+- Court of the Fallen (https://cotf-rpg.com)
+-- Forum: Out of Character (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=26)
+--- Forum: Important (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=27)
+---- Forum: Archives (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=38)
+---- Thread: Water you doing here? (/showthread.php?tid=10282)
Pages:
1
2
Water you doing here? - Sah - 10-23-2024
Sah now understood Pad's obsession with the fangs. He'd thought that they were nice in human form. But in wolf, they were divine. The warmth was more intense as it slowly soaked his thick fur, somehow turning it into an even darker shade of black. Resting his chin on the edge, the hybrid relaxed, letting his eyes close. Sah's ears remained perked, observant of his surroundings.
His nose twitched as a new scent reached him, followed by the sound of something approaching. There was something oddly familiar about them, but Sah couldn't place it. They were too new to his wolf form to identify. Opening his eyes, he raised his head to see who or what had arrived.
Lena
RE: Water you doing here? - Lena - 10-24-2024
Lena’s explorations of Halo had been small at best, but it made her all the more eager to delve along in her far more comfortable shift for the climate and weather. Long, lush ivory fur hastened along her fox exploits, and before long she inclined towards the open-aired caves, having heard multitudes about the Fangs but never actually meandering through them. Rumors of mageglass, and then the notions of more hot springs had her nose trailing over the latter, Mittens close behind, amplifying its size by snagging at more snow nearby.
Presuming she was following the correct path, other scents began to intermingle, and deciphering any semblances became a bit difficult. There were hordes of trails from where people had clearly walked through, some on more than one sojourn, which made her believe the journey was worth the trial; but confusing and daunting all at once too.
And it scattered along her mind, leaving her little room to check her other senses – which, while it should’ve been concerning, was something she was glad she had Mittens for.
Since there was suddenly a large wolf in the periphery – and the abominable snowball loosened a ridiculous screech.
RE: Water you doing here? - Sah - 10-24-2024
There was suddenly a floating, screeching thing far too close. Sah's ears pinned back and a deep growl rumbled in his chest as he climbed out of the water. His movement disrupted the steam and the hybrid finally saw the source of the piercing noise. A snowball with a horrendous attitude and a pension for trouble. A companion who was now familiar to the Wild Thunder.
The fur on his back smoothed, and Sah's muscles relaxed. Hopefully, Mittens would realize that he wasn't a threat and would refrain from screeching again. Sniffing, the hybrid glanced around and spotted a small canine shape in the steam. Recalling his previous conversation with Lena and the sentient snow in front of him, Sah put the pieces together. [say]Lena? Is that you?[/say]
The dark wolf sat down on the edge of the spring and tilted his head. [say]It's Sah.[/say] From his sparse experience, mental voices in the Attuned bond sounded the same as verbal ones, so it might have been unnecessary to introduce himself. Still, with how Mittens had reacted, it was likely a safe bet.
RE: Water you doing here? - Lena - 10-25-2024
A deep and ancient fear absorbed its way through her the moment the other canine growled. She knew her prowess, her speed, her size, were meek at best, and that overwhelming urge to survive, even as a smaller predator, were all-consuming. Mittens might’ve been the initial agitator, but it was also a protective little force, and the notions of her simply snagging it and hastening back where they came from were very high –
Until another voice contorted through her senses, and she blinked rapidly, head tilting in confusion. It took several more moments, and her mental tugging at the snowball, to realize they weren’t being threatened at all. [say]Oh, Sah! I’m sorry[/say] she apologized, uncertain what for other than fright. [say]I thought - [/say] she and her companion were going to be attacked, presumably. She began to tamper down the thundering beat of her heart, swallowing multitudes of adrenaline, tail restlessly bunching and manuevering while her companion grumbled. [say]Congratulations on your meeting with Safrin then, hm? [/say]
RE: Water you doing here? - Sah - 10-26-2024
So, it was Lena. Sah noted her agitation and shook his head. [say]No, I should be apologizing for scaring you. I'm sorry. I didn't recognize Mittens at first.[/say] He felt a pang of guilt at how fast her heart was still racing, and the dark wolf laid down to bring himself closer to Lena's eye level. Crossing his paws in front of him, Sah shook some of the residual water from his fur, careful not to get either of the newcomers wet.
[say]Yes. Thank you.[/say] His ear flicked. [say]I had known that Abandoned souls were different. Quite literally marked by their magic. But I had no idea that it meant damage. I feel... whole. For the first time since coming to Caido.[/say] There was a quiet hum of contentedness in his mental voice.
Safrin's power had surged into him, filling in cracks and smoothing out jagged edges that he'd never even been aware of. And in the after, a wolf had surged to the surface. Sah felt like he was standing on solid ground for the first time after unknowingly living on a slanted hill with no end.
RE: Water you doing here? - Lena - 10-26-2024
In all fairness, Mittens hadn’t recognized Sah at all, and probably still would’ve screeched across the void regardless. She didn’t voice these notions, but tried to keep smothering down the primordial tension in her limbs, listening through the Attuned measures still streamlining through. The Wild Thunder’s alteration in movement helped; instinctual knowledge coming together to acknowledge his non-threatening postures.
The statement gave her pause though – for she’d never considered any Abandoned damaged. Different, unique, specialized, skilled. And only one major demonic force of their race had ever tried to turn the world upside down. [say]I wouldn’t say any of you are marred.[/say] The gods might have different theories and opinions, which everyone was entitled to, but the Caretaker saw them much differently. [say]And I’m sorry if anyone made you feel that way.[/say] Especially given the attitudes instilled within Stormbreak; she’d been silent too, in the midst of so much indoctrination – but found footholds in sometimes challenging those traditional ideals.
She could feel the contentment surging through though – as if all of those factors were enough. [say]You’ve been enjoying it then?[/say]
RE: Water you doing here? - Sah - 10-26-2024
Sah was silent for a moment before a gentle wave of gratitude filled the bond. [say]Thank you.[/say] There wasn't much more that he could say to that. He'd been ostracized and cursed for being Abandoned, told that he was just a Voice in the making. Even though the Wild Thunder had felt the truth in some of the prejudice curing his hybridization, he was still touched by Lena's sentiment. It gave him hope that any lingering hatred or fear of Abandoned might fade over time, even in Stormbreak. Sah couldn't imagine hearing that someone had told Marcus or any other Abandoned child that they were a monster simply for having magic. It'd be heartbreaking.
Lena's question was easy to answer. [say]Yes. It's wonderful. I've been enjoying every moment.[/say] Speaking of which, he nodded towards the water behind him. [say]Somehow, the hot springs are even better now. You came to enjoy them, right? You should get in. I can leave if you want privacy.[/say] Sah didn't want her to feel like his presence was a hindrance to her. The springs were often shared but everyone had their own level of modesty. The Wild Thunder didn't want to cross hers.
RE: Water you doing here? - Lena - 10-26-2024
It was unfortunate that some of her Stormbreak brethren had been an epitome of racism; and while many parties could say they understood the lengths they’d experienced and gone through, it didn’t mean hatred had to be placed upon a singular race. And since Lena didn’t loathe, detest, or abhor anyone, the very notions compelled her to extend graciousness wherever she could.
Her heart eased though, and she gave a fox-embedded nod of her furry head. [say]Oh, I had never thought to enjoy them in my Attuned forms,[/say] she laughed through the bond. [say]Lately the only hot springs I’ve been in are Frey’s Breath.[/say] And nowadays it wasn’t even for relaxation; and needing hands to acquire any lilies she’d longed to find. The latter portions obviously hadn’t worked, but she kept her hopes buoyant. [say]It’s all right. I was just exploring anyway.[/say] By way she finally felt the restless need to move, and so regained her composure, paws moving across the snow and towards the edge of the springs, sniffing at it.
RE: Water you doing here? - Sah - 10-26-2024
Hearing Lena's laugh, Sah chuckled, [say]You should. It's wonderful.[/say] Laughing through the bond was new and it felt bizarre but no less joyful. What a wonderful thing to have to get used to.
Sah nodded, [say]I certainly need to go back there and search again. I didn't have any luck last time, unfortunately. I'm planning to head to the Greatwood in the near future to help cleanse it. That way, we can start looking for roses, too.[/say] If they could double their odds, maybe someone would finally find the flowers. The hybrid also missed the beauty of the Greatwood, and the urge to run through it on his new paws was strong.
At Lena's reassurance, the wolf stood and languidly stretched, his paws sliding out in front of him as his back arched. Standing tall with a roll of his shoulders, Sah turned and silently slipped back into the water. [say]Just let me know if you change your mind.[/say] Resting his chin on the stone edge of the spring once more, Sah let his body relax as the water soaked him once more. One eye closed but the other remained alert, lazily scanning the area around the springs. Lena certainly wasn't a threat, but a small fox might attract predators. He didn't want anything to sneak up on her while she explored.
RE: Water you doing here? - Lena - 10-26-2024
To hear others weren’t having any luck wasn’t the grandest sign, and she permitted the slightest of sighs to extend through her smaller frame. Mittens rolled its eyes from the nearest corner, then growled at the warm plumes nearby, skittering around the edges in a predacious motion but nowhere near the springs itself.
The other news kept her mind occupied though – eyes widening a fraction. [say]Oh, I didn’t know there were plans to cleanse it too. That’s a relief.[/say] It seemed Stormbreak had become a hub of not receiving information. Lena presumed it was mostly due to Dahlia – their outreaches had to be met specifically away from their homeland. Understandable; if a little vexing. And then she’d have to confront the inevitable feelings of being able to do nothing about it; save for returning to Frey’s Breath again and again, neither strong nor formidable enough to successfully mitigate any of it on her own attempts within the Feverlands. Stark, cold lessons learned.
Not letting any of those dismal notions sink through, she watched as the wolf waded into the springs. She was a little more hesitant, rounding along the brim with her nose down, amused by the rapacious scents. [say]Do you have many wild animals that come through here?[/say]
RE: Water you doing here? - Sah - 11-02-2024
[say]There aren't any true plans as far as I know. I'd like to ask the group that went to the Oerwoud to go.[/say] It had been a dangerous and nearly tragic fight. But they worked well enough together that Sah thought that they could pull it off. Cleaning the Greatwood was a strategic move and one that he felt should be made sooner rather than later. What if the Family took Frey's Breath before they'd entered the Wildwoods?
The wolf's eye trailed over to the fox at her question. [say]I'm sure many do. I've seen foxes and luxere here before but, there have also been prints from ursur and other creatures in the past.[/say] Even if one didn't enter the water, the springs offered cover from the wind and space to rest.
RE: Water you doing here? - Lena - 11-03-2024
Nodding in understanding, but knowing she’d be well out of the ability to assist, she kept the information lodged away for mere informative purposes. Her fellow seditious compatriots, at least around Stormbreak, might find it beneficial to know there were still multitudes out here working, just like them, towards the greater good.
Dabbling around the springs again, she gingerly placed one paw upon some lingering portion of warmth and water; briefly amused as it slid over her fur with all the ease as it might’ve in her human form. It wasn’t as noticeable though, and would likely require a great more due to the layers of her trappings. She was even more delighted at the notions of so many wild animals doing the same. [say]That’s wonderful. I always like seeing the luxere come into the Celestine. [/say]
She wandered a little further, splashing at the springs with her tail and paws; minor movements that still inspired animal amusement. Eventually though, she did manage to summon another inquiry; checking in on Sah’s alterations. [say]Did you have any other questions about being Attuned?[/say]
RE: Water you doing here? - Sah - 11-03-2024
[say]I've always found them to be incredible creatures.[/say] Sah chuckled through the bond. [say]Though having lightning magic, they never liked me much. I doubt that's changed now that I can shift into a wolf. Maybe I'll get a luxere shift one day and change their minds.[/say] The luxere's revulsion for dark magic had marked the Wild Thunder as a threat from the start. It had made him sad at first, but then it just became an added challenge when hunting them.
Lena joined him in the water, much to his delight. Now that she was closer, the difference in size between the wolf and fox became even more apparent. No wonder she had been as scared as she had been. Thankfully, the fox seemed at ease now.
At her question, Sah paused to consider. [say]Just one, I think. How long did it take you to be able to speak through the bond without being shifted?[/say] He was looking forward to the day that he could. It'd make combat easier, and he wouldn't have to shift to share his emotions with his loved ones. He'd be able to share their joy or excitement regardless of what form he took.
RE: Water you doing here? - Lena - 11-03-2024
[say]They used to do wonderful things for those in the Hollowed Grounds.[/say] And though she’d never experienced LongNight in such a horrific way, she was glad to know the deer had been so gracious and compassionate towards those stuck and trapped in the dark. They, along with unicorns, were fond favorites anytime they ended up within the celestial gardens. Her fox head tilted vaguely, mind going through a barrage of information, before settling more sagacity and wisdom into the Attuned bond. [say]They also like singing and apples[/say], and might come closer to him if so inclined with those things – though Lena would hope not as a trap for future hunting. That just seemed needlessly cruel.
Continuing to rummage around the pool, eventually she sat along one of the higher stone steps, paws covered by the water as Sah summoned more inquiries. [say]Mmm, a little while[/say]