Mawline
Novice
Itsa me, Gusteon!
Posts: 12
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Post by Mawline on Jul 17, 2014 12:11:11 GMT -8
Mawline opened her eyes slowly, she was cold and numb but had faint ache across her body. She sat up, disturbing the light layer of snow that had begun to bury her. First and foremost, she checked herself to make sure she was in one piece. Once affirmed that she was mostly unscaved, she glanced to her side to find that her spear was also whole. She was a bit baffled by this as last she remembered, she was hunting a mountain goat, when the thunder of a crashing wave of snow interrupted her. The rushing river of snow had engulfed her, she fought as much as her muscles would allow her to try and get to the surface of the torrent, but before she could she was taken by an intense feeling of cold and lack of air... Puzzled, she slowly stood and scanned the horizon: there were mountains, as cold, barren, and rocky as usual. But something just didn’t feel right; the dusky, snowy sky didn't look quite the same as she remembered it, and the surroundings didn’t appear to be quite like the ones she was just at. Did I… die? Is this the freezing, endless landscape of rocks for those who died too early to prove their worth to Yukino? Have I failed? Her head span. She stood idle for several minutes, in shock at the implications of her situation, before noticing that it was growing darker. Mawline turned towards the top of the mountain, and decided that it might be best to get a better look at the land before jumping to too many conclusions and before it got too dark to see. Though, it may to prove to be about as productive as a man trying to empty the oceans with a soup spoon if she really was dead.
Nimble as a trapeze artist, she made her way to the peak. As a light snowfall started to sprinkle its icy dust atop the mountain, Mawline peered off into the distance. Then, she caught it, a tiny flicker of light in one of the valleys. She stared at it for a long moment, to assure herself her eyes weren't playing tricks on her. The light remained in view. Well, would you look at that. I might not be dead after all. She mused. The dim little spark was all she really had going for her right now. So she might as well figure out where it’s from. Carefully, she slid and hopped her way down into the valley below her. As she reached the bottom, an all too familiar pain grabbed her attention: Hunger.
She grumbled, “Ugh, right. I never did get that bloody goat.” Skimming her eyes across the massive walls of stone, night had fully taken over the area. She plopped down into the snow; it wasn't going to be much use trying to hunt for food in the darkness of unfamiliar mountains. So, Mawline opted to dig a little hole in the snow to sleep in and wait till morning. Before settling into her temporary abode, she took a final look at the night scene. The clouds had cleared, leaving the hundreds of lamp-like stars to shine proudly against their black background. This place is so strange, and I get the feeling it’s only going to get stranger. She thought to herself, before letting out one final yawn and retiring to bed.
(500 word challenge - spoon, trapeze, lamp - End total: 570 words)
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Taki
Handler
Posts: 333
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Post by Taki on Jul 19, 2014 4:41:57 GMT -8
The early dawn light sparkled over the crisp snow, currently being broken by the light, nearly dancing steps of an adventurous Myrgwae named Taki. After staying a couple of days at her new home in town, she’d decided to explore some of the places she hadn’t yet been to in this new world, and as the sky was clear and the weather good, the snowy peaks had beckoned her like a siren’s song.
She cheerily skipped along, not minding the fluffy white powder up to mid-thigh nor the chill, warded off somewhat by the blanket she’d tied around her neck like a makeshift cloak. The pure enjoyment of seeing a new corner of this world, and one that was so beautiful, thrilled her enough to make the chill a distant inconvenience.
Abruptly, as she was playfully hopping across some stones that weren’t covered by snow, Taki paused with the feeling of being watched. She peered around, muscles tense in case she was going to need to run, but all that she saw was the pure white snow laying in dunes and waves.
*Is someone there?* she timidly ‘called’ out… then gave a startled yelp as a blur the same color of the snow, minus the red bands on his ankles and the amulet around his neck, lunged out in a powdery spray to knock her clean off the stone and practically bury her in a drift. *Hahaha Tam’kar!* Taki giggled as she struggled under the weight of her Spirit Animal.
Gotcha! He cheered, teasingly sticking his cold nose under her chin to make her yelp and giggle again, his four tails flickering a light dusting over them both. Taki laughed and pushed at her friend until she was able to squirm free, then darted away just ahead of his nipping teeth to scoop up a handful of snow and throw it at him, the projectile exploding against his flank.
*I’m on to you now, Tam’kar!* she challenged. *Your little ambush trick won’t work again.* She pelted her laughing Bonded with a second snowball, then took off running, letting him chase her. Quite likely, due to his longer legs and having four of them, Tam’kar would catch up to her shortly, and Taki knew it. But this was tremendously fun for the both of them, so if that meant she was destined to get pounced into the snow, oh well!
Behind her she heard Tam’kar take up the chase, calling out teasing how close he was getting and laughing just as much as his Bonded was. But it was as Taki jumped down from a rock and nearly landed on something that their game came to an abrupt end!
*Oh!* she cried out in alarm, her weight rocking back to try and avoid landing on what she’d found so that instead she ended up sitting in the snow. At first she thought it was some sort of feline creature –she’d seen others with feline companions – but that was when she took in the spear, and the clothes, and the body shape.
It was another feline person, like she was! Ok, well not exactly like she was. This person for instance was much bigger, and had a weapon, and was dressed different and all, but it was still feline-humanoid! With a smile Taki moved around so that she could be seen.
*I don’t mean to startle you, but hello! I’m Taki!* Tam’kar had meanwhile come up to stand beside his Myrgwae, watching this other feline cautiously. It suddenly dawned on Taki, as she saw the person stir from her make-shift bed in the snow, that they might not speak the same language. Well that was ok; she’d just mime what she wanted to say if she needed to. While she waited for a reply, she smiled brightly and her tail flickered back and forth in a way that was meant to be friendly.
(500 challenge, final count 562 or so, words song, mime, stone)
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Mawline
Novice
Itsa me, Gusteon!
Posts: 12
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Post by Mawline on Jul 19, 2014 8:14:35 GMT -8
Mawline’s eyes flickered open at the sound of… laughter? Not long after she heard the sounds of something landing in the snow very close to her, followed by the chatter of a strange tongue she didn't recognize. Panicked, Mawline quickly rose out of her make-shift den and was about to ready her spear, but she was immediately stopped in her tracks when she saw what was in front of her. A child? Mawline thought in a bit of shock. Her mind started to race about who would so irresponsibly leave a child all alone out here. But after looking at her a little longer, she noticed something was off. The child’s face was all wrong for one of her kind, the eyes and clothing were also incredibly strange and in hues Mawline had never seen before. It soon became very evident to her that this was not a Finile, though they did seem friendly enough. Even more puzzling was the even stranger creature the child had with them. It reminded her of the little scavengers that she had only seen glimpses of back home, minus the extra tails and the blood colored orbs that were… floating?
Mawline suddenly felt faint, this was all becoming too much, and the lack of food in her system wasn't helping. The child creature started looking increasingly concerned, soon turning to the multi-tailed animal and whispering to it. Frantically, through the haze of confusion and hunger, Mawline tried to think: Maybe this child could lead me to that light I saw? Maybe there is some food there too… I feel like I could devour a whole goat just by myself. She shot another glance at the child and their companion. The girl still seemed to be whispering things to her critter pal. As much as Mawline didn't want to trust this bizarre pair, it’s better than starving alone in the mountains she decided.
She interrupted the two, making a gesture to where she last spotted the light, she tried asking: “Could you show me what is over that way?” The girl tilted her head, clearly not understanding her words, but after a moment of looking at where Mawline was pointing she nodded her head with a smile and started bounding off in that direction. Her animal friend took a few hops after her before looking back at Mawline and flicking its tails, as if to assure her that she should follow. Mawline took a brief pause to stretch out her stiff limbs before wearily sprinting off to join her guides.
(400 Word Challenge - devour, evident - End total: 425 words)
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Taki
Handler
Posts: 333
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Post by Taki on Aug 15, 2014 3:31:28 GMT -8
That there was apparently a language barrier was a little surprising to Taki; that she didn't understand Mawline was one thing, but for Mawline not to understand her Silent Speech... well that had never happened to her before! But then again, she'd heard that some magi thought the Myrgwae's manner of communication, with its telepathic-like nature, something of a magic in and of itself and Mawline's attire and weapon suggested she might be from a tribal people. Some tribesmen and -women where Taki came from supposedly couldn't hear Myrgwae either. Something about a distrust or strength against magic.
She'd just gone a few steps when she realized something she'd seen, and glanced back to verify it. Yes, Mawline was a little unsteady. Whether from exhaustion, thirst, hunger, or exposure Taki didn't know, but she knew none of the Bondeds she had who could get to her quickly (namely Beleth) could carry any of them back to town. But that didn't mean there weren't others who did! Quickly she sent a call through their bond to her brown dragon, asking her to find any of the other riders who wasn't busy to come and find her, Tam'kar, and a newcomer in the peaks, and if they could bring something for the newcomer to maybe eat and drink. She looked like she needed it.
Gladly, Taki Mine, Beleth replied, quickly going to seek out a rider and dragon and guide them to her Bonded.
Taki looked over her shoulder, smiling encouragingly and tried to communicate again, 'speaking' carefully.
*We'll keep going, but I've got a friend who's going to find someone to come for us. Alright?*
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