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Post by Ashe on Aug 9, 2019 19:15:41 GMT -6
The tug was soft, gentle almost, and just Inyala saying look in this particular direction. Ashe turned his head obediently and looked out across the sand to see what he was looking at - and he saw the tide pool. "Oh, you want to go check that out, huh?'" Ashe asked her, and he felt her shift her weight. Assuming that was a 'yes', he turned and set off across the sand, walking carefully. He was hoping they wouldn't run into any quicksand, because Ashe could save Inyala, but he wasn't sure Inyala could even summon enough magic to help him if he got stuck. If he had an Equillion, or a Tat Lung even, along with him, he would be a little safer. He just had to trust that it wouldn't come to it. Inyala seemed to be getting excited about the tide pool they were approaching; she was crouched eagerly, ready to spring.
Ashe: 0 10/20
Inyala: 2 0/5
August Post 5
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Renathan
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Post by Renathan on Aug 9, 2019 19:20:28 GMT -6
 A beautiful pale shell sits, half submerged in a tidepool, and half on dry land. |
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Post by Ashe on Aug 9, 2019 19:39:21 GMT -6
Ashe got a few steps closer, relieved to see that this tide pool didn't seem to be governed by the same rules that applied to the mansion - meaning, it didn't run away from him as he approached it - so the trip was easier. They arrived, finding a couple of large rocks forming a catch pan for water. It was weird, seeing a pool of water here so far away from anything wet. The tide was going out, Ashe knew, but it was so far away... It was loud, he could still easily hear it, he just couldn't see any waves anywhere. So as they arrived, Inyala hopped down from his shoulder to perch on one of the rocks and look down at the water, to see if there were any fish or shells or anything else down there. Who knew, there could be some pieces of treasure or something valuable just waiting for them to find it!
Ashe: 0 11/20
Inyala: 2 1/5
August Post 6
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Post by Ashe on Aug 9, 2019 19:40:05 GMT -6
If you asked Ashe, he'd assume the water had dried up, if it was baking out here long enough for the tide to recede so far. That wasn't normal, and if you followed the high tide of July, this must have taken a month to get as far out as it was. But, knowing the mansion, it was probably like this over night. The logic of this place hurt Ashe's head sometimes and he tried not to think about it, just enjoy it and pretend it made sense. Magic didn't always follow the path of logic now, did it? "See anything?" He asked Inyala, peering over the rocks himself. The imp shifted so he could get a better view without her being in the way, but that didn't help so much. The water before him was oddly blue, not transparent like he expected. It was almost creepy, seeing it was actually blue and not just reflecting the sky above. "What the..."
Ashe: 0 12/20
Inyala: 2 2/5
August Post 7
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Post by Ashe on Aug 9, 2019 19:40:50 GMT -6
But - there! Ashe spotted it a split second before Inyala did. There was a shell peeking out from the water, half covered in wet sand. He leaned forward on the rock, using one hand to prop himself up and keep his body braced in case he lost balance or something and didn't want to topple into the water. He wore swim trunks for swimming, yes, but only on his terms! He reached down, but Inyala beat him to the punch. She hopped down into the shallow water below and plucked the spiral shell up, then climbed back up the rock and handed it to Ashe. The man took it from her, thanked her warmly, and looked at it for a few moments before he put it away in a satchel he'd brought along. Slung across one shoulder, he hoped it would be able to carry any and all of the fun stuff they found here!
Ashe: 0 13/20
Inyala: 2 3/5
August Post 8
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Post by Ashe on Aug 9, 2019 19:41:31 GMT -6
"I have a few of these," Ashe told Inyala, speaking of the shell they'd just found together. "They come in different colors and are supposed to be pretty common. Of course, I want a whole collection of them, and you can use them to make wishes in the Well so I need more than just the basic set..." He was babbling, he realized. What, was the silence of the dunes getting to him? Or was this just excitement bubbling out now that he'd found something after being here for what seemed like ages already? The Imp didn't seem to share his boredom-meets-excitement issues, and she seemed simply pleased that they had found something. She looked at him for another short while, then down at the water, watching her reflection ripple as the disturbance from her jump started to fade away and the pool returned to its mirror smooth surface as if nothing had ever touched, or jumped into, it.
Ashe: 0 14/20
Inyala: 2 4/5
August Post 9
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Post by Ashe on Aug 9, 2019 19:42:27 GMT -6
Ashe kicked off his sandals, not wanting to trip on their rubbery bottoms and flimsy soles, and climbed up onto one of the large rocks looking over the tide pool. He slowly, carefully, slid down the rock and planted his feet in the water. The liquid felt cool, but in a body temperature kind of way. It wasn't very shaded here, with the sun beating straight down, so Ashe figured this had been deeper and colder originally. It would be great for swimming, if only it was bigger. But for now, he just wanted to loot it for any and all treasures. He wiggled his toes and moved his feet, careful in case there was something sharp down there. Inyala peered down from her perch, interested in what he would find. If there was anything of value, her master would find it! Even if it was just more shells, anything would break up the monotony of sand, sand, sand!
Ashe: 0 15/20
Inyala: 3 0/5
August Post 10
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Renathan
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Post by Renathan on Aug 9, 2019 19:50:01 GMT -6
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Post by Ashe on Aug 9, 2019 20:16:26 GMT -6
Ow! Ashe jumped back instinctively as he felt something with his foot. He had that instinct where, if something appeared under his foot, he would immediately hop back and change his body weight distribution in case it was attached to something alive like a tail, or something breakable like a precious magical item or collectible. Thus, he nearly toppled over, unable to get away in this tiny space. He caught himself on the rocks, with Inyala rushing to his right hand to see if there was something she could do to help him out. Of course there wasn't, so Ashe waved her off. He sat his butt down against one of the rocks and bent over to dig around in the sand and see if he could find whatever it was that had attacked him. Sifting through the sand with his fingers, he quickly found the prickly piece he was looking for - a fan of pink coral!
Ashe: 0 16/20
Inyala: 3 1/5
August Post 11
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Post by Ashe on Aug 9, 2019 20:26:52 GMT -6
Ashe held up the fan triumphantly. Seeing what it was, he was relieved he hadn't rubbed against it too much, because coral could be hard and sharp and he didn't really feel like bleeding for the rest of the trip or walking on a cut foot. He showed it to Inyala, but when she reached out to touch it, he pulled it back. "Careful! It's sharp. Don't get your fingers cut on it." He then held it back out for her to take a look. She took it, gingerly, being just as careful as Ashe told her to. She set it down on the rock beside her, protective over it. She didn't know what it was exactly or what Ashe might want it for - maybe a decoration at the Aquarium? - but it was obvious he appreciated it and wanted to keep it. So keep it he would! What would they find next, she wondered?
Ashe: 0 17/20
Inyala: 3 2/5
August Post 12
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Post by Ashe on Aug 9, 2019 20:32:47 GMT -6
That question was answered rather quickly. When Ashe moved again, there was a sudden blood curdling screech. Ashe started, tense and ready to fight whatever monster showed itself. But look around as he might, he didn't see anything that would be attacking him. Then he felt it - on his head! Something was dive bombing him and pecking at his scalp. Ashe swatted it away the first time, but it came back with a screech and this time he made a grab for it. The bird pecked his hand and flew off again, wings flapping so close to his head that all he heard was that odd sound of feathers on feathers. He shook his head and waved his hands above his head to try and keep the monster at bay, but it was no use. The bird struck again and again - then there was sudden silence, and a splash. He looked up and both Inyala and the bird were gone.
Ashe: 0 18/20
Inyala: 3 3/5
August Post 13
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Post by Ashe on Aug 9, 2019 20:36:42 GMT -6
Ashe was able to put two and two together quick enough. Inyala had rescued him by jumping onto the bird and together they fell in the water! He figured that out before Inyala surfaced again, and that was rather quickly itself. She was holding something but able to tread water, as the tide pool was just deep enough to be over her head. Whatever she was holding was thrashing just under the surface, causing splashes and bubbles to come up. It must be the bird that attacked him! Ashe reached down and plucked her out of the water, holding her up. She was hanging onto the bird with both hands, who was still struggling and looking very soaked and distressed. At least it was still alive - Ashe would catch it and keep it for his collection. Little animals like this were all over at his Kennel and house - fun little critters that weren't good for anything else except companionship.
Ashe: 0 19/20
Inyala: 3 4/5
August Post 14
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Post by Ashe on Aug 9, 2019 20:42:57 GMT -6
Ashe reached over with both hands and took the bird from Inyala. He cupped it as best as he could in both hands, so the wings couldn't flap but he wasn't squishing it. The bird bit at him halfheartedly, too exhausted to cause any real damage. So Ashe opened his satchel and set the bird inside. Air would circulate enough through the flap, and it was a comfortable, sheltered, dark space for the bird to recover. Next, he turned to Inyala and offered his hand to her in a 'low five' position. She understood his intent and gave him five in return. "That was some pretty fast thinking, 'Yala!" Ashe was proud of her for protecting him. It wasn't every day that Ashe needed help, and to need it against a bird was just embarrassing, but nonetheless Inyala had proven herself pretty amazing. "We should work on your fighting skill sometime, huh? See what you're really capable of?"
Ashe: 1 0/20
Inyala: 4 0/5
August Post 15
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Renathan
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Post by Renathan on Aug 9, 2019 21:06:27 GMT -6
 A lone tiny sharklet swims in a tidepool alone. |
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Post by Ashe on Aug 10, 2019 0:20:30 GMT -6
Back to the water to search for some stuff. Ashe knelt, deciding that if he couldn't swim at least he could basically sit in the knee high water and sift through the sand with his fingers. Which he started doing, as soon as he got down there. It wasn't long before he unearthed something else that was relatively hard. When he pulled it out of the soft sand surrounding it, he found another spiral shell! He admired it for a minute, comparing it to the cowrey shells from last month. They were both pretty, in different ways, and would both look great on a shelf. He wasn't sure which he liked better, to be honest. He shook the water out of the shell and put it in his pocket, then got back to looking. Inyala watched on, glancing from Ashe to the sky, in case something else decided to try to attack him - she would get it!
Ashe: 0 1/20
Inyala: 4 1/5
August Post 16
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