily paddling after the driftwood stick which had flown into it, chomping at the waters with his beak. In hindsight, the fact she had made sure he knew how to swim first and foremost seemed to be a good thing, although there were other shapes in the water who might not take too kindly to the intrusion.
The mantaray didn't seem bothered, and some of the other longer, smoother shapes remained about as passive as before. One bluer one, one she hadn't noticed before, did seem to creep a little closer towards the happily kicking form, so the sphinx moved quickly, jumping feet first into the water as well, "Ander! Come here!"
It had done a wonderful job at breaking the stalemate between the crab and hara as well. When the splattering of water came flying through the air, the crab merely retreated back into its shell, appearing as a rock, just like before. Noari on the other hand, being small and lean, got knocked clear off his feet by the force of the splatter.
(30) August Darky: 30 - (added) Noari: 6 (0/5) / 6 (0/5) Ander: 36 (0/5) / 38 (0/5)
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Post by Nadia on Aug 26, 2021 5:13:38 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 27, 2021 11:31:21 GMT -6
The world seemed close and intent for that fraction of a second, and then suddenly everything was upturned into a flurry of motion. The hara felt something impact him from the side, but it wasn't until he was sprawled down on the stone pavement, dizzy and utterly soaked, that he realized the finer details of what had happened. Sitting up, the terran coughed out a small bubble, confusion rising in his expression. What. Was. Going. ON. The hands raised with a disgusted face as he swiped them through the air, splatters of water flying. Being smaller than regular humanoids, water wasn't quite the same sensation.. It hit harder, felt thicker and clung better. Not quite syrup, for he was still big enough to not have to deal with surface tension to that degree.. but not exactly fully in the 'liquid' spectrum either.
With a grumbling sound, Noari got to his feet, kicked off some more water, and then hopped back onto the rock to begin his avalanche of gestured complaints. He didn't get too far, since the scene before him was already unfolding into some minor drama, leaving much of the initial complaints drowned out in the mammalian wading toward Ander with "Come on, buddy. Come here, you really don't want to play with those things.."
(31) August Darky: 31 Noari: 6 (1/5) / 6 (1/5) Ander: 36 (1/5) / 38 (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 27, 2021 11:38:46 GMT -6
The response wasn't quite what she had hoped, but largely what she expected. The gallor chirped at her happily, half-garbled when he occasionally pushed his head in the water and blew bubbles, making it clear that he had every intention of playing with these things. Admittedly, he wasn't entirely aware of what those things were, but the water was clear, the sun bright and there were shapes moving beneath that enticed him to chase after them. The effort didn't go much better than the attempts of capturing the seagull or chasing after the driftwood piece, for the gallor was chubby with fur and mostly moved a heft 0.2 nots per minute with his paddling, but still.
"Oh spirits, don't make me regret not bringing a leash," the mammalian rolled her eyes, finally getting within arm's reach of the hatcling. How was it that out of the two, Noari was somehow the least concerning in this equation? Even as Ander was trying to make his 'great' escape, as if this was a game of tag, the sphinx hooked her free hand around him and lifted him up under her arm. At the shape in the water, she gently, but firmly, shook her foot at it, making small kick, "Go on, nothing to see here, go find something else to eat."
The shark didn't seem particularly hungry, but the sudden repeated motion made it swim off all the same.
(32) August Darky: 32 Noari: 6 (2/5) / 6 (2/5) Ander: 36 (2/5) / 38 (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 27, 2021 11:55:34 GMT -6
With that sorted, the mammalian slowly waded her way to shore, plopping the soaking, chirping gallor onto the paved stones with one hand, and putting down the folded netting and fan with the other. With both hands free, she hoisted herself up, out and over the stones to sprawl out on the ground, rolling over to her back. It occurred to her that for all the planning she's generally done, there's really a few instances where foresight hasn't been her, well, forte.
Case in point. For someone whose contact with water had been strenuous at best over her years, she really keep picking the absolute worst time to visit the mansion. It's not exactly the first time, although the very first time also began with beaches, sand, water and some driftwood construction. Now, quite a bit of time later, she's done it again on more than one occasion, and is finding herself, once again, soaked to the skin (No easy feat for someone with fur) and having to wait the however many hours it takes to dry.
During all this pondering, the sphinx merely remained sprawled out on the ground, staring up into the blue sky visible from between the jungle canopy. At least, until a blonde green-eyed face interrupted it.
(33) August Darky: 33 Noari: 6 (3/5) / 6 (3/5) Ander: 36 (3/5) / 38 (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 27, 2021 12:01:22 GMT -6
Noari wasn't happy. This much she understood, even with the shaky language barrier between them. By the looks of him, the hara had taken a tumble into the water as well, although the sphinx could only recall hearing one sound of splashing. Her head more rolled than turned along the ground to regard him, trying to put on an assuming smile, "Well.. If you were looking for adventure, then this is pretty much how things tend to go."
Not surprisingly, the hara's expression didn't improve. Whatever he was initially angry about didn't seem to be as burning the longer he kept staring though. Perhaps the sight of her half-soaked like him made it clear they were both in something of a same boat (Figuratively speaking). More literally speaking, he eventually rolled his eyes, stood back and held up another shell towards her, shaking it as if telling her to take it.
Darky sat up, vaguely aware that Ander had scampered off towards something else, but seeing as he remained on dry land for now, she wasn't immediately too concerned about it. Accepting the shell, she nodded with a smile, "Thanks. Oh, and I have good news." Reaching towards the net bundle, she picked up the second toy ship, showing it to the hara, "Looks like we have more cargo space."
(34) August Darky: 34 Noari: 6 (4/5) / 6 (4/5) Ander: 36 (4/5) / 38 (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 27, 2021 12:07:25 GMT -6
The sight of the ship made the hara's brows crane some, as if the annoyance was momentarily forgotten. She had noticed a sense of curiosity about the previous ship as well, not quite sure where it derived from, but perhaps the little terran was fascinated by things that weren't so much fit to his size as more his stature. Like something of the outside world had been shrunk down, just like him. Darky set the boat down on the paved stones, "Go on, you can keep it as your own if you like. But if you find more shells, make sure to bring them here."
Much as it always did, the poignant moment didn't last. Noari didn't quite have a chance to signal anything back before a sudden jingling sounded behind them. Both mammalian and hara turned to see the gallor running along the stone road, something caught in its beak and training behind him in an awful clatter. Parts of it seemed almost metallic, or perhaps even ceramic, which certainly wouldn't have done it any favours being scraped across the stony floor like that.
Darky grimaced, starting up again, as she quickly stood and ran over, "Ander, put that down!" before too much damage could be done.
For Noari's part, he watched, he sighed, and he placed the shell into the boat, finding it concerningly easier to accept this new 'normal'.
(35) August Darky: 35 Noari: 7 (0/5) / 7 (0/5) Ander: 37 (0/5) / 39 (0/5)
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Post by Nadia on Aug 27, 2021 12:55:27 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 27, 2021 17:29:43 GMT -6
To that subject, the hara had a considerable existential conundrum to consider. For the better part of his life the main constant element within it had been the yang, her antics and inability to remain quiet for long periods of time. Being somewhat unversed in what it meant to be a harachiu, Noari had just assumed that's how things worked with their kin. By extension, he assumed perhaps his own tendency towards the quiet was more derived from having grown up outside the usual family structure.
But.. The more time he spent with the mammalian, the more he was beginning to realize that it wasn't so much that Fhèr, or anyone else for that matter, was particularly chaotic in their own right, but rather that the mammalian was some sort of.. weird nexus for it. After all, most if not all of the kennel somehow revolved around her existence, so if she wasn't in the equation, quite a lot of things would go really wrong, really fast (The tat-lung, for one).
And yet.. this linchpin to the kennel sanity was also the person having trouble chasing after a small, plump-looking lion-bird which had just stolen some musical instrument. It had not even been some hours and yet Noari was left wondering whether he was the intelligent one in this equation (A deeply concerning thought on its own).
(36) August Darky: 36 Noari: 7 (1/5) / 7 (1/5) Ander: 37 (1/5) / 39 (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 27, 2021 17:38:14 GMT -6
And further than that, an even more concerning thought that made him question whether that also meant he was somehow responsible for her welfare. To return home and having to explain to Fhèr that something bad happened to her most favourite person ever created an emotion he didn't quite know to name, but it landed somewhere between a spike in the gut and sheer terror.
Right, well.. That answered that.
The hara's suspicions aside, the sphinx didn't take all too long to catch up with the little gallor, scooping him up for what felt like the fifth time that day, "Hold up, you. Let me see what you have," as she tried to gently pry the thing out of his beak. To Ander's credit, he had received some training and was well within his ability to obey commands. Unfortunately, not only had 'drop' not been one such command, he presently also found it quite entertaining to be played with. 'Keep away' was common among hatchlings, in one shape or form, but while normally it was harmless, it didn't incorporate trying to eat or destroy..
Darky got the object loose, and lifted it up to inspect it, still trying to understand the make of it. Wind chimes?
(37) August Darky: 37 Noari: 7 (2/5) / 7 (2/5) Ander: 37 (2/5) / 39 (2/5)
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