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!
With Safrin's suggestion lingering in his mind, Hadama had come near shore today to practice his aim. Out of the ocean up to his chest, a half dozen small spheres of water floated around his steely head as he considered various objects on shore and then sent his saltwater projectiles to impact various shells and pieces of driftwood. He seemed less concerned with damage than with simply striking at the point he was aiming, and some of his ammunition hit a little to the left or right of the target.
Then again, since he was the only one who knew what he was aiming at, perhaps it wasn't always obvious when he missed, especially when he hit something else instead.
But Hadama knew, and he continued his practice with the slow, methodical approach he took to so many things. He had time yet, and he still had a quest for the goddess to complete, and until that happened there was no great rush.
Except for the War, of course. Always on the horizon now, like a line of storm clouds threatening the shore, there was the War.
“All right, try this one!” was an echoing tune from across the tides, as the Honeybee threw, volleyed, another stick.
In response, the dragon flickering overhead unfurled and unleashed a rally of flames, engulfing the piece of wood within a moment. Thereafter, it was only ash, sinking and falling into the sand. “Very nice,” she complimented the bronze Sila, who preened and glided onward – until they were all, Fangorn included by her ankles, distracted by the familiar outline of Hadama nearby.
The youth allowed a hearty wave, before bounding over in her typical, energetic zest. “Hey Hadama!” Her gaze followed the methodical arches of water, before arching a brow and tracing her stare back to the mermanta. “What are you working on today?”
Melita and her family were a welcome distraction from his task and Hadama paused his assault on the shore. The spheres of water continued to bob in a stately orbit above him like some liquid orrery but they no longer shot towards the beach as his friend approached the tideline. The mermanta swam closer to make conversing easier, until he could curve his tail beneath him on the sand of the shallows to brace against the surf.
"Melita," he rumbled, deep voice warm with welcome. "Fangorn. Sila. Hello. Today is target practice." A memory of their own early meetings caused his eyes to light up in quiet good humor, and one of the orbs he controlled separated from the rest to bob towards the honeybee girl and circle her playfully. "I would enjoy practicing together again, if you are free."
Target practice was always a favorite in her book – though hers were far less ornate and more of a shambled, cobbled-together mess. Sometimes exaggerated, embellished drawings of enemies. “Sure.” Shrugging along, and snagging at her bow, along with the training portions of her arrows, the youth tilted her head, considering. “Do you mind if Sila tries too?” The flames wouldn’t have any effect, but just the notions of aim and precision might. “She’s working on her fire.”
Just another reason the Honeybee was something, someone, to be feared. Or at the very least, hesitant towards. All persistent with a generous, Cheshire grin to exemplify the efforts.
"She is very welcome," Hadama confirmed with a nod for woman and dragon both. The more the merrier, as the saying went, though few would classify the stoic mermanta as particularly merry. With Melita, however, he was less reserved. Their culinary adventures and training montages had created a bond of friendship that allowed him to relax and let his enjoyment of their activities show.
"Hmm. I can throw targets of water for you to try and hit first," he decided, gathering together his oceanic orbs and, on a whim, forming them into the shape of Hels. He turned his will to giving them flight and two soared swiftly away from Melita, out to sea, while the third flew more slowly away from Sila while Hadama learned what the dragon was capable of.
The acceptance was all Melita needed – Cheshire grin widening, the contentment sent through the bond with her companion. Sila trilled her own response, a bit more reserved than her counterpart, or the stalwart Fangorn, who waved his vines from the shoreline. “Sure!” followed along with her rapt cheer, readying her bow.
She surveyed the targets, watching as they gathered together in their watery forms, and then pinpointed her own weapon, taking aim. Thereafter, she pulled the strand as they flickered and flew out, rounding out a rapid fire, intending to hit both.
As for the little dragon, the bronze youth didn’t seem to mind the slower aspects (perhaps they helped with her confidence), as she unleashed a blast of fire towards it.
The first watery Hel was no challenge to Melita's accuracy. Her aim was swift but sure and the construct shattered into glittering droplets of water that fell back to the ocean from whence they'd come. The second arrow, for whatever reason, was slightly less confident in its aim. It only grazed the second target's wing and Hadama caused the 'creature' to veer and circle back around, as if angry at being struck. The Hel split into two smaller birds that swooped towards Melita from the left and right, counterattacking.
The dragon flame was hot enough to cause a little steam to rise from her silent Hel, but it had merely shortened the 'bird's' tailfeathers. It continued to fly out to the limit of Hadama's control and then curved back in a wide circle, continuing to stay just ahead of the little dragon.
The mermanta's brow developed a slight furrow as he concentrated on keeping all three constructs in the air and moving in different directions at once.
A smirk endeavored to her features the moment her first arrow struck. But it didn’t stay for long, eyes narrowing the instant the second seemed to escape, rallying into two makeshift Hels. With a sneer, the Honeybee reloaded, segmenting two of her arrows in another session of rapid fire.
And bless little Sila, for all her lack of confidence, the youth wasn’t deterred when the bird simply didn’t fade, die, or diminish. Perhaps on a streak of emboldened properties, or simply a predacious angle of yearning to give chase, she followed, leathery wings unfurling, and fire coaxed again to smite the tangible beast.
The smaller birds flew apart from each other but they flew straight. The challenge had been to shoot both in time when they came from different directions rather than to have them spiral or dodge, and Melita's first arrow pierced the bird and reduced it to a fine mist. The second opened its watery beak in a silent shriek as it nearly reached the archer--
And the arrow went right through it, shattering the bird into a spray of droplets that washed harmlessly over the redhead as their momentum alone carried them the final distance.
Sila's stubborn tenacity was not in vain. The bird she chased didn't speed up, but the dragon's increased wingspan halved the distance between them and this time her fire reached out to lick the seaborn construct from tail to beak and wingtip to wingtip. The water was no match for her flame, and the bird went up in steam rather than smoke.
"A greater challenge, then?" the mermanta asked with the ghost of a grin. A dragon that could have been Sila's twin, at least in general outline, dove up from the surface of the sea and climbed above her before turning to 'breathe' a jet of water down at the bronze companion. For Melita the target was an arrow of water, slender and with a much smaller surface area to hit as it streaked towards her over the sand.
Melita wore the same Cheshire grin even as the water parted and dripped down upon crimson locks; content and satisfied with the range of distinct destruction, even if they were barely corporeal. Sila, however, seemed very surprised by the outcome, placing it amongst a thin veneer of pride. So at Hadama’s suggestion, the former was all for it, while the latter seemed a bit alarmed. “Let’s do it,” ended on a smirk, snagging at her weaponry again.
For her part, the Honeybee was fast, sharp, and quick, amused by the range of swiftness; as if she was hunting a real portion of prey or some other infidel come to snag and haunt them. The arrow unfurled, whipping and chasing the slender proportions down.
Sila swallowed down something apprehensive, eyes widening as the construct began to try and snag her - she lurched out of the way, trying to put some distance between them, before rising up and unleashing another torrent of fire on instinct.
With only one target it was no surprise that the fierce honeybee girl was able to give it her full, undivided attention and no matter how slender the profile she was able to strike it head on. The arrow made of water was split cleanly down the center so that it fell harmlessly to patter in drops upon the sand of the beach.
Sila might have been surprised by the sudden turning of tables, but she reacted quickly enough that the seawater spray only dampened her tail as she dodged. Her return volley seemed to catch the liquid doppelganger by surprise as it opened its muzzle in a silent squawk of surprise - and then burned away to mist and steam which coalesced as butterflies and fluttered away.
"Well shot," the mermanta rumbled in admiration to woman and dragon both. He paused in thought as he tried to come up with something that would truly test their limits and give Melita a proper challenge. "Hmm... One more, perhaps..."
A 'shark' made of water leaped out of the ocean below Sila and began swimming towards her through the air, sleek and smooth. A confused fish in the wrong place at the wrong time swam circles in its belly as the large shark came after the small dragon; it would take more than one fiery blast to deter the 'beast'.
For Melita the final challenger was a large serpent that coiled up out of the surf and raced across the sand towards her, jaw unhinged wide as it lunged at the young woman as if to swallow her whole.
Melita didn’t voice it, but the actions made her feel considerably better after the turn of events amidst the rock giant – namely how she’d missed a monolith block of stone. Maybe it’d been accuracy issues or the attention on everything else going on (dramatics, especially), but to watch her arrows fly and volley and split amidst the targets still felt good.
With a satisfied look along her face, she waited for the next challenge – staring it dead on as the image became corporeal and tangible. And instead of ducking or shying out of the way, the youth, unafraid and seditious, notched her arrow to shoot it straight into its mouth.
As for Sila, confidence steadily gained and carried on – rising a little higher, gaining some defensive maneuvers and matters, and then unleashed her fresh torrent as well, angling it towards the manifested shark. And maybe with a defiant roar too.
Fearless and fierce, Hadama hadn't expected Melita to flinch from the sea serpent, but the snake moved swiftly as it zigged and zagged across the sand as it raced towards her. Although it was larger and an easier target, its vital areas were constantly in motion and they were much smaller than its body. Nevertheless, the honeybee girl was focused and her aim was true; the arrow slashed through the air and into the serpent's mouth as it gaped wide, slicing through the dead center of its throat and out the back of its head in a shot that would have instantly killed a living snake. The water construct reared back and collapsed in a splash of chilly water and Hadama turned his full attention on Sila.
Her flame wasn't quite as impressive as Melita's arrow, but perhaps that was for the best. Though she struck the shark head-on as it lunged for her, she only turned its head to steam. The body continued through the air - fish included - to wash over the little dragon and leave her dripping wet until the mermanta, lips twitching against a smile, pulled the ocean away from dragon scales and human clothing and back into the waves from when it had come. "Enough for today," he admitted, looking a bit fatigued at the constant and complex use of so much magic. "Lunch on the docks?"
And in spite of the lingering chill, it was a lovely post-workout lunch for all four of them.
