First the owl and then one of the ravens drops back, though the largest of the birds continued gamely on. Isuma struggled to keep pace with the larger birds, slipping in behind Amalia as Jigano encouraged her along, offering the same to his friends as they passed miles and miles of empty waste. Not quite desert, but with little enough life visible from aloft that it might as well have been.
The oasis was a welcome sight, especially once it became clear that it wasn't a mirage after all, but a proper little island of water and greenery amid the empty lands surrounding it. They all flew down to rest their weary wings, andAmalia was the first to investigate the deep blue pool. It was peaceful and unruffled, the water mirror-smooth and reflecting the sky above and the trees around it, rather than revealing its depth or secrets. Around her, small rustlings in the underbrush hinted at rodents and small mammals scurrying away from the appearance of a predator, while a nearby lizard sunned itself on a rock, watching her from the corner of its half-closed eye.
Kiada 's approach created a pool of silence around her landing zone, the fleeing creatures freezing in place as the much larger bird arrived, putting the fear of the hunted in all the little prey animals nearby. The water was pleasantly cool at the edges of the small lake, the colder Leafchange nights beginning to leech the heat from it, and her feet sent ripples expanding out across its surface as she hopped into it.
Jigano joined them both a moment later, coaxing a tired Isuma down to land. We won't know until we try, he pointed out, hopping forward to dip his beak into the water and raising his head to let the water rest against his tongue for a few seconds before he swallowed it. He extended a wing to prevent the gryphlet from scampering up, waiting again to see if anything would happen. It tastes fine... he decided cautiously, going for another sip as his other raven friend landed and hopped right into the shallows alongside Kiada, drinking greedily and tossing water back over his feathers to cool off.
As the ripples spread outward, something shifted deeper in the oasis, sending ripples shivering back to break against those caused by the birds on shore, but it was Amalia who found herself facing a more pressing concern. Isuma saw the snake before it lunged, but only barely as the large viper launched itself towards the little owl, seeing in her a satisfying meal to be had, if it could sink its fangs into her feathers.
The water is sweet, but the oasis is not without its own predators! A viper has attacked Amalia. Quick, do something!
Posting Order:
1. Amalia
2. Kiada
The oasis was a welcome sight, especially once it became clear that it wasn't a mirage after all, but a proper little island of water and greenery amid the empty lands surrounding it. They all flew down to rest their weary wings, and
Kiada 's approach created a pool of silence around her landing zone, the fleeing creatures freezing in place as the much larger bird arrived, putting the fear of the hunted in all the little prey animals nearby. The water was pleasantly cool at the edges of the small lake, the colder Leafchange nights beginning to leech the heat from it, and her feet sent ripples expanding out across its surface as she hopped into it.
Jigano joined them both a moment later, coaxing a tired Isuma down to land. We won't know until we try, he pointed out, hopping forward to dip his beak into the water and raising his head to let the water rest against his tongue for a few seconds before he swallowed it. He extended a wing to prevent the gryphlet from scampering up, waiting again to see if anything would happen. It tastes fine... he decided cautiously, going for another sip as his other raven friend landed and hopped right into the shallows alongside Kiada, drinking greedily and tossing water back over his feathers to cool off.
As the ripples spread outward, something shifted deeper in the oasis, sending ripples shivering back to break against those caused by the birds on shore, but it was Amalia who found herself facing a more pressing concern. Isuma saw the snake before it lunged, but only barely as the large viper launched itself towards the little owl, seeing in her a satisfying meal to be had, if it could sink its fangs into her feathers.
The water is sweet, but the oasis is not without its own predators! A viper has attacked Amalia. Quick, do something!
1. Amalia
2. Kiada
