Creative Corner

14502

October 12, 2018 11:07:39

Inktober brings a hallowe'en murder mystery for my clan

I'll hopefully be updating this as often as I can if I can keep up! If I can't, hopefully at least once a week. I really appreciate feedback if you read, and I'll keep a pinglist if anyone's interested

Update: THE STORY IS FINISHED!! I'll still be updating in stages, but it's 100% certain to be updated until it's complete, in case there were worries

Update 2: It's all up! I'd still really appreciate feedback, but the whole story's on the thread now

Blurb:

In the aftermath of Cernnunos' murder, the clan struggles to settle old disputes under its newly instated leaders, the warlord Trio. With a rift in the centre of the clan, conflict breeds anger - or even the motive for a killer.

Chapter One

Characters

Deri

____

Darvena

____

Azuon

____

Monster

____

Abriella

frlightning_sword_banner_by_littlefiredragon-dbjxz9x.png

Azuon

The first yelp drew the attention of the clan, heads poking curiously out of window holes and mossy doorways, green eyes focused on the ruckus. Abriella sat back on her haunches, her wings spread in exasperation. "What did you expect to gain from this?!"

Deri huffed, letting down the weight of the canister he had been hauling, crackling energy rippling behind the glass. "Lightning. I thought that'd be obvious." He flicked it with his longest claw, jumping over it and striding confidently into the lair.

"Do you know what that stuff can do to a forest?! How did you even get it here??"

"A peddler in the Expanse," he dismissed grumpily, "it's not for you, anyway. Got it for 'Vena."

"She'd better have a good reason," the tundra shot Deri a glare, sweeping a fascinated young Fae away from the capsule with her tail. "Stay away from that, Hart."

Monster lifted her frills to listen, her weaving continuing clawlessly in front of her. Most of the clan was listening by now, drawn away from their idle tasks to the argument. "Relax, Abriella. Darvena will have had her reasons."

"But it's lightning! We don't even need lightning! Do you see anything that needs power around here?!"

"Come, now. We've had lightning storms before."

She was met by a low growl from the tundra, who turned away and stalked into the forest. The young fae moved to follow, but Monster scooped her up with magic. "Not now, little one. Let her cool off."

Deri was already gone, disappearing into the Elder's hut with an irritable flick of his tail. A few dragons emerged as the path was cleared. "Real lightning?"

"I've never seen anything like that before."

"I thought Deri would be returning with the Faes," Azuon landed lightly on Monster's roof, watching the thread weave itself skillfully. "They couldn't have flown far on their own."

"He wouldn't have left them in the Icefields," Monster released Hart, letting the hatchling scurry away across the branches. "Assume he had his reasons. Perhaps Cave didn't want him around his negotiations."

"Then how are they getting back?"

"Why don't you ask Deri?" She directed lightly. "As many things as I know, happenings on the other side of Sornieth are not among them."

Azuon gave her a calculating look, bracing and setting off from the roof, snapping a few twigs as she went. The damp planks needed replacing, clinging to the trees in various stages of softening rot. It was hard enough for her to land away from the central platform, let alone the Imperials, but their lair segment was much closer to the forest floor.

She climbed down to the Elder's hut, her claws sinking into the soft wood as she poked her head inside. A snoring lump could be made out in the corner. "Deri?"

"Mmph."

"Is Cave's group with you?"

"Mmph."

She gripped the plank a little more tightly, taking a breath and trying not to snap. "Did he say anything to you?"

Red eyes poked up over the lump, glaring at her. "Is privacy a sin?!"

"We've been waiting for news!"

"No, they're not with me!" He growled, "send 'Vena here and stop yapping."

She bristled, shooting a blue glare his way before leaving the hut, scuffing at the wood in frustration.

Darvena wasn't any more open than Deri, deflecting her questions with passive ease. She was tending her feathers when Azuon found her, carefully hooking her woodwing back over their crimson blaze. "Cave will know what he's doing. Now leave me be, I must speak with Deri."

Last edited on Mar 06, 2019 01:03:09 by DuskAwakening

[center][b][size=5]Characters[/size][/b][/center] [columns][color=transparent]__[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=30628431][img]https://i.imgur.com/Tj6JA38.png[/img][/url] [b]Tessa[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]________[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=37694245][img]https://i.imgur.com/vID67VY.png[/img][/url] [b]Alexander[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]________[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=34376497][img]https://i.imgur.com/5TCUgU2.png[/img][/url] [b]Darvena[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]________[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=35358670][img]https://i.imgur.com/yA1jvHV.png[/img][/url] [b]Deri[/b][/center][/columns] [center][img]https://orig14.deviantart.net/51ce/f/2017/225/c/9/frlife_sword_banner_by_littlefiredragon-dbjxz31.png[/img] [size=6][color=#16963a]Tessa[/color][/size][/center][columns][size=4]Tessa idly strummed on her lute, humming an absent tune, the cinders of last night's fire sprawled damply beside her. The webbing of her tattered wing made a tuneful sound in the wind, and she had been trying to lyricise it for days.[b]*[/b] The chaos of midday had given way to a somewhat peaceful afternoon; half of the clan hatchlings had traveled to the Icefields with Cave, and the Trio were out scouting with their cohort, leaving the quieter dragons to their tasks in peace. She was halfway through her new ballad, blissfully uninterrupted, before something heavy dropped on her tail. "Ow!" "Sorry!" the young spiral dived down, scooping his pack back up with his mouth. "We were moving our shtuff in, we only jusht got told where," he hovered nervously, waiting for judgement. "Be more careful," she huffed, pulling her discarded lute back towards her like a traumatised hatchling. "Fly around the side if you have to. Where are you staying?" "The myshena hut," he spoke through the bag, almost dropping and catching it again, starting to loop agitatedly. "You and the other arrivals?" "Shpiralsh, yesh," his body seemed to be tugging him towards the hut, anxious to leave the conversation. Tessa sighed, looking back down at her lute. "Fine. Just watch where you're going."[/size][nextcol][color=transparent]__[/color][nextcol][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=30628431][img]https://i.imgur.com/uBJ2CJe.jpg[/img][/url][/columns] [size=3]"Yesh, shir! Of courshe, shir!" He was gone the next second, bolting to shelter like a hunted duskrat. Of course the new dragons would be put in the Mycena hut, right next to Tessa's nice quiet spot in the dip of the limb. Centurion was desperate to make the lair busier than it needed to be. She strummed a few more notes on her lute, trying to remember the last lyrics. [i]Wake now, the stone of the mountain below[/i] / [i]I bid you to breathe, and shake off the snow[/i] / [i]Run free from the winter, your slumber now ends[/i] / [i]Let this crow's song revive you, our old, stubborn friends.[/i]- "Tess-?" "Oh, what [i]now[/i]?!" "Don't get your claws in a twist, I was just told to fetch you. 'Vena was hoping to have a word," Alexander landed and huffed, giving her a reproachful look. "Vent at her if you want to." "Fine! Fine! You know what?! Fine!" She stood up and shoved past him, hooking her lute back onto its clasp. "Tell 'Vena I'm more than happy to see her! Every day, in fact!" She glared after Alexander as he slinked away, shaking his head. The Elder's hut was small, inhabited only by Deri; Crystalfire kept to the Imperial lair and Monster had her own den, leaving the grouchy Wildclaw to his own devices. The two dragons were huddled over something in the centre of the room, talking quietly. Tessa put her head around the door, coughing lightly. Darvena looked up, nodding and humming in greeting. "Check you're alone, won't you?" She glanced over her shoulder, frowning a little. "Why wouldn't I be? 'Xander said you wanted to see me." "Oh, of course. You saw the capsule come in this morning?" Darvena stepped aside so Tessa could see the subject of examination. It was made of bronze, glass fitted neatly between its curved ends. Wild energy crackled inside it, lashing out at its prison in violent bursts. She took a hesitant step back. "Is that even safe...?" "Perfectly so," the Coatl turned back to it confidently. "The clans of the Expanse harvest it in the thousands. A few Flights use it very liberally." "Why all the secrecy?" "You'll see." She waved her wing to beckon her into the hut. Tessa reluctantly dipped her head, squeezing uncomfortably into the tiny space. "Is this a complot?" Deri huffed, "if you can keep your mouth shut." She chose to ignore him, something that came naturally to those in the vicinity of Deri for any length of time. "Why Lightning?" "It's energy," Darvena explained, tapping it with a claw. "It powers things, down in the Continent. They use it to make metal move, and light things up without fire." "So, magic?" "Of a sort." "Why go to all that trouble?" "Well, the potential energy is pretty sizable. I had a thought: if the energy was supplied externally and without the need to channel it, could any dragon practice magic from another Flight?" Tessa hissed as she drew in a breath. "You can't go asking questions like that! You know how much trouble it could cause? Besides, faes do that and there's no crossing it." "It's why I wanted to keep this under the rug. Don't worry, there's a reason for it. That magic is channeled, not provided quite as intensively as this. The Lightning capsules compress a lot of it into a very small space." The tundra sighed, shaking her head. "I don't like it. What did you want me to do?" "Well, if I can make this work, we wanted a test subject." Tessa took several steps back. "Oh, no. No way. You're not dragging me into that mess." "A dragon more comfortable with Lightning, perhaps? All you have to do is find someone without alerting the whole clan. I'm sure there are dragons that would be happy to try out some new abilities. And keep the Trio off our backs, this could get tricky if they start nosing around." She sighed through her nose. "Fine. As long as this won't come back to me." "Don't worry, nobody's pointing claws. We'll leave you be now, the lair is too quiet without your strumming." Tessa bristled with titillated pride, dipping her head to Darvena and giving Deri a neutral huff before inching backwards, squeezing with effort through the entrance. How Deri managed every time, she couldn't know. [b]*[/b]The fungus had been fought with a mixture of vinegar and alcohol, administered begrudgingly by Alexander. It was hardly a new method, but it was more effective than the herbs outsiders liked to recommend. It had left webbed scars which caught the wind beautifully, something she could utilise with apparel and a bit of time.[/size]

DuskAwakening

14502

October 13, 2018 04:11:17

Characters

Tessa

________

Alexander

________

Darvena

________

Deri

Tessa

Tessa idly strummed on her lute, humming an absent tune, the cinders of last night's fire sprawled damply beside her. The webbing of her tattered wing made a tuneful sound in the wind, and she had been trying to lyricise it for days.*

The chaos of midday had given way to a somewhat peaceful afternoon; half of the clan hatchlings had traveled to the Icefields with Cave, and the Trio were out scouting with their cohort, leaving the quieter dragons to their tasks in peace.

She was halfway through her new ballad, blissfully uninterrupted, before something heavy dropped on her tail. "Ow!"

"Sorry!" the young spiral dived down, scooping his pack back up with his mouth. "We were moving our shtuff in, we only jusht got told where," he hovered nervously, waiting for judgement.

"Be more careful," she huffed, pulling her discarded lute back towards her like a traumatised hatchling. "Fly around the side if you have to. Where are you staying?"

"The myshena hut," he spoke through the bag, almost dropping and catching it again, starting to loop agitatedly.

"You and the other arrivals?"

"Shpiralsh, yesh," his body seemed to be tugging him towards the hut, anxious to leave the conversation. Tessa sighed, looking back down at her lute.

"Fine. Just watch where you're going."

"Yesh, shir! Of courshe, shir!" He was gone the next second, bolting to shelter like a hunted duskrat. Of course the new dragons would be put in the Mycena hut, right next to Tessa's nice quiet spot in the dip of the limb. Centurion was desperate to make the lair busier than it needed to be.

She strummed a few more notes on her lute, trying to remember the last lyrics.

Wake now, the stone of the mountain below / I bid you to breathe, and shake off the snow / Run free from the winter, your slumber now ends / Let this crow's song revive you, our old, stubborn friends.-

"Tess-?"

"Oh, what now?!"

"Don't get your claws in a twist, I was just told to fetch you. 'Vena was hoping to have a word," Alexander landed and huffed, giving her a reproachful look. "Vent at her if you want to."

"Fine! Fine! You know what?! Fine!" She stood up and shoved past him, hooking her lute back onto its clasp. "Tell 'Vena I'm more than happy to see her! Every day, in fact!"

She glared after Alexander as he slinked away, shaking his head.

The Elder's hut was small, inhabited only by Deri; Crystalfire kept to the Imperial lair and Monster had her own den, leaving the grouchy Wildclaw to his own devices. The two dragons were huddled over something in the centre of the room, talking quietly. Tessa put her head around the door, coughing lightly.

Darvena looked up, nodding and humming in greeting. "Check you're alone, won't you?"

She glanced over her shoulder, frowning a little. "Why wouldn't I be? 'Xander said you wanted to see me."

"Oh, of course. You saw the capsule come in this morning?" Darvena stepped aside so Tessa could see the subject of examination. It was made of bronze, glass fitted neatly between its curved ends. Wild energy crackled inside it, lashing out at its prison in violent bursts. She took a hesitant step back.

"Is that even safe...?"

"Perfectly so," the Coatl turned back to it confidently. "The clans of the Expanse harvest it in the thousands. A few Flights use it very liberally."

"Why all the secrecy?"

"You'll see." She waved her wing to beckon her into the hut. Tessa reluctantly dipped her head, squeezing uncomfortably into the tiny space.

"Is this a complot?"

Deri huffed, "if you can keep your mouth shut."

She chose to ignore him, something that came naturally to those in the vicinity of Deri for any length of time. "Why Lightning?"

"It's energy," Darvena explained, tapping it with a claw. "It powers things, down in the Continent. They use it to make metal move, and light things up without fire."

"So, magic?"

"Of a sort."

"Why go to all that trouble?"

"Well, the potential energy is pretty sizable. I had a thought: if the energy was supplied externally and without the need to channel it, could any dragon practice magic from another Flight?"

Tessa hissed as she drew in a breath. "You can't go asking questions like that! You know how much trouble it could cause? Besides, faes do that and there's no crossing it."

"It's why I wanted to keep this under the rug. Don't worry, there's a reason for it. That magic is channeled, not provided quite as intensively as this. The Lightning capsules compress a lot of it into a very small space."

The tundra sighed, shaking her head. "I don't like it. What did you want me to do?"

"Well, if I can make this work, we wanted a test subject."

Tessa took several steps back. "Oh, no. No way. You're not dragging me into that mess."

"A dragon more comfortable with Lightning, perhaps? All you have to do is find someone without alerting the whole clan. I'm sure there are dragons that would be happy to try out some new abilities. And keep the Trio off our backs, this could get tricky if they start nosing around."

She sighed through her nose. "Fine. As long as this won't come back to me."

"Don't worry, nobody's pointing claws. We'll leave you be now, the lair is too quiet without your strumming."

Tessa bristled with titillated pride, dipping her head to Darvena and giving Deri a neutral huff before inching backwards, squeezing with effort through the entrance. How Deri managed every time, she couldn't know.

*The fungus had been fought with a mixture of vinegar and alcohol, administered begrudgingly by Alexander. It was hardly a new method, but it was more effective than the herbs outsiders liked to recommend. It had left webbed scars which caught the wind beautifully, something she could utilise with apparel and a bit of time.

[center][b][size=5]Characters[/size][/b][/center] [columns][color=transparent]_[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=34376497][img]https://i.imgur.com/5TCUgU2.png[/img][/url] [b]Darvena[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]____[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=35358670][img]https://i.imgur.com/yA1jvHV.png[/img][/url] [b]Deri[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]____[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=37694245][img]https://i.imgur.com/vID67VY.png[/img][/url] [b]Alexander[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]____[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=45483503][img]https://i.imgur.com/gFo2gU7.png[/img][/url] [b]Unnamed[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]____[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=34166034][img]https://i.imgur.com/Mehs6Ux.png[/img][/url] [b]Crystalfire[/b][/center][/columns] [center][img]https://orig06.deviantart.net/1104/f/2017/225/a/6/frshadow_sword_banner_by_littlefiredragon-dbjxzhh.png[/img] [size=6][color=#591eb2]Darvena[/color][/size][/center][columns][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=34376497][img]https://i.imgur.com/20j51Hl.jpg[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]__[/color][nextcol][size=4]Deri was a hard dragon to get along with, anyone would agree. He was grumpy and reclusive, a habitual moper, complete with a disregard for indulgence that could make the most patient dragon snap. He gave Darvena no exception, but what Deri really needed was a diplomat. They had been plotting their schemes together for years now, reliving some of the excitement of youth when their Ceanothus egg had hatched or the grafting of Ashfall and Plateau flora had taken a healthy hold. This was a little different, but what hadn't been lately? She looked over at Deri, sleeping soundly beside her. His snoring could wake up a den if he wasn't in the Elder's hut; she wondered if he had been moved early for that very reason. His forest greens were fading lightly around his nose, the newest sign of old age. Her attention was drawn by a hacking cough out in the central lair. It came in violent fits, the intermittent silences drawn out in wheezing, laboured breaths. She eased herself to her feet, squeezing quietly out the door. Alexander had donned his beaked mask, abandoning all other apparel to roll out of bed in the middle of the night. A mirror hatchling was beside him, clawing at his chest as he wheezed. His wings were splayed out under him, his back legs in the air. She recognised him vaguely.[/size][/columns] [size=3]"Come now, just a sip-" the tundra was handling a bottle with difficulty, trying to keep the hatchling still. Darvena climbed down from the Elder's branch, landing lightly on the mossy woodwork of the central platform. "Lex?" He glanced up briefly before turning back to the hatchling, laying a foot gently on his shoulder. "'Vena." "Caught the lurgy?" She felt a heaviness in her chest. "Worse, I'm afraid. Keep back." Her claw stopped in the air a few metres from the two of them. "Do I know him?" Alexander took his opportunity to drip the medicine into the Mirror's mouth. The hatchling clawed at the air and his chest, barely registering before another fit wracked his tiny body. "He's been in the hatchery for a couple of days now. I'll have to go over it all with vinegar." "You're not taking him to the sick hut?" "Why?" There was a short pause. "It'll spread very quickly. I'm afraid there's not much I can do from here. Nobody caught it soon enough. I'll have to check all the hatchlings, sentries, anyone near the nests over the past few days." "And him?" Alexander gave her a look, turning back to his work quietly. She lowered her head a little. "Are his parents on the raid?" "No, actually, he was picked up as an egg. Find Abriella. She'll want to know." Abriella was long gone from the upper lair, having not returned since the argument with Deri. Darvena followed her trail down the great limbs to the lower lair, sprawled out like a city of giants miles below the canopy. An army of Faes could have settled in a single one of these huts, wedged into the great trunks to support the weight of their inhabitants. She flew down past the statue of the Guardian, decorated carefully in autumnal wreaths and scattered leaves, and landed by the ashes of the bonfire. A pair of curious red eyes watched her from the depths of an entrance. "Crystalfire. Did Abriella come this way?" There was a low rumble from the hut as the Imperial yawned. It took a long while for her to speak, but patience was always required with Crystalfire. "Alexander would know." "I just came from him. He told me to find her." Another pause. "You should check the hatchery." "Alexander was already there. Was she down here at any point?" "Yes. We talked a while." She stretched her neck out, laying her head by the door and gazing at Darvena warmly. "It's nice to have company sometimes." The Coatl hummed a little, dipping her head to the old Imperial. "'Vena!" The sharp voice turned her head before she'd worked her response. Abriella was stalking towards them, her wings half-spread. "You know Deri brought in Lightning today? From the [i]Expanse[/i]? He told us you asked him to!" "Not now, Abriella-" "Imagine if that thing had smashed?! We could have had a forest fire!" "Abriella-" "I want an explanation!" "Abriella!" The tundra fell silent as she registered Darvena's expression. "A hatchling is sick. Alexander is waiting for you in the upper lair."[/size]

DuskAwakening

14502

October 13, 2018 11:56:39

Characters

Darvena

____

Deri

____

Alexander

____

Unnamed

____

Crystalfire

Darvena

Deri was a hard dragon to get along with, anyone would agree. He was grumpy and reclusive, a habitual moper, complete with a disregard for indulgence that could make the most patient dragon snap.

He gave Darvena no exception, but what Deri really needed was a diplomat.

They had been plotting their schemes together for years now, reliving some of the excitement of youth when their Ceanothus egg had hatched or the grafting of Ashfall and Plateau flora had taken a healthy hold.

This was a little different, but what hadn't been lately?

She looked over at Deri, sleeping soundly beside her. His snoring could wake up a den if he wasn't in the Elder's hut; she wondered if he had been moved early for that very reason. His forest greens were fading lightly around his nose, the newest sign of old age.

Her attention was drawn by a hacking cough out in the central lair. It came in violent fits, the intermittent silences drawn out in wheezing, laboured breaths. She eased herself to her feet, squeezing quietly out the door.

Alexander had donned his beaked mask, abandoning all other apparel to roll out of bed in the middle of the night. A mirror hatchling was beside him, clawing at his chest as he wheezed. His wings were splayed out under him, his back legs in the air. She recognised him vaguely.

"Come now, just a sip-" the tundra was handling a bottle with difficulty, trying to keep the hatchling still.

Darvena climbed down from the Elder's branch, landing lightly on the mossy woodwork of the central platform. "Lex?"

He glanced up briefly before turning back to the hatchling, laying a foot gently on his shoulder. "'Vena."

"Caught the lurgy?" She felt a heaviness in her chest.

"Worse, I'm afraid. Keep back."

Her claw stopped in the air a few metres from the two of them. "Do I know him?"

Alexander took his opportunity to drip the medicine into the Mirror's mouth. The hatchling clawed at the air and his chest, barely registering before another fit wracked his tiny body. "He's been in the hatchery for a couple of days now. I'll have to go over it all with vinegar."

"You're not taking him to the sick hut?"

"Why?" There was a short pause. "It'll spread very quickly. I'm afraid there's not much I can do from here. Nobody caught it soon enough. I'll have to check all the hatchlings, sentries, anyone near the nests over the past few days."

"And him?"

Alexander gave her a look, turning back to his work quietly. She lowered her head a little. "Are his parents on the raid?"

"No, actually, he was picked up as an egg. Find Abriella. She'll want to know."

Abriella was long gone from the upper lair, having not returned since the argument with Deri. Darvena followed her trail down the great limbs to the lower lair, sprawled out like a city of giants miles below the canopy. An army of Faes could have settled in a single one of these huts, wedged into the great trunks to support the weight of their inhabitants.

She flew down past the statue of the Guardian, decorated carefully in autumnal wreaths and scattered leaves, and landed by the ashes of the bonfire. A pair of curious red eyes watched her from the depths of an entrance. "Crystalfire. Did Abriella come this way?"

There was a low rumble from the hut as the Imperial yawned. It took a long while for her to speak, but patience was always required with Crystalfire. "Alexander would know."

"I just came from him. He told me to find her."

Another pause. "You should check the hatchery."

"Alexander was already there. Was she down here at any point?"

"Yes. We talked a while." She stretched her neck out, laying her head by the door and gazing at Darvena warmly. "It's nice to have company sometimes."

The Coatl hummed a little, dipping her head to the old Imperial.

"'Vena!" The sharp voice turned her head before she'd worked her response. Abriella was stalking towards them, her wings half-spread. "You know Deri brought in Lightning today? From the Expanse? He told us you asked him to!"

"Not now, Abriella-"

"Imagine if that thing had smashed?! We could have had a forest fire!"

"Abriella-"

"I want an explanation!"

"Abriella!" The tundra fell silent as she registered Darvena's expression. "A hatchling is sick. Alexander is waiting for you in the upper lair."

its very good so far! i really like your ambient descriptions

PingPongCat

195

674

October 13, 2018 15:14:57

its very good so far! i really like your ambient descriptions

@PingPongCat Aa thank you so much!! --- [center][b][size=5]Characters[/size][/b][/center] [columns][color=transparent]_____________[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=37694245][img]https://i.imgur.com/vID67VY.png[/img][/url] [b]Alexander[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]________[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=30628431][img]https://i.imgur.com/Tj6JA38.png[/img][/url] [b]Tessa[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]________[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=45483503][img]https://i.imgur.com/gFo2gU7.png[/img][/url] [b]Unnamed[/b][/center][/columns] [center][img]https://orig04.deviantart.net/a908/f/2017/225/5/b/frarcane_sword_banner_by_littlefiredragon-dbjxypv.png[/img] [size=6][color=#ba46b4]Alexander[/color][/size][/center][columns][size=4]The hatchling's breathing was just a whistle by now, sharp and quick through the pressure on his lungs. His half-closed eyes had been a brilliant pink, now glazed over in pain. Alex almost prayed it had been spores, sucked in through a curious hatchling's nose and clustered at the top of the lungs. An epidemic would finish off half the clan, cutting their chances for the winter in two. The mask's beak distanced him from the coughing. He had done about as much as he could be expected to, his ointments and herbs only going so far. The sicknesses spread so quickly in the warm and damp. "'Xander?" He glanced back to see Darvena and Abriella landing neatly on the platform. "'Vena told me. I was about to check the hatchery." "Don't, not 'til I've decided what it is. Keep the nests closed and send the guards to stand further out from them. Was he in with anyone else?" "No. He was brought in as an egg, I had to set up Arcane incubation." "Okay. Close off the nest." He turned back to the hatchling, leaning down a little. "Clear the sleepers out of the Pelagas hut. I'll have to move him inside before morning." Darvena dipped her head, slipping away quietly. Abriella stepped forward hesitantly. "You think it's an epidemic?" "I can't say." His tone cut off the conversation. She hovered behind him for a moment before pushing back into the air, climbing the currents to the hatchery.[/size][nextcol][color=transparent]__[/color][nextcol][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=37694245][img]https://i.imgur.com/8hmCcuG.jpg[/img][/url][/columns] [size=3]--- The hatchling was moved to a woven nest inside the Pelagas hut, lined with dried moss and the soft mulch from the underside of scraped bark. His back leg trembled, the only sign of life save the laboured whistling from his lungs. The ejected dragons clustered together on the main platform, the cold and damp unpleasant after the warmth of their nests. An uneasiness settled over them. Alexander had moved through the hatchery, checking every hatchling and wiping down the Arcane nest with vinegar. The pale light of dawn was filtering through the leaves. He shook the sticks and leaves out of his fur, landing tiredly on the roof of the Pelagas hut. "I'm sorry, I need to keep the nest for longer. Start your duties a couple of hours early. You'll have your hut back by tonight." He was met by a displeased grumble as the dragons groggily dispersed. Tessa shook her head, watching the hatchling's sleeping form through the open entrance. "What are his chances...?" Alexander gave her a quiet look before retreating to the den.[/size]

DuskAwakening

14502

October 14, 2018 01:44:33

@PingPongCat Aa thank you so much!!

---

Characters

_____________

Alexander

________

Tessa

________

Unnamed

Alexander

The hatchling's breathing was just a whistle by now, sharp and quick through the pressure on his lungs. His half-closed eyes had been a brilliant pink, now glazed over in pain.

Alex almost prayed it had been spores, sucked in through a curious hatchling's nose and clustered at the top of the lungs. An epidemic would finish off half the clan, cutting their chances for the winter in two. The mask's beak distanced him from the coughing.

He had done about as much as he could be expected to, his ointments and herbs only going so far. The sicknesses spread so quickly in the warm and damp.

"'Xander?" He glanced back to see Darvena and Abriella landing neatly on the platform. "'Vena told me. I was about to check the hatchery."

"Don't, not 'til I've decided what it is. Keep the nests closed and send the guards to stand further out from them. Was he in with anyone else?"

"No. He was brought in as an egg, I had to set up Arcane incubation."

"Okay. Close off the nest." He turned back to the hatchling, leaning down a little. "Clear the sleepers out of the Pelagas hut. I'll have to move him inside before morning."

Darvena dipped her head, slipping away quietly. Abriella stepped forward hesitantly. "You think it's an epidemic?"

"I can't say." His tone cut off the conversation. She hovered behind him for a moment before pushing back into the air, climbing the currents to the hatchery.

---

The hatchling was moved to a woven nest inside the Pelagas hut, lined with dried moss and the soft mulch from the underside of scraped bark. His back leg trembled, the only sign of life save the laboured whistling from his lungs.

The ejected dragons clustered together on the main platform, the cold and damp unpleasant after the warmth of their nests. An uneasiness settled over them.

Alexander had moved through the hatchery, checking every hatchling and wiping down the Arcane nest with vinegar. The pale light of dawn was filtering through the leaves.

He shook the sticks and leaves out of his fur, landing tiredly on the roof of the Pelagas hut. "I'm sorry, I need to keep the nest for longer. Start your duties a couple of hours early. You'll have your hut back by tonight." He was met by a displeased grumble as the dragons groggily dispersed.

Tessa shook her head, watching the hatchling's sleeping form through the open entrance. "What are his chances...?"

Alexander gave her a quiet look before retreating to the den.

Last edited on Oct 22, 2018 10:24:39 by DuskAwakening

[center][b][size=5]Characters[/size][/b][/center] [columns][color=transparent]_____________[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=37691538][img]https://i.imgur.com/bGVnt3I.png[/img][/url] [b]Ironwing (Alluman)[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]________[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=37691541][img]https://i.imgur.com/Xx5Me8f.png[/img][/url] [b]Centurion (Redwing)[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]________[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=40742179][img]https://i.imgur.com/Tz3EcbE.png[/img][/url] [b]Calypso[/b] [/center][/columns] [center] [img]https://orig14.deviantart.net/51ce/f/2017/225/c/9/frlife_sword_banner_by_littlefiredragon-dbjxz31.png[/img] [size=6][color=#318405]Centurion[/color][/size][/center][columns][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=37691541][img]https://i.imgur.com/5FfxBxO.jpg[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]__[/color][nextcol][size=4]"Sharp left!" The dragons veered in neat formation, their wings buffeting the canopy. "Stop!" It was more disorganised as they skidded to a halt, the smaller dragons at the back colliding with the slowing Imps. "Alright, land!" Centurion set down on a sturdy branch, glaring through her woodmask. "If you thought that was fine, think again. Anyone could have taken advantage of that!" Ironwing studied the group quietly, leaning in after a while. "It wouldn't work in one stage. The back will always collide with the front." "So?" "So take it in stages. Back, center, front. Give three seconds' delay for the front to start slowing." "Hm. Very well." She stretched out her neck, unfolding her wings to draw attention back to her. "We'll practice in stages, and then as a formation. Get back in the sky." They watched the flurry of activity as the heavy Imperials forced themselves clumsily back into the air, sweeping away smaller dragons with the force of the downdraft. Ironwing sighed, noting something down. "Last drill of the day?" [/size][/columns] [size=3]"Not until they can land smoothly." "Be real, Red. Everyone's tired. You'll get a better result on the morrow." "It's more effort flying out from the lair again tomorrow than it would be to set up camp." She didn't try to keep the snap out of her tone, observed reproachfully by her brother. "Overtraining will end in a bad raid. Exhaustion will work against you when we're in a tight spot. Have I ever given you bad advice?" Centurion growled in her throat, bunching her legs in preparation for flight. "One more drill, and we'll return to the lair." --- The storm was unpredictable and violent, tearing through the trees with enough force to rip off their twisted limbs, rain hammering the flyers head-on. After ten minutes of almost stationary flight, Centurion screamed above the wind to land. "We'll never get back in this!" "We'll have to set up camp on the forest floor." Ironwing steadied himself against the howling wind, having to shout to be heard from a metre away. "Call off the attempt, we'll lose the smaller dragons." He missed the snarl in response, veering away and diving down between the trees, seeking the shelter of the thicker trunks. The landing had been hasty and rough, some dragons blown off course, some clinging to the forks of trees or laying in piles of foliage debris. The murk below the roots gurgled quietly. Ironwing landed lightly on the tangle, watching the ooze warily. The base of the trees could have been the bottom of the ocean, for all dragons knew of it. "Is everyone here?! Did everyone land?" A quick headcount proved nothing, dragons still pulling themselves out of bad landings, climbing down to the rendezvous. Centurion had landed heavily a few spans away, her collarbone slamming into wood as her landing claw crashed through the root layer. She spat out leaves, snarling. "There were no signs of a storm!" "It doesn't check out," a purple Wildclaw slid to the ground, his feathers bent and pulled backwards. "Calypso said the way was clear." "Then bring him here!" There was a short pause as heads swiveled, several eyes taking count. "Where [i]is [/i]Calypso?"[/size]

DuskAwakening

14502

October 14, 2018 08:18:05

Characters

_____________

Ironwing
(Alluman)

________

Centurion
(Redwing)

________

Calypso

Centurion

"Sharp left!"

The dragons veered in neat formation, their wings buffeting the canopy.

"Stop!"

It was more disorganised as they skidded to a halt, the smaller dragons at the back colliding with the slowing Imps.

"Alright, land!" Centurion set down on a sturdy branch, glaring through her woodmask. "If you thought that was fine, think again. Anyone could have taken advantage of that!"

Ironwing studied the group quietly, leaning in after a while. "It wouldn't work in one stage. The back will always collide with the front."

"So?"

"So take it in stages. Back, center, front. Give three seconds' delay for the front to start slowing."

"Hm. Very well." She stretched out her neck, unfolding her wings to draw attention back to her. "We'll practice in stages, and then as a formation. Get back in the sky."

They watched the flurry of activity as the heavy Imperials forced themselves clumsily back into the air, sweeping away smaller dragons with the force of the downdraft. Ironwing sighed, noting something down. "Last drill of the day?"

"Not until they can land smoothly."

"Be real, Red. Everyone's tired. You'll get a better result on the morrow."

"It's more effort flying out from the lair again tomorrow than it would be to set up camp." She didn't try to keep the snap out of her tone, observed reproachfully by her brother.

"Overtraining will end in a bad raid. Exhaustion will work against you when we're in a tight spot. Have I ever given you bad advice?"

Centurion growled in her throat, bunching her legs in preparation for flight. "One more drill, and we'll return to the lair."

---

The storm was unpredictable and violent, tearing through the trees with enough force to rip off their twisted limbs, rain hammering the flyers head-on. After ten minutes of almost stationary flight, Centurion screamed above the wind to land.

"We'll never get back in this!"

"We'll have to set up camp on the forest floor." Ironwing steadied himself against the howling wind, having to shout to be heard from a metre away. "Call off the attempt, we'll lose the smaller dragons."

He missed the snarl in response, veering away and diving down between the trees, seeking the shelter of the thicker trunks. The landing had been hasty and rough, some dragons blown off course, some clinging to the forks of trees or laying in piles of foliage debris. The murk below the roots gurgled quietly.

Ironwing landed lightly on the tangle, watching the ooze warily. The base of the trees could have been the bottom of the ocean, for all dragons knew of it.

"Is everyone here?! Did everyone land?"

A quick headcount proved nothing, dragons still pulling themselves out of bad landings, climbing down to the rendezvous. Centurion had landed heavily a few spans away, her collarbone slamming into wood as her landing claw crashed through the root layer. She spat out leaves, snarling. "There were no signs of a storm!"

"It doesn't check out," a purple Wildclaw slid to the ground, his feathers bent and pulled backwards. "Calypso said the way was clear."

"Then bring him here!"

There was a short pause as heads swiveled, several eyes taking count.

"Where is Calypso?"

[center][b][size=5]Characters[/size][/b][/center] [columns][color=transparent]____[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=45483503][img]https://i.imgur.com/gFo2gU7.png[/img][/url] [b]Unnamed[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]_______[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=37694245][img]https://i.imgur.com/vID67VY.png[/img][/url] [b]Alexander[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]_______[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=37691541][img]https://i.imgur.com/Xx5Me8f.png[/img][/url] [b]Centurion[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]_______[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=40742179][img]https://i.imgur.com/Tz3EcbE.png[/img][/url] [b]Calypso[/b][/center][/columns] [center][img]https://orig04.deviantart.net/a908/f/2017/225/5/b/frarcane_sword_banner_by_littlefiredragon-dbjxypv.png[/img] [size=6][color=#ba46b4]Unnamed[/color][/size][/center][columns][size=4][i]"Will he be okay?" "I- I don't understand it. It wasn't a possible outcome!" "Shh, he's moving-" "Let me past!"[/i] The first thing that registered was the glare, boring into his skull like a searchlight. He squeezed his eyes shut, covering his nose with claws he only just realised were his. Every breath felt raw, as though his lungs had been grated on a grindstone. He stretched his small body out, feeling for the parts that were his. Everything ached when he moved. It took a while to find his wings. The voices around him were a bubble of noise, unintelligible now. He croaked in protest. "Stand away. Give him space." It retreated like one big monster, its babbled voice mixed up in his brain. He wheezed, coughing out his raw lungs. "What's your name, little fella?" "Leave him be. He's only just woken up."[/size][nextcol][color=transparent]__[/color][nextcol][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=45483503][img]https://i.imgur.com/sHAdjBE.png[/img][/url][/columns] [size=3]"Alright, little sunshine," the voice was warm. He felt a soft nose nudge him. "Come with me, now." His croak was met with a cloud of fur as he was scooped up, swaying with the movement of his host. He clawed at the air in protest. He was dropped gently onto a bed of rustling leaves, cushioned by something damp and squishy. His claws kneaded in the air restlessly. "What happened?" "I don't know. I was preparing for the worst." "Perhaps it was the spirits?" Tessa nudged the hatchling gently, nuzzling him. "Sickness doesn't [i]do[/i] that, religiously or not!" "Well, I'd call it a miracle." "Somehow, I'm not so sure." Alexander watched the tiny claws swim through the air, the miracle hatchling croaking quietly in his den. [/size] [center] [img]https://orig14.deviantart.net/51ce/f/2017/225/c/9/frlife_sword_banner_by_littlefiredragon-dbjxz31.png[/img] [size=6][color=#318405]Centurion[/color][/size][/center][columns][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=37691541][img]https://i.imgur.com/5FfxBxO.jpg[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]__[/color][nextcol][size=4]"Calypso? [i]Calypso?![/i]" She wasn't sure when the panic would set in. Perhaps after midnight, when they were knee deep in the swamps, stiff from the cold and damp to the bone - or perhaps at 4am, when the innocent breeze above them caused a yelp with every twig it snapped. Wading and diving did nothing. Scouring the rooted floor gave no result. A tense silence set down on the searchers, a distant dawn passing by with no success. The murk gurgled around them, swallowing their efforts in its depths. "Here! Over here!" The rush left Centurion behind, struggling to wade through the gloop of the forest floor. She pushed through the uneasy silence at the source of the shout. "Centurion, I-" "Keep searching." Her voice was soft. "Dive as far as you can." On the surface of the swamp, almost artfully placed, was a muddied silk scarf.[/size][/columns]

DuskAwakening

14502

October 14, 2018 13:11:25

Characters

____

Unnamed

_______

Alexander

_______

Centurion

_______

Calypso

Unnamed

"Will he be okay?"

"I- I don't understand it. It wasn't a possible outcome!"

"Shh, he's moving-"

"Let me past!"

The first thing that registered was the glare, boring into his skull like a searchlight. He squeezed his eyes shut, covering his nose with claws he only just realised were his. Every breath felt raw, as though his lungs had been grated on a grindstone.

He stretched his small body out, feeling for the parts that were his. Everything ached when he moved. It took a while to find his wings.

The voices around him were a bubble of noise, unintelligible now. He croaked in protest.

"Stand away. Give him space."

It retreated like one big monster, its babbled voice mixed up in his brain. He wheezed, coughing out his raw lungs.

"What's your name, little fella?"

"Leave him be. He's only just woken up."

"Alright, little sunshine," the voice was warm. He felt a soft nose nudge him. "Come with me, now."

His croak was met with a cloud of fur as he was scooped up, swaying with the movement of his host. He clawed at the air in protest.

He was dropped gently onto a bed of rustling leaves, cushioned by something damp and squishy. His claws kneaded in the air restlessly.

"What happened?"

"I don't know. I was preparing for the worst."

"Perhaps it was the spirits?" Tessa nudged the hatchling gently, nuzzling him.

"Sickness doesn't do that, religiously or not!"

"Well, I'd call it a miracle."

"Somehow, I'm not so sure." Alexander watched the tiny claws swim through the air, the miracle hatchling croaking quietly in his den.

Centurion

"Calypso? Calypso?!"

She wasn't sure when the panic would set in. Perhaps after midnight, when they were knee deep in the swamps, stiff from the cold and damp to the bone - or perhaps at 4am, when the innocent breeze above them caused a yelp with every twig it snapped. Wading and diving did nothing. Scouring the rooted floor gave no result.

A tense silence set down on the searchers, a distant dawn passing by with no success. The murk gurgled around them, swallowing their efforts in its depths.

"Here! Over here!"

The rush left Centurion behind, struggling to wade through the gloop of the forest floor. She pushed through the uneasy silence at the source of the shout.

"Centurion, I-"

"Keep searching." Her voice was soft. "Dive as far as you can."

On the surface of the swamp, almost artfully placed, was a muddied silk scarf.

Last edited on Oct 22, 2018 10:07:38 by DuskAwakening

---------------------------- [center][size=6]Chapter Two[/size][/center] ----------------------------- [center][b][size=5]Characters[/size][/b][/center] [columns][color=transparent]_____________[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=37694245][img]https://i.imgur.com/vID67VY.png[/img][/url] [b]Alexander[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]________[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=38431052][img]https://i.imgur.com/NOr3NPJ.png[/img][/url] [b]Abriella[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]________[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=33590269][img]https://i.imgur.com/ylFJXcx.png[/img][/url] [b]Monster[/b][/center][/columns] [center][img]https://orig04.deviantart.net/a908/f/2017/225/5/b/frarcane_sword_banner_by_littlefiredragon-dbjxypv.png[/img] [size=6][color=#ba46b4]Alexander[/color][/size][/center][columns][size=4]The pyre flickered against the trees, warming the damp, dusk air. The silence was heavy, broken only by the crackle and spit of the flames. Some dragons kept their heads down in respect, some watched the fire with glazed eyes. Alexander watched as the silk scarf was slowly engulfed. Calypso had been their youngest navigator, always in his books or staring up at the sky. It was unsettling to light the pyre so soon, but no dragon returned from the swamp after wandering alone for the night. He felt a soft nudge against him as Abriella leaned her head on his back, speaking softly. "This wasn't what I expected from tonight..." Alexander dipped his head quietly, the reflection of the fire flickering in a rain puddle. He had expected a pyre, but not like this. Back in his den, the hatchling shifted in his sleep. "Something doesn't feel right." "It's a shame," Monster landed quietly next to them, her wings glowing in the light of the pyre. "He was young, but it comes to us all. Don't blame yourself, child. You saved a hatchling today." "You make it sound so heroic," he pulled away from Abriella, bitterness in his voice. "I did nothing today. [i]Nothing[/i]. That hatchling wasn't meant to survive." He looked up at Abriella's shocked expression, finding no empathy to respond. He glanced between the two silently before turning tail and stalking away, the echo of his outburst heavy in his wake.[/size][nextcol][color=transparent]__[/color][nextcol][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=37694245][img]https://i.imgur.com/8hmCcuG.jpg[/img][/url][/columns] [size=3]--- The forest rustled around him, thick with uninterrupted silence. The clan was at the pyre tonight, leaving the lair dark and silent. Alexander turned away from it, making his way out across the darkened branches. "You look grumpy to-night." He ignored the voice, pushing further into the canopy, his claws digging into the wood. "What's the problem?" He whirled around. "Look, I'm trying to be-" he stopped, lowering his foot slowly to the ground. "-Alone." The leaves rustled quietly, the forest innocently uninhabited. He shook his head, trying to dispel his unease. He'd been up all night and day, and the shadows played tricks on your mind. He gave the trees one more glance before turning back around, making his way slowly across the limb, his fur prickling against his back. "Not gonna talk to me?" He froze, readying for a fight. He scanned the shadows, uncomfortably aware of the space behind him. "Where are you?!" "Right here, dummy." He whipped towards the direction of the voice, finding himself faced with nothing but forest. "That's enough. Come out!" He was met with silence again, the whispering trees swaying above his head. "This isn't funny!" [i]Follow... follow me...[/i] A soft white light wove itself between the leaves, hovering like a moonlit flame, transfixing his gaze. "I have something to show you." The shadows leaned in, the branch stretching away in front of him. [i]Come... come on...[/i] He twisted around and started to run, sprinting up the bough as fast as he could go, the wind tearing through his fur. He skidded into the lair and crashed through his door, not stopping til he plunged into his nest, flat on his back and panting like he'd run a mile. Somewhere in the forest, the shadows swallowed the whispers of the trees.[/size]

DuskAwakening

14502

October 15, 2018 08:05:51

Chapter Two

Characters

_____________

Alexander

________

Abriella

________

Monster

Alexander

The pyre flickered against the trees, warming the damp, dusk air. The silence was heavy, broken only by the crackle and spit of the flames. Some dragons kept their heads down in respect, some watched the fire with glazed eyes.

Alexander watched as the silk scarf was slowly engulfed. Calypso had been their youngest navigator, always in his books or staring up at the sky. It was unsettling to light the pyre so soon, but no dragon returned from the swamp after wandering alone for the night.

He felt a soft nudge against him as Abriella leaned her head on his back, speaking softly. "This wasn't what I expected from tonight..."

Alexander dipped his head quietly, the reflection of the fire flickering in a rain puddle. He had expected a pyre, but not like this. Back in his den, the hatchling shifted in his sleep.

"Something doesn't feel right."

"It's a shame," Monster landed quietly next to them, her wings glowing in the light of the pyre. "He was young, but it comes to us all. Don't blame yourself, child. You saved a hatchling today."

"You make it sound so heroic," he pulled away from Abriella, bitterness in his voice. "I did nothing today. Nothing. That hatchling wasn't meant to survive." He looked up at Abriella's shocked expression, finding no empathy to respond. He glanced between the two silently before turning tail and stalking away, the echo of his outburst heavy in his wake.

---

The forest rustled around him, thick with uninterrupted silence. The clan was at the pyre tonight, leaving the lair dark and silent. Alexander turned away from it, making his way out across the darkened branches.

"You look grumpy to-night."

He ignored the voice, pushing further into the canopy, his claws digging into the wood.

"What's the problem?"

He whirled around. "Look, I'm trying to be-" he stopped, lowering his foot slowly to the ground. "-Alone."

The leaves rustled quietly, the forest innocently uninhabited. He shook his head, trying to dispel his unease. He'd been up all night and day, and the shadows played tricks on your mind.

He gave the trees one more glance before turning back around, making his way slowly across the limb, his fur prickling against his back.

"Not gonna talk to me?"

He froze, readying for a fight. He scanned the shadows, uncomfortably aware of the space behind him. "Where are you?!"

"Right here, dummy." He whipped towards the direction of the voice, finding himself faced with nothing but forest.

"That's enough. Come out!"

He was met with silence again, the whispering trees swaying above his head. "This isn't funny!"

Follow... follow me... A soft white light wove itself between the leaves, hovering like a moonlit flame, transfixing his gaze. "I have something to show you." The shadows leaned in, the branch stretching away in front of him. Come... come on...

He twisted around and started to run, sprinting up the bough as fast as he could go, the wind tearing through his fur. He skidded into the lair and crashed through his door, not stopping til he plunged into his nest, flat on his back and panting like he'd run a mile. Somewhere in the forest, the shadows swallowed the whispers of the trees.

Warning: This post contains mild gore --- [center][b][size=5]Characters[/size][/b][/center] [columns][color=transparent]_[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=37691538][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/376916/37691538p.png[/img][/url] [b]Ironwing (Alluman)[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]____[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=44789715][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/447898/44789715p.png[/img][/url] [b]Marrow[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]____[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=41418145][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/414182/41418145p.png[/img][/url] [b]Lori[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]____[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=41262099][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/412621/41262099p.png[/img][/url] [b]Tsumi[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]____[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=40742179][img]https://i.imgur.com/Tz3EcbE.png[/img][/url] [b]Calypso[/b][/center][/columns] [center] [img]https://orig14.deviantart.net/51ce/f/2017/225/c/9/frlife_sword_banner_by_littlefiredragon-dbjxz31.png[/img] [size=6][color=#318405]Ironwing[/color][/size][/center][columns][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=37691538][img]https://i.imgur.com/oseYXhX.jpg[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]__[/color][nextcol][size=4]The damp had started taking effect on the searchers, stiffness and swamp fungus setting in. Leeches had to be pulled off each other by the hour, some as large as the dragons they attached to. Alluman had had qualms about returning to the search after the funeral, but it would fail tradition to leave the body unfound. They had scoured the swamp to the point it was so deep they could lose an Imperial in the mud, and come out empty handed each time. The behemoth roots entrapped them on the forest floor, the mangrove murk an isolated world to the active lairs of the canopy. Every night they set up camp on the roots, and every morning they returned to the fungal marsh a little more worn than before. Alluman watched the movement between the roots, pairs of divers and watchers, tied together with lengths of rope in case they became trapped in the mud. Centurion despised tradition to her core, a fact that had kept her at the lair this time around; if the forest would swallow a body, the Gladekeeper had already spoken. "We're done on the right. Move to the fig roots." He commanded coldly. A spiral surfaced from the murk, spluttering and spitting out mud. "Nothing. Just algae and weeds." She heaved herself up onto a root, assisted by her search partner, a young mirror. "Aren't we far enough out it's unlikely now?" [/size][/columns] "We'll keep trying." "I just thought we-" "Now!" There was a collective groan from the group, too tired to care about protocol. They moved across the narrow channel, splitting up underneath the root network of the great fig. Ironwing pushed himself into the stagnant air with difficulty, gliding clumsily to the new search area. "We won't find it now. It's stupid to abandon the lair to try." "Shut up and help me get down there." "Ironwing? This tree is hollow." Alluman craned his neck to follow the voice. A white scaled bogsneak, now brown with mud, had squeezed herself through the thick roots directly below the fig trunk. She poked her head out to call to the others, her sail sticking up like a flag. "I can get a bit further in-" "Don't without a partner," he warned, climbing a little closer across the thick roots. "Can you see anything in there?" "I don't know, it's very dark- give me a second-" "Marrow?? Marrow?! Wait for your partner!" The sail had disappeared into the roots, followed by scratching and a thud. The rest of the searchers had paused, watching the one dragon expedition squeeze away into the trunk. Alluman growled in frustration. "Who was she paired with?" "Me, sir," Another spiral poked her head up from the swamp, blue eyes blinking through the caked mud. "She was waiting for me to dive." "Take another partner and go in after her!" There was a scramble to pair up the two spirals, tying them together with the length of rope. They wriggled through the roots, disappearing after the bogsneak. A moment of silence was broken by a crashing sound and a scream. Ironwing pushed forward in half a panic. "Start widening the root gap! Someone find a rope!" An Imperial shoved through the smaller dragons, clawing at the wood, shredding it to open the way. The mud had still only reached his waist, leaving him at least mildly recognisable to Alluman; Seafoam's hatchling, one of the youngest scouts. The fig roots were tough and reluctant to die, swelling up to close the gap again as they were damaged. Two more Imperials joined him, tearing at the tree. "Lori? Lori, are you okay in there?! Tsumi? Marrow?!" A spluttering cough came from the tree hollow, the snakelike movement of a spiral in the mud splashing behind the root layer. "We found it," the voice is strained and shaky. "Pull me out, I've tied the rope." Alluman nodded to the dragons clustered around the roots. One of them reached inside, wrapping a claw around the body of the spiral and heaving. There was a gloop as the mud released its victims: the spiral that had shouted, her unconscious partner and the limp bogsneak, and something else on the end of the line. Free of the roots, the first spiral climbed to dry ground and retched, spewing into the mud. Dismay rippled through the watchers as the Imperial yanked out the final coil of the rope, revealing the broken, blue body of a wildclaw. Two branches had speared his chest, his eyes bulging in shock and his mouth open, both crusted with dried blood. Mud and blood had been used to paint a symbol on his stomach, a lettered rune and a gash beneath it. Feathers had been ripped from both his wings in what looked like a fall, caked blood and rot taking care of the rest. "Someone bring a healer! [i]Now[/i]!"

DuskAwakening

14502

October 15, 2018 11:24:25

Warning: This post contains mild gore

---

Characters

Ironwing
(Alluman)

____

Marrow

____

Lori

____

Tsumi

____

Calypso

Ironwing

The damp had started taking effect on the searchers, stiffness and swamp fungus setting in. Leeches had to be pulled off each other by the hour, some as large as the dragons they attached to. Alluman had had qualms about returning to the search after the funeral, but it would fail tradition to leave the body unfound.

They had scoured the swamp to the point it was so deep they could lose an Imperial in the mud, and come out empty handed each time. The behemoth roots entrapped them on the forest floor, the mangrove murk an isolated world to the active lairs of the canopy. Every night they set up camp on the roots, and every morning they returned to the fungal marsh a little more worn than before.

Alluman watched the movement between the roots, pairs of divers and watchers, tied together with lengths of rope in case they became trapped in the mud. Centurion despised tradition to her core, a fact that had kept her at the lair this time around; if the forest would swallow a body, the Gladekeeper had already spoken.

"We're done on the right. Move to the fig roots." He commanded coldly.

A spiral surfaced from the murk, spluttering and spitting out mud. "Nothing. Just algae and weeds." She heaved herself up onto a root, assisted by her search partner, a young mirror. "Aren't we far enough out it's unlikely now?"

"We'll keep trying."

"I just thought we-"

"Now!"
There was a collective groan from the group, too tired to care about protocol. They moved across the narrow channel, splitting up underneath the root network of the great fig. Ironwing pushed himself into the stagnant air with difficulty, gliding clumsily to the new search area.

"We won't find it now. It's stupid to abandon the lair to try."

"Shut up and help me get down there."

"Ironwing? This tree is hollow."

Alluman craned his neck to follow the voice. A white scaled bogsneak, now brown with mud, had squeezed herself through the thick roots directly below the fig trunk. She poked her head out to call to the others, her sail sticking up like a flag. "I can get a bit further in-"

"Don't without a partner," he warned, climbing a little closer across the thick roots. "Can you see anything in there?"

"I don't know, it's very dark- give me a second-"

"Marrow?? Marrow?! Wait for your partner!"

The sail had disappeared into the roots, followed by scratching and a thud. The rest of the searchers had paused, watching the one dragon expedition squeeze away into the trunk. Alluman growled in frustration. "Who was she paired with?"

"Me, sir," Another spiral poked her head up from the swamp, blue eyes blinking through the caked mud. "She was waiting for me to dive."

"Take another partner and go in after her!"

There was a scramble to pair up the two spirals, tying them together with the length of rope. They wriggled through the roots, disappearing after the bogsneak. A moment of silence was broken by a crashing sound and a scream.

Ironwing pushed forward in half a panic. "Start widening the root gap! Someone find a rope!"

An Imperial shoved through the smaller dragons, clawing at the wood, shredding it to open the way. The mud had still only reached his waist, leaving him at least mildly recognisable to Alluman; Seafoam's hatchling, one of the youngest scouts. The fig roots were tough and reluctant to die, swelling up to close the gap again as they were damaged. Two more Imperials joined him, tearing at the tree.

"Lori? Lori, are you okay in there?! Tsumi? Marrow?!"

A spluttering cough came from the tree hollow, the snakelike movement of a spiral in the mud splashing behind the root layer. "We found it," the voice is strained and shaky. "Pull me out, I've tied the rope."

Alluman nodded to the dragons clustered around the roots. One of them reached inside, wrapping a claw around the body of the spiral and heaving. There was a gloop as the mud released its victims: the spiral that had shouted, her unconscious partner and the limp bogsneak, and something else on the end of the line.

Free of the roots, the first spiral climbed to dry ground and retched, spewing into the mud. Dismay rippled through the watchers as the Imperial yanked out the final coil of the rope, revealing the broken, blue body of a wildclaw.

Two branches had speared his chest, his eyes bulging in shock and his mouth open, both crusted with dried blood. Mud and blood had been used to paint a symbol on his stomach, a lettered rune and a gash beneath it. Feathers had been ripped from both his wings in what looked like a fall, caked blood and rot taking care of the rest.

"Someone bring a healer! Now!"

Last edited on Oct 22, 2018 10:08:18 by DuskAwakening

[center][b][size=5]Characters[/size][/b][/center] [columns][color=transparent]______[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=34376497][img]https://i.imgur.com/5TCUgU2.png[/img][/url] [b]Darvena[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]______[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=37694245][img]https://i.imgur.com/vID67VY.png[/img][/url] [b]Alexander[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]______[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=35358670][img]https://i.imgur.com/yA1jvHV.png[/img][/url] [b]Deri[/b][/center][nextcol][color=transparent]______[/color][nextcol][center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=33590269][img]https://i.imgur.com/ylFJXcx.png[/img][/url] [b]Monster[/b][/center][/columns] [center][img]https://orig06.deviantart.net/1104/f/2017/225/a/6/frshadow_sword_banner_by_littlefiredragon-dbjxzhh.png[/img] [size=6][color=#591eb2]Darvena[/color][/size][/center][columns][size=4]"Oh, gods..." "Oh, [i]gods[/i]..." "Everyone get back to your huts!" Alexander landed on the platform, shooing the onlookers with his wings. "There's no need to panic. Please return to the dens!" Darvena glided down behind him, landing lightly nearby. She tried to keep her eyes off the makeshift stretcher. "Is that how they found him?" The alchemist turned back to her, wild-eyed. "Please! This is bad enough without an audience!" "I'm the ambassador. If his home clan has to know..." "Yes! They said he was shoved up inside the tree, wedged between the sticks. No-one knows how he got there. Marrow's in my hut, recovering from the shock. She's the one who saw him first." "Can I talk to her?" "[i]Please[/i] don't. Give it some time. Everyone's still reeling from this." She dipped her head quietly. "I'm sorry, 'Xander." She paused, forcing herself to look away again. "They said the rune was there when they found him?" [/size][nextcol][color=transparent]__[/color][nextcol][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=34376497][img]https://i.imgur.com/CaDyUdv.jpg[/img][/url][/columns] [size=3]"As far as I know. I'm not going to force it out of them. Lori hasn't stopped being sick since they got her back. If you want to help, find something to cover him with. Please?" "Of course, but I'll need to write the rune down before you wash the body." "Gods, Vena, show some empathy." "Please, it's important." "Fine, I won't stop you. Just get a cover. Please." She took one more reluctant glance at the stretcher before spreading her wings and forcing herself back into the air, catching a light breeze and gliding up to a higher platform. It took a while to find a suitable sheet before she plundered one from Monster's linen, laying it over the body to the relief of Alexander. She scoured Abriella's hut for quills, ink and parchment that wasn't damp enough to rot, returning to the stretcher to sketch the rune. It wasn't anything she'd seen before, shaped differently than the runes she knew to be used by Arcane dragons and mages, and not obviously charged. It was in the shape of an eye, slashed through by two lines, the gash at an angle underneath. She drew it out roughly, rolling up the parchment before covering the stretcher again hurriedly. "Done?" She jumped at the voice, much gruffer than Alexander's. "Deri..." "He would not survive." His tone was emotionless and quiet. He dipped his head towards the sheet. "Talk to me at home." She sighed softly, pressing the top of her head against his neck affectionately. "I'll be a few minutes." He nodded gruffly, holding still for her for a moment before turning and stalking back towards the Elder's hut. His words had been minimal ever since Cernnunos' death. He had always been rough with his manner, but there was a time when Cernnunos had drawn out the softer side of him, something Darvena hadn't seen since. She shook her head, taking off and gliding up to the Seer's hut. --- Monster was washing clothes, humming a familiar tune as she hung them up to dry. The coatl eased into the tiny hut, stepping carefully around the bits and pieces the Seer liked to leave around. "Monster...?" "Darvena!" She turned around warmly, the glazed green of her blind eyes striking without their cover. "I fear I know why you've come..." "It's about- about Calypso. They found a rune on his body, it was drawn there by someone, but I can't read it. Do you know what it is?" She unravelled the parchment quietly. "Describe it to me." "It's a roundish eye, a circle with one corner at the top left and a black dot in the centre, and it's slashed through with two diagonal lines." "I've never seen it before," she moved over to her, putting a foot on the paper quietly, tracing the smooth ink with a claw. "But I can ask the spirits for you. Drawn on his body?" "Yes, on his stomach." "Leave it with me. I'll do what I can." "Thank you," Darvena dipped her head, backing awkwardly out of the narrow door. The stretcher was already being carried away to the stone Guardian, to perform last rites. A few minutes later, she eased her way into the Elder's hut. "Deri?" "Mm?" "You wanted to talk?" "The bard found someone for the lightning." "Really? [i]Now[/i]?" "The Trio is distracted. They will not fly out again for a while. The world can't hang on one death." "Is it really that important? We couldn't wait a few more weeks?" "It was important since you asked." She shook her head sadly. "Okay... okay. Give me a couple of days to prepare it. Poor Alexander... he'll be burning the body tonight."[/size]

DuskAwakening