tide up with work

Time has stopped before us The sky cannot ignore us The last thing he expected from the ocean were warm, inviting waters; perhaps so used to the cold, cutting edges of Halo’s borders, or the usual fractious ways Caido operated – always something potentially coming to snag and toil and corrupt. When naught surfaced but the gentle, easygoing streamline along the beach, the beast snorted, even lowering himself to drag thunderbird talons through the waves and the currents. But then there were ships, hordes upon hordes of them, dotted across the horizon. The shapes and sizes differed, from larger, merchant ships likely carrying necessary cargo to inevitable lands, to smaller vessels, teetering along with miniature sails, trying to snag at the wind. Still, with so many lingering below, Deimos made sure to fly far higher, to look like just a much larger bird than what the expanse of his form truly entailed. I have not seen so many in one place, he murmured to Sunjata, eyes narrowing, watching the smaller portions below. the Resurrected Sword No one can separate us For we are all that is left

i am on a journey to discover what it's like to be free of all my demons

Warmth greets them from the icy chill of the ocean that had bordered Halo and the Climb. Something that the Flood didn’t expect to feel but isn’t unwelcome. If anything, he feels and indulges in the thermals as they brush against the inner webbing of his leathery wings in his dragon shift. He remains higher than Deimos does, watching through a grey blue eye as the thunderbird drops to drag his talons along the warm water before movement catches his attention in the distance.

They both rise higher at the sight of them, the multitude of colorful ships in the distance that look like theyre gliding across the waves. Me neither. Sunjata says to the Sword. Maybe it’s a big shipment? Or a whole organization? Confusion flares through the bond for a moment, banking slightly to try and get a better view.

SUNJATA

Time has stopped before us The sky cannot ignore us He pressed along, perhaps looking as though he were just a large bird hovering about the area in search of carrion or freshly mauled creatures below – rather than simply studying and scrutinizing their whereabouts. He had no intentions of dipping much lower, not wanting to be seen as a threat, for he figured multiple ships, especially the merchant-inclined ones, likely help weapons. Both dragon and thunderbird could easily render a ship inhospitable quickly; but he didn’t want to be the one slinging on the initial blows. So instead he perused. Some do not seem well coordinated with one another though. Different sails. Different hues. Different blends of woodwork. Maybe it is just a popular area. And he wasn’t used to such activity, unless they were near the Torchline docks – given Halo’s rough and icy seas. Pink highlights of encantando fins hastened off in the distance too, seeming to make a break for one of the smaller boats. the Resurrected Sword No one can separate us For we are all that is left

i am on a journey to discover what it's like to be free of all my demons

Watching from where he is, the Flood can’t quite hide his reptilian nature as well as Deimos’ thunderbird shift could be misconstrued. He certainly looks like a dragon from above and while he does also try to keep his distance, it’s lacking any other kind of fauna that might be able to be mistaken. But, much like Deimos, Sunjata isn’t intending on starting a fight if there is one, and he hopes they’d rather wait before taking the initiative, perhaps to see what they do.

The easiest path to navigate, maybe? He suggests, taking note of the varied colors of sails and the different shapes of the ships. Such that as he withdraws and looks back around, the Flood tries to peer through the warm water’s depths to see if perhaps it was because it had smaller channels and shallower depths that forced all the ships to be in the same place.

SUNJATA

Time has stopped before us The sky cannot ignore us The navigation portions made sense; Deimos was no sailor, but if it was a more feasible route for ships for wherever they chose to unload and make port, it was understandable that they’d all meander their way through these waters. So while Sunjata peered, the Sword studied the incoming dolphins. Maybe they were enticed by the passing ships? He’d heard enough stories about the mischievous creatures to know they could be either friendly or antagonistic, and it was difficult to see from on up high if they had either intention. Except when there appeared to be a cloud billowing and forming below – right above the group of dolphins, and a small merchant ship innocently treading through the currents. If a thunderbird had brows, his would’ve been furrowed. The encantados…do you think we should interfere? the Resurrected Sword No one can separate us For we are all that is left

i am on a journey to discover what it's like to be free of all my demons

Encantados were a bit of a mixed bag. And while Sunjata continues to try and fly high enough that he isn’t perceived as threatening, the shape of him couldn’t be misconstrued for anything else but what he was. Even if he swapped midair to his Pegasus shift, it would still be odd and far less helpful than the dragon.

The cloud formation, however, sparks those memories of their fight with the sea panther, the one where he’d struck himself with lightning when Deimos had handed the lightning rod back to him. Mentally frowning, he sighs. I’d say no usually, but they are gearing up. Friendly encantados wouldn’t usually summon a storm if they wanted to play in the waves left behind from the ships.

So he starts to drop. We can try to divert their attention? He tilts his draconic head back toward the thunderbird to try and see if he can tell what Deimos is thinking.

SUNJATA

Time has stopped before us The sky cannot ignore us Likewise – encantados were usually left alone by the Sword. Most of the time they didn’t represent a threat to him, but in this case, with all the ships…his head tilted, configuring things in his head. He didn’t want the merchants to think they were the threatening pieces, should they come too close to the boats. All right. And maybe stay out of range of any cannons. He didn’t care to come under fire himself. Diving quickly, he unfurled his massive wings, but maintained his hovering portions away from the multitudes of sails and cargo. With any luck, the sheer size of both of their shifts might put the dolphins off the scent for trouble and mischief – but with their growing storm, he remained uncertain. Opting to be pragmatic, he sent a volley of electricity a fair distance off, being careful not to touch the water, but so that it skimmed quickly feet above the surface, enough to initiate a warning to the beasts. the Resurrected Sword No one can separate us For we are all that is left

i am on a journey to discover what it's like to be free of all my demons

Yeah, that’s definitely the plan. Sunjata rumbles back toward the thunderbird before he trails after the Sword. They dive, wings flaring to allow him to bank as if he’s circling for the encantados themselves and completely ignoring the ships – which he hopes they understand – before lightning charges in his maw as it parts. And unlike the thunderstorms brought on by the encantados, this lightning comes from a different source.

So they pin them between them in a way, creating a blockade from heading closer to the ships. With Deimos’ lightning shooting off as a warning, Sunjata’s own shoots out in a thunderous clap that fizzles out before it reaches the surface of the water but with an attempt to throw them off of their pursuit.

SUNJATA

Time has stopped before us The sky cannot ignore us He could hear some distant shouting from the ships nearby, either due to his movements or Sunjata’s (likely a combination of both), but he purposefully didn’t glance their way. Didn’t want to appear threatening or overbearing, menacing or minatory. The ambition had been to ensure those individuals didn’t get wrapped up into impending turmoil and danger; not agitate and rile. Unless it was the dolphins. The encantandos seemed quite put off by the escapade of lightning, loud snorts and volleys of tirades coming from below. Several dove underneath to avoid the dragon and thunderbird wrath altogether, while others, clearly audacious and impudent, glared, maneuvering their thunderclouds towards Sunjata and Deimos alike. At which Deimos rolled his eyes, going above, well out of their range, before firing off another round of spark-embedded warnings. the Resurrected Sword No one can separate us For we are all that is left

i am on a journey to discover what it's like to be free of all my demons

He can hear the shouts, but much like Deimos he pays it little mind. Instead, utilizing his body to half block the view of the encantados, the Flood sweeps back and forth on pivoting wings with his back to the ships in a show of both confidence and disinterest – as if it might prove to the ships that he doesn’t care much for whatever they’re doing.

They’re just there to ward away the encantados, after all.

So with the rumble of the storm, Sunjata remains in that halfway point, maw parting with lightning of his own crackling in his own threat. With the ships already aware of their presence now, he lts the lightning crackle in his mouth as he roars a growling sound of warning amongst Deimos’ own sparked warning.

SUNJATA

Time has stopped before us The sky cannot ignore us The encantados were bold, he’d give them that. Narrowing his eyes, he watched as they maneuvered the storm clouds towards Sunjata and himself…but then, seemed to think differently the moment the threat lacquered through the dragon’s interim, and then his own cast shards and sparks. One could almost see the wheels turning, yearning to be indulgent and unleash the torrent of disaster and mayhem, but wonder if it would be worth the risk thereafter. Even if they were to fire off rounds of lightning, both he and the Flood would survive it – and likely the dolphins wouldn’t. Not with either man’s ability to avenge. So some turned up their noses before disappearing and dissipating beneath the waves. Others simply scoffed and moved away, following the ones from before. Only about two remained, and even they knew better – the threatening expanse disappearing overhead – before they seemed to spit out a flare of water from their mouths, none of it reaching either of them. Granting an inward snort, the Sword shook his avian head, before flicking back up, away from the ships. I do not think I have ever fought those creatures. Plenty of others, certainly. He’d be taking notes for the guild journals, at the very least. You? the Resurrected Sword No one can separate us For we are all that is left

i am on a journey to discover what it's like to be free of all my demons

It really feels like a contest to see who could be the most threatening. And between the thunderbird, dragon, and gaggle of encantados, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the pink dolphins find that it’s probably more harm than it’s worth. They wouldn’t get anything out of it other than strict and fierce retaliation.

A puff of electrical crackle leaves his maw as he rises up once the last encantado has decided to leave, swinging his bulky head toward Deimos with the question. Encantados? He asks in case he’s missing anything. I’ve fought them before. They’re crafty. Mischievous little beasts that honestly were a bit too similar to himself when it came to their electric preferences.

SUNJATA

Time has stopped before us The sky cannot ignore us Deimos kept the craftiness in mind, to add to another row of journal lines and notations. Good to know, he emphasized with a singular nod of his head. Flying overhead once more, and watching everything become smaller and smaller, his plumage gave off the indication of one mighty shrug. Thank you for the help. Whether or not there would’ve been other, perhaps more violent results, had the Sword been left up to his own devices remained to be seen – but it wouldn’t be today, regardless. Then they’d have time to soar elsewhere, the Spillwave Sea left behind for another venture. [FIN] the Resurrected Sword No one can separate us For we are all that is left