From being an Abandoned who had rarely left the Hollowed Grounds, to embracing the call of adventure, to dying and being reborn first as an Ascended and then as an Ancient, Maea has gone through quite the amount of changes in her life. One thing remains common, though, in her attempts to find out just where she belongs; she’s always had a craving for knowledge which has brought her to so many places and to meet so many people here in Caido. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for her!
Congratulations, Maea!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
Skinning and hosting by the epically talented Kaons, and functionality fanciness by the coding magic of Neowulf. If you ever see either of them around, make sure to show them some love!
The tide was in, and the small land-bridge to the lone cathedral had been flooded with rushing waves. That did not stop the starchild from exploring it. Having discarded most of her clothes she swam easily through the azure sea, taking her sweet time. The sun blazed overhead, making both the constant breeze and the water welcome reprieves from the heat.
Foregoing the easy way to the coral building, Seren opted to reach it by climbing the rocks it sat on. Dripping with water that stung her eyes, she hauled herself up hand by foot, without relying on her gifts to make the going easier. Ever since she began her training with the other Dragoon recruits she had made a point of reserving it for emergencies. Using her own body strength had its charms; she could even go so far as to call this a workout.
Seren
✰ Starlight (Passive) | Starfilled night billow around her like a veil as she moves. It is more noticeable in daytime and when she make sudden movements.
Ray found herself walking the shore of Hale Ka’aila in her panther form. It had been a long week and the salty breeze and roar of the water was exactly what she needed to unwind. Being in panther form was just a plus. There was something oddly soothing about the movement of sleek muscles under fur and the quiet power that came from being a predator. Dipping into the water, the feline moved gracefully through the waves. Meandering over to the coral building she paused upon seeing someone already there.
The panther pulled herself onto the rocks a small distance from the stranger, letting out a small chirp in greeting. Between the vocalization and a nod of the head she made it clear that she was Attuned. Well... more clear then a black panther being in Hale Ka’aila was already.
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The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.
—Albert Camus
Being stalked was new to the young demigod. Usually she was the one playing games of 'you-can't-see-me', and so she did not know to watch her back. Fortunately, a second pair of eyes did marvelous things for your level of awareness.
From the roof of the cathedral came a shrill warble in reply to the feline's chirp, and with a sound like wind catching in leather sails a dragon came tumbling down. It was not graceful, not yet at least. The long-fingered paws were too big for its legs, that were too long for its torso, which in turn was too big for the head and not big enough to fit the massive wings. Scales of midnight blue shimmered under the sun, and the silvery eyes were bright and curious as Umbra approached his new toy.
Turning around to see what was going on, Seren smiled as the curiosity of her companion flooded down the bond. It was a very new sensation, this sharing of her mind with another, but it was everything she had hoped for. If a touch disorienting at times; the images of a big black cat that was projected into her vision did not go away as she blinked, and it made standing up rather difficult.
"Play nicely," she cautioned aloud while making her way around the sea-glass rotunda, in case the hatchling thought to begin breathing fire. Wouldn't that be a mess.
Seren
✰ Starlight (Passive) | Starfilled night billow around her like a veil as she moves. It is more noticeable in daytime and when she make sudden movements.
Ray's eyes widened when a dragon descended down in front of her. She had to repress her instinctually reaction to jump back, not wanting to make any sudden moves. The dragon's physical awkwardness and size made its young age clear to see but even a young dragon could be dangerous. Soon however, it became clear that this dragon was the stranger's companion, when the women called out to it.
Knowing that the hatchling wasn't an enemy, she relaxed. Examining the dragon curiously she noted that the creature was beautiful, reminding her of the night sky. Feeling friendly, Ray let out a warm purr and her body language turned open and playful. and Ray wondered if it'd like to play. Hopefully if things got too rough, the dragons' companion would step in.
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The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.
—Albert Camus
With her own vision and her dragon's overlaid in her mind, Seren took her sweet time to reach the two. While she struggled over rocks and sharp coral, Umbra swelled and deflated, testing first the intimidation and then the charm when the panther made no real move towards it. A long, sinewy neck extended and rose high, followed by the front legs, until the young Blue all but sat on its hind quarters. All in an effort to try and meet the cat's gaze head on, even though he was no bigger than a half-grown cat.
The sight made Seren laugh as she came around the corner. "Looks like you've found a friend," she grinned, the comment aimed somewhere between the two. Dragon or cat, it applied to both. Staying a few paces back, she leaned against the cathedral and watched, curious to see what would happen. Umbra extended its scaly nose towards the feline just then... and breathed out a puff of hot smoke that reeked of sulfur.
Seren
✰ Starlight (Passive) | Starfilled night billow around her like a veil as she moves. It is more noticeable in daytime and when she make sudden movements.
Ray internally chuckled at the little dragon's attempt at intimidation. It was simply adorable. The little burst of sulfur however made the large cat sneeze and shake her head. Hopefully no fire would follow the little display. Granted, Ray was rather confident in her evasion skills if it came to that.
Once the smoke had cleared from her nose, Ray made a sudden dip into a playful crouch. Leaping over the hatchling she landed behind Umbra. Letting out a little huff to get the dragon's attention, Ray invited the dragon to a game of tag. There was a decent amount of space around them and Ray could do with a bit of fun. And who wants to pass up the opportunity to play with a baby dragon?
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The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.
—Albert Camus
The dragon had been busy letting out loud victory trills, and did not see the cat crouch until it was too late. Seren stifled a laugh with a hand as the hatchling ducked in shock, then spun around to catch the disappearing tail of the feline. Only, instead of pouncing, he stepped on a wing, tripped and tumbled head over heels until he landed on his back.
Shock and peeve and injured pride exploded across the companion bond, and no amount of warm sympathy from Seren could prevent the shimmering baby from trudging off down towards the water, once he had detangled the mismatched limbs. There he curled up on himself, huffing tendrils of steam and pretended not to see either of the others.
"Awh, that's too bad. He's just a hatchling," she explained to the shifted cat - at least she assumed it was an Attuned. "There's still much for him to learn about playing, and losing. If you want to play more, you can always try bribing him with food?" The little one was always hungry, she had discovered, and there was plenty of fish around the reef.
Seren
✰ Starlight (Passive) | Starfilled night billow around her like a veil as she moves. It is more noticeable in daytime and when she make sudden movements.
Ray chuckled once more, watching the disheartened hatchling pout. Approaching slowly she let out a soothing purr. She gently tapped her nose to the little dragon's side before turning away and glancing at Seren. Ray nodded in response to the suggestion and made her way to the water's edge. Peering into the water, Ray attempted to focus her eyes on the fish below. Between the light flickering on the surface and bouncing off of the shimmering scales below, it wasn't as easy as it sounded. She gave one last glance at the upset hatchling and hardened her resolve. The poor thing seemed so upset so trying to cheer him up was the least that she could do.
Ray focused on one fish in particular and shot a paw out, her claws reaching for the fish. She let out a small growl as the fish dodged and swam away. Her growl however turned into a yelp when the loose sand and stone beneath her paws gave out and she face-planted into the surf. Sputtering, Ray surfaced and dragged herself back onto dry land. Pouting, Ray gave herself a quick groom, trying to get her fur back into place.
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The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.
—Albert Camus
With suppressed amusement, Seren watched as the feline Attuned also began to sulk, dripping and disheveled. She was surrounded by children, it seemed. Umbra had perked up at the nudge, and watched the attempted fishing with sullen eyes. Upon watching his 'bully' make a fool of herself, he apparently gained heart.
Though water was not his element, the Blue slipped into the surf and dipped below the surface. He became a shadow that slithered through the water, and made a wide circle out towards deeper depths where the fish were more plentiful. Guided by instinct, he began to herd the shimmering creatures closer to the shore, where the panther would be able to give it another try.
"Look!" Seren urged her, pointing with some pride at her dragon. "He is helping you!"
Seren
✰ Starlight (Passive) | Starfilled night billow around her like a veil as she moves. It is more noticeable in daytime and when she make sudden movements.
Ray's heart absolutely melted. This little dragon was just too sweet and adorable for his own good. She let out another purr at his help and eyed the incoming fish with determination. Sure enough with Umbra's efforts, the fish were moving closer to where Ray was waiting. Three in particular seemed to be within reach, and with quick paws she gave it her best shot.
Unfortunately, her lack of experience showed and although she managed to brush against them, even wrap a paw around one, the little guys were slippery. And very agile it seemed, as they managed to twist out of her paws before her claws could sink in. Ray's ears folded back in frustration.
But Ray was not to be deterred. She was determined to catch at least one. Making a small rumbling noise, she tried to get the hatchling's attention. She gestured with her head towards the fish, trying to ask him to herd them once more.
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The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.
—Albert Camus
Umbra could not hear the cat beneath the waves, but Seren stepped in and conveyed the message to the hatchling. Breaching the surface with his head, the Blue gave the Attuned a look of mild annoyance, but complied with surprising ease. Down it went, wings tucked close to the scaled sides, and the fish fled in terror of his shadowed approach. Fled, and fled, and fell right into the trap as they once more were turned around and made to swim straight towards the shore, and the waiting hunter.
This time, the dragon was not content with merely waiting for someone else to do the job. When the prey had no more space to flee, he too snapped sharp-toothed jaws at a shimmering body and managed to catch a small minnow by the tail. On the shore, Seren whooped with glee at his success, and waited with bated breath to see how the panther would fare. It itched in her to join in, but at this point she would only be in the way. And besides, she was not so hungry that raw fish sounded the least bit appealing. Her lunch could wait.
Seren
✰ Starlight (Passive) | Starfilled night billow around her like a veil as she moves. It is more noticeable in daytime and when she make sudden movements.
This time, pride not letting her fail where the baby dragon had succeeded, Ray tried once more to catch a fish. A large one caught her eye and with a flash of claws and a dip of her head into the water, she arose victoriously. A large flailing fish was trapped in her jaws and the panther let out a satisfied purr.
Carefully making her way out of the water so as not to drop her fish, Ray made her way over to Seren. She placed the fish on a rock and rumbled at Umbra, proud that the hatchling had managed to catch a fish too. Looking at Seren, she tilted her head. Ray wondered if the young women wanted a fish of her own to eat. If so, Ray would try to catch another. Though it had become clear that fishing was not the Attuned's strong point.
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The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.
—Albert Camus
The young woman was there to greet her companion when the hatchling came splashing with its prey, proud and not at all sullen anymore. Praising him to the high heavens, she watched as he tossed the fish into the air with a jerk of the neck, and torched it with a quick spout of blue-lined fire. Lightly charred, it flopped dead to the sand and was swiftly devoured by the dragon, who cared not at all for etiquette or manners. In two bites the meal was gone, and snuffling with interest he soon turned towards the feline, to see if her fish would be eaten soon. Or if it could be stolen.
"Oh, no you don't," Seren warned him, her smile fading into a stern look. "Catch your own fish if you want more." Gesturing for the Attuned to help her out and mark the catch as hers, she was oblivious to the meaning of the head-tilt. It was cute, but told her absolutely nothing.
Seren
✰ Starlight (Passive) | Starfilled night billow around her like a veil as she moves. It is more noticeable in daytime and when she make sudden movements.
Giving a small stretch, Ray shifted into her human form with a chuckle. "Sorry little guy, this one's mine." It was cute that Umbra wanted more and Ray had no issue sharing, but if his companion said no, then it was a no. Ray sat down in the sand behind the rock and pulled out a knife. Beginning to fillet and prep the fish to be cooked, she smiled at Seren and Umbra.
"Hi, I'm Ray by the way. Nice to meet you both." She introduced herself with a warm smile. Sending a playful grin towards Umbra afterwards she added, "Sorry I'm such a lousy fisher. I've never to fished in my panther form before. Looks like I should probably stick to my human form next time, huh?"
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The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.
—Albert Camus
