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Post by Ashe on May 21, 2021 2:10:19 GMT -6
It was then that he realized... he hadn't been here much this time of year before. Had he ever? It was sort of shocking to him, as often as he was here, was it never much in the spring time? He mostly focused on the summer months, when there was water and fish and things. He had a sudden urge to get to the mansion and take a look around inside. But first, the intruder... Inyala was leaning forward to see what it was, but Ashe stooped himself to get a better look at it. Ch'ta came closer, letting a soft rumble growl come from his throat.
"Friend?" He asked. "Enemy?"
"Friend, I think." Ashe wasn't sure, but he did have a habit of just assuming everything was friendly and wanted to come with him. And if it attacked? Ashe would find a way to overpower it and bring it home with him anyway. That had happened plenty of times before, after all!
Ch'ta: 3 3/5 Ashe: 3 10/20
May post 17
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Post by Ashe on May 21, 2021 2:20:22 GMT -6
The creature looked like a turtle made out of rocks. He was kind of cute, with those big wide eyes looking up at him. Ashe couldn't resist; he was definitely coming home with him! Ashe reached out a hand to touch the little guy, and he headbutted him gently in response. Ashe chuckled. "Hey little guy, want to join us?" He asked. The critter seemed to be leaning into Ashe's hand as he patted the rock 'shell'. That was as close to a yes as he was going to get, because this guy certainly wasn't as smart as the Dash claw. Inyala gave a chirp of greeting to their new friend, waving.
Ch'ta was eyeing them. "Food?" he asked.
Ashe shook his head no. "Friend." He said it with confidence this time, and patted the shell again. He looked back down at the turtle, then at Ch'ta. "He's going to be coming with us. I think he wants to join our crew!"
Ch'ta: 3 4/5 Ashe: 3 11/20
May post 18
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Post by Ashe on May 21, 2021 2:54:56 GMT -6
"Let's check out the building," Ashe said, gesturing to the mansion itself. Inyala was used to this routine; explore outside, then go inside and see what treasures could be found. Ch'ta looked at the building, but didn't trust it. Honestly, he was a creature of nature, and liked to roam. That was a little too close of quarters for him. Ashe looked at the Dash-claw's reaction with curiosity. Why did he look like that? "Something wrong?" Ashe asked.
Ch'ta shook his head. He was determined to be strong and just do this. Humans lived in houses. Just because he's lived his entire life in a forest of some sort, except for a very brief stint with the other human, shouldn't mean that he couldn't go into a house. Ashe was with him, too, and wouldn't lead him into trouble. So he took initiative and headed toward the building himself. Ashe glanced at Inyala, they shrugged, and he followed after him.
Ch'ta: 4 0/5 Ashe: 3 12/20
May post 19
Accept enclosed spaces 1
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Post by Ashe on May 21, 2021 3:14:56 GMT -6
The closer he got to the house, the more the courage in Ch'ta was starting to wane. From the outside, it didn't look... too bad. It still looked like a large cage - completely walled in, and without a way to see the sky when you were inside. He stood near the door, looking at it, looking up at the mansion. Feet rooted to the spot. Ashe and Inyala caught up to and stood next to him for a few moments, letting him figure it out himself, get used to the idea. He wasn't sure what was wrong, but he gathered it was something to do with the building itself. Maybe he was scared of buildings? It made sense to Ashe, who let him roam a forest on his estate property. Walls surrounded it, but the Dash-claw probably could leap over that if he really tried.
This mansion had no leaping out to freedom. Ch'ta certainly wouldn't fit through the windows!
Ch'ta: 4 1/5 Ashe: 3 13/20
May post 20
Accept enclosed spaces 2
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Post by Ashe on May 21, 2021 3:58:17 GMT -6
Ashe reached around the Dash claw and opened the door. He let it wide on its hinges, so it opened all the way. He stepped back to his position next to Ch'ta, letting the Dash-claw make his own decision if he wanted to go into the house or not. He wasn't going to force him. Unknown to Ashe, Inyala was making quite the face, highly amused that someone as haughty as Ch'ta was brought down so hard by a house of all things. She, Inyala, went into the mansion each month without issue; but that silly Dash Claw refused?
Ch'ta looked inside as Ashe opened the door. He was a little anxious, worried that even if he was to go in, the door would swing shut behind him and they would be stuck in there forever without a way to get out. It was irrational, by normal standards, but for a people who lived happily without human additions in their world for ages... Ch'ta clenched his teeth.
Ch'ta: 4 2/5 Ashe: 3 14/20
May post 21
Accept enclosed spaces 3
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Post by Ashe on May 21, 2021 4:11:18 GMT -6
"I'll go first," Ashe offered. He slipped between the door and the predator, walking into the house. He didn't think it was too tight in here, but he was used to these things. It must be terrifying to someone who had never been within four closed walls before. "It's okay. Good. Nice." Ashe used all the positive words he could think of as he walked around the room. This room, for now anyway, looked decently normal. He knew better than to think all of the mansion would be like this, though. It would certainly put Ch'ta's tolerance to the test! "Come here. To me." Inyala chirped encouragement, and they waited for the Dash-claw in the middle of the room.
Ch'ta took his time looking around. Four walls. Some holes for doorways, human sized of course. Ceiling that made it feel like he was going to be crushed. He didn't like this. But Ashe wasn't harmed in any way, and even that silly blue beast seemed to be okay. He took one step inside.
Ch'ta: 4 3/5 Ashe: 3 15/20
May post 22
Accept enclosed spaces 4
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Post by Ashe on May 21, 2021 4:22:13 GMT -6
Ch'ta took the first step into the building. Once both feet were over the threshold, he paused and looked around, as if he was expecting to be struck down where he stood. He waited, tense and listening. The open door behind him reassured him. The door couldn't shut if he was blocking it, and as long as it was open, he had an escape route. However, this was as far as his confidence got him and he planted his feet firmly. His tail was still technically outside. It was safe enough here.
"Come on, it's alright. Ch'ta. You're fine, I promise," Ashe encouraged. Inyala made a 'come on' gesture with her hands, trying to help convince him to come inside. He focused his attention on Ashe, considering.
"No. Bad." He was at a loss for words to describe just how he felt here. He knew a lot of words, and when to use them, but not enough, not yet.
"Good. It's good. Warm. Fun. Exciting!"
Ch'ta: 4 4/5 Ashe: 3 16/20
May post 23
Accept enclosed spaces 5
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Post by Ashe on May 21, 2021 4:28:03 GMT -6
Ashe said it was good. But Ch'ta hesitated still. He had trusted Ashe this far, he knew Ashe wouldn't hurt him, but he would REALLY RATHER NOT. He snorted and shook his head, eyes wide. He took a step forward, yet couldn't bring himself to bring the other foot up with it.
Ashe waited, trying to be patient, but he really wasn't the most patient of people, was he? Then he got an idea. He smiled at the predator, a big, toothy grin. "Good. It's nice. Fine. Safe." He smiled again at the Dash Claw, reminding him of their smiling game earlier. Inyala took one look at Ashe's face and rolled her eyes, chalking this up to her master acting goofy again. So what else was new.
Ch'ta saw the smile, and took the meaning for what it was. Painfully slowly, he took one full step. Then another. He crossed the floor and reached Ashe's side - just as the door slammed shut. Because that's what magical doors did in this place!
Ch'ta: 5 0/5 Ashe: 3 17/20
May post 24
Accept enclosed spaces 6
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Post by Ashe on May 21, 2021 4:32:36 GMT -6
Ashe winced, knowing what was going to happen before it happened. Ch'ta went crazy, knowing his only escape route was cut off. He bolted forward like a spooked Equillion, knocking into Ashe in his haste. Ashe dropped to the ground, managing to catch himself without being hurt too badly. Inyala clung to his neck, letting out a screech of rage. She knew that beast was bad news! And it had just attacked Ashe! Once she made sure her master was okay, she would be going after that thing!
Ch'ta raced around the room. It was a small room, just the front space where someone might kick off their shoes and hang their coats before taking the hall to the main rooms. Ch'ta didn't want to take the hall because it led further into the mansion, so he just went from wall to wall, nearly bouncing off of each. His claws slipped on the wooden floor, not quite the best grip.
"Ch'ta! Relax! Chill! Whoa, slow down!"
Ch'ta: 5 1/5 Ashe: 3 18/20
May post 25
Accept enclosed spaces 7
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Post by Nadia on May 21, 2021 6:37:15 GMT -6
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Post by Ashe on Jun 11, 2021 3:26:17 GMT -6
Ch'ta had gotten too stressed out about being in the mansion, it was too tight and confined for one with such a free spirit. So Ashe had taken the chance to leave, let him rest up back at home. While they were there, before Ashe was able to make it back to the Mansion, the month had changed. They were rapidly approaching summer and you could feel it in the heat of the sun beating down on the trio as they walked into the mansion again.
During the time spent at home, Ashe had visited Ch'ta on "his" turf, out in the wild woods Ashe had on his estate. Together, they had spent hours going over the language of Common. Ashe made sure he remembered the words Ashe had started teaching him, and he explained the more intricate rules, like contractions.
Though they had practiced at home, Ashe wasn't letting him get away from it here. He was still quizzing him, and working on simple but full sentences as they crossed onto the property, Inyala quiet on his shoulder.
Ch'ta: 5 2/5 Ashe: 3 19/20
June post 1
Foreign Language common - 14
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Post by Ashe on Oct 6, 2021 14:24:21 GMT -6
Continued from: HereSantiago had been so excited to explore the weird and creepy things of human culture, including demons and spirits, that he had even made Ashe get on his back so they could cover more ground faster. Ashe had been on Santiago's back before, but never a proper training where they would move together as a team. He felt kind of weird, being on some one's back rather than a creature's back. Sure, Maverick could talk and think like a person, but he had been a simple Equillion first... Santiago had hatched smart like a human. Ashe was sure they were getting looks as Santiago bounded like a panther down the streets. Not many Draconics visited the city. The man couldn't really blame them, the way the city experimented on animals and created things out of nothing. Don't get him wrong, Ashe loved it, but he could see how magical dragons might not. But Santiago was his bonded, and he didn't care what kinds of looks he got; his other half was coming with! Santiago: 0 1/5 Ashe: 0 1/20 *Inyala present, but not gaining levels October 1
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Post by Ashe on Oct 8, 2021 5:23:26 GMT -6
They reached the gates to the Mansion's grounds, and Santiago started really paying attention. "I can feel the magic here," he told Ashe. He was curious, and hyper alert. He probably didn't believe humans had access to much magic, but here it was, an entire building and grounds that magically changed and morphed before everyone's eyes. It was sunset, with the sun a bloody red color and casting a glow across everything. The moon was also in the sky, a bright sliver of a crescent. Not a cloud in the sky - Ashe hoped it would be a great night to look at the stars, because he didn't get to enjoy that as much as he would like. Always busy. He pushed open the gates and ushered Santiago through. The dark dragon slunk through silently, his paws not making any noise. Enjoy that stealth while you can, Ashe thought. Once we get to the dried leaves, nothing stays silent! Together, they walked up the path, and Ashe noticed a fog starting to roll in...
Santiago: 0 2/5 Ashe: 0 2/20
October 2
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Post by Ashe on Oct 16, 2021 14:23:35 GMT -6
The fog got thicker the further in they went. Before long, they made it to the tombstones, lined up neatly in the yard outside the mansion. Santiago looked at them, the fog obscuring all but the shapes of them. "What are these things?" He asked. "These rocks coming out of the ground. Why are they here?"
"They're grave markers. People were buried here." Ashe didn't know what people, or when or why or if there were actually people under the ground. But that was the their purpose. "It's a ritual for us, as humans, to bury our dead under the ground and have a marker, so we can come and pay our respects. Sometimes... their ghosts linger, attaching themselves to the homes they used to live in, or just..roaming the graveyard."
Santiago looked a little skeptical of this. "Do your rituals not help your dead move on? Why would they stay here?"
Ashe gave a shrug. "Some have unfinished business. Some are angry. Emotions tie them to this world."
Santiago: 0 3/5 Ashe: 0 3/20
October 3
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Post by Ashe on Oct 16, 2021 14:27:31 GMT -6
Santiago stopped near one of these grave markers, the stone jutting out like a rock in a stream, the fog billowing around it as flowing water. "How do you know which is your loved one's?" he asked. Ashe walked over to him and flicked on his flashlight. He had a habit of keeping one on his person when he went to the Mansion, you never knew what you'd run into. And on a night like this, it would come in handy. For close up things, at least. The fog would block it from anything more distant. He put the light on the face of the marker, illuminating the writing.
"Names and dates are chiseled into the stone. See? This one... Says Barbara Gills. Ohh, this is at least a hundred years old..." Ashe crouched near the stone, his fingers tracing the carvings. He liked old tombstones! He wondered what life was like back then... Wherever this had been. He doubted the Mansion was that old.
Santiago: 0 4/5 Ashe: 0 4/20
October 4
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