Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Jul 26, 2023 0:49:10 GMT -6
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Post by Nadia on Jul 28, 2023 7:04:11 GMT -6
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
|
Post by Darky on Jul 30, 2023 3:03:40 GMT -6
( Taming: 1 )
The giant worm shudders the plates of its mouth gently, settling and calming. There's not a lot of thought happening inside the mind, as its almost entirely running on a specific kind of instinct. And that instinct, in this moment, makes connection between "pain" and "not pain" and somehow the mammalian is the tether between the two. So it settles, lowering its head fully to the ground and rests there, beady eyes studying her and her cart.
Behind, which, the gargoyle has been having something of a stony heart attack for the past few seconds. Being obedient, Ras stayed where he was, but he none the less watched the mammalian run right towards the giant rock-eater like a dumb rockling. The fact she DIDNT get eaten is good, but it didn't change the fact the gargoyle almost jumped from the shelter of the cart, obedience be damned, to drag her back by the tail if need be. Now, with things settled, the gargoyle leaves the hiding spot behind the cart and fixes her with a look that's best described as 'furiously glad'. The sphinx, too, breathes out and allows her shoulders to drop, glancing over to the gargoyle with a tired, but appreciative smirk, "Wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be."
Famous last words, as immediately after, the tunnel echoed with the sound of shifting rocks coming from the giant hole in the wall.
(276) Darky: 276 Ras Dashen: 132 (1/5) / 132 (1/5) Grant: 0 (1/5) / 0 (1/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Jul 30, 2023 3:11:19 GMT -6
( Taming: 2 )
It didn't send a shiver down the spine largely because the shifting was distinctly different to things moving via gravity. This shifting was being done with intent and some additional force. Which isn't to say it couldn't create problems on its own, but the mammalian had about had it with rocks falling on them from above or the side for the day, if not weeks to come. A vacation from the mines was not a very distant thought in her brain, something even Ras might appreciate..
Straightening, she stepped closer to the tunnel and shone the flashlight inside it. What peered back were much, much tinier beady eyes, before they quickly disappeared into the gloom, something wiggling up the giant worm's side. Lazily, the giant worm (who technically remained unnamed, but the sphinx was entertaining the idea of 'Grant'. Just seemed like a solid rock-like name) shifted its head, but didn't seem alarmed by it. Large eyes met small ones, as the tinier worm settled on top of it, and Grant simply lowered its head again. The sphinx's head tilted, curious at this turn of events.. The worms weren't being territorial? If anything it almost seemed like there was recognition between them..
Wait. Recognition? Oh.. Oh.
Well, it's not often you catch a family of worms, but she supposes it could happen.
(277) Darky: 277 Ras Dashen: 132 (2/5) / 132 (2/5) Grant: 0 (2/5) / 0 (2/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
|
Post by Darky on Jul 30, 2023 3:16:21 GMT -6
( Taming: 3 )
"I suppose if you're looking to follow your parent, you're welcome to," the sphinx smiled up to the small one, nevermind it really would have been pretty cruel to part the two. Their little troupe was growing quite large by now, but with Grant actively busting the quota on size, it's not like she could deny the little one some space in the cart to compensate.
A relatively heart-warming moment, which wasn't the whole to the picture, alas. Beside her, the gargoyle had never stopped staring into the tunnel, as if something was still there. And sure enough, it wasn't long before a yellowish glint emerged, side-first, wings up, and looking to try to intimidate them. When Ras began to gnash his beak, the mammalian turned away from the scene of a family reunion and blinked, spotting the topaz dragon, "Oh, uh.. Guess you weren't the only one, huh little one?" Except where the worm looked to be perfectly okay riding their parent's back, the dragon.. was a little less convinced of what was happening here.
"Stand down, Ras," the mammalian quickly motioned to him, "We're not looking to fight. And I suspect its just spooked, from everything that's happened." Which was something she could HIGHLY relate to.
(278) Darky: 278 Ras Dashen: 132 (3/5) / 132 (3/5) Grant: 0 (3/5) / 0 (3/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
|
Post by Darky on Jul 30, 2023 3:22:46 GMT -6
( Taming: 4 )
Threat, the gargoyle thought back, leering at the dragon's continued arched display. Want to fight.
Oh boy.. In another life, the mammalian would like to think she'd have made a diplomat, considering how many times she's had to make peace with different beasts, animals, and even people. Perhaps more so today than any other days, in a long while. "Not necessarily," she breathed out, pulling Ras back a little, as if she's trying to keep in a line an unruly vulticus about to go at another one at the park. "It's most likely scared and doesn't know what to do with that feeling. We'll need to show them there's nothing to be afraid of, and that we don't mean harm."
This wasn't the logic the gargoyle adhered to, what with him generally considering a good bite or a clawing was as good a means of fixing a problem as any, but he'd long since learned not to argue. Above them, the giant merely observed the scene in passive contentedness, not really seeing as connected to the dragon as it had been with the littler worm. Which suggested the topaz dragon might have been tagging along with them for.. well, a lot of possible reasons, but considering Grant's size, perhaps protection?
(279) Darky: 279 Ras Dashen: 132 (4/5) / 132 (4/5) Grant: 0 (4/5) / 0 (4/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
|
Post by Darky on Jul 30, 2023 3:28:44 GMT -6
( Taming: 5 - Done! )
This was something she could work with.. Assuming the dragon made a direct connection to the large worm as safety, if she could entice that same connection getting extended to her, it should help diffuse the situation. "Go back to the cart and find me a topaz," the sphinx told the gargoyle, who scoffed, but backed up and only turned around once he was almost behind the rocky outcrop, heading for the cart. In the meantime, the sphinx also backed up, first to give the dragon some space, but also so she could get closer to the Grant.
Now, there's a few things she did recall about the worms, and the main thing is that they're (thankfully) pretty simplistic creatures. The giant worm, not that it was free of the pain, didn't really have any other instincts to follow other than resting so the small wounds can heal. It also meant it didn't really consider the sphinx approaching a threat, so the mammalian walked up fairly close, and carefully reached out a hand to place it on the worm's side. "See?" she looked over to the dragon, "We're all friends here. Same boat."
It was around this time that Ras returned, dropping a piece of slightly chipped topaz into her hand. "We also have things to offer, if you're looking for stones," and the mammalian crouched, holding out the hand with the shiny yellow rock. It didn't hurt to leave a little temptation along with the promise of protection.
(280) Darky: 280 - (added) Ras Dashen: 133 (0/5) / 133 (0/5) Grant: 1 (0/5) / 1 (0/5)
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Post by Nadia on Jul 30, 2023 4:36:06 GMT -6
The dragon seems wary. It looks at the odd display before it - worm and wormling, mammalian, gargoyle - and is notably bristling, but... there is no direct harm. No one is charging at it. No one is trying to hurt it. In fact, it's being offered something.
Well. It supposes that it can stick around for a while, at least. After snatching the topaz out of your hand, of course.
The little worm doesn't seem to need any encouragement at all to stay put.
[Congratulations, you have successfully tamed the creatures!]
After all that excitement, perhaps it comes as no surprise that the tunnel now falls silent.
[Nothing happens.]
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Jul 31, 2023 0:44:55 GMT -6
Oh thank the spirits, the dragon looked to be in a mind to settle. The sphinx breathed out, allowing the topaz one to wander over to the cart and hop in, much like a few of the others had, and carefully closed the lid once it had settled in. The smaller worm seemed just as content to ride on top of Grant as anything else, so on that front she rather considered it his job to keep an eye on it.
Even so, the last hour or so has arguably been the most intense that it's been a while in the Mines, and the sphinx takes a moment to sit down against the wall's rubble to destress for a while, and also figure out how on earth they're going to get this moving convoy of critters not only going, but also able to reach the surface.
And more to the point, one they DO reach the surface, how to manage the worm then?
Okay? the gargoyle peers in from beside her, almost slinking closer. Nevermind his instinct to fight anything that looks at them wrong, the empathic connection they share has made him all too aware of the various ups and downs of her emotional state in the last few hours.
(281) Darky: 281 Ras Dashen: 133 (1/5) / 133 (1/5) Grant: 1 (1/5) / 1 (1/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Jul 31, 2023 0:50:51 GMT -6
To say he's concerned would be an understatement, considering the 'ups and downs' are less like a slope and more like a rollercoaster.. Even at more stressful times he hasn't felt it jump around this much.
The sphinx gives a weary smile, inviting him over and having him lay down next to her, resting a hand on his back, "I'm okay.. thanks for asking. It's just been a long day, is all." It's actually been much, much more than that, but the best part about compartmentalizing is that you don't have to unpack it until you're in a time and space where it no longer matters.
The gargoyle's head looks up, Lie. It's not often he's able to make the distinction, considering social cues between humanoids and gargoyles tend to be two very different classes of beast.
For a moment the sphinx gives him a look, part confusion at him noticing, part surprise at the audacity to point it out. "..Okay, well, maybe a little not okay," she finally admits with a sigh. "But don't worry about this now. Let's just get back up topside, yeah? You, me, Grant, and all the rest," as she motions towards the worm and the cart laden with treasure (and a few squatters).
(282) Darky: 282 Ras Dashen: 133 (2/5) / 133 (2/5) Grant: 1 (2/5) / 1 (2/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Jul 31, 2023 0:56:19 GMT -6
A tender, potentially-motivational moment, that was soon interrupted by a tiny pitter-patter of feet. Inwardly, the sphinx was ready to groan, thinking they've come across yet another denizen, but when she turned to look, all she saw was a small purple shape with a long neck and small feet. Still a denizen, although part of the smaller ones - a gemmorn. And something that wouldn't really want to eat, fight or really run and hide from a lot of things down there. They already had a couple at home, one of which ever Ras considered as a little green companion of his own, so the sphinx relaxed, letting it scurry around and hang about if it so wished.
In the same vein, the gargoyle's head remained raised, staring into the hole the tunnel worm had made. The sphinx watched him, "Notice something?"
Things, the gargoyle responds.
"Good things?"
Find things, he clarified. It was his way of saying the 'things' in question are ones the sphinx would be looking for.
"Alright, in that case, go see what you find and fetch back anything interesting," she motioned, and the gargoyle took off. Grant didn't seem like the hoarding type, but the other familiars certainly could have had some small items along.
(283) Darky: 283 Ras Dashen: 133 (3/5) / 133 (3/5) Grant: 1 (3/5) / 1 (3/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Jul 31, 2023 2:39:01 GMT -6
It became quickly apparent that not quite all of the items were all that 'small' - the gargoyle returned at first with what looked to be a lump of rock, if a bit oddly shaped. It wasn't until the flashlight was able to shine down on it and the sphinx cleared away some of the dust on its surface that she realized its a fossil. With as many of these back home as they had, she was certain they could open up a museum at this point (if only they weren't all the same type).
The next item took him some time and a lot of noise. Even Grant's head briefly shifted towards the sound, before he considered it too minor a problem to bother about, and settled back down. Ras emerged from the hole in the wall backwards, dragging something along the ground with his beak. Evidently it looked quite heavy.. although not as large as the mammalian though would warrant a very dramatic entrance. This generally meant only one thing - metal. Gemstones had their varying hardness and thickness, but the only thing to actually be worth its weight in anything was ore, and some metals were considerably more denser than others.
(284) Darky: 284 Ras Dashen: 133 (4/5) / 133 (4/5) Grant: 1 (4/5) / 1 (4/5)
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Jul 31, 2023 2:44:04 GMT -6
The grinding against stone became quite painful to the ears, until the sphinx finally shook her head, "Hold up, hold up.." and painfully rose to her feet to walk over and help the gargoyle with the lump of metal. When starting to heft it, even she had a momentary 'oof' the arms straining as they tried to find purchase on the uneven surfaces. Back in the light, the metal shone with a deep dark hue, not unlike Grant's own chitinous segments on the body. She hadn't messed with these as much, but she still knew titanium when she saw it.
Lugging it over to the cart was a step-by-step process, in that she needed to take it step by single step. The ground was anything but smooth, after Grant's bust-in entrance, and her own balance was largely good only because she had a tail to compensate (the brain was definitely looking to take a vacation from any such responsibilities). Reaching the cart at last, she opened the latch and gave one last effort to heft the ore in, before leaning against the edge with a tired sigh.
Beneath her arm, the gargoyle's head poked in, dropping another shiny non-rock in as well, in the form of gold ore - he'd gone back and retrieved the other metallic piece in the meantime.
(285) Darky: 285 Ras Dashen: 134 (0/5) / 134 (0/5) Grant: 2 (0/5) / 2 (0/5)
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Post by Nadia on Aug 2, 2023 1:26:50 GMT -6
At last, a gem!
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Darky
Flea Market Artist
Veritas et Aequitas
Posts: 1,268
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Post by Darky on Aug 2, 2023 4:56:05 GMT -6
"Thanks for that," the sphinx smiled, patting the gargoyle on the head. Then she straightened and took a few steps back, looking at the open cart with a pensive expression. "We're getting pretty full up on this.. Lugging it all the way back is going to be a bit harder now.
I pull, Ras interjected defiantly, with a puff of a stony chest to accompany. Whether the extra posturing was compensation in being unable to help the mammalian with her tiredness problem, or something else, was anyone's guess.
The sphinx smiled all the same, "I'm sure you can, Ras. I just don't want you to hurt yourself in the process." And to herself, outside the bond, she added, We all have our limits, after all.
You dig, I pull. You walk, I pull, the gargoyle insisted, putting that stubbornness to good use in a caregiving aspect, for once. The sphinx didn't rightfully know how to respond to that kind of fervor. She'd grown more used to this kind of insistence from the tat-lung, even from the tainted in a veiled sort of way, but even they weren't so direct about it. Maybe the gargoyle felt he needed to one-up the tunnel worm? (Or maybe she was worse off than even she was willing to acknowledge).
(286) Darky: 286 Ras Dashen: 134 (1/5) / 134 (1/5) Grant: 2 (1/5) / 2 (1/5)
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